In the absence of any other options, Xu Yin felt it was worth gambling on this fifty percent chance.
So he entrusted two pills to Xu Lian.
Thanks to Yongping, this child was instilled by his mother with the notion that his father was formidable, and even though Xu Yin scarcely took part in his upbringing, Xu Lian was still eager for any chance to be close to him. Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝✶𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮✶𝓷𝓮𝓽
Xu Lian always obeyed Xu Yin’s words implicitly, so Xu Yin was confident that as long as Xu Lian could get near Prince Rong, administering the poison secretly as instructed wouldn’t be a problem.
No one would suspect a child!
Besides, even if suspicions arose, Xu Lian wouldn’t know anything!
He wouldn’t know they were poison pills, and even before someone caught him, Lian Rong would have him taken away in advance!
If Prince Rong and his son died from poisoning, it would only lead people to believe they committed suicide out of guilt.
As for whether there were any flaws, or if anyone would notice them?
These are matters for another time, aren’t they?
Right now, at this moment, he just needed to gain the Crown Prince’s trust!
In these six years, the Crown Prince had accumulated enough to secure a lifeline for himself, and Pei Zhan held sufficient evidence to force the Crown Prince to admit guilt; as long as the Crown Prince was unwilling to meet his end, Xu Yin’s goal would be achieved!
And how could the Crown Prince readily accept death?!
When Xu Yin stepped out of his house, he appeared as calm as usual.
When Lian Rong caught up, their eyes met, and Xu Yin relaxed a little more!
One must dismount before the palace gate.
Xu Yin glanced at the eunuch and with hands clasped, said, "I have a few words to say to my steward, please make a concession."
The eunuch replied, "I dare not delay His Majesty’s side; Vice Minister Xu, please be quick."
Xu Yin thanked him, then walked to the side with Lian Rong.
Lian Rong hurriedly explained the sequence of events: "... The process went smoothly, but I saw Fu Zhen present, which felt inexplicably unsettling."
Xu Yin’s expression flickered with a trace of unease: "Why is it her again? What connection does she have with these matters?"
And then she asked, "After instructing Liang Zhi to release her, did she really leave?"
Lian Rong nodded: "Indeed, she left, and in a hurry. As I came out, I inquired along the way, and she went to find Mrs. Zhang."
Xu Yin frowned and pondered: "She’s just an obscure woman who suddenly appeared. Before knowing Pei Zhan, no one knew of her. Perhaps I’m overthinking!... Anyway, keep a close eye on Prince Rong’s Mansion; once news comes out, quickly find a way to send the message into the Eastern Palace!"
Just as Xu Yin finished speaking, a guard rushed over from afar. Arriving nearby, he dismounted swiftly and ran over with large strides: "There’s trouble at Prince Rong’s Mansion! News just came out that Prince Rong and his son committed suicide by poison out of guilt!"
Both were taken aback, and Lian Rong asked, "Is the news true?"
"Look!" The guard turned and pointed down the road, "Liang Zhi’s men are already speeding into the palace to report!"
Xu Yin walked forward a few steps and indeed saw several riders galloping down the street, truly the guards from Liang Zhi’s side! They quickly approached the palace gate and urgently reported to the soldiers guarding the city: "There’s an urgent change at Prince Rong’s Mansion; Prince Rong and his son took poison out of guilt; please report to His Majesty immediately!"
Xu Yin’s eyes suddenly widened, unable to hide his astonishment: "Did it really go so smoothly?"
Lian Rong approached: "Sir, didn’t you predict at least a fifty percent chance of success beforehand? It seems you hit that fifty percent!"
Xu Yin gave him a glance but said nothing.
Lian Rong continued: "Sir, should we proceed as planned?"
Xu Yin waved his hand: "Go ahead."
Since there was only a fifty percent chance, there naturally needed to be preparations for both outcomes.
If Xu Lian had failed and Prince Rong wasn’t dead, Xu Yin had a plan to burn the boats and fight to the end.
Now that Xu Lian succeeded and Prince Rong is dead, he could report back to the Crown Prince.
This meant he was once again getting closer to his goal, after more than six years of maneuvering in the Great Zhou Court, and was now just a small step away from success!...
Lian Rong’s reminder about whether to proceed as planned was indisputable, as the matter had come this far!
However, as he walked along the corridor leading to Qianqing Palace, his heart wasn’t as steady as he had imagined.
For so many years, he had privately arranged for so many things, and never before had he felt this way, as if his feet were floating in the mire.
In his mind, there was a slender shadow, like something clinging to him that couldn’t be brushed away. This shadow was clearly weaker than the healthy and nimble Liang Ning, yet every time he saw her, she unceasingly reminded him of Liang Ning.