19: Chapter 19 Undercurrents

Inside the Minister's Mansion, there was a deathly silence.

Li Qian looked at Madam Li's corpse on the ground, his Face so gloomy it looked like it could drip water.

Although he was only a Silver Rank Catcher of the Jiantian Division, he was still a figure of some standing within the Li family.

If word of today's events got out, the Li family's Face would be completely lost.

A legitimate daughter of the dignified Li family and the primary wife of the Minister of Rites had actually admitted to adultery in public, and finally, right under his nose, she had been struck dead by a palm strike from Li Zheng.

If this spread, it wouldn't just be a family scandal; it would be a slap to the Li family's Face.

"Li Zheng..."

Li Qian gritted his teeth, looking at the ash-faced Li Zheng bound in chains, killing intent boiling in his heart.

But he could not take action.

Li Zheng was a first-rank official of the imperial court; although he had broken the law, it was not for him to carry out a private execution.

Moreover, today's commotion was too large; not only had reinforcements from the Jiantian Division already arrived, but there were also countless eyes watching this place.

However, the matters here definitely could not be allowed to spread.

The Li family still needed to save Face.

He turned his head to look at Chen Shanzhi and the others in the distance, irritation surfacing in his eyes.

If it were just ordinary people, he could certainly resolve it with threats or bribes.

But as for the Heir of the Marquis of Zhenguo, he didn't dare do anything to him.

He took a deep breath and walked over to Chen Shanzhi and the others. With a look of confusion on his Face, he first inquired:

"This lowly one is Li Qian, a Silver Rank Catcher of the Jiantian Division. May I ask why the Heir is here?"

Chen Shanzhi looked innocent:

"I just happened to be wandering nearby and heard a commotion here, so I came over to join the fun. Who would have thought I'd see such a play?"

Li Qian's mind was now entirely occupied by the matter of Minister Li and how to persuade Chen Shanzhi and the others not to speak of it.

So he didn't think too much about it. He glanced at Chen Shanzhi and lowered his voice:

"Today's matter concerns the Li family's dignity. Li Zheng committed violence in the street and is beyond forgiveness; as for Madam Li, she was accidentally killed by Li Zheng."

"The Heir is a smart man and should know what I mean. I ask the Heir to give our Li family some Face."

Although the Li family had lost a daughter, they absolutely could not bear the stigma of adultery.

As long as they insisted that the adultery was a rumor and that Madam Li was accidentally killed by Li Zheng's Qi Deviation, there would be room to maneuver.

As for the issue of that bastard... the Li family naturally had ways to make it an eternal secret.

Chen Shanzhi naturally understood Li Qian's meaning. The Zhenguo Marquis Mansion had no grudge against the Li family; while doing the Li family a favor, he could also keep himself completely clean.

Why not?

"Rest assured, Officer Li."

Chen Shanzhi smiled slightly and cupped his hands:

"Today, I only saw Minister Li suffer a Qi Deviation and accidentally kill his beloved wife. As for anything else... I saw nothing, and I heard nothing."

"My memory has always been rather poor."

Hearing this, a hint of pleasant surprise appeared on Li Qian's Face. He hadn't expected that while this playboy Heir's reputation was poor, his words were quite sensible.

And he actually didn't take the opportunity to extort him.

"That is excellent, excellent. If the Heir has any needs in the future, feel free to come to the Jiantian Division to find me. As long as it's within my power, I will surely go all out."

Li Qian nodded repeatedly, a smile on his Face.

Then his gaze swept across the area, his voice turning chillingly cold:

"As for today's matter, if anyone dares to leak a single word, they will be making an enemy of my Li family!

The Jiantian Division's dungeons are open for you at any time!"

The guards and maids present had long been scared out of their wits. Hearing this, they buried their heads even lower, wishing they could shrink their heads into their crotches.

"Take them away!"

Seeing everyone's reaction, a look of satisfaction appeared on Li Qian's Face.

With a wave of his hand, the men from the Jiantian Division took away the soul-shattered Minister Li and carried away Madam Li's corpse, retreating like a ebbing tide.

...

Outside the Minister's Mansion.

The onlookers had long been dispersed, leaving only a faint smell of blood in the air.

Tang Xiaowu stood beside Chen Shanzhi, still somewhat shaken.

The scene just now was truly too shocking.

A high-ranking court official had actually killed his own wife with his own hands in front of so many people.

That kind of madness and despair made her spine feel cold even now thinking about it.

"Third Brother..."

Tang Xiaowu pulled at Chen Shanzhi's sleeve and asked softly:

"That Madam Li... was she really that kind of person? And that child... was it really..."

Although she didn't know the full story, she had understood the dialogue just now.

Chen Shanzhi sighed, wearing a shocked expression as if he had also just found out:

"You can know a person's Face but not their heart. I also didn't expect that the usually dignified and virtuous Minister's wife would actually play so wildly in private."

"As for whether that child is his own... looking at Minister Li's reaction, it's likely true."

At this, he shook his head with a sigh of lament:

"This Minister Li is also a pitiful man.

Raising someone else's son for over a decade, only to find out in the end that he's a cuckold.

This blow, anyone would find it unbearable."

Tang Xiaowu listened, stunned.

Although she felt something was slightly off, seeing Chen Shanzhi's deeply moved appearance, she also nodded along:

"It truly is tragic. I never expected Madam Li to be such a person."

"However, this is good news for us."

Chen Shanzhi changed the subject, a smile curling at the corners of his mouth:

"Now that Minister Li has gone in, he certainly won't be coming out.

The Ministry of Rites is now leaderless, and no one will have the mind to care about Tang Liu's small case.

As long as I pull a few strings, if all goes well, I should be able to get Tang Liu out tomorrow."

Hearing this, Tang Xiaowu's eyes lit up:

"Really? That's wonderful!"

She excitedly hugged Chen Shanzhi's arm, her eyes slightly red:

"Thank you, Third Brother. Truly, thank you."

If it weren't for Chen Shanzhi, she really wouldn't have known what to do.

Chen Shanzhi felt the softness on his arm and was secretly pleased, but on the surface, he maintained an air of righteousness:

"What's there to thank between us?

Let's go, we'll head back to the mansion first so I can find someone to get Tang Liu out.

You must have been startled as well; it's a good time to go back and rest properly."

...

At the same time.

Although the upheaval at the Minister's Mansion was suppressed by Li Qian,

such a large commotion could not be hidden from those with eyes to see.

In less than an hour, the matter spread as if it had wings, quickly circulating through the entire upper circles of the capital.

The First Princes Residence.

"Crash!"

A precious jade cup was slammed onto the ground, fragments flying everywhere.

The First Prince was full of rage, pacing back and forth in his study, his chest heaving violently:

"Useless! Simply useless!"

"A dignified Minister of Rites actually got himself into such a mess over such trivial nonsense!

Killing his wife in the street? And trying to fight the Jiantian Division? Is his heart filled with lard?"

The Minister of Rites oversaw the imperial examinations; he had spent so much effort to place him there, and he was an extremely important card in his hand.

Now, this card was suddenly ruined.

"Your Highness, please calm down."

A trusted aide advised cautiously:

"Anger is useless now. The priority is to find a way to protect Minister Li, or to quickly recommend a new candidate to take over the Ministry of Rites."

"Protect him? How can we protect him?"

The First Prince laughed out of pure rage. "He committed murder in front of the Jiantian Division, and he killed someone from the Li family! Can the Li family let this go? Can the Jiantian Division let him off?"

"Damn it! What exactly happened? Logically speaking, with Li Zheng's personality, it's impossible for him to do such a thing."

The First Prince suddenly stopped, his eyes dark and sinister:

"Go investigate, find out everything! Li Zheng has always been steady; how could he suddenly go mad?"

"Prepare the carriage! I am going to the Jiantian Division!"

Although the hope was slim, he had to try.

If he could somehow suppress this, even if it meant Li Zheng resigning and retiring, it would be better than him being beheaded.

...

The Prime Minister's Mansion.

Unlike the chaos at the First Princes Residence, the atmosphere here was harmonious.

The current Prime Minister was practicing calligraphy in his study. Hearing the scout's report, his brush only paused slightly before he smoothly finished writing the character for 'Quiet'.

"Hahaha! Good, very good!"

The Prime Minister set down his brush and laughed while stroking his beard, his eyes sparkling with brilliance:

"Heaven is truly helping me!"

"I was just worrying about how to break into the solid block that is the Ministry of Rites, and I didn't expect Li Zheng to play himself to death."

"I wonder which expert is helping me from the shadows?"

In a great mood, he adjusted his robes and commanded toward the door:

"Prepare the carriage; we are going to the Jiantian Division."

"How could I not go and join in such a commotion?"

...

The Jiantian Division, the dungeons.

Li Zheng was held in the deepest cell for serious offenders, his cultivation sealed, slumped on the ground like a walking corpse.

The First Prince and the Prime Minister arrived almost at the same time.

The two met in the main hall of the Jiantian Division, the scent of gunpowder instantly filling the air.

"This official greets the First Prince."

The Prime Minister cupped his hands with a smile.

"Hmph."

The First Prince snorted coldly, not giving him a pleasant look. "I've come to see my subordinate. Why is the Prime Minister here?"

The Prime Minister remained jovial: "I heard that Officer Li committed the great crime of killing his wife and came specifically to show concern for the case.

After all, the Ministry of Rites cannot be without a head for a single day. The subsequent arrangements will require Your Highness and me to discuss and handle together."

With the Prime Minister here and the evidence as solid as a mountain, plus the Li family's pressure from behind,

the First Prince knew that Li Zheng was completely beyond saving.

He took a few glances at Li Zheng and then left the Jiantian Division in a fit of rage.

Just as he returned to his mansion, the scout he had sent out returned.

"Your Highness, I have news."

The scout knelt on the ground and reported truthfully: "At that time, besides Madam Li, the Heir of the Marquis of Zhenguo was also in the Minister's study!"

"Who?"

The First Prince spun around abruptly. "That playboy Chen Shanzhi?"

"Exactly!"

The scout continued: "According to the information gathered, the Heir was forcibly taken into the mansion by Madam Li, and the two stayed in the study for a long time. Later, Minister Li suddenly burst in, and then..."

"The Heir of the Marquis of Zhenguo..."

The First Prince narrowed his eyes, his finger lightly tapping the table as he fell into deep thought.

How could it be that kid?

A playboy Heir, just happening to be there when it happened? Was it really just a coincidence?

"Or have the Zhenguo Marquis Mansion and the Prime Minister joined forces?"

The First Prince was startled.

If that were the case, the problem would be serious.

The leader of the civil officials and the military nobility joining forces was a major taboo for the imperial family!

"However, that old fellow the Marquis of Zhenguo has always looked down on civil officials; surely he couldn't cooperate with that old fox the Prime Minister?"

The First Prince shook his head, dismissing the guess.

But this matter definitely reeked of something strange, which made him very uneasy.

"Keep investigating!"

A flash of ruthlessness crossed the First Prince's eyes:

"Have the secret agents investigate him thoroughly. I want to know his every move lately. Who he met, what he did—even if he used a few sheets of paper in the latrine, I want to know!"

"Yes!"

The scout took the order and left.

Standing by the window, the First Prince looked at the dark night outside, a nameless irritation rising in his heart.

Now that the Ministry of Rites card was gone, it wouldn't be so easy to bypass the Prime Minister and plant his own people in various government positions anymore.

His Father Emperor was seriously ill but had never appointed him as the Crown Prince, leaving him with no power to participate in political affairs and allowing that old fox the Prime Minister to seize control of the administration.

He, the First Prince, had instead become an idle person.

If this continued, he feared the entire court would become that old fox's students.