Seeing Tang Xiyi standing there, Meng Ruyi was slightly surprised for a moment before saying, "Huh? Does Young Master Tang have something to talk about?" Tang Xiyi looked at Meng Ruyi standing at the door. She was wearing a light purple dress, looking gentle and beautiful. Her gaze on him made one's heart soften involuntarily.
Then he glanced at Song Huaizhi, who looked like a noble and cold gentleman.
Who could have thought that these two people in front of him were so heartless! They were simply the most heartless people in the world!
Tang Xiyi forced a smile on his face, with a trace of calm after being severely hit.
It was all his own fault. He had rushed into this situation back then and had been played around by these two people. Whom could he blame?
Tang Xiyi was silent for a moment, then said to Meng Ruyi, "Miss Meng, please talk to Young Master Song. I really can't produce that many things."
"Oh?"
Seeing the pain on his face, Meng Ruyi guessed that Tang Xiyi must have been extorted by Song Huaizhi again. So she gave a faint smile and said nothing.
"Really?"
Seeing Tang Xiyi acting like a cornered dog, Song Huaizhi sneered coldly and said to him, "Then I'll look for other families."
"Wait!"
Tang Xiyi got anxious upon hearing this.
If someone else had said this, Tang Xiyi would have thought that person was trying to drive up the price and waiting for him to make an offer. But since it was Song Huaizhi who said it, and he always acted resolutely. Maybe if he refused, he would hear that Song Huaizhi had already cooperated with someone else by night.
It was really annoying!
Tang Xiyi gritted his teeth. The smile on his face was a bit forced. Looking at Song Huaizhi, he said, "Fine, I agree. But after this is done, you must give me what I need."
"Give?"
Song Huaizhi looked at him and said indifferently, "This matter is like licking blood on the blade of a knife. If we could guarantee success, do you think such a good thing would fall to you?"
"......Fine."
Tang Xiyi took a deep breath and said to him, "It's a deal."
"Then I'll take my leave first."
After saying that, he left in a hurry. His back looked as if there was a dog chasing him, looking extremely embarrassed.
"What's going on?" Meng Ruyi watched Tang Xiyi's embarrassed figure. Suddenly, she remembered his appearance when they first met. He had hidden himself so well in front of her and Song Huaizhi. But now, he seemed to have given up all pretense.
"Is it related to Zheng Yuanqing?"
Apart from matters related to the throne, Meng Ruyi really couldn't think of anything that Song Huaizhi would describe as "licking blood on the blade of a knife", and that could even make Tang Xiyi, who was profit - oriented and now more cautious than before, agree.
"Yes."
There was a gentle smile on Song Huaizhi's face. He praised, "Yu Yu is so smart."
"Mr. Lin, Zheng Yuanqing and I are all worried that the Crown Prince might cause trouble. So we plan to stay nearby first. If something happens, we can stop it."
"No wonder." Meng Ruyi sighed, "If Zheng Yuanqing can ascend the throne, Tang Xiyi will surely gain a lot from it."
"Yes, fortune favors the brave." Song Huaizhi remembered Tang Xiyi's hesitation and couldn't help showing a faint smile on his face. Looking at Meng Ruyi, he said, "So he couldn't refuse."
It seemed that changes were coming soon. They were just waiting for the news from the south.
Meng Ruyi looked at the slightly overcast sky and couldn't help frowning. There was a bit more thought in her heart.
......
Three days later at night, a light drizzle began to fall in the capital. The night was quiet, but somehow it carried a sense of oppression.
A horse galloped in with an urgent message from the south, breaking the silence of the night. The hooves of the horse trampled through the darkness and rushed straight towards the palace.
The emperor, who was a bit sleepy because of the rainy days these days, was awakened. Looking at the letter in his hand, he instantly lost all his drowsiness. He angrily threw the letter on the ground and said coldly, "Summon General Gu, Prime Minister Shangguan, and..."
The emperor named a long list of people. The chief eunuch kneeling on the ground was sweating profusely. The clothes on his back were soaked, and his voice was filled with a deep sense of fear.
The emperor had summoned so many people into the palace, but he didn't summon the Crown Prince!
It was already late at night. Summoning these officials must mean that something big had happened. But the Crown Prince, the heir apparent, wasn't summoned. What on earth was going on!
He took the order and hurriedly withdrew from the main hall. He gave the order and then leaned against a pillar, lost in thought.
A major change was coming!
After a moment of silence, he hurriedly whispered something to a young eunuch beside him. The young eunuch remained calm and turned to leave the palace.
When everyone arrived, the emperor looked tired. There was an inescapable air of illness around him. He sat on the dragon throne looking listless.
"All my loyal ministers, rise."
He spoke, word by word, "There's a flood in the south. This time, the dam burst, and the floodwaters have submerged..."
General Gu watched the emperor's mouth open and close. Seeing the hypocrisy in his eyes, he almost couldn't control his disguise and expose the truth to the public.
But he just remained silent, listening to the emperor express his surprise at the flood as if he had just learned about it and had never covered up for the Crown Prince.
Shangguan Li noticed the absence of the Crown Prince and immediately felt his heart sink. There was a look of solemnity on his face.
After the emperor finished his long - winded nonsense, he finally said meaningfully, "Who do you all think is more suitable to go and deal with the flood?"
This flood was the most serious one in the past ten years. In just a few days, so many places had been flooded. This wasn't a good opportunity to accumulate merits. It was just a real hot potato.
Whoever took it on would become the scapegoat.
There was a hint of pride in Shangguan Li's eyes. He realized why the emperor hadn't summoned the Crown Prince.
If the Crown Prince had been summoned, someone might have taken advantage of the situation and sent the Crown Prince to relieve the disaster.
General Gu also figured this out. He couldn't help lowering his eyes. His eyes were full of coldness. He took a deep breath, but it was hard to calm the anger in his heart.
"Hmm?" Seeing that no one spoke, the emperor looked at Shangguan Li and asked, "Who does Prime Minister Shangguan think is the most suitable?"
Shangguan Li was slightly stunned upon hearing this. Looking up, he saw the look in the emperor's eyes. So he calmly said, "Your Majesty, I think the Crown Prince has been unwell recently, so he can't go to the south for the time being. But the Third Prince is an excellent candidate."
"His handling of the military affairs in the southwest is sufficient proof of his talent. Relieving the disaster is an important national task, so I recommend the Third Prince."
Although Zheng Yuanqing's success in this matter must have had a bit of luck, most of the princes were not up to the mark. They had been severely suppressed by the Queen's faction. So Zheng Yuanqing had caught Shangguan Li's eye and posed a threat to the Crown Prince's faction.
"What about the other ministers? Could it be that all the ministers in the court are not as capable as the Third Prince?"
Seeing this, the others spoke up one after another, but they still didn't dare to stir up this muddy water. Most of the people they recommended were from poor families.
"Your Majesty."
General Gu stepped forward and said loudly, "I also have someone to recommend."
"Hmm?"
"I'd like to recommend the Third Prince."
Shangguan Li was shocked. He stood there and stared fixedly at General Gu.