sovbooks Chapter 58 Secret Talk
Chapter 58 Secret Talk
The study door was pushed open from the inside.
The eighth prince, Yinzhi, walked in front, wearing a moon-white robe, a jade belt around his waist, with a handsome face and his signature gentle smile.
The ninth prince, Yin Tang, followed behind him, his steps somewhat unsteady, his left foot hesitant to put weight on, his toes barely touching the ground.
It seems my gout hasn't fully healed from last time; I'm still walking with the lingering effects.
The two of them looked at Yin'e with smiles on their faces.
The eighth prince's gaze swept over the servant leading the way without making a sound, and his eyes darted slightly to the side.
The servant understood the meaning in that gaze.
The servant bowed and silently withdrew from the courtyard.
The ninth prince limped forward, raised his hand, and slapped Yin'e on the shoulder with a touch of intimacy.
"Oh." He drawled, looking Yin'e up and down. "Isn't this the number one philanthropist in the capital, the tenth prince?"
Your heroic deeds have spread throughout the capital! I heard you've been extremely busy these past few days, with officials practically wearing down your doorstep!"
These words sounded like a joke, but Yin'e heard something else in them.
The ninth venomous snake, his very first words were barbed.
The phrase "the greatest philanthropist in the capital" is just him showing off.
The phrase "the threshold was almost worn down" is used to describe how he won people's hearts.
In short, it was a veiled criticism, bringing up all his recent actions and displaying them on his face, forcing him to explain himself in front of Lao Ba.
Yin'e cursed the old fox in his heart, but immediately put on a pitiful expression.
"Ninth Brother, what are you saying! How can you talk to me like that?"
"Don't you know me? I acted impulsively. I just couldn't stand Fourth Brother's behavior. He was bullying me too much!"
Lord Wei's coffin was still parked behind them; he had been cursing the man's son like a grandson.
In a moment of impulsiveness, I agreed to Wei Dongting's debt of 300,000 taels.
He paused, then feigned a look of lingering fear: "To be honest, I regretted it as soon as I stepped out the door."
I was also afraid that my impulsiveness would cause trouble for the myna bird, so I came to report to it immediately. You can ask the myna bird if you don't believe me!
He turned his head and looked at Lao Ba, his eyes full of earnest pleading, "Brother Ba, you have to be my witness."
The ninth brother glanced at the eighth brother, who didn't say anything but nodded slightly, the smile still lingering on his lips.
"Ouch!" Old Ninth suddenly laughed and punched Yin'e again.
"I was just kidding, look how serious you are. Tenth brother, you're still the same as when you were a kid, you can't take a joke."
Yin'e breathed a sigh of relief and laughed along, scratching the back of his head and making a simple and honest face.
But he was not at ease.
He knew that the joke was real, and the test was also real.
If Lao Jiu hadn't explained or made his point clearly immediately, then the "joke" would have become "evidence," and Lao Ba would have had another scar on his heart.
"Alright, alright," Lao Ba spoke up at the right moment. "This isn't the place to talk. Let's go inside and talk."
He stepped aside to make way for the doorway, gestured "please" with his hand, and then turned and walked ahead.
Yin'e followed behind, and as he crossed the threshold, he reached out to help the Ninth Prince, assisting him with his less-than-flexible leg.
The study was still the same study. Everything was exactly the same as when I last came.
The three of them sat around the daybed as before.
The eighth prince sat at the head of the table, the ninth prince on the left, and Yin'e on the right.
Three teacups were placed on the small rosewood table in the middle. The tea was emerald green and steaming hot, and the white glazed teacups gleamed in the sunlight.
Lao Jiu picked up his teacup, blew away the foam, and took a sip.
He looked at Yin'e, his smiling expression fading slightly, replaced by a serious tone tinged with reproach.
"Tenth Brother, it's not that I'm criticizing you, but your impulsive actions that day completely disrupted our entire plan."
Yin'e looked bewildered: "Huh? What deployment? I...I don't know."
The Ninth Brother glanced at the Eighth Brother, who nodded slightly, signaling him to continue.
Old Nine leaned forward and lowered his voice.
"Think about it, what is the relationship between Old Master Wei and Father Emperor?"
He was my childhood study companion and followed the Emperor for his entire life.
Capturing Ao Bai, quelling the Three Feudatories, conquering Galdan, and making six southern tours—which one was without the presence of Master Wei?
His importance in the Emperor's heart was unmatched by any of the ministers.
Such a person, driven to suicide by his fourth brother in his own study, how could the Emperor not feel pain? How could he not have thoughts about it?
Yin'e nodded without saying a word.
"It's true that Fourth Brother is on imperial orders to collect debts, but Old Master Wei is no ordinary person. Father Emperor knows exactly how he owes those debts."
When he visited the south, he stayed at the Wei family's residence. The pomp and expense were all made of real money.
Old Master Wei's money was spent on behalf of Father Emperor. Even if Father Emperor didn't say it, how could he not know?
Old Ninth's tone grew increasingly somber, "So, with Old Master Wei's death, Fourth Brother messed up his job."
If he messes it up, it's his fault. And if it's his fault, it's the fault of the person behind him.
"Originally, my brother and I had already discussed it. We would start taking action after Old Master Wei's mourning period and the seventh day after his death."
The Eighth Prince's faction mobilized all its members in the Hanlin Academy, the Censorate, and the Six Ministries.
He impeached Tian Wenjing for forcing an old minister to his death, impeached the fourth brother for pursuing debts without regard for human feelings, and impeached the crown prince for allowing his followers to interfere in court affairs and to associate with officials outside the capital.
We must show the Emperor that this debt collection has resulted in a death, and this is no small matter.
Even if Father Emperor doesn't punish Fourth Brother, he will still have doubts about the Crown Prince.
His crown prince can't even manage his own followers; how will he rule the world in the future?
Old Nine sighed as he finished speaking, leaned back against the cushion, and spread his hands.
"And then you did it, patting your chest in the mourning hall and taking on Old Master Wei's 300,000 tael debt."
Once the debt was paid off and the accounts settled, the Wei family's affairs became an "unsolved mystery."
Even if the Emperor wanted to hold someone accountable, he would have no grounds to do so.
The money has already been returned, what else do you need to investigate?
You filled in the mess that Fourth Brother botched, and the Crown Prince's side is no longer affected.
You not only disrupted our plans, you practically pulled Fourth Brother back from the brink of disaster.
Yin'e opened his mouth, his expression changing from bewilderment to regret, and then to grievance. His lips trembled for a while before he finally managed to squeeze out a few words: "Oh dear, I... I don't know."
Myna, Ninth Brother, neither of you told me any of this...
"I haven't had a chance to tell you yet," the eighth prince finally spoke, as if to help Yin'e out of a predicament. "Besides, this isn't your fault."
You meant well, standing up for the Wei family. Who could have imagined all these twists and turns?
He picked up the teacup, took a sip, put it down, his gaze lingered on Yin'e's face for a moment, and then looked away.
"It's okay, I'll think of something else."