Chapter 144

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Protagonist:

Shaowei

Liu Qi

The voice from outside the door belonged to a young Daoist attendant.

It turned out someone from the Lu Hou Mansion had arrived.

Ming Dan had not recovered since falling ill from fright after the Shangsi Festival; upon returning from the palace yesterday her condition showed signs of worsening, and this morning Feng Xu personally brought a physician to the Xian Tai Palace.

Tianji Candidates may not leave the Xian Tai Palace without permission; family members may visit once a month, but the Lu Hou Mansion is no ordinary household, and since Ming Dan had been ill for so long, the Lu Hou heir came in person — the officials who control entry and exit at the Xian Tai Palace had no grounds to refuse accommodation.

It was the hour when everyone was doing their lessons; Ming Dan followed the young Daoist attendant toward the side hall in the front courtyard, and saw not a soul along the way.

Today a formidable fangshi was teaching alchemy methods; the young Daoist attendant was eager to sit in, so Ming Dan walked at a snail's pace, making him scratch his cheek in anxiety. Now that the very secluded side hall — perfectly suited for an examination — lay just ahead, the attendant raised his hand to point the way, then hastily took his leave and ran off to crash the class.

Ming Dan's steps remained dragging; she worried all the way whether the Feng family had learned something, which was why Feng Xu had come specially to probe and question her, but after repeated consideration she felt it should not have happened this quickly.

Looking at that side hall, Ming Dan's emotions churned; she was very fond of this maternal uncle — his temperament was gentle and kind, imposing no pressure, and he treated her with meticulous care… yet even so, once he discovered she was an impostor, all that warmth would vanish, and he could never become her true reliance.

The reliance she desperately sought belonged to Shaowei alone, while she had nothing — why was this world so unjust?

Ming Dan's mind was in a daze, grievance filling her chest.

At this moment a faint rustle came from the emerald bamboo grove at her side; a large hand suddenly reached out and yanked her inside.

She wanted to scream in terror, but her mouth was clamped shut tight; only after he dragged her deep into the bamboo grove could she make a sound, and by then she knew to lower her voice on her own: "Why are you here?!"

Jingyi wore a suit of coarse cloth; gripping one of her shoulders, he gritted his teeth: "What do you think? We agreed I'd come for money each month, yet you left me waiting in vain outside that rear wall for seven or eight nights straight!"

"I… I was sick!" Ming Dan struggled: "Let go of me!"

"Sick?" Jingyi pulled her closer, feigning concern as he looked her over: "Then as your elder brother I ought to have come to visit all the more!"

To keep tabs on Ming Dan, these past years he had long since familiarized himself with the comings and goings at the Immortal Master's Mansion's back gate; those Daoists and Immortal Masters required the best water and best dishes delivered daily, and he had long since gotten chummy with the delivery people, claiming he had a younger sister studying Daoist arts inside the Xian Tai Palace.

These past few days he finally waited for a chance to slip in, and taking advantage of a trip to the latrine he hid about, overhearing two Daoists say that people from the Lu Hou Mansion had brought a physician…

"With all this trouble I've gone to, surely you can't let me come for nothing?"

"I haven't brought anything valuable right now!" Ming Dan was both anxious and afraid: "Leave quickly, we'll still meet at the old place tonight!"

Jingyi, desperate to pay off gambling debts, suddenly turned violent: "Still trying to fob me off! Go back and get it right now!"

Ming Dan's body stiffened, trembling as she stared at the rusted dagger pressed against her throat.

Jingyi's threatening words continued, but Ming Dan could no longer hear them; she looked at the fierce, fiendish Jingyi, and a voice rang in her heart: Is this the good life Zhu Niang plotted for her?

Days of dread turned in this instant into resentment and grievance, even overriding panic; her eyes red, she shrilled: "Then kill me! Let's die together!"

After death we'll go see Zhu Niang together, and she'll ask Zhu Niang face to face just what intentions she harbored toward her!

Jingyi stared at her; seeing she was scared senseless and lost her wits, he instead shoved her away with a cold laugh: "I won't kill you — someone else will. I'm going to see that Lu Hou heir right now…"

Compared to outright taking a life, this delayed threat inspired an even clearer fear; seeing Jingyi truly about to leave, Ming Dan screamed with a pale face: "Stop right there!"

Jingyi's footsteps paused; he turned back, smiling at her, about to speak, when sudden urgent footsteps and voices came from behind: "Right in here! Quick!"

Jingyi tensed, and in his fluster tried to flee, raising his blade toward Ming Dan: "…Spare you this once, don't play tricks tonight!"

But those people were too fast; he had barely run a short distance when several figures darted out from the side, and a middle-aged man shouted from behind in alarm: "Careful! He's armed and violent! … Good child, where are you hurt?!"

Hearing that a thief armed with a blade had wounded the Lu Hou Mansion's young lady, the guards no longer held back; they bore the imperial mandate to protect the Xian Tai Palace, and had the authority to execute on the spot any blade-wielding intruder—

Several arrows pierced through the thief's body; he staggered and fell, and four guards immediately closed in.

Driven by the will to survive, Jingyi — an arrow also in his chest — tried to crawl toward Ming Dan.

Feng Xu shielded the stunned Ming Dan and retreated backward, comforting her: "Good child, don't be afraid, don't look anymore!"

Jingyi's eyes bulged, his mouth filled with blood, his voice slurred: "Fake… she isn't…"

More people arrived on the noise; the grove was full of chaotic questioning, and no one could make out his dying words.

Out of the bamboo grove, seated in the side hall, Ming Dan asked in a trance: "Was it Uncle… who summoned them?"

"Uncle saw you hadn't come for so long, and just stepped out of the hall — not far — when he saw you being dragged into the woods!" Feng Xu likewise still had a face full of lingering shock: "Uncle had no weapon at hand, and feared startling the thief into harming you, so he had the servants go fetch the guards; Uncle was anxious for your safety, so he groped his way into the bamboo grove behind them…"

Ming Dan's pupils contracted sharply, staring at the gentle, benevolent man before her, still wiping cold sweat from his brow.

He looked over, reassuring her once more: "Don't be afraid, with Uncle here."

Under the concerned gaze of those eyes, Ming Dan felt as if even her breath were being strangled.

That night, the Feng family sent a maid named Qiao Jiang to attend to the once-again startled Ming Dan.

Though this set a precedent, the Xian Tai Palace admitted its own lax security and agreed without a second word.

The thief's identity was quickly ascertained: a swindling, cheating gambler and rogue who, owing gambling debts, turned thief and actually slipped into the Xian Tai Palace intending to steal, only to run into that unlucky Feng family daughter — this rogue had falsely claimed to have a sister cultivating in the Xian Tai Palace without any evidence, and the terrified Feng family matron had also stated she did not know him.

The Lu Hou heir, who had seriously inquired into the matter throughout, nodded, and the case was considered closed; fortunately the Feng family matron was not truly injured.

The Daoist minor officials suspected of dereliction were either dismissed or punished, some ten-odd people implicated in total.

Compared to the investigations and interrogations currently unfolding in the Palace City, the minor matter of a thief breaking into the Xian Tai Palace was not worth mentioning.

Because the Sixth Prince was poisoned and nearly lost his life, the Emperor ordered a thorough investigation of the palace eunuchs; over several days, who knew how many had been implicated, and palace personnel were all in fear for themselves.

Such a severe investigation uncovered quite a few suspicious characters, spies and informants.

Guo Shi understood perfectly that the Son of Heaven was simultaneously using this affair to clear out hidden dangers and intimidate all sides.

But as for whether there was a mastermind behind the Sixth Prince's poisoning, nothing concrete could be found; Guo Shi gauged the imperial intent, knelt and prostrated: "Please grant this servant a few more days, Your Majesty; I will certainly investigate this matter until it is completely clear…"

"Investigate what investigate." The Emperor sitting behind the Dragon Case let out an inscrutable muffled laugh: "No need to investigate further."

Guo Shi understood — His Majesty was ultimately leaving a sliver of leeway…

The next instant, however, he heard the man above say: "Summon the Crown Prince; We have a few things We wish to ask him."

Guo Shi suppressed his unease and immediately relayed the order.

Before long, a kneeling youth appeared inside the great hall.

Cold sweat crawled all over Liu Cheng's bent back; his maternal uncle had sent word repeatedly urging him — there was no evidence for this matter, so he absolutely could not admit to it out of cowardice, but right now Imperial Father's awe pressed down from above, and he was surely going to be called to account...

"The northern expedition army returned defeated, arriving at the capital in about a month. Though this battle was lost, the officers and soldiers also fought bitterly for a long time, and are now exhausted; and with disorder continuing unabated, it is precisely the time to employ people — you say, those weary returning defeated generals, are they to be severely punished, or should they be leniently pardoned and comforted?"

Liu Cheng stared blankly and raised his head, unexpectedly seeing no anger of reproach on Imperial Father's face; this questioning caught him completely off guard.

Yet he did not dare hesitate too long and replied: "Replying Imperial Father, your child minister believes... since it was a bitter fight and withdrawal, they have already done their utmost, and the court needs officers and soldiers to pacify the interior, perhaps they should be appropriately pardoned, treated with benevolence, only thus can..."

"Then in the future everyone can claim they did their utmost, and there will be no end of lost battles!" The Emperor's voice sank: "The more unstable people's hearts are, the more we must use strict laws to awe treacherous hearts! You open your mouth and speak of treating them with benevolence — what do you take military discipline for? Where do you place sovereign authority?"

Liu Cheng's face changed abruptly, he hurriedly kowtowed and admitted his mistake.

"We ask you again —" that majestic voice from the top seat pressed down without pause: "Since the continuous heavy rains of the second day of the second month, only during the Shangsi Festival night sacrifice was there scattered rain mist; besides that, not a single drop of rain has fallen inside or outside Chang'an City. Two months without rain, drought signs have already appeared; if this continues and a great drought truly occurs, what countermeasures do you have? Speak them for Us to hear!"

"Yes, yes..." Liu Cheng frantically scraped together the disaster-relief strategies he had learned: "We should early allocate grain... find ways to divert water, also, also prepare epidemic-prevention medicine, and promptly soothe the people's hearts..."

He knew these were all too superficial, any petty official could say them; he absolutely had to offer some insight of his own, but he was truly panic-stricken, his mind a jumble, he began to sweat, to tremble, his voice faltering and unclear.

And Imperial Father picked up the memorials at hand and pressed down several more questions in succession; the more he answered, the more chaotic it became, the more he answered, the more chaotic...

Clang—!

The Emperor suddenly smashed the two bamboo slips in his hand at that youth who could not even speak clearly.

One scroll burst apart, bamboo splinters flying; Liu Cheng's forehead was gashed with a fine wound, blood appearing at once.

Guo Shi led a crowd of eunuchs to kneel: "May Your Majesty quell your anger!"

"Our anger can subside, but how can the realm be at peace!" The Emperor behind the dragon case abruptly rose, eye sockets red with extreme rage; he looked at that figure frightened into a puddle of mud plastered on the ground, and asked word by word: "What are you afraid of, afraid to the point you cannot even speak clearly? You are the Crown Prince We established; We ask you — what exactly are you afraid of!"

"Cowardly and shrinking, you want to be some so-called benevolent man, yet you must first be able to cow your subordinates, otherwise you will accomplish nothing!"

"These years We had people carefully teach you literature and martial arts; today you take these things, this posture, to fool Us?"

"We inherited the Great Ancestor's foundation, diligent and conscientious for nearly twenty years, not daring the slightest slackness... yet you, as Crown Prince, are entirely without ambition, do not know to share your sovereign father's worries; now with internal troubles and external threats, natural disasters and popular unrest, you still have the mind to mingle with those heirs who entered the capital, accepting the exotic curios they offer!"

"So frivolous and lightweight, neither awe-inspiring nor weighty — how can you bear the ancestral temple!"

Liu Cheng's mind buzzed; he wanted to say he simply could not refuse, that he only spoke with those people a few times, it was not mingling and dissipation... but Imperial Father's disappointed voice made him dare not rebut anything, he could only tremblingly knock his head down: "Your child minister is useless... your child minister deserves ten thousand deaths!"

Guo Shi also kowtowed, choking: "Your Majesty, mind the Dragon Body..."

Empress Rui hurriedly arrived before the hall, and heard the sovereign angrily say: "... Go to the shrine to reflect on your errors, properly reflect before the Great Ancestor's golden image! Without Our edict, you may not leave!"

Empress Rui was invited into the hall interior, tears falling as she knelt: "Your Majesty!"

"You want to plead for him?" The Emperor looked at that weeping woman — a woman favored for many years because her beauty was too vivid; now she still looked young, but he had aged... he was old! He might die at any moment! And the Liu family realm placed in the hands of this mother and son — where would it go then?!

Empress Rui kowtowed weeping: "This subject's wife knows she failed to teach her son properly, requests to accompany him to the shrine to reflect! Only begs Your Majesty to quell your anger!"

Inside and outside the great hall, everyone prostrated, not daring to make a single sound.

Until the Rui mother and son left Weiyang Palace, accompanied by a retinue of palace attendants, heading for the shrine.

News that the Empress and Crown Prince were punished to reflect spread quickly.

"The Crown Prince neglected studies and state affairs, accepted exotic treasures presented by feudal lords' heirs, angered His Majesty..." kneeling beside the desk, Tang Jia said in a low voice: "Although this pretext is used, it also counts as venting a breath for Your Highness."

It's also not good to continue investigating; if the crime of harming a brother is truly settled, it will inevitably make people misunderstand that the Emperor has the intention to depose the Crown Prince, which is not conducive to stabilizing people's hearts; after all, it hasn't reached that point yet, so this counts as a minor punishment and major warning.

Liu Qi, draped in robes and sitting cross-legged behind the desk reading a letter, now said: "He isn't venting for me; he's venting for himself, letting out that mouthful of disappointment and worry in his heart."

Tang Jia wanted to speak but stopped; then heard the youth say: "But his attitude like this is enough to save me no small trouble, so I still very much appreciate this favor."

Tang Jia nodded with a complex expression: "Regardless, Your Highness's move of turning the tables was concise and to the point, very worthwhile. Leaving other things aside, it at least buys a few days of peace and quiet."

But only a few days...

"After this incident, I fear that Crown Prince Cheng will truly harbor resentment." Tang Jia said worriedly.

"Whether he hates or not doesn't hinder these years of his maternal uncle and his subordinates trying to have me removed." Liu Qi smiled slightly, and asked: "Changshi, guess — when he came to see me that day, was he hoping I would live, or hoping I would die?"

Tang Jia certainly knew Crown Prince Cheng was not a ruthless person, but the answer to this question made him involuntarily fall silent.

Liu Qi tossed down the letter, leaned against the armrest, tone extremely calm: "In this position, neither he nor I can come out clean."

Tang Jia sighed and nodded, yes, reality is just this cruel beyond control; and compared to that Crown Prince who has the Crown Prince position and a mother and maternal uncle protecting him, he had better guard his own wounded Commandery Prince self.

Liu Qi leaned against the armrest with eyes closed resting, listening to Tang Jia sort out the court situation and connections that could be tried.

The highest-ranking and most powerful officials in court are undoubtedly the Three Excellencies above the Nine Ministers; among them, Prime Minister Yan Mian is the head of civil officials, famous for being unapproachable, a truly upright minister.

Next is the Censor-in-Chief Tai Yan who holds the power to supervise all officials; this man is already nearly seventy this year, originally he meticulously selected and cultivated a student, intending to let him succeed his post, but the other's edge was too sharp, causing all officials to simultaneously give rise to the dangerous intuition: "Absolutely cannot let this man assume the Censor-in-Chief post, otherwise there will never be a peaceful day" —

The student Tai Yan painstakingly cultivated was the former Advice Daifu Zhuang Yuanzhi.

This unlucky student was demoted to the South; originally thought making him suffer some hardship would make him soften toward His Majesty, also temper his disposition, but his reply letter actually expressed quite satisfaction with the situation, boasting of the South's sweet fruit flavors, in turn making him taste all the sweetness.

Tai Yan only hated that his slap could not pass through the letter and smash the student's face rotten.

Another occupant of the Three Excellencies' "Grand Commandant" post is the head of military officials Du Shulin; he commands the capital guards; mentioning him, Liu Qi finally spoke.

?? Good night everyone.