Quick Transmigration: The Mad Beauty Refuses to Be the Scapegoat!-Chapter 499 - 12: Cannon Fodder Vase in a Power Struggle Novel (Part 12)

Chapter 499: Chapter 12: Cannon Fodder Vase in a Power Struggle Novel (Part 12)

Seeing that the time was almost right, Jiang Lai, using the excuse of having matters to attend to, took Little He to the tea house. This tea house’s interior was elegantly and uniquely decorated, clearly a place for refined scholars to chat and play the zither.

A pot of tea, at the cheapest, cost eight taels and eight, and adding a plate of peanuts made it exactly ten taels.

Similar to some modern luxury tea houses, where they specifically target those unwary wealthy fools.

Jiang Lai was sipping tea and then waved to the waiter.

He looked to be about fourteen or fifteen, with youthful features, likely just an apprentice always following his master to learn the craft.

Little He leaned in, whispered a couple of words to him, then stuffed a pouch into his arms. After finishing, she turned to question Jiang Lai.

"Miss, why are we doing this?"

Jiang Lai continued drinking her expensive tea, speaking slowly and deliberately. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"Do you know how to catch a rat in its hole?"

"I don’t know."

"Set a fire in the hole; without much effort, the rat will rush out itself, and by blocking the exit at that point, one can reap the benefits effortlessly."

Little He was confused, not understanding why the miss was saying this.

Suddenly, in the next moment, a terrified scream came from the backyard.

"Someone, help! There’s a fire! There’s a fire! Someone help put it out!"

Thick smoke promptly billowed from the backyard, and upon seeing this scene, the guests in the main hall rushed out. The esteemed guests in the upper level private rooms were even more concerned for their lives, and when they saw the smoke pouring in from the windows, they got up one by one and hurried outside.

The rear side door of the back courtyard, where they had come in, was the site of the fire and obviously couldn’t be used, so they had to exit through the main door.

Jiang Lai had already been waiting outside, smiling as she watched the people scrambling out from the private rooms.

She turned to make sure the people on the pleasure boat had seen the faces of those escaping, then waved to Little He and quietly blended into the crowd to leave.

On the boat, Chu Yunci watched a few people exit the tea house one after another, and a slight curve formed on his crimson lips.

"Imperial Uncle, it seems my Eighth Brother has been gathering quite a few people in the court behind your back."

The middle-aged man sitting opposite, wearing a deep purple robe, looked outside with piercing eyes. He was the only brother of the current Emperor, Prince Yongzhao.

"Did you bring me here today solely to show me this play?"

Chu Yunci smiled.

"Your nephew wouldn’t dare; today’s invitation was merely to catch up, though I did intend to arrange a good show for you. But apparently, even the heavens are helping me, sparing me the effort."

Chu Yunci lifted the curtain, casting a casual glance at the familiar figure in the crowd, and chuckled lightly.

"My Eighth Brother, he has quite the ambition. You plan to support him as a puppet, but be careful not to end up getting bitten in return."

"So what? Support that useless one like you?"

"I support no one. I’m merely an observer. It doesn’t matter who ascends the throne; if they have designs on me, they should look at what happened to Chu Yunxuan."

Chu Yunxuan, he wants to be Emperor, fine.

But if he wants more than just the throne, then he’ll end up with nothing and resign himself back to that Imperial Mausoleum, never to rise again.

The chill in Prince Yongzhao’s spine intensified as he looked at his nephew.

If his legs were whole, the power struggle would have been settled long ago, and this current rivalry for the throne wouldn’t have occurred.

In terms of talent and strategy, this second nephew of his outshines everyone else, but unfortunately, he’s disabled.

The empire cannot be handed to someone physically impaired, especially when so many brothers eye the throne hungrily.

"It’s getting late; I should be returning."

"Walk slowly, Imperial Uncle. Oh, by the way, the disaster relief silver for Heng County’s West Mansion is still unaccounted for, and so is the Stabilization Bureau transporting it. Did His Majesty assign you to find them?"

Upon hearing this, a wary and sinister glint immediately appeared in Prince Yongzhao’s eyes.

"It seems there’s nothing within the court that escapes your notice, whether big or small."

"Heh... It’s been half a month, and seeing that Imperial Uncle has yet to close the case, I lent you a hand. I’ve already captured the person and extracted the necessary information.

But how to deal with this person next, I think it’ll be up to you, Imperial Uncle."

Hearing this, Prince Yongzhao’s back instantly straightened. He forced himself to remain calm, but how could his changes escape Chu Yunci’s eyes?

"No need to panic, Imperial Uncle. I’ve come to you to give you a chance."

"Whether this person goes to His Majesty or to you depends on how you act, Imperial Uncle."

"Indeed, today’s play truly surprised me, allowing you to recognize your current predicament."

After speaking these three sentences, Chu Yunci set down his teacup.

"It’s getting late."

"What do you want me to do? Just say it. Do I have any other choice now?"

Chu Yunci chuckled.

"Oh, Imperial Uncle, you, a princely figure with boundless wealth, why would you still think of embezzling disaster relief silver? Imagine if His Majesty were to find out... But nobody is perfect, and I’m short of money lately, and also lacking a military force..."

Prince Yongzhao nearly ground his molars to dust.

Chu Yunci’s threats and blackmail were blatant, yet he had no recourse.

With both witnesses and evidence in Chu Yunci’s hands, if the Emperor were to learn of this, his princely position might not survive.

"The deep bond between uncle and nephew, you can certainly help with these troubles, Imperial Uncle."

"Thank you, Imperial Uncle. It’s late; please, take your leave."

——

Jiang Lai was walking by the lakeside, while Lady Taishi could hardly walk out of the last clothing store.

At this moment, the pleasure boat by the lake slowly approached the shore, and a man in black stepped out, bowing to Jiang Lai.

"Eighth Imperial Concubine, my master wishes to speak with you. Please board the boat for a detailed discussion."

Jiang Lai waved her hand dismissively.

"Who is your master? I don’t know him."

The man frowned, looking troubled.

At this point, the curtain on the boat was lifted, revealing the pale, enchanting face of Chu Yunci.

"What? It’s only been a few days, and you don’t recognize me?"

The man’s voice was slow and deep with a glance that was anything but friendly, even carrying a bit of menace and threat.

In modern terms, he would definitely be a mafia boss, one that would be sentenced to death immediately upon capture.

Little He, lacking in worldly experience, was already frightened and on edge.

She had, of course, never seen the Second Prince, only knowing that the man in front seemed very dangerous.

"Miss, let’s go."

Jiang Lai patted her hand.

"You run first, I’ll cover you."

Little He, of course, didn’t leave; despite her fear, she pointed at Chu Yunci and shouted.

"Do you know she’s the current Prince Consort, yet you dare to be so rude! Believe me, I’ll have you arrested with just a command!"

The powerful shout drew quite a bit of attention from those around.

Chu Yunci’s face darkened, his eyes intently fixed on Jiang Lai, lowering the curtain to reveal only half of his face, his thin lips opening and closing.