107: Yaksha and the Powerful Minister (Part 1)

The turmoil in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang region seemed to have subsided following Zhang Jiawen's final departure to the Northern Border.

Of course, it only appeared to have subsided; at least, no one believed that this matter had truly ended.

By now, most of the officials in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang region had been replaced, and even the position of Provincial Administration Commissioner was temporarily vacant, just waiting for The Emperor to decide whom to appoint.

"The affair in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang region has caused quite a stir..."

"It would be one thing for Minister Shen to go, but even Marquis Yongding, who is currently most favored by The Emperor, has gone."

"Tsk, Grand Chancellor is currently keeping his doors closed and not attending morning court. What are we supposed to do about this?"

After the morning court, officials left in twos and threes, whispering to each other about the matters concerning the Jiangsu and Zhejiang region and Grand Chancellor Zhou.

"With the Special Imperial Examination approaching, Grand Chancellor is ignoring it entirely, and Marquis Yongding has recommended his colleague from the Pacification Bureau, Tang Jingzhong."

One of the officials said this with considerable dissatisfaction and disdain.

"This is truly an attempt to apply the methods of the Pacification Bureau to the imperial court; even a Clerk can be promoted!"

"Say no more. Grand Secretary Ning holds him in high regard, and the two princes are personally escorting and protecting him."

Another official clicked his tongue.

"The Emperor has overridden all objections. Over at the Pacification Bureau, Zhao Jiguang is doing nothing, and now Fang Wenbo is leading men to assist with this Special Imperial Examination. I fear they will soon select a batch of young talents, and it's uncertain whether we can even keep our own official hats!"

"What is there to fear? Even if they are selected, they are just a bunch of wet-behind-the-ears brats; it's hard to say if they can even hold their positions!"

The previous official sneered.

"I refuse to believe that with so many officials in this imperial court, a single Special Imperial Examination could replace them all!"

While these officials talked amongst themselves, every one of them was inwardly anxious.

Among these people, many had more or less ties to Zhou Chutian. Now that The Emperor was clearly intent on stripping him of his power, when the city gates catch fire, the fish in the moat suffer—not to mention that these people were hardly innocent.

Memorials from the Jiangsu and Zhejiang region were handled in the imperial court every day; The Emperor was deliberately telling these officials that the present of the officials in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang region might well be their own future.

"Is Father being too hasty in doing this?"

Luo Yongze pulled his younger brother, Luo Yongfu, away from the other officials and hid under the palace wall.

Watching the whispering officials, Luo Yongze couldn't help but frown: "Although Father and that Old Scoundrel are now on the verge of drawing swords, there is no need to be so hasty, is there?"

"There is no other way. That old fellow has completely holed up, refusing to take the bait or attend court, yet behind the scenes, he is not resting for a moment."

Luo Yongfu was also quite helpless.

"No matter how much of a fuss you make, he just acts as if he can't see or hear it, neither fighting nor contending with you, while busy behind the scenes. And he happens to have that Old Daoist Priest in his residence—a ruthless person whom our two sisters haven't managed to kill after so long. Tsk, difficult to deal with, truly difficult."

"The old fellow isn't moving, and if Father continues like this, I fear those officials will be afraid of being implicated, causing turmoil in the imperial court."

Luo Yongze said with some worry.

"I say, Big Brother, should we give Father a reminder?"

"Don't be foolish. Do you think Father would do anything without consulting Grand Secretary Ning?"

Luo Yongfu shook his head.

"We should just focus on handling the tasks Father has entrusted to us; don't ask about anything else. Since Father is doing this, he must have his reasons."

"But with things as they are, these people will inevitably start harboring thoughts. I'm afraid of trouble arising from within; these people only respect that Old Scoundrel..."

"Second Brother, the moment you said those words, that actually became the problem."

Luo Yongfu waved his hand to interrupt his brother.

"These people—if they didn't only respect that Old Scoundrel, the matter in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang region wouldn't have required Granduncle to take on the concurrent duties of the Ministry of War and also go to the Two Jiangs to serve as Governor-General."

"Tsk, if you ask me, we might as well discuss it with our two sisters. In any case, Brother-in-law has been ennobled as a Marquis; wouldn't it be better for him to leave the Pacification Bureau and become an official in the court?"

Luo Yongze complained with some dissatisfaction.

"Brother-in-law's abilities aren't bad; he is capable in both civil and military matters..."

"Forget it. If that were really an option, would you need to be talking about it here?"

Luo Yongfu kicked him.

"Besides, do you dare to say it? If you have the guts, you go, and you can sit on the throne too!"

"You're talking absolute nonsense. If I dared, would I be talking behind your back?"

Luo Yongze looked unconvinced.

"Besides, what the hell does this have to do with me inheriting the throne? Can you stop trying to insert that every chance you get?"

"Less nonsense; it's the same thing!"

"It's the same thing my ass! You are the legitimate eldest son, yet every day you think about retiring to go fishing. Big Brother, you are in your twenties, not your eighties; what are you retiring from?"

After the brothers traded a few insults, Luo Yongfu waved his hand: "Alright, alright, why talk about that? What we should be worried about now is our Brother-in-law. Good heavens, I underestimated Brother-in-law in the past; I just knew that anyone who could get together with our two sisters couldn't be a normal person."

"Stop talking, mobilize the troops!"

Luo Yongze rolled his eyes.

"Heaven knows what kind of madness our good Brother-in-law has caught. He hasn't been back in the capital for two days, and he directly sent a note to that Old Scoundrel asking to meet, and then... that Old Scoundrel actually agreed?"

"When these two get together, I don't know what will happen."

Luo Yongfu took off his official cap and smoothed his hair.

"He even returned to the capital with the Grand Empress Dowager. My wife went to the palace to pay her respects yesterday, and I had her sound out the situation. Guess what?"

"What else could it be? It's not like my sister-in-law went to the palace; my wife went too, right?"

Luo Yongze felt his forehead throbbing at this point.

"By now, those two have probably already met. Brother-in-law is capable of killing people in the middle of the street; I'm just afraid he won't..."

"That he wouldn't do; but I'm afraid that if he doesn't kill, it will be even more troublesome..."

Luo Yongfu's lamentations were something Mo Yingqi likely couldn't hear, and Zhou Chutian, sitting across from him at this moment, couldn't hear either.

"My apologies, Chief Mo..."

Zhou Chutian looked him up and down.

"No, that's not right. Should I address you as Centurion now? Or perhaps I should call you Marquis Mo; would that be more appropriate?"

"It doesn't matter; you can address me however you wish."

Mo Yingqi was wearing the black official uniform of a Centurion, his left hand pressing on his sword.

"It is you, Grand Chancellor, who surprises me. Knowing about my affair with Zhang Jiawen, you still came so calmly. Are you really not afraid that I... might kill you?"

The two were sitting in a pavilion on the outskirts of the capital.

Behind Mo Yingqi were a dozen or so Flying Fish Guards, while Zhou Chutian had brought no one else besides a few servants.

"Ha, Marquis, you joke. Not to mention that killing the current Grand Secretary in broad daylight is something you wouldn't do, even if you really did it, while I might deserve to die... I shouldn't die at this time."

Zhou Chutian picked up the teacup on the stone table and took a sip, then couldn't help but lick his lips: "Good tea, top-quality Yuqian Longjing; the taste is not bad."

Mo Yingqi's left hand suddenly gripped his japanese sword tightly, but suddenly, a sharp gaze, as if it had substance, was projected over.

Sensing the other party's intense killing intent, Mo Yingqi instinctively raised his head. On a rock not far away, the Old Daoist Priest was sitting cross-legged.

Just from that warning, Mo Yingqi could clearly perceive that even with the elites of the Flying Fish Guard behind him, he was likely no match for this Daoist priest!

"So, Marquis, can we begin now?"

Zhou Chutian set down the teacup and with a snap, opened the folding fan in his hand and waved it.

"You didn't come here just to treat me to tea, or to kill me, did you, Marquis?"

"Or perhaps you, Marquis, have an interest in trading blows with the Daoist priest? In that case, I can accommodate you."