The two men clutched their stomachs, their sphincters clenched tight, terrified of losing control right there and then.
Yan Ming looked utterly bewildered. "Father, Lord Zhenbei, what's wrong with you two?"
"The latrine, the latrine is just outside!" Zuo Wuji roared, bursting out of the secret chamber.
Yan Liu quickly followed, hastily replying, "It must be something we ate with our drinks. You youngsters are naturally fine..."
Since Yan Ming was also eating pork knuckles, and Zuo Wuji, the Lord Zhenbei, had been drinking himself, his stomach was also rumbling. Yan Liu didn't suspect anything amiss, only eager to find a place to relieve himself.
Just then, Yan Ming and three of the Yun Tian Guards simultaneously covered their noses. "This..."
They had smelled it.
Yan Liu's old face flushed red. He paid no mind to his image and followed Zuo Wuji to the two latrines.
Zuo Wuji took the left latrine, while Yan Liu hurried to the right. Both men proceeded to relieve themselves with great urgency.
Outside, two other Yun Tian Guards were waiting. Together with the two who had rushed from the secret chamber, a total of four men kept watch over the latrines.
Inside the latrine, Zuo Wuji squatted between two wooden planks, no longer caring about the stench, wishing he could expel his very intestines.
"Lord Zhenbei, is there something wrong with your wine?"
"Shouldn't I be asking you? It was 'A Drunk Century' that your son personally resold to me, and you don't even remember!"
Hearing Zuo Wuji's reply, Yan Liu fell silent.
Back then, Yan Jun had acquired a thousand jars of 'A Drunk Century' from Liang Xiao and sent them to the Yan family. They were initially resold domestically at a higher price, but eventually, they had to be lowered, and Zuo Wuji had indeed bought twenty jars from them to cut their losses.
At this moment, Yan Liu didn't notice that the two wooden planks beneath his feet were already cracked. As he stood there for longer and longer, the cracks gradually spread.
"Crack—"
The two planks snapped, and a scream erupted from within. "I've fallen in! Hurry..."
The Yun Tian Guards waiting outside exclaimed in unison, "Prime Minister, do not panic, we will pull you out!"
Four men, carrying specially made long-handled plungers, rushed to the edge of the latrine pit.
Yan Liu, covered in filth, was about to climb out when four plungers simultaneously descended towards his head, knocking him back into the latrine.
"Prime Minister, do not panic!!"
The four Yun Tian Guards possessed strength far exceeding ordinary men, their voices like thunder. Yan Ming, at the entrance of the secret chamber, couldn't hear Yan Liu's cries, which were drowned out by them.
With the four plungers, Yan Liu was completely pressed into the pit.
Yan Liu, already old and frail, and subjected to such pressure by four burly men, struggled a few times in the latrine before falling still.
"Prime Minister!!!" the four Yun Tian Guards feigned shock.
In the other latrine, Zuo Wuji was still in the midst of his ordeal. He even stooped to look at the wooden planks beneath his feet, fearing he might fall in too.
Even as he felt utterly drained, Zuo Wuji maintained a smile.
He had tampered with the wooden planks in that latrine.
When Yan Ming finally arrived, he saw Yan Liu, covered in maggots and feces, no longer breathing.
The foremost aristocratic family of Da Liang, the head of the Yan family, immensely wealthy, holding supreme office, and a corrupt official who brought ruin to the nation—Prime Minister Yan Liu—had finally drowned in a latrine at the Marquis Zhenbei's mansion, all for his coveting of the Zhenbei Army's military power.
Liang Xiao and Zhuo Zifang, at the Honglu Temple, burst into laughter upon receiving the news, overwhelmed by a sorrow they couldn't contain.
Mu Cheng had asked Zuo Wuji to accompany Liang Xiao back to Da Liang. Before leaving, he wanted Zuo Wuji to "contribute one last bit of heat" and see if he could take Yan Liu or Dong Chen with him, or even kill one of them.
He never expected Zuo Wuji to employ such a bizarre method!
He truly lived up to the name of a scoundrel who could make both him and Zuo Wushang concede defeat.
"Although it's somewhat unbelievable, this method offers more room for maneuvering than directly murdering or assassinating Yan Liu," Zhuo Zifang said, a hint of embarrassment on his face. "From now on, if you have any unsavory matters, you might as well consult your father-in-law."
The next day, the entire city was in an uproar!
The Left Prime Minister of the esteemed Da Liang, dying in a latrine at the Marquis Zhenbei's mansion—it was simply unbelievable!
At the imperial court, Zuo Wuji appeared barefoot and carrying a thorny branch, tearfully recounting the events. Yan Ming, beside him, sobbed uncontrollably and kowtowed repeatedly.
"This minister failed to rescue Prime Minister in time, leading to his demise. I am willing to accept the death penalty!"
The civil and military officials wore grim expressions. Even Qin Feng was dumbfounded.
It turned out Zuo Wuji was even more adept at playing games than the Marquis Zhenbei he had imagined.
Mu Cheng, feigning deep grief, slammed the table and declared, "How am I to explain this to the Yan family and the people of the realm!"
Dong Chen quickly advised, "Your Majesty! The only course of action now is to sentence the Marquis Zhenbei to death, confiscate the properties of the Marquis Zhenbei's mansion and the Yue family, and also dismiss and investigate Yue Hongxiu. Then, the eldest son of Prime Minister Yan shall succeed him as Left Prime Minister and take control of the Zhenbei Army and the Northern King's Imperial Guard, so that the Yan family may find solace!"
Qin Feng then stepped forward to remind, "Your Majesty! The Marquis Zhenbei's crime is unforgivable, but for the sake of the nation, he is betrothed to the An Guohou of Da Qian. This matter..."
Everyone paused, then remembered that Liang Xiao was indeed in the capital of Da Liang.
Mu Cheng furrowed his brows, pondered for a moment, and then nodded. "I have already made my decision! Considering the impact on both nations and that Yue Da Liang has also contributed to the state, I indeed cannot execute him. However, while the death penalty can be waived, the punishment for his crime cannot be." He declared, "Effective immediately, everyone in the Yue Mansion, along with Yue Da Liang himself, shall be demoted to commoner status!"
Dong Chen hastily reminded, "Your Majesty, and Yue Hongxiu..."
"I said I have made my decision, everyone!" Mu Cheng bellowed. "Now, I am consumed by grief. Do not bother me! Yue Hongxiu, as Yue Da Liang's sister-in-law, I will naturally not shield her! The Northern King's Imperial Guard and the Zhenbei Army shall be placed under the command of the Minister of War, Qin Feng!"
"What?!"
The assembled officials were in a state of shock!
"Your Majesty! How can the Prince Consort alone wield such military power? We cannot help but worry for the state and its people!" Dong Chen and others stepped forward, vehemently protesting.
"Among all the officials in court, who else is more loyal than my son-in-law, and more capable of commanding the trust of Da Liang's army and people? He is my son-in-law, and he is supervised by the Xuan Wei. You worry about him rebelling? Anyone else who dares to speak nonsense will be dismissed and investigated along with Yue Da Liang!" Mu Cheng said coldly.
Regardless of the officials' remonstrations, Mu Cheng remained adamant about transferring the command of these two elite armies to Qin Feng.
In the end, the ministers had no choice but to accept the reality, harboring resentment in their hearts.
After all, the former leaders of these two armies were also confidantes of Mu Cheng.
Mu Cheng also permitted Yan Ming to succeed Yan Liu as Left Prime Minister, thus providing an explanation to the Yan family.
In the Yan family's secret chamber, the members of the Hui Chun Cult, led by Iris, remained in a state of turmoil for a long time.
Yan Liu was a devout follower of the Hui Chun Cult, a partner even more loyal than the aristocratic families of Da Gan.
And he died in a latrine?
"His death is too suspicious. Could he have been murdered..." Duan Hong said with a wry smile.
"Who knows, but the matter is settled. What we can do now is kill Yue Da Liang and destroy the entire Yue family to avenge the Yan family and our sect!"
The entire Yue family was arrested by Ye Chengxiu and the Xuan Wei.
As the Yue family members panicked, Ye Chengxiu gathered them in a deep courtyard and consoled them, "It's only that a few of your household managers have been demoted to commoners. It's not a case of confiscation of property and extermination of the clan, so what are you panicking about? From now on, you can also seek refuge with An Guohou of Da Gan!"
The crowd suddenly understood and breathed a sigh of relief.
After such a major incident, the Yan family would never forgive them.
Only the An Guohou of Da Gan, who was deeply respected by the Emperor, could protect them!