In the eyes of the Han family members, Zhao Ting’er’s status would not be recognized. With the hour still early, everyone discussed which among the court’s civil and military officials had no entanglements with the Crown Prince or Second Prince’s sides, whose family influence could match the Han clan and create mutual benefit.
Of course, with Feng Liao standing behind Han Daoxun serving him today, everyone was thinking that as the Han clan was about to reach its peak, they must guard against the Feng family’s disaster repeating itself upon them.
Thinking of this, Han Daoming glanced around Mingjutang hall. Besides his own nephews, there were only close confidants like Feng Liao and Zhao Kuo. He indicated for the young nephews whose temperaments weren’t yet steady enough to withdraw and rest first, then leaned forward, instinctively lowering his voice to ask Han Daoxun: “Some people say His Majesty intends to make the Han family hold the Xu Prefecture Administrator position hereditarily. Is this matter true?”
Though Xu Prefecture was remote in one corner, a place of mixed Han and barbarian residence covered in miasma, if truly granted to any family, the weight of such a reward would be no less than a princely title.
Even before the feudal reduction campaigns there had been such talk, and this talk had come directly from the palace, but at that time everyone guessed this was to reassure the hearts of Han Daoxun and his son Han Qian.
Because at that time, for the court, exchanging Xu Prefecture for the other seven prefectures of the Hunan Regional Command was an extremely profitable deal.
However, with the feudal reduction campaigns proceeding so smoothly to this point, whether Emperor Tianyou would still acknowledge such a promise was hard to say.
Thunder, rain and dew were all imperial grace. Han Daoming also felt that sometimes one shouldn’t harbor inappropriate ambitions.
Only, Han Daoxun had been in Jinling assuming the post of Capital Governor for a month already. Logically speaking, the court should have long since dispatched someone new to replace Han Daoxun’s position as Xu Prefecture Administrator.
As Vice Minister of Personnel, Han Daoming also participated in selecting several candidates on the Personnel Ministry’s side to submit memorials requesting His Majesty to decide.
However, memorials regarding appointing a new Xu Prefecture Administrator had all been retained in the palace and sealed away, so that Han Daoxun still concurrently held the Xu Prefecture Administrator position, remotely overseeing Xu Prefecture’s military and political affairs. Han Daoming’s thoughts couldn’t help becoming somewhat active.
Many official positions in Chen Prefecture were held hereditarily by local prominent households. Xu Prefecture was even more险ous and remote than Chen Prefecture, with more complex mixed Han and barbarian residence, requiring a strong figure to maintain stability. Viewed this way, having the Han family hold the Administrator position hereditarily couldn’t be considered an inappropriate ambition.
Han Daoxun smiled bitterly and said: “I’ve never heard of this matter. Elder Brother, you all shouldn’t believe hearsay.”
Han Daoxun thought that his lifelong ambition had been to reduce powerful magnates and strengthen the state body so that the realm could end warfare early. Who would have thought that after the feudal reduction campaigns, he and his son would first become a powerful magnate clan with over ten thousand mu of land, more than ten workshops and manufactories, three hundred household troops and retainers, over three hundred households of slaves and servants, and several thousand hired workers under their name.
Though all these matters were controlled by Han Qian’s hands, Han Daoxun was also clear that without needing to additionally subsidize the Dragon Sparrow Army, the more than ten workshops and manufactories built in Xu Prefecture these past years could reap huge profits of at least seventy to eighty thousand strings of cash annually.
Han Daoxun didn’t want to get too entangled in such questions. Seeing the hour was late, he stood up to bid farewell to his old father and brothers, leaving with Feng Liao, Zhao Kuo and others.
Surrounded by numerous guards led by Zhao Wuji and Zhao Kuo, Han Daoxun took a carriage from the great estate. The journey was muddy but peaceful. Just as Lanting Lane appeared ahead, suddenly a warning sound came from up front. Zhao Wuji reined in his horse, indicating for everyone on all sides to protect the carriage, stop, and maintain careful vigilance.
“What happened?” Han Daoxun lifted the curtain to look outside. At this moment two guards blocked both sides with their bodies, preventing any assassins hiding in the dark nearby from coveting this place with bows and crossbows.
“There should be unidentified people blocking the road.” Zhao Wuji reined his horse over, dispatching people to investigate while explaining to Han Daoxun.
“Though it’s night, who knows if left and right neighbors might have some urgent matter going out at night. Don’t act like you’re frightened of wind and cranes.” Han Daoxun said.
“Being a bit careful is appropriate.” Feng Liao advised from the side.
Han Daoxun didn’t insist, indicating for Zhao Wuji to go together to see what exactly was happening ahead. Then through the carriage window, lowering his voice, he asked Feng Liao: “Just how many matters are you all concealing from me?”
“What matters would Feng Liao dare conceal from My Lord?” Feng Liao said.
“If there were no matters, why act so frightened of wind and cranes?” Han Daoxun glanced at Feng Liao with displeasure and asked. How could he be so easily deceived?
“With My Lord assuming the post of Capital Governor, the entire city spreads rumors that His Majesty will abolish the heir apparent and establish a replacement. The young master knows of this matter and must guard against someone becoming desperate and acting against My Lord.” Feng Liao said impassively.
Han Daoxun sighed lightly, knowing he couldn’t command Feng Liao. He said to Zhao Kuo: “You go ahead and see what exactly is happening.”
After Zhao Kuo rode his horse into the night’s concealment, shortly after, accompanied by two scouts, he brought back a young servant not yet twenty years old and reported to Han Daoxun: “This person is blocking the street to lodge a complaint?”
Zhao Wuji returned helplessly following behind Zhao Kuo.
Feng Liao scrutinized the young servant Zhao Kuo had brought back, his pupils full of doubt. Seeing Han Daoxun about to exit the carriage, he hastily advised: “What logic is there in blocking streets to lodge complaints in the middle of the night? My Lord, I think we should drive this person away and have him submit a complaint paper at the government office tomorrow.”
Continuing the previous dynasty’s old system, as Capital Governor, Han Daoxun not only administered all criminal litigation complaints from Jinling city and its auxiliary counties, but also had authority to receive complaint papers from other prefectures and counties. In criminal law matters, his authority was equivalent to the Court of Judicial Review, Censorate, and Ministry of Justice. The Capital Governor was usually also called the “Small Ministry of Justice.”
If localities had grievances, running to Jinling to lodge imperial complaints, they would usually submit complaint papers to the Capital Governor’s office. But complaint papers were submitted layer by layer upward—they couldn’t possibly reach Han Daoxun’s hands directly. As for attempting to storm the imperial city gates, even if not hacked to death by random blades, a beating with clubs would strip off several layers of skin.
By the light shining from the wind lantern, Feng Liao saw the young servant’s face showed both fear and determination. Perhaps he truly had some grievance to state, but being able to know the Han estate was in Lanting Lane and coincidentally blocking the street just when Han Daoxun was returning from the night banquet at the great estate—he couldn’t believe the matter would be simple no matter what.
Feng Liao thought he should first detain the person, figure out what was going on, then hand him to Han Daoxun for disposition.
“The hour is still early. First see what grievance he has to appeal—it won’t hinder anything.” Han Daoxun indicated for Zhao Kuo to bring that young servant before the carriage and asked, “You block the street in the middle of the night—what matter do you wish to appeal?”
“This humble one is Zhou Zhi, a minor eunuch of the Inner Servants Bureau of the Palace Domestic Service. When Supervisor Shen He was alive, I occasionally received his orders. Supervisor Shen went to Tan Prefecture to proclaim an edict. After returning to the capital he contracted a severe epidemic and died. The Imperial Medical Bureau diagnosed that Supervisor Shen unfortunately contracted miasma epidemic in Tan Prefecture, but in reality, before Supervisor Shen left the capital for Tan Prefecture, his body was already severely unwell. He was truly harmed by treacherous villains and died of poisoning. This humble one blocks the street to cry injustice for Supervisor Shen!” The young servant prostrated before the carriage, kowtowing repeatedly while crying out his grievance.
Feng Liao looked left and right, unable to suppress the shock in his heart. A cold sensation shot straight up from his tailbone:
He knew the details of Shen He’s death most clearly. Moreover, the two minor eunuchs who had served before Shen He when he died had both been silenced by the mastermind behind using excuses. Where had this person crying injustice come from?
And how did this person called Zhou Zhi know they would be returning from the Han family great estate to Lanting Lane at this time?
Who was hiding behind the scenes manipulating all this?
Feng Liao steeled himself and said to Han Daoxun: “Listening to his empty nonsense, even if Supervisor Shen’s death has hidden circumstances, this case shouldn’t be taken up by the Capital Governor’s office.”
The Capital Governor’s office had authority to receive complaint papers from prefectures and counties outside Jinling, but there was also a regulation that the Capital Governor could decide minor matters independently but major matters required memorial decisions. That is to say, a case like the mysterious death of someone at the rank of Palace Domestic Service Vice Supervisor—the Capital Governor’s office would still have to transfer it out and wasn’t qualified to handle it.
Otherwise, the Capital Governor’s office would be the “Super Ministry of Justice” rather than the “Small Ministry of Justice.”
Han Daoxun’s expression was grave, his brows lightly furrowed as if mountains weighed upon them. He looked toward Feng Liao and asked in a heavy tone: “Have you all long known that Supervisor Shen’s death from epidemic disease had hidden circumstances?”
Feng Liao was at a loss for words, not knowing how to answer.
A shadow fell over Han Daoxun’s pupils. Was what Qian’er concealed with every effort truly Shen He’s real cause of death?
Han Daoxun ignored Feng Liao’s advice and directly said to Zhou Zhi before the carriage: “First hand over your complaint paper…” Even if this case didn’t fall under the Capital Governor’s office jurisdiction, he could still receive the complaint paper.
Feng Liao’s head grew as large as a millstone. For the moment he couldn’t guess who was making trouble behind the scenes, but thinking that if the mystery of Shen He’s death was uncovered, especially uncovered by Han Daoxun’s hands, his heart went numb in waves. He truly didn’t know what kind of turmoil this matter would stir up. Only he had no way to forcibly pull away this Zhou Zhi before him who claimed to be a minor eunuch of the Inner Servants Bureau!
…
…
In the depths of the lane across from Lanting Lane, in the shadows where moonlight couldn’t reach, a pitch-black carriage stopped like a fierce beast crouching in the night, closely watching the movements at the entrance to Lanting Lane across the way.
The light was dim and the distance far. Besides some vague shadows and light, it was impossible to see the situation at the entrance to Lanting Lane clearly. But with no loud clamor coming out, it indicated everything was proceeding according to the original plan.
Chu Prefecture Embassy Administrator Yin Peng stood beside the carriage. Through the carriage window he saw Wang Wenqian sitting motionless as a statue inside the carriage compartment, seemingly unconcerned about what would happen when Zhou Zhi blocked Han Daoxun’s carriage and horses.
“The matter of Shen He dying from poisoning should have been secretly memorialized to His Majesty by Tan Prefecture long ago. And His Majesty subsequently transferring Han Daoxun to Jinling should also be a response to this matter. Why did My Lord go to such effort to find Zhou Zhi?” Yin Peng asked with considerable puzzlement.
“Shen He died from poisoning, Chen Xingmo replaced him serving before the Chongwen Hall—this could only be arranged by those behind the Anning Palace. If His Majesty were determined to establish the Third Prince as heir apparent, after transferring Han Daoxun to Jinling, it would be impossible for a month to pass without other actions. I suspect that Tan Prefecture’s side didn’t secretly memorialize His Majesty about Shen He’s poisoning, but deliberately released false information to reassure us!” Wang Wenqian said unhurriedly.
“My Lord means Master Ziheng’s whereabouts have been exposed?” Yin Peng asked in shock and doubt.
“Whether Ziheng’s whereabouts are exposed or not, we’ll know just by seeing whether Han Daoxun will take up this case.” Wang Wenqian said.
“That’s not right. Concealing Shen He’s poisoning from outsiders was planned for the Third Prince by Han Qian from beginning to end. Han Daoxun has no reason not to know. My Lord going to such effort to find Zhou Zhi to test Han Daoxun—isn’t this seeking fish from a tree?” Yin Peng asked in confusion.
“You still don’t understand Han Daoxun’s character. Han Daoxun and his son Han Qian are actually not the same type of people. Do you think Han Daoxun’s estrangement from the Han clan these years, behaving like strangers—is that truly just seeking fame by fishing for reputation, putting on a show for the world?”
Wang Wenqian glanced at Yin Peng through the weak lamplight and said.
“If Han Qian truly is as described in Ziheng’s secret letter, concealing Shen He’s poisoning from outsiders while secretly memorializing His Majesty, then they indeed have no need to hide it from Han Daoxun. But if Ziheng was deceived by that boy Han Qian, then Han Daoxun is also mostly kept in the dark by Han Qian and doesn’t know the details. Tomorrow you find your hidden contact in the Capital Governor’s office, get in touch with Zhou Zhi, ask clearly about Han Daoxun’s reaction after learning the truth of Shen He’s poisoning death, and the matter will be pretty much figured out…”
“Why would they conceal this matter from His Majesty? And if His Majesty doesn’t know of this matter, why would he transfer Han Daoxun back to court?” Yin Peng still didn’t understand.
“The reason they conceal it from His Majesty is simple—they fear His Majesty will order Chu Prefecture troops to cross the river. They just finished fighting a battle in Tan Prefecture, the Dragon Sparrow Army just expanded—nothing is prepared. Though the Third Prince is young, his eagerness for the throne is far more urgent than you imagine,” Wang Wenqian said. “As for why His Majesty would transfer Han Daoxun to court? I’ve heard His Majesty’s health has been somewhat unwell recently. Perhaps he truly wants to quickly settle the matter of establishing the Third Prince as heir apparent?”
“If His Majesty’s health is unwell, could those from the Anning Palace have also tampered with it?” Yin Peng asked.
“First confirm whether His Majesty and Han Daoxun know about Shen He’s poisoning. If they truly don’t know, the matter may be even more complex than we imagine!” Wang Wenqian said. “Arrange the boats. As soon as this matter is confirmed, Jun’er and I will return to Chu Prefecture!”
Thinking that towering waves might be about to surge up, thinking of the shocking murderous intent hidden behind, Yin Peng’s back also felt a wave of cold…