After being scolded by his mother, Fu Ya didn’t dare touch her room again. Desperate for money, he snuck into Fu Ting Yi’s room one night, ransacking everything and finding several bank notes. Believing the box contained something valuable, he took it to a locksmith. Upon opening, he found a stack of letters exchanged with the Southwest.
Even Fu Ya understood the significance of these documents. He was both shocked by Fu Ting Yi’s hidden depths and clearly saw this as a potential golden opportunity.
These documents could instantly destroy the entire Fu family and pull Fu Shen down from his pedestal, ensuring he would never rise again.
Amidst overwhelming excitement and destructive desire, Fu Ya could still calmly consider his next move. He couldn’t directly report this to the authorities because Fu Shen had the cunning Yan Xiao Han by his side. Presenting evidence would be like walking into a trap.
Weak and alone, he needed to find someone who could contend with the Yan and Fu factions and use their hands to accomplish this task.
After careful consideration and investigation, he brought his “proof of loyalty” to Xue Sheng’s doorstep.
“What a difficult situation,” Xue Sheng shook his head, half lamenting and half mocking, “Jing Guo Gong, heaven’s will is such. Don’t blame this official for sending you on your way.”
The next day, Xue Sheng entered the palace for an audience, presenting the letters of correspondence between Ying Guo Gong Fu Ting Yi and the Southwest to the Long Zhi Emperor.
“Good… good!” The Long Zhi Emperor repeated the word twice, his facial muscles seemingly uncontrollable, looking grotesquely distorted. He trembled while holding the letters, suddenly standing up and sweeping all the brushes, ink stones, and tea cups off the table, gnashing his teeth and roaring: “Rebellious traitor! How you have deceived me!”
The eunuch outside, hearing the commotion, carefully pushed the door open a crack, just as caught by the Emperor’s glance.
The Emperor grabbed a goat’s fat jade brush and smashed it towards the door, furiously shouting: “Get out!”
After a loud noise, the room fell silent. Xue Sheng stood calmly amidst the mess, advising: “Your Majesty, please calm down.”
After a moment, the Long Zhi Emperor collapsed into his chair.
His face was purple, his chest heaving violently, muttering: “Two national lords in one family… with high official positions, they’ve raised such heartless, unfilial sons…”
Xue Sheng saw how angry he was and stepped forward, respectfully saying: “Your Majesty, this subject has something to report.”
The Long Zhi Emperor emerged from his daze, saying: “Speak.”
Xue Sheng lifted his robe and knelt in the center of the great hall: “The Duke of Ying, Fu Tingyi, colluded with the southwestern rebel official Duan Guihong to harm the Grand Emperor and endanger the state. The Duke of Jing, Fu Shen, knew about this but did not report it, instead covering up the matter and having close ties with Duan Guihong. These three have treacherous intentions that are clear as day. If not eliminated, they will surely rebel in the future.”
“Given the current situation, this subject requests that Your Majesty consider the future generations and make a decisive decision, thoroughly purging the Fu clan’s treacherous faction to prevent future troubles.”
The Changzhi Emperor barely recovered, wearily asking: “What do you suggest I do?”
“Your Majesty, please hear me out: Fu Shen is in the southwest and coordinates with the northern garrison. If this were to be prosecuted by the Censorate and the Three Judicial Offices, it would inevitably provoke discussion and face numerous obstacles. If he is pushed to desperation, Fu Shen might join forces with Duan Guihong to rebel on the spot, leaving the court with no recourse,” Xue Sheng said. “This subject believes that the only solution is to act secretly, first eliminating the ringleader, then clearing out the remaining accomplices. This way, we can prevent future troubles and avoid stirring up unrest in the northern garrison.”
The Changzhi Emperor’s heart suddenly sank. Though he was angry, he knew that dealing with a high-ranking official like Fu Shen should at least provide an opportunity for self-defense. He hadn’t expected Xue Sheng to immediately propose execution, and said: “He… Fu Shen has made contributions to the state. How can we use such methods?”
“Your Majesty has a broad mind, but the treacherous rebels cannot appreciate your good intentions,” Xue Sheng said softly. “Your Majesty, have you forgotten how Fu Shen pressured you when the city was surrounded?”
“
“Fu Shen has high prestige in the court and many followers, otherwise he would not have the audacity to deceive and disrespect the emperor,” he prostrated himself, saying: “If this villain is not eliminated, the state and society are in danger. Please reconsider, Your Majesty!”
The Changzhi Emperor fell silent.
Xue Sheng waited calmly, confident because he knew the thorn planted in the emperor’s heart would take root in the face of irrefutable evidence, growing into a poisonous vine that would grip his mind and reason.
Fu Shen was doomed to die.
No matter how loyal he had been, even if he had reclaimed the northern territories for the Changzhi Emperor, such trust was unreliable. People may not remember all the good someone has done, but they will certainly remember every offense and injury.
Indeed, after a long silence, the Changzhi Emperor spoke with a hoarse, trembling voice: “Beloved official… what strategy do you propose?”
Xue Sheng counted his breaths, waiting for his thundering heartbeat to subside before bowing again without changing expression: “This incompetent subject is willing to share Your Majesty’s burden and serve like a loyal hound.”
My lord, the assassination case at the Wanshou Banquet back then was investigated by the Flying Dragon Guard. I know Chunyang is your man, and I know the White Dew Powder came from the Southwest. Jing Yuan never hid your friendship from me.
“Yan Xiaohan tried to speak calmly, “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have come directly here. You couldn’t have harmed him; there must be a spy planted by the Emperor near him.”
“Was it the dog Emperor’s order?” Duan Guihong had only vaguely suspected before, but now confirmed by Yan Xiaohan, his anger suddenly surged: “Fine! I harmed him, and now his son comes to harm him. In his previous life, Fu Shen destroyed his grandfather’s entire clan. Is he destined to be tormented like this in this life?!”
Brilliant military achievements, a body full of scars, yet still less valued than a court favorite’s few words before the Emperor. Fu Shen had fought wars for the Great Zhou his entire life, only to end up like this.
After roaring, Duan Guihong’s anger dissipated, replaced by boundless coldness and misery. He stood motionless for a moment, like an old lion finally realizing his age, and when he spoke again, his voice was low: “Go back, no need to meet. Just consider him dead.”
“From now on… don’t drag him down with this empire anymore.”
The pain that consumed Yan Xiaohan’s heart hadn’t subsided. He wasn’t entirely clear-headed, his entire spirit sustained by this pain. He was already being as polite and tactful as possible to Duan Guihong.”
But when his last sentence came out, he could no longer hold back.
“Does my lord have no idea who has truly dragged him down?”
“What right do you have to feel aggrieved for him?” He coldly stared at Duan Guihong, his words sharper than a knife: “Why did he go to the Southwest front? Why did the Emperor want to kill him? Isn’t it all because of you, Lord of Xiping?”
