Chapter 263 Before Dark

The sun has set to the west.

Heshen was lying on a recliner by the window, with one foot, wearing an old cloth shoe with thousand-layer soles, swinging leisurely on the other leg.

A Kunqu opera was spread out on the low table beside him. Heshen tapped the beats of the music on the armrests with his fingers and hummed softly.

The door opened with a click, and Liu Quanxing rushed in, greeted Heshen, and then said with a smile: “My Lord is really amazing! That man named Mei is really the loyal prince’s man.”

He Shen sat up and said with a smile: “There will be a good show tonight.”

Liu Quan was puzzled.

He Shen: “If I’m not mistaken, those rumors about the Fourth Prince were spread by Prince Zhongshun, and they are all true. In addition, Prince Zhongshun has no evidence, otherwise the Fourth Prince would not dare to do so.”

Liu An’s eyes widened.

He Shen smiled and said, “The Fourth Prince must have a master behind him! This move of his is extremely sinister. Even if Mei would rather die than betray Prince Zhongshun, as long as he does not return home overnight, Prince Zhongshun will become suspicious, abandon him, or even kill him. After all, Mei is a Jinshi from the two imperial examinations, so he can figure this out.”

These words made Liu Quan look impressed.

He Shen: “If the Fourth Prince has a series of methods to provoke Prince Zhongshun, then there will be something interesting to watch.”

Liu Quan: “My Lord is saying, will Prince Zhongshun take action? Does he have the guts?!”

He Shen: “You can’t say that. After all, he is now the commander of the Infantry Commander’s Office and has soldiers under his command. Even a rabbit will bite if it gets angry.”

Liu Quan smiled and said, “If he really bites someone, it will be a lot of fun. We can also tell people about it as a joke when we get back.”

He Shen suppressed his smile and said, “Then add fuel to the fire.”

Liu Quan was stunned and looked at Heshen.

He Shen stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the sky in the distance: “Because of the system of negotiating silver for crimes, Prince Heshuo He escaped punishment, and I was promoted to Minister of Revenue by the emperor, but I offended Fu Kang’an and the Eight Banners nobles and generals behind him. They will not let me go.”

Liu Quan was shocked again: “Master”

He Shen: “Fukangan and others are the advocates of war, and they have always been full of complaints about the signing of the treaty between the two countries. The night before we set off, Fukangan was still advising His Majesty to recruit the Mongols to go south to plunder, solve the food crisis, and plunder people and property. Before coming here, he told the prince to find a way to deceive Fukangan and others. He got the contact information of Fukangan’s spies in the capital.”

Liu Quan: “Master, do you mean to let Fu Kang’an’s men assassinate Prince Zhongshun and stir up a fight between Prince Zhongshun and the Fourth Prince?”

He Shen: “It was to assassinate the fourth prince.”

Liu Quan was puzzled.

He Shen smiled and said, “The Fourth Prince is the son of the Emperor. Prince Zhongshun would not dare to take action unless he was forced into a desperate situation. After the Imperial City is closed, the Imperial Guards will not support the Fourth Prince’s mansion without an imperial decree. Only the Infantry Battalion under Prince Zhongshun can support the Fourth Prince. Swords have no eyes.”

Liu Quan hesitated for a moment and said, “What about us? Will the Han emperor hold this matter against us?”

He Shen: “I will go find a place to listen to the opera, and you go to arrange Fu Kang’an’s people. After dusk, we will go to Li Hu’s house for tea. The most important thing is to arrange someone to report the news before they take action. Do you understand?”

Outside the study room of Prince Zhongshun’s Palace

Master Mei was kicked from behind by the steward and fell to his knees.

Prince Zhongshun stood on the stone steps and looked at him: “Was your father really kidnapped by them?”

Master Mei crawled to his knees and replied aggrievedly, “To answer your question, my father was indeed forcibly taken away by the Fourth Prince’s men. As soon as I opened my mouth, I was slapped hard by the Fourth Prince’s men. If you don’t believe me, look, there are still finger marks on my face.”

Prince Zhongshun: “Was he kidnapped or invited to go?”

Mr. Mei: “Please, please leave.”

The manager kicked him and said, “Didn’t you say you kidnapped him?”

Prince Zhongshun said, “Okay, don’t hit him.” He then asked Master Mei, “Think again, did your father say anything before he left?”

Mr. Mei thought for a moment and replied, “It was a mess at the time and I didn’t pay much attention.”

Prince Zhongshun got angry: “Waste!”

Just then, a strong man in casual clothes hurried in and whispered something in King Zhongshun’s ear.

King Zhongshun’s face turned cold: “I want to see what the fourth brother and the others are going to do!”

Before he finished speaking, another man came in and reported to Prince Zhongshun: “Your Majesty, someone from the Mei family came and said that the wife of the Mei family is ill, and they want you to go back.” Prince Zhongshun thought for a moment and said to Prince Mei: “You can go back.”

Master Mei kowtowed and said, “Thank you, Your Highness, for your grace.” He got up and backed out.

“Wait.” Prince Zhongshun called him again, “Stay at home honestly. If I find out that you go out… Humph!”

Master Mei shuddered and said, “I understand.” Then he quickly retreated.

The steward approached Prince Zhongshun and asked, “Your Majesty, what should we do next?”

King Zhongshun did not respond, but just looked at the sun in the sky. The sun was as red as blood!

Just as the steward was about to speak, another man came in, sweating profusely, panting: “Your Majesty, there is news from the Censorate that the Fourth Prince had a very pleasant conversation with Imperial Censor Mei and that he admired Imperial Censor Mei’s talent very much. He does not believe that his family would do such a heinous thing.”

King Zhongshun’s expression changed: “What?!”

The manager was shocked: “Oh no, the Mei family!”

Prince Zhongshun also reacted: “Quick! Go and bring all the Mei family members here!”

Those strong men ran out like the wind.

The steward hesitated for a moment and said, “Your Majesty, we must prepare for the worst.”

Prince Zhongshun looked at him.

The manager said: “It seems that the Fourth Prince has planned everything. The people who came to pick up Master Mei just now should be the Fourth Prince’s people.”

King Zhongshun was so angry that he stood there gasping for breath: “What a little beast!”

The manager said: “Your Majesty, if you have green mountains, you will never run out of firewood. Things have come to this point, why don’t you…”

“How about this? Tell me, tell me.”

“Make peace with the Fourth Prince. After all, the prince is the commander of the Infantry Command Office and holds military power, which will be of great help to the Fourth Prince in his bid for the throne.”

Prince Zhongshun’s face immediately darkened: “Let me bow to that little bastard!”

The steward gritted his teeth and said, “It’s better than being confined in the clan house.”

Prince Zhongshun’s face turned green and yellow, and he looked up at the sky and thought for a long time. Suddenly he turned to the steward and said, “Go to the fourth brother and find out what he is saying for me. Let’s discuss the terms.”

The manager said, “Yes.” and walked out quickly.

The light in the hall dimmed, and lights were lit here again.

Emperor Yongchang walked in quickly and asked Dai Quan, who had been waiting in the hall, “What happened?”

Dai Quan: “All the members of the Mei family were taken to the residence of His Highness the Fourth Prince. Prince Zhongshun also sent someone to meet His Highness the Fourth Prince. It seems that he was there to negotiate peace.”

With a humph, Emperor Yongchang said: “Anything else?”

Dai Quan: “The rumors about the Crown Prince and the Second and Third Princes were not spread by the Fourth Prince’s people, nor were they done by Prince Zhongshun’s people.”

Emperor Yongchang’s eyes flashed: “That’s the third brother.”

Dai Quan hurriedly said, “It doesn’t seem to be the Third Prince either.”

Emperor Yongchang was stunned.

Dai Quan: “Your Highness has been busy with work in Hetao these days and has never left the Ministry of Works. He has always been surrounded by officials from the Ministry of Works.”

Emperor Yongchang was silent for a moment, then asked, “Any more news?”

Dai Quan: “He Shen went to Li Hu’s place.”

Emperor Yongchang: “Oh? What?”

Dai Quan: “Have some tea. But Li Hu is still eating at Rongqing Hall.”

Emperor Yongchang nodded.

(End of this chapter)