I play the role of Jiajing in Zongwu: What crime have I committed?

Chapter 71 Mei Changsu's Patient Guidance

"Mr. Zhou?"

Prince Yu's eyes lit up, and he tentatively asked, "Old Master Zhou Xuanqing?"

Then, before Mei Changsu could speak, he denied it himself: "Impossible. He has been in seclusion for many years and has long been disgusted with the court. It is difficult for anyone, whether royal family or high-ranking officials, to even see him."

"How could they possibly be willing to enter the capital in the dead of winter?"

Mei Changsu said confidently, "Where there's a will, there's a way. I'm willing to give it a try for Your Highness. Maybe we can get him out!"

In the TV series, the late Confucian scholar Li Chong once held the position of Grand Tutor, and Lin Shu was Li Chong's last disciple.

Zhou Xuanqing, a renowned and highly respected Confucian scholar, was Li Zhong's close friend.

Now that Lin Shu is using the alias Mei Changsu and has Li Zhong's token on him, he can naturally persuade Zhou Xuanqing to come.

Seeing Mei Changsu's composed demeanor and confident words, Prince Yu felt a great weight lifted from his heart.

"Excellent! With the help of a great scholar like Mr. Zhou, those pedantic scholars Xie Yu invited are nothing but a bunch of chickens and dogs."

Mei Changsu took a sip of tea and smiled faintly.

"Similar to the Lan Garden case last time, I am only responsible for helping Your Highness bring down Chen Yuanzhi."

"As for the important position of Minister of Rites, that depends on Your Highness's own abilities."

"Hahaha!"

Prince Yu laughed heartily, "Mr. Su, rest assured, this time I will not repeat the same mistake!"

Mei Changsu nodded slightly, held the teapot in her delicate hand, and slowly poured the freshly brewed snow water into the celadon cup.

Then he suddenly looked up: "Besides this matter, how about I present Your Highness with another generous gift?"

Upon hearing this, Prince Yu's eyes lit up, and he unconsciously leaned forward.

"What brilliant plan do you have, sir?"

Mei Changsu poured a cup of tea, pushed it in front of Prince Yu, and spoke as if casually.

"Has Your Highness heard that Marquis Yan Que has returned to the capital?"

"Oh?"

Prince Yu paused in his teacup, his brow furrowing slightly.

"I have been busy with state affairs lately and have not paid attention."

"What a coincidence."

Mei Changsu chuckled softly.

"Yan Yujin and I are good friends. During a casual conversation, he mentioned that Marquis Yan's return to the capital this time was because he saw His Majesty's preference for Taoism and wanted to use his life's learning to serve the court again."

"Is this really true?"

"It's absolutely true. I heard from Yu Jin that there seems to be some discord between Marquis Yan and His Majesty. Now His Majesty is also engrossed in the Imperial Preceptor, spending all his days discussing Taoism in the Western Garden. I'm afraid he won't see Marquis Yan."

Upon hearing this, Prince Yu immediately understood.

"Does Your Excellency mean... that I should go and plead on your behalf?"

"As the saying goes, 'Adding flowers to brocade' is not as good as providing charcoal in the snow,' and now is the perfect time!"

"But wouldn't that offend the Imperial Advisor?" Prince Yu asked hesitantly.

Mei Changsu shook his head.

"Has Your Highness considered that if the Grand Preceptor were simply preaching, this action would naturally be harmless?"

But if she has ulterior motives, such as the fate of the nation, then His Highness is already on the opposite side, so how can there be any talk of offending her?

Then he suddenly changed the subject.

"To put it bluntly, the Imperial Preceptor now enters and leaves the palace as if it were his own backyard."

"What if she and His Majesty have a child? What will Your Highness do then?"

"Your Highness, please consider this carefully. If a royal advisor who enjoys the Emperor's favor were to give birth to another imperial heir..."

"Snapped!"

Prince Yu slammed the teacup in his hand onto the table, splashing tea everywhere.

His face instantly turned ashen, and his fingers clenched involuntarily.

"Sir, your words... truly awakened me from my dream!"

He suddenly stood up and paced back and forth in the pavilion, the hem of his python robe sweeping up the snow.

A sense of crisis welled up in my heart.

Yes!

Since the arrival of this imperial advisor, the emperor has spent all his time in the Western Garden.

I had only seen him once before, at the morning court session today.

If Father Emperor is truly bewitched by that enchantress, then the future is indeed uncertain.

Seeing this, Mei Changsu's lips curled up slightly. He took a sip of tea and continued to patiently persuade him.

"Lord Yan has cultivated Taoism for many years and is the orthodox successor of the Guigu School of Diplomacy."

"Back then, when the allied forces of Dayu, Beiyan, and Yeqin were pressing on our borders and the entire court was at a loss, Marquis Yan went north alone with his imperial credentials. With just his silver tongue, he managed to dismantle the three-nation alliance."

Prince Yu nodded repeatedly upon hearing this, naturally aware of this past event.

If it weren't for Yan Que's efforts to turn the tide back then, the Great Liang Dynasty would probably have been destroyed long ago.

He even secretly helped his father ascend the throne.

"Your Highness, consider this: with Marquis Yan's ability to manipulate events at will, if he were to return to the imperial court..."

He paused deliberately, then looked at Prince Yu meaningfully.

"Could it be that we can't even control a mere woman like the Imperial Advisor?"

Prince Yu nodded in agreement: "What you say is absolutely right, sir!"

Seeing that the time was right, Mei Changsu continued to add firewood.

"If Your Highness can take the initiative and offer timely help when Marquis Yan is down on his luck, Your Highness will naturally be able to know in advance if there is any movement around His Majesty when Marquis Yan gains the Emperor's favor."

"But what if the Crown Prince or one of the other princes beats him to it..."

Upon hearing this, Prince Yu's face instantly darkened.

indeed!

After that vile woman Qin Banruo betrayed me, I no longer had any men by my father's side.

If we can use this opportunity to promote Yan Que to a higher position, the benefits will be numerous.

Moreover, Yan Que is a very capable person!

Compared to him, 99% of the officials in the court were incompetent fools.

Moreover, he was the Empress Dowager's own brother.

Once this buff is fully stacked, wouldn't it be a sure thing for me to seize the throne?

"What you say is absolutely right, sir!"

Prince Yu stood up excitedly, his eyes gleaming with determination.

"Thanks to your guidance today, sir. I will repay you handsomely once this is accomplished!"

Mei Changsu calmly stood up, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Your Highness is too kind. It is my honor to share Your Highness's burdens."

"I will go to the Yan residence immediately to pay them a visit, and I will not allow the Crown Prince and his ilk to seize the opportunity first."

"Your Highness is wise."

As Prince Yu's figure disappeared into the wind and snow, the smile on Mei Changsu's face gradually cooled.

Deep within the dark and damp imperial prison, Cao Zhichun stood before the rack with a somber expression.

"The Grand Eunuch... has died again."

The guard reported nervously, "They still haven't confessed anything."

Cao Zhichun stared at the mangled corpse in front of him, his eyes blazing with fury.

For two days and two nights, they used all the torture methods employed by the Eastern Depot.

Combing one's hair, playing the pipa, wearing mourning clothes, and so on.

But these three people still knew nothing when asked.

"Useless, all of them are useless."

He kicked over the rack with a bang, the chains rattling loudly.

These agents of the Eastern Depot knelt on the ground, not daring to utter a sound.

Cao Zhichun's sinister gaze swept over the kneeling guards: "Continue the investigation."

"Even if we have to turn the entire city of Nanjing upside down, we must find the whereabouts of that batch of gunpowder!"

"Yes!"

The guards responded in unison, their voices echoing through the gloomy corridors of the prison.

Just as he was burning with rage, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the prison.

"Your Excellency, someone from the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs has arrived."

He couldn't help but frown, and saw a young eunuch dressed in a crimson palace robe walking in with small, quick steps.

"This servant greets Eunuch Cao."

"His Majesty sent me to inquire whether there has been any news regarding the whereabouts of that batch of gunpowder?"

Cao Zhichun's expression changed slightly upon hearing this.

"I will go to the palace to report to the Emperor immediately."

He then hurried towards the West Garden.

He dared not let anyone report on his behalf; who knew what kind of trouble these people might cause behind his back?

After all, the Eastern Depot has been enjoying unparalleled glory lately!

Inside the West Garden Abode, Zhu Houcong leaned against a dragon-patterned soft couch, casually tapping a bronze chime as he listened to the reports from Yan Song and others with apparent indifference.

In fact, Yan Que has been under surveillance through the Vermilion Bird for two days.

That old fox…

He cursed inwardly.

These past two days, under the surveillance of Zhuque, Yan Que has remained secluded and hasn't even touched the black powder.

However, instead of finding gunpowder, they discovered that Prince Yu had actually paid a visit to Yan Que.

At this critical juncture...

Did Prince Yu and Yan Que get involved?

Zhu Houcong squinted, shaking the wooden mallet, an idea flashing through his mind.

Could it be that my good son was also involved in the gunpowder affair?

"Your Majesty, Eunuch Cao requests an audience."

Zhu Houcong's lips curled into a cold smile: "Announce."

Since gunpowder cannot be found...

Let's see what this 'good son' of mine is really up to!