"Hahahahaha! With your assurance, Master, I have nothing to worry about!"
The Prince said this with a laugh, and the ascetic monk was greatly pleased. He spoke.
"Your Highness has treated this humble monk so generously. Naturally, I will help when you encounter difficulties. May I ask what you need me to do?"
The Prince signaled the steward of the Prince's Residence with his eyes. Understanding at once, the steward approached the ascetic and spoke quietly for a while. At first, the ascetic nodded, then showed a trace of surprise, before finally narrowing his eyes.
"Well?"
The ascetic looked solemn, then let a slight smile appear.
"Rest assured, Your Highness. This humble monk will not disappoint you!"
The Prince's eyes lit up.
"Good! Once the matter is settled, you will be richly rewarded!"
After hearing the Prince's Residence Steward explain the circumstances in detail, the ascetic went back to prepare.
Naturally, the Prince's Residence Steward could not tell him everything. What he explained was limited to Hu Kuangming's personal circumstances and the things to watch out for when making his move—in other words, the situation with the Tan Household.
Still, that alone told the ascetic that this task would pose some difficulties. It was not that he feared the Tan Household's so-called experts, but that the man he was to eliminate seemed to be a physician of some renown. It would cost him some virtue, but what did that trifling matter count for beside the wealth and splendor of the Celestial Capital of the Upper Kingdom?
That night, in the Tan Residence, Hu Kuangming had returned to his room early.
Yet although physicians valued the art of preserving health, Hu Kuangming had been going to bed very late every night of late.
Tonight was no different. Back in his