46: Thank you for what happened today.

"Above..."

Dong Yao's expression froze.

Xie Weilou whispered, "This case being sent to the Tianquan Division is the First Prince's doing. The Great Commander of the Tianquan Division is also the First Prince's man. This Xie is merely a Young Master with a title but no real power. Do you think I can decide this matter? I'm just here to go through the motions. Didn't I have the maid from the Dong Residence tell you to bring a thousand taels of silver?"

"......"

Dong Yao was clutching a thousand-tael silver note.

Xie Weilou pulled the silver note from Dong Yao's hand. He shook his head and said, "Originally, this silver note could have bought the brothers in the Tianquan Division some drinks, and Dong Hen's matter could naturally have been postponed. But the Great Commander directly ordered the execution. What could I do? I already gave you time, but why did you delay for half an hour?"

"I..."

Dong Yao's face was extremely pale. Why was he half an hour late?

Because he was looking for connections to save Dong Hen!

Xie Weilou softly said, "Lord Dong, please accept my condolences! You've clearly offended someone. The moment you stepped into this whirlpool of power, you were destined for eternal damnation. You should have thought of this earlier!"

"That's enough. This Young Master should go report back. A Young Master without real power ultimately has no say."

After speaking, he walked towards Lu Ping.

Xie Weilou glanced at Lu Ping and led her away from the square.

On a main road.

Xie Weilou slipped the silver note into Lu Ping's hand: "Dong Hen is dead. This is compensation from the Dong Residence. Although it's not much, it's enough for you to live on."

Lu Ping looked touched and was about to kneel: "Thank you, sir."

Xie Weilou supported Lu Ping and gently said, "Live well. The road ahead is still very long."

Tears streamed from Lu Ping's eyes. She quickly took out a rolled-up book from her sleeve and handed it to Xie Weilou: "Sir, this is something my father compiled. He secretly hid it. It seems to involve something important. I feel that his death, being run over by Dong Hen's horse, might be related to this. I'm giving it to you now."

Xie Weilou took the book and nodded lightly: "I understand. You can go back! If anything happens in the future, just go directly to Commander Lin of the Tianquan Division's Second Hall."

"Mmm-hmm!"

Lu Ping bowed and then turned to leave.

Xie Weilou opened the book in his hand and looked at it, a strange look appearing in his eyes. It was an account book, recorded by Lu An, and it also contained some self-narration.

Lu An was a stable hand at the Court of Imperial Studs and naturally knew a lot about the Court of Imperial Studs's warhorses. He discovered that some of the warhorses he helped raise would mysteriously disappear, but there was no record of it in the account book; instead, they were recorded as being fully present.

This was clearly not right. Someone was making false accounts, and someone was secretly transferring warhorses.

He had secretly observed and found that the disappeared warhorses had all been taken away by Dong Yao for various reasons, but after being taken away, they were never brought back.

Sometimes the Qing of the Court of Imperial Studs would bring some officials over for inspection, and Dong Yao would have people bring some inferior horses to make up the numbers...

The Qing of the Court of Imperial Studs, who was responsible for warhorses, how could he not know what was inferior? And how could he not know that the account book had problems?

But he chose to turn a blind eye because he was also involved in this matter, profiting together with Dong Yao.

"It seems Lu An's death is also related to this matter."

Xie Weilou put away the account book and sighed softly.

How should this account book be used to achieve the greatest effect?

If the Tianquan Division were to investigate it themselves, they might sometimes be constrained because it involved the Third Prince. This matter might be stopped midway through the investigation, as the royal family needed to save face.

"I've got it!"

A cunning light flashed in Xie Weilou's eyes.

This account book, given to Yan Junlin now, would be most suitable. Then, if he manipulated things a bit, it could intensify the struggle between the princes.

Thinking of this.

Xie Weilou left the Tianquan Division with his hands behind his back and headed straight for the First Princes Residence.

First Princes Residence.

Yan Junlin was drinking tea.

"Reporting to the First Prince, Xie Weilou requests an audience."

A guard respectfully reported.

Upon hearing this, Yan Junlin immediately put down his teacup and walked towards the main gate.

The moment he saw Xie Weilou, his face lit up with enthusiasm, and he quickly said, "Brother Xie, please, come in, come in."

Xie Weilou laughed loudly, "Today, while resolving Dong Hen's case, Dong Hen, fearing death, secretly gave me an account book. This item involves the Third Prince, and I thought you would definitely be interested, so I rushed over quickly."

Yan Junlin's pupils constricted when he heard this. He quickly said, "Brother Xie, lower your voice. Walls have ears. Let's go inside to talk."

"Oh! What's the big deal?"

Xie Weilou directly pulled out the account book and handed it to Yan Junlin, saying, "Here's the account book for you. Last night, the Third Prince sent people to assassinate me, which is truly hateful. When the time comes, take this account book and deal with him harshly."

Yan Junlin took the account book and immediately opened it to read.

After a quick look, his expression became extremely solemn: "Brother Xie, I truly must thank you for what you've done today."

Xie Weilou smiled and said, "The account book has been given to you. I should go back now. That's just how I am; I'm very clear about how others treat me."

Yan Junlin's face was filled with gratitude, and he quickly said, "This Prince will certainly not betray Brother Xie's trust."

"Then I'll take my leave. I have other matters to attend to."

Xie Weilou waved his hand and left with a smile.

The moment he turned, his smile was somewhat playful.

Yan Junlin's words about walls having ears were indeed correct. It's likely that the news of him giving the account book to Yan Junlin would soon reach the Third Prince's ears.

If Yan Junlin was smart, he definitely wouldn't immediately hand over this account book. Instead, he would use it to exchange for some benefits with the Third Prince.

After all, as princes, how many of them had clean hands?

If he kept this account book, then tonight Xie Weilou would give him a small gift!

------

Not long after.

Yan Wuchen's Residence.

"Reporting to Your Highness, something terrible has happened! That dog Dong Hen seems to have given Xie Weilou an account book. Xie Weilou has already given the account book to Yan Junlin. That thing probably involves some matters concerning the Court of Imperial Studs."

A guard quickly reported to Yan Wuchen.

"What?"

Yan Wuchen's face changed drastically after hearing this. He was naturally very sensitive to anything about account books.

"What should we do next?"

The guard quickly asked.

Yan Wuchen looked at the guard and asked, "How is the person who delivered the message now?"

"No problems at all."

The guard replied.

Yan Wuchen breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this: "If Yan Junlin wanted to block the news, that person wouldn't have had the chance to send it. But now that the news has come through, it means one thing: Yan Junlin wants me to know about this, thinking I'll be hesitant. This is him trying to negotiate with me!"

"Then what should we do?"

The guard asked, puzzled.

Yan Wuchen sneered, "Since Yan Junlin wants to negotiate with me, he's probably also looking to divide some profits. He certainly won't easily hand over the account book. This, on the contrary, gives me an opportunity."

After a moment of thought, he said, "Let's make two plans. First, send someone to seize that account book. If we can get it, then it saves a lot of trouble. If we fail, then I'll negotiate with him."

"I see, Your Highness is brilliant."

The guard quickly flattered him.

"Heh heh!"

Yan Wuchen smiled playfully.

As princes, who didn't hold some leverage over the others?

How to use that leverage to maximize their own benefits, that was the most important thing to consider.

He had already guessed Yan Junlin's calculations, and this indeed gave him an opportunity.