Retreat as an advance
Prince Heng's Mansion.
The candlelight in the study was warm, but it couldn't dispel the heavy shadow between Zongzheng Hengyu's brows.
He sat upright behind his desk, his fingertips unconsciously caressing a warm, smooth jade pendant, a keepsake left by his late mother. He would always do this whenever he needed calm and strength.
Yan Cheng stood below with his head bowed, reporting on the rumors circulating in the city and the political climate in the court. His tone was heavy: "The rumors are rampant, all distorting Your Highness's original intention to uphold justice and slandering Miss Jiang's reputation... Your Highness, should we take action to stop the rumors?"
Zongzheng Hengyu raised his eyes, his gaze clear and firm, without a trace of malice, only a calm strength: "Suppress? Rumors are like the wind, the more you try to block them, the stronger the backlash. What Father Emperor suspects is not the rumors themselves, but whether I and the Prime Minister's Mansion have violated the law because of personal relationships."
He stood up, his posture as upright as a pine tree, walked to the window, looked at the tranquil night outside, and said in a calm but undeniably powerful voice: "In that case, we should dispel doubts with sincerity and defeat evil with righteousness."
"What does Your Highness mean?"
"I wish to submit a memorial of apology." Zongzheng Hengyu turned around, his eyes open and honest. "The memorial must state that since the Inner Court has preliminarily determined that the case of the Drunken Butterfly Flower is unrelated to the Prime Minister's residence, I, as a prince and his fiancé, may have been overly concerned during the investigation, which may have led to unnecessary speculation and disturbance from the outside world. This was due to my lack of consideration, and I humbly request Your Majesty's admonition."
Yan Cheng was taken aback: "Your Highness, you had no selfish motives, so why apologize? Wouldn't this be giving others a handle to use against you?"
Zongzheng Hengyu shook his head slightly, a gentle smile even playing on his lips: "Yan Cheng, sometimes taking responsibility is not weakness, but a sign of commitment. I have indeed been negligent and failed to avoid suspicion, which led to misunderstandings. Only by frankly admitting it can I show my sincerity."
"At the same time, I request that, to avoid criticism, I temporarily relinquish my post in charge of the defense of the capital region and ask Your Majesty to select another virtuous and capable person. I can then focus on assisting the Ministry of War in its daily affairs and request to be appointed to supervise this year's autumn exercises, so as to serve the country in military matters and demonstrate my loyalty and dedication to the nation."
At this juncture, Zongzheng Hengyu chose to retreat in order to advance, voluntarily relinquishing power temporarily. This was not out of fear, but rather to safeguard the overall situation, dispel the emperor's doubts, and seize opportunities such as the Ministry of War's practical affairs and the autumn military exercises, which would allow him to truly demonstrate his abilities and seek a comeback.
Yan Cheng suddenly realized, his eyes filled with admiration: "Your Highness is wise and considerate of the overall situation! I am foolish."
“Secondly,” Zongzheng Hengyu continued, his tone still calm, “there’s no need to forcibly suppress the rumors. We can have our people guide the public. There’s no need for deliberate explanations; just quietly spread the other side of the truth.”
"The reason I dealt with this case so quickly is because I discovered that the source of that batch of spider flowers might be related to border security and involve military secrets. In order to avoid alerting the enemy and causing unnecessary border conflicts, I took swift action. It was not for personal reasons."
Zongzheng Hengyu's shift in motive from "personal feelings" to "national righteousness" is not sophistry, but a reasonable explanation based on his possession of evidence against the Night Hawk Pavilion in the Southern Frontier and his control of military power in the Northern Border, thus giving him a genuine responsibility to maintain border stability. The truth will be judged by the public, but this move at least offers him the possibility of a different, more righteous image.
"Finally, regarding Jiang Wanzhi..." Upon mentioning this name, Zongzheng Hengyu's voice unconsciously softened, his cold and hard features becoming gentler. "She suffered this undeserved calamity because of her marriage agreement with me. The Prime Minister's family is of noble birth, and Prime Minister Jiang is an upright person who would certainly not want to be involved in such filthy matters. Although we are innocent, we cannot allow others to slander us and remain inactive."
He pondered for a moment and said, "Do you remember Lord Xu, the Prefect of the Capital, who is a protégé of Prime Minister Jiang and is known for his integrity and uprightness? Perhaps you could unintentionally let him know that Fuyuzhai once had a gambler who suddenly paid off his huge debts and then mysteriously disappeared."
"Lord Xu is always conscientious and responsible. Upon learning of this, he will surely investigate secretly in accordance with the law. An official investigation in accordance with the law will be far more effective in clearing the Prime Minister's name than any private action by us."
He chose to rely on the power of a fair third party rather than resorting to underhanded tactics and act with integrity.
Yan Cheng was completely convinced: "Your Highness is thoughtful and acts in accordance with the right path in everything you do. I will take care of it right away!"
Zongzheng Hengyu nodded and handed the completed memorial to Yan Cheng: "Go. Remember, don't give anyone a handle to use against you."
"yes!"
…………
The Imperial Palace, the Imperial Study.
Emperor Zongzheng Hong looked at Zongzheng Hengyu's earnest memorial, in which he offered to temporarily hand over the defense of the capital region and focus on the Ministry of War and the autumn military exercises. His gaze was deep, and he remained silent for a long time.
Apologize? Admit that the effort to avoid suspicion was insufficient? Voluntarily relinquish power? Request to oversee the autumn military exercises?
This series of actions surprised him with their openness. They seemed somewhat different from the resolute, aloof, and sometimes even stubborn Prince Heng he remembered.
There were no excuses, no complaints, only sincere self-reflection and a request to serve the country.
This contrasts sharply with the secret report he received about "Prince Heng secretly covering up clues" and the rumors circulating in the city about "a man's anger for a woman."
At that moment, a routine report from Magistrate Xu of the Capital was presented. It detailed a previous incident at Fuyuzhai where a gambling addict had accumulated a huge debt, only to suddenly pay it off and mysteriously disappear. An investigation revealed that the person behind this was supported by the Night Hawk Pavilion, the most powerful martial arts gang on the frontier.
The Emperor's brow, which had just relaxed, furrowed slightly again upon reading it. He knew of Xu Qing's uprightness as the Prefect of the Capital. Night Hawk Pavilion... could there truly be a hidden story behind this? Was the Ninth Prince's swift action truly for the sake of border stability?
Could it be that... Lao Jiu is really just straightforward, and those rumors are just over-interpretations or even malicious slander by someone with ulterior motives?
An emperor's suspicions are not easily dispelled, but Zongzheng Hengyu's upright and honest demeanor was like a clear spring, slightly washing away the restlessness in his heart caused by the rumors.
"Granted." The emperor spoke slowly, his tone softening slightly. "The defense of the capital region will be temporarily managed by the deputy general. The autumn military exercises are related to military prestige, so Prince Heng is to supervise them carefully and ensure they are carried out thoroughly."
"Yes," the head eunuch replied, bowing.
"Furthermore," the emperor pondered for a moment, "tell the Inner Court that since there is no concrete evidence in the case of the Drunken Butterfly Flower, it should be closed as a case of negligence on the part of the palace staff. Those involved should be punished according to the law, and there is no need to investigate further."
The emperor chose to temporarily quell the unrest. This was both a response to Prince Heng's upright attitude and an expression of his unwillingness to allow the court to remain in turmoil.
…………
Prince Zhao's Mansion.
Zongzheng Zhaoran received messages from all sides almost simultaneously.
As he looked at the secret report concerning Zongzheng Hengyu's memorial and the emperor's reply, a hint of surprise appeared on his gentle face, which then turned into a deeper smile.
"He took the initiative to plead guilty, relinquished his military power, and focused on the autumn maneuvers... My ninth brother is more open-minded and intelligent than I imagined."
He gently stroked the rim of the teacup. "Taking a step back to advance, using sincerity to dispel doubts—this move is indeed brilliant and suits his temperament. This is exactly what Father Emperor likes the most."
The advisor whispered, "Your Highness, Prince Heng's actions seem to have temporarily averted the crisis. The Jingzhao Prefecture's response was merely a routine filing; they haven't gone any deeper. Should we..."
"Resolve it?" King Zhao chuckled. "No, he merely suppressed the fire. Embers still linger beneath the ashes. Father's suspicions are not so easily extinguished."
"The report from the Prefect of the Capital, seemingly unintentional, actually served as a timely reminder to Father that there were still doubts about the matter. You see, Father did not pursue it further, did he? That in itself is a statement of principle."
His eyes gleamed with insight: "Moreover, the more open and selfless Lao Jiu appears, the more severe the backlash will be once any 'private affairs' are revealed in the future. What we need to do is let these 'private affairs' be revealed little by little."
"So, what's our next step..."
"The direction of the rumors needs to be changed."
King Zhao's tone remained gentle. "Tell King Ming's people to stop emphasizing 'a crown lost for a beauty' and instead admire that 'His Highness Prince Heng is truly a man of great loyalty and righteousness. For the sake of Jiang Wanzhi and her family's reputation, he did not hesitate to resign his power to prove his innocence.' They should speak with admiration and sympathy."
The aide was taken aback: "Your Highness, this..."
“Hehe,” King Zhao chuckled, “Sometimes, praise is more effective than direct slander. By placing him on a pedestal of loyalty and righteousness, he will have to be more mindful of the word ‘loyalty and righteousness’ in his future actions.”
"At the same time, this will also make Father Emperor feel that Ninth Prince's actions may not be entirely out of public interest, but still have an element of loyalty and affection involved, and this loyalty and affection is directed towards the Jiang family, and that is enough."
"Understood!"
After his advisors left, King Zhao strolled into the courtyard, the moonlight bathing him, making him appear exceptionally elegant and otherworldly.
"Ninth Prince, you broke the deadlock with an open strategy, which is the way of a gentleman, and I admire it very much. It's just a pity that this world is not all about the bright and righteous path. Your gentlemanly way will only make the schemes in the shadows clearer."
The game continues. But the player is not only looking at the moves at hand, but also at the final outcome.
And Jiang Wanzhi, who seemed trapped, also seemed to be trying to become the player of her own destiny.
…………
The Prime Minister's Residence, Wanzhi Pavilion.
Although the days of confinement were depressing, Jiang Wanzhi did not succumb to despair. While she was unfamiliar with political intrigue, she possessed an indomitable spirit.
The rumors filled her with anger and resentment, and she felt even more heartache for her father, whose brow was furrowed with worry because of it. She knew she had been drawn into the struggle for the throne…
Why is it so hard to be a lazy bum?! She has to do something to break this deadlock!
"No, we can't keep passively guessing like this!" Jiang Wanzhi suddenly stood up from behind her desk, a resolute glint in her eyes. She had to find out! Just who was Prince Zhao?
The idea was crazy and audacious, yet it carried a fatal allure. He was the male protagonist of the original story, and only he could untie the knot; perhaps only his protagonist aura could resolve the current predicament!
Without further ado, she rummaged through her belongings and had Chun Tao and Qiu Ju find a set of men's clothing. She deftly tied her long hair into a man's bun and used an eyebrow pencil to darken her eyebrows, trying her best to conceal her girlish delicacy.
The mirror reflected the image of a slightly thin but handsome young scholar.
She lowered her voice and instructed the panicked maids, "I need to leave the manor for a very important matter. You all stay in the room. If anyone comes to ask, say I'm asleep. Under no circumstances should anyone be allowed to come in!"
"Miss! This is too dangerous! What if the master finds out..." Chun Tao and Qiu Ju were so anxious they were about to cry.
"I can't worry about that now! I have to go!" Jiang Wanzhi's eyes were firm. "Wait for me to come back!" She patted the hands of the two maids, took a deep breath, and once again used that precious back corner gate path to quietly blend into the crowd of people in the capital at dusk.
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