Qian Xingzhi felt as if she had been struck by lightning. ...
Qian Xingzhi felt as if she had been struck by lightning.
Nevertheless, she quickly knelt in the center of the hall and prostrated herself deeply. "Your servant pleads guilty."
This wretched emperor! If he wanted to both favor the Third Prince and crack down on him, Qian Xingzhi, as a member of the Third Prince's faction, who had previously reported on the celestial portents and was involved in the three rounds of rites, was indeed the ideal scapegoat.
The Crown Prince was incredibly thick-skinned. As soon as he saw Qian Xingzhi being interrogated, he perked up. "Oh? Lord Qian, what crime have you committed?"
Qian Xingzhi now understood why the Crown Prince was out of favor.
Though this might be a life-or-death moment, she inexplicably calmed down. "Although I reported the celestial portents to His Highness the Third Prince, I did not inform His Highness how to counteract the portent's implications during the celebration. That is my fault, and I beseech Your Majesty to punish me."
What to do when your superior makes you a scapegoat? Before her transmigration, she would have had better ideas. But in this situation, she could only take the initiative to confess a minor "small crime" that would be harmless, take the fall for her immediate leader, and gain some trust and goodwill.
"N-Not bad!" The Third Prince perked up again. "Qian Xingzhi! You only mentioned it casually. How was I supposed to know it was so serious? Truly deplorable!"
Qian Xingzhi, still kneeling, was about to speak when she looked up and met Lu Yu's gaze. He was beaming as he said, "What does Your Highness mean? When Lord Qian reported to you and me earlier, Your Highness said it was nonsense and nothing to fear. Now you've changed your tune."
The Third Prince's face reddened at being rebutted. He was about to argue when Jun Anche said, "Oh? So Minister Lu was also present."
The Crown Prince seized the chance. "Even so, Lord Qian conducted several rounds of rites. How did Father still end up in such danger? Simply detestable."
If he couldn't trample the Third Prince, could he at least trample Qian Xingzhi? The Crown Prince had long resented the Third Prince's control over the Ministry of Rites. Now that he had the chance, he couldn't help but vent a few harsh words.
But Qian Xingzhi was waiting for precisely this remark. "Your Highness the Crown Prince, you are mistaken. The fact that His Majesty is unharmed is precisely due to the prior precautions and the efficacy of the rites. If simply performing rites could ensure safety, wouldn't there be no difficulties left in the world?"
"You insolent Qian Xingzhi!" The Crown Prince erupted in fury. "Instead of sincerely reflecting on your mistakes..."
Jun Anche suddenly interjected with a reprimand: "The Crown Prince's words and actions are improper. From today, you are confined to Changle Palace to reflect on your behavior. The Third Prince has been derelict in his duties; the Ministry of Rites' affairs will be temporarily overseen by the Fourth Prince. As for Qian Xingzhi..."
The Fourth Prince had never concerned himself with state affairs, spending his days in pleasure. He was as thick as thieves with his full brother [the Third Prince]. Handing the Ministry of Rites to him essentially meant it remained under the Third Prince's control. In contrast, the Crown Prince was the one truly punished.
"The Imperial Astronomical Bureau has contributed by observing the celestial portents. They shall be awarded one year's salary. Minister Xing, I entrust you with investigating the assassination case. When necessary, Minister Lu and Lord Qian may assist. All those involved are to be killed without mercy. Everyone, the celebration continues."
The implications of these words were significant. Not only had the Third Prince received a slap on the wrist, but his subordinate Qian Xingzhi was also spared the blame and even allowed to assist in the investigation. The Crown Prince, on the other hand, was confined. Could it be that the newly appointed Crown Prince was about to be toppled?
The New Year celebration was meant to bring good omens, but such a mishap had occurred. Jun Anche tried to pretend nothing had happened and ordered the servants to clean the hall and continue, but everyone had their own agendas, and the mood for merriment was gone.
The Crown Prince looked like a wilted eggplant, eating with a dark face as if the dishes before him owed him a million taels. The Third Prince, no longer trembling like a leaf, was clearly overjoyed at having survived a disaster. As for the Seventh Prince, who had rendered meritorious service in protecting the emperor, he received neither reward nor even a word of praise, acting as if nothing had happened.
Qian Xingzhi thanked the emperor and returned to her seat. Leaning over, she tried to whisper to Lu Yu: "Lord Lu, do you have any leads in the investigation?"
Lu Yu turned his head and smiled at her, still toying with the teacup. After a moment's thought, he said, "I wonder what brilliant ideas Lord Qian has?" For some reason, he was in an excellent mood, and his soft voice made Qian Xingzhi's heart itch.
Somehow, Qian Xingzhi couldn't help but sit up straighter. "I do have some thoughts. I wonder if I could discuss them with you at the Lu Mansion."
From her right came his light, soft reply: "I was thinking the same."
The celebration ended hastily. Qian Xingzhi again hitched a ride on Lu Yu's carriage and swayed all the way to the Lu Mansion. She was nearly more familiar with this place than her own home.
Thinking about it, she suddenly realized that Lu Yu was widely regarded as neutral in court factional struggles. Yet he spent so much time with her—wasn't he afraid of gossip?
Today, the Lu Mansion had switched to green tea. Qian Xingzhi could never tell good from bad; she only knew the tea was fragrant and crisp. She downed three cups in a row, feeling immensely pleased. Or perhaps she was indeed scared and was using tea to calm her nerves.
"As far as I know," Lu Yu said, "the palace staff selected for the celebration were all veterans who had served for over five years. According to my investigation, the close attendant eunuch had entered the palace as a child and had served before the throne for six years. The tea-serving palace maids had been in the palace for ten years. Only the group of dancers, selected by the Music and Dance Bureau, were new recruits this year."
Inviting Lu Yu to discuss the case was a pretext; the real purpose was to probe. After a moment's hesitation, Qian Xingzhi asked outright: "I wish to know, were any of these individuals planted by you, Lord Lu?"
This was a rather offensive question. But Qian Xingzhi disliked beating around the bush, so she went straight to the point.
"No. It wouldn't benefit me."
Indeed. If not for this assassination attempt, these palace staff could have continued to monitor the emperor or the inner court for their backer. It was a pity to expose such hidden assets. If the assassination had succeeded, the current situation would likely have led to the Crown Prince smoothly ascending the throne. Unless Lu Yu had already sided with the Crown Prince, he had no reason to take such a huge risk.
Qian Xingzhi took another sip of tea. "So it seems the Crown Prince and the Seventh Prince are the most suspicious. But why didn't you make a move, Lord Lu?"
Lu Yu replied, "How are you so sure, Lord Qian, that I was planning an assassination?"
"Alright, alright, you're not admitting it." Qian Xingzhi continued sipping tea. "Then... which prince are you siding with, Lord Lu?"
Lu Yu chuckled softly, not minding Qian Xingzhi's bluntness, nor answering her question. "Lord Qian is quite bold today. Since that's the case, I am also curious about you, Lord Qian. I wonder if you could satisfy my curiosity."
Qian Xingzhi's heart skipped a beat. "Please, go ahead, my lord."
"I heard that Lord Qian hails from Luo County in Nanchuan. Now that you're serving in the capital, why haven't you brought your parents, wife, and children to enjoy the comforts here?"
Qian Xingzhi replied, "I have no parents, no wife, no children."
Her predecessor seemed to have been a fortune-teller at a stall in Nanchuan, so naturally there was no wife or child. In the fragments she could recall, there was no sign of parents either. So it was the truth.
Lu Yu nodded. "I never thought our backgrounds would be so similar. Being alone in the capital, you must be quite homesick, Lord Qian?"
She was about to nod when she suddenly thought of something and looked straight into Lu Yu's eyes. "Fortunately, I have a distant cousin to keep me company. But unfortunately, I probably can never return to my hometown."
Lu Yu was startled. The young man before him had such deep, unshakeable sorrow in their eyes. For some reason, he instinctively believed them, and even had a strange premonition that her identity was indeed questionable, and that he would likely never uncover her true identity.
He couldn't help but offer comfort: "Although your duties in the capital are demanding, it's not entirely impossible to return home."
Qian Xingzhi neither agreed nor disagreed, changing the subject. "I am new to the capital, yet His Majesty specifically named me to assist in the investigation. I fear he wants the case to be handled in accordance with the Third Prince's wishes."
Lu Yu nodded. "After today's events, His Majesty likely prefers to trust the Third Prince. This case involves many people; investigating it will probably be a thankless task."
Qian Xingzhi suddenly thought of something. "I had originally planned for today... but the Third Prince got off scot-free. Does Lord Lu have other arrangements?"
Lu Yu replied, "In two days. Just to make this mess even more chaotic."
The two exchanged a knowing smile, both harboring the same mischievous intentions.
At the hour of Yin-san ke on the twenty-ninth day of the first month of the forty-third year of Yong'an, the grievance drum in the capital was pounded thunderously. Cries of "Heaven, please do justice!" and "Third Prince, give us a way to live!" echoed through the streets and alleys.
A man in coarse hemp clothes, with disheveled hair, wailed and beat his chest, truly heartbroken. Even though the wind was biting cold, a crowd soon gathered in two rings, pointing and whispering.
"The Third Prince forcibly took my husband! He is utterly heartless! I beg the officials to do justice!"
Everyone was thunderstruck. After two seconds of stunned silence, they erupted into heated discussion and uproar.
But the man in hemp was still going strong: "My wife and children were driven away by him! Helpless orphans and widows on the street—how can they survive? I beg the officials to do justice! The Third Prince bullies people too much! I waited so many days for a chance to escape! I don't want to be caught again! Save me!"
In his fury, he even banged his head against the grievance drum, frightening everyone so much that no one dared approach to stop him.
"The Third Prince is becoming more inhumane by the day. To do such a shameful thing..."
"I've never heard of this before... So he actually likes men..."
Amid the murmurs, a loud voice suddenly rang out: "Just because he's a prince, he can act lawlessly? How detestable! We beg the officials to give him justice!"
Immediately, the crowd's anger flared, and many chimed in. The man wept even more piteously.
At this hour, the capital magistrate was still dreaming sweet dreams. Only a few early-rising commoners were about. Where was an official to come and do justice?
But then a masked man in black descended from the eaves. The man screamed, "Someone's grabbing me! Help! Murder!" and was knocked unconscious with a single blow.
The crowd cried out in alarm: "Ah! Murder! The Third Prince has sent someone to silence him!"
The masked man was highly skilled in martial arts; even carrying someone, he could leap over roofs and walls. In the blink of an eye, he vanished. The grievance drum no longer had a plaintiff, but the noise only grew. Soon, a huge piece of news would spread throughout the capital.
The Third Prince has a taste for male companions! He destroys marriages and takes husbands, and even sent someone to silence the victim!
Within less than half an hour, the rumors became even more colorful. Some said the woman whose husband was taken never showed up because she had been silenced by the Third Prince; others said the woman herself had been taken by the Third Prince and her son abandoned; still others said the Third Prince frequented the Full Moon Tower but refused to pay... Of course, some doubted the veracity of these stories, but who would bother to seek the truth?
At this very moment, the instigator, one Qian Xingzhi, was still adrift in slumber, completely unaware that with a bit of loose talk, she had stirred up yet another wave in the long river of Nansheng Kingdom's history.
Author's note:
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