Chapter 168: Tigers and Flies

The Embroidered Uniform Guard is subordinate to the Emperor.

Even the Grand Secretariat has no authority to mobilize them, and this is the source of Han San's confidence.

Smiling as he walked into the prison, Han San swayed with every step until he reached the desk and sat down.

After a short while, the officer in charge pushed Wang Dehan out at a brisk pace, and Han San asked with a smile, "Have you thought it over? Ambassador Wang."

Wang Dehan nodded: "Everything is at the Thousand-Household's disposal."

After a night of contemplation, he finally understood.

He had become caught in the power struggle between big figures.

No matter how one chooses, one is bound to offend someone, so it is better to choose the side that makes oneself comfortable. After thinking this through, Wang Dehan revised a confession overnight.

Most of the people on it were students and old acquaintances of Zhang Siwei.

Han San took it and scanned it, immediately overjoyed.

"Good, good, good! Quickly go get a roast chicken for Mr. Wang; look at how starved he's been!" Han San tucked the confession paper away, then hurried out, not forgetting to turn back and say this as he reached the edge of the prison.

Zhang University Scholar Mansion.

Zhang Yunxiu and Han San took their seats in the side hall.

After a few days of rest, Zhang Yunxiu had finally recovered some vitality, and his complexion had begun to turn ruddy.

Seeing this, Han San first offered a sincere compliment before reporting: "Young Master, this is Wang Dehan's confession."

As he spoke, he took a piece of four-inch square rice paper from his bosom.

Zhang Yunxiu took it and looked, his brows involuntarily knitting into two knots, and he scolded in a low voice: "Han San, you have no brains. Look at the people on this; they are all Zhang Siwei's Jin Party. If this were to spread, people would think you are engaging in factionalism."

Han San, who was usually good at reading expressions, had kicked the horse's hoof this time.

His old face turned bright red instantly. He looked at Zhang Yunxiu and cautiously probed: "Then, what is the Young Master's meaning?"

"Investigate. No matter who it is, investigate them clearly. The bigger the commotion this causes, the better." Zhang Yunxiu slapped his palm down hard and shouted, "Start with this small radish and see how much mud can be brought up."

Han San was stunned.

If they were to investigate on such a large scale, how many in the entire capital's Eighteen Offices would be clean?

As the saying goes, if the upper beam is not straight, the lower ones will be crooked. If the superiors have a preference, the subordinates will surely indulge in it; the names on this list are merely small fry.

The truly big figures have yet to appear.

"Young Master... this subordinate has something to say."

"Speak!"

Han San nodded and poured out his thoughts: "Corruption has existed since ancient times. Back then, the Hongwu Emperor was ruthless enough in killing corrupt officials, wasn't he? Skinning them and stuffing them with straw, the 'Empty Seal Case', the 'Guo Heng Case'—which one didn't result in heads rolling?"

But was it useful? They would finish killing one batch in the morning, and by the afternoon, another batch would replace them and continue to be corrupt.

Zhang Yunxiu interrupted him and asked in return: "Are you suggesting we just let them be corrupt?"

"No, no, no," Han San waved his hand and continued, "What I mean is, for mosquitoes, you can wipe them all out at once. But for tigers, you cannot fight them all together; you must fight them one by one. Tigers will eat people; it is best to 'beat the grass to scare the snake' and kill the chicken to warn the monkey."

At this point, Han San felt his throat smoking, and Zhang Yunxiu pushed the teacup at his side toward him.

Han San took the teacup, held it in his hands, and gulped it down his throat.

Afterward, he wiped his mouth with his arm and carefully reminded him: "Now that the Grand Secretary is unwell, the Young Master should be maintaining stability at this time."

Zhang Yunxiu knew Han San would say this, and he also knew this was indeed a good reason to convince himself.

However, he did not agree, only sighing: "I am just afraid that these tigers are too bold, and killing these little chickens won't be effective."

"Young Master, please think thrice."

"Enough, I know. Keep this list with you for now."

Han San nodded, cupped his hands, and said: "This subordinate takes his leave."

Once he left, Zhang Yunxiu closed his eyes tightly, leaning back in his chair to weigh the pros and cons. Zhang Siwei was currently in power, and everything he did was to make things difficult for him; if he could gain something else, that would be even better.

Investigating corruption was one such thing.

It was just that while corruption sounded easy to investigate, digging deep was truly frightening. Roots connected to roots, like the vine roots of an old tree; if one kept investigating, there was no guarantee one wouldn't end up investigating oneself.

The sunlight through the window formed beams that hit his face, stinging his eyes, and Zhang Yunxiu raised his palms to block it.

At this moment, Zheng Xi'er moved with lotus steps and walked in, carrying a three-tiered food box in her hand. Zhang Yunxiu smelled the fragrance, slowly opened his eyes, and smiled, relaxing his brows: "Why are you here? Has Xuan'er fallen asleep again?"

"Yes." Zheng Xi'er nodded slightly, set the food box down, and said, "This is winter melon and skirt-meat soup I brewed for my husband myself. You have been overworking yourself lately; if this continues, your body won't be able to take it."

As she spoke, she skillfully ladled a bowl for Zhang Yunxiu.

Zhang Yunxiu took it and drank it in one gulp, feeling warmth spread through his limbs and his whole body filled with vitality. His appetite was suddenly whetted, and he ordered Zheng Xi'er to serve him two more bowls.

After several bowls in a row, Zhang Yunxiu lay back on the recliner.

Zheng Xi'er walked slowly behind him, moving her slender jade fingers to carefully massage her husband. While massaging, Zheng Xi'er pouted and looked at her husband indignantly.

She saw him with his brows knit and his mind focused, sitting there like a wooden statue, expressionless.

Ever since her husband returned, he had been like this.

He wouldn't talk much to her, burying everything in his heart.

At such a young age, his brows were already knit into a large knot.

"Is my husband troubled by something?"

"No."

"Liar." Zheng Xi'er wrinkled her jade nose and added, "When you lie, your eyes blink faster than usual."

Hearing this, Zhang Yunxiu grabbed Zheng Xi'er's jade hand, pulled her into his arms, stared into her eyes, and teased: "Then tell me, am I lying right now?"

The two locked eyes, and Zheng Xi'er tilted her neck, refusing to yield in the slightest.

"Husband, Xi'er is also your concubine. Now that Miss Xu has not yet entered the door, Xi'er can be considered a small mistress of this house. You can tell Xi'er whatever is on your mind."

"No need."

"Tell me, go on."

"Alright then." Zhang Yunxiu was afraid she would keep pestering him, so he spilled it all out at once.

After hearing this, Zheng Xi'er also felt deeply that it was a thorny issue.

Previously, when the stewards under his command were corrupt, she could only beat the grass to scare the snake, not daring to easily start a major conflict. Now, her husband was actually going to challenge the Acting Senior Grand Secretary and investigate corruption.

This was a matter that could pierce the heavens.

She slowly propped herself up from her husband's embrace and said cautiously, "Husband, Han San is right about this matter. You must be extremely careful. Even if you catch this batch, the next batch will emerge just as quickly."

"Besides, even ordinary families exchange gifts during festivals. It is normal for officials to have some exchanges of gifts."

Zhang Yunxiu remained silent and did not speak.

At first, he only thought about disgusting Zhang Siwei, catching one of his pawns to make him lose face. Who would have expected that just a single ninth-rank official could drag out such a huge pile of filth.

One can imagine.

How rotten must the officials in the capital be? Although he knew that corruption could not be eradicated at the source, he still had to suppress this evil trend. Otherwise, when corruption becomes the norm, those who do not go along with it will instead become the outliers.

Could this political ecosystem even be looked at? Just as he was thinking this, a servant outside the door suddenly came to report that Wei Qing from the palace was asking to see him.

What is he here for at this time?

Zhang Yunxiu secretly wondered to himself, then instructed the servant outside, "Take Eunuch Wei to the guest hall; I will be there shortly."

(End of this chapter)