Great, it's just a lackey, we're saved!

Chapter 203 Psychological Game!

"Ban?" Tan Lin exclaimed in shock, "Absolutely not!"

Wang Shu looked at him, her attitude very humble: "I would like to hear the details."

"My lord, I am 70% certain that this matter is related to the eldest princess."

Tan Lin is a cautious person. He said he was 70%, but in reality, he was 100%.

Tan Lin's next words almost made Wang Shu lose his balance.

"Your Excellency, I believe that the Princess harbors ambitions to seize the throne."

"A struggle for the throne?! Tan Lin, you can't say such things lightly. The eldest princess is a woman; what does the position of crown prince have to do with her?"

Tan Lin, however, gestured for Wang Shu to remain calm.

"Your Honor, please do not be hasty. As the saying goes, one can see the whole leopard from a single spot. This woman's report is just like that. Don't you think this matter is too coincidental?"

“A villager just came to complain that villains led a horde of beasts to attack the village, and the women’s newspaper published a story that was eight times similar.”

"Whom does Your Excellency believe this matter is being targeted?"

Wang Shu's mind raced as she tried to connect what she had seen and heard over the past few days.

After a long while, something suddenly occurred to him, and cold sweat broke out on his back!

"I heard that... a few days ago, Qian Tao and others invited the Eldest Princess to a deer hunting banquet, and later the Third Prince and the Crown Prince also went."

"Hiss... Could this beast tide be related to that deer hunting feast? Could the so-called villains be among these people?"

While Wang Shu was still speculating, Tan Lin said decisively, "Your Excellency, I believe that the villain in the story, and the person the people are suing, is none other than the Crown Prince!"

Wang Shu jumped up from her chair in surprise, pacing back and forth nervously.

Even a civil official like him has to choose sides. He is a former official of the Great Zhou Emperor and was promoted by the Great Zhou Emperor.

The crown prince never gave him a chance to get close. As the saying goes, "a new emperor brings a new court," and Wang Shu could already foresee that if the crown prince ascended the throne one day, his career would come to an end.

Although the Crown Prince's position was precarious at the court meeting, Wang Shu remained cautious and did not reveal any of his thoughts.

Because he knew that the Crown Prince was the most suitable person to be the heir apparent among all the princes of the Great Zhou Emperor.

If the Crown Prince is deposed, Imperial Noble Consort Bai Xiaoxiao has no suitable candidate to recommend as the new Crown Prince.

The eldest prince, the second prince, and the third prince were all not wise rulers, and Wang Shu had no intention of following in the footsteps of mediocre rulers.

But now, a glimmer of light has suddenly appeared before our eyes!

The eldest princess actually stepped to the front of the stage.

"Tan Lin, what do you think the Princess intends to achieve by making these two moves?" Wang Shu was still somewhat worried. "Since ancient times, the common people have never had a chance of winning against the officials, let alone suing the Crown Prince."

"Furthermore, no matter how wonderful the story in the women's newspaper is, or how angry the people are, it is still just one person's opinion. Does the Princess have any evidence to prove that this matter is related to the Crown Prince?"

"If she truly had evidence, why didn't the villagers of Lijia Village specify who the perpetrator was when they filed their complaint? And why didn't the woman's story in the newspaper name the prince?"

"In my opinion, the people of Li Family Village did not witness the Crown Prince leading the beast tide, which is why the Princess used such a vague method."

Wang Shu's analysis was reasonable and well-founded, and Tan Lin couldn't help but nod in agreement.

"What you say is very true, Your Excellency, but have you considered this question?"

Wang Shu looked at Tan Lin, somewhat puzzled: "What's the problem?"

"The female PhDs at the teahouse said that the story in the Women's Newspaper will have its finale the day after tomorrow. Your Excellency, what day is the day after tomorrow?"

The day after tomorrow...

Wang Shu's heart skipped a beat. Wasn't the grand court assembly the day after tomorrow? It was also the seven-day date agreed upon by the Imperial Noble Consort and the Crown Prince.

Wang Shu remembers it so clearly because he hasn't had a good time these past few days either.

The Imperial Noble Consort said at the court meeting that if another person dies in the capital, it will be Wang Shu's responsibility.

Wang Shu has been unable to eat or sleep well these past few days, and has sent out all the officials of the Prefect of the Capital to patrol, fearing that someone might freeze or starve to death.

Whenever they saw someone in dire poverty, they would direct them to the goddess's soup kitchen for relief.

These seven days were difficult for the Crown Prince and Mei Xingyue, and Wang Shu was equally miserable.

Tan Lin continued, "The Eldest Princess has set the story's finale for the day after tomorrow, aiming her sword at the Grand Court Assembly. I fear there will be a bloodbath at the Grand Court Assembly."

Wang Shu's mind raced, and he suddenly realized what was happening, his face showing surprise.

"This...this...the villagers of Lijia Village have filed a complaint with me, and the Women's Gazette in the capital has also been published, which is also within my jurisdiction. Is the Princess trying to force me to my death?"

Tan Lin, however, was more composed.

He comforted Wang Shu, saying, "Your Excellency, there's no need to be so nervous. I believe that the Princess doesn't intend to force you to your death, but rather that you are an important part of her plan."

Tan Lin's words put Wang Shu at ease; he was genuinely afraid of becoming a victim of the power struggles among the princes and princesses.

Don't be fooled by the young age of these nobles; they grew up in the palace and have witnessed all kinds of struggles. Their methods and knowledge are beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Even if the Third Prince is such an incompetent fool, is he really that stupid?

Wang Shu thought, not necessarily.

"But isn't the Princess's move putting me in a very difficult position?"

Tan Lin pondered quietly for a long time without replying, and Wang Shu didn't dare to disturb him.

Before this kind of thing is realized, everyone's eyes are shrouded in a thin veil, making it seem both real and unreal!

Unless one is exceptionally intelligent and can connect the dots to make a logical deduction, the average person simply cannot understand it.

Tan Lin happens to be that kind of person.

After a long pause, Tan Lin said, "Your Excellency, if the Princess really wanted to force you to your death, the Prefect of the Capital would not be so quiet now."

"Putting aside everything else, just the disappearance of those hundreds of villagers alone, if the Princess were to investigate, would be enough to give the Prefect a hard time."

"Therefore, I believe that although the princess has schemed against the prefect, she has also given us an opportunity. Everything will be settled at the grand court assembly the day after tomorrow."

Tan Lin's words suddenly made things clear for Wang Shu.

The problem that I couldn't figure out before suddenly became clear.

"So you mean the Princess wants me to side with her at the grand court assembly?"

"But if that's the case, the princess should give me some hints, otherwise how will I know when to expose this mess?"

Tan Lin relaxed completely, a smile appearing on his face.

"Why is Your Highness so nervous? I have witnessed the wisdom of the Princess. Such a wise person must have already taken all the details into account."

"Since Your Excellency has not received any hints, it means the time is not yet right. I believe that everything will be clear at the Grand Court Assembly."

"even……"

At this point, Tan Lin paused, making Wang Shu a little nervous.

Even what?

Tan Lin's face showed admiration. "I even think that the Princess's move is giving the Prefect a choice."

"If Your Excellency is unwilling to help the Princess, then you may do the opposite and stand on the side of the Crown Prince. If you are willing to help, then remain silent and wait until the day of the Grand Court Assembly to expose the problem."

Upon hearing this, Wang Shu suddenly became interested.

"Tan Lin, what do you think would happen if I sided with the Crown Prince, banned the Women's Gazette, and killed those who filed complaints?"

A barely perceptible glint of danger flashed in Tan Lin's eyes. After a long while, he chuckled and said, "Would the Prefect do such a thing?"

Wang Shu also burst into laughter.

"Of course not. The situation in the court is unclear right now, so I'd rather wait and see who comes out on top at the grand court assembly."

Tan Lin stood up and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Wang Shu.

"Your Excellency is farsighted and prudent, and I admire you greatly."