The Good Grandson of the Red Chamber

Chapter 124 Are you going to rebel?

Before long, Xia Chengzong was led into the main hall.

Xia Chengzong also met Prince Yihe, whose appearance bore a resemblance to the retired emperor.

He looked older than the retired emperor, and age spots had appeared on his face.

He leaned back in his recliner, half asleep, while two young maids massaged his legs from either side.

Xia Chengzong stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Grandson greets Sixth Grandfather, wishing him long life, good fortune, and peace."

Prince Yihe laughed and said, "What an endearing little fellow! No wonder everyone praises you. Sit down and let's talk."

After Xia Chengzong sat down, Prince Yihe asked, "Brother Zong, you don't usually come to the palace without a reason. What brings you to your sixth grandfather's residence today?"

Xia Chengzong said, "Firstly, I came here specifically to visit my sixth grandfather, and secondly, my sixth grandfather also knows that the Jie tribe has invaded our border."

"Now, our Great Qian is preparing for war and is determined to drive out the Jie tribe and protect the people of our Great Qian."

"But now the national treasury is empty, and we can't even afford the military expenses for war. In our Great Qian Dynasty, the imperial family, nobles, and all those in power share the fate of the nation; we prosper together and suffer together. If the skin is gone, where will the hair attach?"

"My father ordered me to collect the debt owed to the national treasury. I saw that my sixth grandfather owed the national treasury more than 300,000 taels of silver."

"Therefore, I made a special trip to your home to earnestly request that, in view of the crisis in the Great Qian Dynasty and the empty national treasury, you repay the debts owed to the national treasury."

Prince Yihe laughed and said, "I wondered what it was about; it turns out it's about war. I have heard about it before."

"What's the big deal? If they're short of money for war, just levy more taxes. Isn't war all about taking money from those peasants?"

"It's not that I don't want to pay back the money, Sixth Grandfather. You don't know, Brother Zong, my family is very wealthy, and we have expenses everywhere."

"I have fifteen sons and eighty-seven grandchildren. Their expenses are like flowing water. My annual income is far from enough to cover their expenses!"

'

"Where would I find the money to repay the debt? But since you've come in person, Sixth Grandfather has to give you some face."

"Even if Sixth Grandfather tightens his belt and pays back five thousand taels of silver, it's not like he didn't give you face."

Hearing this, Xia Chengzong couldn't help but sneer inwardly.

That old man is really taking advantage of his age!

These royal relatives are nothing but a bunch of parasites!

Once I become emperor, I'll cut off all their benefits sooner or later and send them all to feed pigs!

It seems that talking to him nicely won't work.

Since that's the case, we'll have to resort to some means.

Thinking of this, Xia Chengzong smiled and said, "Sixth Grandfather, I wonder who lives in your Tingyu Pavilion?"

Upon hearing the words "Tingyuxuan," Prince Yihe trembled.

He looked at Xia Chengzong with surprise and doubt and asked, "Brother Zong, what are you talking about? I don't understand."

Xia Chengzong laughed and said, "Oh? So Sixth Grandfather doesn't understand? Then just pretend I'm talking nonsense."

"I'll go to the palace right now and ask my grandfather if he knows who lives in Tingyuxuan."

After saying that, Xia Chengzong got up and left.

"Wait!"

Before he could even reach the door, Prince Yihe stopped him.

"Brother Zong, you've come all this way to my palace, how can you leave without eating?"

"Sit down and talk to Sixth Grandfather for a while. You just mentioned Tingyuxuan, what did you hear about it?"

Xia Chengzong laughed and said, "I heard someone say that the mother and son living in Tingyuxuan are the third son of the former Prince Yizhong."

The outer room.

"Why did they move into Sixth Grandfather's mansion? What are Sixth Grandfather's intentions in taking in these rebels?"

"Is it sympathy for the rebels, or is there an inherent connection with them? Or are they even accomplices?"

Prince Yihe was startled by Xia Chengzong's words, and his lips twitched.

He hurriedly said, "Brother Zong, that's absolutely not true. You must never say such a thing."

"The woman living in Tingyuxuan is clearly my sixth son's concubine—"

"Sixth Grandfather!"

Xia Chengzong's sharp shout interrupted Prince Yihe's words.

"Would I have said this without solid evidence?"

"There's no need for such explanations. If you really want to say something, go and say it to my imperial grandfather!"

This information was obtained by Xingxingcao.

This was also a contingency plan left by Prince Yizhong before his rebellion.

He had more than one backup plan.

For Prince Yihe, it really wasn't a big deal.

Although there was some risk involved, it wasn't a significant risk for him.

Prince Yizhong was, after all, a member of the royal family, and if one or two slipped through the net, the emperor would usually turn a blind eye.

Just like in the novel Dream of the Red Chamber, some people say that Qin Keqing is the orphan of the deposed crown prince, but no one has ever questioned her, has she?

But with things like this, once you weigh half a pound, even a thousand gold pieces won't be enough.

What would the emperor think if the case were brought before him?

Will he believe his own son, or his sixth uncle?

This is basically something you don't need to think about.

At this moment, Prince Yihe finally regretted it.

I shouldn't have taken them in just because I was greedy for tens of thousands of taels of silver.

In fact, Prince Yihe was also aware of this.

The little guy brought this up not because he really wanted to expose him.

Instead, they threatened him, demanding that he repay the national treasury's debts.

Do they have money in their palace?

some!

However, he did not want to return the money.

Why should I repay money I borrowed through my own abilities?

Thinking of this, Prince Yihe said, "Zong-ge'er, this matter is neither insignificant nor insignificant."

"The Emperor Emeritus is my third brother, and we are brothers. At worst, I can go to the palace and tell him the truth."

"He might scold me a bit, but what's the big deal?"

Xia Chengzong laughed and said, "Really? Sixth Grandfather? I heard that after Prince Yizhong rebelled, he secretly raised assassins and gave a huge fortune to that mother and son."

"Is Sixth Grandfather going to tell Grandfather the news as well? I'm sure Grandfather will forgive you."

Upon hearing this, Prince Yihe's expression changed drastically.

He said sternly, "Brother Zong, are you making baseless accusations? How could such a thing be true? Do you really want to oppose me?"

Xia Chengzong sneered, "Sixth Grandfather, you misspoke. It's not that I want to oppose you."

"It's because you insist on going against me! You know I've been given the job of collecting debts, yet you refuse to pay a single penny. How am I supposed to complete my task?"

"Go and confess to your grandfather; perhaps he will forgive you!"

"But what about my father? Does he believe you or me? Not only my father, but I also remember this matter!"

"There's plenty of time; let's see how things go!"

After saying that, Xia Chengzong stood up and left in a huff.

Then, Prince Yihe spoke again, saying, "Zong-ge'er, wait!"

He called out to Xia Chengzong again.

This time, speaking out meant he had completely given in.

However, he had no choice but to lower his head.

Because Xia Chengzong's words just now were a blatant threat.

But he was genuinely frightened.