Chapter 25 [VIP]

“His Highness seems to frequent Lord Lu’s place,” Song Zhao said. “What do you think of Lord Lu?”

They headed out of the palace together, and Murong Yue kept an eye on the scenery outside the carriage window. He noticed Song Zhao's scrutinizing gaze on him; this man had crescent-shaped eyes that, when lowered, resembled two curved strings, revealing a penetrating intent.

"Lord Lu is gentle and refined. After meeting him, I regretted not returning sooner to admire his brilliance," Murong Yue replied.

Murong Yue: "I've heard that Lord Song and Lord Lu were classmates in the past. I imagine you two are even more familiar with each other. What does Lord Song think of Lord Lu?"

“I have little contact with him,” Song Zhao said, changing the subject. “I’ve been busy going to the Fate Meeting lately. I should have brought His Highness here a few days ago… He should have confessed by now.”

The carriage slowly came to a stop at the criminal trial court. On both sides were rows of locust trees, which cast deep shade. The roots of the locust trees, watered by rain, spread out into a dark, gloomy black, intertwined with the majestic greenery, and scattered in patches of gray shadows.

The two of them walked one after the other on the blue bricks. Murong Yue followed behind Song Zhao, who spoke to him as if asking casual questions, yet when he observed his expression, it was as if he had the keen eyes of a demon who could see through everything.

"You must recognize this prisoner. He served in your mother's palace for a period of time during the previous court. Does Your Highness remember him?"

They stepped into the prison where prisoners were being interrogated, the dampness and stench of decaying copper filling the air. Song Zhao's voice echoed through the prison, making him pause slightly.

His expression remained unchanged as he calmly replied, "I don't know which one Lord Song is referring to. I originally stayed in the capital, and the time I spent in the palace with my mother was not long."

Song Zhao: "This man's name is Weng San. He served Consort Li for a period of time before his death. Later, he was responsible for relocating the tombs. When the new emperor ascended the throne, he spared his life and allowed him to do cleaning work in the back room. Of the three suspects... he spent the longest time in the Shangjing Hall, and could have used the gaps in the roster to poison the wine of the three officials. I interrogated him for three days, but he refused to say anything in prison. Three days have passed, and I have not sent him any food, only some rusty water."

Iron bars separated the murky, chaotic air. The dark space split into several openings, each seemingly poised to devour someone with its gaping maw. Water dripped silently from the ceiling, landing soundlessly on Murong Yue's boots.

Murong Yue saw the people inside the prison cell.

He had brought the old man some fish a few days ago and had a meal with him. While eating, the old man kept fiddling with the hairpin, which was said to have been sent by his daughter outside the palace. The old man had always stayed in the palace and could not see his daughter even once a year. Since the new emperor ascended the throne and the purges were carried out, there had been no news of his daughter.

The old man is now locked in a cell, having gone without food for three days. His wrinkled face has become emaciated, reduced to just skin and bones, his cloudy eyes rolling back, and the air is thick with a putrid stench. No one knows what these people have done to him; the old man is terrified and stands motionless in a corner, surrounded by excrement.

"You're good at these things, so why did you bring me here? Do you want me to participate in the interrogation?" Murong Yue asked calmly.

The image of Weng San clearly appeared in his mind's eye, and his and his third uncle's figures were reflected on the dark wall. At this moment, he and his third uncle had become two dead fish lying on their backs. The difference was that his third uncle was now on the chopping block, while he was placed aside, watching how the old fish was slowly executed to announce his imminent death.

"He is not far from death. Whoever is behind this, this matter needs to be resolved. Your Highness surely understands this as well."

Song Zhao leisurely sized him up and said, "I brought the Ninth Prince here to see if he has any recollection of this person. Perhaps he can provide some clues for this case. If Your Highness is unaware, consider today a preview of the rules of the Criminal Trial Committee."

Third Uncle also saw him. He looked at him through the railing, the air remaining quiet. He met those cloudy eyes, his palms slightly clenched, and he heard a sound.

Song Zhao's gaze remained fixed on him, searching for any flaw in his demeanor. He immediately frowned and covered his nose, as if the smell in the air was unbearable.

“My mother had many servants in the palace, how could I possibly remember them all? Lord Song, you must have had a hard time interrogating me. I’ve been here for less than a minute and I’m already about to faint from the stench. This old codger should be dealt with as soon as possible. The case just happens to need a prisoner, and he’s old enough to be suitable. This way, we won’t have to trouble others,” he said.

Upon hearing this, Song Zhao remained expressionless. After scrutinizing him for a moment, he said to the guard beside him, "Since Your Highness has said so, then proceed."

Weng San was very old, blind and deaf, and couldn't hear what they were saying very clearly. He only caught a few words, from which he vaguely glimpsed his own end. Facing death, Weng San showed only a moment of fear; his withered, wrinkled face trembled, turning into a hollow skull. The rope around his neck tightened, and his dry skin, like withered grass heading for winter, easily withered away.

A mournful sound emanated from his nasal cavity, a sound that, born of human flesh, became a chaotic and somber cacophony amidst extreme fear and silence. Weng San's entire body contorted, merging with the dark walls and excrement, becoming part of the dust and debris within the cracks of the countless palace walls.

The person slowly fell to the ground.

Murong Yue heard a crisp sound as the hairpin in the old man's arms fell to the ground and shattered into pieces.

Song Zhao said to him, "I will report to His Majesty that this is the merit of the Ninth Prince. The Ninth Prince is selfless and respectful to His Majesty. His Majesty will also clear the Ninth Prince's name."

With a buzzing in his ears, Murong Yue didn't hear Song Zhao's words clearly. He only saw Song Zhao's voice rising and falling, his words and the entire palace wall becoming the nameless blood of Weng San splattered on the ground. His eyes reflected Weng San's fallen corpse, his fingers constantly clenching, only when they touched the cold, black railing did they bring him to his senses a little.

“Lord Song, those hairpins on the ground look valuable to me. May I have them?” he asked, his eyes seemingly smiling as he looked at Song Zhao ingratiatingly. “His Majesty has not given me any allowance for a long time. If it weren’t for the palace maid sent by Lord Lu who took pity on me, I might have ended up like him, starving to death in the palace.”

“…” Song Zhao frowned, turned to the side and said, “Whatever you say.”

He walked into the prison in front of Song Zhao. He didn't mind the hairpin on the ground, carefully wiped it with a handkerchief, wrapped it up, and put it in his pocket.

“Lord Song, this old man looks quite old. There don’t seem to be many elderly people of his age in the palace,” he said to Song Zhao.

“My mother said that only kind-hearted people can live long lives, but it seems that’s not entirely true. This old man has killed so many people, he must be very ruthless… Lord Song has done justice today.” Murong Yue said, staring at Song Zhao’s back, his eyes filled with a pure blackness that seemed to seep into Song Zhao.

"Lord Song, don't you agree?" he asked.

Song Zhao noticed that the young man behind him remained calm and unchanged, just as he had been in front of the hall. He quietly pondered each step he had taken. He glanced to the side and saw that the young man was still smiling, looking at him with a gentle smile. His sharp eyes were pure and serene, and his smile deepened when he looked at him.

“Perhaps,” he said, showing no interest in Murong Yue’s words, “I need to explain to His Majesty, so I will not see the Ninth Prince off.”

As he walked, he always sensed someone watching him from behind. The person behind him was of a coarse and wicked nature, and their gaze made him feel uneasy.

After escorting Murong Yue back to the palace, the guards did not leave but remained outside the side hall. The side hall remained silent all night. The next morning, before dawn, Murong Yue emerged from the side hall and proceeded to Zhizhang Hall as usual.

Murong Yue saw Grand Tutor Zhao from afar outside the palace. Beside Grand Tutor Zhao were Xiao Shen and Yue Lanxin.

He had no interest in these articles and rules of etiquette, and he rarely sought out Grand Tutor Zhao, who would always sigh when he saw him. This was the first time he had approached Grand Tutor Zhao, which greatly surprised the latter.

Grand Tutor Zhao asked him, "Your Highness, have you come to inquire about your studies?"

Xiao Shen and Yue Lanxin looked over together upon hearing this. The two were childhood sweethearts and had briefly crossed paths at the hunting grounds earlier. They sized him up.

"It's not that I have any homework to do, but I have some questions for Xiao Shen and Miss Yue. I'll just listen in and admire your literary talent."

Grand Tutor Zhao's eyelids drooped, and upon hearing this, he ignored him and patiently explained the lessons to the two. This explanation lasted for an hour. He listened patiently from the side, and his performance in the Zhizhang Hall was neither good nor bad, barely passing.

After Zhao Taifu left, Xiao Shen was the first to put down his book and asked him, "What did you want with us?"

"The rabbit from last time," Yue Lanxin recalled, "we got it back together, thanks. You haven't been to class for a while, what have you been doing?"

"You did some fun things. Are General Xiao and Miss Yue interested?" Murong Yue asked casually.

Xiao Shen flipped through the book indifferently, "What could be more interesting than reading?"

“There are many things more interesting than studying,” Yue Lanxin replied. “It’s all your fault for coming to see the Grand Tutor. We could have done something else in this hour.”

"Why blame me?" Xiao Shen shrugged. "It's your own fault for insisting on coming with me."

“I would like to ask Miss Yue about this matter, but we’ll talk about it next time,” Murong Yue said, taking out the handkerchief from his pocket. The boy and girl curiously crowded around, and the handkerchief was unfolded to reveal the broken hairpin inside.

Murong Yue: "I saw Miss Yue repairing the jade hairpin with my own eyes last time. Could you please ask Lanxin and Xiaoshen to help me... restore this hairpin?"

There had been a distance between them, so this form of address felt slightly novel to Yue Lanxin. She and Xiao Shen had already noticed last time that the Ninth Prince was hiding his true abilities. This might be cause for suspicion in adults, but for them, it was more of a matter of curiosity than scheming. It was as if it were a secret belonging to the three of them.

“Even my brother doesn’t call me that, you’re shameless.” Xiao Shen said, looking at the hairpin, “It’s not that it can’t be repaired, but it’s already in pieces, so it will take a lot of time.”

Yue Lanxin: "Since Your Highness has spoken, it's not that we can't do it."

Murong Yue understood and said to them, "Thank you both. If it can be repaired, how about you come and sit in my side courtyard next time? My place is like a maze, much more interesting than studying."

Xiao Shen and Yue Lanxin exchanged a glance and were the first to agree.

"It's a deal."

Yue Lanxin had never been deep inside the palace before, and upon hearing this, she asked, "Is it really like a maze?"

"Hmm, they might not come back if they go. Do you dare to go?" Murong Yue asked.

"Would there be a place I could go to and never return from? Is it more dangerous than a military camp?" Xiao Shen said dismissively.

Murong Yue smiled, "You'll know when the time comes."

“It’s a deal. We’ll go take a look then,” Yue Lanxin said, taking the hairpin from him. “I’ll return this hairpin to you in three days.”

"Thank you," Murong Yue glanced at the books the two were holding. Liancheng was suffering from drought and had no harvest, a matter that had been a headache for the court. The ancient books the two were reading were also related to natural disasters and flood control.

"What you were discussing with the Grand Tutor just now... was it related to this matter?" he asked, looking at the book in Xiao Shen's hand.

"Just take a look," Xiao Shen said. "Historical records are ultimately limited and cannot be compared with those of that time."

Yue Lanxin: "I heard from my father that the official silver allocated to Liancheng is not enough for disaster relief. My family has donated a lot of money. Many prominent families in the city have made a name for themselves. Entrusting this matter to them is just like moving money from one pocket to another."

“This is a problem that has existed since ancient times. For the Emperor to ascend the throne, he needs the support of powerful families,” Murong Yue said.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Shen immediately said, "Then can we just ignore the common people? Have you ever seen the article written by the officials from the capital who went to Liancheng? It says that the elderly, women and children shared half a catty of rice for a month. They drank rice soup every day to survive. After a month, both children starved to death, and the old woman hanged herself from the roof beam."

"The authenticity of that article is still unknown," Yue Lan thought to herself. "I would like to go to Liancheng to see for myself when I have time."

Although they are young, their family backgrounds mean they will inevitably participate in politics in the future.

“I have read about an interesting Chen Jian in ancient books.” Murong Yue’s dark eyes reflected the two of them, and they both looked at him because of his words.

Murong Yue: "The powerful families are not afraid of power, but they fear the loss of their lasting legacy. If we want them to release government funds, we should do this in their name. If successful, they will be remembered for eternity. By order of the Emperor, we should build canals and roads in the drought-stricken areas. First, we should build canals to transport water from north to south, and second, we should build roads for caravans. We should recruit laborers to build canals and provide jobs for local men. Caravans should strengthen trade between different regions. In this way, we can communicate effectively with both the higher and lower levels and alleviate the drought in Liancheng."

Upon hearing his words, both Xiao Shen and Yue Lanxin froze on the spot.

"If even so, they still act perfunctorily and become corrupt, then such a powerful family remaining in the court is a great threat. It would be better to uproot them completely. Let this serve as a mirror to expose their rotten teeth."

Seeing that the two were listening intently, Murong Yue smiled and said, "These are just things I read in books, and I don't know if they are applicable to the current dynasty. I just wanted to offer some insignificant suggestions since I see that you two are worried about this."

"Speaking of those in the court who would never associate with powerful families, there is only one I can recall. It is undoubtedly Lord Song Zhao."

“There is one more,” Xiao Shen said, “but he is no longer serving in the court.”

"When he was on duty, he went south to eliminate the troubles. He was loved by the people wherever he went. He was once the late emperor's most beloved minister. The late emperor even named him in the Guangyu Hall and bestowed upon him the title of 'Changyou Huiliang Wuliang'. It is a pity that he did not leave the capital when he went south. Your Highness may not know about this."

"It is rare that he remained pure and simple despite receiving such high honors... When the Prime Minister's residence was searched, no gold or silver was found, only a palace full of books."