"The Crown Prince is smuggling?" Marquis of Funing, Zhu Guobi, nearly burst out laughing. "That rumor is far too absurd. Anyone might smuggle for the Jiannu, but never the Crown Prince. If the Crown Prince were to smuggle and collude with the enemy, then there wouldn't be a single person in the Great Ming Dynasty loyal to His Majesty."
Earl of Xincheng, Zhao Zhilong, laughed as well. "Indeed! The moment you hear such news, you know it's fake—as fake as it gets. Forget His Majesty; even the common folk wouldn't believe it."
Duke of Wei, Xu Wenjue, did not laugh. Instead, he frowned and analyzed, "The purpose behind this baseless rumor likely isn't to force the Crown Prince into rebellion, but something else entirely."
Chapter 1209