The Dramatic Crown Princess Wants to Poison Me!

Chapter 141: Chapter 141: Useful Alive

Eastern Palace.

The Crown Prince slammed the teacup in his hand onto the ground, shattering porcelain everywhere.

He was furious.

Prince Li had always been in the Capital City, deeply loved by the Emperor. Although he appeared to be indifferent to worldly matters, only interested in poetry and wine, the Crown Prince did not trust him.

Therefore, he had long planned to get Prince Li out of the Capital and into his vassal land.

A few days ago, news came back to the Capital: in Lanhe County, Prince Li’s vassal land, someone was illegally mining from a mountain.

Despite every prince having their own vassal land, and all income from the vassal land belonging to the Vassal King, Nanxia had a strict decree that mountains and mines were properties of the Court, could be shared, but not mined privately.

This meant any discovered mineral resources had to be reported, with the Holy Emperor deciding whether the Court would exploit them or reward the Vassal King to do so themselves.

Now, a mine within Prince Li’s vassal territory was being illegally exploited. This matter could be minor or major. Even if Prince Li was in the Capital, he was not without responsibility.

Normally, the Emperor would order Prince Li to return to his vassal land to handle this matter, as it was a part of Prince Li’s designated vassal land.

Once he returned to his vassal land, it wouldn’t be easy to come back to the Capital.

The plan was well-crafted, and hearing about it, the Emperor was inclined to let Prince Li return to his vassal land.

After all, the matter occurred in Prince Li’s land, even if the Emperor trusted Prince Li, the fact that a Vassal King wasn’t present in his land led to speculations of dismissiveness towards the Court, or misconduct, meant he had to return to handle the situation.

Moreover, the trust between royal father and son could only go so far.

This matter might also lead to estrangement between Prince Li and the Emperor.

Despite Prince Li’s expression of indifference to power, it was factual that he was loved by the Emperor, which was a hidden danger. When Prince Liang was the Crown Prince, Huangfu Yuxuan tried to expel Prince Li from the Capital, but just as the plan began, he was dethroned, so Huangfu Yuxuan naturally couldn’t make any moves then.

Now, with the new Crown Prince in place, the same thoughts prevail.

The Crown Prince’s moves are astute and malicious, achieving two goals with one action.

The Emperor indeed began to harbor suspicion towards Prince Li. It happened that Chang Taifu had an issue to discuss with the Emperor. The Emperor asked Chang Taifu for his opinion on the matter, and Chang Taifu said that a Vassal King not returning to his land could lead to unrest, unsettling the people both in the Capital and vassal land.

The Emperor, heeding Chang Taifu’s words, was ready to have Prince Li return to his vassal land.

However, the Crown Prince’s plans did not succeed.

Firstly, Prince Li’s eldest son, Huangfu Jingwei, swiftly dealt with the mining issue and sent the documents to the Capital. The reality was that several merchants and commoners, having discovered mineral resources, did not report but secretly mined them. Prince Li Mansion had apprehended them, holding them for the Capital. The mine matter was recorded, marked for Court ownership.

Throughout the process, Prince Li Mansion did not gain any profit nor entertained thoughts of private mining.

Within a few days, two pieces of news arrived in the Capital consecutively.

The Emperor’s suspicion and anger were quickly dispelled.

Feeling guilty for having doubted his most beloved young son, the Emperor rewarded Prince Li with many fine items.

Yet, Prince Li did not hold any resentment, showing even more filial respect towards the Emperor.

The matter of Prince Li returning to his vassal land was thus postponed.

After arduous planning, all was ruined in an instant, how could he not be furious?

Prince Li’s eldest son had not been named as Princely Heir, always busy vying for position with his younger brother. Little did he expect such skill and capability. Now, the father and son pair, one in the Capital, one in the vassal land, coordinate so well, making the Crown Prince even more wary.

As the Crown Prince, he couldn’t do anything when the Emperor said Prince Li wouldn’t return.

No, there must be something he hadn’t considered. Yes, Gongyang Puyu said his fortune was obstructed by Huangfu Jingchen.

Everything was unlucky now, scheming thoroughly, preparing fully, yet still being thwarted – wasn’t this precisely bad luck? Surely it was because those sent to assassinate Huangfu Jingchen hadn’t succeeded yet.

They had been dispatched for over half a month; by the timeline, it should be completed within ten days.

The Crown Prince sat down, breathing heavily, eyes filled with malice! He would never let anyone block his path!

Huangfu Yuxuan wasn’t surprised at all obtaining Yang Kuan’s confession.

Who gained from his father being dethroned from the Crown Prince position? The facts need no guessing; it was Prince Zhuang! He became the new Crown Prince.

Originally, he suspected only two people: the new Crown Prince and Prince Li. Now confirmed, it was indeed the new Crown Prince.

Yang Kuan was someone he had planted beside Prince Liang years ago.

Over a decade ago, Yang Kuan had no wife or children. It was after being by the Crown Prince’s side that he married and had children. Otherwise, his wife and children wouldn’t be in the Capital.

The game had played for over a decade, the new Crown Prince was indeed deeply strategic!

Huangfu Yuxuan left the underground prison with a grim face. Now even with Yang Kuan’s confession, it was useless. After all, the Crown Prince was demoted to Prince Liang, the transfer of the Crown Prince position caused political instability. The decree appointing the new Crown Prince was just sent to Nanxia’s diverse provinces. At this time, merely holding a servant’s word wouldn’t convince the Grandfather, and would only alert the enemy.

Huangfu Yuxuan wasn’t that foolish.

But these things were worth keeping; they would be useful eventually.

He turned to Tang Lin by his side and said, ”Find a doctor to treat him, don’t let him die. Alive, he’s still an asset!”

He intended to keep Yang Kuan alive to use when needed.

Pei Huan said, ”Master, Yang Kuan’s wife and children...”

Huangfu Yuxuan said indifferently, ”Kill the woman, send the child to Jackal Hall, train him into an assassin!”

Pei Huan said, ”Understood!” Even missing a finger does not prevent him from becoming an assassin, still serving the master in the future.

Huangfu Yuxuan said, ”Send an invitation to Prince Li, this prince will host a banquet at Yifeng Building!”

Pei Huan immediately understood, this meant a private meeting with Prince Li, agreeing promptly and went to carry it out.

Li King Mansion.

Prince Li had just received a letter from his eldest son, detailing the mining incident and how he had resolved it. Naturally, it emphasized that he, following his father’s advice, was diligent and conscientious in the vassal land, but he knew nothing about the mining matter, owing it to his father’s letter that he was aware of it and treated it as indicated in the letter, promptly reporting to the Court. Now, with the issue resolved, he reported back to his father.

Prince Li’s eyes flickered, filled with suspicion and calculation.

Though being in the Capital, with such large vassal land, how could he know about a mining discovery being secretly exploited? He certainly wouldn’t send his son a letter calling on him to handle it, nor deal with it in such manner.

Yet clearly, it was that letter that alerted his son to promptly manage the matter, reporting it thoroughly to the Court, because of that timely report, he was spared from duty to return to his vassal land.

If the report had arrived later, having set off, even if the father knew he was innocent, he couldn’t have recalled him.

Who was helping him in secret?