Chapter 270 April
A burst of clear bird song woke Li Hu from his thoughts. He stood up, walked to the window and opened the study window.

A gust of wind blew in, and Li Hu’s clothes immediately fluttered backwards, and the official documents on the desk were blown all over the floor.

In the blink of an eye, it is already April. The body of the Fourth Prince has been sent to the temporary resting place outside the imperial mausoleum, and Qian Xiaosi’s delegation also arrived at Luhe Posthouse in the suburbs of Beijing yesterday.

Although the Jurchens sent an envoy, fierce conflict broke out between the armies of both sides in the Liaoxi Corridor. The “buffer zone” demarcated years ago no longer existed. However, the commanders of both sides tacitly agreed not to escalate the conflict or make things difficult for the other side’s caravans.

The capital seemed calm, but in fact, there were undercurrents. The civil and military officials in the court had their own thoughts. The second prince was deposed, the fourth prince was killed, and the emperor only had the crown prince and the third prince. It seemed that there was an answer, but in fact, it was full of mystery. Anyone with a discerning eye could see that if the fourth prince had not died at the hands of the Jurchens, who would dare to take sides easily!

According to the rules, even if the crown prince died, he would only wear mourning clothes inside the Yuqing Palace, and then all officials would tie mourning belts around their waists and burn incense in front of the coffin. Other princes did not have this treatment, and the process was the same as that of ordinary people, they just had to change into plain clothes and go to pay tribute.

The emperor’s hair turned white, and all the civil and military officials were frightened. They tied mourning belts around their waists and rushed to burn incense and keep vigil, crying loudly, but no tears were shed.

There were also people who were truly sad, all of whom were officials who had surrendered to the Fourth Prince and planned to become his loyal subjects. Especially the newly appointed Duke of Yansheng, Kong Xiaoer, who arrived in less than three days after traveling thousands of miles, and cried so sadly that those who didn’t know would have thought his ancestral grave had been dug up.

In addition, ordinary people are also living in fear.

People died in the capital every day. There were spies from the Jurchens and Mongols, remnants of the White Lotus Sect, and many more people of unknown identities. Even several of Ni Er’s men died. The other party was ruthless and every sword attack was fatal. It was obvious that they were sentinels of the border army.

Li Hu was lost in thought when he heard someone outside the window say, “What are you thinking about, Master?”

Li Hu came to his senses and saw Amber coming with a food box.

Amber came in carrying a food box and said with a smile, “Second Master, please eat.” Then she placed a bowl of rice, four bowls of vegetables and a bowl of soup on the desk.

At this time, Li Hu sat on the chair again, “Have you, Miss, and the Third and Fourth Misses eaten?”

Amber smiled and said, “Second Miss, Bao Miss, Qin Miss and Shi Miss are all here. They are having dinner at the waterside pavilion now.” She then handed a pair of chopsticks to Li Hu.

Li Hu smiled bitterly. Jia Tanchun and Jia Xichun had not returned yet. In the meantime, no one from the Jia family came except Jia Baoyu who accompanied Wang Xifeng and Jia Yingchun. However, Xue Baochai often came with her sister Xue Baoqin to show her face, to talk to Lin Daiyu, and to talk about the caravan.

Beautiful women are pleasing to the eyes, but they are also a nuisance!
Since Jia Tanchun and Jia Xichun moved into Lin Daiyu’s house, Li Hu has never been to Lin Daiyu’s courtyard again. Occasionally, Lin Daiyu would come over to chat with him, or they would meet in the back garden and stroll along the lakeside path to enjoy the scenery.

If I continue like this, my place will become the Grand View Garden.

No, I can’t let these little girls continue to harm me. I have to pack them all up and send them away tonight.

Amber seemed to have seen through Li Hu’s thoughts and continued, “I asked Xiangling to find out. The second lady and her friends are here to take the third and fourth ladies back home.”

Li Hu was delighted: “Really?”

“The third and fourth girls’ things have been packed.”

Amber picked up the documents on the brick floor and said as she sorted them out, “It is said that Madam Wang Ziteng’s birthday is in two days. Although there can’t be a banquet or opera, the Second Mistress and the Concubine still need to take Mrs. Lian, the Second Miss, the Third Miss, the Fourth Miss, Miss Bao, and Master Bao to sit down and talk for a while.”

Li Hu smiled. Mrs. Wang’s train of thought was simply too bizarre. She didn’t pay attention to things that should be taken seriously, and her focus was on trivial matters that were insignificant. The fourth prince’s coffin had been sent to the imperial mausoleum. Although they still couldn’t have a banquet or sing opera, they could visit relatives and friends, and they should also go to the Zhen family to ease the relationship. It had been two days, and I hadn’t heard that the second house had made any comments.

But he heard that the old lady of the Zhen family went to the palace early in the morning and was sure to file a complaint.

At this time, Li San walked in with a letter.

Amber bowed slightly and said softly, “Third uncle.”

Li San smiled and nodded, then handed the letter to Li Hu.

Li Hu took the letter and tore it open. Wang Ziteng was back!
After seeing Wang Ziteng off, Dai Quan returned to the upper study and saw Emperor Yongchang still standing by the window looking out. He picked up the tea bowl on the imperial desk and said softly, “Your Majesty.”

Emperor Yongchang raised his hand and said, “What do you think, Wang Ziteng is okay?”

Dai Quan thought for a moment and replied, “When you reach the mountain, there will always be a way out. It depends on whether Wang Ziteng has the courage and determination to do so.” Emperor Yongchang nodded and asked, “How is the investigation going?”

Dai Quan: “We have made some discoveries. There were indeed remnants of the evil that survived.”

Emperor Yongchang: “Which one?”

Dai Quan was silent for a moment, then replied, “The family of the deposed Crown Princess is the Zhang family of the Linjiang Marquisate.”

Emperor Yongchang was stunned at first, then his eyes flashed with a fierce light, and he said coldly: “Dig three feet deep to find it for me!”

Dai Quan: “Yes.” He then said: “News has come from Luhe Posthouse that it has been confirmed that the deputy envoy is the fifteenth son of the Tartar emperor, Aisin-Gioro Yongyan.”

Emperor Yongchang was surprised: “Oh? A brother and a son, it seems that the Tartar emperor is still very sincere!”

Dai Quan smiled and said, “The harvest in Liaodong is really bad this year. It rained for a month straight last month, and the crops in the fields are in trouble.”

Emperor Yongchang also laughed.

Dai Quan: “The spy also found an acquaintance in the delegation.”

Emperor Yongchang: “Who?”

Dai Quan: “Bai Hongzhi.”

Emperor Yongchang turned around and looked at Dai Quan.

Dai Quan: “This guy is now an aide to Yongyan’s mansion, and seems to be highly valued.”

With a snort, Emperor Yongchang said: “Traitor!”

Dai Quan hesitated for a moment and whispered, “Do we need to get rid of him?”

Emperor Yongchang raised his hand and said, “No! Now is not the time to start a war. I just want to tear off a piece of fat meat from the Jurchens.”

Dai Quan felt relieved when he heard this, and then said, “Please ask the Ministry of Rites for instructions. When will the Jurchen envoys arrive in Beijing? What kind of reception will they receive? Who will be responsible for this matter?”

Emperor Yongchang rolled his eyes and said, “Leave this matter to Li Hu.”

Dai Quan was slightly stunned, and then asked: “What specifications?”

Emperor Yongchang smiled and said, “Let Li Hu handle it.”

Dai Quan understood and replied with a smile, “Yes.”

At this moment, the eunuch on duty came in hurriedly with an urgent package with chicken feathers stuck on it: “Your Majesty, it’s from Yangzhou, express delivery of 600 miles.”

Emperor Yongchang took it, tore open the seal and read it. After reading a few lines, his face turned gloomy.

Dai Quan looked at the emperor in surprise.

Emperor Yongchang threw the urgent document onto the imperial desk and said, “What a waste! He actually let some remnants of the Salt Gang escape!”

Dai Quan was shocked.

(End of this chapter)