Chapter 200: The Chancellor's Downfall

The next morning, Jiang Xiaomu disguised himself, quietly left the Grand Marshal's Residence, and rode his horse toward the wilderness outside the city.

The wilderness mountains were rugged and rarely visited.

Jiang Xiaomu climbed along the rugged mountain path, ascending steadily.

After walking about two hours, he finally reached the spot marked on the map.

This was a hidden cave; its entrance was concealed by dense vines, making it hard to spot without close inspection.

Jiang Xiaomu pushed aside the vines and cautiously entered the cave.

Inside the cave it was pitch black; one could not see their hand in front of their face.

Jiang Xiaomu lit a tinderbox, and by its faint light he saw a stone platform deep in the cave, upon which lay a wooden box.

Could this be the 'thing' that Ru Yan spoke of?

Jiang Xiaomu's heart raced with excitement; he hurried to the platform and opened the wooden box.

The box contained several letters; Jiang Xiaomu opened them carefully, fearing to crease or tear the delicate paper.

As he read, Jiang Xiaomu's expression grew increasingly solemn.

These……are family letters in which Wang Shouren corresponded with others! Why are they here?

Why did Ru Yan ask me to help find this?

Each letter was brief, and contained some incomprehensible jargon.

The signatures at the end read Tang Xianzong.

That name seemed familiar, but Jiang Xiaomu just couldn't recall who it was.

He set aside his doubts, carefully packed up the wooden box, and brought it before Ru Yan.

"I've found what you wanted," Jiang Xiaomu said, carefully handing the wooden box to Ru Yan:

"What the hell is this? Why does it bear Wang Shouren's name?"

Ru Yan took the box, giving him a half‑smile, and stared at Jiang Xiaomu:

"I know you've read these letters; don't you understand yet?"

Jiang Xiaomu didn't know what medicine she was selling in her gourd,

"I've found what you wanted for you; now you should tell me the true cause of Prefect Zhao's death,"

Ru Yan neither affirmed nor denied, spreading the letters out before Jiang Xiaomu:

"These letters were found together with evidence of his rebellion in Wang Shouren's secret chamber."

Ru Yan pointed to the name Tang Xianzong on the letter paper:

"Do you still remember Master Tang, who was beside Prefect Zhao?"

Jiang Xiaomu's mind rang like a bell; he seemed to have grasped something:

"You mean Master Tang colluded with Wang Shouren to kill Prefect Zhao?!"

Ru Yan smiled faintly and began to lay out the truth.

Originally, Master Tang had always been Wang Shouren's strategist at his side, versed in both civil and military affairs, deep‑minded, and a strong left and right hand for Wang Shouren.

While Zhao Dezhao nominally held the post of prefect of a city, he was in fact merely Wang Shouren's puppet; the true ruler of Wangjiang Cheng was still Wang Shouren!

Wang Shouren planned to use this method of planting puppets to infiltrate his influence into major influential cities.

But he did not expect Zhao Dezhao to resent being manipulated; he tried to shake off Master Tang's surveillance and control, and Wang Shouren, unwilling, had him assassinated.

Jiang Xiaomu listened, shocked; no wonder the case went unsolved—who would suspect a mere prefect's death of reaching all the way to the mighty Chancellor in Jingcheng?

Moreover, the two had no apparent connection; without these few secret letters, the case would likely remain unsolvable, destined to become a cold case.

"How about it, little lady—have I kept my promise?"

Ru Yan chuckled, a hint of mischief in her smile, charming and lovely.

"So you're saying Prefect Zhao's death was actually because he refused to remain Wang Shouren's pawn?"

Jiang Xiaomu asked in a low voice.

"Exactly." Ru Yan nodded,

"Wang Shouren's ambition goes far beyond this; he intends to rebel, and Zhao Dezhao is merely a sacrifice in his plan."

A chill ran through Jiang Xiaomu; he had not imagined Wang Shouren's plot to be so far‑reaching, nor his methods so ruthless, sparing no means.

"Miss Ru Yan, thank you for telling me this."

Jiang Xiaomu said sincerely,

"Rest assured, I will certainly report this to the Emperor; Wang Shouren, this treacherous and wicked minister, must not be let off lightly!"

Ru Yan gave him a deep look, the corner of her mouth lifting in a faint smile.

After returning to the residence, Jiang Xiaomu lay in bed but could not sleep.

Details of Prefect Zhao's case kept surfacing in his mind, when suddenly a thought flashed like lightning—

Prefect Zhao was killed by a poison needle, and the accent of the customer buying poison herbs described by Western Regions merchant Hawei did not sound local—putting it all together, it was clear!

The Shadow Organization, adept at making poison and hailing from the East Sea, was the very group Wang Shouren sent to assassinate Zhao Dezhao!

Moreover……Jiang Xiaomu was no fool; he had long sensed that Ru Yan's series of actions was off.

This person is from the Huo Manor; why would she have me, with only a passing acquaintance, sneak into Huo Manor to help her?

Jiang Xiaomu snorted coldly; this Miss Ru Yan's actions must have been directed by Huo Yunsheng.

It seems Huo Yunsheng wants to topple Wang Shouren completely, but, fearing his status as Wang Shouren's political rival makes impeachment inconvenient, he decided to kill with a borrowed knife.

And I am that handy sharp sword!

Well then… helping him this once does me no harm and can also earn me a favor in passing.

Besides, I have indeed obtained what I wanted—the truth behind Prefect Zhao's death.

This Huo Yunsheng is truly a crafty individual!

Jiang Xiaomu secretly cursed in his heart.

The next morning, Jiang Xiaomu went to the Imperial Palace and reported the matter of Prefect Zhao to the Empress.

The Empress, hearing this, flew into a rage and immediately ordered a thorough investigation; using this as a breakthrough, she rooted out the problem and finally arrested all of Wang Yangming's partisans one by one.

By torturing these people for confessions, almost all of Wang Yangming's forces were eradicated.

The Empress even personally interrogated Wang Yangming, and in the end he was sentenced to death.

From then on, this major trouble of Wang Yangming was completely eradicated.

After Wang Yangming's execution, the Empress sat alone in the Imperial Study, lost in thought; the unprocessed memorials piled up, but she had no heart to deal with them.

The case of Wang Yangming was completely overturned, and the matter came to a close.

A huge hidden danger had been cleared; I should have felt relieved, but...

While personally interrogating Wang Yangming in prison, after the interrogation I was about to leave by sedan when the severely tortured, dying Wang Yangming suddenly called my childhood name from behind.

Then, intermittently, he began to sing the childhood song he often sang to me.

That name, I haven't heard anyone call me that in a long time.

When I was little, whenever I cried, my uncle would start singing that song.

My father the emperor died early, and my uncle assisted her, who was still young, in ascending the throne.

Before the court, she was the emperor, he was her chancellor, offering advice and strategies for her, who had not yet fully developed her wings, shielding her from wind and rain.

But when the officials left court, Wang Yangming would revert to being her uncle, the one who accompanied her flying kites to dispel boredom and together caught grasshoppers.

But now, for the sake of this dragon throne, he plotted to put her to death.

Never mind, for the sake of imperial power, brothers killing each other has existed since ancient times.

Now, standing atop ten thousand people, yet occasionally I still feel lonely.

The emperor fell asleep at the desk; in her dream, she turned back into that little girl, innocent and carefree, not yet knowing what power is.

When she started to cry, her uncle again smiled warmly and began to sing that song.

"Moonlight shines on the pond, riding a bamboo horse across the flood..."