Previously, he didn't take action against Zhu Zhao because he held a low - ranking official position and lacked sufficient influence. He was afraid that if he acted rashly, Zhu Zhao and others would join forces and catch him off guard.
Now, as the third - rank director of the Surveillance Office, with deputy directors related to the Lin and Yin clans following him, others would think that the investigation and raid on Zhu Zhao had the support of these two clans. Who would dare to oppose him?
Moreover, he could take advantage of these two clans to offset their attempt to undermine his power and vent his anger.
Chu Junyi straightened his body, let out a long breath, and then laughed heartily.
The two deputy directors, who had just realized what was going on, at this moment, even had the urge to kill him.
Especially Lord Yao, with a pained expression on his face, looked at Lord Shen, wanting to say something but holding back his words.
Lord Shen lowered his eyes, suppressing his anger. He thought that using the Lin family would come at a price and was waiting to see how long Chu Junyi could remain complacent.
At this time, all the servants in the Zhu Mansion were gathered in one place, standing with their heads down, waiting to be interrogated.
All the constables from the Surveillance Office were divided into several groups. Some stayed to interrogate the servants, some raided the mansion, and some guarded the front and back gates outside the mansion to prevent anyone from escaping.
Lord Zhu, who had been painting in his study, only heard the commotion at this time. He put down his brush and came out to check, but was unexpectedly dragged in front of Chu Junyi. He even lost one of his shoes on the way.
Chu Junyi raised his eyebrows and stared intently at Lord Zhu with deep - set eyes.
The simple address of "Lord Zhu" made Lord Zhu's scalp tingle. He vaguely realized that he was doomed, but still pretended to be calm and accused Chu Junyi of breaking into his private residence.
Chu Junyi dusted off his official robe and told him to look clearly. He was acting in accordance with the law, not breaking in privately.
Lord Zhu was left speechless.
"Take him away!"
"Yes!"
"I refuse to accept this! Chu Junyi, I'm an official of the imperial court. You can't raid my mansion without reason. I'll tell the emperor. I'll appeal to the highest authority!"
"Lord Zhu, do you want me to announce the dirty deeds you and Lord Wang have done secretly in public?"
Lord Zhu's pupils trembled violently, and he completely wilted.
The constables escorted Zhu Zhao and his family out, and also raided a large number of calligraphy, paintings, antiques, gold, and silver treasures.
When everything was over, the once - grand Zhu Mansion was left as an empty shell.
The wind blew, and the flowers and plants in the mansion swayed gently. The bright and dazzling sunlight shone down, giving a faint sense of dizziness.
Before leaving the mansion, Chu Junyi turned around and looked at the big mansion with its blue bricks, green tiles, and lush branches. He couldn't help but feel a flood of emotions.
...
"Open the door! Open the door! The Surveillance Office is handling a case. Cooperate quickly!"
The gate of the Wang Mansion opened from the inside. Hundreds of servants and guards rushed forward with their weapons and confronted the constables from the Surveillance Office.
Chu Junyi held up his official token high and showed it to them. "The Surveillance Office is handling a case. If you don't cooperate, you will be regarded as imperial criminals and arrested. If you are willing to cooperate, I guarantee that nothing will happen to you!"
Those people were afraid of facing prison because of Lord Wang's misdeeds, which was why they decided to resist. Now, with Chu Junyi's guarantee, they all put down their weapons and made way.
Chu Junyi led his men to rush in. But when they had walked halfway, they found that although the Wang Mansion was as grand as the Zhu Mansion, while there were still flowers and plants in the Zhu Mansion, the Wang Mansion was completely empty.
His heart tightened. He guessed that the people might have fled a few days ago.
He turned around and pointed at a few capable assistants. "Go and inquire at the local carriage and boat services. Pay attention to who has large items to transport in the past few days. Find out which direction they are headed and then chase in that direction!"
Since Wang Xuan didn't forget to take his belongings when he left, he couldn't have gone far.
"Yes!"
At this time, Wang Xuan, who had already boarded a boat and left the capital, stood on the deck, looking at the lake with a heavy heart.
The Wang family was not a century - old noble family. It had risen to prominence only in his generation.
Before his rise, he was just a down - and - out countryman, so poor that he couldn't even afford to eat. At that time, there was no imperial examination, and it was through someone's recommendation that he gradually climbed to his current position.
Thinking back to the beginning of his official career, he had also wanted to plead for the people and achieve great things. But over the long years, he gradually lost himself and his original intention.
He remembered the princess on the couch who had made his heart flutter. It was from that moment that he could never turn back.
Wang Xuan's mood fluctuated as he thought of this.
"Master, are you hiding something from us? Why are we moving all of a sudden? And why are you resigning from your official position?" Mrs. Wang brought their child to the deck to find her husband.
Master Wang rubbed his moist eyes, swallowed the bitterness, stroked the child's head, and then looked at his wife's face.
At first, he thought the wife arranged by his mother was weak - willed and plain - looking. Especially when compared with the princess, the difference was like heaven and earth. But now, looking at her again, he realized that it was his own wife who truly cared about him.
The princess only used him to achieve her hidden goals.
But a single slip had caused a thousand years of sorrow. When he looked back, a lifetime had passed.
He was well aware of the great mistakes he had made, and there was no turning back in this lifetime.
"Nothing. I just want to spend more time with you and our child."
"Master, you've changed! You've become better!" Mrs. Wang leaned against her husband excitedly, and tears streamed down her face.
She didn't know that her husband's days were numbered, and he might not even see the sunrise of the next day.
"Where are you going, Lord Wang!" Chu Junyi galloped over with his men.
Lord Wang was so frightened that his pupils trembled. He quickly ordered the boatman to go faster and faster!
The large boat sailed swiftly on the lake, but the horses on the shore also chased rapidly. The boat and the horses ran almost side by side for a moment. Then Chu Junyi leaped onto the boat and landed in front of Lord Wang in an instant.
Lord Wang's body went weak, and he almost knelt down.
The accompanying guards of the Wang Mansion rushed forward and separated Lord Wang's family from Chu Junyi.
Chu Junyi's cold eyes scanned around and then landed on Lord Wang's face.
"Lord Wang, you've seen my martial arts. Do you think these people can stop me? If you're smart, I advise you to surrender and avoid unnecessary killing."
Lord Wang thought that was right. These people were no match for Chu Junyi, and he had nowhere to escape.
So, on the verge of death, he did a rare good deed by sparing the lives of his guards.
"Lord Chu, I admit my guilt! Please spare my wife and children. They are innocent. They don't know what I've done outside. And my son is very obedient. He's only ten years old and poses no threat to you. I won't let him take revenge. Please, Lord Chu. I'll kowtow to you!"
At this moment, Lord Wang had lost his former arrogance. He bent down and kowtowed three times to the man who he had once regarded as a thorn in his side. He repeatedly apologized to his son, saying that he had failed to fulfill his duty as a father and that his son should study hard and not take revenge for him.
"Dad!"
The child's soft crying made everyone's hearts ache.
Chu Junyi's clenched fist loosened and tightened, tightened and loosened.
He was also a man and would one day be a father. How could he not understand the feelings of this father - son pair at this moment?
But precisely because he understood, he hated Lord Wang for not living up to his potential. "Lord Wang, if you had known this would happen, why did you do it in the first place!"