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...

Inside the Stabilization Constabulary...

Chi Hou was dressed in a blue robe. He toyed with a white chess piece as he looked at the chessboard. Then, he looked up at the stars and sighed.

"Brother Yuanguo, let’s stop here." Chi Hou prepared to stand up.

"What’s wrong? It’s rare that you’re in the city. Why don’t you accompany me and play a couple more rounds?" Xing Yuanguo, dressed in a purplish golden robe, chuckled and pressed Chi Hou back down.

"Haha, Brother Yuanguo, what are you saying? Why would I be unwilling to play a couple more rounds? However, the moon is bright tonight and I want to take a walk." Chi Hou chuckled.

"The city is not the safest of places tonight. Brother Hong, are you sure you want to take a walk?" Xing Yuanguo advised.

"No matter how bad it is, this is still the capital. Nothing bad can happen." Chi Hou replied.

"That’s true. The capital is generally quite safe. I will not stop you from taking a walk, but you must at least finish this round!" Xing Yuanguo nodded.

"Mm... okay!" Chi Hou nodded and refocused on the chessboard.

This was a game that should have been decided long ago. There was a clear winner - white had every advantage.

However, Xing Yuanguo had no intention to concede.

In fact, he took advantage of Chi Hou’s carelessness to regain his footing in the game. Chi Hou had no choice but to focus.

It was late at night...

Xing Yuanguo frowned as he held the black chess piece in his hand. He simply could not make up his mind. He paused for almost 10 minutes.

Chi Hou looked away from the chess board and back at the dark sky and flickering stars.

At that moment, a soldier in shining armor entered the yard and walked towards Xing Yuanguo and Chi Hong.

"Greetings, Lords!"

"Mm, summarize what happened in the capital tonight for us." Xing Yuanguo replied calmly as he looked at the soldier and Chi Hou.

"Yes, sir!" The soldier nodded. "Fang Zhengzhi was attacked at the Seven Star Lane by Southern Region messengers. However, he was not injured. The assailants were captured and sent to the Ministry of Law on the Ninth Prince’s advice. They are in jail now."

"I got it. You may leave now." Xing Yuanguo waved the soldier away.

"Yes, sir!" The soldier bowed and took his leave.

Chi Hou squinted and stood up. He seemed rather anxious as he looked at the soldier leave.

"Brother Yuanguo, we can play anytime. Why don’t we..."

"Brother Hong! I will definitely let you go to the city once we’re done. I’m sure you won’t disappoint me!" Xing Yuanguo sounded displeased.

"Erm... I’m sorry! I will not disappoint you!" Chi Hou froze and grit his teeth. Then, he took his seat but the anxiety on his face was more obvious by the second.

"Brother Hong, as part of the 13 Constabularies, we have always been on the same side. I will not stop you from doing what you want to do. However, you mustn’t forget that we are all working for one goal!"

"Brother Yuanguo, I have always been loyal to the 13 Constabularies..."

"Enough, let’s finish this game first. I will accompany you to walk around later. I will also give you a reply as to your proposed candidate for Minister of Law."

"Thank you, Brother." Chi Hou was slightly stunned to hear Xing Yuanguo mention the Minister of Law candidate. However, he smiled to cover up the anxiety he was feeling.

...

The Ministry of Law was one of the six ministries and controlled the prisons. There were one minister and three assistant ministers. They were the Left, Center, and Right Assistant Minister.

Ever since Minister Wan Chong had been locked up, many of the cases had been left hanging. Tonight, the Ministry of Law was not going to be quiet.

The Left and Center Assistant Ministers waited anxiously at the gate.

At that moment, a figure dressed in bright red official robes walked up to the gate.

"Prime Minister!" The two assistant minister stood up from their chairs and walked over to welcome the figure.

"Mm, it’s been tough on both of you. I am really sorry that I have to ask both of you to make the trip here at such a late time!" Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping smiled.

"Prime Minister, you are too kind. We are just doing our job." The two assistant ministers shook their heads and replied.

"Good!" Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping nodded as he looked at the corner. "Right Assistant Minister Wen Chuan didn’t come?"

"Prime Minister, Wen Chuan’s son, Wen Dabao, was at the Seven Star Lane today. I heard that he is still unconscious. Wen Chuan is probably still there." The two assistant minister replied truthfully.

"He’s still at the Seven Star Lane? That Wen Chuan... he pampers his child too much! To think that... aish, since he’s not here, I will have to trouble the two of you!" Yu Yiping’s gaze was cold.

"We await your orders!" The two assistant ministers replied, a slight glow in their eyes.

Wen Chuan’s absence was a good thing for them.

After all...

The Minister of Law position was still unfilled. Wen Chuan’s absence today would only serve to improve their chances of eventually getting that position.

The Crown Prince was in charge and the Left Prime Minister was his second in command,

This was the perfect opportunity for them to prove themselves. If Wen Chuan was going to ignore his official duties, it would only serve to cost him.

"Okay then, I shall not waste any time. Arrange for the people to be released from jail." Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping was straightforward.

"Prime Minister, rest assured. We already have the people in place inside the jail to retrieve our captives. However, the perimeter..." The Left Assistant Minister was hesitant.

"The city guards have surrounded the Ministry of Law. Why don’t we strike in the jail..." The Center Assistant Minister suggested.

"No!" Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping shook his head. "I am slightly surprised that King Duan would surround the ministry. However, it would be inappropriate if they were to die in jail!"

"The Prime Minister is right. Now that the ministry has been surrounded, any loss of life inside the ministry would only further King Duan’s cause. Then, he may have an advantage in pushing his candidate for Minister of Law..."

"Mm, all we can do is try to get them out of the Ministry of Law. Once that is done, we can get rid of them and also blame King Duan for obstruction of justice!" Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping’s tone was icy.

"The Prime Minister is wise. However, the ministry has been surrounded. How are we going to get them out?" The Left Assistant Minister asked.

"I had someone carry a carriage over when I came. There are four sections in the carriage. If we place all eight of them into the carriage, it is bound to raise suspicions. Are you two willing to take that risk?"

"Erm..." the two assistant ministers understood what the Left Prime Minister was getting at.

It was common for people to smuggle other people or goods in carriages. Sometimes, when concubines wanted to smuggle items in, they would use this method as well.

It wasn’t a very secure way to do it.

But, it was the most convenient and common method.

"You two need not worry too much. I’ll be around so even King Duan would not rip apart the carriage to check it!" Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping could sense the hesitation.

"Okay, since we have the Prime Minister here, I have no other worries."

"Me neither!"

The two assistant ministers looked at each other before gritting their teeth and agreeing to the plan.

"Mm, it’s a pity Wen Chuan isn’t here today. Of the eight men, I will hide two and you will each hide two more. As for the last two..."

"Prime Minister, please rest assured. My wife is out tonight. I will get someone to call her over and man the fourth compartment!" The Left Assistant Minister offered.

"Thank you for the help!" Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping nodded.

Even though the Left Assistant Minister put on a calm facade, he was celebrating inside. He was almost certain that he would have the Minister of Law position firmly in his hands after tonight.

The Center Assistant Minister was rather frustrated.

His moment of hesitation had been capitalized upon by the Left Assistant Minister.

The Center Assistant Minister wanted to knock his head on the wall! He had missed such a golden opportunity!

He was just mocking Wen Chuan for not recognizing the opportunity that presented itself tonight. Yet now, he was the one who had missed an opportunity.

...

Outside the Ministry of Law’s administrative office.

Two rows of city guards in gleaming armor stood at the sides. They held a torch in their hands and lit up the gates.

Outside the walls of the administrative office, there were groups of city guards patrolling the grounds, torches, and spears in hand.

There were many spectators who lined the roads to see what this was about. However, no one dared to go near the gates.

"What is happening?"

"Who knows? All I heard was that they captured a few Southern Region messengers from the Seven Star Lane! They were trying to kill someone there!"

"Kill someone? Who?"

"Who else? Fang Zhengzhi of course! However, I think they failed and got caught instead. I heard that they are in jail. I wonder why the city guards have surrounded the ministry?"

The crowd began to discuss what was happening under their breaths.

At that moment, a squad came sprinting in from afar. The leader was dressed in a white robe and had a silver sword at his waist.

It was King Duan.

"Oh? King Duan is here!"

"Is this something major?"

"It would seem like the Ministry of Law is rather chaotic tonight."

The crowd parted to the side and watched with wide eyes as King Duan and his squad approached.

"Your Highness!"

"Your Highness!"

The city guards welcomed King Duan respectfully.

"Mm, please rise. Did anyone enter?" King Duan waved the kneeling soldiers off and asked.

"Your Highness, Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping went in moments ago. We couldn’t stop them. The Left Assistant Minister’s wife is also inside. She was brought in by the Left Prime Minister." One of the guards replied.

"Oh, he came here personally? They do find this very important!" King Duan frowned. He was just about to speak when the gates made a sound.

Then, the red gates began to open.

King Duan’s gaze froze as he smiled icily, "Good for you Yu Yiping. You choose the main gate instead of the side gate!"

King Duan was right...

Yu Yiping exited the front gate in a convoy of four carriages. He simply tried to waltz right through.

"Stop there!"

The city guards lowered their spears to block Yu Yiping’s convoy. Their spears glimmered icily in the night.

"How dare you?!" A voice could be heard from within as the carriages stopped. Yu Yiping, dressed in bright red robes, stepped out.

He glared at the city guards icily.

The city guards instinctively took a step back when they saw Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping. They knew how influential and powerful this man was.

"You are all city guards. Why aren’t you ensuring the peace? What are you doing blocking my way? Who gave you the courage to do something so audacious?" Yu Yiping glared at them and raised his voice.

The city guards took two more steps back when they heard Yu Yiping’s voice. They were speechless. They didn’t have the answers to Yu Yiping’s questions.

"It is only natural that you would scold these city guards as the Prime Minister. However, they are under my command. Before you berate them, shouldn’t you say hello to me first?" King Duan spoke up when he saw this.

"Greetings, King Duan, I deserve to die for that mistake. I didn’t see you. However, I never expected that your highness would have the mood to be here... after all that has happened in the city." Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping was stunned but still managed to find a reply.

However, everyone could hear that Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping’s tone was provocative and mocking.