Chapter 174 Breaking into the Prime Minister's Residence
Knowing that Madam Yang was concerned, Granny Su immediately brought Qiu Heng over.
Upon seeing Qiu Heng, Madam Yang's uneasy heart, which had been pounding all night, finally relaxed: "Has Miss Qiu had breakfast yet?"
"Thank you for your concern, Madam Yang. I've already used it."
"Then let's go take a rest."
Qiu Heng bent her knees and went out.
The sky was covered with heavy clouds, making it even more gloomy than when I went out. Fortunately, there was no wind, so it wasn't too unbearable.
The sound of chanting could be heard from afar.
The ritual for Young Master Fang will continue until the forty-ninth day after his death.
"It's so cold outside, isn't Miss Qiu going back inside?" asked Granny Su.
"There's nothing to do back inside, so I'd like to take a walk in the garden. Granny Su—"
Worried that Qiu Heng would ask her to accompany her, Granny Su hurriedly called out, "Zi Ying, accompany Miss Qiu Liu to take a walk in the garden."
A maid came over and said, "Miss Qiu Liu, please come with me."
Qiu Heng nodded and left Madam Yang's courtyard with her maid.
On such a cold day, there were few pedestrians on the street. Xue Han led a group of imperial guards and stopped some distance away from the Prime Minister's residence.
"You shall wait in a dispersed manner, taking the smoke signal as your guide."
"yes."
After making the arrangements, Xue Han entered the Prime Minister's residence openly with only four subordinates, using the readily available reason: to pay his respects to the Third Young Master Fang.
This was Xue Han's third visit to offer condolences, so much so that even the gatekeeper in charge of recording the guests was moved, thinking to himself that this Imperial Envoy was truly a respectable person. Even if the Prime Minister and Eunuch Xue had a good relationship, this was still too polite.
Therefore, guests who usually come to offer condolences only bring one or two servants, but Xue Han brought four without arousing the suspicion of the gatekeeper.
Xue Han, familiar with the custom, offered incense to the Third Young Master Fang. When he left the courtyard where the coffin was being laid to rest, no one saw him off. This was not impolite; rather, countless people had come to pay their respects that day, and if everyone saw him off, the people from the Prime Minister's residence would have nothing else to do.
Xue Han quickened his pace. As he passed the Nine-fold Pavilion where he had met Qiu Heng, he remembered what Qiu Heng had said yesterday: Fang Xiang's study was not far from that pavilion...
Upon arriving at the study, Xue Han was stopped by the gatekeeper: "This is the Prime Minister's study, a very important place. You are not allowed to enter without the Prime Minister's permission. Who are you, and how did you get here?"
"The Imperial City Guard is handling this case." Xue Han raised his token and strode inside.
"stop!"
"The Imperial City Guard has received a secret report that spies have infiltrated the Prime Minister's residence. Are you going to obstruct the Imperial City Guard's search?"
"Even the Imperial City Guard cannot trespass on the Prime Minister's residence—"
Before the gatekeeper could finish speaking, Xue Han chopped him unconscious with a chop to the neck, leaving an expression of disbelief on his face as he passed out.
There was another person guarding the study. Hearing the commotion, he came out and hurriedly shouted, "Someone has broken into the study! Help!"
"Stop the people from the Prime Minister's residence." After instructing Hu Si, Xue Han strode over and kicked open the study door.
The layout of the study that Qiu Heng had described in detail came to mind, and it was exactly the same as what was in front of him. This made him not hesitate at all and head straight for the plum blossom and rock painting hanging on the wall.
Behind me, footsteps, shouts, and the sounds of fighting...
Xue Han knew very well that this matter needed to be done quickly, so quickly that Prime Minister Fang didn't receive the news and the people in the Prime Minister's residence didn't have time to react.
Only by obtaining physical evidence of Fang Xiang's collusion with the Qi people can he allow his men outside to enter the Prime Minister's residence. This means he must obtain the evidence before his own side is surrounded by the Prime Minister's many guards.
Pushing aside the plum blossom and rock painting, and pressing the mechanisms in sequence, the entrance to the secret chamber was revealed. Xue Han stepped into the secret chamber and quickly looked around.
The room was small, with bookshelves against three walls.
Xue Han quickly flipped through the letters, not even glancing at those exchanged with his colleagues. As the noise outside grew louder, he finally found a few letters.
Correspondence with the people of Qi!
"Sir, we can't hold on any longer!" Hu Si's voice came.
Xue Han shoved the letter into his robes and shouted, "Send a smoke signal!"
With these letters, even if the secret accounts aren't found, Fang Xiang won't be able to escape.
The smoke signal burst open in mid-air, and the imperial guards who received the signal quickly rushed into the Prime Minister's residence.
In the garden, Qiu Heng met Fang Rui.
Actually, Fang Rui had someone keep an eye on Madam Yang's side, and she came over specifically because she knew Qiu Heng had come to the garden.
"Some people are such sycophants, shamelessly trying to sneak into the Prime Minister's residence."
Qiu Heng smiled and said, "Your mother invited me here."
“My mother is bewitched by you! If she knew you had only been home for a day and were already eager to meet with another man, she would be disgusted.”
"Miss Fang sent someone to keep an eye on me?"
After talking things out with Xue Han yesterday, Xue Han reminded her that someone from the Prime Minister's residence was watching her; it turned out that Fang Rui had arranged it.
“You bewitched my mother, so what if I have people keeping an eye on you? If we don’t keep an eye on you, how will we know how frivolous you are?”
Qiu Heng was amused by this explanation.
"why are you laughing?"
"I'm laughing at you. Does Miss Fang really think that your mother kept me by her side because I'm dignified and composed?"
"Then tell me why? Do you dare to say it?"
Suddenly, a loud bang was heard, and Fang Rui looked up at the smoke that exploded in mid-air, her eyes filled with confusion.
What's this?
Qiu Heng also looked up at the sky, a smile playing on her lips.
Xue Han really came, barging into the Prime Minister's residence as he had said yesterday.
In this way, he would have no way to make amends with the treacherous minister, and she could truly entrust the account books to him with peace of mind.
As the imperial guards entered the Prime Minister's residence and clashed with the residence's protectors, the commotion became so great that it could be heard in all the other courtyards.
Fang Rui listened intently and murmured to herself, "What's that sound?"
Qiu Heng lifted her skirt and ran towards the direction of the study.
"Qiu Liu, where are you going?" Fang Rui demanded.
Qiu Heng didn't mind answering her, "Go see what happened."
Fang Rui sensed something serious had happened and hurriedly followed.
Xue Han had already left the study by then.
The secret ledger wasn't found, but there were letters between Fang Xiang and Northern Qi, as well as witnesses from Qi people who had already been arrested. We can bring this matter to the Emperor's attention now.
Taking the initiative is the most important thing.
"The Imperial City Guard is arresting spies. Are you trying to rebel?" Hu Si shouted, stepping on an injured guard from the Prime Minister's residence and raising his knife.
Although Fang Xiang wielded immense power, the guards in the civil officials' residences could not compare to the elite troops of the Imperial City Guard. Despite having a large number of guards, apart from a very few trusted confidants who resisted fiercely, the others couldn't help but back down upon hearing the accusations of rebellion.
Qiu Heng ran over and spotted Xue Han at a glance, but instead of going up to him immediately, she chased after him to the outside of the Prime Minister's residence.
"Xue Han!"
The young man, who was about to mount his horse, turned around and looked at the girl running towards him, lifting her skirt, somewhat surprised.
This was not among the matters discussed yesterday.
In the blink of an eye, Qiu Heng was already close by, and she stumbled and fell towards Xue Han.
Xue Han reached out to support her, and immediately noticed something being slipped into his sleeve.
"The ledger." Qiu Heng uttered these two words softly, then stepped back and silently told him, "Go quickly."
Xue Han mounted his horse and headed straight for the imperial city.
It turns out that Ah Heng was wary of him.
The boy, who was thinking this way, was not angry, but rather wanted to laugh.
Judging from the cunning of that little thief in his several encounters with him, it was indeed Ah Heng's style.
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