The news that "the Metropolitan Procuratorate protected the prince and intercepted and arrested refugees along the way" spread to the capital not long after noon, which naturally caused a burst of uproar between the government and the public.
The prince's party was caught off guard by such an unexpected change, and they couldn't even figure out what was going on, let alone how to deal with it.
But there are also some people who have already anticipated the changes in things, such as Zhao Junchen who personally planned all this, and Zhou Shangjing who has been watching with cold eyes!
Just as new rumors were intensifying in the capital, Wang Hong, who had personally participated in all this, had secretly sneaked back to the capital, and then put on the attire of a West Factory stall. Under the leadership of Wei Huai,
Came to Zhao Mansion and asked to see Zhao Junchen.
The name "Wang Hong" is actually his disguise, used to deceive those refugees.
His real name is Jiang Cheng, and he was originally a bannerman of Jinyiwei. After Zhao Junchen rebuilt the West Factory, he was selected by Wei Huai to enter the West Factory as a stall. He is smart and capable, and has a good tongue.
Therefore, he was deeply valued by Wei Huai.
But this time, Jiang Cheng participated in such a secret operation and could be regarded as a close confidant around Wei Huai.
Therefore, when Jiang Cheng returned to the Xichang Yamen and reported the whole story to Wei Huai, Wei Huai didn't say much and just asked Jiang Cheng to follow him to see Zhao Junchen.
Jiang Cheng was quite excited about this and understood that Wei Huai was promoting him. Zhao Junchen was now the director of the West Factory. All matters of the West Factory were decided by Zhao Junchen. If he could leave an impression on Zhao Junchen,
.It will certainly be of great benefit to Jiang Cheng’s future.
…………
As usual, at this time, Zhao Junchen was handling official business in the study.
Under the leadership of the servants of the Zhao family, Jiang Cheng followed Wei Huai to Zhao Junchen's study. He looked up secretly and saw that Zhao Junchen was immersed in writing a book. His expression was focused and serious, and he ignored the people who entered the study.
Wei Huai and Jiang Cheng.
Regarding this, Jiang Cheng felt a little uneasy. He secretly glanced at Wei Huai next to him, only to see that Wei Huai had the same gloomy look as before, just sitting quietly in the wheelchair, waiting for Zhao Junchen to speak. He felt a little calmer, then lowered his head and lowered his hands.
, standing beside Wei Huai, waiting quietly like Wei Huai.
Then, a soft and melodious female voice suddenly reached Jiang Cheng's ears.
"You two adults, please have tea. My master is writing an important document and will submit it to Your Majesty tomorrow. I don't want to lose my train of thought, so I would like to ask you two to wait a moment."
Jiang Cheng looked up and saw a handsome woman with a gentle and charming temperament. She brought two cups of tea and said softly.
This woman has white teeth and bright eyes. She has beautiful facial features and a slender figure. She has fair skin. Although she is dressed like a maid, she has the aura of a knowledgeable and reasonable person. Jiang Cheng has seen a lot, but he has never seen it before.
Seeing such a beautiful woman, I felt a little crazy for a while.
On the other side, Wei Huai nodded and said quietly: "Since the factory governor's official duties are important, Jiang Cheng, please sit down too."
Wei Huai's voice woke up Jiang Cheng, and he remembered that the woman in front of him was Zhao Junchen's. It was extremely rude for him to look at him like this. She might offend Zhao Junchen. He was shocked and hurriedly sat down next to Wei Huai.
Beside Huai, he lowered his head and did not dare to look anymore. He just thought in his heart: "Master Zhao is indeed a powerful figure in the court. Even a maid in the mansion is so outstanding. All the ladies in the capital, I used to
I have seen quite a few of them, but how many of them can match her temperament and appearance? I heard that Mrs. Ruyi in Mr. Zhao’s residence is a famous beauty in the capital, but it’s a pity that I didn’t get to meet her..."
While Jiang Cheng was thinking wildly, Wei Huai raised his head and looked at the woman. A rare smile appeared on his sinister face, which made people feel even more chilled.
"Are you Chu Jiayi, the factory governor's new personal maid?"
Chu Jiayi was quite wary of Wei Huai. When she heard Wei Huai's unique hoarse voice, her body trembled slightly inconspicuously, and then she replied softly: "It's your servant."
Wei Huai looked at Chu Jiayi a few more times, then nodded, but said nothing more.
Chu Jiayi did not want to stay with Wei Huai. After seeing that Wei Huai stopped talking, she quickly returned to Zhao Junchen and continued to serve Zhao Junchen's writing.
While waiting, it didn't take long for Zhao Junchen to finally finish writing the note. After looking up at Wei Huai and Jiang Cheng, he told Xu Qingyan and Chu Jiayi: "The matter in the West Factory involves confidentiality, you two go out first.
"
Hearing what Zhao Junchen said, Chu Jiayi frowned secretly and sent her and Xu Qingyan away together. With Xu Qingyan watching from the side, she couldn't find out the news.
However, Chu Jiayi could not refuse Zhao Junchen's instructions, so she agreed and left with Xu Qingyan.
After Chu Jiayi and Xu Qingyan left the study, Zhao Junchen sat back on the chair, looked at Wei Huai and asked quietly: "Has everything been done?"
Wei Huai nodded, but did not answer Zhao Junchen's inquiry. Instead, he told Jiang Cheng: "You are responsible for this matter. It is up to you to explain it to the factory supervisor."
Jiang Cheng stood up quickly and reported to Zhao Junchen: "Reporting to the factory supervisor, according to the plan, I took the pseudonym 'Wang Hong' and arrived outside Yongqing County in advance to wait. After meeting the people from Jiangsu and Zhejiang who came to Beijing to complain, I subsidized their food.
, gained their favor and trust, and then told them all kinds of rumors in the capital, making them lose trust in the Metropolitan Procuratorate. Soon after, people from the Metropolitan Procuratorate came, trying to control them.
However, under the instigation of their humble position, the two sides clashed, and in the end the people from the Metropolitan Procuratorate had to arrest them. This situation was seen by passers-by, and now it has spread to the capital."
After hearing Jiang Cheng's description, Zhao Junchen nodded and said with a smile: "Well done."
Zhao Junchen looked satisfied, but also didn't seem to care.
In fact, Zhao Junchen really doesn't care about the current situation. The prince's party already has enough troubles, and it won't make much difference if there are more.
The reason why Zhao Junchen implemented such a plan was just to find out who was behind Chu Jiayi. As for the rest, it was just a matter of course.
While speaking, Zhao Junchen pointed at Jiang Cheng and asked Wei Huai, "Is this person available?"
Wei Huai nodded and said: "This Jiang Cheng has been inspected for a long time in his humble position. He has good abilities and can be considered loyal. If he is promoted, he can help relieve your worries."
Zhao Junchen nodded and said: "In that case, just look at promotions. Useful people should be reused."
With that said, Zhao Junchen turned his eyes to Jiang Cheng and said with a smile: "You will go to the house's account to collect the reward of five hundred taels of silver in a moment. Remember, as long as you work hard for me in the future, I will never treat you badly.
"
Hearing what Zhao Junchen said, Jiang Cheng couldn't help but be overjoyed. He quickly knelt down and saluted, and promised: "Thank you, Mr. Factory Supervisor, for your commendation and reward. In this humble position, I will do my best for you, and I will never let you down!"
Zhao Junchen smiled again and said: "You have such thoughts. You are so stupid!?br />
When speaking, Zhao Junchen seemed to have a calm expression, but in fact, he was already thinking about his next response.
But Zhao Junchen didn't know that when he was making arrangements for Prince Zhu Heyu, the chief minister Zhou Shangjing, who he feared most in the court, was fixating his eyes on him!
…………
Zhou Shangjing Quan has been in power for more than ten years, and his heritage, foundation, and influence are far beyond the current Zhao Junchen. Although there are countless things happening in Beijing every day, no disturbance can escape Zhou Shangjing's eyes.
In fact, whether it was the secret talks between the prince's party last night, Lu Chunxiao's overnight visit to Jia Simao, or Jia Simao's departure from Beijing with a group of procuratorate officers this morning, Zhou Shangjing got the news immediately.
Even Zhou Shangjing got the news earlier than Zhao Junchen about Chu Jiayi's true identity and her reason for sneaking into Zhao's house.
The same is true today. Zhou Shangjing and Zhao Junchen received news almost at the same time about the conflict between the Metropolitan Procuratorate and Jiangsu and Zhejiang refugees outside Yongqing County, as well as the various rumors it caused in Beijing.
The person who reported the news to Zhou Shangjing was named Zhou Lu. On the surface, she was an ordinary steward of the Zhou Mansion, but secretly she was an intelligence chief under Zhou Shangjing.
At this time, Zhou Shangjing was sitting on the Imperial Master's chair in the study room of Zhou Mansion. After listening to Zhou Lu's report, he suddenly smiled and asked slowly: "Zhou Lu, what do you think of this matter?"
Zhou Lu is an old man in the Zhou Mansion. She is capable, experienced and energetic. After hearing Zhou Shangjing's inquiry, she pondered for a moment and replied slowly: "Master Chief Assistant, in my opinion, this incident is probably not an accident.
Refugees will never clash with people from the Metropolitan Procuratorate for no reason, I am afraid that someone with good intentions may instigate them."
"Oh? Then tell me, who is instigating it?"
"It's Zhao Junchen!" Zhou Lu said with an extremely certain tone: "Yesterday, there was news from the Ministry of Punishment that a spy from Xichang had taken several people from the Gong'an Palace out of the prison for a period of time, fearing that Chu Jiayi would sneak in.
Zhao Junchen had seen through what happened in the Zhao Mansion. More than two hours later, Chu Jiayi left the Zhao Mansion and found the house of Bao Wenjie, the Minister of Rites. Then Bao Wenjie quickly asked to see the prince, and then the prince summoned
I met Lu Chunxiao and Li Chengru, then Lu Chunxiao met Jia Simao overnight, and now Jia Simao hurriedly left Beijing to look for refugees from Jiangsu and Zhejiang. All of this is probably not a coincidence."
If Zhao Junchen were here and listened to Zhou Lu's analysis, I am afraid he would be filled with emotion. Under Zhao Junchen, there could be no more than ten people with Zhou Lu's scheming and ingenuity, even if they were fully calculated, but under Zhou Shangjing
Under his subordinates, Zhou Lu is just an ordinary intelligence chief.
Zhou Shangkang nodded, seeming to be very satisfied with Zhou Lu's analysis, and whispered to himself: "It seems that Chu Jiayi was taken advantage of by Zhao Junchen. Although Zhao Junchen is young, the city government is terrible, and he dares to take advantage of him."
Having a spy with evil intentions by your side should not be underestimated."
While speaking, Zhou Shangjing slowly closed his eyes, with a thoughtful look on his old face, and murmured: "However, these days, this Zhao Junchen has been having a good time, while dealing with the prince with us old guys,
I also expressed my loyalty to His Majesty, but no one can be offended... But there is no such good thing in this world..."
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ps: Three consecutive days of infusion are finally over (#^_^#). Thank you all for your persistence these days. Normal updates will resume from today! (To be continued...)