Liu Huan's expression was solemn. He reached out and removed the lampshade, then picked up a candle-stirring needle and adjusted the wick. The flame flickered in the night, casting shadows that were sometimes deep and sometimes shallow.

“In that case, we really can’t go to Lord Qiu. Without Lord Qiu’s help, Lord Wang’s rank is too low. He will definitely be too busy to take care of the Wang family’s affairs. What should we do?” He finished speaking and fell into deep thought.

Gu Bozhou was also pondering this when his attendant, who was Liu Huan's confidant and occasionally Liu Huan would discuss matters of the court with him, overheard him and said, "My lord, why don't we seek help from Lord Wei?"

"Why?" Liu Huan and Gu Bozhou both looked at him.

Liu Daxue's talent was certainly inferior to Gu Bozhou's; otherwise, he would have been a staff member instead of a servant. However, his thinking was simpler and more straightforward. He cleared his throat and said, "This servant is not as thoughtful as Master and Master Gu. But Master, think about it: back then, it was Lord Wang who led people to petition at the East Gate regarding the imperial examination cheating case. In the end, it was you who took charge of the matter. Although Lord Xie favored you at the time, and the Emperor went along with it, this servant later thought that Lord Wang's family affairs had not yet been settled, so he certainly could not take over the imperial examination cheating case."

At this point, Gu Bozhou and Liu Huan roughly understood. Gu Bozhou continued, "The imperial examination fraud case is not the main purpose, but rather to restrain various forces and thus clarify the situation in Prince Yong's fiefdom. Lord Wei is using a two-pronged approach: using the imperial examination fraud case to restrain the Wang and Yang families, and then clearing obstacles in Jiangnan to take over Prince Yong's ten prefectures in one fell swoop. Jiangnan is prosperous, and its tax revenue is dozens of times higher than other places. With money and grain, what's next?"

"Military power!" Liu Huan felt his heart was about to jump out of his chest. Wei Tingsi was too audacious, far too audacious! Wasn't he afraid that one wrong move would lead to total defeat and death?

However, with the Wang family finished, the Yang family lost Wang Kuanqi, a major ally, and with the Yan and Huo families entering the court and sharing power, the Yang family was no longer an obstacle. Therefore, Wei Tingsi still won.

"So, even Lord Wei can't go looking for him?" Liu Huan was heartbroken.

Gu Bozhou sighed. Wei Tingsi had played such a big game, and now was the time to reap the rewards. How could he have time to care about the Crown Prince? Moreover, a powerful minister like him could not get too close to the Crown Prince and other princes. If he were not so ambitious, it would be fine, but now, alas, "I can only pray that God will bless the Crown Prince so that he can wait safely until Prince Yong."

Liu Da said with shame, "This servant is incompetent and has failed to share the burden for the master."

"It's nothing. It's just that I'm outnumbered and can't help Your Highness." Liu Huan waved his hand and sighed. "Fortunately, Prince Yong is willing to help."

Gu Bozhou nodded; this was a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.

Upon hearing about the Prince Yong's residence, Liu Da immediately said, "My lord, why don't we seek Mr. Huo's help?"

Liu Huan was both amused and exasperated, and even more helpless. "It's late, go and rest. My cousin Huo won't lift a finger."

The night was deep and the dew was heavy, but like Liu Huan, many others were also unable to sleep. In the Sun family study, Sun Gan was sitting in a chair deep in thought.

Seated to the lower left are Ji Dongxue, Minister of Personnel, and Fang Youzhi, Minister of Works. Both men have graying temples and are about the same age as Sun Ganzheng.

The doors and windows were tightly closed, and the candlelight inside flickered. Ji Dongxue, who had been keeping his head down, suddenly raised his head and said, "Sir, you have always been close to Lord Xie, so you should be able to persuade him. Now that he has returned to the capital, why don't we go and see Lord Xie tomorrow to find out what his plans are?"

Sun Gan glanced at him and snorted coldly, "That old scoundrel Xie has already betrayed his ancestors. In his eyes, there is only the current emperor. The current emperor must have promised him benefits, otherwise why would he have gone to Jiangnan to invite the Yan family? Can the current emperor really persuade the Yan family? I would never believe it even if you beat me to death!"

Speaking of Xie Yun, he was furious. The current emperor clearly wanted to implement new policies, which is why he agreed to take back the fiefdoms and thoroughly investigate the cheating in the imperial examinations, wanting to reshuffle the power structure of the country. When the current emperor bestowed the words "A family that accumulates good deeds will surely have abundant blessings," he sympathized with Xie Yun. He never expected that Xie Yun would go to Jiangnan in the blink of an eye.

He's so angry!

Fang Youzhi and Ji Dongxue held their breath. This Minister of Works had been suffering from severe internal heat lately, and whoever ran into him would be in trouble.

"The Huo and Yan families have both entered the capital. The Emperor has won. I shouldn't have stood with that old scoundrel Xie back then. I regret it now! If I had known this would happen, I shouldn't have helped that old scoundrel Xie when the Wang and Yang families were squeezing him out. I should have made sure he was forced out of the capital. I'm so angry, so angry!"

Sun Gan was filled with regret, wishing the Xie family would never exist again.

"My lord, that is true, but how should we deal with this tomorrow?" Ji Dongxue sighed inwardly. Since arriving at the Sun family, he had been listening to their regrets and self-blame for several hours.

Sun Gan sighed, "What else can we do? You don't need to pay any attention to what that old scoundrel Xie says tomorrow. Without our help, I want to see how he stirs up trouble."

Ji Dongxue and Fang Youzhi had known this would be the outcome from the start. Now that they had received confirmation, they felt reassured. The two exchanged another glance, and Fang Youzhi said, "Sir, we heard that your residence rescued the Fourth Prince?"

Sun Gan glared at him a few times, "Stop talking nonsense." How could the reputation of the manor be ruined so easily? He had already ordered this matter to be kept secret, and no one was allowed to mention it. He had also given the order that anyone who brought it up would be denied any responsibility!

The two men stood up, cupped their hands in a salute, and said, "My lord, the current situation is unpredictable. We hope you will not get too close to the princes or vassal kings." Ji Dongxue kindly reminded them.

Sun Ganzheng understood that his subordinates' reminders were well-intentioned, and waved his hand, "Alright, I know what I'm doing, go back now."

The two left the Sun residence with heavy hearts. After exiting the side gate and boarding a covered carriage, it was already mid-January. Occasionally, a few barks could be heard from the deep alley.

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