Chapter 739: 736: Disposal_1

Chapter 739: Chapter 736: Disposal_1

“What’s the use of punishing you! Will punishing you bring Mingrui back with Minister Lu?!” Li Mao’s voice was steady, his dark eyes gazing out of the window where the cold wind howled. After a moment, he spoke, “Is the old man still in Jiuchuan Alley?”

“Responding to the Left Prime Minister, he should still be there…” the counselor in white said.

“Go, bring the old man back so Minister Lu won’t suspect our residence when he discovers the old man’s skills!” the Left Prime Minister gritted his teeth. “Mingrui is in prison now. I’m afraid the Princess of Zhen may secretly kill him out of fear. You must have the old man protect Mingrui in secret without fail.”

“Yes! I will arrange it right away!” The counselor in white hurried out of the study to summon the old man from Jiuzhou Alley.

That old man was Li Mingrui’s lifesaver. Back when Li Mao wasn’t the Left Prime Minister, his wife took Li Mingrui home to visit relatives and encountered bandits on the road. It was the old man who risked his life to save them. When the old man woke up, he didn’t even know who he was. Li Mao’s wife and Li Mingrui brought him back and raised him respectfully in their residence all these years.

Although the old man didn’t obey the orders of the Li Mansion, he took special care of Li Mingrui, earning his son’s trust. Considering Mingrui’s safety, the old man would be willing to help this time.

·

Bai Jinxiu returned to Qinghui Courtyard, seeing the light was still on in the main house. She realized Bai Qingyan was still waiting for her. Not daring to delay, she lifted the curtain and looked inside at the screen: “Eldest Young Lady, you haven’t slept yet.”

Bai Qingyan, sitting under the light reading a bamboo slip, pinched her brow and asked, “How did the Crown Prince deal with Wang Qiulu?”

Bai Jinxiu stood by the bronze furnace glowing red with embers, rubbing her hands, “He had Minister Lu take him away. But today I heard the Crown Prince speaking with Minister Lu about Wang Qiulu, and I felt Wang Qiulu didn’t seem ignorant of the fact that Li Mingrui had saved him. After all, Eldest Young Lady, you had already told him. He also mentioned that the person who saved him used a false Liu Ruofu to control him. He seemed to lean towards you, but without more direct evidence, it is still hard to determine if Wang Qiulu has betrayed you.”

“No rush. Since Li Mingrui is involved with King Liang, we let the news slip to the Crown Prince. Naturally, the Crown Prince will keep Wang Qiulu to deal with King Liang! If Wang Qiulu still knows I am his master, this will be his chance for freedom! Otherwise… he can go see his father!” Bai Qingyan shook the bamboo slip in her hand, placing it aside neatly, “Tonight… I can finally sleep soundly!”

Bai Jinxiu rubbed her hands and walked around the screen, looking at the tired Bai Qingyan with a tender gaze: “You’ve worked hard, Eldest Young Lady. You haven’t had a good rest since we arrived.”

“It is you who are to be thanked for leaving Wang Geer to come take care of me. You will return tomorrow…” Bai Qingyan smiled at Bai Jinxiu, “In my state, I cannot endure travel and must stay in Dadu City for a few more days.”

The time when Dadu City received war reports from Daliang was faster than Shuoyang. Now Liu Hong and Bai Jinzhi’s army attacking Liang had halted at Yaoyang. If they linger too long, the Crown Prince might become annoyed, either recalling troops or cutting off supplies. Bai Qingyan was very worried.

·

The Crown Prince checked on his exhausted, sleeping Crown Princess Consort and looked at his plump legitimate son. Unable to resist, he yearned for Hongmei’s allure and went to her courtyard.

Quan Yu and the maids and eunuchs waited outside. All they could hear inside were the tender pleas for mercy, the voice so soft it could produce water. Even these eunuchs couldn’t help but be enticed.

After the clouds and rain subsided, the Crown Prince tidied his clothes while glancing at Hongmei, who lay weak and tear-streaked on the ornate bed, filled with satisfaction.

The golden candlelight, filtered through simple white gauze, cast a warm hue on Hongmei’s skin, which glowed like jade and was evanescently lustrous, making her irresistible.

“Your Highness is leaving?” Hongmei rose and hugged the Crown Prince from behind, her delicate limbs wrapping around his neck as she nestled into his arms, her tear-bright eyes looking up at him flirtatiously, “Today I waited especially in the front courtyard to congratulate Your Highness on the birth of your legitimate son. But all I heard was official business. I had so much to tell Your Highness. Now you finally came, you bully me and want to leave without listening to me. I won’t let you!”

The Crown Prince smiled, holding the beauty in his arms, pinching her nose: “What bad ideas does our Hongmei have? Speak, and I’ll listen.”

Hongmei, encouraged by his words, knelt beside him, tidying her hair, her bright eyes looking at the Crown Prince, “I overheard the Left Prime Minister’s son saying that King Liang ordered him to rescue Wang Qiulu. Your Highness had Minister Lu of the Court of Judicial Review take him away. I suppose you will inform His Majesty tomorrow morning?”

The Crown Prince looked at the beautiful woman kneeling on the bed, adjusting his clothes as he leaned back on the pillow, leisurely gazing at her: “Hongmei seems to have become a worm in my thoughts.”

“Your Highness!” Hongmei knelt closer, laying her head on the Crown Prince’s shoulder, whispering, “In my opinion, Your Highness should request an audience with His Majesty after court tomorrow to inform him of this, telling His Majesty… if you announce this publicly, King Liang will be doomed. You approached His Majesty privately because, after all, King Liang is your brother, His Majesty’s son. Thus, you seek His Majesty’s guidance on the matter.”

Hongmei carefully observed the Crown Prince’s expression, seeing him thoughtful. She added softly, “This way, His Majesty will see you as compassionate and considerate of his feelings, and you will gain his favor. Don’t you think so, Your Highness?”

The Crown Prince gazed at the flickering light from the crystal lamp, pondering Hongmei’s words.

Hongmei’s eyes sparkled as she continued to nestle closer, “I come from a commoner family and don’t know much about the Imperial Family. But from what I’ve seen, ordinary families hope for harmony among their descendants. His Majesty is an Emperor and a father! Don’t you think what I said makes sense? Isn’t it deserving of a reward?”

The Crown Prince finally looked at the warmth and softness in his arms, “So, Hongmei wants a reward!”

Hongmei’s tear-streaked eyes gleamed with allure and pride.