Chapter 889

The Great Zhou imperial city, Qianyang Palace, rear hall warming chamber.

Upon hearing Emperor Jiazhao’s words, Guo Lin immediately understood their meaning—the emperor’s mention of Xue Pan was merely an excuse before outside ministers.

The emperor knew of Xue Pan because last year Jia She had been implicated in the illicit transport of firearms and the illegal trafficking of salt and iron along the Nine Borders.

The Zhongche Office, following standard procedure, had closely monitored the movements of Rongguo Mansion, and the emperor reviewed the Zhongche Office’s secret reports daily.

Among these records concerning Rongguo Mansion were entries on the Xue family of Jin Ling—not only noting their residence within the Jia household, but also mentioning two of the Xue family’s children.

Thus the emperor knew of Xue Pan, yet this matter could not be openly stated to the Minister of Justice.

Even though the Zhongche Office’s surveillance of court nobles and high officials was an open secret among insiders and outsiders alike, it remained improper to speak of it publicly.

Guo Lin, as the emperor’s trusted confidant, instantly grasped the implication when the emperor suddenly brought up Xue Pan.

He said: “Your Majesty, during your leisure moments in governance, I did mention some idle gossip to amuse you.

The Xue family is a prominent clan of Jin Ling, once ranked among the Four Great Families of Jin Ling alongside the Rongguo Jia household; for generations they have served as imperial merchants under the Neiwu Prefecture, amassing considerable wealth.

Lady Wang of the Xue family’s eldest branch hails from the Wang clan of Jin Ling, which, like the Jia and Xue families, is one of the Four Great Families of Jin Ling.

Lady Wang, the wife of Jia Zheng of Rongguo Mansion, and Prince Wang Ziteng, Commander of the Capital Garrison, are all siblings; these three families have been intermarried for generations.

Because of this kinship, several years ago Lady Wang brought her two children and relocated to the Divine Capital, residing within Rongguo Mansion.

After Jia Zheng and his wife moved out of the main residence, Lady Wang’s household still dwelled in the Pear Fragrance Courtyard of the Jia estate, and the two families maintained close daily ties.”

…

Wei Guanyao, upon hearing Emperor Jiazhao’s words, felt a slight chill—he as a veteran court minister had long known the emperor’s one deep-seated affliction.

The emperor ascended the throne through extraordinary circumstances, entangled with the Retired Emperor and Prince Wu.

The Four Princes and Eight Dukes had watched coldly from the sidelines, leaving the emperor initially isolated and neglected.

Fearing the entrenched power of these old nobles, for over a decade since his ascension, the emperor had persistently weakened and suppressed the Four Princes and Eight Dukes.

How many idle nobles still linger in the Five Military Commissions? Three years ago the emperor stripped Ningguo Prefecture of its status, rejected Prince Beijing’s bid for a military post, and last year demoted the Rongguo title.

The emperor’s greatest fear was these old noble families forming alliances, bound by shared interests, secretly consolidating power and casting shadows over court affairs.

The Jia, Xue, and Wang families were tightly linked, and Xue Pan had become entangled in the great military supply leak case—striking the emperor’s most sensitive nerve; how could he remain unmoved?

Emperor Jiazhao said: “So then, Xue Pan and Jia Cong are also old acquaintances, fellow generations, sharing one household—do they interact frequently?”

Upon hearing this, Wei Guanyao felt a cold dread—the military supply leak case was of grave importance, already implicating a commander of the campaign against the Mongols.

Was the emperor now prepared to drag in Jia Cong, who led an entire army? Was his hatred for the old nobles truly so fierce that he disregarded the impact on military affairs?

Guo Lin, upon hearing the emperor’s words, instantly understood—unlike Wei Guanyao, he felt no such concern.

He said: “Your Majesty’s reasoning is sound, but the Xue family is different—Xue Pan is a dissolute scion, idle every day, neglecting all proper pursuits.

Jia Cong is a renowned talent, a full scholar of the Hanlin Academy; their temperaments and ambitions are worlds apart. Though they dwell under the same roof, they likely never interact.”

Upon hearing Guo Lin’s words, the emperor’s tightly pressed lips instantly relaxed.

…

Guo Lin was the emperor’s trusted eunuch and head of the Zhongche Office; having served beside him for years, the two shared deep understanding.

Though Guo Lin’s words sounded like speculation, the emperor knew well that every utterance Guo Lin made before him was backed by secret investigations from the Zhongche Office.

Emperor Jiazhao said: “I agree—it is fitting. Jia Cong is young but mature, exceptionally gifted, brimming with talent.

How could he possibly look upon a wastrel like Xue Pan? He would never associate with him.

Your Majesty, according to your memorial, Chen Ruichang met Duan Chunjiang solely through Xue Pan’s introduction.

Beyond that, did Xue Pan participate in the military secrets leak?”

Upon hearing the emperor’s question, Wei Guanyao felt a sharp chill—if he answered yes, the entire Xue family would be doomed.

The emperor held some caution toward the Qi State Duke’s household, but toward a family of imperial merchants spanning generations, he would show no mercy.

If Xue Pan not only introduced them but was also directly involved in the military secrets leak, the Xue family’s fate would be far worse than that of the Zhen family of Jin Ling.

The emperor would likely exterminate the entire Xue clan—publicly to appease the souls of tens of thousands, but secretly to use the Xue family’s destruction as a warning to the Four Princes and Eight Dukes.

…

Wei Guanyao, seasoned in court politics, understood its tangled dangers and the emperor’s deep, treacherous calculations.

Yet he was a product of the orthodox imperial examination system, his inner principles rigidly upheld; it was through his own exceptional talent that he rose to head the Three Judicial Offices.

He, along with Liu Jing’an, Li Jizong, and Guo Youchang, belonged to the same breed—upholding moral integrity and official honor above life itself.

Even if the emperor’s words hinted at a hidden bias, Wei Guanyao would never flatter or deceive him, twisting truth to please.

…

He said solemnly: “Your Majesty, according to the Ministry of Justice’s investigation, Xue Pan merely introduced Duan Chunjiang and Chen Ruichang to each other; he was not involved in the leak.

Under the legal standards of the Three Judicial Offices, Xue Pan’s act was indeed unintentional, lacking malicious intent; if judged by law, the Three Judicial Offices must weigh and deliberate.”

Emperor Jiazhao’s expression darkened slightly: “His was an unintentional lapse, yet it caused a catastrophe of cosmic proportions—can ‘unintentional’ wash away such guilt?

Duan Chunjiang is a lowly grain merchant; without Xue Pan’s introduction, how could he have met the heir of a State Duke? How could he have committed such an audacious crime?

Sixty-five thousand dan of grain, forty thousand dead soldiers and civilians, the honor of the Great Zhou—how can I answer the empire’s subjects?

In extraordinary times, extraordinary measures must be taken.

Chen Ruichang is the principal offender, his crime unforgivable; Xue Pan, though unintentional, violates both law and moral reason—he must be severely punished, no leniency allowed!

These southern gentry and wealthy families delight in allying with noble houses, ever scheming, acting without restraint.

First the Zhen family of Jin Ling secretly forged firearms; now the Xue family is entangled in a secrets leak—I am weary of it.

After the Ministry of Justice arrests Xue Pan, interrogate him thoroughly, confirm his guilt; if other crimes surface, combine them into one charge—no mercy shown.

Military secrets concern the state; the military supply leak must never recur. I will use this case to warn the court.

Whoever is implicated, whether a State Duke’s direct heir or a noble relative, shall be punished without exception—let none dare cross this line again!”

Upon hearing the emperor’s words, Wei Guanyao understood clearly—the emperor was not using Xue Pan as leverage to control the distant Marquis Jia Cong.

He intended to use the harsh punishment of the military supply leak case to warn the court’s old nobles and their allied gentry families.

Wei Guanyao had just noticed a detail: when Guo Lin said Jia Cong and Xue Pan had no contact, the emperor’s expression visibly softened.

Though the emperor is a man of deep suspicion, his admiration and trust for this young master of the Jia household are truly extraordinary…

…

North of the Divine Capital, Yongchun Street, Duan family grain shop.

Zhou Ping, accompanied by a servant, sat calmly in the shop, sipping tea slowly.

Duan Chunjiang smiled broadly: “Last time your esteemed guest came, I was away from the shop—I thought I had missed a fine opportunity, and I was truly regretful.

I waited for several days, but you did not return; I was growing disappointed, yet today you’ve come—what a pleasant surprise.

You wish to purchase twenty dan of Bijing rice—I deal with every prominent household in the Divine Capital, but this is the first time I’ve seen such a grand order.

Your family must surely belong to one of the capital’s most distinguished noble houses; otherwise, how could you afford such lavishness?”

Duan Chunjiang’s flattery was smooth, his smile ever-present, the perfect image of a shrewd merchant.

He had been ordered by Andahan to infiltrate the Divine Capital and open a grain shop, using Xue Pan to connect with court nobles and wealthy families to gather military secrets.

Chen Ruichang’s case had brought him extraordinary success, showing him the benefits of befriending the powerful.

Since then, he had become obsessed with such opportunities, leaving no gap unexploited.

Bijing rice is a fine commodity—only noble and wealthy households can afford it; even among the rich, none dare use it as daily staple food.

Ordinary households buy only a few dan, as a luxury supplement; to purchase ten dan at once is already a display of extreme wealth.

Thus Duan Chunjiang was certain this buyer came from one of the capital’s top noble families.

Such connections were rare—he naturally sought to cultivate them.

Zhou Ping, seeing Duan Chunjiang’s eager warmth and the hidden fire in his eyes, guessed his intentions and felt a flicker of contempt.

…

Zhou Ping spoke slowly: “I won’t tell you my household’s name—you’re just a grain merchant, you wouldn’t recognize it, and I have no patience to explain.

But grain is food—never to be taken lightly. Price is no issue; the quality must be best, and the supply must be utterly reliable.

My elder lord holds office in the Clan Office; the one who came the other day was my young master—a top-tier noble of the capital.

My young master is to take up a post in the Southern Capital’s Ministry of War; he is accustomed to eating northern Bijing rice, so he needs ten dan to take south.

The other ten dan are for offering to my elder lord—otherwise, why would we buy twenty dan at once? Even the finest things can’t be consumed so lavishly…”