Wang Fu sat in his study, his mind in turmoil, unable to calm himself no matter how hard he tried.
The grand court assembly was in two days, yet he still hadn't figured out how to solve his problems.
Bai Shizhong's sudden promotion to the position of Minister of Personnel had directly made him feel a deep sense of threat.
Becoming the Minister of Personnel meant he was eligible to become a minister.
Was it possible that after he had brought down Yu Shen, Bai Shizhong would be the one to benefit? If that were the case, wouldn't he have been working for someone else's gain?
Moreover, he had just sowed discord with Bai Shizhong. If Bai Shizhong were to ascend to power, would he have an easy time?
Then, although he was usually quick-witted and resourceful, he found himself at a loss in the current situation.
After all, at this point, both sides were becoming extremely cautious with their moves. Everyone knew that if they could endure these two days, a different world awaited them.
"My lord, Wang Chao'an is here to see you. He says he has something important to discuss with you!"
Just then, Lü Jinzhong's voice suddenly came from outside.
"Tell him to go back. I'm not in the mood to see him right now. Just find something for him to do!"
Wang Fu, agitated, had no interest in dealing with him at this moment and rejected the request to meet without a second thought.
"My lord, he was out all day and only just returned. Perhaps you should see him..."
With that simple statement, worth five hundred guan, payment was made!
"Out all day?"
Although Wang Fu had no intention of seeing him, upon hearing Lü Jinzhong's words, his heart stirred. Could he have met that expert again?
Even though the last matter had ended in failure, the evidence was truly enticing to Wang Fu.
No matter who that person was, the items they provided had indeed solved Wang Fu's urgent problem.
"Let him in!"
Thinking this, Wang Fu finally agreed.
"Yes!"
Lü Jinzhong responded and turned to leave. A moment later, Wang Chao'an, beaming, finally walked in.
"Did you see that expert again today?"
Seeing the joy on Wang Chao'an's face, Wang Fu asked impassively.
"Replying to my lord, I did indeed encounter that expert when I went out today!"
"And what did he say to you?"
Although he didn't know who this person was, Wang Fu truly wished someone could provide him with something at this moment.
"That expert said to give this to my lord. My lord will understand upon seeing it!"
As Wang Chao'an spoke, he took out a memorial from his懷.
Seeing that it was a memorial, Wang Fu was taken aback.
The items from last time, while eye-catching, could arguably be explained as having been found by chance by someone in the jianghu.
But this time, to be presented with a memorial directly made him even more interested in that expert.
After all, ever since Emperor Huizong had implemented strict measures to reform the Directorate of Communications, even Wang Fu could no longer obtain memorials from court officials in advance.
With a heart full of hope, he opened the memorial in his hand. After reading its contents, Wang Fu frowned and remained silent for a long time.
"Did that expert say anything else?"
Cai Jing was now the Commander of Xijing and had basically faded from the court.
However, his memorial gave Wang Fu a sense of something unusual.
Had this old fellow, having just left Bianliang, now decided he wanted to return?
"That expert said that what Prime Minister Cai gave to Zhao Chen is not the treatment a prince of the imperial family should receive..."
Upon hearing this, Wang Fu's brow furrowed even tighter.
After carefully rereading the memorial in his hand seven or eight times, he suddenly noticed two small, elegant characters on the back of the memorial.
Leaning closer to the lamp, he saw that they read "Balance."
"Balance..."
These simple two words were like a sudden enlightenment. In just an instant, Wang Fu felt as if he had suddenly understood many things.
The way of balance!
"Where did you meet that expert? Can you still contact him?"
After taking a few deep breaths, Wang Fu looked seriously at Wang Chao'an beside him.
"Th-that expert said he doesn't meet outsiders..."
Seeing the eagerness in Wang Fu's eyes, Wang Chao'an's heart pounded.
He understood that if he could facilitate this meeting, the reward he would receive would be incomparable.
However, at the same time, he would lose his own value.
Compared to temporary rewards, this reliance was what he wanted most, so he finally refused.
"I should have known. How could an outsider meet such an expert just by wishing?"
"Starting tomorrow, you will go to the treasury and withdraw five hundred guan. Use it however you see fit. You don't need to report back to the manor daily. If you run out of money, withdraw more. As long as you encounter that expert, remember everything he says and does, and report it back to me!"
With the word "Balance," Wang Fu now had complete faith in that expert.
Therefore, he immediately made new arrangements for Wang Chao'an.
"Yes!"
After listening to Wang Fu's words, Wang Chao'an was truly ecstatic. Hadn't he just struck gold?
Eating, drinking, and having fun every day without having to do anything, and not even having to report to the manor. If he ran out of money, he could just withdraw more. Was there such a good thing in the world?
Wang Fu, suddenly enlightened and as if he had found a treasure, looked at the memorial in his hand again.
After carefully reading it several times, he spread out a new booklet and began to write his own memorial.
"Sir, do you think Prime Minister Wang will understand your intentions?"
The coachman asked Yuan Xingchi with some concern.
"Don't worry. Anyone who can be a prime minister is not stupid. Although Prime Minister Wang is not a skilled administrator, when it comes to dealing with people, he is an absolute expert! Regardless of the reason, our prince of the imperial family will probably have to endure some hardship this time!"
Reaching for a small piece of crushed ice from the ice bucket beside him and popping it into his mouth, Yuan Xingchi closed his eyes with satisfaction.
The weather was getting increasingly muggy. Fortunately, this manor had a huge ice cellar. Otherwise, obtaining ice in such weather would have been a luxury.
"By the way, Sir, since there's nothing else to do, would you mind reading this for me?"
Seeing that the important business was concluded, the coachman suddenly took out a small booklet from his怀 and handed it to Yuan Xingchi.
"What is this?"
Yuan Xingchi asked curiously.
"This is the most popular storybook in the entertainment district, called Investiture of the Gods. I don't know who wrote it, but the story is incredibly captivating. It's just that the writer of this storybook is too slow. It's been months, and there are no new stories. It makes me so anxious I want to go to his house and slap him!"
The coachman said grumpily.
"Investiture of the Gods?"