Chapter 73 The Difficulty of the Shu Road (Part 7) "Someone has put something in the Crown Prince's food..."
The emperor reached out and grabbed a handful of salted watermelon seeds from the plate, casually cracked a few open, and chuckled, "It's not that they're being lazy, but what's the fun in roasting watermelon seeds without shells? It seems Li'er's teeth aren't feeling so good lately."
Prince Xin was flustered and confused, so he could hardly handle the emperor's teasing. He could only manage a couple of awkward laughs and that was it.
He felt that the Crown Prince was watching him closely, and he absolutely could not give himself away in front of the Emperor. He had to force himself to remain calm and pretend that the Crown Prince was bluffing him. Prince Xin calmly picked up his teacup.
"The tea is hot, Fourth Brother, be careful not to burn yourself."
It would have been better if he hadn't said anything; his words only threw him into disarray. The unexpected reminder startled Prince Xin so much that he nearly choked. He swallowed a large mouthful of tea and water, which left a bitter taste in his mouth.
After finishing the melon seeds in his hand, the emperor glanced at Prince Xin and said slowly, "Li'er hasn't been out and about for a long time, and her limbs are getting weak."
Since he had spoken like that, there must be more to it. Both men stared intently at the emperor.
“Your mother only has you and Jingxun as her children. Jingxun is married far away and may not be able to visit her family in the palace even once a year. Now that your mother is seriously ill, it is only right for her to return to the palace to take care of her, even though she has already been married off. Your mother must miss her very much. Li’er, since you have nothing else to do, go and bring Jingxun back.”
Princess Shouning, the third daughter of Prince Xin, was born of the same mother. Five years ago, she married into the Zhangde family in Henan. Her husband was Tang Lin, the son of the Zhangde Guard Commander.
Speaking of this marriage, it was Princess Shouning who chose it herself. Years ago, Princess Shouning, being playful, sneaked up to the city wall and happened to see Tang Lin, who was traveling to the capital with his father. Seeing his white horse, silver saddle, and handsome appearance, she was immediately captivated. At the time, Lady Li was enjoying great favor, and the emperor also doted on this daughter, so he approved the marriage.
However, a single imperial decree would suffice to summon the princess back to the capital; why bother Prince Xin to personally travel out of the capital to fetch her?
Sure enough, before Prince Xin could agree, the Emperor continued, "The imperial envoy from southern Sichuan and the wanted criminal will be entering the capital in a few days. Many people are watching them, both openly and secretly. It's possible that someone might have ulterior motives and cause trouble in secret. Their entourage happens to be passing through Zhangde on its way north. I would like to have Prince Xin escort them to the capital. What does the Crown Prince think?"
Yan Chao was taken aback. She had guessed that the emperor had other intentions, but she hadn't expected it to be for this reason. But she quickly recovered and nodded in agreement: "Prince Xin is of noble status and has always been highly respected. Those villains will certainly not dare to act recklessly. Your Majesty's consideration is thorough, and I also think that it is very appropriate for Prince Xin to escort them."
The emperor nodded in satisfaction and said to Prince Xin, "I'm sorry to have troubled you with so much effort."
Prince Xin quickly rose from his seat and bowed, saying, "Father, you are too kind. It is my duty to share your burdens. How can I feel wronged? Rest assured, Father, I will definitely escort my third sister and the imperial envoy back to the capital safely."
The heart of an emperor is unfathomable. Yan Chao couldn't fathom the emperor's attitude and had no intention of thinking of a countermeasure at the moment, so he silently lowered his head and drank his tea.
The emperor waved his hand, signaling Prince Xin to rise. There was nothing of real business to discuss after that. Prince Xin, always adept at scheming, said he had recently acquired a painting, "The Procession of Immortals Paying Homage to the Emperor," which he wished to present to the emperor.
The emperor's eyes lit up upon hearing this, with a hint of surprise and doubt: "Is this the 'Immortal Procession Paying Homage to the Primordial Celestial Venerable' painted by the late Song Dynasty painter Wu Zongyuan?"
King Shin said, "Yes."
Yan Chao was not very skilled in painting, but upon hearing the words "Yuanshi Tianzun," he knew that Prince Xin had accurately catered to his tastes.
Prince Xin smiled faintly and said respectfully, "The palace already possesses Wu Daozi's 'Immortal Procession.' Although Wu Zongyuan's painting is not as unparalleled as the Sage of Painting, its brushwork is exquisite and it can also be considered a classic work of Taoism. Your son obtained it by chance and presents it to Your Majesty, wishing Your Majesty to attain perfect harmony with the Heavenly Venerable and live ten thousand years!"①
The emperor was quite pleased with such flattery. He tilted his head back, stroked his beard, and smiled kindly. He then inquired with great interest about the recent situation of his young grandson, Yantang. The Prince of Xin, a new father, spoke of his mischievous son with eyes full of tenderness, which greatly comforted the emperor.
Yan Chao didn't want to speak at the moment, but in such a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere, he couldn't help but echo the emperor's attitude and maintain a proper and appropriate smile.
Prince Xin had already calmed down. He would never undermine his own position until conclusive evidence was presented, or until the emperor made a final judgment.
He glanced at Yan Chao, then turned his gaze to Yan Chao with a joking tone, saying very naturally, "Sixth Brother has been very busy with official duties lately, and he must be quite exhausted. He looks a bit tired."
As he spoke, he stood up, stretched his shoulders, and said to the two men, "Go back now. I'm tired too."
.
This audience with the emperor was a major turning point for both the crown prince and Prince Xin.
Prince Xin left the palace, not even bothering to return to his residence. He changed into a carriage and headed straight for Chongwen Gate, where Grand Secretary Li's residence was located in the alleyways. Halfway there, a servant suddenly came to report that Grand Secretary Li was not at home, and that he had been busy with court affairs these past few days, finishing his shifts late every day.
Prince Xin had no choice but to return home. Jin Qiu, who was attending him, saw the oppressive atmosphere and knew the situation was urgent. He had no idea what to do and remained silent all the way back.
Prince Xin was unwilling to sit and wait for his death, but had no way to deal with it. He couldn't help but get angry and said, "Who exactly sent me the message that someone is being held in Dali Temple!"
"Fool! If you still make a move now, everyone will know that it was me who did it!" Prince Xin was so angry that his vision blurred, and he gritted his teeth: "Just wait and see, so what if he confesses? He's just a mere eunuch."
The rebellion in southern Sichuan was quelled successfully, and the imperial envoy quickly returned to the capital. Just when things seemed to be settling down, Prince Xin suddenly intervened.
Leaving aside the potential conflict between Prince Xin and Huang Yi due to their relationship with the Crown Prince, the very existence of significant problems in the interest-based interactions between Prince Xin and southern Sichuan was already problematic.
The emperor probably felt that Prince Xin was uninvolved and therefore impartial. But now, no one could guarantee that Prince Xin wouldn't manipulate things.
Yan Chao didn't want any more trouble in southern Sichuan; the Shen family alone was already enough of a headache for her. What's more, the Emperor was watching her closely.
Besides, there were constant important matters to attend to at court, such as the famine in Pingyang, the pirates in Gaozhou, and military affairs in Liaodong. She didn't need to do everything herself, but she at least needed to be aware of and pay attention to them. The cabinet also had offices in the Western Garden, but they were not as convenient as those in the Forbidden City, so the cabinet ministers still used the cabinet as their daily office.
The emperor gradually stopped reviewing memorials and only dealt with urgent confidential matters. He also stopped paying as much attention to trivial matters in the court as before. Not to mention court assemblies and audiences, only occasionally issuing an imperial edict to indicate that the emperor was still keeping an eye on what was happening in the court.
Yan Chao noticed that the emperor's temper was becoming increasingly eccentric. In her recent audiences with the emperor, she had witnessed his furious outbursts as well as moments of joyful tranquility.
When asked, Lan Huaien's tone was somewhat ambiguous: "Is it because of taking the Golden Elixir?"
The emperor's health deteriorated, and even minor ailments required him to rest for several days. Furthermore, the emperor was reluctant to seek medical help, relying solely on the elixirs offered by alchemists as a panacea. Even if they were effective temporarily, they would inevitably damage the emperor's health in the long run.
However, the emperor is no longer willing to listen to the advice of his ministers.
Yan Chao sighed deeply, then turned his head to continue with other matters.
The interrogation at the Ministry of Justice prison has yielded results. Because the suspect was an eunuch in the Eastern Palace, the confession was presented to the Crown Prince immediately.
Shi Xi confessed to killing the merchant Du Youjin because Du had solicited bribes from him during a tea business deal. However, he denied murdering Ma Chu, the eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial. He also mentioned a servant who had knocked on the door, accusing this servant of being likely involved in Ma Chu's death.
Following the clues, they traced the servant's master to Shen Wei. The servant had died unexpectedly in the turmoil within the Shen family, and all suspicion now pointed to Shen Wei.
So what about Zhou Shaoyun? This confession doesn't mention him at all.
Meanwhile, Duan Shou also presented the Dali Temple's investigation results: the clerk who reported Shi Xi's suicide claimed it was due to his own negligence, leading to a false report, and indeed, there was a prisoner named "Shi Xi" in the Dali Temple prison. There was no evidence or witnesses identifying a mastermind behind it all.
After reading it, Yan Chao sneered: "Even if the clerk was illiterate and made a mistake, what about the other Shi Xi? Did he also commit suicide? It seems there is a mole in the Dali Temple, acting as an inside agent for someone else."
Duan Shou replied, "Lord Deng, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, also feels that something is amiss, so he is still investigating."
Yan Chao nodded slightly, but her brows remained furrowed. Since everything had been made clear before the Emperor, there was no need for much hesitation in investigating further. She should have expected that Prince Xin wasn't so easily implicated.
She composed herself and ordered, "Go to the Northern Garrison Prison."
The legal offices of the Great Qi were all located outside the imperial city, far west of Xuanwumen Street, in order to signify that "the emperor is close to virtue and far from punishment." However, the Northern Garrison Prison, being under the jurisdiction of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, was located on the west side of the Thousand-Step Corridor, close to the central government.
The Imperial Prison was located on West Chang'an Street, adjacent to the Five Military Governor's Office and next to the bustling Dashiyongfang. Among the magnificent and densely packed mansions, the Imperial Prison stood out with its formidable defenses and impenetrable high walls, creating a chilling and imposing atmosphere.
The Crown Prince's visit was on official business, but he traveled in only an ordinary carriage with a few attendants. Zhang Ji, the Commissioner of the Northern Garrison, came to greet him.
Zhang Ji already knew the Crown Prince's purpose and welcomed him into the front hall. Just as he was about to ask whether the prisoner needed to be interrogated, a messenger came from outside saying that the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review had also arrived. Zhang Ji was taken aback.
"Bring him in; he will serve as a juror," the Crown Prince said.
Zhang Ji agreed.
Deng Xunyi's trip was rushed. He was discussing with Minister Gao Mo how to find the traitor when he was suddenly summoned by an imperial edict from the Crown Prince. Logically, he was currently investigating the case of Suiyun Tower, while Shen Wei's case concerned the rebellion in southern Sichuan, so it was not his place as a junior minister to come alone for the interrogation.
He bowed to the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince did not say much, and immediately ordered Zhang Ji to prepare for the interrogation.
Taking advantage of a break, the Crown Prince showed Shi Xi's confession to Deng Xun. After carefully reading it, Deng Xun asked in a daze, "This murder case caused quite a stir at Suiyun Tower. Since Shen Wei's personal attendant was present at the scene, why didn't Shuntian Prefecture investigate? And why didn't anyone at Suiyun Tower report it?"
The crown prince was turned to the side, so his face was not visible. She knew the reason, though; it must have been the work of Lan Huai'en, who held absolute power.
"Does Your Highness mean that you suspect the Eastern Depot is also colluding with the Shen family?"
"Huh?" This time it was Yan Chao's turn to be confused. "Minister Deng, please be careful with your words. I didn't say that."
Deng Xun bowed and apologized, then took two steps forward and asked, "Your Highness, I still have a question. How did you guess that Shi Xi would be silenced and transfer him to the Ministry of Justice in advance?" He always felt that the Crown Prince knew something, perhaps the key information to solving the case.
But the crown prince clearly brushed it off: "Intuition."
Deng Xun remained silent.
A short while later, Zhang Ji brought Shen Wei's confession and invited the two men to the prison cell. Given the prince's noble status, he dared not take him to the usual interrogation room, so he prepared a separate interrogation room and only dared to invite them after everything was ready.
Even so, Yan Chao was still shocked when he first saw Shen Wei. Through the iron bars, the prisoner, covered in blood-stained prison clothes, knelt limply on the ground. Hearing footsteps, he raised his head slightly, and his unfocused and desolate eyes met Yan Chao's.
Shen Wei hesitated for a moment, then reached out and gripped the iron bars with difficulty. He moved his lips and managed to utter a few words with barely any breath: "Your Highness, you've finally come."
Zhang Ji frowned and rebuked, "This official is already guilty, how dare he disrespect His Highness the Crown Prince!"
"It's alright." Yan Chao waved his hand and sat down, flipping through the confessions in the imperial prison while glancing at Deng Xunyi. He said, "You will be the first to preside over the case of Suiyun Tower."
Deng Xun readily agreed. He quickly sorted out his thoughts and asked in a deep voice, "Shen Wei, where were you at 7 PM on the 17th of June?"
Shen Wei remained silent, looking anxiously at Yan Chao. Yan Chao glanced at him, seemingly intently staring: "Tell the truth, why are you looking at me?"
A jailer behind him lifted Chen Wei's shoulders, forcing him to look up, revealing the scars and expression on his face.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty is at Suiyun Tower on West Street of Dengshikou, drinking wine."
Deng Xun repeatedly asked, "Which room? Who did you go with? Who did you meet?"
“In the last room on the top floor,” he took a deep breath, as if struggling, “I unexpectedly ran into a few eunuchs from the palace, and a tea merchant.”
Just as Yan Chao was finishing his confession, he suddenly interrupted, "Since you're willing to admit it, there's no need for further words. You were at the scene of the murder at Suiyun Tower, so tell us exactly what you saw."
Deng Xun was slightly taken aback and secretly glanced at the Crown Prince.
Shen Wei struggled to break free of the restraints on his arms and confessed briefly and clearly: "I killed that eunuch and made it look like an accidental death."
He was physically exhausted and spoke intermittently, but fortunately it did not affect the meaning of his speech.
The interrogators were stunned.
Deng Xun was greatly surprised, and Zhang Ji also paled. Only the Crown Prince, after hearing this, only showed a little surprise and doubt, and then coldly ordered: "Re-examine Shi Xi. There's no need to leave him in the Ministry of Justice. Bring him to the Imperial Prison. Chief Judge Zhang has never disappointed in handling cases."
The two bowed in agreement.
Yan Chao lowered his eyes, his expression softened, and said, "I have some things to ask Shen Wei privately. Everyone, please leave for now."
Author's Note: ① *Immortal Procession*: This refers to the *Eighty-Seven Immortals Scroll*, which mainly depicts 87 Taoist immortal figures in monochrome ink. This painting is untitled, unsigned, and unsealed, and its creation date and authorship are disputed. The modern painter Xu Beihong believed it to be the work of Wu Daozi, the Tang Dynasty painting master, and named it *Eighty-Seven Immortals Scroll*. This article temporarily adopts Mr. Xu Beihong's view on the date and authorship, while also using the title *Immortal Procession* to distinguish it from *The Court of Immortals*, as required by the plot.
"The Procession of Immortals Paying Homage to the Emperor" is a painting by Wu Zongyuan, a painter of the Song Dynasty. The two paintings have the same composition and similar figures, but the former is more exquisite and delicate.
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