Liu Pi was very clear about Jingbei Prince's thoughts, and also very clear about the thoughts of those in the court.
He actually did not agree with the Emperor's actions.
As a Eunuch, he could not say what should not be said.
As for the imperial court, the Emperor's power in the world today was weak, and the ministers' power was strong, which was something the Emperor did not want. The struggle between the two had reached an extremely sensitive moment. Jingbei Prince's allegiance was crucial for both sides.
The suggestion for Xu Ping to enter the capital as a hostage was devised by the Grand Astrologer, Zhang Qisheng. Zhang Qisheng also contributed greatly to the imperial throne struggle back then and was a loyal supporter of the Emperor.
Before issuing the decree, the Emperor had actually consulted Liu Pi. Liu Pi naturally could not give any clear verbal indication and could only be vague.
Summoning a hostage to the capital was not inherently wrong and was a common political tactic throughout various dynasties.
However, Jingbei Prince was different from other vassal kings; he was the Great Zhou's most powerful non-royal king, having ascended to the throne with the Emperor, supported by his 200,000 elite Northern Border troops and Zhang Qisheng.
At the same time, Jingbei Prince was the only vassal king who had only one son.
Summoning a hostage was suitable for any other vassal king, but not for Jingbei Prince. This would not only cause his dissatisfaction but also create a rift between Xu Cang, who held significant military power, and the Emperor.
Even the person he personally supported to power was not trusted; the Emperor was perhaps too narrow-minded and intolerant.
The variables of Xu Ping entering the capital were too great. Liu Pi did not understand how such a simple truth could be unknown to the Emperor and Zhang Qisheng.
Looking at Liu Pi, who was deep in thought, Xu Cang did not rush him but waited patiently instead.
He was indeed a calculating person. In just a short while, Liu Pi seemed to have thought of something.
"Your Highness, please rest assured. These two thousand Imperial Guards accompanying us are all strong and capable men and will naturally escort the Heir into the capital for an audience with the Emperor in the shortest possible time," Liu Pi said with a calm expression, showing no emotion whatsoever.
"Eunuch handles matters, this Prince naturally feels at ease! Then, please, Eunuch, rest for a while, and later move to Tianxiang House to drink with this Prince!"
"Your Highness is too kind!" Liu Pi nodded.
"Xu Ping, quickly go to the inner mansion to check the accounts and go with Old Gao to ensure the dinner arrangements are properly made."
"Yes, Father!"
Immediately, Xu Cang led Liu Pi to the inner hall for a chat.
Before long, Xu Ping and the steward, Old Gao, arrived at Tianxiang House.
Tianxiang House has seven floors and is quite famous throughout the Northern Border. Those who come are either high-ranking officials or wealthy merchants.
Tianxiang House was quite mysterious. Xu Ping, out of curiosity, tried to inquire about its background multiple times but to no avail. His father had also explicitly stated that the waters inside were deep, and many people were watching the Northern Border, so it was best to keep a low profile.
"Shopkeeper!" The steward, Old Gao, shouted loudly.
Hearing this, the Shopkeeper hurried over. "Oh, what a rare guest! Your Royal Highness, what brings you here!"
"Shopkeeper Xu, my father wants to host a distinguished guest tonight. Which floor do you think would be convenient for the arrangement?" Xu Ping asked with a smile, looking towards the stairs.
"Since it is the Prince hosting the banquet, you are naturally the most distinguished guest of my Tianxiang House! I will immediately send someone to clean up the sixth floor and ensure the banquet is arranged perfectly for the Prince!"
Xu Ping raised an eyebrow. Since he was going to the capital, he still couldn't resist wanting to peek before leaving. "Can't my father host the banquet on the seventh floor?"
Shopkeeper Xu showed a difficult expression and thought for a while. "Your Royal Highness does not know. The seventh floor of this Tianxiang House is not for guests to dine but for my building master to dine, so it is not that I am being negligent, but it is truly difficult."
"Shopkeeper is truly interesting. Your building master opened Tianxiang House and never said the seventh floor doesn't host guests. If that's the case, why can't my father host a banquet on the seventh floor?" The more the Shopkeeper refused, the more curious Xu Ping became. It was either those two, or the one in the imperial city.
Seeing that Xu Ping did not buy his excuse, Shopkeeper Xu could only bite the bullet and say, "In that case, please wait a moment, Your Royal Highness. May I respond after I inquire with the building master?"
"No problem! Shopkeeper Xu, hurry back!"
Soon, Shopkeeper Xu arrived on the seventh floor: "Miss, Xu Dehai requests an audience!"
"Come in." The voice was clear and elegant.
Xu Dehai pushed the door and entered the pavilion.
"What is it?" The woman smiled, her brows relaxing.
"Miss, tonight Jingbei Prince wishes to host a banquet at my Tianxiang House."
"Who is being entertained?"
"I do not know."
The woman pondered for a moment. "If I am not mistaken, it should be the Grand Eunuch, Liu Pi."
Xu Dehai nodded slightly: "That is very possible."
"You can arrange it, why ask me?"
"This!" Xu Dehai showed a difficult expression.
"Is Jingbei Prince going to host guests on the seventh floor?" The woman was somewhat puzzled.
"Miss's prediction is correct!"
"Haha!" The woman covered her mouth and chuckled: "The Prince will not host guests on the seventh floor. It must be the Heir who is curious about which power Tianxiang House belongs to, so he brought up his father."
"Miss's foresight is like a god's. I will find a way to put him off."
The Tianxiang House Master frowned slightly, as if deep in thought about something.
After a good while, she slowly stood up. "The Great Zhou has a history of several hundred years. It has been glorious and silent, strong and weak." Saying this, the woman pushed open the pavilion window.
Looking at the passersby outside the window, the Tianxiang House Master was somewhat lost in thought. After a few breaths, she spoke: "Look at the bustling traffic outside this window. The change of dynasties is the process of history, irreversible.
Only the common people, no matter which dynasty or era, no matter who the monarch is, they will always live on this land. Toil, reproduce, live." The Tianxiang House Master smoothed her beautiful hair. "Everyone has curiosity. How about this, you ask him a question and see how this Jingbei Prince's Heir will answer. Then you can set the banquet on the seventh floor, and I will naturally avoid it."
"Miss, what is the question?"
The Tianxiang House Master's delicate brows furrowed slightly. "You just ask him, how can the Great Zhou prosper, and how can the common people of this world live happily and peacefully?"
"Miss? Is it appropriate to ask that?"
"As long as you ask, he should be able to guess a thing or two. The other few people wouldn't ask such a question.
Go! You can arrange the subsequent matters as you see fit."
After a long time, Xu Dehai still hadn't arrived. Xu Ping, on the other hand, had ordered a pot of tea and was cracking melon seeds himself.
Old Gao seemed a bit impatient. "Your Royal Highness, why don't we just set the banquet on the sixth floor? The Prince doesn't care about these things."
"What's the rush! I'm not in a hurry. Let's wait another stick of incense." Xu Ping didn't mind. If it really didn't work, the sixth floor was fine anyway; he was just curious.
As the two were speaking, they saw Xu Dehai hurrying over.
"Shopkeeper Xu! What, did you take a trip outside the Great Wall? I've brewed several pots of tea here. If you came any later, I'd almost not be able to pay for the tea!" Xu Ping complained while cracking melon seeds.
Xu Dehai quickly put on a smiling face. "Your Royal Highness is joking! No one has ever gone up to the seventh floor, so I discussed it with the building master for quite some time. The hospitality was not up to par, it truly was not up to par, please forgive me, Your Royal Highness!"
"I can understand. What did your building master say?"