Chapter 241: Don’t You Know How Much I Squander?
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
In the bedroom, Xiang Feiyan’s expression was a little gloomy.
For any Emperor, being suppressed by their subjects was not something to be happy about.
Su Wen stood by the side and observed her expression. He could not help but praise her in his heart. Old Su’s actions seemed normal, but he already had an extremely accurate grasp of both parties’ thoughts.
He had calculated that Zhang Yong’s transaction of using the position of the Prefecture Governor would definitely not be small and would not give up easily.
At the very least, even if Xiang Feiyan were to speak out and reject it, Zhang Yong would do his best to fight for it. Once he did, he would have the greatest influence in the royal court. At this moment, the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince did not have any conflicts of interest in this matter. If they did not speak, it would result in his dominance over the court.
If no one tried to sow discord between them…
Forget it, Xiang Feiyan might submit under pressure.
However, Su Wen understood Old Su’s intentions and naturally would not let go of this opportunity to sow discord.
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This was also why Xiang Feiyan had to mention this matter.
Both the Su father and son wanted Zhang Yong to go against Xiang Feiyan.
In reality, a truly smart Emperor would make Su Wen speak at this time. Because once Su Wen spoke about rejecting the memorial, regardless of whether Zhang Yong agreed or not, whether his attitude was firm or not, it would be a conflict between the ministers.
The Emperor would be even more at ease, able to advance or retreat at will.
But in this aspect, how could Xiang Feiyan be as scheming as the Su father and son?
Once she said that, she placed herself and Zhang Yong on opposite sides.
Immediately after, Su Wen tried to sow discord.
Xiang Feiyan felt as if a thorn had been stabbed into her heart.
The struggles of the royal court could be accurately summarized as the struggles of the hearts of the people.
Xiang Feiyan asked softly, “Brother Wen, do you think Zhang Yong has too much power?”
Su Wen smiled and said, “How should I put it? Minister Zhang has followed the previous Emperor for many years and is extremely famous in the court. You just ascended the throne not long ago, so the ministers will naturally believe in Minister Zhang more.”
His seemingly ordinary words seemed to be an explanation.
However, Xiang Feiyan felt uncomfortable hearing it.
“This woman is the Emperor!” It was rare for her to even address herself as so in front of Su Wen.
It could be seen that she was already furious that her royal authority had been challenged.
Su Wen remained silent in the face of her outburst.
A true expert’s manner of sowing discord was to make others unable to hear that they were doing so. Otherwise, once it was heard, it might even have the opposite effect.
Xiang Feiyan pondered for a moment and asked, “What do you think will happen if I dismiss Minister Zhang?”
Su Wen smiled and said, “Minister Zhang’s faction is spread throughout the royal court and has a high prestige. He has done nothing wrong, so how can we dismiss him?”
Xiang Feiyan said coquettishly, “That’s why I’m asking you. You can’t let me be an Emperor who can’t even speak properly in court, right?”
Su Wen stroked his chin and hugged Xiang Feiyan. “It’s only you. If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t bother with such troublesome matters.”
Hmm, after so much trouble, it turned into him helping Xiang Feiyan to come up with ideas.
He had completely forgotten that he was the one who asked to reject Zhang Yong’s suggestion from the start.
Su Wen’s gaze was cold as he revealed his intentions. “If you ask me, kill!”
Xiang Feiyan widened her eyes and said anxiously, “No, Zhang Yong has a high reputation and is even respected in the court. If…”
At this point, Xiang Feiyan shut her mouth.
She realized that the more she spoke, the more she wanted to kill this old fellow.
She fell into deep thought and said, “But we still have to find an excuse. We have to stop everyone from talking.”
Su Wen smiled. “What excuse are you looking for? That old fellow has been running the court for many years. If you investigate him through normal channels, I’m afraid it will be his people who are investigating him. How can you find evidence?”
“Then what should we do?” Xiang Feiyan frowned.
Su Wen smiled. “I’ll go and kill him!”
Xiang Feiyan’s eyes lit up while Su Wen said in a deep voice, “For this matter, the easiest way is for me to make a move. Once Zhang Yong dies, there will be no evidence! As for you, you just have to help me.”
At night, in the royal palace, Xiang Feiyan held a banquet.
A group of Heaven Rank experts were invited, including Xiang Ding.
“Everyone here is a pillar of Great Zhou, a cornerstone. Today, I invite everyone…”
The banquet began.
Xiang Feiyan smiled as she watched the Heaven Rank experts drink and chat.
In the dark night, a figure had already arrived at Zhang Yong’s residence.
It was Su Wen!
He didn’t want to kill too many people and only wanted to kill Zhang Yong.
He flew in the air and checked the rooms one by one to see where Zhang Yong was.
Finally, he found Zhang Yong’s location.
In the study room, a man stood in front of Zhang Yong.
The two of them were talking.
“Minister Zhang, you promised our Mu Family that you would definitely let us become the Governor of the Hu Prefecture,” the man said in a deep voice.
Zhang Yong smiled, “Don’t worry, there’s definitely no problem.”
“But I heard that His Majesty personally rejected this matter today!” The man was a little dissatisfied.
Zhang Yong said disapprovingly, “Isn’t the matter still not decided yet? What matter can be smooth sailing? I don’t know why Her Majesty rejected it, but I’ve already tried my best to fight for it today. Her Majesty is also still undecided on this. In these few days, I’ll use some more connections and send more memorials.”
“That position will definitely belong to your Mu Family. You just have to prepare a Heaven Rank expert and kill Su Wen! In a few days, I’ll think of a way to send Su Wen to the Eastern Border. When the time comes, you can intercept him halfway.”
Su Wen, who was on the roof, was stunned when he heard this.
He never expected that this old fellow would really scheme to harm him.
He couldn’t help but sigh. Old Su was indeed shrewd.
From the memorial and Zhang Yong’s attitude, he could tell that this person must have had a plan.
It was also thanks to Su Changqing making him kill Zhang Yong that he discovered this.
Otherwise, he might really have been tricked by this old fellow.
As he spoke, Su Wen directly fell into the room. Die Yi transformed into a long sword and suddenly stabbed into the darkness.
Splat!
In the dark, a 9th Grade Earth Rank expert instantly died!
At this moment, in the royal palace, Xiang Ding frowned.
Just as he was about to stand up, Xiang Feiyan walked over with a cup of wine and toasted him. She smiled and said, “Fourth Great Grandfather, have a drink.”
Xiang Ding was caught unawares.
He took the wine glass and drank it. “Your Majesty, just now…”
“Fourth Great Grandfather, drink more today.” Xiang Feiyan interrupted him again.
Xiang Ding’s eyes flickered slightly. He didn’t say anything else and sat down.
In the Prime Minister’s residence, Su Wen swung his sword again, directly killing the Mu family member as well.
He killed two people consecutively in an instant.
Zhang Yong was dumbfounded and was about to shout out.
Su Wen turned around and smiled. “If Minister Zhang doesn’t want your entire family to die, it’s best not to make a sound.”
The moment Zhang Yong saw Su Wen’s face, he quickly paused.
“Nanli King!” he muttered. “When did you arrive?”
“Not long, but I’ve heard almost everything I needed to hear.” Su Wen looked at Zhang Yong and shook his head. “I didn’t expect Minister Zhang to have the intention to harm me.”
Zhang Yong looked at Su Wen and sighed, “Her Majesty asked you to come?”
In an instant, a lot of things went through his mind.
Su Wen nodded.
Zhang Yong continued to ask, “In other words, what His Majesty said today was also instructed by you?”
“I guess so.” Su Wen did not deny it.
Zhang Yong said with a bitter smile, “What a pity, what a pity that you could see through me. It’s because my skills are inferior. Kill me, just let my family go.”
At this point, he knew that he was already dead.
Su Wen looked at Zhang Yong and said softly, “I want to ask, why did you dare to attack me?”
Zhang Yong sneered, “Why wouldn’t I dare? You are only a traitor of Zhou Country. In the royal court of Great Chu, my words carry weight. I am the prime minister of Chu, even if you’re at the Heaven Rank, you’re not invincible. Why wouldn’t I dare to scheme against you?”
He looked at Su Wen and asked, “Before I die, I have a few questions that I hope you can answer for me.”
“Speak!”
Su Wen did not mind chatting with him.
Zhang Yong asked, “Were you the one who ordered Her Majesty to veto Mu Zhong today?”
Su Wen nodded and smiled. “That’s right!”
“Very good, pushing Her Majesty out to be my enemy. What a good method!” There was a trace of confusion in Zhang Yong’s eyes, “I don’t understand. Did I leak the news or something? Why did you suddenly attack me?”
He asked doubtfully, “Actually, I was already prepared to resign from my position the moment Her Majesty ascended the throne, but I saw that you and His Majesty didn’t seem to want to be enemies with me, nor did you want to seize power. Why did you suddenly attack me?”
Su Wen smiled helplessly and said, “Because my father entered the city. He said that you can’t stay.”
Zhang Yong was helpless. What kind of reason was this?
“Didn’t you say that your father is already dead?”
“He’s not dead, and he’s already in Great Chu.”
Zhang Yong looked at Su Wen and asked in a deep voice, “Then are you planning to seize the foundation of Great Chu?”
Splat!
Su Wen did not answer.
Instead, he stabbed out with his sword.
“D*mmit! Are you done trying to stall for time?”
The long sword stabbed into Zhang Yong’s throat.
Zhang Yong’s eyes widened and he let out a series of gurgling sounds.
In the end, he fell to the ground, blood flowing everywhere.
Su Wen flashed out of the door and flew straight away.
The Prime Minister of Great Chu had died just like that!
In the palace, the banquet was ongoing. A palace maid came in and walked to Xiang Feiyan’s side. She whispered, “Your Majesty, the Nanli King has arrived at your chambers.”
Xiang Feiyan stood up with a face full of smiles and said, “I still have something on. Seniors, take your time to drink.”
As she spoke, she stood up and left.
When she arrived at the bedroom, she hurriedly threw herself into Su Wen’s arms.
“How is it?”
“Dead!” Su Wen smiled.
Xiang Feiyan blushed and kissed him.
Su Wen could sense that she was very excited.
Xiang Feiyan was naturally excited!
In reality, even though she had become the Emperor, she still respected Zhang Yong in her heart.
However, such an important official could be easily killed after rebuking her today.
This was the benefit of authority!
She did not know that some of her actions today were completely under Su Wen’s control.
However, it was undeniable that when she heard the news of Zhang Yong’s death, she felt a strange sense of pleasure!
“Well…”
“Come…”
“In a while, the Zhang family will probably enter the palace to report!”
“I don’t care!”
In reality, the person who arrived later than Su Wen expected.
The Zhang family had a strict upbringing, and Zhang Yong’s study could be said to be a forbidden area.
Thus, it was only past midnight when the Zhang family discovered that Zhang Yong had died
A scream resounded throughout the Zhang Residence.
“Reporting to Your Majesty, Lord Zhang, Zhang Yong, is dead! The Zhang Family has sent people to report!”
Late at night, a palace maid stood outside the chambers and reported softly.
She knew that the person inside was not asleep because the commotion had yet to die down.
“Got it. Wait for me.” Xiang Feiyan’s voice came from the bedroom.
The people from the Zhang family and the Ministry of Justice had already arrived and sealed off the scene. The Secret Service was also present.
Great Chu did not have the Martial Inspectorate, but had a similar organization, named the Secret Service.
Their job was actually similar to that of the Martial Inspectorate. It was also targeted at the experts of the martial world.
The Minister of Justice, Ji Weili, had a dark expression.
The current prime minister was killed in his home!
This was a major event!
He knew that the way he handled this matter might affect his career.
“How is it?” he asked a man who was checking the situation.
The man raised his head and said in a low voice, “It must have been done by a Heaven Rank expert. The wound contains a trace of Heaven and Earth Origin Qi, and his sword technique is extremely powerful. None of the three people in the room could withstand a second move!”
Ji Weili’s expression darkened. A Heaven Rank expert had entered the capital to attack?
Yet no one in the capital had noticed?
At this moment, a shout was heard.
“Her Majesty has arrived!”
Xiang Feiyan rushed into the courtyard with a shocked expression!
“What happened to Minister Zhang? What happened to Minister Zhang?”
Hmm… almost two hours had passed since the Zhang Family’s report.
However, even if she did not come, no one dared to say anything.
The torches lit up the entire courtyard like it was daytime.
Su Wen followed behind her and the two of them entered the courtyard.
Ji Weili hurried forward and bowed. “Greetings, Your Majesty. Greetings, Nanli King.”
“How is it?” Xiang Feiyan asked.
Ji Weili replied honestly, “Your Majesty, I’m afraid that the culprit is a Heaven Rank expert, but we don’t know where he came from. I wonder if those Lords present in the palace haven’t sensed him today? Moreover, logically speaking, there should be a monitoring formation in the capital of Chu. If a Heaven Rank expert enters or attacks, they should be discovered.”
Xiang Feiyan looked at him with self-reproach. “I held a banquet today and gathered all the Heaven Rank experts for a drink. I didn’t expect… someone to take advantage of this opportunity.”
“Hiss!” Ji Weili sucked in a breath of cold air.
This was too much of a coincidence.
He subconsciously blamed Xiang Feiyan for the murder…
Recalling the fight in the royal court during the day, Ji Weili’s expression became even uglier.
However, he did not say anything and only lowered his head a little deeper.
He did not dare to ask or speak nonsense.
Otherwise… maybe the next one would be him…
At this moment, Su Wen also entered the house.
After taking a look at the person’s wound, he pretended to think for a moment and said, “Your Majesty, I have discovered something!”
“Did Brother Wen discover anything?” Xiang Feiyan asked.
“The sword technique of the person who attacked seems to be the Roaming Dragon Wind Sword! When this sword technique enters the body, the Qi energy lashes out like a swimming dragon. When the sword stabs out, the wound made on the outside is smooth, but the wound on the inside will be rather twisted.
Furthermore, there is wind force surrounding the sword wound, which caused the surrounding area to be invaded by the wind force.” His analysis immediately made the eyes of the man who was checking the corpse light up.
He hurriedly asked, “Has the Nanli King seen this sword technique before?”
Su Wen said, “I’m ashamed to say this, but I’ve really seen it before. However, this sword technique is the ultimate technique of the Great Zhou Bright God Sect’s Elder, Dou Zhan!”
Xiang Feiyan frowned and said, “Little Brother Wen, why did the Dou Family come to assassinate our Great Chu’s officials?”
Su Wen had a face full of self-reproach as he sighed and said, “I’m afraid it’s still because of me. I’m a member of the Zhou Country to begin with. After my entire family fled from the Zhou Country, Emperor Zhou treated us as a thorn in his side. He must have sent people to assassinate me!”
“However, this subject’s cultivation has already broken through to the Heaven Rank, and I’m also in the capital of Great Chu. No matter who it is, they can’t easily attack this subject. This fellow probably couldn’t find an opportunity, so he took a fancy to Lord Zhang being the pillar of our country, and thus took revenge!”
Xiang Feiyan came to a realization and gritted her teeth. “So that’s how it is. How hateful this Dou Family is! This Great Zhou actually laid such a trap! I cannot let them off easily!”
As the two of them sang along, the murderer seemed to have been confirmed.
Su Wen continued, “Your Majesty, the murderer has already been confirmed. We cannot let them off!”
“That’s right! We’ll attack Great Zhou sooner or later and kill this Dou Family to avenge Minister Zhang!”
“This Emperor will issue a decree. Minister Zhang will be conferred the title of a Loyal Valiant Duke. He will be buried in accordance of his title. His son, Zhang Shunzhi, will be temporarily suspended from all duties. He will grieve for three years and will be employed again after three years.”
Xiang Feiyan made her decision on the spot.
No one dared to object.
The next morning, the news spread throughout the capital.
Even the newspapers had stated the reason.
It was the Great Zhou Bright God Sect’s Dou Family that caused the death of their country’s pillar!
The commoners of the capital wailed, and for the first time, they felt resentment towards the Great Zhou.
At Su Changqing’s residence.
Old Su was moving his body.
He slowly practiced a set of fist techniques. Of course, in Su Wen’s opinion, this fist technique was just a pile of shit.
The main thing was that Su Changqing’s soul was still not perfectly compatible with this body, thus he needed time to adapt.
“Father!”
Upon hearing this familiar shout…
Su Changqing knew that Su Wen was here.
The moment he entered, Su Wen laughed loudly. “Father, I’ve already discussed with Her Majesty. I’ll let you enter the royal court and become the prime minister!”
Upon hearing this, Su Changqing waved his hand and said, “It’s not appropriate to establish someone straight to the position of prime minister. Many people won’t believe your excuses. They will still think that Xiang Feiyan killed Zhang Yong, but it doesn’t matter.
Anyway, no one has evidence, and the goal of establishing her authority has already been achieved. The position of prime minister is just a bait, so just leave it there and let them fight over it.”
“Since Zhang Yong is dead, those guys will have no leader and have benefits ahead of them. They will definitely use any means to attack others. Only then will it be convenient for Xiang Feiyan to plant her own people.”
Su Wen looked at Su Changqing for a while before he sneered. “Old Su, do you not want to be an official and earn money? Let me tell you, don’t even think about leeching off me at home! I will definitely not give you money!”
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Su Changqing was furious. “You unfilial son! You spent so much of my money for so many years. Let’s not talk about anything else, how much money did Cui Yumian redeem herself for? You spent so much money for a prostitute, did I even say a word to you? Don’t think I don’t know. That lottery ticket you made, it’s a sure win and no loss. So what if you raised me for a few years?”
“Why don’t you return me the money you used to redeem her!”
Su Wen laughed loudly. “Old Su, I think you’ve lost your mind. You’re so young and have hands and feet. Why don’t you work hard yourself? Do you think I’m the kind of person who spoils my father? Don’t you know the clearest how much I’ve squandered all these years? Do you still want to rely on me to support you?”
“Why don’t you just become an official in the royal court! If not, you have to tighten your belt and think of a way yourself!”
“By the way, you don’t have to think about business. If you dare to do it, I’ll make sure you lose everything!”
Su Changqing glared at Su Wen, but Su Wen remained fearless. The father and son stared at each other.
After a short while, Su Changqing sighed and said, “I’ve worked hard for so many years. Can’t I rest?”
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Su Wen pursed his lips. “Don’t think I don’t know. From Great Zhou to Great Chu, you only took a little more than a month to traverse the sea route. How long have you been journeying for? I heard from Luo Ning that you’ve been unrestrained and have a lot of fun along the way!”
Su Changqing gritted his teeth and said, “Luo Ning’s mouth will be torn apart by himself sooner or later.”
Finally, he sighed. “Forget about the Prime Minister. Let me be the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Appointments.”
He explained, “After all, I’m from Zhou Country. If I rashly enter the royal court and directly become the Prime Minister, it will be too eye-catching. Moreover, I just said that the position of Prime Minister is undecided. The position of Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Appointments is enough for me to cultivate my own people. Give me some time, and I will slowly climb up.”
“Alright!” Su Wen smiled.. As long as Old Su was willing to enter the royal court, he would be more at ease.
