Though he tried his best to suppress it, the overwhelming joy could not hide the pleased smile that curved his lips.
"Why do I always feel like this Prime Minister Yu has a rather cunning smile?" Gao Shun grumbled from the side, watching Yu Shen's expression.
Hearing this, Han Mo couldn't help but chuckle. He understood that Gao Shun was voicing his own indignation – Yu Shen had done nothing, yet he had stumbled into a great fortune.
"It's alright. Let him keep this position for now. After all, he's about to become Prime Minister. Can't he be allowed to smile?"
"That's what you say..."
"Enough, you talk too much. Go settle the bill downstairs. Also, find someone to go to the Fan Lou and book the best banquet there. Have it packed in food boxes and brought back. And get a pleasure boat ready. It seems tonight I'll have to meet with Prime Minister Cai!" After draining the last drop of wine in his cup, Han Mo instructed Gao Shun.
"Master, are you joking?" Upon hearing Han Mo's words, Gao Shun shivered. Han Mo had returned to the capital privately. Meeting Cai Jing now, wasn't he afraid Cai Jing would betray him?
"Why would I joke? Are you worried he'll turn on me?"
"What if he leaks this out? Won't that ruin your plans..." Not only Gao Shun, but Yue Fei also seemed worried.
"Now that he's entered the game, do you think I'll give him a chance to turn things around? My meeting with him tonight is merely to satisfy my curiosity!" Han Mo spoke, glancing again at Cai Jing's carriage outside the window. This time, even heaven was helping him. Things were going smoothly beyond his wildest imagination. Before he had even made a move, Cai Jing was already cornered. As for Gao Shun and Yue Fei's concerns, Han Mo paid them no mind. A person like Cai Jing, if he wasn't at his wit's end, why would he come to see Yu Shen now? The people he despised most in his life were Wang Fu and Yu Shen. Having lived a proud life, forcing him to bow his head to Yu Shen at the last moment was, by all accounts, a sign of his utter despair.
While Yu Shen's courtyard wasn't large, it was daytime, and it was impossible to overhear their conversation from the outside. However, given the turn of events, Han Mo could roughly guess that Cai Jing intended to use his influence to secure Yu Shen's future protection for the Cai family. Whether this deal would succeed depended on Yu Shen's trustworthiness. A man like Cai Jing, even at this dead end, would surely have a desperate plan. Han Mo only wished for his disappearance, but he didn't want to risk his life fighting him. The best course of action would be to speak with him face-to-face tonight. If it were just Cai Jing alone, with his political acumen and interpersonal skills, he would be virtually flawless. However, the powerful Cai family stood behind him, creating countless vulnerabilities. Noble families, while enjoying the blessings of their lineage, were inevitably burdened by it.
"My lord, I think you should be careful. Although I haven't dealt with Cai Jing, such a treacherous official is not easy to deal with..." Although Yue Fei knew Han Mo's mind was made up and his words were futile, he couldn't help but speak up.
"Don't worry, nothing will happen. You don't need to follow me tonight. Go and help me with another matter. If our Prime Minister Cai truly intends to fight to the death, then by tomorrow morning, the entire Cai family will have vanished!" Han Mo said, pulling an envelope from his pocket and handing it to Yue Fei.
"What is this?"
"You don't need to know what it is. Just go to the Grand Princess's mansion tonight and personally deliver this letter to驸马 Han!"
"Yes, sir!" After a moment of hesitation, Yue Fei accepted the envelope and cupped his hands to Han Mo.
"Let's go. There's no rush for this. Act after dark, and try not to alert anyone in the mansion. Do you understand?" Han Mo instructed. Although the Grand Princess's mansion appeared peaceful, Han Mo knew it was undoubtedly teeming with royal spies, as were most residences of princes and royal relatives.
"Yes, sir!" After settling the bill, the three of them leisurely rejoined the crowds and strolled through Bianliang City before returning to the small courtyard prepared for them by Li Shishi. Before they even entered, Gao Shun spotted the green lacquered carriage parked not far from the entrance.
"Master..." He pointed towards the carriage, then deliberately looked away.
"You two wait around here for a while..." Upon seeing the carriage, Han Mo coughed nervously and spoke.
"Yes, sir!" Watching the two of them board the carriage and depart, Han Mo pushed open the courtyard gate and went inside. As soon as he entered his room, he saw Li Shishi, dressed in white.
"Mmm—" Before Li Shishi could even speak, Han Mo's lips were already pressed against hers. After their first passionate encounter, everything else flowed naturally. Li Shishi showed no sign of resistance throughout the entire process. An hour later, after their passion had subsided, Li Shishi lay softly in Han Mo's arms, tracing circles on his chest with a finger as delicate as a green onion.
"You scoundrel, aren't you supposed to be the foremost scholar of the Great Song? How is your body sturdier than those military commanders..."
"Is being sturdier a bad thing?" For a rogue like Han Mo, such playful banter came as easily as breathing.
"You rascal..." Nudging him playfully, Li Shishi couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"It's almost dark. Aren't you going to play the zither tonight?" Han Mo asked with a smile, looking at the darkening sky outside.
"How can I play the zither in my current state? I shouldn't have come, but I just couldn't stop myself from wanting to be here..." Li Shishi trailed off, her fair neck flushing crimson. She looked just like a maiden in love.
"Sister, perhaps you could bear with it for a few more days? Once I've settled my affairs here, why don't you come with me?"