Chapter 120: Ministry of Works Affairs

Cao Wenzhao listened to Zhu Xu's words, thinking of the consequences of the Ministry of Works issuing a ban that would halt most of the grain transport by canal, and couldn't help but shudder inwardly.

"Your Highness, do we really have to do this?" Cao Wenzhao's throat moved as he spoke with some difficulty. If this were truly done, the canal transport would fall into great chaos, and the court above would absolutely not sit idly by—it would truly shake the foundations of the state.

It would inevitably stir up another enormous uproar.

Zhu Xu's smile was somewhat cold. "It was planned long ago."

Cao Wenzhao was still very worried and said, "Your Highness, on the Ministry of Works side, Zhou Yingqiu alone may not be able to accomplish so much."

Zhu Xu narrowed his eyes and waved his hand. "Rest assured, Zhou Yingqiu will certainly do even better than we anticipated."

Thinking of how Zhou Yingqiu had handled Prince Hui's affairs before, Cao Wenzhao also felt a slight relief. "Yes, Your Highness, I'll go at once."

After Cao Wenzhao left, Zhu Xu sat in his chair, both eyes gleaming with cold light, and after a long while muttered to himself, "Wei Zhongxian, should I keep you or kill you after all..."

Zhou Yingqiu, who had just returned home after finishing his shift, entered his study with a grave expression.

Madam Zhou, informed by the maidservant, hurried in after him. Seeing Zhou Yingqiu sitting at his desk with a dark face, saying nothing, she asked worriedly, "My lord, could it be those people still refuse to let you go?"

Zhou Yingqiu raised his head, frowned at his wife, then looked back at the desk with displeasure, staring blankly.

Soon, a maidservant brought in a bowl of cooling soup. Madam Zhou carried it over and said, "My lord, have something to cool your temper first."

Zhou Yingqiu's troubles were not from the Ministry of Works—with his skill, he had quickly smoothed things over up and down. What vexed him was the "imperial edict" that had just come from the palace.

He also knew about the canal transport matter and vaguely saw that Prince Hui was mixed up in it. But the canal transport was of great consequence, and since the palace had given no instructions, he was happy to watch the show. Yet the edict that arrived today gave him a great headache.

He had barely managed to make his comeback, and his previous affairs had been forgiven. If he got involved in the canal transport and joined the factional strife of the Donglin Faction, he feared he would never be able to extricate himself unscathed again.

Zhou Yingqiu had no friends to speak of now. After a moment of deliberation, he still told the matter to his wife.

After hearing it all, Madam Zhou's eyes lit up. Looking at Zhou Yingqiu, she said, "My lord, it seems Her Majesty the Empress is mostly angered. Think about it—earlier the Ministry of Justice repeatedly sealed off Duke Zhang's workshops and merchant associations, forcing Duke Zhang to show himself. By doing this, Her Majesty most likely intends to show the Donglin Faction a thing or two."

Zhou Yingqiu naturally understood all this as well, but the canal transport was a powder keg that had just been settled by **Xing. If he truly did this, he would surely drag the entire capital, inside and out, into it—within half an hour, the Emperor's desk would be piled high with memorials impeaching him.

Madam Zhou understood Zhou Yingqiu best. Seeing his hesitation, her heart stirred, and she stepped close to whisper, "My lord, if you're worried, just push this black pot onto someone else. That way you show Her Majesty your ability without fearing the court's impeachments."

Zhou Yingqiu was startled. "How do I shift it off?"

Madam Zhou said, "My lord, why are you being muddle-headed? The Ministry of Works has more than one Vice Minister besides you, and there's a Minister above as well. What's more, as long as you find a reason that leaves them no choice but to go along, won't that shut their mouths?"

Zhou Yingqiu's expression shifted slightly. He sat there pondering, then after a long while suddenly stood up and said, "Good, what you say is a fine method! Today, I'll let Her Majesty see my abilities for herself!"

Madam Zhou nodded with a smile, feeling quite satisfied within. If her husband could gain the favor of "Her Majesty the Empress," days of wealth and honor were not far off.

Zhou Yingqiu left his home, but instead of returning to the Ministry of Works, he quietly went to the east of the city, to the residence of Guan Yingzhen.

A little over half an hour later, Zhou Yingqiu came out and went to Qian Qianyi's residence, also for a little over half an hour.

Afterwards, Zhou Yingqiu quietly visited several more places, and as dusk was falling, he sat in a tavern slowly drinking wine by himself.

Guan Yingzhen was at home, writing a memorial with fury written all over his face, looking as if he would never give up.

"I will root out these vermin completely. **Xing, let's see what tricks you have this time to protect these corrupt officials and rotten clerks!"

Qian Qianyi paced back and forth in his study, his fat face covered in anxious color, constantly beading with fine sweat.

"What to do, what to do—**Xing, Donglin, Her Majesty the Empress, prison..."

Not long after, he gritted his teeth, spread open a memorial, picked up his brush, and wrote furiously.

Ten Battalion Commander lamps glowed like a long dragon; on the streets people came and went, voices bustling with joy.

At this moment, in the rear courtyard of the Ministry of Works yamen, the Minister of Works Zhong Yuzheng and Wang Shunding, who had just been transferred from Bureau Director of the Ministry of War to Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, sat in chairs, both with grave expressions.

"Reporting to Your Excellency, Madam Zhou said that Lord Zhou has gone out to visit friends and has not yet returned."

A runner rushed in and reported to Zhong Yuzheng.

Zhong Yuzheng frowned deeply, looked at Wang Shunding, and said, "Vice Minister Wang, what do you think should be done about this matter?"

Wang Shunding was an upright man, and now he too wore an indignant expression. He stood up and said, "Your Excellency, the people of the Chu faction have brought the fire to our Ministry of Works. The memorial has probably already entered the Grand Secretariat. If we make no move, when His Majesty investigates tomorrow, neither of us will escape blame."

Zhong Yuzheng had always cultivated quietude and non-action, striving hard to keep himself out of harm's way in this dye-vat of officialdom, but now he had no choice. His expression solemn, he nodded and said, "Those things listed by Guan Yingzhen and the others—even I don't understand them well. I fear it's not just people in our Ministry of Works involved; there are also those in the canal transport yamen who have been bought off by Guan Yingzhen!"

Seeing that Zhong Yuzheng made no mention of what to do, Wang Shunding couldn't help but say, "Your Excellency, now the Chu faction is pointing straight at our Ministry of Works. If we don't deal with it, I fear the Eastern Depot will step in."

Liu Shimin was different from others—though he had some tacit understanding with the Donglin Faction, he was more loyal to His Majesty. If the Ministry of Works truly neglected its duties, pretending to hear nothing and see nothing, he might very well intervene directly and investigate the Ministry of Works' dereliction of duty.

Zhong Yuzheng pondered for a long while, then raised his head to look at Wang Shunding. "Then what do you think?"

Wang Shunding was upright but not foolish—if he recklessly charged into investigating the canal transport, he would be torn to pieces. He looked at Zhong Yuzheng and said, "Your Excellency, why not let Lord Zhou investigate? Lord Zhou is sharp and alert; he may have a way."

Zhong Yuzheng thought it over, raised his head to glance at him, and said, "Fine, this matter will be given to Vice Minister Zhou to handle."

Wang Shunding acknowledged the order and left the room. With a cold, stern gaze he looked up at the sky and muttered to himself, "I'll use Zhou Yingqiu's hand to follow the vine and find the melon—let's see just how many tricks are hidden in this canal transport!"

Zhou Yingqiu finished his wine and staggered back into his residence.

"My lord, you're back at last. Why did you drink so much?" Madam Zhou supported Zhou Yingqiu, her face full of concern.

Though Zhou Yingqiu had drunk a fair amount, his mind was perfectly clear. Face flushed, he smiled and said, "Did an official document come from the yamen?"

Madam Zhou was even more surprised. "How did my lord know? The Ministry of Works yamen sent people looking for you several times without finding you, and just a moment ago an official document arrived directly."

Zhou Yingqiu went to the study, half-reclined in his chair, and looked at the Ministry of Works document through drunken, narrowed eyes. "My dear, you don't know—my Minister likes to play the hands-off boss. He appears not to manage anything, but in truth he keeps a very tight watch on the Ministry of Works, not allowing the slightest flaw to escape his grasp. That Lord Wang, seemingly upright and stern, is also remarkably skilled in his methods. Your husband truly holds no real power in the Ministry of Works. But this time, er—it won't be up to them!"

Madam Zhou watched Zhou Yingqiu in his drunken state and supported him. "My lord, you've had too much to drink. Why not go to sleep, and talk about it tomorrow after you wake?"

"Wake?" Zhou Yingqiu staggered to his feet and said with a chuckle, "Have the steward draft a leave request and send it to the Ministry of Works, saying I'm ill. Don't wake me tomorrow until the sun is high in the sky. Also, no matter who comes, I'm not seeing anyone."

Madam Zhou didn't know what was going on with Zhou Yingqiu, but she knew she wouldn't get anything out of him now. She agreed as she helped him into the bedroom.

Early the next morning, Wang Shunding arrived at the Ministry of Works yamen.

"Has Vice Minister Zhou arrived?" he asked the yamen runner as he set down his hat.

The runner stood at the door and said, "Reporting to Your Excellency, Lord Zhou is ill and just sent a family member with a leave request."

Wang Shunding's hand paused. He turned to look at him. "Ill? What illness?"

"Reportedly he caught a chill and needs to stay in bed for a few days," said the runner.

Wang Shunding's face darkened. How could he not see through Zhou Yingqiu's intentions? He simply knew there was no way to refuse, so he claimed illness to dodge the matter.

Wang Shunding's expression did not change. "Someone, spread the word—say that both I and Lord Zhong are ill, and all affairs of the Ministry of Works are to be handled by Vice Minister Zhou."

The runner was taken aback. "Yes, Your Excellency."

"Wait," Wang Shunding stopped the yamen runner who was about to leave, and said after a moment of deliberation: "Spread the news out — make sure everyone in the capital knows of it."

The yamen runner stared at Wang Shunding for a moment, then said, "Yes, my lord."