Chapter 49

Snowflakes tumbled and fell onto the roof. Dry grass was stuffed into the cracks of the doors and windows, but the biting wind still blew into the house, suddenly sneaking into my collar as if I had been stabbed by a cold knife.

Zhou Qin sat in the room where a brazier was lit, looking down at several sheets of yellow hemp paper.

...

Since Wei Mingsu arrested the chief clerk, Zhou Qin has kept a low profile, not wanting to get involved. He originally planned to leave Xizhou, this troublesome place, while the situation was chaotic, but Wei Mingsu acted swiftly and quickly brought the situation under control.

After the crisis was over, Zhou Qin was able to leave Xizhou. However, he was unwilling to return empty-handed and defeated. Moreover, Suo Yuanli sent a message from Shendu that Prince Wei, Wu Chengsi, was furious upon learning of Wu Yanxing's death.

Zhou Qin understood that he could not return to Luoyang empty-handed; Suo Yuanli would definitely push him out to appease Wu Chengsi's anger.

It's all Wei Mingsu's fault for meddling and ruining his grand plan!

Zhou Qin hated Wei Mingsu with a vengeance. He could have used Wu Yanxing's case to make a big fuss and wield power in Xizhou. If he suspected someone, he could arrest them without any regard for the rules. Once someone was arrested, their family, colleagues, and subordinates would also be implicated. Hundreds of people could be implicated in a single day. At that point, not only Chai Yong and the Chai family, but all the powerful families in Xizhou would have to be subservient to him. Even the governor of Xizhou could be charged with negligence and dereliction of duty.

If Wei Mingsu hadn't suddenly appeared and thrown him into disarray, he wouldn't have had to worry about how to explain things to Suo Yuanli and the Wu family!

Just as Zhou Qin was torn between Suo Yuanli's message and something else, he heard a rumor: the Turkic tribes under the jurisdiction of the Protectorate General seemed to be making unusual moves.

Zhou Qin was overjoyed. After thinking for a while, he came up with an idea.

He couldn't touch the case of the Chief Secretary, so he had to find another way to gain merit.

Zhou Qin recalled the case of Fei Qi's denunciation.

The year Empress Wu deposed Emperor Zhongzong, several members of the Imperial Guards gathered for drinks at a brothel. During the gathering, one of them suddenly raised his cup and said that since they had a new emperor, they had not received many rewards and that it would be better to continue serving the Prince of Luling as their master.

The riders at the banquet all raised their glasses and discussed loudly.

One of them got up and ran straight to the North Gate to report the matter to the Imperial Guards.

The Imperial Guards immediately surrounded the brothel. Before the banquet had even ended, all the mounted soldiers present who had expressed their support for the Prince of Luling were executed on the spot. The others who knew about the incident but did not report it were all sentenced to hanging.

Only the informant survived and was even promoted.

Suo Yuanli was summoned by the Empress through informing her, and was promoted to guerrilla general.

As Suo Yuanli's subordinate, Zhou Qin also liked to use informing as a means to deal with his targets.

After making up his mind, Zhou Qin sent his men to contact the lower-level soldiers of the Protectorate, as well as various shady characters and ruffians in the city, to gather information and encourage and incite them to inform on others.

Thanks to Wei Mingsu drawing everyone's attention, no one noticed Zhou Qin.

In just a few days, he obtained a lot of intelligence.

...

Footsteps sounded at the door, and a subordinate dressed in black strode in, saying, "Minister, I've heard some news. Chief Clerk Fan is almost here in Xizhou, and the Zhang and Ma families are already preparing a banquet to welcome him."

Zhou Qin frowned: "Fan Hui arrived so quickly?"

He pondered for a moment, a look of doubt on his face.

Even if Fan Hui traveled non-stop, it would be impossible for him to get from Luoyang to Xizhou so quickly, unless he was originally going to Xizhou and was on his way there. Therefore, when the Empress was considering candidates for the position of Chief Secretary, she did not choose anyone else and directly appointed him as Chief Secretary.

Zhou Qin put the matter aside, read the intelligence report, and then picked up his pen to write a memorial.

The Empress's appointment of someone as the Chief Administrator of Xizhou was none of his concern; he only cared about whether the intelligence he gathered could bring him merit.

...

After the snow, the weather cleared up.

Officials from Xizhou, dressed in their official robes, surrounded the governor and came to the city gate to welcome Chief Secretary Fan Hui.

As sunlight streamed across the river, the sound of hooves approached from the east. A weary troop rode up to the city gate. The man at the head of the troop, seeing the governor in the distance, dismounted and strode forward.

&

Come.

The governor and officials stepped forward, exchanged pleasantries, and then entered the city together.

Fan Hui was twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with long eyebrows and phoenix eyes, and his gaze was piercing. He chatted happily with the officials from Xizhou present at the banquet.

The people at the banquet exchanged glances and presented gifts, ranging from local products of Xizhou to beautiful Hu women maids.

Fan Hui smiled and said a few polite words, then accepted them all.

Everyone secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

This Chief Clerk Fan is easier to deal with than Governor Wei!

Everyone felt relieved, and smiles appeared on their faces, making the atmosphere of the banquet even more harmonious.

After the banquet, Fan Hui returned to his residence with the gifts from the Xizhou officials, dismissed the beautiful maids, changed his clothes, and went into the neighboring courtyard.

A candle was lit in the room. Wei Mingsu sat by the window, the candlelight illuminating his face, making him appear very pale.

Tong Jin stood at the door and saw Fan Hui walk in, gesturing for him to wait a moment.

"He's injured?" Fan Hui stood at the door and asked his colleague in a low voice, "Who did it?"

Tong Jin said, "Nie Zijie, the son of King Wei hired him to kill the young master."

Fan Hui was taken aback and couldn't help but gasp: "Nie Zijie? He's very famous. Last year, he infiltrated Chang'an to assassinate a wealthy merchant. The merchant's servant escaped and sought help from the Imperial Guards. The Imperial Guards rushed over to arrest him, but he still managed to escape. He didn't succeed, so he'll definitely come back again."

Tong Jin sighed and said, "Nie Zijie is highly skilled in martial arts and can appear and disappear without a trace. We don't know if he has left the city or is still hiding in Xizhou."

Fan Hui frowned.

After reading the letter, Wei Mingsu's gaze fell on Fan Hui.

Fan Hui immediately went inside.

Wei Mingsu picked up the article from the desk and handed it to him.

Fan Hui took the article, read it through, and smiled, "Your article on governing Xizhou is very detailed. I don't need to worry about anything. I can just follow what you wrote down."

After saying that, he noticed dark red bloodstains on the paper. His smile faded, his brows furrowed even more, and he sighed inwardly. He said, "Leave the affairs of Xizhou to me. You can go to Wuzhi now. When do you want to leave?"

Wei Mingsu said, "There is one more thing to deal with. I have sent someone to the tribe to deliver a message in your name. The day after tomorrow, you will hold a banquet in the main tent outside the city to entertain the chiefs of each tribe and invite them all to attend."

Fan Hui looked at him in confusion, then suddenly realized what he meant. His pupils contracted sharply, a chill ran down his spine, and he broke out in a cold sweat, feeling a chill run down his spine.

He composed himself, wiped away his cold sweat, and said with a wry smile, "Okay."

Wei Mingsu gestured for Fan Hui to sit down.

Fan Hui took a pen from the pen holder and wrote down what Wei Mingsu said. The two sat in front of the lamp and discussed the banquet arrangements until late at night.

It was quiet outside, except for the sound of the night watchman's drum.

Fan Hui was exhausted from his long journey. He stood up, took the paper, and left. But when he reached the door, he suddenly stopped and looked back at Wei Mingsu by the candle.

"You sent Third Sister back to Liucheng because you were worried that Nie Zijie would try to assassinate her again?"

He asked.

Wei Mingsu lowered his eyes and said, "Even without Nie Zijie, I would still send her back to Liucheng."

Fan Hui's eyes showed confusion: "The Wu family wanted you to marry the princess, but you refused. Although the emperor did not express his opinion, he used the censor's memorial to demote you out of the capital. I did not advise you at the time because I thought the emperor would not really demote you to Raozhou and would soon reinstate you."

"And I know that even if Third Sister is no longer alive, you will not marry another woman."

Fan Hui looked at Wei Mingsu.

"Now that you know that Third Sister is still alive, and you saved her, you can marry her. She won't refuse, and she can't refuse."

Wei Mingsu looked up at the candle and shook his head: "Fan Hui, she only feels guilt and gratitude towards me."

Fan Hui felt somewhat helpless and turned to leave.

He forgot that Wei Mingsu would never force Lu Huaying to do anything she didn't like.