Chapter 174: Staging a Play

Zhu Yong at this moment also returned from outside, his body stained with some dirt.

"Mother, I looked earlier, that fire was set deliberately; I saw someone throw a fire‑oil jar into the thatched shed," Zhu Yong said, his face somewhat grim.

"Did you see clearly who it was?" Empress Ma asked.

"I saw clearly: it was Liu San in the daytime, plus two constables. I originally wanted to seize them, but feared stirring up trouble, so I held back," Zhu Yong said again.

Zhu Yong spoke again.

Empress Ma nodded and said, "Yong Er, you did right; now is not the time to act."

She thought for a moment and said, "Chen Heng, continue the investigation; the focus is two matters. First, how many laborers actually died, and how they died.

Second, how much of these laborers' wages and rations were actually deducted."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Chen Heng acknowledged.

"Also... investigate Zhou Dexing and Wu Liang's holdings in Fengyang; they've embezzled so much, the money must have gone somewhere," Empress Ma added.

After Chen Heng withdrew, Empress Ma said to Zhu Yong, "Yong Er, tomorrow you and Mother will go to the construction site; we'll stage a play."

"A play?" Zhu Yong scratched his head.

"Yes, a play. Aren't they trying to fool us? We'll make them think we've been fooled and moved on," Empress Ma's eyes flashed coldly.

Empress Ma, who had risen from the chaotic era to assist Zhu Yuanzhang, was never a weak person to be bullied; she had even killed people before.

The next day, the tenth day of the third month.

Early in the morning, Empress Ma led Zhu Yong and Guanyin Nu, accompanied by Wu Liang, to the construction site.

The site had already regained order; the laborers were working, and the supervisors had restrained themselves, no longer whipping indiscriminately.

Wu Liang forced a smile and said, "Your Majesty, after yesterday's fire, I have issued a strict order to rectify matters, and will not allow such incidents again."

Empress Ma nodded and said, "Prefect Wu has taken it to heart; I see today's order is orderly, much better than yesterday."

She walked to a spot where earth was being tamped and gently asked the laborers, "Everyone has worked hard; are the wages still being paid on time?"

The laborers lowered their heads, daring not to speak.

A supervisor hurriedly replied, "Replying to Your Majesty, the wages are paid promptly and in full, with no arrears."

Empress Ma glanced at that supervisor, said nothing more, turned to Wu Liang and said, "I think, since the laborers are weary, their meals should be improved.

Then it's settled! Starting today, each person gets an extra two taels of meat per day, funded from my private treasury."

Wu Liang was startled, then said, "Your benevolence, I, on behalf of the laborers, thank you!"

Empress Ma waved her hand, "No need to thank me; it's only proper."

She then said to Zhu Yong, "Yong Er, go check which laborers are injured or ill, and have the accompanying physician treat them."

"Yes, Mother," Zhu Yong answered naively, and led the physician to the barracks area.

Wu Liang watched the scene, secretly pleased; it seemed Empress Ma had been frightened by yesterday's fire and did not wish to probe further.

He whispered to the steward beside him, "Go tell Lord Zhou that the matter is over."

The steward took the order and left.

Empress Ma walked around the site once, appearing quite satisfied, and offered suggestions for several projects.

At noon, they returned to the palace to dine.

During the meal, Empress Ma said to Prefect Wu, "Prefect Wu, I see the new capital's construction progressing smoothly; I am greatly relieved. After tomorrow's ancestral rites, I will return to Heaven, and leave this place to you."

Wu Liang was overjoyed inside, but his face remained respectful as he said, "Rest assured, Your Majesty, I will spare no effort to complete the new capital soon."

After the meal, Wu Liang took his leave.

Empress Ma watched his back, a cold smile curling at the corner of her mouth.

Guanyin Nu whispered, "Imperial Mother, are we really leaving?"

"Leave? If we don't clean this place thoroughly, how can I leave?" Empress Ma said coolly.

She looked at Zhu Yong and said, "Yong Er, work hard tonight and capture a few people."

"Who to capture?" Zhu Yong asked.

"Liu San, and those constables who handle corpses—alive, and do not alarm the others," Empress Ma said.

"Alright." Zhu Yong nodded.

That night, at midnight.

In the supervisors' barracks at the site, Liu San was drinking with several constables.

"Brother, today you really scared the guys; when King Wu stared at me, I thought he had discovered something," a skinny constable said.

Liu San gulped his wine, sneering, "Discover? Discover what? The bodies were thrown into the Huai River to feed the fish, the thatched shed was burned, dead without evidence; what could he discover?"

"But... Empress Ma said she'd add meat and give the laborers medical treatment, this..."

"It's just for show; once the Empress leaves, we'll do as we please. Lord Zhou said this month's wages will be deducted by thirty percent; anyone who objects, let them lie at the burial ground."

Liu San waved his hand and said.

Just then, the door was suddenly pushed open.

A tall black silhouette stood in the doorway, moonlight stretching his shadow long.

"Who?" Liu San shouted.

The silhouette entered; by the light, Liu San saw the man's face—it was King Wu Zhu Yong.

"Prince... Prince..." Liu San, half-awakened from his wine by fear, scrambled to his feet.

The other constables also quickly stood up.

Zhu Yong spoke, "Liu San, my mother sent you here."

Liu San's heart tightened; he forced a laugh, "It's so late; what does the Empress summon a lowly man for?"

"Go and you'll find out," Zhu Yong said, reaching out to seize Liu San.

Liu San instinctively stepped back, his hand reaching for his waist where a short dagger was hidden.

Zhu Yong moved even faster, his large hand outstretched, already grabbing Liu San's neck and hoisting him up like a little chick.

The other clerks tried to run, but Zhu Yong's other hand swung up, a slap each, knocking them all unconscious on the ground.

Liu San was choked to the point of gasping, his limbs kicking wildly.

Zhu Yong lifted him, walked out of the barracks, his figure bobbing a few times, then vanished into the night.

Outside the overseer's barracks, a few night‑patrolling clerks heard the commotion and came to investigate; they only saw a few comrades lying on the ground, Liu San was gone.

"No… this is bad! Liu San has been taken!"

The news quickly reached the Prefect's office.

Wu Liang jolted up from the bed, his clothes still half‑on, and rushed to the front hall.

"What happened? Who grabbed him?" he asked anxiously.

The messenger clerk trembled and said, "It… it was Prince Wu himself; he came personally, a single slap knocked Li Si and the others unconscious, and he took Liu San away."

Wu Liang's face turned ashen, and he collapsed onto his chair.

The steward said beside him, "Sir, could it be that Liu San and his men did the job sloppily and were discovered?"

"Impossible; the bodies were disposed of, the thatched shed was burned, what evidence could remain?" Wu Liang shook his head.

"Then why would Prince Wu seize Liu San?"

Wu Liang could not figure it out either.

At that moment, Zhou Dexing also arrived, his face grim.

"Brother Zhou, what should we do?" Wu Liang asked as if clutching a lifeline.

Zhou Dexing remained silent for a long while, then said, "How much does Liu San know?"

"He… he knows about the chaotic burial hill, knows how the bodies were handled, and also knows about the withholding of wages…" Wu Liang's voice grew softer as he spoke.

A murderous glint flashed in Zhou Dexing's eyes as he said, "Then he cannot live."

"But he's in Prince Wu's hands…"

"If he's in Prince Wu's hands, we must keep him silent; send people to watch near the palace, and if Prince Wu intends to interrogate Liu San, find a way to silence him."

Zhou Dexing said coldly.

"But the palace guards are stringent; how can we silence him?"

Zhou Dexing glanced at Wu Liang and said slowly, "Prefect Wu, don't forget that Fengyang is our territory; even the palace guards, however strict, have loopholes."

He lowered his voice and said, "I know a few jianghu men skilled with poisons and hidden weapons; send them."

Wu Liang shivered all over and said, "This… this is the crime of assassinating the royal family and exterminating the Nine Clans!"

"Then what do you suggest? Waiting for Liu San to confess puts us both on a dead end. Acting now leaves a sliver of hope," Zhou Dexing sneered.

Wu Liang collapsed onto the chair, cold sweat streaming.

We shouldn't have kept Liu San and the others last night; who could have guessed that during the day the Empress was deceiving them.

No wonder she's Zhu the butcher's wife…

Outside the window, the night was as black as ink.

This night in Fengyang was destined not to be peaceful.