Chapter 18 Assassins: Someone Wants to Kill the Emperor
The palace gates were closed in the dark, and the gatekeepers at the city gates heard the drumbeats urging them to lower the keys.
The gatekeeper verified the tally and then allowed the bright yellow-roofed carriage to enter the palace.
The winter plum blossoms in the East Palace are blooming beautifully this winter. Xie Wenjun broke off two branches, brought them close to her nose, and smelled their delicate and elegant fragrance.
She carried the plum branch to the Crown Prince's Qianqing Palace.
Just then, the chef carried the tea tray out of the Qianqing Hall. Xie Wenjun stepped forward to inspect it, and found that the crispy cakes and pastries on the tray, made with plum blossoms in the snow, remained untouched.
After the New Year's Eve palace banquet, the Crown Prince was so busy with the refugees and the anti-corruption campaign that he often forgot to eat and drink, and thus neglected Xie Wenjun, which gave her the opportunity to leave the palace.
Without requesting permission to leave the palace, and taking the token that allowed someone from the Eastern Palace to leave the palace on official business, one will inevitably be punished.
The Crown Prince was reviewing official documents under the glow of a bronze oil lamp with a crane-shaped crown when Xie Wenjun stepped inside, bringing with her a chill.
He handed the wintersweet branch to the palace maid who was serving him before kneeling down to perform a grand salute.
"Greetings, Your Majesty. May Your Majesty enjoy a peaceful and prosperous New Year."
"Get up."
After a long silence, the Crown Prince looked up from the mountain of official documents. "It would be good to go out of the palace to see the lantern festival and experience the everyday life of ordinary people."
Xie Wenjun then got up and sat down.
"I've been busy lately and haven't had a chance to ask you how your martial arts training at the Marquis of Xuanping's residence is going? Are you likely to hit your prey during the spring hunt?"
When discussing Chen Liangyu, Xie Wenjun offered a highly complimentary four-word assessment: "misleading the youth."
"Oh?" The Crown Prince spoke to her during a break from writing. "The eldest daughter of Marquis Xuanping is quite skilled; she's more than enough to fool you."
Xie Wenjun subconsciously rubbed her shoulders; even though the soreness had subsided, she still remembered how it felt.
“A person with extensive knowledge is not necessarily a good teacher.” She said, “On the first day, he didn’t teach me anything. He just gave me a book to memorize. It was full of techniques and methods that were all form but not substance. Fortunately, it wasn’t too difficult. I only needed to memorize it in one day.”
"And what about the second day?"
"He stood in a horse stance for nearly two hours."
"And the third day?"
"Horse stance, sword at the ready."
...
The prince moved the lamp handle closer and patiently explained to her, "The most important thing when drawing a bow and shooting an arrow is to be steady. If your center of gravity is not stable, you will not be able to stand. If your hand is not steady, you will not be able to shoot accurately. She must have her reasons for teaching you this way."
“I understand the principle, but I practiced diligently every day, hoping to earn some praise from her. Who knew she would say that I haven’t yet developed my intelligence?” Xie Wenjun took off her cloak, which was then taken by the eunuch Wei, who was waiting nearby. “Isn’t that a veiled criticism that I’m dull-witted?”
The Crown Prince put down his vermilion brush, pushed aside the numerous official documents on the table, and said, "What she said is not wrong. When she was your age, she was already able to compete with Marquis Xuanping. Everyone has their own strengths. You have your own world and don't need to compare yourself with others' strengths."
Xie Wenjun said, "I'm not comparing myself to her; I just want to do better."
The prince didn't respond to this, but instead pressed his nose to relieve the swelling and pain in his eyes.
After a moment's pause, he asked, "I heard that you asked the Southern Office Registrar for the patrol logs of the Sixteen Guards today. What is your purpose?"
Xie Wenjun's fingers curled slightly, his clasped hands unconsciously clenched, and he said with a calm and composed expression, "It's just a routine check of the Imperial City guards' deployment."
The Crown Prince clearly did not believe her perfunctory explanation and, unusually, showed a stern expression in front of his beloved younger sister, whom he had personally groomed.
He looked closely at Xie Wenjun and said in a calm voice, "Jiang Ning seems to care a lot about that young general from the Xuanping Marquis's family."
Xie Wenjun readily replied, "She is quite different from others."
The Crown Prince walked around from behind the mountain of memorials to stand in front of Xie Wenjun. Xie Wenjun was short and sitting, so she had to look up to see the Crown Prince's face clearly.
The ancient and solemn scent of the nanmu wood emanating from the ceremonial robe made one want to sneeze.
"You said you wanted to learn some riding and archery skills for the spring hunt in March. I said I would find you a tutor, but you refused, only agreeing to be taught by the daughter of the Marquis of Xuanping. I agreed to that. But what did you say or do at the Marquis of Xuanping's residence?"
Xie Wenjun sensed the accusation in the air, rose from her chair, took a few steps back, and knelt down on the ground. "Your Majesty, I only reminded Marquis Xuanping to tell him not to interfere in the affairs of Cangnan."
"More than that?" The Crown Prince took a deep breath. "Chen Liangyu suddenly mobilized the Sixteen Guards to surround the mansion and arrest people. Do you dare say that it wasn't you who urged the advisor to do so?"
The suffering of the people of Cangnan is heartbreaking.
He was not entirely unaware of what the Yao family and the Chen family had done. He had been holding back for a long time, waiting for the day when the Censorate would jointly submit a memorial to the emperor, so that he could act in accordance with the will of Heaven and the times, investigate the Xuanping Marquis's mansion, dismantle and reorganize the northern border military defenses, and make the three prefectures and sixteen cities no longer subject to the orders of one person.
But Chen Liangyu's actions instantly reversed the tide. What was originally a heinous crime of a powerful minister allowing his relatives to exploit the people was transformed into a noble act of sacrificing one's own family for the greater good.
The accusations made by the Censorate were based on no factual basis.
The Xuanping Marquis's mansion was spared from being implicated in the executions. Although Chen Yuanqing resigned to take responsibility and more than half of the soldiers in the northern border were dismissed, the military affairs of the northern border were all handed over to Chen Linjun, and the region remained a united front.
The Crown Prince rarely lost his temper, and the palace servants and eunuchs attending him in the Qianqing Palace were all terrified and knelt down on the ground.
After calming himself down, the Crown Prince waved his hand and dismissed everyone, "Get out."
Only two people remained inside the hall.
Xie Wenjun was still kneeling on the cold, bone-chilling ground.
Although the year-end has passed, the early spring is still chilly. Even with three or five copper charcoal braziers placed around, the cold air from the ground can still penetrate the clothes and seep into the skin.
The Crown Prince was both heartbroken and furious. He opened and closed his lips, but in the end, he hardened his heart and did not tell her to rise.
"Jiang Ning, do you know that in a nation, corrupt officials are just parasites, while powerful ministers are the real tigers!"
Xie Wenjun's knees remained on the ground, but she straightened her body and retorted, "If we're talking about power, Prime Minister Zhang is far more powerful than Marquis Xuanping. If Your Majesty wants to eliminate powerful ministers, why would you protect Prime Minister Zhang? Is it simply because the Zhang family supports Your Majesty?"
"Jiang Ning, you're getting more and more outrageous!"
"Your Majesty, I believe that Marquis Xuanping has spent his life on the battlefield, fighting for the Great Lin in the north and south, including the Battle of Red Cliffs. He should not be framed with such false accusations."
"Those in high positions should not abuse their benevolence!"
"If those in power cannot distinguish right from wrong, loyalty from treachery, it will surely discourage scholars from all over the country. How can we then talk about a clean government and harmonious society? In times of peace and prosperity, when the foundation is solid and the country is secure, we should not base our actions on falsely accusing innocent people of theft or using cunning and deceptive language to slander them..."
"Jiangning!"
"I have never forgotten everything that Your Majesty taught me, but Your Majesty's actions are not those of a true man!"
"Someone come here!"
The Crown Prince had been busy day and night for days and nights and had not eaten or drunk any tea or rice. When Xie Wenjun spoke to him, he immediately felt dizzy and his vision blurred. He steadied himself by holding onto the back of a wooden chair.
"Take the princess back and keep her in seclusion to reflect on her actions."
"My sister is not convinced."
Xie Wenjun kept her eyes down, unable to see the Crown Prince bending over, yet still managing to shout "I refuse!" with composure and without appearing disheveled. However, her stubbornness was no match for the Eastern Palace Guards' grasp; she could not break free and could only let herself be taken away.
Rong Jun, the Imperial Guard Commander, helped the Crown Prince to a seat and poured him tea. The Crown Prince took a sip, tilted his head back, and patted his chest to catch his breath.
Rong Jun bowed and waited, saying, "Your Highness, please summon the imperial physician to take a look."
The crown prince waved his hand, indicating that it was unnecessary.
He kept thinking about Xie Wenjun's words, and as he thought about them, he suddenly laughed to himself.
“Those words were taught to me by my teacher, and I then passed them on to Jiang Ning. Now, it’s her turn to use those words to lecture me.” The Crown Prince’s eyes flickered with a hint of elation.
“If she were in that position, one day she would do what I am doing today. Sincerity can only be judged by youth.”
***
On the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, Chen Linjun held his wedding.
The wedding procession was grand and magnificent, with red silk covering the entire street, stretching as far as the eye could see.
Yan Nian was dragged out of the soup kitchen in the south of the city by Yan Baizhang and stuffed into the bridal sedan chair.
At that moment, she was wearing the wedding robes bestowed upon her by Emperor Xuanyuan, wielding a large iron ladle to scoop porridge from a wooden bucket, and the sounds of gongs and drums welcoming the bride could already be faintly heard. Seeing that the time had come, she put on her crown, covered herself with a large red silk veil, and boldly climbed into the bridal sedan chair.
The deafening sound of gongs and drums could not drown out some unfriendly voices, simply because Yan Nian had no striking good looks.
It is hard for people to understand why Chen Linjun, a man of exceptional talent and ability, would marry Yan Nian, who comes from a humble background and is of average appearance. Many people expressed their regret that such a perfect man was paired with a mortal woman.
Hearing the jarring discussions outside, Yan Nian abruptly lifted her red veil, pulled out a hidden crossbow from somewhere, wiped it with her bright red sleeve, and began to carefully adjust it.
Rou followed beside the bridal sedan chair. Hearing the familiar "clack" and "hiss" from inside, she tapped the chair and advised, "Young mistress, these are just ordinary people. You can't use crossbows to shoot them."
Yan Nian took out a sandpaper from his sleeve and polished the crossbow body with a "shasha" sound. "What people say is true. If it weren't for the advantage of being childhood sweethearts, Chen Linjun wouldn't have fallen into my hands."
People are always fixated on handsome men paired with beautiful women, and talented men paired with beautiful women. For a beauty like Chen Linjun to be paired with an unknown woman would be a waste of talent.
Chen Linjun's brothers, who had come to fetch the bride spontaneously, couldn't stand it any longer. They lit a string of firecrackers and threw them at the feet of the gossipy women and men. Fearing they might cause trouble and bring bad luck, several soldiers followed up by grinning and distributing wedding candy and fruit to the crowd. The women reached out to take the candy, but the soldiers dodged them as if they hadn't seen them, continuing to distribute dried fruit to those around them. After the wedding sedan chair had gone a distance, they jogged to catch up, much to the annoyance of the gossipy women who stomped their feet in frustration.
After polishing the crossbow, it was aimed at a pattern on the sedan door, and a hidden bone nail shot out with a "thud," embedding itself firmly in the center of a lifelike flower stamen engraved on the sedan body. Yan Nian said, "It's always just a little bit off."
Rou then said, "Young Madam, on your wedding day, please don't handle these weapons and objects. It's considered unlucky."
Yan Nian ignored him and continued to stare at the crossbow head in deep thought.
It was an object she made herself; small, easy to care for, and perfectly suited for a woman's self-defense.
The women of Shangyong are all frail and delicate, utterly defenseless in the face of danger. In a flash of inspiration, she devised this hidden crossbow. Wrapped around her forearm and concealed by her sleeve, it could fire a hidden bone nail in an emergency by turning the gears. While not fatal, the sharp, stinging pain of the nail would take a long time to heal. Firing it in an emergency would buy someone a chance to escape.
The overall structure of the crossbow is complete, but the aim is slightly off-center. This is not a problem for those who are used to drawing bows and swords, but it is not so for those delicate women. If they miss, their situation will be even more dangerous.
Chen Liangyu leaped onto the rooftop and followed the welcoming party, making a roundabout route while cautiously looking down.
She was restless and anxious ever since the wedding procession left home. Unable to contain her anxiety, she chased after the wedding party. Nothing bad happened until they returned, but she was still tense and dared not relax for a moment.
With only one intersection and two turns remaining before the wedding procession arrived at the Marquis's residence, she vaguely sensed a murderous aura lurking nearby.
She peered over the eaves, searching for the source of the unsettling force, her gaze sweeping over every face along the path. When her eyes settled on a person wearing a straight-collared crane-feather cloak, she finally understood the source of her unease.
The emperor, disguised in plain clothes, blended into the crowd and even accepted a handful of dried fruit distributed by his attendants.
The moment I fixed my gaze, the pounding in my heart intensified.
Chen Liangyu leaped off the roof, using the top of the bridal sedan chair for leverage, and created a strong gust of wind.
Before she could land, a dark figure pounced on Emperor Xuanyuan with even greater speed, wielding a chilling three-inch blade, aiming to slit Emperor Xuanyuan's throat.
The speed was astonishing; she didn't even see where the person suddenly appeared from.
Chen Liangyu drew his short sword with a swift motion, the blade spinning as he hurled it towards the assassin. The sharp edge sliced through the air, accompanied by a nail-like object that struck the assassin. The blade was knocked from the assassin's hand with a clang, and Chen Liangyu shouted into the crowd, "Protect the Emperor!"
The plainclothes imperial guards, hidden in the crowd, instantly drew their swords and firmly protected Emperor Xuanyuan.
The crowd was startled, their clothes tangled like bundles of hemp.
The assassin's form was bizarre, not human, but rather like a snarling, monstrous monkey. After being knocked down, he used all four limbs to dodge rapidly, disappearing like a wisp of black smoke.
Chen Liangyu gripped his sword tightly, glancing around; the killing intent still lingered.
The thing hadn't gone far.
Yan Nian jumped off the sedan chair and stood with his back to Chen Liangyu, raising his crossbow and looking around.
Rou stepped forward to stop her, saying, "Young Madam, you can't get out of the bridal sedan chair, it's bad luck!"
"There aren't that many taboos. You find somewhere to hide yourself; I can't take care of you right now."
The creature swooped down from above, heading straight for Chen Liangyu and Yan Nian. Chen Liangyu shielded Yan Nian, wielding her sword to engage it, her attacks growing increasingly rapid. "Sister-in-law, he's not good at prolonged battles!"
Yan Nian held his breath and fired several hidden bone nails in quick succession. The creature, in pain, its eyes widened in horror, and it turned to attack Yan Nian.
The crossbow was raised again, aimed at the creature's brow.
The bone nails were fired simultaneously, striking the creature's eyes. Yan Nian was struck by a palm, and her crown clattered off.
Chen Liangyu dodged and caught up, slashing diagonally with his sword, splattering blood a foot high.
The thing finally lay still on the ground.
Hot, viscous blood splattered on the bright red wedding robe, staining it with several dark patches.
A man holding a gray banner with the words "Fortune Telling" written on it was blatantly ugly. He pushed through the crowd and muttered to himself, "The phoenix crown has fallen to the ground, the wedding robe is flushed red, and blood has been spilled in front of the sedan chair. This is a sign of ghosts and gods blocking the sedan chair, a very bad omen!"
"You stinking Taoist priest, shut your mouth."
Yan Nian picked up the imperial phoenix crown, which was covered in dirt, patted off the dust, and put it back on her head.
The Taoist priest was so frightened that he took several steps back, smeared himself with oil, and ran away, muttering as he ran, "You shrew, you scared me to death! You scared me to death!"
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