Chapter 15: Doubts Arise
Exiting the Hongfu Gambling House, Li Zhao tossed the money bag in his hand to Eunuch Lai Fu.
“Take it and distribute it.”
Lai Fu and the others exchanged glances. His round face broke into a smile, revealing plump white wrinkles. If they weren’t on the street, he would have knelt down and kowtowed to the Crown Prince several times.
People outside said the Crown Prince was stingy and ungenerous, his disposition not pure enough. Yet, they didn’t know how comfortable it was to serve under the Crown Prince. If there was anything to be dissatisfied about, it was that no matter how much money he earned, he, as an eunuch, didn’t have many expenses.
The guards were also elated.
“I never knew His Highness had such a unique skill…”
“Indeed, what can our master not win?”
Li Zhao’s eyes were cold, his expression indifferent as he got into the carriage.
Everyone exchanged glances, not daring to be rash or speak further.
Their visit to the Hongfu Gambling House today was not for winning this small amount of silver money. Instead, the gambling house had been solicitous, not minding their provocations and troublemaking, leaving them no grounds to find fault or to investigate further, which would have ruined His Highness’s plan.
Just as Lai Fu finished putting away the money, a scout hurried over and approached the carriage to report.
“Your Highness, no other discoveries. We only saw that pampered guest recently found by Minister Xue’s mansion also entered the Hongfu Gambling House…”
Li Zhao: “Did you see clearly?”
The scout lowered his head and cupped his hands: “Not a bit false.”
Li Zhao pondered, “Idiot.”
The scout didn’t know if His Highness was referring to him or the person at the gambling house, and was momentarily stunned.
Lai Fu said, “It’s strange, that young lady came to You Huang Ju seeking our master’s protection. But when His Highness truly avenged her, she didn’t come to express gratitude, as if nothing had happened. What is the reason for this?”
Li Zhao acted as if he hadn’t heard, pulling down the heavy curtain.
“Return to the palace.”
At that year’s Winter Solstice Gathering, even without Xue Sui’s reminder, Li Zhao would have made thorough preparations.
Because it was a sycophantic assembly organized by the capital’s scholars for Prince Duan, in response to Prince Wei Li Yan’s twenty-eight memorials for judicial reform in the thirteenth year of Chong Zhao. The Crown Prince’s absence suited their intentions perfectly.
How could Li Zhao allow others to have their way?
The Crown Prince’s assassination attempt at the Winter Solstice Gathering, and his scathing denunciation of Xue Qingzhi at the morning court, seemed to be striking at Prince Duan’s backbone. In reality, he was using the assassination to scold the one on the Dragon Throne for not being a worthy father.
Li Zhao did not consider it avenging her, nor did he wish to leverage the favor for repayment.
However, her leaving You Huang Ju and then suddenly appearing at the Hongfu Gambling House today, after not showing herself, aroused suspicion.
“If not the mastermind, then an accomplice. This woman cannot be underestimated.” The scout continued, “There are many reclusive experts and talented individuals in the Old Mausoleum Swamp. It’s a pity most are elusive. I’ve heard that Prince Duan wishes to recruit talent, like Zhuge Liang’s three visits to the thatched cottage, to invite the Corpse Keeper out of seclusion. It’s just that, due to the late Emperor’s strict decree, the Old Mausoleum Swamp is a forbidden area, and he cannot openly defy it…”
Li Zhao did not respond, as if it were none of his concern.
The scout glanced at the Crown Prince’s expression, “Prince Duan has been quite troubled recently by the case of Grand Tutor You’s family…”
Lai Fu snorted, “Third Master You is untalented, fond of cockfighting and bird-keeping. He has countless enemies in Shangjing. It would be good if he died, for him to be so meddlesome.”
The scout said, “Isn’t it to share the Emperor’s worries? That person has always known how to conduct himself.”
He paused and then said cautiously, “If the Eastern Palace finds the culprit first, His Majesty will surely look upon the Crown Prince with new eyes…”
“Stop!” Li Zhao suddenly spoke.
The scout and Eunuch Lai Fu were both startled.
Not long after the carriage left the Hongfu Gambling House, they saw a small beggar dart across the street. If he had been any faster, he would have been sent flying.
The coachman shouted, “Hoo!” and pulled the reins to stop.
Li Zhao lifted the curtain and saw a slender figure emerge from the back corner gate of the Hongfu Gambling House.
The woman did not sneak around looking left and right, but walked out openly and then went to the clothing shop across the street…
Li Zhao frowned, hearing the small beggar say in a childish voice:
“Someone wants me to deliver a letter to a noble person. Big brother, here, the letter!”
The beggar stuffed the letter into Guan Ya’s hand and then skipped away merrily.
Eunuch Lai inspected the letter, then respectfully handed it over, “Your Highness…”
Li Zhao calmly gestured: “Open it. Read it.”
Eunuch Lai complied, opened the letter, and read: “Last time, the noble person poisoned and harmed me, and this time you came to the gambling house to pester me. Since you have intentions, why not meet me at my villa openly?”
Li Zhao: “Stop reading!”
He reached out and snatched the letter from Eunuch Lai’s hand, finding no further words after it.
Eunuch Lai’s face was awkward: “This servant deserves death… This servant, has finished reading.”
Li Zhao remained silent.
Eunuch Lai smiled fawningly again: “This Sixth Miss Xue is truly bold. The dignified Crown Prince, is she someone she can meet whenever she wishes? It’s nonsensical!”
Li Zhao ordered the coachman: “Go to You Huang Ju.”
Eunuch Lai’s dejected face visibly lifted at a visible speed, and he beamed, “Yes.”
Xue Sui, using the silver money given by Old Madam Cui, purchased a considerable amount of clothing and daily necessities. She sent them back to the mansion with Ru Yi and Aunt Jinshu, and then took Xiao Zhao to You Huang Ju by a detour.
She did not use the main entrance, choosing the west side corner gate instead.
Eunuch Lai was waiting for her there, “Young Lady, please come in.”
Xue Sui nodded and strode across the threshold.
Eunuch Lai closed the door, feeling a pang of sympathy. He thought it necessary to teach this young girl some etiquette for meeting the Crown Prince. How could she be so high-handed when asking for a favor? This girl’s background was pitiable; if the Crown Prince were to strike her down with a single blow, it would be truly unjust.
Before he could figure out how to speak, he saw several attendants carrying tea and pastries towards Qionghua Hall.
Clearly, the Crown Prince had no intention of killing her.
Lai Fu led her into the inner room, smiling courteously.
“Young Lady, please be seated. His Highness will be here shortly.”
Xue Sui smiled slightly, saying no more.
She mused inwardly that Li Zhao was a very troublesome person.
Why go to such great lengths for something that could be settled with a few words?
Could it be that she still needed to bathe and change, burn incense, and purify the room…
Just as she thought this, she caught a whiff of a peculiar, delicate fragrance. It wasn’t the scent of orchids or plum blossoms, but it was elegant and distant, like wisps of celestial fragrance drifting from beyond the clouds, very pleasant.
“What do you want with me?”
Xue Sui heard the voice and turned her head, her gaze meeting Li Zhao’s.
The Crown Prince was dressed in a moon-white brocade robe, with a gold-threaded cloud-patterned overcoat, a jade belt with a golden clasp at his waist, his hair neatly tied up, secured only by a single mutton-fat jade hairpin. His hair was slightly damp, as if he had indeed bathed and changed…
The window was open, and a gentle breeze blew, making it not feel cold, but rather enhancing the pleasant aroma.
Xue Sui rose and bowed, “Your Highness.”
Li Zhao lazily walked to the main seat, lifted his robe, and sat down, resting his left hand languidly.
“Speak.”
Everyone assumed Xue Sui had come to thank the Crown Prince. With his backing, it was only natural for her to be overwhelmed with gratitude. Unexpectedly, she bowed slightly and, after a greeting, asked:
“If the Crown Prince wishes to impeach Xue Qingzhi, he could simply find a Censor to come forward. Why must he personally handle it?”
Li Zhao’s posture was relaxed, and he raised an eyebrow, revealing his arrogance.
“I find it more satisfying to scold him myself.”
Xue Sui smiled faintly: “When others scold, it sounds more pleasing to His Majesty’s ears.”
Li Zhao’s eyes turned cold, and he stared at her without a word.
“I have offended you!” Xue Sui had no intention of mocking his lack of favor, as she herself was in a similar position.
She merely wanted to tell him that, compared to avenging a grievance, achieving results with half the effort was more worthwhile. The twenty-year-old Li Zhao might not understand the darkness of human nature any better than she, an eighteen-year-old. Some lessons were learned through blood and tears.
Xue Sui smiled slightly, “Now there is another opportunity. If Your Highness handles it properly, you can turn the situation around and deliver a crushing blow to Prince Duan’s faction…”
Li Zhao’s indifferent face showed no emotion, “What opportunity?”
Xue Sui said, “Has Your Highness heard that several princes and ministers in Shangjing wish to offer their unmarried daughters to Prince Duan?”
Li Zhao’s lips curved: “Imperial Brother enjoys great fortune.”
Xue Sui gazed at him and chuckled softly, “Crown Prince, you have reached the age of adulthood. Apart from Empress Xie, who is anxious to arrange your marriage, no one else is enthusiastic. Prince Duan has been married for many years, with wives and concubines, yet because he has no heir, the entire court is worried sick for him. Your Highness, why do you think this is?”
Li Zhao’s gaze fell upon her, and he laughed in anger, “What, do you have a suitable candidate for Crown Princess?”
Xue Sui: Did Xiao Zhao kill anyone today?
Xiao Zhao: Not here to kill, right? This order is a bit difficult.
