Chapter 256 Persuasion
A light drizzle began to fall again.

Li Hu walked out of Yuqing Palace, followed by a young eunuch holding a green silk umbrella.

Suddenly Li Hu stopped and the young eunuch also stopped quickly.

Li Hu looked back at the deep palace gate, sighed silently, turned around and walked forward again, saying, “You don’t have to follow me.” Then he walked into the drizzle.

From afar, Dai Quan walked towards them from the Meridian Gate holding an umbrella.

When he met Li Hu, Dai Quan stopped.

Dai Quan looked unhappy: “Why, no one is holding an umbrella for you? These servants are getting lazier and lazier.”

Li Hu smiled: “It has nothing to do with them. It’s good to get a little rain, it’s not a bad thing to wake up.”

Dai Quan: “What? Did you get angry with the prince?”

Li Hu: “Not really. It’s just that looking at the prince’s current state, I can’t help but feel a little sad. I won’t say anything more. Are you leaving the palace again?”

Dai Quan looked around and whispered, “The final blow has been struck. All officials associated with that person will be cleared out, no matter who they are!”

Li Hu was startled: “How did Wang Ziteng deal with it?”

Dai Quan was shocked: “Whose man is Wang Ziteng?”

Li Hu: “You don’t know?!”

Dai Quan asked anxiously: “How did you know?”

Li Hu reacted and realized that he had said the wrong thing.

Dai Quan stamped his feet: “Just tell me!”

Li Hu thought about it and replied: “Maybe I’m overthinking this.”

Dai Quan looked at him.

Li Hu: “When I was in Yangzhou, I heard something. Wang Ren, the son of Wang Ziteng, was having a hot relationship with the Second Prince’s people. The palace should know about this, right?”

Dai Quan was silent.

Li Hu was shocked that the Imperial Household Department didn’t know about this. His father-in-law was quite capable!
Lin Ruhai saved his life, and he said the wrong thing because he cared about him. Even if he was beheaded, their merits and demerits offset each other and they owed nothing to each other.

Thinking of this, the guilt in Li Hu’s heart was suppressed.

Well, I have to watch my mouth from now on!

Dai Quan spoke up: “Don’t tell anyone about this.”

Li Hu nodded.

Dai Quan suddenly remembered: “I just ran into He Shen, and he asked about you.”

Li Hu: “Oh? Where is this old guy?”

Dai Quan: “He should be at the Ministry of Rites now.”

Li Hu: “Okay, I’ll go take a look. Hey, can you give me a favor?”

Dai Quan: “What’s the matter?”

Li Hu smiled and said, “It’s not a big deal. I just want to ask you to help me get a few katydids that can sing louder than me.”

Dai Quan: “That thing won’t be available until July or August, it’s hard to find it now, right?”

Li Hu: “Don’t lie to me! Everyone in the capital knows that the royal family likes to fight crickets and grasshoppers! They must have good ones. I don’t want too much, just two top-quality ones.”

Dai Quan was puzzled: “What do you want that for?”

Li Hu smiled and whispered something in his ear.

Dai Quan’s eyes lit up.

Li Hu: “I heard that the Jurchens were incorporated into the Eight Banners. They don’t have to work or farm. They receive food and rice on a monthly basis. They are all supported by the Han people in Liaodong. You know that in Liaodong, the nobles can even listen to operas and so on. Ordinary Jurchens can only visit people and chat with them. They can brag all day. The Jurchens left in a hurry and didn’t take this good thing with them. You see, they have nothing to do, so they fight crickets and gamble. If they win, they can also supplement their family income. How great!”

Dai Quan: “What if we lose?”

Li Hu rolled his eyes: “It’s none of my business!”

Dai Quan laughed: “You are such a bad boy!”

Li Hu shook his head: “I am enriching their lives and letting them enjoy themselves! Hey, if it’s convenient, bring me a few cages of fighting crickets!” At this point, he smiled and said, “Autumn in Liaodong is fleeting, and these things are hard to find in winter. This way, we have another profitable business.”

Dai Quan laughed again: “You are so bad! If the emperor knew about this, he would definitely reward you with something.”

Li Hu looked at him: “This is the prince’s idea.”

Dai Quan hesitated for a moment before answering, “Okay, I’ll help you this time.”

Li Hu clasped his hands together: “Thank you, Prime Minister!”

Dai Quan sighed and walked straight towards the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Li Hu sighed silently, turned around and walked towards the right door.

In the distance, a carriage stopped outside the Ministry of Rites.

At this time, a red figure jumped down from the carriage and walked up the stone steps in front of the gate.

Li Hu was slightly startled. Why did Big Face Bao come? Zhen Baoyu walked back and forth in front of the door in a somewhat irritable manner, and from time to time he would stop and look inside.

Suddenly someone slapped him from behind and asked, “Why are you here?”

Zhen Baoyu was startled and looked back, only to see a smelly man who was wet and looked a little disheveled.

Zhen Baoyu looked at Li Hu with disdain, then backed away, covering his nose.

Li Hu was stunned. What do you mean?
At this time, the driver next to the carriage came over, raised his hand to Li Hu, and asked, “Who is this gentleman?”

Li Hu glanced at him and found he had never seen him before. He then turned to look at “Jia Baoyu” and seemed to understand something.

At this moment, the sound of many people talking and walking could be heard from inside.

Then, a group of red-robed officials came out of the Ministry of Rites, talking. One or two of them bowed to Li Hu, while more of them just folded their hands and walked out.

Li Hu nodded to the two officials, while the others ignored him.

“Lord Zhongyong!” Zhen Yingjia walked out with a smile on his face.

Li Hu clasped his hands together: “Master Zhen!”

Zhen Yingjia smiled and said, “You just came back? I heard it from Cun Zhou.”

Li Hu nodded and said, “I’m here to find the leader of the Jurchen envoys.”

Zhen Yingjia: “I am in the duty room with the chief envoy and talking to the minister.” Seeing Li Hu looking at Zhen Baoyu, he quickly introduced, “This is my son. Baoyu, why don’t you pay your respects to the uncle!”

“Yes.” Zhen Baoyu bowed to Li Hu reluctantly.

Li Hu smiled. He originally thought that Ping’er was biased towards Jia Baoyu. It seemed that Zhen Baoyu was indeed spoiled.

Thinking about this, Li Hu felt around his body. They were all things Lin Daiyu had embroidered for him. He couldn’t give them to others, so he said to the guard beside him, “Go back and tell Uncle San to make up for it with a gift and send it to his mansion.”

The bodyguard agreed and went.

Zhen Yingjia smiled and said, “You are too polite, Master. It is not worth the trouble.”

Li Hu waved his hand and said, “It’s not worth it. It’s just a gift for the younger generation.”

Zhen Yingjia was stunned. Junior?

Li Hu: “Master Zhen has entered the palace?”

Zhen Yingjia came back to his senses and said, “Yes.” Then he said, “The old concubine’s palace sent a message yesterday, asking me to take Baoyu to accompany the old concubine for dinner. I just came out.”

Li Hu nodded and asked, “Is the old concubine well?”

Zhen Yingjia smiled bitterly: “It’s still the same.”

As they were talking, He Shen came out in a hurry: “Hey! General Li!”

Li Hu smiled and said, “And Sir!”

He Shen smiled and said, “I was just about to invite you. Let’s go. We have reserved a private room in Taihe Tower. Let’s talk slowly while we eat.”

Li Hu made an apologetic expression to Zhen Yingjia and said, “I’ll treat Master Zhen to a drink in a couple of days.”

Zhen Yingjia smiled: “Uncle, please go first.”

Looking at the backs of Li Hu and He Shen going away, Zhen Yingjia shook his head. They were still too young and didn’t know how to avoid taboos! He turned his gaze to Zhen Baoyu and said with a gloomy face, “Damn evil creature, who were you showing your displeasure to just now? I’ll deal with you when I get back!”

Yangxindian

Emperor Yongchang closed a memorial he had approved and then raised his head: “Is this really the Crown Prince’s idea?”

Dai Quan: “I dare not deceive Your Majesty. This was the idea of ​​the Earl of Loyalty and Bravery.” He briefly explained the matter.

Emperor Yongchang was silent for a moment, then asked, “Is he trying to persuade me and the Crown Prince to reconcile?”

Dai Quan was silent for a moment, and then replied, “Li Hu was sent by His Majesty to be with the Crown Prince. He had to be loyal to His Majesty and assist the Crown Prince wholeheartedly. He was in a dilemma when something like this happened.” He paused, “He left the palace in the rain.”

Emperor Yongchang was stunned by what Dai Quan said.

Dai Quan had served Emperor Yongchang for decades and knew his temper. He knew that talking too much would not be good, so he stopped talking and picked up a handkerchief to wipe the imperial desk.

“Ah.” Emperor Yongchang sighed and stood up. “I know it’s difficult for you, and it’s difficult for me too. But the second brother’s matter is clearly about the crown prince and the queen.”

Dai Quan paused and sighed in his heart. The emperor was still unwilling to admit that it was his problem.

Emperor Yongchang walked around the palace with his hands behind his back.

Dai Quan was wiping the imperial desk while listening to the footsteps.

After walking around the hall, Emperor Yongchang walked back to the imperial desk and said, “Go, give the jade ruyi that I have placed in the upper study to the prince, and tell him to rest and recuperate, and not to worry too much.”

Dai Quan: “Yes.”

Emperor Yongchang: “Wait, investigate Wang Ziteng’s case thoroughly!”

Dai Quan: “I will send someone right away.”

Emperor Yongchang raised his hand and said, “Isn’t Wang Li in the capital?”

Dai Quan was stunned for a moment, then replied, “I will arrange it right away!”

(End of this chapter)