"Young Master, shall we go and see Lord Wang now?"
To ensure his safety, Pu Haida had dispatched his most capable confidants to accompany him.
The lives and fortunes of these men were almost entirely tied to Pu Haida's. Naturally, they were loyal to him at this moment.
"It's still early. Let's go a bit later. There are likely still Han Mo's informants within the Pacification Commissioner's Office. We should proceed with caution!"
If it weren't for Han Mo, how could the situation in Mingzhou have deteriorated to this extent? The mere thought of it sent Pu Jinshan's hatred for Han Mo to its absolute peak.
"Young Master's considerations are indeed thorough. In that case, let us proceed as you wish!"
Upon hearing his words, the servants did not press the matter further.
"Have someone bring all the treasures we brought. This time, I will ensure he meets his demise!"
The mere mention of Han Mo made Pu Jinshan's teeth ache with rage.
"But what if this Lord Wang..."
Hearing this, some of the servants grew uneasy.
Wang Xiang was indeed the Deputy Pacification Commissioner, but he was merely the third-ranking official within the Pacification Commissioner's Office.
There were still Zhao Zhen and Zhong Shidao ranked above him.
If even a minor misstep occurred on their end, they would lose any leverage they had.
"If we don't make a significant investment, how will Wang Xiang be willing to risk everything for us? Furthermore, it is already an immense fortune to even make Wang Xiang's acquaintance. Do you truly expect us to deliver gifts directly to Zhao Zhen?"
Pu Jinshan was dismissive of their concerns.
Zhong Shidao's deep involvement with Han Mo was known throughout the realm.
Therefore, Zhong Shidao was naturally excluded from their list of gift recipients.
As for Zhao Zhen, there was even less to say. As a prince, all his preferences were kept secret from the public.
No matter how confident Pu Jinshan was, he had never imagined that he could bribe a prince with mere trinkets of gold and silver to help him eliminate a subordinate.
Wang Xiang was already the limit of their reach.
"While that may be true, I still feel there's a considerable risk involved..."
"Are there any risks in this world? When our Pu family sails out to sea, do all our ships return every time?"
Pu Jinshan's words instantly silenced his retainers.
Indeed, as he had said, the risks were significant. However, the chance of success seemed to rest entirely on Wang Xiang. If even he was incapable, then their only hope would be Wang Fu.
"Very well, I will go and prepare..."
After a moment of silence, the servants finally agreed with Pu Jinshan's assessment.
"Your Highness!"
"Master Wang, are you here to see me for a particular reason?"
Upon seeing Wang Xiang, Zhao Zhen's face once again broke into a smile.
Unlike other officials, Wang Xiang had previously served as a lecturer in the Zi Shan Tang.
This post required him not only to lecture the Emperor on scriptures periodically but also to be responsible for the education of the princes.
Although the Great Song dynasty's education for ordinary princes was superficial and often leaned towards corrupting influences, Wang Xiang was different. He treated all princes with impartiality.
Because of this, he had earned the respect of many princes, including Zhao Zhen.
Even though his tenure in this position lasted less than two years, his influence on Zhao Zhen was immense.
It was precisely due to this prior connection that his standing in Zhao Zhen's heart gradually surpassed that of Han Mo.
"There is indeed something, but it's not about the southeast. It's about matters within the imperial court."
As he spoke, Wang Xiang took out an envelope from his sleeve and handed it to Zhao Zhen.
"Matters within the imperial court? What has happened?"
Seeing his serious expression, Zhao Zhen asked with a hint of confusion.
"Your Highness, please read it first. We can discuss it afterward!"
"Very well. Please, have a seat and rest for a moment, Master!"
As Zhao Zhen spoke, he gestured for Wang Xiang to sit. Seeing him settle down, Zhao Zhen opened the envelope and took out the letter.
"This, this, how is this possible? Master Xu never mentioned any of this to me!"
After reading the contents of the letter, Zhao Zhen was stunned.
Xu Churen had made a move against Li Bangyan without informing him at all.
Moreover, the speed and ruthlessness of his actions left Zhao Zhen utterly bewildered.
"Does Your Highness truly not know?"
Wang Xiang asked again.
"Why would I joke with you about something like this?"
Zhao Zhen looked at Wang Xiang with an innocent expression.
"If Your Highness truly did not know, then this matter becomes very interesting. The situation is escalating, yet Your Highness is far away in the southeast, unable to gain any advantage. Instead, if anything goes wrong, Your Highness will likely bear the brunt of the consequences!"
"How can this be? Master Xu is not someone who acts impulsively. There must be another hidden reason. Please wait a moment longer, Master. I will return shortly!"
After reading the letter, Zhao Zhen could no longer remain seated.
The conflict between Xu Churen and Li Bangyan was no small matter.
Furthermore, based on the letter's contents, if Xu Churen's accusations were true, Li Bangyan would have no option but to step down.
Li Bangyan deserved his fate, having occupied his position without accomplishing anything substantial. However, his removal would immediately upset the balance of the imperial court.
Whether the Crown Prince's faction, the Prince of Yun's faction, or Wang Fu himself ascended to power, any of these outcomes would be the least desirable for Zhao Zhen.
After all, no matter how incompetent Li Bangyan was, he was still a neutral party.
Moreover, Li Bangyan owed him a favor.
If anything were to happen, Li Bangyan would not have dealt him such a severe blow.
But if it were Wang Fu or someone from the Crown Prince's faction, that would be entirely uncertain.
"Your Highness, please attend to your affairs. This old man is tired and will rest here for a while!"
Wang Xiang understood perfectly what Zhao Zhen intended to do, but he made no move to stop him.