The number one rebel of the Great Wu

"Little Gengzi, there's something I need to remind you of once again."

"A servant is a servant, and a master is a master; no one may overstep their authority!"

Do you understand?

Shen Qingci issued a stern warning.

"I understand, Your Highness. Please rest assured, I know exactly what I'm doing."

Chen Changgeng chuckled and quickly bowed to acknowledge his superior.

Seeing Lin Wan'er's strange expression earlier, Chen Changgeng also felt something was off. It was only after Shen Qingci's warning that he finally came to his senses.

Since ancient times, beautiful women have loved talented men, but sometimes what they love is not the talent of the man, but the fantasy in their own minds.

After all, talented people must be elegant, handsome and charming, right?

When Tang Xianzu wrote The Peony Pavilion, a woman admired him. She was confident in her talent and beauty and insisted on marrying no one but Tang Xianzu. She tried to contact him by letter, but Tang Xianzu refused because he was too old. The woman did not believe him and went to find him herself.

One day, Tang Xianzu was hosting a banquet at West Lake. A woman went to peek at him and saw that Tang Xianzu was indeed old and gray with white hair and a hunched back. Her dream was shattered, and after a long sigh, she threw herself into the lake and committed suicide.

There was another poet named Luo Yin. The daughter of the prime minister loved his poems. Later, when she saw Luo Yin's true appearance, she went back and burned all the collections of Luo Yin's poems that she had carefully collected.

Just now, Chen Changgeng was also curious about what the number one talented woman of the Great Wu looked like.

Lin Wan'er agreed to meet Chen Changgeng after hearing the poem, for the same reason.

However, unlike others, Lin Wan'er did not expect that Chen Changgeng, although a eunuch in the mansion, was quite handsome and dashing, and she immediately became shy!

"You...you'd better know what's going on!"

Shen Qingci bit her lip, her anger rising as she thought of Chen Changgeng barging into her bath. She could only raise her teacup and smash it lightly, letting out a soft, delicate shout.

Fortunately, this happened to her. She was willing to submit to the Crown Prince for the sake of the Shen family, and she could endure what ordinary people could not!

If this happened to Lin Wan'er... the consequences would be unimaginable!

"Alright, I'll ask you now, what did General Jiang talk to you about?"

"The old general inquired about the young general's illness, but nothing more."

Chen Changgeng bowed his head and answered obediently.

Shen Qingci frowned, somewhat disbelieving.

"Is there really nothing else?"

Chen Changgeng immediately pretended to be stupid and looked at Shen Qingci with a strange expression.

"What else could I be? I'm just a lowly eunuch in the Crown Prince's residence, powerless, without influence, virtue, or talent."

"The fact that the old general personally thanked me is already an honor."

"Too……"

Shen Qingci thought for a moment and nodded slightly.

She originally wanted to instruct Chen Changgeng to secretly help bring the Jiang family to the Crown Prince's side.

However, given Chen Changgeng's status, his words carried little weight, and the slightest carelessness could expose his identity, so he had no choice but to give up.

Little did they know, Chen Changgeng had already pushed the Jiang family out of the country.

"Is there any result regarding the Crown Prince's matter?"

What worries Shen Qingci the most right now is the Crown Prince being confined to his quarters.

"Yes, after much thought, I have a solution."

"It's just... a bit risky."

"I want the Crown Prince to defy the imperial decree and leave the mansion."

"What! You defy the imperial decree and leave the palace!"

Shen Qingci was startled and immediately reprimanded him.

"Do you know what a grave crime this is?!"

"The Crown Prince is now under imperial confinement, and it just so happens that His Majesty's birthday is approaching!"

"If he disobeys the imperial decree again, he may even lose his position as crown prince!"

"If you have truly harmed the Crown Prince in this way... you will not be able to save your head!"

Hey, this woman, why does she like to threaten people all the time!

Chen Changgeng thought to himself, but his expression remained completely calm.

With Jiang Boheng's help in completing the final piece of the puzzle, Chen Changgeng now had a clear understanding of the important matter the Emperor wanted to undertake.

He was confident and unperturbed at that moment.

"I'm willing to stake my life on it, if Your Highness follows my plan..."

"It can immediately change the Holy One's mind!"

Shen Qingci frowned slightly, hesitated for a moment, and finally relented.

"Alright, then tell me, what do you want the Crown Prince to do after leaving the residence?"

"His Majesty's birthday is approaching, and delegations from various countries have been in the city for several days."

"Among them, the Di people's delegation and several members of the Japanese delegation caused a great disturbance at the Hongyao Courtyard and forcibly abducted women from the streets, which aroused public resentment."

"Your Highness, are you aware of this matter?"

Shen Qingci nodded slightly.

This incident occurred long before Chen Changgeng went to prison. On that day, Chen Changgeng passed by Hongyao Courtyard and was kicked by the Japanese envoy who was making a scene. He was still angry.

However, due to the status of the other party's envoy, the Ministry of Rites kept the matter quiet and did not report it to the emperor. Unexpectedly, a major incident occurred before the emperor's birthday.

"In my opinion, the Crown Prince should be sent to deal with the delegations from both countries and quell public discontent."

"No!"

Shen Qingci immediately refused.

"Given the Crown Prince's nature, if he were to actually take action, it would inevitably result in loss of life."

"This is tantamount to directly exposing the scandal to the Emperor, forcing him to deal with the matter!"

"Not only will the crown prince gain nothing, but the royal family's reputation will also be completely ruined!"

After saying that, Shen Qingci looked at Chen Changgeng with some disbelief.

"Little Gengzi, why did you come up with such a terrible idea today?"

Chen Changgeng smiled faintly.

"It's not that my idea was bad, it's that Your Highness no longer trusts me."

"When Eunuch Wang came to collect the homework last time, Your Highness asked me to handle it. There was a considerable risk involved, but Your Highness still took the risk, didn't you?"

Shen Qingci's face stiffened. Indeed, ever since that incident at the bathhouse, and how Xiao Gengzi had silenced her with a "three no-kill" maneuver, it had been a stark reminder of the past.

A thorn was planted in her heart, and she became more wary of him.

"Then... please continue."

"From the discussion on national policy to the last lesson, and then to the Crown Prince's defense in the Imperial Study, it is clear that what His Majesty wants now is for the Crown Prince to step forward and safeguard the policy and the people's peace."

"Your Highness, as long as you do what His Majesty expects, everything will be fine."

"Indeed, the Crown Prince was placed under house arrest because he overturned previous arguments in the Imperial Study."

"Does His Majesty mean that he wants the Crown Prince to be a benevolent ruler who brings peace to the world?"

Shen Qingci shook her head. With the Crown Prince's temperament, it would be a miracle if he wasn't a tyrant.

Chen Changgeng smiled but did not speak.

The current emperor is ruthless beyond compare. He doesn't actually want the crown prince for anything; he's just using him as a pawn.

Not only the Crown Prince, but also the Third Prince and others were in the same situation.

"Very well, you can go and tell the Crown Prince about this. I will pretend I know nothing about it."

"After all, he frequents the Red Jade Courtyard quite often!"

"Yes, sir!"

Chen Changgeng knew that Shen Qingci was not good at disciplining the Crown Prince in this regard; otherwise, Consort Ling, who was born in Hongyao Courtyard, would not have been brought into the Crown Prince's residence.

Upon receiving the order, Chen Changgeng quickly slipped away. When he returned to the Crown Prince's study and inquired, he learned that the Crown Prince had gone to see Consort Ling again.

Isn't this a coincidence?

He immediately turned around and ran towards Consort Ling.

Meanwhile, at Consort Ling's place.

The Crown Prince stood guard at the door and heard Consort Ling crying and sobbing inside the room. He was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

"Oh, my beloved concubine, please let this prince in!"

"What has happened? Tell me, Your Highness!"

"What difficulties in this world can't I, the Crown Prince, resolve for you?"

Inside the room, Lingfei lowered her voice, her sobbing voice sounding like a lament.

"Your Highness, this matter... Your Highness cannot handle this matter either."

"Consort Ling doesn't want to put the Crown Prince in a difficult position; please leave, Your Highness!"

Upon seeing this, the crown prince was instantly enraged.

"What? Is there anything in this world that I, the Crown Prince, cannot handle!"

"Even if you want the stars in the sky, I, the Crown Prince, will pluck them down for you!"

"Speak! I, the Crown Prince, refuse to believe it!"

"Waaaaah."

"A few days ago, the Di and Japanese delegations kidnapped Ling'er's best friend, Shui Xian'er."

"It took a lot of effort for Narcissus's maid to find Ling'er and deliver the message."

"Now, Narcissus's whereabouts are unknown, and her fate is uncertain!"

"Your Highness, as you know, Narcissus has always been a performer, not a prostitute, and she has a fiery temper. Now she has been kidnapped by the Di and Japanese delegations."

"I fear... he has already suffered all kinds of humiliation and committed suicide in disgrace!"

"what?"

Xiao Lie was taken aback upon hearing this, and his mind began to waver.

He's impulsive by nature, but not stupid enough to be that stupid!

At this critical juncture, if he offends the delegation, he may not even be able to keep his position as crown prince!

Moreover, he is now under house arrest...

"The Crown Prince?"

"Your Highness!"

"What are you waiting for? Go and get him!"

Just as the crown prince hesitated, a familiar voice suddenly rang out from behind him.