Chapter 702 - 701: Guidance
Prince Zhuang’s eyes flickered.
In fact, his people were also keeping an eye on Huangfu Yuxuan and Huangfu Jingchen. Huangfu Yuxuan was particularly attentive to a Jianghu woman? He wasn’t aware of this, but he did know that Huangfu Yuxuan had visited Jinzhou and had a good relationship with a Jianghu faction there, and it seemed the leader of that faction just happened to have a daughter.
Could it be that the one Huangfu Yuxuan was interested in was that person?
If both Huangfu Yuxuan and Huangfu Jingchen were vying for that Jianghu woman, it would indeed be good news for him.
He laughed and said, "Is there really such a matter?"
Gongyang Puyu looked at Prince Zhuang’s smiling face and felt somewhat impatient in his heart.
How could there be someone so foolish, who only sees the surface of things? He must think that since the Second Young Master and Prince Cheng’s Heir both fancy a Jianghu woman, they will meet the same fate as Prince Cheng and fall out of the Emperor’s favor, making them unworthy of concern?
Regrettably, for the sake of the Second Young Master, he had to continue to "remind" him: "Does the Prince think, who would be the one to snatch the person away, Huangfu Yuxuan or Huangfu Jingchen?"
"It doesn’t matter who it is; either way, it benefits me!"
Gongyang Puyu: "..."
He was compelled to "remind" again: "Has the Prince never considered that your destiny is not yet complete?"
Prince Zhuang was taken aback, then waved his hand joyfully and said, "Since Prince Cheng’s Heir is entangled with a Jianghu woman, he will likely follow in his father’s footsteps. Such a person is not worth fearing and cannot divert my destiny. I can finally rest assured!"
Gongyang Puyu only felt weary at heart.
Before Prince Zhuang, he was a mysterious, taciturn, and sharp-witted monk, but some things must be spoken to be understood. He had broken his own rules countless times.
Thinking about the Second Young Master’s plans, he had no choice but to continue: "Could it be that the Prince is celebrating too soon? Even if he’s endlessly entangled with the Jianghu woman, he seeks the same person as the Second Young Master of the Prince Liang Mansion. Is he sure to win?"
Prince Zhuang thought it reasonable, and upon seeing the disapproval on Gongyang Puyu’s face, he also felt he had been celebrating too early. He said, "Then I might as well lend a helping hand!"
Gongyang Puyu sighed and said, "Even if he wins, is he certain to marry her? His father’s past experience should be a warning, as long as he has any sense, he won’t repeat the mistakes! And are you not aware whether Prince Cheng’s Heir has any intelligence?"
Not just intelligent?
He was also praised in person by Mr. Gu Hanmo, the Dean of Wenbo Academy, and the esteemed master of the scholarly world.
Gongyang Puyu continued: "Even if he marries her, must she be the primary wife?"
Prince Zhuang: "..."
As a descendant of the Imperial Family, the primary wife’s background must be noble, but concubines and secondary wives can be more varied.
At that time, regarding Prince Cheng, the Emperor had considered making concessions, allowing Prince Cheng to take Lu Qianxue as a concubine, as long as he agreed to marry another noble as the primary wife!
In other words, as long as she wasn’t the primary wife, the Emperor would approve!
Gongyang Puyu fixed his gaze on Prince Zhuang and said, "Such a great opportunity, does the Prince not intend to take advantage of it?"
Prince Zhuang did not speak; he was contemplating how to use this situation. After a moment, he looked up and met Gongyang Puyu’s eyes. In a heavy voice, he asked, "Which city gate? Which manor?"
Gongyang Puyu internally sighed with relief, finally, the plan was taking shape!
Nonetheless, he still laughed and asked, "The Prince is a person of great achievements, I admire you! However, the Prince does not seem to know who the kidnapper is yet!"
Prince Zhuang said calmly, "I will send someone to investigate!"
Gongyang Puyu said with interest, "Would the Prince be willing to reveal it?"
Prince Zhuang said, "Sir, you are one of us; there is no harm in revealing it. If the kidnapper is Huangfu Yuxuan, we need only to send a false message in his name to Huangfu Jingchen to lure him there and eliminate him!"
Gongyang Puyu smiled and said, "What if it’s Huangfu Jingchen?"
"Even better, we can eliminate him directly!"
Gongyang Puyu seemed persistent, asking again, "What if it’s neither of them?"
Prince Zhuang waved his hand: "No matter, I will eliminate the kidnapper and then send a message to Huangfu Jingchen, implicating him and framing Huangfu Yuxuan!"
Gongyang Puyu clapped his hands and laughed, "Excellent! The Prince indeed plans thoroughly and thinks meticulously!"
He stood up and said, "Today is the Prince’s birthday, and staying in the study all the time is inappropriate! I will take my leave now!"
Prince Zhuang said, "I will send someone to escort you out of the mansion!"
Gongyang Puyu said, "Remember, the Prince, I was never here today! Between me and the Prince, it’s merely a casual acquaintance!"
Prince Zhuang understood, nodding and smiling, "I know!"
He summoned a trusted attendant to personally escort Gongyang Puyu out through the small east side door.
To be safe, Gongyang Puyu wrapped himself tightly in his cloak and did not let the attendant escort him out the door.
The east side door was an extremely secluded portal, and beyond it was a deserted and quiet street. It was only after walking through two streets that he would reach the main street!
Gongyang Puyu looked around and saw no one, then headed southward. Only after walking a distance, he reached where the carriage was parked.
On the deserted street, two little beggars were playing with stones. Their hair was disheveled and faces dirty. When they saw Gongyang Puyu approaching, their eyes lit up. They tossed away the stones in their hands, stretched out their hands, and blinked, saying, "Please have mercy, sir, we’ve had nothing to eat for two days!"
These usual pleas of beggars left Gongyang Puyu unmoved. He frowned and shouted, "Get lost!" Previously, the Capital Guard had cleared the streets, driving the beggars out beyond the city gates, but the bold ones would sneak back in as soon as the clearing ended. After all, they had better chances of alms from wealthy people in the city!
It seemed necessary to mention to Prince Zhuang about clearing the streets of beggars again!
He quickly shook off the beggars and moved towards the carriage.
The two beggars did not chase him. Once Gongyang Puyu boarded the carriage, they exchanged a look, their eyes devoid of the previous naive bewilderment. They swiftly split up; one followed behind the carriage at a leisurely pace but avoided visible spots from the carriage. The other headed back in the direction Gongyang Puyu came from.
By their nimble actions, they were clearly no ordinary beggars.
Gongyang Puyu did not know this, nor did he see a beggar follow to the street corner, and whispering to the beggars at the corner.
Meanwhile, Prince Zhuang left the study and called an Hidden Guard, giving them low-voiced instructions, and the guard departed to obey.
A gleam of pleasure flashed in his eyes; even though after the Emperor’s birthday, Huangfu Jingchen would be expelled from the Capital City, he would still be alive, but how much more secure would it be if he were dead?
Now, because of a Jianghu woman, he could not only remove Huangfu Jingchen but also drag Huangfu Yuxuan down with him; how could that not please him?
He was in an even better mood now, hearing the lively sounds from the front courtyard. He remembered that today, his birthday truly was blessed with joy!
He immediately went to the front courtyard, which was already bustling with excitement.