Xunyang County.
Xunyang Prefecture Office.
Inside the mansion, a middle-aged man was sitting in the hall, looking at the government affairs placed on the table with a frown on his face.
The middle-aged man has sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, and a standard square face. He has some of the handsome and masculine temperament of his youth. After middle age, he has a more calm and steady aura of a superior, and he is intimidating without being angry.
This person is the current prefect of Xunyang County, Wang Shiquan.
More than ten years ago, a major event occurred in Xunyang County. Jiang Cheng, the then prefect of Xunyang County, was suddenly exposed for secretly communicating with the enemy country. Letters and various evidences of communication with the enemy country were seized from his home, which confirmed the evidence of Jiang family's conspiracy to rebel.
The entire Jiang family was executed!
The fall of the Jiang family gave Wang Shiquan a golden opportunity. However, Wang Shiquan, who was just a small civil servant, seized this golden opportunity and rose to prominence.
During the past ten years or so, Xunyang County had been governed by Wang Shiquan. Although his achievements could not be said to be particularly good, he was considered to have enjoyed peace. Perhaps due to years of hard work, Wang Shiquan had only just reached middle age, but his hair had already turned white, and he looked much older.
At this moment, in the room, Wang Shiquan looked at the intelligence and government documents sent from below and sighed deeply.
"I'm afraid something big is going to happen in the capital!"
Not far from Wang Shiquan, an elegant man said, "Sir, what do you mean by this?"
This man was Wang Shiquan's advisor, named Zheng Chang. He was also considered the Xunyang Commandery's advisor, responsible for helping Wang Shiquan handle his daily government affairs.
Wang Shiquan put down the intelligence in his hand, rubbed his temples, and frowned, saying: "Your Majesty has been in seclusion for several months and has disappeared. The people in the capital are in panic, and various forces are ready to make a move. I'm afraid there will be chaos..."
Zheng Chang's eyelids twitched. He glanced at his master and asked tentatively, "My lord, His Majesty has been spending more and more time in seclusion in recent years. He hasn't appeared in public for half a year. He has been staying deep in the palace without any movement... Could something have happened?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Wang Shiquan's eyes suddenly froze.
He understood what Zheng Chang meant. Was he suspecting that His Majesty had passed away?!
When this thought came to mind, Wang Shiquan's heart skipped a beat.
...It's not completely impossible!
Since His Majesty fell ill a few years ago, he began to distance himself from government affairs and stayed in the palace to recuperate, which lasted for several years.
In the past few years, His Majesty had rarely appeared in public, and especially in the past six months, there had been no news of him at all. Many officials in the capital had wanted to see His Majesty, but without exception, they were all turned away.
"Your Majesty hasn't appeared in half a year. This is very unusual..."
Zheng Chang concentrated and said, "Before His Majesty went into seclusion to recuperate, he appointed His Royal Highness the Crown Prince as regent, yet at the same time, he also favored that old eunuch... Over the past few years, His Majesty's occasional decrees were also conveyed by that old eunuch. This is extremely abnormal. I suspect..."
Zheng Chang didn't continue speaking, but how smart is Wang Shiquan?
His pupils suddenly shrank: "You mean, His Majesty has already..."
"The old eunuch's origins are unknown, I'm afraid there is something wrong!" Zheng Chang said in a deep voice.
Wang Shiquan was silent, his eyes becoming more serious.
Indeed, before His Majesty's retreat, he greatly favored the old eunuch by his side, even handing over the Secret Heavenly Office to him. During His Majesty's retreat, most of His Majesty's orders were conveyed by the old eunuch. Apart from this, almost no one had ever seen His Majesty.
Who can guarantee that the old eunuch has no evil intentions?
Eunuchs are in power and the government is in chaos!
"Sir, you and I should make plans early!"
Zheng Chang spoke up to remind him.
The situation in the capital was chaotic, and they naturally couldn't stay out of it. Not to mention the importance of Yanzhou and Xunyang Commandery, they each had their own backers in the capital who were influencing and manipulating them. Changes in the situation in the capital would also affect their future.
"Nowadays, many factions in the capital are fighting openly and secretly. The faction headed by the Crown Prince is the most powerful. Although most of the old ministers in the court support His Royal Highness, we must also be wary of that old eunuch..."
"That eunuch controls the Secret Heaven Department. I wonder how many spies he has planted within the imperial court and how many ministers he controls in the capital. If, as you and I suspect, Your Majesty is under his control, or perhaps... then this is a very bad thing!"
"Besides that, there's Prime Minister Zhao in the capital. As a veteran of three dynasties, Prime Minister Zhao holds a pivotal position within the court. Even Your Majesty has to give him some respect, and Prime Minister Zhao's influence cannot be underestimated. But to this day, no one knows whose side he's on..."
Wang Shiquan continued to rub his temples, feeling a headache.
The situation in the capital had a serious impact on him. Wang Shiquan's current achievements were inseparable from the support of the powerful forces behind him in the capital. If something went wrong, the consequences would be unimaginable.
It seems that there are three forces in the court now, confronting and competing with each other, but in fact there are undercurrents.
Besides His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, there were many other princes in the court who coveted the throne. This was especially true of the Third Prince in the capital, who, despite having reached adulthood, had yet to go to his fiefdom to receive his title. His motives were well known. If something unexpected happened to His Majesty at this critical juncture, the fate of the Daning Dynasty would truly change.
"One more thing..."
Zheng Chang seemed to be thinking of something and said, "Something has happened recently in Yanzhou...Something has also happened in Xunyang County, involving your family..."
The Wang family behind Wang Shiquan was considered a major family in Xunyang County. After the fall of the Jiang family, the Wang family inherited the Jiang family's heritage and quickly became one of the largest families in Xunyang County.
Even Wang Shiquan would find it difficult to control such a large family. The Wang family's business influence spread throughout Xunyang County, and they had engaged in many shady activities in secret over the years. Wang Shiquan was naturally aware of this.
However, he chose to turn a blind eye!
Wang Shiquan’s current achievements are naturally inseparable from the support of his family.
"Send someone to check it out!"
Wang Shiquan concentrated and said, "Let's see who is causing trouble!"
Anyone who dares to attack the Wang family in Xunyang County is seeking death.
"Sir, I have found some clues!"
Zheng Chang hesitated for a moment, then slowly said a name: "Prince Lin."
Wang Shiquan was startled and frowned: "Him?"
"Some time ago, news came out that the Prince of Lin had left Linzhou and was heading to the capital to marry the eldest princess... From Linzhou to the capital, he had to pass through Yanzhou."
Wang Shiquan frowned even deeper: "Are you saying that he was responsible for the incident in Yanzhou?"
"It's possible!"
Wang Shiquan's eyes were solemn. "My Wang family has no grudges against his Lin family. We have been living in peace all these years, right?"
Zheng Chang shook his head slightly and sighed, "Rumor has it that Prince Lin seems to have some mental problems... In Linzhou, the people all hate him to the core... Perhaps he may have accidentally caused some disputes?"
"But I can't guarantee that there's no instruction from that King Lin behind this!"
The news of the Prince of Lin's arrival in the capital had already spread, attracting the attention of many. The Prince of Lin's whereabouts on the way to the capital were no longer a secret. His purpose in this visit naturally attracted the attention of various forces.
Marry the eldest princess?
Although this is the case in name, no one can guarantee whether the Prince Lin has any other purpose.
This Prince Lin might be an unlearned fool, but the Prince Lin was not. The Prince Lin's visit to the capital must have been at the Prince Lin's behest.
So, who can guarantee that Prince Lin is not plotting something big in secret?
"Calculating the time, the Prince of Lin will probably arrive in Xunyang County in the next few days!"
Zheng Chang looked up at Wang Shiquan and said, "Sir, if the Prince of Lin comes, how should we respond?"
"Should I win him over, or..."
Wang Shiquan was silent, thought for a moment, and shook his head gently: "Neither!"
Zheng Chang was stunned, somewhat confused.
"The purpose of Prince Lin's visit to the capital is unclear, and it has nothing to do with you or me!"
Wang Shiquan pondered for a long time and said calmly, "Over the years, we have been living in peace with the Lin family and have no conflicts. At this critical moment, if he doesn't cause trouble, then nothing will happen!"
Zheng Chang hesitated to speak, thought for a moment, and said, "Sir, are you not going to express your opinion?"
"Do you think I should be the first to speak out?"
Zheng Chang seemed to be thinking about something. After a while, he bowed and said, "Your Excellency is truly wise!"
yes!
Today, the Daning Dynasty is in chaos, with infighting within the court, and the dynasty is also fraught with crises.
The imperial court wanted to reduce the power of the feudal lords, and the primary target was naturally the Prince Lin, whose achievements surpassed those of the emperor! Before the current situation became clear, taking sides was indeed not a wise choice.
"Let's wait and see."
Wang Shiquan waved his hand and said calmly, "If he doesn't cause any trouble, we should treat him with courtesy. No matter what, he is the Crown Prince after all, so we should give him some face. But if he has other intentions..."
"Then don't blame me for being ruthless!"
Wang Shiquan spoke expressionlessly.
…
Liuxiang Tower.
The largest entertainment venue in Xunyang County.
As an important hub running through the north and south of the dynasty, Xunyang County’s geographical location is extremely important, and its economy is naturally extremely prosperous.
The Liuxiang Tower is the largest willow-themed place in Xunyang County.
Liuxianglou can no longer be considered an ordinary brothel. It is almost the place with the largest visitor flow in Xunyang County. Countless dignitaries and talented men come here every day.
Even the penniless beggars in Xunyang City would appear outside Liuxiang Tower with eager eyes, wanting to catch a glimpse of the beauty of the women inside.
To be able to attract so many dignitaries and talented men, the women in Liuxianglou must be extraordinary. Whether in terms of beauty or talent, the women inside can be regarded as first-class.
They are extremely beautiful, with extraordinary temperament, and are proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry and songs. The women in Liuxianglou are especially good at playing the flute, and its top courtesan is an excellent flute player, famous far and wide.
In this place surrounded by willows, on the third floor, in a private attic.
The attic was in a mess.
A young man dressed in luxurious clothes was lying lazily on a soft sleeper, his clothes disheveled, holding two stunning women in his arms, and looking drunk.
"Come, Prince Wang, I'll toast you again!"
"Oh, Prince Wang, please don't..."
"Prince Wang, you are bad..."
“…”
The shy yet seductive voice of a woman could be heard from the room, mixed with her hearty laughter.
Inside the private room, there were several other young men who were also like this, with women around them, their faces filled with intoxicated enjoyment.
"You have to be so generous, Prince Wang!"
"Of course not. Don't you see our prince's status? In Xunyang County, everyone who sees our prince must be respectful and courteous."
"I think even if the Prince of Linzhou comes, he will have to be respectful in front of our Prince!"
The other young men in the private room all offered compliments, and for a moment the room was filled with a cheerful atmosphere.
The Wang Qin they were talking about was the only son of Wang Shiquan, the current governor of Xunyang County. He was considered extremely powerful. In Xunyang County, Wang Qin was the most powerful second-generation heir.
Wang Qin was lying on the couch, hugging himself on both sides, squinting his eyes. When he heard them mention Prince Lin, a barely perceptible sneer appeared on his face.
"Prince Lin?"
"Who the hell is he?!"
He looked at the other person with a haughty look and a hint of sneer and disdain, not taking the other person seriously at all.
When the people in the room heard this, they all agreed.
"That's right, what qualifications does Prince Lin have to be compared with our Prince?"
"I heard that Prince Lin is a complete wimp. I also heard that he almost died at the hands of a prostitute. He's really embarrassed his father!"
"He's just a second-generation rich kid from a barbaric land, bullying his way through Linzhou. If he dares to come to Xunyang County, I can handle him without even needing Prince Wang to intervene!"
The young men in the room spoke in a tone filled with sarcasm and laughter.
The prince of the Linwang in the wild land had long been a laughing stock for these people. From time to time, they would drag him out to be whipped, and then flatter him.
Wang Qin narrowed his eyes and sneered, "I actually hope he can come to Xunyang County. I want to see how useless this Prince Lin is!"
"I heard that Prince Lin is planning to go to the capital to marry the eldest princess, and he might pass through our Xunyang County on the way." Someone mentioned it.
Upon hearing this news, Wang Qin's eyes lit up: "Are you serious?"
"It's being rumored outside. I heard my father mention it. He said that Prince Lin will most likely pass through our Xunyang County. Who knows, we might even run into him then!"
"Well, you're just in time!"
Upon hearing this news, Wang Qin sneered, "I didn't expect he'd actually dare to come? Then I'll show him who's in charge in Xunyang County!"
"Prince Wang, I support you!"
"Then we'll give that Prince Lin a good show of force and make him lose face!"
"Hit the face of Prince Lin and steal his woman!"
“…”
As soon as these words were spoken, the surroundings suddenly became quiet, and everyone's eyes turned to the person who said this.
Steal the woman of Prince Lin?
Who is the woman of Prince Lin?
The eldest princess of the current dynasty!
Seize the eldest princess?
Is this person crazy?
Dare to provoke the eldest princess?!
The young man who blurted out this remark suddenly became embarrassed when he saw everyone looking at him. He also realized that there was something wrong with his words: "I just said it casually... The eldest princess can't be snatched away, but other things can be snatched away... The Lin Wang prince occupied Linzhou, and I don't know how many beauties he has plundered and kept in the Lin Wang Mansion. Isn't this something he can snatch away?"
However, Wang Qin suddenly sneered at this moment, his eyes were fiery, with a hint of jealousy and a hint of coldness.
"The eldest princess..."
"What virtue and ability does Lin Jiangnian have to be qualified to marry the eldest princess?"
"He doesn't deserve it!"
“…”