"This means they have enough interest to overcome their previous reluctance. My Second Prince has not yet been formally appointed Crown Prince by Father. Even if he has truly taken charge of the East Palace, when it comes to competitors, naturally, the fewer the better."
"This... This is truly a masterful stroke, killing with a borrowed knife."
"It’s laughable. My third brother deluded himself into thinking he could use Qi Simiao to kill with a borrowed knife, little knowing that they were merely giving him a taste of his own medicine, also with a borrowed knife."
"So, that servant in Qi Simiao’s mansion is..."
"Yes. He should be the witness they secured after Lord Jingnan entered the capital today. I estimate the physical evidence of Qi Simiao’s secret collusion with my third brother was also prepared well in advance. This is a backup plan, prepared just in case. It can be used to exonerate oneself at a critical moment while diverting the blame to my third brother. Right now, Li Yinglian in my Second Prince’s mansion is likely busy burning the previously prepared evidence."
"Your Highness, does this mean Lord Jingnan was actually colluding with the Second Prince today?"
Hearing this question, the Sixth Prince put down his wine glass, and Master Zhang, understanding his cue, promptly refilled it.
The Sixth Prince picked up the wine glass again, brought it to his nose, and inhaled its aroma before speaking slowly:
"Tian Wujing is Tian Wujing."
"This... Your Highness, please forgive this servant’s ignorance."
"Think of it this way: if my Second Prince could truly collude with Lord Jingnan, he wouldn’t have needed to hastily prepare all the evidence to clear his own name today."
"Now that Your Highness puts it that way, this servant understands."
"One more thing. When Hui Wenzu went to take up his post in Yin City, which friend invited him for a visit?"
"Responding to Your Highness, this has been investigated. It was Weng Shuangyou, who is retired and living at home, that invited Hui Wenzu. Weng Shuangyou retired from the position of Inspector, and his hometown is Yin City. He and Hui Wenzu share a deep bond, as Hui Wenzu once served under him."
"So, if Weng Shuangyou hadn’t invited him that day, it’s highly probable Hui Wenzu wouldn’t have stayed at the post station, correct?"
"Responding to Your Highness, Yin City is about a half-day’s journey from Nanwang City by fast horse."
"Where did Weng Shuangyou begin his official career?"
"Sanshi? Was it a military or civil post?"
"He first held a military position before transferring to a civil one."
"Sanshi, haha. The Deng Family of Sanshi. Ah, my Fourth Brother, it was he who added a little spice to this."
"The Fourth Prince? But why would the Fourth Prince do such a thing?"
"Probably just an itch to stir things up. It’s like when you’re walking by a river and see a group of ducks on the water; you might feel an itch to pick up a stone and toss it at them, just for fun."
Master Zhang suddenly felt a chill in his heart, realizing that the shadows of three princes loomed over this matter.
The Sixth Prince leisurely twirled the wine glass in his hand and asked, "Master Zhang, Wuchuan produces fine wines; this is renowned throughout the four states. Even the barbarian tribes and Westerners acknowledge this. So, do you know which two of Wuchuan’s fine wines are considered the best?"
"Naturally, they are Daughter’s Red and high-grade Shaoxing wine." Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩•𝗳𝗂𝗋𝖾•𝕟𝕖𝕥
"And do you know the difference between Daughter’s Red and high-grade Shaoxing wine?"
"This... Your Highness, forgive my lack of knowledge. This servant has secretly tasted them and knows they are both exceptional wines, but as for the difference between them, I truly cannot tell."
"Actually, the wine is the same."
"Yes, the same. It’s wine buried by families in Wuchuan when their daughters reach one month of age. When the daughter grows up and is married, the jar is unearthed, and this wine is called Daughter’s Red."
"The name certainly suits the wine. Then what about high-grade Shaoxing wine, Your Highness?"
"If the daughter dies young and never marries, when that wine is unearthed, it’s called high-grade Shaoxing wine. It also means ’withered flower’."
The Sixth Prince silently regarded the wine in his hand. Ignoring Master Zhang’s expression, he continued, "I’ve heard that whenever Father has a new son, he orders Wei Zhonghe to bury a jar of wine. By now, Wei Zhonghe should have buried seven jars for Father."
"This servant also heard such talk while in the palace. However, the place where Lord Wei buries the wine is extremely secret; ordinary people could never find it."
"So, tell me, do you think that tonight, Father would have Wei Zhonghe dig up a jar so he could sit in the Imperial Study and slowly savor it, just as I am doing now?"
"Your Highness! Your Highness, please be careful with your words! Be careful!"
Master Zhang, terrified, immediately rose and shut the window.
The Sixth Prince, however, continued to savor his wine as if nothing were amiss.
"Your Highness, although this servant was castrated and sent to the palace at a young age, it was because my family had too many children and we were on the verge of starvation. My parents sent me to the palace with tears in their eyes. Though I can never be a true man in this life, I bear no resentment towards my parents. And though I am a eunuch, I understand the principle that even a vicious tiger will not devour its own cubs. Your Highness, you mustn’t harbor such resentment in your heart."
The Sixth Prince pursed his lips. "Resentment? A tiger does not devour its own cubs?"
"When, with one hand, he held me and praised my intelligence, while with the other, he signed the memorandum ordering Tian Wujing to exterminate my maternal grandfather’s entire family, did he consider that ’a tiger does not devour its own cubs’?
When he ordered Wei Zhonghe to grant my mother-consort a bolt of white silk, did he consider that ’a tiger does not devour its own cubs’?
When he made me live like a dog in the eyes of the world, did he ever once think about ’a tiger does not devour its own cubs’?"
"Your Highness! Your Highness!!!"
Terrified, Master Zhang collapsed to his knees.