Prince Heng's Residence.
The First Prince, Zhao Zheng, was pacing back and forth in the hall with a gloomy expression.
An old man walked in from outside the hall. Zhao Zheng raised his head and asked, "Have Zhao Yi's men been visiting us frequently these days?"
The old man nodded and said, "It's the New Year. In order to put an end to the extravagance and debauchery in the capital, it's normal for the censors to visit us frequently."
"Normal?" Zhao Zheng snorted and said, "If it's normal, why do they only pay attention to I's men?"
The old man was startled and asked, "Your Highness, you mean …"
Zhao Zheng looked at him and asked, "I heard that Zhao Yi's subordinate, the God of Wealth Qian, has bought a few more manors in the capital?"
The conflict between the Third Prince and the First Prince had reached an irreconcilable level. They would naturally pay more attention to the important figures around the Third Prince.
The old man nodded and said, "The Qian Clan already has several manors in the capital. It's a bit sudden for them to buy these manors for no reason. I have already asked the previous owners of those manors in secret. According to them, the God of Wealth Qian was interested in the value of those manors and concluded that they would increase in the short term. They were in a hurry to use the money and sold the manors after a few days …"
"Increase?" Zhao Zheng raised his voice and said, "I think it's a cover-up!"
"Your Highness, you mean …" The old man was startled and then shook his head and said, "Your Highness, you should trust those lords. They are loyal to Your Highness and would never be tempted by money to betray Your Highness …"
"Of course I know." Zhao Zheng waved his hand and said, "I'm afraid this is another trap set by Zhao Yi. He is crafty. If I suspect the lords, won't I be playing into his hands?"
"I am not that stupid!" He sneered and said, "Prepare a few generous gifts and send them to the manors of those lords …"
"Your Highness is wise!"
The old man cupped his hands and slowly retreated.
Zhao Zheng walked around the hall for a while before returning to the table and sitting down. A trace of doubt appeared on his face again …
…
"Later on, I thought that it would be better if we don't hang any plaques on those residences. We can't be too deliberate. We should let the Crown Prince guess for himself …"
In the Qian Estate, Qian Duoduo looked at the people below and spoke with fervor and assurance. "The Third Imperial Prince is broad-minded. This method is useless against the Third Imperial Prince, but the First Imperial Prince is narrow-minded. After this incident, even if he doesn't seem to care on the surface, and even if he tries to cover it up and show kindness to those few clans, a seed of doubt will surely be planted in his heart. As long as we persevere, water it diligently, and loosen the soil, the seed of doubt in his heart will grow into a towering tree …"
"When the First Prince no longer trusts them, that will be the time to test everyone. I don't think I need to teach you how to win them over to the Third Prince's side, right?"
…
That was the end of Qian Duoduo's small class. When everyone left, they cupped their hands to the God of Wealth.
"Young Master Qian is wise!"
"Brother God of Wealth has a successor!"
"If this plan can succeed, the balance between the Crown Prince and the Third Imperial Prince in the court will be completely broken. At that time, the advantage of the Crown Prince's identity will be gone …"
"Congratulations to the Third Imperial Prince first!"
…
After everyone left, the God of Wealth looked at Qian Duoduo, who was holding the teapot and drinking, and said, "How can you be so sure that the First Imperial Prince won't trust them?"
Qian Duoduo smiled mysteriously. "I have my own brilliant plan …"
The God of Wealth narrowed his eyes and silently took off his shoes.
"Brilliant plan?"
"Brilliant plan?"
"Who gave you the right to call me a brilliant plan?"
"Who asked you to keep me guessing in front of me!"
After he felt better, the God of Wealth put on his shoes, looked at him, and said, "What else is in your stomach? Pour it out together."
Qian Duoduo shrank in the corner, covered his head, and whispered, "Father, this is not evil. This is a scheme, a scheme …"
The God of Wealth silently took off his shoes again.
After a while, the God of Wealth touched the short beard on his chin and fell into deep thought.
Qian Duoduo looked proud and said, "Father, what do you think of my method?"
He was indeed proud in his heart. Although these methods were taught to him by Brother Li, what Brother Li taught him was the strategy used in the business world. After he drew inferences and made multiple associations, it could also be used in the fight for power in the imperial court. At least half of it was his painstaking effort.
The God of Wealth looked at him, turned around, and walked out of the door. He ordered his servants, "Invite more monks and Taoists!"
…
The Ministry of Revenue, one of the six ministries of the imperial court, was in charge of money and grain.
Among the six ministries, although the Ministry of Rites was the head, the Ministry of Rites had no power. The Ministry of Personnel, which was in charge of the officials of the world, and the Ministry of Revenue, which was in charge of money and grain, were the two most powerful departments in the six ministries.
The Minister of Revenue, Cui Jiang, was quite worried recently. It was not because of the mistakes in the work of the Ministry of Revenue, nor was it because the First Imperial Prince was at a disadvantage in the struggle for power with the Third Imperial Prince.
What he was worried about was that during the New Year, several imperial censors from the Censorate would come to his manor to drink tea every few days. They practically treated the Cui manor as their second yamen.
Although the Ministry of Revenue was the most profitable yamen in the imperial court, everything had to have evidence. He could not be guarded against like a thief just because he was in charge of the Ministry of Revenue. These days, he had to eat fewer dishes at home because he was afraid that the imperial censors would see him and say that he, Cui Jiang, was extravagant and had embezzled money from the national treasury for personal use …
It was impossible to reason with these imperial censors. If he did not let them in, it would be like he had a guilty conscience. It was very likely that they would bring the imperial guards with them next time …
Let them in. Who didn't know that he, Cui Jiang, was the First Prince's man? The Imperial Censorate was practically the Third Prince's backyard. People who didn't know better would think that he, Cui Jiang, had betrayed the First Prince and was in cahoots with these people …
Fortunately, the First Imperial Prince's eyes were like torches. Not only did he not blame him, but he also sent a generous gift, which made Cui Jiang feel relieved.
On this day, Cui Jiang was drinking tea in the manor when a housekeeper walked in. He looked at him and said, "Sir, those imperial censors are here again …"
Cui Jiang had not even finished drinking his tea when he spat it all out.
Was there an end to it? Was there an end to it?
Cui Jiang stood up angrily. With a face full of anger, he strode out of the room. As he walked out, the anger on his face melted like ice. He cupped his hands to the people in front of him and said, "Sirs, have you had breakfast? Do you want to eat together?"
One of them cupped his hands to him and said, "Sir Cui is too polite. This time, we have come to discuss something with Sir Cui …"
Cui Jiang smiled and said, "Sirs, please come in and discuss in detail."
The few people walked into the hall. One of the imperial censors looked outside and said, "Bring them in."
A few servants immediately brought in two large boxes and placed them on the ground, making a heavy sound.
They wiped the sweat from their foreheads and let out a long sigh before bowing and saying their goodbyes.
Cui Jiang revealed a puzzled expression and asked, "This is …"
The imperial censor looked at him and said, "Sir Cui is a smart person. This official will not beat around the bush. As long as Sir Cui is willing to pledge loyalty to the Third Prince, Sir Cui will accept these two boxes of gold today."
Cui Jiang's expression changed and his voice immediately became cold, "What do you mean by this!"
The man smiled slightly, "Sir Cui is a smart person and understands what this official means."
Cui Jiang sneered, "This official is loyal to His Majesty and also to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. When you go back, please pass this message to the Third Prince. If the Third Prince becomes the Crown Prince, even without these boxes, this official will still be loyal to him!"
The imperial censor's expression darkened, "Sir Cui really won't accept it?"
Cui Jiang's attitude was firm, "No!"
… …
The imperial censor looked at him and suddenly smiled. He waved his hand and said, "Open it."
The two people behind him opened the boxes. Cui Jiang's eyes glanced inside and his expression froze.
There was no gold in the boxes, it was clearly two huge stones!
The imperial censor smiled and cupped his hands, "Sir Cui is in a high position and is not tempted by money. You are truly a role model for our generation. I admire you, admire you!"
Cui Jiang's eyes were filled with confusion, "What do you mean by this?"
"Being in the imperial court, one cannot do as they please. Everyone has their own master, and there is nothing wrong with that. We only received an anonymous report saying that Sir Cui likes to accept bribes and is using his position for personal gain … "The imperial censor looked at him and then at the people behind him and smiled," Look, he is not tempted by such a large amount of money. This is enough to prove that Sir Cui is an honest official. In the future, do not listen to rumors and slander a loyal official! "
The people behind him immediately bowed and said, "This lowly official understands!"
"I hope Sir Cui will not take offense at our intrusion." While Cui Jiang was still confused, the imperial censor looked at him and smiled, "It is not convenient to move these stones around. Just leave them here, Sir Cui will have someone take care of them …"
The people left just like that. Cui Jiang stood in the hall and looked at the two boxes with the stones. He waved his hand and said impatiently, "Ridiculous …"
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
