Chapter 89: Scheming
Cheng Yu sighed silently. It felt like a university student facing a group of elementary school students; if things weren’t broken down and explained clearly, the students would have a million questions.
He almost missed Prefect Wei. If the other person were here, he wouldn’t have to explain things in such detail himself.
“If the Zheng family truly wanted to continue fighting the Prince, they wouldn’t be making such a grand show of finding help. They would secretly entice with benefits and move with emotion to gain allies.”
“His actions are so ostentatious that even Young Master Yan has heard of them. This can only mean he wants to use this rumor to cover up his true intentions.”
Now Jinsui understood. That’s right, if they really wanted to cause trouble, why would they be shouting it from the rooftops? It would definitely be a conspiracy!
Didn’t the Zheng family send people to attack the Border City without a single leak, launching a thousand troops all at once?
As she was still thinking, Hei Hu slapped his thigh: “Young Master Yan is in cahoots with the Zheng family! If I had known he was dangling me by my neck earlier, I would have thrown him.”
Han Xing habitually kicked him:
“Half your brain is flour and the other half is water. It’s better not to move it, but when you do, your whole head turns into mush! What nonsense are you spouting!”
While Cheng Yu and the others only realized that the Zheng family might be planning something, Jinsui thought of another, more serious problem.
“Has Huo Zi’an been behaving himself lately?”
Han Xing quickly replied: “There have been no unusual actions.”
Jinsui said to Cheng Yu: “Go and visit Prefect Li. See if he will grant you an audience.”
Cheng Yu seemed to understand what Li King was worried about. Without a word, he went back to change, took gifts, and entered Yanzhou City to visit Li Heng.
As expected, he returned before dark: “Prefect Li refused to see me.”
Jinsui’s eyes narrowed slightly: “If the Zheng family is indeed contacting the gentry of Yandi to plot against this King.
Even if Li Heng hates me, he would at least give me a hint. If an Imperial Prince dies in the prefecture city under his jurisdiction, he won’t be able to escape responsibility.
His refusal to see me and his failure to send a private message indicate that the helpers the Zheng family is looking for this time are not from the Yandi gentry.
It must be someone who gives Li Heng the confidence to extricate himself, even if this King holds him accountable afterward.
No, it should be that they believe they can completely bring this King down this time!”
Cheng Yu said in a deep voice: “Then there is only one person who would make them so confident.”
Jinsui quickly called out to Hei Hu: “Bring our Lord Niu here.”
Huo Zi’an was bathing a group of Zheng family cattle and horses. They weren’t using hot water to wash, as the captives didn’t have such facilities.
They were washing in the river under the supervision of the Black Feather Camp soldiers.
The washing was done meticulously, following the hygiene standards of the Border City precisely.
First, the hair was rubbed with wood ash, then washed with soapwort. Those with lice on their heads were treated with castor oil, and their bodies were scrubbed with old loofah.
A Zheng family captive whispered privately: “They all say the Border City is dirty and chaotic, why are the people here so particular? Washing up is such a fuss.”
The Black Feather Camp soldiers heard this and shouted: “These are the rules set by our Prince! You still say our Border City is dirty, haven’t you seen how much cleaner people in your city are!”
“Less nonsense, all of you wash up quickly. Wash your clothes clean too. Anyone with lice or fleas on their body won’t get meat tomorrow.”
Huo Zi’an was also washing. Ever since he was doused with syrup and thrown into an ant nest, he felt itchy all over if he didn’t wash for a day, as if the ants had burrowed into his skin, ready to bite him at any moment.
When he heard Hei Hu’s raspy voice: “Lord Niu, our Prince is looking for you.”
Huo Zi’an: “…I’ve told you a thousand times, my surname is Huo!”
Hei Hu scratched his head and chuckled: “I just said it out of habit. Then, Lord Huo, the Prince is calling for you, hurry up.”
Some Zheng family members were curious: “What kind of official is a Imperial Guard? Why don’t we have them in Yandi?”
Hei Hu shouted: “They are high officials, specifically serving the Royal family. Our Lord Niu, no, Lord Huo, is serving Prince Yu!”
Huo Zi’an was shocked. You idiot, how can you say such things in public?
He said urgently: “What does the Prince want with me? Let’s go quickly, don’t keep the Prince waiting.”
Little did they know that to the Zheng family members, this was Li King conveying a message: the one supervising them was someone from Prince Yu’s side!
If they knew that it was simply Hei Hu, who didn’t understand the intricacies of the matter, saying it unintentionally, they would have been utterly astonished.
That night, a gray pigeon silently flew from the Border City to the Zheng family.
At the same time, Jinsui looked at Huo Zi’an, who was completely wet, his hair quite long, reaching down to his waist.
She deliberately tricked him: “This King already knows. Confess honestly, and I will deal with you leniently.”
Huo Zi’an frowned: “Your subordinate does not understand what the Prince is saying.”
“Heh, Lord Huo, why pretend to be confused with this King? I assigned you to supervise the Zheng family captives, and I’ve been waiting for this day.”
Huo Zi’an took a deep breath, thinking of the feeling of ten thousand ants devouring his heart, and goosebumps rose all over him.
He cupped his hands again and said sincerely: “Your subordinate truly does not understand the Prince’s intentions. If you have any orders, please make them clear, Your Highness.”
Jinsui sneered: “Still playing games with me? Your master sent people to Yanzhou, don’t tell me you don’t know! You want to wait until they attack and then cooperate from the inside, right?”
Huo Zi’an suddenly stood up straight, startling Hei Hu, who quickly stepped in front of Jinsui.
Then they all saw Huo Zi’an clasp his hands into fists, walk step by step in front of Hei Hu, and say to Jinsui:
“If the Prince does not believe your subordinate, you can lock me up. Until the matter is cleared, I will not leave the prison cell.”
Jinsui rubbed her chin, pondering. It seemed this fellow truly knew nothing.
After a moment of thought, she said: “Huo Zi’an, do you want freedom?”
Huo Zi’an remained silent.
Jinsui continued: “As long as you complete this task, this King will set you free.”
“What task?”
“Go patrol outside the city. Find out anyone coming and going from the Border City who was sent by your master.”
“Will you really spare my life?”
“Of course! This King’s word is as good as a thousand gold!”
Huo Zi’an: “…Your dealings with Prefect Li and the Zheng family lack integrity.”
Jinsui said without embarrassment: “That was because they were rude first! You are different from them.”
Huo Zi’an lowered his head and eyes, then looked up after a while, his eyes full of determination: “Your subordinate will trust the Prince this once.”
After Huo Zi’an left, Cheng Yu, holding a wine gourd, shook his head: “Your Highness, this action is extremely risky.”
Jinsui first glared at him: “Why are you still drinking? Your beloved has been found for you, and you still hug your wine gourd every day.”
Cheng Yu’s old face immediately turned red, and he quickly offered the gourd to Jinsui: “It’s not wine, it’s sugar water. This subordinate has already quit drinking.”
Only then did Jinsui smile: “That’s good. Drinking too much wine can lead to foolish children. You and Lady Chen are still young, and you will definitely have children in the future.”
Cheng Yu’s old face turned even redder, and he quickly reminded her: “Your Highness, let’s talk about business. Letting Lord Huo act so freely is very risky.”
Jinsui pointed to the dilapidated city wall outside: “Look at our Border City, where is there no risk?
Knowing there is risk, then quickly forge weapons, boil fish oil, and call Prefect Wei back. Just leave the captain to guard the salt fields.”
After speaking, she smiled: “There have been too many troublesome matters recently. Our Border City needs a happy event to lift our spirits.”
“Assistant Secretary Cheng, you and Lady Chen should hold your wedding!”
What Cheng Yu and the others worried about was that Prince Yu would send more people and join forces with the Zheng family to deal with Li King.
What Jinsui worried about more was that Gu Changxiao hadn’t arrived yet, and what would happen if she was exposed?
No matter what kind of situation she had to face, she had to ensure that Cheng Yu and Chen Yunniang got married. Only then would she not have pretended to be Li King in vain.
