Chapter 037: Counterattack

The gatekeeper hurried into the residence upon hearing these words. Moments later, the side door of the Zhang estate swung open, and a middle-aged man, clearly a steward, emerged in person to welcome Su Ze and the two Imperial City Guard agents into the compound.

The steward led Su Ze deep into the estate. The mansion of Zhang Yaozuo was truly expansive; in a city like Bianjing where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold, it was no wonder that everyone scrambled for fame and fortune.

Captain Li and the thin sergeant hung their heads even lower. Their greatest regret now was having sought out Su Ze; if they truly offended Zhang Yaozuo, they were undoubtedly doomed. While the Imperial City Guard held an intimidating reputation, that applied only to the organization as a whole. Zhang Yaozuo, however, was the uncle of Consort Zhang, the Emperor’s favorite, and a scholar-official who headed the Court of Petition—one of the key surveillance and remonstrance offices. He was hardly someone two minor agents of the Imperial City Guard could afford to offend.

Furthermore, if the "Demon Book" case truly involved Consort Zhang, it would be a matter of the Emperor’s own household. If that were exposed, would they not surely face death? Captain Li realized that the waters of the Demon Book case were deep—so deep that he and the thin sergeant combined could not even fathom the bottom. He regretted his actions deeply; he should have found any excuse to close the case. Even if it meant being demoted and sent out of Bianjing, it would still be better than following Su Ze to his death.

Unaware of their internal turmoil, Su Ze arrived at the door of Zhang Yaozuo’s study. The steward gestured, saying, "Master Su, please."

Su Ze stepped into the study. Captain Li and the thin sergeant gritted their teeth and followed him inside. It was a day of rest for officials, and Zhang Yaozuo was not wearing his official robes, but a light-colored silk scholar’s gown. He held a book in his hand, and only after Su Ze entered did he set it down and look up.

Su Ze returned his gaze. Zhang Daocheng had claimed a distant kinship with Zhang Yaozuo, and indeed, there was a slight resemblance. However, Zhang Yaozuo’s lips were thin, giving him a mean-spirited appearance. To Su Ze, Zhang Yaozuo was indeed a petty man. In an era that valued family lineage and clan loyalty, the fact that he refused to take in the orphaned daughter of his late elder brother, while not illegal, was a moral failure. Now that Consort Zhang had risen to prominence, Zhang Yaozuo had latched onto the very niece he had once abandoned. This level of shamelessness was beyond Su Ze’s comprehension. Yet, this was for the best; a man driven by nothing but fame and fortune was the easiest to hook.

Zhang Yaozuo was observing Su Ze as well. He had heard of him before; Su Ze’s famous phrase, "To be the first to worry about the world's troubles and the last to enjoy its joys," had been spread throughout the inner circle of high-ranking officials by Ouyang Xiu’s big mouth. His niece, Consort Zhang, had also sent word that Su Ze was the prospective son-in-law of Zhang Daocheng, which meant he could be considered part of their faction. Initially, Zhang Yaozuo had been pleased.

Although a scholar, Zhang Yaozuo’s official career had been rocky before Consort Zhang gained favor. He knew perfectly well why he had been promoted, which led to him being looked down upon by the senior ministers of the court. His various attempts at advancement had been blocked by these powerful men; for instance, the Emperor’s recent plan to promote him to an official position in Kaifeng Prefecture had been stalled by the opposition of the Secretariat until this very day. The Zhang family was small, and aside from himself, they had almost no influence in the court, which was why even a distant relative like Zhang Daocheng could become an imperial merchant.

Originally, Zhang Yaozuo had thought highly of Su Ze; if he could pass the imperial examinations, he would not have minded promoting him. But after learning that Su Ze was embroiled in the National Academy scandal, Zhang Yaozuo had decisively distanced himself. He knew the capabilities of the Chancellor, Lü Yijian, who had controlled the administration for years and survived numerous political storms. In the third year of the Jinyou era, Fan Zhongyan had impeached him, only to be immediately demoted and sent out of Bianjing. When Zheng Jian investigated the Feng Shiyuan case, it implicated two of Lü Yijian’s sons, yet the old fox remained unscathed, firmly seated in his position. If upright gentlemen and capable officials could not topple this Chancellor, how could he, an in-law with a questionable record, hope to do so?

At this moment, Zhang Yaozuo’s mind was filled with questions: How did Su Ze know that the Demon Book case was related to him? To prevent the Emperor from establishing Zhao Shu, the thirteenth prince raised by the Empress, as the crown prince, Zhang Yaozuo had fabricated the Demon Book to warn the Emperor that a non-biological son could not be trusted. He had done this covertly and believed he had left no trail. How had Su Ze tracked it to him? What evidence did he have?

Zhang Yaozuo did not fear being reported to the Emperor, as the Emperor would not pursue the matter. But if Su Ze made it public that he was the mastermind behind the Demon Book, he would be ruined, facing the wrath of both Lü Yijian’s conservative faction and Fan Zhongyan’s reformers. In politics, one often did not need evidence; it was enough for others to believe one had done it.

Su Ze looked at Zhang Yaozuo and said, "Master Zhang, I can help you impeach Lü Yijian."

"What?" It was Captain Li behind Su Ze who let out the gasp, while the face of the thin sergeant turned green. Wait—weren't they here to resolve the Demon Book case? How did it turn into impeaching the sitting Chancellor? Captain Li wished he could vanish instantly; was this something he was meant to hear?

Zhang Yaozuo was startled, then looked at Su Ze. Since the ascension of the Emperor, the power of the surveillance and remonstrance offices had been strengthened. Impeachments of the Chancellor by officials from the Censorate and the Remonstrance Bureau were common, almost a daily routine. The Court of Petition was part of this system, and Zhang Yaozuo had seen plenty of loudmouthed officials. Could one even call himself a Chancellor if he wasn't impeached dozens of times a year?

But Su Ze’s next words were earth-shattering.

"I can make Lü Yijian step down."

Zhang Yaozuo scoffed, "You are a mere commoner. How can you speak such arrogant words about forcing the Chancellor to step down?"

Su Ze continued, "Master Zhang, in the outer court, it is Lü Yijian who most strongly supports the thirteenth prince as the crown prince. If the succession is settled and Consort Zhang has the Emperor’s favor, what will become of you? Lü Yijian will surely have you demoted and sent far from the capital."

Zhang Yaozuo’s expression changed. This was exactly why he had concocted the Demon Book—he knew that once the succession was settled, Lü Yijian would purge all opposition. As a relative of Consort Zhang, he would be the first target. Worse yet, would a son raised by the Empress ever treat him with kindness? He feared he would spend the rest of his life being transferred between remote provinces, with each new post taking him further and further from Bianjing.

Su Ze added, "I do not need you to come forward, Master Zhang. I only need you to provide me with a few conveniences."

Zhang Yaozuo looked at Su Ze and asked, "What are your chances of success?"

"Ninety percent. Man proposes, God disposes; there is no such thing as a foolproof plan in this world."

Zhang Yaozuo said, "A fine 'Man proposes, God disposes'! Very well, I shall grant you these conveniences!"

Standing behind them, Captain Li and the thin sergeant were completely numb.