Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 455 - 291 Emergency Summons

Kuang Zhao Ying kneeled on the ground, straining his ears to listen to the sounds from the Imperial Study Room, only feeling that the voices of the two people inside sometimes rose and sometimes fell, making them completely indistinct.

The Dali Temple was always the place most detested by civil and military officials, housing the Heavenly Prison where court officials were detained, and all sorts of instruments of torture covered in their blood.

Kuang Zhao Ying knew that his position made others both fearful and hateful of him. He could imagine that if the Emperor reprimanded him, those Imperial Censors would immediately write memorials to impeach him.

Suddenly, he heard the Emperor calling him, and quickly scrambled up from the ground, grabbing hold of a nearby pillar. Once his numbed legs could move, he made his way into the Imperial Study Room.

Two hours after Sun Xian left, Yin Kun hurriedly changed into his official uniform as he was urgently summoned by the Emperor.

By then, many officials had already gathered in the Taihe Palace, and when Yin Kun arrived, the ministers inside were already inquiring about the news among themselves.

"Lord Yin! Do you know what has happened?" Jiang Mingyuan came to Yin Kun’s side to inquire.

"I do not know; I too was urgently summoned!" Yin Kun was also curious, not knowing what had occurred.

"Lord Yin, is it about Gu Chengyu? My foundation in the Capital is still shallow, and although I have already smoothened things out for him, Lord Yin’s connections are wider than mine. It would be best to entrust Gu Chengyu to you."

Yin Kun glanced at Jiang Mingyuan in surprise, not expecting Jiang Mingyuan to be so good to Gu Chengyu.

Gu Chengyu was implicated in a corruption case; most people would fear avoiding him, yet Jiang Mingyuan was willing to help smooth things over for him, which was better than the senior brother He Jisheng.

It’s said that true feelings are tested in times of trouble, and at such times, nothing tests people’s hearts more. No wonder the teacher had become increasingly indifferent to He Jisheng; he must have long seen through He Jisheng’s character.

Yin Kun scanned the hall and noticed that He Jisheng had not yet arrived.

"Lord Jiang needn’t worry. Gu Chengyu is my junior brother; of course, I will smooth things over for him."

Gu Chengyu, bored in his cell, could only stare dazedly at the walls inside, counting the spiders and their webs on the walls.

Across from him, Min Feng watched Gu Chengyu’s idle demeanor and couldn’t help but admire him. As long as Lord Kuang came, he could go out.

Chief Minister Xia, in order to avoid criticism, had him take a walk through the prison, otherwise, he wouldn’t even have to enter the cell.

He couldn’t help but sigh; it’s still beneficial to have someone in the court! Xia Qing holds immense power, and with his protection, he could rest easy.

But why was Gu Chengyu so confident? Was he relying on that senior brother of his? Or on the now Vice Minister of the Ministry of Industry, Jiang Mingyuan?

Min Feng sat calmly in the cell. Two third-rank officials wanted to protect him, so Lord Kuang ought to give them face. As long as Gu Chengyu hadn’t cheated, with the two officials as guarantors, he should come out unscathed.

Gu Wan waited anxiously at Gu Chengyu’s residence, and upon seeing Sun Xian return, she immediately went to greet him.

"How did it go?" She grasped Sun Xian’s arm, dragging him back into the house.

"Two of Chengyu’s senior brothers promised to help smooth things over. His senior brother said to wait and see how things unfold. If he’s not released in two days, he will personally plead with the Emperor. Previously, Chengyu had at least done some work for the Emperor; the Emperor should still remember him."

Gu Wan breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

"So it seems Xiao Bao’s senior brother is still willing to help, right? What did his other two senior brothers say?"

Sun Xian shook his head, "That second senior brother also said he was helping with smoothing things out but made no promises, just telling us not to worry. As for the other one, I haven’t even met him."

Sun Xian went to the He Mansion but was turned away at the door, and the attitude of the doorman wasn’t good. He had explained his purpose, hoping the doorman would report it. However, the doorman directly refused, saying the lord wasn’t home.

Isn’t this clear? The doorman likely already received instructions. Anyone from the Gu Family seeking his master would be blocked outside.

Upon hearing this, Gu Wan felt some resentment, "How could everyone kick someone when they’re down? Not to mention on account of past brotherly affection. During festivals, Xiao Bao sent plenty of gifts to these senior brothers’ mansions. Those gifts were quite valuable. Now something has happened, instead of helping to think of solutions, they don’t even let us in. This is too much."

Sun Xian gave a bitter smile, saying, "The officialdom changes swiftly. Everyone acts in their self-interest. Chengyu’s third senior brother’s conduct isn’t entirely unreasonable. Luckily, the other two promised to help. Otherwise, who knows what Chengyu would endure in prison!"

These words made Ming Mo quite frustrated. He reassured Sun Xian and the others multiple times that in a couple of days, the young master would come back in one piece, but they didn’t believe him and continued to work tirelessly outside, spending Silver for nothing.

Even so, Ming Mo felt happy for his young master. It wasn’t in vain that the young master treated the Second Madam and them so well daily, and they were still willing to run around for him when something happened.

"Second Madam, Second Sir, don’t worry! The young master arranged everything before he left. He’ll surely be back within three days. He specifically left me in the mansion to wait for you so you won’t be thrown into disarray."

Gu Wan frowned, "This Xiao Bao! He acts as if he’s in control of everything. Does he not think about the kind of people he’s dealing with? He’s just a mere scholar. How can he contend with officials? If he doesn’t smooth things over, I can’t be at ease."

"Brother Xian, as long as Xiao Bao is not back for a day, I won’t feel settled. Moreover, without a master in this residence, won’t those servants turn everything upside down? I plan to stay here for two days, keeping an eye on things for Xiao Bao. Go back and tell Mom."

Gu Wan thought it over and still felt uneasy. When she arrived at the mansion today, she saw two servants being punished by Ming Mo, probably because the rules had slackened without the master present.

"Very well! These next few days I’ll stay here with you. I’ll go back and inform Mom." Sun Xian didn’t feel assured about Gu Wan staying in the mansion alone, and he planned to go back and inform his mother.

Hearing that the Second Madam planned to stay here, Ming Mo hurriedly said, "Second Madam, why not let me send someone back to inform Mother-in-law, and at the same time, send someone to watch over your mansion?"

Gu Wan nodded repeatedly in agreement, "That’s a good idea!"

It was her fault for not considering it earlier. Her mother-in-law was a woman staying home alone, which also made her uneasy.

But if she brought her to the Gu Mansion, it felt like stealing someone else’s nest. Although Xiao Bao wouldn’t mind, it wasn’t her own mansion.

"Senior Brother Sun!" Ye Zhiqiu came in through the main gate, already sweating even though it was only March.

"Junior Brother Ye, what did he say?" Sun Xian, seeing Ye Zhiqiu return, quickly asked.

Ye Zhiqiu shook his head, "I went to the Zhu Mansion and met Zhu Pang. He said to wait another three days. If Chengyu isn’t back by then, he has a plan and told us not to act rashly. As for the Dingnan Marquis Mansion, I couldn’t even get through the gate. Zhu Pang said earlier that Zheng Lun has been detained by his father, probably to sever ties with us."

Sun Xian found this perfectly understandable. Zheng Lun wasn’t favored in the Marquis Mansion, but he was his father’s precious son. His father likely kept him in the mansion, fearing his involvement in this case.