"Alright, I'm going to take a bath and soak for a while. You go play by yourself! Come back to find me in two hours!" Han Mo said, tossing a piece of silver to him. It wasn't much, but it was estimated to weigh about seven or eight qian. If converted to copper coins, it would be enough for him to listen to stories, watch plays, and eat a meal in the entertainment district.
After taking the money, Xu Fengnian no longer had any interest in what Han Mo was going to do and hurried to hand over the luggage Han Mo had prepared in the carriage.
Entering this Song Dynasty version of a bathhouse, Han Mo directly requested a private room. After paying, he instructed the attendant not to disturb him unless absolutely necessary.
He changed his clothes, put on a felt hat, and left directly from the back alley.
Not long after he left, he saw a young Taoist boy driving a carriage waiting at the intersection. Han Mo didn't say anything, just pulled the brim of his hat down a bit and got into the carriage. The young Taoist boy had also been given prior instructions and, without asking any questions, drove the carriage straight towards the Shenxiao Palace.
"Sir, how much longer do we have? I have nothing to do here, but I'm afraid His Highness the Crown Prince is already getting impatient."
Although Liang Shicheng was a eunuch, he now held a position of great power and influence. Countless matters awaited him daily. However, today, as soon as Lin Ling Su received Han Mo's letter, he immediately requested an audience with the Emperor. He insisted that a demon star was confronting the Zi Wei star that evening and that it was necessary to perform a ritual using royal bloodline and the Emperor's dragon energy. He then used the excuse that Liang Shicheng, by constantly accompanying the Emperor, had absorbed some of the Emperor's dragon energy, and thus invited Liang Shicheng and the Crown Prince to this place.
This whole affair had taken up the entire day. It was already getting dark, yet Lin Ling Su was still mumbling incantations. Liang Shicheng was no longer the junior eunuch who used to take orders from everyone. Being made to sit there idly for a whole day was something he could no longer tolerate.
"Grand Commandant Liang, there's no need to rush. It should be finished in another hour at most. I guarantee that you two will leave with full hands this time," Lin Ling Su said with a calm and collected demeanor.
Everyone in Bianliang was playing games with the Emperor; who didn't know what the others were up to? Lin Ling Su was well aware of Liang Shicheng's recent schemes. To help Wang Fu ascend quickly, he, the hidden prime minister of the court, had employed no small number of underhanded tactics.
"Leave with full hands?" Hearing this, Liang Shicheng's brow immediately furrowed. This did not sound like something Lin Ling Su would say, and his words clearly hinted at something else.
"Master, he's here!" Just then, Zhang Ruhui's voice came from outside.
"Please let him in!" Lin Ling Su said nonchalantly.
"Sir, what is the meaning of this?" Liang Shicheng was startled and looked back at Lin Ling Su. This old scoundrel had insisted that his own attendants would disturb the ritual, so he had sent all of their and the Crown Prince's retainers to the outer courtyard. Now, he was directly bringing someone else in. This development was rather unexpected.
"Grand Commandant Liang, please be patient! I had no other choice today and had to resort to this. I ask for your forgiveness." Lin Ling Su smiled and said.
"Sir, your words hold a hidden meaning. What do you mean by 'no other choice'?" Zhao Huan also frowned, looking at Lin Ling Su with some confusion. To be honest, he had no good feelings towards these Taoists, as almost all of them, openly or secretly, had unclear relationships with Prince Yun at this time. If Liang Shicheng weren't present, he would have already called for guards.
"This student greets His Highness the Crown Prince and Grand Commandant!" Just as Zhao Huan finished speaking, Han Mo walked in directly.
"It's you?" Zhao Huan was taken aback, and then a look of pleasant surprise appeared on his face. Seeing Han Mo here, Zhao Huan was truly overjoyed. Lin Ling Su, although just a charlatan, was exceptionally favored by the Emperor at the moment. For Han Mo to be able to arrange this meeting through him today, regardless of the methods Han Mo used, the mere fact that he could accomplish this was enough to make Zhao Huan look at him with new respect.
"His Highness knows him?" Liang Shicheng frowned, looking at Zhao Huan curiously.
"Grand Commandant Liang, this is Han Mo, whom I mentioned to you before!" Zhao Huan smiled and immediately stood up.
"Indeed, he is a man of talent. May I ask why the young official has summoned us here today?" Liang Shicheng's expression immediately turned grim. He had spent his life manipulating power, and to think that he was played by a young man today.
"Amitabha, my task is complete. You three chat, and I shall take my leave!" Lin Ling Su said, cupped his hands in greeting, turned, and left, closing the door behind him.
"I wouldn't dare to hide anything from Grand Commandant Liang. I have coincidentally obtained something that I wish to present to you two. However, this item is too important, and I had no other choice but to resort to this method!" Facing Liang Shicheng's subtle killing intent, Han Mo showed no signs of panic.
"Oh? May I know what this item is that has the young official so cautious?" Liang Shicheng said with a cold laugh.
"Has Grand Commandant not heard of the major incident that occurred in Bianliang a few days ago?" Han Mo asked, not answering his question directly.
Upon hearing this, Liang Shicheng's pupils contracted sharply.
"You mean..." Zhao Huan suddenly stood up, pointing towards the Cai mansion.
"I wouldn't dare to hide it from His Highness the Crown Prince. A thief was indeed captured by a servant in the mansion. However, that person was too severely injured and died not long after. After his death, he left behind an item. Upon seeing it, Han Mo felt a chill to his very core and dared not handle it himself, so he kept it hidden." Han Mo's composure was by no means ordinary. Now, he could tell lies without even needing to prepare. After all, Zhe Yourong had already returned to her residence, and she hadn't shown her face that night. Who would dare to link her to the thief who broke into the Cai mansion at this time?
"May I know what this item is?" Liang Shicheng certainly knew that the Cai family must have lost something important, otherwise, how could Cai Jing have defied public opinion and bypassed the Kaifeng Prefecture to have the people of Xiangfu County arrest someone?
"Although it is just a small ledger, the contents within are shocking!"