Twenty-nine
The news of Chai Wenyi's imprisonment shook the entire city of Bianjing like a thunderbolt. Discussions raged throughout the court and the public; some rejoiced, others were filled with unease, and still others secretly plotted against him.
Zhan Zhao stood in the study of Kaifeng Prefecture, gazing at the gradually brightening sky outside the window, but there was no sign of ease between his brows.
"Cat, we've caught the person, why are you still looking so gloomy?" Bai Yutang sat casually at the table, toying with a teacup in his hand.
Zhan Zhao turned around, his expression grave: "Although Chai Wenyi has been captured, his influence in the court remains. I'm worried..."
Before he could finish speaking, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door. Gongsun Ce strode in, his face grave: "Guard Zhan, Lord Bao requests your immediate presence. Something has happened in the prison."
Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang exchanged a glance, both feeling an ominous premonition.
Inside the prison, the atmosphere was unusually tense. Bao Zheng stood outside the cell, his face ashen. Inside, Chai Wenyi sat calmly on a straw mat, his expression unsettlingly serene.
"What's going on?" Zhan Zhao strode forward.
Bao Zheng said in a deep voice, "This morning, the jailer brought breakfast and found Chai Wenyi burning some documents. By the time we arrived, it was too late."
Zhan Zhao looked into the cell and, sure enough, saw some ashes on the floor. Chai Wenyi looked up at Zhan Zhao, a meaningful smile playing on his lips: "Guard Zhan, did you think capturing me was the end of it?"
Bai Yutang roared, "You dare to be arrogant even when you're about to die!"
Chai Wenyi chuckled lightly: "You think that evidence is enough? Let me tell you, more than half of the ministers in the court have dealings with me. Without my permission, you'll never be able to wipe them all out."
Zhan Zhao remained calm: "Your Highness seems to have forgotten that you have a younger sister in the Southern Frontier."
Chai Wenyi's smile froze instantly.
Just then, a jailer rushed over: "Lord Bao, an imperial decree has arrived, summoning you and Guard Zhan to the palace immediately."
Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the atmosphere was even more somber than in the Imperial Prison. Zhao Zhen sat on the dragon throne, a mountain of memorials piled before him. The Eighth Prince stood to one side, his brow furrowed.
"Guard Zhan," Zhao Zhen's voice was weary, "this morning I received twenty-seven memorials, all pleading for Chai Wenyi."
Zhan Zhao's heart skipped a beat: "Your Majesty..."
Zhao Zhen raised his hand to stop him: "I know that Chai Wenyi's crimes are irrefutable. But now most of the ministers in the court are speaking up for him, even the Empress Dowager..." He sighed, "If we forcibly deal with him, I'm afraid the court will be thrown into turmoil."
The Eighth Prince stepped forward: "Your Majesty, this old minister believes that this matter should not be rushed. It would be better to first place Chai Wenyi under house arrest at Prince Zheng's residence, and then take further action after identifying all his accomplices."
Zhan Zhao said urgently, "Your Majesty, Chai Wenyi has cultivated his influence in the court for many years. If we give him a chance to catch his breath, I'm afraid..."
"Guard Zhan," Zhao Zhen interrupted him, "I understand your concerns. But a ruler sometimes has to weigh the pros and cons."
Zhan Zhao was about to persuade him again when Xuan Yuan Tianyi gently tugged at his sleeve and shook his head slightly.
Emerging from the palace, Zhan Zhao wore a somber expression. Bai Yutang couldn't help but curse, "These court officials have truly lost their minds! They're even pleading for treason!"
Xuanyuan Tianyi replied, "They're not out of their minds; they're too clear-headed. If Chai Wenyi falls, they'll all be implicated, so naturally they'll fight tooth and nail to protect him."
Zhan Zhao suddenly stopped in his tracks: "Something's not right."
Bai Yutang raised an eyebrow: "What's wrong?"
"Chai Wenyi's behavior in prison is too abnormal," Zhan Zhao said sharply. "He knows the evidence is conclusive, yet he remains calm and collected, instead subtly reminding us that he has accomplices in the court."
Xuanyuan Tianyi seemed to be deep in thought: "You mean... he's deliberately leading us astray?"
"That's right." Zhan Zhao nodded. "The more he acts this way, the more it shows he has ulterior motives."
Upon returning to Kaifeng Prefecture, the group immediately convened a meeting to discuss the matter.
Gongsun Ce stroked his beard and said, "Guard Zhan is absolutely right. Chai Wenyi's actions are probably an attempt to divert our attention."
Wang Chao said, "But he's currently under house arrest in the Prince Zheng's residence. What can he possibly accomplish?"
Zhan Zhao pondered for a moment: "Household confinement doesn't mean we can't contact the outside world. Besides..." He looked at Xuan Yuan Tianyi, "There's been no movement from the Southern Frontier, which is very unusual."
Xuanyuan Tianyi understood: "I will immediately have 'Dark Feather' intensify its investigation into the movements in the Southern Frontier."
Just then, a commotion arose outside the door. Ma Han hurried in: "My lord, someone from the Prince Zheng's residence has sent an invitation, saying that Chai Wenyi intends to host a banquet at his residence to apologize."
Bai Yutang scoffed, "An apology? What's this fox up to now?"
Zhan Zhao accepted the invitation, which read that it invited everyone from Kaifeng Prefecture to his residence for a chat. The words were sincere, as if he had genuinely repented.
Bao Zheng said in a deep voice, "This banquet is no good."
Zhan Zhao, however, said, "My lord, I think we should go."
Everyone was taken aback.
Zhan Zhao continued, "Since Chai Wenyi wants to put on an act, we'll play along. It'll be a good opportunity to see what tricks he's up to."
Xuanyuan Tianyi nodded: "I agree. But we need to prepare in advance."
That night, the Prince Zheng's mansion was brightly lit and decorated, making it impossible to tell that its master was under house arrest. Chai Wenyi personally greeted him at the gate, all smiles, as if he were truly entertaining a distinguished guest.
The banquet was held in a pavilion in the garden, with music playing and singing filling the air. Chai Wenyi raised his glass and said, "I invited you all here today for two reasons: first, to apologize, and second, to thank you for your leniency."
Zhan Zhao remained calm: "Your Highness is too kind."
After several rounds of drinks, Chai Wenyi suddenly sighed, "Actually, I was also misled. If someone hadn't instigated me, I wouldn't have done such a foolish thing."
Bai Yutang raised an eyebrow: "Oh? I wonder who has such great ability to incite the prince to rebel?"
Chai Wenyi hesitated, then finally shook his head and said, "That's enough. It's pointless to say anything more now."
Zhan Zhao and Xuan Yuan Tianyi exchanged a glance. Chai Wenyi was indeed testing them.
Halfway through the banquet, a maid accidentally knocked over a wine pot, wetting Zhan Zhao's sleeve. Chai Wenyi immediately said, "If Guard Zhan doesn't mind, you may go to the side room to change."
Zhan Zhao knew that this was arranged by Chai Wenyi, but he didn't point it out and followed the maid to the side room.
As Zhan Zhao passed through a corridor, he suddenly heard two servants talking in hushed tones.
"...News from the Southern Frontier...the Holy Maiden is ready..."
"Shh! Keep your voice down! The Prince ordered that this matter must not be publicized..."
Zhan Zhao's heart skipped a beat, but he pretended not to hear and continued walking forward.
After changing his clothes, Zhan Zhao was about to return to the banquet when he suddenly found a letter on the table in the side room. The envelope was unsigned, but Zhan Zhao immediately recognized it as Chai Wenyi's handwriting.
He quickly opened the letter, which read: "At midnight three days from now, at the Earth God Temple south of the city."
Zhan Zhao carefully put the letter away and returned to the banquet with a normal expression. Chai Wenyi appeared to be enjoying the singing and dancing, but his eyes kept glancing at Zhan Zhao.
After the banquet, Zhan Zhao and the others took their leave. Upon returning to Kaifeng Prefecture, Zhan Zhao immediately retrieved the letter.
"This was something Chai Wenyi deliberately showed me," Zhan Zhao concluded. "He wanted to lead us to the local temple."
Bai Yutang asked, "So, are we still going or not?"
"Yes, of course I'll go," Zhan Zhao said firmly. "But I can't go at the time he sets."
Xuanyuan Tianyi said, "I'll send 'Dark Feather' to investigate first."
Half an hour later, "Dark Feather" sent back a message: there was indeed an ambush near the Earth God Temple, and the attackers were all experts.
Zhan Zhao sneered, "It really was a trap."
Bao Zheng pondered for a moment and said, "Now that we know it's a trap, should we still go?"
"Go," Zhan Zhao said, "but we'll do it a different way."
Three days later, at midnight. The Earth God Temple in the south of the city was quiet, as if nothing had happened.
Dozens of men dressed in black lurked in the woods surrounding the temple, with the leader glancing at the temple gate from time to time, seemingly waiting for something.
However, as dawn broke, the person they were waiting for never appeared.
Meanwhile, inside the Zheng Prince's residence, Chai Wenyi was furious: "Useless! Can't even wait for one person!"
A man dressed in black knelt on the ground: "Your Highness, we have kept watch all night, and indeed no one has come."
Chai Wenyi's face darkened: "Zhan Zhao is indeed no simple man."
Just then, the steward rushed in: "Your Highness, the people from Kaifeng Prefecture have arrived! They say they want to search the manor!"
Chai Wenyi's face changed drastically: "They dare!"
However, Zhan Zhao had already barged in with his men: "Your Highness, forgive me. Someone reported that the Prince's residence is illegally possessing weapons, and I have been ordered to search it."
Chai Wenyi gritted his teeth: "Zhan Zhao, you..."
Before they could finish speaking, a loud crash came from the backyard. Everyone rushed over and saw that half of the artificial hill had collapsed, revealing the entrance to a secret passage.
Zhan Zhao looked at Chai Wenyi: "Your Highness, what is this?"
Chai Wenyi's face was ashen.
Zhan Zhao led his men into the secret passage and discovered it was a huge armory, filled with swords, bows, and crossbows. Even more shocking was the large number of letters exchanged with those in the Southern Frontier.
"Your Highness," Zhan Zhao said in a deep voice, "do you have anything else to say this time?"
Chai Wenyi sighed deeply and said nothing more.
As Zhan Zhao escorted Chai Wenyi out of the Prince's mansion, the sun was just rising. This time, Chai Wenyi had no chance of turning the tables.
However, Zhan Zhao knew in his heart that the real crisis had only just begun. With Chai Wenyi captured, his sister Chai Siyi in the southern borderlands would certainly not let it go.
A storm is brewing in southern Xinjiang.
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