Shi Minglang was caught red - handed, but he remained calm and composed. "Cousin Ying'er adores the poetry collections of Mr. Mingxi. Those collections are extremely rare. I'm just copying one for her. What's wrong with that?"
He even came up with an impeccable excuse. "You're allowed to busy yourself for your own wife all day long. Why can't I show my affection to Cousin Ying'er?"
Liang Yuzhou curled his lips. "There's a ready - made one here. Just give it to her."
Shi Minglang rolled his eyes at him. "You don't understand. A copied one shows much more sincerity than a ready - made one."
He then acted like a serious teacher. "To win a woman's heart, you have to pay attention to the details."
Liang Yuzhou just twitched the corner of his lips perfunctorily.
Shi Minglang knew what Liang Yuzhou was here for. He put away his writing tools and his expression became much more solemn.
The Crown Prince had come to Yunzhou and frequently visited the government office during the day. So it was inconvenient for Liang Yuzhou to show up.
But their plan couldn't be postponed.
"What's the Crown Prince's attitude towards the Yue family exactly?"
For several days, there was no sign of the Crown Prince taking action against the Yue family.
He was quite attentive to Wan Chu though.
He might well turn out to be a foolish ruler who would bring disaster to the country.
(At this moment, the Crown Prince, who was about to go to bed, suddenly sneezed.)
Shi Minglang frowned tightly. "In my opinion, the Crown Prince will follow the Emperor's order and only hold Yue Chengkong accountable while sparing the rest of the Yue family. The Crown Prince is not a hesitant man. If he wanted to wipe out the Yue family, he would have done it as soon as he arrived in Yunzhou. Yue Jiaojiao bumped into the Crown Prince in the street and offended him verbally. It was a perfect opportunity, but the Crown Prince only gave her a few beatings and sent a female official to the Yue family to teach them rules."
Liang Yuzhou showed his disdain. "He really is the Emperor's beloved son."
These words stung Shi Minglang's ears.
"You can't talk like that. Your hostility towards the Crown Prince comes from Miss Song, but you can't say he's weak and incompetent. The Crown Prince's influence is growing. If he acts arbitrarily in the south of the Yangtze River, he will arouse the Emperor's suspicion. The imperial power is supreme. How many father - son relationships in the royal family have turned sour throughout history? The Crown Prince's caution and obedience to the Emperor's will are also a kind of round - about strategy."
A sharp glint flashed in Liang Yuzhou's eyes, and the sneer on his lips became more obvious. "News from the capital says that the Emperor has announced that the Eldest Princess will be released during the New Year and allowed to participate in the ancestor - worship ceremony. Once a tiger is out of its cage, it's hard to put it back. If the Crown Prince is hesitant, all his previous efforts will be in vain."
Shi Minglang analyzed the pros and cons. "Wiping out the Yue family in one fell swoop can indeed cut off one of the Eldest Princess's arms. But based on the information we have so far, it's hard to link what Yue Chengkong has done to the Eldest Princess. If the Yue family falls, the Eldest Princess will just lose a source of wealth. We still can't bring her down."
The Eldest Princess had once saved the Emperor's life. Just based on this, her position was almost unshakable.
Liang Yuzhou remained silent. His eyes were deep and unfathomable, and his face showed a depth that was hard for ordinary people to read.
"Do you have a trump card?" Shi Minglang's eyebrows twitched.
"What do you think the Eldest Princess has to do to make the Emperor so angry that he will never forgive her?"
Shi Minglang frowned tightly. "Unless the Eldest Princess colludes with the enemy and betrays the country."
Immediately, his eyes lit up like a burning flame. "You mean Yaoguang?"
Liang Yuzhou didn't leave until midnight.
The two had a long private conversation, so long that the candles burned out.
In the darkness, Liang Yuzhou told Shi Minglang, "Send someone to keep a close eye on Gao Daqiang. He's the most important witness to bring down the Yue family. The Yue family will definitely try to get rid of him. If he dies, the evidence you wrote in the memorial will be much less convincing."
"Got it. Whether you leave or not, I'm so sleepy."
After Liang Yuzhou left, Shi Minglang went over his plan again.
He couldn't help shivering.
This man was really terrifying and should never be provoked.
No, it was more accurate to say that Miss Song should not be offended.
The next day, Liang Yuzhou came to Luoxia Alley. Yaoguang was pruning the evergreen cypress in the courtyard.
"Master?"
Yaoguang was a bit surprised as she didn't get any prior notice of Liang Yuzhou's sudden visit.
She put down the scissors and turned to pour tea.
"No need." Liang Yuzhou said indifferently. His sharp eyes scanned over her face and body.
Her cheeks were slightly red, her lips were plump, and her eyes were still as deep and clear as before, but there was a touch of tenderness in them.
She used to be a stubborn and aloof girl, but now she seemed like a woman living in a world of tenderness.
Liang Yuzhou gritted his back teeth. He still couldn't let go of the fact that Shi Luohan had stolen his "home".
"Where's Shi Luohan?"
Yaoguang lowered her eyes. "He's gone to the pharmacy to buy medicine."
"Are you sick?"
Liang Yuzhou's eyes tightened.
"No, I'm not sick. It's just..." Yaoguang's face gradually turned crimson. She wrung her hands, bit her red lips, and rarely stammered.
Seeing her shy look, Liang Yuzhou understood what was going on.
Medicine for reducing swelling and relieving pain was always on Wan Chu's bedside before.
Another wave of无名 fire rose in his heart. Didn't Shi Luohan know any self - restraint?
"Do you still remember what you're supposed to do?"
"Master, I'm always on standby."
Yaoguang was a bit excited. Was the master finally going to start that plan?
Her palms were hot, and she was eager to pick up her sword.
"It'll be in a few days. Wait for my news." Liang Yuzhou said concisely.
"Yes!"
After a moment of hesitation, he added, "Whether you tell Shi Luohan about this is up to you."
Yaoguang was stunned for a moment. Her moist eyes blinked, looking a bit at a loss.
"Does the master want me to tell Brother Han the whole plan?"
Brother Han?
It had only been a few days, and she was already so affectionate with him?
Zhou Sheng and Zhou Yan had been around her for more than three years, and she never even called them "brother".
The anger that Liang Yuzhou had just suppressed began to rise again. "He's your man. You can tell him if you want to, or keep it a secret if you prefer."
Yaoguang lowered her eyelids. Her thick and long eyelashes cast a shadow under her eyes.
She finally understood why the master had been so angry after catching her with Shi Luohan.
Once she had someone to care about, she would have more concerns.
But the path was chosen by herself, and the right to make the decision was also in her hands.
...
"Miss, the Crown Prince has gone to the government office."
Nan Zhi rushed back to Meiyingxuan to report to Song Wanchu after gathering the news. "I saw the Crown Prince's carriage leave the gate with my own eyes. Miss can go out without worry."
Song Wanchu chose a very plain dress and went to pay her respects to Mrs. Chu.
Mrs. Ning and Chu Yueying were also there.
"The Yue family has sent us another invitation. The date is set for tomorrow. They claim it's a banquet for the Crown Prince, but besides our Chu family, they haven't invited any other families in Yunzhou."
A shadow fell across Mrs. Chu's face. She looked at Song Wanchu worriedly. "Does Mrs. Yue know that the Crown Prince has taken a fancy to you? This banquet is clearly a trap for you, a chance for the Crown Prince."
At the Yue family, the Chu family would only be guests and have to follow the host's arrangements.
Mrs. Yue was shrewd and cunning. She could come up with all kinds of reasons to send the Chu family members away one by one.
By then, the Crown Prince would be left alone with Wanchu...
Song Wanchu wasn't that panicked. She and the Crown Prince must have a heart - to - heart talk. They needed to clear the air.
But the thought of going to the Yue family again made Song Wanchu feel uncomfortable.
"Wanchu, you must make things clear to the Crown Prince. Our family has a shallow foundation. We can't compare with those aristocratic families in the capital. Being close to the monarch is like being beside a tiger, and there are more jackals around the monarch. You mustn't enter the palace!"
Last night, the Crown Prince had made no attempt to hide his love for Wanchu. Mrs. Ning had been so worried that she couldn't sleep all night.
Song Wanchu felt guilty. "Aunt is pregnant, yet still worrying about me."
But Mrs. Chu had another idea in mind. "Wanchu, should you tell Liang Yuzhou about this?"