Chapter 134

Chapter 134

Prince An received this news and couldn't contain his joy.

He hastily summoned his advisors for a discussion.

Prince An: "Lao Liu is truly ruthless. She was someone who bore him children, and he killed her just like that."

Prince An said this with his mouth only, but in his heart, he quite agreed.

If this were him, his knife would have been a lot faster than Prince Jing's.

He wouldn't have let Yun die under the title of Shu Fei either.

A traitor who bit the hand that fed her—did she deserve to be respected by future generations?!

The news that Shufei Yun had colluded with Princess Su to harm Xie Run was exactly what Prince An had passed on to Prince Jing.

"It's just a pity the message was delivered a bit late. Lao Liu had already sensed something was off and had a falling out with the eldest brother."

"If it had been a step earlier, the two brothers would have had an even uglier falling out."

Prince An found it a pity.

An advisor said, "Your Highness, why not invite Prince Jing over again to discuss important matters?"

Prince An frowned: "Why would I invite Lao Liu? He's in the middle of a fight with the eldest brother. If I get involved, the eldest brother won't let me off the hook!"

The advisor said helplessly, "Prince Jing and Prince Su are blood brothers, after all. Whatever Prince Su is up to, Prince Jing must know a thing or two about it."

"Isn't Your Highness worried about the disaster relief assignment?"

"If you ask Prince Jing, you might get some new info. You just did him a big favor, so Prince Jing probably won't find it easy to refuse you."

Prince An pondered: "That's true, but I've stuck my nose into Lao Liu's family business. He might not have said anything, but I'm afraid he's already unhappy about it deep down."

Prince An was no fool. He definitely wouldn't think that by tipping off Prince Jing about Yun's collusion with Prince Su's household, Prince Jing would be grateful to him.

Before the advisor could say anything, Prince An suddenly laughed: "I've got a way."

"Since it's a family matter, I'll handle it the way you handle family matters."

"Isn't it just that Lao Liu lost a favorite concubine? At worst, I'll just give him another one to make up for it!"

That very night, Prince An booked out the entire Drunken Sky Pavilion and hosted Prince Jing by himself.

Prince Jing had been waiting for this chance too.

When they were both full of wine and food, Prince Jing's eyes half-lowered, he watched the beautiful dancers in the hall.

Slender waists swaying gracefully, full of charm and allure.

As their eyes darted around, they were soul-stealing, like living seductresses.

Prince An raised his wine cup and smiled: "Xiao Liu, your elder brother made you lose a beloved concubine. How about I give you another one now?"

Prince Jing's drunken eyes stared at the dancer, as if bewitched by her beauty.

Prince An raised his hand, and the dancer spun around, her skirt blooming like a lotus. With steps that seemed to make lotuses bloom, she slowly walked over to Prince Jing.

Prince An: "This woman is named Lian Ji, the top courtesan at Drunken Sky. Today is her debut night."

"What do you think of her, Sixth Brother?"

Lian Ji held a wine cup, her eyes full of tenderness. She gracefully bowed, then poured wine for Prince Jing.

Prince Jing didn't say anything, just kept drinking cup after cup.

Suddenly he said: "Fifth Brother treats me well—I know it in my heart."

Prince An's heart leaped with joy, but he put on a worried look: "Lao Liu, about the matter between you and the eldest brother, it's this elder brother's fault."

When he heard Prince Su's name, Prince Jing seemed very angry.

"Why does Fifth Brother bring him up? A ruthless, cold-hearted, ungrateful bastard. Just hearing his name makes me sick!"

Prince An could only comfort him a bit.

Seeing that Prince Jing's anger had subsided a lot, he then asked as if casually: "Jiangnan is a good place, but the eldest brother doesn't seem to like it much."

Prince Jing, his face bright red, let out a scornful laugh, seeming really drunk.

He murmured: "Of course he doesn't care about Jiangnan. What he wants is that position in the palace!"

"Once you and I are gone, it'll be his world!"

Prince An, who was just about to fish for information, was so startled by these words that his soul trembled.

After having Lian Ji help Prince Jing leave, Prince An immediately went to discuss with his advisor.

"What does Lao Liu mean by that?!"

Prince An's expression was serious as he said cautiously, "Could it be that the eldest brother plans to stage a coup while we're all out of the capital?!"

The advisor stroked his beard: "It's not out of the question."

"Prince Su grows stronger every day, yet His Majesty favors the Eighth Prince, taking him along to several sacrificial ceremonies, with the intention of making him Crown Prince."

"Prince Su is proud and arrogant by nature, so he probably can't accept this."

"Rather than wait for the Emperor to make the Eighth Prince the Crown Prince—which would make any move illegitimate—it's better for Prince Su to stage a coup first, turning passivity into initiative."

Prince An's heart was beating fast: "This news... should we tell Father Emperor?"

"Absolutely not!" The advisor immediately stopped him. "Does Your Highness have any evidence?"

"If the news leaks now, Prince Su can change his plans at any time. Then Your Highness, as the one who tipped him off, would really be caught in the middle."

"Then what am I supposed to do?"

"Between Prince Su and His Majesty, who does Your Highness think will win?"

Prince An's blood was almost boiling: "Naturally, Father Emperor!"

"Though Father Emperor is foolish and lustful, he's always controlled the court and the military. How could he possibly fall just like that?!"

The advisor said softly, "Then Your Highness should pretend you don't know anything. When Prince Su stages his coup, you can earn merit for saving the Emperor."

Prince An's eyes lit up: "This plan is great!"

He wouldn't have to put his life on the line, either.

The next day, Prince Jing brought Lian Ji back to the manor.

He told the Princess, "Have her settled in Luoshuang Courtyard, and assign two servants to look after her well."

Luoshuang Courtyard was the rear section nearest the front courtyard.

He also made a point of ordering someone to watch over her.

This move showed unusual favor.

After all, when Shiqie Fang had served him the morning after their first night, Prince Jing hadn't even left a word.

But Prince Jing favoring a brothel dancer—the Princess wasn't too happy about that.

The Princess's fortunes were tied to Prince Jing's.

If Prince Jing favored a low-born dancer, the manor's reputation would take a hit too, and the Princess would surely be mocked at future banquets.

How could she be happy?

The Princess was even more concerned that Prince Jing might be led astray by beauty and act out of line.

Lian Ji's arrival also stirred up unrest in the rear quarters.

One nice day, Shiqie Lu went to visit Xie Run and broached the subject of Lian Ji.

"I hear the Princess is pretty unhappy with this Shiqie Lian. They say she's alluring and seductive, even more than Shiqie Han was back in the day."

Xie Run was working on a tiger-head cap for her child, just poking at it with needle and thread.

At that, she smiled and said, "A beauty? Who doesn't like a beauty?"

"The Prince is a man; it's only natural he'd be taken in by a pretty face."

Shiqie Lu, who'd been snacking on melon seeds, felt the words didn't sit right.

"Shufei Xie doesn't mind?"

Xie Run shook her head. "New people coming into the household is nothing new. What's there to care about or not care about? The important thing is to live your own life well."

Shiqie Lu smiled. "I really envy how open-minded Shufei Xie is."

"I just don't take anything to heart—I'm not very ambitious."

Shiqie Lu naturally didn't dare to say the same, so she raised another topic: "A lot of people in the household look down on Shiqie Lian for her low origins, saying that serving the Prince alongside her drags down their own standing."

Xie Run paused to think. "Who in the household would say that? Probably only Shufei Fang, right?"

Shiqie Lu pressed her lips together. "You said it."