Transmigrated into a Grandpa, Embracing the Laid-Back Life

Chapter 111: The Storm Is Brewing

The charcoal fire burned vigorously in the study of the Yongchang Marquis Manor, yet it brought not a shred of warmth.

Wen Ce stood at the Marquis's side, stepped forward, and presented the strategy he had long contemplated.

"Currently, the war in the Northern Frontier is on the verge of erupting, and military supplies are at their most critical. Although Xu Qing's memorandum from the Ministry of Revenue was suppressed, it successfully drew Xu Qing's attention towards the malpractices in military funding."

"We can exploit this tense situation in the Northern Frontier to make an issue out of the military supplies. The Marquis Manor has people in both the Ministry of War and the Armaments Bureau."

Wen Ce's voice dropped even lower, laced with a venomous cunning. "We will forge evidence that Su Ming 'sought political achievements and misled court officials,' then link him to a batch of 'faulty leather armor' that has been tampered with in advance. As long as a single casualty occurs at the front, it will be ironclad proof."

"The leather armor splits, causing dozens of soldiers to be killed or injured. The charge will be 'colluding with unscrupulous merchants and jeopardizing military operations.' This crime is sufficient to warrant the extermination of his entire clan. By then, even if Zhou Wenhai's old faction wants to rescue him, they will have no way to intervene."

After listening, the Yongchang Marquis offered no comment, merely giving a slight nod to indicate his silent approval.

"This matter must be swift, covert, strike with one blow, and ensure he can never recover," Wen Ce emphasized. "Simultaneously, it must appear as an internal conflict among the upright officials or his personal corruption, minimizing any trace of the Marquis Manor's direct involvement. Over at the Censorate, I will arrange for our people. We only need to wait for news from the front to launch the attack immediately."

"Go and handle it." The Yongchang Marquis waved his hand, picked up the curved blade again, and resumed polishing it.

Wen Ce bowed and retreated, his mind already beginning to mobilize the Marquis Manor's forces within the military supply system and the Censorate.A net targeting Su Ming was being meticulously woven on the vast chessboard of the capital, awaiting only a suitable moment to completely engulf him.

......

One week later, Xu Qing arrived.

He looked even more haggard than last time, the bloodshot veins in his eyes almost seeming to bleed.

As soon as he entered the courtyard, he nervously looked left and right, confirmed the alley was empty, then hurriedly closed the gate.

"Brother Su, have you heard?" Xu Qing lowered his voice, his tone laden with deep guilt. "Over at the Ministry of Revenue, people are spreading rumors... rumors that my memorial was... was instigated by someone, intended to undermine military morale."

He walked up to Su Ming, his lips trembling.

"Brother Su, I... I truly am sorry. I never imagined that simply trying to increase revenue and reduce expenditure for the national treasury could potentially bring a calamitous disaster upon you!"

Xu Qing finally realized that in the capital, any attempt at idealism could become a deadly trigger.

Su Ming turned and patted his shoulder, his gaze firm and composed, without a trace of blame or panic.

"Brother Xu, this matter has nothing to do with you," Su Ming's voice was soft, yet carried a reassuring power. "The fact that I achieved Second Class, tenth rank, already placed me at the center of the storm. What the Yongchang Marquis Manor wants to move against is not your memorial, but Zhou Wenhai's disciple, this 'disobedient' pawn that is me."

"Your memorandum is merely the kindling they used to start the fire. Even without it, they would have found another excuse."

Su Ming led Xu Qing to sit at the stone table, poured him a cup of hot tea. The curling steam from the tea slightly dispelled the chill in the courtyard.

"Brother Xu, listen to me," Su Ming's tone turned serious. "You must protect yourself now. Your memorial has already been suppressed by the Minister. In the short term, no one will use it to make an issue."

"But from today onward, you and I must no longer meet privately."

Xu Qing looked up sharply. "Brother Su, what do you mean by that?"

"You and I only need to greet each other in public settings like the Hanlin Academy and the Ministry of Revenue, as ordinary colleagues would," Su Ming looked directly into his eyes, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "No matter what happens, you must insist that you and I are merely fellow graduates from the same imperial examination year, acquainted through our writings, with no deep personal connection in private."

you say it was the result of your own independent contemplation, unrelated

knew Su Ming was using his own safety to carve out a path

Su..." Xu Qing's voice choked. "If I truly protect

son of a humble family, without roots or backing. If they need a scapegoat, I am more suitable

abruptly stood up and bowed deeply to

it in my heart. If misfortune befalls, I

say such things," Su Ming

mind was made up; further persuasion was useless. He gave Su Ming a deep look, transforming that guilt and gratitude into a heavy weight, pressing it down into

"Brother Su, take care."

left the small

......

One month later.

letter from Liu Wenyuan. It stated: The Yongchang Marquis wants to eliminate you! And it detailed the other party's method of framing

in his mind, carrying

net is tightening! It's

two presences at the

voice carried a slight tremor. His soul body's fluctuations were more intense now than ever before. "Your master senses a more sinister, deeper malice, like a huge fishing net closing in from all directions. This isn't ordinary surveillance. This is... this is meant to take your

paced anxiously within the ring space, his soul

This is breaking the rules, intending to directly wield the state apparatus to commit

are no longer planning to play by the rules with me," Su Ming's voice was very calm, but his hand had already reached the bundle by

master. Now is not the time to play the hero. We must prepare for the worst," Lin Yu quickly planned. "You must immediately pack all important items, especially that incomplete copy of the 'Greenwood Longevity Art,' and your master's ring. They absolutely must not fall into others'

noteworthy back doors or secret passages? Plan three escape routes! One by waterway, one out the north gate, one through the

stood up. He placed the thick 'Da Xing Compendium' on

I will

insane? If you don't leave now, when they come

is to kill the chicken to scare the monkey, to purge their

flee, they will immediately redirect their fury towards Brother

at the deep night sky beyond the courtyard, "if I flee, I will completely lose this lead in the capital. The Lantai Secret Garden, the Chief Administrator,

fell silent. He knew Su Ming's temperament; once decided, he

we must push the 'art of survival' to its extreme. From now on, your every move must fit the persona of a 'son of a humble family scared out

possible. They want to kill you, right? Then let's make them

understand," Su Ming nodded, tucking the Turtle-Knob Seal into the clothing

......

Palace, Western Warmth

brightly lit, the air permeated with a

Great Xing Emperor, wearing a casual robe embroidered with coiled dragon patterns, was bent over, reviewing the mountain of accumulated

of the Directorate of Ceremonial, Eunuch Wang, knelt respectfully in the corner, quietly presenting

about the Yongchang Marquis Manor's actions against Su Ming, and the origins of Xu Qing's

Emperor took the secret report but did not open it immediately. Instead, he slowly set down

little disciple of Zhou Wenhai," the Emperor's voice was

always acted with ruthless decisiveness. This time, the evidence is crafted to be seventy percent true,

Emperor's tone slightly emphasized, his fingers gently

Your Majesty. Within the Armaments Bureau, there are several officials who have had ties to the Marquis Manor for many years. They mixed a batch of old leather armor into

Emperor slowly set down the memorial, his face showing neither joy nor

several censors and is strenuously refuting, saying this

of this Su Ming. Second Class, tenth rank, his essays were steady and balanced. He has been inconspicuous in the Hanlin Academy for a year. For the Yongchang Marquis to make such a great

to the giant map of the Northern Frontier. That enormous map