At this moment, Su Yan truly understood what it felt like to be scrutinized and condemned by the masses.
Wang Shangshu’s words were like a hand that opened a box hiding deadly arrows, revealing the sharp, poison-tipped blades within. And the brilliance of it was that this hand belonged to someone entirely upright, just, and untouchable.
Facing the suspicious, disdainful, and even gleeful looks from the ministers, Su Yan turned his head to glance at his unfortunate brother in this mess, Yu Wang. He found that the Wangye, still calm and composed despite being mired in this predicament, even raised an amused eyebrow at him.
Well, at least this reckless and debauched Wangye had one good trait—he remained unruffled in the face of crises, with an impressive psychological resilience. Su Yan thought to himself that perhaps the Wangye, being the emperor’s younger brother, believed that as long as he didn’t commit any unforgivable crimes, he would come out unscathed. But Su Yan? He had no such protection and was in danger of becoming the scapegoat… What a joke!
Su Yan let out a calm, refined smile. Standing tall and dignified, he adopted the demeanor of a scholarly gentleman from the Wei and Jin periods, and with his hands behind his back, he said with a composed and dignified tone, “Wang Shangshu, with all due respect, the so-called evidence presented has too many holes and cannot be considered definitive. May I have the opportunity to clarify the truth?”
Wang Tiru replied, “Even criminals in court have the right to defend themselves. Su Xianma are only a suspect, so of course, you may.”
This statement temporarily silenced those who were eager to add insult to injury.
“I would like to request that Master Lianzhou be questioned,” Su Yan said.
The emperor nodded and ordered someone to summon Shang Pu.
Shang Pu, who was over fifty and called himself “Lianzhou, the painting fanatic,” had just been recruited into the palace from the civilian population earlier that year. Even in the talent-filled imperial painting academy, his skills were outstanding.
When Su Yan saw him, he immediately knew that the title “painting fanatic” was well-deserved. This man’s mind was probably filled only with painting, entirely oblivious to social decorum. When he arrived, he ignored court etiquette, rushing straight to the steps to brush away the dust on the scrolls, lamenting, “Good heavens! Who has messed up my painting? Look! Look! There’s even a footprint!”
Somewhere in the crowd, an official couldn’t hold back a chuckle but quickly covered his mouth.
Su Yan cleared his throat and approached Shang Pu, bowing respectfully. “I am Su Yan of the Bureau of Classics. Master Lianzhou, when you painted this ‘Archery Victory Scene,’ where were you standing?”
Shang Pu, still clutching the painting, suddenly remembered he was in the presence of the emperor and hurriedly knelt. The emperor said, “No need for formalities, just answer the question.”
So, Shang Pu replied to Su Yan, “In that pavilion over there.” He gestured roughly in the direction.
Su Yan glanced over and nodded. “That spot indeed provides a view of the archery field and the east side of Longde Hall. Was this location chosen by you, Master?”
Shang Pu answered, “Originally, I had chosen the corridor bridge for a better view, but a guard told me to go to the pavilion, saying that tables and chairs were already set up there.”
“Do you remember which guard it was? Could you identify them?” Su Yan asked.
Shang Pu thought for a moment but shook his head. “They all wore the same uniform; I can’t recall.”
“Thank you, Master Lianzhou,” Su Yan said.
He then turned to Wang Tiru. “I’m sure, Lord Shangshu, that you’ve noticed something suspicious. Master Lianzhou originally chose the corridor bridge, from which the location where Imperial Physician Ye fell would not have been visible. Someone led him to the pavilion so that the murderer’s figure would be captured in the painting. Why would they do that? If the guard was an accomplice of the murderer, why would they expose themselves? And if they weren’t, why didn’t they report the impending crime?”
Wang Shangshu pondered, “It is suspicious, but it could also be a coincidence.”
Su Yan then asked Shang Pu, “Master Lianzhou, is it possible you mistook or misrepresented the clothing details? After all, there were many people, each with different outfits.”
Being questioned about his craft clearly displeased Shang Pu. “I’ve been painting for decades. Do you think I’ve been practicing for nothing?”
“Then the second flaw lies here.” Su Yan took the painting and pointed at the suspect’s back. “Please take a look, everyone. The person’s belt is the same as the one I wore earlier today, a cloth belt with a single buckle. However, while practicing archery in the forest this morning, I lost that belt and, unable to find it, had to switch to a backup leather belt, which I am still wearing now.”
Upon hearing this, everyone turned their gaze to Su Yan’s waist and saw that he was indeed wearing a stiff leather belt, adorned with a circle of silver-plated decorations, which was entirely different from the one in the painting.
“If it were really I who went to the pavilion to injure Ye Langzhong and then immediately returned to the archery field, how could I have had enough time to return to the hall and change belts in just a quarter of an hour? The only possible conclusion— is that the suspect had planned this ahead of time to frame me. That’s why he wore a robe under his outer garment that had the same color and pattern as mine. When I returned to the hall to find a new belt, the suspect tricked Ye Langzhong into going up to the pavilion, removed his outer robe, took the sword, and attacked him. He then used the robe to wrap the bloodstains and took it away along with the weapon. He hung the unconscious Ye Langzhong over the railing, whose fall frightened the imperial concubine, causing her to give birth prematurely. The suspect deliberately buried the weapon in a pit, knowing that it would be found and used to incriminate Yu Wang.
At the same time, he had someone disguise as a guard to mislead Master Lianzhou into unintentionally capturing the scene just before the murder in his painting, attempting to seal my guilt with a single stroke of the brush.
This person is truly ruthless, with a vicious plan to frame me and Yu Wang, showing no concern for the imperial concubine or the safety of the imperial heir. Truly despicable! But human schemes are no match for fate. He didn’t foresee that I would change my belt, which is how the flaw was revealed.”
After finishing his speech, Su Yan solemnly knelt before the emperor, his hands flat on the ground, bowing deeply as he said, “Your Majesty, I have been wronged. Please, I beg Your Majesty to grant me justice!”
He remained kneeling, his back slightly hunched like a waning crescent moon, and Emperor Jinglong looked down at him in silence for a moment before asking, “Wang Shangshu, do you have anything to say?”
Wang Tirui bowed and said, “Your Majesty, I believe this belt is indeed a significant flaw. However, to fully clarify the truth, I would like to ask Su Yan to prove one last point.”
“What is it?”
“He claims that he went back to the hall to change his belt before the incident. Does he have any witnesses? If there is no one to verify this, his suspicion still cannot be entirely dismissed.”
Su Yan’s heart skipped a beat.
He did have a witness, but it was a witness who could not be exposed—Shen Qi, a commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
If Shen Qi were to be exposed, it would inevitably lead to the matter of Fengan Marquis, Wei Jun, forcing himself upon a palace maid, as well as implicating Commander Feng Que, who colluded with Wei Jun and had someone cover up his crimes.
Aiming at the vital spot without hitting it might mean that not only would the snake not die, but it could retaliate and bite. Forcing oneself on a palace maid is a grave crime, but without concrete evidence, even if the maid were brought forward for confrontation, there’s no guarantee she wouldn’t be too ashamed or frightened to accuse the Marquis Feng’an. And with the birth of the imperial heir, Imperial Concubine Wei, being highly favored, she could easily intervene on his behalf, likely allowing Wei Jun to escape punishment.
As for Shen Qi, he would be seen as a traitor, and with Commander Feng’s cruel and vicious methods, Shen Qi would not be spared, even facing a fate worse than death!
To clear his own name, Su Yan would have to sacrifice Shen Qi’s life, something he could not do. Moreover, this commander had once saved his life after he was beaten in the imperial court. Even though Shen Qi was… a bit of a scoundrel, still…
Debts and favors—who could calculate them clearly? Su Yan was momentarily lost in thought.
Noticing his prolonged silence, the emperor slightly furrowed his brows, as if deep in consideration.
Meanwhile, in the ranks of the Embroidered Uniform Guard standing behind Commander Feng, Shen Qi looked at the kneeling Su Yan, his face expressionless. His fingers, gripping the hilt of his sword, tensed and relaxed repeatedly, stretching the pale, bloodless skin across his knuckles like a trapped bird desperately struggling for survival.
It’s not worth it. Shen Qi thought. It was just a fleeting connection… No, not even that—a one-sided affair.
Ten years of hardship, enduring blades and frost, clawing his way up to his current position—it wasn’t worth throwing it all away for a trivial fling, risking his career and even his life.
Just a distraction.
So why this heart-wrenching pain?
How laughable—a villain like me can even feel pain, can even have a heart!
He shut his eyes tightly, his foot involuntarily stepping forward—
Emperor Jinglong gazed at the pale back of Su Yan’s neck, a few strands of dark hair escaping from under his official cap, curling softly against his skin as if pleading pitifully.
This official has been wronged.
Zhen knows.
But using royal power to suppress public opinion and clear your name might not be the best thing for you.
Please, Your Majesty, grant me justice!
…Very well. A look of helplessness flashed in the emperor’s eyes, but his brows relaxed as he was about to speak—
“I’ll vouch for him!” A bright, clear voice suddenly rang out like a clap of thunder.
Everyone turned to see Crown Prince Zhu Helin striding forward, his red robes flowing like clouds behind him, followed by a few eunuchs scrambling to keep up.
Zhu Helin raised his voice, “Qinghe was with me in the carriage, and his spare clothing and accessories were kept in my quarters. After he lost his belt, to avoid any impropriety in front of the emperor, he came to find my eunuch, Fu Bao.”
Fu Bao immediately stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, lords, it is true. I was the one who helped Lord Su change his belt.”
“Does Wang Shangshu have any further questions? Does anyone else present have anything to add?” Zhu Helin’s voice was sharp, his eyes scanning the crowd as his youthful face showed a glimmer of stern authority.
Wang Tiru straightened his sleeves and said earnestly, “This humble servant upholds the law impartially, with no personal vendetta against Su Yan, nor have I been coerced. I implore Your Majesty and the Crown Prince to judge fairly. Since the evidence and testimony are clear, Su Yan should indeed be declared innocent.”
Yu Wang chuckled. “Don’t forget about me, Wang Shangshu. You wouldn’t want to show favoritism, would you?”
Wang Tiru scoffed, clearly unimpressed with the Wangye’s roguish demeanor.
Yu Wang, notorious among the literati for his infamous reputation, was used to the disdain of the scholar-officials and remained unfazed. He bowed to the emperor, saying, “Since my innocence is also clear, I will take my leave. Oh, and once the real culprit is found and brought to justice, I request that the emperor return my Fish-Intestine Dagger.” With that, he casually sauntered off.
Emperor Jinglong did not respond but asked Lan Xi, “Have all the heads been accounted for?”
Lan Xi bowed and presented the list: “The count is complete. Besides His Highness Yu Wang and Su Shidu, there are seven others who were not present at the time.”
At this moment, dusk had fallen, and palace attendants hurried to light the lanterns. The Emperor took the list, and upon seeing Wei Jun’s name among them, his lips tightened slightly in displeasure.
“Wang Yuanshi, can the Imperial Concubine now return to the palace?”
Wang Chunfu reported, “The Imperial Concubine is still weak after childbirth. It would be best for her to rest here for two or three more days before returning to the palace.”
The Emperor nodded. “Then I will stay with the Imperial Concubine at the East Garden for a few days. As it’s also the Dragon Boat Festival, ministers need not attend court for the next three days. As for these seven, arrange accommodations for them in Hongqing Hall to the east and Chongzhi Hall to the south. Make sure they are well taken care of, and we will conduct a thorough investigation tomorrow. Yu Wang will also stay and reside in the main hall, Zhonghua Hall. As for the other royals and ministers, the Embroidered Uniform Guard will escort them back to the city.”
Lan Xi received the orders and went to make arrangements.
Su Yan, who hadn’t yet been dismissed, remained kneeling. He began to wonder if the Emperor had forgotten about him and considered sneaking into the group heading back to the city.
Just then, the Emperor strolled over, personally helped him up, and said in a calm tone, “You’ll stay here with the other seven.”
Su Yan was slightly taken aback but then felt a slight squeeze on his arm from the Emperor, as if signaling something. He suddenly understood. “Your subject obeys.”
