Chapter 429
Commander Xie pinned the charge of being a barbarian spy on Zhan Feiyu. As for the Forbidden Dragon Guards who had "aided and abetted," they were naturally misled by Zhan Feiyu. Even if they had the courage of a bear and the gall of a leopard, Commander Xie did not dare to confront the Forbidden Dragon Guards head-on at this moment.
"This evidence is sufficient to convict Pang Xian'an," Lord Yao said in a deep voice. He glanced at Zhan Feiyu, who was not flustered, and continued to Commander Xie, "But based solely on this roster being handed to Zhan Feiyu, Lord Xie concludes that Zhan Feiyu is also a spy. Isn't that too far-fetched?"
Lord Zheng, who had been silent, also ignored the grim-faced Commander Xie and echoed, "Hasn't Lord Xie considered that this might be a tactic of the barbarians to frame someone? If this roster had been handed to me, or to Lord Yao, would Lord Xie have used it as evidence to execute Lord Yao and me without trial?"
Anyone with eyes could see that the men from the Commander's Office had attacked Zhan Feiyu earlier in front of the yamen. Unfortunately, their skills were inferior, and they were subsequently killed on the spot by the Forbidden Dragon Guards.
However, if it had been Lord Yao or Lord Zheng today, although they also had guards, they would likely not have been a match for the experts from the Commander's Office, and they would have truly become wronged souls.
"Lord Zheng, mind your words!" Commander Xie roared, his face ashen with anger. "What do you mean by executing without trial? I never had such an idea. I merely suspected Zhan Feiyu of being a barbarian spy, so I intended to apprehend her first and then interrogate her."
Commander Xie suddenly stood up, his sinister gaze fixed on Yin Wuyan, and spoke each word with killing intent, "I did not expect the Forbidden Dragon Guards to act so outrageously, knowing that the ones who attacked were from the Commander's Office, yet they still resorted to killing. I will personally submit a memorial to His Majesty to seek justice for the fallen soldiers of the Commander's Office!"
With that, Commander Xie, his face full of rage, strode away. However, everyone knew that Commander Xie, having suffered such a significant loss, would not let the matter rest.
"Thank you, sirs, for your trust. I can guarantee that I am absolutely not a barbarian spy," Zhan Feiyu's clear, small voice rang out. Coupled with her delicate and fair, rosy cheeks, she looked as innocent as could be.
As for Zhan Feiyu's childishly earnest assurance, even the usually stern Lord Yao couldn't help but smile. "Alright, I understand. You should return and do not leave Minhe Prefecture for now. Also, be careful."
Even though he knew Zhan Feiyu had the protection of the Forbidden Dragon Guards, Lord Yao couldn't help but offer a few more words of caution. After all, she was just a ten-year-old girl.
After watching Zhan Feiyu and the others leave, Lord Zheng pondered for a moment. "My lord, did Commander Xie truly intend to kill Zhan Feiyu just now?"
"Mere clumsy tricks," Lord Yao's stern face showed disdain.
In these turbulent times, Longyou was not stable. Lord Yao looked thoughtfully at Lord Zheng, who had always remained neutral. Although the Surveillance Department was only responsible for criminal cases and lawsuits, having an ally was better than having an enemy.
Lord Yao picked up his teacup and took a sip of the sweet and sour tea before continuing, "If Zhan Feiyu were to be convicted of being a barbarian spy and die in Minhe Prefecture, someone in the court would surely use this to attack Scholar Gu."
Lord Zheng had also considered this point. After all, Zhan Feiyu was just a young girl from the countryside. The two forces behind her were the reasons Commander Xie ordered the attack.
"Without evidence, Zhan Feiyu cannot be convicted. To impeach Scholar Gu based on this is even more absurd," Lord Zheng had served in the capital for three years before being transferred to the Longyou Circuit Surveillance Department.
Scholar Gu had been second only to the Emperor in the court back then. Lord Zheng did not believe that these rumors could convict Scholar Gu, and the Emperor, being a wise ruler, would not believe them either.
"Don't forget that Zhan Feiyu is close to the General's Mansion. She saved Yang Xu's life. But if Scholar Gu is implicated with the barbarians, even if it's just hearsay, Scholar Gu would have to distance himself from the General's Mansion to avoid suspicion. Then, these people would achieve their goal."
Lord Yao's eyes were cold. Commander Xie's plan was clever, but it failed. Not only did it cost the Commander's Office a group of experts, but it also offended Scholar Gu.
Scholar Gu was a civil official, a Grand Scholar of the Imperial Academy. He naturally could not meddle in military affairs or associate with military officials. Especially since his disciple was convicted and died as a barbarian spy, Scholar Gu would have to stay away from the General's Mansion to prove his innocence.
With Lord Yao's reminder, Lord Zheng understood. It was all about the position of the Crown Prince!
Killing Zhan Feiyu, and under the guise of being a barbarian spy, the ultimate goal was to weaken Scholar Gu's influence in the court. Otherwise, if Scholar Gu and the General's Mansion joined forces, wouldn't the position of the Crown Prince be decided by Scholar Gu?
...
After Zhan Feiyu returned to Muxiang Residence, Prefect Yuan had already brought people to clear up the yamen. As for the spies who had infiltrated secretly, Prefect Yuan did not pay them any attention, having received orders from Scholar Gu.
"My lord, what should we do with this well?" Constable Zhao asked.
The courtyard was in ruins. The well, from which water was drawn, had collapsed halfway, and rubble had firmly blocked the wellhead. Even if it were cleared, the well walls were no longer stable, and the well could not be used.
Prefect Yuan looked at the pile of rubble. "No need to clear it. Just fill it in."
Several constables were surprised. After all, the Prefect had gone to great lengths to find craftsmen to custom-make an iron frame outside the well to suspend the roster. Now, he was directly filling it in, meaning the roster was truly destroyed.
With Prefect Yuan's order, the constables did not dare to delay and picked up their shovels to fill it in. Let alone a roster made of paper, even gold and silver ingots would be impossible to find now.
A quarter of an hour later, all the forces hidden in Minhe Prefecture knew the news. The roster was destroyed, and all their previous efforts were in vain.
In a secluded residence, the pale Third Young Master Min looked at the kneeling guards with a terrifyingly grim expression. "Are you sure the roster is really destroyed?"
"Yes, my subordinate was watching the yamen the entire time. To steal the roster, one would have to open the iron cage..." The guard did not dare to hide anything. Prefect Yuan had returned to the yamen with the roster immediately after obtaining it and, in front of everyone, sealed it in a wooden box, which was then suspended in the well.
Countless eyes were watching along the way, and coupled with the suddenness of the event and the tight schedule, it was impossible for Prefect Yuan to deceive them. Later, various forces tried to steal the roster, but they were all restrained by each other, and none succeeded.
This time, it was only because they knew Lord Yao was coming to Minhe Prefecture that the various forces in secret decided to cooperate and get the roster first. Hence, they used all their skills: some drove away the constables, some poisoned the food, and some set fires in various parts of the yamen.
But no one expected that the courtyard would be blown into ruins and the well would collapse. The roster must have fallen into the well water and been destroyed. Moreover, Prefect Yuan, not wanting to leave any loose ends, filled in the well, completely destroying the roster.
The strategist waved his hand, dismissing the guard who had reported the news, and looked at Third Young Master Min. "Although the roster is destroyed, at least it did not fall into the hands of others. This is a blessing in disguise."
The Min family naturally supported the Second Prince. The Yang family of the General's Mansion held military power. The Second Prince and the Min family dared not openly covet military power, so they circumvented the issue by starting with the administrative affairs of the Longyou Circuit.
However, the Longyou Circuit had been under Lord Yao's control for years. He was a trusted minister of His Majesty and could not be won over. The appearance of the roster was the best opportunity.
Although the officials recorded on the roster were all minor officials, as the saying goes, a thousand-mile dike can be destroyed by an ant's nest. If these local officials united, they could surely sideline Lord Yao, the Provincial Administration Commissioner.
"Young Master, I heard that Zhan Feiyu has the ability to remember everything she sees. The roster was in her hands for several days." As soon as the strategist said this, Third Young Master Min was enraged.
"Do you think I don't know that?" In his anger, Min San furiously smashed the teacup in his hand. "That brat is impervious to reason, and she has the protection of the Forbidden Dragon Guards. Look how many people from the Commander's Office died today! Forcing the roster out of her mouth is simply wishful thinking!"
If not for the deterrence today, perhaps some would still have dared to take the risk of kidnapping Zhan Feiyu and forcing her to recite the roster. But now?
Thinking of his own head, who would dare to go after Zhan Feiyu? The Forbidden Dragon Guards killed like demons; they even dared to kill people from the Commander's Office, let alone the assassins they sent.