Chapter 370: The Yang Bin Case (3)

The Son of Heaven's words stirred the thoughts of both men in the hall. Wang Zhang's eyes brightened slightly, as if seeing a glimmer of opportunity; Wang Jingchong's face showed nothing unusual, maintaining a respectful posture, the very picture of a loyal hound of the Son of Heaven.

"May I ask Your Majesty's intent?" Wang Zhang probed, addressing Liu Chengyou.

Liu Chengyou had clearly already made up his mind. Without hesitation, he looked at Wang Zhang and instructed: "Yang Bin was brought back in a prisoner's cart nearly a month ago, and this matter truly cannot be dragged out any longer. Yang Bin's status is special—I have racked my brains for a suitable interrogator without finding one. Now it occurs to me that I wish to entrust this matter to you, Minister Wang. Given your uprightness, I am certain you will uphold impartiality!"

The Son of Heaven's plan left Wang Zhang greatly astonished, and he could not help but speculate on his intentions. Still, the conflicted expression quickly flashed across his face as he cautiously accepted: "Your servant obeys the decree!"

"Vice Minister Wang is familiar with the full circumstances of this case—let him support you from the side in the interrogation!" Liu Chengyou then pointed to Wang Jingchong.

Upon hearing the order, Wang Jingchong immediately bowed and said: "Yes!"

"Ah, one more thing!" His eyes flickering, Liu Chengyou looked back at Wang Zhang, his tone somewhat stern: "Don't send two messengers for one task—as for the Yang family, have you, Minister Wang, convey this to them: they have been scurrying about the Eastern Capital these past days, greatly disturbing the people's hearts. Tell them to keep themselves in check!"

The two ministers withdrew. Seated behind his lofty imperial desk, Liu Chengyou stared at Wang Zhang's unusually aged retreating figure, his expression gradually tightening.

Though Wang Zhang's conduct today showed nothing amiss on the surface, Liu Chengyou was deeply displeased in his heart!

For a long time now, Wang Zhang had kept his distance from his fellow townsman Yang Bin—that had been during the period of the most intense conflict between Liu Chengyou and Yang Bin. At that time, in Liu Chengyou's eyes, Wang Zhang's actions were a move to draw closer to himself. Back then, Yang Bin held the reins of government and Wang Zhang controlled the finances; had the two continued to "collude as before," they would have caused Liu Chengyou far greater trouble, and his pace in seizing power would have been much slower.

Later, seeing Wang Zhang work diligently and conscientiously, braving rumors, disregarding his own reputation, devoting himself utterly to the state's interests and managing the Great Han's difficult finances, Liu Chengyou had come to feel admiration for him.

But at this moment, forgetting all of Wang Zhang's merits and toils, Liu Chengyou had only one thought: in the end, this is a man who is not of one heart with me...

Suppressing the slight displeasure in his heart, Liu Chengyou set aside his thoughts, picked up a stack of memorials from the desk, and leafed through them casually. The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, and a look of amusement gradually spread across his face.

These memorials shared one common feature: they were all impeachments from court officials great and small targeting Yang Bin's various "crimes." The court was never short of "shrewd men" who trimmed their sails to the wind. What was interesting was that among these men, quite a number were Yang Bin's former subordinates!

Originally, Liu Chengyou had harbored doubts about arresting Yang Bin, fearing it might throw the court into chaos. But after returning to the capital and carefully observing the ministers' reactions, his heart quickly settled. He had overestimated Yang Bin's influence. This was, after all, no age of peace and prosperity—in an era when military men held sway, how much weight could Yang Bin, a civil official, carry, even as a founding meritorious minister?

Raising a hand to pinch his slightly sore nose, Liu Chengyou now turned his thoughts to how to dispose of Yang Bin and how to wrap up this affair. No matter what, Yang Bin's case had already stirred up a political storm. He could afford to disregard what most people thought, but toward Wang Zhang, Guo Wei, and other Hedong veteran ministers who still held heavy power in the court, he could not help but tread carefully and placate them.

And Wang Zhang's performance just now had already served as a reminder!

Stepping out of Chongzheng Hall, Wang Zhang lingered for a moment before the hall, his pallid face wearing a gloomy expression.

Having perceived the Son of Heaven's intent, Wang Zhang's heart grew even heavier. A bitter arc curled at the corner of his mouth. Thinking of the Yang family's activities the Son of Heaven had mentioned—if Yang Bin had truly plotted rebellion, his entire household would surely have been rounded up in one net long ago.

And as for being made to interrogate Yang Bin, Wang Zhang did not feel this was doing him any favor...

"What is Chancellor thinking about?" Wang Jingchong's respectful voice sounded at his ear.

Turning his head, Wang Zhang saw Wang Jingchong wearing a fawning expression, which in his eyes carried a hint of sinister cunning. Not bothering to conceal his disgust, Wang Zhang said in a mocking tone: "I was thinking that Vice Minister Wang's loyalty is a rare thing in this world!"

His expression froze for a moment, the vicious glint in his eyes quickly concealed. Wang Jingchong lowered his head, pretending not to understand the meaning, and said: "The Chancellor flatters me—your subordinate truly does not deserve such praise. Bearing the sovereign's command, I naturally must fulfill my duties faithfully. Regarding the case of the rebel Yang Bin, should the Chancellor have any instructions, your subordinate will assist with all my strength and dare not be remiss!"

"Hmph!" Wang Zhang replied with only a cold snort, then swept his sleeves and departed.

Likewise, Wang Jingchong also gave a cold snort. After Wang Zhang had walked far away, he muttered darkly to himself: "The old bastard insults me. Yang Bin has already fallen—how much longer can you keep up your arrogance, heh heh heh..."

Southwest of the imperial city, near the offices of the Wude Office, lay the Great Han's imperial prison—a grim, forbidding place with tight security. Since Liu Chengyou had ascended the throne, he had devoted himself to lenient punishments and simplified governance. Kaifeng Prefecture had been constantly reviewing wrongful cases and clearing out the backlog, and the imperial prison was used even less frequently.

The vast prison was not as terrifying as its name suggested. The environment was not cold and damp, nor were there horrifying instruments of torture—it was merely quiet, so quiet it was suffocating and eerie.

As the prisoner who had held the highest office and greatest power before entering prison, Yang Bin enjoyed the tightest custody. Since entering this place, no outsider had been allowed to make contact with him.

The cell was not large, but it was clean and dry, with only a bit of mess. The walls were of bronze and iron, admitting little light. Yang Bin sat there in silence, his eye sockets deeply sunken, stubble sprouting wildly, his face haggard, his frame noticeably thinner than before. Clearly, though he had not suffered torture, life in prison was always hard to endure—especially for Chancellor Yang, who had once stood high above all and wielded great power.

The iron-plated cell door was opened with difficulty, and a few rays of not-so-bright sunlight leaked in like water. To Yang Bin, they were somewhat blinding; he instinctively raised a hand to shield his eyes and let them adjust, then saw Wang Zhang standing before the door in his official robes.

Noticing Wang Jingchong behind Wang Zhang, a surge of anger welled up in his heart, rising to his cold face. But he quickly withdrew his gaze.

Smelling the inevitable musty odor of the prison, he looked at his old friend, who stubbornly kept his back straight, meeting his gaze. Though he was putting on a brave front, the dishevelment in his bearing could not be concealed.

Letting out a slight sigh, Wang Zhang waved a hand: "All of you, leave. Close the door!"

"Chancellor, this is hardly appropriate, I fear!" Hearing this, Wang Jingchong immediately raised an objection from behind.

"What is inappropriate? I intend to interrogate the convicted official alone—does Vice Minister Wang have objections?" Wang Zhang said flatly.

Seeing this, Wang Jingchong's expression turned slightly cold, and he warned in a low voice: "The Chancellor must not forget—Yang Bin is no ordinary convicted official! Moreover, interrogation has its own rules and procedures. The Chancellor should not violate the regulations!"

Ignoring the warning in his words, Wang Zhang remained firm: "His Majesty has placed me in charge of this matter. I have my own considerations—you need not prattle on here. Withdraw!"

Under Wang Zhang's forceful manner, Wang Jingchong had no recourse but to watch helplessly as the jailer closed the cell door, shutting him out.

However, at the moment the cell door closed, Wang Jingchong's expression changed—it became calm and detached, his eyes flickering, a sinister smile hanging on his face.

In Wang Jingchong's view, Wang Zhang had just handed him a handle. He had already drafted in his mind how to report this matter to Liu Chengyou: Wang Zhang acting strangely, dismissing his attendants, meeting alone with the rebel Yang Bin, the two conversing in secret at length...

"Brother, offending such a petty man like this is hardly wise—you must be on your guard! My own misfortune should serve as a warning!" The conversation between Yang and Wang began with Yang Bin's caution to Wang Zhang.