"Brother Yun, Prince Jing’s purpose is not merely to disrupt our collaboration with the Crown Prince and their group, right?" Fang Zhimiao gazed into Song Qingyun’s eyes and said, "Brother Yun, let’s be frank, the ultimate goal of Prince Jing is to overthrow the Crown Prince and Duke Zhen, isn’t that so?"
Song Qingyun nodded slightly and said, "That’s right."
Upon hearing this, Fang Zhimiao thought to himself: So it is indeed.
"Prince Jing wants evidence of the things we did with the Crown Prince’s group, right?"
"Correct." The Song Family has already gathered quite a bit.
"Brother Yun, the things we helped the Crown Prince and Duke Zhen with are all serious crimes. If we report what we have done to the court, we won’t meet a good end."
Song Qingyun understood Fang Zhimiao’s purpose in ing to see him today after hearing these words.
"You mean that you won’t aid the Crown Prince and Duke Zhen anymore, but you won’t reveal what you’ve done for them in the past either?"
Fang Zhimiao nodded and said, "Exactly. Once the court discovers the things we did for the Crown Prince’s group, they will never let us go." Any of the acts they previously mitted, if exposed, is a severe crime.
"Qing Xiu, do you think by not speaking up, the court will remain unaware of the things you did for the Crown Prince’s group?" Qing Xiu is Fang Zhimiao’s courtesy name.
Upon hearing this, Fang Zhimiao frowned, "What do you mean?"
"The things you did for the Crown Prince’s group, including what our Song Family did for Duke Zhen’s group, the court is perfectly clear about them."
"Impossible!" Fang Zhimiao denied loudly, "How could the court know?" The things they did were extremely secretive, and there was no way the court’s spies could find out.
Song Qingyun looked at Fang Zhimiao with unprecedented seriousness, "Qing Xiu, whether it’s you or our Song Family, the court knows every single thing we did for the Crown Prince’s group."
Fang Zhimiao was startled by Song Qingyun’s words, feeling a chill surge from his heart, making him feel as if he had fallen into an ice cellar. But he still refused to believe it.
"Impossible, how could the court know?"
"I will invite Prince Jing." Song Qingyun stood up and walked out, leaving for a while.
Fang Zhimiao picked up the tea cup, but his right hand was shaking, causing tea to spill onto the back of his hand. At this moment, his heart was in a state of panic and fear. He hurriedly lowered his head to drink tea, and after finishing a whole cup, he felt slightly calmer.
The door opened again, and Fang Zhimiao looked over to see Prince Jing walk in, quickly standing up to greet him.
"A moner greets His Highness Prince Jing."
Prince Jing glanced at him and said with a neutral tone, "Stand up."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
After Prince Jing sat down, he gestured for Song Qingyun and Fang Zhimiao to sit as well.
"I heard from Qingyun that you refuse to speak about what you did for the Crown Prince’s group, is that right?"
Fang Zhimiao steadied his mind, forcing himself to remain calm.
"Prince Jing, the things we did for the Crown Prince’s group would anger the court, and they would never spare us upon knowing."
After hearing this, Prince Jing let out a sneer: "Do you think the court is oblivious to what you’ve done?"
"If the court is aware, why haven’t they acted against us?" If the court knew, they would not have tolerated them.
"The court hasn’t dealt with you yet because the time isn’t right, not because they are unaware." Prince Jing cast a disdainful glance at the outwardly calm Fang Zhimiao, "Do you think the Emperor assigned me to Jinling merely to oversee the civil service examinations?"
Fang Zhimiao didn’t quite understand Prince Jing’s meaning, showing a look of bewilderment, thinking wasn’t it so?
Prince Jing noticed Fang Zhimiao’s clueless expression and wrinkled his brow with some disdain.
"The main purpose of my assignment to Jinling by the Emperor is to search for evidence of your collusion with the Crown Prince." Prince Jing had always been aware that the Emperor sent him to Jinling not only to host the civil service exams but to actively gather evidence of the Crown Prince’s group’s illicit activities there.
The Emperor knew that Prince Jing desired the Crown Prince’s position and was already dissatisfied with him. He also knew Prince Jing would strive to gather incriminating evidence against the Crown Prince and Duke Zhen’s group once he reached Jinling, so the Emperor "fulfilled" Prince Jing’s ambition.
Fang Zhimiao looked utterly shocked.
"Do you really think I don’t have evidence of your collusion with the Crown Prince?" Prince Jing shot a cold glance at Fang Zhimiao, "I’m giving you a chance to atone for your crimes for Song Qingyun’s sake, yet you do not appreciate it."
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