Jackie Chan's Son-in-Law

Chapter 134 Fighting in the Arena

Although the two were sworn brothers, their bond was still very strong; otherwise, Master Gu wouldn't have been thinking of his sworn brother so much these past few years.

So Chen Qing didn't get involved in the reunion between the two old brothers. He just waited outside. After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Master Gu came out of the prison. He wiped the tears from his face with his sleeve, looked at Chen Qing, and sighed, "Let's go, Zizheng."

Chen Qing grunted in agreement, locked the cell door again, glanced at Zhao Shilang in the cell, then took a few steps, tossed the key to the jailer, and left the Zhenfu Division prison with Master Gu.

After leaving the prison, Chen Qing took Master Gu to his private quarters to rest. Once Master Gu had calmed down, he asked, "Uncle Gu, what did Lord Zhao say?"

Master Gu sighed and said, "Brother Zhao said that you should bring paper and pen to the prison tomorrow. He wants to write a letter of apology to His Majesty, asking him to grant his two children their freedom in the future."

Chen Qing frowned and said, "It won't be easy for the prisoners in the imperial prison to get their documents to His Majesty."

"I have only met His Majesty once so far. It's not like I can see His Majesty again just because I've met him once."

"Besides, even if I could submit it, His Majesty would doubt my motives for doing so."

"Uncle Gu, in my opinion, we need to get to the bottom of this matter. Why did Lord Zhao offend us back then, and why was he imprisoned in the imperial prison for three years? Neither the officials of the outer court nor His Majesty seems willing to inquire about it..."

After hearing this question, Master Gu remained silent for a moment before smiling wryly and saying, "Brother Zhao didn't tell me the details of this question either. He only said that three years ago, when His Majesty first assumed power, he offended His Majesty by offering some advice."

Master Gu looked at Chen Qing and said in a low voice, "At the same time, we also offended Master Yang."

Chen Qing scratched his head, somewhat confused.

He really couldn't figure out what Zhao Shilang had done more than three years ago when the emperor assumed personal rule, that he could offend both the emperor and Yang Yuanfu at the same time.

However, if we look at it from a different perspective...

If that Vice Minister Zhao had truly offended Yang Yuanfu severely, the emperor might have imprisoned him in the imperial prison for over three years, and even specifically instructed the Zhenfu Division not to let him die there.

Could the emperor be protecting this Vice Minister Zhao?

Thinking of this, Chen Qing frowned, then thought that the emperor might be too soft-hearted, too embarrassed to kill Zhao Shilang directly, yet unwilling to let him go.

Therefore, the lockdown lasted for more than three years.

Both possibilities exist.

Thinking of this, he looked at Master Gu and sighed: "Uncle Gu, this matter has become a bit complicated. Now Lord Zhao should believe me. It will be much more convenient for me to go into the Zhenfu Division prison. I will ask him about it in detail another day."

"You shouldn't ask about it."

Master Gu nodded silently and said, "I have no choice but to entrust it to Zizheng."

Master Gu spoke a few more words to Chen Qing about Vice Minister Zhao's situation. Just as he was about to leave, he remembered something and said, "Judging from the time it took to get here from Yanzhou, your father should have already arrived in the capital."

Master Gu looked at Chen Qing and sighed: "Zizheng is currently in the Zhenfu Division. He can inquire about your father's whereabouts. Once I have news, I would like to meet with him and finalize your marriage with Pan'er."

"After you get married, if Zizheng wants to stay in the capital, then let Pan'er and Xiaoyue stay in the capital with you. I will go back to my hometown of Deqing to take care of Anrentang."

Upon hearing this, Chen Qing frowned and shook his head, saying, "Uncle Gu, my marriage doesn't necessarily have to go through my father, and you don't need to go to his door to find him."

"I will handle this matter properly."

Master Gu frowned and said, "It's not appropriate for father and son to turn against each other."

Chen Qing said with a smile, "I'm not an official in the outer court, and the Censorate has no jurisdiction over me. Whether we fall out or not is not very important."

The Yiluan Division was completely independent of the imperial court, forming its own system. Any disciplinary issues that arose within the Yiluan Division had no bearing on the Three Judicial Offices of the outer court.

It was the responsibility of the Southern Garrison Division of the Yiluan Division.

"However, I will have someone inquire in the meantime to see if the family has arrived in the capital yet."

Master Gu nodded and was about to speak when a series of urgent knocks came from outside the office: "Brother Zizheng!"

Chen Qing recognized Yan Cong's voice. He went to the door and opened it. Yan Cong, who looked anxious, whispered impatiently, "Brother Zizheng, Miss Mu has encountered remnants of the cult!"

Chen Qing raised an eyebrow and asked, "When? What happened?"

"This morning."

Yan Cong said in a low voice, "Last night, Miss Mu and her party held a meeting and preached at the White Lotus Sect in the outskirts of the capital. They returned to their lodgings to rest just before dawn. As soon as it was light, a group of White Lotus Sect members came to their door. They were very aggressive and wanted to drive Miss Mu out of the capital." "He Jia sent word back that those people kept calling him 'Master Yang,' so they should indeed be members of the White Lotus Sect."

Chen Qing frowned and asked, "Where are we now?"

"Miss Mu and the others are safe in the suburbs of Beijing for the time being."

"it is good."

Chen Qing narrowed his eyes and said softly, "Let Miss Mu try to make contact with these cult bandits first. If she can't, then let He Jia organize a fight with them."

"Also, organize manpower so we can leave the city. I'll personally oversee things."

Yan Cong responded without turning his head: "I will arrange it immediately!"

After he left, Chen Qing turned back to look at Master Gu and said with a smile, "Let's go, Uncle Gu, I'll take you home first."

“I might be busy for a few days, please tell Pan’er for me.”

Mr. Gu nodded silently, a hint of worry on his face.

"Zizheng, please be careful."

…………

Evening, at the residence of Minister Yang.

Yang Xiangong had just returned from his duty at the Grand Secretariat and entered his study when someone cautiously entered, bowed to him, and said, "Your Excellency, you guessed correctly. It is indeed the Zhenfu Division investigating the young masters, but it is only a small number of Zhenfu Division personnel, not a large-scale investigation."

"I spent a lot of effort to find out the general outline. It seems that Chen Qing, the newly appointed centurion of the Northern Garrison, sent people to secretly investigate the sons of the Prime Minister's family."

Upon hearing this, Master Yang lowered his head and slowly took a sip of tea.

"That's not surprising."

Master Yang said calmly, "That lad is truly cunning. Last time, he got away with his silver tongue..."

At this point, Minister Yang frowned and did not continue. Instead, he lowered his head and pondered silently for a moment before saying, "Minister Xie is not in office in the cabinet today. Go and have someone send a document to him, saying that I have invited him to my home for a drink."

The man quickly lowered his head, responded, and cautiously retreated.

The document that Minister Yang needed to write was quickly drafted by a specialist and sent out of the Minister's residence.

When it was completely dark, Xie Xiangong arrived as promised, and Yang Yuanfu was very obliging, personally going to the front yard to greet his colleague.

The two prime ministers quickly took their seats, raised their wine cups, and each drank them down in one gulp. Afterwards, Prime Minister Xie looked at Prime Minister Yang and said with a smile, "What brings you here today, Yuanfu, to invite me for a drink?"

"I'm not on duty today, so I'm free."

Minister Yang and Minister Xie discussed some official matters of the court. After talking for a while, they clinked glasses again. Minister Yang looked at Minister Xie and asked, "Have you met Ji Heng's disciple named Chen Huan?"

"No."

Xie Xiangong shook his head again and said, "Last time, Yuanfu Gong said that I should meet him before the Ministry of Personnel summons him. Now there should be about twenty days before the Ministry of Personnel summons them."

"Therefore, I didn't rush to see him, thinking I'd leave him hanging for a while."

Minister Xie narrowed his eyes slightly and said softly, "I heard that Chen Huan has been moving around the capital very frequently lately, running around busily and very actively."

Minister Yang reached out and poured Minister Xie a cup of wine, then said calmly, "His son, Chen Qing, is already secretly investigating officials in the court."

At this point, Minister Yang paused, then continued, "Those who will be most affected are probably the few people in our cabinet."

Xie Xiangong was somewhat surprised and asked, "Is Prime Minister Wang also among them?"

Yang Yuanfu was speechless and said, "Prime Minister Wang should not be among them."

As he spoke, he looked at Xie Xiangong and said with a smile, "Ji Heng can meet Chen Huan these next few days and tell him that his son is quite capable."

"They want to compete with us."

(End of this chapter)