I am a prince in Zhutian Films

Chapter 52 Killing two birds with one stone

The rain didn't fall today, but after a while of gloom, the sun came out.

Deep in the palace, the yellow glazed tiles shone golden in the sunlight, and the high vermilion walls gave off an inexplicable sense of oppression.

In the garden behind the palace, there were various exotic fruits and vegetables on the stone table. An old lady with a kind look was half closing her eyes, listening to what the female official next to her was saying.

Suddenly, the old lady opened her half-closed eyes, a flash of murderous intent flashed across her eyes, and she asked, "Is the kid serious?"

"This slave doesn't know."

The old lady did not expect any answer from the lady-in-waiting and went straight back to her bedroom.

However, before the old lady could make any arrangements, the eldest princess Li Yunrui came to ask for a meeting.

The eldest princess, dressed in plain white, walked slowly into the bedroom, bowed and knelt in the hall.

"Queen Mother, today in the hall, all the things that Fan Xian did have spread throughout Kyoto."

"I heard that Wanli Beiqiu is often a guest, has amazing poetry talent, hangs out in brothels, beats people in the street, and even involves that little fat boy. It's quite lively today."

When the old lady mentioned the word "little fat boy", a smile flashed across her indifferent face.

"Fan Xian is indeed a good poet, but he is too arrogant and rude. Now everyone knows that Fan Xian hangs out in brothels and beats people in the street. If Wan'er marries this man, I'm afraid... it will bring shame to the royal family."

"Do you still want to reject this marriage?" the old lady said calmly, and it was impossible to tell whether she was happy or angry.

"There is a difference between the monarch and his subjects. This man doesn't even show much respect to the crown prince in the court. If he really wants to take charge of the inner treasury in the future, it may be a hidden danger. Also, Zong'er is not young anymore. He is at the age to get married. He is always with prostitutes, which damages his reputation and the face of the royal family."

Hearing the last sentence, the old lady's already indifferent face was instantly covered with frost, and then she restrained herself, but with a hint of anger in her tone: "I'm a little tired, you go down."

Li Yunrui looked up at the empress dowager, raised the corners of his mouth slightly, bowed and left the bedroom.

"This kid has always been unwilling to let Wan'er marry Fan Xian, but what she said does make some sense. Fan Xian's reputation is indeed flawed now, so this marriage may not be appropriate."

Hong Sixiang bowed slightly and said, "The Queen Mother can issue an imperial decree to cancel this marriage."

The old lady sighed, "Let's leave it to the emperor to decide. Little Fatty and that brothel girl are a problem. Did His Majesty really promise that Little Fatty will decide his marriage?"

"I did promise."

The old lady was a little depressed.

Seeing this, Hong Sixiang said, "During the period of house arrest, I went to visit the Third Prince and heard him mention something. From what he said, although Miss Si Lili is a brothel girl, her status seems to be not simple. It can be said that she is worthy of him, but she has no choice but to fall into the brothel. His Majesty also said that as long as the Third Prince does not marry Miss Si Lili as his principal wife, he will not care about this matter."

"That little fat boy is using His Majesty to stop me. They have a deep affection for each other."

The old lady snorted, "Forget it, His Majesty has agreed, so I won't be a bad person. By the way, that little fat boy hasn't been to the palace for a while."

"The Third Prince just entered the palace two days ago."

Hong Sixiang said that he is an honest man and would not lie.

"Really? Why does it feel like it's been a long time?"

Hong Sixiang bowed and said, "How about I go and invite His Majesty the Third Prince to the palace?"

"Forget it. If he enters the palace, he will be in charge of everything. I'm tired of him."

Li Chengzong, who was almost invited to the palace, was now eating and drinking in the pleasure boat.

After coming out of the Kyoto government office, he wanted to take Si Lili to the palace, but Si Lili was unwilling to go, so he came to the painting boat.

Si Lili poured a glass of wine for Li Chengzong and asked, "Are you upset because of Fan Xian?"

"Why do you say that?"

"I can sense that your feelings towards Fan Xian are very complicated. On the one hand, you should like him very much, but on the other hand, you are disgusted by him. You don't know how to get along with him now. If you don't know how to get along with him, then don't get along with him. I don't think it's a good thing for you to be friends with him. It's better to stay away from him."

Li Chengzong was not surprised at all that Si Lili could sense his true thoughts.

About half a year ago, he suddenly became able to sense Si Lili's inner thoughts from her small movements and micro-expressions.

It was like there was a thread between the two of them that connected their hearts.

Li Chengzong was very sure that it was the system's fault, because except for Si Lili, the moment he showed interest in other women, he would disappear inexplicably, as if a basin of ice water had been poured on his head.

Therefore, it was only half a year ago that he truly understood what the system meant by "one couple in one life".

In this situation, the system is even more awesome than the matchmaker in mythology.

Even when the matchmaker takes a nap, the system doesn’t give him any chance.

But I have to say, this feeling of being in tune with each other is really fascinating.

Li Chengzong picked up the wine glass and took a sip, then jokingly said, "Didn't you say that Fan Xian is loyal to his friends? How come being friends with him isn't a good thing?"

"Fan Xian and Lin Wan'er were married by Emperor Qing, and he wants to take over the power of the inner treasury, which is a hot potato. It seems that only the eldest princess and the crown prince want to kill him, but in fact the second prince and the eldest princess are using the inner treasury for smuggling. The second prince also wants to kill him, and Si Nanbo alone cannot protect him."

"It's not just Si Nanbo who's behind him."

Fan Xian has five fathers, each one more awesome than the last.

In terms of background alone, in the entire Joy of Life world, if Fan Xian says he is second, who dares to say he is first? Si Lili didn't know Fan Xian's situation, but nodded and analyzed seriously: "I know that since your father has granted Fan Xian a marriage, he is naturally Fan Xian's backer, but from Fan Xian's words and deeds today, he is a person without reverence, and will definitely cause your father's dissatisfaction in the future. There is no benefit for you to associate with him."

"Friendship is not about whether or not you are good..."

Before he could finish his words, Si Lili interrupted him and said, "You and him can't be considered friends. Although there is a connection between you that I don't know about, you are actually just a little closer than strangers."

As she spoke, Si Lili sighed, "You have always valued friendship, which is both a good and a bad thing. Fan Xian is destined to be an enemy of the Crown Prince and the Second Prince. If you make friends with Fan Xian, you will be caught in a dilemma. It would be best if you treat the Crown Prince and the Second Prince the same way. Let them fight each other, don't care about anything, don't help them, and just watch your show. You don't have to stay away from them, but don't get close to them, let alone confide in them."

Li Chengzong nodded, "I still have to help Fan Xian two more times."

"why?"

"His mother and my mother have a very good relationship. My mother allowed me to help him once for my mother's sake. I will help him once because of the relationship between him and me. As for the last time, this is it."

Li Chengzong paused for a moment and said quietly, "It can be regarded as a way to put an end to my past."

"So what are you helping him for this time?" Si Lili was a little curious.

Li Chengzong thought for a moment and said, "How can such a thing be completely distinguished? Perhaps there is a little bit of both in it, but helping him this time did make me realize one thing."

"what's up?"

Li Chengzong paused while picking up the food, looked in the direction of the Supervisory Council, and said with emotion: "The Supervisory Council has too much power."

"The power of the Overwatch Council has always been...wait, you don't want to?"

Si Lili was very surprised.

Whether the Censorate has much power is not something a prince who does not participate in politics should consider.

Unless this prince has been sitting on the mountain watching the fight between two tigers and wants to sit on the throne.

Li Chengzong shook his head and said, "I am not interested in the throne, but I will take over the Zongzheng Temple in the future. When the old man is here, the Supervisory Council doesn't matter, he can control it anyway. But once the old man dies, the new emperor may not be able to control it. Then I will have to consider the issue of the Supervisory Council. Now I am just thinking about it in advance."

"From what you said, it seems that Zongzheng Temple is not simple."

Li Chengzong shook his head: "It's not that the Zongzheng Temple is not simple, it's that the Zongzheng Temple and the prince are combined, and the meaning is different. I can't tell you the rest."

It was during his confinement that Emperor Qing and Prince Jing secretly visited the palace and only then did they understand the true meaning of a prince's position as the Minister of Zongzheng Temple.

Let me put it this way, if a prince serves as the Minister of Zongzhengsi, then this Minister of Zongzhengsi is similar to the family patriarch in the novels of cultivating immortals. He is a trump card that guarantees the royal power.

So after learning some secrets, Li Chengzong decided that after Emperor Qing's death, the Supervisory Council must either be held in his own hands or the power must be divided among them.

Changxin Palace.

Li Yunrui has been waiting for news since he came back from the Empress Dowager's bedroom.

It was not until late at night that the female official beside her went out and came back to report: "Just now, there was news from the Queen Mother that she had given up the action."

"give up?"

Li Yunrui couldn't understand why the old lady, who valued the royal family's reputation, would let it go.

What's more unexpected is that if she hadn't suddenly asked for a meeting and disrupted the old lady's arrangements, the killer should have left the palace by now.

The female official nodded: "It is said that His Majesty agreed that the Third Prince would decide his own marriage, so the Queen Mother gave up."

"Your Majesty really dotes on Zong'er, even letting him decide on his own marriage."

"I think it's because the Third Prince is so similar to Your Majesty that Your Majesty favors the Third Prince so much."

"Yes, Zong'er and Your Majesty are so alike, so alike."

A silly smile appeared on Li Yunrui's face, and his eyes were extremely hot, but then the hot eyes turned extremely gloomy, and his tone was full of coldness.

"So, a lowly woman from a brothel is not worthy of Zong'er. She deserves to die!"

"I will leave the palace and kill her right now."

"If Zong'er finds out that I sent someone like him, he will probably resent and hate me. How can I get rid of that lowly woman without making Zong'er resent me?"

Li Yunrui spoke slowly, as if muttering to himself, and then fell silent.

As she remained silent, a plan slowly took shape in her mind.

After a long while, Li Yunrui suddenly laughed and said, "As I recall, that woman was a spy sent by Northern Qi?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Then kill her for the sake of justice. This will also be a good opportunity to get rid of Fan Xian!"

Using Si Lili's identity as Northern Qi's secret agent to threaten her to assassinate Fan Xian, and then exposing Si Lili's identity as Northern Qi's secret agent, can be said to kill two birds with one stone.

Of course, it is still unknown whether Fan Xian will die, but as Si Lili, who is a secret agent of Northern Qi, she will surely die if her identity as a secret agent is revealed after the assassination.

At least that's what the female official and Li Yunrui thought.

The Niulan Street assassination case thus came into being.

(End of this chapter)