Read Novel Full Chapter 737 - 361 Li Jue is Captured
Chapter 737: Chapter 361 Li Jue is Captured
During the county examination in Jinling, the rivalry between the Song Family and the Li Family was intense. The Li Family and the Fang Family allied against the Song Family, but could only manage a stalemate with them.
During this period, Jinling City seemed calm on the surface, but beneath it, there were turbulent waves. At night, the Jinling River was filled with murderous intent, and a strong scent of blood lingered over the water.
The citizens of Jinling City were afraid to leave their homes at night, trembling indoors. Fortunately, these officials were only fighting amongst themselves, not yet affecting the common people.
While the Song Family was engaged in a struggle with the Li Family, Prince Wei secretly fanned the flames. Seeing the fierce infighting within Jinling City, those in Suzhou Prefecture wanted to seize the opportunity, but ended up being drawn into the internal conflicts of Jinling City.
Originally, the struggle for control between the families of Jinling City, the Cao Group, the Salt Gang, and those of Suzhou Prefecture was fierce. Now it had grown even fiercer—more precise, more ruthless—causing great suffering to the people of both Jinling City and Suzhou Prefecture.
Runzhou Prefecture, which had been contested by Jinling City and Suzhou Prefecture, managed to extricate itself from the fray.
Zheng Xilin, after arriving in Runzhou Prefecture, took decisive actions to control the families there and dealt with the Cao Group and the Salt Gang colluding with Jinling City or Suzhou Prefecture. He also protected the members of the Meng Family.
Just days ago, many from the families, Cao Group, and Salt Gang in Runzhou Prefecture were executed at the vegetable market of Runzhou Prefecture, while others were transferred to the capital, where they would face severe punishment.
The families from other prefectures, which hadn’t followed Jinling City and Suzhou Prefecture in resisting the imperial examination, were frightened upon seeing the total elimination of the families, Cao Group, and Salt Gang in Runzhou Prefecture, thankful they had not participated; otherwise, they would have met the same fate.
The families of the other prefectures in Jiangnan were genuinely terrified this time. They feared that if they continued to defy the court, their end would be even worse than those in Yangzhou Prefecture and Runzhou Prefecture.
Alas, during the last county exam, they had only sent a few illegitimate sons from the collateral branches without any legitimate branch descendants participating. Would this anger the court?
Not participating in the county exam meant they couldn’t join the subsequent prefectural exam. To take the county exam, they would have to wait until next year. What should they do?
For the safety of their families, the families decided to appease the court, but they had to do it in a way that wouldn’t backfire. They first approached the governor, expressing their wish to offer tributes to the court.
The governors of these prefectures, noticing the sudden change in attitude of the families, realized they were scared by what happened in Runzhou Prefecture. Since they wanted to contribute, the governors wouldn’t refuse. If they offered well, the governors could also gain some benefits.
What happened in the other prefectures was within Prince Wei’s expectations. Leaning back against the bed, he listened to Mr. Fan’s report on the happenings in the other prefectures without showing any reaction.
Mr. Fan continued his report on the situation in Jinling City, which was also under Prince Wei’s control.
"Your Highness, with our secret assistance, the Li Family can no longer resist Prince Jing and the Song Family." Without Prince Wei’s people secretly helping Prince Jing and the Song Family, it wouldn’t have been as easy for the Song Family to suppress the Li Family. "Many in the Cao Group and Salt Gang have secretly surrendered to the Song Family."
With an indifferent tone, Prince Wei said, "This is all part of the plan."
"Your Highness, perhaps soon the Li Family will be defeated."
Prince Wei squinted his eyes, a cold gleam flashing through them, "What I want is not just their defeat, but their complete destruction, understand?"
Mr. Fan felt a chill in his heart, "I understand."
"Fuel the flames higher, let Prince Jing become complacent," Prince Wei said coldly, "First, get rid of Li Jue. Without Li Jue, they will be nothing."
"Your Highness, should we remove Li Jue now?" Mr. Fan asked because Prince Wei had previously said to leave Li Jue until the end, and the sudden advance of his removal caught Mr. Fan by surprise.
"Yes, he is no longer of use; there’s no need to keep him until the end." Prince Wei thought of Zhao Yao’s unrelenting hatred for Li Jue and couldn’t help but chuckle, "Take him alive and let the tenth brother handle him."
"I understand."
After finishing his report, Mr. Fan quietly withdrew. He had not been gone long when he returned.
"Your Highness, Li Jue has been captured."
Prince Wei, upon hearing this, showed slight surprise, "What did you say?"
"Your Highness, Li Jue is missing."
"Missing?" Prince Wei knitted his brows, his expression chilling, "Who captured him?"
"I don’t know who it is, nor do we know where Li Jue has been taken." Mr. Fan’s first suspicion was the Song Family, "Your Highness, could it be that Song Qingyun captured Li Jue? After all, they knew each other well and understood each other’s limits."