Chapter 943: 54: The Great Examination (Part 3)

Chapter 943: Chapter 54: The Great Examination (Part 3)

After finishing everything, he finally spoke and asked the butler to bring the telegram.

Taking the telegram from the box, Xiao Ruixing glanced at it casually and then slightly frowned, his expression turning serious.

He repeatedly looked over the telegram several times before slowly putting it down.

He knew that Lu Wenzheng invited Xiao Xiuyong to meet.

He also knew about Xiao Xiuyong going to talk with Li Fei.

He tacitly approved of Xiao Xiuyong’s actions.

However, unlike Xiao Xiuyong’s considerations, whether the benefits Lu Wenzheng provided or winning the Lu Family over to the Crown Prince’s side, these were not his concerns.

What he truly cared about was Li Fei himself!

He wanted to see Li Fei’s attitude through this conversation.

The Crown Prince, as the regent, and Li Fei being designated as the ‘Guardian Minister’, whether at present or in the future, would hold an important position in court!

And the Xiao Family, being the crown prince’s maternal clan, was the Crown Prince’s strongest backing; how to maintain relations with Li Fei became an unavoidable issue for the Xiao Family.

Offending and making enemies was certainly inadvisable.

But what if in the future the Xiao Family and Li Fei had a conflict of interest?

Therefore, Xiao Ruixing wanted to probe Li Fei’s attitude through this test.

After all, Xiao Xiuyong, being young, had not yet grasped much real power and temporarily could not represent the Xiao Family. By allowing the other party to test, there was a lot of wiggle room.

Besides, this incident did not directly involve a conflict of interest between the Xiao Family and Li Fei.

The measure of this was very well gauged.

Now, Xiao Ruixing saw Li Fei’s attitude.

“It really is… unsurprising.”

Xiao Ruixing chuckled and shook his head:

“Take my handwritten order to the Book Collection Pavilion, copy a replica of the notebook Lin Tianyi left behind. Also, go to the Treasure Pavilion and fetch three pieces of Level 6 Protective Clothing and ten bottles of Spirit Heart Pill. Dispatch someone to deliver these to Marquis Jing’an using the Flying Escape Magic Tool.”

“Yes, Master Three.”

The butler obeyed and left.

Xiao Ruixing not only decisively gave Lin Tianyi’s notebook to Li Fei but also proactively presented three pieces of Level 6 Protective Clothing and ten bottles of Spirit Heart Pill that could help martial artists achieve ‘Unity’!

Even if Li Fei couldn’t use these items, they could be given to his subordinates; they were treasures that could not be bought even with money.

Xiao Ruixing knew that the events occurring in Datong Prefecture would soon reach the Crown Prince.

And the news of dispatching gifts to Li Fei would also reach the Crown Prince.

He had seen Li Fei’s attitude.

Now he wanted to see the Crown Prince’s attitude.

….

Lanling City.

Imperial Palace.

Crown Prince’s Yangxin Hall discussing affairs with the ministers.

Since he began serving as the regent, he would come to this Yangxin Hall almost daily!

In fact, the Central Government had Ye Ze’an managing affairs smoothly and orderly; there wasn’t much requiring the Crown Prince to handle.

However, having begun regent duties, how could the Crown Prince just idly stay in the Eastern Palace doing nothing every day?

So, in this period, he had practically met with the entire court of civil and military ministers in the Yangxin Hall!

Because he was merely regent, he couldn’t yet sit on the Dragon Chair in Zhenglan Hall.

However, in Yangxin Hall, he could indeed sit in the seat once occupied by the Emperor now.

After meeting ministers each day, when no one else was around, the Crown Prince would deliberately sit in this chair for a while longer than usual.

This day was no exception.

After a few ministers departed, the Crown Prince closed his eyes and sat calmly on the main seat.

“Your Highness.”

A voice suddenly came from outside the hall.

“What is it?”

“A telegram from Datong Prefecture regarding Marquis Jing’an.”

The Crown Prince opened his eyes: “Present it.”

A eunuch entered holding a wooden box with both hands.

The Crown Prince took out the telegram and began reading, soon frowning.

The telegram detailed the conflict between Li Fei and Xiao Xiuyong and also mentioned the items the Xiao Family sent to Li Fei.

After repeatedly going through the telegram, the Crown Prince closed his eyes again, massaging his brow.

Though he and Xiao Xiuyong both had top-tier family backgrounds and were first-in-line heirs.

Their personalities were completely different.

If being a Crown Prince could be considered a profession, it would surely be among the most difficult jobs in the world!

With the Emperor overseeing above, the Crown Prince had to demonstrate capability without overstepping, preventing the Emperor from feeling threatened.

Outside, civil and military ministers scrutinized the Crown Prince, assessing his worthiness to receive their loyalty and support.

Nearby, there were brothers watching closely, competing and contending!

As a result, the Crown Prince lived his whole life carefully, not daring to make any mistakes.

If described in a single phrase.

The Crown Prince: “My entire life has been like walking on thin ice!”

These experiences shaped his and Xiao Xiuyong’s drastically different personalities.

Thus, after experiencing the initial euphoria of regency, the Crown Prince quickly returned to his usual mindset.

He remained amiable to those around him and humble to the key ministers he wanted to win over.

Toward Li Fei, he continued to treat him sincerely.

Yet, a problem existed between him and Li Fei:

Although he was the first to win Li Fei over, Li Fei’s current position was primarily due to the Emperor’s personal cultivation.

Their relationship had little of the typical monarch-minister sentiment.

Even if he could further promote and employ Li Fei in the future, given Li Fei’s current authoritative status, there was little room for upward growth.

While the Emperor allowed the Crown Prince to oversee state affairs, he suddenly approved Li Fei to re-investigate Shangguan Xiao’s case simultaneously.

The Crown Prince knew this was the Emperor creating opportunities for him, and he indeed wanted to make use of these opportunities to strengthen ties with Li Fei.

However, Xiao Family’s test had exposed certain issues brutally before him:

Hearts are hard to read across others’ bellies.

Who could ensure that after Li Fei matures completely, he wouldn’t harbor any disloyal thoughts?

If this greatest hero in history were to truly become the world’s number one and held substantial power, would he be tempted to sit on that Dragon Chair?

“After ascending the throne, can I trust this Marquis Jing’an as my father did with Li Fei? Dare I continue to delegate authority?”

Many thoughts floated in the Crown Prince’s mind.

From the telegram, he immediately noticed the Xiao Family’s probing.

He knew that this probe was both testing Li Fei’s attitude and testing his own stance.

How to handle this Marquis Jing’an in the future became not only a problem for the Xiao Family but an issue the Crown Prince himself had to confront!

Should he probe and test somewhat?

Or continue to delegate and trust as before?

Or perhaps lightly admonish, offering a warning?

The Crown Prince sat on the chair, exhaling a heavy breath, his eyes turning sharp.

Since beginning his regency, he had proceeded smoothly without significant challenges.

He knew that this incident between the Xiao Family and Li Fei would be his first major test as a regent!

…

However, Xiao Family’s test revealed some issues vividly before him:

Hearts are hard to read across others’ bellies.

Who could guarantee that after Li Fei completely grows up, he wouldn’t have any differing intentions?

If this greatest hero in history were to become the world’s paramount and wielded great power, would he desire to try sitting on that Dragon Chair?

“After my coronation, will I dare to trust this Marquis Jing’an as much as my father trusted Li Fei? Dare I continue to delegate authority?”

Many thoughts surfaced in the Crown Prince’s mind.

He immediately recognized the Xiao Family’s probing from the telegram.

But the Xiao Family’s attempt this time also peeled back questions starkly before him:

Hearts are hard to read across others’ bellies.

Who could ensure that in the future, if Li Fei grows into his full potential, he won’t harbor any treacherous thoughts?