Chapter 346: Shang Chaozong Is More Fortunate Than I Am

Gao Jianhou followed them inside and closed the door behind him, remaining on guard just within the entrance. Upstairs, two windows stood open on opposite sides. Che Buchi and Xie Longfei each guarded one, watching the surroundings outside.

"Niu Youdao, Guan Fangyi. Greetings, Your Highness."

The two visitors cupped their hands in salute. Prince Ying, Hao Zhen, smiled amiably.

"I too have long heard the names of both of you. Sit."

He gestured, and host and guests seated themselves around the table. Mu Jiu stood at Hao Zhen's side with hands folded.

"What matter required you to meet me in person?" Hao Zhen asked.

Niu Youdao glanced meaningfully to either side. There were outsiders present.

Was this convenient?

Hao Zhen said, "Speak freely."

Since that was the case, Niu Youdao did not bother circling around the subject.

"There's a matter in which I'd like to ask Your Highness for help."

Hao Zhen replied, "If it's within my ability, I'll certainly help."

Niu Youdao was surprised. He had not expected the prince to agree so readily.

Then Hao Zhen slowly added, "But I will not do anything that violates state policy. Warhorses, for example."

Clearly, Hao Zhen had already guessed that Niu Youdao came to the State of Qi for warhorses and suspected that was why he had sought him out.

"The warhorses have already been granted to me by His Majesty. I needn't trouble Your Highness over them."

This bastard was lying again. Guan Fangyi's expression did not change, but inwardly she muttered to herself.

"You mean Father Emperor gave you warhorses?" Hao Zhen asked in surprise.

Niu Youdao reached into his sleeve and drew out a token, holding it up for Hao Zhen to see.

"Getting warhorses out of the State of Qi is not a problem for me. I hope Your Highness will keep this confidential."

The moment he saw the token, Hao Zhen gave a soft "Oh" and nodded slightly.

Inside, however, he was startled and rapidly reconsidering what sort of relationship this man had with his father. Mu Jiu naturally saw the token too. His eyes flickered.

Hao Zhen said, "Since this is Father Emperor's private intention, I won't interfere and will simply regard myself as unaware of it. But I would like to ask one thing. Did you come to see me today on your own behalf, or on Father Emperor's?"

Standing by the door, Gao Jianhou wanted to see what sort of token Niu Youdao held, but from his position he could not. Guan Fangyi wanted to see it as well. But Niu Youdao immediately slipped it back into his sleeve, and she caught only a glimpse of its edge. The gesture made her teeth itch. From Hao Zhen's reaction, the token apparently really did possess that authority. Yet this bastard had never breathed a word of it to her.

At the same time, she was puzzled. If he already possessed such a trump card for obtaining warhorses, why go through all this trouble to seize someone else's shipment?

Niu Youdao said, "This has nothing to do with His Majesty. It's a private matter of my own."

Hao Zhen said, "What can Father Emperor not accomplish that requires me instead?"

The meaning was obvious. If Niu Youdao could contact the emperor directly, what use did he have for a mere prince?

"His Majesty would not help me with this."

"What is it?"

"I'd like Your Highness to detain someone for me. A court official. Hand him over to me."

Hao Zhen immediately exchanged a glance with Mu Jiu.

Then he asked, "Secretly detain a court official? Are you joking?"

"I'm not. Otherwise I wouldn't have come to Your Highness."

"Which court official has offended Brother Niu?"

"A subordinate of the Prince of the Western Court. His name is Zhang Xingrui."

Zhang Xingrui?

Hao Zhen frowned. The name made almost no impression on him. He certainly was not an important official, or Hao Zhen would have known him. He turned toward Mu Jiu.

"Does Imperial Uncle have someone by that name under him?"

Mu Jiu bent slightly.

"He does. Zhang Xingrui is an idle official under the Western Court who handles registration of imperial-clan properties. He's a third-rank official, quite ordinary and normally very inconspicuous."

That made Hao Zhen even more curious. He turned back to Niu Youdao.

"Why would such a low-key, unremarkable official attract the attention of the famous Brother Niu?"

Niu Youdao smiled.

"Your Highness is low-key too."

Hao Zhen said calmly, "What would I have to be high-profile about?"

There was no need for Niu Youdao to push that line of discussion any farther. Some things only needed to be touched upon. Both sides understood enough. He returned to the matter at hand.

"Has Your Highness ever heard of Ghost Mother of Xianyin Mountain?"

"I've heard a little. Does she have something to do with Zhang Xingrui?"

"Zhang Xingrui is Ghost Mother's descendant in the secular world. Her great-grandson!"

The moment those words fell, Hao Zhen, Mu Jiu, Gao Jianhou, and even Che Buchi and Xie Longfei listening from upstairs were all startled. Hao Zhen's lowered eyes gradually lifted. His gaze deepened, and a different sort of presence emerged from him.

"Does the Prince of the Western Court know?"

"He does. And he has always kept it secret. That alone shows Zhang Xingrui's apparent obscurity is really a form of protection. If the Prince of the Western Court is willing to conceal and protect him like this, one can see how much Ghost Mother values this great-grandson."

Hao Zhen fell silent. In that short span, countless thoughts passed through his mind.

Then he said, "Whether Zhang Xingrui is Ghost Mother's great-grandson isn't actually the important point. The important point is that he's a court official. No one can bear the responsibility for secretly detaining a court official. I certainly cannot."

"I won't make things difficult for Your Highness. I only need him detained for a period of time. Afterward, I'll return him to you safe and sound. And I guarantee that once the matter is over, neither the Prince of the Western Court nor Ghost Mother will dare make a public issue of it. There will be no effect on Your Highness."

"You guarantee it? What are you using to make that guarantee? This is absurd!"

"Could Your Highness spare a few steps so we can speak privately?"

Niu Youdao rose and extended one hand toward the door. Hao Zhen stared at him for a while, his gaze strange and unreadable. In the end, he slowly stood. The door opened. The two men walked out one after the other, crossed the bridge, and reached the bank. They paced side by side through the garden. The others remained by the water pavilion and watched. No one knew what the two were saying.

They only saw Hao Zhen suddenly turn toward Niu Youdao at one point, visibly astonished. At last, the two stopped by the water. Hao Zhen clasped his hands behind his back and sighed.

"There are many people capable of doing this. Why did you choose me?"

Niu Youdao said, "There seem to be many, but in truth there aren't. Behind Zhang Xingrui stand Ghost Mother and the Prince of the Western Court. Ordinary people would not dare cross them for fear of retaliation. Your Highness is different. His Majesty stands behind you. Ghost Mother doesn't have the courage to do anything to you. So long as Your Highness makes the move, Ghost Mother will know she cannot touch you and, for Zhang Xingrui's safety, will not dare make the matter public. I don't want even the slightest rumor leaking before the matter is done, so I had no choice but to ask Your Highness for help."

"What exactly are you planning to do to Ghost Mother?"

"That isn't convenient to reveal yet, but I can give Your Highness two guarantees. First, once the matter is complete, I'll return Zhang Xingrui safely and won't leave Your Highness in a difficult position. You need only find a reasonable pretext to transfer him away for a while. Second, I guarantee this matter will not infringe upon the interests of the State of Qi."

Hao Zhen was silent for a moment.

Then he asked, "Don't you have dealings with my second brother? Why not ask him? His resources would be better suited to this."

It was not the same explanation Niu Youdao had given Guan Fangyi. He changed his story again.

"Because I think more highly of Your Highness and would like to become acquainted with you. I expect Commandery Prince Yongping will have dealings with the State of Qi again in the future. I believe Your Highness and I are alike in one respect: we're both looking toward the long term and the future."

Hao Zhen smiled.

"Zhang Xingrui is one of Imperial Uncle's men, and you want this done without arousing suspicion. This won't be easy."

"If it were easy, I wouldn't have come to Your Highness. But I don't believe such a small matter can trouble you."

Niu Youdao cupped his hands. That he had come to Hao Zhen was indeed the result of careful thought. On Su Zhao's side, Chen Guishuo had already confirmed her identity.

She was indeed the "Sister Zhao" connected to Shao Pingbo.

Combined with the information Guan Fangyi had provided, Niu Youdao could now confirm with complete certainty that the person arranging this shipment of warhorses for Shao Pingbo was Su Zhao. Xiaoyue Pavilion might even stand behind the operation. And if he seized Zhang Xingrui, the first priority was not to alert the Prince of the Western Court. Otherwise, Su Zhao would be alerted, and perhaps Xiaoyue Pavilion as well.

If the Prince of the Western Court were alarmed, then even if Niu Youdao managed to seize the warhorses, it was almost certain he would not be able to transport them safely back to Qingshan Commandery. Hao Zhen turned his head toward him.

"The guarantees you've given are all well and good, but I can't easily use any of this to hold you to account later. Strictly speaking, your guarantees aren't worth very much."

Niu Youdao said, "But Your Highness cannot deny one thing. If something happens to you, I wouldn't dare stand by and watch you die. Doing so would be courting death myself. I still say the same thing: if Your Highness helps me this time, then in the future, so long as a matter lies within my ability, I'll do everything I can to help you!"

Hao Zhen said, "Since you think so highly of me, why not come to my side and help me directly?"

"Your Highness already has people from the three major sects assisting you. If I came here, what would I amount to in front of them? Wouldn't I have to live by watching other people's expressions? That isn't what I want."

"Is Tianyu Sect truly that easy to deal with?"

"At the very least, Tianyu Sect can't do anything to me."

"Won't you reconsider?"

"Commandery Prince Yongping has treated me well."

Hao Zhen sighed.

"Shang Chaozong is more fortunate than I am. I hope you remember your promise."

He gestured toward the water pavilion. Mu Jiu and the other three immediately flashed over. Hao Zhen turned away.

"Let's go."

As the four passed Niu Youdao one after another, each looked him up and down again. All four badly wanted to ask Hao Zhen what Niu Youdao had said. But they knew if Hao Zhen wished to tell them, he naturally would. There was no need to ask otherwise. Niu Youdao cupped his hands and watched them leave. Guan Fangyi quietly came to his side.

"He agreed?"

"You could say he did."

Guan Fangyi was surprised. She had opposed Niu Youdao's plan to seek out Prince Ying from the beginning, believing Hao Zhen would never agree to something like this. She had seen the prince's attitude just now as well. Suspicion entered her eyes.

"What did you say to him that made him agree?"

"I sincerely tried to make a friend."

"Stop feeding me nonsense!"

Some things were not to be casually told to others. Niu Youdao stared after Hao Zhen's departing figure and changed the subject.

"Who were the other three?"

Guan Fangyi rolled her eyes. She knew further questioning would be pointless.

"Mu Jiu, the chief eunuch steward of Prince Ying's residence. The other two are Che Buchi of Daqiu Sect and Xie Longfei of Xuanbing Sect."

"Prince Ying really isn't simple."

"You're thinking too much. The imperial princes all have people from the three major sects protecting them."

"Am I thinking too much? Prince Jin also has people from the three sects protecting him, yet in private he only dares use Wei Chu. This one has turned disciples from the three sects into his own trusted confidants."

Niu Youdao let out a soft breath and turned.

"Let's go."

At those words, understanding dawned on Guan Fangyi's face. She fell into thought.

[End of Chapter 346]