Three days passed quickly, and the masked man appeared once again.
"How has the Fifth Prince considered my proposal?"
Pei Huaian gave him a cold glance, "I think you’re not showing the slightest sincerity. If you were sincere, you’d take off your mask and we’d talk face to face."
"If you were to see my face, I’m afraid we wouldn’t be talking about cooperation but rather my life," the masked man said in a lowered voice.
Pei Huaian also noticed that the masked man seemed to deliberately lower his voice, so as not to reveal his true sound.
He narrowed his eyes and sized up the other: "Since you’re so cautious, let’s forget it then."
Just then, a sudden cold wind swept through, and the masked man quickly rose to dodge. The two exchanged blows furiously, but ultimately it was Pei Huaian who gained the upper hand, landing a palm strike on the masked man’s shoulder, causing him to stagger back several steps.
"You..." the masked man covered his injured area, glaring at Pei Huaian with anger.
Pei Huaian’s lips curled indifferently, "I never claimed to be a paragon of virtue."
"You despicable scoundrel!" the masked man hissed through clenched teeth.
Pei Huaian was not only cunning and ruthless, but also narrow-minded and extremely shameless and dishonorable!
Pei Huaian quickly removed the mask from his face, pausing slightly upon seeing the stranger’s face.
Upon this, the masked man took out a bag of powder and flung it at him, as Pei Huaian hastily held his breath and closed his eyes, but it was already too late.
His head buzzed, his body gradually went limp, and he finally fell stiffly to the ground.
When he awoke again, it was the next morning, and although there was nothing out of the ordinary about his body, except for a wound on his wrist, which he did not pay attention to.
Shao He finally completed the portrait, and An Shi and An Jiu also brought the evidence to the court. Zhao Yuanjiang tried his best to defend himself, but in the end, he could not overcome the irrefutable evidence.
Ah Mo even captured the criminal directly, and Yan Ze asked with a smile, "Does Master Zhao have anything else to say? Or perhaps you’d prefer to present the rest to The Emperor?"
Zhao Yuanjiang slumped in his chair, never expecting such an outcome.
Having no other choice, they released the man. Pei Chengye, having learned of the incident, pushed all the blame onto Zhao Yuanjiang, considering his handling of the matter to be incompetent.
Yet Zhao Yuanjiang countered, "It must be that masked man’s doing, what should we do now?"
If The Emperor decided to investigate the matter, none of them could escape.
"Why fear? If you’ve done nothing, The Emperor won’t hold you accountable," Pei Chengye said with certainty.
Zhao Yuanjiang’s heart was still apprehensive until he breathed a sigh of relief after the next day’s court session ended.
Fortunately, The Emperor indeed did not pursue the matter, which made him even more convinced that neither The Emperor nor the Fifth Prince took it seriously, which meant that the Second Prince still had a chance to ascend to the throne.
Little did he know, this was but a temporary measure.
How could The Emperor really lock up Huaian? This was just to let some people lower their guard so that Yan Ze could investigate what Abbot Yuan Hui was conspiring.
The Emperor ordered Pei Chengye to enter the palace that very day.
Upon seeing Eunuch Zhu, Pei Chengye asked, "Does Eunuch know why The Emperor has summoned me to the palace this time?"
If it were before, Eunuch Zhu would gladly chat with him, but after previous lessons, Eunuch Zhu finally kept his mouth shut and said nothing.
Inwardly, Pei Chengye cursed: Just a eunuch, and he dares to act so arrogant in front of this prince. Once I ascend, he’ll see what I do to him.
Pei Chengye was taken to the Imperial Study Room, where The Emperor still sat in front of the desk reviewing documents, not bothering to look up at him.
"This son pays respect to Father Emperor," Pei Chengye offered respectfully.
"Rise," The Emperor put down his pen, slowly rose, and walked to the edge of the desk, his gaze fixed deeply upon Pei Chengye.
With growing nervousness, Pei Chengye struggled to maintain composure under that stare.
"I’ve heard you have some connection with Abbot Yuan Hui," The Emperor began slowly.
Pei Chengye’s heart skipped a beat, and anxiety flooded him. He forced himself to remain calm and replied evenly, "Why does Father Emperor say such a thing? I have no acquaintance with Abbot Yuan Hui."
The Emperor gave a cold laugh and returned to his throne, "I’ll ask you once more, do you have a connection with Abbot Yuan Hui?"
"I have absolutely no involvement with Abbot Yuan Hui. I implore Father Emperor for clear discernment," Pei Chengye knelt on the ground, pleadingly looking up at The Emperor.
The Emperor scoffed, "Is that so? Then I will send someone to investigate thoroughly. Don’t come crying and begging for mercy later."
With that, he turned and left.
Pei Chengye collapsed on the ground, his mind in turmoil, unsure of how to respond. If The Emperor truly sent someone to investigate Abbot Yuan Hui’s affairs, he would definitely be implicated.
The person who wanted to leave was trapped. Pei Chengye roared, "How dare you stop this prince!"
"We ask for the Second Prince’s understanding. This is The Emperor’s command; you are to stay here," the Imperial Guard said coldly.
Pei Chengye stumbled backward and fell to the ground, muttering to himself, "It’s all over, all of it."
The Emperor returned to the Imperial Study Room and proceeded to the garden. The palace maids had prepared tea and snacks. After eating a couple of pastries and drinking half a pot of hot tea, The Emperor finally spoke, "What have you found out?"
"Your Majesty, as expected, Abbot Yuan Hui has secrets. He has connections with the Southern Border Country, and his relationship with the Empress is quite close; he even once gave her a jade pendant," Yan Ze handed the gathered evidence to The Emperor.