As Shen Zhongyu followed his escort to the main courtyard, he saw Li Fengqi seated by a window, closely examining a painting.
He approached and bowed respectfully. Glancing at the painting, he recognized that it depicted Emperor Zhao Kuangyin donning the imperial yellow robes. Immediately, he more clearly understood that the reply letter was indeed just a test. Prince Yong’an's ambitions were clearly laid out in this painting.
Seeing Shen Zhongyu's arrival, Li Fengqi casually rolled up the painting scroll and set it on the table. His expression grew serious as he took the initiative to speak. "What brings you to my palace, cousin?"
Seeing that Li Fengqi was still acting, Shen Zhongyu felt a surge of disdain. Yet, he maintained a smile as he said, "Why must the Prince continue testing me again and again? The Shen family and the Yong’an Palace have been inseparable for generations. If you can't trust me, then can't you trust my aunt either?"
When Li Fengqi heard Shen Zhongyu mention the Elder Wangfei, his eyes turned slightly cold. However, he showed just a little amount of hesitation on his face. "I haven't seen my cousin in years, and there hasn't been any contact between the palace and the Shen family for a long time. Naturally, I'd be a little vigilant when you suddenly write to discuss important matters." He added with an air of uncertainty, "Otherwise, what if my dear cousin is actually here as a spy for Li Zong?"
His intentions having been exposed in one sentence, Shen Zhongyu was shocked, and his expression became slightly stiff. But seeing Li Fengqi’s casual demeanor, Shen Zhongyu breathed a sigh of relief—obviously, Li Fengqi had just said this casually. With a smile, he replied, "Why would the Prince think like that? These thoughts are unkind. If we’re talking about closeness, then naturally I am closer to the Prince."
"I’m just saying these words casually. It's been so long since we last met—how could I tell whether you've become a person or a dog?" Li Fengqi smiled, patting Shen Zhongyu's arm, and said, "Better safe than sorry, after all."
“?”
Shen Zhongyu vaguely sensed that he might have been scolded, but upon seeing Li Fengqi's relaxed expression, it didn't seem intentional. In the end, he could only suppress the strange feeling in his heart, deciding that perhaps Li Fengqi’s mood swings were becoming more erratic. After all, many people have said that Prince Yong'an's temper was unpredictable.
"Then, is the Prince willing to believe me now?"
Bending down even closer to Li Fengqi, Shen Zhongyu whispered in a low voice, "Your Highness, you have made outstanding contributions over the years. However, not only does that little emperor take all the credit without lifting a finger., he even wants to cast you aside like an old bow once the bird has been killed. Don't you want revenge? We have tens of thousand soldiers outside the city walls. With just one order from you, Your Highness, I could..." His words trailed off as he made a swift slicing motion across his throat.
"If the monarch is unjust, it is heaven's will for the Prince to take his place!"
"Of course this Prince wants to consider it," Li Fengqi suddenly sighed and turned his wheelchair away, facing the opposite direction. "But lately, I've been having recurring dreams—dreams of someone stabbing me in the back. It leaves me more and more uneasy, afraid that someone would betray me..."
Seeing Li Fengqi's hesitant attitude, Shen Zhongyu grew more anxious. ‘Why haven’t I heard about Prince Yong'an being so indecisive before?’
He gritted his teeth. All he could do was continue coaxing him with sweet words and promises. Finally, to win Li Fengqi’s trust, he revealed the location of a newly discovered iron mine on the border between the provinces of Jializhou and Xiyuzhou. Generously, he declared that as long as Li Fengqi started an uprising, he would be willing to hand over control of the iron mine as a gesture of his sincerity.
Behind a folding screen, Zhu Lie and Wu Geng gasped in unison.
Damn! A newly discovered iron mine!
What a find!
"What was that noise?" Shen Zhongyu had been speaking passionately, his blood boiling with conviction, when he heard a strange sound. His nose twitched as an intense food aroma wafted through the air.
“???”
The smell had been there when he entered, but his mind had been focused on convincing Li Fengqi, so he hadn't paid it any attention. Now that he realized what was going on, he found it odd—why would there be the scent of food in this room? He looked at the screen where the sound came from with suspicion, finally noticing something wasn't right. He hesitated before turning to Li Fengqi. "Prince, behind that screen...?"
Li Fengqi let out a surprised "ah." "So you've only just noticed now, Minister Shen?"
He clapped his hands, and two servants came in to remove the screen. Four people were revealed standing behind it, along with a pot of bubbling hotpot, its fragrant steam filling the room.
"We were having hotpot before you arrived."
Ye Yunting said with a smile, "Would you like to join the meal, Minister Shen?"
"..."
Shen Zhongyu looked at Li Fengqi, then at the steaming hotpot, suddenly realizing something. His mind exploded with thoughts as he pointed a trembling finger at Li Fengqi. "Y-you knew all along!"
Li Fengqi had been deliberately trying to trick him, even treating him like a circus monkey. How dare he humiliate him like this!
Shen Zhongyu's eyes reddened, his chest heaving.
Li Fengqi, more innocent than Shen Zhongyu himself, asked with a smile, "Cousin, what should I have known?"
"..." Shen Zhongyu glared at him but couldn't utter a single question. He saw Li Fengqi's smug face and thought about that revealed iron mine. A salty, fishy feeling filled his throat, impossible to spit out or swallow.
How laughable he'd been—thinking that once Li Fengqi died, his knowledge of the iron ore location would be useless, and the mine would still belong to him. But it turned out he had only played into their hands. Not only had he been made a fool in front of everyone, but he'd also lost an entire iron mine!
A whole mine full of high-quality iron ore!
Shen Zhongyu pressed a hand against his chest as darkness swam before his eyes. He felt like he might pass out at any moment.
"What's wrong, Cousin?" Li Fengqi asked, looking at him calmly. His tone was concerned, but he didn't even stretch out his hand to help. "Is it your heart again? Should I call for a doctor?"
Shen Zhongyu clutched his chest, so angry he could hardly see straight. He glanced at the four people sitting at the table, their faces flushed red.
But in the end, he didn't lose his temper with Li Fengqi. The emperor had given him this task, and failing to complete it was bad enough. Causing a scene in Yong’an Palace would only make things worse.
"No need," Shen Zhongyu said through gritted teeth, forcing a smile. "I'll just go home and rest for a couple of days."
"Then you should hurry back and get some rest," Li Fengqi said, sounding genuinely concerned. "Cousin, you're not getting any younger. You have to take care of yourself. We wouldn't want you dropping dead suddenly like Old Chen did. Then Beizhao would lose one of its pillars!"
"...Your Highness worries too much," Shen Zhongyu replied, barely able to maintain his fake smile. Old Chen had been eighty-seven when he "suddenly" passed away! He himself was only thirty-six.
Li Fengqi was clearly cursing Shen Zhongyu to an early grave!
Shen Zhongyu couldn't stay a moment longer. He made a hasty farewell and headed for the door. Li Fengqi saw him off a few steps into the yard and called out, "Next time Cousin finds another iron or silver mine, remember to let me know."
"..." Shen Zhongyu stumbled, but didn't look back. Clutching his chest, he walked faster instead.
Smiling broadly, Li Fengqi turned around and looked at Ye Yunting with delight. "We've gained an iron mine out of nowhere. The Eldest Young Master truly brings me good luck."
Ye Yunting glanced at him without replying, but he did place a piece of cooked mutton onto Li Fengqi's plate.
Even hotpot couldn't shut that man up.
Zhu Lie, hearing this exchange, quietly whispered to Wu Geng again, "Don't we owe thanks to Old Man Shen for finding these mines?" Why did the Prince say it was Wangfei who brought him luck?
Wu Geng looked at Zhu Lie with a sympathetic glance, thinking, ‘After all these days in the palace, you still don't get it? The prince is obviously flirting with his consort.’ Truly, Zhu Lie deserved those frequent punishments. Downing the wine in his cup in one gulp, he stood up and said, "This subordinate suddenly remembers some unfinished business. I'll take my leave now."
With that, he kicked Zhu Lie, who was about to continue eating, and made a swift exit.
Zhu Lie: ???
Wu Geng walked away, while Zhu Lie looked at Ji Lian beside him, who hadn't moved an inch and was still enjoying his meal. After a moment's hesitation, Zhu Lie decided to continue eating too, feeling perfectly content.
‘What could be so important at Wu Geng that he didn't even eat their hotpot? Serves him right for working too much.’
Looking at the two troublesome guys shoveling food with no sign of moving anytime soon, Li Fengqi leaned over and whispered in Ye Yunting's ear, "Ji Lian is young. How did he turn out just like Zhu Lie?"
‘If he keeps having no sense at all, he'll never be able to find a wife in the future.’
He had just drunk some wine, and the faint aroma of the mare’s milk was still on his lips and teeth as he spoke. Ye Yunting gave him a look, pushed his head away slightly, and added another piece of meat to his plate. "Eat your meat."
Reluctantly, Li Fengqi sat back down and ate from the communal pot meant for four people without any appetite. He couldn't help glaring at the clueless pair across from them. Seeing that the two of the were still eating together, he snorted coldly. "After we finish eating, Zhu Lie, go deliver a message to Wu Geng. Tell him I'm adding ten taels of extra silver to his salary this month."
Zhu Lie: ???
Zhu Lie’s expression instantly became attentive. "What about me?"
If Wu Geng were to get extra silver, shouldn't he get some too?
"You're getting five taels less!" Li Fengqi sneered.
He didn’t dare punish Ji Lian, but surely he could dare teach Zhu Lie a lesson?
"!!!" Zhu Lie shot up, setting down his chopsticks and running off. "I'm full. I'll go tell Wu Geng right away."
As he ran, he muttered angrily to himself. How can the Prince be so unfair?! Not giving extra money is fine, but he even wants to give me a deduction!
*
Meanwhile, Shen Zhongyu left the Prince's palace and returned to his camp outside the city. As he went, he gradually calmed down. How could he explain to the little emperor that the mission had failed?
Li Fengqi's failure was one thing, but he couldn't let it create doubts in the young ruler's mind about him.
The Nieyang's commandery was strong on the surface but weak at heart, while the Shen family was even worse. If it weren’t for this, he wouldn't have supported the emperor of his own accord. Only by following the emperor and achieving success in suppressing the rebellion could the Shen family hope to recover its former glory.
He gritted his teeth, thought hard for a long time, then rode his horse back toward the palace.
At the imperial residence:
Li Zong continued to feign serious injury and unconsciousness, but in truth, he was secretly waiting for news from Shen Zhongyu. He was growing weary of lying in bed day after day pretending to be sick. Just as he was starting to by annoyed at why Shen Zhongyu hadn't made a move yet, Cui Xi announced, "Your Majesty, Minister Shen requests an audience."
"Admit him," Li Zong said, his spirits lifting as he sat up.
Outside, Shen Zhongyu followed behind Cui Xi and entered. Upon seeing the emperor, he performed a deep bow and took responsibility for his failure. "I have not completed Your Majesty's instructions. Please punish me severely."
Li Zong frowned, displeased. However, since Shen Zhongyu had already taken the blame himself, it would be inappropriate to rebuke him further. Narrowing his eyes, he looked closely at Shen Zhongyu and asked sternly, "What happened?"
Shen Zhongyu omitted mentioning the unreported iron mine and exaggerated the humiliation he had suffered at Yong’an Palace. He concluded angrily, "It's my incompetence that led to failing to complete Your Majesty's instruction."
"It has nothing to do with you. Li Fengqi has always been cunning," Li Zong said with a grim smile. "I'm curious though—how did he figure out it was a trap?"
Shen Zhongyu also suspected something must have gone wrong somewhere, but no matter how many times he reviewed his actions, he couldn't find any mistakes.
Li Zong’s eyes flickered as he ruminated on who might have have tipped off Li Fengqi.
In the midst of his thoughts, Cui Xi interrupted again. "Your Majesty, Minister Qiao requests an audience."
Li Zong instinctively wanted to lie back down and pretend illness, but then thought that Li Fengqi wasn't taking the bait anyway. There was no point in continuing the act now. With a wave of his hand, he said, "Let him enter."
=== Author's Notes ===
77: My wife will help me get rich +3+
Tingting: *rolls eyes*
=== Translator's Notes ===
So. Uh. It's been a while. *hides*
Sorry though. My last semester is murdering me. I'm dead.
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