Chapter 198: Overreaching

Chen Wenjin and Li Xiangtian received an intelligence report in the Prime Minister's Residence, learning that Su Wu and others had an audience with Liu Ju late at night.

Chen Wenjin's eyes widened in anger, and his teacup snapped with a "pa" sound, shattering on the floor and sending shards flying.

"You damn Su Wu, daring to report to His Majesty behind his back—you truly don't know what's good for you!"

He said through gritted teeth, the muscles on his face twitching slightly from anger.

Li Xiangtian also wore a grim expression, echoing: "Chancellor Chen, Su Wu and his ilk have always opposed us, and now they're going overboard. If we don't take this opportunity to topple them completely, they'll surely become a serious future threat."

The two exchanged a glance, a flicker of ruthlessness flashing in their eyes, and immediately began plotting how to impeach Su Wu and the others.

The next day at court, the atmosphere was tense, ready to explode.

Chen Wenjin strode forward, head held high, holding a prepared impeachment memorial, and proclaimed loudly: "Your Majesty, I have an important matter to report. Recently I have heard that Su Wu, Wei Xiang, Xu Wei, and others harbor ill intentions, secretly colluding, and had an audience with Your Majesty late at night, intending to disrupt court order. In Your Majesty's presence, they twist facts and slander us as treacherous villains, while in truth they themselves are scheming to form cliques for personal gain, obstructing the great undertaking of developing the south, which benefits the state and the people."

Chen Wenjin spoke with righteous conviction.

Li Xiangtian stepped forward immediately, adding fuel to the fire: "Your Majesty, Su Wu and his ilk, relying on their modest achievements, disregard Your Majesty and the imperial court. Their private audience this time clearly shows dissatisfaction with Your Majesty's policies, aiming to force Your Majesty to comply. If not severely punished, where is the dignity of the court? What will become of the future of the Great Han?"

The officials at court heard this and began to discuss again in a clamor.

Some of Chen Wenjin's and Li Xiangtian's followers nodded in agreement, blaming Su Wu and the others;

while the upright officials, although they understood in their hearts that this was a slander by Chen Wenjin and company, for a moment did not know how to defend Su Wu and the others.

Su Wu stood at court, his face ashen, and declared loudly: "Your Majesty, see clearly! Chen Wenjin and Li Xiangtian are spitting blood. We had an audience with Your Majesty late at night to inform you of the court's disorder, hoping you would soon purge the court and restore clarity to the Great Han. It is they who form cliques for personal gain and exclude dissenters; they are the true treacherous villains!"

Moreover, Su Wu worried even more: how could Chen Wenjin's group be so well-informed? The events of last night, and they already know today!

It seems their influence extends not only to the court but also to the Weiyang Palace!

Wei Xiang and Xu Wei evidently also sensed something amiss, hurriedly stepped forward, knelt, and said: "Your Majesty, we are loyal to the imperial court, and we have done nothing of what they claim. Chen Wenjin and Li Xiangtian, for their own private gain, resort to any means, and now they dare to slander the loyal; it's hateful! We implore Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly and clear our names."

Their words were earnest, their eyes full of anxiety and helplessness, awaiting Liu Ju's verdict.

After hearing both sides, Liu Ju remained calm and simply said lightly: "I am already aware of this matter; court affairs are numerous, and we must not let baseless suspicions harm harmony. You are all senior officials of the imperial court; you should prioritize the overall situation."

Having said that, he announced the dismissal of court, setting aside this thorny issue.

Chen Wenjin and Li Xiangtian exchanged a glance, a hint of disappointment flashing in their eyes, but they said nothing; the reason they impeached those few at court was merely to display their influence, and simply to disgust them.

The real trump card isn't meant to be spoken about at court!

After the court adjourned, Chen Wenjin and Li Xiangtian hurriedly gathered their followers in the Prime Minister's Residence to discuss how to further suppress Su Wu and the others.

Chen Wenjin sat upright in the chief seat, a cold smile on his face, and said: "Since His Majesty remains noncommittal about this, we cannot miss this opportunity. Su Wu, Wei Xiang, and Xu Wei must be completely expelled from court; otherwise our plan will be hard to advance smoothly."

Li Xiangtian nodded repeatedly beside him, adding: "The Chancellor is absolutely right. We should start by stripping them of their authority, gradually taking over their important duties."

Thus, in the following days, Chen Wenjin's and Li Xiangtian's faction began vigorous action.

First, under various pretexts, they dismantled one by one the important projects and affairs for which Su Wu and the others were responsible.

For example, the Ministry of Revenue affairs originally handled by Su Wu were transferred by Chen Wenjin on the pretext that "more experienced personnel are needed," to his own confidant.

The Ministry of Works affairs overseen by Wei Xiang were also gradually undermined by Li Xiangtian's planted protégés, so many important decisions no longer sought Wei Xiang's input.

At court, whenever an important issue was discussed, Chen Wenjin and Li Xiangtian would join their followers, deliberately ignoring Su Wu and the others' remarks, even mocking their reasonable suggestions.

If Su Wu and the others tried to argue on principle, they would be interrupted for various pretexts, causing their speaking rights at court to dwindle and gradually marginalizing them.

Moreover, Chen Wenjin and Li Xiangtian spread rumors outside court, smearing Su Wu and the others as clique‑forming corrupt officials, trying to ruin their reputations so that court officials would keep their distance.

Under their deliberate ostracism, Su Wu, Wei Xiang, and Xu Wei found it hard to move in court; their former vigor was gone, they could only watch helplessly as Chen Wenjin's faction ran rampant in court, feeling helpless and resentful, yet unable to find a countermeasure, and the court situation became ever more chaotic in this fierce struggle.

Day after day, the ostracized Su Wu returned to his mansion, strode straight into the study, and slammed the door shut with a bang.

His face was ashen, his eyes blazing with anger, he paced back and forth in the study, each step heavy, as if he wanted to vent his resentment through the sound of his footsteps.

After a long while, he stopped, slammed his fist on the desk, and roared: "Chen Wenjin and Li Xiangtian are really bullying people too much! I, Su Wu, have devoted myself entirely to the Great Han; I suffered hardships on my mission to the Xiongnu, yet upon returning I am subjected to this ostracism, stripped of authority, and the court refuses to tolerate loyal officials like us!"

The ink and brush on the desk were shaken to the floor, and the paper rustled.

At that moment, Wei Xiang and Xu Wei hurried over.

They saw the study in disarray and Su Wu's angry face, and felt a pang of sorrow.

Wei Xiang let out a long sigh, saying: "Mr. Su, things have come to this; we must think of a way, we cannot just sit and wait for doom."

His voice was low, filled with helplessness and unwillingness.

Xu Wei also nodded in agreement: "Yes, the court is now controlled by that villainous clique; we have lost our authority, and it will likely be even harder to accomplish anything ahead. But we cannot give up; we must seek an opportunity to expose their misdeeds." Xu Wei's eyes showed determination; even in adversity, the flame of justice in his heart was not extinguished.

Su Wu took a deep breath, struggled to calm himself, and said: "I, Su Wu, will never bow to the villainous. I never yielded in the bitter cold of the Xiongnu lands these past years, so how could I fear them now? But we now hold no power, our actions are restricted everywhere—what should we do?" Su Wu's eyes flickered with uncertainty; he deeply understood that in this vortex of power struggle, losing power is like losing one's most potent weapon.

Wei Xiang pondered a moment, then said: "Although we have lost our authority, the court is not entirely theirs. There are still some upright officials; we can secretly contact them to jointly devise countermeasures. Furthermore, we must gather evidence of Chen Wenjin and Li Xiangtian forming cliques for personal gain and corruption; when the time is ripe, we will submit it to Your Majesty so he can see their true nature."

Wei Suwu and Xu Wei, upon hearing this, felt hope ignite in their eyes.

Su Wu clenched his fists tightly and said: "Good! Just as Lord Wei said. Even if the road ahead is arduous, we will strive for the court's clarity; we must absolutely not let those villainous scoundrels succeed."

The three exchanged glances, their eyes filled with determination and resolve.

The road ahead is paved with thorns, but for the sake of the justice in their hearts and the future of the Great Han, they have prepared themselves to fight to the end.