Tang Dynasty: Starting at Xuanwu Gate, this prince is better off not being one.

"You bastard! You're shameless!"

At this moment, Madam Yang was glaring fiercely at Li Yu, wishing she could tear this shameless boy to pieces.

"Ah! That's right!"

Li Yu nodded in satisfaction: "It's just the same few bland insults over and over again. Even if you could make your words come true, Li Yuanji's fate would at most be a quick and painless end."

Li Yu's attitude left Yang somewhat bewildered. She had clearly cursed him so viciously, so how could he still be laughing?

After thinking for a moment, she gradually calmed down and stared at Li Yu's face, asking, "What exactly are you plotting? Is it my body?"

"Eh! Eh!"

Li Yu was so frightened that he waved his hands repeatedly, then looked himself up and down, and said irritably, "Big sister! Although you are only ten years older than me, haven't you considered that I'm only eleven years old this year?"

Looking at Yang, who was stunned by his question, Li Yu wanted to laugh.

He stopped beating around the bush and went straight to the point: "Since you also know that my father, my second uncle, and my eldest and third uncles have always been at odds, then I'll be frank."

"I want you to infiltrate the Prince Qi's residence and help me monitor Li Yuanji's every move."

Upon hearing this, Madam Yang snapped out of her daze and asked, puzzled, "Why did you come to me? Although I am the Prince of Qi's first wife, in the end I am nothing more than his plaything. Besides, why would I do anything for you?"

"That's easy!" Li Yu said with a smile, "It's because you've lived by Prince Qi's side for ten years, you understand everything about him thoroughly, and you know the entire Prince Qi's mansion like the back of your hand."

"As for why you would work for me..." He stroked his chin and slowly said, "It's because we both hate Li Yuanji, the kind of hatred that makes us want to tear him to pieces."

Lady Yang was startled. "Although the King of Qi and the King of Zhao are at odds, he is still your uncle. Why do you want to put him to death?"

"Because he made advances towards my aunt and repeatedly framed my father, tell me, should I kill him?"

Seeing Li Yu's gritted teeth, Madam Yang fell silent.

After a long pause, she shook her head: "I can promise not to tell anyone what I heard today, but I still can't help you."

"Why?" This time, Li Yu was full of questions.

Yang glanced at Cui'er in the distance, and said dejectedly in a low voice, "Because I've already resolved to die, and I don't want to be humiliated by Li Yuanji any longer..."

"Forget it!" Li Yu interrupted her before she could continue. "Although I only know about the humiliation you suffered yesterday, it's probably not the first time! If you really wanted to die, you would have done it long ago. Why would you wait until today?"

Li Yu touched a raw nerve, and Yang broke down in tears again: "I don't know what to do anymore. Every day I live is torture for me. I..."

"Your days from now on will be blessed with good weather and abundant harvests."

Li Yu squatted down beside Madam Yang and considerately pulled up her robe. "Li Yuanji doesn't have much time left. Don't ask why, I can't say right now."

"There are many ways to plant spies in the Qi Prince's mansion. I only approached you because I felt sorry for you and thought Li Yuanji was despicable."

"Believe it or not, I have indeed come to save you from this predicament."

Seeing Li Yu's sincerity, Madam Yang, with red eyes, asked, "How can a boy of ten or so years old possibly fight against the ruthless Prince Qi?"

"I'm not alone. My second uncle and my father are practically mortal enemies with him. How can we still act like brothers?"

At this point, Li Yu said mysteriously, "Besides, you probably don't know why Li Yuanji has been so ravenous lately..."

"Because all the money in the household was used to buy salt." Madam Yang asked疑惑地, "What does that have to do with you?"

"Since you already know why, I'll just tell you directly," Li Yu said smugly. "It was all my doing."

"Your plan?" Yang asked, puzzled.

"That's right! I was the one who spread the news that my second uncle was hoarding salt, and I was the one who sent people to collect salt from the salt shops at the Prince Qi's mansion. I was also the one who introduced the large amount of fine salt that suddenly appeared on the market."

Li Yu turned to look at Madam Yang: "Tell me, how can I not defeat him?"

Seeing Yang's skepticism, Li Yu spoke again, "Besides, there's my second uncle. You must have heard of his abilities!"

Upon hearing this, Yang couldn't help but recall the boy who had captivated her at a childhood banquet.

But after a moment, her eyes dimmed again and she said, "I can help you, but how am I supposed to live my life afterward? I could have ended it all by dying, but I'm forced to suffer like this."

"No!"

Li Yu shook his head and pointed to Cui'er in the distance: "Think about your maid, and then think about Master Daoyue who risked his life for you. If you die like this, they won't live long either."

Upon hearing this, Madam Yang no longer hesitated. She glanced at Cui'er, who was squatting on the ground drawing circles and cursing Li Yu, and then looked in the direction of the Great Buddha Hall. She nodded firmly.

Seeing this, Li Yu finally breathed a sigh of relief and said with a bright smile, "Then this nephew thanks Auntie..."

Before he could finish his polite words, Madam Yang suddenly interrupted him, saying, "Your Highness, could you please not address me as 'Auntie'? I really don't like that title."

"No problem, may I ask your name, sister?"

"My name is Yang, and my given name is Xi."

"When I left, the willows were swaying gently."

Hearing the cheerful wind chimes ringing out again under the eaves, Li Yu smiled brightly: "Yang Xi, Yang Xi, from now on I'll call you Sister Yang Xi!"

.........

After leaving the backyard of Dajue Temple, Wenren An looked at Li Yu with a puzzled expression.

"Are you so confident you can take down Li Yuanji in a short time?"

"Huh?" Li Yu was taken aback by the question for a moment, then replied, "No!"

"So you were lying to that woman!?" Wenren An was instantly furious and wanted to grab Li Yu by the collar to ask him if he had any conscience.

"Conscience? How much does that cost per pound?" Li Yu slapped away Wenren An's outstretched hand and cautioned, "Don't always think like a teenager."

"Then you went too far by lying to her!" Wenren An still stood up for Yang.

"Who said I lied to her? I may not be sure, but someone else is!" Li Yu rubbed his ears, which were almost deafened by his words.

"Who?" Wenren An asked curiously.

Li Yu made a "stop" gesture: "Don't ask! I have no right to say that."

"..."

Wenren An was about to say something when he noticed that Master Daoyue had appeared in front of him at some point.

"Amitabha! Young man, what about Benefactor Yang...?"

"She is perfectly fine." Li Yu cupped his hands and said, "Master, rest assured, I will not utter a single word about what happened today."

"Very well, very well. Then this humble monk thanks Your Highness..."

.........