After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times

Chapter 1199 - 1181: Sit-In

In the end, it was Liu Kui, who came prepared, who gained the upper hand and arrested the clamorous Wang Ying, escorting him all the way back to prison.

Indeed, Liu Kui initially planned to take him to the Minister of Justice, but considering the pervasive influence and close associates of the Wang Family, nowhere seemed safe, so he simply decided to lock him up directly.

Then he replaced all the guards with his own men, thus eliminating fear of Mrs. Wang seizing him.

Although he managed to seize the person, Liu Kui also lost several men, and just capturing and detaining resulted in so many deaths. This made Liu Kui once again feel the oppressive arrogance of Mrs. Wang. No, if the aristocratic families are not restrained, one day the Great King will be completely sidelined, and then chaos will ensue in Jiangnan.

Liu Kui entered the palace with a solemn face to see King Langya and told him about Wang Ying’s insolence and the words he shouted.

Look, even a mere Wang Ying disregards your orders, let alone others.

King Langya was deeply shaken internally.

Meanwhile, outside the palace, the event of Liu Kui arresting Wang Ying had already caused a stir. Members of the Wang Family detested Liu Kui’s oppressive actions and immediately went to Wang Dao’s Mansion to find him.

Three months ago, Wang Dao had submitted a resignation letter, which King Langya did not approve, but their conflicts deepened over time. Although never outwardly visible, King Langya wanted to replace the aristocratic families with his own confidants, but the aristocratic families like the Wang Family, Zhou Family, Yang Family, behind him refused to yield. Caught in the middle, he was exhausted, so he claimed illness and refrained from appearing.

By now, he had been refusing guests with closed doors for more than three months.

Wang Ying’s elder brother, Wang Yu, upon hearing the news of his brother’s arrest, immediately ran to find his uncle Wang Bin.

Wang Bin sought out Wang Jizhi and Zhou Yi, and together with Wang Yu, went to request an audience with Wang Dao.

Wang Dao had already received the news and, upon hearing about the street battle, couldn’t help but let out a long sigh, saying, "It was just a minor issue. Why did it escalate to such an extent?"

The steward Si Bo worriedly asked, "What should be done? The Great King already misunderstands you. With Wang Ying causing such a scene, it will be even harder to clarify your position with the Great King."

Upon hearing this, Wang Dao let out a deep sigh. He and Sima Rui were friends from their youth, confidants for decades, but he never expected that in just a few years after crossing the river, it would come to this, completely different from what they envisioned before crossing the river.

Wang Dao knew he couldn’t entirely blame Sima Rui; he too bore significant responsibility. He failed to control the aristocratic families, which should have complemented each other but instead became mutual hindrances.

Still mourning, Wang Bin and his group came to seek an audience.

Wang Dao thought for a moment, shook his head, and refused, "I am resigning from my post. I will no longer involve myself in these matters. Let them handle it themselves."

Si Bo asked, "What reason should be given?"

"Just say I am ill."

Si Bo complied and went out to decline the visitors.

But is Wang Bin someone who gives up easily?

King Langya’s suspicion towards Wang Dao left him indignant, but what angered him the most was Wang Dao’s lack of drive.

The glory of so many families rested upon him; he had the ability to lead everyone to the summit. Why did he choose to yield and admit defeat?

Thus, Wang Bin, while angry, wrote a letter to Wang Dun, telling Wang Dun, "Brother, Mao Hong has been bullied again, and your nephew Wang Ying has been captured by the sinister Liu Kui. His life and death are now unknown, and the sky of Jiankang has changed."

He sent someone to deliver the letter, then began to navigate between the aristocratic families in Jiankang, persuading them to join him in rescuing Wang Ying and eliminating villains like Liu Kui.

Many responded positively.

Liu Kui was the Minister of Justice, entrusted by King Langya with heavy judicial responsibilities. Since he assumed the position, he has been attacking those who crossed his path. Not only Zhou Yi and Wang Bin, but even Wang Dao, Dai Yuan, Yan Han, Yang Qing, and Lu Heng have been impeached by him. Among them, the one most frequently impeached and who had the deepest enmity with him was Wang Ying’s father, Wang Han.

After Wang Han was killed by Zhao Hanzhang, Wang Ying became a primary target of scrutiny by the Minister of Justice.

Thus, there were few among the aristocratic families in Jiankang City who did not dislike Liu Kui. Even if they did not openly oppose him, they disliked him in their hearts, sincerely seeing him as a meddling villain.

And Diao Xie was even more detested. If Liu Kui could still be seen as a villain in their hearts, Diao Xie was only worthy of being called a "turd stirrer."

Wang Bin spent half a day rallying many people and directly gathered them to sit in front of Wang Dao’s house in protest.

Indeed, they did not seek out Liu Kui, nor ask Sima Rui for explanation but instead sat at Wang Dao’s door, forcing him to come out and address the injustice.

Wang Dao, who had already submitted two resignation letters:... How much was he truly involved in all this?

Yuan Li stood astounded in the corner, utterly bewildered by the turn of events; even he hadn’t anticipated such developments.

But, thinking of his own plans, he couldn’t help but burst into hearty laughter, feeling increasingly elated.

He laughed into the sky and walked away, passing by Zhou Chong, who turned to glance at him. Seeing him clad in plain clothes, with rolled-up trousers revealing his calves, and wearing filthy cloth shoes, Zhou Chong turned away, uninterested, and went off to find his brother.

Arriving in front of Wang Dao’s door, he saw his brother drunkenly sitting cross-legged on the ground with a wine flask. He stepped forward to pull him up, "What kind of decorum is this?"

Wang Bin’s eyes lit up upon seeing Zhou Chong, immediately grabbing him and saying, "Zhong Zhi, you came just in time. Join us in persuading Mao Hong to step in and help."

Zhou Chong, with an air of disdain, pushed his hand away, saying, "Even if the Prime Minister had to take action, it wouldn’t be for someone like Wang Ying."

He sneered and said, "What virtues does Wang Ying possess that would warrant the Prime Minister’s intervention on his behalf?"

Wang Dao was appointed Yangzhou Governor and promoted to Imperial Attendant. Although not officially the Prime Minister, he held the real power and talent of one, so people privately referred to him as the Prime Minister.

Zhou Chong not only refused to participate but also insisted his brother abstain, pulling the seated Zhou Yi up, saying, "Go home. To force the Prime Minister over someone like Wang Ying, you may not feel embarrassed, but I do."

Zhou Yi just laughed heartily, "I’m not ashamed. Let me sit here a while longer; the sun is warm today, and this spot is bathed in sunlight. Let me take a nap here."

Zhou Chong wouldn’t permit it and forcefully dragged him away.

Zhou Yi didn’t resist, helplessly telling Wang Bin, "I’ll go home for a meal first; you sit here and call me if needed."

Seeing that they were about to leave, Wang Bin hurriedly stopped the brothers, saying, "It’s not just for Wang Ying; it’s also to get Mao Hong to step down. Look at how chaotic Jianye City has become in the past two or three months?"

Zhou Chong corrected him, "Jiankang!"

Then he said, "You made this mess yourselves; what does it have to do with him?"

He repeatedly sneered, "You broke the situation, and now you want him to clean up your mess. Do you think that’s fair?"

Wang Bin said, "Zhong Zhi, don’t forget that Bo Ren was also impeached not long ago."

Zhou Chong’s face turned red with shame, and he glared at his brother. Zhou Yi, feeling somewhat embarrassed as well, still told Wang Bin, "I admit, I was indeed at fault during that impeachment."

Zhou Chong couldn’t be bothered with Wang Bin any longer and dragged Zhou Yi away.