The Unfathomable Fang Zheng

Old Yan...?

Zhang Shi was confused for a moment before realizing this referred to Yan Guoan's father, who had been a Cabinet Elder ten years ago. He hadn't paid his respects in quite some time...

After bidding farewell to King Wu, he left the mansion directly and headed straight for the Yan residence.

Before leaving, he had servants prepare some gifts.

Arriving outside the Yan residence, the gatekeeper immediately recognized Zhang Shi with his sharp eyes.

He quickly invited him in, then went to announce his arrival.

Zhang Shi sat in the main hall, observing everything around him.

Ten years ago, Old Yan was still influential in the Cabinet, then retired successfully.

His son Yan Guoan also had smooth official fortune, and the family could be said to be flourishing!

But after Yan Guoan's execution, everything began to decline...

So much time had passed, yet the Yan residence still carried a sense of desolation, as if devoid of life.

After waiting for an unknown length of time, Old Yan emerged from one side of the hall, leaning on his walking stick and moving slowly.

Seeing his completely white hair and beard, hunched back, and trembling gait as he approached.

Zhang Shi quickly rose to assist him.

Old Yan looked up. Though his eyes were dim with age, one could still detect shrewdness within them.

"No need to be polite. This old man can still walk."

Waving his hand, Old Yan seated himself in the main position.

Only then did Zhang Shi feel comfortable taking his seat.

"Master Yan... it's been a long time. How has your health been lately?"

The servants were still serving tea. Old Yan placed his walking stick against the table and picked up his teacup for a small sip.

Looking down, he replied, "At my age, I'm already half in the grave. What do you think my health could be like?"

"Also, stop calling me Master Yan. I'm nothing more than an old dog discarded by His Majesty."

Zhang Shi laughed awkwardly twice. "Master Yan, you jest." He then quickly lowered his head to drink his tea.

This old fellow harbored resentment that hadn't diminished at all. His every word carried barbs.

"Alright, stop beating around the bush. Since Guoan's death, those students and subordinates of mine don't visit anymore either."

"Aren't you the same? What brings you to see this old man today? Speak plainly."

"I'm old and have no time to waste. I can't stand meaningless chatter!"

Zhang Shi grimaced, looking somewhat embarrassed.

"Since Master Yan puts it that way, I'll speak directly."

"I came today with good news to tell Master Yan, concerning Fang Zheng!"

The moment those three words left his mouth, Old Yan immediately raised his head, squinting at Zhang Shi. "Please continue!"

"Fang Zheng sold out the country for profit, accepting sixty thousand taels of silver from Northern Rong, preparing to collaborate with them in secretly selling iron ore." Zhang Shi spoke concisely.

But once the news was delivered, Old Yan actually calmed down.

He sat in his chair without saying a word, quietly holding his teacup, lost in thought about who knows what.

Zhang Shi wasn't in a hurry either, assuming the old man was slow to react due to his age.

After a long while, Old Yan finally spoke slowly, "Where's the evidence?"

Zhang Shi shook his head. "A notebook was discovered among the Northern Rong delegation's belongings, written in National Preceptor Paba's own hand."

"The Northern Rong delegation has already left, so naturally the notebook is gone too. But Minister of the Court Chen Hong can serve as witness - he saw it with his own eyes!"

Old Yan set down his teacup and looked at Zhang Shi with disdain. "Such a private notebook - why would the Northern Rong people let you see it? A scheme to sow discord!"

"Whether it's a scheme or not... does it matter? Master Yan, with just the two of us here, I'll speak plainly."

"Don't you want revenge for Yan Guoan?! The Yan family's current state can all be blamed on Fang Zheng!"

"Guoan was such a talent... upright and just, respected by colleagues, truly a pillar of the nation. Entering the Cabinet and becoming Prime Minister wouldn't have been difficult! This official has always admired him."

"But who could have expected that jumping clown Fang Zheng would appear halfway! Who knows how His Majesty was deceived by his smooth words, actually allowing such a person to speak nonsense openly in court!"

"Truly... the world is in decline."

Moisture began gathering in Old Yan's dim eyes.

His fists unconsciously clenched tight as he said in a trembling voice, "My son... died unjustly!"

"My Yan family has been loyal for generations... just because a few lowly people died, His Majesty killed Guoan. This old man is unwilling!"

"Guoan embodied all of this old man's life's efforts... the Yan family's fate rested entirely on him."

"How could I not want revenge!"

"That dog thief Fang Zheng! This old man wishes he could eat his flesh and sleep on his skin!" Saying this, Old Yan wiped away tears roughly.

Zhang Shi was delighted. "Exactly! Such an evil thief - if not eliminated, the court will never have peace! So Master Yan, you..."

"But this matter has nothing to do with this old man. If you want to impeach him, do it yourself. Don't drag me into it. This old man is now just a commoner with family property to protect."

"........"

What the hell! What's wrong with this old codger?

He's really become crafty with age. Just now he was crying and wiping his nose, and now he says it has nothing to do with him?

Zhang Shi couldn't help but feel agitated.

Old Yan sneered. "If you came to this old man just wanting to borrow my strength to help you topple Fang Zheng, then forget it."

"This old man has investigated his background. Sixty thousand taels to buy him off? His Majesty won't believe it!"

"Those students and former subordinates of mine - His Majesty knows them clearly!"

"Though Guoan is dead and this old man wants revenge for him, the family still needs this old man to maintain it, so I won't risk this with you."

"I..." Zhang Shi was momentarily speechless.

When he came, he had imagined countless scenarios, but he never calculated it would be like this.

This old guy was simply cold-blooded in his rationality!

"This old man knows Fang Zheng also gave your son quite a hard time, but successfully toppling him won't be easy."

Seeing that things suddenly had room for improvement, he quickly asked, "Please advise, Master Yan."

"Though Fang Zheng appears frivolous on the surface, he's definitely not that simple!" Old Yan's face was full of gravity. "Using the Crown Prince's name to establish Banshan Daily, he's played all the officials like pawns. Though his reputation in court is poor, he's been using the newspaper to win people's hearts and even recruit talent."

"This imperial examination, Banshan Daily had eight people pass! But as far as this old man knows, only a dozen or so reporters from the newspaper took the exam! They even produced a zhuangyuan!"

"After the results were announced, Banshan Daily began recruiting new reporters on a large scale, no longer hiding the fact that it's to cultivate future officials."

"Fang Zheng shamelessly acknowledges a eunuch as his brother, and through his relationship with Li Yansong, in time, how many people in court and localities will be Fang Zheng's confidants! Have you considered this?"

"Moreover... speaking treasonously, this person is so calculating, and the Crown Prince has always been cultivated by him. In the future, wouldn't he become..."

"A puppet?!" Zhang Shi blurted out.

"This old man didn't say that..."

Go to hell! You old schemer!

Zhang Shi cursed internally while feeling chills down his spine.

That's right! This old fellow's analysis was spot on. He really hadn't thought of this level before.

Who would have expected that Fang Zheng, young as he was, could be so calculating and terrifying!

Simply horrifying! In another ten or twenty years, wouldn't the court become his personal domain? He could target whoever he wanted?