The number one rebel of the Great Wu

An hour later.

The Third Prince's residence, study.

Just after the morning court session, several officials came to Xiao Ce's residence to pay their respects.

The Third Prince Xiao Ce received them one by one and then sent them away.

"General Jiang visited me yesterday, and today an official has sent me a visiting card and gifts."

"These opportunists are surprisingly well-informed."

Xiao Ce held a book in his hand, sipping fragrant tea as he spoke casually.

An elderly man dressed as a teacher looked at the generous gifts filling the room and smiled slightly.

"Your Highness, you enjoy the Emperor's favor and your prestige in court far surpasses that of the Crown Prince."

"They've been waiting for this opportunity!"

"Master is too kind. Without your guidance, I, Xiao Ce, would be nothing more than an ordinary person."

"However, I heard that General Jiang also went to the Crown Prince's residence yesterday."

"Has anyone gone to pay a visit to the Crown Prince's residence after the morning court session?"

Xiao Ce put down his book and looked at the guards standing at the door.

The guard immediately turned around and bowed.

"Reporting to Master, no."

Xiao Ce smiled faintly.

"It seems that General Jiang didn't get any favors from my foolish brother, so he came to me instead."

"The Crown Prince once served under the old general, so naturally we should go find the Crown Prince first."

"In my opinion, even if General Jiang goes, he may not be sincerely surrendering."

"General Jiang surely understands that, in terms of prestige, financial resources, and ability, Your Highness the Third Prince is the best candidate!"

The old man cupped his hands in greeting again.

"It's all thanks to the teacher's brilliant plan. The Jiang family was forced into a corner and had no choice but to lower their heads and come to me."

Xiao Ce turned his head and smiled at the old man.

"Just like the teacher said, even the most aloof person will kneel down if you break their bones, hahaha!"

"By the way, Li Guang, hasn't Ziyuan returned yet?"

"Not...not yet."

The guard named Li Guang's face immediately turned ugly, and he shook his head helplessly.

"It's been a whole day and night. Do you think she might have run away after succeeding?"

"After all, she's different from normal people."

Xiao Ce frowned.

"Probably not. The Shion sisters are born from the same body. The older sister will take care of the younger sister, and the younger sister will also worry about the older sister."

"In such a vast capital city, even if they escaped, they would have nowhere to go."

Li Guang quickly answered.

"So, it failed?"

Xiao Ce was clearly a little incredulous. With Zi Yuan's skills, let alone infiltrating the Crown Prince's residence to assassinate a mere eunuch, she could even roam freely in the imperial palace!

"This, I don't know."

"However, just to be on the safe side, I think we should send another person to take action."

"This time, I dare to volunteer; I will definitely tear that little eunuch to pieces!"

Ziyuan messed up her task, so Li Guang, as the leader, naturally had to cover for her. Besides, Ziyuan was deeply favored by her master, so Li Guang had no choice but to do this.

"Haha, no need, let's wait and see."

"A mere eunuch, though he may possess some intelligence, need not be so fearful."

"Besides, the Jiang family has already pledged allegiance to me, so even if the Crown Prince has that person's help, he is no longer a threat."

Xiao Ce had already figured out Chen Changgeng's background long ago.

He was just a scholar with some literary talent who was brought into Shen Qingci's residence.

When they met at the palace that day, he was only worried that Chen Changgeng might be able to persuade the Jiang family to assist the crown prince, given that the debt of saving his life was a prerequisite.

Now that the dust has settled, Xiao Ce is naturally no longer afraid.

"No matter how talented a scholar is, he is still just a scholar and cannot be compared with a strategist."

"What's more, he's someone who failed the exam!"

The old man stroked his beard with an air of pride.

This man was named He Zhengchen. He passed the imperial examination at the age of twenty-six, but he was framed and never received an important position in the court. Disheartened, he resigned and retired.

When he was over fifty years old, he finally accepted the offer of the Third Prince's repeated requests to leave the mountain and work with him on important matters.

"Yes, the teacher is right!"

"Hahaha!"

Xiao Ce also laughed heartily.

Just as the atmosphere inside was harmonious, a low-ranking guard rushed in and whispered a few words to Li Guang.

Li Guang's expression changed immediately. After waving for him to leave, he immediately knelt down in front of Xiao Ce.

"Please punish me, Master!"

Xiao Ce remained calm and instead helped Li Guang up with one hand, his face full of concern.

"What's wrong?"

Li Guang looked ashamed.

"My subordinate just reported that the little eunuch is indeed not dead; in fact, he followed the Crown Prince towards the embassy's guesthouse!"

"The Imperial Envoy's Residence?"

"Could it be the fourth brother...?"

Xiao Ce was secretly startled and let out a soft hiss.

Li Guang nodded heavily.

"The Consort Ling whom the Crown Prince relies on so much today is someone the Fourth Prince planted by the Crown Prince's side."

"In that Red Jade Courtyard, the Fourth Prince also planted a courtesan named Shui Xian'er, originally intending to bewitch you."

"Who knew that a while ago, the Di people and the Japanese delegation caused a great disturbance at the Red Yao Courtyard and kidnapped Shui Xian'er."

"Perhaps the Fourth Prince ordered Consort Ling to plot against the Crown Prince!"

"This is a good thing!"

Upon hearing this, He Zhengchen smiled and shook his head.

"The Crown Prince's trip to the embassy will surely lead to a conflict with the envoys of those two countries! Even if no one dies, we can still file a complaint against him and escalate it into a matter of state."

"Furthermore, the Crown Prince is currently under imperial order to remain at home, which is tantamount to disobeying the imperial decree. I fear this will incur the Emperor's wrath!"

"Your Highness, in my opinion, why don't we secretly use some methods to add fuel to the fire?"

Xiao Ce looked at the two men with a solemn expression, but did not make a hasty decision.

"That little eunuch went along; could it be that he's secretly plotting something?"

"What's there to plan? Don't you know the Crown Prince's temperament?"

"It's exactly the kind of thing he's capable of doing!"

He Zhengchen explained.

Xiao Ce frowned and thought for a moment, then suddenly waved his hand.

"No, even if the Crown Prince is reckless, the Crown Princess will stop him."

"He's stupid, but Shen Qingci isn't!"

Li Guang's eyes lit up, and he immediately moved closer.

"I heard that when General Jiang went to the Crown Prince's residence yesterday, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess had a big argument."

"The Crown Prince was so angry he almost divorced the Crown Princess!"

"Could it be that the Crown Princess is too heartbroken and no longer wants to care about the Crown Prince?"

"Besides, according to intelligence, the Crown Prince and that young eunuch left early this morning, and the Crown Princess probably doesn't know about this yet!"

"Divorce Shen Qingci?"

Xiao Ce's eyes lit up immediately.

Xiao Ce only felt a little envious of his foolish older brother, who had seven beautiful wives.

Of all the things he wanted most was Shen Qingci!

Hearing that Shen Qingci was almost divorced, he couldn't help but be tempted.

If he could have a virtuous wife like Shen Qingci, how could his grand plan fail!

"Your Highness?"

"master?"

Seeing Xiao Ce lost in thought for a moment, the two people beside him quickly urged him to make a decision!

Upon hearing this news, Xiao Ce could no longer contain himself.

"Alright, I think it was my brother's recklessness that led to this."

"Li Guang, secretly arrange for a few men to ensure that some people die in this conflict."

"The bigger this matter gets, the better. I, the prince, want Shen Qingci to completely sever all ties with him!"

Li Guang was overjoyed and quickly cupped his hands in greeting.

"Yes, sir!"

As He Zhengchen watched Li Guang leave, he immediately saw through the situation, having been through similar experiences.

It's only natural for men to want both power and beauty!

However, with important matters at stake, he had no choice but to step forward and offer a reminder at this crucial moment.

"Your Highness, there is something I wish to say, but I am unsure whether I should."

Xiao Ce raised his hand, indicating that he could speak freely.

"In the past, His Highness would only eat freshly baked sweets."

"Why are you suddenly so concerned about the Crown Princess?"

Xiao Ce smiled faintly.

"Teacher, you are unaware of a secret within our dynasty, known to very few."

"In his early years, when the Crown Prince was fighting under General Jiang, he unfortunately suffered a serious injury, which has left him unable to have children for many years."

"Not only Shen Qingci, but also his seven beautiful concubines, each one of them is a perfect match."

"With women, if you don't give them your body, you can't give them your heart."

A playful smile appeared in Xiao Ce's eyes.

"I see!"

He Zhengchen's eyes lit up.

"That means the Crown Prince can never truly get the Shen family's help."

"As long as Your Highness wins over the Crown Princess, and with a little trickery, the Shen family will naturally turn their backs and come to your side!"

Xiao Ce nodded.

"As long as she's no longer the Crown Princess, it doesn't matter if you kidnap her, deceive her, or force her!"

"If we get her body, we can get the Shen family. This is a great deal!"

He Zhengchen immediately gave a thumbs up.

"Your Highness, what a brilliant plan! I am truly ashamed of my own incompetence!"

Xiao Ce laughed and waved his hand.

"It's not just Shen Qingci; he has seven concubines!"

"I want them all!"