Chapter 360: Xu Xianchun Is Struck by a Hidden Hand

Thinking of this, Zhu Youxiao smiled.

The middle-aged man knelt on the ground. Hearing Zhu Youxiao laugh like this, his expression did not change, but fear without limit had already arisen in his heart.

Though he did not know who had done this deed, the middle-aged man knew this matter would likely not end peacefully. Now that the Son of Heaven had set his sights on it, the fate of those people was easy to imagine.

"After you return, investigate thoroughly. You must determine what happened and who did it." Zhu Youxiao looked at the middle-aged man and said slowly, "If you encounter any obstruction, go to Wei Zhongxian and mobilize the Eastern Depot."

"Yes, Your Majesty." The middle-aged man quickly acknowledged, then asked, "May we start by working through Lord Xu's side?"

The simplest way to get to the bottom of this matter was to ask Xu Xianchun. As long as Xu Xianchun revealed that person, the matter could be investigated clearly without going around in circles or expending any effort at all.

Zhu Youxiao thought it over, nodded, and said, "What you say makes sense."

Making a move from the capital would indeed stir up too much commotion, and besides, he was not in the capital right now. If any disorder broke out, it would only cause trouble. After all, his business in Shandong was not yet finished, and it was not suitable to make any moves in the capital.

So it was better to investigate here. As long as Xu Xianchun was questioned, basically everything would become clear.

Thereupon Zhu Youxiao said, "Go to the Embroidered Uniform Guard and find Cui Yingyuan. The two of you will investigate this matter together, then come report to Us. Remember—do not let word leak out. Do you understand?"

"Rest assured, Your Majesty. Your servant understands." The middle-aged man quickly acknowledged.

"Go, then." Zhu Youxiao nodded and said.

After the middle-aged man had left, Zhu Youxiao stood up and stretched his limbs. Glancing at Chen Hong, who had just walked in, he said with a smile, "The affairs of this world truly twist and turn a hundred times, and the human heart is indeed the hardest thing to fathom."

"Your Majesty is a true dragon, the Son of Heaven. All demons and monsters cannot hide before Your Majesty." Chen Hong said hurriedly.

"I was merely expressing a thought—no need for flattery." Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and said, "The matter has been delegated, but keep an eye on how things actually develop. Don't let them stir up any trouble."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Chen Hong bowed in acknowledgment.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard compound.

Cui Yingyuan let out a helpless sigh.

The affairs of this world truly are hard to predict. In the past, he never imagined he could reach this point, could sit in this position.

When he had first received the news, besides trepidation, Cui Yingyuan's heart held even more surprise and joy. But after taking this seat, Cui Yingyuan knew matters would not be easy to handle.

First of all, there was the matter of Xu Xianchun. If he did not investigate this matter thoroughly, his position would likely not sit steady. But now Xu Xianchun would not say anything, and there was nothing he could do about it.

Just at this moment, a Chiliarch of the Embroidered Uniform Guard walked in from outside.

He came to Cui Yingyuan's side and said, "Sir, someone has arrived. His identity is unknown, but he carries the token of Eunuch Chen from the palace."

Hearing this, Cui Yingyuan hurriedly rose to his feet.

He had spent no short time in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and naturally knew this Eunuch Chen of the palace very well.

It could be said that this Eunuch Chen was the Embroidered Uniform Guard's greatest backer. Without his support, he could never have sat in his current position.

Hearing that Chen Hong had sent someone over, Cui Yingyuan naturally dared not be negligent. He quickly stood and said, "Come out with me."

Having said this, Cui Yingyuan walked outside.

When he reached the entrance, Cui Yingyuan saw the middle-aged man standing at the door.

Before Cui Yingyuan could speak, the middle-aged man took out a token and flashed it before him, saying, "Let's talk inside."

Having said this, the middle-aged man walked in first.

Cui Yingyuan felt no displeasure at the middle-aged man's attitude; instead, his heart grew several degrees more uneasy.

Such secrecy—this was probably no small matter.

He hurriedly followed the middle-aged man's steps inside.

The two quickly arrived at the second hall in the rear.

Cui Yingyuan directly instructed the Chiliarch under his command, "Stand guard outside. Don't let anyone disturb us."

"Yes, sir." The Chiliarch acknowledged, turned, and went out to stand guard.

After the man had left, Cui Yingyuan clasped his hands toward the middle-aged man and said, "May I ask how I should address you?"

"Zhao Chunqiu." The middle-aged man said expressionlessly.

Cui Yingyuan nodded.

The other party had only given a name, saying nothing else—not even his official rank. Cui Yingyuan did not mind this.

Cui Yingyuan asked, "May I ask what business Lord Zhao has in coming here?"

"To interrogate Xu Xianchun." Zhao Chunqiu said directly.

Hearing this, Cui Yingyuan was startled.

He had just been racking his brains over this very matter, never expecting a resolution to arrive so quickly. But this outcome did not make him happy—what the other party had said was "interrogate."

Clearly, under such circumstances, those two words meant a genuine interrogation.

"What, is there a problem?" Zhao Chunqiu looked at Cui Yingyuan with a furrowed brow and asked.

"Of course there's no problem." Cui Yingyuan quickly shook his head and said.

At a time like this, he dared not have any involvement with this matter. If the man before him came to think he was shielding Xu Xianchun, he would be finished.

"Then let's go." Zhao Chunqiu said directly.

Cui Yingyuan dared not ask more questions. He followed Zhao Chunqiu out and soon had Xu Xianchun escorted into the prison.

After entering the prison, Xu Xianchun's face was full of bitterness.

Zhao Chunqiu wasted no words. Looking at Xu Xianchun, he said directly, "Lord Xu, I'm sure you already know the purpose of my visit."

"His Majesty has pardoned your crimes, but there are still some matters that must be clarified. As long as you confess everything clearly, this affair will be considered settled."

"If you refuse to speak, this matter will not pass. Not only you—your family will be implicated as well. Do not harbor any illusions of luck. You should know the gravity of this matter."

Hearing this, Xu Xianchun felt helpless. He let out a soft sigh, raised his head to look at Zhao Chunqiu, and slowly asked, "How should I address this lord? Which yamen are you from?"

"Zhao Chunqiu." Zhao Chunqiu said, "As for which yamen I'm from, Lord Xu need not ask."

Walking expressionlessly to Xu Xianchun's side, Zhao Chunqiu continued, "There's no need for probing. Just tell the truth as soon as possible. I don't want to resort to force, nor do I want to do anything unpleasant. Since Lord Xu is of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, you should understand the methods."

Xu Xianchun nodded and said, "I understand."

"Actually, the matter isn't that difficult. In this city of Jining, there is a family surnamed Zhou. The money was sent by them, and everything was done at their bidding. If you want to make arrests, arrest that Zhou family."

Zhao Chunqiu glanced at Xu Xianchun and asked, "They said it and you believed them? From what I know, Lord Xu is probably not so easy to deal with."

"Even if they gave him some money, Lord Xu would not accept it so readily. Given how Lord Xu conducts himself on ordinary days, he would not fail to understand what such an act would mean."

"Moreover, Lord Xu is not a man blinded by greed. How could he do something so unwise? Lord Xu, you should understand what it is I intend to do, and you should also understand what it is I intend to ask. Still going around in circles here—that is hardly appropriate, is it?"

"This lord, it is not that I will not speak, but that I do not know." Xu Xianchun let out a helpless sigh and said, "As for why I yielded, the reason is also simple—I did it to protect my son. Since this lord has come to interrogate me, you should also understand that I have only one son."

"They kidnapped your son?" Zhao Chunqiu looked at Xu Xianchun, his tone carrying mockery as he said, "Lord Xu does not seem like a man who would yield so easily, does he? If they had kidnapped your son, wouldn't you have kidnapped their entire families in return?"

"My lord, of course they did not kidnap my son—rather, they framed my son." Xu Xianchun said helplessly, "My son was dragged into this case."

"How do you figure that?" Zhao Chunqiu frowned and asked, "From what I know, your son is in the capital right now, is he not? This case is in Shandong."

"Because a portion of the disaster relief grain was embezzled while still leaving the capital." Xu Xianchun sighed before continuing, "Not only the grain itself, but also a portion of the silver the court allocated for purchasing grain was embezzled as well."

"Quite a few people in the capital were involved in this matter, and my son was among them. They distributed the silver to many people in the capital, tasking them with purchasing grain. Regardless of the quality of the grain purchased, they accepted it all without question. In plain terms, they were just giving the silver away. Many people were greedy for the bargain, and so they naturally got dragged in."

"Although my family is related to the imperial house by marriage, our circumstances in recent years have not been very good. Ever since I became the Regional Military Commissioner of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, I have kept to my bounds, and our household expenses have not been particularly ample."

"My son was targeted by them. My son held a very large share in the capital. The Zhou family made it clear to me that they held evidence in their hands, and that there were people in the capital in league with them. As long as I arrested them, they would expose this matter."

"At that point, Your Majesty would certainly punish my son severely. If Your Majesty did not punish my son severely, then he certainly could not punish them severely either. Even if I went to beg Your Majesty, he would not let them go for the sake of my son. Once it became known that my son was involved, many people would certainly kick a man when he is down."

Having said this much, Xu Xianchun smiled bitterly and shook his head. "I failed to educate my son properly—I have nothing to say for myself. I have betrayed Your Majesty's trust in me. Even ten thousand deaths would not repay Xu Xianchun's debt."

After hearing this, Zhao Chunqiu nodded and said, "There is no more concealment at this point, is there?"

Xu Xianchun nodded and said, "Naturally, there is no more concealment."

"Good." Zhao Chunqiu said nothing more—only this single word—then turned and walked out.