latelenovela Chapter 201 An Unexpected Person
Chapter 201 An Unexpected Person
Chapter 201 201 An Unexpected Person
Inside the Right Prime Minister's study, two men in black, completely soaked, removed their veils, revealing their true faces to Shi Zhenghan.
Shi Zhenghan carefully examined the aged face of one of them, raised his eyebrows slightly, and said:
"I never expected that the person blocking my way would be you, Prince Yue."
With an old man's face, Prince Yue gave an unnatural smirk and said, "The Right Prime Minister has a good eye."
"The Emperor goes north for the autumn hunt and performs a ritual to pray for blessings and offer sacrifices to Heaven. All the princes or vassal kings in the fiefdoms must accompany him north. Logically, Prince Yue should be on his way to the capital at this time, but I did not expect that Your Highness would be in such a hurry and arrive in the capital ahead of me." Shi Zhenghan said slowly, "I wonder what brings Prince Yue to see me at this moment?"
“The Right Chancellor’s insight is always so sharp,” Prince Yue said. “Since the late Emperor was alive, the person I admire most in the court is the Right Chancellor. The Right Chancellor is pragmatic, knows when to advance and retreat, and is best at analyzing the situation and choosing the most advantageous path for himself. Moreover, he has never failed from beginning to end. I truly admire him.”
"Your Highness is too kind. Such praise is too much for me," Shi Zhenghan replied calmly.
"Prime Minister, there's no need to be nervous. I've come today simply to make a friend." Prince Yue, disregarding his wet clothes, casually sat down in the chair.
Shi Zhenghan frowned slightly, then smiled and said, "Prince Yue risked being discovered by His Majesty to arrive in the capital ahead of time. I'm afraid he wants more than just to make friends with me, right?"
Having said all that, further negotiation was futile, so Prince Yue simply said:
"Indeed, my purpose in coming here today is not simply to make friends."
Shi Zhenghan poured a cup of hot tea for Prince Yue and said, "I would like to hear the details."
Prince Yue took a sip of hot tea and slowly said, "It has been twenty-seven years since the Right Chancellor entered the court, hasn't it? Twenty-seven years, although the Right Chancellor has ascended to the position of Prime Minister, he still does not hold any real power. Do you feel... content with that?"
After saying this, Prince Yue raised his head and looked at Shi Zhenghan. Although he was wearing a human skin mask, his gaze was like a sharp arrow, hitting Shi Zhenghan's vitals.
But Shi Zhenghan was always deep in thought. He lowered his eyes and drank his tea without showing any emotion, then smiled and said, "No matter what official position I hold, no matter what rank I am in, as long as I am an official in the court, what I care about is the common people and the people of the world."
Prince Yue clearly didn't believe his explanation. He simply looked into Shi Zhenghan's eyes and said, "I know Prime Minister Shi's secret. This secret is earth-shattering and intolerable to the Emperor and even the entire palace. The Right Prime Minister has kept it tightly under wraps for so many years, not wanting the world to know, and probably doesn't want it to all fall apart at this crucial moment, does he?"
Shi Zhenghan's pupils contracted, and he unconsciously clenched his fists, his gaze turning cold: "Prince Yue, let's not beat around the bush. What brings you here today?"
“I know that the Right Chancellor has been secretly supporting the Fourth Prince and disdainful of the Crown Prince. Don’t blame me for speaking out, but the Right Chancellor’s choice this time will probably come to nothing,” said Prince Yue.
"Based on my understanding of my elder brother, as long as the Crown Prince doesn't commit a grave error against Heaven, no matter how incompetent he may be, he will inevitably be the one to sit on that throne, and it must be him. The fourth prince is indeed capable, but a son born of a concubine is still a son born of a concubine, and he can never compete with the status of a legitimate son. I advise him to give up on that idea as soon as possible."
Shi Zhenghan smiled faintly and said, "So, what does Prince Yue mean?"
“Your Majesty is getting old and is no longer able to handle state affairs. The Crown Prince is too impetuous and lacks the ability to manage his subordinates. We cannot allow the prosperous empire built by our ancestors to be lost here. Right Chancellor, would you be willing to lend me a hand?” Although Prince Yue’s voice was not loud, it exploded in Shi Zhenghan’s ears like a thunderclap.
Shi Zhenghan narrowed his eyes, his gaze extremely cold: "Is Prince Yue plotting a rebellion?"
Prince Yue said, "Don't put it so harshly. It's not treason, it's purging the court and bringing about a new generation."
Shi Zhenghan said, "How can you be so sure that I, your prince, will help you?"
Prince Yue said, "Because of the secret you possess. Of course, I am not threatening the Right Chancellor; I am merely offering him a good suggestion. Whether he takes it or not is up to him."
As soon as he finished speaking, Shi Zhenghan immediately felt an invisible pressure coming towards him. He clenched his fists and sat there, looking at Prince Yue with uncertain emotions, feeling extremely tormented.
Shi Zhenghan wasn't the kind of person to be fickle and treacherous. Having chosen Chunyu Jing, he had reasons he couldn't abandon him. He also didn't believe Prince Yue possessed his secret; after all, those who once knew were now in hell. But he couldn't afford to gamble. If Prince Yue truly revealed the truth to the Emperor, he feared he wouldn't even have a proper burial, and it might even implicate others…
How to do it?
“I do not expect the Right Chancellor to answer now. I have been staying at Wangjiang Tower these days. Once the Right Chancellor has thought it through, he may come to Wangjiang Tower to find me at any time.”
After saying this, Prince Yue put the gauze hat back on and got up with the other man in black and walked out.
Shi Zhenghan did not get up to see him off, but sat there with his brows furrowed until it was getting late and a maid came into the study to light the lamp, at which point he suddenly came back to his senses.
No, he has to go out!
——※※※——
Night fell over the bustling and magnificent city of Beijing. After a busy day, everyone was rushing home to eat and rest. The once bustling streets were deserted, appearing unusually quiet.
"Goo-goo-"
Just then, a gray pigeon flew through the night, crossed the overlapping rooftops, and finally arrived at a courtyard, landing in front of a door painted vermilion.
The door creaked open from the inside, and a pair of exquisitely embroidered shoes stepped out and walked toward the gray carrier pigeon.
She picked up the pigeon, examined its feathers, and only after confirming that there was nothing wrong with it did she look for the letter tube on its leg.
After taking down the letter tube, she released the pigeon back into the air, turned around and went back into the room. She then brought the mouth of the letter tube close to the candle flame and slowly melted the sealing wax on it.
After the wax seal disappeared, the secret letter in the mailbox fell into her palm. She opened the letter and carefully read it by the light.
After reading it, the expression on her face, which was covered in scars, became somewhat ferocious.
Ji Hongbo actually handled Ronghualou's affairs without informing her, especially by ordering Ronghualou to close down and avoid trouble. He really didn't respect her at all.
A hand reached out and snatched the secret letter from her hand.
"What are you so engrossed in? Can't you even hear what I'm saying?" Chunyu Jing teased, carefully examining the contents of the secret letter. After reading it, he said:
Who is the deputy master of Ronghua Tower?
"His name is Ji Hongbo. I really can't remember where we met. I only know that he was barely alive, covered in blood, and motionless, as if he were dead..."
Ye Yingrou sighed softly and told Chunyu Jing how she met Ji Hongbo and how she saved him.
Chunyu Jing played with Ye Yingrou's hair and asked, "Rou'er, why did you, a weak woman, choose to create an organization like Ronghua Tower?"
"It's because..." Ye Yingrou was about to say when a light knock came from outside the door.
"Your Highness, I have something important to report."
Chunyu Jing said, "Come in."
The guard who came to announce the arrival quickly entered and whispered in Chunyu Jing's ear:
"Your Highness, the Right Chancellor has arrived."