Chapter 211

Chapter 211

Shen Fu definitely has some issues when it comes to personal morals.

But there's no denying he's got real chops when it comes to getting things done, and for the sake of profit, he can really bend over backward—which makes him a damn handy tool for the higher-ups.

So in recent years, although because of Han Zhang, Emperor Taixuan had kicked him out of his 'inner circle'—the Office of Transmission, to be exact—he hadn't completely cut him loose either. He still let Shen Fu keep a fairly important post at court, though it was the kind of job that made enemies, so Shen Fu's life was pretty much a living hell.

So when Shen Fu pulled the cold-hearted move of dumping his first wife and legitimate kids to make room for a new wife and a fresh start, nobody batted an eye.

After all, Shen Fu's reputation was like Prince Duan claiming his kids—'famous' all around!

So Shen Huaizhi, who had no clue his old man had already thrown in with his brother-in-law's rebellion, was naturally grinding his teeth in fury over the deaths of his kids and his mother.

Zhao Yongchang, Pan Taining, and Wu Xuelin were just as pissed off for their buddy.

But since things had come to this, and the dead couldn't be brought back, all the three could do was drag him out for drinks and try to comfort him into looking ahead.

"Brother Shen, the dead are dead—you can't just wallow in despair! If you lose your nerve, aren't you just playing right into Uncle Shen's hands, making room for his new wife?"

"What goes around comes around—now that we've all passed the imperial exams and are about to enter officialdom, are you scared there won't be a chance for payback down the road?"

Easy to say, though. A whole different story to actually do it.

Shen Huaizhi slammed back the harsh liquor in his cup, his face twisted with bitterness and grief:

"Revenge? Look at me—how the hell am I supposed to get revenge? My father's been marinating in officialdom for years, his roots run deep, and his methods are ruthless as hell—how am I supposed to catch up to him? How am I supposed to bring him down?"

"How can you not catch up? So what if Uncle Shen has a few more years of experience in the game? Brother Shen, you've still got us—and you've still got Brother Han!"

The three couldn't stand seeing their buddy so down in the dumps, so they kept pushing him.

Zhao Yongchang chimed in: "Brother Shen, sure, I'm imperial clan, so even with a degree I can't hold office, but with my track record and the emperor uncle's favor, I'm a shoo-in for the next Patriarch of the Imperial Clan. And once I've got that kind of pull, I'll definitely be able to help you."

Pan Taining nodded: "Brother Zhao's right. And sure, Brother Han's stuck way out in Yunyang, thousands of miles away, but we've all seen how sharp he is. With him calling the shots from the shadows, Brother Shen, what's there to be afraid of when it comes to Uncle Shen?"

Wu Xuelin nodded along: "I hear that under Brother Han, Yunyang Prefecture in Yanzhou has seen tax revenue climb every single year—damn impressive record. With that kind of administrative talent, even if there was some drama in the past, how could His Majesty keep him benched forever? Him getting called back to the capital is just a matter of time."

Hearing his brothers' heartfelt words, Shen Huaizhi felt a warmth swell in his chest, but he still shook his head with a bitter smile:

"No, you guys have no idea what my father is really like! Like they say, it's easy to deal with a gentleman, but a petty man's a mystery. You all know how scary-smart Brother Han is—you think my father doesn't? He'll stop at nothing to keep Brother Han from coming back to the capital to help me!"

"And his methods... you've all seen them firsthand now. They say even a tiger won't eat its own cubs, but this bastard kills his own kids just to climb higher!"

The three of them: "..."

Yeah... that was a brutal reality, alright.

The group fell into a heavy, worried silence.

After a beat, Pan Taining's eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands: "Here's an idea—since Brother Han can't come back to the capital, why don't we just go to Yunyang and find him?"

"First off, Yunyang's gotten pretty prosperous under Brother Han, so we won't exactly be roughing it if we head over now."

"Second, when it comes to dealing with a scheming old fox like Uncle Shen, we're fresh out of ideas—but Brother Han's got plenty!"

"Then, with Brother Han running the show and us backing him up, wouldn't that beat sitting in the capital stewing in misery?"

Truth be told, the real reason he suggested it was that he missed Han Zhang's 'sweet talk.'

After all, in the capital, there weren't many people who could, like Han Zhang, shamelessly butter them up with such sincerity that it hit them right in the feels!

Zhao Yongchang and Wu Xuelin also missed those days of getting praised by Han Zhang, and both thought the idea was a solid one.

"Great! That's settled then—I'm heading to the palace right now to ask the emperor uncle to transfer us!"

Zhao Yongchang was the impatient type, so he took off in a hurry.

Shen Huaizhi tried to stop him, but deep down, he didn't really want to.

His mother and kids had died in the household infighting, and his own father had a hand in it—he just couldn't stand to face the man anymore.

Maybe leaving the capital to throw in with his younger brother and brother-in-law wasn't such a bad idea after all...

The Imperial Palace.

After hearing Zhao Yongchang's request, Emperor Taixuan looked surprised, set down his brush, and gave him a long, questioning once-over:

"You truly want to go to Yunyang Prefecture?"

That look said it all: You know Han Zhang once slapped the imperial family's face, and you still want to buddy up to him? Aren't you afraid I'll start hating your guts too, kid?

Zhao Yongchang was scared, sure, but he valued this brotherhood even more, and right now he genuinely wanted to give Han Zhang a hand.

After all, as imperial clan, his career prospects were capped anyway. Even if he really pissed off Emperor Taixuan, he'd still have a cushy life of wealth and honor.

In life, how many true friends can a man really have?

Shen Huaizhi, Pan Taining, Wu Xuelin, and Brother Han... those four, besides his family, were the only ones who'd ever been real with him—he couldn't just turn his back on them.

Meeting Emperor Taixuan's piercing, pressure-laden gaze.

Zhao Yongchang took a deep breath, steeled himself, lifted his robes, and knelt, speaking with heartfelt sincerity:

"Imperial uncle, you're a wise man! Your nephew knows Brother Han's past words and actions crossed the line and bruised the royal family's pride. But that's exactly why your nephew wants to go to Yunyang even more—to see him and talk some sense into him."

"Imperial uncle, you're a man of genius and vision, a wise ruler for the ages, with a mind as vast as the ocean—how could you toss aside a good minister over one momentary slip-up? And you'd never deny a capable official who's boosting state revenue and keeping the border folks settled."

"Sure, Brother Han's stubborn as a mule, but his choices back then just prove he's a man of loyalty and integrity, someone who won't bow to power."

"Your nephew humbly begs your pardon for his boldness, and on Brother Han's behalf, begs you—please give him another shot."

"If talent like that gets buried out in the sticks, it's a real loss to the court and a shame for the people..."

With that, Zhao Yongchang kowtowed three times, full of earnest.

Emperor Taixuan stayed silent.

The imperial study went dead quiet, only the drip-drip of the water clock echoing, each tick hammering Zhao Yongchang's frayed nerves as sweat started beading on his forehead.

Just as Zhao Yongchang was about to crack under the pressure, Emperor Taixuan let out a soft chuckle and said:

"Enough, you're quite the thoughtful one. Since you've put it that way, if I don't agree, wouldn't I be a real tyrant who turns his back on talent?"

"No, imperial uncle, I didn't mean—"

Zhao Yongchang's face went red as he scrambled to explain himself.

Emperor Taixuan waved his hand, letting out what seemed like a resigned sigh: “Enough—I know the schemes you’ve been hatching in your heart. Do you think I fail to recognize Minister Han’s talents? As for the Jiayou Affair back then, how could I be unaware that it wasn’t his fault?”

“It’s just that this Minister Han—he’s truly young and impetuous, his temper rivaling even those cantankerous old censors in the Censorate. If we don’t smooth out those rough edges, how could he ever shoulder greater responsibilities?”

“Your Imperial Highness…”

Zhao Yongchang was overjoyed—he knew his imperial uncle, who had governed the Zhao State so prosperously, must be a wise ruler and would never abandon a man of Minister Han’s caliber, capable of serving the nation.

Emperor Taixuan smiled amiably: “Very well—return and await the imperial decree. But given Minister Han’s stubborn temperament, whether he’s willing to return will depend entirely on your powers of persuasion.”

“Rest assured, Your Majesty! Your nephew will certainly persuade Brother Han!”

With his wish fulfilled, Zhao Yongchang bounded out of the imperial study, overjoyed.

But as his figure vanished, the smile faded from Emperor Taixuan’s face, and he stared into the distance, his expression unreadable.

He lightly clapped his hands, and a shadowy figure materialized like smoke.

“Has everything at the State-Assisting General’s residence been taken care of?”

The shadowy guard bowed: “Reporting to Your Majesty—all matters have been thoroughly handled.”

“Very good.” Emperor Taixuan nodded faintly, his tone calm and unruffled. “Then wait until my dear nephew leaves the capital—and send the State-Assisting General… peacefully on his way.”

At the Crown Prince’s Eastern Palace.

Having received word from the imperial study, the Crown Prince likewise issued his orders: “Notify our agents in Yunyang—once Zhao Yongchang arrives, proceed with the plan.”

…

Zhao Yongchang, utterly unaware of the arrangements made after his departure, received the next day not only the imperial decree appointing him and Shen Huaizhi to Yunyang, but also a special token of authority.

It granted Zhao Yongchang the power to act first and report later should he encounter difficulties in Yunyang!

Seeing this, Zhao Yongchang, Pan Taining, Wu Xuelin, and Shen Huaizhi were all overjoyed; they immediately returned home to pack their belongings and galloped full-speed toward Yunyang Prefecture.