Prince Yi's Residence.
On the ship.
Prince Yi, standing on the ship's roof, put down his telescope and faced the palace. He had some bad news these past two days, and his mood was slightly gloomy. Because of the "Trade Through the World" business, many officials in the court had come to him for help. These were his supporters; in the past, getting them to invest in "Trade Through the World" was one of the methods used to win them over. Now that "Trade Through the World" was facing problems, if he stood idly by, he would certainly lose a lot of support.
However, he himself was the cleanest one in "Trade Through the World," because he knew that trading companies were not reliable. Expecting a trading company to keep his secrets was wishful thinking, and letting a trading company hold his secrets was idiotic. If his secret plans were exposed because of trivial business matters, it would be a net loss.
Therefore, Prince Yi actually admired Wu Yidao; he had the audacity to accept so much money from so many high-ranking officials as investment. These court officials were a double-edged sword. With them around, businesses could operate with greater confidence, unafraid of difficulties wherever they went. However, if trouble arose, these officials would show no mercy in their ruthlessness.
Wu Yidao, being so intelligent, must have had some backing for accepting these officials' contributions. This was why Prince Yi hadn't personally intervened; he wanted to see what Wu Yidao's true strength was.
But the officials' pleading yesterday had made him very uncomfortable.
Qin Liuqi stood respectfully beside Prince Yi, recounting the officials' discussion in detail. After he finished speaking, Prince Yi grunted and said, "These idiots are unusually clever this time, not acting rashly. If Wu Yidao had risked everything and handed the accounts over to the Emperor… the court would have been in an uproar by now. The reason Wu Yidao didn't do that is that he's waiting for these idiots to figure out the reason."
"Wu Yidao doesn't want to lose his business, and those idiots don't want to lose their official positions. It's a very delicate point, and Wu Yidao undoubtedly holds onto it."
Qin Liuqi lowered his head and said, "Your Highness is right. Wu Yidao can only protect his business by force..." "He's forcing those officials to side with him. If half the court officials oppose the emperor's plan to take control of the Imperial Goods Exchange, the emperor won't be able to act forcefully."
Prince Yi sneered, "What Wu Yidao doesn't understand the most is that the emperor isn't someone who can be swayed by others to make his own decisions. Want to confront the emperor head-on? Too foolish… I know Fourth Brother too well. He seems like a benevolent emperor, but in reality, his heart is as cold and hard as stone. No one can stop him from doing what he wants."
"Does Your Highness mean to abandon those court officials?"
Qin Liuqi asked cautiously. "Not yet..."
Prince Yi sighed. "I still need those fools. If I don't save them, things will get difficult. The army's expedition is just the beginning; the road ahead will only get harder. Those fools may not be of much use, but if used properly, they can drive the emperor mad... Go back and see Wu Yidao again. Tell him that if he's willing to hand over the goods, I'll guarantee his safe departure from Chang'an."
"Understood."
Qin Liuqi thought for a moment and said, "But Wu Yidao's attitude seems very firm."
"Anyone would be reluctant to part with it..."
Prince Yi smiled. "Such a large estate, even I'm tempted." However, the Emperor knew that the war in the Northwest couldn't be resolved quickly; a prolonged conflict would strain the Sui Dynasty's treasury. By confiscating the "Trade Throughout the Land" system, he would have more confidence in his campaign in the Northwest.
"If Wu Yidao truly refuses to yield, then… let those idiots handle it themselves. I can't get involved now. If Li Yuanshan hasn't resolved the Northwest issue, I'll still be that carefree, leisurely prince. Although Li Yuanshan's approach isn't the only solution, it's a decisive one… I've schemed for so many years, finally waiting for this opportunity; how can I let it all go to waste because of some trivial matter?"
He turned and stepped off the ship's roof.
As he turned, his gaze lingered for a moment in the direction of the distant palace, seemingly reluctant to leave. "Prepare the carriage and horses; I'll be going to the palace soon."
Prince Yi instructed as he descended the steps, "It's time for me to see Fourth Brother, and also to see the Empress Dowager. The court officials are all speaking up for me, and I heard Fourth Brother lost his temper in the East Warm Pavilion… It's time for me to go and show my loyalty, shed a tear, and tell him I truly had no intention of going to the Northwest; it's all just those officials' wild speculations. The more I say I don't want to go, the more Fourth Brother will believe I really want to go. When I go to see him, he'll think I'm panicking and trying to clear my name… Heh, playing games with Fourth Brother, that's the greatest pleasure in life."
Qin Liuqi didn't dare interrupt, cautiously following behind Prince Yi.
"Your Highness, how was your visit to Qingfeng Temple yesterday?"
After a while, he asked.
Prince Yi smiled. "With so many people following, what could they possibly gain? But since it's a pre-arranged plan, I don't expect any problems. Master Xiao is actually smarter than anyone else; he understands what I mean."
Qin Liuqi nodded. "As long as there are no problems at Qingfeng Temple, then there really aren't any."
Speaking of this, Prince Yi seemed to be in a better mood. "How's Fang Jie doing?"
Qin Liuqi bowed and replied, "Zhuang Die's message says that Fang Jie doesn't seem to suspect her. However, Shen Qingshan seems quite hostile towards her, always testing her with lukewarm indifference. Starting yesterday, Fang Jie instructed Zhuang Die to be in charge of purchasing things, making it easier for her to smuggle information out."
Prince Yi nodded. "I've been wondering if Fang Jie might be the Emperor's..." "The Emperor deliberately sent him. If that's true, then the Emperor's methods are far too crude… Does he really think I would confide in a nobody like him?"
"Just keep an eye on him… Also, have Zhuang Die search Fang Jie's place when she has the chance, to see if Wu Yidao gave the item to Fang Jie."
"Your subordinate will do it immediately."
Qin Liuqi responded, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Fang Henshui has been hanging around Fang Jie these days. This guy is disobedient. A few days ago, during the break from classes, he even followed Professor Mo Wanwu of the Martial Arts Academy."
Prince Yi frowned, coldly snorted, and said, "Warn him, if he continues to act recklessly… I won't even need the Imperial Guards to do anything; I'll send him to the eighteenth level of hell first!"
…
…
The Marquis of Sanjin's Residence.
Wu Yi squinted at Fang Jie, then couldn't help but shake his head slightly. "I told you to stay obediently at the Martial Arts Academy, to run the shop properly, and not to come here, but you wouldn't listen… Do you think you're so great now, that you can interfere in everything?"
Fang Jie stood by the bookshelf, casually picking up a precious item to play with. "You're the owner, you're the one who provided the money… Things are almost settled, I have to report to you, don't I? The date is set for February 12th. The girls from Hongxiuzhao will wear those clothes out for the whole city to see… What do you think, a good date, isn't it?"
Wu Yi Wu Yidao hummed in agreement: "That's your business... If there's nothing else, you can leave."
Fang Jie pouted: "Anyway, I'm already in. What difference does it make whether I leave early or late?"
"That's not like you."
Wu Yidao frowned slightly: "Aren't you afraid of death?"
"Afraid..."
Fang Jie said: "There are only two kinds of people in this world who aren't afraid of death... one is a hero, and the other is a fool. I definitely don't belong to the former, nor the latter. So being afraid of death is certain, but what does that have to do with entering your Sanjin Marquis's mansion? I'm just here for a visit. Even if countless assassins were to break in... I'd want to kneel down." "Begging for mercy might still work."
Wu Yidao couldn't help but chuckle: "Your shameless nature is probably beyond redemption."
Fang Jie laughed: "I'm not a man of many virtues or great character. Expecting me to live and die with you is unrealistic. After much thought, the only thing I can do is check on you from time to time to see if you're dead. If you are, I'll buy a thin willow coffin and bury you."
"Stingy!"
Wu Yidao chuckled: "You should at least buy a coffin made of golden nanmu wood."
Fang Jie said: "Why waste money like that? When a person dies, everything is empty. Why care what you use to put the body in? But if you really have..." "Tell me anything you're reluctant to part with. For example, I can safeguard all these antique treasures in this room for you."
Wu Yidao nodded and said, "Don't worry, if I'm truly doomed, I'll definitely burn this courtyard down before I die."
Fang Jie sighed, "That's ruthless... I came today to tell you that I've sent everyone I can to Jiangnan, but I'm not confident they can protect the Hidden Jade. Speaking of which, after all these years of being so powerful, don't you really have any hidden strength? Why do you have to entrust such an unreliable person like me with such a serious task? You're such a careless father! What if I go crazy?" "I don't understand what you mean. Isn't your daughter in danger?"
"Of course she is."
Wu Yidao nodded and said, "Everyone has secrets, right?"
Fang Jie put down the treasure in his hand and looked at Wu Yidao curiously, asking, "Tell me about it?"
Wu Yidao said seriously, "Ten thousand taels of silver per word, genuine and fair price. And you can't use the silver notes I gave you; that doesn't count as your money."
Fang Jie rolled his eyes at him: "Since you have plans, why are you implying I should send someone to Jiangnan?"
Wu Yidao smiled and said, "To test you, to see if you're someone worth befriending."
Fang... Fang Jie spat, "Bored?"
Wu Yidao shook his head. "Speak. Since you've come all this way, it's not just about these things. If you didn't have some unsolvable mystery, you wouldn't have come here. Don't think I'd believe your earlier talk about collecting corpses; you're not that loyal."
Fang Jie praised, "You really know me too well… I wanted to ask… at this time, the Taoist priests from Wudang Mountain suddenly arriving in the capital, could something big be about to happen?"
Wu Yidao's expression changed. "How did you know?"
Fang Jie shrugged. "A coincidence."
Wu Yidao was silent for a moment, then became extremely serious… He said earnestly, "Don't get involved, don't touch it... Fang Jie, I must tell you, if you get involved in my affairs, you'll face a nine-out-of-ten chance of death. If you get involved in the Wudang people coming to the capital, you'll face a ten-out-of-ten chance of death!"
Fang Jie frowned: "What exactly do you know?"
Wu Yidao waved his hand: "Go, just remember my words. And... from today onwards, if you dare to step into the gates of my Sanjin Marquis's mansion again, I'll castrate you. Be a good student at your martial arts academy, and a proper shopkeeper. Your stage will be ten years from now. If you try to climb so hard so early, you'll fall to your death sooner or later."
Fang Jie remained silent for a moment. A moment later, he asked just as earnestly, "So, do you think I'll die if I fall from this height?"
Wu Yidao nodded, "Yes."
Fang Jie smiled, nonchalantly saying, "Then what am I afraid of? Falling now is death, climbing higher and falling is still death, the only difference is the corpse will be more decomposed… But since I'm already dead, why care about the corpse? If I'm destined to fall, then I'll fall spectacularly. What if I don't fall?"
He laughed loudly as he walked away, "Haven't I hit the jackpot?!"
Wu Yidao paused, staring blankly at Fang Jie's departing figure for a long while. After the boy's figure disappeared from sight, he suddenly smiled, "Did you really think I believed you were the kind of person who would rush headlong into anything? You must have figured something out… Interesting."