In the end, Liu Kui, who had come well-prepared, gained the upper hand and arrested the relentlessly clamoring Wang Ying, escorting him all the way back to prison.

Indeed, Liu Kui had originally wanted to take him to the Court of Judicial Review, but considering that the Wang family and their old allies and confidants were everywhere, no place seemed safe. So he simply locked him directly in prison.

Then he replaced all the guards watching the prison with his own people, so he wouldn’t have to fear the Wang clan snatching the prisoner back.

Though he had captured the man, Liu Kui also lost several of his own people. Just the arrest and detention alone had cost so many lives, making Liu Kui once again feel the Wang clan’s overwhelming influence and tyranny. This wouldn’t do—if the powerful aristocratic families weren’t restrained, sooner or later the Prince would be completely manipulated, and then chaos would erupt in the south.

Liu Kui entered the palace with a grave expression to see the Prince of Langya, telling him about Wang Ying’s wild insolence and the words he had shouted.

“You see, even someone as insignificant as Wang Ying disregards your commands. What about others then?”

The Prince of Langya was deeply shaken internally.

Meanwhile, outside the palace, the news of Liu Kui’s arrest of Wang Ying had spread. The Wang clan members all found Liu Kui’s tyrannical behavior detestable and immediately went to Wang Dao’s residence to find him.

Three months ago, Wang Dao had submitted a memorial requesting to resign from office. The Prince of Langya hadn’t agreed, but the rift between them grew deeper. Though never openly displayed, the Prince of Langya wanted to replace the aristocratic families with his own trusted followers, while the Wang, Zhou, Yang and other aristocratic clans behind Wang Dao refused to yield. Caught in the middle, Wang Dao was exhausted and claimed illness to avoid seeing anyone.

By now, he had shut his doors to visitors for over three months.

Wang Ying’s elder brother Wang Yu received news of his brother’s arrest and immediately ran to find his cousin Wang Bin.

Wang Bin then sought out Wang Jizhi and Zhou Yi, dragging the two of them along with Wang Yu to request an audience with Wang Dao.

Wang Dao had already received the news. Hearing that there had been a bloody street brawl, he couldn’t help but sigh deeply: “It was originally just a small matter, why did it have to escalate to this extent?”

The steward Sibo said worriedly: “What should we do? The Prince already misunderstands you, and with Wang Ying making such a scene, it will be even harder to explain things clearly between you and the Prince.”

Upon hearing this, Wang Dao couldn’t help but sigh deeply. He and Sima Rui had been childhood friends, close companions for decades, yet who could have imagined they would become like this in just a few short years after crossing the river? This was completely different from what they had envisioned before crossing south.

Wang Dao knew he couldn’t blame Sima Rui entirely—he bore greater responsibility. He hadn’t controlled the aristocratic families properly. What should have been mutually beneficial had become mutual constraints.

Still grieving, Wang Bin and the others came requesting an audience.

Wang Dao thought for a moment, then shook his head in refusal: “I’ve already requested to resign. I won’t be managing these affairs anymore. Let them make their own trouble.”

Sibo asked: “What reason should I give?”

“Just say I’m ill.”

Sibo agreed and went out to refuse the visitors.

But was Wang Bin someone who would give up easily?

The Prince of Langya’s suspicion of Wang Dao filled him with indignation, but what angered him most was Wang Dao’s dispirited state.

The glory of so many families rested on him alone, and he had the ability to lead everyone to the pinnacle—why should he submit and give up?

So Wang Bin angrily wrote a letter to Wang Dun, telling him: “Brother, Maohong has been bullied again. Your nephew Wang Ying has been captured by the treacherous Liu Kui, and his fate is now unknown. Jiankang has changed.”

He had the letter sent off, then began circulating among the aristocratic families in Jiankang, persuading them to join him in rescuing Wang Ying and eliminating the treacherous Liu Kui.

Many responded.

Liu Kui was the Court of Judicial Review official, entrusted by the Prince of Langya with important criminal justice responsibilities. Since becoming the judicial officer, he would bite anyone he caught. Not to mention Zhou Yi and Wang Bin, even Wang Dao, Dai Yuan, Yan Han, Yang Qing, Lu Heng and others had all been impeached by him. Among them, the one impeached most frequently and who bore the deepest grudge against him was Wang Ying’s father, Wang Han.

After Wang Han was killed by Zhao Hanzhang, Wang Ying replaced his father as the judicial officer’s primary surveillance target.

Therefore, among the aristocratic families in Jiankang, hardly anyone didn’t detest Liu Kui. Even if they didn’t openly oppose him, they disliked him in their hearts, genuinely believing him to be a treacherous troublemaker stirring up chaos.

And even more detestable than him was Diao Xie. If Liu Kui could still be considered treacherous in their hearts, then Diao Xie only deserved the title of “shit-stirrer.”

Wang Bin spent half a day rallying many people, gathering them together and leading them directly to Wang Dao’s doorstep to stage a sit-in.

Indeed, they didn’t go to Liu Kui, nor did they go to Sima Rui to demand an explanation, but sat before Wang Dao’s home, forcing him to come forward and uphold justice.

Wang Dao, who had already submitted his resignation letter twice: …What exactly did this matter have to do with him?

Yuan Li stood in the corner with his hands folded, watching all this dumbfounded. Even he couldn’t have imagined such a maneuver.

But thinking of his own plans, he couldn’t help but laugh heartily, becoming even more delighted.

He threw his head back laughing as he left. Zhou Chong, passing by, turned to glance at him. Seeing him dressed in plain clothes with his pant legs rolled up exposing his calves, wearing dirty cloth shoes, Zhou Chong turned his head away and looked no more. He ran off to find his brother.

Running to Wang Dao’s main gate, he saw his brother sitting crookedly on the ground with his legs crossed, holding a wine flask. Zhou Chong stepped forward to pull him up: “What kind of appearance is this?”

Wang Bin’s eyes lit up when he saw Zhou Chong. He immediately grabbed him: “Zhongzhi, you’ve come at just the right time! Quickly join us in entreating Maohong to come forth and help.”

Zhou Chong was proud and disdainful. He pushed his hand away: “Even if Minister Wang were to come forth, it shouldn’t be for someone like Wang Ying.”

He sneered: “What virtue does Wang Ying possess that’s worth Minister Wang coming forth for him?”

Wang Dao had been appointed Governor of Yangzhou and promoted to Palace Attendant. Though he didn’t have the title of Prime Minister, he had the reality and talent of one, so everyone privately called him Minister Wang.

Zhou Chong wouldn’t come himself and wouldn’t allow his brother to either. He directly pulled the sitting Zhou Yi up: “Go home. To pressure Minister Wang for someone like Wang Ying—if you don’t find it shameful, I do.”

Zhou Yi just laughed heartily: “I don’t find it shameful at all. Let me sit a while, won’t you? The sun is good right now, and this spot is bathed in sunlight. Let me take a nap here.”

Zhou Chong refused and pulled him away.

Zhou Yi didn’t insist. He said helplessly to Wang Bin: “I’ll go home for a meal first. You keep sitting. Call me if you need anything.”

Seeing that he was really going to leave, Wang Bin hurriedly stopped the brothers: “It’s not just for Wang Ying, it’s more to get Maohong to come forth. Look at what chaos Jianye has become these past two or three months!”

Zhou Chong first corrected him: “Jiankang!”

Then said: “You create your own chaos, what does it have to do with him?”

He sneered repeatedly: “You people wreck everything, then want him to come out and clean up your mess. Do you think that’s appropriate?”

Wang Bin said: “Zhongzhi, don’t forget that Boren was also impeached a while ago.”

Zhou Chong’s face flushed red. He couldn’t help but glare at his brother. Zhou Yi also felt somewhat embarrassed but still said to Wang Bin: “That impeachment against me was indeed my fault.”

Zhou Chong was too lazy to continue dealing with Wang Bin and pulled Zhou Yi away.

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