A fifth-rank official had mysteriously fallen to his death in broad daylight. Civil and military officials, along with royal family members, stood in a dense crowd at the archery field, whispering and waiting for the emperor’s decision.
Zhu Helin approached and whispered a few words in his Royal Father’s ear.
Emperor Jinglong nodded and ordered Ye Donglou’s body to be taken to another hall for immediate examination by the coroner. He also dispatched a squad of the Embroidered Uniform Guard to search the left-side auxiliary building for any clues.
No one who had accompanied the emperor to the Eastern Garden was allowed to leave, regardless of their status. The eunuchs were ordered to take a headcount.
In the afternoon, the weather changed as the wind picked up, and the clear sky gradually darkened with clouds, though it did not rain. The heavy scent of blood on the steps wafted through the air, mingling with the faint sounds of Imperial Concubine Wei’s labor screams from deep within Longde Hall, creating a chilling sense of foreboding.
The emperor ordered the Embroidered Uniform Guard to question the officials of the Ministry of Revenue, asking who had last seen Ye Donglou. A subordinate official reported that he had seen the official head towards the woods behind Longde Hall alone, about an hour earlier.
At this moment, the Embroidered Uniform Guard searching the auxiliary building returned to report that the building was empty, with no signs of damage to the highest railing and no evidence of a struggle. However, they found a few drops of blood on a vermillion-painted window frame opposite the railing, about a zhang (approximately 3.3 meters) away. The bloodstains seemed to have been splattered there, nearly missed due to their similarity in color to the paint.
“The bloodstains are about this high,” said the Embroidered Uniform Guard officer, skilled in on-site investigations, as he gestured to his waist. “Based on my experience, the blood was sprayed horizontally from within a distance of about a zhang.”
A running eunuch also brought the coroner’s initial findings: Ye Donglou had a stab wound on his abdomen, thin and short, with clean-cut edges, likely caused by a dagger or short sword. The blade was short, only cutting into the intestines without piercing through the body.
The Embroidered Uniform Guard officer continued to speculate at the emperor’s signal, “At that time, Ye Langzhong must have been leaning against the railing when he was stabbed in the abdomen. The perpetrator might have used some fabric to catch the blood as the sword was withdrawn, but a few droplets splattered onto the window frame and went unnoticed. Ye Langzhong did not die immediately; he tried to stop the bleeding with his hands. About a quarter of an hour later, with the blood between his fingers partially dried, he fell from the railing to his death on the stone steps.”
Nearby, the Minister of Justice, Tang Guangyuan, stroked his beard thoughtfully, “Why didn’t Ye Donglou cry for help? If he had shouted, someone might have heard him from the archery field below.”
The Embroidered Uniform Guard officer replied, “That is precisely what confuses me. If Ye Langzhong was unconscious and unable to call for help, how did he manage to climb over the railing? If he was conscious, what was he doing during that quarter of an hour? Did he exchange words with the killer? If so, the killer must have been someone he knew, and their relationship wasn’t ordinary; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so distracted despite his severe injury.”
Tang Guangyuan added, “There’s also the possibility that he did lose consciousness. The killer waited for the right moment and then pushed him over the railing.”
“What moment?” Lan Xi asked.
Tang Guangyuan hesitated, not daring to answer.
Emperor Jinglong’s expression darkened as he answered for him, “The moment Imperial Concubine Wei stepped in front of the stairs.”
If that were true, this wasn’t just the murder of an official; it was a treasonous act to harm the imperial offspring! Lan Xi’s face turned pale, and someone among the officials gasped before silence fell. A chilling shadow that could not be spoken of hung over everyone present.
Emperor Jinglong’s voice was cold and firm, “Investigate—get to the bottom of this!”
He brushed his sleeves and headed towards the hall, with Lan Xi quickly following. The emperor’s steps faltered slightly, and he gave an order before continuing on his way. Lan Xi, carrying the imperial decree, turned to Yu Wang and politely said, “Your Highness, the emperor summons you. Please follow this old servant.”
Zhu Helin had been listening the entire time, still unconsciously holding Su Yan’s hand. He was about to say something when Lan Xi turned to Su Yan and said, “Su Shidu, you are also summoned. The emperor orders you to wait outside the hall and not to leave until summoned.”
The Crown Prince frowned, “Grand Eunuch, Qinghe doesn’t look well, probably due to lingering effects of the alcohol. Let him rest with me indoors for a while, and he can go when my Royal Father calls for him, how about that?”
Lan Xi shook his head, maintaining a respectful attitude, “The imperial order is absolute. I beg your pardon, young master.”
Su Yan withdrew his hand, “It’s alright, I feel much better after throwing up earlier.” He cupped his hands towards the Crown Prince and softly said, “Don’t worry,” before following Lan Xi up the stairs.
“Uncle, please give nephew some advice,” Su Yan whispered to Lan Xi as they walked, sensing something ominous and eager to build a rapport with the senior eunuch.
Lan Xi moved his lips slightly, his voice barely audible, “There are eyes in the forest.”
Su Yan was first startled, then realized it wasn’t unexpected.
Yu Wang’s reputation was no secret. As his elder brother, did the emperor really not know what kind of person he was? Agreeing to let him teach archery and giving him face in front of the court, while secretly placing spies in the forest—this was precisely the kind of crafty move the emperor would make.
That being the case, the messy business with Yu Wang... Su Yan gritted his teeth.
The situation was troublesome, but not entirely unsolvable. The time spent waiting outside the hall could be used to think of a countermeasure.
***
Yu Wang entered the hall and saw Emperor Jinglong standing by the window with his hands behind his back. He bowed and said, “Your brother has come as summoned. What instructions do you have for me, Your Majesty?”
The Emperor, with his back to him, spoke calmly, “Twenty-seven people.”
Yu Wang was slightly startled and laughed, “Twenty-seven people? Your Majesty, this riddle has left your brother quite puzzled.”
“Over the years, you’ve gotten involved with a total of twenty-seven officials and scholars. I had someone register each of them. Would you like to check if there are any omissions?”
Yu Wang’s face stiffened, but he suddenly smirked, his smile deepening. “There’s no need. You have everything figured out, Royal Brother.”
The Emperor sighed and turned to face him directly. “Old Four, you should restrain yourself! Do you know how you’re being talked about inside and outside the court? Do you know how many memorials impeaching you I have to suppress every day, keeping them from being issued?”
“I don’t know what crime I’ve committed.”
“This country’s court, every official is a selected talent, not your personal garden!”
“Please calm your anger, Royal Brother. I have no intention of plucking flowers.” Yu Wang strolled to the table, poured a cup of tea, and handed it to the Emperor. “Indeed, I enjoy befriending talented scholars, and after spending time together, it’s only natural that we might engage in some romantic affairs. But I neither force nor coerce; it’s always consensual, with no hard feelings. At most, it’s a private moral failing, hardly a crime, right? Besides, the law doesn’t prohibit male relations. Almost every noble family keeps young male companions, so why am I the only one being blamed?”
The Emperor did not take the tea. “Even if you kept a hundred or eighty of those young male companions, I wouldn’t care. But officials are off-limits, regardless of their rank. They should never be your targets. I didn’t reprimand you before because you didn’t force anyone, but today—”
“What about today?” Yu Wang held the cup, his fingers steady as a rock, the surface of the tea as calm as a mirror, without the slightest ripple.
The Emperor stared at him, his gaze cold and sharp, speaking slowly, “Su Yan is talented. I intend to nurture him, train him, and perhaps one day entrust him with significant responsibilities. What happened today, I do not want to see a second time. Otherwise, I will bring those memorials to court and make you read them aloud, one by one, in front of everyone. Let the censors show you how skillfully they can insult without shedding blood, and then I’ll charge you with the crime of coercing an official.”
Yu Wang placed the imperial yellow-glazed cup back on the table. “The term ‘coercion’ is rather harsh. What happened today was not entirely my doing. Even if I used some tactics, it was merely to spice things up in bed.”
On the Emperor’s dignified and composed face, a slight, cold smile appeared. “Not entirely your doing, or was it that he reluctantly played along?”
Yu Wang lightly brushed his lips with his fingers, showing a lingering expression. “It wasn’t exactly playing along; he really doesn’t have the skill. But he didn’t resist either, so I suppose he enjoyed it.”
The Emperor suddenly wanted to smash the cup of hot tea in his hand into his brother’s face. His fingers twitched, but thinking of the Empress Dowager, he held back.
He coldly said, “If you defy me again, I’ll have you get lost to High Walls.”
This time, Yu Wang’s expression finally changed.
The Fengyang High Walls were a prison specifically designed by the ancestor Emperor for the royal family members. There was once a prince’s son who, shortly after birth, was placed under house arrest inside. When he was finally released in his old age, he was like an imbecile. When nobles were sent to this terrifying prison, some would bash their heads against the walls outside, and there were even princes who, after killing their concubines, committed suicide by slitting their own throats—preferring death over imprisonment.
For the first time, the Emperor was using the High Walls to threaten him, merely because of a trivial fifth-rank official, and not even because of a murder case or the pregnancy scare of a favored consort.
Suddenly, Yu Wang burst into laughter, shook out his robes, and kneeled before the Emperor. “If the ruler wishes his minister dead, the minister must comply. If my royal brother despises me, he can certainly send me to the High Walls. Tonight, I will bid farewell to the Empress Dowager, and tomorrow I shall depart.”
Emperor Jinglong looked at him with a heavy gaze, his cheek muscles twitching bitterly. “Jincheng, you…”
“To avoid the sacred taboo, I have changed my name to ‘Xu Jing.’ Have you forgotten, royal brother?” Yu Wang raised his head, smiling with carefree abandon. “And the title—you changed the title of Dai Wang to Yu Wang. I fully understand your deep care and intentions. ‘Yu’ means joy and ease. Royal brother, look, I have lived joyfully and easily all these years, without having to guard the borders, without being sent to the provinces, always able to be at the Empress Dowager’s side and fulfill my filial duties. I am fully content and endlessly grateful.”
The Emperor looked at him, unable to speak, his gaze fixed on his chest.
Yu Wang followed his gaze and looked down, smiling gently. “The old wounds have healed without leaving any lasting illness. You can rest assured, royal brother.”
Emperor Jinglong placed his palm over his heart, withdrawing it after a moment and sighing deeply. “Rise.”
“I know you’ve harbored resentment in your heart for many years.”
“I dare not hold any resentment in my heart. I have only loyalty and filial piety, striving to live up to the expectations of our parents and royal brother—but unfortunately, I’ve fallen short, unable to change my bad habits, and brought shame upon you.”
The Emperor sighed helplessly, “You know what shame is! Half of the young officials in the court avoid you, and even the newly appointed scholars haven’t escaped your attention. What really happened to Ye Donglou?”
“I truly do not know,” Yu Wang replied, his expression darkening. “The affection we shared was still there, yet in the blink of an eye, he was gone. I am deeply pained and hope that royal brother will thoroughly investigate.”
“Of course I will thoroughly investigate—not for your lover, but for the sake of the law and order of the nation—”
Emperor Jinglong paused, then continued, “I just warned you not to target officials again. My word is final.”
Yu Wang sneered, “What you really mean, royal brother, is that I should stay away from Su Yan?”
The Emperor slapped his left cheek, not too hard, more a reprimand than a punishment. “Grow up! All you think about is the bedroom, never once considering how to ease my burdens.”
“What burdens weigh on your mind, royal brother? If they also concern the bedroom, I have a hundred ways to make people throw themselves into your arms and ease your troubles.”
Before he could finish speaking, he was slapped on the right cheek. “Get out!”
“Lan Xi, tell Su Yan to get in here!”
Can’t wait until next week to see more? Want to show your support? Come to my Patreon where you can get 5 or more chapters of The Reincarnation of a Powerful Minister right away ! Or go donate at Paypal or Ko-fi to show your appreciation! :)
