A sudden turn of events

Shangguan Yichen and Zhong Yujing left the Xianwang Mansion. Two carriages were parked at the door. Shangguan Yichen said to the steward beside the carriages, "There is no need to arrange a separate carriage. The prince and Jing can go together."

The housekeeper glanced at Zhong Yujing and said "Yes" without saying much. Then he took the coachman and drove the carriage around to the backyard.

The virtuous king took the carriage of the Zhong Mansion as a matter of course and with confidence, sitting opposite Zhong Yujing in the same carriage.

Shangguan Yichen was very quiet today. Zhong Yujing was watching him from the opposite side. Since getting on the car, he had been keeping silent with his eyelashes slightly drooping. Sometimes he would lean on his chest with his arms folded, his eyes looking in one direction without moving. Sometimes he would frown, and sometimes his expression would relax, as if he was thinking about something. After thinking for a moment, he would close his eyes again, and then open them again suddenly, and then still look in the original direction.

Zhong Yujing studied his demeanor. From this angle, the morning light flowed down his forehead, across the bridge of his nose, along his lips, over his jaw, and onto his neck. Suddenly, she realized that he didn't look like King Yao, but more like the Concubine Dowager. King Yao had a heroic face and was bold and ambitious, while he, besides being handsome, also had a kingly aloofness in his aura.

When Zhong Yujing, Shangguan Yichen, and Sun Zili were investigating the case, they had always believed that Prince Ping was the culprit behind King Yao's murder. Now, the case has suddenly been overturned and someone else has been found to be the murderer. Shangguan Yichen must be feeling very complicated at this moment. Perhaps he's thinking about his own father...

Zhong Yujing called out softly, "Prince..."

Shangguan Yichen paused, then retracted his gaze to Zhong Yujing, looking at her puzzledly, as if asking her what was wrong.

Zhong Yujing pondered and said, "The case of King Yao will be thoroughly investigated and the truth will be revealed to everyone..."

Zhong Yujing was still thinking about how to persuade him, but unexpectedly Shangguan Yichen took the initiative to say: "I am fine, Prime Minister Jing, don't worry." Then he raised the corner of his lips, his spirits high.

Zhong Yujing observed him for a moment and found that he really didn't seem to be forcing a smile. She thought to herself that King Yao had been dead for a long time, and he must have let it go in his heart. It was just that he was sad to bring up the old things today, but it was also inevitable. As long as it was okay, it was good. So Zhong Yujing also smiled and nodded in relief.

The carriage finally arrived outside the palace gates. Shangguan Yichen helped Zhong Yujing down from the carriage. She looked up and saw the palace gates wide open, revealing the palace's interior. Most of the ginkgo trees had fallen, leaving only a few hanging from the branches, a desolate sight. The golden leaves on the ground had been swept away by the palace servants, and the entire palace felt devoid of warmth. She and Shangguan Yichen walked along the path they had walked countless times before. They entered the palace gates and heard the sound of the guards slowly closing the bronze door behind them, a sound filled with the ancient tones of time, heavy with rust. Zhong Yujing glanced back. The palace gates were studded with nine copper nails, each horizontal and vertical. As the gates closed, they straightened and aligned themselves neatly. Those massive nails, a symbol of imperial power, seemed to lock something forever into this gradually cold season. A bitter pain lingered in her heart, but she couldn't explain why. She wrapped her clothes tightly around her and walked towards the main hall with Shangguan Yichen.

Incense burned long and lingering in Qianyuan Hall. The imperial desk of Emperor Hong was piled high with scrolls of calligraphy. Zhong Yujing and Shangguan Yichen had been given seats in the hall, waiting. Eunuch He had a eunuch bring chairs and said to them, "Your Majesty rose at dawn today to attend to official business and had just finished breakfast. Upon hearing that Prince Xian and Prime Minister Jing had important matters to report, I immediately put down my bowl and was about to come to Qianyuan Hall. Please rest for a while. Your Majesty will be here shortly."

In less than a cup of tea, the man in yellow robe walked in from the inner hall, and Eunuch He bowed to serve him. Emperor Hong walked straight to the imperial desk and sat down. He pressed down with one hand, indicating Zhong Yujing and Shangguan Yichen to sit down, and he started talking first: "I am sitting here, almost blocked by the mountain of memorials on the desk, and I can't see you." He slumped in the chair, lazily propped up his right arm, stroking his chin with his index finger, feeling helpless and funny. Upon hearing this, Eunuch He immediately stepped forward to tidy up the documents on the desk and move them away, but was stopped by Emperor Hong. Eunuch He turned around and glanced at him, and knew that the emperor was just complaining, so he bowed his upper body slightly, stepped back to the side, and served.

Zhong Yujing and Shangguan Yichen could see Emperor Hong clearly, although the memorials and documents lying in the middle did look messy and abrupt. Zhong Yujing noticed that there was a shadow in the eyes of Emperor Hong, and guessed that it must be related to the pile of things on the imperial table. But when Emperor Hong said, "Marquis Dingyuan of Qing State is like a thunderclap, which has thrown the court, which had been peaceful for a few days, into chaos. I will be buried by the memorials submitted by ministers in the next few days." While speaking, he picked up the book closest to him on the table, flipped through it casually, glanced at it, and threw it on the table, "No need to read this, Another one, again, first scolded the Marquis of Dingyuan, then urged me not to surrender. Even without seeing their names, I could tell which were the civil and military officials. Those who spoke pompously about integrity and expressed their patriotism were certainly civil officials, while those who passionately volunteered for battle were certainly military generals. Emperor Hong rubbed the spot on his forehead in annoyance. Suddenly remembering something, he looked up at them and asked, "What urgent matter have you come here to report today?" He frowned, glanced at the table before him, stroked his forehead, and sighed softly, "Could it be the same matter as these?"

While Zhong Yujing was pondering, Shangguan Yichen had already said, "Yes and no."

The weary look in Emperor Hong's eyes froze for a moment, then he looked at Shangguan Yichen with suspicion. He only heard him say, "Your Majesty, I would like to ask, before Prince Ping's uncle died, did he discuss with you the details of King Yao's murder?"

Emperor Hong was somewhat surprised. It was an established fact that King Yao was murdered by King Ping. This long-delayed murder case had finally been resolved with King Ping's death. Shangguan Yichen's sudden mention of it today had left Emperor Hong somewhat startled. But the virtuous king was not a man to be taken lightly. Since he had come with the Prime Minister this morning to report something important, it was surely more than just idle chatter. Emperor Hong then lost himself in reminiscence...

"The last time I saw Uncle Ping, he mostly spoke of his own state of mind... He only mentioned Uncle Yao once, saying that his death had nothing to do with him, and he also included some slanderous remarks about Uncle Yao harboring a grudge against me."

Shangguan Yichen said, "Prince Ping was already imprisoned at the time. Although his crimes were not publicly announced, he must have known it in his heart. He must have known that his situation was hopeless and that his evil intentions were no longer viable. When a person reaches this point, his words and actions are often true. King Yao's death was indeed not his fault."

Emperor Hong looked at Shangguan Yichen in astonishment, straightened up, and asked anxiously, "Who is that? Do you have any clues?"

Shangguan Yichen nodded. "This matter begins with a name I discovered in King Yao's letter. This person's name is Wenren Rang. At first, I thought this person's name was unfamiliar, and I had never seen him among King Yao's acquaintances. Later, when I went to King Ping's mansion with Prime Minister Jing and Sun Zili to investigate a case, I deliberately used this person's name to test King Ping. King Ping's words were evasive, and I and the two of them both felt that there was something fishy going on. Later, during the Nansai Rebellion, Prime Minister Jing and I learned that Wenren Rang was impersonating the military advisor of Sai Tufang and causing the rebellion. At that time, he was colluding with King Ping. I became even more certain that King Ping was responsible for King Yao's death..."

Emperor Hong listened attentively and nodded from time to time.

Shangguan Yichen continued, "I believe Wenren Rang is just a nobody, a pawn in Prince Ping's plot to usurp the throne. The root of everything lies with Prince Ping. He is the key figure in King Yao's murder and the instigator of all the rebellious incidents. Therefore, I have not reported this person to Your Majesty."

He spoke slowly and leisurely, clearly sorting out the whole process and striking the right balance, so that His Majesty could understand the cause and effect clearly and would not blame or suspect them for concealing the truth.

Zhong Yujing couldn't help but let out a long sigh in her heart.

But Shangguan Yichen continued, "Unexpectedly, it is not that simple. Early this morning, Prime Minister Jing came to report to me, saying that she received a letter from an unknown person in the Zhong Mansion last night." Shangguan Yichen took out a short arrow and a roll of paper from his sleeve and handed them to Eunuch He. Eunuch He stepped forward respectfully, held them with both hands, turned around and handed them to Emperor Hong.

Emperor Hong carefully examined the short arrow over and over. Shangguan Yichen continued, "I have examined this arrow. It is made of the same material and craftsmanship as the short arrow Shen Qingci used to lure me into Yinfeng Forest. It must have been made by the same person. This person is in collusion with Shen Qingci. The content written on the paper was to lure me into Yinfeng Forest to find out the truth about King Yao's death. That's why I fell for it."

"Brother, how did you know that the short arrow belonged to Wenren Rang?" asked Emperor Hong.

"The handwriting on the rolled paper inside the front and rear short arrows is the same as Wenren Rang's handwriting in King Yao's letter." Shangguan Yichen said solemnly without any hesitation.

Emperor Hong hurriedly unfolded the scroll. After reading the words on it, he was shocked. His hand holding the paper trembled slightly. His eyes swept down again, stopping at the pattern, and his brows furrowed. "What is this picture?"

Shangguan Yichen smiled slightly, turned to look at Zhong Yujing, and said meaningfully: "This matter should start with Prime Minister Jing."

Zhong Yujing nodded and continued Shangguan Yichen's words, "Last night, after returning home, I felt uneasy, so I meditated in the family ancestral hall. When I entered a state of meditation, I saw some scenes..."

Eunuch He, standing beside Emperor Hong, suddenly exclaimed, "I've heard that the Zhong family possesses extraordinary powers and can see things that ordinary people can't! So the rumors are true!"

Emperor Hong, Zhong Yujing, and Shangguan Yichen all turned to look at Eunuch He. Eunuch He's face, originally filled with surprise, was somewhat embarrassed by the look and he quickly lowered his head and said, "This old servant has limited knowledge. Please don't blame me for being rude, Prime Minister Jing."

Zhong Yujing hurriedly smiled and said, "It's okay. What Eunuch He said is a normal reaction for ordinary people. What's wrong with it?"

Emperor Hong also laughed and said, "Yes, Eunuch He actually spoke out what was in my heart first, saving me the energy to speak again."

Eunuch He smiled awkwardly, bowed, looked at Zhong Yujing with gratitude, and looked much more calm.

Emperor Hong continued, "When I was a child, I heard my father tell me many stories about the Benefactor Ren. He was said to be able to understand the heavens and the human heart, and to be able to travel freely through time and space when he was in a trance. At that time, I thought he was like a god or an immortal. My father told me that all heirs of the Zhong family possessed such divine powers, and that when I became emperor in the future, I would have such a person as my prime minister. Today, I can finally listen to the spiritual powers and extraordinary stories of the Zhong family members for myself."

Zhong Yujing nodded slightly, his expression solemn, and continued, "After entering into meditation, my mind traveled to King Yao's palace. On the night of King Yao's assassination, I witnessed the process of his murder."

Emperor Hong suddenly stood up, and the scroll in his hand fell onto the imperial desk, but he was unaware of it. His pupils trembled as he stared at Zhong Yujing and asked, "Who killed Uncle Yao?!"

Zhong Yujing said calmly, "There's a mark on that person's body, which is the pattern drawn on the scroll."

Emperor Hong was not only shocked but also confused. He was at a loss for what to do. Then he realized that the roll of paper had fallen. He lowered his head to grab the roll of paper on the table, picked it up and carefully looked at the pattern on it, but heard Eunuch He beside him exclaim and gasp.

Emperor Hong, Zhong Yujing, and Shangguan Yifei all looked at Eunuch He. He covered his mouth, his eyes wide open, his face pale with fear, the dustpan in his hand trembling, and with his other hand, he pointed at the scroll in Emperor Hong's hand and said in a trembling voice, "This pattern, I have seen before..."

Zhong Yujing leaned forward, frowned, and looked stern.

Shangguan Yichen had a stern expression and a stern gaze.

Emperor Hong grabbed Eunuch He's trembling arm and demanded, "Where have you seen him before?"

Eunuch He said, "On the body of the Qing Kingdom's envoy..."