Chapter 521: Secret Upheaval

Chapter 521: Chapter 521: Secret Upheaval

Wang Yiming was in a great mood; the plan was progressing smoothly.

Xue Gui’s mood was so-so—not good or bad. Although he was being pressured by the Xuanqing Guard at every turn, everything was still under his control, with his own calculations in mind.

The only one whose mood was terrible, and getting worse, was Yang Lin.

It was like two people are trading verbal blows, each holding back just enough, but the spit and venom end up splattering all over a background board nearby. And that board happens to have a Prince’s name hanging from it...

Yang Lin was irritable, easily angered, and extremely sensitive. His advisors understood him well—at least the persona he presented. He was smart but hated thinking deeply. The only redeeming quality was his generosity towards those under him; anyone who entered his service, whether heavily favored or not, would get handsome rewards. And he’d never punish someone for their words.

But Yang Lin was by no means an easy master to serve.

Yesterday, the Ministry of Justice Major Case Department came to notify him that the case still had some unresolved matters, so the anticipated deadline would be postponed. As for how long, that depended on whatever Chief of the Major Case Department Xue Gui decided.

This was a bit odd. If it were just a formality, two days would have been ample. Even with last-minute complications, it shouldn’t be "indefinite", right?

The Major Case Department’s priorities clearly seemed to be shifting elsewhere.

Not only was Yang Lin angry, but even his advisor—who followed him closely—viewed the Civil Servant Group’s flip-flopping with extreme contempt. Still, it wasn’t wholly unacceptable. Foxes all, but no complaints about the stench.

More directly, several troublemakers from the Xuanqing Guard had started acting up as well. From yesterday to today, the Inner Guard had repeatedly stopped people from sneaking past the investigation zone to probe deeper into the Prince Mansion. And those men began asking "cooperative" servants obvious leading questions—like, "Did the Prince visit Qin Xiuyuan after he moved in," or "Is Qin Xiuyuan not allowed out by order of the Inner Guard," and so on.

All signs pointed to Xuanqing Guard and the Major Case Department no longer caring about Yang Lin.

What pushed Yang Lin over the edge was news from the Ministry of Justice: The Xuanqing Guard’s Deputy, Wang Yiming, had gone there early this morning, wanting to meet with Chief Xue Gui, but got stopped outside by Xue Gui’s deputy, Li Qing. The two clearly quarreled over the second autopsy of Qin Xiuyuan’s corpse. Wang Yiming ultimately left after Li Qing hinted, "The case files will have more details later."

So, things are clear enough now, aren’t they?

"What now? Say something!" Yang Lin didn’t throw his tea table this time, but swept all the objects off it onto the floor. He sat in the chair, his face still angry, but at least it was a state they could communicate in.

"Your Highness, now that it’s come to this, regardless of motive, the Civil Servant Group has broken faith. But it’s not yet a total falling out..."

"What did you say? Not a total falling out? They’re dragging me down—putting me on the grill! If something goes wrong later, everything could collapse. Isn’t that what breaking faith means?"

"Please calm yourself, Your Highness. As I said before, the Civil Servant Group is likely being forced by the Xuanqing Guard—they have no time to care about us, but this certainly isn’t their intention. And ’breaking faith’ is highly damaging to their cherished reputation. So I believe they’ll likely offer Your Highness some compensation in exchange for your forgiveness."

He didn’t like the Civil Servant Group’s backstabbing either, but an advisor can’t be swayed by emotion; he had to say what Yang Lin needed to hear.

"Compensation?" Maybe for the first time in his life, Yang Lin was stunned to hear someone use that word in relation to him.

Who was Yang Lin? The dignified Fifth Prince, Prince Shou! Maybe not able to do whatever he pleased, but certainly not far from it. When had anyone ever needed to compensate him? Isn’t compensation reserved for those incapable of seizing things for themselves, who can only profit from others’ pity and misfortune?

Had he, Prince Shou, really become so low in the eyes of those Civil Servants?

A spark exploded into a raging flame in Yang Lin’s heart.

Cutting to the heart! These words cut to the heart!

The advisor sighed inwardly—"As expected." Those who spent all day studying the Temple Hall’s various power games and their master’s temperament could easily guess how Yang Lin would react to someone suggesting he needed "compensation." Still, as an advisor, he couldn’t only say what the Prince liked; good and bad both had to be stated clearly.

"Your Highness, that’s just one possibility. There’s another—maybe the Civil Servants want to use this chance to sever ties with you entirely. Especially the faction led by Ye Lansheng in the Imperial City will likely distance themselves completely."

Yang Lin was furious, burning with anger, but didn’t lose control as usual; sitting in the chair, gripping the armrests so tight they creaked.

Civil Servants had seven choices, but Princes had few—and they couldn’t be picky. In this delicate situation, the Prince was actually the weaker party.

"What about countermeasures? Haven’t you been preparing them all along? Can we use them now?"

"Your Highness, I’ve always been guarding against the Civil Servants’ tactics. Before, I thought it unnecessary; now, it may be useful. But... are you really prepared to do this? The consequences..."

"What consequences? You’re my advisor—you should see clearly that whether I get saddled with ’harboring a fugitive,’ or lose reputation from a split with the Civil Servants, both outcomes are disastrous for me. The various forces patrolling and watching in the Imperial City will immediately cut off contact. And my brothers will gleefully kick me while I’m down. The result..."

Yang Lin didn’t finish the word "result," but the meaning was clear enough.

After a pause, Yang Lin suddenly laughed: "Have you noticed, now that things have reached this point, I actually have a choice that never occurred to me before?"

"Really?" The advisor paused, surprised to find their Prince returning to the ranks of the clever. But thinking carefully, he had to admit, in such a tangled situation, a previously unseen pathway could appear.

Xuanqing Guard!

Yang Lin said with bitter self-mockery: "I’ve spent years laying the groundwork with the Xuanqing Guard. Finally managed to get Wu Changhe in, but Pang Ban kept him on a leash. Finally dispatched him to Fengri City thinking things would finally work out, but it turned out to be Pang Ban’s trap. Wu Changhe wound up dead. I’d given up hope, but now—unexpectedly—a new opportunity appears."

Do you think if I show goodwill, they’ll accept?

The advisor was silent for a long time, thinking carefully before replying, "I don’t know, Your Highness. But if you truly intend to do it, I think it’s worth a try!"