38: The emperor's tactics to alienate his ministers

At the entrance of the manor.

Yan Junlin looked at Xie Weilou's retreating figure, his smile deepening.

Being foolish has its advantages; at least, many things won't be overthought, which makes it easier for him to control!

"Your Highness, are you really going to win over Xie Weilou, that wastrel?"

A dancing girl walked over, looking at Yan Junlin with a puzzled expression.

From the current situation of the Zhenxi Marquis Manor, it seemed most likely that Xie Weilou would be eliminated by Xie Cangxuan. Winning over a good-for-nothing seemed to have little significance.

Yan Junlin glanced at the maid and said indifferently, "What do you know? If he were too smart, he would be difficult to control. As long as he sits on the position of Marquis Zhenxi and can be used by me, that will bring me the greatest benefit. Moreover..."

If Xie Weilou truly married Yan Ruyu, and he could control Xie Weilou, the benefits he would gain would definitely be greater than if Princess controlled Xie Weilou.

Although Princess was close to him, as members of the royal family, each could become a competitor, so he naturally had to guard against her.

The dancing girl showed a look of sudden realization upon hearing this. She then asked, "Then should we send someone to protect him? I feel that Xie Cangxuan won't let him off easily."

Yan Junlin shook his head: "No need. Someone won't let him die easily!"

What he said earlier about his Emperor's intention to make Xie Weilou a consort was not baseless, but indeed true.

His Emperor, though bedridden, was still unfathomable. The Emperor's heart was unpredictable. If he intended to make Xie Weilou a consort, he certainly wouldn't let him die easily!

Unfortunately, Yan Junlin was overthinking. This was a common flaw among people with too much cunning; they always delved too deeply into many matters!

Yan Junlin pondered for a moment and said, "Follow him quietly and see what he does next."

"Alright."

The dancing girl immediately flew away.

------

On the street.

Xie Weilou held the bag, his smile very wide, but his eyes held a contemplative look.

This time, he had obtained two extremely important pieces of information from Third Prince.

The first piece of information: the one in the palace intended for him to marry Yan Ruyu?

This matter was certainly not groundless. The fact that he suppressed the matter when he killed someone from the Anping Marquis Estate indicated something.

As for the purpose of the other party's intention, Xie Weilou had guessed a few things.

The Emperor's heart was unpredictable and naturally not intended to lead the Zhenxi Marquis Manor towards Third Prince.

On the surface, his marriage to Yan Ruyu, and Yan Ruyu being a supporter of Third Prince, would make it a natural progression for the Zhenxi Marquis Manor to support Third Prince.

But was it really that simple?

It was certainly not that simple!

Could he marry Yan Ruyu?

Naturally, he could not. There was one person who would not agree, and that was Yan Ruyu.

This news was not directly announced but spread through unofficial channels, requiring all parties to speculate and then take action.

Yan Ruyu, displeased with this matter, would definitely try every means to kill him.

But Third Prince, on the other hand, was eyeing the Zhenxi Marquis Manor, eyeing Xie Weilou, wanting to win him over, and even more so hoping for his marriage with Yan Ruyu.

This would inevitably cause conflict between Third Prince and Yan Ruyu.

As long as there was conflict, these two would no longer be a united front.

This was the art of the Emperor: using unsubstantiated rumors to sow discord among officials!

"Wanting to sow discord, is it because Yan Ruyu and Yan Junlin's combined power is too great and difficult to control? If so, I can add fuel to the fire."

Xie Weilou thought to himself.

That Emperor was merely bedridden, but not dead. If the princes and princesses below acted too conspicuously, they would naturally be targeted.

Moreover, seeing Yan Junlin this time, a thought suddenly arose in his mind.

Three years ago, he saw Princess's body. Who was the true instigator of this matter?

If it were before, he would have thought Third Prince was the most likely candidate.

After all, Third Prince was close to Third Princess. Yan Ruyu plotted against Third Princess and him, but was instead outmaneuvered, while Third Princess remained unharmed. Third Prince's counter-plot seemed fine as well.

But now, Xie Weilou felt that Yan Junlin was the most likely instigator!

"Three years ago, the Zhenxi Marquis Manor was more worth winning over. If Yan Junlin wanted to win over the Zhenxi Marquis Manor, causing some trouble between me and Yan Ruyu seems more direct."

Xie Weilou's face showed a pensive expression.

He didn't just see Yan Ruyu bathing; he was lying with her. According to royal methods, there were two ways to resolve this matter.

The first method was to make a quick decision and have him marry Yan Ruyu directly, which would preserve the royal family's dignity.

The second method was to execute him, but the Zhenxi Marquis Manor would certainly not agree, which led to his imprisonment.

Yan Junlin was close to Yan Ruyu, and Yan Ruyu, coincidentally, was poisoned by Fragrant Beauty. Who had the best chance to plot against Yan Ruyu?

Naturally, it was Yan Junlin, who was close to Yan Ruyu. He understood Yan Ruyu and knew about Fragrant Beauty. His action would make Yan Ruyu completely unprepared.

"If it really was Yan Junlin's doing, then it's interesting. This person is definitely not as simple as he appears. Let's see what he can do next."

Xie Weilou smiled indifferently.

Besides that.

This time, he also received another piece of news: the old man's failure in closed-door cultivation seemed to be related to Xie Cangxuan. However, Xie Weilou felt that this matter was not simple and revealed something amiss.

Xie Cangxuan might have had a chance to act, but he didn't have that kind of strength, because the old man was a Dao Repository Realm expert.

Furthermore, there was also a mysterious third uncle. Even if he wasn't in the Zhenxi Marquis Manor, with an intelligence agency like Tingxue Tower, if Xie Cangxuan wanted to act, how could he not know?

Xie Cangxuan might have made a move, but he definitely couldn't kill the old man!

How this matter truly stood required further investigation.

As for the position of Marquis Zhenxi, Xie Weilou had no interest in it at the moment.

Xie Cangxuan was close to Third Prince, and it was somewhat possible for him to use this to secure his position as Marquis Zhenxi.

However, that was the other party's business and had little to do with him. If that old fellow was blind, then he would send him to his grave.

Did Third Prince think that by killing Xie Cangxuan, the position of Marquis Zhenxi would fall to him? That was completely overthinking.

This matter did not depend on Xie Cangxuan, nor on Xie Weilou, but on the one in the palace.

A single word from him could make Xie Cangxuan abdicate, and could also put Xie Weilou in that position. If he didn't speak, then even if Xie Cangxuan died, he would still be the heir, not the Marquis Zhenxi.

So, Third Prince's idea was good, but unfortunately, he was not as cunning as his Emperor!

......

As he walked, a gambling house appeared before Xie Weilou's eyes.

He lightly weighed the bag in his hand and swaggered into the gambling house.

Not far away.

The dancing girl appeared. Seeing Xie Weilou enter the gambling house, she was stunned, and a hint of mockery appeared in her eyes.

"Wastrel!"

The dancing girl shook her head.

As expected of a profligate wastrel. He had just gotten some money, and now he was already rushing into the gambling house?