Chapter 362: Catching Wind and Shadows
Wen Yu had no feelings about this Master Zhou, she just listened quietly to Qi Wu.
“He said: Master Zhou came from an ordinary background, and entered officialdom at the age of twenty-five as the top scorer of the second-class Jinshi examination. He is cautious in his work and sharp in his methods. But his temperament is very gentle, and he always leaves a way out for people in everything. Therefore, his journey has been smooth and very successful. He once competed with Grand Secretary Li for a cabinet position. But at that time, because Grand Secretary Li’s several propositions were more in line with the Emperor’s wishes, Grand Secretary Li was promoted.”
When Qi Wu said this, he thought of the light in Yang Xiangdong’s eyes, this kind of person was what he admired.
“Master Zhou lost the competition and immediately retreated. He retreated gracefully and arranged a good future for his son. Grand Secretary Li had achieved his wish and did not suppress him excessively.”
Wen Yu blinked, “But why can’t I understand? Are you saying that the person behind the scenes is Master Zhou? But he lost and retreated, so why does Yang Xiangdong trust him?”
“I asked that too. Yang Xiangdong hesitated for a while before telling me another thing. When he was young, his family was average, but he was very good at studying! He easily took first place in exams. At that time, there was a family in his hometown, also a wealthy family for hundreds of years, surnamed Yuan. The head of the Yuan family donated money to become an official.”
“He had an eldest son who was very much loved. He always wanted him to pass the imperial examination.”
“Seeing that Yang Xiangdong’s family background was average, but he was good at studying, he hoped that he could take his son with him. It was somewhat like a companion tutor. He gave Yang Xiangdong silver, bought him brushes, ink, clothes, and paid for his tuition, treating him very generously.”
“Young Master Yuan had a good personality, but he wasn’t very bright when it came to studying. Yang Xiangdong was going to take the provincial examination, and he was just a Tongsheng.”
“Yang Xiangdong went to the provincial capital to take the provincial examination. When he passed the exam and returned home, he found that the Yuan family had been raided…”
Wen Yu gasped…
“The Yuan father and son were beheaded, and their family property was confiscated. Yang Xiangdong inquired around and heard that they were colluding with bandits…”
“This method is really familiar!” Wen Yu murmured.
Although Qi Wu glossed over it, the destruction of a centuries-old family was definitely bloody, with countless heads rolling… The original days of wealth and honor turned into emptiness in an instant, and Wen Yu felt a burst of sadness in her heart.
“Later, Yang Xiangdong went to the capital to take the Jinshi examination and was chosen as a son-in-law by the Li family. When he went out to socialize with Grand Secretary Li and his father-in-law, his brother-in-law pointed to a person and quietly talked about the struggle for entering the cabinet.”
“So he saw Master Zhou, and the ancient jade hanging on his waist…”
“Young Master Yuan liked to show off to Yang Xiangdong the precious objects in his family during breaks from studying, and he showed him everything. Among them was a piece of ancient jade.”
“An uncarved jade pendant, white with yellow patterns, a natural pattern of a stunning magnolia flower… Yang Xiangdong liked it the most, and every time he saw it, he would marvel at the wonders of creation.”
“And the thing that disappeared with the destruction of the Yuan family was hanging on Master Zhou’s waist…”
“He wanted to tell his brother-in-law at the time, but someone interrupted them. Afterwards, he didn’t mention it again, but whenever he had the opportunity, he would inquire about it.”
“He then discovered that Master Zhou also came from a humble background and had no noteworthy clan members. But his life was much better than his wife’s family… His children’s marriages were all very respectable.”
“Moreover, his comings and goings were somewhat mysterious. He was afraid of getting into trouble, so he didn’t dare to investigate further.”
“Later, when he had an affair with Wei Xiangyu and was trying to find a way to solve it, someone approached him. After he figured out the relationship, he believed that Master Zhou could definitely achieve everything he wanted!
“Master Zhou…” Wen Yu’s eyes rolled. “How old was he when the Bai family was destroyed?”
Qi Wu replied: “In his early twenties?!”
“Then it shouldn’t be him, how could someone in his early twenties have that kind of ability?” Wen Yu wondered. “Yang Xiangdong said he had no clan members, what about his father?”
“He said he died early!”
“Is the Zhou family related to our family?”
“No. From family background to what they do, there is no connection. Ask mother later if she knows the women in his family.”
Wen Yu said regretfully, “It would be great if Master Qing woke up, ask her if she knows… Do you think he would know Old Madam?”
“How is that possible? Old Madam is a village woman. And their hometowns are not in the same place!”
“A village woman? She is an extraordinary village woman. If it really has something to do with the Bai family, then Xijing, where the Bai family is located, is hundreds of miles away from her hometown, which is also where the Marquis was injured…”
Wen Yu thought to herself, if Xiu Yun was really her biological daughter, she could even have a relationship with the head of the Bai family! Was she simple?
“But… If the Bai family was his doing, how could a man in his early twenties with no background achieve that?”
Qi Wu also nodded. “Without power or family background, it’s difficult!”
Wen Yu said: “Although it’s difficult, it’s not impossible! Look at Master Hu, Yi Bai, they are all geniuses. Even Song Chihan is not an ordinary person! Why don’t you investigate further?”
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“Okay. Ah Yu…” Qi Wu felt depressed and buried his head in Wen Yu’s neck, “I’m in a bad mood, comfort me…”
Wen Yu understood and stroked his shoulder, comforting him, “That’s how people are! There are highs and lows, successes and failures… Look, I consider myself smart, but there are many people who are better than me!”
“I don’t want this kind of comfort… I want…” Qi Wu started to get touchy-feely, “This kind…” His hot breath sprayed on Wen Yu’s ear…
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After the New Year, the Emperor held court.
Li Qun finally found out that the Eastern Palace had replaced the set of things he had prepared. He was so angry, so none of the things he had planned had succeeded?
The Prince of Wu’s residence also sent someone to ask, what could he say?
Could he say that he was incompetent and hadn’t accomplished anything? After hesitating for a while, he could only vaguely talk about how he had instigated infighting in the Eastern Palace, which had led to the Crown Prince’s serious illness.
That’s right! The Crown Prince was seriously ill, and the Emperor even visited him personally. The Crown Princess didn’t even hold a banquet, and she didn’t even see her family… She must have been placed under house arrest.
It all matched up.
But how the Crown Prince escaped danger was beyond his control.
Therefore, there were rumors outside that the Crown Princess had made a big mistake… After the Xue family heard about it, they were extremely anxious and secretly came to the Eastern Palace’s villa. Li Qihuan met them in the front study, his icy attitude leaving the Xue family completely confused…
The Crown Prince had asked the Emperor to resign, although it hadn’t been approved yet. But somehow, he suddenly felt relieved.
Now he didn’t care about any official business, big or small.
After the New Year, Lanzhou came back. The Crown Prince felt sorry for him when he saw him.
So, the three patients were quite busy together, chatting with Yi Bai, watching him work, and giving him unsolicited advice. They also took care of the turtles with Lanzhou. Their faces were all tanned…
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The more Qi Wu investigated Master Zhou, the more uncertain he felt. He just felt something was wrong, but he didn’t know what it was.
He didn’t dare to act rashly because he didn’t know what might alert him.
So he took his wife to the villa again.
Wen Yu was worried about Pinting and came to inquire about her. Li Qihuan told Wen Yu: “She’s fine, she’s doing everything there now.”
Then, Wen Yu went to find Yi Bai to discuss matters regarding the shop. Qi Wu then asked Li Qihuan about Master Zhou.
Li Qihuan wasn’t familiar with this person, so he asked the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince was a little surprised, “Why are you asking about him?”
Qi Wu then told the Crown Prince what Yang Xiangdong had said and his own suspicions.
“The Bai family, the Yuan family, and another similar case I found right away, the Yun family in the northwest, and the Song family that is about to be framed, the methods are all the same! If the framing of the Song family succeeds, Song Shang will not be able to shake off the accusation of colluding with bandits, and even the source of the Song family’s huge wealth will be difficult to explain… The investigators love to see people get rich quickly, from top to bottom!”
The Crown Prince held a book and pondered for a while, “If it’s really him, as you said, it’s not impossible. This Zhou… I know a thing or two about him. He’s meticulous and knows how to advance and retreat.”
“He started his official career in the Ministry of Personnel, working his way up from the bottom, through every department. He rose through the ranks to the position of Minister. Several important figures fell, but he was never implicated.”
“Over the years, he has promoted many people and suppressed many people. Who knows how many secrets he holds in his hands. He has a wide network of connections, making it easy for him to get things done. He also holds the weaknesses of some people, so if he wants to do something, no one dares to refuse…”
Li Qihuan thought for a long time, feeling depressed, “Why haven’t I noticed this person?”
Qi Wu said: “He has retreated and usually keeps a low profile. I was investigating him, but I didn’t dare to get too close. However, I still found out that he lives a very luxurious life. There is a person who is specifically in charge of procuring things for him. I asked someone to inquire about it, and it is said that he spends thousands of taels of silver a month just on incense… Sigh, he’s too extravagant, I don’t know if it’s true.”
The Crown Prince laughed…
Li Qihuan’s face turned red… I don’t know if he was shocked by Master Zhou’s spending habits…
Qi Wu suddenly remembered: “Oh, I haven’t told Ah Yu about this…” He stood up and ran away.
