"I'll surely come back to marry you in ten years!"
The strong wind howled on the towering city wall, drowning out Song Yinghuai's voice below the tower.
Little Jinshu stared blankly at the young general below the city turning his horse around and galloping away, clutching the flower bud in her hand. She stood there for a long time before turning to Sheng Jiangli, who had just climbed up the city wall.
"Brother A Li, what did Brother Four just say? I didn't catch it clearly."
The equally young boy, holding a fully - bloomed lotus flower that Third Miss Lan had specifically asked for, had a somewhat gloomy face.
He cast a sharp glance into the distance.
He immediately saw the back of the young general, who was like a star surrounded by the moon.
Clad in armor and sitting on a tall steed, he was as imposing as a war god.
Sheng Jiangli retracted his gaze, and faintly curled his lips. "It's nothing. He said he'd come back in ten years to buy you candied haws."
"Ah!" The proud and delicate Third Miss Lan pouted her pink lips in disgust. "How stingy."
He was, after all, a prince!
Just a bunch of candied haws, and on credit...
Song Yinghuai's gaze was heavy as he looked at the darkness in the room.
Ten years later, he was still alive by a stroke of luck, only to learn that Third Miss Lan had passed away.
But God had mercy, and Third Miss Lan came back to life.
Something was like a seed that had taken root in his heart and grown deeply.
No matter how many years passed, no matter how many storms it endured, it stubbornly grew into a towering tree in his heart.
That tree was Third Miss Lan.
No matter who it was, if they tried to push down this tree in his heart, or even pluck a single leaf, he would not hesitate to get rid of that person.
Song Yinghuai looked up at the dark sky, took a deep breath, and walked towards the study.
Master Guangzhi had been waiting in the study. When he saw Song Yinghuai, he put his palms together. "Amitabha, Your Highness has come."
After returning the salute, Song Yinghuai motioned for the master to sit down. "Master, you must already know what has happened in the palace these days."
"Guard Han has told the old monk." Master Guangzhi squinted his wise eyes. "I didn't expect that the unjust case of the Lan family was so deeply involved. What are Your Highness's plans next?"
"I've come to ask for the master's help." Song Yinghuai twirled the Buddhist beads on his wrist. His eyes, as deep as a secluded pool, were extremely cold, like biting ice. "Master, please set off for the Qin and Jin regions from today onwards and spread rumors there that the kings of Qin and Jin are showing signs of unrest."
A glint of light flashed in Master Guangzhi's eyes. "Your Highness has finally made up your mind to take action?"
"If the crown prince doesn't die, Father Emperor will continue to allow more unjust cases to happen, and the common people will be plunged into dire straits." Half of Song Yinghuai's face was hidden in the darkness. His obscure expression became even more aggressive. "I thought I could spare his life and let him be a care - free prince... It was Father Emperor who cut off the eldest brother's chance of survival."
Master Guangzhi immediately stood up. "The old monk will set off for the Qin and Jin regions right away. Don't worry. Nowadays, the common people in the world all believe in Buddhism. As long as our Buddhist sect steps in, we will surely make these rumors seem real."
The capital city was still bustling with activity.
The ordinary people who were struggling for a few silver coins were completely unaware of the upheaval in the court.
In the blink of an eye, it was the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. The weather was sometimes cloudy and sometimes sunny, but it couldn't diminish the slightest bit of the prosperity in the capital city.
On this day, the Crown Princess Chang finally couldn't hold on any longer and passed away.
White streamers were hung inside and outside the Crown Prince's Mansion, fluttering in the wind.
"Thud!"
A loud noise came from the Crown Prince's Mansion.
A Venus - gourd - shaped porcelain vase as tall as a person was kicked down by Song Chengyuan. Song Xiuzhu also fell to the side. His tender hand accidentally pressed on the broken porcelain shards, and blood immediately flowed out. The young boy cried out in pain!
"Stop wailing! Your father isn't dead yet!" Song Chengyuan's eyes were red with annoyance as he scolded Song Xiuzhu. "Good - for - nothing! Good - for - nothing!"
Song Chengyuan pointed at his nose and roared. "What did you just say? What did you say?"
"Did you say we should be lenient to others? Did you say your imperial grandfather's punishment was too harsh? Did you say that the law of implicating nine generations in this dynasty has caused many unjust cases?"
"You also think that the laws of the Great Ye should be revised, and you think we should grant amnesty to the world?"
"Scoundrel!" Song Chengyuan gritted his teeth and said. "You even said there was injustice in the case of the Lan family!"
"Father!" Song Xiuzhu cried. "Your son was wrong..."
Song Chengyuan poked the young boy's forehead fiercely. "Your imperial grandfather built his kingdom on horseback. Practice makes perfect. His strategies and imperial skills are not for a young upstart like you to point fingers at. You're just a fool who talks on paper!"
"Will your so - called benevolent governance have any effect on your uncles who are eyeing your position covetously?"
"You're just a coward! If you take a step back, they'll force you to death, and you still dream of implementing benevolent governance!" Song Chengyuan sneered. "Fortunately, I never counted on you. I won't leave this position to you. In the future, I'll give you a barren land in the southern barbarian region. You can go there to implement your benevolent governance!"
Just as Lu Baiwei rushed over after hearing the news, she heard Song Chengyuan's "rant". A flash of killing intent appeared in her eyes. She rushed forward crying. "Your Highness, calm down! Zhu'er is still young. I'll teach him slowly..."
Song Chengyuan sneered even more. He grabbed Lu Baiwei's hair and got very close to her face.
Lu Baiwei could only see his two blood - red pupils flashing with a fierce light. "You'll teach him? You're just a woman. Look at what you've taught him? He knows nothing. He can't even solve the problem of his father being under house arrest, but he's already thinking about solving the problems of the common people."
"What a joke!"
Lu Baiwei shrank back, and the hatred in her eyes deepened. Then she followed Song Chengyuan's words.
"Your Highness, are you annoyed because you've been cooped up in the mansion for too long?"
Song Chengyuan snorted but didn't say a word.
It was true that he was annoyed after being confined for half a month.
But that wasn't the most important thing. The most important thing was that Emperor Guangwu had recently been disappointed in him, and Song Yinghuai had taken the opportunity to undermine his power.
Wen Zilong was about to be released from house - arrest after more than twenty days of self - reflection at home. However, Emperor Guangwu had promoted two vice - ministers of the Ministry of War, dispersing Wen Zilong's power.
As far as he knew, those two vice - ministers of the Ministry of War were both Song Yinghuai's men.
Moreover, during the half - month of his house arrest, the officials in the Jingzhao Prefecture, the Five - City Garrison Command, the Ministry of Rites... that he had once controlled had either defected or been deprived of their power.
If this continued, all the things he had done and the money he had embezzled would be dug out by Song Yinghuai's men. When it reached Emperor Guangwu's ears, his position would be even more precarious.
Lu Baiwei, of course, knew all this clearly because it was she who had provided the information about the positions that Song Yinghuai had replaced and inserted in recent days.
Qingqing was from the Vermilion Bird Camp. Over the years, that girl had obtained a lot of lists of the Crown Prince's party through her work for the emperor and with her colleagues.
It was time for the Crown Prince to jump around now.
Now, it was time for her to "do her part".
Lu Baiwei pursed her lips, knelt down, and looked so loyal as if Song Chengyuan was the only one in her eyes.
"Your Highness, I know what you're worried about. The most urgent thing is for Your Highness to do a great deed to reverse Father Emperor's and the common people's impression of Your Highness and regain the power of the Eastern Palace that belongs to you."
"Don't you think I know that?" Song Chengyuan said impatiently. "But how can I regain it? What kind of great deed should I do to make Father Emperor appreciate me and give me back the power and trust?"
A calculating light flashed in Lu Baiwei's eyes.
"Your Highness, since ancient times, those who have made great achievements quickly have mostly relied on the following points."
"Disaster relief, epidemic control, military achievements, and tomb - building."
"Now that the Tartars are about to negotiate peace, there won't be an opportunity for military achievements for the time being; disasters are acts of God, and Your Highness can't just wait; as for tomb - building... Father Emperor has already ordered the Ministry of Works to start building the tomb a few years ago, and moreover, the Minister of the Ministry of Works is now one of the Prince of Yan's men."
Song Chengyuan narrowed his eyes. "So, I only have the shortcut of epidemic control left."