Chapter 352: Gathered at the Duke of Chu's Mansion, Secretly Plotting a Palace Gate Coup

In the dead of night the snow fell heavily, feather‑like flakes striking the glazed tiles of the State Duke Mansion.

They rustled.

As if to bury the entire mansion in pure white.

Inside, Zheng Hall shone like daylight, eight bronze lanterns burning whale oil.

The plaque bearing "Loyalty and Bravery" on the beams and columns glittered.

Three men dressed in Brothel stood in the hall, snow still clinging to their shoulders.

The cold from their boots mingled with the warm vapor from the charcoal basin, forming a thin layer of white mist on the floor.

They all bowed in unison to Zhao Qian, who sat at the head, their movements identical, the swish of their robe edges across the tiles sounding unusually clear in the silence.

"Greetings, brother!"

"Greetings, Old Pillar Zhao!"

Their voices were steady, though tinged with the slight gasp of traveling through wind and snow, and their eyes bore a sharp, chilling resolve.

They were Yan Zhi Tui, Yang Qin, and Gao Bing, who had slipped out under house arrest to come at night…

Zhao Qian raised his hand in a feigned support, his wide‑sleeved robe tracing an arc before him, candlelight falling on his wrinkled face, the Gouhe hidden within his stern voice: "You are all brothers, no need for formalities!"

The three rose as instructed and took seats below.

Zhao Qian's gaze slowly swept over the snow on their shoulders, then glanced at the wet footprints on the threshold; his voice dropped even lower, like it was squeezed from between his teeth: "No one followed you on the way here, right?"

"Brother, don't worry!"

Yan Zhi Tui shook his head lightly, his eyes sharp as an eagle: "We have double‑checked, no embroidered‑clad envoy followed…"

After slipping out of the mansion, he deliberately looped around three streets, confirming no eyes were watching, before entering the State Duke Mansion through the back gate.

Yang Qin and Gao Bing also nodded.

"You are all here…"

Zhao Qian glanced at the sky outside the window, then at the empty seat on his right, furrowed his brows and said gravely: "Brother Dugu, why hasn't he arrived yet?"

"He has always been the most punctual!"

His words were laced with worry.

Even Gao Bing, who lives farthest away, has arrived, yet the crucial brother Dugu Zhao is still absent.

"Old Pillar, Brother Dugu fell ill after returning from the Lazi Festival…"

Yang Qin listened to Zhao Qian's murmurs, leaned slightly forward, clasped his fists and said: "He is now bedridden; tonight he likely cannot make it!"

"Brother Dugu, is his illness that severe?"

Zhao Qian paused, his brows furrowing tighter, and asked: "All these days and still no improvement?"

Zhao Qian had heard of Dugu Zhao's illness and had assumed it was a fleeting chill, nothing serious.

Who could have imagined that after many days there was no sign of recovery, only worsening…

The reason he hadn't visited was to keep a low profile; he had stayed behind closed doors.

"Hmm."

Yang Qin nodded, his voice low: "The Physician says it is a heart ailment, requiring gradual convalescence…"

Yang Qin harbored a vague suspicion about this heart disease…

It may be heavily linked to the blow suffered on the Lazi Festival day.

And after being toyed with by Yuwen Hu, his spirit and vitality were severely bruised.

Physical ailments are easy to treat; the difficulty lies in a heart illness that no medicine can cure!

Gao Bing, seated at the far end, seemed thoughtful, his gaze landing on the white frost at Zhao Qian's temples, and asked: "May I ask, Old Pillar, why summon us secretly tonight?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Qian calmly lifted his tea bowl, took a sip of the scalding tea that slid down his throat, yet could not extinguish the fierce resolve in his eyes: "I have a great matter to discuss with you all!"

Yan Zhi Tui's fingers repeatedly brushed the rim of the Blue Porcelain Teacup, the hot vapor moistening his eyes, yet could not hide the blazing fire within them as he said: "Brother, what is this great matter?"

He asked outwardly, but in Yan Zhi Tui's mind a vague suspicion was already forming…

This crucial moment, on a snowy night, could only herald an earth‑shattering event!

"As for the Lazi Festival incident, there has been no movement yet…"

Zhao Qian's gaze swept over the three, his deep eyes swirling with fire heavier than the charcoal basin, and he said.

He paused, then shifted his tone and continued: "But with the capabilities of the Mingjing Department, they will eventually uncover us!"

Zhao Qian did not understand; many days had passed since the Lazi Festival…

Yet Yuwen Hu, who keeps promising to get to the bottom of it, has yet to act.

Even the Mingjing Department has remained idle.

However, Zhao Qian suspected that Yuwen Hu's composure meant he was waiting for a moment—a moment to swallow them whole!

Therefore, waiting any longer is no longer an option…

"Indeed."

Gao Bing, hearing this, nodded in agreement and added: "Although Chen Yan keeps his loss secret, the Mingjing Department has not yet damaged its foundation; it's only a matter of time…"

His expression was extremely solemn.

The Mingjing Department only lost its director, but the organization has not ceased to function.

One should know that before Chen Yan took charge, the Mingjing Department was already notorious.

If they wish to investigate, within a few days they will have crucial evidence!

"From my understanding of Yuwen Hu, he could not have been unaware, nor could he swallow that breath…"

Zhao Qian brought the tea bowl to his lips, gently blew the froth off, the white vapor dispersing with his breath, blurring half his face, yet making his eyes appear even more fierce.

He paused again, then said in a low voice: "If the incident wasn't provoked on the spot, there must be hidden motives, brewing some conspiratorial poison plot!"

Having dealt with him for so long, clashing countless times, how could Zhao Qian not know the temperament of this great steward?

In short, it boils down to four characters:

Vengeance will be exacted.

And this time, not only did he miss the chance to retaliate on the spot, but even after these days there's been no sign; Taiyi is behaving abnormally!

It's completely at odds with Yuwen Hu's temperament!

Then there is only one possibility...

"May I ask what the venerable Pillar of State intends?" Yang Qin pressed his finger harder against the tea bowl, the celadon emitting a faint hum, and asked in a deep voice.

Zhao Qian lifted his head, a flash of ferocity crossing his eyes, and said, "Let me tell you, stop with all those twists and turns..."

"Go straight for force!"

"Beheading Yuwen Hu is the only sound reasoning!"

He said so, raised his hand, placed it at his own throat, and mimed a decapitation.

In Zhao Qian's view, those previous complicated maneuvers had too many variables...

Like a winter sacrifice day, using fire‑exploding powder to eliminate Yuwen Hu, there were far too many uncontrollable points!

One must know that premium ingredients often require only simple cooking...

A direct, brute approach actually achieves the goal better!

Yang Qin released the tea bowl, squinting slightly, hesitation flickering across his brows, and said, "But just a few days ago, didn't Grand Minister Da Zhong appoint you, the venerable Pillar of State, as Grand Protector, and give Brother Dugu the title of Grand Tutor?"

"From my perspective, these are Da Zhong's signals to cease hostilities and mend things..."

Not only did he set aside past grievances, but also offered two of the Three Dukes' titles—Grand Protector and Grand Tutor—clearly a thrown olive branch.

All recent events, no matter how you look at them, seem like Yuwen Hu wants to turn swords into silk, erasing previous gaps...

Otherwise, why would he go through such elaborate schemes?

"Ah Qin, you only know half the story..."

Hearing this, Zhao Qian lightly flicked his fingers, sneering, "That's precisely Yuwen Hu's viciousness!"

"He bestowed titles like Grand Protector and Grand Tutor—showy but useless—while secretly, regarding my Old Troops from the counties where I served, promoting them overtly and demoting them covertly, moving them to idle posts..."

Grand Protector, Grand Tutor?

Just empty titles!

They have no real authority, no benefit; besides looking and sounding impressive, they're useless...

And Yuwen Hu, wielding his personnel appointment power, could not hide from his eyes the promotions within my local Old Troops.

The officials were promoted, their ranks raised, yet the power they held was gone...

Isn't this, at its root, a ruin of the foundation...?

What a vile scheme!

The key, in the eyes of the world, still appears as if Yuwen Hu is bestowing favor...

"Brother, you're absolutely right!"

Yan Zhi Tui nodded, deeply agreeing, his expression solemn, and said, "If we continue to sit and wait for death, Yuwen Hu's methods will soon fall on our heads..."

"We may not even have the strength to resist in the end!"

Saying so, he clenched the steaming tea cup in his palm.

Even a fool can see that Yuwen Hu is moving the vines attached to the great tree, ultimately aiming to move the tree itself!

And Yan Zhi Tui, as a crucial branch of that great tree, is nine‑tenths likely to be Yuwen Hu's next target...

The reason he hasn't acted yet is that his turn hasn't come.

"Exactly!"

"After Yuwen Hu finishes handling the provinces, he'll surely turn his knife on us in Chang'an!"

Gao Bing inhaled deeply, rose to his feet, clasped his fists toward Zhao Qian, his emotions heightened, and shouted, "Better to strike first than to be captured hand‑bound!"

"Venerable Pillar of State, you speak!"

"What should we do!"

Seeing this, Zhao Qian was pleased with Gao Bing's response, admiration shining in his eyes, and said, "We need Ah Bing, Ah Tui, such decisive courage!"

He paused, then stopped teasing and got straight to the point: "The gate's guard commander was once my Old Troops!"

Yang Qin, hearing this, his mind raced, weighing Zhao Qian's intent, and tentatively asked, "Venerable Pillar of State, are you planning to set an ambush on Yuwen Hu's route to the court for a strike?"

The palace gate is more than just a door...

From the gate to the main hall lies a long stretch.

And that stretch is where Yuwen Hu's surrounding defenses are weakest, making it the easiest spot for an ambush...

Moreover, Lord Zhao's mention of...

The gate's guard commander!

Yang Qin became even more certain.

"Exactly."

Zhao Qian gave a slight nod, a cold smile curling his lips, "First slay Yuwen Hu, then seize his head, march straight into the Tai Chi Hall, capture that boy Yuwen Yan, and the great task will be done!"

As he spoke, a sharp glint flickered in his aged eyes.

He seemed to already envision himself cutting off Yuwen Hu's head, holding the emperor to command the lords.

"The risk is somewhat high, yet sufficiently unexpected..."

Yang Qin rubbed his jaw, involuntarily nodding, and in a deep voice asked, "Venerable Pillar of State, when do you intend to put this into action?"

Undeniably, it's an extremely risky military gambit...

Yet it could catch Yuwen Hu completely off guard!

The chance of success is high; it's a gamble worth taking.

"The time left for us is not much…."

Zhao Qian exhaled a puff of foul breath and said, "Better early than late!"

"Then at tomorrow's dawn!"

"Things have come to this point; there's no room for hesitation…."

Yang Qin, Yan Zhi Tui, and Gao Bing exchanged a glance and instantly reached a consensus: "Do it!"

"Fine."

Zhao Qian watched the decisive spark flicker in the three's eyes; beneath his graying beard, the corners of his mouth lifted slowly, the gloom in his eyes easing a bit, revealing a satisfied gleam.

He slammed the table hard, his voice booming like a bell: "Bring the wine!"

The servants outside the hall had already prepared; as soon as the call rang, they hurried in carrying four goblets of strong liquor. The blue‑white porcelain cups glimmered with a cold light under the candle, the wine rippling amber.

The three took the cups; their fingertips brushed the icy vessels, yet each felt a surge of heat rush from their hearts straight to the crown of their heads.

Zhao Qian raised his goblet, his arm straight as a spear: "May we finish our task in a single battle! May endless honor and wealth be ours!"

The four cups clanged together, producing a crisp sound that drowned out the wind and snow outside the window.

"Exhilarating! Absolutely exhilarating!"

The four lifted their heads and drained the liquor; the fiery spirit burned their throats tight, yet it sharpened the gleam in their eyes even more.

Zhao Qian slammed the empty cup heavily onto the ground.

"Clang—" a sound rang out, the blue‑white porcelain shattered into shards that glittered coldly in the candlelight.

Yang Qin immediately followed, hurling his goblet; shards splattered onto his boot, which he stepped over, and in a deep voice said, "Old Minister, make detailed arrangements…"

But before he could finish, a light tread of boots crushing fresh snow came from outside the door, followed by a mocking voice that resembled that of a certain deceased person, sharp as an icicle, slipping in with unabashed amusement:

"Yo!"

"You four are planning a coup!"