Chapter 5248 A Backstab

"hehe!"

Cheng Chuliang was so angry he laughed. He pulled Princess Qinghe, whose pretty face was flushed with anger and who was about to get up and leave, and said to Li You, "Your Highness is surely well aware of my family's situation. Although I am the consort, I have not separated from the family. The only money and silk I can control is the princess's dowry. It is only right that I should send a travel allowance to my brothers-in-law who are going to their fiefdoms at sea. However, Your Highness has asked for 50,000 strings of cash and wants to give it to all the princes who are going to their fiefdoms... This humble subject is unable to do so and I am afraid I cannot comply."

Just how big of a face do you think you are, King Qi, to dare to ask for 50,000 strings of cash?

And you even gifted me wealth and status?
Are you trying to take away all of my princess's dowry?

I have never seen such a shameless person!
Li You put down his teacup, looking calm and confident. He extended one palm and said, "You two have given each of us 50,000 strings of cash. When we leave the capital, we brothers will not only return the full amount, but each of us will also give you 10,000 strings of cash... Isn't that a great fortune?"

The six princes are about to leave the capital and go to their fiefdoms by sea. Combined, they will amount to 60,000 strings of cash... Even for the Lu State Duke's mansion, this is not a small amount.

Cheng Chuliang and Princess Qinghe were stunned, completely bewildered and unaware of what Li You meant by that.

First, you take out 300,000 strings of cash, and later not only will you get all that money back, but you'll also receive an extra 60,000 strings of cash as a bonus... How is this calculated?

Princess Qinghe was quicker to grasp the situation. After a moment's thought, she realized what was going on and looked at Li You in surprise: "Are you going to join forces like the 'ginseng market' to deceive others?"

The term "participating in the market" is actually a euphemism for "shilling," referring to the collusion between vendors to raise or lower prices in order to mislead buyers, disrupt market order, and profit. Such behavior has existed since ancient times, and the Zhenguan Code even has detailed penalties for it: "If someone participates in the market and enters it illegally, he shall be punished with eighty strokes of the cane. If he has already obtained a large amount of stolen goods, he shall be treated as a thief based on the profits."

Li You nodded and smiled, "Eleventh Sister is the smartest."

Upon hearing the words "market participation," Cheng Chuliang understood Li You's intention, which was actually quite simple.

Although the princesses and their husbands, who had previously feigned ignorance, were now forced by public opinion to "gift" money and silk to the princes who were about to be enfeoffed, the amount of the "gift" was not fixed. As long as the princesses' families reached a tacit agreement in private, even if the amount of the "gift" was not large, no one could do anything about it, no matter how dissatisfied they were. They couldn't just force a rule on how much each family should "gift," could they?

Even if His Majesty is dissatisfied, there is nothing he can do. On one side are his brothers, and on the other side are his sisters. How can he favor one over the other?

Besides, everyone "gifted" the same amount, so if you wanted to cause trouble for anyone afterwards, you wouldn't be able to find anyone to blame...

But Li You was clearly a cut above, having anticipated this situation and made targeted preparations.

All Cheng Chuliang and Princess Qinghe had to do was announce that they would "gift" each prince 50,000 strings of cash, and the princesses' tacit understanding would be exposed—first Princess Jinyang, then Princess Qinghe, these two had clearly set an example, and the rest could only follow suit.

Otherwise, not only will public opinion be overwhelming and reputation ruined, but it will also displease His Majesty.

Cheng Chuliang took a deep breath and looked at Li You: "...Your Highness is resourceful and wise."

Their family's announcement of "gifting" each prince a huge sum of 50,000 strings of cash would inevitably incur hostility and resentment from the other princesses' residences. Therefore, Li You reciprocated with 60,000 strings of cash as compensation...

Li You raised an eyebrow: "What does brother-in-law think?"

Cheng Chuliang smiled and said, "To be honest, just now Zhou Daowu and Gao Lixing came to visit us together and have basically confirmed that each family and each prince will be 'gifted' 20,000 strings of cash... However, since Your Highness has come in person, the princess and I have learned about the hardships, poverty and difficulties of the overseas fiefdoms. Naturally, we will do our best to help them, even if it means emptying the treasury."

Li You laughed heartily: "Qinghe and the Prince Consort are both very righteous and have a deep brotherly bond. On behalf of all my brothers, I thank you!"

After speaking, he stood up and bowed deeply to the ground.

Cheng Chuliang quickly stepped forward to help him up, and the two brothers-in-law held hands and looked at each other with deep affection.

Behind her, Princess Qinghe pursed her lips, deeply disgusted.

*****
The following morning, all the prince consorts gathered at Princess Nanping's residence, where Prince Consort Wang Jingzhi greeted them.

The eldest daughter of His Majesty, Princess Xiangcheng, and her husband, Xiao Rui, are currently serving as the Grand Protector of the Han Hai Protectorate and are not in Chang'an. Therefore, the gathering of all the husbands is held at Princess Nanping's residence.

Inside the main hall, Wang Jingzhi looked at the assembled prince consorts seated on their thrones: Tang Yishi, Gao Lixing, Zhou Daowu, Dou Huaizhe, Wei Si'an, Changsun Xi, Dugu Mou, Du He, Wei Shuyu…

He couldn't help but laugh and said, "It's really rare. Even during the New Year, we've never been able to gather so many people together."

Zhou Daowu, who was in charge of initiating this matter, had been working late into the night and now had dark circles under his eyes. He said in a deep voice, "The Prince of Qi thinks we are weak and easy to bully, so he spreads rumors and maliciously framed us. His heart is despicable! But considering that he is the son of Emperor Taizong, we should swallow this insult for now. However, we must unify our statements and act in unison, so as not to let others follow suit and treat us like fish to be eaten at will!"

Gao Xingli nodded in agreement: "That's exactly what I meant! The princes are about to set sail to their fiefdoms, and it is only right that we present them with travel expenses. Some families have already prepared them and are just waiting to present them on the day the princes depart... But such a thing can only be done by the person giving it out of their heart and according to the circumstances. How can one maliciously ask for it?"

That's exactly right!

"That's absolutely right. The amount given should be determined by each family's circumstances. How can we arbitrarily use public opinion to maliciously demand it?"

"We're united in our actions, and no one can say anything about it!"

The hall erupted in uproar, filled with fervent emotions.

It's no wonder the princes were so angry; Prince Qi, Li You's actions were simply too disgusting...

Zhou Daowu said, "Since that's the case, let's follow the plan agreed upon last night. First, we should collectively submit a petition to His Majesty, agreeing to grant the princes travel expenses. Then, we'll load 20,000 strings of cash into a cart and send it to each family and each prince, settling this matter as soon as possible to avoid any unforeseen complications..."

At this point, he suddenly looked around carefully and asked in surprise, "Why didn't Cheng Chuliang come?"

Apart from a few individuals like Xiao Rui and Chai Lingwu who were not currently in the capital, the rest of the late emperor's consorts, having rallied together last night in solidarity, agreed to gather at Princess Nanping's residence today to pay their respects at the palace...

As for Fang Jun, he had already been tacitly expelled from the ranks of the imperial son-in-law.

The Grand Commandant of the court, wielding immense power, what is he doing in our circle...?

But why did Cheng Chuliang arrive so late?

Du He asked worriedly, "Could something have gone wrong?"

Dugu Mou sipped his tea leisurely, saying nonchalantly, "Even if something unexpected happens, it's normal. Duke Lu is known for his scheming, although he's often wrong... That's just part of their family tradition. They're not going to obediently follow your orders."

He already regretted getting involved in this mess.

The regulations of the princesses' residences are different, and the families of the princes-in-law are also different. Even if some gifts are given to the princes, it is only necessary to do so according to their own circumstances and capabilities. What does it matter if there is some criticism even if it is more or less?

After Zhou Daowu visited last night and heard that all the princes-in-law had reached an agreement, he readily agreed. Since the princes-in-law had reached a consensus, he didn't want to stand out from the crowd. He decided that everyone should contribute their travel expenses, and the amount didn't matter.

But now they're in a bind, forced to align themselves with the prince consorts, or they'll offend everyone...

Zhou Daowu felt uneasy. He called out to the door to summon his servants and instructed them, "Go quickly to the Duke of Lu's residence and tell Cheng Chuliang that we have been waiting here for a long time. As soon as he arrives, we will go to the palace to pay our respects to His Majesty."

"Here."

The servant responded and had just turned around and was about to leave when he saw the Wang family's steward stride in.

"Reporting to the patriarch, the Cheng family is requesting an audience, saying they are here on the orders of the Prince Consort of Qinghe."

"Let him in!"

"Here!"

Shortly after, a steward, who appeared to be around fifty years old, entered the main hall, looked around, and bowed: "I greet His Highness Nanping, I greet Prince Consort Wang, and I greet all the other prince consorts..."

Wang Jing waved his hand dismissively: "No need for formalities! Did your son-in-law send you here?"

The steward of the Cheng family said respectfully, "Indeed, the Prince Consort sent me to inform you that he has taken money and silk from the mansion's treasury, loaded them into carts, and sent them to the various princes' residences as gifts."

Zhou Daowu asked urgently, "How much should be sent to each household?"

“My husband said that we have both the relationship of brother-in-law and the etiquette of ruler and subject with the princes. Now that you princes are about to set sail to take up your fiefdoms and establish your own states, we do not know when we will meet again. Therefore, I am presenting you with a travel allowance to express my feelings and to wish you a safe journey. It is not much, only 50,000 strings of cash for each family.”

Chaos erupted in the hall, with shouts and curses rising and falling.

"We agreed to act as one, so why is Cheng Chuliang acting alone?"

"Traitor! Since we made an agreement, you should have kept it. To betray us like this is unbecoming of a human being!"

"Two-faced, despicable, utterly shameless!"

It's no wonder that the princes were shocked and angry. They had all agreed to act in unison to save money, avoid criticism, and form an alliance where "the law does not punish the masses." But Cheng Chuliang suddenly stabbed them in the back, putting everyone on the defensive.

Zhou Daowu's face turned ashen. Feeling that he had been tricked by Cheng Chuliang, he was furious: "Last night, your son-in-law clearly reached an agreement with me. Why have you changed your mind today?"

The steward of the Cheng family hesitated for a moment before saying, "After you left last night, Prince Consort Zhou, Prince Qi braved the wind and snow to come and meet me..."

Zhou Daowu angrily asked, "What did they say?"

"I am but an old servant of the Cheng family. How dare I spy on the affairs of the master?"

Zhou Daowu was furious, but he couldn't make things difficult for a servant girl in public, so he waved her away.

After a brief period of noise, the hall quieted down again.

Everyone realized that because of Cheng Chuliang's betrayal, the "alliance" was not only no longer necessary, but had even become a rope binding everyone.

Previously, when an "alliance" was formed, everyone acted in unison, and the amount of money and silk "gifted" was not a problem. Regardless of public opinion or His Majesty's dissatisfaction, it was blocked by the principle of "the law does not punish the masses," and no one could say anything.

Since Cheng Chuliang has acted arbitrarily and already sent the "travel gifts," others might very well say one thing to his face and another behind his back, claiming that everyone is "in agreement" while secretly sending him extra money and silk to curry favor with His Majesty...

Cheng Chuliang's betrayal caused the "alliance" to collapse without a fight.