"Xie Qun, it’s been so long since the events of that year, and you still hold them in your heart." Cao Man couldn’t believe it, "I am already of old age, can’t you show so leniency and let retire peacefully?"
Xie Qun pushed the wine cup in his hand forward, filling it with wine.
"Chief of Staff Cao wishes to retire, but can my past decade or so be returned? You are indeed old, but the problem cannot be considered so simplistically."
"Then what do you want!" Cao Man glared back, his eyebrows furrowed in anger.
"Don’t be angry, drink this cup of wine, then we can have a proper talk. Over these years, you and your disciples have done quite so deeds in Dawei. What role did the Pri Minister play in these matters?"
Cao Man’s originally indignant expression suddenly darkened.
"Xie Qun, there are so things you are better off not knowing, watch your life!"
Xie Qun remained unconcerned, "Chief of Staff Cao, you are hardly in a position to look after yourself, let alone worry about my life."
"Don’t expect to get even a speck of information from !" Cao Man turned around and turned his back directly to Xie Qun.
"Chief of Staff Cao is of an age where he shouldn’t see blood. If I have to use torture, I truly do not have the heart to proceed," Xie Qun said slowly.
In the past few days, Xie Qun had been arranging for people to interrogate prisoners in front of Cao Man. For several days now, he hadn’t been able to eat or sleep properly, wearing himself thin.
After so many years as an official in the court, he knew all too well the various thods that could wear a person down.
Alas, he truly was of old age now and could hardly bear it.
He had just heard Xie Qun ntion that a great fire had broken out in the palace, happening precisely in the Empress Dowager’s sleeping quarters.
Cao Man couldn’t help but reach out and wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.
"I won’t press Chief of Staff Cao. In consideration of our many years as officials in the sa court, I will give you more ti to think. Will you confess on your own, or shall I have to push you further?" Xie Qun pushed the wine cup forward again, "Chief of Staff Cao, think carefully, and rember to drink."
Xie Qun walked out of the dungeon, facing the moonlight.
The air outside faintly carried the scent of smoke and fire.
From a distance, he gazed towards the most prestigious area of the Capital City, his eyes deep with contemplation.
The fig leaf of Dawei Capital City was finally going to be torn away.
"Sir, there is a visitor looking for you."
The clerk ca over and said.
"If it’s one of Cao Man’s allies, then don’t bother. Certain matters are set in stone, and I can’t help," Xie Qun said dismissively.
Before this great fire, he might have felt sowhat restrained, but after the fire, he no longer worried at all.
"No, this person is a bit special," the clerk said in a low voice, looking around.
Xie Qun pondered for a mont, "Invite the person to my study."
Just what kind of special visitor could this be?
A dainty figure, not even reaching his waist, the entire person hidden within a hood, the palm-sized face filled with determination.
"Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Xie Qun, do you perhaps discount for my young age and not take seriously?"
The people of the Capital City were all crafty, not to be underestimated.
The young girl before him was dressed in a manner that indicated she was either wealthy or of noble birth, and surely not to be neglected.
Thus, Xie Qun stepped forward with a smile and said, "How could I dare? May I know which family’s young miss you are?"
"Naturally, an old acquaintance of Minister Xie," the young girl removed her hood to reveal a face that bore a strong resemblance to Yan Wanqing, stunning Xie Qun into widening his eyes, "The Yan Family..."
"Yan Lingzhen of the Yan Family, Xiaoliu, pays respects to Minister Xie," Yan Lingzhen greeted with courtesy, her smile beaming like a little sun towards Xie Qun.
Xie Qun was pleasantly surprised, "Why would Miss Yan Xiaoliu co to Dali Temple so late?"
"Naturally, it is to help Minister Xie," Yan Lingzhen said, striding over to seat herself on a chair, "My sister figured it out; this ti you are in trouble, and she insisted I co back to give you a hand. My sister said, Minister Xie’s good fortune is yet to co, so we can’t let sothing as minor as Cao Man cost you your life."
When Xie Qun heard that it was a matter of life and death, he naturally beca serious, "What exactly did the Commandery Princess instruct?"
Yan Lingzhen regarded Xie Qun with greater esteem when she noticed he didn’t look down on her for being a child.
"I’m sure you’ve heard about what happened today. The Empress Dowager’s palace was burned, and His Majesty flew into a rage because of it. Overco by anger, he fainted and is now being treated by the Imperial Physician," said Yan Lingzhen.
Xie Qun nodded.
"Xie Minister, co here." Yan Lingzhen beckoned with her finger, and Xie Qun quickly leaned in to listen.
"You see, I just ca out of the palace, and His Majesty is all right now. But I’ve heard sothing interesting... All of the thirty-sothing eunuchs in the Empress Dowager’s palace perished in the big fire. With Xie Minister’s intelligence, you should be able to guess who set the fire and who did the killing, shouldn’t you?"
Shock was written all over Xie Qun’s face.
After a while, he looked at Yan Lingzhen, "What is the Commandery Princess implying?"
"At the mont, Xie Minister, you are the sword in His Majesty’s hand poised to strike down Cao’s Faction. But once the Cao Family falls, it’s uncertain where that sword will end up. I believe Xie Minister also has no clear idea, so my elder sister sent to show you a clear path," she said.
Xie Qun felt deeply unsettled, sensing he was on the verge of touching sothing he ought not to, yet he knew he had no choice but to delve into it.
"How could I possibly know His Majesty’s resolve?"
Yan Lingzhen smiled inscrutably, "Xie Minister, do you think Lord Wang has not returned ho for so long because he’s gone sowhere?" She pointed to the ground.
"He has already gone down, and now it’s just waiting for Cao Man and his key followers to join him."
Xie Qun staggered a step, overwheld by the enormity of this revelation.
So the Emperor had directly killed Lord Wang.
"Cao Man’s followers will definitely be uprooted. The superior can’t tolerate others snoring on their watch. I shouldn’t need to tell Xie Minister, who is still young, about this," Yan Lingzhen said. "Right now, I’m just here to inquire about your resolve on behalf of the noble people in the palace. If this matter can proceed, we shall pull together. If not, you will have to fend for yourself."
Xie Qun’s throat tightened, "That noble person, is she the one who sent the secret ssage..."
"Just as I thought, Xie Minister, you are clever indeed," Yan Lingzhen said with a giggle. "You must have guessed by now who my elder sister’s true backer is."
"The master of the Six Palaces, the current Empress," Xie Qun heard his own voice say.
Yan Wanqing had taken a step no one had anticipated.
In the male-dominated Dawei Dynasty, she supported a woman!
"Xie Minister, the secret letter is an olive branch extended by the Empress for you to clear your past humiliation of being frad by Cao Man and missing the opportunity to ascend to greater heights in the battle for rit. You are still young though, so you should know which way to choose for the future," continued Yan Lingzhen.
The more Xie Qun thought about it, the more alard he beca.
No wonder Yan Wanqing could unabashedly side with the Empress.
Everyone had underestimated the influence of an Empress without a Prince. Whether it was mbers of the Crown Prince’s Faction or the Seventh Prince’s Faction, they all felt that support from the Empress was non-essential. Now that Yan Wanqing was close with the Empress, they would harbour no suspicions.
After all, the ultimate decision would only be made among the Princes.
Everyone underestimated the Empress and Yan Wanqing.
Who could have imagined that these won also wished to partake in the struggle for power?
"With the Zhang Family gone and the Cao Family about to be gone, who do you think will be next, Minister Xie?" Yan Lingzhen murmured softly. Her child-like lisp added a chilling touch amidst the dark.
Xie Qun felt a chill run down his spine.
The visit to the Cold Palace was nothing but a distraction; Empress Zhang Lanyi could co and go as she pleased. Currently, the only one who could vie with the Empress for power, the Empress Dowager, was confined, and the Emperor was firmly in her grasp.
Yan Wanqing was not in Capital City, but with the current situation, it’s likely that not all she had prepared had yet co to light.
It was terrifying, the depth of cunning in a young girl’s heart!
"Xie Minister, once you’ve made up your mind, let know so I can cure you of the poison," Yan Lingzhen said with an innocent look as she gazed at Xie Qun.
Xie Qun: "...What poison?"
"Now that Xie Minister knows so much, if you refuse to join our side, then..." Yan Lingzhen gestured with her finger, rolling up her eyes and sticking out her tongue.
It was only then that Xie Qun realized he had long since been calculated into their sche.
"If this humble officer agrees, can Miss Xiaoliu elaborate more on the Commandery Princess’s grand plan?"
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