Song Qingshu replied, “To avoid complications, we must strike first.”
“How exactly?” Wanyan Liang’s heart skipped a beat.
Song Qingshu secretly sighed in reliefâafter all his efforts, he finally had a chance to use him. “Since I pledged myself to Your Highness, I have yet to achieve any merit. Now, I have a plan that kills two birds with one stone, one that may ease Your Highnessâs burdens.”
Wanyan Liangâs expression shifted, and he urged eagerly, “Brother Tang Kuo, speak quickly!” He harbored no suspicion toward the other manâs motives. With so many talented individuals around him, if Tang Kuo Bian failed to distinguish himself, even if Wanyan Liang promised him the position of Minister of the Right, he wouldnât dare accept it. Thus, striving for merit was the most natural course of action.
“The Emperor and Prince Changsheng are locked in a struggle. Only if the Emperor emerges victorious will it benefit Your Highness. If Prince Changsheng wins, he will suppress you indefinitely.”
Song Qingshuâs words made Wanyan Liang nod repeatedly. “A sound argument. Go on.”
“Yet the Emperorâs health deteriorates daily. No one knows when his flame will extinguish. Thus, we must eliminate Prince Changsheng while the Emperor still holds power. Once he is gone, none of the remaining imperial princes have a stronger claim to succession than you. With your talents, you can rally the courtâs support.” Song Qingshu inwardly admired himselfâyears of life-and-death struggles had honed his ability to spin convincing tales.
Wanyan Liang gave him a surprised glance. This Tang Kuo Bian, who usually appeared as a reckless brute, actually had some insight. His analysis was spot-onâthis was precisely the outcome Wanyan Liang desired. Once Prince Wei and Prince Changsheng, the two legitimate heirs, were removed, the field would be open for the most capable to rise. With his intellect and years of preparation, he was confident he would prevail.
“But how do we eliminate Prince Changsheng?” Wanyan Liang remained cautious. Prince Changsheng was formidable, and he had no intention of engaging in direct conflict, lest others benefit.
“By borrowing anotherâs blade,” Song Qingshu said solemnly.
“Whose blade?” Wanyan Liangâs interest was piquedâas long as he didnât have to confront Prince Changsheng directly, all was well.
“The Emperorâs,” Song Qingshu answered, word by word.
“How?” Wanyan Liang suddenly had an inkling. “Do you mean to use Taoyao?”
Song Qingshu shook his head. “The Emperor has refrained from acting against Taoyao all these years. A single woman alone is not enough to push him to act.”
“Then what do you propose?” Wanyan Liang was now genuinely intrigued.
“Your Highness is aware of the recent incident involving Prince Wei, correct?” Song Qingshu asked.
“I am,” Wanyan Liang hesitated. “Something about his death feels… off.”
Song Qingshu smiled. “If even Your Highness suspects foul play, wouldnât the Emperor, as his father, harbor even greater doubts?”
Wanyan Liangâs mind began piecing together his plan. “You mean to exploit this incident?”
“Precisely!” Song Qingshuâs voice was firm. “The Emperor has already dispatched the Laundry Courtyard to investigate secretly. If we use this opportunity to pin the blame on Prince Changsheng, his downfall is assured.”
“But the Laundry Courtyard is an impenetrable fortress, answering only to the Emperor. We have no means to interfere,” Wanyan Liang mused, quickly grasping the crux of the matter.
“Your Highness, did I not say this plan kills two birds with one stone?” Song Qingshu smiled confidently. “The first bird is Prince Changsheng. The second is the Laundry Courtyard itself!”
“The Laundry Courtyard?” Wanyan Liang was startled.
“Indeed,” Song Qingshu stared intently at him. “That institution is the Emperorâs eyes, observing everything in the capital. With them watching, Your Highnessâs every move is constrained.”
Wanyan Liang nodded slightly. Over the years, the Laundry Courtyard had been a formidable deterrent to all, loyal only to the Emperor. He had long wished to dismantle it but lacked the opportunity.
“You have a way to deal with the Laundry Courtyard?” Wanyan Liang was skeptical. As an intelligence agency with the Emperorâs absolute trust and vast resources, eliminating it would be no easy feat.
“Of course!” Song Qingshu chuckled. “Why does the Laundry Courtyard hold such power, Your Highness?”
“Well…” Wanyan Liang faltered, his mind racing through countless factors.
“Ultimately, itâs because of the Emperorâs trust. That is the source of their strength.” Song Qingshu, with his future knowledge, cut straight to the heart of the matter. “Thus, to dismantle them is simpleâonce the Emperorâs trust is lost, they transform from wolves into sheep.”
“Oh? Brother Tang Kuo, enlighten me!” Wanyan Liang threw an arm around Song Qingshuâs shoulder, his tone warm and intimate. If before he had only approached Tang Kuo Bian for his wifeâs beauty, he now genuinely regarded him as an ally.
Song Qingshu was slightly uncomfortable with the gesture but recognized it as a tactic to win loyalty. “Beyond serving as the Emperorâs intelligence arm, the Laundry Courtyard also detains a group of special prisoners. One of them, Your Highness and I even saw at Autumn Fragrance Pavilion.”
Wanyan Liangâs eyes gleamed. “You mean those Song Dynasty princesses?”
“Exactly. From what I know, the Emperor places great importance on these captives. If they were to vanish under the Laundry Courtyardâs watch, how do you think the Emperor would react?” Song Qingshu countered.
Wanyan Liang, sharp-minded, instantly grasped the implication. “The Emperor would doubt the Laundry Courtyardâs competence. Given his volatile temper, its leaders would face severe consequences. That would be my chance to sway them to my side! Haha, Brother Tang Kuo, you are my Zhang Liang reborn!”
“Your Highness flatters me.” Song Qingshu smiled outwardly but inwardly grew wary. Wanyan Liangâs quick thinking proved his brilliance. If he ever gained control of the Laundry Courtyard, the consequences would be dire…
Yet Song Qingshu had no alternative. With the Laundry Courtyard investigating the nightâs events, Empress Peiman and the Zhao sisters were in constant danger. For now, he had no choice but to quench his thirst with poisonâaddressing the immediate crisis first.
Wanyan Liang, however, grew increasingly excited, muttering to himself, “I can dispatch the Laundry Courtyardâs experts elsewhere, then send Ouyang Feng and others to storm the prison and free the princesses. Afterward, when Emperor Xizong investigates, Iâll leave clues implicating Prince Changshengâmaking it seem he acted preemptively to silence the Laundry Courtyard… Hahaha! A brilliant plan!”
“What has Your Highness so delighted?” Having spoken for so long in the pavilion, dawn had begun to break. Tudan Jing, having woken, emerged from the house.
Anxious over the previous nightâs events, she was taken aback to see her husband and Tang Kuo Bian in such an intimate embrace. Suppressing her unease, she feigned nonchalance and chimed in.
At the same time, Gebi also stepped outâhaving swapped places with the fake Gebi via the secret tunnel after Wanyan Liang left.
“Brother Tang Kuo and I were discussing something delightful, haha!” Wanyan Liang glanced at Tudan Jing, noting her unusually radiant complexion. Normally pale from long hours in the prayer hall, today her cheeks were flushed.
‘How many times did that b*stard Tang Kuo Bian plow her last night?’ Wanyan Liang couldnât help but feel a pang of jealousy.
Spotting Gebi, he quickly shifted his gaze to his “spoils of war.” Whether by illusion or not, she too seemed more alluring than usual. ‘I filled her with my essence seven times last nightâmy nurturing has clearly borne fruit.’
Under his lecherous stare, Gebi felt a surge of disgust but masked it, hurrying to Song Qingshuâs side. “Husband, why are you all up so early?”
Her words painted varied expressions across the group:
Wanyan Liang smirked inwardly. ‘Little wife, the one who rode you last night was me.’
Tudan Jing gazed at her with pity. ‘Poor Gebi, unaware of what transpired. Yet ignorance is bliss. If given the choice, Iâd rather be like herâoblivious.’
Song Qingshu, observing Wanyan Liangâs smugness and Tudan Jingâs conflicted gaze, mused, ‘They think Gebi is the fool in the dark, yet the proud Wanyan Liang is the true fool. Tudan Jing at least knows half the truth, but Wanyan Liang knows nothing…’
Wrapping an arm around Gebiâs slender waist, he smiled. “I had matters to discuss with His Highness, so we rose early. Did we disturb you?”
“Not at allâyou were too far away. Iâll go have the servants prepare breakfast.” Eager to escape Wanyan Liangâs presence, Gebi excused herself, leaving them with a bewitching smile.
Even Tudan Jing, as a woman, was stunned by that smileâs allure. Shooting her husband a resentful glare, she thought, ‘No wonder he dared such audacity last night.’
Recalling the sounds from the neighboring room, her bitterness deepened.