CHAPTER 698: CHAPTER 343 PRINCE JING_2

"It’s very simple, let out a long line to catch the big fish."

"Catch the big fish, who is the big fish?"

Prince Jing did not speak, he calmly looked at Song Qingyun.

Song Qingyun was no fool, he immediately realized: "It’s the Crown Prince and Duke Zhen."

"And you small fish," Prince Jing said nonchalantly, "With my father’s tactics and temperament, eliminating you is as easy as squashing an ant."

"Your Highness, you’re exaggerating," Song Qingyun felt Prince Jing’s words were somewhat hyperbolic.

"Do you think you can compare to the soldiers under my father’s four Great Generals?" These people from Jinling are really arrogant. "You should know General Song who led troops to Yangzhou a few years ago, right?"

"I know."

"My father’s four Great Generals have followed him into battle since they were young, and they’ve accomplished countless military achievements," Prince Jing said with a smile, "They have all come out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood. Do you think your private troops and suicide squads are their match?"

"We haven’t rebelled, the Emperor shouldn’t send troops to exterminate us, right?"

"Hahahahaha..." Prince Jing laughed loudly as if he’d heard a funny joke.

Song Qingyun didn’t understand what Prince Jing was laughing at. His previous words weren’t wrong, nor were they laughable.

"That’s why I say you don’t understand my father," Prince Jing looked at Song Qingyun with amusement, "My father doesn’t need any reason to eliminate you."

Song Qingyun didn’t believe it: "The Emperor still has to act according to rules, right?"

"That doesn’t apply to my father. He didn’t grow up studying saintly texts; those rules you talk about mean nothing to him," Prince Jing propped his face and said, "If my father really becomes ruthless, not just Jinling City, but the entire Jiangnan’s aristocratic families could be wiped out. The reason he hasn’t taken such measures to eliminate you is to fish out the Crown Prince and Duke Zhen. Otherwise, given what you’ve done, Song Weikang would have been sent to wipe you out long ago."

Song Qingyun felt Prince Jing was scaremongering, but seeing Prince Jing’s expression didn’t seem like he was trying to frighten him.

"Of course, another reason my father lets you continue is he’s watching a show. He wants to see how far your cleverness will go."

Song Qingyun’s face stiffened a bit: "Your Highness, please don’t scare me."

"Why would I scare you? Haven’t you inquired about how my father has dealt with the noble families in the capital over the years?" Prince Jing finished speaking, saw Song Qingyun’s face looked a bit perplexed, and cruelly mocked, "You are really arrogant."

"Please enlighten me, Your Highness."

In a good mood, Prince Jing told Song Qingyun a few stories of how the Emperor dealt with the noble families in the capital in earlier years.

After listening, Song Qingyun’s face turned very heavy, a chill spreading in his heart.

"The reason my father hasn’t directly dealt with Duke Zhen’s mansion is that back then Duke Zhen did a favor for the Zhao family. Otherwise, my elder brother and uncle wouldn’t still be around," Prince Jing said, "Both my imperial grandfather and father were bandits in their early days; they don’t play by your rules. The court officials’ schemes can’t fool my father. He once told the officials that as long as they don’t touch his bottom line, he can turn a blind eye as if nothing happened. But if they touch his bottom line, they shouldn’t blame him for being ruthless."

"The things you’ve been doing in Jinling over these years have long crossed my father’s bottom line. Do you think my father will spare you?" Prince Jing was curious who gave the noble families of Jinling the confidence to think they could toy with his father.

Song Qingyun’s face turned pale, his eyes filled with fear.

"I want you to collect the aristocratic families’ criminal evidence, so you can atone for your crimes and avoid the tragic ending of those families," Prince Jing said, giving Song Qingyun a deep look, "Does the Song family wish to stand united with those noble families, or atone for their crimes to protect the lives of your entire clan?"

Song Qingyun stood up and bowed deeply to Prince Jing.

"Thank you, Your Highness, for your guidance. I will immediately send people to collect evidence."

"A wise man submits to circumstances. The Song family, not being an aristocratic family, hasn’t excessively involved itself in court affairs. This time, by atoning for crimes, you will certainly not face severe punishment in the future."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Song Qingyun thought of another matter, "Your Highness, what about the Cao Group and Salt Gang?"

"The matters of the Cao Group and Salt Gang are not suitable for you or me to intervene in."

"Why is that?"

"My father has his own plans; we can’t disrupt them."

Hearing this, Song Qingyun felt a sudden heaviness in his heart, uneasily asking: "Your Highness, does the Emperor have a plan?"

Prince Jing shook his head and said: "I don’t know, but I guess my father’s plan is anything but simple."

Song Qingyun laughed bitterly: "After hearing Your Highness, I realize just how foolish we have been."

"You’re not foolish; you’re lawless." Prince Jing could roughly guess what the aristocratic families of Jinling were thinking, "You think my father, coming from a grassroots background, couldn’t possibly outwit you, but you haven’t considered how he conquered Great Zhou."

"Your Highness’ reprimand is correct. We were indeed lawless." They had indeed underestimated the Emperor.

"My father values the imperial examinations highly. You and I only need to ensure the smooth running of the examinations, and it will be a great merit," Prince Jing reminded Song Qingyun again, "Conduct a good investigation into the aristocratic families’ opposition to the imperial examinations, especially if you can find evidence implicating the Crown Prince, understood?"

"Rest assured, Your Highness, I understand."

"As for those noble families, you’ve already kindly warned them before. If they remain stubborn, they can’t blame you," Prince Jing comforted Song Qingyun, "You’ve done all you could."

Song Qingyun raised the corners of his mouth, revealing a bitter smile.

"Just as you guessed, they probably won’t abandon the Crown Prince."

"It’s normal for them not to give up on the Crown Prince, nothing surprising," Prince Jing was unfazed.

"They will regret in the future not siding with Your Highness."

"Whether they regret it, I don’t care," Prince Jing sneered, "I don’t depend on them." He was not like his good elder brother, lowering himself to pander to the aristocracy.

"Right, Your Highness, over at Prince Chu, should we send someone to keep an eye on him?"

"No need." Prince Jing narrowed his eyes slightly, saying with an unclear expression, "You aren’t a match for Prince Chu."

"Your Highness, in Peng City, our Song family still has some means." The Salt Gang in Peng City had connections with the Song family.

"Prince Chu doesn’t need me to deal with him, and besides, Prince Chu is there to investigate the Crown Prince’s involvement in copper theft. Why should I stop him?" Prince Jing said with a wide smile, "I can’t wait for Prince Chu to quickly uncover the truth about the copper theft." Prince Chu taking down the Crown Prince would be a good thing for him; only a fool would try to stop it.