Chapter 364 - 364 Once and For All
364 Once and For All
Because Lu Ze was very decisive and ruthless this time, he didn’t give the other party any room to remedy things. He obtained all the evidence related to the silver mine.
Song Minghui, who had stayed in Cloud Mountain City, wasn’t idle either. As Lu Ze brought people to eliminate the bandit soldiers inside and outside the silver mine, Song Minghui quickly attacked and surrounded the Lin family’s home and the Gu family’s home.
For a moment, the entire Cloud Mountain City was in a state of panic. Even the fourth prince, who was in Duke Huai Yang’s ministry, couldn’t help but be a little dissatisfied when he received the news.
Why didn’t he know about such an important matter?
However, just as he was about to participate, Pei Qian had already received the news and appeared in front of the fourth prince.
“I actually didn’t know about such an important matter!” Although the fourth prince had always been very polite to Pei Qian, he was a little angry this time.
However, Pei Qian, who knew the fourth prince better than the fourth prince knew himself, wasn’t anxious at all. He only bowed to the fourth prince and said calmly, “Your Highness, it’s best if you pretend not to know anything about this.”
“Why?” The fourth prince was surprised when he heard this and looked at Pei Qian in confusion. “What do you mean? Although I’m not too sure about the exact situation, it involves the Gu family and the Lin family.
These two families have always sided with us!
Won’t you be cutting off your own arm if you uproot them like this?”
Perhaps because they were relatively weaker, these two families had long submitted their allegiance to the fourth prince when he was still in the capital. Although the fourth prince had not interacted with them that much this time, he still subconsciously treated them as his own people.
Therefore, in his opinion, Pei Qian and the others attacking these two families was tantamount to self-destruction.
“Your Highness, don’t tell me you really think that by writing a letter to you, they’ve submitted to you?” Pei Qian looked at the fourth prince in contempt and laughed as he said, “You probably don’t know that they’ve also sent the same letter to the crown prince and the third prince.
The main reason I arranged to attack them this time is not because of anything else, but because their actions have already threatened our interests.”
Pei Qian looked at the fourth prince coldly and his serious attitude made the fourth prince tense up. The fourth prince was no longer so aloof and nonchalant.
“They colluded with the northern barbarians and filled the army with mountain bandits and idlers. No matter which crime it is, it’s enough to bring great damage to your reputation!
Of course, if that was all, there would be no need for me to be so ruthless to them!
However, what I really can’t tolerate is that in order to obtain military merit, they actually slaughtered the villagers in the north! If this had happened at any other time and if you didn’t want to offend anyone, I could have just turned a blind eye!
But you’re in the north now.
If this matter is really exposed, what do you think the officials will think of you? What will the civil and military officials think of you?”
Also, how will the Third Prince’s faction seize this opportunity to frame you?”
Pei Qian’s questions made the fourth prince’s face turn pale.
That’s right. If all of this was really exposed, his future…
“Therefore, it’s best if you don’t participate in this matter. No matter who pleads with you next, it’d be best if you ignore them.” As Pei Qian looked at the fourth prince, he was very satisfied with his flustered and uneasy attitude. Then, he continued, “Your Highness, what you need now is a good reputation.
Also, control of the northern region’s military has to be in our hands!
“Eliminating the Gu family and the Lin family is also a good opportunity for us to place our people! The Third Prince is still a distance away from the north, so we have to seize the opportunity now and make arrangements in advance so we can take all the credit. When we return to the capital, it’ll be too late even if the Third Prince is dissatisfied.”
“Not bad. I’m lucky to have a wise minister like you.” After hearing Pei Qian’s story, the last trace of worry on the fourth prince’s face was swept away and he nodded with a smile of satisfaction. “However, I heard that you entrusted this matter to Gu Erlang?
Can that person really be trusted?!”
“Your Highness, I can guarantee that I have the same plan as him.” Pei Qian lowered his eyes slightly and said calmly, “Just focus on recuperating in the residence for the time being.”
“Speaking of which, I’ve been feeling a little uncomfortable recently.” At this point, embarrassment flashed across the fourth prince’s face and he gave the servants beside him a look. After they left, he walked to Pei Qian’s side and said to him in a low voice, “Do you know any doctor who can treat that kind of illness?”
“Huh?” Pei Qian was stunned for a moment and looked at the fourth prince in shock. “Your Highness, are you feeling unwell?”
“I don’t know if it’s because I’ve been injured recently, but I’m actually feeling a little weak.” Perhaps because he didn’t treat Pei Qian as an outsider, the fourth prince finally couldn’t help but reveal, “I can’t suppress this urge, but I can’t do anything…”
“May I ask, Your Highness, how long have you been like this?” Since he had already made it so obvious, Pei Qian couldn’t pretend not to understand. However, when he heard this familiar symptom, he recalled that a certain someone had once used a drug on his uncle…
She was a vengeful person, so how could she tolerate the fourth prince plotting against her again and again?!
With new and old grudges added together, there was no way she was willing to let him off the hook!
“It’s been a while.” The fourth prince said in embarrassment, “I didn’t think too much about it at first. It’s just that recently, I’ve been a little… Ahem, help me ask around!”
“Alright.” Pei Qian nodded and promised very seriously, “Your health is not a small matter, so I’ll arrange for someone to take your pulse quickly.”
“By the way, didn’t Madam Liu say that she’s a divine doctor?” Seeing Pei Qian nod, the fourth prince suddenly thought of something and said, “Why don’t you ask her to come over and take a look at me?”
“Your Highness, how can a female doctor like her check your symptoms?” Pei Qian almost lost his composure. He had already been screwed over so badly, but he still had not given up…
Wasn’t he afraid that she would really cripple him once and for all?!