When His Majesty was about to assign a task rather than punish him, Liu Cheng's legs immediately stopped feeling weak.
After receiving the assignment and leaving the imperial study, Liu Cheng's mind was filled with the matter His Majesty had entrusted him with. He couldn't understand why His Majesty wanted them to investigate Huancai Pavilion!
He tugged at Wang Qiancheng's sleeve again. Wang Qiancheng shot him a glare and silently mouthed two words: "Shut up!"
Liu Cheng: "..."
Upon hearing that His Majesty had assigned them a task, Liu Wanjun's brows furrowed.
He looked at the two unlucky children sitting obediently before him and gritted his teeth. His Majesty had truly found two excellent subordinates.
The two major money-spending dens in the capital—Huancai Pavilion and Yipin Residence—had stood for years not by chance, their patrons were self-evident.
His Majesty asked them to investigate, but what exactly were they to investigate? Who was behind it all?
His Majesty had the imperial guards at his disposal. Did he not know who was behind Huancai Pavilion?
His Majesty intended to use his two foolish children to touch the Prince's treasury. Why did His Majesty set his sights on them? His own Liu manor had been plagued by unfortunate events lately. With Nan Chaoyin demoted, the administrative duties fell to the Secretariat. As the Minister of the Secretariat, he was already overstepping his bounds to act as prime minister. Yet His Majesty still felt the Liu manor didn't have enough troubles and insisted on sending them right under the Prince's nose.
Alas!
A season of troubles, a season of troubles indeed!
"We accept the command and will carry out the task!"
Liu Wanjun didn't offer much further advice. Since they had received the imperial command, they could not act in opposition or be perfunctory. Although the Liu manor had always remained on the periphery in the battle between the Prince and His Majesty for the throne, Liu Wanjun had studied the classics for so many years; he knew what it meant to be a subject.
"Grandfather, then..."
"Cheng'er, you may leave for now!"
Liu Cheng was dismissed by Liu Wanjun as soon as he spoke. Standing at the study door, Liu Cheng felt like crying, but he found a secluded corner and squatted there for a long time, feeling that even a foolish ant trapped in a corner was more liked than himself.
Liu Wanjun sent Liu Cheng away because he knew his grandson's capabilities. Even if he tried his best to support him, he would still be a good-for-nothing who couldn't be propped up. As for his grandson-in-law, he had previously been a dissolute rake like Cheng'er, but now he possessed more responsibility and had become more steady; he was someone who could shoulder burdens and handle matters.
"Cheng'er, Huancai Pavilion's establishment in the capital indicates that its behind-the-scenes powers are considerable. Although I do not know its ultimate owner, I can make some educated guesses..."
Liu Wanjun's words were vague, but he was certain that Wang Qiancheng would understand.
Wang Qiancheng naturally understood. Even if Liu Wanjun didn't say it, he already knew whose business Huancai Pavilion was.
"His Majesty wishes to dismantle Huancai Pavilion without openly acting against it. However, in the end, you and Cheng'er are merely well-known rakes. His Majesty assigning this task to you can be seen as forcing the Liu family to choose a side. Therefore, while I say you should do your utmost, your lives must come first. Cheng'er, Liu Cheng is a foolish individual without foresight and is incapable of being of great use. You will have to bear the burden of guiding and supporting him. If our Liu family truly must step into this conflict, you must also understand what loyalty to the sovereign and love for the country entail."
"Cheng'er understands. Please rest assured, Grandfather."
Throughout their time together, Wang Qiancheng felt that Lord Liu was a calculating official with hidden depths. It was only because of his advanced age and the lack of a capable son or grandson to uphold the Liu manor's reputation that he had always restrained his ambition, desiring only peace.
Even at this juncture, he was only thinking about how to protect the Liu manor during these turbulent times.
At times, he truly wished he could find something to prove the innocence of the Liu manor, of Lord Liu Wanjun, to the Prince and His Majesty.
...
Nan Shiying didn't care what was happening in the capital.
Having been away for more than half a month, she had already received several letters from the capital, from the Prince's manor.
"As if seeing you..."
Nan Shiying opened the letter. As usual, it was filled with trivial matters written by someone on paper. It had only been half a month; how could the capital have changed so drastically? It was merely that certain individuals were missing her dearly, hoping only to receive more replies.
Her Highness had only just arrived at Medicine King Valley, and she still had to attend the martial arts大会 after leaving. Thirteen felt that His Highness, who stayed in Xinyuan Pavilion every night and gazed out the window, resembled the waiting stone at the ends of the earth... no, the waiting wife stone.
His Highness had been in a rather bad temper lately. The entire Prince's manor was enveloped in a low-pressure atmosphere, as if a storm was brewing. The servants in the manor had been serving with great caution these days, fearing they might incur His Highness's displeasure.
The servants in Xinyuan Pavilion served with even greater trepidation. It was unknown if it was because Her Highness had caught a chill recently and had been confined to bed, not recovering, which was why His Highness was in a foul mood out of worry.
On the fourth day of her consultation at Medicine King Valley, Nan Shiying returned to the mountain.
Poison Elder also returned with her.
"Huijie!"
Nan Shiying went into the mountains to gather herbs, while Poison Elder ran to the Third Peak, loudly shouting for Huijie to come out and be scolded.
Ji Feng's memory of Poison Elder was not deep. He only knew that he didn't like coming to the Third Peak. Previously, when his master questioned Feng Luan's skill, he thought his master had a rift with his senior uncle. It was only from his senior brother that he learned that his master and senior uncle actually had a good relationship. Now, seeing his senior uncle storming into their Third Peak in such a manner, Ji Feng began to doubt his senior brother's words.
Was the relationship between his master and senior uncle really good?
Huijie slowly walked out of his room. The disciples of the Third Peak had gathered, but because the other party was their Senior Uncle and Senior Grand Uncle, they dared not say much. When Huijie came out, he finally saw his backbone, and they all gathered around Huijie.
Seeing Huijie's posture, Poison Elder, though alone, projected an aura as if he had ten thousand followers behind him. "What are you doing? Showing off that your Third Peak has more people!"
Huijie's face remained impassive as he looked at this increasingly unreasonable old man. The image of himself in his youth, tugging at his trouser legs and forcing him to study medical texts, was still vivid. Back then, although he was also unlikeable, he was still quite handsome, not like now, with the skin on his face sagging to his heels.
He had anticipated this scene the moment he questioned his disciple's skill in front of everyone back then. He just didn't expect him to wait so many days before coming.
Huijie sent away the disciples and grand-disciples surrounding him and invited Poison Elder into the house.
Poison Elder strode in swaggeringly, and as soon as he entered, he sat on a chair and told Huijie to quickly pour him some tea.
Huijie silently poured a cup of tea and handed it to him.
Still so taciturn!
Poison Elder clicked his tongue, took the teacup, and took a sip. He hadn't come entirely to cause trouble today... He put down the teacup, glanced at the closed door, and fixed his gaze on Huijie's face. "When Master passed away, I was not by his side, nor did I manage to return to see him off on his final journey. Huijie, I just want to ask one question: how exactly did Master die?"