Iron Dynasty Chapter 1047

Inside the Imperial Study.

Qian Dafu appeared anxious as he handed a telegram over to Xiao Ming.

“Your Majesty, things have gotten out of hand. Fei Tong went as far as to stab someone with a knife. The individual we placed there is currently receiving hospital treatment, and his condition remains uncertain.”

“What! Such insolence!” Xiao Ming rose abruptly from his seat in fury. This youth was the one he had positioned to ignite this incident, providing him a pretext to target the corrupt elements ruining the education system.

Yet, he never anticipated this mishap. Fei Tong proved so bold that he attempted murder right in the classroom.

Qian Dafu offered reassurance, “Your Majesty need not fret excessively. This old servant went ahead and requested Elder Huang to attend to him personally. Furthermore, this youth hails from the secret guards’ training camp, boasting physique far superior to the average person. From the latest reports this old servant has, the young man’s life hangs in the balance but isn’t immediately threatened.”

Hearing this, Xiao Ming breathed easier. “That eases my concerns. Incidentally, what’s the Fei family up to now?”

“Fei Tong’s father, Fei Yuhe, dispatched men to manage affairs across the board, aiming to bury this issue. Meanwhile, Fei Tong’s grandfather has visited Elder Fei.”

Xiao Ming nodded faintly. “Keep up the pretense of ignorance. Secretly, instruct the secret guards to gather proof. I intend to uncover how many seek to conceal truths from me, and how many shield the wicked.”

“State matters? This is a state matter. To me, they’re merely one among my millions of subjects. But for school students, it’s their entire world. Without smashing the hubris of these folks, poor children face no path forward. Above all, I aim to show the realm that national law treats noble and common alike.”

Noticing Xiao Ming’s rising temper, Qian Dafu ducked his head and held his tongue.

Xiao Ming realized Qian Dafu feared he overworked himself. After all, the Empire spanned vast lands with teeming populations. Injustices abounded everywhere; he couldn’t intervene in each personally. That’s why he relied on officials great and small to administer.

Yet, inept officials permitted such occurrences or even enabled villainy, letting public grievances fester. Capable ones followed his edicts, ensuring their domains enjoyed peace and order.

Over the years, he’d concentrated on repelling invaders and advancing industry and trade, seldom minding these petty affairs.

Crucially, court civil and military officials seldom brought such issues to him. They viewed them as trifles among trifles.

Thus, he felt like a caged bird. He depended on officials for reports, occasionally left clueless.

With this in mind, he sighed quietly. “Since Fan Zeng’s retirement, the newspaper agency has lost its edge. Beyond flattery, it barely covers the people’s woes. Truly, only good news flows, bad stays hidden.”

“Indeed. Fan Zeng upheld integrity. Under him, the agency frequently exposed folk injustices, deterring the mighty and bureaucrats effectively. Now, it’s still the agency, yet somehow altered,” Qian Dafu said regretfully.

Xiao Ming smiled bitterly. Before government standardization, he oversaw the newspaper agency himself. As systems improved, it shifted to the new Ministry of News.

“Then, let’s settle all with this incident,” Xiao Ming declared icily. “Send Li San to deploy secret guards monitoring this, plus the supervisory bureau. I’ll gauge officialdom’s rot.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Qian Dafu bowed and departed.

Ministry of News.

Li Ran greeted Fei Yuhe’s butler with a sycophantic grin, ushering him into the newspaper agency. Seated in his office, Li Ran inquired, “What prompts Butler Zhang’s personal visit to the Ministry of News?”

Zhang Zhi smiled subtly. “This time, I bear a crucial request for Director Li’s assistance.”

As he spoke, Zhang Zhi pulled a wad of paper money from his pocket, setting it before Li Ran. Each note bore one thousand gold dragons.

Li Ran’s pulse quickened. At least a hundred bills lay there, totaling one hundred thousand gold dragons—a fortune.

“What’s the issue, Butler Zhang? If within my power, I’ll certainly aid.” Li Ran hedged. To him, whatever demanded such a sum from the Fei family spelled major trouble.

“It’s minor, truly. My young master clashed with a destitute student at school and, in rage, stabbed him. My master fears newspaper coverage tarnishing the Fei name. Thus, he asks Director Li to direct subordinate agencies to overlook it,” Zhang Zhi stated evenly.

Li Ran exhaled softly. “Understood. Simple enough. I’ll notify the agencies below to drop it. As for these dragon coins, kindly reclaim them, Butler Zhang. Just owe me, Li, the favor.”

“Impossible. Master insists you accept. Regarding Director Li’s promotion, master will facilitate it.”

Li Ran beamed inwardly. The Ministry of News grated on him; he’d yearned to escape.

“Grateful, truly. Rest easy, Butler Zhang. I’ll dispatch couriers to all newspaper agencies immediately.”

Zhang Zhi nodded approvingly.

Fei’s Mansion.

Fei Ji’s expression soured darkly. Before him sat his brother Fei Pei and nephew Fei Yuhe. They’d just recounted Fei Tong’s school antics.

“Have you dispatched men to handle it already?” Fei Ji demanded sharply.

Fei Yuhe nodded. “Great-uncle, to shield the Fei family’s repute, your nephew prepared ahead. Worry not, Great-uncle.”

Fei Ji nearly coughed blood in rage. He interrogated, yet Fei Yuhe mistook it for endorsement.

Drawing a deep breath, Fei Ji pressed, “Didn’t you ponder the oddity? Fei Tong’s school repute was poor; why provoke him deliberately from a poor student?”

“It should’ve been so, but this student just arrived from another province. Likely unaware,” Fei Pei replied.

Fei Ji’s brow furrowed. “That heightens suspicion. Newcomers tread carefully, especially paupers. To me, this reeks of a setup. Someone likely baited Fei Tong into the trap.”