Chapter 127: Concurrent Appointment as Assistant Minister

Chapter 127: Concurrent Appointment as Assistant Minister

That night, Xie Yuwei received news that He Yuhua had returned to the capital. The Xie family officials under him looked displeased and asked icily, "Have you still not figured out why he returned to the southern capital?"

The undercover agent replied in a deep voice, "He Yuhua traveled with the Xu family's elite, making it impossible for us to get close."

"Although we set up checkpoints at the river entrances to the capital in advance, this guy is really sly. He managed to bring in multiple merchant vessels from different directions, all entering the capital simultaneously."

"The capital’s defenses are stringent, and we couldn’t intercept the ships on a large scale, which let him slip away..."

"Enough," Grand Secretary Yin cut him off coldly, "He’s already in the capital. There’s no use saying more. The most important thing now is to soothe the sentiments of all factions."

"After the Zhu family affair, some must have started scheming. What does Lord Xie think should be done about this?"

Xie Yuwei’s gaze was inscrutable as he looked at a bodyguard standing nearby.

The bodyguard whispered, "The items are ready."

Shi Yuanxi exploited Imperial Censor Zhu’s impatience, wanting to stir the pot. The Xie family was not entirely unprepared.

Having been on the same boat for so long, they relied on more than just trust.

Xie Yuwei had plenty of leverage over the Zhu family. If Imperial Censor Zhu wanted power and a path to success, he would have to consider the Xie family’s intentions.

Xie Yuwei said coldly, "Take these to Lord Zhu yourself."

The other aristocratic family members in the study couldn’t help but exchange glances.

By acting this way in front of them, Xie Yuwei was undoubtedly issuing a warning.

After plotting together for so long, Xie Yuwei couldn’t disentangle himself, nor would he let them switch allegiances.

Sure enough, not long after the items were delivered, Imperial Censor Zhu rushed to the Xie residence, sweating bullets.

Upon seeing Xie Yuwei, he completely changed his previously arrogant demeanor, bowing and apologizing profusely, saying in a low voice, "...This official made a mistake and delayed Lord Xie’s plans. Please punish me."

Despite holding a third-grade position and title, he acted with such humility.

Those present couldn’t see what Xie Yuwei had sent, but given Imperial Censor Zhu’s attitude, it was clear.

Xie Yuwei must have had something that could easily destroy the entire Zhu family.

Even if Imperial Censor Zhu wanted a promotion, he’d need to stay alive first.

Having already arrived and sworn in front of Xie Yuwei that he had no intention of betrayal, Xie Yuwei didn’t press further, only saying indifferently, "Tomorrow at the morning court, the Xie family has important matters to present. Lord Zhu, do not betray the Xie family’s trust."

Imperial Censor Zhu wiped the sweat from his forehead and, without asking further, immediately agreed.

When he finally sat down in the study and heard the officials around him discussing, he realized Xie Yuwei’s intentions.

The Xie family’s in-laws, the Wu family, who had been caught by Feng Weiran, were likely beyond saving.

Feng Weiran, once he acted, did so with absolute certainty, presenting a large amount of evidence.

The case was being handled by the Dali Temple, and since they couldn’t interfere with Liang Hao’s subordinates, with the evidence being irrefutable, Lord Wu had no choice but to give up.

The officials in the room were filled with trepidation, each recalling whether they had committed any major offenses that Shi Yuanxi might use against them.

Xie Yuwei glanced around and said coldly, "Minister Chen should fill the vacant position in the Secretariat."

"As for the defense arrangements in the capital, no matter what, we must have Her Majesty the Dowager Empress retract her decree." As he spoke, he shot a cold look at Gu Anzhong and Imperial Censor Zhu.

Gu Anzhong hesitated before finally agreeing.

As the Minister of War, he had to spearhead the effort to persuade Zhou Ying to withdraw the edict.

After the meeting concluded, Xie Yuwei sat quietly in his seat. The Xie family's allies left one by one, leaving only a few of his trusted aides in the study.

Xie Yuwei's gaze was icy and penetrating. After a moment of silence, he suddenly spoke, "Have the aristocratic families made any unusual moves recently?"

The aristocratic families were united, and Shi Yuanxi, aiming to break the court's deadlock, had to infiltrate their ranks.

While maintaining relationships with various parties, Xie Yuwei had also instructed his informants to keep an eye on their movements to avoid any unexpected developments.

The covert guard hesitated before glancing at him and said, "Our spies haven't detected anything unusual... except for Minister Zhou, who's been cozying up to Lu Xingyi lately."

Before, this wouldn't have been worth mentioning. Zhou Huaiyang and Lu Xingyi had always been close friends, and it was normal for them to interact after Lu Xingyi's long absence from the capital.

But now, everyone in the capital knew that Lu Xingyi was wholeheartedly loyal to the person on the throne, and he was no longer aligned with them.

Zhou Huaiyang had been absent from meetings for a long time and was getting too close to Lu Xingyi, which raised their suspicions.

However, no matter what, Zhou Huaiyang was Xie Yuwei's cousin, and their relationship was closer than that of the Wu family, the Zhu family, or even Grand Secretary Yin.

Even if he was dissatisfied, he likely wouldn't do anything rash, right?

Many in the room shared this view, but only Xie Yuwei's expression darkened.

In matters of court struggles, one couldn't think normally. A small mistake could plunge everyone into an irreparable situation.

He said in a deep voice, "Go fetch my uncle. Tell him I have important matters to discuss."

"Yes."

Meanwhile, Shi Yuanxi, back in the capital, entered the palace and informed Zhou Ying of what Zhou Huaiyang had said.

Just as she finished speaking, Yin Hai entered from outside. He looked grim and immediately said, "The Shadow Guard has reported that Zhou Cenhai left his residence in the evening and went to the Xie estate. Upon returning, he gave strict orders to his household."

"He said... Zhou Huaiyang has contracted a severe illness, and from now on, no one is allowed to approach his room without permission."

The other officials in the hall felt a cold dread upon hearing this.

Feng Weiran said, "Xie Yuwei is more astute than we anticipated. Zhou Huaiyang resides in the Zhou estate, and no matter how careful Lu Xingyi is when visiting him, he can't escape the Zhou family's surveillance."

But anyone from our side trying to reach Zhou Huaiyang will be intercepted by Xie Yuwei.

Zhou Cenhai publicly claimed that Zhou Huaiyang was ill, but in reality, he was aware of Zhou Huaiyang's intentions and used this as a pretext to confine him to the estate, cutting off his contact with the outside world.

Yin Hai looked at Shi Yuanxi, who was sitting nearby, and asked, "Should we send someone to storm the place?"

The two sides were at a critical juncture in their confrontation, and they held the military power, which was their greatest advantage.

For the court, there seemed to be no justifiable reason to forcibly enter an official's residence.

But if Zhou Huaiyang was considered a key witness, then such an action would be reasonable.

Shi Yuanxi, however, shook her head and said, "I don't intend to have Zhou Huaiyang testify against the Xie family in court."

His testimony alone, without other concrete evidence, would not be sufficient.

For them, it would also be more loss than gain.

Shi Yuanxi's eyes gleamed: "We persuaded Zhou Huaiyang because Xie Yuwei has cleaned up the matters in Jiangxi too thoroughly, making it hard for us to find fault with Prince Guang Junwang."

"From Zhou Huaiyang's side, I have largely understood the sequence of events. What we lack now is concrete evidence."

The endless struggles and negotiations between the court and the aristocratic families, if we get too entangled, would only give the Xie family more opportunities to grow.

In the long run, Xie Yuwei would gradually infiltrate the military, and even through the Ministry of War, access the manufacturing methods of double-barreled assault rifles.

Of course, this is based on the premise that Shi Yuanxi does not continue to unveil more weapons.

Now that she’s reached this position, Shi Yuanxi has more responsibilities, and the weapons she controls go beyond what she’s revealed so far.

Constantly fighting Xie Yuwei and the aristocratic families would only drag the Liang dynasty into endless internal conflicts, stalling progress.

This would go against her goals and harm social stability.

Therefore, if there is any way to directly shatter the web woven by the Xie family, it must start with Prince Guang Junwang and Consort Jiang Taifei.

Based on the Shadow Guard’s findings and Zhou Huaiyang’s information, Shi Yuanxi has a clear picture of what kind of people this mother and son are.

Xie Yuwei has gone all out to put these people in power, and he should pay for it.

Her eyes paused slightly, and she said softly: "What we need now is solid evidence of Prince Guang Junwang’s actions."

"Xie Yuwei is caught up in court battles, giving us the perfect chance to gather evidence."

Shi Yuanxi shared what she had learned today with those present. Zheng Qiming, Feng Weiran, and others changed their expressions upon hearing it.

"As Lord Shi said, this is the key to breaking the deadlock," Feng Weiran said gravely. "But even during the Wei family’s reign, this wasn’t uncovered. Xie Yuwei has probably destroyed the evidence by now."

Shi Yuanxi nodded: "The incident happened in Jiangxi, Prince Guang Junwang’s fiefdom. Then, the Xie family, through Jiang Tanming, replaced many Jiangxi officials. Suppressing this matter would be child’s play."

"Still, we can’t drop this lead. But with Zhou Huaiyang confined to the Zhou residence, finding evidence will be even harder," said Minister Li, formerly Vice Minister Li, calmly.

Zheng Qiming looked at Shi Yuanxi and said gravely: "If Lord Shi steps in, she’ll surely find traces and clues."

"But the issue is, the Xie family is always watching the court officials’ moves. Whether it’s Lord Shi, Lord Feng, or anyone else here, if they suddenly leave the capital for Jiangxi, Xie Yuwei will notice."

The court is at a critical juncture, and everyone here is a key minister. Leaving the capital now would give the other side openings to exploit.

The same applies to Xu Jinghe. Plus, his associate He Yuhua’s recent departure from the capital has already caught Xie Yuwei’s eye. If he heads to Jiangxi again, who knows what Xie Yuwei might do.

Given Shi Yuanxi, Xu Jinghe, and others’ skills, the Xie family would struggle to target them. But the catch is, they’re going to gather evidence.

Finding evidence after the Xie family’s cover-up was already tough. If they tip off the enemy, they might blow their chance.

To investigate this deeply, the choice of who goes to Jiangxi is particularly important.

The hall went quiet as the officials racked their brains for the right candidates.

Shi Yuanxi looked up at the hall and said softly: "I think there are two people who are particularly suitable."

Everyone looked up at her upon hearing this.

Shi Yuanxi said, "It’s Wang Hengzhi and Li Wei."

The officials were momentarily stunned but quickly caught on.

Jiangxi is a unique region, and sending any official there would draw attention.

Wang Hengzhi and Li Wei, however, were different. They had just passed the highest-level examination and entered the Ministry of Personnel's candidate list, but had not yet officially become officials.

Due to the alliance of aristocratic families, they had no chance of entering the court anytime soon.

As non-official candidates, they were not prominent in the capital, had no contact with the court, and couldn’t do much.

With so many officials in the capital, no matter how influential Xie Yuwei was, his reach was limited.

As long as Shi Yuanxi and others remained in the court, his attention would undoubtedly be fixed on Shi Yuanxi.

Two young men from official families, even if noticed, wouldn’t be watched as closely as Shi Yuanxi, with their every move scrutinized.

Moreover...

Shi Yuanxi said softly, "The earlier arrangements involving the Wu and Zhu families have already taken hold, and now is a time of fierce court infighting."

"With the Empress Dowager presiding in the court, just a few well-placed moves are enough to keep them scrambling."

As long as the court struggles continued, and Shi Yuanxi and others acted as usual, even if Xie Yuwei later noticed something, he would not be able to react immediately.

Sending Wang Hengzhi and Li Wei was a risky move. They had no official status, which made them less noticeable, but their lack of authority could also hold them back.

It was very possible that after much effort, they would end up with nothing.

After all, these two were just top students from the Imperial Academy.

Minister Li’s expression was conflicted as he glanced at Zhou Ying in the court.

He clearly hoped Li Wei would seize this rare opportunity, but the final say lay with Zhou Ying.

Zhou Ying, in the court, exchanged a glance with Shi Yuanxi and said solemnly, "In that case, let it be my order that Wang Hengzhi and Li Wei prepare to leave for Jiangxi tomorrow."

"Yes!"

Once the matter was settled, early the next morning, Wang Hengzhi, accompanied by two servants, claimed his grandmother in Yanzhou had taken ill and he was returning home to visit her.

He slipped out of the capital before the morning court began.

Li Wei disguised himself as one of Wang Hengzhi's servants, escorted by a few Shadow Guards Shi Yuanxi had secretly sent and carrying two or three firearms, and made a swift exit from the capital.

As the imperial city, the capital was always bustling with people.

Xie’s informants noticed Wang Hengzhi’s departure, and after investigation, found everything to be true—his carriage was indeed heading towards Yanzhou—so they didn’t look into it further.

Meanwhile, in the court, several major events unfolded.

As the morning court began, a group of officials led by Xie Yuwei launched a series of criticisms regarding the capital's defense.

This issue had been debated for a long time, with both sides refusing to back down, and the officials had grown accustomed to it.

Unexpectedly, Imperial Censor Zhu, who had been fawning over Zhou Ying just a few days ago, now changed his tone.

He stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the defense matter was decided while the Minister of War was being questioned by the Ministry of Justice, causing much controversy. This was due to the hasty decision made by Vice Minister of War Luo. The Ministry of War is of great importance, and decisions should not be made arbitrarily."

"The dispute caused by Vice Minister of War Luo Mingzheng should also be resolved by him." Imperial Censor Zhu implied that Luo Mingzheng should be held accountable.

Seeing this, the aristocratic families stepped forward to echo his sentiments.

The Empress Dowager Zhou Ying, seated on the throne, expressionlessly stated, "According to your meaning, the decision to change the defense arrangements was my idea. Should the court also hold me accountable?"

Imperial Censor Zhu's expression tightened, and he quickly raised his voice, "Empress Dowager's wise judgment, I certainly did not mean that. It's merely that the defense arrangements were reviewed by the Ministry of War, and Luo Mingzheng was indeed negligent in his duties..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Zhou Ying directly interrupted him.

Zhou Ying retorted with a sneer, "Since you all believe that the affairs of the Ministry of War being decided by one person are hard to convince the public."

"Then it's just the right time. The position of Vice Minister of War has remained unfilled for some time, and it is now appropriate to appoint someone."

"By imperial decree," Zhou Ying's gaze lightly shifted and landed on one person, "Shi Yuanxi, a scholar of the Hanlin Academy, is both virtuous and talented, and has deeply won my favor."

"From today onwards, she is hereby appointed to the concurrent position of Vice Minister of War, ranked fourth grade, and together with Luo Mingzheng, she will manage the internal affairs of the Ministry of War!"