Even though Zhou Ye himself had asked Yun Shen to send informants to keep an eye on Zhao Junze's two troublemaking sons,
he was still shocked to hear the news.
"If I remember correctly, his eldest son is only nine. How could he do something like that?"
Yun Shen, however, seemed accustomed to such things. "Brother Zhou, you've been away from the capital for so long that you don't know about the filthy things the children of officials get up to here. If I told you about them, I'm afraid I couldn't finish in days and nights."
Zhou Ye thought of the time he had lived in, where there seemed to be devilish minors like that too, and so he understood.
He asked Yun Shen, "Which family did the young master they harmed belong to?"
"He was Bai Qingyu, the legitimate son of Lord Bai, vice minister of the Court of State Ceremonial." Pity showed in Yun Shen's eyes as he continued, "I heard the boy saw Zhao Hai bullying a student from their academy and stepped in to stop him. But after school, Zhao Hai brought some men, put a sack over him, tied a large rock to him, and threw him into a lake in the wilderness."
"A farmer outside the city saw it happen and jumped in to save him, but by the time he pulled the boy out, he was no longer breathing."
Zhou Ye sighed at the news, then asked, "Did this happen today?"
"Yes," Yun Shen said. "My informant sent word that Zhao Junze is taking Zhao Hai to Lord Bai's residence to apologize right now."
"He caused the death of another man's son. What good will an apology do?" Zhou Ye said. "Lord Bai certainly won't let the matter rest."
"Naturally." A sharp glint flashed in Yun Shen's eyes, and he said with a trace of scorn, "That's why Zhao Junze took soldiers with him to the Bai residence and blocked all news of the matter."
At that, Zhou Ye's expression turned cold.
"He intends to force Lord Bai to submit to him."
Yun Shen took a small sip of wine and asked him, "So, Brother Zhou, I've brought you the news. What do you intend to do?"
Zhou Ye gathered his thoughts and went over everything that had happened that day.
That included the incident involving the empress and Noble Consort Shu.
It also included the standing and distribution of power among the Feng, Zhao, and Bai families at court.
Then, as though he had figured something out, he dipped a finger in water and traced a diagram of their relationships on the table.
As he drew, he said, "In the palace, the empress has now made her move.
"That makes this the best leverage Empress Feng could have over the Zhao Family.
"But she's far away in the inner palace and knows nothing of it. If Zhao Junze manages to suppress the matter today, she'll lose a very useful piece.
"The Bai Family are officials who were transferred to the capital only this year. They haven't attached themselves to any faction there. If they can't withstand Zhao Junze's threats and inducements, they might give up seeking justice for Bai Qingyu and instead use this leverage to obtain benefits from the Zhao Family, relying on its power to gain a foothold in the capital. That would be the worst outcome for us.
"So our most urgent task is to make the Feng Family aware of this matter.
"And urge them to make a big issue of it."
Yun Shen rested his head on his hand, Zhou Ye's serious face reflected in his eyes and a smile on his lips.
"It seems you've thought it all through, Brother Zhou."
He asked Zhou Ye, "Then which piece do you intend to send out for this final move?"
Zhou Ye traced the branches of the Feng Family with his finger.
Pointing to the last one, he said, "I intend to tell Grand Preceptor Feng's youngest son, Feng Chenyi, who currently commands the Patrol Camp."
At that name, Yun Shen's expression shifted slightly.
Zhou Ye noticed and asked him, "The Zhang Family used to be on good terms with the Feng Family. Do you know what sort of character this young master of the Feng Family has, Young Master Yun?"
Yun Shen pressed his lips together, emotions churning in his eyes. After a long while, he finally said,
"He's a... fool."