Chapter 650: Who Truly Submits to You?
"Lord Xu, do you think Fan Chengzhuo really knew nothing about what Zheng Baosu was doing?"
Watching Fan Chengzhuo walk away, one of the men couldn’t help but ask in a low voice.
Xu Fengchi was noncommittal. "Whether he knew or not, the truth will come to light soon enough. Since he’s acting so confident, we’ll just have to wait and see."
’If they were truly unrelated, how could everyone at court be completely unaware of their connection?’
If Xu Fengchi hadn’t announced it in public, leaving Fan Chengzhuo no room to deny it, few would have believed the two of them were actually related by blood.
But this was for the best.
Now, no matter how the investigation proceeded, Fan Chengzhuo would have no excuse to obstruct it.
He would have to lay everything bare for scrutiny!
"In any case, that Fan’s attitude is far too arrogant!" another man scoffed disdainfully. "Does he still think he’s a third-rank official?"
Xu Fengchi just smiled.
"It’s only normal for him to be annoyed, having a maternal nephew like that."
...
As soon as he left the palace gates, Fan Chengzhuo headed straight for the Duke Zhongyong Mansion.
Xie Anjun, who was at home entertaining his mistress, frowned the moment he heard Fan Chengzhuo had come to call.
After placating the beauty by his side, he reluctantly departed.
When he reached the front hall and saw Fan Chengzhuo, Xie Anjun grew even more displeased.
"What are you doing here at a time like this?"
In the past, the two of them had always met in private locations; they rarely had any public dealings.
’Now, in broad daylight, and in front of so many people, what if someone with ill intentions took notice—’
"The situation is urgent. We can’t worry about that now."
Fan Chengzhuo looked grave, his face etched with worry.
Xie Anjun walked over and closed the door. He froze upon hearing Fan Chengzhuo’s words. "What’s wrong?"
Fan Chengzhuo had always been calm; this was the first time Xie Anjun had ever seen such an expression on his face.
"Did you get caught for something again?"
"It wasn’t me!"
Xie Anjun’s brow furrowed.
"It was Zheng Baosu!"
"Your maternal nephew? What happened to him?" Suspicion rose in Xie Anjun’s heart. "Don’t tell me he lost a battle?"
"If only it were that simple!"
Fan Chengzhuo felt he had never been in such a difficult position. Even when he was demoted, he had never lost confidence.
He had always firmly believed that his downfall was temporary. When the opportunity arose, he would make a comeback!
But—
"At court this morning, Miao Sheng impeached him!"
Fan Chengzhuo quickly recounted the events of the morning’s court session. The more he spoke, the uglier Xie Anjun’s expression became.
By the end of it, he couldn’t stop himself from slamming a hand on the table and rising to his feet in a fury.
"He’s completely insane!"
Xie Anjun strode over to Fan Chengzhuo, stared at him, and demanded in a low, harsh voice,
"What did you tell me before!? You promised me he wouldn’t have any more dealings with Master Wa! How do you explain this mess now!"
Fan Chengzhuo was already annoyed to death. Being pressed and questioned like this, his own temper flared.
"I warned him over and over again! And he promised me he’d behave! But who knew it would be so coincidental! Miao Sheng found out! He took it straight to His Majesty, what could I possibly do!?"
The more he spoke, the angrier he got, and he couldn’t help but start mocking him.
"And you! Weren’t you the one who told me you’d get wind of any disturbance at court well in advance? Well, they’ve blown the lid off the whole thing now! Where was your news? If I hadn’t come, who knows when you would have heard about it!"
"You!"
Xie Anjun choked, unable to offer any rebuttal.
He suppressed his anger and paced back and forth, the situation feeling more and more wrong the more he thought about it.
"How could this happen? Miao Sheng didn’t let a single peep slip out beforehand!"
’Ever since I inherited the title, I’ve felt my life would surely become much easier.’
’Which of the court ministers wouldn’t show me some respect?’
’Even if I have no military power and my reputation doesn’t compare to the Old Marquis, I’m the master of the Duke Zhongyong Mansion now!’
’Since I hold this position, things are naturally different from before!’
Xie Anjun’s self-perception had indeed been far too rosy, so this sudden blow left him completely dazed.
Seeing his expression, Fan Chengzhuo sneered inwardly.
’Outsiders all say that although Xie Anjun can’t practice martial arts, he’s a brilliant writer, a man of great talent.’
’But after just a few interactions with him, you realize—he’s a complete idiot!’
"Did you really think that once you dealt with your little brother, everything would be smooth sailing? This court is treacherous and the situation is unpredictable. One wrong step and you’ll be smashed to pieces!"
The disdain in Fan Chengzhuo’s eyes was almost impossible to hide.
"I think you’ve been living too leisurely and comfortably lately, almost to the point of forgetting who you are!"
Xie Anjun’s expression turned ugly.
Recently, using the mourning period as an excuse, he had barely paid attention to outside affairs, spending his days in the mansion seeking pleasure. It had indeed been exceptionally gratifying.
No one in the entire Duke Zhongyong Mansion, from top to bottom, dared to defy him in the slightest.
After a while, he had truly started to get carried away.
And for that very reason, Fan Chengzhuo’s words cut him to the quick.
"It’s not your place to lecture me on what to do." Xie Anjun gritted his teeth. "The most urgent task right now is to ensure Zheng Baosu doesn’t drag us down with him!"
Fan Chengzhuo sneered. "The imperial edict has probably already left the Capital City by now. Can you stop it?"
"How can you stop an imperial edict! Are you insane!"
Xie Anjun was so angry his chest felt tight.
"The only solution now is to not let Zheng Baosu set foot in the Capital City!"
Fan Chengzhuo’s expression flickered, and a cold glint appeared in his eyes. "What do you mean?"
"Exactly what it sounds like!" Xie Anjun’s brow furrowed in thought, his tone resolute. "As long as he dies out there, the investigation into those matters can’t continue! Even if Miao Sheng and the others eventually find out we worked together to recommend him for that post, they won’t have any evidence and can’t do anything to us! That way—"
"No!"
Fan Chengzhuo immediately objected.
Xie Anjun was stunned, somewhat in disbelief. "Fan Chengzhuo, don’t tell me you can’t bear to do it? Get it straight! If he comes back alive, we’re both dead! The crime of treason—neither of us can afford that!"
Fan Chengzhuo’s attitude remained firm. "Absolutely not! I don’t agree to this method!"
Xie Anjun looked at him, amused.
"What are you talking about? Fan Chengzhuo, have you forgotten that you and that Zheng Baosu were the ones who insisted on dragging me into this? I said back then that making some money was fine, but we couldn’t get any other ideas. It was him! He was insatiably greedy! He was the one who secretly sold those weapons to Master Wa—"
"You got what you wanted too, didn’t you?" Fan Chengzhuo suddenly retorted coldly.
Xie Anjun was rendered speechless.
Fan Chengzhuo sneered.
"Half of that money ended up in your hands. Are you going to deny it?"
Xie Anjun became frantic.
"I used that money to—"
"To win people over, right?"
Fan Chengzhuo narrowed his eyes.
"You wanted to inherit your father’s military authority, but this was the only method you could think of. Xie Anjun, have you ever considered if any of those people who follow you actually respect you?"