Chapter 235: You Start, I Finish
The confession of Zhu Weishan and his son was delivered day and night by Gu Yan’s personal guards to General Wen Bin.
General Wen read it carefully, threw Gu Yan’s autograph letter into the charcoal basin, watched it turn to ash, summoned his trusted staff member, discussed it thoroughly for a while, the staff member made a copy, General Wen put it in his sleeve pocket, went out, mounted his horse, and headed straight for outside Donghua Gate to find Prime Minister Pang.
Prime Minister Pang looked at General Wen, who pushed aside his attendant and barged into the room, and said with a cold face, “General, you are being too presumptuous. This is a central hub!”
“Prime Minister Pang…”
“I don’t have time to listen to you talk about military expenses today. You should go to the Privy Council.” Prime Minister Pang interrupted General Wen unceremoniously.
“Military expenses are to be discussed in the imperial court. I have never sought out Prime Minister Pang privately, nor have I ever discussed official matters with you in private.” General Wen’s face also turned cold. “I have come to see Prime Minister Pang at the request of the Young Lord, simply fulfilling a trust.”
After a pause, General Wen chuckled, “If Prime Minister Pang truly does not wish to listen, I will enter Donghua Gate now and report this matter to the Prince.”
Prime Minister Pang’s face stiffened as he looked at Wen Bin. After a moment, he tapped his finger and said, “Sit down, and speak.”
General Wen sat down, glanced around, took out the copied confession from his sleeve pocket, and handed it to Prime Minister Pang. “Prime Minister, please take a look at this.”
Prime Minister Pang took it, shook it forcefully, and after a few glances, his expression changed. He looked up sharply at Wen Bin.
Wen Bin smiled and looked at him.
“You may all withdraw.” Prime Minister Pang gestured to the attendants standing in the corner of the room.
After the attendants had all withdrawn, Prime Minister Pang continued to read the stack of confessions.
“This is slander!” Prime Minister Pang gritted his teeth.
“That must be because the eldest son didn’t tell you,” Wen Bin said with a smile.
“Even if Shoucheng is incompetent, he wouldn’t dare to do such a shocking thing! Where did General Wen get this information?” Prime Minister Pang stared at Wen Bin.
“As I said earlier, I came to find Prime Minister Pang at the request of the Young Lord,” Wen Bin said with a smile. “The Young Lord was attacked and a signal cannon was fired. The Changzhou army arrived in time and captured many of the culprits. The culprits confessed that the mastermind behind it was Zhu Weishan. The Young Lord rushed to the Zhu family overnight, apprehended Zhu Weishan and his son, and has already had them escorted to the capital.”
“The Young Lord’s letter stated that along with Zhu Weishan and his son being escorted to the capital, there were over a dozen servants and stewards from the Zhu family who were either witnesses or involved, as well as several cartloads of physical evidence, including letters and items exchanged between the capital and the Zhu family, that were confiscated.”
Wen Bin looked at Prime Minister Pang, whose face had turned green, and after a moment, continued, “Whether colluding with the Jiangnan Silk General Store, causing chaos in Jiangnan, and attempting to assassinate the Young Lord was indeed true, or merely alleged slander, I believe Prime Minister Pang knows best.”
“The Young Lord sent me with an urgent dispatch to inform Prime Minister Pang first. The Pang family has been a pillar of the nation since its founding. The Young Lord said he could not bear to see the Pang family’s foundation shaken because of this.”
“Shoucheng wouldn’t go this far!” Prime Minister Pang’s voice grew low.
“It seems Prime Minister truly did not know.” Wen Bin stood up. “It will still take a few days for Zhu Weishan and the others to reach the capital. There is still time for Prime Minister to investigate and clarify. I shall take my leave now.”
Prime Minister Pang watched Wen Bin leave the room, then reached out and grabbed the stack of confessions. He scanned it again, folded it several times, tucked it into his sleeve pocket, stood up, and ordered his attendant to summon the eldest son back to the manor immediately. He then got into his carriage and hurried back.
Prime Minister Pang’s eldest son, Pang Shoucheng, was urgently summoned home by his father. As soon as he entered the second gate, a trusted attendant of Prime Minister Pang was waiting. After a hasty greeting, the attendant led Pang Shoucheng directly to the small study inside the second gate.
The attendant stopped at the courtyard entrance of the small study, bowed, and gestured for Pang Shoucheng to enter.
Pang Shoucheng turned past the screen wall and saw his father standing under the corridor with a grim expression. His heart skipped a beat, and a sense of foreboding washed over him.
As Pang Shoucheng ascended the steps, Prime Minister Pang immediately demanded, “Did you have Zhu Weishan attempt to assassinate the Young Lord?”
Pang Shoucheng was stunned. “No.”
Prime Minister Pang let out a sigh of relief. “I thought you wouldn’t be so foolish.”
Pang Shoucheng swallowed and looked at his father, wanting to speak but hesitating.
“What is it?” Prime Minister Pang’s heart tightened again.
“No… no, what happened? Why is Father asking this?” Pang Shoucheng asked, his heart filled with anxiety.
“What did you do?” Prime Minister Pang’s voice was stern. “Don’t hide it from me, speak quickly!”
“No, no. They said there was a little girl, and Daoist Cao from Laojun Temple cast a divination, saying… I thought, that, a little girl, what if, it’s just a little girl.” Pang Shoucheng became flustered under his father’s gaze.
“Which little girl did you have Zhu Weishan try to assassinate?” Prime Minister Pang’s fingers grew cold with anger.
“It wasn’t an assassination. I just asked Zhu Weishan to keep an eye out. If there was an opportunity, then…”
Prime Minister Pang raised his hand and slapped Pang Shoucheng across the face.
“Tell me honestly, did you write a letter, or send a message? Speak clearly!” Prime Minister Pang’s hands trembled with anger.
“It was a message, sent by Lin Wang. It was just to ask Zhu Weishan to keep an eye out, not to kill,” Pang Shoucheng knelt down with a thud.
He hadn’t mentioned this matter, but now that his father knew and was so furious, it could only mean the matter had been exposed and someone had come looking for them.
“How dare you!” Prime Minister Pang felt his vision darken with rage.
“Daoist Cao said that little girl was the Young Lord’s lifeline. I thought…” Pang Shoucheng couldn’t finish his explanation before Prime Minister Pang slapped him again.
“Go in and kneel! You are not to get up without my permission!” Prime Minister Pang kicked Pang Shoucheng in the chest, walked around him, and hurried out the door.
He had to find General Wen quickly.
Wen Bin stood at the study door, looking at Prime Minister Pang, whose face was ashen. He stepped aside and bowed, allowing Prime Minister Pang to enter.
Upon entering the room, Prime Minister Pang turned to Wen Bin, who followed him in, and bowed deeply, “This old man has failed to discipline his son.”
“I dare not accept such a gesture. I am merely acting on the Young Lord’s behalf and do not deserve such a grand gesture from Prime Minister.” Wen Bin stepped aside.
“My unfilial son was not disrespectful to the Young Lord. No matter what, he would not dare to disrespect the Young Lord. It was merely a misunderstanding, a twist of fate.” Prime Minister Pang bowed and explained.
“As I said, I am merely acting on the Young Lord’s behalf.” After a pause, Wen Bin smiled. “As for what exactly happened, I believe the Young Lord is perfectly clear. Prime Minister Pang, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Yes, I wonder what the Young Lord’s intentions are?” Prime Minister Pang’s expression was dejected.
General Wen was right. The Young Lord must know who his unfilial son intended to kill, but the confession stated an attempt to assassinate the Heir of Prince Rui. This was a clear stance.
“The Young Lord said that the Pang family has been a pillar of the nation since its founding, and it should not have its foundation destroyed because of one or two unworthy descendants.”
“The Young Lord said that he is considering the greater good and is willing to take a step back to resolve this matter. He only wants the eldest son’s two legs,” Wen Bin said in a gentle tone.
Prime Minister Pang raised his hand to cover his face. After a long while, he slowly nodded. “This is the Young Lord’s magnanimity.”
“The Young Lord is showing this consideration because of Prime Minister’s diligent service to the country,” Wen Bin said with a slight bow, his words carrying a double meaning.
“I understand. Thank you, General, for your consideration.” Prime Minister Pang pressed down on the armrest of the chair, slowly stood up, and bowed to Wen Bin.
“I dare not accept. I will escort the elder Prime Minister out.” Wen Bin extended a hand, lightly supporting Prime Minister Pang, and escorted him to his carriage at the second gate.
