Chapter 57: Bad Deeds, Good Fortune

Zhu Xu's expression shifted slightly, and his mind raced with calculations. Tianlai Novel

Feng Zhu's words instantly changed the friendly atmosphere at the entire dining table.

Cao Huachun and Cao Wenzhao knew the seriousness of the matter and stood up one after another, watching Zhu Xu with slightly tense expressions.

"Your Highness, I'll go get some soup." Yao Qingqing stood up, picked up the soup bowl, and walked toward the back. She knew that His Highness Prince Hui had many things he didn't want her to know.

Zhu Xu turned to look at Feng Zhu and asked, "Did Wei Liangqing do something excessive?"

"No," Feng Zhu bowed and said hurriedly, "I had already sent someone to notify him earlier. I have a general understanding of the matter—that household had a grudge against Wei Liangqing before, and this time they're probably just trying to kick a man when he's down."

The corners of Zhu Xu's mouth curled up slightly. Leaning against his chair, his eyes gleamed with excited light.

As soon as Cao Wenzhao saw Zhu Xu's expression, he immediately pressed, "Your Highness, is there something good?"

Zhu Xu chuckled, looking at the few of them, and said, "Since we're in the right and don't have to worry about being targeted by the Ministry of Revenue, this is a great opportunity to advertise."

"Advertise?"

Feng Zhu was stunned, somewhat confused.

Zhu Xu stood up, stretched lazily after the meal, and said with a sly grin, "Go, spread this news around. I want everyone in every place Wei Liangqing has ever been to to know about this!"

Cao Huachun, however, was somewhat worried and said, "Your Highness, what if Shuntian Prefecture really does kick us while we're down?"

Zhu Xu let out a scoffing laugh and said, "Then Shuntian Prefecture would have to have the guts for it."

Seeing that Zhu Xu had made up his mind, Cao Wenzhao said, "Yes, Your Highness, I'll go make the arrangements right away."

"Good, let's all leave the palace together." Zhu Xu stepped away from his chair, then said to Fu Tao, "Take good time to digest what was taught today. Write a reflection essay tomorrow—write down both what you understand and what you don't."

Fu Tao was helpless against Zhu Xu's strange demands and silently continued eating.

Because of the Prince Xin tailing incident, Zhu Xu no longer bothered to hide when leaving the palace. He walked out boldly and openly, greeting everyone he saw, making His Highness Prince Hui seem extremely approachable to the common people.

"Good posture, well done."

"Guard the palace well."

"Everything is for the Emperor."

The guards on both sides watched His Highness Prince Hui walk past like this, their expressions quite strange.

Cao Wenzhao understood Zhu Xu quite well—whenever he got slightly excited, he had a bit of trouble controlling himself. Simply put, he went a little crazy.

"Feng Zhu, let's go to your place first."

Zhu Xu got on the carriage and had Cao Wenzhao and Feng Zhu sit in front.

"Yes, Your Highness." Feng Zhu said respectfully toward the carriage door.

Cao Wenzhao drove the carriage toward another main road. He had already arranged the people to spread the news; now they just had to wait for the effect.

Sitting in the carriage, Zhu Xu pondered and said, "Later we'll go look at the trading house Wei Liangqing chose. The location can't be too good either."

"Eunuch Feng."

Before Zhu Xu finished speaking, a young eunuch suddenly popped out from not far away, calling out to Feng Zhu in a low, anxious voice.

As soon as Feng Zhu saw him, he hurriedly shouted to Cao Wenzhao, "Stop the carriage, stop the carriage."

Cao Wenzhao immediately reined in the horse, turned around, lifted the curtain, and looked at Zhu Xu.

Zhu Xu pushed aside the curtain with one hand and looked at the young eunuch who had appeared.

The young eunuch also saw Zhu Xu and quickly said, "Your Highness, Eunuch Feng, we're being watched."

Zhu Xu's expression suddenly changed, and he said in a grave tone, "Get on the carriage, Old Cao, hurry."

Hearing this, Feng Zhu and the young eunuch knew the matter was serious and quickly scrambled into the carriage. Cao Wenzhao drove the carriage straight into a secluded alley.

Zhu Xu looked at the young eunuch sitting before him and said, "Explain in detail—how did you discover it?"

The young eunuch tilted his head slightly and said timidly, "This servant discovered it by accident. There's a woman who appears across the street every day, peering inside from time to time, and hides whenever she sees us."

"A woman?"

Zhu Xu frowned slightly. Then it probably wasn't his fifth brother. Who could it be?

"Your Highness, shall I send someone to investigate?"

Cao Wenzhao in front had been listening the whole time. Hearing no more sound from inside, he spoke up.

"You don't need to move." Zhu Xu's eyes flickered thoughtfully. If it wasn't Prince Xin, then it should be someone from outside the palace. Apart from showing his face at Zhang Wenda's place, no one else should know about him.

Zhu Xu pondered for a long moment, then said, "Let Cao Huachun investigate this matter. Don't touch anything else—let's see how things develop first."

Cao Wenzhao thought about it and agreed. Since it was the eunuchs who had been exposed, if he got involved, it would easily expose His Highness Prince Hui.

"Boss, Wei Liangqing has been taken to the yamen."

At that mysterious inn, the gatekeeper said to Yang Huaizhong.

Yang Huaizhong's expression shifted slightly, and he asked, "Do you know the reason?"

The gatekeeper said, "Not clear yet. It should be about the money shop matter. It's already spreading like wildfire—everyone's saying Wei Liangqing was using force and fraud to swindle silver."

Yang Huaizhong wasn't afraid of anything else, just worried about being dragged into it and having their affairs exposed.

That bad premonition rose in his heart again, and he said to the gatekeeper, "Take a few more people with you. If there's any news, send someone back immediately."

"Yes, Boss." The gatekeeper acknowledged and hurriedly left.

The same thing was happening at that pawnshop.

Qiu Yuehou listened to the report the shop hand had heard, squinted his small eyes, and sneered, "Serves him right. Let me see if he can get the Emperor to pardon him this time."

The shop hand hesitated for a moment, then said, "Boss, should I go keep watch at the yamen?"

Qiu Yuehou knew exactly what Wei Liangqing was up to, but he still needed to be cautious, so he said, "Go ahead. When it's over, come back and tell me."

"Yes, Boss."

Those wealthy merchants and great households who had been given the cold shoulder by Wei Liangqing or had lost a bit of money to him also received the news. Their expressions differed, but all felt a sense of satisfaction, and they sent people to watch the yamen, wanting to see Wei Liangqing's final outcome.

In the main hall of the Shuntian Prefecture yamen, a middle-aged man stared at Wei Liangqing with a fierce expression, as if he wished he could devour his flesh. He laughed angrily, "Wei, you've finally gotten what you deserve! If you don't spit back out the silver you took from me before, my surname isn't Li!"

Wei Liangqing stood there, his expression dark and terrifying. This Li Fugui had nearly called him grandpa before, which was why he hadn't brought anyone today. He never expected this bastard to find a new backer and actually not put him in his eyes—even dragging him here.

This wasn't what angered him most—rather, if the 'Lady' found out about this, would she think he had handled matters poorly, cast him aside, and leave him to fend for himself?

All he could pin his hopes on now were Ni Wenhuan and Zhou Yingqiu, hoping they would pull him up for the sake of belonging to the same 'Lady.'

Therefore, he kept a grim face the whole time and said not a single word.

There was no one in the main hall, but voices of continuous discussion could be heard coming from the rear chamber.

"Why did you drag me out here? Just pass the sentence directly."

"Your Honor, this matter is not easy to handle."

"Why is it not easy? Has someone put in a word?"

"No, nothing like that. The problem lies with Wei Liangqing."

"Wei Liangqing? Wei Zhongxian is still in prison—surely he can't stir up any trouble?"

"Your Honor, the key isn't him. The key is His Majesty. His Majesty just recently pardoned his crime. At a time like this, if you convict him, what would His Majesty think? Moreover, that Li Fugui is only speaking empty words—he has no evidence whatsoever."

"Then... give him a reprimand and send him off?"

"That's workable. Handle it impartially so no one can say a word against it."

"Good. I know what to do now."