bookrebus Chapter 56: Undercurrents and Storms
Chapter 56: Undercurrents and Storms
"We can serve the emperor two or three times a year. If other concubines in the palace can only serve once a year, it is considered lucky. That is an opportunity that the emperor remembers or they get by chance," Niu promised to put the things away. "We don't have anything valuable to thank Concubine Yi, but we can embroider some things. Concubine Yi hates to do these things the most, so let us do it."
"Listen to my sister," Shuang agreed and thought so.
Zhijun Prince's Mansion.
In the candlelit study, Yinzhi sat at the desk. There were two other people in the study, Yinzhi's aides Zhang De and Xu Ming. Zhang De had a thumb-long beard, which he stroked with his hand. He had a kind look and smiled slowly, "Prince, this is the best time for us to secretly investigate people. Ling Pu's incident will implicate many people in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. We can take this opportunity to plant our people there."
Xu Ming had a pair of hawk eyes, which made him look fierce, and his voice was sharp. "Prince, I think you can't act rashly. Many of our people have stretched their hands too far. The Crown Prince personally dealt with Ling Pu this time, which actually won the hearts of the royal family." He looked at the Prince of Zhi, "It's true that the Prince is competing for the position of the Crown Prince, but it's also true that he is protecting the royal family."
"This is wrong. A man cannot be a hero without being ruthless. Seizing the throne is the ultimate goal. It doesn't matter what methods are used to achieve the ultimate goal. Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, killed his father and brother, which is now famous throughout the ages. Who dares to say that Emperor Taizong of Tang was not a wise ruler? Those who say that he was not a wise ruler are just the clans that he dealt with." Zhang De smiled and glanced at Xu Ming, then looked at Prince Yinzhi of Zhi and expressed his opinion.
"Zhang De, the prince is the eldest son of the emperor. If he doesn't consider the royal family, what does it matter if he has planted someone this time?" Xu Ming immediately became angry. He slammed the table and glared at Zhang De. "The prince once said that if you win, you must win fair and square so that everyone will be convinced. Is that it? How can you convince everyone?"
"Why are you always angry? I am just telling the truth. Looking back at the history, which prince ascended the throne in an upright manner?" Xu De still smiled gently, but there was a trace of disdain in his eyes. All upright princes were dead. "Do you want to learn from Song Renzong and become the most benevolent emperor? Ha~"
"You are just making up stories," Xu Ming knew that Zhang De was right. Cats have their own ways and mice have their own ways, but he despised those insidious ways the most. "Prince, you really can't get involved this time."
Yinzhi closed his eyes, "I am not the Tang Taizong of the Tang Dynasty. They are my father and brother. There is no royal descendant in the Qing Dynasty who kills his father and son. There is no need to get involved in this matter. Yinreng can cut off his own arm to clean up these slaves. How can I take advantage of them?"
What he wanted was the true recognition of the Emperor, not relying on these conspiracies and tricks to sit on that position. Even if he sat on that position, he would still be a loser.
Zhang De didn't say anything else, just sighed. Although he guessed it, he did miss a good opportunity.
The Third Prince's Mansion.
In the study, Yinzhi tapped the table, "Third Master, do we need to send someone here?"
"No need. Haha~ Isn't it just to inform the Emperor that I am interested in that position? Last year, I deliberately shaved my head and demoted from a prince to a beile. Why? If I really sent someone in, everything would be in vain," Yinzhi sneered. "The year before last, my elder brother and I were the princes. My elder brother and the prince were fighting fiercely. I don't want to be their pawn. If I am demoted to a beile like this, no one will notice me, Meng Guangzu, we must keep a low profile."
"It is I who am anxious, Third Master. We must help the Crown Prince this time. I am afraid that the Emperor's anger last year has not completely subsided yet." Meng Guangzu thought about the Emperor's criticism of Third Master in recent days, even though it was something in Third Master's backyard. "Third Master, where is Fu Jin?"
“A man who is narrow-minded is not a gentleman, and a man who is not vicious is not a man. Since the backyard is completely handed over to Mrs. Fu, it is her business. If something really happens, I will be the one who is wronged.” Yinzhi’s eyes flashed with a trace of ruthlessness. He lowered his eyes and stared at the teacup in his hand. But can he really do what he wants now?
The ninth brother's wife was a variable. Yinzhi tapped the table, his fierceness slowly fading away, and with a hint of hesitation, "What do you think?"
"I think the backyard should not be in chaos. Otherwise, even if the Third Master can hide behind other princes, the emperor will have the impression that his family is not fair," Meng Guangzu disagreed with Yinzhi's idea and expressed his opinion, "Third Master, you have been demoted to a beile. The backyard cannot make the emperor upset again this time."
"Just do as you say. We will put the blame on whoever gave Wang the evidence," Yinzhi thought of his ninth brother's wife, who was also from the Dong'e clan. With the ninth brother's wife as a variable, the Emperor would not let anything happen to Dong'e clan, and naturally nothing would happen to his own wife either. So he decided to try another approach.
If the crown prince can be safe, it doesn't matter if he has no chance, but if the crown prince's position is unstable in the future, why can't he fight for it?
Four Baylor House.
In the study, Yinzhen pinched his brows. A man in a green robe sat opposite him. "Master, Dai Duo knows that you want to thoroughly investigate the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but you are a wise father and son. If you don't show their strengths, you may be abandoned. If you show too much, you may be suspected."
Dai Duo, the staff member, saw the Fourth Master looking at him and continued, "Not only that, there are also many brothers and sisters. Some like the 竽, some like the 瑟, some fight for something, some win for something. It is not easy for the master to stand out at this time. There are the Prince of Zhi and the Crown Prince in front, and the Third Beile and the Fifth Beile behind."
Dai Duo did not take the Seventh Beile and the Eighth Beile seriously at all. Because of his leg disease and his own personality, the Seventh Beile always sought stability. As for the Eighth Beile, Dai Duo understood that an ambitious prince would naturally collude with court officials, but not bribe them. The Eighth Beile used the wrong method from the beginning.
Even if the crown prince was deposed, the Eighth Prince would never ascend to that position. Even facing the current matter of Ling Pu being deposed, I'm afraid the Eighth Prince would have to act as a good guy and never get involved.
"I'll give Third Brother a chance. Since Third Brother is using my Thirteenth Brother's face to set up a trap, he won't back down this time," Yinzhen said coldly. "Also, you are my staff, so you can't try to win over the court officials. This is my order, not a discussion with you."
Dai Duo wanted to say something, "Yes, I will obey your orders."
The candlelight flickered and went out in the night. In the darkness was the calm sea. Under the calm sea, perhaps...
The next day, at the beginning of the morning hour, before daybreak, a cool breeze seemed to pass through the layers of wooden doors and curtains, rushing to Wen Yao's eyes. Wen Yao could have slept soundly, but unfortunately the weather was not good, and there were people with mean intentions who did not want her to sleep well.
Wen Yao sat up, opened one eye and looked at Yinzhen who was standing in front of the bed, holding out his hand for Qian Bao to help him dress, "Master, did you do this on purpose?"
"I feel unbalanced. As my wife, you not only don't dress me up, but you can also sleep soundly," Yinzhen looked at Wen Yao with envy, who was dazed and closing one eye. He was so envious that he was jealous.