Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

The Capital, the Yan Residence.

Zhang Shi gently stirred the tea leaves in his teacup with the lid, while Yan Lao, his face clouded with contemplation, sat beside him, his aged eyes narrowed, seemingly lost in thought.

After a short while, Zhang Shi took a small sip of the fragrant tea and said softly, “Elder Yan, now is the perfect opportunity, what are you still considering?”

Yan Lao’s cloudy eyes shifted slightly as he looked at Zhang Shi, his voice somewhat hoarse, “I am wondering if His Majesty is truly ill.”

“Being away from the court for so long, only hearing what others say, I am hesitant to believe it.”

Zhang Shi chuckled softly, it was true that the older one got, the more timid they became, but caution was never wrong.

“It is normal for Elder Yan to have concerns. Yesterday, several cabinet ministers visited His Majesty in the Imperial Study, and their expressions were not pleasant upon their return.”

“I also went there later, but only saw His Highness the Crown Prince. He too seemed unwell. The Crown Prince is not one to hide things. These past few days, His Highness has been staying in the palace to be with His Majesty, which cannot be false.”

“Some days ago, when His Majesty was still attending court, many people noticed that His Majesty's health was failing. Now, a serious illness is within reason. Privately, some are saying... that His Majesty was assassinated by the Prince of Wu, but because the situation was not critical, it was kept secret. Now, it has developed into a carbuncle!”

“Now that His Majesty cannot attend court and the Crown Prince is incapable, this is the best opportunity to bring down Fang Zheng Yi.”

After listening, Yan Lao raised his eyes and glanced at Zhang Shi indifferently.

“I heard from my student that the word is Fang Zheng Yi was secretly dispatched by His Majesty to the south to investigate the salt merchants, and then the Prince of Wu fled south, indicating that the Prince of Wu must be connected to the salt merchants.”

“Now, news has come back that Fang Zheng Yi has been kidnapped and the Prince of Wu has escaped by boat. I think we should forget about this matter, he may already be dead.”

“Even if he successfully returns to the capital, it will not be too late to find another opportunity.”

Zhang Shi frowned: “Elder Yan, good opportunities are hard to come by! If this traitor is not eliminated, who knows how arrogant he will become when the Crown Prince ascends the throne!”

“Lord Zhang...” Yan Lao stared intently at Zhang Shi, and said slowly: “Fang Zheng Yi, no matter how capable, is just a young man who has gained the Emperor’s favor, he is not worth mentioning, it is better to wait a little longer.”

“Moreover, now the Crown Prince and His Majesty are both on his side. Merely relying on the evidence that he accepted 60,000 taels of bribes from the Northern Rong is probably not enough.”

“No, besides that, there is other evidence!” Zhang Shi replied immediately: “The Prince of Wu's mansion has now been sealed off, and the confiscated account books have been sent to the Ministry of Revenue. There are large sums of money, as much as hundreds of thousands of taels, exchanged between Fang Zheng Yi's Peach Garden County and the Prince of Wu's mansion!”

“With such an astonishing amount, how can Fang Zheng Yi have no connection with the rebels?”

“Where is the evidence?” Yan Lao asked.

“The exchange of hundreds of thousands of taels, is more evidence needed? Reporting based on hearsay is the duty of an official, especially when there are actual accounts to check! Plus, his collusion with the Northern Rong is already a certainty, he cannot escape the death penalty!”

After listening, Yan Lao suddenly sighed, got up, faced Zhang Shi and said: “Lord Zhang, I think we should forget about this matter, show him out!”

As soon as he finished speaking, a maid immediately stepped forward to escort Zhang Shi out.

The situation changed suddenly, Zhang Shi exclaimed: “Elder Yan, haven’t you always told me that you wanted to avenge Yan Guoan?”

“Alas! I am old, the Yan family cannot withstand any more storms. Fang Zheng Yi is not in the capital, all the news comes from the mouths of others, I dare not believe it too much. If he cannot return to the capital, all is lost. If he does return, there will be plenty of time to deal with him later.”

“This opportunity cannot be missed! Elder Yan!” Zhang Shi frowned.

Yan Lao sighed again: “Lord Zhang, this carbuncle is an incurable disease, His Majesty's health will not recover for a while... The opportunity will always be there.”

“It is you who I cannot understand, why are you in such a hurry to deal with Fang Zheng Yi at this juncture? Could it be that you are afraid of him returning to the capital, or perhaps... are you connected to the Prince of Wu?”

“The Prince of Wu and Fang Zheng Yi had hundreds of thousands of taels of silver in transactions. You are so concerned about Fang Zheng Yi, haven’t you investigated him before? Why are you only bringing this up now?”

Zhang Shi was startled, this old fox! Not only was he stubborn, but he also thought so much.

“Elder Yan, be careful with your words! The rebels act in secret, how could the Ministry of Revenue know?” Zhang Shi said sternly: “My Zhang family has been loyal for generations, how could we collude with rebels?! I didn’t expect Elder Yan to think of me like this, I think I don’t need to visit you anymore, goodbye!”

Having said that, Zhang Shi turned around and was about to leave.

Yan Lao leaned on his crutches, repeatedly tapping the ground: “Lord Zhang! Wait, wait! I am old and muddled, don’t take it to heart.”

Zhang Shi's expression softened slightly, he turned around and looked directly at Yan Lao.

“Since Elder Yan is unwilling, I will not say more. My Zhang family are all loyal and patriotic people, with the affairs of the country always in mind. If there is any personal motive, it is not without it. Fang Zheng Yi's behavior has long provoked public anger, to be honest, it is both for public and private reasons!”

“Guoan and I were considered friends despite our age difference. Since Elder Yan is afraid of taking risks, then I will avenge him!”

Having said that, Zhang Shi was about to turn around and leave again.

Mentioning Yan Guoan, Yan Lao began to feel a faint pain in his heart, and helplessly called out: “Come back, don’t be in such a hurry to leave, I haven’t finished speaking yet.”

Zhang Shi stopped again and stood still.

Yan Lao staggered to his side and said in a low voice: “His Majesty and the Crown Prince trust this person exceptionally, I cannot but be cautious.”

“As for what you said, it does make sense. Although I am not in the court, it is our duty to eliminate traitors and evil.”

“But I am now just a commoner, and those students are all in high positions, I am afraid that my words alone will not be so useful.”

“Although there are some courtesy exchanges during the New Year and festivals, the Yan family has been struggling in recent years since Guoan passed away.”

Zhang Shi immediately showed a look of disgust.

This old dog! In the end, he is just trying to negotiate a price! Is he finally showing his true colors?

“Just say it, Elder Yan! How much do you want?” Zhang Shi was already getting impatient.

Yan Lao slowly held out a hand.

“Fifty thousand taels?”

“Five hundred thousand taels....”

“Are you kidding me!” Zhang Shi immediately exclaimed.

A trace of cunning flashed in Yan Lao’s cloudy old eyes: “Of course I am not kidding... Since the Minister of Revenue is the person closest to money in the world, surely you can come up with a mere five hundred thousand taels, right?”

“Although I don’t know why you are in such a hurry to convict Fang Zheng Yi at this time, I don’t care and I am not in a hurry.”

“I only know that if Fang Zheng Yi really returns to the capital, then your Zhang family's future will certainly not be good. Your son will enter the court in the future, and your relatives will also enter officialdom. If a petty man like Fang Zheng Yi, who holds grudges, gains further power, will your Zhang family still be well?”

“It is better to nip it in the bud before he becomes too powerful. Five hundred thousand taels... is really not expensive.”

After listening, Zhang Shi remained silent for a long time. Yan Lao leaned closer and sighed: “Ah... perhaps this is the last time I will be loyal to the court, my mind has become increasingly muddled these years, I don’t know...”

“Five hundred thousand taels, I will pay it! Elder Yan, the Yan family has not had it easy these years, let this money be my private donation to support the Yan family's younger scholars.”

Yan Lao smiled knowingly: “Then I thank Lord Zhang for his kindness.”

......