"Your Highness, what are you saying? I don't understand a single word," Chen Shu stammered.
"Don't understand?
Can you at least understand with your eyes?"
The Fourth Prince let out a cold snort and tossed the letter in his hand to the bewildered Chen Shu's feet.
Chen Shu picked up the letter and quickly scanned it, nearly spitting out a mouthful of blood from sheer anger.
The letter read:
"To my young friend, Brother Chen, for your personal perusal:
I am deeply grateful for your care during my time in the capital. I never imagined you to be such a righteous and understanding person. Please rest assured, Brother Chen, once this matter is settled, I will surely speak highly of you to His Highness the Crown Prince.
I cannot guarantee a high official position or noble title, but substantial wealth and status are certain. This letter serves as proof.
Additionally, I have sent my men to deliver the account records for Changzhou County to you. I take this opportunity to wish Brother Chen great success and a swift victory.
Your friend, Xu Changling."
...
"Great success? Success in what?
A swift victory? Victory against whom?"
Chen Shu felt that the writer of this letter must be gravely ill. Yet, judging by the Fourth Prince's demeanor, he seemed to have been completely enchanted by the letter's author, believing every word to be true.
"Your Highness, I can explain!"
"Explain?"
The Fourth Prince let out a scornful laugh. "Very well, I am eager to hear your explanation.
But before that, you must answer two questions for me."
"Please, Your Highness, tell me."
"First question, did you and that Xu Changling know each other from the very beginning?"
Feeling that the situation had spiraled completely out of his control, Chen Shu raised his hand to wipe the beads of sweat from his forehead and bowed. "Your Highness, it wouldn't be accurate to say from the very beginning. When Xu Changling was being troubled by the Second Prince, I happened to pass by. Based on the principle that an enemy's enemy is a friend, I helped him out once. Afterward, Xu Changling invited me to a meal under the guise of tasting tea and discussing poetry, considering it repayment for the favor."
Chen Shu regretted it so much at that moment that he wished he could slap himself soundly. His original intention in helping Xu Changling was to keep him around, allowing the Second Prince to continue focusing his attention on Xu Changling, thereby prompting the Crown Prince to intervene. He, along with the Fourth Prince, would then reap the benefits of their conflict. Who could have foreseen that Xu Changling would repay kindness with such a treacherous scheme!
Chen Shu did not intend to conceal the matter. Given the Fourth Prince's influence, uncovering these details would be as easy as flipping a hand. If he were to deliberately hide it, it would only solidify the groundless accusations.
"Then, Your Highness asks you again, was it your sister-in-law who submitted the account books of the Xiangtang Pavilion to Xu Changling?"
"Uh..."
Chen Shu's forehead grew even colder with sweat. Although he knew it was a trap, he had no choice but to nod begrudgingly. "Your Highness, it was indeed my sister-in-law."
"Heh~"
A light smile played on his lips, and the Fourth Prince's voice suddenly rose. "Chen Shu, do you take me for a three-year-old child that you can toy with at will?"
"Your Highness, I dare not."
"Dare not?
What is there that you dare not do? And 'substantial wealth and status,' have I treated you so poorly that you would go begging at someone else's door? Or perhaps, you approached me from the very beginning with ulterior motives!"
"Your Highness, I am wronged, truly wronged!"
"Wronged? If I, Your Highness, had not been more astute and placed an informant by your side beforehand, I fear I would have fallen into your trap by tomorrow morning!"
Following the direction of the Fourth Prince's gaze, Chen Shu saw his attendant standing behind the Fourth Prince, having moved past him. He suddenly understood. "Was it you?"
"Sir, the principle of a good bird choosing its tree is something you taught me. I am merely putting your teachings into practice."
"Your Highness, please do not believe the slander of this subordinate. It is he who is trying to harm you, not I! My loyalty to you is as clear as the sun and moon, witnessed by heaven and earth!"
"Hmph, I cannot believe what Xu Changling says, I cannot believe the attendant who is constantly by your side, and I cannot believe the evidence laid out before me. Then tell me, what is there that I, Your Highness, can believe?"
Mentioning evidence, the Fourth Prince, who had overlooked the messenger due to his overwhelming anger, looked up. The messenger was nowhere to be seen. However, a booklet lay silently on the spot where the person had stood.
While dispatching men to pursue the messenger, the Fourth Prince ordered the booklet to be brought to him. After perusing it, his expression worsened. "Chen Shu, Chen Shu, you have truly made elaborate calculations. On the surface, you operate the Xiangtang Pavilion to amass wealth for me, but in reality, you secretly record the details, preserving them as evidence to incriminate me later. Not only that, but you have also personally withheld a portion of the profits for your own enrichment. To say you have no selfish motives is something even ghosts would not believe! Guards, seize this treacherous wretch!"
The Fourth Prince finished speaking with arrogance, but there was no movement from behind him. He turned his head in confusion. "Why are you all standing there? Did you not hear my command? Seize Chen Shu for me quickly!"
Facing his Highness's reprimand, the leading guard forced out a grimace that was uglier than a cry. "Your, Your Highness, we are surrounded!"
"Surrounded?"
The Fourth Prince looked around in confusion and saw a tall figure approaching from a distance. The figure clasped his hands in greeting. "Commander of the Imperial Guard, Zhang Ziliang, pays his respects to His Highness the Fourth Prince!"
"Wh-why is it you?"
Upon seeing the approaching man, the Fourth Prince's face was filled with surprise, but more so with panic. This General Zhang Ziliang, although a military man, was a rare and pure official. Having distinguished himself by escorting disaster relief funds, he was promoted to Commander of the Imperial Guard upon his return to the capital, becoming a rising star in the eyes of the Emperor. In other words, his appearance signified that the Emperor would also be aware of the night's events. Especially with what he had just said...
"Your Highness the Fourth Prince, the night dew is cold. This humble servant will dispatch men to escort you back to rest."
As Zhang Ziliang spoke, he made a gesture, and another contingent of Imperial Guards emerged. They automatically formed two lines with His Highness the Fourth Prince at the center.
Seeing this, the Fourth Prince glared fiercely at Chen Shu and reluctantly turned to leave. Chen Shu, also understanding what Zhang Ziliang's appearance signified, swayed and collapsed to the ground. Before he could sigh, he was lifted by Zhang Ziliang's men and dragged away.
Only after everyone had departed did two shadowy figures descend from the trees.
"Big Brother, didn't I perform exceptionally well just now?"
The speaker was none other than the messenger who had previously claimed to be Xu Changling's bodyguard. Simultaneously, he was one of the black-clothed figures who had encountered Leng Ningyue in the case of the abduction of Xu Siyun and Lin Zimo.
"Eighth Brother, if you don't change your impetuous and arrogant nature, your skin will eventually be stripped off by the Master."
"Big Brother, where am I impetuous? Where am I arrogant?"
Seemingly exasperated, the black-clothed man addressed as 'Big Brother' remained silent and simply turned to leave.
Meanwhile.
Imprisoned in the imperial dungeon, Chen Shu looked at the elegant and handsome figure walking step by step towards him and gritted out four words through clenched teeth: "It really is you!"