Chapter 127: Wei Zhongxian Strikes Back

The day was like a furnace, and even at night, every trace of breeze carried a stifling heat that was hard to bear.

Sitting in the pavilion, Zhu Xu held a cup of cold tea, drinking it quietly.

Not far from the table, Wei Zhongxian, dressed in black, knelt on the ground, having already knelt for who knew how long.

A smile hung at the corner of Zhu Xu's mouth. The eunuch Wei, whom he had once feared immensely and schemed by every means to eliminate, now knelt obediently at his feet—it still felt somewhat unreal.

After a long while, when Zhu Xu felt refreshed and clear-headed, he turned his head to look at him and said flatly, "I'll give you a chance. Convince me—otherwise, tonight you won't leave Jinghuan Palace."

Wei Zhongxian kowtowed again, his voice calm and gentle: "Your Highness, this servant can do many things for Your Highness. Most importantly, this servant will absolutely never cause Your Highness the slightest bit of trouble!"

"Let's hear it." Zhu Xu's expression did not change.

Wei Zhongxian knelt prostrate there, saying, "This servant knows Your Highness only wishes to earn silver in peace, and also knows of Your Highness's wariness toward factional strife. This servant can guarantee you—after tomorrow, no one will dare touch your business, or touch your people!"

Zhu Xu tapped his fingers on the stone tabletop, then suddenly said, "This man Shen Hong—remember, he can only be used in the shadows. Don't get too close to him, understand?"

Shen Hong was now a Grand Secretary, one of the Grand Secretariat's elders.

Wei Zhongxian's expression shifted slightly, then he said with even greater reverence, "Yes, Your Highness."

Zhu Xu raised his teacup, squinting as he said, "From now on, this prince will protect twenty people from your hands. Other than that, you and I have no further connection."

Wei Zhongxian prostrated himself even lower, saying, "Rest assured, Your Highness. This servant obeys in all things."

Zhu Xu touched the cup to his lips, and after a long pause said, "You may go."

Wei Zhongxian lay prostrate on the ground, his eyes fixed on the cold stone surface. Hearing that Zhu Xu would let him off so easily, his heart jolted again—yet he quickly steadied himself and bowed: "Yes, this servant takes his leave."

Wei Zhongxian remained utterly reverent from start to finish, slowly withdrawing from the pavilion.

Once Wei Zhongxian was gone, Cao Huachun emerged from not far off, waved away the four black-clad guards, and quietly stepped up behind Zhu Xu.

"Your Highness, are you really just letting him go like this?" Cao Huachun said with a worried look.

Zhu Xu looked up at the bright moonlight in the sky, a smile at the corner of his mouth, his expression inscrutable.

Wei Zhongxian knew very well that it was Zhu Xu who had personally cast him down into the dust, and this had greatly changed his temperament—no longer the vicious and arrogant man he once was.

"No need to worry," Zhu Xu stood up, hands clasped behind his back, speaking with an unreadable look. "Actually, I'm rather curious myself—after his comeback, what exactly will Wei Zhongxian do..."

The next day, an imperial edict was issued: Wei Zhongxian returned to the Directorate of Ceremonial, serving as brush-holding eunuch and Director of the Eastern Depot.

Naturally, the court officials erupted in an uproar.

In the court, the Donglin Faction had been overwhelming the other factions and dominating alone, but back then Wei Zhongxian had been so arrogant that even Grand Secretaries had to bow in submission. Countless courtiers feared him—those who resigned from office or were stripped of their ranks were too numerous to count.

They had expended such great effort to drive Wei Zhongxian out of court, and now that he was making a comeback, it filled the courtiers with terror—and even more with uncontrollable rage!

The remonstrance officials submitted memorials one after another, denouncing Wei Zhongxian and demanding that the Emperor banish him to prison for strict interrogation.

Zhu Youxiao handled it with his usual method—setting it aside first, neither asking nor responding.

This only further inflamed the courtiers' anger. Supervising Secretary Hui Shiyang and Minister of Justice Wang Ji jointly submitted a memorial to the Emperor, impeaching Grand Secretary Gu Bingqian and Wei Zhongxian for colluding with the palace lady Zhang Yanyao in plotting treason, demanding severe punishment.

Zhu Xu had been quietly watching from the palace these past days. When he heard that Wang Ji had also submitted a memorial, he clicked his tongue and shook his head, saying, "This Wang Ji is probably just burning the last of his fire."

Cao Wenzhao and Cao Huachun stood not far from Zhu Xu and nodded in silent agreement.

This Wang Ji had previously angered the Chu faction. Although officials like Guan Yingzhen had been forced to resign, their counterattack was still formidable. Wang Ji had barely held on for a while, but yesterday he had already submitted his resignation—it probably wouldn't be long before he got what he wished for.

Wei Zhongxian, meanwhile, was neither anxious nor angry. He brought his men, rode in his sedan chair, and arrived before Zhou Yingqiu's residence.

When Zhou Yingqiu heard that Wei Zhongxian had come to visit, his expression shifted slightly. After pondering for a long moment, he still went out to receive him.

"Eunuch Wei, what brings you to my humble abode?" Zhou Yingqiu received Wei Zhongxian into the main hall, serving tea while smiling with an unchanging expression.

Wei Zhongxian's face was cold and hard, his tone not sharp but rather deep and solid, his smile impossible to read as true or false: "Is Minister Zhou saying I've come too rarely?"

Not knowing what Wei Zhongxian was plotting, Zhou Yingqiu said politely, "Not at all—Eunuch Wei is joking."

Wei Zhongxian didn't beat around the bush, saying directly, "Minister Zhou, do you know that I am the household affairs steward of the Prince Hui residence?"

Zhou Yingqiu raised an eyebrow, looking at Wei Zhongxian with a slightly sinking expression, and said nothing more.

He couldn't verify the truth of Wei Zhongxian's words. Although he had thrown in with 'Her Majesty the Empress,' collusion between the inner palace and outer officials was a grave taboo that absolutely could not be spoken aloud.

Wei Zhongxian looked at Zhou Yingqiu, his smile seeming to gain a hint more sincerity, and said, "The reason I've come this time is to ask Minister Zhou to do me a favor."

Zhou Yingqiu's expression returned to normal, and he said, "What favor does Eunuch Wei want this official to do?"

Wei Zhongxian's gaze turned a shade colder and sharper: "I'd like to ask you to help connect with a few memorials."

Zhou Yingqiu caught his meaning, pondered for a moment, and said, "Is Eunuch Wei trying to deal with Hui Shiyang?"

Wei Zhongxian shook his head: "The person I want you to impeach is Minister of Justice Wang Ji!"

Zhou Yingqiu's brow furrowed slightly, then he said, "Does Eunuch Wei have any other matters needing this official's help?"

Wei Zhongxian smiled faintly: "My Eastern Depot has no great prison. I'd like to borrow the Shuntian Prefecture jail."

Zhou Yingqiu looked at Wei Zhongxian, thought it over, and said, "Very well. This official will find a way for you."

Wei Zhongxian immediately stood up: "Then I thank Minister Zhou in advance."

Zhou Yingqiu remained politely composed and saw Wei Zhongxian off.

As soon as Wei Zhongxian left, Lady Zhou emerged from the side door, looking puzzled: "Husband, is this Eunuch Wei really on the same side as us?"

Zhou Yingqiu's expression was grave: "Don't tell anyone about this. Have the servants keep their mouths tightly shut—not a word may leak out!"

Lady Zhou hastily acknowledged the order.

Zhou Yingqiu's relationship with Wei Zhongxian was out of the ordinary—previously they had even colluded in offering strategies to the Emperor. Now the two seemed to sit in the same boat, yet they remained at odds beneath the surface, each wary of the other.

Zhou Yingqiu stood before the main hall silently pondering, then suddenly strode outward, saying, "I'm going out for a while. Whatever happens, wait until I return to discuss it."

Zhou Yingqiu still didn't dare fully trust Wei Zhongxian. Even if he truly had thrown in with 'Her Majesty the Empress,' he felt he must make it clear to her—this man could not be trusted; he was a venomous snake that would bite its own master!

He went to an unremarkable teahouse, spoke with someone there for a while, wrote up a 'memorial,' and left only after nearly half an hour.