Chapter 316

"So that's it!"

"This is what Yuwen Hu has been waiting for..."

Yuwen Yan felt as if he had been struck by something; his eyes widened suddenly, and he subconsciously gripped the armrests of the dragon throne, revealing a look of sudden realization.

Until this very moment, how could this little Emperor not understand why his cousin, the Grand Chancellor, had remained silent before?

He was just waiting for this decisive moment.

In the vast Chang'an, was there anyone who didn't know that Chen Yan was the most loyal hound of whom?

Yuwen Hu turned to look at Yuwen Yan, the corners of his mouth curling into an imperceptible arc, then slowly spoke, his tone flat but carrying an unquestionable weight: "I have arranged it this way, Your Majesty, what do you think?"

Listening to this symbolic inquiry, Yuwen Yan forced a smile and gritted his teeth: "The Grand Chancellor's arrangement is very appropriate; let it be done!"

As an emperor whose government did not originate from himself and who had no military power, did he have the qualifications to veto it?

Even if he was unwilling to be manipulated, he could only swallow his pride and accept it, and even had to put on a smiling face...

The little Emperor hated it in his heart!

"Your Majesty is wise!"

"The Grand Chancellor is wise!"

Two shouts rang out almost simultaneously, weaving into a deafening wave of sound in the hall.

The ministers knelt on the ground in unison, their foreheads touching the floor, their postures incomparably respectful.

The shouts of "wise" rolled over the gold brick floor, carrying different intentions, yet all appearing incomparably earnest.

Yuwen Yan sat on the dragon throne, listening to the shout of "Your Majesty is wise," and felt his face burning.

The word "wise" came so reluctantly that it sounded more like a mockery of his compromise just now.

He secretly glanced at his cousin, the Grand Chancellor, beside him, and seeing that there was still no expression on the other's face, as if he didn't care at all about this roaring praise, the awkwardness in his heart deepened a little more.

Yuwen Hu slowly raised his hand, signaling the ministers to rise, then turned to look at Dugu Zhao, whose face was unusually dark, his voice flat and waveless: "Old Pillar of State Dugu, I believe that with Mirror Master Chen's character, he will never wrong any good person, nor will he let any bad person go!"

His words were full of profound meaning.

Chen Yan's character? That kid is the best at turning black into white... Dugu Zhang heard this and sneered repeatedly in his heart, replying sarcastically: "I also believe that Mirror Master Chen will restore my innocence!"

"If there is any business, present it; if not, the court is dismissed—"

The personal eunuch beside the little Emperor saw that the matters in the hall were finished, and his thin, high-pitched voice rang out again, dragging out a long tail note that echoed in the empty hall.

This announcement seemed to draw a temporary period to this storm.

The afternoon sun swept obliquely across the high walls of the Mingjing Si, illuminating the stone steps of the prison in half-light and half-shadow.

Chen Yan, dressed in dark casual robes, brought only Zhu Yi and walked alone into the damp and cold prison area.

The clanking sound of iron chains dragging on the ground and the low moans of prisoners echoed in the corridor.

Yet he acted as if he hadn't heard, walking straight toward the deepest cell.

Behind the cell door, the imprisoned Dingxiang Marquis Chang De was sitting on a pile of straw, his back to the door.

The nobility of his former brocade robes and jade belts was gone; his prison clothes were stained with filth, and his hair was disheveled, yet he still maintained a posture with his back straight.

"Marquis Chang, we meet again..." Chen Yan stood before the door, smiled indifferently, and said.

Chang De turned around slowly. When his gaze fell on Chen Yan, he was calm and smiled: "It seems the court has transferred the power of trial to you, Mirror Master Chen..."

"But that is to be expected; with your prestige, Mirror Master Chen, you are indeed the only candidate!"

The Dingxiang Marquis was as calm as if he had anticipated this scene long ago.

"Nothing can be hidden from you, Marquis Chang..." Chen Yan signaled the jailer to open the cell door. "That's right, His Majesty has issued an edict ordering this Mirror Master to take full charge of this case!"

Amidst the creaking sound of the door hinges turning, Chen Yan walked in carrying an oil-paper parcel and a wine jar.

The oil paper was slightly shiny from the soup, and a mellow aroma of wine mixed with the oily fragrance of roast chicken instantly dispelled the musty smell in the prison.

"Smells good!" Chang De's nose twitched, and he looked up at the oil-paper parcel, his eyebrows raised. "It's shochu and roast chicken!"

He hadn't eaten for a day and a night and was already famished...

"This Mirror Master went out of his way to buy it on Zhuque Avenue on the way here..." Chen Yan placed the oil-paper parcel on the ground, untied the knot, and revealed a whole, glistening roast chicken and a sealed jar of shochu.

He picked up the wine jar, slapped off the mud seal, and the mellow aroma of wine immediately permeated the air: "Come, have a taste!"

"What?"

Chang De examined the roast chicken and shochu, teasing: "Is this my final meal?"

Having said that, he didn't hesitate at all, tore off a chicken leg, and began to gnaw on it directly.

The oil flowed down the corners of his mouth, but he didn't care at all, chewing with great relish.

"Marquis Chang really knows how to joke!"

Chen Yan didn't mind the dirty straw at all, sat down cross-legged on the ground, picked up the jar, poured himself a bowl of wine, and said playfully: "It's too early for a final meal!"

"Hahahaha!"

Chang De finished gnawing on the last piece of chicken skin, wiped his mouth with the back of his oily hand, and threw the bone onto the ground, making a light "clack" sound.

He picked up the wine jar and took two more gulps before looking up at the Mirror Master, his eyes filled with a bit of inquiry: "Mirror Master Chen, I am very curious, you are not only not using torture but also sending fine wine and roast chicken; what do you intend to do?"

This is the Mingjing Si, not some restaurant or tavern.

Before him is the Mingjing Si Mirror Master, not some kind-hearted person...

Could he really be that kind?

"Come to chat with you, Marquis..."

Chen Yan put down the wine bowl, smiled indifferently, tapped his fingertips lightly on the rim of the bowl, his voice calm and waveless: "And by the way, talk about what happened in court today!"

Chang De shook the wine jar, and the wine rippled in circles: "I suppose You Wangzhi went to court to impeach me, and Big Brother Dugu protected me?"

He appeared completely nonchalant.

Chang De had long anticipated these things...

After all, after he had killed so many of that fellow You Wangzhi's sons and he had still survived, it would be a ghost story if he didn't seek revenge!

And Big Brother must have protected him to the death; there must have been a fierce tongue battle in the hall...

"You are half right, Marquis!"

Chen Yan heard this, smiled, shook his finger lightly, and said meaningfully.

"What do you mean?"

Chang De paused, his eyes narrowed slightly, staring at Chen Yan.

For some reason, hearing this, a bad premonition rose uncontrollably in his heart.

"The Junior Marshal did indeed impeach..."

Chen Yan raised his eyebrows slightly and said with great interest.

He paused, shifted his tone, and continued: "But he didn't impeach you; he impeached the old Pillar of State Dugu!"

"What did you say?!"

Chang De was playing with the empty wine jar, but suddenly froze his movements; the nonchalance on his face instantly faded, replaced by complete astonishment.

For a moment, he couldn't believe his ears.

In his words, there was nothing but disbelief.

Chen Yan was unhurried and detailed everything that had happened in the Taiji Hall this morning, including You Wangzhi slamming into the pillar...

"Slander!"

Chang De was both shocked and angry, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the edge of the wine jar: "That son of a bitch You Wangzhi, that is naked slander!"

"Leading troops to break into the mansion and threatening with murder is clearly my doing; what does it have to do with Big Brother Dugu!"

"He was unaware of it from beginning to end!"

The candlelight in the cell flickered, reflecting his changing complexion.

Chang De had always thought he was the core of this storm, but he hadn't expected that bastard You Wangzhi to actually climb up and bite Big Brother Dugu...

"That's not important!"

Chen Yan shrugged and smiled: "What's important is that now, throughout the court and the public, everyone thinks that you were instigated by the old Pillar of State Dugu to take the opportunity to provoke and retaliate against the Junior Marshal!"

What the real truth is, no one cares about anymore...

The key is that the court and the people all think so!

It was not in vain that Chen designed such a scheme and had the Junior Marshal slam into the pillar in the hall to nail Dugu Zhao to the cross...

"You Wangzhi is truly a bastard!"

Chang De suddenly smashed the empty wine jar on the ground; a "clanking" sound of shattering exploded in the cell, and fragments splashed everywhere.

His chest heaved violently; the previous astonishment had long been swallowed by rage, and undisguised viciousness surged in the depths of his eyes.

Chen Yan pushed aside Zhu Yi, who was blocking his way, and said unhurriedly: "Therefore, what this Mirror Master wants to investigate is not only your case, Marquis, but also the old Pillar of State Dugu for colluding with the enemy, betraying the country, harming loyal ministers, and framing the virtuous!"

"Big Brother Dugu is innocent!"

Chang De's rage gradually subsided, replaced by a complex emotion. He looked at Chen Yan and roared in explanation: "Mirror Master Chen, Big Brother Dugu is innocent!"

"Those things were all done by me, Chang De, alone!"

The Dingxiang Marquis had never imagined that his impulsive actions would eventually harm his old big brother and become the sharp blade You Wangzhi used to stab his old big brother.

He regretted it in his heart!

"It's useless for you to say he's innocent!"

Chen Yan saw this, blinked, and said calmly: "Now everyone in the world thinks that your actions, Marquis, were instigated by the old Pillar of State Dugu..."

"Mirror Master Chen, you are the blue sky of this age, selfless and impartial!"

"You must clear Big Brother Dugu's name!"

"You must not let him suffer such an unjust grievance!"

Chang De was anxious and flustered, losing his composure and seeking medical help in desperation. He knelt directly in front of the culprit with a "thump" and begged.

Chen Yan feigned a look of difficulty, pondered for a moment, and then said: "For the current plan, there is only one way..."

"What way?" Chang De asked eagerly.

A flash of imperceptible, dark calculation crossed Chen Yan's eyes, then he returned to his usual breezy indifference and said in a deep voice: "You write a blood letter to clarify your relationship with the old Pillar of State Dugu..."

"And take all the blame upon yourself!"

"This Mirror Master will present it for you!"

——

PS: Extra update, this two-in-one is almost four thousand words; no one can say Wanfeng is short anymore, right? ＼＼\? ('ω')? //／／

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