Volume One, Chapter 11: Against the Grain

The senior retainer and his group were somewhat stunned.

Li Chengqian smiled cheerfully and said, "You haven’t been in my residence for just a day or two. Don’t you understand palace intrigues? Do you think this money is to buy your loyalty? No, it’s to buy your lives."

Rubbing his temples, Li Chengqian shook his head again. "Oh, no, that’s not right. This money isn’t even to buy your lives. After killing you, he will take back everything he gave, including what I gave."

The senior retainer shuddered all over at Li Chengqian's reminder.

Whether others thought Li Chengqian was talking nonsense or not, the senior retainer, being a clever man, considered carefully. Isn’t this the most common method of assassination in the court?

After leaving the residence, he was found and given a large sum of money. Seeing the shining silver before his eyes and recalling how the crown prince had ruthlessly expelled him, he had been overwhelmed and thought only of revenge against the prince.

But the crown prince’s words immediately awakened him.

Yes, yes!

If they sent the crown prince to the Supreme Court, they would all be killed. On the contrary, if the crown prince didn’t go, no one would dare lay a finger on them.

Seeing Li Chengqian’s single sentence ready to break the deadlock, Fu Shaojing became somewhat panicked.

This was the trap he had carefully set for the crown prince. Even if it weren’t exposed, just exerting some psychological pressure in front of the crown prince’s household would make them give up instantly.

Moreover, slandering the crown prince was a grave crime; coercing him could lead to the extermination of three clans, or even all nine.

Fu Shaojing was no Wei Zheng, merely a subordinate official under Wei Zheng.

If the emperor really wanted to kill him, Li Tai would definitely pin all the blame on him, the lowly official.

Determined, he cleared his throat and threatened the senior retainer, "Senior retainer, think carefully before you speak. Does this really happen?"

Li Chengqian poured wine while smiling, "Yes, think carefully before you speak. Since I’ve chosen to let you go, I won’t pursue your slander just now."

"Crown prince!"

Upon hearing the prince’s response, everyone suddenly softened.

Although Li Chengqian kept male favorites, his words carried great weight and he possessed a royal demeanor.

The only reason he was not favored by Emperor Li Er was because he was a cripple.

But was it his fault? Did he choose to be crippled?

At this crucial moment, the senior retainer made a wise choice, and the others followed suit.

—

Clatter.

The senior retainer hurriedly took out the silver from his pocket. "This was given by the official."

"Nonsense!"

Fu Shaojing did not expect to be turned against; his face turned pale immediately. Seeing the senior retainer pull out the silver he used to bribe these people, he raised his foot to kick over this duplicitous man.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Li Chengqian suddenly looked up, pointing at Fu Shaojing, "If you dare land that kick, when you meet the emperor, I will reveal everything you’ve done. Tsk! How many lives do you have?"

The once tough Fu Shaojing immediately softened. Even those who came with him froze in fear and prostrated themselves on the ground.

Li Chengqian clicked his tongue, "Afraid now?"

"Crown prince... please spare us!"

Li Chengqian scratched his head, "You tried to harm me, yet when I do nothing and spare your lives, how can I just let you off?"

Fu Shaojing scrambled forward, kowtowing repeatedly, "Your Highness, you say, whatever you want me to do, I will do it. Please forgive me, I was blinded and made a grave mistake."

In truth, Li Chengqian did not really intend to kill them all.

They still had some use.

After all, Li Chengqian was under house arrest. Though the emperor was lenient, the fierce factional struggles in court could still change his fate in the coming days.

Look at Li Tai—he was eager to kill him.

He was already restless from the house arrest.

Seeing Fu Shaojing become obedient, Li Chengqian chuckled, "I’ll spare you, but bring me three people secretly. Don’t let the Prince of Wei’s men know. If you do this, I will spare you and your companions."

Upon hearing Li Chengqian ask for three people, Fu Shaojing panicked instantly.

How could he find them?

The capital was filled with spies everywhere. What if...

"Crown prince..."

"Stop right there!" Li Chengqian smiled warmly, "This is your own problem. How you solve it is none of my concern. I only want the result. If you succeed, I’ll let you go. If you fail... tsk, bear the consequences yourself."

Fu Shaojing collapsed to the ground, panting heavily. After a long time, he sighed deeply, "Fine! I’ll do it! Your Highness, which three people do you want me to bring?"

—

Li Chengqian took out the list Su Chan’er had brought him, pointing at the three names, "These three."

"Yang..."

"Shh! Don’t say it out loud. Go and do it. There’s still time. I want them brought here before dusk."

Fu Shaojing’s face grew even paler.

The emperor wanted results by dusk.

Now Li Chengqian’s demand to bring these three people to the crown prince’s residence secretly and without a trace before dusk was clearly a form of torment.

But could he refuse?

After all, the senior retainer, this useless creature, had exposed everything!

The senior retainer had now offended both sides. This fence-sitter suddenly felt he wanted to die, not daring to raise his head.

"Go," Li Chengqian ordered Fu Shaojing.

Once Fu Shaojing left, the senior retainer, still prostrate, crawled over to Li Chengqian, "Your Highness, save me. I have served you for twenty years, watched you grow up. I beg you, crown prince, show mercy."

Although Fu Shaojing might not dare to harm this two-faced retainer now, Li Chengqian’s current actions had effectively driven Fu Shaojing to a dead end.

This was all because the senior retainer helped these people harm him. If they had followed Fu Shaojing’s plan, only they would die, and Fu Shaojing would have been fine.

But now they had dragged Fu Shaojing down with them. As long as Fu Shaojing lived, he would do everything to kill them.

Fu Shaojing’s backer was Li Tai! Moreover, he was from the Supreme Court, very hard to kill. Killing these people would be easy for him.

But if Li Chengqian just uttered one word, these people’s lives would be saved.

What he needed most now was for Li Chengqian to say, "If any of you are killed, no matter when or where, Fu Shaojing is the culprit." That would save all of them.

But looking at the two-faced senior retainer and these men who wanted to harm him for a few pieces of silver, why should Li Chengqian show them mercy? Did he have a death wish?