On the chessboard, once a move is made, there's no going back (2)

Within the imperial city, various forces continue their covert struggle, awaiting news that will ultimately shatter the balance. The oppressive atmosphere before the storm is almost suffocating.

Jiang Wanzhi was absentmindedly feeding the fish by the pond in the backyard when Prime Minister Jiang returned home from court, his expression seemingly more grave than usual. Passing through the garden, he saw his daughter and approached her.

“Zhi’er”.

"father?"

Jiang Wanzhi quickly put down the fish food and stood obediently.

Prime Minister Jiang looked at his daughter with a complex expression. After a moment of contemplation, he suddenly asked, "Have you been paying attention to matters of state lately?"

Jiang Wanzhi's heart skipped a beat, but she forced herself to remain calm: "Daughter...daughter is recuperating at home, how could she be paying attention to court affairs? Why does Father suddenly ask this?"

Prime Minister Jiang sighed, dismissed his attendants, and said in a low voice, "At today's court meeting, one of my students, who works in the Ministry of Revenue, inadvertently discovered something strange while checking the files of an old case from three years ago. This matter... seems to be vaguely connected to some of the accusations currently leveled against His Highness Prince Heng."

Jiang Wanzhi's heart skipped a beat! The Ministry of Revenue? Three years ago? An old case? She tried her best to maintain a calm expression, even adding a touch of just the right amount of curiosity: "Oh? What's the strange thing? Is it related to His Highness Prince Heng?"

Prime Minister Jiang, with his keen eyes, carefully observed his daughter's reaction. Seeing that she seemed to be merely curious, he slowly said, "I cannot go into the specific details. But if this matter is investigated further, I'm afraid... it will stir up even greater trouble. That student is uneasy and has come to report to his father."

He paused, looking at Jiang Wanzhi meaningfully: "Zhi'er, although you and His Highness Prince Heng are engaged, the current situation is delicate, and His Majesty's thoughts are unpredictable. Some things are better left unsaid, and some waters are unfathomable. Our Prime Minister's residence should be cautious in our words and deeds, and protect ourselves wisely. Remember, remember."

Jiang Cheng's words, seemingly a warning to his daughter not to concern herself with politics, actually contained a great deal of information!

Jiang Wanzhi understood instantly! Her note had worked!

King Heng not only saw it, but also took immediate action!

Moreover, her efficiency was frighteningly high; even her father had a vague sense of the situation!

A tremendous, indescribable excitement and exhilaration instantly overwhelmed the fear and regret I had felt earlier!

She succeeded!

She actually managed to turn this hopeless situation around!

Although it was only a small amount, it proved that she was on the right track!

That iceberg received her signal!

"Father, don't worry!" Jiang Wanzhi immediately assured him, her eyes sparkling, but she tried her best to sound innocent. "I don't know anything. I'll just stay home, feed the fish, and admire the flowers. I definitely won't cause you any trouble!"

Prime Minister Jiang looked at his daughter's face, which instantly lit up with radiance and showed her obedient and well-behaved manner. He nodded with satisfaction, gave her a few more instructions, and then turned to leave.

Jiang Wanzhi stood there, so excited she almost jumped up! She suppressed the urge to cheer and silently grinned at the koi in the pond.

Great! The icy villain hasn't completely turned evil! There's still hope!

However, she was unaware that this covert contest was far more complex than she had imagined.

…………

The night was deep, in a secluded mansion.

Under the dim light of an oil lamp, several figures were talking in hushed tones. "It seems someone at the Ministry of Revenue is secretly investigating the military equipment accounts from three years ago," a deep voice said.

“Oh? Whose people are they? The remnants of King Heng’s forces? Or…” Another voice was slightly shrill.

"No. The technique is very skillful, like a nail that was planted long ago and is only being activated now. We didn't even notice it before."

"It seems that our Prince Heng is more cunning than we imagined. Even confined to his residence, his henchmen can still harm people."

"We must stop it as soon as possible! Those who handled it, those files that might have left traces..."

“It’s too late.” A third voice interrupted coldly. “The other side is moving very fast, and… they seem to have received some unexpected hint, going straight for the vitals. Our previous disguise probably won’t last long.” A suffocating silence followed.

After a long silence, the shrill voice rang out again, tinged with malice: "Since they want to investigate, let them investigate! Perfect, let's lead the clues to where we need to go..."

"you mean?"

"Don't forget, the final receipt and distribution of that batch of weapons three years ago was handled by Zhang Qiming, who was then the Northern Border Grain Supervisor."

“Zhang Qiming? He’s not King Zhao…”

"Hmph! Precisely because he is King Zhao's man, this fire can burn even brighter and more chaotically! It would be best if they could...fight like dogs!"

A low laugh echoed in the darkness, carrying an air of conspiracy.

"Brilliant! Let's do it this way! Go and arrange it immediately, and make the evidence even more perfect!"

…………

The study in Prince Heng's mansion was so quiet that one could hear the faint crackling of the candle wick.

On the desk in front of Zongzheng Hengyu, there were several seemingly messy slips of paper, which recorded information from different channels and written in different codes.

If an outsider were to see this, they would be completely baffled, but in his eyes, these fragments were gradually outlining a clear conspiracy.

Yan Cheng stood with his hands at his sides and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, based on reports from all sides, it can be confirmed that the weapons, disbursement documents, transport records, and even some of the border guards' signatures from three years ago were indeed forged. The methods were extremely sophisticated, almost indistinguishable from the real thing."

Yan Cheng continued, "However, the final record of the goods entering the warehouse is full of loopholes when compared with the actual goods. The core of the forgery lies in the correspondence between the Ministry of War's Armory and the Northern Border Grain Supervision Office."

Zongzheng Hengyu pointed to a record on the table: "Guo Yi, the secretary of the Military Arsenal Bureau, and Zhang Qiming, the chief of the Northern Border Grain Supervision Office... These two people are the key figures."

“Yes. Guo Yi was recommended for his post by a member of the Ming King's faction, but he is usually cautious and difficult to find fault with. Zhang Qiming…”

Yan Cheng paused for a moment, then said, "This man was once a companion to Prince Zhao and has a close relationship with the Prince Zhao's residence. He was transferred to the northern border to oversee grain production three years ago and was only transferred back to the capital last year. He is currently an assistant director of the Ministry of War's Department of Military Affairs."

"One of King Zhao's men?" A sneer flashed in Zongzheng Hengyu's eyes. "My good brother here knows how to pick his time to take advantage of others, but little does he know that he has become a piece of meat in other people's eyes."

Clearly, King Ming's faction not only framed him, but also planted a hidden thread pointing at King Zhao, intending to incite a conflict between the two.

“Your Highness, although the evidence points to Guo Yi and Zhang Qiming, it is all indirect and easily refuted. To deliver a decisive blow, we need more direct and irrefutable evidence, or... a key witness,” Yan Cheng analyzed.

Zongzheng Hengyu was silent for a moment, then asked, "Where is the general who was actually in charge of escorting that batch of problematic weapons back then?"

"According to records, the person mainly responsible for escorting the weapons was a captain surnamed Zhou. But strangely, he died in an 'accidental' border conflict shortly after the weapons were delivered to the northern border. His family had also moved away from their hometown two years ago and their whereabouts are unknown."

The dead have no way to testify. A typical method of silencing witnesses.

A brief silence fell over the study; the opponent's shrewdness and ruthlessness were extraordinary.

Just then, a very faint bird call, three long and two short, came from outside the window. Yan Cheng immediately became alert, silently moved to the window, and a moment later returned with a small bamboo tube.

"Your Highness, it's a secret message sent by our Northern Border agents at top speed." Yan Cheng's tone was grave.

Zongzheng Hengyu took the bamboo tube, took out the silk strip inside, unfolded it, and his pupils suddenly contracted!

The silk strip contained few words, yet the information was startling: "Wang, the wife of Colonel Zhou who died in battle three years ago, is suspected to be alive and hiding under an assumed name in Funanzhuang, a suburb of Beijing. There may be more to the story."

A dramatic turn of events!

“Funan Manor…” Zongzheng Hengyu tapped his fingertips on the table and immediately ordered, “Yan Cheng, you personally lead a team of absolutely reliable experts to Funan Manor in secret and find this Wang Shi! She must be alive, and quickly! Under no circumstances should anyone be alerted!”

"Yes!" Yan Cheng accepted the order and his figure quickly disappeared into the darkness.

If witnesses are present, this situation can be broken! Zongzheng Hengyu looked at the flickering candlelight, and a sharp glint finally ignited in his icy eyes.

…………

The Prime Minister's Residence, Wanzhi Pavilion

Jiang Wanzhi's excitement was short-lived, lasting only two days before reality poured cold water on her enthusiasm.

The feeling of being spied on didn't disappear; instead, it intensified. She even noticed two unfamiliar faces among the old women sweeping the outer courtyard of Wanzhi Pavilion, whose eyes were constantly glancing restlessly into her room.

Terrified, she dared not make any further moves, rarely even leaving the courtyard, spending her days holed up in her room, filled with anxiety. Chun Tao and Qiu Ju also noticed the abnormality, but dared not ask any questions, only serving her with even greater care.

That afternoon, Prime Minister Jiang came to Wanzhi Pavilion again, his expression even more somber than before.

He dismissed his attendants, looked at his daughter who was clearly somewhat frightened, and sighed: "Zhi'er, have you encountered anything unusual recently? Or... have you been in contact with any special people?"

Jiang Wanzhi's heart skipped a beat, and she almost blurted out about the note, but in the end she forced herself to shake her head: "No, no, Father. Your daughter has always been well-behaved."

Jiang Cheng's gaze was sharp as he slowly said, "I have received information that there seems to be an unknown force investigating you in secret. They may even... intend to harm you."

Jiang Wanzhi's face turned deathly pale instantly!

"I have increased the number of guards in the manor. You must not leave the manor without permission again in the coming days! Remember that!" Jiang Cheng's tone was more stern than ever before.

"The affairs of the court are far more unpredictable and treacherous than you can imagine. Some people will stop at nothing to achieve their goals. Your engagement to Prince Heng may very well be your death warrant!"

Jiang Wanzhi was so frightened that tears welled up in her eyes, and her voice trembled: "Father...I...I'm scared..."

Seeing his daughter's pale face, Jiang Cheng's heart softened, and his tone became gentler: "Don't be afraid, with your father here, I will never let anyone hurt you. But you must be obedient and not cause any more trouble."

He paused, then casually remarked, "His Highness Prince Heng... is no ordinary man. This predicament may not hold him for long. It would be best if you remained safe and sound until he escaped."

These words sounded like a word of comfort, yet also like a hint at something.

After Prime Minister Jiang left, Jiang Wanzhi sat on the couch with her knees drawn up to her chest, her mind a complete mess.

Is someone plotting against her? Is it because she got close to Prince Heng? Or because her reckless note was discovered?

A tremendous fear enveloped her, but strangely, a strange thought arose within this fear: even her father said that Prince Heng was very powerful, so he must be able to escape, right? If he escaped, would no one dare to harm her?

She was surprised by her almost instinctive dependence on him! She had been terrified of him before!

…………

Prince Zhao's Mansion

Zongzheng Zhaoran was equally overwhelmed. After he submitted his memorial requesting a review of the northern border's military preparedness, the emperor, while praising his "public-mindedness," assigned the review to the Censorate and the Court of Judicial Review jointly, without allowing him to directly intervene!

This means the investigation will be completely out of his control!

What unsettled him even more was that the people he sent to secretly clean up the mess reported that there seemed to be another force investigating what happened three years ago, and they were moving faster and more secretly, even beginning to touch on some traces that they had not been able to completely erase before.

"Your Highness, the situation is dire." The goatee-bearded advisor's face turned pale. "Those iron-faced devils in the Censorate are not to be fooled! If they investigate Zhang Qiming first, and then follow the trail..."

"Shut up!" King Zhao interrupted him irritably. "That idiot Zhang Qiming! He wasn't clean enough in the first place! Immediately make him claim illness and take leave, and keep him indoors! Have all the documents he handled, whether there are problems or not, re-examine them all. If there are any doubts, destroy them immediately! We cannot leave any evidence!"

"Yes! Yes!" The staff member wiped his sweat repeatedly.

"Furthermore," a ruthless glint flashed in King Zhao's eyes, "send a message to the palace, asking Mother Consort to find a way to make sure Father knows that I requested a review because I am worried about the affairs of the state and fear that someone might use the system to frame loyal officials and shake the foundation of the country! Emphasize my helplessness and grievances!"

He had to portray himself as a victim and someone who was prioritizing the greater good.

…………

In the shadows, Ming Wang's Night Hawk Pavilion forces were not idle either.

"Your Highness, Prince Zhao is indeed panicking and is desperately trying to cover up the evidence. The Censorate and the Court of Judicial Review have also intervened, and the investigation is, as we expected, beginning to lean towards Prince Zhao's side," Ying Sha, the deputy head of the Night Hawk Pavilion, respectfully reported.

Zongzheng Mingchen took a satisfied sip of wine: "Very good. Let them fight it out. What about Prince Heng? Any moves?"

"The Prince Heng's residence remains quiet. However, our people monitoring the Prime Minister's residence report that Prime Minister Jiang seems to have noticed our attention to Jiang Wanzhi and has strengthened the security of the residence."

"Furthermore... our people stationed near Funan Village discovered that a mysterious group of extremely skilled individuals secretly infiltrated the village last night, seemingly searching for something."

“Funan Manor?” Zongzheng Mingchen put down his wine cup, his brows furrowing slightly.

"What's there?" He suddenly remembered something, his expression changing slightly. "Could it be... Commander Zhou's family? Wasn't it already taken care of?"

Ying Sha lowered his head: "The report at the time stated that it had been dealt with. Or perhaps some escaped?"

Zongzheng Mingchen's eyes flashed with a violent glint: "Useless trash! Immediately send more men to Funan Manor! If our people find it first, kill them without mercy! If someone else finds it first... take it back at all costs! We cannot let any survivors fall into the hands of others!"

"Yes!" Ying Sha quickly accepted the order and left.

Zongzheng Mingchen stood up and paced restlessly in the secret hall. He felt that things seemed to be getting out of control.

Heng Wang's reaction was faster and more accurate than he had expected! Could it be that Jiang Wanzhi really played a key role?

"Yue'er," he suddenly said.

Su Yuyue stepped out of the shadows: "Brother Mingchen."

"Are you sure Jiang Wanzhi is just an ignorant fool?" Zongzheng Mingchen stared sharply at her.

Su Yuyue's heart skipped a beat, but her expression remained gentle. "She...she was indeed like that before. But lately, she seems different. Perhaps we underestimated her, or perhaps...Prime Minister Jiang knows something and told her?" She cleverly shifted the suspicion toward Prime Minister Jiang.

Zongzheng Mingchen snorted coldly: "No matter who it is! Since she may have become a variable, we can't let her live peacefully any longer! We need to find a way to teach her a real lesson, to let her know that there are some muddy waters that she can't wade into! It would be best to shut her up completely, or... make Prince Heng lose his composure because of her!"

A wicked glint of pleasure flashed in Su Yuyue's eyes as she said softly, "Yue'er understands. I will definitely share Mingchen's burdens."

…………

Funanzhuang, on the outskirts of Beijing.

As night fell, a silent chase and counter-chase were quietly unfolding in this peaceful little village.

Yan Cheng's elite guards and the Night Hawk Pavilion assassins sent by the Ming King almost simultaneously locked onto Wang, a mute widow who lived by washing clothes and was hiding deep in the village.