Chapter 761
Chapter 463 - 443: Secret Maneuver (Part One)
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So, that night, Feng Chang and Yan Huisheng quietly went to the national treasury with a team, secretly moving boxes of silver, jewelry and other valuables, which were handed over to Yan Huisheng.
After Yan Huisheng and his people had moved enough to sustain the 100,000 soldiers at the Duke Residence for a month’s military ration, he dispatched people in secret to buy grain and fodder.
Feng Chang returned to his residence before dawn, bathed, changed clothes and wiped the sweat from his body. Then, he hurried to attend the morning court meeting.
During the morning court meeting that day, all was calm.
After the morning meeting, the emperor summoned Yan Huisheng to the Imperial Study Room for a talk.
The emperor asked Yan Huisheng: "Have there been any messages from Zhou Gu and Su Rong? Have you found any detailed information about the situation in Jibei?"
Yan Huisheng shook his head: "Father, there have been no messages from Zhou Gu and Su Rong," he paused, then said, "However, there is an issue. It’s a bit tricky. I received news about it last night, and I need to inform your Majesty in advance so you can prepare and make a decision."
"What’s the matter?" the emperor asked.
Yan Huisheng said: "It involves Su Rong. I’ve received news that Su Rong was ambushed while escorting the Ning siblings to the Marquis Nanping Residence. Despite several groups of assassins, there was also a deputy en envoy named Zhang Yu from Heyun County with 2,500 soldiers ambushing at the entrance of a canyon. After being discovered by Su Rong, they even crossed the border into Linyang County, where they were captured by the county guard, Sun Chun. Sun Chun’s written confession should already be on its way to the Capital City."
The emperor was shocked: "Such a thing happened?"
Yan Huisheng nodded.
The emperor furrowed his brows: "Who is the county guard of Heyun County?"
"Lin Sheng."
Having pondered for a while, the emperor then asked: "Who is this Zhang Yu? Was he ordered by someone else? Or did he tactlessly move the army on his own?"
"We are investigating now. It’s impossible for a county guard to be unaware that his deputy envoy has moved the army. Especially in Heyun County where the overall number of soldiers is just about that much. If the county guard has no idea, what sort of useless person is he? Since your Majesty appointed him as the guard of Heyun County, he must not be incompetent." Yan Huisheng said, "Zhang Yu is a distant relative of Zhang Ping. If Zhang Yu didn’t do this upon Zhang Ping’s order, he must be in the same league with Zhang Ping."
Upon hearing that Zhang Yu is a distant relative of Zhang Ping, the emperor also felt that what Yan Huisheng said was reasonable. The emperor disliked Zhang Ping greatly ever since he discovered Zhang Ping’s ambition for rebellion. He couldn’t wait to tear Zhang Ping apart, but he had to restrain himself. He asked Yan Huisheng: "Did they ambush Su Rong on Zhang Ping’s order?"
If they did this under Zhang Ping’s command, why would Zhang Ping want to kill Su Rong? Was it because of the case of the precious concubine? Or was it because Su Rong was loyal to the Eastern Palace and thus he was hindering Zhang Ping’s way?
"I guess that it must have been ordered by my second brother," Yan Huisheng said calmly: "The eldest brother has been taken to the Prince’s Residence by my second brother. Do you know, father, where all the evidences for convicting my eldest brother came from? They came from Ning Yao’s testimonies. Su Rong is escorting the Ning siblings to Nanping, aiming to stabilize Marquis Nanping, and using the excuse of going to Nanping to secretly go to Jibei. But as for my eldest brother and my second brother, would they let Ning Yao off? Of course not. Therefore, they not only dispatched assassins but also bribed Zhang Yu to ambush Su Rong."
The emperor inhaled deeply: "That’s just your speculation."
Yan Huisheng indifferently replied: "Correct, it’s just my guess. Therefore, I’m merely informing your Majesty in advance so you can be prepared. Anyway, after capturing Zhang Yu and his people, Sun Chun has already interrogated them and sent the confession letter. In a few days, they will be brought to the Capital City. You can assign someone to interrogate them again then to figure out whether I’m making this up or whether it’s the truth. I believe that the results will come out in a few days."
The emperor was upset at hearing that. He was actually aware that Zhang Ping harbored rebellious thoughts, and the second prince, Yan Lin, was also a failure. But the thought that he had to depose the two princes whom he had been supporting for years made him both furious and upset. What’s worse, Yan Huisheng, his crown prince, was not the same as before. He was not refraining himself anymore and spoke without restraint. Yan Huisheng always refuted him straightforwardly. This seriously damaged his dignity as an emperor. Even though he was upset, he was not in a position to lash out on Yan Huisheng.
Who’s to blame for Zhang Ping, who had developed the ambition to rebel and he did not notice it before!
Who’s to blame for his eldest and second princes, whom he had spoiled and supported for so many years, always being at odds with Yan Huisheng!
Now he was still in power, dealing with all this mess. The troubles had all come to him. He had no confidence to vent his anger at his son.
After a moment of silence, he waved his hand lightly: "Alright, I get it. You make sure Zhang Yu doesn’t die."
Yan Huisheng nodded satisfyingly: "Father, don’t worry."
At least it hadn’t reached that stage where his father was no longer protecting Yan Lin.
Witnessing Yan Huisheng being invited to the Imperial Study Room by the emperor, Yan Lin was consumed by envy. It was a treatment that only he and his elder brother ever used to receive. Now, he was left out in the cold. Besides, he distinctly felt the emperor was increasingly indifferent to him.
Just like the intentional coldness he used to give Yan Huisheng in the past.
Even though he had organized the Jeweled Grove Banquet excellently, it did not change the emperor’s attitude towards him.
He was getting increasingly restless, especially because there was still no news from Zhang Yu. He was anxiously wondering if Zhang Yu had succeeded or failed in his mission.
After the morning court meeting, he returned to his residence, feeling dissatisfied and questioned the housekeeper: "Where is my elder brother?"
The housekeeper spoke softly: "The eldest son hasn’t gotten up yet."
Yan Lin looked unhappy: "It’s so late. How hasn’t my elder brother gotten up yet?"
The housekeeper replied: "The eldest son has taken a liking to a maid in the house. He indulged himself with her even after getting drunk last night. Naturally, he couldn’t get up early today."
Yan Lin sneered: "He has reached such a point and still has the mood to play with women. He’s really foolish."
The housekeeper did not dare to respond, thinking to herself that perhaps it was precisely because the eldest prince had reached this point and was hopeless that he had given up completely. After all, it was the first time she had heard of the eldest prince having a penchant for women.
Not caring about Yan Li, Yan Lin asked again: "Where is Zhang Wan?"
Since he found out about Zhang Ping’s ambition, Yan Lin had not been showing the same respect to Zhang Wan as before and was even very cautious of her.
The housekeeper whispered: "The princess consort went to a banquet."
"A banquet? Whose banquet?"
"It’s the princess’s banquet. She’s celebrating her birthday today."
Yan Lin rubbed his temple. In the past, he would have certainly attended Princess Qingping’s birthday banquet every year. But this year he really did not have the mood to celebrate Qingping’s birthday. He remembered Zhang Wan mentioned it a few days ago, and he waved his hand letting her go by herself.
He ordered, "Call the academics over."
He needed to discuss the next steps with his advisors again. Sensing that things seemed to be slipping out of his control, he had to take proactive measures. He was not like Yan Huisheng, who could endure for several years while winning people’s hearts. If he kept on being passive like this, he felt that he would be swallowed by Yan Huisheng sooner or later.
The housekeeper complied and left immediately.
— End of Chapter 761 —