Chapter 170: Wang Chong’s Unexpected Discovery! (1/2)
“Old master, someone is requesting for an audience.”
Just as Wang Zhongsi was frowning at the edge of his bed, deep in contemplation, a green-robed old servant walked in with a stack of visit notices.
“Sigh, ask them to leave. I won’t meet them.”
Wang Zhongsi sighed deeply within.
Wang Chong’s matter had left him in dilemma. Unlike the others, Wang Zhongsi didn’t think that there was any fundamental difference to Hu and Han. He had fought with both Hu and Han soldiers alike throughout his life.
If that wasn’t the case, he wouldn’t have promoted Geshu Han.
He didn’t think that it was right for him to refute Geshu Han, as well as the Hu generals and commanders whom he had fought alongside with in the past. Similarly, supporting Geshu Han and opposing to the Han generals was also impossible for him.
Thus, Wang Zhongsi was in a dilemma!
“Old Zhang, help me deliver this letter. This child isn’t bad at heart, and all I can do now is to persuade His Majesty to spare him.”
After a long moment of silence, Wang Zhongsi finally sighed deeply and said.
“Yes, old master!”
The old servant nodded before retreating out of the study.
…
With the involvement of the Southern Protector-General Zhangchou Jianqiong and the Eastern Protector-General Zhang Shougui, the tension between the Hu and the Han was brought to new heights.
On this matter, neither sides was willing to back down. With everything dished out in the open, what was left was the final judgement of the royal court, the verdict of the Sage Emperor.
Yet, from afternoon til sunset, there wasn’t a single news from the royal palace. Even though the Han and the Hu were sending in memorials one after another, forming a mini mountain on the royal court; even though countless influential officials were already on the brink of strangling the throats of one another, the Sage Emperor still refused to make a stand.
On the matter regarding Wang Chong’s execution, the Sage Emperor neither approved nor disapproved it. His attitude was unfathomable, and no one could tell what he was thinking.
This left many feeling perplexed and unnerved.
…
“Lord, the esteemed elder has already said that he refuses to meet anyone. You should return.”
It was evening, and the final shreds of radiance from the setting sun had finally disappeared at the horizon. Outside the Four Quarters Embassy, beneath a huge tree, an Imperial Army commander was reporting a matter to Yao Guang Yi, who had been waiting outside for a very long time.
“Did he really say that he refuses to meet me?”
Yao Guang Yi frowned as he verified the situation once more.
“That’s right. The esteemed elder has ordered us to turn away all visitors for the next three days, and this includes you.”
The Imperial Army commander spoke gravely.
“How could this be?”
Yao Guang Yi glanced at the tightly shut doors with complex emotions. It was his second time visiting, as well as the second time he was turned away at the door.
Yao Guang Yi possessed the authority to enter the Four Quarters Embassy freely, but just yesterday, his authority was just retracted.
“What is happening? Why is father refusing to meet me?”
Yao Guang Yi was bewildered.
The matter regarding the Wang Clan’s third son, Wang Chong, had caused a huge commotion in and out of the royal court. All of the Hu and Han generals had gotten involved in it.
Thus, he came over to seek his father’s opinion. He didn’t expect that, just like Wang Gen and the others, he would also be locked out of the Four Quarters Embassy.
His father had never refused to meet him before. This was the first time that such an incident had occurred, and this left him pressured.
“Old master, what do we do now?”
The subordinate standing beside him asked.
“Let’s return for now. We’ll come again tomorrow.”
After a moment of silence, Yao Guang Yi waved his hands and left the Four Quarters Embassy.
…
The night gradually devoured the heat of the day.
Beneath the veil of the shadows, an even more intense turbulence was stirring.
“Big brother, this is Lord Zhao Fengchen.”
Within the royal palace, under the cover of the night, Wang Chong’s uncle, Li Lin, walked over with Zhao Fengchen beside him. The patrolling Imperial Army members had been deployed away, and the entire area had been replaced with Li Lin and Zhao Fengchen’s subordinates.
“Lord Wang!”
Zhao Fengchen walked over. This was his first time meeting the eldest son of the Wang Clan, Wang Gen, outside of the royal court.
“You’ve been troubled!”
Walking forward to welcome Zhao Fengchen, Wang Gen didn’t bother hiding the worry in his eyes.
Even though the palace gates would close at night, Wang Gen, as an influential official of the royal court involved in the governance of the empire, possessed the rights to enter and leave the royal palace so that he could carry out his work conveniently.
Wang Gen made use of this privilege to enter the royal palace.
Even so, he couldn’t stay in the royal palace for too long.
“Marshal Zhao, is there any news on my nephew, Wang Chong?”
Wang Gen asked worriedly.
Wang Chong had already been locked in the imperial prison for two days already, and there wasn’t any news on him ever since he was taken away from the Wang Family Residence. Even Wang Gen himself wasn’t able to gather any information on the matter.
This left him disconcerted.
Uncle Li Lin worked in the Imperial Army, and he was acquainted with Zhao Fengchen. The imperial prison was under the affiliated with the Imperial Army, so it was highly possible for the latter to have some connections in there. Therefore, Wang Gen decided to request for his help.