Chapter 261 Keep the Wealth, Overtly Agree but Covertly Oppose

Jiang Yashuang’s conjecture was absolutely right. Mr. Leshan suggested Kuang Qingwu to seduce Qiu Jinzhu.

At that moment, Kuang Qingwu who just arrived in the villa was pouring tea for Mr. Leshan, “Thank you for all you have done in these few days!”

“How did it go?” Mr. Leshan unconcernedly took a sip of the tea and asked.

Kuang Qingwu was used to his indifference and arrogance. He wasn’t offended at that moment. He described his experience in the Summer Palace with a smile and then said, “Empress Dowager deliberately sent a maid to wait for me on the road before I went out of the palace. She urged me repeatedly not to forget my promise to Empress Dowager before Empress arrived.”

Mr. Leshan didn’t need Kuang Qingwu to tell him. He knew what Kuang Qingwu promised Empress Dowager Gu. It was nothing but the real choice between Princess Changping and Commandery Princess Ningtai. Kuang Qingwu went to the palace to confess to Empress Dowager Gu in advance. He asked Empress Dowager for forgiveness and protection. It was Mr. Leshan’s idea in the first place.

After musing for a moment, Mr. Leshan said, “We can’t go too far in offending Empress Dowager. So, we need to deal with Commandery Princess Ningtai’s matter now. What do you plan to do?”

A fierce look flashed through Kuang Qingwu’s eyes, “She is just a Commandery Princess. After drawing out Qiu Jinglan, considering the security state of Prince’s Mansion of Xihe, just need to send a man…”

“What about your reputation if you do that?” Mr. Leshan snorted and interrupted, “She gets killed right after you promised to marry her. Do you really think everyone is stupid? Even if everyone is stupid, the Empress’ party will lead public opinion, don’t you think so? Doing so will give Qiu Jinglan a cause for gossip! What’s the point of drawing him out then?”

Getting showered with rebuke, Kuang Qingwu was embarrassed. But he didn’t dare to talk back. He said with a smile, “Please give me some advice!”

“Prince’s Mansion of Xihe hasn’t yet appointed a Young Prince. Although Princess Yang is Commandery Princess Ningtai’s mother, she also has a son!” Mr. Leshan said with a sneer, “That’s all I have to say. If you still can’t figure it out, don’t come and ask me for advice again!”

“Make Princess Yang do it herself. Trade Qiu Jinzhu for Qiu Yinzhi’s Young Prince position?” Kuang Qingwu wasn’t stupid. He just wasn’t experienced enough. He was far less experienced than Mr. Leshan was. But he still figured it out after being advised. He was enlightened. Indeed, not only could it solve his problem, it was also more covert and trouble-free!

After all, who would think that Princess Yang would go after her own daughter?

Kuang Qingwu wasn’t afraid of Princess Yang rejecting. Without this deal, Qiu Yinzhi basically had no hope in being the Young Prince. Considering Princess Yang’s relationship with those sons of concubines, if her own son couldn’t be Duke of Xihe, one could imagine what would happen to her and her son!

By sacrificing a daughter who brought her big trouble and would get married sooner or later, she could get wealth for the rest of her and her son’s lives. Kuang Qingwu believed that Princess Yang knew how to choose.

He praised, “Mr. Leshan, you are way smarter than me!”

Mr. Leshan was indifferent to his compliment. He said flatly, “Remember to only let Zheng handle the payment you promised to Princess Shou’an. He may be the most reliable person among your servants. If Empress Dowager knows that Princess Shou’an helps you hide the truth of you seeing Qiu Jinzhu, it’s not a big deal that Princess Shou’an gets implicated. But it’s not easy for you to form another ally in the city besides Empress Dowager. If you lose her because of it, it will be such a shame.”

Kuang Qingwu agreed with respect. After musing for a moment, he finally asked, “You suggested me to ask Princess Shou’an for help before I started to date Qiu Jinzhu. But Princess Shou’an is just Empress Dowager’s grandniece. How was she able to hide it from Empress Dowager?”

“She wasn’t. But Duke of Guangyang and his son were able,” Mr. Leshan said, “Although Duke of Guangyang is Empress Dowager Gu’s brother, his ability at work is rather mediocre. So, he is inferior to Qiu Dian in the government. Young Prince of Guangyang is more capable than his father. But he has a bad reputation and he doesn’t have the Jinshi title. He isn’t qualified to be granted a high position. Only with his Young Prince identity, it’s inevitable that he participates in government affairs with his hands tied.”

They got in touch with Princess Shou’an. But she wasn’t the only one who took action. Kuang Qingwu knew that. But he was curious why Mr. Leshan was so sure that Prince’s Mansion of Guangyang dared to hide it from Empress Dowager Gu?

After all, Empress Dowager Gu gave them their title and power.

They should be loyal to Empress Dowager the most!

“People are greedy,” Mr. Leshan squinted and said flatly, “After wealth falling in their laps, they aren’t satisfied. Instead, they think about how to keep their wealth. It’s true that Prince’s Mansion of Guangyang owes it all to Empress Dowager Gu. But Empress Dowager Gu is old. How could they not think about their options?”

He glanced at Kuang Qingwu, “In the government, Gu Family and Tang Family are related by marriage. However, since Princess Shou’an convinced her father and brother to take down Prince of Yan using the earthquake last year, there are bound to be problems between the two families! Now Princess Shou’an is about to be Princess Zhou. She may be Crown Princess or Empress in the future. Do you think Tang Family will let it go?”

Tang Zimo’s position in Empress Dowager’s party was like Empress Jiang’s position in the Empress’ party. Even he wasn’t the leader, he was indispensable. In order to keep their family’s wealth, Gu Family tricked Tang Family. How could they not guard against their revenge?

In Empress Dowager’s party, only Kuang Family which had the military power was almost as equal as Tang Zimo.

“My family also needs support in the government which is provided by others in private besides Empress Dowager. In case no one defends us in the government after we served our purpose!” Kuang Qingwu was enlightened, “Prince’s Mansion of Guangyang is indeed the most suitable ally for my family!”

He mused for a moment, “However, Empress Dowager Gu will definitely get to the bottom of this matter. I wonder Prince’s Mansion of Guangyang…”

“Gu Family finally has a chance to have a future Crown Princess in their family. They will never admit that they helped you on this matter!” Mr. Leshan said flatly, “Even if you confess, they still won’t admit. So, I asked you to say that you were just dating Qiu Jinzhu when you confessed to Empress Dowager. As for people who helped you hide it, you must say that you didn’t know. Empress Dowager couldn’t do anything to you anyway. Besides, don’t underestimate Gu Family. Duke of Guangyang may be mediocre. But his son and daughter are quite capable. Do you think they weren’t sure of it since they dared to promise you?”

“Just think about it. It’s said that Princess Shou’an and Princess Changping are very close since they were kids. Princess Shou’an tricking Prince of Yan made Empress Dowager furious. Princess Changping mediating again and again finally poured oil on the waters! Princess Shou’an was about to become Princess Zhou not long after that. But Changping Princess also convinced Empress Dowager Gu to let her daughter marry Prince of Zhou first as the senior concubine. It means that Princess Shou’an needs Empress Dowager and Princess Changping’s support right now! How could others suspect that she and her family dare to disobey Empress Dowager’s order at the crucial moment?”

“Actually, in Empress Dowager’s party Tang Zimo is most likely to see through this! The problem is that he already holds a grudge against Gu Family. Pointing it out now will make others suspect that he wants to seek revenge. The true mingles with the false. Without hard evidence, who dares to suspect Gu Family at the risk of being charged with sowing discord between Empress Dowager Gu and her maiden Family?”

“So, you don’t need to worry that Gu Family can’t get through this at all. They surely know Empress Dowager Gu better than us! Worst case scenario, they will give up a rook to save the king if Empress Dowager really gets to the bottom of it!”

“I hope that those people who Xingkang Grand Princess asked me to bring would be handled by their real master!” Kuang Qingwu saluted Mr. Leshan while saying, “I’m so lucky to have you with me!”

Mr. Leshan accepted his salute deservedly and then reminded, “You’d better inform Empress Dowager Gu about the deal which you are going to make with Princess Yang! After all, she must be very unhappy right now. She will know about it even if you don’t tell her. You may as well please her in order to smooth her anger.”

Kuang Qingwu agreed. Seeing that Mr. Leshan was about to get up and leave, he said in a hurry, “Mr. Leshan, please wait!”

He went into the inner chamber in a hurry and came out with a brocade box. He handed it over with both hands, “My father heard that you lost the pill which he gave you in the early years. He deliberately sent this with the letter last time.”

Mr. Leshan glanced at him, “It’s so precious. Just keep it for yourself!”

“I’m surrounded by spies. How could Empress Dowager not know about your talent? My father did this. Because he is worried that you get implicated by me!” Kuang Qingwu said sincerely, “Please accept it!”

“…” after hearing that, Mr. Leshan took over the brocade box without hesitation and then left. Zheng walked in from outside the moment Mr. Leshan left. He was a little dissatisfied, “Young master, you and old master treat him so well. But he is always so arrogant. He didn’t even thank you!”

Kuang Qingwu didn’t care, “Unique people have unique behaviors. Considering how capable Mr. Leshan is, it’s okay for him to be a little rude.”

Zheng was a little embarrassed, “I shouldn’t have said all that.”

“You just care about me. You always think that others don’t treat me well enough,” Kuang Qingwu smiled. Zheng had been looking after him before he was accepted by Kuang Family. They were very close. Kuang Qingwu never hid his feelings in front of him. He persuaded at that moment, “Mr. Leshan doesn’t stick to trifles. But he actually cares about me very much. He totally ignored my father when he asked him to give advice! But he helped us a lot since we arrived in the city.”

“I just feel that you show so much respect to Mr. Leshan. He should at least be kind to you,” after thinking about it, Zheng felt Kuang Qingwu was right. He was more embarrassed. He changed the topic in a hurry, “Should I go and deliver the gift to Princess Shou’an now?”

“Wait until dark! In case anyone sees you,” Kuang Qingwu said. He thought of Mr. Leshan mentioning that Gu E’nuo and Princess Changping were close since they were kids. And then he had an idea, “It’s okay to deliver the gift now! Other than the gift we promised Princess Shou’an, prepare another one and ask her to give it to Princess Changping. If someone asks, you just say that I’m afraid that Empress Dowager is still mad at me. So, I want to ask Princess Shou’an and Princess Changping to mediate for me. That’s why I send them gifts!”

Mr. Leshan’s advice was so subtle. Thank god I figured it out this time.

Kuang Qingwu thought with relief.

He had already made up his mind that he would use the Yong Prince position as bait to get Princess Yang to kill her daughter. It was a pity that Qiu Jinzhu knew nothing about it. She announced joyfully to her parents, “He said it in front of Empress Dowager and Empress. How could he lie?”

Qiu Mengmin whose face and body were still wrapped with bandages and Princess Yang were still worried after hearing what she and Xiuyan said, “Princess Changping didn’t say anything in the process? She didn’t confront you guys after you guys left? ”

Although Princess Changping wasn’t known for being cunning and barbarous, a girl from a normal family would confront them after getting humiliated like that let alone a Princess. She should at least stop them on the road and look for trouble.

“Empress was there to back up Yelan in person. Even Empress Dowager couldn’t do anything, let alone Princess Changping,” Qiu Jinzhu felt that the sky was so blue, the water was so clean, and the world was so wonderful at that moment. Of course, she thought everything was good, “When we went out of the palace, Yelan was with us. I think that Princess Changping was also afraid that it would be bad for her if the matter became significant.”

Qiu Mengmin and his wife knew very well how fierce and tough Qiu Yelan could be.

However, even so, she wasn’t so fierce and tough enough to make a Princess not dare to fight back after losing her future husband! Even the candidate of her future husband was just tacit not official!

Qiu Mengmin and his wife looked at each other. They felt more and more insecure, “Did Yelan say anything to you when you went out of the palace?” Since Qiu Yelan was willing to take care of this matter, no matter what her agenda was…She wouldn’t drop it after going to the palace with her cousin, would she?

After they said that, Qiu Jinzhu and Xiuyan looked unhappy and as if they had had something to hide, “What could Yelan say? I might as well not have asked her for help if I had known it would end up like this!”

“Tell us exactly what she said!” seeing this, how could Qiu Mengmin and his wife not know that Qiu Yelan really did instruct her? They didn’t care if it was something Qiu Jinzhu wanted to hear. They urged her at once to speak up for their reference.

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