89: That day will come, perhaps very soon.

"Sit, Imperial Son-in-law."

Upon seeing Mo Yingqi, Shen Xian completely shed his usual stern authority, instead smiling like a kind elder: "On the day of the grand wedding, I, as your Granduncle, should have attended in person, but The Emperor favored me with a heavy responsibility here in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang region."

"Minister Shen, you are too kind." Mo Yingqi quickly stood up to bow. "If not for growing up with the two Princesses in my childhood, I fear this Imperial Son-in-law position would not be mine..."

"No need for such formalities. If you don't mind, you may address me as Granduncle, just as Yong'an and Yongning do." Shen Xian waved his hand. "Do not belittle yourself. Fate is determined by the heavens; Yong'an and Yongning like you, and you like them—that is enough. Everything else is just superficial and of no consequence."

"Minister Shen... Granduncle, is there a reason you asked to see me?" Mo Yingqi thought for a moment before asking directly. "If you are refraining from dealing with Zhang Jiawen because of me, there is really no need..."

"Pah, it is naturally not because of him." Shen Xian smiled. "I know what your relationship with him is like, and that you came here this time intending to personally handle his family. Now that Zhou Chutian is ignoring the Zhang Family, my eyes and ears in the capital have also informed me that he seems to be secretly contacting his Disciples..."

"That man... perhaps he is no longer even human... To be frank, I have lived for so many years and have seen many officials, both high and low, but him alone... I truly cannot fathom."

In truth, it was not just Shen Xian; Mo Yingqi, and even The Emperor himself, as well as the other Grand Chancellor, Ning Wuya, and others—no one could see through what Zhou Chutian was thinking.

He did not plot rebellion, nor did he relinquish power. Even though The Emperor was pressing him step by step, he remained indifferent. Though it appeared he was doing something, he allowed the Xu Family to collapse, and now he even ignored his own confidant and son-in-law, Zhang Jiawen.

"When soldiers come, block them; when water comes, earth covers it. Imperial Son-in-law, you need not worry about these things." Shen Xian's tone became much gentler. "I have ordered a meal to be prepared. Yong'an specifically instructed that you should not drink alcohol, so I have prepared good tea. Would you be willing to share a cup or two with me?"

"Granduncle, you are too kind. I am the junior, and this is only right." Mo Yingqi said respectfully. "Granduncle, there is a matter I would like to discuss with you..."

"Eat first, eat first." Shen Xian interrupted Mo Yingqi. "I know what you are thinking. Rest assured, now that you are Marquis Yongding, when the day comes to investigate Zhang Jiawen, I can arrange for you to join me. However, although The Emperor personally issued a decree to sever the kinship, the blood ties between you cannot be truly cut. Furthermore, since the two of you have personal grievances, you can only assist from the sidelines. The imperial court has its regulations, and there is nothing to be done about that."

"Yes, Granduncle."

Mo Yingqi understood this point, but Shen Xian changed the subject: "Assisting from the sidelines is true, but ultimately, dealing with him as a Provincial Administration Commissioner requires me, as the Governor-General, to personally oversee it. When the time comes, I will still hand full authority over to you to handle. I have heard that you are well-versed in the law and deeply understand the interrogation techniques of the Pacification Bureau. Although I have led troops in battle and assisted the late Emperor and The Emperor in governing, this aspect must be left to the professionals."

Mo Yingqi couldn't help but want to laugh, yet he also felt a warmth in his heart. He had heard before that the Shen Family was extremely protective of their own.

However, the Shen Family did not blindly favor their own. If their family members were innocent, they would naturally protect them with all their might. But if any of the Shen children committed crimes, they would not need the imperial court or the judicial authorities; the Shen Family would deal with them personally.

Of course, Nangong Wumeng, as well as the sisters Luo Yongan and Luo Yongning, were exceptions...

But setting aside these three inhuman individuals, the Shen Family was extremely strict in the upbringing of their children. Otherwise, the Shen Family would not have held the rank of Duke since the time of the Founding Emperor, and the late Emperor would not have personally inscribed a plaque for them—'A Family of Loyalty and Martyrdom.'

Protect when protection is needed, punish when punishment is due—the Shen Family had always been this way, which is why every generation of their children had been deeply trusted by The Emperor.

But if you bullied someone from the Shen Family, then I am sorry, the Shen Family would do everything within their power to ruin you. Moreover, the Shen Family had served in the military for generations; if a commander of troops is not ruthless, they would not only fail to kill the enemy, they would likely be unable to control their own soldiers.

Therefore, since Mo Yingqi wanted to deal with Zhang Jiawen, Shen Xian would naturally help. He was not afraid of Censor Officials causing trouble; now that the Jiangsu and Zhejiang region was held by the people he brought, the officials above and below were gradually being replaced according to The Emperor's will.

By the time it reached the capital, it would only be the result of the punishment. As for the Censorate... who the hell cares what they think!

"Granduncle, by doing this, do you not think... I am being too cold and ruthless?" Mo Yingqi asked cautiously. "After all, since the founding of the Daxing Dynasty, there has likely never been anyone like me who would personally send their own biological father to prison..."

"How could that be? Although you are doing this to vent personal grievances, Zhang Jiawen has brought this upon himself." Shen Xian said dismissively. "I will not say you are placing righteousness above family, only that you are not wrong. Even though he shares your blood, to you, he has become a festering sore. Regardless of whether you deal with him, or whether you have become an Imperial Son-in-law, even if you were just a commoner today, Zhang Jiawen would have no positive effect on your life."

"Not to mention what he has done in the past; it is understandable that you hate him and want to resolve this yourself. My elder brother also mentioned in his letter to me that you originally wanted to kill him, but failed, which is why you chose to join the Pacification Bureau."

As they spoke, they arrived at the living room, where steaming dishes were already set on a round table. Shen Xian gestured for Mo Yingqi to sit, then continued: "Although it has been said since ancient times that filial piety is the first of all virtues, I once warned Provincial Governor Zhang: only when a father is kind can a son be filial. He walked himself into a dead end, which is his own sin; it has nothing to do with you."

Hearing this, Mo Yingqi smiled helplessly: "Actually, I have always been very clear about this. If we are really talking about the root of this matter, that Grand Chancellor Zhou is the one who..."

At this point, Mo Yingqi's gaze turned cold for an instant. He was well aware that no matter what Zhang Jiawen did, he had already divorced his mother. After all, they had been husband and wife, and he was his biological son; Zhang Jiawen would not push him to the brink of death.

Those assassins were likely arranged by Zhou Chutian. The Mo Family was wealthy; although they were not part of the officialdom, if Mo Qingyu were to renege and cause a scene later, even if it could not threaten them, there was no need to waste their time on such a merchant family that they looked down upon.

Dead people cannot speak, nor can they cause trouble or make wild accusations.

Furthermore, this was not a small sum. Hundreds of thousands in silver had been spent, along with income from shops and fields. Even at the time, to show sincerity, Old Master Mo had given some prime land to Zhang Jiawen; if all these were added up, it would likely amount to over a million.

Although the Mo Family was wealthy, this was not a small amount. It is true that officials do not fight with the people, but at that time, the late Emperor and Grand Chancellor Zhou already had a rift. Although it would not harm him in the slightest, one could not guarantee that the late Emperor would not arrange for someone to use it as an excuse.

"I understand what you mean."

Shen Xian pointed to the crab on the table: "This crab tastes delicious, but to eat the meat and roe inside, one must carefully peel away the shell. Now, The Emperor is peeling away Zhou Chutian's shell bit by bit, which takes time..."

"But likewise, this day will come sooner or later, and it might be very soon. So, Imperial Son-in-law, do not be impatient. Some things... cannot be rushed."