IDWBE -Chapter 248 The Spy

This was also Prince Qing’s confusion.

At this moment, he stood before the entrance of what was now the “Prince Qing Mansion,” which had clearly been altered, and he was utterly baffled. When had his mansion become someone else’s villa connected to the Prince?

The three large characters “Baiyun Villa” were an eyesore no matter how he looked at them—he almost wanted to smash them!

He had dragged his family across a thousand miles from Yong’an Prefecture’s Wulin City, only to find his own residence taken over by someone else. The frustration sat in his throat, impossible to spit out.

He was furious. Standing on his carriage, he shouted at his long-time acquaintance Liu Baixian, “Nonsense! My mansion has arching eaves and top-tier craftsmanship, adorned with dragon motifs, all built according to our ancestral design! In all of Nanzhou, could you find a second one like it? So how has it become someone else’s villa? Oh, and what about the white marble lions at my gate?”

“Your Highness, as another princely lord, the regulations are the same. Is there something wrong with that?”

Liu Baixian bent and cupped his hands respectfully.

“Do you think I’ve gone senile? Or that my eyes are blind? I can’t even recognize my own gate?”

Prince Qing couldn’t understand why Liu Baixian, who had once flattered and fawned over him, now dared to lie so boldly right to his face!

Liu Baixian remained unfazed. “Your Highness, you may not know, but the rebel army is ruthless, leaving nothing but fire and blood in their wake—truly heart-wrenching to witness. After Your Highness departed, the entire Qingyuan City was engulfed in flames, and your mansion was not spared—it was reduced to ashes. Later, unwilling to see the people suffer and the city in ruin, another prince decisively dispatched three thousand guards from the He Mansion to drive out the rebels. Not knowing Your Highness’s whereabouts, we took the liberty of rebuilding on the ruins of the Qing Prince Mansion, which is how it became the villa of the Prince He.”

“Nonsense!”

Lin Chun, the heir of Prince Qing, jumped out and pointed at Liu Baixian’s nose, shouting, “You old fool! My mansion’s walls and roof are still intact, the bronze rings on the gates polished as new! How could it be ashes? How could it have been rebuilt?”

What it looked like when they left is exactly what it looks like now—unchanged.

Liu Baixian raised his eyebrows and calmly said, “The ruins were rebuilt. Since the heir did not witness it firsthand, it’s better not to speak rashly.”

He had already chosen to side with the Prince He—there was no turning back.

With Prince Qing, offending him a little or a lot made almost no difference; in any case, you were offending him, and you could no longer be seen as a good person before him.

So now, he spoke without hesitation.

“Liu Baixian!”

Prince Qing blew out his beard and glared, “How dare you show such disrespect! Are you rebelling?”

He, a leisurely prince without soldiers or authority, had royal prestige as his last card.

“I dare not!”

Liu Baixian also spoke loudly, “Your Highness, everything I’ve said is true. I hope Your Highness can judge wisely!”

Prince Qing huffed in anger. “Where is Wulin? I want to see him and have him explain to me!”

Even when fleeing to Wulin City, Yong’an officials had treated him with utmost respect, not daring to overstep. So why, now back in his own territory, must he be humiliated?

He even doubted whether he had come to the wrong place.

Liu Baixian clasped his hands behind his back and sighed, “Your Highness, it’s unfortunate. In winter, Lord Wulin caught a cold. He is still recuperating and is not fit to meet guests.”

“Indeed unfortunate.”

Prince Qing snorted. Even he, foolish as he might seem, understood what had happened.

He was not stupid.

These princely lords often had businesses in the capital—not only to earn money but also to gather intelligence.

He had been skeptical of the news from the capital.

Now he realized the regime had truly changed.

“Liu Baixian, are you courting death?”

Clang! Lin Chun drew a large sword from his guard’s waist.

“Traitor! Stop!”

Prince Qing scolded just in time, then said calmly, “Since this is the Prince He’s villa, I will not linger.”

A lifetime of carefree princely life had made him forget the true use of the saying, “Those who recognize the times are heroes.” Who would have thought he’d use it to console himself today?

“Father!”

Lin Chun’s sword pointed at Liu Baixian, unwilling to relent.

Prince Qing glared at him. “Didn’t you hear me?”

Angry, Lin Chun threw his sword to the ground.

“Move!”

Prince Qing climbed into his carriage, preparing to lead his massive convoy to find lodging.

Just as his carriage moved, sounds of shouting and scolding erupted from behind.

The steward of Prince Qing’s mansion ran over, panting. “Your Highness, Liu Baixian has gone too far. He claims there are spies here and is blocking our departure!”

Prince Qing had no choice but to step down and approach Liu Baixian. “Minister Liu, what is the meaning of this?”

Liu Baixian cupped his hands. “Your Highness, please understand. The situation is still fragile. If spies of the rebels have infiltrated Qingyuan City, it would be troublesome.”

Lin Chun fumed, “Nonsense! All the guards and servants of my mansion are born into the family! We know them inside out—where could a spy be?”

“That I dare not say,” Liu Baixian sighed. “People’s hearts are not what they used to be; the world is dangerous. We must remain vigilant.”

Prince Qing held back his son and said calmly to Liu Baixian, “Very well! It is good that you are diligent and responsible; I will leave them to you. But the female attendants’ belongings, please allow them to pass.”

Liu Baixian smiled. “Your Highness, these are also important pieces of evidence. I dare not allow them!”

“Liu Baixian!” Prince Qing could no longer contain himself. “Do not be so excessive! I have already yielded repeatedly!”

“Your Highness!” Liu Baixian puffed out his chest. “It is my duty, and I dare not be negligent!”

“Good enough!”

Prince Qing watched the growing number of officers surrounding them, glanced at his own guards crowded together, and finally gritted his teeth. “Move!”

A dozen or so carriages headed north with the family.

When the situation overpowers you, what else can be done?

All the servants and guards of the Qing Prince Mansion were confined, while the boxes on the carriages were carried into the Provincial Treasury.

Bian Jing, rubbing his presbyopic eyes, looked at box after box of opened gold, silver, and jewels, stroking his beard with delight. “Finally, there is enough money for the road repairs. Minister Liu, you’ve worked hard.”

Liu Baixian knelt. “Teacher, no need for thanks. It is what a student should do.”

Wei Yishan smiled. “This Prince Qing is somewhat capable. From Qingyuan City to Wulin City and back again, he made the journey without a single mishap.”

Jiang Zhen scoffed, “Over two thousand guards, a hundred or so servants, all looking impressive but mostly for show. I brought over more than a thousand men, and not one dared to draw a blade.”

She couldn’t help but chuckle as she spoke.