Chapter 135: The Terrifying Battle Royale Begins!
Fu Youwen, Ru Chang, Zheng Ci, Zhai Shan, and others, although they had no way of knowing about the earth-shattering changes that occurred inside Huagai Hall and the emperor’s drastic shift in mood, they keenly sensed another signal.
The emperor seemed to be in an extremely bad mood again because of Zhang Biao, even suspending the handling of daily state affairs.
In their eyes, this made them feel that Zhang Biao, even though he was imprisoned in the Imperial Prison and was to be executed after autumn, was still causing trouble. They also felt that this was a godsend.
“The Emperor seems to be extremely angered by that madman Zhang Biao, to the point of being uninterested in handling state affairs!”
Ru Chang whispered excitedly during their secret meeting, “This is precisely the best opportunity for us to completely deal with those five little beasts!”
“Exactly! While he’s down, strike him dead!”
Zheng Ci nodded with a sinister smile, “The more the Emperor is unwilling to deal with these trivial matters, the more we must cut through the Gordian knot quickly and make it a done deal!”
“By the time the Emperor comes to his senses, Shen Lang and the others will have already ruined their reputations and it will be a fait accompli!”
“Hmph!”
Fu Youwen snorted coldly, his tone filled with killing intent, “Those five little beasts, still causing trouble even after being suspended, have been very active lately!”
“The faster they jump, the faster they die! The Ministry of Personnel is all prepared!”
Zhai Shan was very enthusiastic about this, “The memorials impeaching them are piled up like mountains, and over a dozen pieces of evidence have already been fabricated! We can launch the final blow at any moment and throw them into prison to be tried!”
“Good!”
A calculating cold light flickered in Fu Youwen’s eyes, “Since the Emperor is unwilling to handle state affairs, we shall share his burden!”
He then looked around at the other three and said, “Immediately mobilize all our forces, and tomorrow morning, we will jointly submit a memorial!”
“Not only will we impeach Shen Lang and the other four for forming factions for selfish ends, inciting rebellion, and exceeding their authority, but we will also definitively characterize the conflict outside the Gate of Heavenly Acceptance as a malicious incident orchestrated by them with the intention of forcing the emperor’s hand!”
He paused and added the most poisonous scheme, “At the same time, have our people in the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Court make preparations!”
“Once the decree is issued, immediately raid the residences of Shen Lang and the others! Search for ‘evidence of guilt’!”
“At that time, the ‘secret letters of collusion with princes’ and ‘resentment towards the court’ that we planted beforehand will be their death warrant!”
Hearing this, the few men looked at each other and smiled, as if they already saw the pathetic scene of Shen Lang and the other four being imprisoned and coerced into confession under torture.
They decided not to give these five any more breathing room, and to use the window period when the emperor was ‘too preoccupied to care’ to crush them completely with overwhelming force.
Meanwhile, Shen Lang and the other four were unaware that a more vicious net was tightening around them, nor did they know about the tempest that had been stirred up in the depths of the Imperial Palace by a single sentence from Zhang Biao.
They continued to act separately, using every possible opportunity and resource to conduct their difficult counterattack.
Shen Lang attempted to request an audience with Jiang Huan, wanting to see Zhang Biao again, but the response was always ‘Commander Jiang is busy with official duties and has no time to meet’.
The atmosphere in the Imperial Guard’s headquarters had clearly become more somber and exclusive; he could barely even get close to the gate.
Wu Nai Da, using his old connections, did manage to contact some lower- and mid-level officials who were dissatisfied with Fu Youwen and Zhai Shan, obtaining some scattered information about their factionalism and bribery.
However, most of it lacked crucial evidence and was insufficient to deliver a fatal blow.
Li Mo stayed up all night writing several ‘folk tales’ filled with extreme satire and mockery, weaving the corrupt deeds of Fu Youwen, Ru Chang, and others into jokes.
Zhao Fengman activated his network of contacts from all walks of life, and these jokes spread like a virus through teahouses, taverns, and street corners. They indeed sparked much discussion and laughter among the common people, and also significantly damaged the reputations of Fu and Ru.
However, it was still far from shaking their foundations.
Sun Gui contacted some old brothers from his former military days.
But when they heard it was about investigating Ru Chang, the Minister of War, they all looked troubled and became reticent, at most providing some inconsequential peripheral information, clearly fearing Ru Chang’s power.
The progress was far more difficult than they had imagined.
Having lost their official positions, they found every step arduous. The Fu Youwen group’s influence was deeply entrenched, far exceeding their estimations.
A sense of powerlessness and urgency enveloped the five of them.
“No, this is too slow!”
Sun Gui roared impatiently, “By the time we find evidence, it’ll be too late!”
“Fu Youwen and the others won’t give us time.”
Wu Nai Da’s expression was solemn, “I’ve received wind that they might be making a bigger move against us soon.”
“We must find a way to see Brother Biao!”
Li Mo said with deep concern, “Only he knows the most secrets! And only he can perhaps guide us on what to do next!”
“Seeing Jiang Huan is as difficult as reaching the heavens, and seeing Brother Biao is an even greater fantasy.”
Shen Lang took a deep breath, his eyes resolute, “There is only one way to proceed…”
“What way?”
The other four looked at him.
Shen Lang lowered his voice and revealed an extremely risky plan, “We must find a way to obtain something that can definitively prove Fu Youwen and Ru Chang’s crimes! Something that can instantly bring them down! And then make it public!”
“What thing?” the others couldn’t help but press.
“Account books!”
A sharp glint flashed in Shen Lang’s eyes, “Fu Youwen’s embezzlement of river repair funds, Ru Chang’s resale of military equipment – it’s impossible for them not to have hidden accounts!”
“As long as we find one of them… they will never be able to recover!”
“But… where can we find it?”
Wu Nai Da felt the plan was too difficult and frowned, “Their residences are heavily guarded, and the hidden accounts must be stored in extremely secret places…”
“There is one place that might offer an opportunity…”
Shen Lang’s gaze shifted in a certain direction, and his voice was low, “We went to the Ministry of Revenue twice. The first time, we were there to demand our salaries, and we were too preoccupied with the commotion. The second time, although there was still commotion, our objective was clear, and we went straight to the Ministry of Revenue Archives. Therefore, I accidentally discovered that the Ministry of Revenue Archives has a secret compartment…”
“A secret compartment?”
Li Mo suddenly exclaimed, “Then why didn’t you tell Brother Biao?”
“It’s not that I didn’t tell him, it’s just that there was no opportunity.”
Shen Lang gave a wry smile and shook his head, “Jiang Huan was watching us the entire time. Later, Brother Biao told us to investigate the Ministry of War, while he investigated the Censorate. After that, Brother Biao was thrown into the Imperial Prison, so there was even less opportunity…”
“This…”
Upon hearing this, everyone looked at each other in dismay.
Then Wu Nai Da spoke again, “How can you be sure that there is something we need in that secret compartment?”
Shen Lang thought for a moment and said, “I can’t be sure, but Brother Biao often said that the most dangerous places are the safest. If Fu Youwen thinks he’s being clever, it’s very possible that he would place those accounts he handled but cannot see the light of day right under everyone’s noses!”
“But this is too risky!” Even Sun Gui felt a chill.
“We have no other choice!”
Shen Lang gritted his teeth, “This is the only way to break through the situation quickly! I will find a way to sneak into the Ministry of Revenue! The others will provide support!”
The group exchanged glances, their hearts full of tension, but they could not deny that they had reached a point of no return.
On the other side.
In the depths of the Imperial Prison, time seemed to have frozen.
Zhang Biao could clearly sense that the guards outside had been replaced by an elite team of loyal Imperial Guard officers whose eyes were as sharp as falcons and who were loyal only to Jiang Huan.
The air was even filled with a silent, highly vigilant oppression.
It was as if this were not a prison cell, but a dormant gunpowder keg.
Seeing this, Zhang Biao was not only unafraid, but seemed as relaxed as if he were in his own living room.
He hummed those tuneless little songs again, scratching incomprehensible symbols on the wall with his brush.
“Tap, tap…”
Footsteps suddenly approached, steady and restrained.
Jiang Huan arrived outside the prison cell door but did not speak immediately.
He merely stared intently at Zhang Biao with those eyes that could make all officials tremble, trying to find even the slightest flaw or fear in this madman.
“Commander Jiang, have you fallen in love with me? Why are you staring at my back so intently?”
Zhang Biao did not turn around, but his teasing words rang out, “Speak, does Old Zhu have any new instructions? Perhaps arrange some maids for me? Add an hour?”
“…”
Jiang Huan’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.
He suppressed his surging wrath, his voice low and cold, with a professional tone:
“Zhang Biao, His Majesty requires the confession you are to provide, and it needs to be done quickly. Do not delay any further.”
“Confession? Oh, you mean that.”
Zhang Biao snapped his fingers as if suddenly remembering, then turned around, a troubled expression on his face, “But you see, when I think about serious matters, I tend to get sidetracked. Especially since this Imperial Prison has such heavy yin energy, it always makes me recall old debts…”
As he spoke, he walked step by step towards Jiang Huan, neither looking at Jiang Huan nor speaking unnecessary words, stroking his chin as if trying hard to recall, “Hey, Commander Jiang, isn’t it strange?”
“When I was looking through old account books a few days ago, I seemed to see that after the Crown Prince passed away, a Provincial Administration Commissioner named Wang from Shaanxi was promoted back to the capital not long after?”
“And he took a lucrative position in the Ministry of Revenue? That promotion speed is outrageously fast…”
“Did he give Vice Minister Fu Youwen some grand gift? For example… several carts of ‘local specialties’ from Shaanxi?”
“This…”
Jiang Huan’s heart gave a jolt.
A Provincial Administration Commissioner named Wang? Promoted to the Ministry of Revenue? Fu Youwen?
He almost instantly identified the person and immediately realized that if investigated deeply, there was definitely something fishy going on.
And Zhang Biao’s casual remark was like handing an invisible, poisoned dagger to the Emperor.
Zhang Biao seemed not to notice Jiang Huan’s changing expression, continuing in that careless, rambling tone,
“Also, in the Ministry of War, Minister Ru Chang Ru has a brother-in-law who used to serve in the Shaanxi Military Commission, right?”
“When the Crown Prince was inspecting that area, he was in charge of some of the security work?”
“Later, when the Crown Prince fell ill, he was immediately transferred back to the capital and joined the Five Military Commissions? That transfer was quite coincidental, wasn’t it?”
Ru Chang’s brother-in-law! Security work!?
Jiang Huan’s back was instantly drenched in cold sweat.
This madman was even making such connections?! What if the Emperor found out…
“Oh, right!”
Zhang Biao seemed to remember something else, slapped his thigh, and looked up at Jiang Huan,
“Minister of Works Zheng Ci Zheng, his hometown is Fengyang, isn’t it? He’s a fellow townsman of Marquis Wuding Guo Ying, right? Their relationship seems quite close? Back then, the Crown Prince… alas, look at my memory, I can’t recall anymore.”
Fengyang fellow townsmen! Guo Ying! Zheng Ci!?
Jiang Huan felt his scalp tingle.
Zhang Biao wasn’t recalling things; he was casually pointing at a death list!
Every name called out meant that this person was likely to be caught in the most terrifying and fatal storm of suspicion.
And the connections were so vague yet so sinister.
“Zhang Biao, the Emperor has decreed! He wants you to write your confession quickly!”
“Oh dear! Look at you! So impatient!”
Zhang Biao finally stopped, looking at the pale-faced, stiff-as-stone Jiang Huan, and gave an innocent smile, “When I think about serious matters, I tend to ponder too much, and when I ponder too much, I tend to recall all sorts of random things. Tell me…”
He paused and added meaningfully, “Should I write all of this in the confession, or should I just consider it my own rambling thoughts and forget about it?”
Jiang Huan stared intently at Zhang Biao, his throat dry, unable to utter a single word.
He understood.
He finally understood.
Zhang Biao’s true objective.
Zhang Biao was playing an extremely terrifying game.
Trapped in prison himself, he casually threw out name after name, each seemingly random ‘association’ and ‘question’ as easy and casual as a child playing ‘soldier, soldier’!
And these names, these ‘associations’, once relayed through his mouth, Jiang Huan, to the Emperor who was now consumed by suspicion, the consequences…
Jiang Huan dared not imagine!
The Emperor was now like a wounded, enraged trapped beast, filled with extreme suspicion and killing intent towards anyone and anything that might be related to the Crown Prince’s death!
Evidence was not needed!
A mere suspicion, a name being mentioned, was enough for the Emperor to use the most brutal means to ‘investigate’!
Zhang Biao was borrowing a knife to kill!
Using the Emperor, the sharpest knife in the world, to kill those he wished to kill!
Or more terrifyingly, he might not care at all who he killed; he was simply enjoying the sense of control that came from casually naming people and stirring up a bloody storm!
And he, Jiang Huan, the dignified Commander of the Imperial Guard, the living Yama who made officials tremble, had now become this madman’s mouthpiece!
He had become the one handing over the knife for his ‘soldier, soldier’ game!
This realization sent an unprecedented chill and terror through Jiang Huan’s soul!
This was more terrifying to him than facing an army of a thousand men!
“You…”
Jiang Huan’s voice was hoarse, with a tremor he himself did not detect, “What exactly do you want?”
Zhang Biao’s eyes widened in surprise, “What do I want? Commander Jiang, didn’t you ask me to write my confession quickly? I’m trying my best to recall! Aren’t these all very important clues? Perhaps they will be helpful to His Majesty’s investigation?”
He wore an expression of ‘I am cooperating, I am innocent’.
Jiang Huan looked at his demeanor, and a chill ran down his spine.
He could not stay a moment longer; if he did, he feared he would hear more names that could cause the entire court to run with blood.
He abruptly turned around, almost fleeing, his steps even faltering slightly.
He had to report these two names and the ‘associations’ to Old Zhu immediately!
He knew that regardless of whether Old Zhu believed him or not, these two people, and by extension Fu Youwen and Ru Chang who would be implicated, would inevitably face a terrible nightmare.
And all of this was simply because of two casual, seemingly unintentional remarks made by that madman in the Imperial Prison.
Watching Jiang Huan’s almost fleeing back, the smile on Zhang Biao’s face slowly disappeared, replaced by a cold indifference.
【 Old Zhu, the tables have turned! 】
【 From now on, you are my knife. Whoever I point to, dies! This is how we all die together! 】
He lay down again and closed his eyes. The ‘curse’ from that day in the Hall of Supreme Harmony Square was coming true in a bizarre way.
The terrifying battle royale had begun.
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【 Remember to like the Pig’s Head Meat character! 】
