Chapter 103: Hopping Around (Third Update)

Yao Qingqing acknowledged and turned to walk out.

Zhu Xu watched Yao Qingqing's retreating figure—a set of green clothes, a graceful silhouette, at the most beautiful time of a woman's life—and shook his head inwardly, wondering what Bi Maokang was thinking, leaving such a beauty abandoned and unattended.

"Your Highness." Cao Huachun walked in, also drenched in sweat, bowing as he wiped himself off.

Zhu Xu was in a good mood and looked up at him. "What is it?"

Cao Huachun caught his breath and said, "Your Highness, the edict has come down. Zhou Yingqiu has been appointed Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, and he takes office in three days."

Zhu Xu had already guessed this. Zhou Yingqiu had endured for so long, and now he was finally entering officialdom again. This man could be considered a pillar of the eunuch faction—there was no way he would keep hiding in his courtyard to live out his retirement.

Seeing that Zhu Xu showed no change in expression, Cao Huachun hesitated a moment before adding, "Your Highness, Ni Wenhuan has also been acting restless lately, making quite a few small moves. It looks like he's aiming for the position of Right Vice Censor-in-Chief."

Zhou Yingqiu he didn't care much about, but hearing that Ni Wenhuan was also stirring—that he could not take lightly.

His right hand tapped on the tabletop, his gaze flickering.

Zhou Yingqiu and Ni Wenhuan were both stalwarts of the eunuch faction—historically Wei Zhongxian's right and left arms, respectively one of the Five Tigers and the head of the Ten Dogs. They had an extraordinary enthusiasm for power, and their natures were cruel; countless court nobles had been done to death by them.

Zhu Xu had in fact been carefully avoiding the court, avoiding factional strife. Because he knew that once one got drawn in, no one would come to a good end—not even him!

Because what he faced was not a single person, nor the Donglin Faction or the so-called pure stream, but the literati-official class spread throughout the entire Ming!

That was practically opposing the whole world.

The composition of this group was already extremely complex—scholars, farmers, artisans, merchants intertwined like tangled threads of hemp. No one could break free; once involved, one would be tightly bound and unable to extricate oneself!

Only, he had pulled Wei Zhongxian down from his horse, scattered the just-formed eunuch faction, and gathered up Ni Wenhuan, Zhou Yingqiu, and the others. Now these people were unwilling to remain obscure, and were secretly climbing upward under Empress Zhang's banner.

'They can't be suppressed anymore.'

Zhu Xu narrowed his eyes, his gaze sharp. He looked up at Cao Huachun and said thoughtfully, "Ni Wenhuan was never one to stay put. Here's what—you notify Zhou Yingqiu, and have his wife's brother return to the Bureau of Construction."

The Bureau of Construction of the Ministry of Works was the office of authority responsible for shipbuilding review, acceptance inspection, and a whole series of matters.

Cao Huachun quickly nodded, indicating he had noted it down.

Zhu Xu continued tapping his fingers as he went on: "Since they want to bounce around, let them bounce. You notify Zhou Yingqiu to invite all our people at court to his home for a good round of drinks."

Cao Huachun did not quite understand, but that did not stop him from nodding and carrying it out.

At the same time, Qian Qianyi had also finished his lectures and returned to his residence in the capital.

"Master." The steward hurried up to greet him, handing over tea that had been cooled with ice.

Qian Qianyi took it and went straight to the study with a grave expression.

Seeing this, the steward followed nervously behind him, saying, "Master, has something happened?"

Qian Qianyi paused mid-step, startled for a moment before saying, "It's nothing. Oh, right—take my visiting card to Grand Secretary Ye's residence. I will go to pay him a call tomorrow."

Ye Xianggao had close ties with the Donglin Faction. As a rising star of the Donglin Faction—brilliant, with ambitions to claim the top spot—Qian Qianyi naturally had some friendship with him.

The steward acknowledged, and Qian Qianyi carried his teacup into the study.

He sat in the chair in the study. Whether it was because of the hot weather or not, cold sweat kept beading on his forehead, his whole body felt uncomfortable, and there was a fire in his heart that made it hard for him to calm down.

"What on earth is going on?" Qian Qianyi forced himself to steady his mind, drinking tea while frowning in deep thought.

Suddenly, Zhu Xu's face—half-smiling, seemingly naive and childish—appeared in his mind, giving him a start!

He went over the entire sequence of meeting Zhu Xu today, and in the end, only two words remained in his eyes: 'grain transport.'

Qian Qianyi's whole body went cold. The history of grain transport was too long—it had begun before the Song dynasty, and that canal had over a thousand years of history. Especially after the founding emperor of this dynasty, grain transport had continuously developed, its power structure intricately interwoven, with enormous interests involved. To put it simply, of the grain delivered to the Nine Borders, over sixty percent went through grain transport; since maritime shipping was suspended, it had reached as much as eighty percent!

If grain transport were suspended for half a month, the Nine Borders would probably all revolt!

Just thinking about it showed how terrifying that was!

This was also one of the reasons the court's grandees fought so desperately over the position of Governor-General of Grain Transport!

Whoever stood in that position would have a voice three times louder at court!

"Would he really dare?"

Qian Qianyi took another sip of tea. The fat on his face trembled, his honest-looking features tinged with fear.

This was not like the previous matter of the Six Ministries and Nine Chief Ministers privately hoarding confiscated property—that had indeed been caught with evidence, leaving the grandees of the Six Ministries and Nine Chief Ministers with no face to say anything loudly.

But this time, if that young prince suddenly and without cause stuck his hand into grain transport, then even the Emperor would have no way to protect him!

Qian Qianyi felt uneasy. He straightened his back and let out a long breath, his gaze fixed.

He did not intend to say anything, to warn anyone. He would simply watch.

Embroidered Uniform Guard officers in gleaming armor ran at full speed down Vermilion Bird Avenue, heedless of the heat.

White robes fluttered, blades clanged—one glance was enough to feel a murderous aura.

Yang Zhe rode a tall horse, hooves clattering, eyes blazing, his expression carrying a cold, excited thrill.

"Sir, it's this residence!"

The hoofbeats stopped, and a scout stepped forward to report.

Yang Zhe looked up and saw a vast residence, its plaque bearing two gilded characters: 'Li Mansion.'

Yang Zhe sneered coldly and called out loudly, "Men, break down the door! Press everyone to the front courtyard, and seize all the dirty silver and stolen goods!"

The gate was smashed open in no time, and groups of Embroidered Uniform Guard officers surged in like hungry wolves.

"Who are you people! This is the Li Mansion!"

"Stop! Our family head is the former Minister of Revenue, Master Li!"

"Ah—"

The Embroidered Uniform Guard paid no heed to what anyone said; they only carried out the orders they had heard. A full hundred or more men charged into the Li Mansion, dispersing to every corner.

Yang Zhe stood in the front courtyard with a swaggering stance, watching, sneering inwardly.

'That waste Luo Yangxing—what does he still need to prepare? As long as I bring men in for a raid, whether it's the merit or the silver, it's all mine!'

Deep down he truly looked down on Luo Yangxing—nothing but a good-for-nothing waste living off his keep. If not for having a good father, how could a position like Guard Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard ever have fallen to him!

But he did not care. As long as he had enough silver to send to that grandee, it would not be long before he could topple Luo Yangxing!

"Who's in charge here? Who gave the order! Do you know whose courtyard this is?"

In the courtyard, a young man was being pressed forward toward the front yard, shouting and struggling with all his might.

Yang Zhe looked at Li Jinyan with a cold sneer, walked over and said: "So you're Li Jinyan?"

Li Jinyan stared at Yang Zhe and said angrily: "That's me! I don't care whose orders you're under—this case will be brought before the Emperor himself. I want to see whether there's no law left under the Son of Heaven's very feet!"

——

Third watch of the night, begging for collections, recommendations, and tips~~