Grand Secretary, Something Has Happened in Chu Prefecture

Duke Wei wasn't guessing the Prince of Zhenbei; he meant that he was guessing Emperor Yuanjing. Xu Qi'an slowly nodded, acknowledging Wei Yuan's explanation.

Based on his deductions, even if the massacre of the city by the Prince of Zhenbei wasn't authorized by Emperor Yuanjing, it was still a conspiracy between the two brothers. Therefore, perhaps the massacre of Chuzhou City was Emperor Yuanjing's idea.

Was Emperor Yuanjing doing all this really just to help the Prince of Zhenbei advance to the second rank? Even if he trusted the Prince of Zhenbei implicitly and hoped for his advancement, at most he would just be tacitly approving of the Prince of Zhenbei's massacre of the city. This is in line with Emperor Yuanjing's scheming and cunning, and with his imperial tactics. Xu Qi'an frowned and said:

"So that's how it is. Does His Majesty have other motives?"

Wei Yuan fell silent for a moment, then said, "Next question."

For a fleeting moment, Xu Qi'an thought he might have misread it, but he saw Wei Qingyi seem dazed.

Did Emperor Yuanjing really have another purpose? Duke Wei knew, but didn't want to tell me. Xu Qi'an in micro-expression psychology, remained calm and said:

"The intelligence Cai'er, the spy from Sanhuang County, gave me is false?"

He went back to see Cai'er, and the madam said that she had been redeemed by a man the day after Xu Qi'an left.

"I just wanted to find an excuse to get you out of there. Chuzhou City is too dangerous; you'd be throwing yourself to the wolves." Wei Yuan held his teacup, still not drinking, and said:

"Is your next question about whether I leaked information about Chuzhou City to the barbarians?"

Xu Qi'an nodded.

Wei Yuan's lips curled into a mocking smile as he said:

"His Majesty had already secretly taken the Zhenguo Sword from the Yongzhen Shanhe Temple and sent it to Chuzhou at top speed. The two brothers not only wanted to massacre the city to refine elixirs, but if the final location was leaked, they also planned to kill Jili Zhigu and Zhujiu once and for all."

"By the way, the blame for the massacre was shifted to the barbarians and Demon Race. Anyway, the people of Great Feng could accept this explanation. Rumors of barbarians raiding the border and stealing grain and people have never stopped for hundreds of years."

"In order to accumulate enough life essence and then seize the Queen's spiritual energy to advance his own power, the Prince of Zhenbei did not hesitate to slaughter the people of Chuzhou City. Since that's the case, let them fight like dogs."

"If either Jilizhigu or Zhujiuzhong were to fall, the pressure on the Northern Border would lessen, and the people could enjoy many more years of peace. However, if the Prince of Zhenbei were to perish, that would be the greatest punishment for him. As for me, I would take over the Northern Border's military forces to lay the foundation for attacking the Northeast Witch God Cult after the autumn harvest."

It's all just dogs fighting each other anyway; whoever dies is a cause for celebration. Xu Qi'an looked at him and whispered:

"However, if that mysterious expert hadn't appeared, the outcome of this matter would have been that the Prince of Zhenbei would have been promoted to the second rank and become a hero of the Great Feng. Can you accept such an outcome, Duke Wei?"

"The Prince of Zhenbei can't be promoted to the second rank because you intercepted his princess beforehand." Wei Yuan blew on the tea again but didn't drink it.

"You... you knew all along?"

Xu Qi'an's face stiffened, and he forced a dry laugh, "How did you know?"

Wei Yuan put down his teacup and said irritably, "You know that with your brain. We'll talk about this later."

He paused for a moment, then continued the previous topic, "If the Prince of Zhenbei becomes the winner and devours the Blood Pill to reach the Great Perfection of the Third Rank, that would be perfect. When we fight the Witch God Sect, we can let him be the one charging into battle."

"Hehe, the Witch God Cult has launched a large-scale invasion of the border. The court urgently needs high-ranking military officers to garrison the army. However, the high-ranking leader in the north has already fallen. The Prince of Zhenbei has no excuse to stay out of it."

"What happens in the North is ultimately thousands of miles away and beyond our control. But once it's in the army, on the battlefield, isn't punishing the Prince of Zhenbei easy? That tiger of the Witch God Cult is far more useful than Jilizhigu and Zhujiu."

By leaking intelligence to the demon and barbarian races, they can be made to fight the Zhenbei King to the death. This is both a case of driving one tiger to devour another, and letting the wolves devour the tiger. If the demon and barbarian races are defeated, then the Zhenbei King, whose cultivation has greatly increased, can deal with the invasion of the Witch God Cult. Then, they can wait for an opportunity to repeat the same scheme.

If the Prince of Zhenbei were to lose, he would not only punish the perpetrators of the massacre but also free himself from the court and regain control of the army. Given the ferocity of the northern barbarians, who would be the most suitable person to guard the north without the Prince of Zhenbei?

The answer is self-evident.

Xu Qi'an swallowed quietly and shook his head. "But, the Prince of Zhenbei is colluding with the Witch God Cult."

Wei Yuan smiled gently, "If our interests align, I can also collude with the Witch God Cult. But when interests conflict, even the closest allies will turn against each other. Therefore, the Prince of Zhenbei does not necessarily have to die in Chuzhou."

"Xu Qi'an, remember this: a wise strategist must be patient. Reckless courage may bring temporary gains, but it will cost you far more."

But Duke Wei, I am a warrior by nature. I do not believe in gods or worship Buddha. I do not bow to kings or respect heaven and earth. I dare to overturn heaven and earth in a fit of rage. This is the true nature of a warrior.

This is what you told me back then.

Wei Yuan was a strategist who preferred to work behind the scenes, gradually advancing his plans. Most of the time, he only cared about the results and could tolerate the losses and sacrifices along the way.

Xu Qi'an knew he couldn't do it. He was a believer, and in his dealings with people, he focused more on the process than the outcome.

For example, when the man surnamed Zhu, Yinluo, defiled a young girl, Xu Qi'an chose to endure it. Now, he can make the Zhu father and son suffer the consequences.

His choice at the time was to slash Zhu Yinluo so severely that he was sentenced to be cut in half at the waist.

This is what Wei Yuan meant when he said that one must be patient and restrained, for acting rashly will only lead to greater losses.

However, the price of forbearance was that the innocent girl was violated by a beast, violated in front of a group of men. The outcome was either hanging herself or throwing herself into a well.

Is revenge meaningful after the fact?

The girl still died.

Xu Qi'an wanted at the time was not revenge afterward, but the girl's safety.

With a single stroke, my mind is clear, and I have no regrets.

"Duke Wei and I are ultimately different." He sighed inwardly and asked, "Duke Wei, how do you know the Princess Consort won't be able to see the Prince of Zhenbei?"

A strong sense of doubt welled up in his heart, and he suspected that it was Wei Yuan who had betrayed the princess.

Wei Yuan slowly said, "I sent those maids that Yang Yan had the Imperial Guards send back back to the Prince of Huai's residence. Given Yang Yan's personality, if there's nothing wrong with these maids, he would send them directly back to the Prince of Huai's residence instead of sending them to me. Otherwise, it means there's something wrong with these maids."

"After I inquired about the situation, I knew that the princess must have been rescued by you. Yang Yan also had this suspicion, which is why we sent her back to the Nightwatchers's office first. Apart from Yang Yan, no one else saw the scene. Your suspicion is very light, and ordinary people would not suspect you."

"But given His Majesty's suspicious nature, he won't let go of even the slightest possibility. He might send people to investigate. However, he doesn't have the mood or energy to deal with the Princess's affairs right now."

No wonder Yang Yan told me before leaving Chuzhou to consult Duke Wei if I needed anything. Xu Qi'an breathed a sigh of relief; having such a great group of teammates was truly a blessing.

At this moment, Wei Yuan narrowed his eyes, put on a serious expression, and said:

"Before the delegation departed, His Majesty went to the trouble of informing me that the Princess would be accompanying us. He was warning me not to make any underhanded moves. I didn't expect that the Princess's whereabouts would still be leaked."

Xu Qi'an's heart skipped a beat. "Duke Wei, I need to report the details of this matter."

Wei Yuan's deep, weathered eyes brightened slightly, and he straightened his posture a bit more, saying, "Tell me about it."

"The barbarians were being secretly supported by a group of Warlock. When I went to fight them that day, I found a Warlock mingling with the barbarian experts."

Wei Yuan pondered for a moment and asked, "Who was the mastermind behind the tax silver case?"

Xu Qi'an choked for a moment, then sighed inwardly. With Wei Yuan's wisdom, how could he possibly overlook the mysterious Warlock who appeared in the tax silver case?

"Zhou Xianping, the former Ministry of Revenue, is most likely one of that mysterious Warlock's men. I once approached the Director of the Imperial Academy about this, but the old man didn't give me an answer. However, one thing is certain: this mysterious figure still has henchmen in the court."

Wei Yuan and Xu Qi'an mentioned it briefly, and then the two unconsciously changed the subject and did not continue the discussion.

The shift happened so naturally, so instinctively, that even they didn't realize something was wrong.

What are your plans for settling Mu Nanzhi?

Wei Yuan spoke in a tone that was neither a smile nor a laugh.

"What does Duke Wei think?" Xu Qi'an humbly asked for advice.

Wei Yuan pondered for a moment, then said, "Keep her as a mistress, but be careful to control yourself. Before you reach the third rank, don't take advantage of her body. Otherwise, it would be a waste."

Oh dear, Duke Wei, you're being too vulgar, hehehe.

"Any other questions?" Wei Yuan looked at him gently.

What extraordinary abilities does the princess possess? What is her true identity?

This question had been on his mind for a long time.

"Go to the Cloud Deer Academy, find a book called ' The Great Zhou Anecdotes,' and you'll understand after reading it." After saying this, Wei Yuan asked again:

Are there any other questions?

Xu Qi'an shook his head.

Wei Yuan nodded slightly, looking at him. "You brought the remains of the Prince of Zhenbei back to the capital. What are your plans afterward?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Qi'an's expression turned serious, and his tone became firm. "Punish the Prince of Zhenbei and give the people of Chuzhou City justice."

He needs a definitive verdict.

The Prince of Zhenbei committed such an inhumane atrocity as massacring the city; even in death, he will not leave behind a good reputation.

Wei Yuan glanced at him. "You're not good at court affairs, so don't get involved in this."

Xu Qi'an was taken aback. "What does Duke Wei mean by this?"

Wei Yuan did not answer, but finally took a sip of warm tea.

"."

Xu Qi'an stood up, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and left Haoqi Tower.

Ministry of Justice!

Chief Constable Chen didn't have time to go home; after leaving the palace, he rushed to the yamen (government office).

He entered the hall with practiced ease and saw Minister Sun engrossed in handling state affairs. Head Constable Chen respectfully greeted him, "Minister Sun, this humble servant has returned to the capital."

Minister Sun was taken aback, and looked up in surprise. "When did you return to the capital?"

Chief Constable Chen stepped over the threshold and entered the hall, saying in a low voice, "I just returned to the capital and came to see the Minister immediately."

It seems the case of the massacre across three thousand miles remains unsolved. Minister Sun made this judgment, lowered his head to read the official documents, and said calmly, "How is the investigation progressing?"

His judgment was not based on mere guesswork, but on his extensive experience in officialdom.

If such a major case as the massacre of three thousand miles were thoroughly investigated, the mission would surely send back a report in advance, and His Majesty would definitely convene a small court meeting in the Imperial Study to discuss the matter.

But he received no news, which means the case ultimately fizzled out and no one paid attention to it.

Head Constable Chen glanced at Minister Sun, who was hunched over his work, and said softly, "Chuzhou City is gone."

Minister Sun grunted in response, seemingly unconcerned. After a few seconds, he slowly raised his head, as if just realizing what was happening, and stared at Constable Chen, saying each word clearly:

"What did you say?"

Officer Chen took a deep breath and added, "It was slaughtered by the Prince of Zhenbei."

Minister Sun stunned on the spot.

The atmosphere in the hall instantly froze. In the silent stillness, Minister Sun, leaning on the table, slowly rose, his expression slightly dazed as he looked at Constable Chen:

"Where is the Prince of Zhenbei?"

Head Constable Chen said in a deep voice, "The Prince of Zhenbei has been executed."

A wave of dizziness washed over him, and his vision went black. Minister Sun slumped back into his chair.

Officer Chen rushed forward and asked, "Sir, are you alright?"

Minister Sun waved his hand, his voice trembling, and said, "Explain the matter clearly, tell the truth."

Officer Chen immediately told Minister Sun everything he had seen and heard, down to the smallest detail.

The mission had planned to report each matter to their superiors and, together with the civil service group, use their combined power to coerce Emperor Yuanjing.

Half an hour later, just in time for lunch, Minister Sun's carriage left the Ministry of Justice and hurried to the Prince's residence.

Around the same time, the Dali Temple Minister's carriage also left the yamen and headed towards the Prince's Mansion.

Imperial city, royal palace.

The Wang family's mansion was bestowed by Emperor Yuanjing. Located in the imperial city, it was heavily guarded and was one of the perks of the chief minister.

It was lunchtime, and Wang Zhenwen's journey back to his residence from the cabinet for lunch only took a quarter of an hour.

At the dinner table, Wang Zhenwen's gaze swept over his wife, his two sons, and his daughters-in-law, but he noticed that his eldest daughter, Wang Simu, was nowhere to be seen. He frowned and asked, "Where is Mu'er?"

"He left early this morning, I heard he had an appointment to go hiking," Lady Wang replied to her husband, her demeanor dignified and poised.

"Hiking?"

The Prime Minister's brows furrowed even deeper. He looked at his wife and asked, as if seeking confirmation, "Mu'er seems to be going out frequently and having appointments with people these past few days?"

The Grand Secretary is extremely busy, yet he still remembers these details, which shows that he truly cares about this legitimate daughter.

Madam Wang hesitated for a moment, while the others lowered their heads and focused on eating.

Only the relatively simple-minded second son of the Wang family took a sip of wine and chuckled, "Father, my sister has recently become involved with the Erlang of the Xu Household. Xu Xinnian is the top scholar in the imperial examination. Don't you know?"

The family's faces suddenly froze, their expression hardening as they silently stared at the second young master of the Wang family, their eyes seeming to say: Are you stupid?

The second young master Wang frowned, longing for a man of marriageable age, whose chosen woman was a junior scholar in the Hanlin Academy, a man of exceptional refinement and nobility.

The fact that the girl he admired and that Xu Erlang were able to willingly get together is what they call a happy ending for lovers. That's the gist of it.

Once the time was right, Father sent Xu Erlang to propose marriage, and then Si Mu was married off, thus securing a happy marriage.

When Wang Er Gongzi got married, he did exactly that. Originally, his wife's family disagreed because they thought he didn't have an official position. But Wang Er Gongzi, accompanied by his entourage and guards, spent an entire day at his wife's family's home Convincing Others with Reason, and only then did he manage to marry her.

The young wife is incredibly happy now, much happier than when she was at her parents' home.

The Prime Minister's expression grew increasingly serious, but his tone remained unchanged, even becoming calmer and colder as he asked, "Xu Qi'an's cousin?"

Madam Wang carefully observed her husband's expression, nodded slightly, and explained, "It's not as exaggerated as Erlang described; at most, it's just mutual attraction."

Chief Minister Wang nodded, his expression remaining impassive.

After lunch, there was a one-hour rest period. Just as the Grand Secretary was about to return to his room for a nap, the steward rushed in and stood at the entrance to the inner hall, saying:

"Sir, Minister Sun from the Ministry of Justice has come to pay a visit."

At this point in time, Chief Minister Wang was somewhat surprised and said, "Please invite him to my study."

What surprised Chief Minister Wang even more was that, following Minister Sun, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review also paid a visit. The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was the current leader of the Qi faction.

In addition, there were many officials holding important positions, ranging from the fourth rank to the seventh rank, all of whom were powerful figures.

In the study, after instructing his servants to serve tea, the Grand Secretary Wang looked around at everyone and said with a smile, "What's going on today? Did you gentlemen receive the wrong invitations and mistakenly think that I was celebrating a wedding at my residence?"

Even when he's joking, his expression remains dignified and serious.

"Forget about happy occasions, but we need to consider whether or not to hold a funeral." Minister Sun sighed regretfully.

"A major incident has occurred in Chuzhou, Your Excellency. Let's think about how to handle the situation."

The chief minister stared at him, then glanced at the others, silently straightened his back, and said in a deep voice, "What happened?"