Following Orders, Part Two

"Now do you understand how treacherous and inscrutable the situation at court is?"

Fu Bonian nodded. "I understand, of course."

As the serving Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, he had always kept a faint, almost imperceptible distance from those court officials and had little dealings with them in daily life.

Yet he had never imagined that simply because Wei Sizhong had personally raised him up all those years ago, he had long since become a thorn in certain people's eyes and flesh, regardless of any wrongdoing on his part.

"Bonian, I have a task for you."

Seeing Fu Bonian lost in thought, Wei Sizhong spoke directly.

"I await your instructions, honored teacher."

Wei Sizhong said, "Regarding the dereliction of duty by Yang Chengming, the Yan Prefecture Military Commissioner, His Majesty originally ordered me to go in person. However, His Majesty has been unwell of late. I could not bear to see him toil while ill, so I recommended that you go in my stead."

The Yan Prefecture Military Commissioner?

A flash of realization crossed Fu Bonian's mind. Wasn't he the man who had been at odds with Wei Li?

It seemed there were many suspicious circumstances surrounding Wei Li's death.

However, Fu Bonian did not voice his doubts. He merely looked up at Wei Sizhong and asked, "What would you have me do, honored teacher?"

"Yang Chengming knows quite a few people in the capital. I believe your attack on the road must have been the work of someone who passed word to him, hoping to use you to hold me hostage."

After all, when a man enjoyed the chancellor's favor, it was difficult to convince others that there were no special dealings between them.

"They would dare harbor such intentions? Had you not foreseen matters with such