Ties of Love, Ruan Wan

Xia Changfeng was also bewildered. He had clearly seen Duomuhe being carried onto the ship, so who was in this box now?

However, Xia Changfeng quickly composed himself and, smiling, instructed Amu, "The man has been executed. Amu, carry him back."

Xia Changfeng turned to look at Zhang Ming and asked with a smile, "Young Master Zhang, dressed in plain clothes, where are you going?"

Zhang Ming remained calm and replied with a smile, "My maternal uncle back home is dying, and my grandfather ordered me, as a junior member of the family, to go back and visit him."

This was indeed an excuse that Zhang Ming had prepared in advance, and the letters were also prepared so that he could deal with it if an investigation were launched.

Xia Changfeng looked at the stones in the box and asked, "Are you bringing these stones back home?"

At this moment, the captain pushed through the crowd, ran to Xia Changfeng, bowed, and hurriedly said, "These stones were prepared by me. This time, the cargo weight is insufficient. Without some heavy loads, the ship's draft will be too low to withstand the wind and waves."

Xia Changfeng pressed further, "What kind of stone is it that's packed in such a fine camphor wood box?"

The boatman chuckled and said, "There's a reason for that. Once the stones reach Jiangnan, they're discarded. The boxes are used to store silk from Jiangnan, which is then brought back to be sold."

The answer was flawless; Zhang Ming had never taught the boat captain such words.

Xia Changfeng was thwarted and returned home disappointed. Such a golden opportunity had slipped through the fingers of the Zhang family.

Xia Changfeng coldly ordered, "Find out the identity of the man in the box. Send people to continue tracking the Zhang family, and report back on everything, no matter how small."

The merchant ship set sail, and Zhang Ming, carrying a pile of stones, headed down to the south of the Yangtze River. Of course, he had to cover up the lie he had told.

Before setting sail, Zhang Ming sent his subordinate Tianlang back to the Zhang residence to inform his grandfather of what had happened that day, so that his grandfather could take appropriate action.

Zhang Ming stood on the deck, letting the wind blow on him, trying to clear his head and figure out how their whereabouts had been exposed.

This escape must have been aided by someone in secret. This person is incredibly powerful, able to switch his goods without anyone noticing, and also take Duomuhe with him.

The gunpowder promised to the Dongyi has disappeared, and even the Duomuhe has vanished. We don't know what to do. We hope that Grandfather can come up with a solution.

Tianlang was driving her husband's carriage at breakneck speed when this unexpected turn of events occurred. She needed to inform the prime minister immediately.

When Zhang Lucheng didn't see Zhang Ming and Zhang Xuan return for half a day, he knew something was wrong. Zhang Lucheng carefully searched his mind for any flaws in the plan.

Zhang Lucheng was quite composed; he hadn't wasted his years in officialdom.

The servants all withdrew, and Zhang Lucheng sat alone in the grand chair, with the emperor's bestowed plaque above his head bearing the four large characters "Bright Mirror Hanging High".

Zhang Lucheng wouldn't realize he was finished until he was in front of the Emperor.

When Tianlang arrived at the gate of the Zhang residence, he jumped off the carriage and tried to rush in, but he ran into the Third Prince, Xia Ziru, at the gate.

Tianlang hurriedly knelt down and bowed, "This servant greets the Third Prince. This servant will go and report to Master immediately."

Just as Tianlang was about to get up, he was firmly held back by the guards beside Xia Ziru.

Xia Ziru said with a smile, "This prince has important matters to discuss with my grandfather. You'd better watch out for rats eavesdropping outside."

Xia Ziru glanced sideways at the corner of the alley, and a figure quickly flashed back and disappeared.

Sirius then realized he was being followed.

Xia Ziru walked straight towards the main hall. The guards released Tianlang, and Tianlang immediately led the guards at the door into the alley.

There was no one in sight. Tianlang had sent several guards to patrol the entire Zhang residence. If anyone was suspicious, they were to be reported immediately.

When the official Zhang Shou saw Xia Ziru, he greeted him with a smile, "Your Highness, what brings you here today? Why didn't you let someone know beforehand so this old servant could have made preparations?"

Xia Ziru smiled and said, "Uncle Zhang, I have important matters to discuss with my maternal grandfather. Please dismiss everyone else."

Zhang Shou was an old man in the Zhang family. Seeing Xia Ziru's eyes, he knew that the visitor was not friendly, so he immediately dismissed the maids and servants who were sweeping the courtyard.

Only Xia Ziru and Zhang Lucheng remained in the entire hall.

Zhang Lucheng saw that the only person who came was Xia Ziru, and there were no soldiers from Yingtian Prefecture behind him.

Zhang Lucheng said with a forced smile, "What brings the Third Prince here today? Has Princess Chang Le's imperial carriage already left the palace?"

Xia Ziru's face was serious, his eyes seeming to see right through Zhang Lucheng. "Kneel down!"

Zhang Lucheng stood there, stunned, unsure whether Xia Ziru had come with the emperor's decree.

Xia Ziru continued, "I am the ruler, and you are the subject. Why should a subject kneel before his ruler?"

Looking at Xia Ziru's stern face, Zhang Lucheng clenched his fists, slowly bent his knees, clenched his back teeth, and his cheeks twitched.

Xia Ziru squatted down and looked into Zhang Lucheng's eyes. "Grandfather, do you know why Ziru has come here today?"

Zhang Lucheng kowtowed to Xia Ziru, saying, "This old minister did not know."

Xia Ziru snorted coldly and threw a golden knife out of his sleeve. The sound of the golden knife hitting the ground was particularly loud in the empty hall.

Zhang Lucheng recognized it at a glance as Duo Muhe's golden knife. In the Dongyi, this was a symbol of status, and Duo Muhe would definitely never be without his knife.

At this moment, Zhang Lucheng realized that his plan had been exposed. His hands trembled uncontrollably, and he collapsed to the ground.

Xia Ziru sighed again, "Grandfather, you said you were already nearing the end of your life, with only a few years left to live, yet you dared to do such a treacherous thing as colluding with the enemy."

"Look at you, trembling like a broken leaf. Aren't you quite afraid of death too? The position of prime minister and the status of the emperor's brother-in-law, isn't that enough for you to enjoy?"

Zhang Lucheng crawled over, grabbed Xia Ziru's feet, looked up, and tears streamed down his face. "Grandfather only made a mistake for a moment. I am your maternal grandfather. Please spare my life, don't kill me."

Xia Ziru sneered as he broke free from Zhang Lucheng's grasp. "Grandfather, when you colluded with foreign enemies and plotted to sell out the country, did you ever consider that my mother was your own daughter?"

Seeing Zhang Lucheng in such a sorry state, he was a far cry from the glamorous figure he once was as the prime minister.

Xia Ziru said, "You think you've done things without the Emperor's knowledge or Xia Changfeng's knowledge, and you think you've covered your tracks perfectly, but in reality, you're as stupid as a pig."

Zhang Lucheng looked at Xia Ziru in disbelief. How could the emperor possibly know what he had done?

Xia Ziru laughed and said, "Have you forgotten how your maternal grandfather rose to the position of prime minister step by step?"

Having sat in a high position for too long, Zhang Lucheng gradually became arrogant and had long forgotten that he was once just a minor Grand Secretary.

Xia Ziru sighed and said, "What happened today has not been exposed."

Zhang Lucheng looked at Xia Ziru with disbelief, wondering what this meant.

Xia Ziru said, "I'm not doing this for you, I'm doing it for myself and my mother. If I have a maternal grandfather who betrays the country and colludes with the enemy, I will never be able to hold my head up high in this Great Xia."

Xia Ziru turned and left. "Your men will explain things to you later. From now on, you'd better behave yourself, or don't blame me for putting family aside for the greater good, Grandfather."

Xia Ziru strode out of the Zhang residence. As soon as he boarded the carriage, a guard waiting inside handed him an imperial edict. Xia Ziru took it, glanced at it, and then tucked it into his sleeve.

It was the imperial edict from the Eastern Barbarians to Zhang Lucheng.

Xia Ziru asked, "Have all the other evidence been destroyed?"

The guard replied, "Your Highness, I have destroyed all the evidence, except for this letter, which concerns a case from over a decade ago."

Xia Ziru took the envelope, glanced at its contents, and then smiled.

Xia Ziru carefully put the envelope away, never expecting such an unexpected gain.

Seeing that Xia Ziru's men had left, Tianlang rushed in. Zhang Lucheng, who had just been slumped on the ground, was now sitting alone in a grand chair, his face ashen.

In the short time it takes to burn half an incense stick, Zhang Lucheng had never been so disheveled, going from the human world to purgatory.

Tianlang hurriedly told Zhang Lucheng what had happened on the ship.

Zhang Lucheng ordered Tianlang to leave, and sat alone in the main hall, looking at the four characters "明镜高悬" (a clear mirror hangs high) above his head.

Suddenly I laughed. My whole life is a joke. All that talk about rising to the top and having absolute power is a joke.

The Third Prince, Xia Ziru, my grandson, is truly a man of hidden talents. I always thought he was just a wealthy prince who lived a carefree life.

I never expected him to have such courage and ability today.

Zhang Lucheng squinted as he pondered. It seemed that the Dongyi route was blocked, and he would have to take another route.

Inside the Imperial Study, the Emperor, now dressed in his dragon robe, stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the sky outside the window. Xia Ziru stood quietly behind him, watching.

This feeling is so familiar, but I've forgotten where I've seen it before.

Xia Ziru searched his memory and suddenly remembered that it was when he was a child, in his father's arms.

My father was a good and diligent ruler who loved his people back then, but he gradually changed later.

But looking at his father before him, he felt as if he were still the same as before.

Emperor Xia suddenly spoke up, "Ziru, sometimes people have to wear a mask. Having survived in this palace for so many years, you must understand."

"Your subject knows, but Father, are you really going to let this go? The Zhang family has committed the grave crime of treason."

"The Zhang family has always hoped to unify the world, and Zhang Lucheng also mentioned this to me. However, I did not heed his advice at the time. When the world is at peace, starting a war will only destroy the Great Xia. Since then, Zhang Lucheng has begun to control the government of the Great Xia. Father, you can only wait for the right opportunity. The world also needs to wait for the right opportunity. Do you understand?"

Emperor Xia turned to look at Xia Ziru with unwavering determination in his eyes.

"Your subject understands. Then I shall take my leave."

Emperor Xia looked at his sons. Among them, Ziru was the most intelligent but had no interest in politics. Changfeng was exceptional in strategy and courage but lacked training and was too upright. He was also currently entangled in personal feelings.

Yun Qian is mediocre and unfit to govern the country, while Mo Sang, due to his background as a martial arts expert from Vino, is brave and resourceful, making him a potential general.

I can't add much to this world in my lifetime; I can only wait for my descendants to have that opportunity.

Xia Ziru immediately reported the matter to the emperor, knowing that it could not be kept secret.

The entire world is under the Emperor's control, and Xia Ziru's willingness to protect the Zhang family is also within the Emperor's control.

The essence of governing a country lies in maintaining a balance; where there is integrity, there will be greed; where there is evil, there will be good.

The Zhang family is not yet ready to fall. If the Zhang family falls, the balance of power in the court will tip to one side, which is a situation that the Emperor does not want to see.

Xia Ziru did not keep any of the gold, silver, or gunpowder for himself; it was all put into storage.

He stood behind the Zhang family like a hawk, unaware that there might be an eagle lurking behind him.

Xia Changfeng returned to his residence and locked himself in his room.

When Linglong learned that Xia Changfeng had returned, she dressed up in her finest clothes and gracefully approached.

Amu quickly stepped forward to stop her, saying, "Is the Princess well?"

Linglong was determined to see Xia Changfeng, so she ignored Amu who was blocking her way and went straight to the study.

Amu blocked Linglong's way again, "Your Highness, His Highness is not in a good mood today and is not seeing anyone."

Linglong glared at Amu. "His Highness is in a bad mood, so naturally I, as his wife, must go and visit him, fulfilling my duty as a wife."

Amu bowed to Linglong. "Your Highness, I grew up by His Highness's side and know a little more than Your Highness. Since Your Highness has married into the royal family, you are also my mistress. This servant would never harm my mistress."

Seeing Amu's sincere expression, Linglong didn't know what else to say, so she gave up and went back to her own courtyard.