Chapter 24: Ni Wenhuan

"Then, what should we do?"

Cao Wenzhao thought for a moment, then still looked at Zhu Xu and asked.

Zhu Xu thought it over, then said: "I'll write a letter. You take it to Minister Zhang and have him come forward to get this man out. Then pass word to Zhou Jianyu and see whether this Censor Ni's pledge of allegiance is worth anything."

Cao Wenzhao was stunned, then said: "Your Highness, you mean the former Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Zhang Wenda?"

Zhu Xu smiled amiably and nodded: "No need to worry about whether he'll go. Right now, if he wants to leave the capital, he still needs my approval."

Cao Wenzhao was overjoyed to hear this and said: "That's best. This way Your Highness doesn't have to appear personally, and we don't have to worry about that old fox Luo Sigong finding out."

Zhu Xu quickly finished writing a letter and handed it to Cao Wenzhao, giving careful instructions: "When the time comes, if he raises any conditions, agree to them readily. Heh heh, as long as he helps me this once, next time he'll find it even harder to refuse."

Cao Wenzhao had always admired Zhu Xu's infallible planning. He took the letter and immediately said: "This subordinate will send someone right away."

Zhu Xu waved his hand and turned to go inside. Cao Huachun, who was not far away, immediately followed.

"Where is His Majesty the Emperor now?" Zhu Xu asked casually.

"Reporting to Your Highness," Cao Huachun said in a low voice, "His Majesty spends his days in the Imperial Study, and at night returns to the warm chamber of Qianqing Palace. Occasionally the Empress will go over, but at other times he is alone."

Zhu Xu could sense that something must have happened around Zhu Youxiao, that someone was hidden there. But no matter how he probed, there wasn't a single clue—even Empress Zhang let not the slightest hint slip.

Zhu Xu lay on the reclining chair, gazing at the roof beams, thoughts turning in his mind. He murmured to himself: "I need to find a way."

——

——

East of the city, the Zhang residence.

People came and went in the mansion, moving things back and forth, bustling with feverish activity—clearly the scene of a household packing up to move.

Zhang Wenda's request to retire had just been approved, and he was already impatient to return to his hometown.

At this moment, dressed in casual clothes, he sat in a chair, looking at Zhu Xu's letter beside him with a strange expression on his face.

The steward emerged from the side gate and, seeing Zhang Wenda's expression, walked over and said respectfully: "Master, is it a letter from His Highness Prince Hui?"

The corners of Zhang Wenda's mouth twitched slightly, a smile that wasn't quite a smile, his expression very odd. He said: "This His Highness wants me to go to the Embroidered Uniform Guard to vouch for someone and get him out."

The steward's expression was also unusual at this moment. His master had occupied the high position of Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and those who came to request favors or ask for help were beyond counting—but a letter like this, commanding without room for doubt that his master go vouch for someone, was a first.

It took the steward a long while to compose himself. Looking at Zhang Wenda, he said: "Then Master, should we write back and decline politely?"

Zhang Wenda shook his head slightly: "I have already resigned my post and am about to return to my hometown. Regardless of whose commission this His Highness was acting on before, if I refuse this time, most likely I truly won't be able to leave."

The steward's eyes went wide at once: "Then Master, are you really going to the Embroidered Uniform Guard to vouch for someone?" It was impossible not to be shocked—this was the first time in over a decade that his master had agreed to someone's request to vouch for a person.

In his heart, Zhang Wenda also found it extremely strange. Zhu Xu had simply sent him this letter, and he couldn't refuse!

After a long pause, Zhang Wenda stood up and said: "I'll write a letter. You deliver it personally to the Luo residence and see Luo Sigong. He'll do me this favor."

The steward still felt uncomfortable inside, but he had no choice but to nod.

Soon, a strange atmosphere appeared in the Luo residence as well.

Luo Sigong looked at Zhang Wenda's note. The words inside were very simple—he wanted to vouch for the brother-in-law of that one who had been protecting Ni Wenhuan.

Luo Sigong's eyes were like an eagle's, narrowed, glinting with cold light.

"My lord, what does Minister Zhang mean by this?"

Beside him stood a middle-aged man in embroidered uniform and python robe, frowning as he looked at the note in Luo Sigong's hand.

It was a long while before Luo Sigong let out a cold, mocking laugh: "Yang Zhe, it seems the person behind this is truly not simple. Even Zhang Wenda, known as the Ice-Faced Minister, can be commanded. This time we've stirred up the grass and startled the snake."

The middle-aged man's brow furrowed even deeper. He bowed slightly and said thoughtfully: "My lord, this person behind it all—friend or foe?"

Luo Sigong pondered for a while, then shook his head: "Minister Zhang's face cannot be refused. Yang Zhe, go personally to fetch the man and release him directly. Don't concern yourself with anything else, and pull all our people back."

Yang Zhe was the Vice Guard Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the actual controller of the Embroidered Uniform Guard at present.

Upon hearing this, he immediately said: "Yes, my lord. I'll go handle it at once."

Luo Sigong watched Yang Zhe's retreating figure, a chill in his heart, his gaze like an arrow piercing the darkness. He murmured lowly to himself: "Who exactly is it, that even Minister Zhang can be moved to act…"

Less than the time it takes to burn a stick of incense.

"Manager Zhou, please have some tea."

In a private room of a teahouse, a thin man of around thirty, dressed in a fine silk long mandarin jacket, attentively poured tea for Zhou Jianyu.

Zhou Jianyu sat upright in the seat of honor, a faint smile at the corners of his mouth, appearing quite cordial—though in truth, the two were meeting for the first time.

"You're too kind, Magistrate Jiang." Zhou Jianyu accepted the teacup, polite but neither warm nor cold.

Inwardly, he was actually quite shocked as well. Jiang Yongde's case had been handled personally by Yang Zhe, the Vice Guard Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Not to mention a mere Bureau Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue—even a Minister, or even a Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat, might not get the Embroidered Uniform Guard to show face. Yet in just a little over half an hour, Jiang Yongde had truly been released.

He was shocked, but Ni Wenhuan, who sat off to the side and had remained silent all along, was even more so. In the old days when Wei Zhongxian was still in power, he might have found a way to maneuver, spending silver to buy his life. But now Wei Zhongxian had already fallen. He had thought this case could never be overturned and would even drag him in—yet unexpectedly, just when the mountains and rivers seemed to end, another village appeared in the willows' shade.

Once Jiang Yongde sat down, Ni Wenhuan pulled a bank draft from his bosom and slid it across the table, saying with a chuckle: "Many thanks this time to Manager Zhou for your mediation. A small token of appreciation, not worthy of your notice."

Zhou Jianyu lowered his eyes for a glance and his heart leaped—five thousand taels!

But he quickly concealed it, pushing the bank draft back with a slight smile: "Magistrate Ni should be well aware that what saved Magistrate Jiang was not a bank draft."

Ni Wenhuan was taken aback at these words and hastily said: "Manager Zhou speaks truly." After a brief hesitation, he added another bank draft and pushed it over, then leaned in closer and said in a low voice: "Manager Zhou, might you reveal a bit of the inside story?"

Zhou Jianyu's heart suddenly turned cold. His face darkened as he said coldly: "Magistrate Ni should know the rules. My master was able to get Magistrate Jiang out, and can just as easily send you all back in!"

A chill ran through Ni Wenhuan's whole body. He said hurriedly: "Manager Zhou, please don't misunderstand. I have no other intention—I merely hope to be able to do your master a small service, to repay this great kindness."

Zhou Jianyu had witnessed the power behind Fu Changzong, and by now had firmly resolved to cling to this powerful thigh. How could he dare step even half a line out of bounds? As for Ni Wenhuan's intentions, how could he not know them—nothing more than that Wei Zhongxian had fallen, and he wanted to find himself another backer.

He thought to himself that winning over a Censor like this would surely be of help to the 'master.' His expression unchanged, he said: "When I return, I will convey your words to my lord. But Magistrate Ni should be clear about what it was that got Magistrate Jiang out."

Ni Wenhuan's expression shifted through several changes. After a brief internal struggle, he glanced at Jiang Yongde, then leaned close to Zhou Jianyu's ear and whispered something.

Zhou Jianyu's face changed dramatically: "What you said—is it true?"