Several days later.
The Imperial Study.
Yuan Xiu squatted on the chair behind the dragon desk, and a flamboyant-looking man knelt in front of him, applying lipstick to his lips.
The man was dressed very provocatively, almost shirtless, with only a few strips of cloth tied around his lower body, resembling a primitive man.
Although Yuan Xiu's face was pale and he looked sickly, he was actually quite handsome.
His brows relaxed, and he looked like he was enjoying himself.
"Wei You, your lip-drawing skills are getting better and better."
The man said with a smile, "Your Majesty, is it just that this servant is good at applying lipstick?"
Yuan Xiu lifted his foot and flicked it towards Wei You's leg, coldly snorting, "I was just casually praising you, and you're acting all arrogant!"
A short while later, Lü Lu led Wen Tai and a courtier in.
"Your Majesty, there is news from Yan Chuan!" Wen Tai said, stepping aside to let his ministers pass.
Yuan Xiu quickly jumped onto the dragon table, his lips glistening, and said, "Speak quickly!"
The official said, "After Lord He and Attendant Chen entered Yanchuan City, Su Wansan and the others have already been brought to justice!"
Yuan Xiu asked doubtfully, "So smoothly?"
"With His Majesty's divine might, the bandits are terrified!"
"Stop talking nonsense! Give me the specifics!"
"The Su family mansion has been sealed off by Lord He, and all members of the Su family are on their way back under his escort!"
"Su Wansan did not resist arrest?"
"They surrendered completely and kept crying out for justice."
Yuan Xiu frowned, jumped down from the dragon table, and paced back and forth.
Damn it!
Why surrender?
Su Wansan, Su Wansan, this is rebellion! At least put up a fight!
Where is the backbone of Yan Chuan's richest man?
After a long silence, Yuan Xiu suddenly asked, "What is the Right Chancellor's Office's reaction to this matter?"
The minister said, "Neither the Right Chancellor nor his son are in Yanchuan City."
Zhao Huan had four sons, but apart from Zhao Cheng, the second son was mentally challenged, and the third and fourth sons were still young. Therefore, when officials mentioned the Right Chancellor and his sons, they usually referred to Zhao Huan and Zhao Cheng.
Yuan Xiu asked doubtfully, "Where did they go?"
"Zhao Cheng left Yanchuan City before Su Wansan's rebellion, supposedly to visit a friend in an eastern city."
"As for the Right Chancellor... he hasn't returned home yet."
"He's not home yet??" Yuan Xiu was even more puzzled. "He's been away from Changsui for two months. Wasn't he eager to go home and play with the kids? Why isn't he home yet?"
As he spoke, Yuan Xiu suddenly thought of something and looked at Wen Tai.
"Left Prime Minister, I know that you and the Right Prime Minister had a close relationship outside Tianze Palace last time. Did he say anything to you? Do you know where he went?"
Wen Tai bowed and said, "On that day, I did indeed reminisce with the Right Chancellor about our teacher-student relationship, and we talked about old stories."
Yuan Xiu narrowed his eyes and asked, "You really don't know?"
Wen Tai shook his head: "I don't know."
At that moment, a woman dressed in elegant attire walked in.
Upon seeing this person, Yuan Xiu immediately put on a smile and went to greet her, saying, "Sister, what brings you here?"
"I came to see you." Yuan Yun touched Yuan Xiu's sideburn, then glanced at Wen Tai and the others, and said, "I just heard you talking about Zhao Cheng, is he that scoundrel from Yanchuan City?"
"You scoundrel? Ah... hahaha, it's him, it's him!" Yuan Xiu added, "A lustful glutton!"
Yuan Yun said, "But you promised me you would bring him to Changsui so I could teach him a lesson!"
"I keep my word!" Yuan Xiu said firmly. "But unfortunately, he's gone out for a trip, and I don't know where he's gone. When he returns to Yanchuan, I'll issue an imperial edict to summon him here, so that my elder sister can have her way with him!"
"Who wants to mess with him!" Yuan Yun sneered, "This princess is going to beat him up! Beat him up eighteen times!!"
"Alright, alright, I'll beat him up a hundred and eighty times, Your Highness!"
With that, Yuan Xiu looked at Wen Tai and said, "If there's nothing else, you can go now!"
“Yes…” Wen Tai stepped back and left the imperial study with a worried expression.
...
night.
The Left Prime Minister's Residence.
Wen Tai stood behind the door with his hands behind his back, looking up at the moonlight.
The moonlight was dim.
Wen Hu and Yu Changsi accompanied them from behind.
"Hu'er, the Right Chancellor still hasn't come home, do you know that?"
Without hesitation, Wen Hu immediately replied, "I understand."
"What's it to you?"
"This is my nephew's business; it's better for Uncle not to know."
"Nonsense!" Wen Tai rarely lost his temper with Wen Hu, shouting, "You think I don't know and that's how it's all going to happen? You're surnamed Wen! You're surnamed Wen!!"
"Prime Minister, the Earl of Sha County is only doing this for your own good." Yu Changsi winked at Wen Hu and said, "Prime Minister, I know you mean well, but the situation in Yanchuan has changed. Why don't you report it truthfully immediately?!"
Wen Hu pondered for a moment before saying, "I sent men to intercept and kill the Right Chancellor."
"Was it successful?"
"No news yet."
Wen Tai turned around, stared at Wen Hu, and said angrily, "You underestimate the Right Chancellor! He has served three emperors of the Jingguo Dynasty without falling from power. Although he was demoted to the secondary capital and experienced ups and downs, his foundation is deep and difficult to shake! You want to intercept and kill him? That's reckless!"
Wen Hu calmly said, "This is a rare opportunity."
Wen Tai said, "His adopted daughter, Yang Taozhi, is a grandmaster!"
“I know.” Wen Hu met Wen Tai’s gaze and said, “The one who killed Chen Yuxian was Yang Taozhi. She is not by the Right Prime Minister’s side.”
"But he also has many top experts around him, and there's also the brilliant strategist Lian Zhongyi!"
Wen Tai shook his head and said, "You should have discussed this with me first. If Luo Ying comes back, then we can give it a try."
Wen Hu said, "Although Luo Ying is not here, I have sent two of the Five Fiends."
Wen Tai stopped talking and just sighed.
Wen Hu knew that Wen Tai's anger was fake; it was just a sign of anxiety.
Compared to him, Wen Tai would rather Zhao Huan get into trouble.
Yu Changsi rolled his eyes and said, "We can only wait for news about the Right Chancellor. There's no use in being anxious. The most urgent matter is Su Wansan."
Wen Tai nodded.
Yu Changsi added, "It would be fine if someone else went to Yanchuan City, but His Majesty specifically designated He Yin. That iron-faced judge... I'm afraid Su Wansan won't be able to handle him!"
Wen Tai's expression darkened.
He knew that Yu Changsi was right. Over the years, the Left Prime Minister's Mansion had taken too many benefits from Su Wansan and provided him with countless conveniences. If you looked closely, the Wen and Su families had many intricate connections.
If Su Wansan hadn't been involved in the rebellion, then even if the affair between the two families were exposed, Wen Tai could have found a way to resolve it.
Of all the civil and military officials in the Tianze Hall, which one is truly clean?
The close relationship between officials and merchants was a prevailing trend in the Jing Dynasty.
But now that Su Wansan has been convicted of treason by the court, Wen Tai has no choice but to reconsider.
Wen Tai's expression hardened, and he walked into the house, asking as he went, "Which two of the Five Fiends are left?"
Wen Hu followed and said, "Xu Qingshan and Chen Jiudao."
"Send them there."
Wen Tai sat down in the chair, his eyes filled with murderous intent, and said in a deep voice, "Whether you succeed in intercepting the Right Chancellor or not, you must succeed in intercepting Su Wansan; failure is not an option!"
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