Chapter 516
After the last incident with Commandery Princess Gaoyi, they had understood well enough that the people of Bai Mansion were Princess of Zhen’s inverse scale.
They saw Li Mao’s features tense up under the flickering candlelight, as both strategists looked at him, awaiting his decision.
Li Mao pondered for a long time, rubbing the corner of his clothes. Finally, he made up his mind and looked up at the counselor in blue: “Ziyuan, I need you to personally go to Shuoyang at once without delay! Once you arrive, assess the situation accordingly. If the Princess of Zhen merely sends back the heads without further action, then proceed as you see fit.”
Li Mao’s meaning was clear. If Bai Qingyan only sent the heads back as a warning, he wanted the counselor in blue, known as Ziyuan, to find leverage against Bai Qingyan by contacting the Shuoyang Bai family clan members if possible.
The counselor in blue, Cai Ziyuan, understood why Li Mao wanted him to go. It was his idea in the first place!
Sending him was also a way for Li Mao to ask for forgiveness and to be at the mercy of the Princess of Zhen.
After a moment of surprise, Cai Ziyuan nodded. It was his idea, so it was only right for him to clean up the mess.
Then, he bowed deeply to Li Mao: “I won’t betray the trust you have placed in me, Prime Minister!”
With that, Cai Ziyuan immediately turned and left the study. He ordered someone to prepare a horse… Without even packing, he rode with two guards straight towards Shuoyang City.
The Prime Minister felt uneasy. His eyelids kept twitching.
A white-robed counselor reassured him: “Prime Minister, there’s no need to worry too much. After all, we haven’t done anything yet. The Princess of Zhen sending the heads back to Dadu was likely just a warning. Ziyuan should be able to resolve things by admitting his mistake.”
Li Mao pressed down on his twitching eyelid, picked up his teacup, and took a sip: “You should sit…”
“Prime Minister, allow me to speak bluntly. Your plan with Ziyuan to ally with the Bai Clan’s ousted members had some flaws!” said the white-robed counselor as he sat down. “I know you feel uneasy because the Princess of Zhen has leverage over you. However… let’s think from another angle. Nowadays, King Liang thinks you once followed the Second Prince and were secretly his man. If King Liang ascends to the throne in the future, you would naturally be in a position of great power!”
Li Mao looked towards the white-robed counselor, signaling him to continue.
“But you also have leverage over the Princess of Zhen. As long as you don’t touch her inverse scale or even openly assist her, if the Crown Prince ascends to the throne in the future, you would still be seen as part of his faction no matter what. As a woman far from the royal court, she would surely want to make sure that a high-ranking courtier like you, whom she has leverage over, remains in power to help her control the Crown Prince.”
Li Mao narrowed his eyes. This seemed to make sense.
This was likely why Bai Qingyan hadn’t handed over those letters yet.
She believed that holding those letters gave her control over a high-ranking court official like him, which was more beneficial to her than submitting them and having him killed.
If he were Bai Qingyan, he would have made the same choice when he couldn’t directly influence the court.
“Moreover, we haven’t caused any substantial harm to the Bai family yet. The Princess of Zhen probably didn’t intend to deal with you seriously. Given her nature, if she were to take action, it would be earthshaking. She wouldn’t just send a few heads as a warning,” the white-robed counselor continued.
Li Mao felt slightly relieved: “You have a point. So… we’ll make peace with the Princess of Zhen!”
“That’s exactly what I mean. This way, you’ll remain influential between King Liang and the Crown Prince, never falling from favor,” the white-robed counselor smiled.
Li Mao nodded, feeling a bit more at ease: “I hope Ziyuan can handle this matter well in Shuoyang.”
At this moment, Li Mao had no idea that Bai Jinxiu had already ordered people to copy hundreds of letters of correspondence between Prime Minister Li Mao and the Second Prince from years ago. A copy and the original letter had been sent to King Liang.
The hundreds of replicated letters were sent to the most bustling places in Dadu, such as brothels, taverns, and teahouses.
That very night, young gentlemen enjoying themselves in brothels and taverns saw the letter and noticed that it was signed by Prime Minister Li Mao. They began discussing it fervently, with everyone getting a copy to read carefully.
This was a letter from Li Mao to the Second Prince, who had been executed for treason. The letter was full of flattery and promises of lifelong loyalty, putting the Second Prince at ease.
Bai Jinxiu had carefully selected this letter. It didn’t involve any political affairs but clearly showed that Li Mao was once a part of the Second Prince’s faction.
When someone under Bai Qingyan’s orders told Bai Jinxiu to select a letter, Bai Jinxiu knew that her elder sister didn’t intend to kill Li Mao. Perhaps Li Mao still had his uses, and this move was merely to intimidate him into behaving.
That night, Li Mao had just settled into bed with his concubine when the steward called urgently from outside.
Li Mao, already troubled and unable to sleep well, got up and pulled aside the bed canopy to ask: “What’s the matter?”
“Something major has happened, Prime Minister!” replied the steward.
Li Mao’s heart skipped a beat as he got up, threw on his clothes, and walked out. The concubine, with delicate hands, lifted the bed curtains and called out: “Prime Minister!”
Li Mao ignored his concubine’s call, wrapped himself in his outer robe, and hurried out. His eyes darkened as he looked at the steward: “What happened?”
“Your letters with the Second Prince from years ago are somehow circulating in Dadu City!” The steward handed the letter hidden in his bosom to Li Mao. “Take a look at this, Prime Minister!”
Li Mao snatched the letter and, unfolding it while walking towards the study, ordered the steward to bring his eldest son Li Mingrui and the white-robed counselor.
Li Mao finally realized that it didn’t matter if he had caused the Bai family any substantial harm. Just the intent to try and grasp or create leverage against Bai Qingyan wouldn’t be easily forgiven by her.
Sending the heads back was a warning, and so was this letter.
After all, Bai Qingyan, with leverage over him, was the one who truly had no fear and could act with impunity.
This time, Li Mao had indeed been reckless. He never should have tried to gain leverage over Bai Qingyan to counterbalance her control over him.
In his confrontation with Bai Qingyan, he was always at a disadvantage, only passively subjected to her intimidation.
But, as his counselor had said, the fact that he had leverage and weaknesses in Bai Qingyan’s hands was precisely his opportunity to benefit from both sides.
The white-robed counselor was called back, threw on an outer robe, and went to the study.
By the time he arrived, Li Mao had read the letter several times. It was indeed the letter he had written to the Second Prince but not in his handwriting. Someone had copied it.