Thank you so much for the donation Han Prefecture. Along the way, they discovered traces of the King of Yue's movement. However, their actions were cautious, and after tracking them for a distance, the trail disappeared," Shang Junlin said.
"Does this mean that our initial speculation was incorrect? They indeed intend to go to Hanzhou," Shen Yu toyed with his cup, deep in thought. "Is there anything particularly significant about Hanzhou?"
Initially, they had all assumed that those individuals would take the King of Yue back to his fief. Shang Junlin sent people to trace their footsteps along the way. Hanzhou wasn't a necessary stop between the capital and the King of Yue's fief. Choosing Hanzhou would take them on a rather circuitous route.
"Most likely, there are people in Hanzhou ready to assist them," Shang Junlin said calmly.
"Your Majesty, could it be that this situation is more than just a coincidence? Minister Xu's legitimate daughter committed an offense in the hunting grounds, and you sent people to investigate their past affairs in Hanzhou. Those individuals went to great lengths to abduct the King of Yue, and they're heading to Hanzhou as well. If they learned that your people happened to be there, what would they be thinking?" Shen Yu contemplated the scene in which these individuals, who thought they had everything under control, inadvertently walked into a well-prepared trap.
"Thinking of it that way, Ah Yu might be their nemesis. Every incident seems to lead them to a clash with him by chance," Shang Junlin expressed his astonishment.
The previous events aside, the current situation was indeed too coincidental. Furthermore, the fact that he and Shen Yu were hunting together on that day, encountering Minister Xu's petulant legitimate daughter, added another layer of complexity to it all.
Shen Yu chuckled. "Perhaps."
As implicated parties, Minister Xu's family was now detained. Regardless of their involvement in the assassination attempt, since they brought the perpetrators into the city, they were accomplices in some way.
"Minister Fang captured the servant that day and asked, 'He claimed to be delivering a letter to Madame Xu. Has Your Majesty found out what she discussed with Han Province?' Shen Yu inquired.
Shang Junlin replied, "According to Madame Xu's confession, she intended to have Hanzhou conceal some actions her beloved daughter had once committed there."
Shen Yu remarked, "Considering the haughty nature of the legitimate daughter of the Xu family, she must have caused quite a stir."
Shang Junlin agreed, "Ah Yu's assessment is accurate. She is even implicated in several murders."
"So, Your Majesty has already obtained results so quickly?" Shen Yu marveled.
"It was the illegitimate daughter of the Xu family who revealed this. After her imprisonment, she divulged numerous secrets about the Xu family. I've ordered verification, and if her claims are true, Hanzhou is in for a significant change," Shang Junlin explained.
With those words, a seemingly casual decision determined the fate of various major powers in Hanzhou.
Members of the Xu family were detained together.
'Why did you tell them those things? Do you think now that we're all imprisoned, you can slander your sister as you wish?' Madame Xu glared hatefully at the woman crouched alone by the wall.
"She dared to do those things herself. Why wouldn't I dare to speak of them?" The woman lifted her head from her arms and stared directly at Madame Xu. "Instead of interrogating me, perhaps you should worry about your precious daughter. She's responsible for so many lives lost. Isn't she afraid of vengeful spirits in the dead of night?"
"What nonsense are you spewing?" Minister Xu rebuked in annoyance. "Junjun might be a bit headstrong and willful, but she couldn't have taken lives. If you're displeased with her, you shouldn't resort to such base accusations."
"So Father is unaware of these matters? Perhaps you should ask your dear wife by your side. Or your loving daughter. How did the daughter of the Wu family meet her end three years ago? Or inquire about the death by drowning of the daughter of the Yu family two years ago? There are many instances like this. Should I go on and recount them one by one?" The woman's lips curved into a mocking smile.
Minister Xu furrowed his brow and hesitated, glancing at the person beside him.
Madam Xu seemed to have been struck a painful blow and jumped up, saying, "You believe whatever she says? Junjun grew up by your side. Don't you understand her nature?"
"No need for explanations here. Officials have already been sent to Hanzhou, and whether I'm lying or not will be clear when they return," the woman replied impassively.
"Why argue? Why argue? You two love to argue the most," a prison guard grumbled as he approached.
The cell fell silent once again.
The officials dispatched to Hanzhou initially encountered resistance. Upon arrival, they realized that within the small Hanzhou, the web of influence was intricate. Despite Minister Xu being transferred to the capital, his influence still remained significant. Investigating the Xu family's affairs was much more challenging than anticipated.
It wasn't until the Xu family became implicated in an assassination attempt that they found an opening to pursue.
As the investigation delved deeper, one shocking case after another came to light.
The responsible officials didn't dare delay and immediately compiled reports.
"Even if they weren't involved in the assassination attempt, the Xu family should still face death!" Shang Junlin erupted in anger after reading, "Who was the one who promoted this person in the first place?"
The study fell into silence. Meng Gonggong lowered his head, afraid to speak.
The ministers who had gathered for discussions were also too afraid to speak. They hadn't anticipated that a case involving a junior's insolence towards the emperor could unravel several instances of bloodshed.
Being the daughter of Minister Xu of Hanzhou, bearing the weight of numerous lives lost, these cases that had come to light so far left it hard to ignore suspicions about the minister and the role his family might have played.
"Prime Minister, you'll handle this matter. I want to know how this individual was transferred to the capital and if there are any similar situations within the court."
Author's Note: Happy National Day, lovelies~ This chapter has an update.