Chapter 318: A Cup of Red Jade (3.8 2500)

Chapter 318: A Cup of Red Jade (3.8 2500)

Grand Princess Bai An smiled and nodded approvingly at Wu Wang's refusal.

Lowering her head to sip tea, her long, pale fingers, adorned with a striking ruby ring, held the teacup gracefully. She slightly raised her eyes, her slender eyebrows intriguingly arched, as she pointed her index finger in the air towards Wu Wang. "Minister Wu, you make a lot of sense."

Wu Wang let out a long breath.

"Since that's the case, then Minister Wu will suspend his trip to Fujian and remain in Yingtian Prefecture to handle this matter."

Grand Princess Bai An's words were light, with a faint, almost imperceptible smile lingering at the corners of her eyes and brows. "Zhang Qiheng from the Ministry of Culture and Education, Li Guangzong from the Transport Bureau, Yue Xiu from the Court of Diplomatic Receptions, and Wang Sanbo from the Capital City Administration will also stay behind to assist you."

Wu Wang felt as though he had been hit over the head.

The people mentioned by Grand Princess Bai An were all individuals tied to the Cabinet, whether openly or secretly.

—Grand Princess Bai An had seized the chance to remove all Cabinet members from the negotiation team for the talks with Japan!

She was determined to take full control of the negotiations, leaving no room for Cabinet interference. Not even a single finger would be allowed to meddle!

Wu Wang's chest heaved as he opened his mouth, glancing at Vice Prefect Cao, who knelt on the ground with a dark expression. Gritting his back teeth, he forced a polite smile. "This official will handle this matter diligently..."

Yingtian Prefecture was the heart of the Jiangnan bureaucracy.

Rather than rashly fighting for a seat in the negotiation team, it was better to retreat and defend the fortress, preserving the stronghold.

The first priority was to suppress the matter involving Vice Prefect Cao.

How to suppress it?

By eliminating Vice Prefect Cao, all debts would be settled, and the blame would end with him.

Then find a few insignificant lackeys to take the blame, and this case, which might have shaken the Jiangnan bureaucracy, would naturally fizzle out.

At this moment, Wu Wang even felt that being left behind to handle the case might not be a bad thing. It was better to avoid integrating into the Cabinet's will within the negotiation team and instead help the Jiangnan bureaucracy avoid a storm of treacherous slaughter. Anyone could see which option was more important.

What Wu Wang could think of, Vice Prefect Cao naturally also realized. Cold sweat broke out on his back as this realization hit him.

Vice Prefect Cao blurted out: "Your Highness! Your Highness! No, no! You cannot leave me and Minister Wu in Yingtian Prefecture! Send me to the capital! Hand me over to the Ministry of Punishments! No, no! Hand me over to the Censorate! I'll confess! I'll confess to everything!"

Grand Princess Bai An's expression was pleasant. "Vice Prefect Cao, you are a pillar of the Great Wei dynasty. Do not worry—any impeachment requires investigation and prosecution, be it a scholar-official or a member of the imperial clan. Even I, Xu Feng'an, must adhere to this rule."

Vice Prefect Cao trembled all over, his face flushed and excited as he shook his head repeatedly. "No—no—no!"

He glanced fearfully at Wu Wang.

"I... I... I will die..." Vice Prefect Cao burst into tears. "You are magnanimous—I am guilty! I confess! I am corrupt! I am greedy! I am unworthy of being an official! Unworthy of being a person! You... You can dismiss me! You can prosecute me! You can exile me! But please... don't..."

If he ended up in Wu Wang's hands, he knew he wouldn't survive.

In a power struggle, the weakest always suffers the most.

He was just cannon fodder.

Grand Princess Bai An was using him as a sacrifice to challenge the Jiangnan bureaucracy.

Vice Prefect Cao sobbed uncontrollably, tears streaming down his face.

Assistant Prefect Wen, still reeling from fear, took another half-step back, directly into Qiao Hui's line of sight.

"Your Highness," Qiao Hui bowed and abruptly spoke, cutting through Cao Fucheng's wailing.

"Hmm?"

Qiao Hui smiled, his youthful face bright and clear, exuding an air of serenity. "Since so many people are to remain in the negotiation group, Assistant Prefect Wen will take over the role of clerk in the Wenying Department, responsible for drafting official documents."

Assistant Prefect Wen was suddenly overwhelmed with joy. Damn it! He couldn’t go back to the Jiangnan officialdom! But now, he was a Huizhou carp, rising fast just like the Southeast Sharks and Northwest Wolves!

In his rapid breathing and extreme fear, Cao Fucheng's thoughts followed Qiao Hui's lead and landed on Assistant Prefect Wen—Old Wen had entered the negotiation group... He not only escaped the Grand Princess of Baian's purge of the Jiangnan officialdom but had also been promoted... What did he do right!?

Old Wen had thrown him under the bus!

So if he sold out someone bigger?

If he exposed a bigger fish?

Would he be safe then?

Cao Fucheng crawled to the side of the Grand Princess of Baian. "Wait! Wait! I also have important matters to report to the Grand Princess! I do too!"

The Grand Princess of Baian remained expressionless. "Hmm? Speak then."

"Grand Secretary Li!" Cao Fucheng swallowed hard. "The Bai Dui rebellion... was orchestrated behind the scenes by Grand Secretary Li! At that time, you were stationed at the Jade Gate Pass in the northwest, and rebels in Shandong, Shanxi, and other places rose under the banner of eliminating corrupt officials and promoting righteousness, advancing northward towards the Capital City. The former emperor... your own younger brother... was forced to Luanping and almost lost his life..."

"Do you remember this?" Cao Fucheng urgently knelt beside the Grand Princess of Baian.

Wu Wang angrily interjected, "Cao Fucheng! Don’t make baseless accusations! Grand Secretary Li has always been loyal. A few months ago, he was bedridden due to overwork. Now that he's recovering, you, who have received his kindness, are falsely accusing him!"

The bearded man scratched his head and looked pleadingly at Qiao Hui.

Qiao Hui turned slightly and explained the hidden meaning in Wu Wang's words. "Wu Wang is warning Cao Fucheng. Grand Secretary Li is biding his time, but once he recovers, he’ll be back with a vengeance."

Sure enough, Cao Fucheng stiffened, hesitated for a moment, and then quickly waved off the brief pause Wu Wang had brought him. "Am I making this up? Your Highness, just investigate! During those months, Grand Secretary Li’s eldest son was constantly traveling to Shandong, and shortly after, Li rose from Deputy Minister of Justice to Minister of Personnel, and then became a Grand Secretary!"

"After the Bai Dui rebellion, the former emperor abdicated, and the new emperor took the throne. Your Highness rushed back to the Capital City from the northwest, barely suppressing the chaos before heading straight back to the Jade Gate Pass, still sick! Who else among us officials has risen as quickly as Grand Secretary Li!?" Cao Fucheng shouted, spit flying, showing no trace of a scholar's dignity.

The Grand Princess of Baian listened quietly.

No one dared to speak while she remained silent. Even Wu Wang, who was furious and wanted to cover Cao Fucheng's mouth, did not dare to act rashly—this involved both of the Grand Princess’s younger brothers, one her full brother, the other her half-brother.

The Grand Princess of Baian lowered her eyes, calmly and serenely dusted her skirt, and stood up.

"Very well, I will take note of what you’ve said, Cao Fucheng."

As she spoke, the Grand Princess of Baian started to walk out.

Cao Fucheng stared intently but did not receive the follow-up response he hoped for. He could only cry out for help, "Your Highness! Send me to the Capital City! I confess! I confess!"

The Grand Princess of Baian frowned and turned sideways. "A ruler cannot change their decisions on a whim. I have already decided to leave Wu Fucheng in charge of the investigation. How could I reverse that decision so suddenly?"

The Grand Princess of Baian seemed to remember something. "Lord Zhongwu’s suggestion was sound. Assistant Prefect Wen will take over the clerk’s position. With Wen’s departure, there will be no third-rank official left in Yingtian Prefecture to assist Wu Fucheng in the investigation. Therefore, I will temporarily transfer Xiong Ling from Xuancheng to Yingtian Prefecture to act as the interim prefect and assist in investigating Cao Fucheng’s case."

Cao Fucheng stood frozen, realizing his fate was sealed.

He's as good as dead.

Grand Princess Baian walked out of the room, with the bearded man and Qiao Hui following close behind, heads bowed.

The bearded man couldn’t hold it in any longer. “Commander, you accepted Wen but not Cao. What are you getting at?”

Grand Princess Baian’s expression remained calm. “It’s a rule of war that prisoners aren’t killed, and it’s the rule of the officialdom to give preferential treatment to the first to surrender. After that, the treatment decreases step by step. Technically, since Vice Prefect Cao gave me such a significant gift, I should give him preferential treatment. However—”

Grand Princess Baian paused slightly. “In the documents submitted by Assistant Prefect Wen, there was a passing mention that Cao Youguang had illegally raised tenant fees, and the hired tenants had no food left by winter, leading to eighteen people starving to death.”

“Eighteen people, dead of starvation.”

Grand Princess Baian’s face remained cold. “Cao Youguang deserves to die.”

After saying this, Grand Princess Baian turned to Qiao Hui. “Qiao Hui, when you suggested including Assistant Prefect Wen in the negotiation team, it wasn’t just to provoke Cao Youguang, right?”

Qiao Hui kept his head lowered.

It was also because Assistant Prefect Wen had timidly defended Xianjin when Cao insulted her.

His hidden motives were clear to her.

Qiao Hui remained silent.

Grand Princess Baian shifted her gaze away and spoke coldly. “You go and investigate the surnamed Wen. If he has even one innocent life on his conscience, find a way to deal with him!”

With that, Grand Princess Baian swept her sleeves and strode ahead.

She moved like a stunning, proud, and dangerous figure, her presence as striking as blood-red jade.