You get Lu Bu as your starting character.

Chapter 160 The Ancestor of the Yuan Family
In the Eastern Depot prison.

At Cao Shaoqin's command, the imperial guards began preparing instruments of torture.

After a while.

Screams of agony echoed from inside the prison.

Cao Shaoqin watched as the Minister of Justice was hung up, screaming in agony under the torture of the Eastern Depot. A cold smile curled at the corner of Cao Shaoqin's lips.

Only by letting these die-hards experience the tortures of the Eastern Depot will they understand why the flowers are so red.

"Second Chief Supervisor, if such excessive torture is used, I am worried that his body will not be able to withstand it."

One of the guards standing nearby couldn't help but say something.

The 108 tortures inflicted by the Eastern Depot represent the most extreme forms of pain in the world; things like skinning and bone-pulling are just appetizers.

Someone like the Minister of Justice, who lives a life of luxury, probably wouldn't be able to withstand the tortures inflicted by the Eastern Depot.

It's one thing if the others died from the tortures inflicted by the Eastern Depot.

But the Minister of Justice is a serious criminal, and he cannot die without a clear imperial decree.

"Don't worry, with me here, he can't die even if he wants to."

Cao Shaoqin said in a sinister tone.

"go."

"Bring all the people arrested by the Ministry of Justice to me for torture."

"I want to see if our Minister of Justice's heart is as hard as his mouth."

Cao Shaoqin spoke again.

"Yes, Second Supervisor."

The guards obeyed and left.

From time to time, heart-wrenching screams could be heard from the prison cell.

……

Half an hour later.

Cao Shaoqin looked at the slip of paper in his hand, which contained some information that some people from the Ministry of Justice's office had confessed after being subjected to torture by the Eastern Depot.

Coincidentally, the information revealed by one of the concubines of the Minister of Justice was about the plot between the three powerful families and the Prince of Shu.

This was overheard by the concubine of the Minister of Justice.

It has to be said that this was an unexpected surprise.

Although the concubine's account was incomplete, only a little bit, it was still much better than nothing.

As for the Minister of Justice, he had already fainted twice under the torture of the Eastern Depot.

But he didn't say a single word.

This cast a shadow over Cao Shaoqin's face.

He couldn't help but sigh inwardly, realizing that none of these figures who could stand tall in the imperial court were easy to deal with.

They're all old foxes, they've seen through the ways of the world, and they've realized that only by keeping silent can they possibly survive.
If they open their mouths, all their hopes will be dashed.

So he put on a show of being fearless, stubbornly holding on without saying a word.

Cao Shaoqin put away the note in his hand, stood up, and left the Eastern Depot directly.

Having made a discovery, Cao Shaoqin naturally went to the palace immediately to report to Emperor Zhou Chen.

……

The Hall of Nourishing Heart.

Zhou Chen looked at the note Cao Shaoqin handed him, his expression not changing much.

Du Ruhui and Jia Xu had roughly deduced the plans of the three great families and the King of Shu.

If even someone as brilliant as Du Ruhui and Jia Xu couldn't deduce this, then...
That would be too unbecoming of their names that will be remembered in history.

The note that Cao Shaoqin presented contained the instructions given by the concubine of the Minister of Justice.

Although it was only a small amount, it indirectly confirmed that Du Ruhui and his colleagues' speculation was correct.

Zhou Chen put down the note in his hand, looked up at Cao Shaoqin, and said, "Cao Shaoqin, these next few days, you must keep a close watch on Luoyang, inside and out, and not relax for a moment."

"The minister obeys the order."

Cao Shaoqin bowed and said.

"besides."

"Notify the guards in Runan and Rongyang to keep a close watch on the Yuan and Zheng families."

"We must not let any movement by the Yuan or Zheng families go unnoticed."

Zhou Chen continued.

The moment Zhou Chen learned of the plot between the three great families and the King of Shu, he immediately ordered the Eastern Depot to send its guards to Runan and Rongyang.

Therefore, there are now Eastern Depot guards operating in both Runan and Rongyang, monitoring the Yuan and Zheng families.

Although these imperial guards could not monitor the two great families in depth, they should be able to keep the families' basic movements from their notice.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Cao Shaoqin bowed again.

"Go!"

Zhou Chen waved his hand.

Cao Shaoqin turned and left the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

……

late at night.

The Prime Minister's residence was brightly lit.

Inside the council chamber.

Chancellor Yuan Bo sat in the lower seat, while the main seat was occupied by King Zhou Zhi of Shu, who was dressed in black.

Zhou Zhi looked at Prime Minister Yuan Bo below him; "Prime Minister, I have a question to ask you."

"I hope the Prime Minister can answer me truthfully."

Zhou Zhi looked at Prime Minister Yuan Bo with a serious expression and said.

"Oh!"

Upon hearing this, Chancellor Yuan Bo was somewhat puzzled. What question did Zhou Zhi, the King of Shu, have to ask him, and why did he have such an expression?

"Your Highness, please speak."

"Your subject will certainly speak frankly and without reservation."

Prime Minister Yuan Bo nodded, wanting to see what Zhou Zhi wanted to ask him.
"Was the Grand Tutor's death in the four northwestern prefectures also orchestrated by you and a few others, Prime Minister?"

Zhou Zhi looked at Prime Minister Yuan Bo and asked without blinking.

Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Yuan Bo's expression clearly froze for a moment.

Chancellor Yuan Bo was surprised that Zhou Zhi would ask this question.

This left Prime Minister Yuan Bo somewhat puzzled, wondering how Zhou Zhi knew about this matter and why he was asking him about it.

It's important to know that very few people know about this matter; it's very closely guarded secret.

"Why would Your Highness ask such a question?"

"Where did Your Highness hear this news from?"

Instead of answering Zhou Zhi's question, Prime Minister Yuan Bo turned the question back on Zhou Zhi.

"This is what I heard from His Majesty."

"Prime Minister, I don't need to say more, you should know what this means?"

Zhou Zhi no longer needed Prime Minister Yuan Bo's reply.

Because Prime Minister Yuan Bo's rhetorical question is the best answer.

Moreover, Zhou Zhi also noticed the obvious moment of surprise on Prime Minister Yuan Bo's face.

Upon hearing Zhou Zhi's words, Prime Minister Yuan Bo's expression changed immediately.

Prime Minister Yuan Bo certainly knew what it meant if this matter came from the mouth of that person in the palace.

This means that the palace's investigation of the Ministry of Revenue and the removal of the Minister of Revenue and the Minister of Justice were merely a facade.

The real purpose was to eliminate their influence in the court one by one and strip them of their wings.

If that's the case, then their families are probably already under the surveillance of the Eastern Depot.

They were just waiting for the right moment to strike with lightning speed.

Their families would suffer the same fate as the Cui family of Boling, being wiped out by the one in the palace and completely disappearing into the long river of history.

Prime Minister Yuan Bo's expression was solemn.

He never imagined that the person in the palace already knew about this matter and had been keeping quiet all along. Truly, she possessed the cunning of an emperor; she hid it very well.

If Zhou Zhi hadn't revealed this information today, Prime Minister Yuan Bo wouldn't have thought of it.

"Your Highness, since you heard these things from His Majesty..."

"So, Your Highness, do you think His Majesty has become aware of our affairs?"

Prime Minister Yuan Bo looked at Zhou Zhi, who was in the main seat.

Zhou Zhi's expression changed slightly, then he shook his head and said, "There shouldn't be, otherwise we would be in the Eastern Depot prison right now, just like the Minister of Justice and the others."

"However, we don't have much time left; we can't wait until the end of the year."

"If we wait any longer, I'm afraid the Prime Minister will also end up in the Eastern Depot's prison."

Zhou Zhi glanced at the Prime Minister and said.

They originally planned to act at the end of the year, but things have changed. The Minister of Revenue and the Minister of Justice have had their homes raided one after another.

If they don't act quickly, their cronies in the court will be wiped out.

Chancellor Yuan Bo might also have his home confiscated.

By then, it will be too late to take action.

Prime Minister Yuan Bo nodded; "Your Highness is right. The people from my Yuan family and the Zheng family have already set off, and they will arrive in Luoyang in less than two days."

"The Fan family's men have also secretly headed towards Luoyang."

"The affairs within the palace will depend on Your Highness. It would be best if you could obtain the Empress Dowager's warrant."

"This will make things much easier."

"This is what Prime Minister Yuan Bo said."

If we can obtain the Empress Dowager's order, our actions will be much more efficient.

Aside from the emperor's own orders in the palace, the empress dowager's orders were the most authoritative.

"I know, I will take care of things in the palace."

Now, the palace has been cleaned several times and is no longer what it used to be.

Even the seven great families, including Prime Minister Yuan Bo, who had been powerful clans for generations, no longer had any chance of getting close to the palace.

Therefore, only King Zhou Zhi of Shu can arrange matters in the palace now.

After a private conversation with Prime Minister Yuan Bo, Zhou Zhi secretly left the Prime Minister's residence.

After Zhou Zhi left, the Prime Minister's gaze wandered somewhat uncertainly.

At that moment, a gaunt figure emerged from nowhere.

"Ancestor."

Upon seeing the gaunt figure emerge, Prime Minister Yuan Bo immediately stood up and respectfully greeted him.

Because this gaunt figure was none other than Yuan Tianshu, the patriarch of the Yuan family of Runan.

Yuan Tianshu was not only the patriarch of the Yuan family, but also the pillar of the Yuan family.

One of the few top experts in the Great Zhou Dynasty who is at the half-step Celestial Realm.

He is also the only half-step Celestial Realm expert among the seven great families of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

It is precisely because of the existence of Yuan Tianshu, a half-step Celestial Being, that the Yuan family has been able to maintain its position as the top of the seven great families of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Yuan Tianshu walked to the main seat where Zhou Zhi had just been sitting and sat down directly.

After Yuan Tianshu sat down, Prime Minister Yuan Bo said, "Ancestor, you heard what the Prince of Shu said just now. Do you think the person in the palace has noticed our plot with the Prince of Shu?"

Yuan Tianshu lifted his waxy eyelids and glanced at Prime Minister Yuan Bo, saying, "Does it matter now whether you've noticed or not?"

"Immediately activate the Yuan family's most urgent communication channels to inform the family and tell them to be careful and respond accordingly."

"Those young men who have been sent away should also be notified immediately to be careful of the Imperial Guards' pursuit."

"Since the person in the palace already knows that Wen Zhong's death is related to the Yuan family, then that person in the palace must have made arrangements against the Yuan family as well."

"Now that all the experts in the family have been transferred to Luoyang, the family is vulnerable. We must prevent the Imperial Guard from destroying the Yuan family's stronghold."

Yuan Tianshu said in an aged voice.

Upon hearing Yuan Tianshu's words, Prime Minister Yuan Bo's expression changed.

Yes!

Does it matter whether the person in the palace noticed or not the schemes of the three great families and the King of Shu?

Most of the Yuan family's experts have now been transferred to Luoyang.

Because of Grand Tutor Wen Zhong, the Yuan family also became a target for elimination by the person in the palace.

It can be said that the Yuan family's arrow is now on the bowstring and must be released.

Upon realizing this, Prime Minister Yuan Bo immediately nodded; "Yes, Ancestor."

The most important thing now is to inform the clan of this news so that they can be on guard against a possible surprise attack.

Furthermore, Prime Minister Yuan Bo advised that the young men sent away by the Yuan family should also be wary of being pursued and intercepted by the Eastern Depot and its guards.

This is the most important.

That's right.

Most of the Yuan family's personnel have already been transferred to Luoyang.

Chancellor Yuan Bo did not tell King Zhou Zhi of Shu that the Yuan family's troops had arrived in Luoyang, but chose to keep it a secret for the time being.

Because Prime Minister Yuan Bo always knew that their schemes with the King of Shu were only driven by self-interest, forcing them to collude.

The two sides are not truly of one mind.

It's still necessary to maintain a certain level of discretion and precaution.

"Also, the Zheng and Fan families should be arriving soon."

"You must do your best to cover their tracks, so that no one finds out and the people from the Eastern Depot don't get a clue."

The Minister of Revenue and the Minister of Justice have both been arrested.

Therefore, the task of concealing the whereabouts of the Fan and Zheng families can only be handled by Prime Minister Yuan Bo.

"Don't worry, Ancestor, I will help them cover up their whereabouts."

No matter what Prime Minister Yuan Bo says, he is the Prime Minister of the Great Zhou Dynasty. He has served two dynasties in Luoyang and has long been rooted in Luoyang.

Helping people conceal their whereabouts was not a big problem for him.

……

Outside the Prime Minister's residence.

Not far away, Cao Shaoqin stood on a tree branch in a corner, frowning as he gazed at the Prime Minister's residence.

The subtle aura emanating from the Prime Minister's residence made Cao Shaoqin's eyes flicker.

In particular, one of the subtle auras made Cao Shaoqin feel a trace of danger.

"Could it be that old codger from the Yuan family has come too?"

Cao Shaoqin thought to himself.

Next to Cao Shaoqin lay an unconscious guard.

Of the two guards monitoring the Prime Minister's residence, one fell into a coma and the other disappeared without a trace.

If Cao Shaoqin hadn't arrived, they wouldn't have noticed these subtle signs within the Prime Minister's residence.

Based on Du Ruhui and Jia Xu's previous speculations, Cao Shaoqin knew without much thought that the subtle presence within the Prime Minister's residence must be the arrival of Yuan's men.

At this moment, a guard from the factory walked over silently. Upon seeing Cao Shaoqin on the tree branch, he immediately bowed and said, "Second Supervisor."

"Where did you go?"

Cao Shaoqin asked a question without turning his head.

"Reporting to the Chief Supervisor, I just spotted a suspicious person. I gave chase, but lost him."

This guard was another person responsible for monitoring the Prime Minister's residence.

"waste."

"That was because the King of Shu sent someone to lure you away."

"The King of Shu has just left the Prime Minister's residence."

Cao Shaoqin turned around and looked at the guard with a effeminate gaze.

Upon hearing this, the guard immediately knelt down; "This subordinate knows his crime and begs the Second Supervisor for forgiveness."

"Go back and receive your punishment."

Cao Shaoqin uttered four words, then leaped away and left.

Zhou Zhi thought that no one would know he had secretly come to the Prime Minister's residence.

Little did he know that Cao Shaoqin had just watched him leave the Prime Minister's residence.

(End of this chapter)