Chapter 17 You Know It's a Dilemma, But She Doesn't

It was already evening when he came out of the Snow Courtyard.

Harboring complicated feelings, Xie Jin Yan's expression wasn't good the entire way.

Feng Yuan had just returned to report his mission. Observing his master's unpredictable expression, his heart was also uneasy.

"Your Highness, the A Yue girl has been sent to the Tian Prison. This subordinate has already taken care of things. If anything happens..."

All the way from the Snow Courtyard to outside the study, Feng Yuan finally couldn't help it.

He kept up with Xie Jin Yan's pace, carefully observing the changes in his expression.

Xie Jin Yan still wore a frosty expression. His tone was emotionless, only giving a light 'Mm', and he didn't ask any more about Gao Min Yue's situation.

This made Feng Yuan even more uneasy. If the master was unhappy, he would be the one to suffer.

So, after thinking for a while, Feng Yuan mustered his courage and asked, "Does Your Highness have any worries?"

He glanced around, lowered his voice, and tentatively inquired, "Is it because of Eunuch Yu?"

Xie Jin Yan felt frustrated but didn't know how to express it. Seeing Feng Yuan inquire, he didn't show any displeasure. Instead, he beckoned him and signaled for him to enter the study together.

After bringing him into the study, Xie Jin Yan leaned over and sat down at the desk, but he wasn't in a hurry to deal with the memorials and documents.

He only looked at Feng Yuan expressionlessly and said, "Feng Yuan, I have a question for you."

"If one day, I and your younger brother were both in danger, and only one could be saved, who would you choose?"

???

What was this? Why was His Highness asking him this out of nowhere?

If he said he would choose His Highness, it would seem that he was heartless and unrighteous to his brother. If he said he would choose his younger brother, it would seem that he was disloyal to His Highness, wouldn't it?

For a moment, Feng Yuan felt troubled in his heart.

He chuckled dryly and replied to Xie Jin Yan in a strained voice, "Your Highness, how can you ask such a thing? You are this subordinate's master and benefactor, and the other is this subordinate's own brother. This... whoever this subordinate saves will be letting the other down, won't he?"

"After thinking about it, this subordinate believes that suicide is the best choice."

Feng Yuan answered cautiously while secretly observing Xie Jin Yan, feeling very uneasy, afraid that the master would get angry at any moment.

But Xie Jin Yan didn't care about Feng Yuan's answer at all. He only gave a bitter smile and said in a mocking tone, "You see, even you know it's a dilemma, but she doesn't hesitate."

"Perhaps... in her heart, I'm really not that important."

What was this? Was he feeling sentimental?

Feng Yuan understood Xie Jin Yan's thoughts even less. He stood upright to the side, not daring to say another word.

Xie Jin Yan sighed deeply and didn't continue this topic.

He only lowered his eyes and looked at the files placed in front of the desk. Changing the subject, he asked Feng Yuan, "Feng Yuan, how many people are involved in the Shen family's case now? Are there any new ones emerging?"

As soon as Xie Jin Yan mentioned official business, Feng Yuan instantly breathed a sigh of relief. He hurried forward and said respectfully, "Reporting to Your Highness, besides the Ning Prince's faction, the Qin family, the Qiu family, the You family, and the Liu family, recently, the Minister of Rites has also been making moves. On the one hand, he's sending people to the prison to get information to Shen Zong Yuan, and on the other hand, he's busy selling some of the fields and properties in his family, seemingly wanting to use these fields to make up for the silver taels embezzled by the Shen family."

The Minister of Rites was also involved?

A bunch of corrupt things! The Great Wei Dynasty had only been peaceful for ten years, and such a group of parasites had emerged again.

Xie Jin Yan's already unsightly expression instantly became even more gloomy. He asked in a cold voice, "What's going on? Did the Minister of Rites also participate in the disaster area embezzlement?"

"That's not the case..." Feng Yuan shook his head and explained, "This subordinate has investigated. The Minister of Rites has been an official for many years and has never been involved in any embezzlement, not even accepting bribes, but..."

"But what?"

"But the eldest son of the Minister of Rites seems to have some dealings with the Shen family. According to this subordinate's investigation, those properties that their family is selling originally belonged to the Yu family. Later, after the Yu family was exterminated, those fields and properties fell into Shen Zong Yuan's hands. Shen Zong Yuan has always been unsuccessful in the court. Ten years ago, a few years ago, in order to seek an official position for his eldest son, Shen Lin, he sought help from the eldest son of the Minister of Rites. That Zhou Yan, although he is the descendant of a civil official, he joined the army and worked under the You family army. He is quite capable in the army, so he found a small military post for Shen Zong Yuan's eldest son..."

Heh, so the Zhou family was openly selling official positions? They were probably also caught with a handle in the hands of Shen Zong Yuan and his son. The Minister of Rites was probably also afraid of being implicated, so he was in a hurry to dispose of the stolen goods and transfer those fields and properties to others, on the other hand, to seal the mouths of the Shen family.

Recalling the Minister of Rites' rigid and serious face, Xie Jin Yan felt a mixture of sarcasm and sympathy. He couldn't help but chuckle and sigh, "The Minister of Rites is also unlucky enough. He's been clean and honest all his life, working diligently from a small county official to this day, but he's been saddled with such an unlucky son..."

"Ah, isn't that so?" Feng Yuan also sighed, and then, as if he had thought of something, he asked Xie Jin Yan, "Your Highness, how should this Zhou family be dealt with?"

"Deal with them?"

Xie Jin Yan smiled faintly, his eyes narrowed slightly, and he said in a deep voice, "Deal with what deal? Send all those pieces of evidence to the Minister's residence..."

"What is Your Highness planning..." Feng Yuan was stunned when he heard this, feeling a little confused.

But the next moment, he reacted and seemed to have thought of something. His eyes suddenly lit up, and he said, "Your Highness is planning to win over Minister Zhou?"

This Feng Yuan wasn't too stupid.

It should be known that although he was the Crown Prince, and now also had the support of the Southern Border soldiers, the civil officials in the court still had a great prejudice against him because of their blood ties, especially with the Minister of Rites at the head.

Now, he was selling the Minister of Rites such a favor, protecting his eldest son, and protecting the fame and reputation he had earned for half his life. At that time, even if he couldn't win him over, he could at least prevent the other party from opposing him as before.

Thinking of this, Xie Jin Yan glanced at Feng Yuan with a smile, and then ordered him, "Alright, go and take care of it."

After saying that, he seemed to have thought of something, and hurriedly added to Feng Yuan, "By the way, there's one more thing. Tomorrow, bring all the maids and servants who used to serve by Qin Yi Liu's side here. I have something to ask them."

"Also, arrange a separate cell for Shen Ke. I want to ask him some questions as well."

"Yes." Feng Yuan nodded. After saying that, he turned around and retreated.

The next day, in the afternoon, while no one was around, two maids and a woman in fancy clothes were brought into a dilapidated house.