Chapter 95 As Long as Time Endures

Chapter 95: As Days Go By

Tan Yuzhu’s words left Wang Ruzhen speechless, and everyone else equally at a loss.

Cooperating with barbarians was already like dancing on a knife’s edge; to actively provide them with weapons, rather than exercising constant vigilance, was unfathomable.

Yet, Wang Wenyao’s decision to tamper with the agreement, instead of openly negotiating such a partnership with the Jurchen, suggested a certain cunning. He must have had some ulterior motive.

Perhaps he sought to exchange something more "useful" with the Jurchen, or to use this incident to frame Tan Yuzhu.

Had Tan Yuzhu not discovered this in advance, and the Jurchen later sought to purchase iron from Great Ning, with the agreement in black and white, would Great Ning honor it or not?

To honor it would mean supplying the Jurchen with iron, which could be forged into either farming tools or weapons—who could say which?

To refuse would brand Great Ning as untrustworthy. Not only would cooperation with the Jurchen become impossible, but other neighboring tribal states would also lose faith in Great Ning.

Great Ning would be forced into a no-win situation, with either choice leading to grave consequences.

Such a monumental error would demand a scapegoat, and inevitably, that would be Tan Yuzhu, the chief negotiator.

From this perspective, if Wang Wenyao had succeeded, he would indeed have achieved his goal of framing Tan Yuzhu.

But again, this act would have severely harmed Great Ning’s interests, much like the baffling incident where the Northwestern Army’s "incompetence" allowed the Sai kingdom’s troops to breach the border.

However, in the northwest, Qin Xiao had turned the tide, preventing the Sai kingdom from truly invading Great Ning.

But if this agreement had been signed, not even Qin Xiao, let alone adding a Chu Jiubian, could have salvaged the situation.

This matter was entirely detrimental to Great Ning, and Wang Wenyao’s actions were clearly aimed at undermining the court.

Given Great Ning’s complex political landscape, had he succeeded, most of the nobility, though privately scornful, might have quietly praised his cunning.

But he failed, and Tan Yuzhu not only discovered and averted the risk but also directly accused him in court. This revealed Wang Wenyao to be both foolish and malicious.

Initially, Wang Ruzhen simply thought Wang Wenyao was incredibly foolish.

But upon reflection, he realized this was likely the doing of their esteemed family head. With an increasingly muddled mind, the head had believed he was executing a brilliant plan, only for it to come to naught.

Because of this blunder, Wang Wenyao would not only lose his barely-warm position, but other members of the Wang family might also be implicated.

Sure enough.

Qin Xiao, from his elevated seat, cast a cold glance at Wang Wenyao and asked calmly, "Minister Wang, is what Minister Tan said true?"

Wang Wenyao had already collapsed to his knees when Tan Yuzhu began her accusation. Now, his face was deathly pale, yet he forced himself to maintain a semblance of composure. "My lord, it was merely a misstep on my part. And it didn’t cause any serious consequences, did it?"

Wang Wenyao looked up at Qin Xiao. "Moreover, when Minister Tan discovered my mistake, she already punished me with twenty strokes of the rod."

Those twenty strokes were severe—he nearly lost the use of his legs.

As a result, during his more than half a year in the northeast, aside from the first month when he was full of vigor, Wang Wenyao hardly left his courtyard, spending most of his time recuperating.

Later, during the negotiations with the Jurchen and the establishment of the merchant association in the border city, he avoided involvement, afraid of being seen limping.

On the way back to the capital, he swallowed his pride and spoke many conciliatory words to Tan Yuzhu and Cai Peng, hoping the matter could be put behind him. But Tan Yuzhu had no intention of letting it go.

By bringing up the humiliating twenty strokes, Wang Wenyao meant to imply that he had already been punished and the matter should be closed.

However, instead of letting it slide, Qin Xiao said, "It seems Minister Tan was still considerate of her colleague. But for such a grave matter that threatens the nation’s foundation, twenty strokes are hardly sufficient."

Wang Wenyao’s heart skipped a beat.

Would they really strip him of his position? That...

"Guards," Qin Xiao called out, and two imperial guards emerged from the shadows of the hall.

"Take him away and behead him," Qin Xiao ordered lightly.

Wang Wenyao’s face changed drastically, and he looked up sharply at the figure on the throne.

"Yes," the two guards flanked Wang Wenyao and began dragging him out.

"Wait!" Wang Wenyao finally panicked. "I’m innocent! Your Majesty! Your Majesty, you can’t kill me! Qin Xiao, you can’t kill me!!"

Having been pampered since childhood, Wang Wenyao’s cunning and schemes were superficial and childish. In this moment, he didn’t even know who to turn to.

"Qin Xiao!" he screamed hysterically. "You’ve already killed my third brother, and now you want to kill me too! My father won’t let you get away with this! The Wang family won’t let you get away with this!"

As he was nearly dragged out of the Hall of Heavenly Purity, Wang Ruzhen remained motionless, his eyes downcast, his expression calm.

He had witnessed Wang Wenfu’s execution, and now he was experiencing Wang Wenyao’s. But in neither case did he intend to intervene.

He was part of the family head’s faction, but only as long as he could protect himself. If the situation turned against him, family heads and factional struggles would have to take a back seat.

However, he was taken aback when a familiar voice suddenly rang out in the hall. "Your Majesty, my lord, I beg you to show mercy and spare Minister Wang."

Wang Ruzhen looked up in surprise to see a silver-haired but upright figure standing in the hall, bowing toward the front.

It was Minister of Rites Wang Zhiyuan.

Qin Xiao raised his hand, and the two imperial guards at the entrance paused.

Wang Wenyao’s furious shouts ceased. Through tear-filled eyes, he saw Wang Zhiyuan’s back, and his tears fell even harder.

The feeling of having narrowly escaped death left him limp on the ground, unable to move.

Thank goodness, with Minister Wang here, he would surely be safe.

"What does Minister Wang mean by this?" Qin Xiao said. "Wang Wenyao has committed such a grave error. If not for Minister Tan’s vigilance, what losses would Great Ning have suffered? Minister Wang, you understand this better than I."

"You are right to reprimand him, my lord," Wang Zhiyuan said. "However, Vice Director Wang is still young and new to officialdom. It’s inevitable that he might make mistakes out of confusion."

"Nevertheless, he has indeed committed an unforgivable error. I only beg Your Majesty and my lord to spare his life. I am willing to retire to my hometown and take Wang Wenyao away from the capital to guide him properly."

His words left the entire court in silence.

Wang Wenyao stared in disbelief at the upright elder in the hall, and the reactions of others were much the same.

Even Minister of Personnel Xiao Huaiguan, whose eyesight had dimmed with age and who rarely participated in court affairs anymore, tilted his head slightly and looked at Wang Zhiyuan with his clouded eyes.

The position of Minister, second only to the Regent in the court, wielded immense power.

Even Xiao Huaiguan, who was nearing the end of his life, was unwilling to relinquish such influence. Yet Wang Zhiyuan had spoken of giving it up so casually.

Everyone was shocked.

Amid the silence, Chu Jiubian stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, my lord. Wang Wenyao's mistakes should not be blamed on Minister Wang. However, Minister Wang’s concern as an elder is truly touching."

"It would be best to spare Wang Wenyao’s life. But given that Minister Wang is advanced in years and must also guide his wayward descendants, it would be fitting for him to retire for some time."

The implication was clear: Wang Wenyao could be spared, but to save him, Wang Zhiyuan could no longer remain in court.

Though not a full retirement, he would effectively lose his power.

Seeing his uncle lightly touch his earlobe, Baili Hong nodded and said, "Let it be as the minister suggests."

In truth, although Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian had not discussed this with Wang Zhiyuan beforehand, cooperation among shrewd individuals required no explicit communication—they were on the same page and complemented each other seamlessly.

The plan had been in the works from the moment Wang Zhiyuan recommended Wang Wenyao for an official post.

Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian had instructed Tan Yuzhu to find an opportunity to expose Wang Wenyao’s faults. However, Wang Wenyao was so laughably stupid that he screwed himself over without Tan Yuzhu even needing to intervene.

The consequence of Wang Wenyao’s mistake was that he would "implicate" Wang Zhiyuan.

Wang Zhiyuan had long intended to seize this chance to retire at the height of his career. Now, he took the cue, knelt and kowtowed, thanking the Emperor.

But this was not the end. Once he returned to the Wang family, he would achieve his real goal.

Using the pretext of being implicated, he would stir up resentment toward Wang Wenyao and the family head, Wang Huanzhi. With some behind-the-scenes maneuvering, Wang Qichen would naturally rise to power.

Two days later, a chilly autumn wind rustled, and rain pelted the fallen leaves.

Word spread through the capital that the head of the Wang family had been replaced by Wang Qichen.

When the news reached the palace, Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao were reviewing court memorials. Baili Hong had gone with Hong Fu to the Directorate of Ceremonial, both to learn from him and to relax.

At such a young age, staring at memorials day in and day out could ruin his eyesight.

After Xiao Xiangzi reported the Wang family’s affairs and left, Chu Jiubian remarked, "That was remarkably fast."

"Now, the Wang family is fully aligned with the court," Qin Xiao said.

"The moment is right," Chu Jiubian looked up at him. "Are you prepared?"

Qin Xiao smiled. "I am."

Chu Jiubian lightly tapped the table twice, his eyes dark and unreadable.

That night, Minister of Personnel Xiao Huaiguan was found dead in his bed from an overdose of Datura.

The Xiao family hung white mourning drapes, and waves of weeping, mingled with rain and thunder, echoed through the streets all night.

With this, both the positions of the Minister of Personnel and the Minister of Rites were left vacant.

The Minister of Personnel position naturally went to Chu Jiubian, who, as the Vice Minister of Personnel, was the obvious successor. Wang Yu, the Director of the Ministry of Personnel, was promoted to Assistant Minister.

Lu Yao, who had only recently entered officialdom, was promoted from Vice Director to Director of the Ministry of Personnel.

Thus, the entire Ministry of Personnel was now firmly in Chu Jiubian’s grip.

As for the Ministry of Rites, with Wang Zhiyuan at home "guiding his descendants," Assistant Minister Lu Qiaobo was left in charge.

However, his subordinates were the newly promoted Directors—Tan Yuzhu and Cai Peng.

Both were now aligned with the court and easily stripped Lu Qiaobo of much of his power.

Yet, Lu Qiaobo was powerless to stop it.

A few days later, Hong Fu, the Chief Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, attended the morning court for the first time as a minister.

He began by accusing none other than Zhen Mingzhao, the Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and Zhen Fu, the Assistant Minister of the Court of Judicial Review—who were also the father-in-law and son-in-law of Su Sheng, the Minister of Revenue.

For the past six months, the Directorate of Ceremonial had done nothing but investigate Su Sheng and his faction.

It had to be said that Su Sheng was exceptionally cautious. Despite half a year of investigation, the Directorate had found nothing solid enough to take him down.

Even though Hong Fu knew Su Sheng was behind the sabotage of the river embankment in Hexi Province, they found no trace of evidence.

Thus, all he had uncovered were instances of corruption, bribery, and wrongful convictions within the Court of Judicial Review.

These matters had been well hidden, but Hong Fu’s skills were sharp, and he managed to uncover a great deal.

Even half of what he found was enough to permanently end the Zhen father and son's careers for good.

"Your Majesty, these acts were committed by me alone," Zhen Mingzhao declared firmly. "Assistant Minister Zhen knew nothing of them!"

With the evidence laid bare, there was no room for denial.

Zhen Mingzhao shouldered the entire blame, hoping to protect his son, even though the crimes were actually committed by the latter.

Chu Jiubian had anticipated this outcome. His goal was not to eradicate the Zhen family but to seize control of the Court of Judicial Review.

He shot a glance at Qin Xiao.

Qin Xiao then said, "Minister Zhen’s fatherly love is truly something."

Zhen Mingzhao kowtowed, hitting his head on the floor with a heavy thud. "I implore Your Majesty and my lord to see the truth. These deeds were mine alone and involve no one else."

"In that case, guards," Qin Xiao commanded, "take Zhen Mingzhao to the imperial dungeons for execution after the autumn."

The imperial guards stepped forward and silently escorted him away.

The hall was silent except for the prolonged weeping of Assistant Minister Zhen Fu. Zhen Mingzhao made no plea for mercy, calm as if it were not his life at stake.

Su Sheng closed his eyes, his face suddenly looked years older.

He knew the real goal was not the Zhen family but himself, the Su family, and ultimately, Prince Dingbei, whom he supported.

Yet there was nothing he could do but tread carefully, making no mistakes at every turn.

He could not betray Prince Dingbei. Moreover, Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian had once offered him a chance to bow out—when his youngest daughter, Su Xier, left the capital.

But he had not taken it. Now, they weren't giving him another chance.

He could only keep moving forward, one step at a time, even as he saw what was coming.

With Zhen Mingzhao in prison and Zhen Fu dismissed, their residence was turned upside down by imperial guards. The Court of Judicial Review was then handed over entirely to students of the criminal law department of the Imperial Academy.

Gu Fanggang was new to officialdom when he became the Chief Minister of the Dali Temple.

This was highly inappropriate, but the court had effectively become a dictatorship ruled by the emperor’s faction, and no one’s objections mattered anymore.

Although this matter did not directly affect Su Sheng himself, it still cost him a key ally.

Moreover, the Ministry of Revenue was no longer under Su Sheng’s control. Reporting to him was Vice Minister Wang Pengyi, now openly a member of the emperor’s faction.

There was also Director Chao Shun.

Chao Shun had originally relied on the Qiu family for survival, but after the disaster relief efforts in Hexi County, he was intimidated by Chu Jiubian.

He dared not help the Qiu family embezzle state funds, nor did he dare to truly offend the Qiu family, so he had to use his personal family fortune to satisfy the Qiu family’s demands.

This act of covering the shortfall led to dissatisfaction and even resentment.

Chao Shun understood clearly: in the current court, no one was reliable except the emperor’s faction.

Thus, the Ministry of Revenue, aside from Su Sheng and about a dozen loyal officials under him, was no longer under his control.

Moreover, all the revenue recently generated by Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao was invested in the military and soldiers’ salaries, with none allocated to the Ministry of Revenue. Even the small amounts that were allocated were closely watched by Vice Minister Wang Pengyi.

Therefore, although Su Sheng still held his position, he had lost his chance to profit from the Ministry of Revenue.

This was not good news for him or for Prince Dingbei, who urgently needed funds to bolster his own forces.

However, Prince Dingbei Baili Yu did not rely entirely on Su Sheng. Instead, he set his sights on the Qiu family, the wealthiest family in Daning.

But recently, the Qiu family had also found themselves in increasingly dire straits.

First, the canal transport business was disrupted by Prince Zuiliang, resulting in a 70 percent drop in profits.

Then came the rise of the Southern Frontier merchant caravans. The Southern Frontier princess, whom he had met a few times, despite her young age, already possessed exceptional financial acumen, along with courage and capability.

In just half a year, wherever the Southern Frontier merchant caravans went, they outcompeted the Qiu family’s caravans.

Their goods were high-quality and affordable, and they often had innovative products made by the Southern Frontier heir. Combined with Southern Frontier silk and government support, merchants who had previously cooperated with the Qiu family began favoring the Southern Frontier caravans’ goods.

As for farmland, after Lu Yao redistributed it to the commoners, the Qiu family’s largest monthly revenues saw a significant decline.

For the Qiu family, which was obsessed with wealth at every level, this was unbearable.

Qiu Hongkuo knew that discussing these matters with Qin Xiao would be useless; he had to speak with Chu Jiubian.

However, Qiu Heng’s attempts to arrange a meeting with Chu Jiubian were repeatedly rejected, and eventually, Qiu Hongkuo gave up.

From the beginning, he had wanted to find an opportunity to sit down with Chu Jiubian and discuss cooperation, but one incident after another had prevented him from doing so.

Now, there was even less of a chance.

It seemed he and this divine figure were simply not destined to connect.

“Uncle, we cannot continue like this,” Qiu Heng said gravely. “If the court leaves us with no options, we must find a new path.”

Prince Dongjiang and Prince Huguang had secretly reached out to him, promising to return control of canal transport to him if they came to power.

However, they only offered to return half or 60-70% of it, not the entire operation.

Only Prince Dingbei Baili Yu promised to grant him full control over canal transport, in addition to turning over the salt trade to the Qiu family.

This showed far greater sincerity and generosity than the other two vassal princes.

Currently, the court controlled nearly 30% of Daning’s salt fields, and processed salt was gradually entering the market. Although prices were not as high as initially, it remained a highly profitable business.

However, Chu Jiubian did not assign this business to anyone else, only to the Southern Frontier merchant caravans.

The profits earned by the Southern Frontier caravans naturally flowed into the court’s coffers, used to fund Qin Xiao’s military.

This was not good news for anyone.

What the Qiu family cared about was not who was stronger, but who could offer them the greatest profit.

Qiu Hongkuo sat in his wheelchair, gazing into the distance toward the imperial palace.

How ironic—the wheelchair he sat in was also a product of the Southern Frontier caravans, reportedly made by the Southern Frontier heir.

The wooden wheels were fitted with a black material called “rubber,” making the ride completely different from the bumpy, jarring ride of a carriage.

The Southern Frontier people did not hide this, stating that it was Senior Tutor Chu’s idea and that he had even instructed the Southern Frontier King to search for this “rubber.”

What an incredible invention.

The Southern Frontier—no, it should be said, Senior Tutor Chu—truly had many remarkable things.

A complex emotion flashed in Qiu Hongkuo’s eyes. After a long silence, he finally spoke: “Send them a reply. The Qiu family only wants Chu Jiubian.”

This divine figure was the linchpin of the entire situation.

Since his appearance, the situation in the capital had changed day by day. Qin Xiao and the imperial authority grew stronger, while other forces gradually weakened.

This couldn't be entirely attributed to Chu Jiubian, but without him, Qin Xiao would never have reached his current position in less than two years.

Therefore, securing Chu Jiubian, this divine figure, would ensure maximum security and profit.

If he thought this way, others probably thought the same. That was why Qiu Hongkuo insisted on wanting nothing but Chu Jiubian.

Qiu Heng nodded. “Understood.”

Three secret letters were dispatched urgently to the domains of the three vassal princes.

Currently, the world was largely divided into two factions. One was the court, the Southern Frontier, the Wang family, and the Northern Desert Army—possessing power, wealth, military strength, and reputation.

The other was the rebel faction, led by Prince Huguang, Prince Dongjiang, Prince Dingbei, and Prince Anhuai, with the Xiao, Lu, and Qiu families as supporters. They also had everything they needed—no less than the court, and perhaps even slightly stronger.

However, the alliance between the vassal princes and the noble families had one major flaw: each had their own agendas and suspicions, constantly scheming against one another.

This alliance only temporarily appeared “united” due to a common enemy, but if any unfavorable situation arose, it would quickly collapse.

Thus, everyone remained wary and on edge, all feeling an increasingly strong sense of urgency.

Henan, Prince Anhuai’s residence.

Baili Ming sat in the main seat, looking at his strategist Jiang Yongshou and General He Zhen below.

The two had always been at odds, but in the past six months, they had hardly argued.

The reason was simple: they now shared a common goal—to overthrow the court.

Baili Ming often dreamed of that snowy night in the palace’s Fukang Pavilion, where he, the emperor, and Senior Tutor Chu sat together at a table, enjoying a boisterous family banquet.

The little child spoke to him in a small, childlike voice, and Senior Tutor Chu occasionally smiled in response, his expression no longer as aloof.

Baili Ming could see that they were both very good people.

Especially their actions over the past year or so, which truly earned his admiration.

Yet, the civil and military officials under his command had ambitions he was afraid to look into—they disliked stability, and they wanted more power and higher status.

Baili Ming did not know how to dissuade them, nor did he dare.

He grew increasingly silent, even hadn't smiled for a long time.

But the two who had once cared for and taken care of him noticed nothing—or perhaps they noticed but paid no mind.

In their hearts, there were more important matters.

He Zhen desired to achieve great deeds, to become a renowned general famous everywhere, to be made a noble and appointed as a minister.

These aspirations he never concealed, and Baili Ming could see that plainly.

As for Jiang Yongshou, however, Baili Ming could not understand him.

He wasn't usually this impulsive; Baili Ming refused to believe he failed to see that in this conflict, their Anhuai Army was merely just an extra, not important.

Yet Jiang Yongshou did not stop He Zhen. Instead, he actively contacted the other three vassal princes.

If not for having known him since childhood, and the fact that he was the strategist left by his father, Baili Ming would have suspected Jiang Yongshou served another vassal prince.

"Your Highness." Jiang Yongshou called three times before Baili Ming came back to himself and looked up at him.

Jiang Yongshou smiled gently. "It's getting late. You should get some rest, Your Highness."

"Yes, you too, sir." Baili Ming looked outside; the sky had already darkened.

Perhaps due to the cloudy sky, the night was exceptionally dark, with autumn winds rustling the branches, making shadows dance.

The Palace.

In the bedchamber of the western courtyard of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Chu Jiubian sat cross-legged by the bed, chin in hand as he watched Qin Xiao.

Qin Xiao, dressed in inner robes, stood on the floor, carefully inflating the tire of Baili Hong's small bicycle.

The child's bicycle was no longer the four-wheeled cart from half a year ago; it had been replaced with a slightly larger two-wheeled model.

Qin Xiao pumped a few times, then reached out to squeeze the tire.

This task was usually done by palace attendants, but two days ago, Qin Xiao noticed the tire was flat and casually filled it with air, only for it to burst.

Today, with a new tire, he wanted to do it himself again, though much more carefully.

Finally done, Qin Xiao straightened up and asked, "What else can rubber be used for?"

It was really good for tires.

"Many things," Chu Jiubian yawned, his tone softening unconsciously from drowsiness. "Once things settle down, we can make them one by one."

"Yes, there's plenty of time," Qin Xiao said casually, but his gaze lingered on the young man.

Chu Jiubian yawned again.

Qin Xiao chuckled. "I'll wash my hands. You go to sleep first."

"Mm." Chu Jiubian didn't stand on ceremony, rolling over and burrowing under the covers, curling up.

When Qin Xiao returned after washing his hands, he saw only the young man's messy hair.

Skillfully, he moved the long hair aside onto the pillow before lying down, casually put out the lamp with a wave of his hand.

Reaching out to lift the quilt, he found Chu Jiubian, as usual, turned away from him.

The other seemed to enjoy being held from behind, but Qin Xiao actually preferred facing him, able to kiss his lips with a mere glance downward.

Still, facing away had its advantages—the young man's rounded hips brushed against him, comfortable even without doing anything.

Chu Jiubian, having spent the previous night as the High Priest discussing many matters with Wang Qichen and attending court in the morning, was extremely tired tonight.

But as soon as the man came closer, his sleepiness faded considerably.

Yet he dared not move; if he did, he feared he wouldn't sleep at all tonight.

But Qin Xiao, noticing him tense up slightly, knew he wasn't asleep and moved more boldly.

He began with soft kisses on the young man's soft earlobes and pale nape.

Chu Jiubian kept his eyes closed but clearly felt his undergarments slipping off his shoulders and his pants loosening.

Outside, the rain grew heavier, accompanied by low thunder and fleeting flashes of light, the young man's pale shoulders a blur in the dim light.

Then came deeper darkness, almost pitch-black.

With his sight gone, other sensations grew stronger.

Qin Xiao became more forceful, his hands bolder.

Chu Jiubian bit his lip, remaining still.

But when the friction between his legs grew numb, he finally couldn't help shifting, hearing the man let out a low groan.

Chu Jiubian deliberately moved again.

The next moment, the man pressed against him, gripping his waist, rubbing his legs until they turned red and feverish...

==

Two days later, the light rain continued.

Rumors suddenly spread throughout Great Ning.

It was said that in Prince Huguang's domain, a golden dragon had appeared as a strange sign, with Taoist priests and Buddhist monks going there, chanting prophecies like "Huguang holds the mystery," almost explicitly declaring Prince Huguang Baili Yue the true Son of Heaven.

If these words had simply spread, Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao could have labeled him a rebel and moved against him first with military force.

But along with these rumors, two others circulated.

First, that Prince Ning Qin Xiao allowed maternal relatives to interfere in rule, undermining order.

Second, that Chu Jiubian was a heterodox figure descended upon the world, hurting the country's luck.