Chapter 12: Ling’er’s Astonishment Upon Entering the Residence—My Ambition Is to Marry Off All Twelve Western Courtyards

Listening to Liu Mingyuan’s words, Ye Tao lifted his tea cup and took a light sip.

“That’s right.”

“First, deal with Cao An and that mad dog. I want to see how arrogant he can still be.”

“A prince of royal blood, yet he dares to bully others just because of his backing. He has utterly disgraced the royal family.”

“Send someone to keep a close watch on the Qin Prince’s residence. Report any unusual activity to me immediately. Within a month, I will turn that mad dog into a pot of meat.”

As he finished speaking, Liu Mingyuan’s face lit up with joy, nodding repeatedly. “Your Highness, rest assured, I will not let anything go wrong this time.”

Hearing Ye Tao’s plan to get rid of Cao An and Wang Cai, his mood was immensely relieved.

Since his father became Vice Minister of Revenue, he had never been humiliated like this.

After a brief pause, Ye Tao continued in a low voice, “Today, I lost the literary contest and failed to win over Shangguan Pan Shi. The situation may be beyond saving. Have your father expedite the second plan. We must secure the Minister’s seat before the end of the year.”

“I reckon the selection of the heir won’t be delayed much longer. We must wield greater influence before Father pounds the table in anger.”

Liu Mingyuan hurriedly responded, “Yes, Your Highness.” Then he furrowed his brows, hesitating, “But, regarding Duke Zhen Guo…”

Ye Tao put down his cup, lowering his gaze. “Don’t worry. I have my own way of dealing with Duke Zhen Guo.”

Upon hearing this, Liu Mingyuan grinned from ear to ear, excitement bubbling within him.

“Yes, yes, yes… I understand.”

If his father succeeded in rising to the Minister of Revenue, then he could truly walk with authority throughout the capital.

At the desk, deep within Ye Tao’s eyes gleamed a chilling coldness.

Although Emperor Ye Lantian of Xia was only fifty this year, the Guangyuan era was fraught with turmoil — internal strife and external threats.

Ye Lantian had marched north and south, battling and engaging in succession struggles, leaving him physically and mentally exhausted.

After successfully seizing the throne and renaming Guangyuan to Zhenwu, he governed with diligence and restored peace and prosperity to Xia.

Yet, the years of ceaseless toil had taken a heavy toll on his health.

When Ye Xun was still crown prince, the other princes had restrained themselves.

But now, with Ye Xun deposed and the heirship vacant, the rivalry among the princes intensified.

For the crown prince’s seat and ultimately the throne, all were desperately courting the civil and military officials.

Ye Tao’s mother was only one of the ninth-ranked imperial consorts, Lady Li Zhaoyuan (originally named Li Songyue, Zhaoyuan being her rank).

Above her were four noble consorts and an empress, two of whom had sons.

Among the nine consorts, many bore princes.

Moreover, Ye Tao’s mother had no formidable backing.

The palace hierarchy was strict; although his mother’s status was not low, lacking powerful connections left her at the mercy of others.

This was one reason Ye Tao sought the throne.

He understood that to gain greater freedom and no longer depend on others’ favor, he had to climb to the very top.

Thus, he had studied relentlessly these years, leveraging his connection with Ye Xun to forge ties with influential ministers, compensating for his disadvantaged birth.

Because of this, though ruthless, Ye Tao always wore a smile in front of others.

For now, he still needed to endure and wait.

Among the many princes, his advantages were limited.

The fourth prince, Ye Chen, had a first-rank noble consort as his mother, whose grandfather was Nangong Ye, Prime Minister and Right Deputy Minister of Xia.

The Ministry of Shangshu governed six departments and was the highest executive authority in Xia.

Although there was no Minister of Shangshu, the Left and Right Deputy Ministers, also called Left and Right Prime Ministers, wielded great power, with the Left ranking above the Right.

Thus, Ye Chen’s maternal grandfather, Nangong Ye, was a powerbroker second only to Duke Zhen Guo Wei Wuji.

This was why Ye Tao aimed to win over Wei Wuji.

Although Wei Wuji was Ye Xun’s uncle, with Ye Xun’s decline, Wei Wuji had long abandoned him.

Ye Tao resolved to take a gamble.

If he succeeded in winning Wei Wuji’s support, his path to succession would be halfway secured.

Hence, his enmity with Ye Xun was both personal and political.

He despised Ye Xun — a useless cripple with a powerful background, who had been crown prince for so many years and trampled on him.

Publicly and privately, Ye Tao vowed to crush Ye Xun so utterly that he would never raise his head again.

Only then would Wei Wuji wholeheartedly back him and abandon all hope for Ye Xun.

At this moment, Ye Xun was still on his way back to the Qin Prince’s residence, dreaming of living as a carefree prince.

He was unaware that a massive vortex was slowly approaching, ready to engulf him.

...

In the capital city, at the Qin Prince’s mansion.

Three people and a dog pulled a cart into the estate, greeted only by silence and emptiness.

Ling’er, entering the mansion for the first time, stared wide-eyed, looking around.

It was not what she had imagined.

She thought the mansion would be bustling, lively, noisy, and prosperous.

But the Qin Prince’s residence was desolate, with only withered branches and leaves scattered on the ground, and the occasional bird flying overhead — not a sound to be heard.

Ling’er even suspected this was not really Ye Xun’s home.

“Steward Cao, where are the other servants in the Qin Prince’s mansion?” she asked cautiously, afraid to disturb anyone.

Cao An replied carelessly, “There’s no one else here besides the prince, you, me, Wang Cai, and a wild cat.”

Ling’er: ...

She stared at Cao An in disbelief.

The grand Qin Prince’s mansion had only three people? Counting her!

Even if he was a deposed crown prince, it couldn’t be this miserable!

Despite her thoughts, Ling’er felt a bit secretly pleased.

At first, she had worried about fitting in.

Now, hearing there were only three people, her anxiety eased considerably.

Though few in number, the Qin Prince’s mansion was vast.

The front courtyard had two main halls, divided into front and rear.

To the left front of the courtyard stood the Mountain and River Altar and the State Altar; at the left rear were the stables, treasury, and kitchen.

To the right front was the Personnel Office of the mansion and courtyards for servants and miscellaneous storage; the right rear housed a small residence for the heir apparent.

In the middle courtyard were two large yards serving as the front and rear bedrooms.

To the left front of the middle courtyard was the study; to the left rear, twelve small courtyards where the concubines lived — the West Twelve Courtyards.

To the right front stood the family ancestral temple; to the right rear, twelve small courtyards for the servants — the East Twelve Courtyards.

Finally, at the far end was a landscaped garden with pavilions, towers, corridors, ponds, and hills.

This Qin Prince’s mansion was once the residence of the most powerful prince during the Guangyuan era, who had contended for the throne against the then crown prince.

However, due to Wei Wuji’s scheming, both sides suffered heavy losses, their rebellion failed, and both were demoted.

Thus, this mansion was the largest and most splendid among many princely estates.

Although grand, Ye Xun’s ambitions were modest.

He only wished to earn more money and fill the West Twelve Courtyards with companions.

Better yet, to expand them into West Twenty-Four or Thirty-Six Courtyards, living a life of debauchery, daily revelry, and drunken indulgence in beautiful women’s arms.