Chapter 359: A Certain Big Shot in the Capital

Chen Hong shot Cui Yingyuan a deep look and said, "This matter, I won't keep pressing you about. Whether it's clear or not, you know the truth in your own heart. Get the job done properly from here on, and this matter will be over and done with."

"Yes, Eunuch." Cui Yingyuan did not argue further but simply accepted the order.

"Alright, go on." Chen Hong waved his hand, signaling that Cui Yingyuan could leave.

Cui Yingyuan turned and walked out. Glancing at the subordinates who had come with him, he asked directly, "Zhao Chunqiu, where is Lord Xu Xianchun?"

"He just left, heading toward the Embroidered Uniform Guard's side." Zhao Chunqiu answered hastily.

"Then let's go too." Cui Yingyuan nodded and said.

After saying this, Cui Yingyuan led his men back as well.

Returning to the Embroidered Uniform Guard's headquarters, Cui Yingyuan found Xu Xianchun at the first opportunity.

Watching Cui Yingyuan walk in from outside, Xu Xianchun said slowly, "You're the one managing the Embroidered Uniform Guard's affairs now."

"Acting in charge." Cui Yingyuan said slowly, "This subordinate came to ask—how did things come to be like this? Is there still any chance of a turnaround? Is there anything this subordinate can do for you, my lord?"

Cui Yingyuan kept his posture extremely low, just as he had treated Xu Xianchun before.

Xu Xianchun gave Cui Yingyuan a rather gratified look and said with a bitter smile, "At this point, nothing I say will make a difference."

"Don't ask about anything, and don't worry either. This matter has passed; it won't affect you. As for me, I can't stay on at the Embroidered Uniform Guard any longer. You do your job well."

"Why is my lord so lacking in confidence?" Cui Yingyuan said hurriedly. "No matter what mistake was made, as long as one earnestly makes amends, one can naturally regain His Majesty's trust. My lord was previously highly regarded by His Majesty—you must not give up so easily."

Turning his head to look at Cui Yingyuan, Xu Xianchun narrowed his eyes slightly and said slowly, "Then what do you think should be done?"

"Where you stumbled, that's where you stand back up." Cui Yingyuan remained deferential in manner, a smile on his face as he said, "If it's inconvenient for my lord, that's no problem—my lord can tell this subordinate the matter, and this subordinate will handle it. I absolutely won't let my lord down."

After a long silence, Xu Xianchun let out a soft sigh and said with some helplessness, "I originally thought you were different. I never expected that people are all the same."

"My lord, that's not quite right. This subordinate is deeply grateful to my lord. If not for my lord, this subordinate would not be where he is today. Naturally, this subordinate would never do anything to harm my lord."

"But there is one thing this subordinate must make clear to my lord." Cui Yingyuan slowly rose to his feet, the smile on his face vanishing as he said directly, "And that is—the way this subordinate served my lord before is exactly how I will serve my lord in the future. That will not change."

"It's just that seeing my lord fallen to this state makes this subordinate very curious—who exactly was it that brought my lord down? As long as my lord tells this subordinate that person's name, my lord can return home with peace of mind. If the road is not smooth, this subordinate can even send men to escort you, ensuring my lord arrives home safely."

Xu Xianchun understood in his heart—everything Cui Yingyuan said was nothing but crap.

What did he mean, serving him as before? In the past, not a single person would have dared speak to him like this.

Put plainly, it was a tiger fallen to the plains being bullied by dogs.

Xu Xianchun's face flushed red in an instant. After a long moment, he slumped dejectedly back into his chair.

At this very moment, Xu Xianchun felt overwhelming regret. The feeling was like ants gnawing and tearing at his heart and lungs, hollowing him out from within.

The feeling of having no power was simply unbearable. This sensation of being at others' mercy was truly intolerable.

After a long while, Xu Xianchun could only let out a helpless sigh. Looking at Cui Yingyuan, he said slowly, "Why do you want to know? This isn't something His Majesty ordered you to investigate, is it?"

"Of course His Majesty didn't order this subordinate to investigate." Cui Yingyuan didn't hide it and said directly, "In this subordinate's eyes, my lord has always been shrewd and wise. You would never make such a mistake, never accept someone's money at a time like this."

"My lord does love money, but you would never do something this foolish for it. There must be inside information here. His Majesty may not need to know, but this subordinate absolutely must."

"Because next, this subordinate will be doing what my lord left unfinished. If they use such tricks against this subordinate, what then? Besides that, this subordinate is genuinely curious—what exactly drove my lord to do such a thing?"

Xu Xianchun looked at Cui Yingyuan, nodded with a smile, and said, "I suspect there's one more reason—you need to report to the palace, or rather, offer a pledge of loyalty to Chen Hong."

"My lord is indeed my lord—you could even see through that." Cui Yingyuan smiled, his tone carrying admiration and emotion as he said, "That makes this subordinate even more curious. Who exactly, and what exactly, led my lord down this path?"

Cui Yingyuan's words were simple—he truly did want a pledge of loyalty. After all, he was only acting in charge of the Embroidered Uniform Guard now. Whether he could secure the position was still up in the air.

Now that Xu Xianchun had stirred up such a mess, if he couldn't investigate it—or didn't investigate it—people would think he was colluding with his predecessor.

Before he left, Chen Hong had already warned him. Though Chen Hong's words had been spoken casually, he dared not take them casually. Chen Hong's remarks made it clear that he was to sever ties with Xu Xianchun. If he didn't show some sincerity, it would no longer be a question of whether he could take over the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Under such circumstances, Cui Yingyuan naturally knew what to do. Besides, the two reasons he'd given earlier weren't false—the people who could make Xu Xianchun capsize in a ditch might well do the same to him someday. He had to be careful.

Xu Xianchun glanced at Cui Yingyuan and said, "Impressive! It seems I never valued you enough before."

"My lord, there's no need for such words." Cui Yingyuan shook his head and said, "In truth, we should both be grateful—grateful that it's this subordinate who's taken over the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Otherwise, my lord might not be sitting here talking right now."

"And as my lord's trusted man, this subordinate's fate would hardly have been better. Speaking of which, this subordinate is rather disappointed in you. You don't represent just yourself—you represent all of us Embroidered Uniform Guard brothers who supported you. When you did such a thing, did you ever think of us?"

Hearing this, Xu Xianchun couldn't help but show a look of shame. Finally, he said with some helplessness, "Don't ask about the reason for this matter. I won't tell you either. As for what you're worried about, you can put it to rest."

"Go back and do your work well. As long as you get things done, your position will be secure. Those grain merchants—arrest those who should be arrested, kill those who should be killed—and naturally there won't be any problems. You're right. This time, I've let everyone down. Do your job well, and don't follow my old path."

After saying this, Xu Xianchun sighed, turned, and walked toward the back.

Cui Yingyuan watched Xu Xianchun's retreating figure with furrowed brows. Though he very much wanted to keep him there and get to the bottom of it, if the man wouldn't talk, there was nothing he could do.

Under such circumstances, Cui Yingyuan could only watch Xu Xianchun leave. After all, Xu Xianchun hadn't been thrown into prison, so he couldn't interrogate him.

Letting out a soft sigh, Cui Yingyuan also turned and walked outside.

Since he couldn't get a clear answer and Xu Xianchun wouldn't talk, then he would investigate on his own.

He refused to believe that with the Embroidered Uniform Guard's methods, he couldn't dig up some trace or clue.

Meanwhile, at Zhu Youxiao's residence.

Zhu Youxiao was drinking tea.

Kneeling beside Zhu Youxiao was a man—not Chen Hong, but a middle-aged man in his forties, with a gaunt, clean-shaven face and a thin mustache.

Judging by his dress, he appeared to be a merchant.

Zhu Youxiao set down his teacup and said expressionlessly, "You've investigated thoroughly?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, it has been investigated thoroughly." The middle-aged man answered quickly.

"Then let's hear it." Zhu Youxiao looked at the middle-aged man and said.

"Yes, Your Majesty." The middle-aged man hurriedly acknowledged and said, "The specific situation has little to do with Jining itself—it should be news that came from the capital. The capital has also sent people to investigate, and it seems to be connected to Lord Xu's household."

"Household?" Zhu Youxiao furrowed his brow and looked at the middle-aged man, asking, "What connection?"

After all, Xu Xianchun's family was no ordinary one.

His grandfather had been an Imperial Son-in-law, which meant his grandmother was a Princess—making him a relative of the imperial clan. From what Zhu Youxiao knew of Xu Xianchun, this matter was clearly not a case of someone bribing him with money.

If mere money could have bought him, then Xu Xianchun would have been far too simple. And if it were threats, those probably wouldn't have had much effect either.

Though Zhu Youxiao had promised Xu Xianchun he wouldn't investigate, that was only on the surface. Unless he got to the bottom of this matter, Zhu Youxiao would not rest easy.

Hearing now that the problem was in Xu Xianchun's own household, Zhu Youxiao could roughly understand what was going on.

It was likely that something had happened in the capital.

"To answer Your Majesty, it seems Lord Xu's son has gotten himself into some trouble—someone is holding leverage over him," the middle-aged man said. "We don't yet have word on who exactly it is; we're still investigating. But from the looks of things, whoever made this move is someone of considerable standing."

"Someone of considerable standing?" Hearing this, Zhu Youxiao laughed to himself.

Only, the laughter carried a heavy note of mockery—and more than that, a deep chill.

Clearly, someone had taken issue with what was happening in Shandong, or perhaps feared being implicated.

Now that was rather interesting.

Under such circumstances, they still dared to reach out their hand?

It seemed this "person of considerable standing" was entangled deeply—being able to force Xu Xianchun to seek a way out meant they must have seized some very serious leverage over him.

If it was Xu Xianchun's son, then it was likely his son who had been caught with something.

The key point was that this person's identity was probably not ordinary—if it were an ordinary person, Xu Xianchun wouldn't hesitate so much and would simply have people arrested directly.

Framing my son?

I'll have you arrested and killed—then no matter how you want to frame him, it won't do you any good.

As things stood, Xu Xianchun clearly didn't dare touch this person and could only seek a settlement through such means.

In other words, the other party's identity was special.