Cui Lin's obvious threat was like a slap in the face of the Second Prince, and his contemptuous look made the Second Prince feel upset.
The murderous intent rose in his heart, and he wished he could just kill the old man in front of him, but when he thought of those people from the aristocratic families, he forced himself to hold it back.
"Don't worry, Mr. Cui. I won't do anything reckless again. I will definitely discuss anything with you."
"It's good that your highness knows."
Seeing how cowardly the Second Prince was, he became more and more disdainful. He didn't even bother to put on any pretense towards the Second Prince. He just snorted and turned away.
The second prince clenched his fists in anger.
When Xiao Yan led Cang Lang out of the palace, he saw the Second Prince with a sinister and murderous look under the moonlight not far away. He turned his head and said to Di Tao who was standing beside him, "Go in, His Majesty wants to see you."
"Just like that?"
"So what else do you want?"
“…”
Di Tao stuttered.
The spear he carried with him had been left behind in front of the palace gate. He felt a little nervous now that he had nothing in his hands, but looking at Xiao Yan's calm and indifferent face, he felt that if he ran away in the face of the enemy, Xiao Yan would definitely beat him up.
Di Tao whispered, "Then Governor Xiao, please wait for me outside. I left something at your house. I will go with you to get it later."
Xiao Yan knew these words were meant for the palace attendants on either side to hear, so he nodded and said, “Alright.”
Seeing that Di Tao had been ruthless in killing enemies in the northwest but was now a little timid, he finally said a few words of comfort out of kindness.
"Don't be afraid. Your Majesty is a kind person. Marquis Wenxin is also inside. Just report to Your Majesty what General Di told you to do."
Di Tao: “…”
If he had not been outside the hall just now, listening to Emperor An's deafening roar inside, he would have believed Xiao Yan's lies.
Are all the people in Beijing evil-minded?
Di Tao muttered as he entered the palace. The Second Prince also noticed Xiao Yan coming out. When he saw him coming, the Second Prince hurried forward and said, "Master Xiao, you are out. Did the Emperor give you any trouble?"
“Being able to trouble His Majesty is a good thing. The real fear is that His Majesty wouldn’t even bother to trouble you.”
Xiao Yan glanced at the stiff-faced Second Prince and said, "When I came out just now, I saw that His Highness was full of murderous intent. Who provoked His Highness?"
The second prince looked a little unhappy. "It's that old man Cui Lin. He thought that because I rely on them, he could neglect me everywhere. He even dared to threaten me just now. If I didn't need them, I would have..."
There was murderous intent in his eyes and brows, and it was obvious that he hated Cui Lin to the extreme.
Xiao Yan just watched him quietly as he spoke harsh words without making a sound.
The second prince originally wanted to instigate Xiao Yan to teach Cui Lin and the others a lesson for him, but he didn't expect that he got no response after talking for a long time. Meeting Xiao Yan's cold gaze, he couldn't help but feel embarrassed.
"I know I shouldn't be so angry, but Cui Lin is really too hateful. He recognized me as his master but didn't even show me the respect I deserve."
"And I feel a little uneasy. Just now, when Governor Xiao was not here, my father reprimanded me. He seemed very dissatisfied with me and even brought up my biological mother's low status."
"Master Xiao, do you think that the Emperor has other thoughts?"
He was not afraid of anything else, but he was afraid that Emperor An already had someone else in mind.
When Canglang heard the words "recognize me as his master", he almost rolled his eyes.
Xiao Yan seemed not to have heard it and just looked up at the Second Prince.
"If your majesty has any intentions, he can't hide them from me. As for the rest, your highness has been hanging out with those people from the noble families recently, and his behavior is even more high-profile and he doesn't know how to restrain himself. Don't you know why your majesty scolded you?"
The second prince's face turned pale: "I know that my father is afraid of those officials from the aristocratic families, but if something unexpected happens in the court, how can I get them to help me if I don't get closer to them..."
"Your Majesty is still in office. What do you want them to help you with? To help you seize power, or to help you usurp the throne?"
"Master Xiao!"
The second prince was startled and shouted quickly.
Xiao Yan looked indifferent: "Since you have no intention of seeking power and usurping the throne, Your Highness should understand what taboos are."
"I haven't been to the court for more than a month, and Your Highness has completely forgotten what I said to you. Not only have you conspired with others to plot against me, but you have also colluded with court officials right under your Majesty's nose. You are eager to put your ambitions on the table. Who else should Your Majesty scold if not you?"
The Second Prince was somewhat annoyed by what he said, but when he heard Xiao Yan talking about the plot against him, he immediately felt guilty: “I can explain the matter of Lingyun Temple.”
"No need to explain. You and I both know what you wanted to do."
"Master Xiao..."
The Second Prince was in a state of panic, and felt somewhat uneasy when he saw Xiao Yan was cold and severe.
Xiao Yan didn't want to break things with him, so he just said coldly: "Tang Ning didn't get hurt this time, so I won't bother with you. But if there is a next time..."
"Absolutely not!"
The second prince blurted out hastily, "I was really just confused and instigated by someone. If Song Jinxiu hadn't told me that the fourth prince wanted to plot against Princess Xiangning and that he could take advantage of this opportunity to get your favor, I wouldn't have dared to get involved in this matter."
"And believe me, I really don't want to do anything to Princess Xiangning. Even if the fourth brother succeeded, I will protect her..."
As he spoke, he met Xiao Yan's expressionless face, his voice gradually cut off, and his embarrassed look revealed his undisguised guilt.
The second prince was a little scared and didn't dare to mention the matter of Lingyun Temple anymore. He just changed the subject.
"By the way, when Cui Lin came out just now, he said he was going to investigate the Lu family. He also asked me to go to the Imperial Prison to see the Fourth Prince and tell him that the Lu family burned down Fengxi Palace and wanted to kill Queen Lu."
Xiao Yan didn't hold him back, but asked coldly, "What do you think, Your Highness?"
The second prince said, "I think we can go there. After all, the fourth prince has been close to Lu Chongyuan for so many years, and he knows a lot about the Lu family better than outsiders. Maybe we can pry something out of him."
Xiao Yan: "Then Your Highness, go. Just remember not to mention me or anything else to him. Just let him know that tonight was dangerous and Queen Lu almost lost her life."
Seeing that the Second Prince was puzzled, Xiao Yan explained,
"I have a personal grudge against the Lu family. If the Fourth Prince knew that the Lu family burned down Fengxi Palace to deal with me, he might be resentful."
The second prince reacted and said quickly: "I know, I won't mention anything else. By the way, the governor's injury is better now..."
"My injury is no longer serious. Thank you for your concern, Your Highness."
Xiao Yan replied, as if remembering something, and said, "By the way, His Majesty does not allow others to interfere in the affairs of the Lu family. Your Highness had better remember this and do not send anyone to contact the Lu family privately to avoid any trouble."
"I see."
The Second Prince agreed readily on the surface, but after he said goodbye to Xiao Yan and turned to leave, he was thinking something else in his mind.
The Lu family has a very deep foundation and holds a lot of good things. Moreover, after the Lu family falls, someone will have to take over the interests they left behind as a noble family.
Cui Lin and his men had long considered the Lu family a sure thing, but the Second Prince was also extremely envious. He had been in contact with several other families that were slightly inferior to the aristocratic families in the capital without telling Xiao Yan. If he could get those who supported him to gain the benefits of the Lu family and replace the Lu family as one of the eight great families, then he would also have a trump card that truly belonged to him.
The Second Prince felt that Emperor An did not allow others to interfere and only allowed Xiao Yan to investigate. This was definitely because he did not want the things in the Lu family's hands to fall into the hands of others. Even Xiao Yan's warning to him was probably out of selfish motives.
He would not miss such a good opportunity. If he could get hold of the Lu family's handle before Xiao Yan, he might be able to get a share of the pie.
Although I feel a little sorry for Xiao Yan, if a man does not care for himself, he will be punished by heaven and earth.
…
Watching the Second Prince disappear in the dark corridor, Cang Lang couldn't help but step forward and said, "Master, why did you remind the Second Prince?"
"If I hadn't reminded him, how else would I get him to investigate the Lu family?"
Most people in the royal family have a common problem of being conceited and always think they are smarter than others.
The second prince looks honest, but he is actually full of ulterior motives. He is not satisfied with just him and the Cui family, and has secretly recruited a large number of people.
Cui Lin has been coveting the Lu family for a long time. The Second Prince has had close contact with him and naturally covets the things of the Lu family. Seeing that the Lu family has been defeated and it is the time to divide the profits, how could he let it go easily.
The more he tried to stop him, the more the Second Prince wanted to dig deeper.
If anyone dares to covet and plot against Tang Ning, he must be punished.
Xiao Yan glanced at the brightly lit hall behind him, and remembered that Emperor An seemed to have noticed something and had specifically told him to handle the matter "low-key". He raised his lips coldly.
"Your Majesty, you have to find someone to give away this green hat. I think the Second Prince and Cui Lin are suitable candidates." He wouldn't feel sad even if he died after giving away the green hat.
Cang Lang: “…”
He shouldn't have doubted the governor's conscience.
Xiao Yan glanced sideways: "What are you mumbling about?"
Cang Lang's face was full of flattery, and he smiled with his white teeth showing: "I said that the governor is wise, no wonder the girl cares about you so much."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan asked, "How do you know she cares?"
Cang Lang paused. How could he know anything? But seeing his supervisor's serious look, he held his face up and said with confidence.
"Of course I know that the girl cares about you the most. She asks you every day whether you have replied. Later, I saw her several times at Yueli Terrace, crying while holding your things..."
Xiao Yan was stunned for a moment, and felt completely heartbroken.
"Hey, Lord Governor, where are you going?"
"Go back home."
"But General Di..."
Canglang waved his hand and before he could finish his sentence, his governor had disappeared. His hand froze in mid-air, and he looked at the governor who seemed to have returned home with a silent face.
Otherwise, he should not go back these days and just live in the Privy Council, as he is afraid of being beaten to death by the Governor.
After a long time, the door at the back of the palace opened, and Di Tao and Wen Xinhou came out together, still whispering about the battle in Beiling.
When they reached the palace, Marquis Wenxin asked, "Where will General Di rest tonight?"
"I still have some stuff at Governor Xiao's place. I'll stay at his house tonight and go to the post house tomorrow."
"Then I'll give you a ride?"
"No need, Governor Xiao is waiting for me..."
Di Tao confidently rejected Marquis Wenxin and turned around to call Xiao Yan, but the palace was empty. Apart from the guards and eunuchs standing by his side, there was not even a ghost in sight.
Di Tao: He is such an uncle?!
The eunuch in front of the palace said, "General Di, Governor Xiao has told you to go by yourself because he has something important to do."
Di Tao: “…”
Seeing the young man beside him frowning, Marquis Wenxin was silent: "General Di, I have a carriage in front of the palace gate, why don't you give me a ride."
Di Tao: He hates the capital!
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You can read ahead to chapterr 470 (100+ extra chapters) here
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