After Peng Yuanhai left the great hall, he headed straight for Tongren Hall.

Logically speaking, Tongren Hall had been desolate for fourteen years and could be said to be isolated from the world, naturally having no connections with court ministers, and it would be even more impossible to have dealings with Minister of Personnel Peng Yuanhai who had only recently taken office.

Then why would he go to Tongren Hall?

Coming here, what for?

In the entire Tongren Hall there was only one eunuch, Fu Lu. At this time, he was in the courtyard sweeping up scattered fallen leaves. When he raised his head, he saw Peng Yuanhai walking in with steady steps.

He was stunned at that moment.

Throwing down the broom.

He quickly bowed. “Minister Peng.”

“Is Prince Xian in his room?”

“Yes, His Highness just took medicine and went to sleep.”

“Then this official will wait outside.”

Peng Yuanhai was someone who never smiled casually. His manner and speech were extraordinary. Although this person was only in his thirties, he looked as though he had weathered many vicissitudes, making him appear mature and steady overall.

Fu Lu raised his head and asked, “This servant doesn’t know what matter Minister Peng has come to see His Highness about?”

“It’s a small matter. This official will wait out here. If His Highness wakes, please announce it, Eunuch.”

“Why don’t this servant go wake His Highness?”

“No need. His Highness is in poor health and should rest more.”

Fu Lu lowered his head, but still went inside.

As soon as he entered, Jing Xian woke up.

He quickly took down the relatively thick cloak from the screen and draped it over Jing Xian, while helping him down from the bed and saying, “Your Highness, Minister of Personnel Peng is outside.”

Jing Xian made a sound of acknowledgment and had no other reaction.

“Your Highness, shall we send Minister Peng away?”

“Go brew this prince a pot of black tea.” He sat down on the couch.

“Yes.”

Fu Lu said no more, going out to prepare tea. Seeing Peng Yuanhai still standing in the courtyard, he didn’t go over to respond, quickly going to brew a pot of tea.

Jing Xian threw several pieces of charcoal into the stove and brought over two cups to warm on the stove.

When the cups were heated, he instructed Fu Lu, “Go outside and invite Minister Peng in.”

“Yes.”

Fu Lu quickly went out.

Soon he led the person inside.

“Your Highness, this servant will wait outside.” Fu Lu went out.

Inside the room, tea fragrance filled the air.

Peng Yuanhai cupped his hands and bowed. “This minister greets Prince Xian.”

Jing Xian was brewing tea, white mist swirling around, wrapping around his face, warmly.

“Minister Peng, please sit.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

He sat down opposite him.

Jing Xian passed over a cup of brewed tea to him. “Come, Minister, taste this. This prince dried this tea himself.”

Just as Peng Yuanhai was about to take the teacup, Jing Xian reminded him, “The teacup is very hot. Minister, be careful holding it.”

That teacup he had just warmed on the stove.

Peng Yuanhai carefully took it and drank a sip.

He nodded. “The tea is very fragrant.”

Simple and direct.

Jing Xian looked at him holding that teacup in his hands and smiled meaningfully, saying, “Good tea is always held in the hottest teacup. Only those who can endure that heat can drink the best tea.”

“What Your Highness says is extremely right.”

He put down the teacup.

Jing Xian poured him another cup. “This is the first time this prince has met Minister Peng. Minister Peng seems somewhat different from what this prince imagined.”

“Then in Your Highness’s heart, what is this minister like?”

“It should be… this prince doesn’t know either.” He smiled.

This was also Peng Yuanhai’s first time meeting this prince. Seeing that Jing Xian kept not getting to the main point, even he was getting somewhat impatient.

So he got straight to the point. “Your Highness, now all the ministers in court have completely defected to Prince Yi. The Emperor has also ordered that Prince Rong not be allowed to return to the palace. The situation in court is extremely dangerous.”

“Has Minister Peng finished tasting the tea?”

“Your Highness…”

“Although these tea leaves aren’t any famous tea, just the most ordinary few plants this prince grew in the courtyard, incomparable to Longjing or Pu’er, the tea produced from these leaves is in no way inferior to those precious teas.” Jing Xian continued about his tea.

Regarding what Peng Yuanhai had just said, he seemed completely unconcerned.

What medicine was this prince selling in his gourd?

Clearly sickly without any vitality, yet the feeling he gave was like a vigorous tiger, full of charisma.

Just as he was about to speak up and mention it again, Jing Xian said, “The current situation in court has indeed defected to Jing Yi. This time Father Emperor won’t allow Jing Rong to return to the palace, giving him wings like a tiger. His becoming Crown Prince is just a matter of time.”

“Then what should be done next?”

Jing Xian rose up, holding his teacup in his hand, taking heavy steps to walk to the window, gazing at the falling leaves outside, his fingers rotating the cup.

While saying, “To achieve one’s goal and taste that cup of good tea, one can only endure the pain and take hold of the scalding cup. If you can hold it, the tea fragrance remains in your throat. If you cannot hold it, you’ll be scalded to death or alive. Now, it’s the same principle.”

No matter how clever Peng Yuanhai was, he couldn’t fathom this prince’s thoughts.

These words, he seemed to understand, yet also seemed not to understand.

Jing Xian turned his head to glance at him, knowing he didn’t understand, so he said, “These words, Minister Peng should contemplate well.”

Peng Yuanhai then stood up and said, “Whether it’s tea or the current situation, Your Highness initially sent a letter commanding this minister to memorialize about Prince Rong, directing all blame toward Prince Yi. But in the end, the matter was still suppressed by the Emperor. Unexpectedly, the Emperor also bestowed the legitimate daughter of the Ji family in marriage to Prince Yi. Just now in the court hall, Magistrate Ji clearly stood on his side. The current situation is unfavorable for Your Highness.”

“Unfavorable for this prince?” His tone showed no concern whatsoever, his eyes tightening bit by bit, finding it very laughable. Then he heavily slammed the cup in his hand on the windowsill and asked, “Minister Peng, do you know what Father Emperor fears most?”

“The Emperor…”

Interrupted!

“Father Emperor is suspicious by nature. What he fears most is someone forcing power upon him.”

“Please enlighten me, Your Highness.”

“Immediately dispatch your people to incite the court ministers. You must, within these two days, have the assembled ministers submit memorials to the Emperor. The content of the memorials shall support Prince Yi as Crown Prince.”

Eh!

Peng Yuanhai froze for a moment, his dark pupils unfathomably deep.

But the next moment, he seemed to understand.

He immediately bowed. “Yes, this minister understands.”

“Mm.” Jing Xian nodded. “If Minister Peng has no other matters, please return. This prince’s Tongren Hall hasn’t had outsiders enter for who knows how long. With your arrival, this prince is somewhat unaccustomed.”

“This minister takes his leave.”

“No need to see you out.”

Peng Yuanhai cupped his hands and withdrew.

No one knew why the dignified Minister of Personnel would obey the orders of a prince stripped of real power.

And it turned out that initially when the Ministry of Personnel memorialized about Prince Rong, it was actually also a chess move arranged by Jing Xian behind the scenes!

And he—just how many more secrets was he hiding?

Having been in the deep palace for fourteen years, who was assisting him behind the scenes? Planning for him?