Chapter 0233: Such Good Fortune? Truly Hard to Please

The political landscape in the capital shifted once again.

The Prince Regent’s achievements in Liaozhou gradually made scholars realize the importance of the tourism industry to local finances. Just as everyone was discussing how to develop local tourism by drawing lessons from the Prince Regent’s experience, another rumor began to spread.

During his time in Liaozhou, the Prince Regent had disregarded the lives of commoners, allegedly instigating bandits to kidnap people for coal mining.

At that time, bandits did indeed capture strong young men from villages to mine stones in the mountains for coal. Although they later switched to hiring villagers due to labor shortages, this did not negate the possibility that people were harmed during the process.

Soon after, a villager came to the capital to file a complaint, adamantly claiming that his family had been persecuted by bandits. These bandits, under the Prince Regent’s protection, had become superior garrison soldiers, controlled Coal Mountain, and grown wealthy. He demanded that the Emperor uphold justice for him.

This villager was quite shrewd, likely coached by someone, as he argued that the persecution of his family was minor compared to the bandits secretly profiting from coal mining. After all, coal was not only used for heating but was also essential for smelting iron ore. Given the bandits’ wild nature, if they were to harbor rebellious intentions, it would surely threaten the stability of the nation. Thus, he earnestly urged the Emperor to reinvestigate Coal Mountain.

Such a reinvestigation would inevitably allow certain parties to seize the opportunity to purge Xie Chengze’s personnel at Coal Mountain in Liaozhou and take over his control of the mine.

If Xie Chengze refused, the Cao family’s court officials would immediately accuse him of plotting rebellion.

The Cao family wanted to take control of Coal Mountain in Liaozhou.

Moreover, they began to pressure Xie Chengze. His actions in Yi Province and Liaozhou were enough to prove that, while clever, he lacked steadiness. Now that the Crown Prince had recovered, even though Xie Chengze was the Prince Regent, he was merely the “Prince Regent.” According to the law, he should assist the Crown Prince in court affairs, with the Crown Prince taking the lead.

In short, the Cao family aimed to sideline Xie Chengze and seize his coal mine.

But what Xie Chengze heard was: No more reviewing memorials, no more dealing with the aftermath of Coal Mountain and the bandits.

Such good fortune?

Although he had used the bandits to mine coal, some of them still posed safety risks and needed to be dealt with under some pretext. However, Xie Chengze lacked the ability to do so and had long wanted to dump this troublesome matter.

Now that the Cao family wanted to take it over, he couldn’t be happier!

If you end up being dealt with by the Cao family, don’t come seeking revenge from me, Xie Chengze!

Xie Chengze put on a show of arguing with the Cao family’s ministers and reluctantly pushed the memorial to the Crown Prince, leaving it to him to decide whether to reinvestigate Coal Mountain in Liaozhou.

The Cao family was certain that Xie Jinyu would assign this lucrative task to them. To their surprise, Xie Jinyu handed the matter over to the Salt and Iron Commission, deciding to incorporate the coal industry into the iron case.

“The Crown Prince wants to control Coal Mountain in Liaozhou himself,” remarked Sheng Shihai as he sat with Xie Chengze and Shen Yuan in Cheng Huan Palace. “Although the Cao family aided the Crown Prince’s ascension, they are also a hindrance. If the Cao family grows too powerful, even the Emperor would have to defer to them. No ruler would tolerate such a situation.”

Thus, the Crown Prince sought to distribute power.

As the Salt and Iron Commissioner, Sheng Shihai was an ideal candidate for the Crown Prince to use in balancing the Cao family’s influence.

“But he doesn’t know that I am already the Second Prince’s man.” Sheng Shihai took a sip of tea with a faint smile, quite pleased with how things had unfolded. “After all the twists and turns, Coal Mountain has ultimately returned to the Second Prince’s pocket.”

Xie Chengze and Shen Yuan exchanged a subtle, silent glance.

“My dear Minister Sheng, you must manage Coal Mountain well for me,” Xie Chengze said immediately after clearing his throat inwardly. “I trust you the most.”

“Of course.” Sheng Shihai nodded slightly. With Liaozhou now filled with the Prince Regent’s spies, he could use this as cover to pursue his own affairs.

After seeing Sheng Shihai off, Xie Chengze slumped into his chair, shedding his diligent facade to reveal the half-dead slacker within. “I’m so tired, Minister Shen~ My shoulders hurt~”

Shen Yuan shook his head helplessly, stood behind the chair, and began massaging Xie Chengze’s shoulders.

After days of reviewing memorials, Xie Chengze’s shoulders and neck had grown quite stiff. With each press from Shen Yuan, Xie Chengze let out a series of agonized screams.

“Ah—!”

“Yah—!”

“Ahhh—!”

Shen Yuan: “…Xie Chengze, could you at least make it sound more pleasant? Anyone would think I’m slaughtering a pig.”

“Make it sound more pleasant?”

Xie Chengze tilted his head, suddenly revealing a meaningful smile. “Minister Shen, I never knew you had such tastes.”

Shen Yuan: ?

Xie Chengze cleared his throat and had just begun to let out a “pleasant” moan when Shen Yuan covered his mouth.

Shen Yuan took a deep breath, his thumb brushing over Xie Chengze’s soft lips as he conceded, “Forget it. Let’s just go back to slaughtering the pig.”

Xie Chengze: ?

Man, thy name is hard to please.

——

Upon returning to his residence, Sheng Shihai received Liang Wan Da, who had been waiting for him.

Originally, Sheng Shihai had no intention of meeting Liang Wan Da—after all, given Liang Wan Da’s status, he wasn’t worthy of a direct audience.

However, Liang Wan Da had boldly used the gunpowder formula as a pretext to request a meeting. Moreover, he had promptly salvaged Xie Chengze’s reputation, managed Yi Province efficiently, and controlled its gunpowder factory. After careful consideration, Sheng Shihai decided it wouldn’t hurt to grant him an audience.

Liang Wan Da was surprised to see how young the highest authority figure was.

At first glance, Liang Wan Da could tell that Sheng Shihai was entirely different from Xie Chengze.

Although the Second Prince was sometimes hard to read and skilled at enticing others to serve him, he was inherently kind-hearted and approachable. Stripped of his noble status, one could easily see him as a friend, a mentor, or even a child in need of care.

But Sheng Shihai was different. Having served as an official for years, Liang Wan Da sensed immediately that this man was profound and ambitious—a seasoned player in the political arena.

To oppose such a person would mean losing a layer of skin, if not one’s life.

Liang Wan Da cautiously bowed. “Your Excellency, I am Liang Wan Da, Governor of Yi Province.”

“Hmm.” Sheng Shihai sat down and gestured for his confidant to pour tea, speaking indifferently, “What brings you here, Governor Liang?”

“It’s about the gunpowder matter,” Liang Wan Da replied hurriedly with a smile. “I wonder if Your Excellency has any need for it?”

“Audacious!” Sheng Shihai’s confidant slammed the teapot down and glared at Liang Wan Da. “What do you mean by this? Are you inciting our lord to rebel?”

Trembling, Liang Wan Da dropped to his knees. “I would never dare!”

“Then what do you mean?!” The confidant stared at Liang Wan Da with a dangerous glint in his eyes.

“My lord! I merely seek some power,” Liang Wan Da revealed a bitter expression. “Surely you know I’ve spent twenty years in Yi Province, with my only wish being to enter court service. The Second Prince clearly promised to scheme on my behalf, yet it turned out to be empty words. Thus, I had no choice but to seek alternative means, hoping you would be willing to support my entry into court service!”