Chapter 102: CH 93

At the first glimmer of light in the morning, Emperor Chongan sat on his bed with his legs crossed in a pretzel, wrapped in a wolf fur blanket. Eyes half lid, he asked, “Any dead?”

His trusted aide of a eunuch stepped forward. “Those two that were originally heavily injured could not be saved. In less than a moment, they died. The remaining five who had survived died in succession just a while ago.” 

Emperor Chongan opened his eyes. “How did they die?”

In a soft voice, the eunuch said, “By taking poison. We took care not to leave behind any traces. Don’t worry, Your Majesty. The guards are tight-lipped. They don’t dare to run their mouths. When Your Majesty asks them what happened tomorrow, they will only say the assassins had hidden poison in their mouths, and after seeing no opportunity to assassinate, they committed su*cide to escape punishment. All of this seems like something that could happen.”

Emperor Chongan felt slightly more at ease. The eunuch couldn’t help but ask, “Why didn’t Your Majesty interrogate them? Clearly, we slaves only prepared twenty-five men of sacrifice. Now, twelve more people were suddenly added! Just what is going on?”

“Regicide is a crime that warrants the execution of one’s clan and eight others related. When they were caught last night, they did not attempt su*cide. Were they waiting for death by a thousand cuts? It’s not like they didn’t have the opportunity to kill themselves, but they still kept their lives for the time being,” said Emperor Chongan, voice ice-cold. “Did those people really not know that if they survived, they would suffer immensely? They weren’t even afraid of this, so it’s evident they have very strong minds. Do you really think we can get such people to tell the truth?! If we didn’t kill them now, are we going to wait for them to say things they should not say in the morning?” 

Emperor Chongan’s expression was poor to the max. Originally, he had formed a great plan, the spearhead pointing at Prince Yu. Without Emperor Chongan saying much, there naturally would people who would follow what he wanted and investigate this big case. For a crime like regicide, even ten Prince Yus would not be able to shoulder it. This would have been the quickest way to dispose of Yu Mucheng.

Moreover,  Xuan Qiong was still on house arrest these past days, and ignorant of these matters. In this way, he would not be too implicated by his maternal family. At worst, Emperor Chongan could sacrifice Imperial Consort Yu. But this wouldn’t hurt the imperial clan members at all.

Never had he expected his fake assassins would bring rise to real assassins.  When Emperor Chongan discovered there were more than thirty assassins in total, cold sweat sprang from his body.

If it weren’t for the fact that he was careful, and hid many imperial guards inside and outside his palace in case of something happening, he could have actually been assassinated.

Once he recalled the events approximately six hours ago, that over ten real assassins had already infiltrated into the temporary imperial residence, Emperor Chongan felt as if he were on pins and needles.

“However…” The eunuch furrowed his brows, feeling awkward. Then he said in a low voice, “One really doesn’t know what to do now. Just a while ago, this slave had already interrogated the people in charge of recruiting those men of sacrifice and punished them severely. But they only said they didn’t know what happened, repeating that they were innocent. They truly seemed ignorant of what had occurred. Then… Then should we continue to investigate?”

The eunuch carefully asked, “Is there anyone Your Majesty suspects? That way, we slaves will have a lead to investigate.”

Emperor Chongan sneered. “Do you people truly not know who to start with? It’s just that you are too afraid to investigate them.” 

The eunuch smiled in embarrassment. He did not dare to utter a word.

A good while later, someone dressed as an imperial guard entered the main palace hall without announcing his arrival. He dropped to a kneel and saluted. “Your Majesty, the spies have returned.”

Emperor Chongan had not slept the whole night. Once he had heard those words, he said, dispirited, “Speak.”

The person dressed as an imperial guard said, “There are no movements at the empress’ side. Princess Royal suffered a fright. After taking soothing medicine, she fell asleep. Once the empress visited Princess Royal, she checked on the younger princesses. Then she too went to bed. There were no other actions over there. 

“It was a bit more lively at Fourth Highness’ and Fifth Highness’ side. After the two princes returned to the western palace hall, they began to quarrel. Fourth Highness clung to his view that Prince Yu was behind everything. He questioned Fifth Highness over whether he knew what had happened. Otherwise, why did he hide in his room after arriving at the temporary imperial residence? Perhaps it was because he had long since knew what would occur, and hid because he was afraid of dying. Fifth Highness was furious. He kept maintaining that he knew nothing. The two princes argued for a long time. In the end, they parted on bad terms and returned to their own rooms to rest.”

“Xuan Jing said that the first thing Xuan Qiong had done after arriving at the temporary imperial palace was lock himself in his room?” Emperor Chongan frowned. “Did you investigate this? Is it true?”

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Emperor Chongan fell silent. After thinking it over for a good while, he said, “What about Ziyou’s side?” 

The imperial guard paused, before saying, “Young Prince Yu and Young Master Zhong returned to the eastern side palace hall. He ordered the guards to be changed, and after that, brought Young Master Zhong with him to retire. Before they slept… they only whispered a little in bed about things that had nothing to do with what had happened.”

Emperor Chongan was impatient. “What did they talk about? Such a large thing happened, yet they did not discuss it at all?”

The imperial guard was helpless. He could only brace himself and say, “Young Prince Yu and Young Master Zhong seemed to argue. At first, they truly spoke too softly. Nothing could be discerned. Later on, probably because they couldn’t come to an agreement, Young Master Zhong’s voice grew louder and the spy couldn finally catch some of what he said.

“Young Master Zhong said if Young Prince Yu was going to lie, then just lie. Why did he have to bully him? Just tie his… tie his… thing and leave it at that. Why did Young Prince Yu still have to muffle him, making it so that even if he wanted to beg, he wouldn’t be able to and could only be played with? 

“Young Prince Yu’s voice was very low. He said Young Master Zhong was too… too… unrestrained. Muffling him was so that he could play with him longer. Once Young Master Zhong had heard this, he asked in a very soft voice, ‘didn’t you like me being unrestrained?’ Afterward, Young Prince Yu said—”

“Enough!” said Emperor Chongan with a splitting headache. “We don’t want to hear this anymore.”

A weight had been lifted from the imperial guard’s shoulders.

Emperor Chongan was angered to the point where his breathing became unstable. “Assassins had just appeared in the temporary imperial palace! Yet these two actually have the mood to talk about these things! This…” 

The eunuch blurted in a soft voice, “Your Majesty mustn’t worry. Young Prince Yu and Young Master Zhong are both intelligent. They probably guessed there would be someone eavesdropping on them. Even if they did discuss anything important, they would not allow the spies to hear it.”

“Naturally We know this!” Emperor Chongan was so angry, he didn’t know how to get rid of this emotion. “We are angry at them for being so simple-minded! At such a critical juncture, they still have these kinds of thoughts! Useless things! Did they not see men for several generations?!”

The imperial guard dared not say too much.

“Enough. All of them cannot be relied on.” 

Emperor Chongan massaged the area between his brows. “Give this order… Princess Royal Anguo has been injured and it’s inconvenient for her to move. As such, everyone present will not return to the imperial palace for the time being.”

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The eunuch rushed to say, “How could this be? Your Majesty’s body is very noble and precious. How could your honored self remain here?”

“If we return now, then how could we investigate Prince Yu’s case?” said Emperor Chongan, cold enough to freeze. “Are we going to give him time to calm down, then clean up all the traces?”

Emperor Chongan’s expression proved dark. “Ziyou must avoid arousing suspicion. Xuan Qiong has many men in the Ministry of Justice, and so he must avoid arousing suspicion as well. Go… Order the officials who came along on this trip to immediately draft a procedure getting rid of those people in the way. And for the officials back in the capital to form a capable group, investigating this matter for Us at once.” 

The eunuch understood his intention and quickly went to pass on the order.

Once the sky was bright, Emperor Chongan summoned Yu She over. Zhong Wan woke up by himself and ate breakfast alone. He waited for the news.

Shortly after, the eunuch that had accompanied Yu She to the temporary imperial residence arrived. He said, softly, “Those assassins are all dead.”

Zhong Wan laughed in spite of himself. Yu She had indeed guessed correctly. He asked, “Since the Dali Temple must avoid suspicion, who is investigating this case now?” 

“The emperor’s trusted aides,” said the eunuch, still quietly. “Before dawn had even broken through the skies, someone had already made for the capital in order to summon Prince Yu.”

Zhong Wan was speechless.

Emperor Chongan wanted to perform a decisive action in a complex situation. Yu Mucheng should make a move now.

Zhong Wan nodded. Allowed the eunuch to leave. 

He recalled the “whispered conversation” between him and Yu She last night. And he guessed the emperor would lecture him a lot today, and that Yu She wouldn’t return for a good while. Zhong Wan was practically too afraid to imagine Yu She and Emperor Chongan’s conversation, one of a chicken speaking to a duck.

Bored, he paid Xuan Jing a visit.

Xuan Jing was still angry at him; just looking at Zhong Wan put him in a bad mood. “Why did you come?! I’m very busy and don’t have the time to chit chat with you!”

Zhong Wan appeared as if he were good brothers with Xuan Jing and took a seat, not at all thinking himself an outsider. “Your Highness, what’s keeping you busy? Why don’t you tell me?” 

“You…” Xuan Jing wanted to say something, yet hesitated. He truly disliked Yu She, and was now beginning to dislike Zhong Wan as well. “Get lost! Originally, I wanted to talk to you a few times in order to ask where Lin Si went. I never thought you would be cruel and useless. Things you don’t know, I can’t get them out of you. But when you do know something, you refuse to let me know. Who would be willing to bother with you?”

Zhong Wan was shocked. “That’s not true. The last time I saw Lin Si, I specially told him to go see you. He didn’t?”

Xuan Jing hesitated for a moment. Then said in a vague manner, “I guess he could be considered to have visited me.”

Zhong Wan broke into laughter. “Could be considered?” 

Xuan Jing’s expression grew very dark. Not a word left his lips. But Zhong Wan kept pestering him, and Xuan Jing couldn’t stand the noise. So he hesitated before saying, “This month, I would place a walnut by the bedhead every night before I slept. And whenever I woke up the next day…”

Xuan Jing looked down. “The walnut would be gone.”

Zhong Wan was startled. Then he recalled Yu She’s story about the “walnut.” And his heart felt sore.

“On that day, what I had said was a bit unpleasant to hear. But did he really have to go this far?” Xuan Jing practically hated Lin Si to death. “Without any notice, he’d leave for a few months. He clearly returned, yet relying on his martial arts skills, he only comes over when I’m asleep! What is he afraid of? Is he afraid I’d f*ck him out of anger?” 

Zhong Wan thought for a moment. “I discussed this with him once. Although Lin Si did not explain what had happened, I was able to guess a few things. He seemed scared that something might happen in the future and he’d lose his life. He doesn’t want to hold you back.”

“What could happen?” The moment Xuan Jing opened his mouth to speak, other people would die of anger. “If something happened, it would be Yu She and you dying! What does that have to do with him?!”

Zhong Wan was used to having people yell at him to his face. But after hearing someone curse that Yu She would die, he felt unhappy. Zhong Wan glanced at Xuan Jing in a profound manner. ”If Your Highness wants to capture Lin Si, I have a plan. Do you want to hear it?”

Xuan Jing rushed to say, “Speak!” 

“Use a mouse trap,” said Zhong Wan seriously. “Has Your Highness ever seen one?”

Xuan Jing thought for a bit and gestured as he said, “The thing with a plank and a metal clamp above it…”

“Correct!” Zhong Wan acted as if he were taking things very seriously. “Make a bigger one. Treat the bed plank as the plank for the mousetrap. Put it under the blankets. Place a lot of walnuts on top of it. When Lin Si comes in the middle of the night, if he’s a bit careless, then—”

“Do you think I’m stupid?” Xuan Jing was terrified. “Have you gone mad? Would he really not see such a huge mousetrap?” 

Zhong Wan said in a serious manner, “During the middle of the night, what can he see clearly?”

After some thought, Xuan Jing said, “This might be possible…”

“If Your Highness is still worried and wants another layer of protection, you can buy some animal traps and place them under the window and by the foot of the bed. Place many of them.”

Xuan Jing thought carefully about it, and was actually tempted.

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