When Prince Chu left Wu Hua Mountain, he arranged for so people to remain in Guihua Village. Among them were Prince Chu’s own people, as well as people from the Crown Prince’s faction. This was to make the Crown Prince and Duke Zhen believe that there was nothing unusual about Wu Hua Mountain and that he hadn’t found the stolen bronze.
In addition to this matter, there was another aspect that gave confidence to the Crown Prince and Duke Zhen, which was the Western Garrison Army Camp. Should the emperor truly depose the Crown Prince, the Western Garrison would rebel. However, rebellion is a path taken only as a last resort.
Unless driven to a dead-end, neither Duke Zhen nor the Crown Prince would consider rebellion. Rebellion is not only a capital cri but also damages reputations. Even if they succeeded, they would still be labeled as traitors, carrying the stigma of treason for life.
The Xie family of Duke Zhen Mansion has been a reputable family for a hundred years. Even during the chaotic tis of the previous dynasty, they never rose in rebellion. For if they did, their centuries-old honor would be utterly destroyed, forever branded as traitors.
Moreover, the entire Western Garrison only consists of over a hundred thousand soldiers, not nearly a match for the four Great Generals.
Duke Zhen knew clearly that with just the Western Garrison, a rebellion could never succeed. Not to ntion the four Great Generals, even the Imperial Guards, who once fought alongside the Emperor to conquer the country, are fierce and battle-ready. Though they haven’t been to the battlefield in over ten years, it doesn’t an they’ve turned into weaklings. Should anyone rebel, these guards would beco the fiercest warriors of Great Zhou.
Now isn’t the best ti for rebellion, but in a few years, who can say? By then, the Western Garrison might contend with the Imperial Guards and the troops of the four Great Generals.
In the Duke Mansion, Duke, no, he’s no longer the Duke, the Patriarch of the Xie family was speaking with his son, now newly appointed as Duke Zhen.
Having been stripped of the Duke title, the Xie Family Patriarch didn’t beco haggard or despondent, on the contrary, he looked in great spirits, his deanor relaxed.
"Father, news from the palace is that the Crown Prince is well."
The Xie Family Patriarch nodded slightly, saying, "It’s good the Crown Prince can hold his composure this ti."
The newly appointed Duke Zhen expressed so concern, "Father, I’m afraid the Crown Prince won’t be able to endure for long."
"Endure he must, if he wants to hold onto his position, he must endure."
"Father, you know the Crown Prince’s temperant. He might bear one or two months, but over several, I doubt he has the patience," the young Duke Zhen said, "By the way, the Crown Prince also urged us to quickly kill Prince Jing, or he won’t be able to swallow his anger."
"Prince Jing is overseeing the upcoming provincial and imperial exams in Jinling; we can’t act against him. We’ll have to wait until he returns from Jinling before we can eliminate him." The Xie Family Patriarch also resented his nephew for spoiling their plans, but there was truly no way to deal with Prince Jing for now.
"Father, if we don’t find a way to get rid of Prince Jing imdiately, the Crown Prince might start imagining things," the young Duke Zhen hesitated and continued, "He might think we’ve abandoned him and switched to supporting Prince Jing."
The Xie Family Patriarch pondered in silence after hearing this. After a while, he said, "Let him suspect."
The young Duke Zhen was taken aback by his father’s indifference.
"Father, if the Crown Prince suspects, he might ruin things."
"He dares not ruin things because he still needs our support," the Xie Family Patriarch didn’t take the Crown Prince seriously at all, "Everything okay on Wu Hua Mountain?"
"Father, everything’s normal there," said the young Duke Zhen, noticing his father’s somber expression, his heart sank a bit, "Father, you suspect sothing might have happened at Wu Hua Mountain?"
The Xie Family Patriarch nodded lightly, "Yes."
"Father, you’re overthinking, nothing will happen at Wu Hua Mountain," the young Duke Zhen reassured him, "If sothing did happen there, we would know."
"I don’t trust Prince Chu." Reason told the Xie Family Patriarch that it was impossible for Prince Chu to find Wu Hua Mountain, but deep inside he couldn’t help but suspect. "There’s no news on Prince Chu’s whereabouts thus far."
"Father, no matter where Prince Chu is now, he couldn’t be at Wu Hua Mountain." Wu Hua Mountain is extrely hidden; besides the Xie family, no one else could find it.
The more the Xie Family Patriarch thought about it, the more uneasy he felt. "Still, send soone to check personally."
The young Duke Zhen understood his father’s anxiety, "I’ll imdiately send soone to Wu Hua Mountain." Without confirmation of no issues there, his father would never feel at ease.
"Let’s hope I’m just overthinking." Prince Chu’s prolonged absence from the capital left the Xie Family Patriarch uneasy. However, if Prince Chu didn’t return from Wu Hua Mountain, he’d have one less reason to worry.
"Father, too many events recently have unsettled you," said the young Duke Zhen considerately, "Father, use this ti to rest well."
"With the Duke Mansion in trouble, you must have faced much grievance at court." The ministers at the court are known for currying favor and stepping on the fallen. Now that the Duke Mansion is in trouble, the young Duke Zhen’s treatnt in court didn’t need imagining.
"Father, rest easy, I can handle it," replied the young Duke Zhen, who had always been pampered. Always, outside, upon learning he was the Princely Heir of the Duke Mansion, strangers would show him courtesy. This ti, facing the trouble with the Duke Mansion and succeeding as Duke Zhen, he had encountered much disdain and hardship at court. Yet, he had expected this and didn’t feel distressed facing the situation.
The Xie Family Patriarch smiled reassuringly, "I’ve always had confidence in you." Though his son’s actions were sowhat inexperienced, he’d been personally ntored by him.
"Father, now that you’re not in court, shouldn’t we..." The young Duke Zhen didn’t finish, but his intention was clear. "Before, you were under constant watch in court. Now, back at the Duke Mansion, no one’s watching you anymore. You can handle those things."
The Xie Family Patriarch nodded, "I was thinking the sa." He said, showing a pensive look, "In a while, I’ll declare that I’m ill." He couldn’t fall ill now, as it would imply dissatisfaction with the Emperor’s punishnt. After a period, falling ill would be well-tid and wouldn’t raise suspicion, only evoke sympathy.
Father and son conversed on various matters, concluding after a long discussion.
Over in Jinling, the Emperor sent Chu Ying and Shen Hu. Their tasks were to capture the offenders there and to suppress any resistance.
The mbers of the Cao Group and Salt Gang are ruthless. If Chu Ying and his team weren’t sent, any other minister might never return. By sending Shen Hu, they could also cleanse the area of the Cao Group and Salt Gang mbers.
Families like the Lis and Fangs, heeding Prince Jing’s advice, sacrificed so family mbers to bear the bla. They thought this would safeguard their families and themselves, not expecting that the emperor’s envoys would show no clency.
All prominent families in Jinling, including the Cao and Salt Gangs, were completely eradicated, with none spared, not even the Song family, which supported Prince Jing.
They resisted but were no match for Chu Ying and Shen Hu.
The events that once unfolded in Yangzhou were reenacted in Jinling. However, this ti, the situation in Jinling was far more severe than in Yangzhou.
During this period, the farr’s markets in Jinling and Jinling River were stained red with blood.
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