420: Chapter 420 I'm afraid of people who pretend.

Yang Gengzhong, disguised as an ordinary wealthy elder, looked up at this moment and smiled apologetically.

"Master Hong, this old servant is getting on in years. Just the thought of a long journey kept me awake last night; my heart simply wouldn't settle."

Emperor Hong laughed heartily. "Time spares no one. Even a Grand Secretary of three reigns like you, who has seen his share of great storms, has days where a long journey makes him nervous."

"Indeed. It's precisely because I'm old that I thought... if these old bones can accompany Master Hong on one last trip to the North, it wouldn't be a life wasted."

Yang Gengzhong spoke with an air of profound sincerity.

Emperor Hong nodded, seemingly quite pleased by these words, but then he sighed.

"I wonder how that child is doing. I don't expect him to accomplish much; as long as he doesn't make any major blunders, it will suffice."

"Master Hong, rest easy. With Official Xie, Minister Wang, and the others keeping an eye on things, there certainly won't be any mistakes."

"I hope so..."

Yang Gengzhong smiled and nodded from the side, appearing deep in thought.

The Imperial Palace.

Wenyuan Pavilion.

*Bang!*

Crown Prince Li Chenghao slammed the table, his expression ugly as he said, "Those officials in the Yan Region take the court's salary, yet they support Li Xinglan, defy imperial orders, and even slander Father's decree of bestowing favors. What is wrong with me stopping their salaries!?"

"Your Highness, Princess Xinglan's defiance naturally warrants punishment. However, stopping the officials' salaries will only make the Yan Region's officials more united."

Xie Tong said solemnly, "Currently, the Yan Region is being infused with resources by the Northern Trade Alliance; they aren't lacking this bit of salary at all. If Your Highness punishes the officials, it will only cause the hundred officials of the Yan Region to become completely estranged."

"Then... according to what you're saying, sending troops won't work, and stopping salaries won't work. Are we just going to let Li Xinglan continue being so arrogant!?"

Li Chenghao gritted his teeth in fury. It had been hard enough for that old man to finally head North, allowing him to preside over the cabinet and get a taste of ruling.

But as it turned out, he couldn't even manage to spite that damned Li Xinglan!?

One must know that due to Princess Xinglan's recent refusal of marriage, he, the heir apparent, had become the laughingstock of the entire world.

There were even rumors among the commoners that he was 'not quite capable,' which is why Princess Xinglan looked down on him!

Outrageous!!

"Your Highness, forgive my bluntness, but His Majesty allowed you to oversee the state so you could learn how to handle government affairs. A ruler should prioritize the overall situation."

Minister of War Wei Mingzhuang spoke with an air of blunt honesty.

"You... are you saying I'm using my power for personal gain!? Wei Mingzhuang! How dare you!!" Li Chenghao's hands shook with rage.

"I am merely offering counsel. If Your Highness feels I am in the wrong, you are free to punish me," Wei Mingzhuang said with a stiff face.

Just as Li Chenghao was about to explode, he was held back by Minister of Revenue Wang Qirui.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, please calm your anger. His Majesty has just left; according to the itinerary, he hasn't even passed Qixia Pass yet..."

Reminded by Wang Qirui, Li Chenghao felt as if he'd been doused with cold water and instantly calmed down.

However, after such a scene, he had no interest in continuing the discussion. He flicked his sleeves and stormed out of Wenyuan Pavilion.

Feeling stifled, Li Chenghao took several eunuchs and headed straight for the inner palace.

"Xie Tong, Wei Mingzhuang, you all look down on me..."

"My marriage is what Mother cares about most. Once I find her, let's see how I deal with you!"

Li Chenghao smiled smugly as he arrived at Kunning Palace.

As soon as he entered, he saw the Empress looking sickly, her complexion pale as she drank medicine.

"Mother! You... what's wrong?"

Li Chenghao was startled.

"The Crown Prince is here? So early? Shouldn't you be at Wenyuan Pavilion? Overseeing the state is a grave matter; you mustn't be careless," the Empress urged.

"Mother, don't even mention the cabinet. You were fine two days ago, so how did..."

The Empress looked as though she didn't want to say much, but the two old nannies by her side immediately began to gossip.

"It's all because of that vixen Consort De!"

"For no rhyme or reason, His Majesty released her from the Cold Palace. She was originally mad, but it seems she's come to her senses again."

"Before His Majesty left, he even spent a night at Peacock Palace. It's been so long since His Majesty favored any of the consorts..."

Li Chenghao suddenly understood. He had heard that Consort De had been released from the Cold Palace.

But because Consort De had gone mad back then, he hadn't taken it too seriously.

"Father favored her? Her... her madness is cured?"

The Empress squeezed her son's hand. "Crown Prince, I'm not afraid of her being cured. What I fear is... that she was faking madness back then!"

"What!?" Li Chenghao's face turned pale. "Mother, what do you mean?"

The Empress lowered her voice. "Regarding that matter back then, Prince Bai secretly played a part. Now that Prince Bai has been killed by the Prince of Zhenbei, if any evidence fell into his hands..."

"Tell me, why did Consort De not come out sooner or later, but chose this exact time to leave the Cold Palace?"

Li Chenghao's expression grew even more unsightly. "Mother means... Consort De is secretly in league with the Prince of Zhenbei?"

"I can't say for sure, but I feel this matter... is not that simple."

The Empress shook her head and sighed. "Your father is already dissatisfied with you in many ways. If any damaging evidence appears before the world..."

Li Chenghao was momentarily stunned, losing his bearings as he felt his heart pounding wildly.

The Northern Border.

On the high-speed official road passing through Sha Prefecture toward Cang Province.

Lin Xiao and the women were sitting in a comfortable Hongqi carriage, finally spared the jolting of riding horses.

Along the way, many road administration carriages were transporting cement slabs for paving.

With this improvement, the construction speed of cement roads in the Northern Border had accelerated greatly, and they were already beginning to pave toward the county towns.

Lin Xiao was quite gratified to see more and more cement roads.

"Husband, have some tea."

Xiao Qingxuan brought over a cup of fragrant Mingqian tea.

Because the ground was now flat, a tea table could be set up in the carriage without water splashing out.

Lin Xiao took a sip enjoyably. Only stir-fried tea leaves were fit for drinking.

"Husband, are we really not going to keep the technique for stir-frying tea a secret?" Su Wansha asked.

The women were well aware of the advantages of stir-fried tea; it would definitely take the entire country by storm.

"Stir-frying tea doesn't have a very high barrier to entry; it won't be a secret for long. Besides, tea farmers have a hard life; there's no need for us to earn every single penny ourselves."

Compared to a daily necessity like tea, Lin Xiao preferred to make money from liquor.

The poor couldn't afford good liquor. This stuff had high profits and high demand; as long as it was done well, the Northern Trade Alliance would see its wealth grow even further.

One must know that although the Zhenbei Army was not lacking in funds, most of the people in the Northern Border were still struggling at the subsistence level.

Liquor was a great tool for 'wealth redistribution,' so Lin Xiao placed great importance on the upcoming wine-tasting convention in Xinghua Village.

Northern liquor had to be an instant hit!

When the carriage reached Yangquan, Lin Xiao hadn't intended to stop.

However, Xu Zheng, who had become the Governor, had been waiting at the city gate for a long time.

Upon inquiry, he learned that Liao Meier had arrived in Yangquan and hadn't left, waiting for a chance to see Lin Xiao.

"Didn't Liu Qihai die?"

Lin Xiao was puzzled. This woman hadn't managed to get any information out of him, so what was she still doing here?

"Yes, Your Highness. But after Liao Meier went to that fire-damaged dungeon, she said she has some important information that she must tell Your Highness at the scene."

Lin Xiao pondered for a moment and said, "Fine, then let's make a trip to the dungeon."