Chapter 51 When the birds are all gone, the good bow is put away.
The night was as dark as ink, and the Jade Palace Tower stood silently under the moonlight, its upturned eaves outlining a sinister silhouette. The sound of a wooden clapper drifted from afar; it was already past 7:45 PM.
"The patrol battalion just passed by; we have about half an incense stick's time," Galorin said in a low voice, his sharp gaze sweeping across the end of the street.
Bai Lian tucked the last dart into her sleeve, her night clothes outlining her lithe figure: "That's enough. The entrance to the secret chamber is in the northwest corner of the cellar; the mechanism is under the third brick."
How do you know such details?
"That's what Batu said when he was being tortured." Bai Lian tightened her veil, a slight smile playing on her lips. "Besides, this kind of secret chamber structure..." Bai Lian hesitated, realizing she had seen far too many of these traps and secret chambers in her "previous life."
Galorin took out a set of exquisite tools from her bosom and said, "Do you still remember how to pick locks?"
The two exchanged a smile and silently went their separate ways. Bai Lian scaled the courtyard wall like a cat, while Jia Luolin led her guards to provide support from the outside. In the moonlight, their figures quickly blended into the darkness.
The cellar reeked of mildew and was covered in cobwebs. Following Batu's directions, Bai Lian indeed found the mechanism in the northwest corner. Just as she was about to press it, Jialuolin suddenly grabbed her hand and said, "Wait!"
He picked up a pebble and gently tossed it into the corner. With a "whoosh," three poisoned short arrows embedded themselves in the opposite wall.
"That was close." Galorin gasped.
"It seems Batu had a trick up his sleeve." Bai Lian sneered. This time, she carefully avoided the traps. With a soft sound, the stone wall slowly slid open, revealing a secret passage that could only accommodate one person at a time.
The secret room was brightly lit by candlelight, and shelves were neatly arranged with documents. Galo Lin strode forward and quickly began to browse through them.
"This is..." He pulled out a letter, his expression changing drastically. "The seal of the Northern Di royal court. They agreed that after the deed is done, the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun will be ceded to the Northern Di."
Bai Lian took the letter and examined it closely, her fingertip pausing on a certain name: "Jia Xuanyu... He actually dared to sign such a traitorous contract."
"There's worse," Galorin said, pulling out several more documents. "Look at this."
Bai Lian took a look and saw it was indeed a layout map of the grain supply camp, with detailed markings of the arson points and the timing of the actions. "Sure enough, it'll be at midnight three days from now. They even calculated the intervals between patrols."
"We must take action as soon as possible." Galorin frowned.
Suddenly, footsteps sounded outside the door. Bai Lian immediately blew out the candle and pulled Jia Luolin into the shadows. The two held their breath and waited quietly in the darkness.
"...The steward has ordered that these ledgers must be sorted out tonight." A voice came from afar.
Another person complained, "Why do we have to work so late? Can't we do it tomorrow?"
"I've heard the Crown Prince's Palace has been making a lot of moves lately, and the steward warned us to be careful. Especially those things in the cellar..."
The footsteps paused briefly outside the secret room before fading into the distance.
After the sound disappeared, both Bai Lian and Jia Luolin breathed a sigh of relief.
"Quickly, take the most important ones." Bai Lian swiftly sifted through the documents. "The originals can't be touched; we'll just copy the key parts."
The two worked together seamlessly. Galorin was in charge of guarding, while Byakuren, with her photographic memory, quickly copied down the key information. In less than fifteen minutes, they had recorded the treasonous letter and the action plan.
"Withdraw." Bai Lian restored everything to its original state, and the two quietly departed. The moonlight illuminated their backs, carrying a hint of chilling gloom.
Three days later, at the grain and fodder camp.
General Zhao stood on the watchtower, his hand on his sword, his eyes piercing. This morning he had suddenly received a secret order from the Crown Prince, demanding heightened security, especially on the granaries in the northwest corner.
"Stay alert!" he hissed. "No one is allowed to doze off tonight. Signal immediately if you spot anything unusual."
As midnight approached, several dark figures silently slipped in. They skillfully evaded the patrolling soldiers and headed straight for their designated target. The leader of the group gave a hand signal, and the others immediately dispersed.
The moment they took out their tinderboxes, torches suddenly illuminated the surroundings.
"Take them down!" General Zhao gave the order, and the ambush troops sprang into action.
After a brief exchange, all five arsonists were captured. One of them, upon seeing this, immediately bit open the poison sac in his mouth, but a swift-thinking soldier dislocated his jaw.
"Want to die? Not so easy." Lieutenant General Zhao sneered. "Take them away and keep them under strict guard! Remember, these are important witnesses."
-
Meanwhile, the scene inside the palace was quite different.
Consort Zhang was playing the zither in the pavilion of the Imperial Garden, her rendition of "Guangling San" filled with sorrow and lament. Jia Fengtian, who had originally intended to go to the Imperial Study, was drawn by the music and strolled over.
"My beloved concubine is in a fine mood today." Jia Fengtian stopped to listen, his eyes showing admiration.
Consort Zhang quickly rose and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, please forgive me; I was unaware that Your Majesty was here."
"It's alright." Jia Fengtian waved his hand. "This music is clear and melodious, seemingly different from usual?"
"Your Majesty is wise," Consort Zhang smiled faintly. "These are newly made strings for a zither using the finest silkworm silk from the Northern Barbarians. They were a gift from Minister Han to my father, and my family then made a new zither for me and sent it over. The sound is indeed superior."
Jia Fengtian pondered, "Heavenly silkworm silk...did Minister Han obtain it from the Northern Barbarians?"
"Indeed." Consort Zhang lowered her eyes. "Father was very pleased and asked me to test the tone first. If Your Majesty likes it, I will play another piece."
While Jia Fengtian was still deep in thought, Han Liuyue suddenly appeared in the Imperial Garden with her maids. Upon seeing Jia Fengtian, she was initially startled, then forced a smile and said, "Your Majesty is here too? I heard that you were playing the zither here, so I came to listen."
Jia Fengtian said calmly, "Han Zhaorong is certainly well-informed."
Han Liuyue's expression changed slightly, her gaze falling on the guqin. Suddenly, she raised her voice, "These strings...aren't they the silkworm silk that Father gave me? How come they're with you, sister?"
Zhang Jieyu replied calmly, "Sister, you misunderstand. This was a gift from Minister Han to my father. The family made a zither for me to try playing."
"You!" Han Liuyue's face turned pale with anger, "It was clearly you..."
"Enough!" Jia Fengtian suddenly shouted, "What kind of behavior is this, making such a racket in the Imperial Garden!"
Han Liuyue was about to argue when she was intimidated by Jia Fengtian's cold gaze.
"Consort Han has recently acted inappropriately. She should return to the palace to reflect on her mistakes. Without my decree, she is not allowed to leave." Jia Fengtian turned and left.
Zhang Jieyu bowed her head respectfully as she saw him off, a faint smile playing on her lips.
-
The atmosphere at the grand court assembly three days later was exceptionally solemn.
Galo Lin stepped forward and reported: "Father, I received a secret report that three days ago someone attempted to burn down the grain and fodder camp in the capital region. Fortunately, General Zhao was quick-witted and has captured all the arsonists."
An uproar erupted in the imperial court.
"How could this happen?" Jia Fengtian roared in fury. "Who dares to be so audacious?"
"Under interrogation, the arsonist confessed to being instructed by those in the Jade Palace Tower." Galo Lin presented his testimony, "Your Majesty, during a search of the Jade Palace Tower, found these..."
The eunuch presented the copied document to the emperor. The more Jia Fengtian read, the darker his expression became. When he saw the clause ceding the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun, he slammed the document to the ground.
"Minister Han, I recall that you were the one who strongly recommended the construction of this Jade Palace Tower?"
Minister Han knelt down with a thud: "Your Majesty, please see the truth! This is a frame-up! Your Highness the Crown Prince has misunderstood this old minister..."
"A misunderstanding?" Galo Lin sneered. "Does Minister Han mean that although you've become the person in charge of Yu Yu Lou, this matter has nothing to do with you?"
The court officials whispered among themselves, their gazes toward Minister Han filled with suspicion.
After a long silence, Jia Fengtian finally spoke: "Minister Han, return to your residence to reflect on your actions. Without my decree, you are not permitted to leave. This case will be handled by the Crown Prince and thoroughly investigated."
"Your subject obeys the decree."
After the court session, in order to discuss the matter as soon as possible, Garo Lin and Byakuren agreed to meet in a side hall of the East Palace.
"The first step has finally been taken." Galorin breathed a sigh of relief. "The Han family has suffered a major blow this time."
Bai Lian frowned slightly: "But I feel it went too smoothly. Minister Han has cultivated his influence in the court for many years, how could we obtain evidence so easily?"
"you mean..."
"The documents in the secret room are too neatly arranged, as if they were deliberately organized," Bai Lian mused. "And the arsonist died far too easily."
As if to confirm her words, a guard hurried in and whispered a few words in Galorin's ear.
Galo Lin's expression changed drastically: "News just came from the Han residence that Minister Han attempted suicide in his home but failed."
Bai Lian suddenly stood up: "What?"
He left a suicide note, saying he would die to prove his innocence.
The two looked at each other and saw the shock in each other's eyes.
"This is clearly a grand show," Bai Lian whispered. "It seems Minister Han is using his life as a bargaining chip."
Galorin remained silent.
Just then, another eunuch arrived to deliver the imperial decree: "His Majesty has decreed that His Highness the Crown Prince and General Bai be summoned to the palace for an audience immediately."
Bai Lian was surprised to hear the summons. How did Jia Fengtian know that she was with Jia Luolin...?
Inside Jinyang Palace, Jia Fengtian stood with his back to them, gazing at the landscape painting on the wall.
"Han Qing intends to prove his innocence with his death." Jia Fengtian slowly turned around, his gaze sharp as a knife. "Tell me, whom should I believe?"
Just as Jia Luolin was about to speak, Jia Fengtian raised his hand to stop her.
"General Bai," Jia Fengtian looked at Bai Lian, "I remember you and the Crown Prince are no longer husband and wife, are you?"
Bai Lian's heart tightened: "Yes, Your Majesty."
"Since that's the case, we should know how to avoid suspicion," Jia Fengtian said calmly.
"Your Majesty, it was I who consulted with General Bai. She has the talent of a strategist and can assist me in military matters..." Jia Luolin hurriedly explained, meeting Jia Fengtian's gaze.
Jia Fengtian didn't even look at Jia Luolin, but continued speaking to Bai Lian: "You have rendered great service to the Crown Prince this time, and I am very pleased."
He paused, his deep gaze sweeping over the two men: "The Northern Barbarian delegation will arrive in the capital next month; peace talks are imminent. Since General Bai is familiar with Northern Barbarian affairs, you will be fully responsible for their reception."
Bai Lian bowed her head: "Your subject obeys the decree."
Leaving Jinyang Palace, Jialuolin whispered, "Father is warning us."
"Not only that." Bai Lian turned to look at the majestic palace. "His Majesty probably already knew about the Han family and the Third Prince, and we were just doing what he wanted to do."
"Then why...?"
"A system of checks and balances," Bai Lian said softly. "When the birds are all gone, the good bow is put away. Your Highness should understand this principle better than we do."
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