520 No need to wait any longer
Translator:JTJTY97 | Editor: JTJTY97 /Sparrow Translations “2-3 days?! You must be crazy. Even though the Crown Prince has lost the Ministry of Law and War, he still has the support of the other four ministries! Why don’t you just wait a little longer?” Ping Yang was confused.
“Wait till when?” Fang Zhengzhi replied. “Of course you should wait till…” Ping Yang stopped talking at that moment. She wanted to say ’till after the Crown Prince loses his position’. However, the Crown Prince was still her brother and she couldn’t bring herself to say it. “The Crown Prince is the Crown Prince. My case has nothing to do with him. If I wait till then, my case would be meaningless.” Fang Zhengzhi knew what Ping Yang was trying to say.
He could actually wait.
He could wait until King Duan had the advantage. He could also wait till the Crown Prince lost his position. However, whether he overturned his case then would be meaningless.
“Isn’t it difficult to overturn your case now? Furthermore… do you have any evidence?” Ping Yang nodded hesitantly but she quickly thought of another question. Fang Zhengzhi wanted to overturn his case using the Minister of Law? It was too difficult!
Furthermore, Wen Chuan hadn’t even assumed that position. Even if he did, he may not have the respect of his subordinates. Most importantly, Wen Chuan had no evidence.
It was quite difficult for him to overturn the case without any evidence on hand.
The Emperor would never agree to that.
“Evidence? Of course… I don’t have any.” Fang Zhengzhi shook his head. The only people who knew what really happened were the Crown Prince, Su Qing, and the eight mercenaries.
The eight mercenaries had already been disposed of.
Su Qing was the only one who knew the truth and he was currently in the Northern Region overseeing the Northern Five Constabularies. Most importantly, Su Qing would never testify against the Crown Prince.
“How do you want the Emperor to quash your case without evidence?” Ping Yang asked.
“We’ll find out when we try.” Fang Zhengzhi didn’t couldn’t actually explain how it would work. To be honest, he didn’t even know if he would be successful.
“Okay then, when do you plan to try?”
“She should be here in the next two to three days!”
“Her? Are you talking about…”
“Mm.” Fang Zhengzhi looked out the window and watched the rain. It had been more than a year…
… The rain slowed to a drizzle through the night. Inside a serene residence in the capital.
A figure sat inside a small pavilion, her smooth and soft hands playing the Guqin in front of her. The wind caused some of the rain to splatter inside and wet her dress. Her dress had glowing spots under the moonlight.
This was Yun Qingwu, the Young Master of the Demons.
Yet, she was in the capital of the Great Xia Dynasty. This was quite the unfathomable truth. “Young Master!” A figure completely hidden behind a black cloak appeared in front of Yun Qingwu.
“Mm.” Yun Qingwu acknowledged this man’s presence.
“Young Master, I have news to report. Wu Yuer is currently on the way back to the capital and the Queen of the Southern Region should be here in two days!”
“Two days. Wu Yuer, the Queen of the Southern Region, and Yan Qianli… Mm, I understand.” Yun Qingwu nodded and lifted her hands off the Guqin. She looked into the sky. “Did you find out where Bai Xing is being held?”
“No, but…” the man was about to make a deduction but he stopped himself. He knew that Yun Qingwu didn’t like deductions.
Yun Qingwu only valued facts as intel.
“It’s okay. Just send this letter to Ping Yang’s residence.”
“Yes!”
…
Dawn the next day…
The rain stopped and the sunlight lit up the golden throne room. The roof of the throne room was stained a golden color by the sunlight.
Hundreds of officials congratulated a middle-aged man as they walked out of the throne room.
That man was Wen Chuan. He was now the Minister of Law.
No one could have predicted that the battle for the position would have ended this way. Two assistant ministers had been incarcerated. Wen Chuan was the only one left.
Even though everyone knew that Wen Chuan was the only person left for that role, the process had still left them in shock.
“Hahaha, Official Wen, congratulations on your promotion. Please don’t forget us!”
“I heard that your son is already of mature age and doesn’t have any marital arrangements. My daughter is available…”
“Official Qin, your daughter is only 14-years-old right? Official Wen, why don’t you consider my niece? She would be perfect for your son!” The officials continued to jostle for Wen Chuan’s favor.
The jump from assistant minister to full minister had always been a large one. Many had failed the jump. However, once you made the jump, you were set for life. Minister of one of the six ministries. Your name would be recorded in the annals of history.
“My son is still young and immature. It is his honor to be held in such high regard by all of you. However… I still have to ask him for his opinion.” Wen Chuan bowed and waved them off.
“Yes, that is definitely necessary!”
“Official Wen, it is no wonder you are our superior. You are impartial and fair. The Ministry of Law is in good hands!”
“Indeed, Indeed!”
The officials did not seem angered by Wen Chuan’s refusal. Instead, they continued showering him with compliments.
At that moment, Crown Prince Lin Tianrong appeared from the throne room, his silver robe glistening in the sun.
“Ahem!” Crown Prince Lin Tianrong cleared his throat and walked briskly over to Wen Chuan. All of the officials were slightly shocked to see Crown Prince Lin Tianrong. After all, this was the entrance to the throne room. There was a rule that the members of the royal family were not to interact with the officials.
Was the jostling going to start now?
All of the officials parted to the side when they saw the Crown Prince.
“Official Wen!” Crown Prince Lin Tianrong greeted.
“Greetings, your highness.” Wen Chuan bowed to the Crown Prince.
“Mm, you need not be so formal. I heard that your son was once in the Mountain Breaking Army. There are few young men who have trained with such an elite squad. If you are free, do bring your son to the East Palace for a walk.” Crown Prince Lin Tianrong said calmly.
All of the officials knew what was going on. The Crown Prince was starting to position himself to recruit Wen Chuan.
Even though the Crown Prince seemed a little impatient…
His impatience was understandable. The Left Prime Minister had been arrested and Wan Chong was in jail. Shen Ming was also kneeling at the Ten Mile Lake.
It was impossible for the Crown Prince not to panic a little when faced with such a chain of events.
“Thank you, your highness. I will definitely bring my son to meet you one day!” Wen Chuan nodded respectfully.
“Very well.” Crown Prince Lin Tianrong nodded. He was about to say something when he saw another figure walk out of the Throne Room.
King Duan was visibly happier than the Crown Prince.
After all, the current situation was extremely favorable for him. It was no secret that Wen Chuan had not been valued despite his work in the ministry. Wen Chuan had never been truly valued by the Crown Prince.
Now that Wen Chuan was the Minister of Law, this was something that King Duan could capitalize on.
“Official Wen!” King Duan ignored Crown Prince Lin Tianrong and greeted Wen Chuan.
“Your Highness!” Wen Chuan bowed respectfully.
“I heard that Young Master Wen had trained and served with the Mountain Breaking Army. The army has an open position that I think he will be apt for. I wonder if you would be willing to let him take it up?” King Duan chuckled.
“Haha… King Duan, you kid me. It would be his honor to train in the army. I would like to thank you on his behalf!” Wen Chuan replied.
“Good. I think that tomorrow is a good time. If he is free, ask him to come to visit me!” King Duan nodded.
“Brother, are you rushing things a little?” Crown Prince Lin Tianrong frowned.
“Am I? I think you’re the one in a hurry!” King Duan replied.
“Humph!” Crown Prince Lin Tianrong snorted and turned to look at Wen Chuan, “Official Wen, I have to prepare for the arrival of the Southern Region. I’ll see you soon!”
“Crown Prince, take care!”
“Crown Prince, safe travels!”
Wen Chuan and the other officials bowed respectfully when they heard this.
King Duan smirked when he saw Crown Prince Lin Tianrong leave. “The Queen of the Southern Region is coming. I have to help with the preparations. I will be taking my leave now.” He added quickly.
“Safe travels, King Duan!” “Take care, King Duan!”
Wen Chuan and the officials bowed again.
The officials couldn’t help but sigh when they saw Crown Prince Lin Tianrong and King Duan leave.
Normally, the Minister of Law was not considered a hot commodity. There were more popular ministries to court. However, today, Wen Chuan was extremely popular now.
Anyone in the position now would be hot commodity.
It was rare that the Crown Prince and King Duan would jostle for position just outside the throne room.
Too many things had changed over the past few days. All of this… Only one name surfaced in the minds of all the officials. This was a name that they had disregarded before. Fang Zhengzhi! He had sent Minister of Law Wan Chong into jail the day he entered the city. Then, he implicated Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping and Minister of War Shen Ming days after.
Right now, Wen Chuan was the Minister of Law. No one could tell for sure where Wen Chuan’s allegiances lay. After all, all of the cases against Wan Chong, Yu Yiping, and Shen Ming had to go through him. He was the gatekeeper.
In other words, Wen Chuan could make or break the Crown Prince’s hold on power! This would also directly impact King Duan.
… Noon, two days later. Red silk adorned the eastern wall of the capital. There was a festive atmosphere in the air.
Two rows of armed soldiers in glistening armor stood at attention. Countless citizens gathered at the gate.
The Queen of the Southern Region was coming. This was a huge event for the people of the Great Xia. After all, the Southern Region was the largest vassal of the Great Xia. This was an important relationship.
Furthermore, this was the first delegation to visit the Great Xia since the war a year ago. Furthermore, the head of the delegation was the Queen herself.
“I heard that the Queen is not even 20-years-old yet!”
“Yes, I heard that she is very pretty! I would love to see her.”
“Shush! Don’t let others hear that! You may be executed for that.”
The crowd whispered amongst themselves.
At that very moment, there was a black dot in the distance. This dot grew bigger and bigger. It was accompanied by loud booming sounds.
“Woo!” A long, droning horn echoed through the air. “The Queen of the Southern Region is here!”
“Wow! This is such a grand entourage!”
Their eyes brightened as they watched the delegation approach the city. Everyone could not help but gasp in awe.
After all, this was a rare opportunity for them to witness the Queen of the Southern Region entering the capital.