It should have been quite moving…
“What a joke! He’s a fool—what good would begging him do—”
Though, like most officials, he didn’t understand Xiao Yu’s true intentions, the Crown Prince panicked when he saw Xiao Yu—who could barely be considered aligned with the aristocratic families—desperately turning to the Sixth Prince for help in this crisis.
He nearly leaped up from the ground but was forced back down by a teacup Emperor Yunqi hurled at him.
Emperor Yunqi said calmly, “Did I permit you to rise?”
The Crown Prince trembled as he knelt back down.
Before the Third Prince could even revel in the other’s misfortune, Emperor Yunqi’s icy gaze turned toward him: “You kneel down too. If you hadn’t impeached Jun He, how could the officialdom be in such chaos now?”
Third Prince: …Mom, someone’s being unreasonable! Jun He was clearly killed by your own Madness Disorder when you stabbed him with a sword!
But his mind was slightly sharper than the Crown Prince’s—at least he didn’t provoke Emperor Yunqi, who was already suppressing his anger, for fear of triggering the emperor’s Madness Disorder and ending up dead on the spot.
The Celestial Screen continued.
【Wu Nao remained as clueless as ever: “What same idea?”
But this time, Xiao Yu didn’t answer him. Instead, he asked seriously, “I recall Jiangnan has the Jiangning Weaving Bureau. When you judicial officers assisted the Black Dragon Guards in thoroughly investigating Xu Lang, didn’t you also investigate the Jiangning Weaving Bureau?”
Given the critical situation, using the Jiangning Weaving Bureau’s treasury silver for emergency relief wasn’t a bad idea.
Wu Nao shrugged. When it came to his official duties, he seemed slightly more intelligent: “We investigated. Even Jun He was implicated and lost three generations of his family. How could we overlook a mere Jiangning Weaving Bureau? But this is the strangest part—Xu Lang, as the primary responsible party, had no money. Jun He, as the secondary responsible party and Xu Lang’s direct superior, also had no money. And now, the Jiangning Weaving Bureau, which should have been profiting immensely downstream, has somehow become penniless.”
Wu Nao’s voice grew heavy, and when it did, it carried a profound, mysterious weight—as weighty and mysterious as the three million taels of silver that had vanished into thin air.
“Where do you think… those three million taels went?”
Xiao Yu had an idea, but he didn’t dare dwell on it.
Where did they go?
Only Jinling.
Only Jinling could silently absorb such an enormous sum of silver without anyone noticing.】
The scene paused briefly, and Fusang’s smiling face reappeared.
【Care to guess, folks, where this huge sum of money actually ended up?】
(Do we even need to guess? Hahahaha, of course it went to Jinling!)
(After all, the true mastermind behind this case is that person.)
With lighthearted ease, the danmaku revealed the truth that Xiao Yu knew but dared not speak.
Now, the entire Jinling City was in an uproar.
The first to bear the brunt were the Third Prince and the Crown Prince kneeling beside Emperor Yunqi.
The atmosphere around Emperor Yunqi had grown so oppressive that no one dared approach. Everyone in Yunxing Hall trembled as they knelt on the ground.
As it turned out, this caution was entirely justified.
In his fury, Emperor Yunqi unsheathed the Sword of the Emperor. The divine weapon that had accompanied Xiao Qian for over a hundred years plunged deep into the tall red pillar behind where the Crown Prince and Third Prince knelt, even slicing off a lock of the Crown Prince’s hair.
The Crown Prince nearly collapsed face-first onto the ground.
The Third Prince secretly congratulated himself on his luck, having hair that lay close to his scalp, thus avoiding such misfortune.
“Good… good… After searching for so long, the culprit is actually in Jinling City, right under my nose.”
Emperor Yunqi’s voice was not loud, but it carried a terrifying authority that made everyone tremble with fear.
That was the authority derived from royal power.
“Once the Fusang Envoy reveals the truth… those hidden parasites lurking in the shadows…”
Emperor Yunqi sat back on the throne. He did not finish his sentence, but everyone in the hall knew… soon Jinling City would begin a great purge.
The Sword of the Emperor responded to the summons and flew back, accurately landing in the sheath beside Emperor Yunqi. The Three World-protecting Swords possessed their own intelligence and would eliminate all obstacles for their sovereign.
Last time, the entire Jun Family perished. How many more would die this time to quell the emperor’s wrath?
Fusang continued speaking cryptically: [“Hahaha, it seems everyone understands quite clearly. Since everyone understands, I won’t say more. After all, some viewers before the screen still don’t know, right? To avoid affecting their viewing experience, we’ll continue playing the AI-restored footage.”]
Most people in Jinling City were already secretly cursing the Fusang Envoy in their hearts. Wasn’t he supposed to be the Junior Fate Master representing life and vitality? Why was he coming after their lives?
If the Celestial Screen continued speaking in riddles like this, what were they supposed to do? Emperor Yunqi truly would kill randomly!
The scene returned to Lin’an City.
But this time, it was no longer Xiao Yu’s own residence.
[Lin’an City, Court Hall.
Xiao Yu had long anticipated that the Circuit Intendant wouldn’t be so kind-hearted, truly giving him a day’s time. It was merely to avoid making things too awkward in front of Wu Nao, who was half an insider, or perhaps they still had matters to arrange that weren’t settled, unable to put this scapegoat on the fire right now.
But he hadn’t expected these people to be so bold, openly seizing him and bringing him to the Lin’an Court Hall while Wu Nao was away, having been sent off by him.
The words “Justice” shone brightly behind the hall, and “Public Righteousness” stood prominently before it, but the Circuit Intendant paid no heed to those decorative inscriptions, leisurely sipping his tea.
Fine tea from West Lake.
Beside the teacup was the official document he had been hesitating over earlier—a proposal regarding the construction of the coastal defense front. That was the last top-down suggestion left by Jun He.
The Circuit Intendant waveringly picked up the brush, pretending to mark the document.
Xiao Yu finally couldn’t hold back. He bowed and spoke: “This brush is tied to countless lives. I hope Your Excellency considers carefully!”
“Consider carefully? What needs consideration?”
The Circuit Intendant looked at the document and revealed a mocking smile: “This document doesn’t need attention. Leave it here for another three days. After three days, once Jinling’s formal verdict comes down, it will be useless, mere scrap paper, scrap paper!”
The Circuit Intendant even felt somewhat exhilarated speaking of this.
Xiao Yu closed his eyes. The other party was right, because the person who issued the document was already dead.
Jun He was dead, and he and the Wu Family were following in Jun He’s footsteps.
The Circuit Intendant smiled and said: “I’ve changed my mind. One day is still too long, insufficient to reflect Brother Xiao’s bravery. A spectacular blaze better suits your exit… Surely Brother Xiao agrees, right?”
Xiao Yu stood silently in the center of the court hall.]
It seems they are truly desperate, desperate enough to use his alleged suicide by setting fire to the prefect’s residence as an excuse to vanish tens of thousands of taels of silver.
Unfortunately, even ten more Prefects of Lin’an dying wouldn’t fill this gap.
Xiao Yu almost sneered, “Where is the fire?”
The Circuit Intendant’s attendant replied in a mocking, drawn-out tone, “Ah, to answer you, it hasn’t been set yet, has it?”
This was a complete disregard for him. In the eyes of the Circuit Intendant, this old fox, Xiao Yu—a Prefect of Lin’an with no background, no noble lineage, and no protector—was the perfect scapegoat. So perfect that he forgot even a cornered sheep would fight back.
“Give me one day. I need to evacuate my family. If this fire is to be set, let it burn only me.”
Xiao Yu still made the same demand.
The Circuit Intendant coldly raised his head, about to rebuke him for his audacity, when he saw Xiao Yu flash a sinister smile.
“Otherwise, when the Sixth Prince’s Inspectorate Delegation arrives, I won’t say a word I shouldn’t, and I won’t utter a single word I should.”
Whether they needed him to confess and be imprisoned or to commit suicide out of guilt, along with conveniently burning away tens of thousands of taels of silver, the Circuit Intendant needed him to comply with the arrangements only after meeting the Inspectorate Delegation. This would allow the “true culprit” to naturally surface, ensuring everyone involved would be credited with a great achievement. All it would take was the death of one Prefect of Lin’an to make everyone happy.
Otherwise, it would be too obvious an attempt to cover things up. Even if the Black Dragon Guards were bribed, Emperor Yunqi would not believe such an overly convenient coincidence.
Xiao Yu knew why he was being forced to stand here.
Because his voice carried no weight.
Because his voice carried no weight, nothing he said mattered. His defense was the least important thing in the world, and no one cared about his thoughts. The family he wanted to protect was now threatened by a fire at any moment, and the reality he sought to change remained unchanged even after three years as Prefect of Lin’an.
He couldn’t even protect himself, only being pushed along.
But because the other side stood to gain, in this final stretch before his death, his insignificance suddenly became significant.
To achieve the best outcome that would please everyone, they needed the full cooperation of this prefect.
Moreover, now, as a man on the brink of death, he had endured enough and no longer needed to hold back.
“You’re threatening me…”
The Circuit Intendant narrowed his eyes, like a cunning but decaying old fox.
“You were the one who threatened me first!”
Xiao Yu laughed. He was about to speak when he heard hurried footsteps rushing over, followed by a familiar booming voice exploding in his ears.
He didn’t even need to turn his head to imagine Wu Nao foolishly pushing past the attendants and barging in.
“How dare you! Cease your shouting in the Court Hall!”
The Circuit Intendant hadn’t expected Wu Nao to charge in so recklessly. He slammed the table and stood up, trying to intimidate Wu Nao with ancient authority.
But Wu Nao was naturally immune to such pressure and only grew more defiant. “Fine! Now you talk about the law? Then show us the official documents sent from Jinling! Do you have them? Without official documents, you want to kill someone? What is this supposed to be?!”
The Circuit Intendant was furious. “Guards, seize this intruder who dares to disrupt the Court Hall!”
Wu Nao stood in front of Xiao Yu, raising his token high: “I am the Deputy Surveillance Commissioner of Jiangnan! By the laws of Da Qian, anyone who unlawfully detains an imperial official without authorization shall face caning or even death! Who dares!”
For a moment, the attendants were truly intimidated by his imposing presence and froze in place.
It should have been a deeply moving scene, but Xiao Yu only wished he could die.
The problem was… according to their plan… that brainless fool Wu Nao was supposed to go find the Sixth Prince!!
As long as the Sixth Prince was brought here quickly, the situation would instantly become chaotic. Once all the various factions arrived, everything could be discussed openly. No matter how arrogant the Circuit Intendant was, he couldn’t possibly kill him in front of the delegation composed of multiple influential groups.
So what on earth was this idiot Wu Nao doing? Why did he come running back on his own?!
Author’s note:
Xiao Yu: Brother, I’ll kowtow to you, brother.