Chapter Sixteen: Turning the Tables

  Li Li just came, then was ordered to assist Lin Ruhai in investigating the assassin's case, how did he come again now? Lin Ruhai couldn't help but furrow his brow, Kangxi also felt some confusion towards Li Li who suddenly arrived.

  "Let him in." Kangxi said coldly, if someone disturbed him during his meal without a good reason, he would make them regret it.

  In fact, Kangxi was wronged by Li Li. He didn't have the guts to disturb the emperor's meal, but unfortunately, he arrived at an inopportune time. Moreover, the people of Lin's mansion didn't get along with him, and no one reminded him of this issue, so Li Li became a thorough tragedy.

  "I have an audience with Your Majesty." Li Li was taken aback after entering, not expecting that the Emperor was having a meal.

  "What brings you here?" Kangxi looked at Li Li coldly, waiting for him to give himself a reason.

  "I have found some information related to the assassin, so I came to report it to Your Majesty." Li Li felt a great pressure and looked down at the floor.

  Kangxi looked at Li Li and didn't say a word, using his eyes to indicate that he should continue, but Li Li obviously didn't feel it, and instead stood there stupidly without making a sound.

  "Speak!" Kangxi was already very impatient at this time.

  "Reporting to Your Majesty, I have investigated that the Heaven and Earth Society's rebel party has secretly entered Yangzhou, planning to assassinate Your Majesty. This action is probably just a prelude, they must start a bigger action. Please return to the post house, I will arrange for people to protect you." Li Li was startled by Kangxi's tone, and his words were also stuttering. However, his purpose was only one, which was to let Kangxi stay in the post house, so that he could be protected nearby, and maybe even get a reward.

  "Oh? If the Tiandihui has infiltrated Yangzhou, why are you reporting back only now? Where do you place the safety of the Emperor?" Yongzheng spoke coldly. Li Li was a subordinate of Sai Ertu, which is to say he was also a subordinate of the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince naturally couldn't say anything, but such a huge mistake wasn't something that could be resolved with just an apology.

  "I am guilty." Upon hearing Yongzheng's icy words, Li Li immediately knelt down. "But Your Majesty didn't notice that there were no assassins at the post house, yet as soon as we arrived at Lord Lin's place, there was an assassin?" At this time, Li Li was confused and still wanted to frame Lin Ruhai.

  "Oh? Lord Li is saying that I colluded with assassins and plotted a rebellion?" Lin Ruhai's tone was icy cold. This Li Li had always been at odds with him, but now he had the audacity to directly frame him in front of the Emperor. It seemed that he had received some secret signal from Suo Etu. That old scoundrel Suo Etu really hoped to see him dead, and would stop at nothing to achieve this goal.

  "Your subordinate didn't say anything, it was Lord Lin himself who said it." Li Li provocatively looked at Lin Ruhai, he hadn't even spoken yet, but he had already admitted it. Let's see if the Emperor will let him off this time. Li Li was just a nobody, but he was good at flattering people, which was how he got to be the governor of Yangzhou.

  Kangxi frowned and looked at Li Li, feeling even more uncomfortable. Xiang E was actually appointed as the governor of Yangzhou by such a person.

  "Your Majesty!" Li Li exclaimed eagerly.

  "Lin Aiqing is a pillar of the country, today's matter has nothing to do with him, but rather you..." Kangxi coldly looked at Li Li, "I'm actually interested in knowing how much silver you've embezzled." Originally, Kangxi still wanted to temporarily not deal with this matter, but Li Li again bumped into the muzzle, and not dealing with him would be somewhat unjustifiable.

  "I don't." Li Li's heart skipped a beat, wasn't Su Xiang saying that the Emperor no longer trusted Lin? How could the Emperor still trust him so much, without even asking a single question about such a thing.

  Daiyu had already walked to the door without anyone noticing, and she coldly smiled in her heart, "Lord Li, you said that Ah Ma colluded with the assassin. If it were true, would they make a move in their own home?"

  Daiyu's words reminded Li Li, and he suddenly sobered up. Yes, Lin Ruhai was not a fool, even if he really colluded with the rebels, he would choose to take action in a place that had nothing to do with himself. Taking action in such a place would be foolish! If something happened to the Emperor at the Lin Mansion, the entire Lin Mansion would have to be buried along with him. Thinking of this, Li Li's sweat rained down, and he knelt there trembling with fear.

  "Lin Aiqing, I also saw your last secret memorial, and Li Li has handed it over to you for disposal." Kangxi saw Daiyu coming and couldn't help but want to change the subject.

  "I obey your order." Lin Ruhai stood up and bowed, he had already fallen out with Suo, so he didn't mind adding another grievance.

  Yinxiang was getting restless, after all, it was his own party member who was being questioned, and there was a possibility that he would be implicated in the crime, what should he do? Beg for mercy? That was absolutely out of the question, this Li Liming had committed too many evil deeds. Yinxiang couldn't help but blame Suo Ertu in his heart, how could he have taken in such a person and caused him so much trouble. He also thought about how Yinzhuan had questioned Li Liming earlier, and Yinxiang's hatred for Yinzhuan grew even more. Thinking again about Lin Ruhai, it seemed that he couldn't take him under his wing after all.

  Yin Zong secretly rejoiced in his heart, thinking that this was for the better. Let the Crown Prince's faction fight and consume each other from within; this way, he would have an opportunity to take advantage of the situation.

  "Jadeite, come here." Kangxi beckoned with his hand, letting Daiyu go over.

  Daiyu walked over with Xueyan's support and said, "Daiyu pays her respects to Your Majesty."

  "Get up, you're not feeling well." Kangxi stopped Daiyu, sizing her up, and indeed she looked a bit like Jia Min, but the look in her eyes sent shivers down his spine.

  "Yu'er, how did you come out?" Lin Ruhai was somewhat unhappy. Why didn't she take good care of her injuries and come out? How could she be so bad at taking care of herself.

  "Amah, I'm fine now. Besides, it's not worth troubling the Emperor. Yu'er wants to come out and thank him." Daiyu walked over to Lin Ruhai's side, speaking in a somewhat spoiled tone with an innocent look of a little girl, but her words were not so innocent.

  Kangxi looked at Daiyu, "Daiyu, your body is so weak, let Dr. Li take charge of your health."

  "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness. As the imperial physician, I am responsible for Your Majesty's health, and Yu'er is not up to the task." Daiyu curtsied and declined, knowing that Kangxi was just speaking on a whim and would never allow an imperial physician to linger in Yangzhou.

  Kangxi originally just casually said it, but he didn't want to let Li Yizheng go either. Daiyu's response was also in line with his intentions, and he found Daiyu more and more pleasing to the eye. However, Kangxi's overly attentive gaze made Lin Ruhai very uncomfortable, and he coughed twice, "Your Majesty, please have a meal." Lin Ruhai's words interrupted Kangxi's gaze at Daiyu, and Kangxi felt a bit embarrassed, having promised not to take advantage of Daiyu but now unable to help himself.

  Kangxi coughed and picked up his chopsticks again, the other princes followed suit. Daiyu sat beside Lin Ruhai, feeling a cold gaze on her, she knew who it was without looking, she shook her head, glanced over with the corner of her eye, their eyes met briefly before quickly looking away.