Chapter 261: Colluding for Evil

"Are you Ma Chong?"

In less than half an hour, Ma Chong was brought to the Golden Throne Hall by Imperial Guard soldiers.

When the Imperial Guards found him, he was at a brothel, lying in bed with two women.

"Re... replying to the Emperor, this commoner is indeed Ma Chong," Ma Chong replied.

Mi Yan sized up Ma Chong, his brows knitting together.

This Ma Chong had a frail body and a pale complexion; one look and it was clear he was a man who indulged in female company.

How could such a person manage the Ma Family?

Thinking of this, he sighed softly, secretly lamenting how his nephew's fate was so bitter.

First, he had to fight the Northern Di, and now he had to go fight Xiliang.

Yet he also understood that the Emperor was helpless in this matter.

At present, the only person on the frontier he trusted was Yan Wang.

Zhao Heng's brows were also deeply furrowed; although he could appoint the Prefect, he could not decide the succession of the Ma Family.

And without the support of the Ma Family, this Prefect position was essentially no different from having none at all.

Precisely because of this, he had previously simply sold face to the powerful clans, letting them nominate the Prefect of the province while he merely gave it a glance.

Ma Yuan looked at Ma Chong at this moment and said, "Do you know that your father and younger brother are dead?"

"What!" Ma Chong was startled at first, then covered his face with his sleeves and let out a wailing cry, "Father..."

Zhao Heng frowned even more; why did this crying sound somewhat fake?

He said, "The Ma Family currently needs someone to take charge of the overall situation. After you return to Qinzhou, you must work with Yan Wang to resist Xiliang and retake Jinzhou."

"Yes, Emperor," Ma Chong bowed, still emitting sounds of weeping.

Thinking of the chaotic situation in the Northwest, Zhao Heng suddenly felt a wave of irritation. Without saying another word, he walked straight off the Dragon Throne and disappeared from the Golden Throne Hall.

Liang Cheng shouted "Court dismissed" while chasing after him.

With the Emperor gone, the officials looked at one another, shaking their heads and sighing as they dispersed.

Dou Wei turned to leave, but suddenly saw Ma Yuan blocking his path.

"Censor Ma, you..." Dou Wei crossed his arms and sized up the red-eyed Ma Yuan.

"It was you who did it, wasn't it?" Ma Yuan glared at Dou Wei.

This chaotic situation in the Northwest was far too coincidental.

Jincheng had been breached, and his older brother and nephew had died tragically.

Most importantly, he knew that Ma Chong had always been in close contact with the Dou Family.

Therefore, when an official mentioned Ma Chong succeeding as Head of the Family of the Ma Family, he immediately became suspicious.

"Censor Ma, you can eat whatever you want, but you cannot speak whatever you want," Dou Wei said coldly.

In the past, he would have yielded three points to Ma Yuan, as Ma Yuan had the Ma Family behind him.

But now that Ma Chong had succeeded the Ma Family, this Ma Yuan was nothing more than a stray dog; what right did he have to stand before him?

Seeing Dou Wei's arrogant demeanor, Ma Yuan was even more furious. He pointed at Dou Wei and said, "It was you! It must be you! Just you wait, I, Ma Yuan, will certainly get to the bottom of this and avenge my brother and nephew."

"Everyone, everyone, Censor Ma actually says that the father and son of the Ma Family were killed by me, the Prime Minister of Great Song. He must have gone mad from failing to inherit the position of Head of the Family," Dou Wei said, not only not angry but laughing out loud.

"Hahaha..." Many officials from the powerful clans echoed with laughter, their eyes filled with mockery as they looked at Ma Yuan.

Ma Yuan was furious and reached out to grab Dou Wei's collar.

At this moment, Mi Yan suddenly grabbed Ma Yuan and dragged him toward the outside of the hall, saying, "Prime Minister Dou, please do not take offense. Censor Ma must be overcome with grief and has become muddled."

Dou Wei gave a cold grunt, then lifted his head and walked away with his hands behind his back.

Returning to the Dou Mansion.

The cold expression on Dou Wei's face gradually vanished, and the smile at the corners of his mouth spread across his entire face, "Hahaha..."

Hearing his father's laughter, Dou Kuang walked over at this time.

However, he did not dare to get too close, only saying, "What has made Father so happy?"

Dou Wei was in an exceptionally good mood today, and even Dou Kuang seemed more pleasing to his eyes.

He said, "Ma Chong is now the Head of the Family of the Ma Family. This plan has gone exceptionally smoothly; it seems Heaven is also helping our Dou Family."

"Congratulations, Father. This is indeed a joyous event of the highest order," Dou Kuang said, feeling invigorated.

Dou Wei nodded, "By the way, go find Ma Chong and tell him to go to the manor outside Jinling City tonight; say that I want to see him off."

"Yes, Father," Dou Kuang replied and left with a smile.

Before he had walked many steps, he heard the conversation between his father and the Steward behind him, "Go and invite the Third Prince."

Upon hearing this, his smile instantly vanished, and his footsteps seemed to lose their strength.

Evening.

As the setting sun hid behind the black mountain of clouds, dyeing the sky in colors of red and yellow.

A carriage appeared within the Dou Family Manor outside Jinling City.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and Ma Chong stepped down, being led into the manor.

At this moment, his face was full of smug satisfaction; there was not a trace of grief left.

"Oh my, Head of the Family Ma, please take a seat," Dou Wei greeted him, taking Ma Chong's hand and sitting him down at the banquet.

He sat in the seat of honor, and Ma Chong sat at his left hand.

Dou Kuang and other members of the Dou Family sat further down.

"This is all thanks to the Prime Minister..." The gratitude in Ma Chong's eyes could almost overflow.

"Shh, you and I just need to know it in our hearts," Dou Wei interrupted him.

Ma Chong smiled and nodded.

At this moment, the wine and food were brought up, and the dancing girls began to dance gracefully amidst the chanting of the songstresses.

After three rounds of Wine, Dou Wei said, "Upon returning to Qinzhou this time, I hope the Head of the Family Ma will not forget the promise made to our Dou Family."

Ma Chong's eyes had been fixed on the graceful dancing girls; coming back to his senses, he said, "I understand the Prime Minister's meaning. Once I return this time, I will certainly arrange to send troops together and set a great trap for Yan Wang, causing him to lose soldiers and suffer casualties."

Dou Wei nodded with satisfaction, for in his view, Yanzhou was sparsely populated.

As long as Yan Wang's military strength was continuously depleted, gradually Yan Wang would have no soldiers left to use.

At the same time, the mass death of Yan Wang's able-bodied men would inevitably drag down Yan Wang's farming.

Thus, the further decline of Yanzhou was inevitable.

The arrogance of the Imperial Clan would also be beaten down.

By then, he would find another way to thoroughly put Yan Wang to death.

"However, after returning to Qinzhou, I am only afraid that there are members of the Ma Family who will not submit to me," Ma Chong suddenly became worried.

Dou Wei laughed softly, "You don't need to worry about that. Do you think you are the only one in the Ma Family who hopes Ma Xuan and Ma Han are dead? Otherwise, how do you think those death warriors knew the news that Ma Han had fled and Ma Xuan had taken only a dozen or so people to pursue him?"

Ma Chong suddenly realized, clapping his hands, "The Prime Minister is indeed far-sighted. With this, I can rest easy. As long as I sit firmly in the position of Head of the Family of the Ma Family, in the future I will certainly follow the Prime Minister's lead."

"Good," Dou Wei gave a light shout and drank a cup with Ma Chong.

Then he waved his hand, and two extremely charming dancing girls walked out from the ranks with light laughter and threw themselves into Ma Chong's arms.

With soft jade and warm fragrance, Ma Chong immediately forgot about Dou Wei's existence and only busied himself flirting with the dancing girls.

Dou Wei's eyes flickered.

Of the Eight Great Influential Clans, the Ma Family had now become a vassal of the Dou Family, and the Xiao Family had always been on good terms with the Dou Family.

Combining the strength of the three families, his influence in the imperial court would now rise greatly.

Whether it was to suppress the Imperial Clan or to contend for the position of Crown Prince for the Third Prince.

He would like to see who else could compete with him.