Chapter 113 Donst You Want to See Him? (1/2)
Wu Hongshan stood in front of the window with his hands clasped behind his back, staring at the dark night sky, and he didn't move for a long time. He sighed heavily as if he had suddenly aged ten years.
Today, the memorial to the throne written by the Lulong Commissioner was published on the imperial court.
In the memorial, there was solid evidence to prove that Li Guochang, the Zhenwu Commissioner, was the culprit of Kang Chengxun's murder, and it also enumerated the evidence that the cultivators of the Zhenwu Army sneaked into Hedong to create chaos and cause the military and civilian unrest. Among them, the most important witnesses were the cultivators of the Zhenwu Army who were escorted to Chang'an by the Lulong Army.
The memorial caused a great dispute on the imperial court, and the whole court was in an uproar for a time. Especially after the officials on Wang Duo and Lu Yan's side had made a series of declaiming and denounced all kinds of misdeeds of the Zhenwu Army, the officials on the court rushed to condemn the Zhenwu Army excitedly. The Prime Minister summoned the Liaison of the Zhenwu Army to the imperial court and angrily rebuked him.
Wu Hongshan still had lingering fear as he thought of the scene that the Prime Minister was trying to kill the Liaison of the Zhenwu Army and launch a military attack to the Zhenwu Army.
Wu Hongshan didn't say a word during the whole process. He wanted to defend the Zhenwu Army because there were many doubts and many places worth considering about the so-called hard evidence in his view and he didn't plan to give up his alliance with the Zhenwu Army, but he couldn't do that.
The anger of all the officials was out of control, and the important ministers had the same attitude as if they had agreed in advance, so Wu Hongshan had to shut up.
After returning from the imperial court, Wu Hongshan kept shutting himself in the study. He knew very well that the reputation of the Zhenwu Army had been completely ruined, so under this circumstance, the imperial court wouldn't let a Duchess marry to the Zhenwu vassal state.
”Duke Wu, we have a visitor.”
Wu Hongshan originally didn't want to see any visitors, but when he heard that the other side was the Liaison of the Lulong Army, his heart suddenly thumped and his instinct told him that he should see him.
...
Wu Hongshan took a tea bowl and lifted the lid several times without any thought of drinking tea, so he put down the tea bowl and looked at the visitor in front of him. ”Mr. Zhang, why are you here today?”
Zhang He, the Liaison of the Lulong Army, with a smiling look, said bluntly, ”Emperor's son-in-law Wu, do you know why all the officials would respond together and condemn the Zhenwu Army with one voice on the imperial court today, when they heard the memorial of the Zhenwu Army's assassinating Mr. Kang?”
Wu Hongshan was unwilling to lose face in front of an outsider, so he thought for a while and said, ”All the officials on the imperial court know that Wei Baoheng had strongly suggested my daughter marry to the Zhenwu vassal state when he was on the court, so they think that Wei Baoheng colluded with the Zhenwu Army. Wei Baoheng was convicted. Although in order to reduce the influence, the imperial court didn't release the names of other officials in the account book, nor did it conduct a thorough investigation into who had bribed Wei Baoheng, the officials, who had contacts with Wei Baoheng, trembled with fear, so they denigrated the Zhenwu Army in order to disapprove of Wei Baoheng, which was a good chance not to be missed for the officials who wanted to distance themselves from Wei Baoheng.”
”It makes sense, but you are wrong.” Zhang He's smile was mysterious.
”Why?” Wu Hongshan was stunned.
”Do you know why the Lulong Army dared to intervene in the case of Mr. Kang's death and say firmly that the Zhenwu Army had done it with only a few clues?” Zhang He asked.
”This...” Wu Hongshan couldn't figure it out. ”Please tell me.”
”I can only tell you a name, Prince An.” Zhang He's smile became increasingly unpredictable.
”Prince An? How is that possible?!” Wu Hongshan trembled and took a deep breath, feeling unbelievable.
”Do you know the reason that the officials would respond together on the imperial court today was that they were arranged by Duke Wang and Duke Lu?” Zhang He continued.
”This... It's possible!” Wu Hongshan nodded. After the downfall of Wei Baoheng, Wang Duo and Lu Yan were the two most powerful ministers on the imperial court. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that both of them had controlled the whole imperial court.
”It's not possible, but it's true,” Zhang He said firmly, ”Do you know why?”
”This...” Wu Hongshan didn't understand either, so he hurriedly cupped his hands. ”Please tell me.”
”It's the same name, Prince An!” Zhang He's tone was firm and powerful.
”Prince An again? How is that possible?!” Wu Hongshan was shocked and trying to jump up.
Zhang He took a sip of tea to moisten his throat. His smile was as mysterious as the dark night. He stared at Wu Hongshan until the other side began to fear, and then he said, ”Why don't you think about the reason that Prince An has done this? What's Prince An's purpose of leaving no stone unturned to suppress the Zhenwu Army?”
Wu Hongshan just wanted to say something, but because he was too eager, he almost bit his tongue. He shut up immediately, but he was astonished in his heart and his expression changed a lot, not knowing to be happy or worried. He couldn't help but stand up and step back and forth in the room.
”It seems that you don't feel calm, so I won't bother.” Zhang He stood up and cupped his hands to say goodbye.
”Please wait!” Wu Hongshan called Zhang He hurriedly and asked eagerly, ”Why are you telling me about these things today?”
Zhang He just smiled and didn't say a word. Before he cupped his hands to leave, he said, ”Don't forget because of whom Wei Baoheng fall!”
Seeing Zhang He's figure disappear in sight, Wu Hongshan stood stunned and didn't move for a long time.
He understood that everything was because of Li Ye!
That kid who had nothing at the beginning of the year!
”In less than a year, he... has grown to this point?!”
Wu Hongshan felt uneasy and restless. ”Duke Wang and Duke Lu, who are the most powerful on the imperial court now, have listened to him! Does it mean that even if he doesn't have the position of the Prime Minister, he has already had the power of the Prime Minister? Moreover, moreover, Zhang He has spoken for him, so does it mean that the arrogant Lulong Commissioner has already turned to his side?!”
”Control the imperial court inside and tame the arrogant vassal states outside. He has done all these things secretly which Duke Wei couldn't achieve?! This...”
”He was really able to do them because Duke Wei was the one whom he brought down?! If he was able to bring down Duke Wei, it was possible for him to complete these things... But, how did he do them?! Why would Wang Duo and Lu Yan, the Prime Ministers, be willing to cooperate with him?! He... Prince An is too terrifying!”
Aware of these, Wu Hongshan's hands trembled and he felt restless. He remembered his attitude towards Li Ye before, he suddenly had a bad feeling. He really regretted it!
Wu Hongshan suddenly realized that Li Ye's power was already beyond his imagination, but in any case, Li Ye was very influential and powerful now, so if Li Ye wanted to take revenge on him, wouldn't it be so easy?
Wei Baoheng whom he counted on had already fallen, so he now became ”a lonely man” in official circles! If Li Ye intended to deal with him, who could help him? Who was willing to help him? And who dared to help him?!
”Quickly, call Duchess of Li to come over!”
”No, I'm going personally!”