After Du Qiniang left, only Han Qian, Xi Ren, and Zhao Ting’er remained in the room. Feng Liao’s eyes burned intensely as he asked: “Can my lord confirm that the Anning Palace has already made their move?”
Feng Liao was also more inclined to deduce that the Anning Palace had tampered with both Shen He and Emperor Tianyou. Now he wanted to know Han Qian’s decision and what countermeasures would come next.
Han Qian nodded. The clues from all sides converged to support this conclusion. Moreover, in just four more months it would be the seventeenth year of Tianyou’s reign. But there were still quite a few doubtful points in his mind that he couldn’t yet see through.
Feng Liao asked: “What should we do now? Should we inform His Highness and Marquis Xinchang and the others about this matter?”
Feng Liao knew that Han Qian didn’t get along with Marquis Xinchang and the others, but wasn’t everyone’s primary goal currently to help the Third Prince compete for the throne?
Now that the Anning Palace had already made their move, those stubborn old men like Shen Yang might alert the enemy after learning of this, foolishly trying to expose the Anning Palace’s conspiracy. But Feng Liao believed that Marquis Xinchang Li Pu would definitely agree to hold their forces and wait for the most advantageous opportunity before striking.
“I have my own arrangements for this matter. Besides, even if I don’t say anything, Marquis Xinchang’s side couldn’t possibly be kept completely in the dark—you also saw just now that Lord Wang more or less detected something abnormal,” Han Qian said.
“Wang Lin might not tell Shen Yang, but how can my lord be certain he won’t tell His Highness?” Zhao Ting’er asked in puzzlement.
Back when the Prince’s mansion had privately confiscated the Feng family’s wealth, Wang Lin had already concealed things from Shen Yang once along with them.
“Wang Lin is a petty man who seeks fame and reputation!” Feng Liao said. “Years ago when he served as Censor in the Censorate, he impeached Xu Mingzhen, but only picked insignificant minor matters. He didn’t gain the reputation he sought, but instead sat on the cold bench for several years!”
“Regardless of which possibility, he won’t go tell His Highness,” Han Qian smiled and asked Feng Liao, “What would he say to His Highness—that we suspect the Anning Palace has poisoned His Majesty and Shen He?”
Feng Liao was slightly startled, thinking that Wang Lin still had some talent and cleverness. It wasn’t strange that he could see something abnormal about Shen He’s condition, but how would Wang Lin deduce that their side was suspecting the Anning Palace had poisoned Emperor Tianyou?
Thinking of this, Feng Liao was secretly shocked. He didn’t know how Han Qian had confirmed this point, and thought to himself that he really hadn’t paid enough attention to Wang Lin in the past—hadn’t pondered him deeply enough!
“If we don’t proactively reveal this to His Highness and Marquis Xinchang’s side, what should we do?” Feng Liao asked.
Han Qian pondered for a moment and said: “Having reached this point, there are still many doubtful aspects to this matter!”
“What else can’t my lord figure out?” Feng Liao asked.
Han Qian didn’t speak. Xi Ren interjected at this moment to voice the doubts in her mind, saying: “After Shen He left Jinling, he showed symptoms of poisoning. Doesn’t the Anning Palace fear we’ll detect this and become alert? Moreover, the Liang army is gathering at Caizhou, and we’re also commanding troops in Tanzhou, harboring bandits to maintain our importance while not returning to Jinling. At this time, they shouldn’t easily expose such a flaw!”
Zhao Ting’er suddenly understood: “That’s right—if Shen He died on the journey, wouldn’t that alert the enemy for the Anning Palace?”
Feng Liao knew that Han Qian most trusted these two women at his side, and wouldn’t look down on Xi Ren and Zhao Ting’er just because they were women. Seeing Han Qian remain silent, he tried to explain the two women’s doubts, saying:
“In my view, it’s extremely likely that the Tanzhou campaign to reduce the feudal lords was too swift and completely beyond their expectations. This also disrupted their formation, forcing them to act without being able to consider all aspects thoroughly. As a result, even if they exposed flaws, they had to urgently eliminate Shen He first.”
“Their first objective is just to eliminate Shen He?” Zhao Ting’er asked in confusion.
Feng Liao said: “They should have prepared someone to replace Shen He. Only after Shen He dies can they further control the people and matters around Emperor Tianyou. Only this way, even if Emperor Tianyou realizes he’s been poisoned and doesn’t have many days to live, he won’t have the ability to strike back against them.”
Zhao Ting’er nodded. She knew that Emperor Tianyou wasn’t without defenses against the Anning Palace. Jiang Huo and Yuan Guowei were both veterans who had come from the Inner Palace Bureau. As long as Emperor Tianyou still drew breath and ordered the execution of Empress Dowager Xu of the Anning Palace and the Crown Prince, the palace guards and Jinling garrison would most likely still follow Emperor Tianyou’s decree.
In fact, for the Anning Palace, the later it got, the more perilous it became.
“What if after Shen He dies, we directly submit a secret memorial exposing their conspiracy?” Zhao Ting’er asked.
Only then did Han Qian shake his head, saying: “Difficult. We have preconceived notions, which is why we have such speculation. Others would be more likely to think Shen He fell ill and died after leaving Jinling. Even if we could prove that Shen He died from poisoning, the current evidence could only prove that Shen He was poisoned ‘after leaving Jinling.’ Why would His Majesty trust our speculation? And if we really wait until we can thoroughly investigate this line from Shen He and get results, their conspiracy will have already succeeded…”
“…” Xi Ren looked at Han Qian strangely. If this didn’t count as a flaw, what exactly did he mean when he said earlier there were several things he hadn’t figured out?
Han Qian didn’t explain what confused him, and continued to ask Feng Liao: “Go on and tell me why the Anning Palace isn’t concerned about the Liang army currently gathered at Caizhou?!”
“My lord hasn’t experienced the disaster the Feng family suffered, so perhaps you don’t know that sometimes people will desperately try anything when desperate,” Feng Liao said. “The Liang army gathering at Caizhou to attack Deng and Xiang is always more bearable for them than the Liang army feinting to attack Shouzhou.”
Xi Ren and Zhao Ting’er standing to the side pursed their lips, not expecting that Feng Liao would be brave enough to admit how foolish the Feng family’s fickleness had been when disaster struck.
“That’s right. It’s very likely the Anning Palace has already anticipated that we’ll delay in Tanzhou without returning to Jinling. Rather than waiting for us to firmly establish ourselves in Tanzhou before acting, they might as well strike quickly,” Han Qian nodded and said.
“I think so too. When the new emperor ascends, while we haven’t firmly established ourselves in Tanzhou, the new emperor could decree for His Highness to lead the Dragon Sparrow Army north to resist the Liang army. We might truly have no other choice. At the same time, Prince Xin in Chuzhou also couldn’t act rashly. On the contrary, this would benefit them in consolidating their power. As long as they have enough patience, time belongs to them…” Feng Liao said.
“So you’re saying their chances of winning are still extremely high!” Han Qian stood up and sighed.
Feng Liao naturally knew that the Anning Palace’s chances of winning were of course very high.
If Emperor Tianyou died without solid evidence proving he was murdered by poisoning, the Crown Prince succeeding as the heir apparent would be proper and justified—a natural course of events.
Whether it was Prince Xin or the Third Prince, even if they wanted to raise the banner of rebellion, what chance of success could they have? How many people would follow them? Moreover, the Third Prince and Prince Xin each harbored their own schemes!
With so much intelligence, Feng Liao could easily deduce the Anning Palace’s intentions. But at this moment, he wanted more to know what Han Qian had in mind.
Looking at Feng Liao’s expectant gaze, Han Qian said:
“I must remain in Tanzhou with His Highness. I need someone hidden in the shadows who can help keep watch on every movement in Jinling. You won’t disappoint me, will you?”
“If Emperor Tianyou dies at a woman’s hand, the resentment in my heart will dissipate. For the sake of my clan, I’ll do everything possible to help the Third Prince ascend. But my lord merely staying with the Third Prince to guard Tanzhou is too passive!” Feng Liao said. “Even if we don’t have solid evidence, we can make this clear to Jiang Huo and Yuan Guowei…”
Sometimes righteous legitimacy was also a form of power.
If their side truly did nothing and waited for Emperor Tianyou to die and Crown Prince Yang Yuanwo to succeed, that would be righteous legitimacy.
At that point, if the Third Prince or Prince Xin raised the banner of rebellion, in many people’s eyes it would be acting perversely.
People like Shen Yang were currently presiding over the Third Prince’s competition for succession, but after the righteous legitimacy was established, would they continue to support the Third Prince?
Not to mention that so many civil and military officers’ families of the Dragon Sparrow Army were still in Jinling.
Feng Liao hoped Han Qian could think clearly. If their side was going to act, they couldn’t delay. At the latest, they couldn’t allow Crown Prince Yang Yuanwo the opportunity to sit on the throne.
Moreover, if they now went to Jiang Huo and Yuan Guowei to make this clear, then Shen He’s subsequent death would instead become a form of corroboration for their speculation!
Xi Ren and Zhao Ting’er looked toward Han Qian. They also felt that what Feng Liao said made sense. If they now made this clear through Jiang Huo and Yuan Guowei, Emperor Tianyou would still have the power to counter the Anning Palace and the Crown Prince’s faction.
If after Shen He died, the Anning Palace’s people truly replaced Shen He and further controlled the people and matters around Emperor Tianyou, then the opportunity would truly be even more remote.
Han Qian shook his head and sighed: “The timing isn’t right. The Dragon Sparrow Army’s foundation is too shallow—we don’t have the qualifications to compete for victory. Moreover, if Jinling falls into great chaos at this time, my father and Master Shen Yang will both strongly advocate for His Highness to lead the Dragon Sparrow Army to defend Jing and Xiang. You also just said that at this time, for the Anning Palace, the Liang army wanting to use troops against Jing and Xiang is always better than using troops against Shouzhou—at that point, we might end up making a wedding dress for Prince Xin. Would you be willing to accept that?”
Feng Liao was slightly startled, also realizing that if they truly made this clear, even if Emperor Tianyou could survive the great chaos in Jinling, he would more likely transfer the Chuzhou troops to enter Jinling.
Could it be a dead end?!
Feng Liao sat down dejectedly. He prided himself on superior intelligence and strategy, but hadn’t expected that when deducing to this point, his so-called strategy couldn’t break the deadlock.
Han Qian waved his hand and said: “So you see, Shen He must die, but can only die ‘from illness,’ making the Anning Palace feel they still have time and aren’t so urgent to act—that way, we might still have a thread of hope. After you go to Jinling, just keep watch on every movement. Don’t make any other rash moves!”
“Prince Xin has Wang Wenqian as strategist. If they also detect the Anning Palace’s movements and plan to make an issue of Shen He’s ‘death,’ prompting Emperor Tianyou to counter the Anning Palace and throw Jinling into great chaos?” Feng Liao continued deducing along Han Qian’s line of thought. The more he thought, the more he felt that Chuzhou’s hopes were actually much greater than theirs.
Prince Xin had been stationed in Chuzhou these past few years, but officials of the Prince Xin faction still had opportunities to enter and exit the palace and make contact with Emperor Tianyou. With someone as scheming and sinister as Wang Wenqian, wouldn’t he suspect the Anning Palace had poisoned Emperor Tianyou?
“I actually have a strategy to stabilize the Chuzhou side,” Han Qian said.
Seeing that Han Qian was confident but unwilling to say more, Feng Liao changed the subject and asked: “If we can stabilize Chuzhou, the Third Prince will indeed have a thread of opportunity. After I reach Jinling, should I maintain contact with the Jinyun Tower side?”
Han Qian had transferred a group of Left Bureau scouts and Left Bureau disciples who had grown over these two years back to Jinyun Tower to re-establish an intelligence gathering and transmission network. Currently, it was clearly established that Gao Shao would specifically oversee Jinyun Tower’s affairs.
Feng Liao knew that Han Qian was sending him to Jinling to operate independently of Jinyun Tower—otherwise there would be no need to send him. But whether he should borrow Jinyun Tower’s resources to handle matters after reaching Jinling, he wasn’t certain.
Han Qian shook his head and said: “You’ll report directly to me. Jinyun Tower’s affairs have nothing to do with you. I’ll have you take eight Xi clan youths to Jinling. And in the future, you must be especially careful of Marquis Xinchang’s people…”
Though Jinyun Tower was managed by Gao Shao, Yuan Guowei and Jiang Huo would continue to work at Jinyun Tower. At the same time, over such a long period, a portion of the investigators and secret agents had inevitably been infiltrated by Marquis Xinchang’s mansion.
Currently, everyone was working to ensure the Third Prince could successfully compete for succession and ascend. Han Qian couldn’t possibly eliminate these people from Jinyun Tower. But apart from the Anning Palace’s poisoning matter, there were other deployments that he couldn’t let Marquis Xinchang’s mansion, Yuan Guowei, or Jiang Huo know about. He could only have Feng Liao lead the Xi clan youths to handle them.
“Marquis Xinchang’s mansion?” Feng Liao asked in puzzled confusion.
Standing to the side, Xi Ren and Zhao Ting’er were also slightly startled at this moment, knowing that Han Qian was about to reveal the secrets of the Shenling Bureau and Wanhong Tower to Feng Liao.
“The previous dynasty’s Emperor Zhaozong, in order to plot the reduction of feudal lords and reunify the realm, used the pretext of building imperial tombs to raise vast sums of money and grain, and employed eunuch officials to secretly establish the Shenling Bureau, training assassins and secret agents to monitor the feudal lords throughout the realm,” Han Qian said calmly. “The Feng family’s cargo stations once spread throughout the Jianghuai region, and you also once managed the Jianghuai region’s revenues. You should have heard of the Shenling Bureau’s existence. After the previous dynasty collapsed, what Marquis Xinchang’s mansion mainly gathered was the surviving forces of the Shenling Bureau in Jianghuai. They support His Highness with their own purposes, but ultimately they shouldn’t be on the same path as us…”
Feng Liao stood stunned for a moment, unable to digest such shocking news. At this time, he could also slightly understand why Han Qian had been slow to settle on a strategy.
This was too damned complicated, wasn’t it?
After quite a while, Feng Liao managed to say with difficulty: “Wen Ruilin has a fairly thorough understanding of my lord. He’s now devoting all his efforts to plan for the Shenling Bureau. My lord should be careful of him…”
“Wen Ruilin is truly not worth worrying about. You don’t need to be concerned,” Han Qian smiled faintly and said.
Seeing that Han Qian had such confidence, Feng Liao naturally had nothing else to say.