Chapter 223: Collecting Wealth

"Did you go to the Meng Family two days ago?"

"Hmm, I delivered a grand gift to them. Prince, have you seen the fragment of the border feng shui map?"

Mo Junyan nodded, his expression slightly grim: "This Prince never expected that the feng shui map lost for so long would end up in the hands of that old scoundrel Meng Hui."

The fragment is densely filled with the precise locations of granaries, armories, and barracks; if it falls into enemy hands, they could crush them in a single blow without any effort.

In the previous life, Yuqin Guo invaded, advancing straight toward the capital, nearly breaching the Imperial City; countless soldiers fell, civilians were displaced, perhaps all because the border feng shui map was leaked.

Mo Junyan clenched his fists tightly, the blue veins on his forehead beginning to bulge.

At that moment, a cool hand gently rested on his eye.

"The matter hasn't reached that point yet, Prince, don't overthink it."

The cold ink‑like chill in his eyes faded, his furrowed brows relaxed, and Mo Junyan reached out, grasping that soft touch and cradling it in his palm.

It was like a priceless treasure.

At this time, within the palace, Grand Tutor Qin arrived outside the Empress's quarters, and the palace attendants hurried inside to deliver the message.

"Wasn't Father gone back? Why is he back again?" the Empress frowned slightly, whispering, "Please let Father enter."

Grand Tutor Qin briskly entered; upon stepping into the main hall, he pushed the attendants aside. Seeing him like this, the Empress felt a chill in her heart.

"Father, what has happened?"

"Just now the Emperor summoned me to the Imperial Study; do you know why?"

The Empress shook her head: "Wasn't I just with Father the whole time? Moreover…" she moved her lips, looking uneasy: "Besides, the Emperor hasn't visited my chambers for a long time."

Grand Tutor Qin, hearing this, grew even more displeased and said gravely, "Today in the Imperial Study, besides me, there is Prince Li and a Divine Doctor who appeared from nowhere."

"Divine Doctor?"

The Empress's complexion changed abruptly.

If Prince Li and the Divine Doctor were colluding, it would not be good for them.

Grand Tutor Qin produced the medicinal list that Chi Nan Yi had just written for him, and said in a low voice, "This is the list of herbs the Divine Doctor prepared; they should be used to treat Prince Li's injuries."

The Empress glanced at the contents of the list, her brows slightly furrowed.

"Each of these herbs is a rare find; even if we could locate them all, it would take years, and by then the Crown Prince might already have ascended the throne."

Grand Tutor Qin shook his head: "That's not right; I think the matter isn't that simple. Though rare, they haven't vanished entirely. Moreover, the Emperor asked us to help locate them; we can't fail to find a single plant! And the Emperor's agents will certainly search; some who hear the rumors and wish to curry favor with the Emperor and Prince Li will also send people. We can't just wait here; we must act."

The Empress nodded: "Father is right."

Grand Tutor Qin glanced at her, sighed, and said, "There's another matter: although the Crown Prince was raised under your care, he isn't your biological child, and his mother's death…" He didn't finish the sentence, but that single remark already made the Empress's face turn pale.

"Enough. The immediate priority is that Prince Li's legs must not be restored."

The Empress heard this, a sharp cold edge flashing in her eyes, and whispered, "Since that Divine Doctor can heal, why not make her disappear?"

Grand Tutor Qin shook his head: "Impossible. The news just spread that the Divine Doctor has died; the Emperor will become suspicious. This matter still requires careful deliberation. In any case, these herbs are hard to find, and we still have time."

"Hmph, I can cripple Mo Junyan's leg once, and a second time; no one should think of taking anything from my hands."

After Grand Tutor Qin left the palace, Li Gonggong entered the Imperial Study.

"Emperor, Grand Tutor Qin has left."

"Hmm."

Li Gonggong smiled, placing his teacup on the table: "You truly are prophetic; Grand Tutor Qin indeed went to the Empress's quarters."

"If the second son's legs recover, the greatest threat will be the Crown Prince; Grand Tutor Qin and the Empress would naturally be anxious." The Emperor sipped his tea lightly, feeling refreshed: "As for that medicinal list, distribute a copy to the ministers; whoever can locate the herbs on it will receive a generous reward from me."

"Understood."

Li Gonggong turned and left; the Emperor opened a secret box, took out a portrait inside, and said softly, "Rou Er, our son's leg can be saved, but… he is a eunuch; what shall we do?"

The medicinal list spread among the court, and immediately countless people began gathering herbs in the markets.

Chi Nan Yi learned of the news and his face was full of smiles.

"Miss, why are you smiling here?" Qingmei asked, puzzled: "Since this morning the lady's smile hasn't ceased."

"Naturally because someone is about to send silver."

"Hm?" Qingmei blinked: "But the beauty shop is about to open?"

Chi Nan Yi shook his head, smiled mysteriously: "How could a beauty shop be profitable?"

She, like a magician, produced a basket of herbs from the cabinet; Qingmei and the others exchanged glances, wondering when the lady had put those herbs inside.

"This is…"

"Send these secrets to the hidden compartment; Lanxi knows what to do."

"Understood."

Five‑hundred‑year‑old ginseng, Tianshan snow lotus, hundred‑year‑old polygonatum… The herbs on the list are ordinary to her, but on the market they are treasures.

Not to mention five‑hundred‑year ginseng, even hundred‑year ginseng is hard to find abroad; each of these herbs can fetch a sky‑high price, and the best way to maximize their value is to auction them.

Lanxi, well‑versed in this, within a few days spread news that the auction house would soon auction the herbs.

Once the news spread, each side began to make moves.

Major clans sent representatives to the auction, and powerful ministers in the court also dispatched agents covertly.

At this moment, the most anxious were the Qin family and the Meng Family.

Meng Hui wanted to curry favor, but lacked silver and dared not be too obvious; after all, he still hoped to marry his daughter into the Crown Prince's residence. If the Crown Prince learned he sent people to buy herbs, the great tree he relied on would likely no longer shelter him.

The Qin family, however, did not want this batch of herbs to surface.

"Damn it." Grand Tutor Qin abandoned his refined demeanor before the Emperor, thumped the table heavily: "These herbs were a rarity once every ten or twenty years, and now they sprout like bamboo shoots after rain, one after another."

"Indeed, master, according to reliable information, every herb on the list will appear at this auction; they won't be cheap, and we can't possibly buy them all."

Grand Tutor Qin paced on the floor, his expression grim: "I originally didn't want to involve her, but given this, we have no choice but the low road." He whispered a few words to the young servant, who obeyed, nodded, and hurried away.