Chapter 237: Uncharacteristically, Qian Sunbao’s Attitude Was Excellent
When Zhang De heard Cheng Yu mention Duke Dingguo Ning Dingyuan’s matter, his face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot. He raised his brows and shouted sternly,
“You... what nonsense are you spouting?! How dare you slander your superior!”
Back then, he had listened to his second brother’s rotten idea. He had wanted to take advantage of Cheng Yu offending Ning Dingyuan to seek benefits from it and try to pull Duke Dingguo into the Moderate Faction.
For that, he had not hesitated to place even the Jinyiwei’s duties behind it.
In the end, however, that fellow Ning Dingyuan had actually been colluding with Prince Chu. He was a genuine rebel.
Zhang De’s investment in him had been completely wasted.
Not only did he receive no reward at all, he had even made a mistake and had to trouble Elder Grand Secretary Qi and the others to protect him.
They had to prove that he had nothing to do with that rebel.
Zhang Fen had also lost his chance to become Deputy Commander because of it.
Even more terrifying was the fact that Cheng Yu hated dragging things out. If a household was meant to be raided today, he absolutely would not wait until tomorrow to raid it.
Before anyone could react, he had cut through the tangled mess swiftly and decisively, resolving the matter of Duke Dingguo’s Estate and Ning Dingyuan while also causing Lu Zhi to commit a grave mistake.
If he had been even a little slower, and if Zhang De had truly followed Zhang Fen’s plan to pull someone like that into Elder Grand Secretary Qi’s camp, then Zhang De’s good days would have come to an end.
The current Zhang De could be said to have never been as stifled and lowly as he was now. Nothing he did went smoothly.
A few days ago, Zhang Fen had suffered severe injuries, and there was still no way to reattach his severed arm.
All of this had been bestowed upon him by Cheng Yu before his eyes!
Zhang De stared fixedly at Cheng Yu, his eyes filled with ferocity.
He sneered inwardly. Cheng Yu, ah, Cheng Yu. I originally planned to let you off for now, but never did I expect that you would seek your own death by killing Minister Qian’s nephew and destroying his property.
Not long ago, he had already done his utmost to advise Qian Sunbao.
Cheng Yu acted without any scruples. His methods were ruthless, fierce, and fearless of death. He absolutely could not be judged by common sense.
Only dealing with him through thunderous measures would be the most stable method.
Otherwise, there would very likely be endless future trouble!
A dim light appeared in Qian Sunbao’s eyes, squeezed almost into slits by the fat on his face, but he did not directly attack Cheng Yu.
Instead, he bowed amiably.
“I am Qian Sunbao. I have long heard of Assistant Commissioner Cheng’s great reputation and admired you immensely. Now that I have seen you in person today, you are indeed extraordinary!”
Hearing Lord Qian’s courteous flattery, no surprise appeared on Zhang De’s face. Instead, he sneered coldly.
Lord Qian was exactly this kind of person.
In ordinary times, he was extremely irritable and vicious. But if he suddenly acted contrary to his usual self and became polite, it meant his heart was already filled with killing intent. He would first set a trap with a posture of weakness, and once the other party took the bait, he would be ready to use every method to destroy his opponent at any moment.
“Oh? You admire me very much? Tell me in detail.”
Cheng Yu did not care about Qian Sunbao’s attitude.
In his eyes, the Moderate Faction were traitors who betrayed their own side and colluded with the Jianghu despite their status. They were people he had long since marked as certain targets for death.
When Qian Sunbao heard this, his expression instantly stiffened. He had not expected Cheng Yu to be this shameless.
He had merely said he admired him as a courtesy, yet Cheng Yu wanted him to explain specifically?
How was he supposed to answer that?
As a Second-Rank High Official of the court with great authority, Qian Sunbao naturally could not flatter wildly like some minor figure.
That would be far too humiliating.
He could only say awkwardly, “This... Let us set that aside for now. We should discuss proper matters. I came here today to apologize to Assistant Commissioner Cheng.”
“Apologize for what?”
Qian Sunbao assumed a humble, remorseful posture.
“My family is unfortunate. I was too lenient in disciplining my nephew. I never expected that Qian Shengcai would be a beast who defied the Emperor’s command and actually committed such acts, even dirtying Assistant Commissioner Cheng’s eyes at that exact moment.”
“Fortunately, Assistant Commissioner Cheng acted righteously and cleaned house on my behalf. I naturally had to come and apologize properly.”
When Cheng Yu heard this, he immediately sneered inwardly.
This man surnamed Qian was quick to cut ties. He had decisively made the dead man shoulder all responsibility.
But everyone knew the truth behind such matters.
No matter how bold a restaurant owner was, without the nod and permission of certain major figures, how could he possibly dare act against the wind and defy the Emperor’s command?
“Everything I did was part of my duty. Lord Qian does not need to thank me. If you want to give thanks, then thank His Majesty for his wisdom and martial brilliance.”
No matter what Qian Sunbao said, Cheng Yu did not really want to answer or engage with him, giving him no chance to set any sort of verbal trap.
Zhang De frowned as he watched this scene.
The two of them exchanged words back and forth, yet there was actually not much smell of gunpowder between them. They did not seem like enemies who wanted to put each other to death at all.
Could Lord Qian merely be saying pleasant words?
He pretended to cough.
“Cough, cough!”
Before they came today, they had already agreed.
They had to fish out some of the people Cheng Yu had arrested. If they were late, who knew what this fierce man would do?
They absolutely could not keep delaying like this!
Cheng Yu directly mocked him.
“Deputy Commander Zhang, how can a Ninth-Rank martial artist still cough? Are you on the verge of death? In that case, you might as well resign and go keep your brother company.”
“You!”
Zhang De burned with anger, but he could say nothing.
On the other side, when Qian Sunbao heard Zhang De’s hint, he also grew anxious inwardly. This fellow surnamed Cheng was simply too lazy to communicate with him. The tactic of finding a trap in his words and playing dirty would not work!
Finally, he had no choice but to get to the main point.
“I came here today for another matter. That nephew of mine used my banner to deceive people, and actually managed to deceive a few. By coincidence, they were brought back here by Assistant Commissioner Cheng.”
“They suffered this deception because of me. I truly cannot bear to watch them be thrown into prison.”
Qian Sunbao bowed again.
“I hope Assistant Commissioner Cheng can make things convenient and release them first. I will owe you a favor. If you ever need anything in the future, I, Qian, will absolutely not refuse.”
His final choice was to show goodwill toward Cheng Yu.
Harmony, courtesy, and the ways of human relationships were the key to maintaining a stable network over the long term.
“Release them?”
When Cheng Yu heard this, he nodded calmly.
“Releasing them is possible. Once this matter is handled by His Majesty at court tomorrow, right and wrong will naturally be distinguished clearly. At that time, those who should be released will naturally be released.”
“This...”
Qian Sunbao’s face revealed conflict, and a flash of ferocity passed through his eyes. What an unyielding fellow. He refused a toast only to drink a forfeit!
If not for the fact that this matter had arisen inside Harmony Tower, with his status, he absolutely would not have come here to speak politely to a Jinyiwei Assistant Commissioner.
“I ask Lord Cheng to make things convenient. You and I are both ministers who share His Majesty’s burdens. Some unnecessary matters need not disturb His Majesty. If we trouble His Majesty over minor details, then that would be our fault.”
Qian Sunbao’s words gradually hardened, carrying a trace of threat.
Today, he had to make Cheng Yu release them!
“Hmm...”
Cheng Yu did not speak. He merely looked silently at the other party.
Just then, Xiao Qi entered from outside the prison and glanced at Qian Sunbao with a slightly strange expression before walking straight to Cheng Yu’s side and quietly reporting information.
“All right, I understand.”
After listening to the intelligence his subordinate had gathered, Cheng Yu nodded.
What no one expected was that his attitude toward Qian Sunbao suddenly underwent a major reversal at this moment.
“Since Minister Qian is making such a guarantee as an important court official, I imagine those few people have no problem... Then let us do this. I will ask them a few questions now. Once I finish asking, they may leave. How does that sound?”