The Vineyard Collapses

Wu Bo'an smiled slightly. He believed himself to be a key player in all things, and in calculating all of his affairs, people always assumed that he wavered between the Crown Prince and the Second Prince. But no one knew of his link to the Prime Minister. "It's too risky," he said reproachfully. "The Prime Minister does not know of our plans. If anyone were to find out, I fear your father would find it difficult to escape."

Lin Gong laughed sinisterly. "Sir, if you would hide yourself away in the Lao Mountains and wait for chaos to erupt in the capital, then the Crown Prince will know that he will only be able to depend on us, the Lin family, to stabilize the land."

"Correct." Wu Bo'an seemed anxious. "Ever since I heard news of the young lady's marriage, I have been unsure of whether the Eldest Princess was still capable of managing the treasury. The Empress seems rather indifferent."