Imperial Palace, Tiger Virtue Hall—the place for state affairs.
After staying up the entire night, many of the third-rank-and-above officials present were clearly weary, their eyes heavy with fatigue. Despite his frail body, Chen Yao was currently full of anger, which made him appear especially vigorous, with an air of natural authority between his brows.
He swept his gaze around the hall, rubbing his temples in frustration. “The Heir of Prince Min was assassinated within the heart of the capital and has been missing all night. He is likely dead. You all normally have so much to say, but now you’re all mute? If Prince Wei dies in the capital, how are we supposed to appease Wei Wuji? Minister Lin, do you have any good strategies?”
Minister Lin, full name Lin Daoxuan, was nearly sixty years old, resembling an old Confucian scholar. Upon hearing the question, he slowly opened his eyes. “Your Majesty, I wouldn’t call it a good strategy, but I do have a temporary solution.”
“Oh? Speak.” Chen Yao and the court officials perked up.
Lin Daoxuan calmly said, “Although Prince Wei has disappeared, it doesn’t necessarily mean he’s dead. Even if he is, the body must still be within Chang’an City. Lock down every city gate; neither assassins nor Prince Wei should be able to leave. Contain news of the assassination strictly—no leaks. Meanwhile, find a civilian who closely resembles him to act as a stand-in. This may not last long, but it could buy us a year or so.”
Chen Yao frowned slightly. He clearly hadn’t expected such a plan.
Shi Jian glanced at Lin Daoxuan, visibly displeased. “That’s a terrible idea.”
Lin Daoxuan gave Shi Jian a sideways glance. “If you think it’s so easy, then you do it. It’s easy to talk when you’re not the one taking action. Hmph.”
Everyone looked thoughtfully at the depression in Shi Jian’s seat cushion. The three Dukes present were all veterans of two reigns. After Chen Yao’s ascension, he had allowed them to remain seated during court sessions as a special honor.
Another old official, also nearly sixty, spoke with displeasure, “As one of the Three Dukes, you are to set an example. Quarreling in court—what sort of conduct is that? Your Majesty, I believe that Prince Min will surely take action after losing his son. Our urgent task is to station more troops at the three key passes to prevent Wei Wuji from marching south.”
Several other officials nodded repeatedly.
“Minister Lin’s proposal may provide temporary relief, but eventually the truth will come out. If this leaks and Wei Wuji learns of his son’s death, coupled with the fact that we deceived him, his rage will be beyond imagination. Please reconsider, Your Majesty.”
Chen Yao grew increasingly troubled by the debates.
Just then, a loud voice rang out outside the hall. “Report!”
A Commandant in Black Armor burst into the hall, dropping to his knees and sliding several meters across the floor.
“Hong Cheng, any news?” Chen Yao stood up from his throne.
Hong Cheng bowed low and replied loudly, “Reporting to Your Majesty, there is still no word on Prince Wei’s whereabouts, but I have identified the person behind the assassination.” Visit novelping dot com for the full chapter.
Chen Yao’s pupils contracted, a dangerous aura emanating from his body. “Let’s see who dares to attempt an assassination on a prince’s heir in the middle of the capital.”
Hong Cheng didn’t respond directly, instead sneaking a glance at Grand Marshal Shi Jian and swallowing nervously.
Shi Jian frowned, an ominous feeling rising in his heart. Could it be… that disgraceful grandson?
Hong Cheng hesitantly spoke, “Your Majesty, I questioned the patrol commander Li Dabao, who was in charge of Chongren District. He confessed to accepting a bribe of one thousand taels from Grand Marshal Shi Jian’s eldest grandson, Shi Lingkuan, and withdrawing his patrol to allow the Imperial Uncle to act freely…”
Gasps filled the entire hall.
Shi Jian’s heart thudded.
Chen Yao gave Shi Jian a cold glance. “Continue.”
Hong Cheng obeyed. “Upon investigation, the Imperial Uncle went to the Weiyuan Escort Agency yesterday afternoon and paid a large sum to hire twenty escorts. By dusk, these escorts were seen entering Chongren District. I sent people to apprehend the suspects at the Weiyuan Escort Agency, but the place was already empty. When I asked the city’s gate guards, I learned that those twenty escorts had been waiting at the gate before dawn. As soon as the gates opened, they left the city under the pretense of escorting cargo. It’s clear they fled out of guilt. I dispatched one thousand Black Armored Guards to pursue them, but there’s been no progress so far.”
Chen Yao erupted in fury. “Outrageous! How dare they! That patrol commander and that escort agency!”
“Convey my decree: Patrol Commander Li Dabao, for accepting bribes and neglecting duty, is to be dragged to the market square and beheaded immediately. Seal off the Weiyuan Escort Agency, and execute all escorts involved—show no mercy.”
After speaking, Chen Yao slammed himself back down on the throne, his gaze turning to Shi Jian, filled with a hint of meaning.
Lin Daoxuan pointed at Shi Jian and cursed, “You can guard against outsiders day and night, but not against family! Shi Jian, as Grand Marshal, you let your descendants assassinate a prince’s heir? This is a heinous crime and punishable by death.”
Yang Qilu, one of the Three Dukes and Chief Censor, stepped forward. “Grand Marshal Shi, do you have anything to say in your defense?”
At this moment, Shi Jian was so angry he ground his teeth. All he wanted was to go home and beat that rebellious grandson to death. Just yesterday, he had told him repeatedly not to mess with Prince Wei. But what did he do? Went all in from the start.
Assassinating a prince’s heir was a capital crime.
Shi Jian quickly stood up. “Your Majesty, I knew nothing about this. If Shi Lingkuan truly did this, then as Grand Marshal, I will enforce the law impartially and not show favoritism.”
Chen Yao nodded slightly. “Hong Cheng, have your men bring the Imperial Uncle here.”
Half an hour later, Shi Lingkuan trembled as he entered Tiger Virtue Hall. He had already heard on the way about Prince Wei’s disappearance and that the patrol commander and the twenty escort guards he bribed were all to be executed. He was terrified out of his mind.
As soon as he entered the hall, Shi Lingkuan knelt and crawled forward, crying and shouting, “Your Majesty, please spare me! I was wrong! I beg you, for the sake of my aunt, show mercy! I swear I’ll never hire thugs again!”
“You disgrace! You damn disgrace!” Shi Jian’s face turned red with rage. He rushed forward and kicked him. “Someone bring me a knife! I’ll skin him alive right here!”
Everyone in the hall watched with the kind of delight reserved for good drama.
Chen Yao also knew it was a performance. Impatiently, he said, “Grand Marshal, calm down. This is the court, not a slaughterhouse. Let’s have Shi Lingkuan explain everything clearly before you explode.”
Shi Lingkuan, fully aware of the gravity of the situation, no longer had his usual arrogance. Trembling, he confessed everything in detail.
Shi Jian, upon hearing that his grandson only intended to have the escorts rough up Prince Wei rather than kill him, finally let out a breath of relief. “You disgrace! You learn nothing good and go around hiring thugs? You shame our household. In a few days, I’ll send you to Bingzhou to join the army, so you don’t cause more trouble in the capital.”
Shi Jian cupped his hands and bowed toward Chen Yao. “Your Majesty, the truth is now clear. Shi Lingkuan only intended to have Prince Wei beaten up and didn’t aim to take his life. He should be punished fairly for inciting violence.”
“Hah, inciting violence?” Yang Qilu sneered. “Shi Jian, your precious grandson caused such a huge disaster, and you want to settle it with a mere charge of inciting violence? Are we just taking his word for it? What if he’s just lying to save himself? Your Majesty, I believe the true perpetrator would never admit to being the one behind an assassination. Shi Lingkuan has a grudge against Prince Wei, so he is the prime suspect. We must not trust his side of the story alone. Grand Marshal, this is the court, not your private courtroom. You don’t get to decide the charge. Do you think the laws of the Great Li Empire are your family’s rules?”
The court was on the verge of descending into chaos when Chen Yao sternly rebuked, “Silence! This is the court, not a marketplace. Watch your tongues!”
He looked at Shi Lingkuan, then at Shi Jian, before finally waving his hand. “Shi Lingkuan is involved in the assassination case of Prince Wei. Until the matter is fully investigated, he is the primary suspect. If the Imperial Uncle is indeed involved, then even I must uphold the law without favoritism. Guards, take Shi Lingkuan to the Imperial Prison and await judgment.”
Shi Lingkuan felt as if the sky had collapsed. As the guards dragged him away, he kept crying out, “Your Majesty, spare me! Grandfather, save me…”
The hall fell silent. On the floor was a single wet patch—left behind by the terrified Imperial Uncle.