Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 388 Secret Words
Late at night, the dew is heavy.

After seeing off the last member of the imperial clan who had come to gather information, Li Huan had just picked up his teacup to moisten his throat when a barely audible knock came from outside the carved door of his study.

"Your Highness, someone claiming to be the manager of Tongbao Money Shop requests an audience."

The newcomer was dressed in ordinary gray cloth, but walked silently, clearly a martial arts practitioner.

He calmly bowed to Li Huan, lowered his head and lowered his eyes, and spoke in a very low voice.

"Someone asked me to pass on a message to Your Highness."

He glanced at Li Huan's face before continuing, "The source of the Boiling Blood Powder has been found by the Crown Prince. The only useful clue on Scarface Zhang, who was silenced, is a five-thousand-tael silver note issued by Tongbao Bank..."

Li Huan's expression changed slightly.

"Is someone trying to drag me down with them?"

He slowly raised his eyes, his gaze completely calm.

"What else?"

"They also said... those people are incredibly ruthless." The shopkeeper added, "When pushed to the limit, they might not even care about family ties or moral principles, let alone the Prince..."

The study fell silent.

Li Huan put down his teacup, tapped his fingertips lightly twice on the table, and waved his hand to signal that the guest should leave.

After the man left, he hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Facing the sun".

"Your servant is here," Xiang Yang replied, clasping his hands in a respectful gesture.

"Prepare some top-quality wound medicine and nourishing ginseng..." Li Huan said calmly, "Tomorrow morning, come with me to visit Grand Secretary Xiao."
-
After being publicly flogged in the Zichen Palace, Xiao Wenyuan secluded himself at home to recuperate from his injuries. The wounds were deep in his bones, lingering and difficult to heal; he had lost count of how many sleepless nights he had spent…

As dawn broke, the sun began to shine obliquely into the east wall.

Xiao Wenyuan sat on a stone bench covered with thick cushions, the tea lids clattering loudly.

Across from the stone table sat a lean man.

His surname was Tu, and he was a loyal confidant of the Xiao family and the leader of the assassins that Xiao Song had kept for many years.

The attack on Consort Wan's Xishan Palace and Li Zhao's several assassination attempts were orchestrated by him.

"Still no movement from Prince Duan's side?" Xiao Wenyuan took a sip of tea, his brows furrowed in a deep knot.

"Hmph, he's still waiting." Tu Cheng sneered from his nose, his voice slightly hoarse. "He's waiting for the Xiao family and the Eastern Palace to fight to the death so he can clean up the mess and reap the benefits."

"Wishful thinking!" Xiao Wenyuan slammed his fist on the stone table in anger, aggravating his wound and causing him to wince and gasp for breath. "If he won't move, we'll force him to. At worst, we'll set fire to the palace gates and shout—'The Crown Prince has committed treason and patricide; Prince Duan is leading troops to quell the rebellion!' Let's see if he can sit back and relax..."

“No.” Tu Cheng flatly rejected the idea, his eyes turning sinister. “The Xiao family needs the banner of Prince Duan. Without him, nothing can be accomplished. After all, he is the Prime Minister’s grandson, a true descendant of the dragon and phoenix.”

He paused for a moment, then looked up at Xiao Wenyuan.

"The King of Wei is weak-willed; he could be used..."

"Li Yan is a good-for-nothing, what use is he?"

"Only a fool is useful." A ruthless glint flashed in Tu Cheng's eyes. "Once we get the decree to depose the crown prince, seize control of Prince Duan, and then push Li Yan out to take the fall... When the dust settles, won't the prime minister be the one to call the shots? Prince Duan? Hmph, just a puppet!"

Just then, footsteps could be heard outside the courtyard.

The steward rushed in, panting and sweating. "Master, His Highness Prince Duan has arrived. His carriage is waiting outside the gate. He says... he has come to visit you."

Xiao Wenyuan and Tu Cheng quickly exchanged a glance.

"Say Cao Cao, and Cao Cao will be here."

"Chief Tu, please step aside for a moment..."
-
Li Huan walked calmly into the courtyard, his gaze sweeping over the two cups of still slightly steaming tea on the stone table, a knowing smile playing on his lips.

"It seems Lord Xiao has distinguished guests. I've arrived at an inopportune time, disturbing Lord Xiao's reunion."

Xiao Wenyuan struggled to get up and bow, but the movement aggravated his injury, so he could only sit back down weakly and force a smile.

"Your Highness is too kind. He's just... a distant relative who heard I was still recovering from my injuries and came to visit. We chatted for a bit and he just left..."

Li Huan waved his hand, seemingly unconcerned, and sat down on the stone bench opposite Xiao Wenyuan.

"Lord Xiao is still recovering from his injuries, there's no need for formalities. Let's talk while seated."

The butler hurriedly served hot tea.

Xiao Wenyuan asked nervously, "I wonder what brings Your Highness here?"

Li Huan did not answer immediately. He picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and then smiled gently, saying, "A few days ago, a distant relative of Lord Xiao's family withdrew five thousand taels of silver from Tongbao Money Exchange. I know about this."

Xiao Wenyuan's heart skipped a beat, and cold sweat instantly broke out on his back.

"This……"

He tried to remain calm, his smile appearing somewhat forced.

"What does Your Highness mean by this? Is it illegal to borrow some silver to tide me over when I'm short of cash?"

"Of course not." Li Huan put down his teacup, his smile still gentle, but his eyes were devoid of warmth. "This money should be spent wisely. Especially... money for buying lives, it's best to keep it discreet. If it becomes public knowledge, the first one to be put on the hot seat will probably be you, Lord Xiao. Lord Xiao is a smart man, you should understand what I mean?"

This blatant warning ignited a fire in Xiao Wenyuan's heart.

According to seniority, Li Huan should call him his maternal uncle...

Over the years, how much effort and risk has he put in to support Li Huan?
Now look what's happened! This good nephew has crossed the river and burned the bridge, turning his back on us!
Xiao Wenyuan, who had a bad temper, couldn't help but retort, "Is Your Highness afraid of the Crown Prince?"

"I am not afraid, but I will not do a losing deal." Li Huan looked at Xiao Wenyuan calmly. "If I can find out something, the henchmen of the Eastern Palace may also find out. If I were Lord Xiao, I would not invite trouble upon myself."

Xiao Wenyuan's face flushed red, and he said sternly, "Is Your Highness threatening me?"

“It’s a reminder.” Li Huan slowly stood up, dusted off the ash from his sleeves, and looked down at him. “If Lord Xiao wants to play with fire, go ahead, but don’t burn my courtyard… If you damage my flowers and plants… don’t blame me for not caring about our blood ties.”

"Your Highness! The Xiao family has risked their lives and fought bloody battles for you, not for the wealth and honor of the Xiao clan, but for Your Highness's bright future..." Xiao Wenyuan suddenly stood up, his hands supporting him on the stone table, glaring angrily at Li Huan.

"The opportunity is fleeting. If Your Highness hesitates any longer and refuses to act, we will all lose our heads once Li Zhao has pacified the Western Frontier..."

"Haste makes waste. Besides, my surname is Li, and this world belongs to the Li family. It's not for others to interfere..."

After Li Huan finished speaking, he turned and left, leaving Xiao Wenyuan standing there, trembling with anger.

After a long while, he finally caught his breath, his face ashen, and squeezed out a sentence through gritted teeth.

"This brat is not worth discussing things with! He's gotten too big for his britches and forgotten his roots; he'll stumble sooner or later. If he doesn't act, we'll act ourselves..."

(End of this chapter)