Chapter 95: Old Connections

Fu Tao was startled and said, "His Majesty has pardoned him?"

Zhu Xu didn't actually know much about the details either, and said, "Not sure yet. Just keep an eye on it—he may not come here. I'll have the Embroidered Uniform Guard watch this area as well. Don't worry."

Fu Tao knew quite a bit about Zhu Xu's affairs, and his expression turned grave at these words. His Highness Prince Hui had knocked Wei Zhongxian and Madam Ke down from their pedestals—one dead, one imprisoned. If this man walked out of prison alive, who knew what means he'd use to take revenge!

"Tell me about the factory," Zhu Xu said.

Fu Tao quickly glanced around before speaking cautiously: "There are some problems. Many connections need to be smoothed over; it won't be feasible in a short time."

Zhu Xu nodded slightly. Running a small trial site was no problem, but large-scale production of firearms was no small matter. Even as Vice Minister of Revenue, with all sorts of authority and convenience at his disposal, it wouldn't be easy.

He mused for a moment and said, "Mm, have Uncle start with something small, then expand gradually later. Don't rush, don't make a mess."

Fu Tao acknowledged and promised to remember, then added, "Father also said the salt matter has its troubles too. These things were all established by convention; changing them rashly would easily arouse suspicion and backlash. Not to mention within the Ministry of Revenue itself, all the other parties involved would resist as well. It will take time to work through slowly, and when necessary, Your Highness may need to step in personally."

Zhu Xu took a deep breath. He wondered if this summer was simply at odds with him—one piece of bad news after another, not a single good one.

"Alright, understood." Having received no good news, Zhu Xu had no heart to sit around any longer. Better to return to the palace and hide among the ice blocks where it was comfortable.

Zhu Xu boarded the carriage with Cao Huachun and headed straight back to the palace. He was still restricted by Empress Zhang and could no longer roam about freely and carelessly as before.

At the thought of this, Zhu Xu's already sour mood turned even worse.

After Zhu Xu left the Huitong Trading Company, Wei Liangqing walked up to Fu Tao with a stiff smile on his face and said, "Young Master Fu, did His Highness Prince Hui have any instructions?"

Fu Tao didn't actually like Wei Liangqing. Hearing his words, he thought for a moment and said, "Why don't you, Chief Steward, make some moves and find Eunuch Wei?"

Wei Liangqing's face changed at that, then he looked at Fu Tao through gritted teeth and said, "Yes, Young Master Fu. Please tell His Highness that even if it costs me my life, I will find my uncle!"

Fu Tao nodded, seemingly not taking his words to heart, and turned to enter the accounting room.

Wei Liangqing watched Fu Tao's retreating figure, a cruel look flashing across his face and his eyes flickering. He walked to the door and said to the attendant, "I'm going out on business. Whatever comes up, wait until I return to discuss it."

The attendant quickly replied, "Yes, Steward."

Wei Liangqing went out the door and boarded his carriage, his expression shifting unpredictably. Toward Wei Zhongxian, his feelings were complicated indeed. But now he had thrown in his lot with Her Majesty the Empress, and Her Majesty was at odds with his uncle. He knew full well now that he absolutely could not let His Highness think he still harbored old loyalties toward Wei Zhongxian—otherwise neither side would let him off easy!

"To the Zhou residence." Inside the carriage, Wei Liangqing said with furrowed brows. He knew his own wits weren't enough, so naturally he had to seek out someone clever.

Before long, in the equally sweltering main hall of the Zhou residence, Wei Liangqing finished laying out the matter and fell silent with a gloomy expression.

Zhou Yingqiu listened, and his gaze turned strange as well.

He sighed inwardly—truly worthy of Eunuch Wei. Cast into the imperial prison, where merely surviving was already difficult, and yet he stubbornly tried to rise from the ashes, even stirring up such a commotion!

But then he shook his head slightly and looked at Wei Liangqing, saying, "Brother Wei, you're overthinking things. Eunuch Wei was no match for Her Majesty before; now that he's fallen to such a state, he's even less a match for her. If he stays hidden like this, he might beg for his life and survive. But if he shows his face, Her Majesty in her fury would likely have him lying dead in the street."

Wei Liangqing felt an immediate relief in his heart, then suddenly grew alert. In truth, he didn't care whether Wei Zhongxian lived or died—what he feared was Wei Zhongxian regaining power and putting him in a dangerous dilemma!

Listening to Zhou Yingqiu's words, he mulled it over and then agreed, "Brother Zhou speaks sensibly. But the most important thing now is to find him as soon as possible. Otherwise, if he does something out of line, it might well implicate us."

Zhou Yingqiu's brows also furrowed. They were all old associates of Wei Zhongxian. If Wei Zhongxian truly did something against Her Majesty the Empress, it would very likely drag him down too.

He pondered for a long while, then said, "Eunuch Wei doesn't have many people he can use now, and even fewer he can absolutely trust. If we truly want to investigate, it wouldn't be difficult for us."

Wei Liangqing's eyes lit up—Zhou Yingqiu had hit the nail on the head. Although he hadn't been valued by Wei Zhongxian before, he was still his nephew, and many matters weren't kept from him. Moreover, Ke Guangxian, Hou Guoxing, and the others were all in his hands. If he mobilized them to find out who had sent Zhang Yanyao into the palace, then follow the trail to Wei Zhongxian—it wouldn't be hard at all!

"Good, I'll go handle it right away. I'll find my uncle today!" Wei Liangqing said as he stood up to leave.

"Don't rush," Zhou Yingqiu pressed his hand down and smiled. "First we need to verify whether Eunuch Wei has truly been released from prison, and also whether he truly intends harm against Her Majesty."

Wei Liangqing was taken aback. Logically speaking, Wei Zhongxian would naturally seek revenge upon release. But the current situation was that Wei Zhongxian had sunk to rock bottom—even without Her Majesty raising a hand, there were plenty who wanted him dead. He probably didn't have the nerve or the ability to seek revenge against the Empress anyway.

"Then... what should I do now?" Wei Liangqing was at a loss and asked Zhou Yingqiu again.

A cold smile tugged at Zhou Yingqiu's lips. He too didn't want Wei Zhongxian to regain power—that would bring him nothing but harm. He said flatly, "Have your people investigate. Do it both quietly and conspicuously—let Eunuch Wei know we're looking for him, and force him to show himself."

Wei Liangqing quickly understood Zhou Yingqiu's intent, but still asked, "And what if he goes into even deeper hiding?"

Zhou Yingqiu shook his head. "He won't. If he truly only wanted to save his own skin, he wouldn't have sent that concubine of yours into the palace to curry favor with His Majesty."

Wei Liangqing felt reassured and clasped his fists. "Good, thank you, Brother Zhou. I'll be off now. Oh, and let me share a piece of news with you—His Highness plans to bring you back into office."

Zhou Yingqiu's originally composed expression suddenly changed, and he stood up. "Brother Wei, are you speaking the truth?"

Wei Liangqing smiled and said, "Eunuch Feng by His Highness's side has some acquaintance with me—he's the one who revealed it to me."

Zhou Yingqiu's mind immediately ran through the positions at court. Of the Six Ministers, three posts were currently vacant: Justice, Works, and War. The Ministry of Justice already had its decision made, and the Ministry of War was beyond his qualifications to touch. That left only the post of Minister of Works.

'Could it be... His Highness intends to appoint me as Minister of Works?'

A hint of joy appeared on Zhou Yingqiu's face. This would be a major step forward—bringing him that much closer to entering the Grand Secretariat!

"Your Highness, something terrible has happened—Her Majesty the Empress is in trouble!" No sooner had Zhu Xu stepped through the palace gates than Yao Qingqing came running over, her face full of urgency, shouting.