You were asked to impersonate the King of Qin, not to become emperor!

"Your subject obeys."

Chen Xuan was overjoyed and quickly kowtowed in gratitude.

These words struck the King of Yan like a thunderbolt.

Emperor Jin had clearly made up his mind to make the Prince of Qin the crown prince.

As for defeating the ancient Qiang and seizing the salt lake, it was a piece of cake for the King of Qin, who had acquired 100,000 elite troops.

The ancient Qiang tribes were numerous and constantly at war with each other.

Using 100,000 elite troops to attack the ancient Qiang, only to capture a strategic location, is something anyone could do.

Therefore, Emperor Jin was essentially lenient with Chen Xuan's request.

However, Chen Xuan's salt-making method was so amazing that, despite his resentment, he had no choice but to accept it.

"Very well, time waits for no one, I order you to act immediately," Emperor Jin said hastily.

Having said that, he dragged his aged body, glanced at the assembled civil and military officials, and said, "Court adjourned!"

After returning to his residence, Chen Xuan ordered that the salt-making method be promoted to all salt mines in the Great Jin Dynasty.

With these salt-making methods, in just half a month, the price of salt in the entire Jin Dynasty changed daily, reaching one-tenth of its usual lowest price.

As for the aristocratic families who hoarded salt, they were all in great distress.

They wanted to sell the salt as soon as possible, but most of what they had stockpiled was coarse salt.

With the increasing production of refined salt, coarse salt can only be sold at extremely low prices.

The Prince of Yan's Mansion.

"Damn it! The King of Qin is leaving us no way to survive! Our family's salt production has been severely damaged and we can no longer operate!"

"Your Highness, why don't you take the lead and we resist together? With so many noble families joining forces, His Majesty will surely ban the new salt-making law. He will definitely comply with the ancient precepts."

The clan leaders present couldn't bear to complain.

Chen Yong's gaze swept over the crowd, a bitter look in his eyes: "Now that this salt-making law has been implemented, the people of the land have all benefited. You want to ban it? His Majesty is not an emperor who follows the ancient ways. Do you think His Majesty's blade isn't sharp enough?"

Upon hearing Chen Yong's words, everyone present lowered their heads, their faces stiff.

One of them looked at Zhang Xianzhao with a hint of resentment and said, "Lord Zhang, you are the head of the southern gentry. This time, you tried to strip the Prince of Qin of his power as regent under the pretext of hoarding salt. Now the Prince of Qin is unharmed, has gained troops, and His Majesty has even tacitly approved him as the crown prince. Our families have paid a heavy price for this. You should give everyone an answer!"

Zhang Xianzhao said with a solemn expression, "I never expected this scoundrel to be able to develop such a sophisticated salt-making method! This was my miscalculation! However, the Prince of Qin's power base is too strong now, so it's not advisable to confront him directly. Perhaps we should summon Liang Yongcheng and his daughter Liang Yani to discuss countermeasures!"

"The only way to win is to expose this thief's identity!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Yong and the clan leaders present nodded in agreement.

When it comes to political maneuvering, this guy is incredibly skilled.

Each time, they manage to deflect their attacks and even manage to turn the tables on them.

"Tonight, I will issue a decree to Liang Yongcheng and his daughter that we must not allow a beggar to usurp the Chen family's throne!" Chen Yong frowned deeply. Only now did he fully realize how terrifying Chen Xuan was.

In their very first encounter, he lost 100,000 cavalrymen, severely weakening the aristocratic officials who had pledged allegiance to him.

"promise."

Zhang Xianzhao responded.

That night, a banquet was held at the Prince of Yan's residence.

The dancers performed a sensual dance, their clothes barely covering their bodies.

This is because the King of Yan, who was away fighting battles for many years, had only one hobby: he liked married women and beautiful women.

The same tactic was used to win over court officials.

Military generals often exchanged beautiful women to build relationships.

Although this approach was met with strong disapproval from Zhang Xianzhao and his fellow civil officials and gentry, who felt it violated the established rites.

But now, the Prince of Yan is the only one in the court qualified to seize the throne, and they have no other choice.

If the King of Yan fails, then the King of Qin will sit on the dragon throne.

The consequences for them at that time would be unimaginable.

After a long while, Liang Yongcheng, dressed in casual clothes, was followed by a voluptuous woman. This woman was stunningly beautiful and gentle, the type that the Prince of Yan liked.

"Your humble servant Liang Yongcheng pays his respects to the Prince of Yan."

"My daughter, Liang Yani, pays her respects to the Prince of Yan."

Chen Yong waved his hand and said, "Get up. Ever since the Prince of Qin was murdered, you and your daughter have been investigating the thief. I know that you have written many memorials, but you have not received a response. I have already found out for you that they were intercepted by the Empress."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone's pupils contracted.

Empress Wang Rong was the daughter of the Langya Wang clan and the aunt of the Princess of Qin.

Moreover, Chen Xuan had cured Wang Rong's illness, which made Wang Rong value him highly.

This explains everything.

"I see. I thought Your Majesty intended to protect the Prince of Qin, which is why you didn't respond," Liang Yongcheng said, cupping his hands in greeting.

"Now, that thief's power is growing stronger and stronger, and I have already discussed this with many elders in the royal family."

"Although they acknowledge the King of Qin's talent, in order to safeguard the Chen dynasty's rule, they are willing to cooperate with us to investigate the King of Qin."

"From now on, you and your daughter will work together to investigate that thief. As long as you can expose him, you will become pillars of the state and loyal ministers of the Great Jin," Chen Yong said loudly.

Aristocratic families like Liang Yongcheng were most susceptible to the appeal of loyalty and virtue.

Upon hearing this, he immediately prostrated himself on the ground and said excitedly, "Now that we have the support of the Prince of Yan and the elders of the royal family, my daughter and I will definitely expose that traitor, bring him to justice, and clear the name of the true Prince of Qin."

"Very well, with your words, I am relieved." Chen Yong looked at Liang Yani and said, "I've heard you're adept at solving cases. Now that we've apprehended this thief, do you have a plan?"

Liang Yani quickly presented the booklet, saying, "If we proceed as instructed, the thief will surely be exposed."

Chen Yong took the booklet and flipped through it, his brows furrowed.

Just as Liang Yani said, at that time, the Prince of Jin and the Princess did not continue to ask questions, and Chen Xuan managed to fool them.

He is not the King of Qin after all; if he keeps asking about the past...

If one day isn't enough, then two days, three days—the questioning continues.

There are times when he can't answer.

"Very well, I will find a way to persuade my father, and use your persistent questioning method to completely expose him."

After saying that, Chen Yong looked at Liang Yani.

He was particularly fascinated by her looks.

Then, he looked at Liang Yongcheng and said, "Liang Yongcheng, if you and your daughter can really expose that thief this time, I will take your daughter Liang Yani as my wife, make her the Princess Consort of Yan, and even the Empress in the future."

This promise overwhelmed Liang Yongcheng, who immediately prostrated himself and said, "Thank you, Prince Yan."

Liang Yani frowned, secretly feeling contempt for Chen Yong.

Even now, he is still the Prince of Yan, and he has already promised her the position of Empress. Moreover, he is a son of a concubine, and if he wants to reach that point, he must proceed with extreme caution.

But the King of Yan publicly proclaimed it.

This greatly disgusted Liang Yani, who was full of talent.

Moreover, she also knew about the Prince of Yan's past.

Under his command, the exchange of women had become a regular practice.

This is his biggest weakness.