The Treacherous Minister Who Helps the People 14

Shen Qi’s eyebrows slightly raised as she calmly used the tea lid to wipe the rim of her teacup. She asked in a gentle tone, “What do you mean, Prince Kachar?”

“I have heard that Minster Shen is the most trusted minister of the Emperor and the most capable one in Da Liang. As we entered the capital this time, we were worried and hoped that Minster Shen could speak more favorably for us in front of the Emperor…”

Shen Qi looked at the Prince’s kind face, but all she saw was the word “hypocrisy” written all over it.

She lowered her gaze and placed the teacup down. “Prince Kachar overestimates me.”

“These are nothing. If Minster Shen wants, I have another token of gratitude.”

Before coming to the capital, Prince Kachar had already heard of Shen Qi’s reputation, knowing that she was highly regarded by the Emperor of Da Liang and that she was wealthy.

Therefore, he didn’t think that such trivial gifts could buy her favor.

He was merely trying to gain some favor and establish connections.

“Kachar has violated our border and killed our people. I will not speak well of you,” Shen Qi straightforwardly refused.

The prince’s face turned bitter as he sighed, “I also don’t want war. But in this winter, so many people have starved to death. We have been forced into a corner with no other options.”

Seeing Shen Qi’s increasingly disdainful expression, Prince Kachar continued, “I have heard that General Gu is at Minster Shen’s residence. I have always heard of General Gu but have never met him in person. I wonder if Minister Shen could arrange a meeting between us?”

“Why do you want to see him?” Shen Qi asked in a deep voice.

Prince Kachar laughed heartily, “We suffered a terrible defeat at the hands of General Gu. Now, I learned that he has become Minster Shen’s man. I just wanted to take a look.”

His words were filled with resentment and a deep sense of schadenfreude.

Shen Qi gave him a meaningful look and waved her hand, instructing the steward to take the Prince to Mingtang Residence.

As she and Gu Qing had expected, Prince Kachar did indeed want to win over Gu Qing.

He criticized the Emperor of Da Liang for his incompetence and mistreatment of his loyal subjects, implying that Gu Qing’s situation would only become more miserable if he stayed in Da Liang.

He then expressed that as long as Gu Qing was willing, he would send someone to rescue him. “I don’t expect General Gu to serve me. I simply cannot bear to see a heroic figure like you being humiliated in such a way.”

Prince Kachar expressed his deep sorrow and disgust, saying, “Da Liang is no longer the same as it was during the late Emperor’s reign. It is now controlled by treacherous individuals, and the people are suffering. General Gu, if we were to take control of it, it would not be in such a state.”

Gu Qing: …

Gu Qing rolled his eyes in utter helplessness, choosing to turn a blind eye to the performance he was expected to cooperate with.

Prince Kachar didn’t mind Gu Qing’s disdain towards him, nor did he pay any attention to it. He continued to speak to himself, talking about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, and then got up to leave.

In the following days, Prince Kachar would visit Shen Qi twice a day and brought along two large boxes of treasures. He would show Shen Qi compliments and even criticize Gu Qing in front of her.

He would then go to Gu Qing and speak ill of Da Liang.

Prince Kachar was not careless, but he knew that Gu Qing and Shen Qi held a deep grudge against each other. He believed that these two would never exchange information, which allowed him to deceive both sides.

Little did he know that every day after he left, Shen Qi and Gu Qing would sit face to face, mocking him as if telling jokes.

“How long do you think he can keep this up? Half of the treasures he brings end up in your hands, don’t they?” General Gu reclined on the bed.

He truly despised that Kachar Prince.

Prince Kachar was skilled in medicine. Upon their first meeting, he diagnosed Gu Qing with a condition and even offered to provide him with an antidote.

So, every time he came, Gu Qing would deliberately drink the tea with soft-muscle powder.

Gu Qing, originally an active military general, was now confined to his bed for several days, unable to move. His resentment was impossible to conceal.

Shen Qi gently stroked her hair. “After tomorrow’s palace banquet, he won’t be inclined to come and see you anymore.”

“Have you discovered those who colluded with Kachar?” Gu Qing asked.

“Rest assured, I will deal with those people one by one,” Shen Qi replied confidently.

As Gu Qing looked at Shen Qi’s self-assured and radiant expression, a sudden lightness filled his heart. He was about to say a few more words when he saw Shen Qi stifle a yawn.

“Don’t stay up late,” Shen Qi pulled the blanket.

Due to the need to avoid arousing suspicion from Kachar’s people, Shen Qi had been sleeping on the same bed with Gu Qing recently.

At first, Gu Qing didn’t think much of two grown men sharing a bed, but Shen Qi couldn’t sleep soundly at night and always snuggled up to him.

He wanted to push her away, but as soon as he touched her, he felt that Shen Qi’s body was soft all over. He couldn’t exert any force, which was quite vexing.

Moreover, he always felt… that there was something unusual about Shen Qi’s body.

While Gu Qing was lost in his worries, Shen Qi had already gone to court with a calm expression. As soon as she arrived, she was taken to see Zhao Baiyue by Qiu Hua.

With just one glance, Shen Qi was taken aback.

Zhao Baiyue’s once fair skin had turned slightly yellow, and even the layers of makeup couldn’t hide the dark circles under her eyes. It was a far cry from her former appearance.

“What do you need to see me for, Niangniang?” Shen Qi pretended not to know and asked.

Zhao Baiyue gritted her teeth in anger. “What’s the matter with Wang Yue?”

Shen Qi sighed deeply. “Niangniang, Wang Yue’s father took a concubine in his hometown, which led to the deaths of two families. They filed a complaint in the capital, and the Emperor personally ordered Wang Yue’s execution. I couldn’t do anything about it.”

Zhao Baiyue knew it!

But it was precisely because she knew that she became even more infuriated. “You can’t achieve anything! Is there any reason for me to keep you?”

“Niangniang, the people you have chosen have been extremely unlucky. As soon as I intervened, they were either dismissed or executed. Can I really go against the Emperor?” Shen Qi retorted, her brows furrowing in displeasure.

Frustrated, Zhao Baiyue raised her hand to her forehead and scrutinized Shen Qi, gradually growing suspicious of her.

She initially intended to ask Shen Qi to help her with another task, but now she plans to find someone else to assist her.

“Never mind. Consort Jia is pregnant and causing trouble in the palace. What do you think I should do?” Zhao Baiyue changed the subject and asked.

Consort Jia, formerly known as Noble Consort Jia, was promoted to consort after becoming pregnant.

Lately, she has been receiving special favors from the Emperor and has been snatching people away from Zhao Baiyue, relying on her child.

Could Zhao Baiyue not feel angry?

But there was no other choice.

Since ascending the throne, the Emperor has only had one son, the Crown Prince. His heirs were limited, so naturally, he attached great importance to Consort Jia.

How could Shen Qi, a former courtier, deal with the concubines in the palace?

She could only offer suggestions to Zhao Baiyue, “If Consort Jia were to lose her child…”

Clearly, Zhao Baiyue was also thinking along the same lines. She ordered Shen Qi, “Bring me some medicine that can lead to miscarriage.”

It was all because of the system. It could only make her beautiful and had the ability of enchanting the Emperor. Otherwise, she would have killed Consort Jia long ago!

And what about the Empress and the Crown Prince? So many drugs have been administered to Qiu Hua, why haven’t they died yet?

Naturally, Shen Qi nodded in agreement, looking at Zhao Baiyue with a hint of mockery in her eyes.

Consort Jia was never pregnant, but this “child” will indeed be most valuable if it dies because of Zhao Baiyue!

After dealing with Zhao Baiyue, Shen Qi goes to the Eastern Palace to find the Crown Prince.

Just as she opens the book, a eunuch comes to deliver a decree, saying that the Emperor is looking for her.

Shen Qi can only follow the eunuch to meet the Emperor.