Chapter Thirty-Eight: Framing Someone?

"He will provide you with the merchant credentials, but you must only sell your military horses to wealthy merchants. Do not use the credentials when making these sales; only produce them if the government authorities come to investigate you."

Zhang Fu looked at Li Chengche with confusion. "Your Highness, I am but a simple man and truly do not understand why the Crown Prince would make such an arrangement. What is his intent?"

"Intent? Do you truly not understand? Do you not know that forbidden things are the most valuable? If those wealthy merchants knew that your horses were legally sanctioned for sale—"

"How much money could you make from these military horses in your hands? But if these horses are illegal, their price remains that of the black market. In this way, you can earn much more gold and silk. Furthermore, my father said he cannot exert his efforts for nothing. He wants a ten percent cut of the profits from this horse trade."

Zhang Fu nodded. Ten percent was nothing; they didn't mind, as they had intended to offer it to the Crown Prince anyway.

"There is no need to report this to the Uncle of the State; I can agree to this on his behalf."

"Good. A pleasure doing business. Let us finish this cup."

Zhang Fu nodded, took the cup, and downed it in one gulp.

Li Chengche smiled at him. "Steward Zhang, there is one more thing you must keep in mind."

"After every three batches of horses are sold, there must be one that is 'pursued' by the government authorities."

"Your Highness, the Imperial Grandson, what do you mean by that?"

"What do I mean? Don't worry about it. Just make sure to pass those words on to your Uncle of the State."

"When the time comes, the military horses return to the Eastern Palace, and the wealth goes to the Uncle of the State. Why wouldn't you be happy with that?"

Zhang Fu’s expression shifted slightly. He understood now: the Eastern Palace intended to use this as a pretext to bleed those wealthy merchants dry.

When the time came, the Uncle of the State and the Prince of Yi'an would profit, while the Eastern Palace would not only reclaim the horses but also earn the reputation for cleansing the marketplace and purging illicit activity, thereby expanding the Eastern Palace's influence and overshadowing the Prince of Qin’s mansion.

Meanwhile, the merchants who sold the horses would lose everything and be forced to swallow their losses in silence!

It was a scheme that reaped ten thousand profits for themselves while casting all disaster and loss upon others! Zhang Fu couldn't help but admire the depth of the Crown Prince’s schemes; what a brilliant calculation!

"Your Highness, the Imperial Grandson, I shall take my leave. And these merchant credentials?"

"They will be delivered by my staff in a few days. Just tell the Uncle of the State to wait."

After sending Zhang Fu away, Li Chengche picked up his wine cup. The wine was cold, but his heart was burning, for he had finally managed to distance himself from the mess.

"Thank heavens. I only hope that my second uncle will spare my life in the future."

[Ding: Host successfully guided the Eastern Palace to implement the 'Legal Plunder' plan. System classification: 'Top-tier Slacking + Reverse Manipulation.' Points +30.]

[Current Points: 1640 → 1670]
[System Upgrade Countdown: 330 points remaining]

After leaving the Zuihua Pavilion, Li Chengche originally intended to return straight to the Eastern Palace to report the results of the conversation to his father. But before he could even descend the stairs, he was stopped by Su Qingyue. "Your Highness, the Imperial Grandson, I have something to discuss with you."

Li Chengche looked at her in confusion. "Miss Su, what is it?"

"Your Highness, could you release my brother? I have already decided to cooperate with you. Is this how you treat an ally?"

Looking closely, Su Qingyue's face was filled with anger and accusation, demanding to know why he had broken his word.

"You misunderstand, Miss. I have not laid a finger on your brother."

"If not you, Your Highness, then who?"

Li Chengche shook his head. "I do not know."

[Ding: Host refused to alleviate Su Qingyue's concerns. System classification: 'Entry-level Slacking.' Points +10.]

"Could it be... the Prince of Qin?" Su Qingyue wondered aloud.

Li Chengche shook his head. He knew Li Shimin was not the type to do such a thing. He had heard the story of the Lady in Red; she had originally supported Li Shimin before switching her allegiance to Li Jiancheng. If Li Shimin were truly petty enough to resort to such tactics, would the Lady in Red have ever made it to the Eastern Palace? She likely would have been silenced the moment she considered leaving the Prince of Qin’s mansion.

Su Qingyue shook her head, dismissing the thought. "But if it wasn't you, who could it be? My brother arrived in Chang'an last night and was abducted at the city gate. They left behind only a bronze token engraved with the seal of the Eastern Palace."

A bronze token from the Eastern Palace? Could it be... the Crown Princess?

Because Li Chengche was not the Crown Princess Zheng’s biological son, she had never liked him since he was a child. Now, his frequent visits to the Zuihua Pavilion had likely touched a nerve, triggering her sense of crisis. Thus, she had staged this to frame him and destroy his relationship with Su Qingyue.

While he was bound by a 'Slacking System,' he found it difficult to ignore such a cruel act committed merely to frame him. After all, if he didn't slack, the system wouldn't punish him, right? Thinking this, he looked at Su Qingyue earnestly.

"Miss Su, let me see that token."

Su Qingyue nodded and handed the brass token to Li Chengche. It was indeed a genuine identity token from the Eastern Palace. It was finely crafted, the patterns were clear, and it looked brand new.

But that was the problem—it was too new. The Eastern Palace had not hired any new staff in months, and the existing staff’s tokens were all worn with age. How could there be one this new?

"Miss, this is clearly a frame-up. My Eastern Palace hasn't had a new arrival in half a year; all our tokens are weathered. This one is brand new, without a trace of wear. It was obviously forged overnight. And the only people who could forge it so convincingly are those under the command of the Crown Princess."

"Miss, if you want to save your brother, go to the Prince of Qin’s mansion. When you arrive, whoever is present, beg them for help."

"Once you secure reinforcements, go directly to the properties owned by my stepmother, the Crown Princess, and search them one by one. You will surely find something."

Su Qingyue pondered for a moment and nodded. "Very well, Your Highness. If I discover that you were behind this, do not blame me for turning against you and reporting all your secrets to the Prince of Qin."

Under normal circumstances, Li Chengche would never tolerate such a threat, but he understood Su Qingyue's urgency—the bond between siblings was deep, after all.

When Su Qingyue rushed to the Prince of Qin’s mansion, only the Princess of Qin, Zhangsun Wuyou, and her brother, Zhangsun Wuji, were there. Seeing her, they were about to greet her when they saw her approach them. "Lord Zhangsun, Princess of Qin, I beg you both to help me."

Zhangsun Wuyou was sharp; seeing her state, she knew she was in great trouble. "Miss Su, you have served our mansion well. If you have any grievances, just speak plainly; there is no need for such formalities."

"Princess, my brother has been kidnapped by the Crown Princess of the Eastern Palace. I implore you to send men to help me rescue him. I will never forget this great kindness."

Zhangsun Wuyou snorted coldly. "That sister-in-law of mine is truly acting recklessly. Miss Su, are you certain this was the Crown Princess’s doing?"

"I am certain. It must be her. Recently, acting on the Prince of Qin’s orders, I have been privately contacting the Imperial Grandson to probe his intentions. The Crown Princess must have assumed I was becoming his ally and resorted to this frame-up to sow discord between us..."

"Brother, what do you think?"

Zhangsun Wuji sneered. "With such a wicked wife, how could the Crown Prince ever succeed? This is our brother-in-law's good fortune. I shall personally lead the men to accompany Miss Su."