My Three Kingdoms is not right

In a side room in the southeast corner of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, Wu Shuo, his face flushed, shoved the official blocking the doorway: "I am a Gentleman of the Palace with a rank equivalent to 600 shi (a unit of grain), an attendant of the Emperor! What right do you have to detain me?"

When she first arrived yesterday, she was willing to speak to these people politely.

But after being locked up overnight, he no longer cared about saving face.

The female official guarding the door smiled obsequiously and bowed, but didn't budge an inch: "Lord Wu, please calm down. Your superiors have ordered you to cooperate with the investigation. Once the matter is cleared up, you will be allowed to leave."

"Investigate what?" Wu Shuo stamped his foot angrily, "I've never even met those two envoys, how could I possibly bribe them? Besides, why would I, a dignified Imperial Councilor, bribe them?"

"But since someone has identified the person and provided valuables as evidence, the temple will naturally investigate."

"This is clearly a frame-up!"

"We all believe in Wu Yilang, and after the investigation, we will definitely clear your name."

Wu Shuo's chest heaved violently.

I've been tricked.

He had indeed embezzled and accepted bribes, enriching himself at his own expense. But he did it discreetly, and it was none of the Guanglu Temple's business.

This fabricated bribery was a dirty trick played by Guangluxun to frame him and trap him here.

But why do they confine themselves?

It's clear I can't keep you for long, and it's clear the truth will inevitably come out eventually.

Could it be... Dong Cheng's affair?

These questions clung to her like venomous snakes, making her restless and uneasy.

No matter what, we have to get out of here now!

"Get out of the way! I want to submit a memorial impeaching him! I want to see the censor! I want to see His Majesty and beg His Majesty to make a decision!"

Just then, a faint voice came from outside the door.

"Wu Yilang has quite a temper."

The curtain was lifted, and a girl in white walked in.

His face was as handsome as jade, and his features as beautiful as a poem. However, his exquisite face carried a condescending indifference.

Wu Shuo stopped in his tracks.

Of course she knew Yang Xiu. She was the daughter of Grand Commandant Yang Biao, a direct descendant of the Hongnong Yang clan, and an outstanding member of a prominent family.

When they met in the imperial court, even high-ranking officials with a salary of two thousand piculs of grain would greet her politely—not because of their official rank, but because of their family background.

"You've come at the right time, Your Excellency." She cupped her hands in greeting, suppressing her anger. "I was just about to ask you, on what grounds is the Court of Imperial Sacrifices detaining me?"

"While I may indeed be a member of the Guanglu Xun (a high-ranking official), I am not under your jurisdiction! If you wish to interrogate me, you should do so through the Chancellery, with an imperial decree issued by His Majesty. How can you detain me without my consent?"

Yang Xiu smiled slightly and said unhurriedly, "No need to rush, come, sit down and let's talk."

After saying that, she calmly entered the house, sat down, and did not take Wu Shuo's furious outburst seriously at all.

Wu Shuo gritted his teeth and finally sat back down.

Yang Xiu possessed a unique aura, like an iceberg: tall and cold, making people dare not act rashly.

Yang Xiu looked at her calmly and said:

"Wu Yilang's statement that the Court of Imperial Sacrifices is not qualified to govern you is not wrong. Although the Yilang belongs to the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, he is in his own faction and is directly responsible to the Emperor."

Wu Shuo straightened his back a bit: "Since Yang Cheng knows, then please let me out."

"However," Yang Xiu changed the subject, "as the Guanglu Cheng, an official under this temple, I can investigate anyone suspected of illegal activities."

"I'm investigating bribery involving the envoy. I ask for your cooperation, Mr. Wu. Surely there won't be any problem?"

Wu Shuo clenched his fist: "I have official business to attend to and don't have time to cooperate with your investigation."

She cannot be detained here.

Every extra moment spent there increases the risk from the outside world.

Back when she was in Chang'an, she refused the emperor's request to make clothes for the palace women in order to curry favor with Li Jue.

The reason given was that "the Kanto region has not yet been pacified, the national funds are insufficient, and the clothes worn by His Majesty's favorites have already far surpassed those of the officials."

She was severely reprimanded by her superior, Minister Liang Shao, who accused her of serving as a lowly official in Tiantai, prioritizing personal gain over public duty, and currying favor with high-ranking officials.

From that time on, she was no longer favored by the emperor.

Otherwise, with her talent and ability, how could she have remained a minor official for so many years?

Therefore, she was extremely proactive in assisting Dong Cheng's uprising. Many of Dong Cheng's actions were planned by her.

This time, she has staked everything; she absolutely cannot afford to fail again!

Having made up her mind, she no longer bothered to reason with Yang Xiu and simply stood up: "If you don't let me leave, you're imprisoning a high-ranking official of the court. Just wait to be impeached!"

"Goodbye!"

Yang Xiu shook his head: "We are all colleagues, Wu Yilang's words are too formal."

She gently raised her hand, and the sound of orderly, heavy footsteps and the rustling of armor came from outside the courtyard.

In a short while, the armored and halberd-wielding Tiger Guards had completely surrounded the small courtyard, and a chilling atmosphere immediately filled the air.

Wu Shuo's expression changed instantly.

"What are you doing?"

Yang Xiu ignored her and walked out with his hands behind his back: "To prevent unauthorized personnel from interfering with the investigation, you must guard this courtyard. Make sure to protect Wu Yilang's safety."

"No one may enter or leave without my authorization."

Wu Shuo swayed slightly and plopped back down on the couch.

-----------------

Inside the main hall of the General of Chariots and Cavalry's mansion, the air was so heavy it was hard to breathe.

Zhong Ji was still wearing his armor, clearly having come directly from the military camp. She strode across the threshold and saw Prince Fu and Wu Zilan already seated in the hall; her heart sank.

"Something happened?"

Dong Chengmu's face was blank, his eyes slightly closed, as if he were asleep.

Seeing that Dong Cheng didn't speak, Wu Zilan replied, "Wu Shuo has been arrested."

Zhong Ji immediately understood why they all looked so serious.

"Has the plan been exposed?" Zhong Ji asked again.

Dong Cheng remained silent.

Sometimes, silence itself is an answer.

Wang Zifu interjected, "Just now, the Court of Imperial Sacrifices mobilized the Tiger Guards to surround the courtyard where Wu Shuo is being held."

She didn't finish her sentence, but her meaning was already very clear.

If it were just a matter of embezzlement or something similar, the Imperial Guards would never have been used.

Wu Shuo, that spineless coward, must have confessed to something that made the Court of Imperial Sacrifices so nervous and mobilized so much.

"Then what do we do?" Zhong Ji frowned, looking at Dong Cheng. "Are we just going to wait here to die?"

"Don't panic!" Dong Cheng finally opened his eyes, his sharp gaze sweeping over everyone. "I've already made a plan. I called everyone here to devise a response."

Zhong Ji's eyes narrowed slightly.

Prince Fu sat up straight.

Wu Zilan, whose face had already turned ashen, raised her head, a glimmer of hope flashing in her eyes.

Dong Cheng slowly began to speak:

"Half an hour ago, Zhang Fei from the Left General's residence delivered a message from Liu Bei."

All three eyes focused on it at the same time.

"Cao Cao and Liu Xun left the city through the north gate this morning for an outing."

The hall fell silent instantly.