Chapter 461
"My lord, Miss Zhan has already left the city." Xiao Zimo looked at Lord Yao, who was sitting behind his desk and reviewing official documents. "Your subordinate investigated, and no one from the Jin family sent anyone to follow her."
The downfall of the Jin family was the result of the joint efforts of several princes in the palace. Wealth stirred hearts. With the military power in Longyou Dao returning to the General's Mansion and the administration firmly controlled by Lord Yao, the princes could only target the Jin family, taking over their businesses and gradually laying their plans in Longyou Dao.
However, if one were to be precise, Zhan Feiyu was the direct culprit in the Jin family's downfall. If the Jin family wanted revenge, they would definitely target Zhan Feiyu, especially since she had left the territory of Minhe Prefecture. The Wei Zhou camp army stationed outside the city would no longer be able to protect her.
Lord Yao's gaze remained on the official document in his hand. After a while, he put down his brush and closed the document. "Are there any movements from the Forbidden Dragon Guard?"
"Nothing has been discovered yet." Xiao Zimo was not entirely sure. The Forbidden Dragon Guard was elusive. His subordinates were only keeping watch from a distance and did not dare to track the movements of the Forbidden Dragon Guard for fear of transgressing.
However, Master Jin Jiu was still imprisoned at the Forbidden Dragon Guard's stronghold. There were no major changes among the Forbidden Dragon Guard inside and outside that residence. Xiao Zimo estimated that most of the Forbidden Dragon Guard were still in Minhe Prefecture. Like his lord, the Jin family had fallen, but the situation in Minhe Prefecture was now more difficult. Governor Yuan alone could not maintain order.
Xiao Zibai, who was bringing tea into the study, happened to hear this and couldn't help but exclaim, "Isn't Zhan Feiyu afraid of death? Even a centipede dies but its body is stiff. Jin Zhang has been arrested, but the Jin family must still have remnants fleeing outside, not to mention her enmity with the Commander's Office."
The imperial decree arrived two days ago. Commander Xie was already being escorted back to the capital for trial. However, Commander Xie had been stationed at the Commander's Office for many years, and he must have a group of loyal subordinates under him. Zhan Feiyu's departure from Minhe Prefecture now was definitely fraught with danger.
"My lord, have some tea." Handing the tea to Lord Yao, Xiao Zibai, with no outsiders in the study, had no reservations. "Those princes in the palace might also find an opportunity to kill Zhan Feiyu."
The key was that if Zhan Feiyu died, the blame could be pushed onto the Jin family or Commander Xie.
Looking at Xiao Zibai, whose words revealed concern, Lord Yao picked up his teacup and slowly savored the tea. "Scholar Gu's favor with the emperor is at its peak. You are worried about the safety of his disciple."
"My lord, I'm not stupid." Xiao Zibai snorted indignantly, also hearing the teasing in Lord Yao's words. "Not to mention your situation here, my lord, the General's Mansion and Zhan Feiyu have an unusual relationship. Those princes are narrow-minded. Whether they fear Scholar Gu or the General's Mansion, they would rather kill the wrong person than let them go."
Longyou Dao involved military power. If Scholar Gu and the General's Mansion supported a certain prince, that prince's chances of winning would be greater. They had not taken sides yet, but as the Emperor grew older, they would inevitably assist a prince and gain the merit of supporting the dragon.
The capital had the all-powerful Scholar Gu, and outside there was the General's Mansion holding military power. The chosen prince was a given. The key was, would the other princes be willing to concede defeat?
Rather than being at the mercy of others in the future, it was better to seize the initiative and kill Zhan Feiyu, thereby disintegrating the alliance between Scholar Gu and the General's Mansion.
Although Xiao Zibai was Lord Yao's attendant, he saw and heard a lot and understood the situation in Longyou Dao. What he didn't say was that even his lord, as a solitary minister, would have to rely on the new monarch in the future. After all, a new emperor meant new officials. If Scholar Gu and the General's Mansion favored a certain prince, Xiao Zibai believed that his lord would also secretly support him.
"Don't speak nonsense!" Xiao Zimo warned Xiao Zibai, who was speaking carelessly. Speaking ill of the princes in the palace, was he tired of living?
Without even looking at his stern-faced elder brother, Xiao Zibai snorted indignantly, "I'm not wrong. Although the Jin family deserved their fate, the joint action of several princes was not to avenge the common people who died tragically at the hands of the Jin family, but for the Jin family's assets."
With such magnanimity and vision, Xiao Zibai looked down on them. Could they ascend to the throne in the future? Love the people as their children?
"Be cautious and discreet when you are out," Lord Yao said gently. It was evident that Xiao Zibai's personality was indulged by Lord Yao. "The Emperor hates corruption the most, and the princes dare not engage in activities that compete with the people for profit. In the early years, it was fine, but now their ambitions have grown, and they lack funds. Naturally, they will not miss any opportunity to accumulate wealth."
"The Emperor is speaking from a position of privilege." Enduring his elder brother's murderous gaze, Xiao Zibai stubbornly finished his words. "The Emperor has a private treasury and certainly doesn't lack money. It's difficult for those humble officials, so it's said that the capital is large and living is not easy."
The princes were in this situation. They could only rely on their maternal families for money. However, in order to compete for the position of crown prince and win over officials, the money spent was like flowing water, and the princes' maternal families could not bear it. The Jin family was a fat sheep that had come to their doorstep. If they didn't slaughter the Jin family, whom else would they slaughter?
"My lord, what about the future?" Xiao Zimo's expression became more solemn.
The princes had even set their sights on a mere merchant like the Jin family. His lord, as the Commissioner of Administration in Longyou Dao, would surely not be overlooked by the princes. However, if their attempt to win him over failed, they might join forces again and try to kill his lord, just as they had dealt with the Jin family.
If Lord Yao met with an accident, the imperial court would have to appoint a new official to take over the position of Commissioner of Administration. It might be easier for the princes to bribe a new Commissioner of Administration.
Putting down his teacup, Lord Yao's usually solemn face showed a rare smile. "It's fine. The princes are not yet capable. They don't have the audacity to lay hands on this official. Zhan Feiyu dared to leave Minhe Prefecture because she was certain they wouldn't dare to act."
It was a case of "throwing a rat to catch a mouse." Killing Zhan Feiyu would be easy, but if Scholar Gu found out who did it, let alone the position of crown prince, it was estimated that he wouldn't even be able to survive as a prince.
Assassinating Lord Yao was the same principle. Killing him would be equivalent to disregarding the Emperor and challenging the imperial authority. The consequences would be even more severe than offending Scholar Gu, and he might be reduced to a commoner and die at the hands of other princes in the future.
Zhan Feiyu, who was just mentioned by Lord Yao, had now arrived at the post station and was staring dumbfounded at Yao Zhenyi, who was shouting and raging inside the room.
"Did she wait for me specifically at the post station?" Zhan Feiyu asked殷无衍 (Yin Wu Yan) beside her.
Zhan Feiyu had heard the news before, but she thought Yao Zhenyi was returning to the capital with her servants and dowry after her divorce. Who would have thought she would encounter Yao Zhenyi at the post station? And judging by her demeanor, she was clearly waiting here intentionally.
"Should I have them driven away?" Yin Wu Yan had not paid attention to Yao Zhenyi's whereabouts. A woman from the inner quarters was not worth the Forbidden Dragon Guard's special tracking and investigation.
Zhan Feiyu looked at Yao Zhenyi, who was arrogantly scolding the post station servants. "Forget it, she is also an official's female relative."
This was a post station opened by the imperial court, and Yao Zhenyi was indeed qualified to stay. Zhan Feiyu would not go so far as to bully her and drive her away, but if Yao Zhenyi courted death and offended her, Zhan Feiyu would not show mercy.
Still with two carriages, He Sheng and the coachman drove the carriages towards the backyard of the post station. He Nuan followed to pack their luggage. Therefore, seeing Zhan Feiyu and Yin Wu Yan enter the post station, Yao Zhenyi's contempt was undisguised.
"She really is a country girl." With a disdainful sneer, Yao Zhenyi looked down on Zhan Feiyu from the bottom of her heart. Speaking of which, she was also a disciple of Scholar Gu, but setting aside the pomp and circumstance, Zhan Feiyu's appearance could be considered shabby. When traveling, she didn't even have a servant woman to attend to her, and now she was walking with a guard. Wasn't she afraid of disgracing Scholar Gu?
"Miss, please come in." The Postmaster Cao hurried forward. Unlike Yao Zhenyi, who was shallow-sighted, Postmaster Cao could tell at a glance that the two horses pulling the carriage were both fine breeds worth thousands of gold, and they were both warhorses.
Even though Zhan Feiyu had not yet obtained her official document, Postmaster Cao's attitude was already exceptionally solicitous.
"Master Cao, you don't need to be so polite." Zhan Feiyu said with a smile. Before she could finish speaking, Yao Zhenyi on the side was already displeased and slammed the teacup in her hand.
"Cao, what do you mean?" The scar on Yao Zhenyi's cheek twisted like a long worm coiled on her face due to anger. Fortunately, it was not bleeding at the moment. She pointed at Zhan Feiyu with one finger. "You're fawning over a mere young girl. Are you blind?"
When Yao Zhenyi and her entourage stopped at the post station, Postmaster Cao had carefully verified their identities and did not even intend to let Yao Zhenyi stay. Fortunately, Minhe Prefecture had been in turmoil during this period, and the post station was basically empty. Postmaster Cao then turned a blind eye and let Yao Zhenyi and her group of dozens of people stay.