Chapter 0076: Liang Wanda Escapes Death, the Teacher Names Xie Chengze
In the serene and elegant depths of the courtyard, jagged artificial mountains stood amidst the gentle murmur of a slender stream trickling down into an emerald pond. The delicate ripples it created intertwined with the waves stirred by the flicking tails of the brocade carp, weaving together into a vivid tableau that exuded a profound natural ambiance.
Beside the artificial mountain, a figure clad in a navy-blue brocade robe idly pinched fish bait between his fingers, teasing the plump carp in the pond. Even from behind, his leisurely and carefree demeanor was unmistakable.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps approached from afar, and a minister rushed to his side, beads of sweat glistening on his forehead as he reported in a hushed tone, “My lord, all matters have been arranged without a trace, ensuring no repercussions will fall upon you.”
The man did not turn around, continuing to calmly scatter the bait across the water’s surface.
The plump carp in the pond thrashed about, splashing water in all directions.
Receiving no response for a long while, the minister discreetly wiped his sweat and pressed on, “Shen Yuan now enjoys the Emperor’s deep favor and has successfully brought down Yang Qinghui. His influence is growing like a blazing fire, and if we delay, it may become even harder to shake his foundations. Should we not plan early to eliminate this threat once and for all?”
“Shen Yuan is a man of integrity and possesses military prowess. Since the Emperor intends to protect him, no one can touch him,” the man replied coolly, his tone detached. “The Emperor aims to pave the way for the Crown Prince’s authority. Confronting Shen Yuan head-on is unwise. The best strategy is to sow discord between the Crown Prince and Shen Yuan. The Second Prince and the Crown Prince have long been at odds—we can exploit this.”
“Your insight is profound, my lord,” the minister acknowledged, then hesitated before asking, “But what of Liang Wanda? Do you truly intend to let bygones be bygones?”
The man chuckled softly. “In the past, I misjudged Liang Wanda. I never expected him to be a dark horse, secretly aligning with court officials and devising the Grand Plan of Tianfu to further my ambitions.”
“Is the Grand Plan of Tianfu truly effective?” the minister inquired, puzzled.
“As he stated in his letter, Yi Province is rich in fertile land. If the flood issues are resolved, it will undoubtedly become a prosperous paradise, influencing the very lifeline of the court. If we can control such a valuable territory, the benefits will be immeasurable. Though we may lose a few pawns, gaining the advantages of Tianfu is a long-term strategy,” the man explained.
After a moment, he sighed deeply and added, “For now, let him live. If the Grand Plan of Tianfu fails to deliver, he will serve as a convenient scapegoat to bear the blame.”
The minister nodded repeatedly, exchanged a few more words, and then bowed before taking his leave.
The man remained, his gaze fixed on the carp in the pond. At one point, he reached out and gently seized a fish that had surfaced, his fingers twitching slightly. The carp instantly went limp, lifeless.
He casually tossed the dead fish back into the pond, causing the other carp to scatter in alarm, none daring to approach.
A calm voice broke the silence, “What a pity—such a fat fish in the Ministry of Revenue.”
…
The downfall of Minister Yang caught everyone by surprise.
If the previous anti-corruption efforts were akin to weeding a field—minor and superficial, barely touching the roots—then this recent move was like uprooting a towering tree, its momentum so overwhelming that it left the entire court and public astounded.
Countless eyes, filled with either fear or hatred, instantly turned bloodshot and fixed upon Shen Yuan, who stood at the center of the storm.
He was like a finely tempered, razor-sharp sword of refined steel, emerging abruptly and unstoppably, single-handedly unveiling the tumultuous and perilous era that had begun to engulf the court.
Meanwhile, the wildly unpredictable and unreliable Xie Chengze had beautifully vanished into obscurity, keeping his achievements and reputation hidden, becoming a figure the ministers couldn’t mention without feeling their mouths dirtied.
To further solidify his persona, Xie Chengze deliberately had attendants carry him in a palanquin straight to the Ministry of Revenue, determined to reclaim every last tael of the ten thousand silver taels. Such contradictory and unreasonable pestering showcased his greedy and miserly nature to the fullest.
In the imperial court, Xie Chengze never missed an opportunity to pave the way for his lavish life as the emperor’s second son. Before each court session, he would sit on the prepared throne at the very front of the hall and loudly call out names to provoke officials.
For instance, on one occasion, he summoned the Minister of Works, forcing him to approach, and then launched into a tirade: “Can your Ministry of Works build an iron carriage that travels a thousand li a day and carries a hundred people? What? You can’t? Then what use are you? If such a carriage existed, would our soldiers have to march thousands of li on foot, missing crucial battles and reinforcements?”
The Minister of Works: ?
Are you dreaming? Who could possibly build that?!
On another day, he called out the Minister of Rites, compelling him to come forward, and unleashed another verbal assault: “Does your Ministry of Rites know where to find cold-resistant grassy cotton that can be cultivated in large quantities? What? There’s none in Jian’an? Then why not send people to foreign lands to search for it? Are you just waiting for them to deliver it to your doorstep?”
The Minister of Rites: ?
Are foreign lands places we can freely come and go from? Are you sure anyone sent there would return alive?
Even the Three Judicial Offices weren’t spared, particularly the Salt and Iron Commission, which was so relentlessly criticized that its members began questioning their existence: “Oh no, oh no, surely no one who’s been in charge of the Salt and Iron Commission for so many years still hasn’t figured out how to refine fine salt, right? Oh no, oh no, surely no one who’s been mining mountains for decades only knows about iron, copper, gold, and silver and nothing else, right?”
This was no blessing to our dynasty—it was a calamity!
Xie Chengze was like a lingering ghost, even detaining a minister after court sessions to mock them, spreading unease throughout the court. Every morning, officials would wake with dread, feeling the Second Prince’s shadow looming over them.
It evoked the terrifying nostalgia of being called on by the old tutor to answer questions back in the schoolhouse.
On the fifth day, as soon as Emperor Jian dismissed the court, the ministers hurriedly left to avoid being caught by Xie Chengze. Unexpectedly, a figure darted out faster than a rabbit, outpacing them all.
Xie Chengze, leaning on a cane and limping, bolted through the doors, moving even quicker than those with fully functional limbs!
As he went, he shouted recklessly, “Finally done with this damned court session! You all can keep at it! This prince is off to court break! Hahahaha—”
The ministers: …
Another court break?!
He torments us daily and still gets court breaks?!
Damn envy!
—
The moment the one from Cheng Huan Palace went on break, an invitation flew into the Su residence once again.
At the same time, Sheng Yiren’s invitation was delivered to Su Qinghe, requesting a secret meeting in a private room at the Moonview Pavilion at dusk.
Su Qinghe hesitated over the two invitations, finally using the excuse of prolonged illness and weakness to decline the one from Cheng Huan Palace. Then, at evening, he disguised himself as a servant, slipped out through the back door, and headed alone to the Moonview Pavilion.
In the private room, Sheng Yiren was dressed in a man’s robe. Her originally fair and smooth cheeks had been made sallow and rough, and her brows and eyes were drawn to appear more rugged, resembling a slender man with some charm who enjoyed wearing makeup. Yet, the shrewd light flickering in her eyes revealed a merchant’s sharpness, making it difficult for others to discern her true identity.
Seated on a wooden chair, she silently rehearsed the words she had prepared. When the door to the private room was pushed open, she abruptly stood up, only to let out a sigh of relief upon recognizing Su Qinghe. “It’s you,” she said.