Chapter 109: Wang Zhe's Little Scheme

One day later, at the prefectural city.

Before the towering, solemn city gates, Jiang Jiang Mingyu, seated on horseback, couldn't help but sigh: "You really shouldn't have come."

Tu Tu Kesiluo frowned tightly, looking at Jiang Jiang Mingyu with anxious eyes, his voice low.

His hands gripped the reins tightly, his knuckles white from the force.

Tu Tu Kesiluo, draped in a snow-white great cloak, smiled: "Isn't it too late to say this now?" he retorted, his gaze cold, a sneer curling the corner of his mouth.

His sharp gaze swept across the city gates, like an unsheathed long sword.

"My lord said it long ago: if it's a blessing, it cannot be avoided; if it's a disaster, one cannot hide from it. Let's enter the city."

He shook his head helplessly, then resolutely took the lead and entered the city.

The wide white cloak billowed behind him, his stern profile revealing determination.

Behind him, Jiang Jiang Mingyu shook his head helplessly, then followed Tu Tu Kesiluo's steps.

He sighed, feeling somewhat amused yet helpless, and could only follow Tu Tu Kesiluo into the city.

Gazing at Tu Tu Kesiluo's back with complex emotions, he felt a multitude of sentiments in his heart.

As they walked into the Inspector's residence, Jiang Jiang Mingyu, who had been somewhat uneasy, gradually calmed down.

He took a deep breath, his eyes becoming determined, his spine straightening. His steps became steady and powerful, his expression regaining its composure.

Thinking of his earlier worries, he couldn't help but chuckle inwardly: "Even if there truly is some scheme, so what?" he mocked himself internally.

He clenched his fists, deliberately ignoring the unease in the bottom of his heart.

"I, this official, feared not the Xi Xia cavalry who kill without blinking; why should I fear the Prince of Qi?" he clenched his fists tightly in secret, summoning his courage.

His chest heaved as he drew in a deep breath.

"As long as I, this official, survive today, in the future I will personally lead a great army to take the Prince of Qi's life, eliminating the trouble forever." Fiery rage blazed in his eyes.

Bright light shot from his pupils, his tone firm and powerful.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu calmly glanced at Tu Tu Kesiluo beside him, then strode forward, heading straight for the main hall.

His steps were determined, without a shred of hesitation.

His spine straight, his aura fully unleashed, he faced everything head-on.

Wang Zhe was the same as ever, dressed in official robes, with a grizzled beard and a faint smile on his face.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu bowed slightly with clasped hands: "Inspector, may I ask what instructions you have for summoning this subordinate here?" He was respectful and polite, his demeanor proper, his eyes clear and unflinching.

Wang Zhe shifted his gaze from the documents on his desk: "Lord Jiang, have you been well lately?" he asked with a beaming smile, his tone gentle, radiating spring breeze as if he bore Jiang Jiang Mingyu no hostility whatsoever.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu's expression remained very respectful: "Thanks to your concern, my lord, this official is just as usual," he answered modestly, his gaze fixed intently on Wang Zhe.

His demeanor was submissive, handling the situation with care.

Wang Zhe stood up and scrutinized Jiang Jiang Mingyu from head to toe: "Lord Jiang, you have immense audacity." He narrowed his eyes, his tone suddenly carrying a hint of chill.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu, opposite him, remained unruffled, merely thinking inwardly, "Is it starting this soon?" His face remained calm, though he secretly clenched his fists.

Meanwhile, Tu Tu Kesiluo, standing right beside him, subtly changed color, his hand gripping his sword scabbard gradually tightening.

His brows locked deeply, he stared unblinkingly at Wang Zhe, as if trying to pierce through his thoughts.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled calmly: "I wonder what heaven-angering and human-resenting deed this subordinate has committed to disturb the Inspector?" he asked humbly, his demeanor submissive.

Wang Zhe offered no pleasantries: "Lord Jiang, in front of this official, you still will not speak the truth?" He raised his voice, his tone severe.

"Leading troops to suppress bandits, such a major matter, and you didn't even inform this official?" He pressed step by step, adopting an interrogating stance.

"What, were you afraid this official would steal your credit?" Wang Zhe asked mockingly, intending to tease Jiang Jiang Mingyu.

Seeing that this was what he was talking about, Tu Tu Kesiluo, who had been tense to the extreme, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

He slightly loosened his hand gripping the sword, and his shoulders relaxed as well.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu's tense body also subconsciously relaxed: "A trivial matter, how would I dare disturb you, my lord?" he responded modestly.

"Now that the bandit plague in Shangmu has been pacified, this subordinate can finally calm his mind and devote himself entirely to dealing with the Xi Xia people," he said earnestly, expressing his loyalty.

Wang Zhe paced back and forth: "Lord Jiang, this is no trivial matter." He stopped, refuting with a serious expression.

"This official intends to submit a memorial to the court and report to His Majesty to request merit for you," he stated, revealing another purpose.

"If His Majesty learns of Lord Jiang's actions in Shangmu, he will be very pleased," Wang Zhe implied meaningfully.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled lightly: "It is all due to the Inspector's excellent guidance; how would this subordinate dare to claim credit?" he modestly declined, probing cautiously.

With matters unclear, caution was still the best policy.

He secretly speculated on Wang Zhe's intentions; while his expression remained normal, his inner vigilance heightened.

Wang Zhe, opposite him, waved his hand: "Lord Jiang, there is no need for such courtesy." He switched to a smile, adopting a friendly attitude, a gentle curve on his lips, radiating an approachable aura.

"From the earlier extermination of the Xi Xia people to the recent bandit suppression, this official can see that you are absolutely a rare talent," Wang Zhe praised, a glint of approval flashing in his eyes as he nodded in affirmation.

"This official treats you as one of my own and wishes to speak a few heartfelt words; I wonder if Lord Jiang would like to hear them?" he asked with a hint of flattery, his attitude eager, leaning forward with his hands on the table to indicate closeness.

Looking into Jiang Jiang Mingyu's eyes, the smile he had just worn gradually vanished.

His expression turned serious, his thick brows slightly furrowed, the corners of his mouth drooping, his entire person radiating the aura of discussing serious business.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu thought inwardly, "If you have something to say, just say it quickly; only a fool would be willing to beat around the bush with you here."

But on the surface, he quickly changed to an expression of terrified reverence: "Please enlighten me, my lord."

Wang Zhe nodded: "Lord Jiang, if this official remembers correctly, you were once His Majesty's study companion." He hesitated slightly, then straightforwardly stated Jiang Jiang Mingyu's identity.

His tone was certain, his eyes shrewd.

"Although you are currently in Shangmu, you must have heard something about the situation at court," Wang Zhe surmised, his gaze deep as he scrutinized Jiang Jiang Mingyu from head to toe.

"Now that His Majesty has only just ascended the dragon throne, his foundations are unstable, and many people are eyeing that dragon seat," he hinted at the turbulent court situation, his voice low and his expression serious.

Speaking, he continued on his own: "Nowadays, the rift between His Majesty and the Prince of Qi is growing larger and larger." His speech quickened, his emotions agitated, as he stood up and paced incessantly around the room.

"The Prince of Qi's disobedience toward His Majesty is already common knowledge; what he intends to do, no one in the entire Great Feng Kingdom is unaware of," Wang Zhe continued, looking troubled and sighing repeatedly.

"To say something that perhaps shouldn't be said, the Prince of Qi's rebellion is only a matter of time," his voice was barely audible, like a sigh, his face written with worry.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu heard his words, his face showing nothing, but secretly pondered his intentions.

Wang Zhe's radical remarks made him suspicious; could he be trying to recruit him to oppose the Prince of Qi?

He guessed and analyzed in his mind, his expression calm, yet his inner vigilance heightened.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu, who had been worrying about how to speak, quickly seized the thread of conversation: "My Lord Inspector, has something happened?"

He feigned a look of concern and pressed Wang Zhe further.

His brows knitted tightly, his eyes focused, wearing an appearance of anxious unease.

Wang Zhe snorted coldly: "You should have known long ago about Tang Cheng'an secretly going to Shangmu." He spoke with a hint of contempt, his gaze sweeping toward Jiang Jiang Mingyu.

Disdain permeated his tone; he let out a cold laugh and watched Jiang Jiang Mingyu with leisurely composure.

"This man has the heart of a wolf and the ambition of a beast; he actually intends to use your troop recruitment in Shangmu to topple this official."

Wang Zhe spoke, his tone indignant.

He clenched his fists tightly, veins bulging, fire burning in his eyes, his mouth twitching, wearing an appearance of deep resentment.

"Although this official possesses special intelligence documents approved by the Ministry of War, if the Prince of Qi makes a big deal out of this matter, it will likely be another major trouble." He sighed, wearing an appearance of being overworked.

His shoulders slumped, his hand stroked his forehead, his face full of exhaustion.

"Fortunately, this official discovered it in time and severely warned Tang Cheng'an, so he dropped the matter."

Wang Zhe said proudly, lifting his chin, brimming with self-satisfaction.

He puffed out his chest, raised his head, his smug expression overflowing.

Hearing this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu was instantly overjoyed.

He quietly breathed a sigh of relief; the news about Tang Cheng'an had not leaked, so he was temporarily safe.

His expression finally softened, revealing a small smile, his gaze inadvertently drifting toward Tu Tu Kesiluo.

He never dreamed in his wildest dreams that the news about Tang Cheng'an hadn't even spread beyond the provincial capital.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu quietly glanced at Tu Tu Kesiluo; both saw a sense of relief in each other's eyes.

Then, he became somewhat worried: "One can be a thief for a thousand days, but one cannot guard against a thief for a thousand days." He feigned an appearance of deep concern.

He sighed, his hands tightly clasped, his brows furrowed deeply, wearing an appearance of lingering worry.

Wang Zhe, however, signaled him not to worry: "Rest assured, My Lord Jiang." He comforted him with a chuckle, his face overflowing with smiles.

"On the night I warned Tang Cheng'an, this official had already reported the matter in full detail to the Emperor." Wang Zhe explained, his eyes open and honest, his demeanor full of solemn oaths.

"Now the Emperor is already prepared; even if the Prince of Qi tries to make trouble again, it is nothing major." He spoke with indifference, wearing an appearance of complete confidence, his face beaming.

Hearing him say this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu's heart felt unsettled.

If Wang Zhe and the Emperor joined forces, and he provoked the Prince of Qi, how could he possibly survive?

He worried secretly, yet forced his spirit up on his face, managing to squeeze out a smile.

But Wang Zhe continued on his own: "My Lord Jiang, you are also a man of Prime Minister He, so this official will not beat around the bush." He shifted his tone, cutting straight to the point.

A sly smile lingered at the corner of his mouth, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

"Prime Minister He is currently unable to save himself; I must seek another patron." He explained his reasoning, his tone firm.

He shook his head, wearing an appearance that Prime Minister He was powerless.

"I know My Lord Jiang was once the Emperor's reading companion; I wonder if My Lord Jiang would be willing to speak a few good words for me to the Emperor at that time. I will certainly help the Emperor topple the Prince of Qi to resolve this lingering worry." A hint of expectation flashed in Wang Zhe's eyes as he looked toward Jiang Jiang Mingyu.

He pressed his palms together, earnestly requesting Jiang Jiang Mingyu's help.

Hearing him say this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu was extremely pleased.

Wang Zhe actually wanted to recruit him; this was an excellent opportunity.

He excitedly widened his eyes.

"My Lord Wang, rest assured; this official will certainly report to the Emperor and inform him." He readily agreed, his face overflowing with joy.

The corners of his mouth could not help but turn upward, his eyes filled with excitement.

From his earlier words, it was not hard to hear that Wang Zhe valued him greatly and hoped he would align with Jiang Jiang Mingyu's camp.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu secretly speculated that if he helped Wang Zhe board the Emperor's chariot, his own position would become even more secure.

He had already painted a beautiful prospect in his mind.

And Jiang Jiang Mingyu could also use this opportunity to continue expanding his power in Shangmu, making full preparations to eliminate the Prince of Qi.

A sly glint flashed in his eyes, and the corners of his mouth curved into a cunning arc.

Wang Zhe nodded very satisfied: "Good, My Lord Jiang, this official indeed did not misjudge you; I will have to rely on you more in the future." He said approvingly, his face beaming.

He patted Jiang Jiang Mingyu's shoulder in agreement, signaling seamless cooperation between the two.

His face was piled high with smiles, the grins almost squeezing to his ears.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu could not help but give a bitter smile: "These are matters for later; let us first wait until this subordinate destroys the Other Xi Xia people who will inevitably come." He changed the subject, indicating he would work hard.

The smile faded from his face, and his tone became serious again.

His lips pressed into a straight line, and his brows furrowed a bit more.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu thought that if his head, My Lord Jiang's head, became a chamber pot for the Other Xi Xia people, all of this would be empty talk.

He secretly clenched his fists, understanding that everything was still built on the foundation of his ability to survive.

His fingernails dug deeply into his palms, leaving crescent-shaped marks.

Wang Zhe sighed: "Indeed, this is the top priority at present." He nodded in agreement, wearing an appearance of resounding strength.

He slapped the table hard, producing a loud "Bang."

"Completely crushing the Other Xi Xia people is also a good thing for the Emperor."

He continued speaking, a glint flashing in his eyes.

His voice was loud, his tone impassioned.

"With such merit, it is equivalent to consolidating the Emperor's throne and adding another layer of security."

He echoed Jiang Jiang Mingyu, declaring his support for dealing with the Other Xi Xia.

He nodded repeatedly, slapping his thigh in agreement.

He was just getting into his speech when a Yamen Runner suddenly came to report from outside the door: "Reporting to my lord, Lord Tang requests an audience."

Wang Zhe started at the sound, his expression shifting slightly, and his words cut off abruptly mid-sentence.

He exchanged a glance with Jiang Jiang Mingyu, and both saw the puzzlement in the other's eyes.

Both raised their eyebrows, looking at each other.