Poisonous Scheme
Posted by ckanda, Released on July 17, 2023
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Hu Maiti’s statement was somewhat ambiguous. Yan Ge smiled and said, “Is that so? I find your age quite vague as well. It could be anywhere from fifteen or sixteen to twenty-eight or twenty-nine.” The word “also” was quite thought-provoking.
Hu Maiti’s smile froze.
Yan Ge smiled apologetically, “I didn’t mean anything by it. Please don’t read too much into it. Gao Feng!”
Gao Feng stepped forward, “I’m here!”
“The Fourth Prince has come from afar as a guest. Take the Fourth Prince to the palace immediately, so that it doesn’t spread and make others think we lack manners.”
“Yes.” Gao Feng gestured to Hu Maiti, “Fourth Prince, please.”
Hu Maiti gave Yan Ge a deep look and followed Gao Feng as they left.
Huangfu Yuchen had received the news beforehand from the shadow guards. Although he had not yet seen Hu Maiti, he already had a negative impression of this person . What kind of decorum did this prince display by pestering his beloved?
“Prince Hu Maiti has met Your Highness, Huangfu.” This was Hu Maiti’s first meeting with Huangfu Yuchen. His extraordinary appearance and cold and imposing aura made Hu Maiti inwardly exclaim in admiration.
Huangfu Yuchen’s expression remained emotionless. “There’s no need for such formality, Fourth Prince. Please, have a seat. I’ll serve you tea.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Huangfu Yuchen said, “The Fourth Prince has come from afar with only two attendants, and they entered the capital in plain clothes. Could it be that you encountered some trouble within our Great Han Kingdom?”
Hu Maiti was secretly alarmed. He had revealed his identity to Yan Ge just a moment ago but Huangfu Yuchen had already affirmed that he had only brought two guards with him. It was likely that Huangfu Yuchen had already learned about his identity and investigated him. He had heard that although the new emperor of the Great Han Kingdom was young, he was by no means weak or easily deceived. The rumors were indeed true.
“Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. That’s not the case. I came quietly to simplify matters.”
“I see.” Huangfu Yuchen continued, “I wonder if the Fourth Prince’s visit is for official business or personal matters?”
Hu Maiti replied, “I dare not deceive Your Majesty. I came for the purpose of purchasing cement. However, I have inquired at the Ministry of Works and learned that the current cement production in Great Han Kingdom is only sufficient for domestic use, and there is no capacity for exports.”
His frankness only made Huangfu Yuchen more cautious. People born in the imperial family would never have simple intentions.
“The Fourth Prince must have anticipated that the purchase of cement would not be successful, which is why you only brought two people to the capital. It truly showcases your extraordinary wisdom,” Huangfu Yuchen remarked.
Hu Maiti paused subtly. “Your Majesty, you overpraise me. I came as a merchant, originally planning to arrange transportation for the cement directly in the capital if the negotiations went smoothly.”
Huangfu Yuchen nodded. “Then, what are your plans next, Fourth Prince?”
Hu Maiti replied, “To be honest, I am captivated by the bustling and exquisite atmosphere of the capital. I intend to stay a few more days.”
“Welcome,” Huangfu Yuchen said. “Since the Fourth Prince has come from afar, I will certainly treat you well. With only two attendants by your side, it’s surely not enough. I will leave my four most trusted eunuchs to serve the Fourth Prince.”
The words “most trusted” cut off Hu Maiti’s retreat, leaving him with no choice but to respond, “Your Majesty’s attention is overwhelming. I am truly honored.”
“Qiao Lan, Miao He, Hui Ju, Ke Mei.”
“Here, Your Majesty.”
“During these few days, you will accompany the Fourth Prince. Make sure he feels at home.”
“Yes.”
Hu Maiti said, “Thank you, Your Majesty. I’ve heard from previous envoys who visited the imperial palace of Great Han Kingdom that your royal gardens are unparalleled. Would I have the honor of accompanying Your Majesty for a visit?”
Huangfu Yuchen was looking for an opportunity to test Hu Maiti’s true intentions. Upon hearing this, he nodded and said, “Why not? Please, I’m afraid I don’t know much about flowers, so it might not be interesting for the Fourth Prince.”
“You are too modest, Your Majesty.”
The group stood up and headed towards the Imperial Garden.
Outside the palace, Yan Ge felt increasingly uneasy. If Hu Maiti’s visit to Great Han Kingdom was merely his personal action, there was no need for him to voluntarily reveal his identity. It seemed that Hu Maiti’s arrival in Great Han Kingdom was mostly under the orders of the emperor of Mai Kingdom, Hu Mailong. If Hu Maiti was indeed the Fourth Prince, it meant that Hu Mailong had more than one son. However, he had sent such a good looking individual. Could there be some hidden motive?
After taking care of matters outside the palace, Yan Ge returned inside.
Huangfu Yuchen was not in the Tenglong Palace. He asked the eunuch in the hall, “Where did His Majesty go?”
The eunuch replied, “His Majesty went to the Imperial Garden with the Fourth Prince.”
Yan Ge narrowed his eyes. “Visiting the garden? How many people are with them?”
The eunuch honestly answered, “There are more than thirty people.”
“Alright, you may leave.”
“Yes, Yan Caiqing.”
Yan Ge felt bored in the hall. He picked up a book from the shelf, read a couple of pages, glanced at the door, but saw no trace of Huangfu Yuchen. He turned a few more pages, looked outside again, still no sign of Huangfu Yuchen… There was a drum beating incessantly in his heart, unable to calm down. He believed that Huangfu Yuchen and the Fourth Prince would not encounter any problems, but they were spending too much time in the garden.
He put down the book and walked a few steps outside the hall, coincidentally seeing Huangfu Yuchen walking leisurely in his direction.
He quickly turned back and sat back on the couch, picking up the book again, appearing engrossed in it.
Huangfu Yuchen was puzzled by his actions. Suddenly, a thought came to him, and a smile curved on his lips. He walked briskly into the hall and asked, “Baby, where were you rushing off to earlier?”
“Oh, I was just getting up to stretch after sitting for a long time,” Yan Ge replied.
Huangfu Yuchen said, “Then why did you sit back down again?”
“The stories in this book are too fascinating, I can’t put it down, so I came back to continue reading,” Yan Ge explained.
Huangfu Yuchen glanced at the pages of the book, “Oh, I didn’t know medical books also tell stories.”
Yan Ge remained calm and closed the book, looking up at Huangfu Yuchen. “You have much to learn. You seem to be in a good mood. Where have you been?”
“Could it be that the kitchen sent dinner so early?” Huangfu Yuchen glanced outside, “Otherwise, how come I smell a sour scent?”
Yan Ge’s face grew warm, but he maintained his composure and leaned closer to sniff him. “It’s because you haven’t bathed for a few days, so there’s a sour smell.”
Huangfu Yuchen surrendered to him, sitting beside him and embracing his waist. “I’m took the Fourth Prince to the Imperial Garden just to test his true intentions. In less than a few seconds, I handed him over to the palace attendants and then returned to the study. The reason I’m in a good mood is because I saw the reports from the Ministry of Works. It seems that all the streets in the capital will be fully repaired in about two months.”
Yan Ge picked up the book again as if nothing had happened, “I didn’t ask you, what are you saying so much?”
Huangfu Yuchen chuckled lightly, resting his chin on his shoulder, “Baby, don’t worry, no one can make me take a second look except you.”
“Actually, I’m concerned about that Fourth Prince,” Yan Ge said. “Don’t you find it strange?”
“Strange that the Fourth Prince is harboring ulterior motives?” Huangfu Yuchen took the book from Yan Ge’s hand and placed it aside, pulling him into his embrace.
“Have you discovered something?” Yan Ge asked.
Huangfu Yuchen replied, “While we were walking on the marble pavement in the Imperial Garden earlier, he stumbled—”
Yan Ge finished his sentence, “And then fell into your arms?”
Huangfu Yuchen quickly clarified, “He didn’t manage to. But baby, how did you know?”
“It’s not difficult to guess,” Yan Ge replied, not very pleased. “So, this Fourth Prince came for you?”
Huangfu Yuchen said, “I’m afraid it’s more than that. Don’t you find his attitude towards you strange too? If I’m not mistaken, both of us are his targets. His purpose is to come between us and sabotage our relationship.”
Yan Ge suddenly understood, “I wondered why Hu Mailong sent someone as beautiful as a woman. So, this was his purpose.”
Huangfu Yuchen said, “Now that we know his purpose, let’s find an excuse to send him away tomorrow morning.”
“Wait,” Yan Ge patted his knee. “I think it’s not that simple. If he came to Great Han Kingdom for the reason we guessed, then Hu Mailong should be very concerned about his safety on this trip. Think about it, Hu Maiti is so beautiful and has no internal strength. He must have encountered one or two people with ill intentions along the way from Mai Kingdom to Great Han Kingdom. But Hu Maiti is only accompanied by two people, and I can feel that Tulan Zhong and Tulan Yong’s internal strength is only average. Isn’t that strange?”
Huangfu Yuchen paused playing with Yan Ge’s finger. “You make a valid point. In that case, sabotaging our relationship is only his surface objective. Bringing only two people, could it be…”
“What are you thinking?” Yan Ge saw his expression change slightly and quickly asked.
Huangfu Yuchen sneered, “Baby, if you were Hu Mailong, and Hu Maiti died within the borders of Great Han Kingdom, what would you do?”
“You mean, since Hu Maiti is Hu Mailong’s son, and he died in Great Han Kingdom, Hu Mailong would definitely…” Yan Ge was greatly surprised. “Are you suggesting that Hu Mailong intentionally sent Hu Maiti to his death to gain reason to attack?”
“He wouldn’t go so far as to launch an attack. Great Han Kingdom’s military strength is on par with Mai Kingdom, and the Xiguan Pass is extremely difficult to break through. Unless there’s a foolproof plan, Mai Kingdom wouldn’t dare to start a war easily.” Huangfu Yuchen analyzed the situation for him. “But using the death of the Fourth Prince as an excuse to demand compensation from Great Han Kingdom would be perfectly justified. Hu Mailong has never been fond of Hu Maiti. Suddenly sending him to Great Han Kingdom is already very strange. Apart from using him as a pawn and thoroughly exploiting him, I can’t think of any other possibilities.”
Surprise still lingered on Yan Ge’s face. “A tiger doesn’t eat its cubs. Can he really do such a thing?”
“Hu Mailong is someone who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals. I’m afraid our speculations are close to the truth,” Huangfu Yuchen said.
“In your opinion, does Hu Maiti know Hu Mailong’s purpose?” Yan Ge asked.
“That’s not important. What’s important is that we must ensure Hu Maiti doesn’t encounter any trouble within the borders of Great Han Kingdom. We can’t afford any unnecessary complications. I think it’s better to send him away as soon as possible.”
Poisonous Scheme
Posted by ckanda, Released on July 17, 2023
Prev
All Chapter
Next
Options
Hu Maiti’s statement was somewhat ambiguous. Yan Ge smiled and said, “Is that so? I find your age quite vague as well. It could be anywhere from fifteen or sixteen to twenty-eight or twenty-nine.” The word “also” was quite thought-provoking.
Hu Maiti’s smile froze.
Yan Ge smiled apologetically, “I didn’t mean anything by it. Please don’t read too much into it. Gao Feng!”
Gao Feng stepped forward, “I’m here!”
“The Fourth Prince has come from afar as a guest. Take the Fourth Prince to the palace immediately, so that it doesn’t spread and make others think we lack manners.”
“Yes.” Gao Feng gestured to Hu Maiti, “Fourth Prince, please.”
Hu Maiti gave Yan Ge a deep look and followed Gao Feng as they left.
Huangfu Yuchen had received the news beforehand from the shadow guards. Although he had not yet seen Hu Maiti, he already had a negative impression of this person . What kind of decorum did this prince display by pestering his beloved?
“Prince Hu Maiti has met Your Highness, Huangfu.” This was Hu Maiti’s first meeting with Huangfu Yuchen. His extraordinary appearance and cold and imposing aura made Hu Maiti inwardly exclaim in admiration.
Huangfu Yuchen’s expression remained emotionless. “There’s no need for such formality, Fourth Prince. Please, have a seat. I’ll serve you tea.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Huangfu Yuchen said, “The Fourth Prince has come from afar with only two attendants, and they entered the capital in plain clothes. Could it be that you encountered some trouble within our Great Han Kingdom?”
Hu Maiti was secretly alarmed. He had revealed his identity to Yan Ge just a moment ago but Huangfu Yuchen had already affirmed that he had only brought two guards with him. It was likely that Huangfu Yuchen had already learned about his identity and investigated him. He had heard that although the new emperor of the Great Han Kingdom was young, he was by no means weak or easily deceived. The rumors were indeed true.
“Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. That’s not the case. I came quietly to simplify matters.”
“I see.” Huangfu Yuchen continued, “I wonder if the Fourth Prince’s visit is for official business or personal matters?”
Hu Maiti replied, “I dare not deceive Your Majesty. I came for the purpose of purchasing cement. However, I have inquired at the Ministry of Works and learned that the current cement production in Great Han Kingdom is only sufficient for domestic use, and there is no capacity for exports.”
His frankness only made Huangfu Yuchen more cautious. People born in the imperial family would never have simple intentions.
“The Fourth Prince must have anticipated that the purchase of cement would not be successful, which is why you only brought two people to the capital. It truly showcases your extraordinary wisdom,” Huangfu Yuchen remarked.
Hu Maiti paused subtly. “Your Majesty, you overpraise me. I came as a merchant, originally planning to arrange transportation for the cement directly in the capital if the negotiations went smoothly.”
Huangfu Yuchen nodded. “Then, what are your plans next, Fourth Prince?”
Hu Maiti replied, “To be honest, I am captivated by the bustling and exquisite atmosphere of the capital. I intend to stay a few more days.”
“Welcome,” Huangfu Yuchen said. “Since the Fourth Prince has come from afar, I will certainly treat you well. With only two attendants by your side, it’s surely not enough. I will leave my four most trusted eunuchs to serve the Fourth Prince.”
The words “most trusted” cut off Hu Maiti’s retreat, leaving him with no choice but to respond, “Your Majesty’s attention is overwhelming. I am truly honored.”
“Qiao Lan, Miao He, Hui Ju, Ke Mei.”
“Here, Your Majesty.”
“During these few days, you will accompany the Fourth Prince. Make sure he feels at home.”
“Yes.”
Hu Maiti said, “Thank you, Your Majesty. I’ve heard from previous envoys who visited the imperial palace of Great Han Kingdom that your royal gardens are unparalleled. Would I have the honor of accompanying Your Majesty for a visit?”
Huangfu Yuchen was looking for an opportunity to test Hu Maiti’s true intentions. Upon hearing this, he nodded and said, “Why not? Please, I’m afraid I don’t know much about flowers, so it might not be interesting for the Fourth Prince.”
“You are too modest, Your Majesty.”
The group stood up and headed towards the Imperial Garden.
Outside the palace, Yan Ge felt increasingly uneasy. If Hu Maiti’s visit to Great Han Kingdom was merely his personal action, there was no need for him to voluntarily reveal his identity. It seemed that Hu Maiti’s arrival in Great Han Kingdom was mostly under the orders of the emperor of Mai Kingdom, Hu Mailong. If Hu Maiti was indeed the Fourth Prince, it meant that Hu Mailong had more than one son. However, he had sent such a good looking individual. Could there be some hidden motive?
After taking care of matters outside the palace, Yan Ge returned inside.
Huangfu Yuchen was not in the Tenglong Palace. He asked the eunuch in the hall, “Where did His Majesty go?”
The eunuch replied, “His Majesty went to the Imperial Garden with the Fourth Prince.”
Yan Ge narrowed his eyes. “Visiting the garden? How many people are with them?”
The eunuch honestly answered, “There are more than thirty people.”
“Alright, you may leave.”
“Yes, Yan Caiqing.”
Yan Ge felt bored in the hall. He picked up a book from the shelf, read a couple of pages, glanced at the door, but saw no trace of Huangfu Yuchen. He turned a few more pages, looked outside again, still no sign of Huangfu Yuchen… There was a drum beating incessantly in his heart, unable to calm down. He believed that Huangfu Yuchen and the Fourth Prince would not encounter any problems, but they were spending too much time in the garden.
He put down the book and walked a few steps outside the hall, coincidentally seeing Huangfu Yuchen walking leisurely in his direction.
He quickly turned back and sat back on the couch, picking up the book again, appearing engrossed in it.
Huangfu Yuchen was puzzled by his actions. Suddenly, a thought came to him, and a smile curved on his lips. He walked briskly into the hall and asked, “Baby, where were you rushing off to earlier?”
“Oh, I was just getting up to stretch after sitting for a long time,” Yan Ge replied.
Huangfu Yuchen said, “Then why did you sit back down again?”
“The stories in this book are too fascinating, I can’t put it down, so I came back to continue reading,” Yan Ge explained.
Huangfu Yuchen glanced at the pages of the book, “Oh, I didn’t know medical books also tell stories.”
Yan Ge remained calm and closed the book, looking up at Huangfu Yuchen. “You have much to learn. You seem to be in a good mood. Where have you been?”
“Could it be that the kitchen sent dinner so early?” Huangfu Yuchen glanced outside, “Otherwise, how come I smell a sour scent?”
Yan Ge’s face grew warm, but he maintained his composure and leaned closer to sniff him. “It’s because you haven’t bathed for a few days, so there’s a sour smell.”
Huangfu Yuchen surrendered to him, sitting beside him and embracing his waist. “I’m took the Fourth Prince to the Imperial Garden just to test his true intentions. In less than a few seconds, I handed him over to the palace attendants and then returned to the study. The reason I’m in a good mood is because I saw the reports from the Ministry of Works. It seems that all the streets in the capital will be fully repaired in about two months.”
Yan Ge picked up the book again as if nothing had happened, “I didn’t ask you, what are you saying so much?”
Huangfu Yuchen chuckled lightly, resting his chin on his shoulder, “Baby, don’t worry, no one can make me take a second look except you.”
“Actually, I’m concerned about that Fourth Prince,” Yan Ge said. “Don’t you find it strange?”
“Strange that the Fourth Prince is harboring ulterior motives?” Huangfu Yuchen took the book from Yan Ge’s hand and placed it aside, pulling him into his embrace.
“Have you discovered something?” Yan Ge asked.
Huangfu Yuchen replied, “While we were walking on the marble pavement in the Imperial Garden earlier, he stumbled—”
Yan Ge finished his sentence, “And then fell into your arms?”
Huangfu Yuchen quickly clarified, “He didn’t manage to. But baby, how did you know?”
“It’s not difficult to guess,” Yan Ge replied, not very pleased. “So, this Fourth Prince came for you?”
Huangfu Yuchen said, “I’m afraid it’s more than that. Don’t you find his attitude towards you strange too? If I’m not mistaken, both of us are his targets. His purpose is to come between us and sabotage our relationship.”
Yan Ge suddenly understood, “I wondered why Hu Mailong sent someone as beautiful as a woman. So, this was his purpose.”
Huangfu Yuchen said, “Now that we know his purpose, let’s find an excuse to send him away tomorrow morning.”
“Wait,” Yan Ge patted his knee. “I think it’s not that simple. If he came to Great Han Kingdom for the reason we guessed, then Hu Mailong should be very concerned about his safety on this trip. Think about it, Hu Maiti is so beautiful and has no internal strength. He must have encountered one or two people with ill intentions along the way from Mai Kingdom to Great Han Kingdom. But Hu Maiti is only accompanied by two people, and I can feel that Tulan Zhong and Tulan Yong’s internal strength is only average. Isn’t that strange?”
Huangfu Yuchen paused playing with Yan Ge’s finger. “You make a valid point. In that case, sabotaging our relationship is only his surface objective. Bringing only two people, could it be…”
“What are you thinking?” Yan Ge saw his expression change slightly and quickly asked.
Huangfu Yuchen sneered, “Baby, if you were Hu Mailong, and Hu Maiti died within the borders of Great Han Kingdom, what would you do?”
“You mean, since Hu Maiti is Hu Mailong’s son, and he died in Great Han Kingdom, Hu Mailong would definitely…” Yan Ge was greatly surprised. “Are you suggesting that Hu Mailong intentionally sent Hu Maiti to his death to gain reason to attack?”
“He wouldn’t go so far as to launch an attack. Great Han Kingdom’s military strength is on par with Mai Kingdom, and the Xiguan Pass is extremely difficult to break through. Unless there’s a foolproof plan, Mai Kingdom wouldn’t dare to start a war easily.” Huangfu Yuchen analyzed the situation for him. “But using the death of the Fourth Prince as an excuse to demand compensation from Great Han Kingdom would be perfectly justified. Hu Mailong has never been fond of Hu Maiti. Suddenly sending him to Great Han Kingdom is already very strange. Apart from using him as a pawn and thoroughly exploiting him, I can’t think of any other possibilities.”
Surprise still lingered on Yan Ge’s face. “A tiger doesn’t eat its cubs. Can he really do such a thing?”
“Hu Mailong is someone who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals. I’m afraid our speculations are close to the truth,” Huangfu Yuchen said.
“In your opinion, does Hu Maiti know Hu Mailong’s purpose?” Yan Ge asked.
“That’s not important. What’s important is that we must ensure Hu Maiti doesn’t encounter any trouble within the borders of Great Han Kingdom. We can’t afford any unnecessary complications. I think it’s better to send him away as soon as possible.”
