The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

Chapter 295 No turning back
It was another night of heavy rain, bringing a rare coolness to the hot summer day.

In the back garden, the third prince was standing by the waterside pavilion feeding the fish.

Censor Mei and his son, Master Mei, stood aside.

The Third Prince seemed to be in a very good mood because of the amusing words of Censor Mei and his son.

I don't know what Mr. Mei said.

The third prince laughed loudly and sprinkled fish food into the pond, attracting the fish to float up and fight for it.

Mr. Mei: "I'm telling you this to relieve your boredom. You think a son of a governor would actually owe a whore a debt?"

Mei Yushi: "If this kind of thing were written in a play, anyone who read it would think it was made up."

Mr. Mei: "I really don't know whether Wang Ziteng's face was red or white at that time."

The Third Prince smiled and said, "I was busy with the Hetao incident at the time and didn't pay attention. Oh, by the way, after such an incident, why didn't anyone from your Censorate report Wang Ziteng? This is a great opportunity to go down in history!"

Mei Yushi: "I wrote it, but halfway through, the cabinet came out with the news that Wang Ziteng got promoted. Who would dare to touch this bad luck?"

The third prince nodded and sneered in his heart: What a bunch of trash!
Master Mei changed the subject: "There's something funny. Wang Ren, Wang Ziteng's nephew, and Xue Pan, his nephew, had a fight in Taihe Tower. I heard that Wang Ren said some obscene words to tease Xue Pan's sister in front of him."

Mei Yushi: "The Wang family's family tradition is really not commendable!"

The third prince was amused again.

Master Mei: "I have heard some information about Wang Ren. This kid is good at bird-walking, cricket-fighting, and gambling. He is good at eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling. He is even worse than those dandy boys!"

Wang Ren is gambling?

The third prince's eyes flashed, and he said with a smile: "You have a lot of gossip!"

Master Mei smiled and said, "Your Highness, I am flattered. I just had nothing to do, so I wandered around and asked around all day."

The Third Prince smiled and looked at him, saying, "I have a pretty good relationship with Zhen Fu, the captain of the Southern Pacification Division. I'll introduce you to each other one day. I'll risk my reputation and make you a general commander."

General flag? A seventh-rank official, sending away a beggar?! The smile on Master Mei's face froze.

When Imperial Censor Mei saw his son in a daze, he hurriedly pulled him down to kneel, "Thank you for your grace, Your Highness."

Master Mei came back to his senses and said, "Thank you, Your Highness, for your grace."

A trace of sneer quickly flashed across the Third Prince's eyes, and in an instant he smiled again, stretched out his hand to support him, and said, "Stand up and talk. The Imperial Guard is not an ordinary government office. This is already my greatest ability."

Before he finished speaking, the steward of the Third Prince's Mansion came over with Zhen Fu.

Zhen Fu was startled when he saw the father and son of the Mei family, then he said, "Imperial Censor Mei is here too."

The third prince looked at him: "What's the matter?"

Zhen Fu looked at the father and son of the Mei family and said hesitantly, "Well, I just heard a piece of news."

The Third Prince: "There are no outsiders here, go ahead and speak."

Zhen Fu: "Yes. The men of Zhongjing Hou Shi Ding were ambushed in the south city. Including the guards of the Imperial Household Department, more than a hundred people died last night."

The third prince was startled: "Who did it?"

Censor Mei and Master Mei were both shocked.

Zhen Fu: "Not sure yet. I heard that the brothers Shi Nai and Shi Ding are kneeling outside the study."

The Third Prince glanced at him and suddenly pointed at Master Mei: "This is the son of Imperial Censor Mei, you two should get to know each other."

After hearing this, Zhen Fu just smiled and nodded.

Master Mei was unhappy, but still forced a smile: "Captain Zhen." Then he bowed to Zhen Fu.

The third prince glanced at the two of them, then told Zhen Fu what had just happened.

Zhen Fu didn't think about it and agreed directly.

Mr. Mei's expression looked better now.

Censor Mei saw that Zhen Fu had something to say to the Third Prince, so he took his leave.

Seeing the Mei father and son walking away with the housekeeper, the Third Prince looked at Zhen Fu.

Zhen Fu took a step forward and lowered his voice: "Reliable information, twenty or thirty bodies of the murderer were found at the scene."

The Third Prince: "Oh? Anything else?"

Zhen Fu: "There is another group of people." The third prince's eyes flashed: "Are those the real murderers?"

Zhen Fu nodded and said, "The city gate is checking the carriages that entered the city. The palace suspects that those people took the body away. The people from the Five Cities Military Department are searching every house in the South City."

At this moment, the butler came hurriedly and reported to the Third Prince: "Your Highness, the Minister of Internal Affairs is here."

The third prince was startled: "Did he say anything?"

The housekeeper said, "It is said that the emperor has given wine and meat to the sentry camp of the Ruishi Battalion, and asked the internal minister to accompany Your Highness to distribute them according to the list."

The Third Prince and Zhen Fu exchanged a knowing look, and said to the housekeeper, "Tell the Minister that I will be there soon after I change my clothes."

Butler: "Yes."

The Third Prince turned his gaze to Zhen Fu again: "Could it be Li Hu?"

Zhen Fu thought for a moment and said, "With one person missing, Li Hu will be suspected."

The third prince nodded.

In the restaurant, the eunuch on duty, who was dressed in plain clothes, was sitting at a table in the corner. He ordered two dishes and a pot of wine and was drinking by himself, his eyes constantly looking towards the door.

At this time, Wang Daniu came in with a bag of food in his hand, and the waiter greeted him: "How many of you are there?"

Wang Daniu: "Looking for someone. I saw him." He walked towards the eunuch's table.

Wang Daniu sat down next to the eunuch, looked around, and lowered his voice: "Why did you ask me out now?"

The chief eunuch: "Let me ask you something. Where was Li Hu last night?"

Wang Daniu: "At home, what's wrong?"

The chief eunuch: "You've never been out of the house?"

Wang Daniu: "No. Our general didn't go out all day. We had a drink together at dinner and left after two o'clock."

The eunuch overheard and a confused look appeared in his eyes.

Wang Daniu: "What's wrong?"

The eunuch thought for a moment and told him Zhang Cheng's identity and what happened last night.

Wang Daniu's face changed, and the figure suddenly appeared in his mind. He was not mistaken yesterday, it was Zhang Cheng!
From this perspective, it is possible that what happened last night was done by Wang Yaozu's sentry camp.

Thinking of this, Wang Daniu was in a dilemma. On one hand, he had to obey the emperor's order, and on the other hand, he had to face his brother who had been through thick and thin with him. He struggled for a moment and finally decided to keep the matter secret!

The chief eunuch looked around and lowered his voice, "Your Majesty has ordered that if he is alive, you must see him. If he is dead, you must see his body! You must report any news related to Zhang Cheng, no matter how big or small, immediately."

Wang Daniu nodded.

The chief eunuch was silent for a moment, then continued, "Also, the residence of the Loyal and Brave Earl must also report who comes in and who goes out."

Wang Daniu was silent for a moment, then asked, "Is this necessary?"

The chief eunuch was also silent for a moment: "This is the decree."

What else could Wang Daniu say but to answer, "Yes."

The eunuch sighed and said, "Go back and be careful on the road."

Wang Daniu just sat there without moving.

The chief eunuch: "Anything else?"

Wang Daniu looked at him and lowered his head.

The eunuch seemed to see through Wang Daniu's thoughts and sighed, "Once we start this business, there's no turning back."

After a pause, he said, "This time I can pretend that nothing happened. If it happens again, I will report it to the police."

Wang Daniu: "I understand, Manager Xie." After saying that, he stood up and walked out.

The eunuch shook his head and stood up: "Shopkeeper, let's settle the bill!"

After settling the bill, the eunuch walked out and the two guards waiting outside the door immediately followed him.

At a table near the door of the teahouse opposite the restaurant, Ni Er picked up the tea bowl and drank it in a few gulps. He wiped his mouth, put on his bamboo hat, took out two copper coins and placed them on the table, then walked towards the eunuch.

(End of this chapter)