Chapter 134 An Opportunity

Nie Rui's words did not elicit any reaction from Ye Tao, who was still eating and drinking attentively. On the table was the second successful trial of champagne. Although the focus was currently on exploring the production process and it wasn't a good vintage year, the flavor was only average, but it was still a very good table wine. Ye Tao's indifference did not surprise Tan Xiaopei and Nie Rui too much; Ye Tao had said long ago that he was not interested.

"If this matter really involves the Wang family of Liyang, then it will be clear who is behind it. So, what about your follow-up investigation? Any progress?" Tan Xiaopei asked.

Nie Rui said, "Since I went to investigate and observe with a purpose, I naturally made some discoveries. This subordinate sorted out the communication records of various potentially related people over the past six months, and then conducted a detailed comparison and study. Overall, the Wang family's actions are still very cautious, and most of the people they contact and the forces they involve are still in a wait-and-see stage. Very few have taken any real preparatory actions. Especially in the military, they are very stable. The only ones affected are the Tianxuan Army. In this subordinate's view, it is because General Qiu Haohui was born into a merchant family after all. Although he is very talented, his identity makes him less appealing to the commanding generals. General Qiu Haohui is focused on military affairs and is not involved."

Ye Tao remained unmoved. Tan Xiaopei looked at Ye Tao and nodded to signal Nie Rui to continue.

Nie Rui nodded and continued his report: "From the military and political perspectives, the Wang family does not have deep connections. It may also be because this matter is being carried out independently by the Crown Princess and the Wang family, and they dare not alarm other parties. Moreover, although the Wang family is a noble family, their wealth is still quite limited. However, the Wang family has close ties with some ministers in the court who already have those unnecessary worries, and they seem to be preparing to create a relatively large momentum."

Tan Xiaopei was silent, carefully considering the various aspects. He had decided on Tan Weiming's marriage. Tan Weiming and Crown Princess Wang Fangpin's relationship couldn't be described as very intimate, but it was peaceful and stable. Tan Weiming later married two commoner women whom he liked very much, one of whom was the daughter of a minor merchant family. Tan Weiming handled even the management of his family with the same steadiness and peace as he did with handling political affairs. His family had always been stable and rarely attracted attention. Compared to Tan Weiran and his wife, Dai Xi, who, although deeply in love, often quarreled over inexplicable trivial matters, even after Dai Xi became a mother, Tan Xiaopei always considered Tan Weiming's family affairs to be worry-free. But he didn't expect that this time, it would turn out to be such a significant matter.

"Nie Rui, what do you think should be done about this?" Tan Xiaopei asked.

Nie Rui knew that he was deeply trusted by Tan Xiaopei as the most core insider. Their Nie family had been Tan family retainers, and every step they took was supported by the Tan family. Their family's loyalty to the Tan family was beyond doubt. And Tan Xiaopei and the others in the Tan family were quite easy to get along with, never giving Nie Rui the feeling of serving a tiger. Although it was an imperial matter, Nie Rui was still very willing to give his opinion. Nie Rui said very seriously, "In this subordinate's view, the Crown Princess and the Wang family have done these things partly because of their uncertainty about their status. The Crown Prince is deeply respected in the court, but after all, he has been doing solid work in recent years, which is not as eye-catching as Prince Zi leading troops in battle. The Wang family, as an old and established family, is particularly sensitive to this kind of thing. After all, it is traditional. But the Crown Princess has not done anything that could cause substantial harm. What this subordinate is worried about is that the Crown Princess understands the relationship between the Crown Prince and Prince Zi, but she still has this kind of unease. The ministers in the court who do not know the truth are probably even more worried. And this kind of thing is easily incited by external forces. Although this subordinate has not yet obtained conclusive evidence, there are indeed some strange people and things happening behind the scenes. This subordinate wonders if we can take this opportunity to wipe out these people in one fell swoop... As for the rest, it is up to His Majesty to judge. Now, the imperial family is indeed very peaceful, and there is very little infighting. This situation is rare in a thousand years, but Dongping will hold the world in the future, and it is not good for the two princes to be too unfamiliar with this kind of thing. That the Crown Princess and a family like the Wang family could unknowingly lay a seemingly non-existent net is enough to be a warning. However, since they are not yet a force to be reckoned with, it should be good to use them as practice."

Tan Xiaopei looked at Nie Rui strangely and said, "Do you have some trick up your sleeve?"

Nie Rui said calmly, "It was still Lord Ye's words that gave me some inspiration. Lord Ye once said, 'If you want someone to perish, you must first make them mad...'"

Ye Tao frowned. He had pirated too much, and when he heard Nie Rui quote this, although he knew it must have leaked from here, he couldn't remember when he said it. He asked blandly, "Oh? Did I say that? I don't remember."

Nie Rui smiled and prompted, "In the script 'Soul Sacrifice' that you gave to Liu Xiangyuan this time, act three, scene two, line ninety-four..."

Ye Tao was stunned for a moment, then laughed, "I didn't know you had time to read scripts."

Nie Rui replied with a smile, "Now various performances are very prosperous in Danyang, and it is not appropriate to entrust these various review works to any department. His Majesty asked our Intelligence Bureau to take care of it first, and a special yamen is being planned. Your script was given to Liu Xiangyuan, and she handed it over to us for review first. The people underground were all delighted, but they did not dare to sign and pass it easily. In the end, I had to do it. Such a wonderful play, it seems that it will be staged soon."

Ye Tao smiled and said, "Okay, let's say that's the case. Since you said you want to rehearse, then let's play the whole set, but since His Majesty, you, and I all believe that there is no problem between Weiming and Weiran, then this matter must be made known to them first. Otherwise, perhaps for us, the crisis will be resolved in its infancy, but for the two brothers, if it is not handled well, even if there is no problem, it will become a problem."

Tan Xiaopei said lightly, "That's natural. Although these two brothers have done well in recent years, they are still the type who fear not chaos under the heavens. I will tell them about it and they will definitely cooperate. But Ye Tao, don't stand aside, you have to think of a way to make things go smoothly."

They immediately sent someone to find Tan Weiming and Tan Weiran. After a series of talks, they had a plan for this matter. Although Tan Weiming was very surprised that his wife and the Wang family behind her were involved in this matter, he was equally decisive in how to handle the whole matter, without any hesitation. Ye Tao had to pull Tan Weiming aside and quietly asked, "Hey, your Xiao Zita is not kind enough, she is your wife after all."

Tan Weiming shrugged innocently and said, "It's because she's my wife that I have to finish things before she really does something wrong. Although... I know that you, brother-in-law, and sister, and even Weishi, don't really like Fangpin, but she is the mother of my child after all. To be honest, Fangpin is usually too sanctimonious, and often uses words like 'being a mother to the world in the future' to bring out her son badly. It's too boring. If I don't beat her up this time, this family will really be impossible to stay in. Our Tan family was this tune when we were bandits and mountain bandits, and it's still this tune now. When we become emperors in the future, we still have to be a naturally Tan family... Moreover, brother-in-law, you don't know, the reason why I can become the crown prince, and will also become the master of a country, and will probably be able to become another emperor in the Central Earth Continent for hundreds of years, is not because I am the eldest son, but because my temperament is suitable for doing those things. This is also what I said to Weiran frankly. If brothers are of one mind, their strength can break gold. I understand this principle. And I will never allow anyone to go against this. My sister blocked a palm for me back then, so that I can still be alive to consider these things, and also made my sister suffer for so many years. Our four brothers and sisters are willing to sacrifice their lives to protect others. This is very difficult in ordinary families, let alone in the imperial family? I especially cherish this... And this time, our arrangement will have to wrong Weiran a little."

Tan Weiran suddenly flashed out of the bushes and said, "Wronged? Not at all... It's so much fun." It turned out that he had been eavesdropping behind his back. With Tan Weiran's skills honed from years of military service, and in Ye Tao's small garden, which had been evacuated of guards, it was really difficult for Ye Tao and Tan Weiming, two people who were strong in political affairs but had poor skills, to detect his traces.

"Weiran!..." Tan Weiming sighed, "You're naughty again!"

Looking at these very interesting brothers laughing and arguing, Ye Tao couldn't help but feel relieved. In this brotherly harmony that can still exist in the face of huge power, there is the unbreakable inheritance of the Tan family's inherent culture and family education of many years, the painstaking efforts of Tan Xiaopei and Zhuo Xiu in upbringing, and the broad vision of two young men with good character, intelligence and keenness... Ye Tao laughed and said, "Don't mess it up, although this time it's a half-true and half-false rehearsal. It's best if you know more. Moreover, in order to collect enough evidence, I have to make a lot of good things, which is very expensive. Later, we will harm others."

Tan Weiming glanced at Ye Tao and said, "Brother-in-law, what good things are there? In recent years, there are not as many fun things as before?"

Looking at the curious eyes of Tan Weiming and Tan Weiran, Ye Tao smiled mysteriously and said, "You will know later."