"Wei Yong was only Fifth Rank, but Jian Yuancang is a dignified Principal Fourth Rank official, with a chance of advancing to Upper Rank. Besides, who was behind Wei Yong back then? Just one of Prince Yuan's good-for-nothing sons. Who's behind Jian Yuancang now? The Prince of Chu, a leading contender to become the next emperor-no, the leading contender. He even lost the Prince's Golden Seal, and His Majesty barely punished him. They say he's going to the Ministry of Personnel to gain experience, too. Tell me, what Fate Arts could possibly scheme against a crown prince?"
"He's... really going to the Ministry of Personnel?"
"That's the rumor, anyway, and people tell it with every detail in place," Zhong Baishan said.
"The Ministry of Personnel ranks first below the Cabinet. They call it the head of all officials. Sending the Prince of Chu there would practically be paving his road to the throne."
"Exactly! At first, we thought Marquis Li would strike back at Jian Yuancang with Fate Arts, just like before. Who knew Marquis Li would go completely silent? Every day, he either holes up in Chunfeng Residence or goes out strolling. Who knows which brothel he's visiting?"
"And then?" Lou Yushan asked.
"Then I heard through the grapevine that the Coward King, Zhang Fugui, and Song Yanxue refused to let Chunfeng Residence be remodeled, so Jian Yuancang is planning to redevelop the houses behind it into a road leading straight to its rear wall."
"Would... Marquis Li stand for that?"
"Who knows? Jian Yuancang hasn't acted yet. He's probably still testing the waters," Zhong Baishan said.
"Uncle, what do you think will happen to Marquis Li?"
Zhong Baishan thought for a moment, then said, "In the short term, there shouldn't be any trouble. It's only a matter of