Chapter 371: The Yang Bin Case (4)

"If he's a petty man, what use is there in guarding against him? Besides, Brother Yang, given your situation here, how could it be merely the work of some petty man?" Facing Yang Bin's reminder, Wang Zhang seemed unconcerned.

"You're speaking with hidden meaning!" Yang Bin raised his hand and pointed outside, his tone dripping with sarcasm: "If these words were truly to reach the Emperor's ears..."

Before Yang Bin could finish, Wang Zhang smiled lightly: "Perhaps this imperial prison would have to add another cell for this Wang!"

The two exchanged glances, and after a brief silence, Yang Bin broke it in a low voice: "What did the Emperor send you here for?"

After the great upheaval, Yang Bin did not seem to have sunk into despair. Dozens of days in captivity had not rusted his thinking, and the moment he saw Wang Zhang, he sensed something.

"His Majesty has ordered this old minister to interrogate you regarding your crimes!" Wang Zhang said calmly.

Hearing this, Yang Bin sat up straight, his voice still hoarse, but his expression instead appeared relaxed: "This old man has been imprisoned for a long while now. This sunless cell is hard to endure, and it's time for release. What crimes has a petty wretch like Wang Jingchong fabricated for me?"

Wang Zhang took a folded document from his sleeve and handed it to Yang Bin: "Treason, along with ten other unpardonable crimes."

Hearing this, Yang Bin let out a "helpless laugh," took the document and browsed through it, his expression calm, but gradually, his eyes could not help but dim: "This villain has truly exhausted his cunning!"

"When this Yang was imprisoned, what was the reaction in court?" Yang Bin asked.

"Waves at first, then calm as a still pond." Wang Zhang's answer disappointed Yang Bin somewhat.

"Is that so?" His smile turned bitter. Yang Bin casually cast the list of crimes to the ground, raised his head to look at Wang Zhang, and spoke from the heart: "I had anticipated this day, yet now that it has come to this, I still cannot help but feel sorrow—he was so eager!"

Wang Zhang knew well who the "he" in Yang Bin's mouth referred to. Gazing at his old friend, whose desolate state was moving, he sighed and said: "Why bother? Though the Emperor is young, he bears a martial and spirited bearing, the image of an enlightened ruler. Looking at his breadth of mind, he is not one who cannot tolerate others. If you had set aside your grudges earlier, how could it have come to this?"

Yang Bin shook his head and sneered: "The Emperor does indeed have the capacity to tolerate others, but it depends on whom—those so-called 'talents' he personally promoted at court these past two years! As for us old ministers of the former dynasty, I fear we were long ago seen as thorns in his side, to be removed with relish!"

Saying this, perhaps his emotions had peaked, and Yang Bin's expression finally showed some stirring. He once again brought up Liu Chengxun, the matter he regretted most: "Had His Highness the Prince of Wei still been alive, it would never have come to this. The Son of Heaven is cold-hearted by nature, and is not kind to the likes of us. My fate is clear proof!"

Hearing this, Wang Zhang's old brows could not help but furrow. Only after Yang Bin's emotions had settled on their own did he speak: "Brother Yang's words are somewhat biased. Though His Highness the Prince of Wei was generous and benevolent, at a time when this chaotic world has just settled, with wolves lurking on all sides and all contending for supremacy, even the purest benevolence cannot match schemes and machinations! The Emperor's ability, vision, and breadth of mind all befit his position—he is worthy of being called a great ruler!"

"So this is the reason you have gradually drawn closer to the Emperor?" Yang Bin suddenly asked Wang Zhang.

Without any hesitation, Wang Zhang nodded in silent confirmation!

Waving his hand, Yang Bin maintained the stubborn pride he had held since becoming Chancellor, and said: "Within this cell, I need not argue this matter with you..."

Pausing, Yang Bin's tone still carried mockery as he asked: "Do you know how the Emperor plans to deal with this guilty minister? Since he sent you, he must have secretly conveyed his instructions!"

Looking at Yang Bin, Wang Zhang said slowly: "The Emperor has said that Yang Bin is a meritorious minister of the Great Han and could not possibly have plotted treason!"

For a moment there was surprise, then he met Wang Zhang's gaze again, and from his eyes understood something, nodding: "I understand!"

Lowering his head, he picked up the document he had thrown to the ground and carefully studied the "crimes" listed on it, saying: "No need to put Brother Wang in a difficult position. Aside from the matter of treason, I will own all the crimes listed—I confess without reservation!"

Yang Bin's decisive reaction made Wang Zhang fall silent once more. He was not normally a talkative man, and at this moment, he knew not what more to say.

"I only ask that you grant me one thing, Brother!" Yang Bin said.

"Please speak!" Wang Zhang nodded.

"This Yang is doomed beyond escape! I do not fear death, only worry for my family at home. If the Emperor truly remembers my contributions to founding the state and does not implicate my kin, then after I die, I ask Brother Wang to look after my three sons. I have three sons—the eldest has always been well-behaved, and the third is mediocre, so I do not worry about them. Only the second son, Tingwei—if he should commit any unfilial act, do not shield him, lest he bring disaster upon the household!"

Having opened himself to entrusting his affairs after death, Yang Bin's expression showed reluctance for the first time, quickly concealed, as he continued: "If the Emperor wishes to exterminate the entire Yang clan, then Brother Wang must on no account plead for us—you should seek to protect yourself!"

Hearing Yang Bin's instructions, Wang Zhang felt a pang of sorrow. His expression moved, he opened his mouth, but only a few heavy coughs came out. After a moment, it turned into a short sigh: "I accept!"

Slowly turning his body, sitting cross-legged on the straw mat, Yang Bin seemed to have lost all his vitality, hunched over, his tone infinitely desolate: "Go, Brother Yang. Petty men are always hard to guard against. It is not fitting to speak long with a guilty minister like me—do not give others cause for gossip!"

Before Wang Zhang could report back, Liu Chengyou had already received Wang Jingchong's little report, and was somewhat displeased with his "failure to mind his own business." And hearing his slanderous words against Wang Zhang, Liu Chengyou could not suppress his anger.

This Wang Jingchong was a fine blade, but clearly, if not controlled, he was prone to forgetting himself.

Liu Chengyou turned the topic very abruptly, his expression indifferent as he asked: "When you were in Xingzhou, Yang Bin once sent a letter to the Commandery Prince of Julu, enticing him to raise troops in rebellion. Have you found the man who delivered the letter?"

The Emperor's gaze was clearly calm as still water, yet to Wang Jingchong at this moment, it was terrifying, like needles pricking his back. When Liu Chengyou mentioned the letter carrier, Wang Jingchong's heart was shocked to the extreme, but his strong psychological fortitude steadied his racing heart. His voice seemed squeezed from his throat as he carefully answered: "Reporting to Your Majesty, your servant has sent men to investigate, and the Wude Office is also searching. I believe results will come soon!"

His gaze lingered on Wang Jingchong, observing his nervous reaction. Only when he grew increasingly ill at ease did Liu Chengyou speak lightly: "Just a nobody, of no consequence. If you cannot find him, so be it!"

"Yes!" His mind gradually steadying, Wang Jingchong bowed in acknowledgment.

In the moment he lowered his head, cold sweat still could not help but seep from his forehead. Wang Jingchong had already realized that the little schemes he had employed in Xingzhou had not escaped the Son of Heaven's notice. Of course, he had not been foolish enough to think he could completely deceive Liu Chengyou—there was a phrase for it: tacit understanding. But how much could be concealed was a very important question, and the Emperor's current reaction left Wang Jingchong feeling uncertain.

Paying no heed to Wang Jingchong's complicated inner thoughts, Liu Chengyou continued in a flat tone: "In the Yang Bin case, you have run back and forth, contributing greatly. I have seen it all. For your merits, you shall surely be rewarded!"

Liu Chengyou's words clearly had more to say, but stopping there, the effect was achieved. From Wang Jingchong's profuse expressions of gratitude, one could see that he had clearly understood the Emperor's warning.

After the Emperor's admonishment, when Wang Jingchong stepped out of the great hall, his steps could not help but falter. The scene in the hall had made him feel as if he were treading on the edge of an abyss.

He happened to encounter Wang Zhang, who was entering the palace for an audience, but had no mind to greet him or exchange a few words. He hurried out of the palace, planning to return to his residence and make the letter carrier Liu Chengyou had mentioned disappear completely. Judging from the Son of Heaven's attitude, there was no need to make further use of him—keeping him around would only be a liability...

Receiving Wang Zhang in the hall and hearing his report, Liu Chengyou expressed surprise. It had been so little time, yet the interrogation of Yang Bin had already yielded results.

"Confessing guilt and submitting to the law! So this is Yang Bin's attitude?" Liu Chengyou pondered Wang Zhang's report.

"Your servant questioned Yang Bin item by item, and he confessed without reservation to all the listed crimes, awaiting only Your Majesty's disposition!" Wang Zhang answered methodically.

Raising an eyebrow slightly, he opened the confession Wang Zhang had presented, thought it over carefully, and suddenly felt relieved. Liu Chengyou realized that he had ultimately underestimated Yang Bin somewhat.

He looked in the direction of the imperial prison, his gaze passing through layer upon layer of palace walls, as if he could see that aged, solitary figure in his cell.

"How should I dispose of him?" Liu Chengyou seemed to be speaking to himself, yet also asking.

Wang Zhang's lips moved slightly, words of plea stuck in his throat. Recalling Yang Bin's entrustment, he only clasped his hands: "I humbly await Your Majesty's wise judgment!"

Rising, he paced the hall with his hands behind his back, his slow steps revealing a hint of Liu Chengyou's hesitation. Whether to kill Yang Bin or not—Liu Chengyou still could not make up his mind at this moment.

Standing before the hall's doors, deliberating for a long while, Liu Chengyou gazed at the clear blue sky outside and said softly: "Strip Yang Bin of his rank and reduce him to commoner, exile him three thousand li, never to be employed again, never to return to court! You may proclaim his crimes on my behalf, to set the courtiers' minds at ease. Let this matter end here!"

Hearing Liu Chengyou's decision, Wang Zhang could not help but breathe a sigh of relief. Gazing at Liu Chengyou's back, he bowed deeply: "Yes!"