"Don't try to fool me. Let me tell you, why don't you secretly tell me if you've set your sights on any princes? Over the years, the First Prince and the Crown Prince have been trying all sorts of ways to get close to you, inviting you to dinner and tea. I don't believe you haven't been tempted?"
"That would be a meritorious service in supporting the emperor, and it would guarantee the Pei family's wealth and prosperity for three generations."
"Are you afraid I'll tell? I swear I absolutely won't tell..."
Yao Zhijie was rambling on and on. As soon as he stepped out of the Golden Hall, he suddenly saw the eunuchs waiting on the side. He immediately stopped talking, kept his eyes down, and pulled Pei Yanzhi along to quicken his pace.
"Hurry up and leave. You just offended the First Prince. This is definitely not going to end well."
"Young Master Pei, please wait. The Crown Prince requests your presence."
No matter how fast Yao Zhijie ran, he couldn't outrun a eunuch's mouth. He stood awkwardly on the steps. At the other end of the imperial road, the eldest prince, Li Chengyou, dressed in the robes of a prince, stood beneath the red wall. He wore a dark purple robe with a four-clawed python embroidered on it, and a golden crown on his head, exuding an air of supreme authority.
Pei Yanzhi's eyes flashed, and he walked over in a few steps.
"Greetings, Your Highness."
"Young Master Pei is truly difficult to invite. In the past, when we went to drink tea and watch operas, we sent countless invitations, but he always returned them. Now, this is the first time we've met?"
"Your Highness is mistaken. When I was young, I also accompanied the old lady to the palace, and I saw Your Highness from afar at the palace banquet."
"If that's the case, why didn't you come when I invited you?" Li Chengyou said, his voice already filled with anger. "Furthermore, you took action against the Vice Minister of Revenue as soon as you took office. Do you even respect me?"
"Your Highness, please calm down. Serving His Majesty is my duty."
"What a fine example of being dutiful!"
Lee Seung-woo's eyes were practically spitting fire, and he was about to lash out when he saw the Crown Prince approaching.
"Oh, who made Big Brother angry? Could it be Lord Pei? That can't be right, Lord Pei just received His Majesty's commendation."
Hearing the Crown Prince's sarcastic tone, the First Prince sneered inwardly. He had nothing more to say, so he bowed to the Crown Prince and left.
"Brother, you have quite a temper. Young Master Pei, please don't take it to heart."
"Your Highness is too kind. As a subject, how could I dare to presume?"
Hearing the Crown Prince's overtures, Pei Yanzhi remained unmoved. The Crown Prince's lips twitched. He remembered that Pei Yanzhi had always acted the same way when he tried to befriend him. He thought that Pei Yanzhi was really stubborn. However, he felt quite pleased with himself for dealing with the Vice Minister of Revenue today.
"Haha, young Master Pei is indeed a talent that Father Emperor has his eye on. Father Emperor is delighted to have you. I hope young Master Pei will do a good job in the future."
As he spoke, the Crown Prince's eyes darted around, and he lowered his voice, "Don't say I didn't warn you, the Minister of Revenue is also one of my elder brother's men. Now that you've offended him, if you need anything, just ask, and I will do my best to help you."
Having said that, without waiting for anyone to refuse, he smugly grabbed the person next to him and left.
"Fourth brother, let's go."
With his hands tucked into his sleeves, the young man in a sky-blue official robe gazed at the two departing figures from beneath the red wall.
The one on the left, wearing a light gold jade crown, is Crown Prince Li Chengyu. The one on the right, a bald prince without even a princely title, wearing a black fitted robe with his hair half loose and half tied up, is the Fourth Prince Li Chengyun.
As expected of someone who had been on the battlefield, the other party exuded a murderous aura even as he strolled around casually.
In addition, he was known for killing people without hesitation and for his bad temper. The eunuchs and palace maids he encountered along the way were terrified of him and dared not even look at him, keeping their bodies close to the wall as they followed.
"What's wrong with the Crown Prince? Everyone keeps their distance from the Fourth Prince, but he always drags the Fourth Prince into everything. I've never seen him so affectionate towards the Fourth Prince before, acting like they're brothers."
Yao Zhijie stood beside Pei Yanzhi, marveling at the sight of the Fourth Prince and the Crown Prince.
"The Fourth Prince is guilty of many crimes and has no chance of ascending the throne. However, he has made great contributions in the war in the north. The Crown Prince is showing weakness to the First Prince, so he naturally wants to win over the Fourth Prince."
"Father, what brings you here!"
Startled by the sudden appearance of Minister Yao beside him, Yao Zhijie patted his chest in fear, "Father, you scare people to death! Please make some noise when you walk in the future. I am your own son. If I die, the Yao family will have no descendants."
"Ha! So you knew you were my son. The new commercial tax law hasn't even been released yet, and you've already ordered the Ministry of Revenue to empty half of it—such a big thing, and you didn't even consult me beforehand!"
The middle-aged Vice Minister Yao was so angry that he glared and puffed out his beard. Yao Zhijie shrank back and hid behind Pei Yanzhi, pleading and trying to shift the blame.
"Father, I was forced into it. It was all Pei Yanzhi's doing. It has nothing to do with me."
"you……"
Minister Yao was almost driven mad by him. Upon seeing his elder, Pei Yanzhi's indifference lessened. "Greetings, Minister Yao. Please calm down. This matter was indeed my doing."
Vice Minister Yao stared intently at him, scrutinizing him from head to toe. He saw that the man was neither humble nor arrogant, his expression was calm, and his demeanor was composed. While admiring him, Yao also felt a surge of anger.
"Pei Yanzhi, is it? You know you and Zhijie are classmates, and it was your idea to get the Sixth Prince involved in the commercial tax. You're quite something! But I also advise you to be careful. Our Yao family will not accompany you to your death!"
After uttering those words heavily, Vice Minister Yao stormed off in a huff.
Is my dad angry?
Staring at his father's departing figure, Yao Zhijie complained loudly to his friend, "It's all your fault. You clearly said that my cousin wouldn't get any benefits, but suddenly he was granted the title of Prince of the Third Rank. Although the First Prince and the Crown Prince don't take him seriously, my aunt and father are very worried."
“I admire Minister Yao for his foresight and consideration for his family,” Pei Yanzhi said calmly, his gaze distant, and no one knew what he was thinking.
"Is admiration enough? The important thing is that you can't lie to me again. You've lied to me too badly. Look at the injury on my arm. My father beat me and said I trusted the wrong person. Since you knew His Majesty wouldn't let a bald prince manage commercial taxes, you should have told me first so we could analyze the pros and cons."
Pei Yanzhi turned his head to look at him, "I don't think the Sixth Prince has such indecisive thoughts."
"He's an idiot, why do you care about him? Think about me, I'm your good friend, we've known each other for twenty years. If something happens to me, do you think you can sleep soundly?"
"What do you have to say? You're no different from him."
"No! How am I the same as him! He's stubborn and stupid, even my aunt says I'm smarter than him."
"You're smart, hmm, then look behind you and see who's there?"
"Cousin!"
Turning around, Yao Zhijie saw the Sixth Prince's dark face and ran away. The two cousins chased and played on the imperial road, acting more like brothers than subjects.
They are indeed brothers.
With a deep gaze, Pei Yanzhi strolled out, and when he reached the palace gate, he indeed saw a carriage waiting for him there.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
