Joy of Life: I'm really not a saint

Those who don't ask for bribes are just because their positions are too low and no one cares about them!

"The fact that Hong Zhu holds a grudge against Fan Xian is very beneficial to us. Although he was sent by the emperor to monitor me, as long as we use the right method, we can make him ours!" The prince sneered and said, "Mother, there is no need to hesitate. For today, I have endured for half a year! So what if he is monitored? Before he came to the East Palace until now, no one can find fault with everything my son has done!"

"Fan Jian still has his hands in the Ministry of Revenue. Reducing his title by two ranks is just a scratch!" The Queen also had a determined look, and said with some murderous intent: "The son controls the source of income, and the father controls the Ministry of Revenue and spends all day thinking about how to spend the money. This is what is causing chaos in the world!"

"This time, we must not only drive Fan Jian out of the Ministry of Revenue, but also drive him out of Kyoto! Otherwise, if he keeps controlling the Ministry of Revenue, your life will be very difficult, just like it has been for the past six months!"

"Cheng Qian, you should stop now that you have made enough money! You must remember that you can only do what your father wants you to do. As long as everything remains calm, the throne will be yours sooner or later!"

The prince bowed his head sincerely.

"Mother, are you going to let my aunt come forward this time?"

Chapter 274 The hidden queen.

When she suddenly heard the eldest princess' name, a trace of unnaturalness flashed across the queen's face.

Considering what Li Yunrui has done in recent days, it seems that she has found a way to successfully stay in Kyoto.

"She is not easy to deal with. Once these things pass through her hands again, we will have a lot of traces and handles in her hands! I don't care how much benefit she gets from it, but safety is the most important thing!" The queen shook her head and added with a sneer: "She has been in the palace for half a month. Although she is still very active, all this is under the nose of your father."

"Your father agreed to let her return to the palace to live. Do you really think that this was to comfort the Queen Mother?"

"It's just that I want to keep an eye on her!"

"It's easy to get into the deep palace but hard to get out. Now your father's eyes are on her! Before things in Jiangnan are settled, she can forget about contacting the ministers in the court. It's really inconvenient for her to do this!"

Although there was regret in the Queen's voice, she was more gloating over Li Yunrui's current situation!

This shameless vixen!

Her appearance was too dazzling. For so many years, she had suppressed everyone in the harem. As time passed, she was getting older, but that vixen didn't look old at all. She looked like a woman in her twenties. How could the queen accept this? How could she be happy?

Although Li Yunrui's misfortune would not benefit herself or the prince, the queen could not help but feel happy.

Li Chengqian thought of his beautiful aunt, and his heart couldn't help but feel hot again. He lowered his head, and a strange color flashed in his eyes, but he hid it well afterwards.

Li Chengqian raised his head and said with some regret: "Mother, you have thought very well. It is me who has not thought it through. Speaking of which, although father's actions seem very simple and light-hearted, if you think carefully, you will find that they are so clever. I still have a lot to learn in this regard!"

Perhaps it was because he was getting older, facing the increasingly treacherous court situation and the ever-changing and inexplicable thoughts of Emperor Qing, and his second brother pressing forward with a gentle smile on his face. All in all, Li Chengqian had grown to a certain extent.

Looking back, he had always been hostile to the Second Prince, and even showed it in front of his father and Fan Xian. Thinking about it now, it was really unwise!

Li Chengqian had to change himself.

When he realized that his power was being weakened, the Second Prince was crippled by Fan Xian, and the Eight Generals he had worked so hard to recruit over the years were all killed or injured, Li Chengqian finally understood that the biggest obstacle to his ascension to the throne was actually Fan Xian!

The most important thing is that Fan Xian is actually his father’s son!

What is this wave called?

This wave is called Zha Hu!

Fan Xian's power was already expanding rapidly, and with the added bonus of being a prince, wouldn't he be able to soar to new heights?

Fortunately, he has now gone to Jiangnan, and he still has time. He can first get rid of his father and then talk about other things!

For Li Chengqian, he and Fan Xian had long been at war, and the hatred between them could be described as irreconcilable. They all knew that after Fan Xian's identity as the prince was exposed, if he ascended the throne and became emperor, the first person he would kill would be Fan Xian! And if Fan Xian succeeded in stopping him, he would not have a good ending!

Perhaps the second brother still has a chance to survive. After all, his wife still calls him Master Fan Xian, and there is always a sense of gratitude between them.

This Li Chengze is really cunning and treacherous!

Speaking of the second brother, it seems that the current matter has to be done by him.

"Mother, Li Chengze and I have formed a temporary alliance. Since it is not convenient for my aunt to do this, I have no choice but to let him do it!"

Although Li Chengqian didn't show it on his face, he was still very angry with Emperor Qing in his heart. Everyone is greedy, why can't he get away with it when it comes to him?

Didn’t I return the money?

He also confined himself to the East Palace and sent a little eunuch to monitor him!

Li Chengqian sighed helplessly and said, "I really don't have anyone to use in the East Palace. I don't have anyone to discuss this matter with the Second Prince in secret. I have no choice but to trouble my mother to make this trip!"

"I won't be personally involved in this matter."

The Queen gently stroked the Prince's shoulders and head with her hands, looking somewhat guilty, but with a hint of a smile, she said, "Although my family was completely wiped out after that incident, there are still quite a few people who have received my favor over the years, and there are also some people hidden in the court."

"I will send someone to talk to the second brother. This money will not be lost to the Fan family no matter what. It will definitely be in your hands. Don't worry!"

The Queen had a look of madness on her face. She had not agreed with what the Prince had done before, and was even more dissatisfied with him hiding the truth from her.

But now that we have to do it, we might as well do it to the end!

There can be no trace left afterwards. Even if His Majesty suspects me, there will be no evidence. I can only swallow the bitter fruit and punish Fan Jian!

No matter how much he likes the Fan family and Fan Xian, Fan Xian can forget about returning to Kyoto!

"Then I'll trouble you, mother!" The prince smiled slightly and did not ask his mother who the people hidden in the court were.

"Why bother?"

The queen smiled and said, "You are the crown prince after all, and the world will be yours from now on. Even if there are some hardships now, what are you afraid of? When you can endure and ascend the throne and become emperor, all will be smooth sailing!"

The prince's expression darkened when he heard this, and he was indignant in his heart.

Since ancient times, has there been any prince who has lived a more miserable life than me? My life is so difficult, I am afraid I am the only one in history, right?

The second prince is used as a whetstone by his father, and it seems unlikely that he will inherit the throne. Now he is a bit weak due to various reasons, but don't forget that his father still has a third prince!

"Mother, do you know that the third child has gone to Jiangnan?"

How could the Queen not know what her son was thinking? She glared at him and said angrily, "That's true. I think he should be near Fan Xian by now! Why, you're afraid of even the Third Brother. Is that all you can do?"

"The third prince went to Jiangnan at such a young age. As far as I know, the reason for going out was to study with the imperial envoy Fan Xian. What was he studying? Wasn't it to learn how to govern the people and how to govern the country?" The prince sighed and continued, "I am really out of touch with the news. If it weren't for the fact that the third prince's biological mother, Concubine Yi, is so busy and making such a big fuss, I wouldn't have known that the third prince went to Jiangnan not long ago!"

The Queen gritted her teeth and said, "Are you worried about this? Could it be that your father will abolish you?"

The prince was resentful and complained: "It's not useless yet, maybe it's just looking for an opportunity!"

"Be careful with your words!" The queen raised her voice, trying to wake up her son who had no fighting spirit. "Why wait until now to abolish him? You still don't understand what your greatest advantage is now!"

Li Chengqian's eyes lit up, and he asked anxiously, "Mother, what is the greatest advantage my son still has at this point?"

"Your greatest advantage now is His Majesty's suspicion!"

The queen's expression was sad, yet full of confidence. She was completely different from what outsiders believed, that she was the dumbest person in the harem!

The best actors are actually those in the palace!

Chapter 275 Analysis and Intimidation.

"Father's suspicion. Father's suspicion." The prince murmured, as if thinking about something.

The Queen smiled contemptuously and said coldly: "You know your father, but you only know him on the surface. I have been married to him for many years and I think I know him very well! After that incident, I, who was originally transparent, chose to play dumb and hide my incompetence!"

"The eldest prince's mother is from the Dongyi tribe, so she was born without the possibility of inheriting the throne. Let's not talk about the fact that he is now in charge of the palace guards and is closest to your father. But just wait and see. If Qing and Northern Qi go to war again, the eldest prince will definitely be the first one to be sent to the front line!"

The Queen slowly spoke, "Speaking of the Second Prince, his biological mother is Consort Shu. Although she loves literature and is not good at competing for favors in the harem, she suffers because of this. Why does she like Fan Xian's Red Mansions? In addition, her mother's family is quite powerful in Kyoto, so she has a strong background. Tell me, how is the Second Prince now?"

"He married the granddaughter of the Ye family and has been idle at home. The Ye family has also been..." The prince became more and more excited as he spoke, with a gleam in his eyes.

The queen nodded. Since her son understood, there was no need to explain further.

"Then there is the Third Prince. The Third Prince's mother, Concubine Yi, was born into the Liu family, a prominent family in the capital. Her cousin Liu married Fan Jian as his second wife, acting as a cover for Fan Xian's mother. In fact, she was the mistress of the Fan Mansion who was married in a formal ceremony! The Third Prince has a background and power, and is naturally close to the Fan family, with Fan Xian as his support."

"Among all these princes, we are the only ones, mother and son, without anyone to rely on. We are truly alone!"

The Queen's mother's family was originally a big family, but they were all killed by Chen Pingping's Black Cavalry many years ago.

"Your Majesty is good in everything except that he is too suspicious!"

The prince had understood everything. He was more focused than usual when he was studying or reciting policies. "Foreign relatives interfering in politics? That's right! With my father's paranoia, how could he not worry that the Li family's imperial power would fall into someone else's hands a hundred years later? So our original disadvantage has become an advantage?"

"You're right!" The Queen looked relieved, and she slowly stroked Li Chengqian's hair on his back, saying gently, "Although the price of all this is so huge, as long as my son can sit in that position, everything will be worth it! This position is yours, and no one can take it away. He had already chosen you the day he issued an order to exterminate my mother's family for that bitch!"

He killed all the members of his wife's family and at the same time confirmed his wife's son as the heir?

What kind of cold-blooded and rational person could do such a thing?

But if this kind of thing happened to Emperor Qing, it would not be surprising at all!

"That's right!" The prince looked a little ferocious, and he gritted his teeth and said, "Father has never regretted his decision! No matter who persuades him, he will go all the way!"

Even if that decision is wrong!

Li Chengqian now really likes this aspect of his father!

The prince was relieved, and at the same time, he felt inexplicably cold despite his excitement! The words of comfort from his mother had already brought the truth of that bloody night many years ago to him. It turned out that his uncle and grandfather had died in this way.

I can't act the same way as before. From now on, I have to be steady and wait for the storm to pass!

His gaze gradually became firm, and he exchanged glances with the Queen and the other two. Both of them could feel a desperate determination from the other!

The two people's analysis was very correct, and even explained Emperor Qing's thoughts.

But if Crown Prince Li Chengqian wants to succeed to the throne, that can only happen if everything goes smoothly. And the most unexpected man in the world is undoubtedly Fan Xian.

Coupled with the help of Chen Pingping, who is ruthless and as cruel as a machine, and Li Ang of Northern Qi, the bright future seems like a bubble-like dream - it will burst with a single poke!

······

"Master Fan, if I say that I am willing to submit to you and obey your orders, and even give you my property, and only ask that I and my son be spared, what do you think?"

The two people separated by thick wooden stakes were conducting a so-called "transaction".

"Master Ming, do you believe what you say?"

Ming Qingda shook his head and said, "It doesn't matter whether I believe it or not. The most important thing is whether you believe it or not!"

Fan Xian sneered, thinking that this old man was quite smart!

He has already taken action. Not only those members of the Ming family who were attending the funeral today, but also the people from the Supervisory Office and the City Guards have headed for all the members of the Ming family around Suzhou City. This means that they want to catch them all in one fell swoop.

There is only one possibility for Fan Xian to do this!

That means there is already something that can put the Ming family to death!

Then again, even if Fan Xian didn't do that, he would not let himself and the Ming family go now that he is in a difficult situation.

"I think you should believe that having me handle these matters of the Ming family for you will not only be twice as effective with half the effort, but there will also be no hidden dangers and it will convince those ignorant fools in the outside world!" Ming Qingda's face was full of sincerity, as if he was thinking about Fan Xian.

"Your life is worthless and poses no threat."

Fan Xian smiled faintly, then sighed, "Originally it wouldn't be a big deal to spare your life, but after dealing with the Ming family's affairs I will return to Kyoto. After all, it is a hidden danger! You don't have the ability of your ancestors to start from scratch, but I'm afraid that someone named Li An will come looking for you again. Then revival is not an adjective."

"Northern Qi. Imperial Master?"

Ming Qingda looked anxious and said quickly, "I have never even met Li An, and he has refused to join the Junshan Society. Not only that, he is also the enemy of the Junshan Society! How...how could he come to find me? You are worrying too much!"

"There's no point in talking any more!" Fan Xian put away his smile and his face turned cold. "You don't want to know how the Overwatch Council interrogates people. Their methods... Not to mention that you have been pampered for so many years, I'm afraid even your seventh brother Xia Qi, who is used to being stabbed, wouldn't be able to withstand it."

"Tell me about the channels and account books for contacting Junshan Society! Where is the meeting place of Junshan Society? Most importantly, who did the money sent to Kyoto this year go to?"

The paper and pen were right in front of Ming Qingda.

"Write it down!"

Ming Qingda picked up the brush tremblingly. There was no resentment in his tone. He just said calmly: "Master Fan, I might still be alive if I don't write! Even if I die, maybe only I and the people who are slightly closer to me will die."

"But if I write it down, not only will there be no place for my Ming family to stay in Qing Kingdom, but there will be no place for us to stand in the whole world! At that time, it is not an exaggeration to say that there will be no way to heaven and no door to earth!"

"My Lord, are you really going to do this? Aren't you worried about the backlash from tens of thousands of people in my tribe?"

Oh, you're just going to throw the jar into the ground!

"Do you think I still care about the backlash from tens of thousands of people in your clan?" Fan Xian laughed angrily and said coldly, "You've been playing with me for so long, aren't you quite happy?"

"Look outside, come on! Tell me! What did you see?" Fan Xian slapped his forehead and apologized, "I forgot that you can't see, but you can at least hear it, right?"

"Thousands of Black Knights!"

"I'm really hoping that you guys will rebel. It will only take a moment to deal with you. I'll have an excuse!"

Fan Xian spoke out his thoughts openly, not caring at all about the looks from Xue Qing, the Governor of Jiangnan, and the Prefect of Suzhou behind him.

Chapter 276 The Ming family was destroyed.

"My Lord, you are asking me to choose between dying today and dying tomorrow!"

Ming Qingda smiled bitterly and said, "I have a few questions. How do you intend to convict me? Where did I leave any flaws?"