Harem Daily Life

Hall Master Han said, "We've only bribed the Yuecheng government over the years. Zhao Songde was arrested that very night and taken to the capital, where he was imprisoned. There's no way to get in and silence him in the capital!"

He looked at King Liang, thinking that King Liang was after all the emperor's cousin and had been doing business in the capital for many years, so he should have some connections.

How could the King of Liang not know what this Han Tang master was planning? It was a pity that their branch of the He family was far less powerful than the emperor's branch.

"What are you looking at me for? Although my last name is He, my father was the late emperor's most insignificant brother. He had no ambition and lived a leisurely life. He never made any friends with the powerful in the capital, and only had the title of a prince. When my generation came, I inherited the throne, but I had no real power." After he finished speaking, he felt a little depressed. "If I hadn't supported you in running Yixingtang all these years and earned some money, how could the Liang Palace be so prosperous?"

A prince without real power is at best a waste kept by the He royal family, who lives on some rewards every year. Over time, he falls into decline.

At this point, Hall Master Han had nothing to say. His sphere of influence was entirely in Yuecheng, and he was helpless against this huge network in the capital.

Deputy Hall Master Li said: "Or, use silver to bribe the Ministry of Justice and put Zhao Songde in prison..." He made a gesture of wiping his neck.

Hall Master Han looked at Prince Liang and said, "We still have to start with the network of connections in the capital. We need to find out who in the Ministry of Justice has access to Zhao Songde and who can be used."

King Liang gave his staff a wink, and the staff had to go down to investigate.

"You two should return to Yuecheng as soon as possible. Things are tense lately. Make sure to take care of the affairs of Yixingtang. If necessary, close down several branches. Don't confront the court head-on. As for Zhao Songde... I will take care of him."

Hall Master Han and Deputy Hall Master Li stood up and said, "Yes, we will leave first. Take care, Your Highness."

The two of them left through the back door under the cover of night without disturbing anyone.

Butler Zhao entered the study and said, "Your Highness, everyone has left. It's late at night. You should go to bed first."

Prince Liang rubbed his brows and said after a long while, "Tomorrow, you should prepare to send the princess and the prince to visit relatives in Xiangcheng."

Butler Zhao frowned and said, "Are we sending the princess and the others away so soon? Well, what if the princess refuses?"

"If she refuses, tie her up and put her in the carriage. Do I need to teach you this? Remember, the faster the better. Once we get to Xiangcheng, check the wind direction. If I'm found out, you'll escort them all the way north, take the clearance documents, and go to Yan State."

"Your Highness!" Butler Zhao tried to dissuade them. "If the princess takes the Crown Prince and several other young masters and leaves without your protection, what will they do? Although you've already prepared a retreat, we haven't been to Yan State after all. How will they survive there?"

"But it's better than staying here and being thrown into prison." King Liang's eyes were firm. "Don't worry, if you protect them and they leave, I will give it a try. The Great Zhou belongs to the He family, and my last name is He. Why should the throne of the Great Zhou belong to him, He Linzhang, and not me, He Changqing?"

Butler Zhao still felt it was too risky and wanted to advise him again: "Once Zhao Songde dies, there will be no evidence. The Yixingtang will be a gangster organization. It will be banned this time and can be rebuilt later. Your Highness, please don't be impulsive and think long-term!"

Prince Liang sighed, "In fact, I've long anticipated this day, so I've made plans. If I give it a go, I might not lose the money I've saved over the years. I have a feeling this Queen Tao won't give up. Look at her young age, yet she's been able to secure the throne for Your Majesty and keep so many concubines in check. She's no pushover. If they ever find out about this and I'm left at their mercy, I might as well take the initiative!"

His eyes were cold and stern, and he crushed a teacup in his hand: "Don't forget, His Majesty is seriously ill and has not appeared in a long time. Now is a good time to give it a try."

After hearing this, Butler Zhao felt that it was too risky, but then he thought, the greater the risk, the greater the opportunity.

He clasped his fists and said, "Yes, I will arrange for the princess and the others to leave as soon as possible tomorrow. However, as for the concubines and young ladies, should they stay or be sent away together?"

Prince Liang shook his head and said, "We can't take so many people with us. Just take good care of the princess and the prince. Including the two young masters, there are four of us in total. As for the others, it depends on their luck."

Butler Zhao concealed his shock. Normally, Prince Liang doted on Concubine Fang and her eldest daughter the most. He did not expect that at the critical moment, the people he wanted to hold dear were Princess Liang and her son and two young masters.

He said nothing more and left the study. It was only a few hours until dawn. After a good rest, he should take the princess and her three children to Xiangcheng.

In Changle Palace, Tao Yanyan was still getting dressed when she saw Eunuch Zhang coming in hurriedly.

"Your Majesty, I was previously told to keep an eye on any unusual activity within the capital. I've uncovered a clue today: Princess Liang is leaving the city with the Crown Prince and two young princes, claiming they're going to Xiangcheng to visit relatives."

Tao Yanyan looked at the weather outside the window. Although the snow had stopped, it was still icy and snowy, not a good time to visit relatives.

"Is it a custom in the Great Zhou that it is only suitable to travel far after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month?"

Eunuch Zhang quickly said, "That's what the custom says. Traveling far away to visit relatives is usually arranged after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. Even if you're going on business, you usually choose to do so after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. However, it's still cold at this time, so most people won't go out. It's always after the second day of the second lunar month, when the dragon raises its head, that people start to move. By then, the weather will be better, and travel will be more convenient."

Tao Yanyan nodded. "Yes, going out with a child is not easy, and both adults and children suffer. So why did Princess Liang go out at this time?"

Eunuch Zhang said, "Princess Liang's parents are indeed in Xiangcheng. I wonder if there's something wrong with Princess Liang's parents that made them go visit them at this time. However, if we want to investigate, we can still do so. It just takes some time."

Tao Yanyan pondered for a moment and said, "Please ask Ningyuan Hou to send someone to keep an eye on them and see where they went. Meanwhile, keep an eye on Prince Liang's Mansion. I've always felt that the Yixing Hall has been able to exist so safely for so many years, not just because of Zhao Songde's protection. I'm afraid the real mastermind is hiding in the capital."

Eunuch Zhang quickly replied, "Yes, I will do it immediately."

Ningyuan Hou received the order from the palace and immediately dispatched a team of soldiers to follow the Liang Wangfei's carriage along the way. Meanwhile, in the Liang Wang Mansion, Concubine Fang woke up early in the morning and learned that the Liang Wangfei had left the capital with the three princes. She was very surprised.

As she combed her hair, she asked, "I hadn't heard before today that the princess was leaving the capital. How could it be so sudden?"

The maid Xiaoqing inserted a jade hairpin into her hair and said, "It's indeed a bit strange, but I heard that she is going to Xiangcheng. Perhaps the princess's parents are ill and are anxious to see their daughter?"

Otherwise, it really doesn't make sense why he suddenly left Beijing.

Aunt Fang still felt something was amiss. She said, "The fifteenth day of the first lunar month is the Lantern Festival. That day, the women of each household must go to the palace early in the morning to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager and the Empress. The princess always took it very seriously, saying it was a great opportunity to connect with the palace and would act as a liaison on behalf of the prince. This year, she left in a hurry without an explanation. In five days, it will be the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. What will be done then?"

Xiao Qing thought for a moment and said, "Someone needs to take care of the backyard affairs of this mansion. Why don't you ask the prince? Maybe he wants you to replace the princess?"

Aunt Fang smiled and said, "I'm just a concubine. How can I be asked to manage affairs for the princess? Well, I have to go see the prince anyway, I'll find a chance to ask."