Chapter 518: Surrounded by Tigers and Wolves
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Old Madam Yu suddenly asked, “Your father’s memorial was sent to the capital, and all the crimes investigated are clear. Next, who do you think the Imperial Court will send to fill Song Xiuwen’s gap and take charge of the Zhejiang navy?
It was probably time for the court officials to discuss this matter tomorrow.
It wasn’t until this moment that Yu Youyao realized how deep her cousin’s scheme was. “If I’m not wrong, it should be Ye Hanyuan!”
After Ye Hanyuan entered Zhejiang, it was equivalent to half of Jiangnan being in her cousin’s hands.
Old Madam Yu was stunned when she heard this. “During this period of time, the wind and clouds in the capital have been changing non-stop, and the rain has been falling non-stop. I almost forgot about the son of the prefecture’s governor, Ye Hanyuan.”
Ever since Ye Hanyuan struck the drum, he had been locked up in the Court of Justice.
After the King Li of Zhou’s case was investigated, Ye Hanyuan was released from prison. It was said that the emperor had given him a residence and specially allowed him to recuperate in the capital. After that, there was almost no news about him.
At the thought of this, Old Madam Yu asked, “I heard that Ye Hanyuan joined the King Li of Zhou in his early years and made a lot of contributions. He’s very appreciated by the King Li of Zhou. However, Ye Hanyuan isn’t good at water battles, so he might not be able to command the Zhejiang navy. Moreover, it’s very difficult to lead a navy. Why do you think that the emperor will send Ye Hanyuan to Zhejiang?
Yu Youyao explained, “He’s not good at it, but there must be generals in the Zhejiang navy who are good at it. The key is that Ye Hanyuan was once recognized by King Li of Zhou. This already shows that this person is definitely not an ordinary person. No one is born with the ability to fight in the water. There’s no need to worry about not having a chance to learn in
Zhejiang. This is only one of the reasons.”
When Old Madam Yu heard this, she assumed a listening posture.
Yu Youyao continued, “The second reason is that the Consort Party of the Marquis of Ningyuan’s faction has been suppressed by the cabinet, making the emperor very displeased. For example, the royalist faction of the Marquis of Zhen’s faction. As Song Xiuwen is a direct descendant of the Song Clan, the emperor won’t trust him. The other generals are experienced but their statuses are too low. They’re not enough to deal with them. They might even intimidate the tigers and wolves of the Jiangnan faction.”
Old Madam Yu understood the crux of the matter and immediately sat up straight, not even twirling her prayer beads.
Yu Youyao smiled. “Grandmother, think about Ye Hanyuan’s background.”
Old Madam Yu’s expression became complicated. “Ye Hanyuan is from the side branch of the Ye family of the Linjiang Prefecture. The Ye family is the number one literary family in the Great Zhou Dynasty. Just this identity is enough to intimidate all the officials in Jiangnan.”
In the entire Great Zhou Dynasty, there were all kinds of officials from the Ye family of the Linjiang Prefecture, including people from the Ye family.
Although Ye Hanyuan was from the side family, he had gained power and was no longer just a side family member in the Ye family.
Ye Hanyuan’s status was still not very useful in the north.
If he went to the south, he would be like a fish in water. Someone would make way for him.
Yu Youyao nodded. “As for the third reason, Ye Hanyuan’s father, Ye Xiaoci, is from the Youzhou Prefecture. He’s a third-grade official to begin with. After King Li of Zhou’s case, the North is about to be reorganized. Later, when Prince Yin returns to Youzhou, it would be another storm. Anyone would have to be wary and take a detour. Unless Jiangnan wants to rebel, they definitely won’t dare to go against Ye Hanyuan.”
She was just short of saying that Ye Hanyuan had the entire North as his backer.
Now that Yin Huaixi had returned to the court, the North was already his. No one in the court dared to provoke it.
Old Madam Yu was enlightened.
Yu Youyao continued, “Fourthly, Ye Hanyuan dared to beat the drum and send the six divisions of the Imperial Court, the Marquis of Changxing, the cabinet ministers, and thousands of officials and nobles in the North to the execution ground and the Shangyang Castle. Even if those people in Jiangnan had the guts of a bear, they wouldn’t dare to provoke him easily.”
Old Madam Yu sighed slightly. “You’re right. Although Yin Huaixi has many schemes in the King Li of Zhou’s case, the key is still Ye Hanyuan. Ye Hanyuan can shake the entire court alone. Just his boldness and bravery alone makes no one dare to provoke him. I reckon that he’s not afraid of anyone. This Ye Hanyuan is very arrogant.”
Everyone knew about the King Li of Zhou’s death, but no one dared to stand up for him.
However, Ye Hanyuan dared to.
It was impossible for the Marquis of Changxing to let him do this. He probably almost died in Youzhou.
“Fifthly, after Ye Hanyuan struck the drum, he has been recuperating in the capital. He hasn’t received any rewards for a long time. If he doesn’t want to be placed in an important position, it’s only logical to give him a glorious title and send him back to Youzhou. However, he has to hide and stay in the capital to recuperate. Clearly, not only do we have to use him, but we also have to put him in an important position.”
“Song Xiuwen’s case involved the interests of the Imperial Court and the emperor was completely angered. If the emperor wants to deal with Jiangnan, he has to send a sharp knife that can be used by him. Ye Hanyuan is this sharp knife.”
Old Madam Yu said thoughtfully, “You understand best.”
Yu Youyao lowered her eyes. It wasn’t that she understood, but that her cousin had never hidden it from her. Jiangnan was also part of her cousin’s plan, so it was very easy to deduce her cousin’s goal and Jiangnan’s movements.
Yu Youyao changed the topic. “It seems that Father won’t be able to come back in time for the new year.”
At the very least, her father would only return after Ye Hanyuan went to Zhejiang. It would be the new year in a few days. Jiangnan was a long way away, and it would take almost half a month to travel by water.
Old Madam Yu waved her hand. “There are so many things happening. This year isn’t easy.”
Li Qiguang was still locked up in the prison of the Ministry of Justice. Song Xiuwen’s case had caused such a huge mess, and half of the Great Zhou
Dynasty was broken.
After accompanying her grandmother for a while, Yu Youyao returned to the Jade Courtyard.
Her cousin had also come over.
Ever since her cousin’s leg disease had mostly eased, Yu Youyao had also allowed him to stay outside for a while every day. Her cousin had returned to his usual habit of going to the Jade Courtyard every day.
At first, Yu Youyao would nag him a little. Later, when she saw that her cousin was not feeling unwell, she ignored him.
Meanwhile, her cousin had been staying in the Jade Courtyard for longer and longer.
In the past, he would stay more than two hours a day but he definitely wouldn’t stay for more than two hours.
Now, her cousin came over every morning and would stay until seven in the afternoon. He would come early and leave late. Basically, he would be in the Jade Courtyard all day.
Gradually, her cousin’s books appeared in Yu Youyao’s large study.
Thinking about it carefully, Yu Youyao suddenly realized that her cousin’s things occupied almost half of her study.
When they were busy, they each went about their own business without disturbing each other. When they were free, they sat in front of the charcoal cage, talking and warming themselves by the fire.
Occasionally, when she was in the mood, Yu Youyao would roast corn or meat, and share it with her cousin.
The days were calm and warm.
Seeing that she had returned, Zhou Linghuai smiled.. “You’re back!”
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