[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-top-scholar-of-da-ling":3,"chapter-the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-27":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Top Scholar of Da Ling",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2288862,4475,"Chapter 27","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-27",27,"\u003Cp>After the Emperor’s first court session ended, he specially retained the Three Excellencies, along with officials from the Ministry of Justice, the Dalisi , and the Censorate, summoning multiple physicians, eunuchs, and palace maids who were on duty the night the late Emperor died, as well as the suspects Jiang Jiushui, Li Fei, and Xiang Fei, all returning together to Lingxia Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They attempted to reconstruct the scene of the late Emperor’s death, clarifying the case and reconstructing the sequence of events in meticulous detail, yet found not the slightest flaw!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with the seasoned investigators from the Ministry of Justice and the Dalisi  present, they could not deduce who had motive or opportunity to poison him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The officials knew the case was suspicious, yet each harbored ulterior motives and refused to let the truth come to light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, this humble servant is truly innocent! I have served the late Emperor for many years… how could I ever harbor disloyal intentions!” Jiushui seized the chance to plead, hoping to clear his name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiushui knew his guilt was inescapable, so he deployed every trick in his arsenal to evade accountability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor glanced at Jiushui and said coldly: “You dog servant, you still don’t understand your crime—you’re guilty of forging the imperial edict, not regicide! I’ve spared your life to uncover the cause of the late Emperor’s death; otherwise… I would have already torn you into a thousand pieces!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor sensed the ministers’ attempts at mediation and spoke with a warning tone, signaling Jiushui not to try escaping punishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This humble servant is guilty, deserving death a thousandfold…” Jiushui employed his favorite self-flagellation tactic, weeping: “If only I had strongly stopped the late Emperor from taking that second pill that night, perhaps he wouldn’t have passed away… waaah…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though under interrogation, Jiushui had not abandoned his desire to seize the initiative.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how passionately Jiushui performed, how loudly he screamed, the current Emperor was not the late Emperor—he was unmoved by such theatrics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when Jiushui mentioned “taking the second pill,” Yu Dian, the Minister of Justice beside him, shifted the focus of the fatal cause to the “Seven Times in One Night Pill.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Dian was indeed perceptive, but his blunt words provoked fierce backlash from Mei Xiang and others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, this minister believes…” Yu Dian stepped forward, bowing deeply, “that the late Emperor’s death may have resulted from taking the medicine, not from murder.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Mei Xiang immediately panicked!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He leapt out to steer the narrative back toward treasonous regicide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Xiang knew well the origin of the “Seven Times in One Night Pill” and feared exposure, so he urgently interrupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, He Xiang remained silent, but sweat soaked his entire court robe!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He silently rejoiced: Thank heaven the batch of “Seven Times in One Night Pill” was presented by Mei Xiang—if Lu Xiongying’s escort hadn’t been ambushed, the man now trembling like an ant on a hot pan would be me!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who gave the late Emperor the ‘Seven Times in One Night Pill’ during his lifetime?” the Emperor asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Yu Dian could answer, Jiushui immediately pointed at Mei Xiang and sobbed to the Emperor: “Those pills were given by Minister Cao!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though under interrogation, Jiushui was highly agitated, as if he had prepared this accusation in advance, firmly blaming Mei Xiang for introducing the “Seven Times in One Night Pill” to divert suspicion onto him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Xiang fell to his knees with a thud and frantically explained how he obtained the pills, detailing their entire origin and acquisition process, leaving nothing unaccounted for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his situation turn dire, Mei Xiang desperately proved his innocence—but his excessive haste made him appear suspicious in many ways.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After listening, the Emperor turned to Yu Dian and asked: “You are Minister of Justice—what would you do in this case?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Dian exchanged a glance with He Xiang, hesitated briefly, then replied: “Immediately detain Mei Xiang… and forbid all contact!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Yu Dian was discerning, his answer was carefully worded—he was not entirely certain of Mei Xiang’s guilt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Approved!” the Emperor immediately decreed: “Remove Cao Mei from all offices and imprison him in the Ministry of Justice for interrogation!” With that, Mei Xiang knelt and pounded his head on the ground, continuously crying out his innocence until guards dragged him out of Lingxia Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Xiang met this fate because he presented the “Seven Times in One Night Pill,” inviting suspicion, compounded by Jiushui’s betrayal, driving him to this tragic end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who brewed the batch of ‘Seven Times in One Night Pill’ that Cao Mei presented? Who knows?” the Emperor asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This humble servant knows—it was the Joyful Daoist!” Jiushui knelt prostrate, feigning dramatic sincerity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Mei Xiang’s downfall, Jiushui seized the chance to offer another scapegoat, hoping to further clear himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor surveyed the ministers before him—all bowed their heads in silence, each protecting their own interests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought: Relying on them to uncover the true cause of his father’s death is hopeless; if I press further, it will either be a cover-up among officials or factional vendettas. Extracting the truth from these men is nearly impossible—I must seek another way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After careful deliberation, the Emperor issued two edicts: “Order the Ministry of Justice to immediately apprehend the Joyful Daoist and bring him to the capital for interrogation! Summon Jiang Mingyu to the palace.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu, sitting at home, did not receive an appointment from the Ministry of Personnel, but instead received an imperial decree delivered by Cheng Eunuch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before leaving, Jiang Mingyu asked Zhang the steward: “In your opinion, is my summons to the palace auspicious or ominous?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang the steward smiled and replied: “A man of good fortune has heavenly protection.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu: “What do you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang the steward: “If Cheng Eunuch came personally, it must be auspicious; if not, you would already be in chains by now—how could you be chatting with me so calmly?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Lao Xie rushed over, urgent: “Master, Cheng Eunuch is pressing you—His Majesty is still waiting in the palace!” With that, Jiang Mingyu, already dressed in his official robes and wearing his black gauze cap, stepped out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu followed Cheng Eunuch’s lead, winding through corridors, soon arriving at Lingxia Palace; the Emperor and the ministers were still present, not yet dismissed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the Emperor saw Jiang Mingyu appear, his eyes clearly revealed a flicker of delight—but despite his inner joy, he maintained composure, concealing it. This was a strict emotional discipline, a technique of imperial rule he had learned since childhood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even happier than the Emperor was He Xiang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having feared being implicated in the case, he felt half his anxiety lift the moment Jiang Mingyu appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Xiang silently rejoiced: Excellent—this investment in Jiang Mingyu has not been wasted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After an afternoon of case analysis, the Emperor observed the ministers arguing among themselves, each speaking their own version, and even opportunistically fabricating false accusations to smear political rivals!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such crude court tactics disgusted him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu, a rare upright official in the corrupt bureaucracy and privately close to the Emperor, was especially favored.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Yu Dian finished summarizing the case for Jiang Mingyu, the Emperor made his decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He decreed: “Appoint Jiang Mingyu as Fifth-Rank Imperial Inspector, granting him full authority to investigate the late Emperor’s death; bestow upon him the Golden Vajra Club and the power to execute first, report later!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This minister accepts the decree,” Jiang Mingyu knelt and received it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shortly after, Cheng Eunuch brought a set of black gauze cap and official robes, along with a pure gold imperial inspection token.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cap’s crown was embroidered with gold thread depicting clouds and jewels, inlaid with a small sapphire and a piece of crystal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cap’s sides were adorned with white pheasant patterns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The robe was made of high-grade dark blue cloud-silk, edged entirely with gold thread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A golden python was embroidered on the front and back panels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The robe featured pleated silk patterns along the center.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The collar and cuffs were bound with dark blue cloud-silk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The belt was silver, fastened with four circular plain gold plates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The imperial token was engraved with the characters “Imperial Inspector,” bold and powerful; the surface depicted a heavenly horse playing among clouds, surrounded by pure gold cloud patterns, shimmering brilliantly, exuding sacred solemnity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two young eunuchs followed behind, jointly carrying a three-foot-long brocade box.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu stepped forward and opened the brocade box, inside which lay a gleaming golden Vajra Club.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Vajra Club was two and a half feet long, cast in gold, its head crescent-shaped and razor-sharp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The handle was carved with purple-gold thread depicting a Vajra warrior, rendered with exquisite, lifelike detail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Vajra Club weighed sixteen catties—too heavy for an ordinary man to wield easily. Jiang Mingyu carefully lifted it from the brocade box, but its weight caused his elbow to buckle; the club fell to the floor with a loud clang, echoing through the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu’s face flushed with embarrassment; though granted great authority, his inability to hold the Vajra Club made him appear weak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor, seeing this, realized the Vajra Club was too heavy for Jiang Mingyu to wield—but to uphold the dignity of his appointment, he said nothing about replacing it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor glanced around; to his right, not far away, stood a massive, broad-shouldered palace guard—his face seemed familiar. The Emperor called him over: “What is your name?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guard knelt on one knee, saluted with a fist, and replied: “Your Majesty, this humble servant is Mongolian, surnamed Tuke, given name Siluo, holding the rank of Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I remember—you’re the guard who tested the ‘Seven Times in One Night Pill’ before the late Emperor’s death!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor nodded; since this man had consumed the pill, he was among the least suspicious present—perhaps his presence beside Jiang Mingyu would aid the investigation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He decreed: “I appoint you to guard Jiang’s person day and night; if anything happens to him, I hold you solely responsible!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tuke Siluo: “This humble servant accepts the decree.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After receiving the order, Tuke Siluo’s heart was filled with mixed emotions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On one hand, the Emperor entrusted him with such a vital duty—he felt immense honor, a sign of the Emperor’s trust and expectation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other hand, he understood the immense difficulty and responsibility; any failure would have catastrophic consequences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor sighed inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cause of his father’s death remained an unsolved mystery; uncovering the truth would be a long road ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor silently clenched his fist, vowing to uncover the truth for his father, granting the dead peace. The case was difficult, but he would never give up.\u003C\u002Fp>",1792,"2026-06-20T03:28:17.113Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","ef57dc21344326ad0f7da393c712be412df0661cea14e08ba2b20583d044b51a","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-28","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-26",392,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-top-scholar-of-da-ling-cover.jpg"]