Chapter 567: Gao Changjing: Has Yu Wen'an passed away?! Or did I do it?!!

Chang'an.

Early April.

It is the time of gentle spring and bright scenery.

The midday sun shed the coolness of morning dew, and through the overlapping green tiles and eaves between the market stalls, it cast mottled light and shadow upon the Qingshi road surface.

Inside the Clear Breeze Tea House on the east side of Zhuque Avenue, every seat was taken.

Amid the curling tea smoke were the storytellers' table‑slapping sounds and the patrons' idle chatter, a bustling market scene.

Just after the Wei hour, beside a square table in the tea house corner, a young man in a blue cloth long‑sleeved shirt sat upright.

He was about twenty‑something, with a clear handsome face, a plain iron sword hanging at his waist, looking like a traveling scholar in Chang'an.

As he lifted the white porcelain tea bowl, his fingertips brushed the warm bowl wall, and the lingering tea fragrance hit his face.

He took a light sip of the fresh Grain‑Rain tea, its broth sweet and lingering, yet his brows remained slightly furrowed as he turned to his companion in a plain white robe and said, "Hey, Brother Li, have you heard?"

"That Prince Qiao... is gone..."

As soon as the words fell, the man opposite in the plain white robe also lifted his bowl and took a sip; the scalding tea slid down his throat as if indifferent, his brows sharply lifted, a flash of "you just found out" surprise in his eyes, and he retorted, "This matter? Now every street and alley in Chang'an is buzzing, which teahouse or tavern hasn't been talking about it?"

"I bought cloth in Xi Shi yesterday; even the shop owner's wife kept muttering about it—how could I not have heard?"

Speaking, he set down his bowl, leaned forward slightly, lowered his voice yet couldn't hide his excitement: "Moreover, rumors say Prince Qiao didn't die of illness, but was poisoned!"

At the neighboring table, a short‑brown‑clad man with a tangled beard heard this, immediately set his bowl down and leaned over, eagerly echoing, "Yes! I've heard it too!"

He cradled his bowl, his knuckles whitening from the pressure, "The murderer now has clues; they say it was a Qi State traitor previously wanted by the Mingjing Office, named Gao... Gao..."

The words stuck at his mouth, he suddenly faltered, brows knit, his fingers unconsciously tracing the table, "Gao what was it again?"

"A three‑character name, people were talking about it a few days ago—why can't I recall it now!"

The man, frantic, scratched his ear and chin, and the patrons at nearby tables halted their idle talk.

Their gazes all flicked toward him, waiting for him to utter the name.

At that moment, the tea house owner behind the counter, wiping a bowl, blurted out, "It's Gao Changjing!"

The owner was about forty‑something, sporting a goat‑beard.

"Yes! That's the Gao Changjing!" the bearded man slapped his forehead, suddenly enlightened, his tone full of relief.

The young man in the blue cloth long‑sleeved shirt, upon hearing the three words "Gao Changjing," his face instantly darkened, his grip on the bowl tightened, and he snarled, "That Gao Changjing is a scheming, treacherous scoundrel!"

"Relying on a bit of cleverness, he stirs up trouble in Chang'an, who knows how many loyal men he has harmed!"

At this point, his tone full of resentment, he added angrily, "Lord Chen Yan originally laid a heavenly net and earthly net, almost capturing that whole band of Qi State traitors!"

"Unfortunately, in the end he managed to escape!"

His words were tinged with deep regret, as if he had witnessed that capture himself.

The plain‑clothed man shook his head, lifted his bowl for a big gulp, and slowly said, "We can't blame Lord Chen Yan for this!"

"To have uncovered most of the Qi State's hidden forces this time is already a monumental merit!"

Saying so, he curled his lip, and his tone suddenly grew harsh: "If you ask me, it's all because that treacherous, vile, rebellious Gao Changjing was too cunning!"

"Seeing the tide turn against him, he even disguised himself as a beggar, slipped out through a doghole in the Ghost Market, evaded the Mingjing Office's multiple inspections—truly heartless madness!"

The surrounding patrons nodded in agreement.

Cursing Gao Changjing's name, the tea house atmosphere instantly heated up.

At this moment, a middle‑aged man dressed as a merchant at the opposite diagonal table, after listening for a while, could no longer contain his curiosity, rose, walked to the crowd's table, and with clasped hands asked, "Gentlemen, I have a question I don't understand; I hope you can enlighten me..."

He wore a brocade robe, a jade pendant at his waist, looking like a seasoned traveling merchant, and said, "Why did this Gao Changjing deliberately poison His Highness Prince Qiao?"

"Prince Qiao is of the Great Zhou Imperial Clan, of noble status; could there be an irreconcilable hatred between them?"

The tea house owner, hearing this, showed a hint of surprise and retorted, "Sir, you didn't know about this matter?"

The middle‑aged merchant smiled awkwardly, explaining, "To be frank, I've been trading in Liangzhou to the south; I only returned to Chang'an yesterday, weary from the road..."

"I hadn't had time to learn the city's news, and I didn't expect to miss such a huge incident."

He clasped his fists again, earnestly saying, "His Highness Prince Qiao's murder is a great matter, Gao Changjing's vile deeds are outrageous; please, gentlemen, explain the details so I may also understand!"

"Since you have just returned to Chang'an, let me tell you the story!" the tea house owner cleared his throat, his face instantly brightening, clearly masterful of the case's background.

He gestured with his hand, his voice booming, "To tell this story, we must start four months ago..."

"At that time, Gao Changjing was in Chang'an, secretly contacting rebels, attempting inside and out collusion to overturn Great Zhou's realm."

"His Highness Prince Qiao and Lord Chen Yan uncovered their plot and devised a clever scheme—"

"His Highness Prince Qiao feigned allegiance to Gao Changjing, gaining his trust!"

When the words "Lord Chen Yan" were spoken, the tea house owner's eyes were full of admiration, his tone respectful: "Lord Chen then plotted in secret, delivering a massive blow to the Qi State forces hidden in our Chang'an!"

"So Gao Changjing escaped quickly, not captured on the spot by Lord Chen Yan, leaving this lingering trouble!"

The young man in the blue cloth long‑sleeved shirt took the cue, his chest rising slightly, and declared resolutely, "Exactly because of this, that Gao Changjing harbors a grudge!"

"Knowing the tide has turned and he can no longer contend with Great Zhou, he poured all his resentment onto His Highness Prince Qiao!"

"He knew Prince Qiao was the key to breaking this deadlock, and also Lord Chen Yan's capable aide, so he daringly risked it, secretly infiltrating Prince Qiao's residence..."

"He used poison to kill His Highness Prince Qiao, attempting to revenge Great Zhou and disturb the people's hearts!"

"I see!" the middle‑aged merchant clapped his hands, a look of sudden realization on his face, then let out a long sigh, his gaze turning toward Zhuque Avenue outside the tea house, his tone full of admiration, "Lord Chen Yan truly is Chang'an's guardian deity!"

"In a crisis, to see through treachery, devise a capture, protecting Great Zhou's realm and the people's peace—such a loyal minister and fine general are truly rare!"

As soon as the words fell, an elderly man with half‑white beard at the neighboring table set down his bowl, nodding repeatedly, "Who says not!"

He stroked his sparse beard, his eyes full of trust and reverence, "With Lord Chen Yan stationed in Chang'an, these days are far more peaceful, and people feel deep‑seated security..."

"Alas, it's a pity for His Highness Prince Qiao!"

The tea house owner, listening to everyone's praise of Lord Chen Yan, showed a hint of regret on his face, lifted the copper kettle on the table to pour tea for everyone, and with a long sigh said, "That prince was indeed somewhat unruly before, using his Imperial Clan status to cause trouble in the streets, but since working with Lord Chen Yan, he has completely changed."

"His actions have become steady, and he understands the common folk; clearly, he was just taught by Lord Chen Yan to reform and start anew..."

"He was about to serve Great Zhou, a true pillar of talent, yet he fell victim to Gao Changjing's treacherous poison—truly heartbreaking!"

The man in black robes echoed with deep sympathy: "Indeed! His Highness Prince Qiao's feigned allegiance to Gao Changjing this time was like tying his head to his belt to get things done....."

"If he hadn't risked his life to gain the enemy's trust, Lord Chen Yan might not have been able to so smoothly eliminate the Qi State's covert forces!"

"Such achievements should have been revered by all the people, yet they ended in a tragic death—truly so unjust!"

The young man in a blue‑cloth robe lifted his tea bowl and took a sip; the warm tea could not melt the chill in his heart, and he said slowly, "I heard Prince Qiao's funeral was personally overseen by Lord Chen Yan!"

He paused, his tone full of sympathy, "Lord Chen and His Highness Prince Qiao were like brothers; to bury his close friend personally, I can't imagine how sorrowful Lord Chen Yan must feel."

"Surely it feels like one's heart is being cut by a knife!" the middle‑aged merchant nodded, his face showing empathetic grief, and said in a deep voice, "If it were anyone else, losing a comrade who fought side by side and watching them fall victim to retaliation because of one's own scheme would be impossible to let go of....."

"I suppose Lord Chen Yan is still immersed in grief at this moment, yet must force himself to handle the follow‑up matters—it's truly not easy....."

Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent, and for a moment the teahouse was filled only with the soft clink of tea bowls, the air thick with regret and heaviness.

At that moment, a man in his thirties, plump, at the opposite table slapped his thigh as if recalling something important, a playful glint on his face, and said meaningfully, "Gentlemen, do you still remember the wanted notice posted by the Mingjing Office?"

"The portrait of Gao Changjing is truly lifelike; he looks unbelievably handsome, with delicate skin, eyes like a painting, a straight nose—he even has a nose and eyes—so handsome he rivals a beautiful lady!"

Speaking, he swallowed saliva, rubbed his hands unconsciously, an exaggerated expression on his face, and emphasized, "Honestly, he's even more beautiful than the famous singers in Chang'an!"

"I've lived over thirty years, and this is the first time I've seen a man prettier than a woman!"

The plump man's companion, a lanky tall fellow, flickered a mischievous glint in his eyes, licked his lips, and chuckled, "If he gets caught, we can't just kill him so easily!"

"In my opinion, he should be sent to the Qinglou, then ten or eight robust men to attend him, so he can taste the feeling of being unable to live nor die!"

The young man in the blue‑cloth robe heard this and couldn't stop smiling; he raised his hand, pointed at the lanky fellow, and teased, "I think you're not after avenging Prince Qiao at all—you're just craving his body, using revenge as an excuse to get a glimpse of something fresh!"

"Hey, you said it!" the plump man raised an eyebrow, showing no shame at all, but speaking confidently, "Even if it's lust, so what?"

"Missing such a beauty would be such a pity!"

"Besides, when we go to visit, we'll get a feast for the eyes and enjoyment, and also vent our anger on Prince Qiao—wouldn't that be a win‑win?"

Saying that, he turned to the surrounding tea guests and added confidently, "Don't you think this counts as avenging Prince Qiao?"

The tea guests around burst into hearty laughter at his words, and the previously heavy atmosphere instantly lightened considerably.

Everyone wore a knowing mischievous grin, nodding in agreement: "Exactly, exactly!"

"Well said!"

"If it can be done, it would make that treacherous Gao Changjing pay the price!"

"Count me in then; I'll also go see this even more beautiful… thing, and find out exactly what it looks like!"

Night fell like ink, spilling over Chengxi, above a secluded courtyard.

The courtyard walls towered, their tops covered with dark‑green vines that dimmed the interior lights to mere specks of glow, barely visible in the heavy night.

Inside, it was so quiet one could hear the rustle of wind through the parasol‑leaf trees.

Occasionally, the distant clang of market shutters closing drifted in, adding to the loneliness.

Gao Changjing reclined against the pear‑flower wood chair in the main hall, having shed his former brocade robes for a simple gray‑cloth short jacket.

The handsome face that could outshine Chang'an's singers was now largely hidden by several coarse, stiff strands of beard.

His eyebrows were roughly drawn with charcoal, and the corners of his eyes were darkened with powder.

At first glance, he seemed just an ordinary street vendor, with no trace of the stunning figure from the wanted notice.

Only his eyes remained bright and sharp, still harboring unfaded edge.

"Yuwen Ang has died?!"

"Killed by Dripping Water Guanyin Poison?!"

After hearing Cui Yizong's report, Gao Changjing sat up sharply, astonished as if he'd heard some fantastical tale.

He stared at Cui Yizong, confirming he wasn't joking, then raised his hand, pointing at his own nose, his voice suddenly high‑pitched, full of incredulous shock: "Was it me after all?!"

The last few words slipped out almost involuntarily.

His tone carried an unmistakable absurdity and shock.

"Exactly!"

Cui Yizong nodded heavily, his expression growing even heavier: "Now the news has spread throughout Chang'an, from Jing Zhao Fu to every street and alley; everyone agrees that you, Gongzi, infiltrated Prince Qiao's mansion in secret to avenge his earlier feigned allegiance, using Dripping Water Guanyin Poison to kill him....."

"Revenge?" Gao Changjing felt a surge of anger shoot to the top of his head, his chest heaving violently; he slammed the table, sending the candle flame flickering wildly, sparks scattering.

He roared loudly, his voice trembling with anger: "This damn thing is nothing but a frame‑up!"

"Bare‑faced slander!"

The angry shout rang especially harsh in the silent night.

Gao Changjing's chest surged violently, his fists clenched tightly.

The beard‑masked face now bristled with ferocious anger, his eyes seeming ready to spew fire.

He paced a few steps inside, the Blue Bricks underfoot thudding loudly, clearly indicating his fury had peaked.

Then, stopping, he turned to Cui Yizong, his tone full of indignation, "That useless Yuwen Ang, heartless and mediocre, only leans on his Imperial Clan status to bully others, otherwise worthless!"

"Poisoning him, what benefit does that bring to our Great Qi?"

"On the contrary, it would alert the snakes, ruining our plans in Chang'an!"

After the anger receded like a tide, Gao Changjing's emotions gradually steadied, but a chilling frost glimmered in his eyes.

He clenched his teeth, speaking haltingly, "These foolish people of Chang'an, can't they at least think with their brains?"

"Just based on a few rumors, they conclude it was my doing!"

In that instant, it seemed he realized something....

This was fundamentally a meticulously plotted conspiracy, intended to pin the black pot on himself!

"Young Master, calm your anger."

Seeing his anger lessen, Cui Yizong hurried forward a step, soothingly urging, "Now the whole city is in turmoil, rumors have already taken root; even if we had a hundred mouths to argue, it would be hard to refute, we have no way to explain it....."

At this moment they were like a mute person forced to eat bitter herbs, unable to voice their suffering!

Gao Changjing curled his lip, a cold sneer flashing in his eyes, his gaze narrowing as he stared solemnly at the night outside the window, murmuring low, "This is probably the work of that Chen Yan fellow....."

Except for that meticulous‑minded, ruthless hypocrite Qing Tian, who else could fabricate such a flawless lie in such a short time, making everyone in the city believe it true?

At that moment, a hurried footstep sounded again outside the courtyard gate, and a man dressed in black armor hurried in.

He was towering, with a shallow slash scar on his face, and he was Shi Ji, another subordinate of Gao Changjing.

Shi Ji walked straight to Gao Changjing, clasped his fists, and reported in a resonant voice: "Gongzi, Jinyang has just sent back an urgent message!"

Gao Changjing steadied his mind and said in a low voice, "Speak."

"An order has come from above," Shi Ji lifted his head, a cold ferocity flashing in his eyes, and said word for word, "We are to spare no expense, use every means, and annihilate the Fan Yang Lu clan who betrayed Great Qi and defected to the Zhou State! Not a single one left!"