newbobooks Chapter 247 Looking Towards the Immortal Palace of the Capital
Chapter 247 Looking Towards the Immortal Palace of the Capital
Chapter 247 247 Wangjing Immortal Palace
Among the restaurants in the capital, three stand out most famous: Guanhailou, Wangjianglou, and Xiantingju. Leaving aside the other restaurants for now, let's talk about Wangjianglou. It's not called that because it was built on the riverbank, but because its pavilions are high and its eaves reach into the clouds. When you stand on the upper floor and look down, you can see the Minjiang River a hundred miles away. It has been praised by literati and poets with the line, "The river waves stretch for a thousand miles like a ribbon, I climb the high pavilion to gaze at the capital's fairy palace."
Because of this poem, the Wangjiang Tower was always packed with customers. However, with so many people, it became a mixed bag, with all sorts of people coming and going. Therefore, when Ye Yingrou and Shi Zhenghan, disguised, arrived, they didn't attract anyone's attention. Only the waiter warmly greeted them.
"Gentlemen, what would you like to order? Drunken braised goose, braised lion's head meatballs, or braised abalone and mushrooms? If you don't like our signature dishes, that's fine too. As long as you want it, there's nothing our restaurant can't make."
“No need to trouble you, young man. My daughter and I are here to meet an old friend,” Shi Zhenghan replied, deliberately lowering his voice and changing his tone to make it difficult to discern his identity.
"I see. Well then, please make yourselves at home, gentlemen." The waiter didn't insist. After confirming that they knew how to get there, he turned to attend to the other customers.
Shi Zhenghan nodded slightly to Ye Yingrou, and then the two went upstairs together to a private room on the fourth floor. Shi Zhenghan knocked on the door, and after a moment someone answered from inside:
"Who is coming?"
“An old friend has arrived,” Shi Zhenghan replied.
There was a moment of silence inside the door, which was then opened from the inside. A guard of Prince Yue, also in disguise, appeared behind the door. His gaze towards Shi Zhenghan and Ye Yingrou was wary and cold. After carefully confirming that no one was following Shi Zhenghan, he allowed them to enter the house.
"The Right Chancellor has indeed not disappointed me..." Prince Yue had long anticipated Shi Zhenghan's arrival and was brewing tea inside when he looked up and saw Ye Yingrou behind Shi Zhenghan. His face immediately darkened, and he slammed down the teapot, saying:
"Shi Zhenghan, what do you mean by this?"
Shi Zhenghan smiled slightly and said, "Your Highness, please don't be angry. This girl is one of my people, and she is very capable. With her help, our cooperation will surely be even more successful."
"Oh?" Prince Yue clearly did not believe his explanation. His gaze swept over Ye Yingrou, his disdain evident in his eyes.
"Her? What can a little girl like her do?"
Since becoming the owner of Ronghua Tower, Ye Yingrou had long been accustomed to this kind of talk. She calmly raised her hand to smooth the hair that fell beside her ear, gently raised her eyes and smiled at Prince Yue. Suddenly, something cold and slippery wrapped around Prince Yue's ankle.
"what--"
Even the usually composed Prince Yue couldn't help but cry out in surprise. Upon hearing this, his guard immediately drew his sword and swiftly sliced the dark green snake that was wrapped around Prince Yue's ankle in two, thus saving Prince Yue from being bitten.
Looking at the venomous snake still writhing on the ground, Prince Yue gasped for breath, still shaken, and immediately looked up at Ye Yingrou:
"Is it your fault?"
"Prince Yue doesn't believe in my abilities, so I'll have to show him what I'm capable of," Ye Yingrou said gently.
"As expected, he is a man of great hidden talent," Prince Yue gasped, his gaze becoming extremely deep, and said, "In that case, let's sit down and have some tea together."
Shi Zhenghan and Ye Yingrou sat down at the tea table. A trusted aide of Prince Yue came forward and poured them both a cup of tea. Then he stepped back to the door and cautiously observed the movements outside so that they could talk in peace.
"Your Excellency has come today because you have thought things through, right?" Although Prince Yue knew that Shi Zhenghan had come to cooperate, he was still a little uneasy and wanted to test him. "If this matter succeeds, it will be a great achievement for all time; if it fails, he will become a sinner for all eternity."
"Before answering Prince Yue's question, I also have a question for you," Shi Zhenghan said, taking a sip of tea. "Has Your Highness considered what this plan would mean for the entire Great Xia Dynasty if it succeeds in the autumn hunt?"
Prince Yue said, “I’m not afraid to tell the Prime Minister that I have been thinking about this matter for nearly thirty years, so I naturally know the consequences better than anyone else. Hmph, back then, Father Emperor did not intend to establish the eldest son as the heir apparent, so he made each prince learn the way of the emperor. Although he eventually established the eldest son as the crown prince, if we really talk about governing the country, I may not lose to my elder brother.”
"That's natural. Your Highness is a man with the world in his heart; otherwise, you wouldn't have been able to manage Chenzhou so well and make it so prosperous," Shi Zhenghan said with a smile.
"What, does the Right Chancellor still have any concerns?" Prince Yue knew he wouldn't ask that question rashly, and he understood perfectly. "Are you worried that you won't be able to explain to the Fourth Prince after the incident, or do you think that the conditions I offered are not tempting enough? The Right Chancellor can ask me for whatever he wants. Apart from this country, I can give you anything."
Upon hearing Prince Yue mention Chunyu Jing, Ye Yingrou's eyelashes trembled slightly. Then, she heard Shi Zhenghan say:
"What I have sought in my life can be summed up in just six words: 'to meet an enlightened ruler and protect the common people.'"
Shi Zhenghan's words greatly pleased Prince Yue. Although he knew that Shi Zhenghan's ambitions were far greater than this, if he were to reveal them now, and the autumn hunt succeeded and the Great Xia dynasty changed hands, Prince Yue's first priority upon ascending the throne would be to eliminate the ambitious Shi Zhenghan.
Shi Zhenghan was a smart man; he naturally knew how cold and ruthless the way of the emperor could be.
"I wonder if, in the eyes of the Right Chancellor, I am considered a 'wise ruler'?" Prince Yue asked with a smile.
Shi Zhenghan said, "Given time, the world will judge."
Prince Yue was in high spirits, and the oppressive aura he had unconsciously been emanating from him diminished considerably. He laughed and said:
"Very good, as expected of the Right Chancellor, I knew I had not misjudged you!"
Shi Zhenghan said, "From this day forward, Your Highness and I are of one mind. I just don't know what I can do for Your Highness?"
“I know that the Right Chancellor will be by my brother’s side at all times during this autumn hunt. I need the Right Chancellor to keep me informed of my brother’s movements, his daily routine, how many guards he is with, and where he frequents.” Prince Yue’s eyes darkened as he said coldly, “In addition, I need to know all the details of this autumn hunt’s arrangements, including the list of all personnel accompanying His Majesty. What do you say? Can the Right Chancellor do that for me?”
Prince Yue's request was exactly what Shi Zhenghan wanted. His smile became meaningful, and he said, "Your Highness, please rest assured and wait for my secret letter."