Chapter 62

Yang Yuan and Fan Sheng were both shocked.

Yang Yuan's expression immediately turned serious. "This situation is urgent. I will now go to the palace to see the emperor and report the case to him truthfully."

Song Qianzhao nodded slightly. "Thank you, sir. This case involves many people, and the person behind the scenes has not yet surfaced. We must not let the news leak out."

Yang Yuan left in a hurry and returned after a while.

He took two steps at a time and entered the hall, and immediately announced loudly: "Song Qianzhao, the Left Assistant Secretary of the Xuanfu Envoy Department, receives the order!

Song Qianzhao was slightly surprised and thought to himself, "Why is this involving me again?"

His face showed no sign of it, he straightened his robe, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I respectfully listen to your instructions."

"Your Majesty has issued an oral order: This case is of grave importance. The Left Assistant Commissioner of the Ministry of Public Security is ordered to conduct an immediate and thorough investigation. The Ministry of Justice, the Supreme Court, the Censorate, and the Imperial Guard are all at your disposal. I decree this!"

Song Qianzhao kowtowed: "I obey your order. Long live the emperor."

Fan Sheng, who was standing beside him, smiled and said, "Your Majesty is wise! With this clear order, Lord Song can proceed with his actions."

Yang Yuan also had a smile on his face and bowed, saying, "Sir Song, I rely on you for this case. The entire Ministry of Justice is at your disposal. If you need anything, just give me your orders."

Song Qianzhao pondered for a moment. "As I said before, don't let any word leak out. I have a guard named Suifeng, who is an exceptional martial artist and can serve as a courier. Please ask Lord Yang to grant him free access to the Ministry of Justice. We will discuss other matters once the case becomes clearer."

Yang Yuan nodded: "I will give the order right away."

Song Qianzhao temporarily stationed at the Ministry of Justice to investigate the case. Suifeng had already made advance visits and passed on information. Soon, clues led to Ruzhou—where someone had seen the monk Wuzhen. Further investigation revealed that Wuzhen had stayed in Liaodong before arriving in Beijing.

Things gradually became clear, Song Qian's eyes darkened, and he already had the answer in his heart: "It was Prince Su who was behind this."

Song Qianzhao connected all the clues together. Prince Su first sent people to incite rebellion. If he had agreed at that time, he would have become a sword in the hands of others by now; whether it was killing with a borrowed knife or putting away the bow after the bird was dead, he would not have a good ending.

The Duke of Ying and the Duke of Jing of Ru'an City must have also been tempted by Monk Wuzhen. But now it seems that neither duke has fallen into his trap.

Oh, there's going to be blood again.

She smiled bitterly to herself. She had only wanted to be an idle fish, indifferent to worldly affairs, but it turned out to be so difficult.

In the Jinyiwei's Southern Pacification Division, Liu Ming'an stood with his hands behind his back, watching coldly as the captain took the former Minister of War Liu Yan into the imperial prison.

"Commander!" Liu Yan struggled to raise his head. "What crime have I committed?"

Liu Ming'an said nothing, merely raised his hand. Two Jinyiwei stumbled in, carrying a bloody figure, and threw him in front of the hall. Liu Yan looked closely and saw that it was Liu Wei, the Imperial Secretary. His face turned pale.

"I don't know this person at all." His voice trembled.

Liu Ming'an stepped forward slowly, his boots making a dull sound on the blue bricks. "Liu Wei has confessed, is Sir Liu still trying to argue?"

"Your Excellency, please understand!" Liu Yan took two steps on his knees. "I am truly wronged! This must be a frame-up!"

He rested his forehead on the ground, and the cuffs of his robe were soaked with cold sweat.

Liu Ming'an sneered, "You're still stubborn even when death is imminent. Liu Yan, you should know what kind of place this is..." He slowly walked around to the rack, "I've never seen anyone walk out of the Imperial Prison upright."

Liu Yan's face trembled, but he still stiffened his neck and cried out for justice.

Liu Mingan scoffed and fiddled with the branding iron in the charcoal basin with tongs: "Since you refuse to confess, then I'll pick a torture device to whet your appetite."

The pliers made a harsh scraping sound as they hit the soldering iron.

"Your Excellency, please understand! I am innocent!"

Liu Ming'an raised his chin towards the jailer and said, "Serve them one by one. Don't mistreat our former Minister of War."

Three days later, the torture chamber was filled with a strong smell of blood.

There was hardly a piece of intact skin or flesh on Liu Yan's body, but he still gritted his teeth and refused to reveal a single word.

Liu Ming'an pushed open the prison door. He stood in front of the dying Liu Yan and said coldly, "You still won't say anything at this moment!"

Liu Yan raised his head with difficulty, blood dripping down the wound on his forehead. He twitched his cracked lips, "Kill me or cut me up...it's up to you..."

Liu Ming'an suddenly leaned forward, his voice lowered to a whisper, "How about I speak for you? Was it Prince Su who ordered this?"

Seeing the other person's pupils shrink suddenly, he smiled with satisfaction.

"Don't even think about framing me!" Liu Yan suddenly leaped up, his chains rattling. "I truly respect Prince Su's virtue, but I've never met him! This matter has nothing to do with Prince Su. Don't try to force a confession out of me!"

Liu Ming'an sneered: "Liu Wei has confessed everything. Your resistance is futile."

"A mere sixth-rank official is worthy of framing a vassal king?" Liu Yan sneered. "My lord, aren't you afraid of slipping your tongue when you tell such a joke?"

"Wait until we capture Monk Wuzhen, and see how long you can keep your stubbornness!"

Liu Yan closed his eyes and leaned against the rack: "I don't know anything about Liu Wei or Wu Zhen."

Liu Yan refused to confess, leaving Liu Ming'an helpless. If he continued to torture him, he would probably die on the spot—with no evidence to prove his guilt, he would be charged with torture.

After leaving Zhaoyu, Liu Mingan went straight to Song Qianzhao and told him the general situation.

Song Qianzhao pondered for a moment, then suddenly said, "If you want someone to be completely devoted to you, even to the point of protecting you with their life, what should you do?"

Liu Ming'an replied, "There are only two ways: either show him great kindness and make him feel grateful, or hold something against him and force him to obey."

"In your opinion, sir... does Liu Yan seem like someone who would repay a favor?"

Liu Ming'an sneered and shook his head: "That guy is greedy for power and wealth, how can he be loyal?"

"Then there is only one possibility - he may have leverage in Prince Su's hands, or his family may be held hostage by him. Does this person have any children?"

Liu Ming'an's eyes lit up: "Indeed! Liu Yan has a son, and he was born in his old age, and he dotes on him very much. Could it be that..."

Song Qianzhao nodded and said, "Please check it out, my lord. I think you will find something."

…

Inside the Chongming Hall, the atmosphere was oppressive and one could hear a pin drop.

Emperor Yongshou threw the teacup in his hand to the ground, and porcelain shards flew everywhere!

The eunuchs standing by trembled all over, held their breath and lowered their heads.

"Well, what a great Prince Su!" Emperor Yongshou's face turned pale, his chest heaving violently. "My brother! He harbors such evil intentions!"

The Crown Prince stood quietly beside the imperial desk, his posture as upright as a lone pine tree by the abyss. Half a month of seclusion had slimmed him down considerably, his jawline becoming even more defined and sharper.

His gaze dropped, quickly and imperceptibly passing over the slender figure in the crimson official robe below. Having not seen her for half a month, seeing her now standing among the ministers, his eyes rippled slightly before returning to calm.

Minister of Justice Yang Yuan stepped forward and said in a grave voice, "Your Majesty, calm down. Prince Su has ulterior motives, and the evidence is irrefutable. However, his fiefdom, Suzhou in Liaodong, is located on the border and boasts a strong military presence."

"Moreover, at this moment, General Lu is leading his army in a fierce battle with the main force of the Di people in Qizhou, Liaodong. If the court were to send troops to Suzhou, Liaodong at this time, it would be attacked from two fronts, which would be disadvantageous to the overall situation."

A moment of silence fell within the hall. Emperor Yongshou frowned, clearly concerned about this. The war in Liaodong was tense; if another outbreak erupted, it would be truly dangerous.

Just then, hurried footsteps could be heard outside the palace. A dusty messenger, led by a eunuch, hurried inside. He knelt and shouted, "Victory news! Your Majesty, a great victory in Liaodong! General Lu led his troops in a surprise attack on the Di people's royal court, killing over ten thousand enemies. The Di Khan fled far away, unable to fight again! General Lu reports that this battle will ensure peace in Liaodong for ten years!"

"Good!" Emperor Yongshou slammed his desk and stood up suddenly. The gloom on his face was gone, and he was filled with ecstasy. "God bless our dynasty! General Lu is truly a tiger general!"

With a flicker of his eyes in his delight, he turned to look at the Crown Prince: "Now that the salt permit system has been reformed and the Maritime Customs Office has been established to stabilize commodity prices, the national treasury is well-stocked and fully capable of supporting the war effort. Now that Suzhou has been pacified, General Lu and his battle-hardened troops can turn their forces around and eliminate this internal threat!"

The prince nodded slightly, his voice as clear as jade: "Father, your majesty is wise."

Speaking of Lu Jian, several old ministers in the hall who had strongly opposed this appointment suddenly looked uncomfortable and their eyes wandered - it was they who had always said that "Lu Jian was lacking in virtue and was not fit for important positions", but now that the news of the great victory had come, this embarrassment turned into a trace of embarrassment on their faces.

Emperor Yongshou's gaze shifted, first to the figure below him. "My dear little minister Song, if you hadn't stood up against all the opposition during the court meeting, even arguing with them in court, and insisted on recommending General Lu, I might have missed out on such a talented general. You have the ability to identify talent, and the courage to risk your own life to promote talents for the country. I am deeply pleased."

Then he looked at Zhang Yan standing to the side. "The Junior Secretary also submitted a memorial before, strongly recommending General Lu to take command. His explanation of the pros and cons was quite insightful. You two are both discerning and truly my trusted aides."

Song Qianzhao and Zhang Yan stepped out and bowed together: "Your Majesty is so wise and decisive, and we dare not take credit for it."

Emperor Yongshou nodded with satisfaction and gave him a few words of encouragement.

An urgent meeting concerning state affairs finally came to a temporary conclusion amid the excitement brought by the victory news from Liaodong. The specific details of how to mobilize troops and how to deploy them still needed to be discussed later. After paying their respects, the ministers successively left Chongming Hall.

The moonlight was clear and light, flowing like mercury on the palace road.

As soon as Song Qianzhao stepped out of the palace gate, Yang Yuan came forward with a smile and walked slowly with her side by side.

"General Lu fought brilliantly this battle, all thanks to Lord Song's recommendation. His Majesty has shown even greater favor towards you. You are truly in the Emperor's good graces, and your future is limitless!"

"My daughter is sixteen years old this year. What I admire most is young and promising talents like Lord Song... I wonder if the family has arranged a marriage for you? If you haven't decided yet, you might consider my maid."

Song Qianzhao was both amused and annoyed. She was secretly considering how to decline the offer when a clear and gentle voice came from behind her, saving her in time: "Song Aiqing, please stay."

She turned around and saw the prince standing on the steps with his hands behind his back, the moonlight streaming down his body, making him look indescribably noble.

Seeing this, Yang Yuan had to swallow the words that were on the tip of his tongue. He put on a smile, saluted the prince, and gave Song Qianzhao a look that said "let's talk later", then he tactfully withdrew.

Xuan Shu walked down the stairs, closing the distance. A smile flickered in his eyes, and his tone was casual: "After discussing matters for so long, are you hungry?"

Song Qianzhao's eyebrows curved, and he replied in a light tone: "Your Highness is wise, I am indeed hungry."

"The East Palace kitchen has just brought in some water shield and hilsa from Jiangnan. They're quite fresh. Let me have some." He paused briefly, glancing casually in the direction Yang Yuan was leaving. "Just now, I saw Lord Yang chatting happily with you, and it seemed like he had something else to say. I've already sent someone to invite him. Why don't we go to the East Palace together and eat and chat?"

Upon hearing that Yang Yuan had to be specially invited, Song Qianzhao's face immediately showed embarrassment. He hurriedly said, "Your Highness, there is no need to bother! Yang Yuan was just chatting casually and had already finished his conversation. There is nothing important to discuss."

Xuan Shu took in her momentary panic, and the smile in his eyes deepened. However, he did not point it out, but simply nodded: "If that's the case, then we won't invite him."

He turned sideways, stepped aside naturally, and said softly, "Let's go."

The moonlight was like water, and the wine and dishes in the pavilion were warm. The news of Lü Jian's victory delighted the two men, and before they had finished their pot of clear wine, they leaped onto the rooftop and drank together in the moonlight.

"I've heard all that." Xuan Shu held the cup, his eyes fixed on her wine-soaked lips. "I never imagined that the peasant woman we rescued that night would drown herself in despair due to persecution by officials. I never expected that behind these officials... was Prince Su."

His tone was full of praise: "You are wholeheartedly serving the people and are not afraid of Prince Su's power. You have done a good job in exposing his crimes."

Song Qianzhao shook his head, a smile on his lips, his eyes bright. "Your Highness, you are too kind. It's not that I'm not afraid, but it's precisely because I'm afraid of his power that I used Censor Du to present evidence. I wanted to hide behind the scenes, but Lord Du is too upright and couldn't bring himself to report me. Instead, Your Majesty saw the clues and attracted the attention of Prince Su."

"Then Prince Su first used words to incite me to rebellion. Seeing that I remained unmoved, he framed me for treason. Fortunately, I uncovered the truth and prevented him from succeeding. Instead, his rebellious intentions were confirmed."

"I'm not exaggerating." Tai Xuanshu gazed at her, his voice gentle but firm. "Your concern for the people is kindness; your ability to capitalize on opportunities is wisdom; your ability to protect yourself and achieve your goals even in the midst of a turbulent situation is ability. How many people in the court possess such a heart and wisdom? I... deeply admire you."

He paused for a moment, his eyes filled with emotion, and he finally called out the name that had been lingering on his lips for a long time: "Qian Zhao."

Song Qianzhao was slightly startled. This was the first time he called her name.

The moonlight was like water, making the prince's usually cold eyebrows and eyes seem particularly gentle. "I haven't said it yet, I..."

Before she finished speaking, she suddenly leaned forward, and her slightly cool lips pressed lightly on his cheek like butterfly wings.

Instantly, everything was silent. Xuan Shu felt his heart stop, his mind blank. When he came to, Ruyu's cheeks were tinged with a faint blush, and a smile was hidden in her eyes.

"Qian Zhao," he said in a low, mellow voice, with an unprecedented seriousness, "I haven't told you yet, I like you."

The two were so close that their breathing could be heard. Song Qianzhao could clearly see her reflection in his eyes. She nodded, a smile in her eyes, and said firmly, "I know. When has the look in your eyes when you look at me been innocent?"

Some feelings do not need to be expressed in words, they have already been revealed when eyes meet.

Hearing this, Xuan Shu could no longer suppress his smile. He kept his eyes fixed on her and asked softly, "Qian Zhao, then you..."

"Your Highness," Song Qianzhao deliberately frowned, looked at him carefully, and said teasingly, "Are you stupid?"

She had already kissed him, but he still asked more questions.

Xuan Shu was annoyed by her, but he laughed softly, "I just want to hear it with my own ears."

Otherwise, it always feels unreasonable.

Song Qianzhao stopped talking and raised her hands to naturally wrap around his neck. As she approached, a faint fragrance lingered around his nose, instantly occupying all his senses.

Her voice was clear and gentle: "Your Highness, I like you very much too. With you by my side, I always feel at ease and happy. Meeting you is the greatest blessing of my life. But... if there is an afterlife, what will I do if I don't meet you?"

She didn't use fancy words, but spoke from the heart.

"It's definitely possible that we won't meet." Xuan Shu promised without hesitation, "Wherever you are, I'll be there. As long as... you don't mind being bothered."

Song Qianzhao smiled when he heard this and shook his head, "I don't mind."

Seeing her smile, the tenderness in Xuan Shu's eyes almost overflowed. He raised his hand and gently rubbed the top of her head. When their eyes met, he slowly leaned forward.

A gentle kiss first landed on her forehead, cherishing it like a rare treasure. Then it slowly moved down, touching her slightly cool eyelashes, and finally, covering the lips that he had longed for.

Her breath was sweet, with a hint of wine, and her lips were as soft as early spring petals. At first, it was a cautious touch, but gradually it deepened, becoming a lingering mark, melting unfinished words and unspoken feelings into the moonlight.