Chapter 260: The Prince of Fu's Rebellion

Chen Sihai glanced back at the eunuch Li who had been beaten, then turned to look at Xu Xianchun, his expression unchanged.

He had figured it out now—this Xu Xianchun was the blade His Majesty had arranged for him, but Xu Xianchun's performance was beyond what he had expected.

This man truly had no scruples, struck hard and ruthlessly, and dared to act.

This man was clearly about to rise.

Eunuch Li was beaten black and blue. At this moment, Xu Xianchun walked up to him, looked at him expressionlessly, and said, "Was it that you failed to report to the Prince of Fu, or that the Prince of Fu refused to see us?"

One had to understand—this was a critical question.

If Eunuch Li had failed to report to the Prince of Fu, then he was merely a eunuch stirring up trouble; if the Prince of Fu refused to see them, that was another matter entirely, and the way of handling it would be completely different.

Although Eunuch Li had been beaten, he still craned his neck stubbornly and said, "This is the Prince of Fu's residence! How dare you strike me! A pack of nobodies like you want to see His Highness?!"

Seeing that Eunuch Li would not answer his question, Xu Xianchun straightened up directly, reached out, and gripped the embroidered spring saber at his waist.

Without a single word of nonsense, he slowly drew the blade from its sheath. Looking at Eunuch Li, Xu Xianchun said in a cold voice, "I will ask you once more: was it that you failed to report to His Highness, or that His Highness refused to see us?"

"Think carefully before you answer. If you still won't speak, I'll chop off one of your hands; afterward, I'll ask a second time. If you still won't speak, I'll cut off your head. I will never ask a third time."

Chen Sihai glanced at Xu Xianchun, his brow furrowing slightly. He did not think Xu Xianchun was merely trying to scare Eunuch Li.

One had to understand—at this moment, both sides had already come this far. If he said something and didn't follow through, then his words would be nothing but hot air.

This Xu Xianchun certainly wouldn't treat his own words as hot air. This time, His Majesty had sent him to Luoyang, and he was definitely going to seize the opportunity to distinguish himself.

Because Chen Sihai had already heard some news—that His Majesty was dissatisfied with Luo Sigong, the Guard Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and might dismiss him at any time. This Xu Xianchun might well be the man His Majesty had chosen.

This gave Chen Sihai some concern. Although he looked down on Luo Sigong, he wouldn't act the way this Xu Xianchun did.

This Xu Xianchun was vicious and ruthless, acting without any scruples. If he took the seat of Guard Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, it might not be a good thing.

Right now, there weren't many conflicts between the court and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but there was still Wei Zhongxian of the Eastern Depot. If a Guard Commander like this were added on top, many people's days would probably become difficult.

But Chen Sihai knew this was a matter for later. He would return to the capital and discuss it with his teacher.

Eunuch Li, looking at Xu Xianchun at this moment, finally began to tremble.

He too could see that the Embroidered Uniform Guard officer before him was not speaking falsely. If he still refused to speak, the man would first chop off his hand.

Eunuch Li hastily said, "It is His Highness who refuses to see you."

After saying these words, Eunuch Li's body instantly slumped in dejection. He knew he was finished now—even if he got through this safely, His Highness would not let him off.

A boundless regret surged up in his heart, but he also knew there was no other way. If he didn't speak, he truly would lose his life.

Xu Xianchun stood up and looked at Chen Sihai, an inquiring expression on his face.

In Xu Xianchun's view, his part was done. What remained was left for Chen Sihai to handle.

As for the Prince of Fu refusing to see them—that was the Prince of Fu's affair, and at the same time, it was a problem Chen Sihai needed to solve.

Chen Sihai's face still showed no expression, as if he hadn't taken the matter to heart at all.

He glanced at Eunuch Li and said, "Now go back in and report again. We will wait at the gate for the time it takes one stick of incense to burn. If the Prince of Fu still refuses to see us, we will go in ourselves."

Chen Sihai said these words very seriously, clearly not joking either.

"Alright, alright, I'll go right away." Hurriedly agreeing, Eunuch Li scrambled up from the ground, turned, and ran inside.

His steps were swift indeed—he didn't want to stay here a single moment longer.

Inside the Prince of Fu's residence.

The Prince of Fu was drinking.

Before him was a group of dancing household maidservants.

At this very moment, the Prince of Fu was very displeased.

In fact, he had never been satisfied with his life in Luoyang. One had to understand—back then, he had come within a hair's breadth of becoming the Crown Prince, of becoming the Emperor.

The man who had competed with him for the position of Crown Prince was already dead now, and the one who had become Emperor was actually that fool's idiot son.

This made the Prince of Fu very dissatisfied, and the frustration in his heart could well be imagined. So the Prince of Fu threw himself into amassing money and chasing women in Luoyang, venting his discontent.

When he heard that someone from the capital wanted to see him, the Prince of Fu dismissed them outright. He didn't think anyone from the capital was qualified to see him, and at the same time, he felt that his little emperor nephew didn't dare do anything to him.

Back then, hadn't his foolish elder brother hated him to death?

But the Great Ming Dynasty was also a place with rules. As long as he, a feudal prince, kept to his place and behaved himself, there would be no problem at all—he wouldn't die, wouldn't lose his princedom, and no one dared do anything to him, a feudal prince.

Just at this moment, Eunuch Li ran in from outside. The moment he entered, he dropped to his knees with a thud and burst into loud sobs.

His voice trembling, he said, "Your Highness, Your Highness, those people are still outside. They said that if Your Highness refuses to see them, they will come in themselves, and they even gave me a beating."

Seeing Eunuch Li, the Prince of Fu was completely stunned.

What was going on here? They actually dared to strike someone from the Prince of Fu's residence?

At the same time, a surge of anger welled up in the Prince of Fu's heart. They dared to treat his people like this?

This Eunuch Li had followed him from the capital all those years ago, serving him devotedly all this time. No one but himself had ever dared to lay a hand on him. And now he had been beaten to such a state?

And what was more, they had said that if he refused to see them, they would come in themselves—utterly audacious, defying heaven itself!

The Prince of Fu, weighing over two hundred jin, abruptly stood up, slammed the table, and his rolls of fat trembled all over.

He said furiously, "These people have some nerve! Go, you go—have the residence guards block the gate, and tell them that this prince simply refuses to see them! Whoever it was that struck you, go and strike them back for this prince!"

Hearing these words, a gleam of excitement appeared in Eunuch Li's eyes. This was his chance—as long as he drove those people away, there would be nothing more on his account.

He hastily scrambled up from the ground and hurried out with quick steps, saying loudly, "This servant will go at once."

Outside the main gate of the Prince of Fu's residence, Xu Xianchun and Chen Sihai waited quietly.

When Xu Xianchun looked at Chen Sihai, there was more wariness in his gaze, along with a measure of disbelief. This was the first time he had seen a civil official like Chen Sihai.

One had to understand that Chen Sihai's conduct could absolutely be called reckless audacity.

"If His Highness refuses to see us, we'll go in ourselves." How domineering those words were!

But the key question was—where did this Chen Sihai get such confidence?

This was the Prince of Fu, after all. To breach the dignity of the prince's residence—he probably couldn't bear the consequences.

Xu Xianchun knew something of the current situation of the Office of Transmission. They weren't particularly well-liked. Once word of this truly spread back, some people would probably make trouble for them. Even if those people didn't genuinely want to help the Prince of Fu, they would still use these matters to make accusations.

Chen Sihai seemed completely oblivious to this, which made Xu Xianchun hesitate slightly—what backing did he have?

Just at that moment, a troop of men suddenly rushed out from inside the Prince Fu's manor, clearly recognizable at a glance as the manor's guards.

Although the scale of the manor's guard force had been repeatedly reduced over the years, there were still men on hand. Every one of them was outfitted as soldiers, and their equipment was very good as well.

Leading them was that battered and bruised Eunuch Li, who now seemed a completely different man from moments ago, having regained that same arrogant, overbearing air.

He raised his hand, pointing at Xu Xianchun and Chen Sihai, a smile spreading across his face.

But precisely because of this, he pulled at his wounds and winced in pain, baring his teeth.

"The Prince simply won't see you—what can you do about it?" Eunuch Li said through gritted teeth, then turned to the men behind him: "Go up and give them a beating! The Prince said as long as you don't beat them to death, it's fine."

Hearing Eunuch Li say this, Chen Sihai furrowed his brow.

Xu Xianchun, standing beside Chen Sihai, was also taken aback.

He hadn't expected Prince Fu to be so arrogant, to hold them in such contempt—this was practically courting death!

At this moment, Xu Xianchun grew excited.

He had to remember that he'd come mainly to assist, and naturally felt unwilling in his heart. Only, sometimes being unwilling didn't help—the assignment wasn't given to you, wasn't meant for you to handle, so you could only contentedly play the supporting role, with no other choice.

But now things were different. If the matter blew up, he would have his chance.

Yet before Xu Xianchun could do anything, Chen Sihai stepped forward.

Looking at the Prince Fu's men advancing slowly, he said calmly: "I am Chen Sihai, Assistant Director of the Inspection Bureau under the Office of Transmission, Rank 4A. His Majesty has decreed that anyone who attacks the Inspection Bureau of the Office of Transmission shall be beheaded as a public example, and all shall be tried for the crime of rebellion."

"If you dare to charge forward, every one of you will have your entire households executed. I'm putting these words down here today—if you want to try it, then come on up and test it."

The moment these words were spoken, those men instantly halted their steps.

They were indeed men of the manor, and ordinarily arrogant and domineering enough. But this was different now—the person they were to deal with was an official, and a civil official at that, come from the capital.

If the matter truly blew up, the Prince couldn't protect them.

At this time, Xu Xianchun also stepped forward, then said slowly: "I am Xu Xianchun, Deputy Guard Commander of the Northern Town Administration of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Are you trying to rebel? Put down your swords and spears at once, or you will be killed without mercy."

Following his words, the Embroidered Uniform Guards behind him abruptly drew the blades at their waists. They wore a murderous look, ready to kill at any moment.

The atmosphere instantly became tense, swords drawn and bows bent.

Chen Sihai looked at the men before him and said slowly: "If you don't put down your weapons now, I can conclude that this is Prince Fu instigating rebellion. I will immediately mobilize the troops of Henan Prefecture and raze Prince Fu's manor to the ground."

At this moment, Chen Sihai wasn't just saying this—he truly meant it.

After all, this time he had come to topple Prince Fu, so however it was done didn't matter. If Prince Fu truly dared to make a move, that would be rebellion, and things would actually become simpler—just handle it as rebellion directly.

Mobilize the army to suppress the revolt directly, and once Prince Fu's manor was razed to the ground, nothing else would matter.

As for what would become of him afterward, Chen Sihai cast it from his mind.

If this matter wasn't accomplished this time, he was finished anyway; if it was accomplished, even if he faced punishment, he wouldn't die. By then his reputation would certainly be very high, and losing his post would be no great loss.

Xu Xianchun glanced at Chen Sihai, feeling he ought to learn something from the man.

Look at that audacity—directly branding Prince Fu as a rebel.

"You dare to make a move? Try it!" At this moment, a group of people suddenly rushed in from outside the crowd.

Leading them was none other than Chen Qiyu, the County Magistrate of Luoyang.

He came before Chen Sihai and the others, bowed, and said: "Your subordinate Chen Qiyu, County Magistrate of Luoyang, pays respects to the two gentlemen. Might I ask if you have any orders?"

Chen Sihai glanced at Chen Qiyu, not having expected the man to come. This Chen Qiyu was quite good as well.

Chen Sihai said directly: "You've arrived just in time. Prince Fu's manor has defied the majesty of Heaven, refused to allow us entry, and even sought to attack us with armed men—this is an act of rebellion."

"Prince Fu rebels, wreaking havoc in Henan, and the people live in fear. Go at once to deliver word to the Henan Guard Commander, and have him bring men immediately to suppress the revolt."

"Yes, sir." Chen Qiyu hastily acknowledged.

This thoroughly terrified Eunuch Li, who stood at the doorway, and the men behind him were even more panic-stricken.

How had it become rebellion?

How had it come to summoning troops to suppress a revolt?

Making such a scene meant it was all over!

Xu Xianchun glanced at Chen Sihai, then at Chen Qiyu, stepped forward, and declared loudly: "Put down your swords and spears, or you will all be tried for the crime of rebellion."

The men standing on the steps looked around at one another, until one cowardly fellow was the first to set down his blade.

With someone taking the lead, the others naturally followed suit, clattering as they threw down their swords and knives.

Seeing this, Eunuch Li turned and fled back inside, running to inform the Prince.

The three of them—Chen Sihai and the others—exchanged glances, each feeling a sense of mutual admiration. The coordination was quite good.

But then their gazes parted—those who walked different paths couldn't travel together.

Eunuch Li scrambled and crawled his way into the hall, and saw that the dancers had already left, with the Prince sitting there drinking alone in melancholy.

He hastily said: "Your Highness! Something terrible has happened!"

"Those men said that if our people dared to make a move, they would declare that Your Highness has rebelled! Chen Qiyu, the County Magistrate of Luoyang, has also arrived, and that Chen Sihai fellow has sent Chen Qiyu to mobilize troops to suppress the revolt."

This time, Prince Fu was somewhat stunned.

Who was this?

Where had this reckless fool come from?

His face was black as the bottom of a pot, his heart pounding wildly, and for a moment he hesitated.

But this in turn calmed him down. He looked at Eunuch Li and asked: "Did that Chen Sihai really say that?"

"Yes, Your Highness. They also ordered the manor's men to lay down their weapons, or else they would be tried for the crime of rebellion."