Chapter 5, Reactions from Various Parties
Su Wen cannot represent Su Changqing, but after all, he is Su Changqing's own son
The Second Prince also smiled, and the two laughed for a while. The Second Prince then asked, "Since this is a marriage bestowed by Father Emperor, can you discern the underlying significance of it?"
Zhou Bin shook his head and said: "One is willing to fight, and the other is willing to be beaten. Even if the Crown Prince informs His Majesty about this matter, it would be of no use. Su Changqing has always been clean and has never left any incriminating evidence. Over the years, how many people have reported him? Yet he still stands tall in the court"
The young man shouted, "Why! Your Majesty, why must you bestow Luoying in marriage to that useless Su Wen?"
Zhao Rui's smile faded, and after a moment of contemplation, he looked up and said solemnly: "Second brother, rest assured, I understand now. I will not speak such words again, nor will I think this way in the future"
Zhao Rui was overjoyed, having provoked Su Wen this time, he spent a full one million taels of silver, nearly depleting his father's entire fortune
Today marks the day when Cui Yumi leaves her family home
A robust young man angrily overturned the table
After weighing the matter for a moment, the Second Prince smiled and said, "It seems there is no harm in going to see such a grand event."
In these three years, countless dignitaries and nobles have sought to be close to her, yet Cui Yumi has never married.
One must not be careless until the very end
Baihua Tower is one of the four towers in Kyoto, and Cui Yumi has held the position of courtesan at Baihua Tower for three years
Zhao Rui retracted his smile, furrowed his brow in contemplation, and after a moment of hesitation, said: "Su Changqing's marriage to Yan Ze means that Su Changqing now has a support in the military, which will undoubtedly enhance his power and influence, indicating Your Majesty's favor towards Su Changqing."
The Crown Prince is only a few years older than the Second Prince, with narrow, elongated eyes that give him a somewhat gloomy appearance
Zhou Bin, with a head full of white hair, is already seventy-four years old this year. Thanks to his practice of certain techniques, although he cannot be considered a master, he is nonetheless in good health.
The Crown Prince sighed and said helplessly: "I do not understand what my father values in Su Changqing so much that he has made him the head of all officials. If I ascend the throne, I will surely bring this person to justice"
He laughed heartily and said, "It is a rare occasion today that Brother Zhao and the Second Prince are both here. Last time, we agreed to invite you both to the Baihua Tower. There is no better day than today. I heard that today is the day when the courtesan Cui Yumi is getting married, so it is just right to go and take a look!"
Zhou Bin said: "Today, the Second Prince took Zhao Rui to deliver an apology to Su Wen. It is said that Su Wen used this opportunity to extort one million taels of silver from Prince Gong!"
He is still more eager to gain the support of Su Changqing
The Crown Prince is not a fool. Upon hearing this, he nodded and said: "I understand. I will still try my best to get along with them, feigning politeness. Once I ascend the throne, I will settle the scores!"
Su Wen smiled gently and said, "Then let us gather at the Hundred Flowers Pavilion tonight"
The Second Prince expressed his satisfaction, saying: "This is one reason! Secondly, Yan Ze is a high-ranking official, holding military power in his region. Yan Luoying is his only offspring, and once she enters the capital, it adds another layer of entanglement." At this point, he laughed and said: "It is just unfortunate for Su Wen; marrying such a woman, I estimate his visits to the Hundred Flowers Pavilion will be few and far between."
Su Wen picked up the banknote without even looking at it and tucked it into his bosom
It is known that Su Changqing holds significant power in the court and among the people. Although it cannot be said that he has no rivals, he can certainly be regarded as the foremost scholar-official of the Great Zhou dynasty
Zhao Rui looked at the Second Prince
This news shocked him greatly. After a moment, he suddenly laughed and said, "What did that kid say last time? That after marrying that person, he has to check if his head is still there when he goes to bed at night, the words are still fresh in my mind, haha! Is this guy going to have to check his neck every morning from now on?"
At this point, a hint of a playful smile appeared on his face as he said with a touch of schadenfreude: "I have heard something that has not yet spread in the capital, just to make you happy."
On the other side, the General's Mansion in Wuwei
The Crown Prince gritted his teeth and said: "The second and third brothers are still harboring ill intentions. Why can't these two bastards be content with being wealthy princes? Why must they come to compete with me? Is this throne something they can contend for?"
The purpose is to seize the throne
Kyoto, Su Family
This young man is his son, Wu Lie. In this household, if anyone else dared to flip the table in front of him, he would have long since broken that person's legs.
He truly wants to go
For the Crown Prince, he does not like Su Changqing, as Su Changqing is greedy for wealth, a fact known to all in the Great Zhou
At this time, the news of the Zhou Emperor's decree of marriage had already spread among the high-ranking officials throughout the capital.
The Second Prince hesitated somewhat
Your Highness, before the major matters are settled, it is absolutely unwise to offend the Su family. This person is vengeful and ruthless; if the Crown Prince were to become enemies with him, it would bring nothing but harm and no benefit
Zhao Rui smiled very happily
The Crown Prince sneered, "This Su Wen is simply lawless! His father, Su Changqing, is nothing but a treacherous minister, and now he actually dares to extort the prince under the pretext of this matter, it is outrageous!"
Sitting right in front of him is the renowned general of the Great Zhou, Wu Kunhu.
Zhao Rui visited together with the Second Prince
The Second Prince nodded in satisfaction, indicating that this fellow had not yet reached the point of being hopelessly foolish
Upon hearing this, Zhou Bin became anxious and quickly advised, "Your Highness, you must not speak of this to anyone! His Majesty is in the prime of life, and the position of the Crown Prince is not yet secure. Su Changqing is highly trusted by His Majesty; if this person becomes an enemy of the Crown Prince, it could lead to serious consequences"
Zhao Rui was astonished and opened his mouth wide
Zhou Bin sighed, the struggle for the throne is the most brutal
Zhao Rui took out the prepared banknotes and said with a smile, "Brother Su, this is the fee for the medicinal soup we agreed upon last time. Please accept it."
Zhao Rui smiled and said: "This bastard has swindled me out of so much money, it is time for me to enjoy myself a bit."
Zhao Rui hurriedly said: "Second brother, rest assured, I will definitely not disclose it to anyone."
Upon meeting Su Wen, the three took their seats
For the Crown Prince, as the legitimate eldest son and the elder brother of all the princes, he believes that the throne rightfully belongs to him
The Second Prince shook his head and said: "I think you should abandon this idea. Father Emperor holds great trust in Su Changqing and even turns a blind eye to some of his overstepping actions. In the short term, no one can shake his position. Since you have already spent one million taels, it would be better to cultivate a good relationship with Su Wen. In the future, if you enter the court as an official, the Su family is still worth relying on.
If he can gain the support of such important ministers, it will undoubtedly be a significant advantage in his quest for the throne
Zhao Rui and the Second Prince left the Su residence
At this point, he expressed some concerns: "It seems that the Second Prince today is also trying to cultivate a good relationship with Su Wen! Although this person is uneducated and a dandy, he is after all the youngest son of Su Changqing and is extremely favored. Even if his actions are absurd, there have been no reports of any punishment. Moreover, this time, His Majesty has bestowed the marriage of Yan Luoying to him. The Second Prince's maneuvering this time, claiming that the two are to befriend Su Wen, may also have the intention of winning over Yan Ze.
The Second Prince shook his head and said: "There is no need for secrecy, as it is not a confidential matter. His Majesty has already issued an edict granting marriage, betrothing the daughter of Yan Ze, Yan Luoying, to Su Wen, and she will be coming to the capital to serve as an official! She will be arriving in the capital shortly!"
However, this time it was Su Wen who spoke up
He has always maintained his integrity, valuing his reputation, and is constantly mindful of his words and actions, keeping a distance from places of vice.
In the Prince's residence, the Crown Prince and his Grand Tutor Zhou Bin are seated together
Wu Kunhu frowned and angrily said: "What are you angry about? Is there still a place for you to flip the table in this house? I am telling you this matter to inform you that after Yan Luoying enters the capital, keep your distance from her! I do not want to stir up any trouble! Yan Ze and Su Changqing are not easy characters to deal with!"
His father, Prince Gong, has directly cut off his financial support, and he is currently in a state of financial embarrassment