GBP Chapter 585 Using them as pawns? No way!
Chapter 585 Using them as pawns? No way!
Jiang Xiaoqi conjured up three or four plates of snacks from who-knows-where and placed them directly on the desk.
He tidied up the books and put them back on the bookshelf, then poured a cup of tea for the Second Prince and himself.
After doing all this, the second prince was allowed to pick up a piece of pastry and take a bite, with crumbs still on his mouth, and he wasn't allowed to wipe them off.
I picked up a piece myself, but I didn't put it in my mouth; I just held it.
Just as they got into position, Chen Lin led the Fifth Prince in.
When the Fifth Prince entered, he saw the teacher and student drinking tea and eating snacks, and he secretly sighed that Lord Jiang's salary was really easy to come by.
You can make a living by entertaining fools every day, and you'll gain fame and fortune, but there's no future in it.
"Greetings, Your Majesty. How have you been lately?"
"Fifth Prince, you and the Second Prince have important matters to attend to, so I will take my leave now and continue the lesson later."
Jiang Xiaoqi said the word "class" with a completely calm face, which even the shameless would find shameless.
"Sir, don't go!"
The second prince seized Jiang Xiaoqi's official robe at the opportune moment and held on tightly, refusing to let go.
"Lord Jiang, you don't need to leave. I don't have any important business with my second brother. We're just having a casual chat. Please make yourself at home."
Jiang Xiaoqi certainly wouldn't leave; she just said it politely, knowing that the Second Prince would cooperate with her.
"Then I'll take my leave of you. Your Highnesses, please continue your conversation. Just pretend I'm not here. There's tea and refreshments here. Would Your Highness like some?"
"No need. I don't like sweets. This is my second brother's favorite, and I shouldn't take away what he likes."
The second prince timely displayed a protective attitude towards his food, pulling the plate of snacks closer to himself.
He looks like he's really afraid someone will steal his snacks; his cuteness is tinged with a touch of foolishness.
The Fifth Prince was disdainful in his heart, but he wouldn't show it on his face, after all, there was still Jiang Xiaoqi, a living person, around.
To be honest, the Fifth Prince never bullied the mentally challenged Second Prince when he was young. Perhaps he felt that there was no need to bully people who posed no threat to him.
As for the Fourth Prince, the two were like enemies. He used to tolerate it, but now he didn't want to, so he naturally confronted the Fourth Prince head-on.
Even with the Emperor's recent troubles, both of them tacitly believed that the other was behind it.
They have identified each other as the prime suspects, and what they lack most now is not just evidence, but also allies.
After the Fifth Prince sat down, he didn't care whether the Second Prince, this simpleton, could understand or not, and gradually steered the conversation toward the matter of the Emperor's accident.
"Brother, who do you think is behind Father's misfortune this time?"
With his mouth full of snacks, the second prince mumbled, "Yes, it's a ghost."
"I'm asking Second Brother who he thinks poisoned Father."
"It's poison, it's a ghost that can poison people, it's terrifying, very terrifying."
"Sigh~ I was just desperate and grasping at straws, but the Empress is with Father Emperor, attending to his illness, and doesn't have time to see me, so I can only chat with you, my second brother."
Unlike my fourth brother, who had a capable maternal grandfather to rely on and could consult with on matters, princes like us, without a maternal grandfather by our side, had to make all our own decisions.
Jiang Xiaoqi listened from the side, secretly pondering the Fifth Prince's intentions.
The other party left me there on purpose; they wanted me to be their mouthpiece.
Jiang Xiaoqi raised her hand and handed another pastry to the Second Prince, saying softly, "Your Highness, please enjoy your meal."
The second prince took it, took a bite, and still ignored the fifth prince, treating him like he wasn't there.
"Fifth Prince, the Second Prince's situation is special, it would be a waste of your breath to talk to him."
The Empress and the Empress Dowager are respectively looking after His Majesty and overseeing the progress of the case. If you know anything inside, you should report it directly to the Empress Dowager.
The Fifth Prince seemed to have been waiting for Jiang Xiaoqi to speak, and when he finally responded, his shoulders slumped instantly.
"Lord Jiang, I've come to talk to my second brother because I'm really at my wit's end. I know you're a smart man, and I wonder if you could give me some advice?" The Fifth Prince looked at Jiang Xiaoqi earnestly.
Jiang Xiaoqi thought to herself, "This Fifth Prince is still not giving up and wants the Empress's help."
However, since the Empress was busy taking care of the Emperor, he couldn't find a good opportunity, so he turned his attention to the idle Second Prince.
He couldn't just see the Empress Dowager whenever he wanted, and besides, the Empress Dowager was much harder to win over than the Empress.
As a result, the Fifth Prince had more contact with the Ouyang family, and even went so far as to run into Ouyang Yan, the eldest daughter of the Ouyang family, despite being engaged to another man.
Jiang Xiaoqi smiled slightly and said, "Fifth Prince, this matter needs to be discussed at length. I am but a humble subject with little influence, and besides, I cannot even see the two ladies."
Her Majesty the Empress is gentle and virtuous, and Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is kind and wise. Surely those two have already made arrangements. Perhaps Your Highness should wait patiently? The truth will eventually come out; rushing things won't solve anything.”
Jiang Xiaoqi's rambling made the Fifth Prince frown slightly. "But I really can't wait any longer. Fourth Brother is clearly making a lot of moves. I'm afraid that if we delay any longer, he might do something even more unwise."
Jiang Xiaoqi remained silent, shaking her head and sighing in helplessness. Her face clearly showed her frustration and despair.
This is clearly a case of trying to pin the blame on the fourth brother. No wonder the fourth brother suspects the fifth brother; they're both equally guilty.
However, the Fifth Prince was even more shameless. The Fourth Prince only wanted to start with the evidence, join the investigation team, and verify what the Fifth Prince had done.
The fifth brother immediately thought of making false accusations in front of the two people in power, and first put the blame on the fourth brother.
Is this a sign that he feels guilty?
It doesn't look like either.
The Fifth Prince's visit to the Second Prince's palace today further confirmed Jiang Xiaoqi's suspicions. She just didn't know if the Second Prince had realized what was happening yet.
If the Fifth Prince were truly responsible for the poisoning, he wouldn't be reacting and acting this way now.
Presumably, the Empress has realized this in the past two days, which is why she is avoiding seeing the Fifth Prince.
Since she knew it was all a performance, and everyone was acting, why did she insist on playing along?!
It's one thing to cooperate with the emperor, but what right do others have?
Today, the Fifth Prince came to the Second Prince's place. I wonder which of his brilliant strategists came up with this idea.
This is essentially making him tie up the Second Prince and use him as a tool.
Haha, that's quite a clever plan.
However, I'm not stupid, and the Second Prince isn't truly foolish either; it would be a miracle if he could manipulate me.
Jiang Xiaoqi didn't respond, and the Second Prince had already finished the snacks in front of him and was gulping down tea.
At this opportune moment, Chen Lin ordered the palace servants to set out all the dishes on the Eight Immortals Table.
"Um, would Your Highness like to have lunch with us? Please have Eunuch Chen bring another set of chopsticks and a bowl."
Jiang Xiaoqi made a feigned invitation.
Fifth Prince: Eat, eat, all you do is eat! You eat snacks and then have lunch, aren't you afraid of getting indigestion!
"No need, I'm not hungry yet. Please enjoy your meal, Lord Jiang and Second Prince. I'll take my leave now."