Red Mansion: Picking up a Lin Daiyu

Chapter 528 Concealing Skills and Sharpness

The back garden of the Prince of Beijing's residence.

The turmoil in the capital city seemed to have no effect on the two people enjoying the scenery and brewing tea.

Beneath the waterside pavilion, Prince Shui Rong of Beijing and the Third Prince Liu Yun sat facing each other, their faces both calm and composed.

"Your Highness, please try this early-season pre-Qingming tea. It has a very fresh and bright flavor. In my palace, there is only this small cup left."

The Third Prince responded with a forced smile, "Your Highness is joking. Although pre-Qingming tea is more valuable than gold outside, it's nothing to Your Highness. Your Highness can even obtain the waist token of the Commander of the Imperial Guards, which is far rarer than pre-Qingming tea."

Shui Rong smiled and waved his hand, "I wouldn't dare, I still need Your Highness's guidance."

Liu Yun nodded, "Your Highness has spared no effort in planning and strategizing for me, and I am certainly not a person who would betray your trust. However, if there is anything I need to be mentored by, I would appreciate Your Highness's guidance."

As she said this, Liu Yun paused, seemingly with a hint of doubt, and asked, "Now that Your Highness is already a leading figure among the nobles, even if I ascend the throne, what can I do to promote Your Highness? Open your own household and be granted the same rank as the Three Excellencies, or make you a Prince of the First Rank?"

Upon hearing this, Shui Rong's smile became somewhat awkward.

Of the three princes, he had indeed chosen the most different one, but it was precisely this kind of person who was more difficult for him to control.

Even if Liu Yun spoke rudely, Shui Rong dared not make any statement at this moment. He could only continue to act as if he were a subject of a ruler, speaking respectfully.

"Your Highness is joking. How can we take these stories from storytelling and opera as real events and comment on them? Even if we did take them as real, I'm afraid that apart from the current Duke of Dingguo, no one else would receive such an honor."

If a prince wants to ascend to the throne, the person he needs to be most wary of is a powerful minister like Yue Ling who wields all the power.

In order to maintain the current balance between the two, Shui Rong had no choice but to bring out Yue Ling, a formidable opponent, once again.

As expected, the warning was very effective. Liu Yun indeed suppressed his previous sharpness and put on a detached expression, inquiring about the details.

"According to what Your Highness just said, the Second Prince is already on his way back to the capital and will soon cross Shanhaiguan. Once he enters Shanhaiguan, the court should know the news. Can you then predict that the Duke of Dingguo, who is heading north, will not learn of the news and will turn back in advance, and that our father in the palace will step in to take charge of the government?"

Shui Rong, however, seemed confident. He picked up a teacup from the table, took a small sip, and said leisurely, "Your Highness, rest assured. Unless the Duke of Dingguo has superhuman abilities and can foresee the future, how could he possibly take precautions in advance? There is no news of him in Liaodong, and it is impossible for the Second Prince's personal guard to have any spies among them."

"As for Your Majesty..."

Shui Rong changed the subject, raising his eyes to ask, "I wonder if Your Highness has come to the palace to pay your respects these past few days?"

Liu Yun shook his head. "Recently, we have not been allowed to visit the palace. Apart from the time my eldest brother was summoned by the Emperor a few days ago for his political affairs, we have not been summoned by the Emperor for a long time."

Shui Rong nodded and said mysteriously, "Your Highness, please forgive my bluntness, but His Majesty's condition is probably beyond control."

Liu Yun frowned, his face showing displeasure.

"Why do you say that, my lord?"

Shui Rong put down his teacup and sighed, "Your Highness may not know this, but before the late emperor passed away, he was often full of energy. That was only because the elixirs and pills had drained the last bit of energy from his body. After that, the disease penetrated to the bone marrow and became incurable."

"His Majesty has been pushing his body for many years. In fact, he was already covered in wounds more than a decade ago. During the campaign against Liaodong, he fell off his horse several times, which was common knowledge among the officers and soldiers at the time."

"But during the years since His Majesty returned to the capital, there have been no reports of his illness. He has a rosy complexion and a strong voice when he attends court. In my opinion, he may be following in the footsteps of the late Empress."

"What?!" Liu Yun exclaimed in shock, slamming his hand on the table. "Don't spout nonsense! How can such a thing withstand scrutiny? If my grandfather were to die from this disease, my father would know better than anyone the harmful effects of elixirs!"

Shui Rong stood up and patted Liu Yun's shoulder, saying, "Your Highness, please don't be anxious. Let me explain in detail."

Liu Yun frowned and said in a deep voice, "It's not that I'm acting on emotion. You should know that if something goes wrong in this matter, all our plans will be in vain."

Shui Rong nodded. "Such matters cannot be based on mere speculation. Besides, I also know some inside information that Your Highness may not be aware of."

"After His Majesty returned to the capital and ascended the throne, he has been recuperating and has recruited doctors from all over the country to provide medical consultations for His Majesty in the palace. As a result, the Qi family, who are imperial merchants who purchase medicinal materials for the Imperial Household Department, have risen to prominence in just a few years."

"Later, more and more alchemists and Taoist priests appeared in the palace. Recently, even monks and nuns who chanted scriptures have entered the palace. Doesn't this prove that His Majesty's symptoms can no longer be treated with medicine and can only be resolved by divine intervention?"

Despite the seemingly logical explanation of the water solubility analysis, Liu Yun remained skeptical, but he didn't want to delve any deeper.

A man as intelligent as Shui Rong wouldn't risk his life, or perhaps he's hiding something from me that he's unwilling to reveal.

In any case, Liu Yun had already made up his mind that if he really had the opportunity to ascend the throne, the first thing he would do was to purge the palace staff.

Raising his eyes again, Liu Yun asked in a low voice, "Once the matter is accomplished, how does Your Highness wish for my assistance?"

Shui Rong seemed to have already thought of the answer. Without hesitation, he blurted out, "I have a daughter. If I could betroth her to Your Highness as Empress, it would be perfect to establish a marriage alliance between our children."

Liu Yun narrowed his eyes, smiled, and stepped down the steps that Shui Rong had handed him, saying, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Father-in-law."

Shui Rong bowed and said, "I dare not take credit. Your Highness, you only need to wait for my news these next few days."

"it is good."

……

A few days later,
Civil and military officials, as well as the people of the capital, were all anxiously awaiting battle reports from the front lines.

With no war in the court for many years, the recent large-scale military campaigns against both sides have naturally become the focus of discussion among the common people.

Some people even made bets on whether the Second Prince would report the victory first, or whether Yue Ling would gain the upper hand as soon as he started his training and be able to report the victory to the capital.

As night fell, the only sound on the streets under curfew was the rustling of fallen leaves on the ground.

Soldiers from the military garrison patrolled the main roads of the capital city on a routine basis, and arrested anyone who violated the law at night.

However, they often turned a blind eye to the relatives of the nobility and the powerful, and dared not offend them.

Under the cover of night, a few people gathered at the Crown Prince's residence.

The eldest prince, awakened from his bed, hurriedly came out to greet him. He didn't even bother to dress more properly, simply draping a long robe over his undergarments and tightening his belt before stepping out.

Upon seeing Chai Pu leading Ji Bin, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, one could already guess that something had changed regarding the palace coup.

In particular, the two men's faces appeared quite anxious in the candlelight.

The presence of Ji Bin behind him, even more so than Chai Pu, further convinced the eldest prince Liu An.

"Mr. Chai, has something changed?"

Ji Bin stepped forward. “Your Highness, I am Ji Bin, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice. I pay my respects to Your Highness. I apologize for disturbing you by entering your residence at night.”

After going through the formalities, Chai Pu stepped aside to allow Ji Bin to report to Liu An face-to-face. "According to our informants inside the pass, after hearing the news that the Duke of Dingguo was leading an army on a northern expedition, the Second Prince mustered his troops and set off for the capital day and night."

"He personally led five thousand cavalrymen, and they have probably already passed Tongzhou. They will arrive in the capital in another day!"

Liu An froze, as if struck by lightning.

His lips trembled slightly as he looked at Chai Pu and asked, "Elder Chai, how did my brother learn of the news so quickly?"

Chai Pu sighed and said, "Perhaps the Second Prince was prepared all along and deliberately left spies in the capital to guard against His Highness."

"However, now is not the time to talk about these things. Your Highness, we need to make plans as soon as possible and cannot wait any longer."

Ji Bin stepped forward and said, "Old Chai is right, Your Highness. The Second Prince has come with great force this time; he is certainly not here to make peace. If we meet again, it will surely be a battle of swords. Your Highness, you cannot hesitate any longer!"

Liu An slumped weakly in his chair; the plan now had many uncertainties.

In terms of military strategy, he was accompanied by a group of civil officials, with only Wang Ziteng having experience in leading troops.

It's no wonder he felt uncertain and was always hesitant.

After taking a deep breath, Liu An pointed at Ji Bin and asked in confusion, "Old Chai, didn't a while ago, a fellow townsman of Minister Ji donated military supplies to help the Second Prince launch a northern expedition against the Jurchens?"

"Why did you bring him to the mansion..."

Before Liu An could finish speaking, Ji Bin took another step forward, prostrated himself, and defended himself, saying, "Your Highness, it was all to facilitate the Second Prince's expedition. Firstly, it was to help Your Highness procure sufficient provisions so as not to give the Second Prince any ammunition. Secondly, it was to keep the Second Prince away from the central government so that Your Highness could better control the court, not to help him gain military merit."

"I hope Your Highness will recognize my loyalty!"

Such displays of loyalty were so nauseating that even Chai Pu couldn't help but frown slightly.

However, he regained his composure in an instant, without the two of them noticing anything.

At this stage, Ji Bin is still a very useful tool. This behavior will make the Crown Prince trust Chai Pu more.

As expected, the eldest prince still sought Chai Pu's answer, asking, "Elder Chai, is it really true?"

Chai Pu stroked his beard and nodded, saying, "That is indeed the case. It was my arrangement before, and I hope Your Highness will not blame me for taking matters into my own hands."

Liu An stood up and helped Ji Bin up with both hands, saying with emotion, "This is a pillar of the nation, how could I possibly mind?"

With a sigh, Liu An asked again, "You two have come so late at night; you must already have a plan in mind. Why don't you tell me, Elder Chai, what should I do next?"

The three of them took their seats.

Liu An is in the center, with Chai Pu and Ji Bin on the left and right sides respectively.

After a moment's thought, Chai Pu slowly said, "Your Highness, time is of the essence. In my opinion, we should start the uprising as soon as possible."

“Prince Teng has already secretly arranged for troops to be stationed at the nine gates of the capital. In just one night, he can raise an army and march to the gates of the capital. With such a surprise attack, the capital will surely be unable to hold out. At that time, it will be Your Highness’s turn to take charge of the situation.”

Liu An frowned and said, "Didn't you just say that my brother could arrive in a day at the earliest? This..."

Chai Pu sighed, "Your Highness, now we can only rely on the Tongzhou camp to hold off the Second Prince for a while and buy us some time."

"However, even if we meet at the foot of the capital, we will be well-rested and have a strong chance of winning."

"Moreover, if the Second Prince had not sent troops into the city, Your Highness would not have had a legitimate reason to station troops at the foot of the capital, which would have put you in a difficult position."

"However, none of this is a concern for now. Your Highness should think carefully about how to face His Majesty and the Empress when things are settled. I am powerless to help you with that."

Liu An nodded thoughtfully.

Ji Bin stood up again and volunteered, saying, "Your Highness, besides this, there is another force in the capital that should not be underestimated."

Liu An then raised his head and looked over with a puzzled expression.

Ji Bin immediately said, "Those are the personal guards of the Dingguo Mansion. Everyone knows that the Duke of Dingguo and His Majesty are of one mind. If there is any change in the capital, the Dingguo Mansion will definitely send troops to its aid."

"The troops trained by the Duke of Dingguo have achieved remarkable military exploits. They were able to defeat the arrogant Japanese pirates on Shuangyu Island without losing a single soldier. Such a feat needs no further explanation. Therefore, we should divide our forces and send generals to contain them and prepare for their defenses as soon as possible."

When Yue Ling was mentioned, the eldest prince's expression turned serious.

The Crown Prince was all too familiar with that resume, which read like a theatrical performance, and a sense of fear welled up from the bottom of his heart.

"Very well, very well. In your opinion, who can stand against the personal guards of the Dingguo Mansion?"

Ji Bin cupped his hands and said, "Your subject is willing to go personally."

A hint of surprise flashed in Liu An's eyes as he sincerely asked, "I've heard that you have formal military training but have never led troops before. Isn't this move a bit too risky?"

Ji Bin bowed deeply again, appearing utterly loyal, "For Your Highness's great cause, I would gladly die nine times over, even ten thousand times!"

Liu An sighed, "With you as my assistant, I feel much more at ease. May I ask how many troops you will lead?"

Ji Bin dared not invite too many, and said cautiously, "It's just a prefecture; two thousand soldiers are enough to block a few gates."

Liu An, moved by his loyalty and bravery, said to Chai Pu, "Old Chai, in my opinion, it is too risky for two thousand soldiers to fight against the eight hundred elite troops of Dingguo Prefecture. It would be better to send another two thousand men to him as reinforcements to prevent any unforeseen circumstances."

Chai Pu looked troubled, but finally said, "Alright."

Liu An once again instructed, "My dear minister, it is not enough to merely restrain them; you must not harm the family of the Duke of Dingguo."

"Duke Dingguo is going north to suppress the bandits for the country. If I were to harm his family, wouldn't I be no different from Zhao Gou? I would be infamous for ten thousand years."

Ultimately, he was a prince raised by Confucian scholars; when faced with matters of great importance, he still cared about his own reputation.

Chai Pu nodded sincerely, feeling increasingly at ease.

Ji Bin, however, had his own agenda. He flattered his superior, saying, "Your Highness, rest assured, I will certainly not overstep any bounds."

Liu An stroked the dragon-head armrest of the bench, finally letting out a sigh of relief, and said, "Alright, then let's proceed in this manner. We will make our move at the fourth watch tomorrow night. We must firmly control the palace before my brother arrives in the capital."

Chai Pu and Ji Bin bowed in unison and replied, "As you command."

(End of this chapter)