It was well - known that Xiyue State had always sent spies into Dongling State for the purpose of smuggling salt. Now, he himself had actually allowed the people from Xiyue State to take away a portion of Dongling's salt openly.
Xiyue State was aggressive and belligerent. However, due to the lack of salt, it had always been on an equal footing with Dongling State. Xiao Hanzhi couldn't help but feel a twinge of fear as he wondered what Xiyue State would be like after getting 20% of the salt.
Nevertheless, Xiao Hanzhi still agreed, because he would never allow the Second Prince to ascend the throne!
Unexpectedly, after hearing that the proportion was reduced from 30% to 20%, Helian Shu readily agreed without hesitation.
Xiao Hanzhi's face instantly darkened. He felt extremely annoyed, thinking that he had been tricked.
But Helian Shu patted him on the shoulder and said, "If it weren't for this rather attractive face of yours, I wouldn't have bothered to play these old - fashioned tricks with you. All the cooperation I've mentioned has a precondition, that is - I, Helian Shu, must be the legitimate queen. I can allow you to have no feelings for me, but I won't allow you to fall in love with someone else."
Such a tough attitude made Xiao Hanzhi hesitate. At this moment, he suddenly thought of Shen Miao. He had already fallen for her and had kept her in his manor on the outskirts of the capital. Judging from Helian Shu's reaction, it seemed that she didn't know about Shen Miao.
So initially, Xiao Hanzhi wanted to refuse, but the words he wanted to say were swallowed back. To his own surprise, he actually agreed to Helian Shu's unreasonable demand.
He harbored a flimsy hope that he could continue to hide Shen Miao in the manor and then bring her out after he ascended the throne. By that time, as the emperor, how could he be afraid of a mere princess?
Little did he know that the princess was not so easily deceived.
"Then I wish the Fourth Prince will ascend the throne in the future and rule for a long time."
Xiao Hanzhi nodded with a smile, but his heart was not filled with joy. Instead, he felt worried. He had made this decision with Helian Shu privately without even informing his mother.
Seeing that Xiao Hanzhi was not in high spirits, Helian Shu dropped another bombshell: "I think Prince Han can choose the wedding date. On that day, my dowry will be sent from Xiyue State. It will be a grand display of wealth stretching for a hundred miles!"
This news finally brought a glimmer of joy to Xiao Hanzhi's face.
A dowry stretching for a hundred miles meant a fortune! With money, it meant he could raise private troops...
"A pleasant cooperation, my future princess."
The two secretly reached an agreement here, but they didn't know that Shen Li was secretly up to something in the capital.
Jiao Yue and Ming Yue were beside Shen Li. They looked at her worriedly and asked, "Miss, will this really work? Doing such a thing in broad daylight might get us discovered!"
Shen Li waved her hand nonchalantly and replied, "Don't worry about that. There's no one around for now. Why are you so panicked? I'll show them that I, Shen Li, am not someone to be trifled with."
Jiao Yue was about to persuade Shen Li again, but Ming Yue pulled her back. She knew that further persuasion would be in vain, so it was better to just go ahead with the plan.
Shen Li, Jiao Yue, and Ming Yue crouched beside the wall and found a hidden place to hide. Shen Li made a gesture, signaling the people in the dark to take action.
Suddenly, three people appeared at the gate of the Fourth Prince's Mansion.
The servants at the mansion gate had somehow fallen into a coma. It didn't take much guessing to know that this was Ming Yue's doing.
Two black - clothed men lay beside the stone lions, with the waist tags of the Fourth Prince's Mansion clearly visible, instantly revealing their identities.
Shen Li still left a bit of face for Shen Miao. She didn't put Shen Miao in an indecent position. Instead, she just left her unconscious against the gate.
The secret guards were very efficient. In an instant, they had completed what Shen Li had ordered. Shen Li nodded in satisfaction.
Then she looked at Ming Yue beside her and asked, "How long will this sleeping drug last?"
Ming Yue said proudly, "Don't worry, Miss. My sleeping drug will keep them unconscious for at least six hours. I even reduced the potency this time. It should last until the Fourth Prince comes back."
Shen Li nodded in satisfaction, for this was exactly the effect she wanted.
So she clapped the dust off her hands, stretched, and said, "Let's go back and wait for the result. There's no need to stay here. Inform Xuan Yuanjue's people not to block the street. It would be too obvious."
Upon receiving their miss's order, Ming Yue and Jiao Yue immediately went to carry it out.
The reason why Shen Li had spared Shen Miao's life was for this very moment. She knew that there was no real evidence that could make the emperor spare Xiao Hanzhi's life unless he rebelled. But she could at least break his heart.
If the emperor found out that she had tried every means to separate Shen Miao and Xiao Hanzhi, but in the end, Xiao Hanzhi still kept Shen Miao by his side, just imagining that scene was amusing. Moreover, there was now a future princess who was going to be the Fourth Prince's wife. If Helian Shu found out about this, things would be even more complicated.
But all these had little to do with Shen Li. She just wanted to sit back and watch the show...
Xuan Yuanjue quietly followed behind Shen Li. Looking at her back, he murmured, "Since this is what you want, I'll find a way to make it happen."
Then he summoned Xuan Se and ordered, "Tell our people to make sure the emperor knows about this as soon as possible."
Xuan Se glanced at the Fourth Prince's Mansion in the distance and immediately understood.
At this moment, Xiao Hanzhi was only focused on the cooperation with Helian Shu and had no idea that he was about to be set up at his own mansion gate.
It was almost evening when Xiao Hanzhi sent Helian Shu back to the post - station.
On the way back, Xiao Hanzhi always felt that the looks people gave him were a bit strange. But when he looked at them, they all lowered their heads and went about their own business, seemingly nothing was wrong.
Maybe it was his sixth sense. Xiao Hanzhi quickened his pace back to the mansion. He always felt that something bad was waiting for him, so he had to get back quickly to check the situation.
Sure enough, when he returned to the mansion, he saw the servants at the gate on high alert. They even trembled when they saw him. Before he could say a word, a servant stammered, "Your Highness, you're finally back. Hurry in and take a look!"
Without a word, Xiao Hanzhi rushed into the mansion and saw a doctor just coming out of a room and closing the door.
Xiao Hanzhi summoned the mansion's steward to inquire about the situation. He had only been away for half a day, yet everyone seemed to be on the verge of a great crisis.