Chapter 261: Sealing Off the Prince of Fu's Mansion

After a long silence, the Prince of Fu finally snapped back to reality.

At the same time, he realized something—these people really had come for him, and they truly dared to do this.

The Prince of Fu felt a chill of fear and involuntarily shuddered.

The capital was making a move against him.

That was the Prince of Fu's first reaction.

Clearly, the Prince of Fu had miscalculated—his imperial nephew, the Emperor, did have the guts to act.

But how dare he?

How could he dare to do this?

On one hand, it was disbelief; on the other, it was deep-seated terror.

Forcing his trembling heart to calm down, the Prince of Fu said slowly, "Let them in. I want to see just what exactly they intend to do!"

Eunuch Li was startled, then quickly replied, "Yes, Your Highness."

Eunuch Li had no idea what to do now—he was utterly at a loss. Upon hearing the Prince of Fu's order, he hurriedly turned and ran outside, not daring to hesitate in the slightest.

Outside the main gate of the Prince of Fu's mansion, Chen Sihai stood at the entrance, blocking the way out.

No one around dared to speak, not even daring to breathe too loudly.

The onlookers had long since retreated a good distance away. Though they had not yet dispersed, they were all holding their breath.

Everyone knew this matter was serious this time. They felt some fear in their hearts, but even more excitement.

Chen Qiyu, meanwhile, was stealing glances at Chen Sihai, sighing inwardly—this Lord Chen was truly extraordinary.

Chen Qiyu still remembered what he had said to him: the matter was in his hands.

He truly kept his word.

Before long, Eunuch Li came running back out and went straight up to Chen Sihai.

His earlier arrogance had vanished completely. He spoke in a respectful tone: "Lord Chen, His Highness invites you all inside."

Hearing Eunuch Li say this, Chen Qiyu breathed a sigh of relief.

Now that things had reached this point, if the Prince of Fu truly threw all decorum aside and made a scene, it would really be hard to bring matters to a close.

In fact, among the three leaders present, only Chen Qiyu thought this way.

Chen Sihai could not care less. No matter what the Prince of Fu chose, what he had to do, he would do regardless.

Xu Xianchun on the side was merely a bit disappointed—why had the Prince of Fu caved so quickly?

In Xu Xianchun's view, it would have been best if the Prince of Fu had stayed tough to the end, ideally resorting to force. Then the matter would have blown up, and his opportunity would have come. Unfortunately, the Prince of Fu was not as stupid as he had imagined.

Chen Sihai nodded and said, "Lead the way."

"Yes, my lord." Eunuch Li acknowledged and hurriedly turned to lead the way.

The group stepped into the Prince of Fu's mansion.

Of course, not everyone went in. Chen Sihai brought two men with him, and Xu Xianchun also brought two—they strode into the Prince of Fu's mansion with heads held high and chests puffed out.

Soon, Eunuch Li led Chen Sihai and the others to the main hall.

The Prince of Fu sat on his throne, his expression dark and terrifying. He watched the few men who entered with icy eyes, saying nothing, just staring at them silently.

Chen Sihai and the others walked to the center of the hall.

Chen Sihai bowed in salute and said, "Chen Sihai, Inspector of the Office of Transmission's Inspection Bureau, pays respects to Your Highness."

Xu Xianchun beside him also stepped forward quickly and said, "Xu Xianchun, Deputy Guard Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard's Northern Provost Office, pays respects to Your Highness."

The Prince of Fu looked at Chen Sihai and the others, remaining silent for a long while, nor did he bid them to rise.

He just stared at Chen Sihai and the others, clearly intending to make them stay bowed longer—this was his means of retaliation.

Chen Sihai frowned. He had not expected the Prince of Fu to resort to such petty tricks.

But Chen Sihai was not one to take such a loss lying down. Without even waiting for the Prince of Fu to speak, he straightened up on his own.

Xu Xianchun watched from the side, clicking his tongue in wonder—it seemed he had still underestimated this Lord Chen. His nerve was no ordinary thing.

After standing up straight, Chen Sihai said directly, "Your Highness, I have come on the Emperor's orders to Luoyang to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter of Liao Zhong, Prefect of Henan."

"Liao Zhong has already been taken into custody for corruption and bribery, and I have interrogated him. According to his confession, many matters implicate the princely mansion. I have come today to conduct a thorough investigation of this case. I hope Your Highness will hand over the offenders to me."

Chen Sihai's meaning was perfectly clear: I've come to arrest people—specifically, people in your mansion. What you need to do now is hand them over to me.

The Prince of Fu glared angrily at Chen Sihai. How dare he show this much disrespect toward this prince?

"Who exactly are you talking about?" the Prince of Fu said through gritted teeth.

Chen Sihai took a list from his bosom and said, "According to Liao Zhong's confession, these people are all on this list. Your Highness, please take a look."

At this moment, Eunuch Li hurried over, reached out to take the list from Chen Sihai's hand, then quickly walked to the Prince of Fu and presented the list to him with both hands.

Reaching out to take the list, the Prince of Fu gave it a quick glance.

There were indeed many names on it—some were stewards of the mansion, some were officials the court had assigned to the mansion. In all, more than twenty people of varying ranks.

If these people were arrested, the mansion would be paralyzed.

Moreover, most of the things he had done over the years had been carried out through these very people.

The Prince of Fu certainly did not believe they had come just to arrest these people.

Making such a huge commotion and treating him with such an attitude—clearly this was aimed at him.

If he let them take these people away, the next step would probably be coming for him.

The Prince of Fu did not believe that once these people fell into their hands, they would protect him and refuse to testify against him.

That was simply impossible, so these people could not be handed over.

So the Prince of Fu said, "I will have someone look into this. If the matter proves true, the people will naturally be handed over to you."

By then, these people would certainly be hidden away by him—you could search all you wanted and never find them.

The Prince of Fu sneered inwardly. If truly pushed to the wall, he would just kill them all. Then it would be their word against the dead, and what could you do about it?

Prince Fu had already made up his mind — he would not hand these people over.

Chen Sihai was not at all surprised by Prince Fu's reaction.

It would be a miracle if Prince Fu obediently handed the people over.

Chen Sihai stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Arresting people and trying cases is my duty, and Your Highness has no authority to interfere. Please have the people brought here and turned over to me."

Upon hearing this, Prince Fu glared and said, "Finding people takes time. Come back tomorrow!"

With that, he waved his sleeve, signaling them to leave.

Chen Sihai continued expressionlessly, "It's only a matter of finding a few people — why must it wait until tomorrow?"

"If Your Highness cannot find them yourself, or finds it inconvenient, then I can help. Men of the Embroidered Uniform Guard are waiting outside, and I trust they are capable of locating the people."

No matter what, Chen Sihai was not leaving today.

Matters had reached this point — Chen Sihai was determined to take these people away, whether Prince Fu liked it or not.

The list had already been shown to Prince Fu. If he left today, these people would never be found again.

Glaring at Chen Sihai, Prince Fu spoke again: "You wouldn't dare search the princely residence, would you?"

"Does Your Highness intend to defy the imperial decree?" Chen Sihai said loudly. "I am an imperial envoy personally appointed by His Majesty, ordered to investigate the case of the Prefect of Henan. No person involved may obstruct me without cause. This is His Majesty's sacred edict — does Your Highness truly intend to defy it?"

Anyone could play the accusation game!

Chen Sihai sneered inwardly. Prince Fu really did think too highly of himself.

When His Majesty does not wish to move against you, you are an exalted prince. We respect you because we respect imperial authority — any act of disrespect toward a prince is a provocation against the Emperor.

But if the Emperor wishes to move against you, then what are you?

Prince Fu stared at Chen Sihai with a dark face, fury surging in his heart. He wished he could call people in and have the two of them killed on the spot. But Prince Fu also knew he could not — doing so would be tantamount to rebellion.

Prince Fu might hold power and influence in Henan, but he also knew the source of that power. If he truly rebelled, everything would be finished.

When Prince Ning rebelled back in the day, he was formidable and fearsome — but what was the result?

He was suppressed in a very short time.

"Your Highness, I will say this one last time — does Your Highness intend to defy the imperial decree?" As he spoke, Chen Sihai stepped forward again, his gaze burning into Prince Fu, his expression already turning somewhat ferocious. One look made it clear he had steeled his resolve.

Xu Xianchun beside him wore a grim face as he too stepped forward.

Xu Xianchun understood even more clearly that Chen Sihai had no way back, and neither did he.

His Majesty had sent him to Luoyang this time precisely to test him. If he faltered, he would be finished. So no matter what reckless things Chen Sihai did, he had to follow.

Prince Fu gripped the armrest of his chair hard, veins bulging on his hands, his face twisting with fury.

But after a moment, Prince Fu released his grip in defeat and said, "Go and bring those people here."

These words were directed at Eunuch Li.

Eunuch Li on the side quickly acknowledged, "Yes, Your Highness. This servant will go at once."

With that, Eunuch Li turned and walked out.

But no sooner had Eunuch Li stepped outside than Xu Xianchun followed behind him.

Clearly, Xu Xianchun's purpose was plain — to keep Eunuch Li from pulling any tricks.

Both Chen Sihai and Xu Xianchun knew well that if they did not follow, these people would likely commit suicide out of fear of punishment.

If they let Eunuch Li go deliver a message, what he carried would not just be a message, but poison meant to take those people's lives.

After the two left, only Prince Fu and Chen Sihai remained in the main hall.

Prince Fu glanced at Chen Sihai and said with a cold laugh, "Does His Majesty want me dead?"

"If he wants me dead, why torment me like this?"

"Or is it simply to humiliate me — to avenge the late emperor?"

Hearing Prince Fu's words, Chen Sihai furrowed his brow.

This kind of rhetoric absolutely could not be allowed to spread, or it would damage the current Emperor's image.

Punishing Prince Fu for his crimes was politically correct — no one would object. But if the matter were twisted around to the late emperor, then His Majesty's reputation would inevitably suffer.

Whether something was done for public or private reasons made a great difference. Chen Sihai could not allow Prince Fu to speak this way, so he said, "This matter has nothing to do with His Majesty. I have come only because Your Highness is implicated in the case of Liao Zhong, the Prefect of Henan."

Prince Fu gave Chen Sihai a cold look and suddenly laughed. He stared at Chen Sihai and said, "Do you believe those words yourself?"

Though Chen Sihai knew Prince Fu would never accept his explanation, there were things he still had to say. So he continued, "Everything I do, I do with a clear conscience. All the criminals involved in this case — the witnesses and evidence are all in place. No matter who investigates, the result will be the same. Your Highness should set his mind at ease."

Prince Fu shot Chen Sihai a glare and said no more to him.

The meaning was clear — he had said all he intended to say, and anything further would be a waste of breath.

Neither of them spoke again, simply standing there in silence.

After a long wait, Xu Xianchun and Eunuch Li finally walked in from outside.

Xu Xianchun's face bore an excited look, while Eunuch Li wore an expression of grief and indignation, appearing angry but not daring to speak.

Xu Xianchun came to Chen Sihai's side and said respectfully, "Lord Chen, they have all been taken away."

Chen Sihai nodded and said to Xu Xianchun, "Have your men of the Embroidered Uniform Guard arrest all their family members and put them in the prison at the Prefect's yamen."

"Yes, my lord." Xu Xianchun quickly acknowledged.

Chen Sihai naturally had his reasons for doing this.

After all, once these people were arrested, their families became unpredictable variables — leaving them outside was far too dangerous.

Prince Fu could use them to threaten those who had been arrested, and could also use them to stir up even more trouble.

Under such circumstances, Chen Sihai could not allow them to remain at large, so he would simply have them arrested first.

Upon hearing this, Prince Fu's face darkened even further. He glared at Chen Sihai and Xu Xianchun and said furiously, "Are you trying to use their families to coerce them into slandering me?"

"You treacherous ministers — spreading rumors before His Majesty and driving a wedge between the imperial family. Your crimes are monstrous!"

Chen Sihai remained noncommittal in the face of Prince Fu's rage, his expression calm and unreadable.

He said slowly, "Since the matter is concluded, I shall take my leave."

After saying this, without even waiting for the Prince of Fu to respond, Chen Sihai turned and walked out.

Xu Xianchun hurriedly followed him, the two stepping out of the great hall one after the other.

The Prince of Fu, seated in his chair, his face dark and terrifying, suddenly hurled the teacup beside him to the ground, producing a sharp shattering sound.

Then the Prince of Fu slumped back into his chair, his entire being nearly drowned in fear.

"Why did it come to this?"

"How dare he do such a thing?"

The Prince of Fu sat in his chair, muttering to himself.

Having exited the Prince of Fu's residence one after the other, Chen Sihai finally let out a sigh of relief.

Things had reached this point and could be considered done. Once he returned and interrogated those people, the rest would no longer be his concern.

He glanced at Xu Xianchun and said, "Have your men surround the Prince of Fu's residence. From today onward, no one may enter or leave. If anything needs to be purchased, let the Embroidered Uniform Guard handle the buying."

Xu Xianchun was taken aback, then said hesitantly, "Sir, we have an imperial edict. If we seal off the Prince of Fu's residence on our own authority, won't we have trouble explaining ourselves?"