The invitation was sent by someone from the Qin family.
But sending posts to people is not just random. There are many informants at the emperor's feet. Qin Taifu's Mansion does not have close contact with Prince Chen's Mansion. There have been no birthday banquets or special festivals recently. This invitation sent by Miss Qin seems... It was too sudden, making people have to think deeply about its meaning.
"We don't know their intentions at the moment." King Chen quickly calmed down, his voice deep and unpredictable, "Qin Taifu has a great reputation as a noble man. Over the years, he has many disciples. In the past, he has always maintained neutrality. He only obeyed the emperor's orders and never participated in partisan disputes. . This time, an invitation was suddenly handed over to their family, and their attitude made people wonder. "
Jiang Ying hummed: "Should I go?"
King Chen stared at the blue sky in the distance, his cold eyes dim and unclear: "Go and have a look."
No matter what the Qin family meant, it was better to be friends with them than to be enemies. Besides, this invitation came suddenly, maybe it was an expression of goodwill from the Qin family.
"Yes." Princess Chen saw that his mood had stabilized a little before she dared to ask, "What does the prince think about Qianqi's matter?"
"I did something wrong back then." King Chen closed his eyes and his expression became gloomy, "I shouldn't have lured Qianqi to a gambling house in order to control him, so that he became addicted to gambling, and the more he gambled, the bigger he got. , until now I can’t extricate myself.”
At that time, he promised to give Qian Qi five hundred taels of silver per month. For a confidant who focused on raising Gu and did not have to do anything else, this reward was undoubtedly very generous. A few years of salary would be enough for him to live a life of food and clothing.
King Chen was worried that after Qianqi had accumulated enough money, he would quietly take the money and fly away.
After all, what Qian Qi is doing is beheading. Staying in the palace for several years is too risky, and Qian Qi is a smart man. As long as the interests are in place, he has no bottom line at all. If he wants to completely control him, It's not easy to get him to obey orders without any distractions.
That's why King Chen secretly ordered someone to lure him into gambling. It was just a small amount of gambling at first, but when he became addicted to gambling, almost all his monthly salary was thrown into the gambling house.
Later, as expected, he became a moonlight. Sometimes he couldn't restrain himself and had to spend more than he needed. He couldn't save any money for several years.
For the sake of his future great cause, King Chen always pampered him, even though Qianqi's appetite grew bigger and bigger later, and his monthly salary of 500 was forced to increase to 2,000, which was almost more than King Chen's own salary. King Chen was just Bear with it.
I didn't expect that I would endure it to this point.
Even though King Chen had his own village and extra income, and the Gu family would provide subsidies from time to time, money was never a problem for him, but raising such a sinister evil man with so much money was something that no one could know about.
So he could only endure it. Even if Qianqi became more and more disobedient to his orders, he could not deal with him immediately.
King Chen vented his anger. After calming down, he called a few confidants and asked them to talk to the boss of Changlefang: "No matter what method you use, threats or inducements, Qianqi must be allowed to do so without making the matter a big deal." I am willing to leave the gambling table and return to Prince Chen’s Mansion.”
"yes."
King Chen walked up to the pavilion, and the maid serving tea walked into the pavilion, served tea to King Chen and Princess Chen, and then stood outside the pavilion.
"I have overlooked one thing." King Chen's eyes were gloomy, and a hint of coldness flashed across his eyes. "It seems that they have not completed the task that the mother-in-law entrusted to Imperial Physician Liu and his daughter."
Princess Chen was startled and reacted instantly: "What do you mean, Your Majesty, those Ninth Brother Medicine are useless?"
"Obviously so." King Chen's voice was solemn, "Did Imperial Physician Liu fool me, or did Rong Cang fool Imperial Physician Liu?"
If the ointment had been used on Rong Cang several times in a row, it would have been impossible for him to have no symptoms at all. He should have at least responded and secretly summoned the imperial doctor into the house to administer the medicine...
"My mother asked him to personally give the medicine to the prince. Logically speaking, if Dr. Liu really gave the medicine to the ninth brother, he would have no reason to lie to us, and the ninth brother would have no reason..." Something strange appeared in Princess Chen's mind, "I'll find an opportunity to go in. Go ask Liu Qingxi?"
"Without the oral instructions, you can't enter the palace now." King Chen held up the tea cup, his voice as cold as a poisonous snake, "I will find a way to find out this matter."
Princess Chen frowned and nodded slightly. Suddenly, her heart felt like a big stone was pressing down, heavy, like some ominous sign...
…
After lunch, Princess Chen changed into some clothes, got on the carriage and went to Qin's house for her appointment.
At the same time, the prime minister sent a message to King Chen and invited him to visit the palace for a chat.
King Chen arrived at the Prime Minister's Mansion. The Prime Minister, who had just returned from the palace, was changing clothes. He took off his official robe and changed into purple regular clothes.
"I have thought carefully about the proposal made by the prince before, and I think it is feasible." The Prime Minister sat down on the main seat in the hall, picked up the tea cup, took a sip of tea to moisten his throat, "I asked Qian'er what he meant last night. , she said she was willing to marry Qi Jin."
King Chen nodded: "That's very good."
"I plan to send someone to the Zhongyi Hou Mansion tonight to explore Qi Jin's tone." Prime Minister Jiang's eyebrows deepened, "If he is a smart man, he should know how to make a choice."
King Chen thought of Qi Jin's generous temper and his eyebrows darkened: "Promise him a position as a general and give him the power to command the army. He should agree."
Prime Minister Jiang disagreed: "How can military power be given so easily? Besides, neither the prince nor the prime minister has the right to make such a promise."
King Chen looked worried: "What I lack most right now is military power, so I must win over Qi Jin at all costs."
"Winning over people's hearts is just a way to get the courtiers to support the prince and increase the chance of victory, but what the prince should do most right now is political achievements." Prime Minister Jiang put down the tea cup, with a scheming look in his eyes, "After all, who will be appointed as the prince in the end? It still depends on the emperor’s decision. The Sacred Heart is unpredictable, and it will not be too late to gather military power after His Highness becomes the crown prince.”
King Chen was surprised: "My father-in-law, you mean that I don't need to worry about military power now? But Rong Cang has the power, what if he..."
"Does Your Highness think the War King will rebel?" Prime Minister Jiang frowned and asked, "As long as the Emperor decrees that you be the prince, what does it matter if the War King holds military power? He can never force the palace to rebel."
Therefore, although military power is important, it is not necessary.
King Chen was silent, his eyebrows thoughtful: "Then how should I achieve political achievements?"
"There are academies all over the world, and students from all over the world may one day become humerus in the court. If the prince treats the scholars well, he can win the hearts of the scholars all over the world."
King Chen nodded clearly: "What my father-in-law said makes sense."
"Let officials from various places count the number of poor students in remote areas and provide them with financial support. You can also let local officials be responsible for purchasing pens, inks, paper and inkstones and distribute them to these poor students. The more knowledgeable they are, the more they will receive. A little." The prime minister suggested, "When the officials distribute these things, they bluntly say that it is the grace of King Chen. By then, His Highness King Chen will be famous far and wide, and students from all over the Chu Kingdom will become His Highness's backing."
King Chen frowned and pondered for a moment: "This plan is feasible, but I don't know how difficult it will be to implement."
