The fire in the dark cells of the Imperial City Bureau was not extinguished until dawn.
The Emperor had also returned to the palace in secret.
In the Council Hall.
"What did you say? Qiao Kun’s corpse is hanging on the gates of Duke Chen’s mansion?!!!"
Emperor Ji Xuan was incensed. "Who was it? Who on earth dared to touch a Vice Commander of the Imperial City Bureau?"
Throughout the Great Zhou, everyone knew that the Imperial City Bureau belonged to the Emperor alone; to strike at the Bureau was to strike at the Son of Heaven himself!
Wang Zhi, Commander of the Patrol Battalion, knelt below, his forehead and back soaked in cold sweat. Trembling, he said, "It is not just Vice Commander Qiao, but also... also the top scholar, Zhou Qi, who had his tongue pulled out and his limbs severed before being hung on the gates of the... the Third Prince’s mansion."
Having said this, Wang Zhi collapsed onto the floor. As the Commander of the Patrol Battalion, it was his duty to maintain order in the Capital and guard against external threats.
Yet, such audacious acts had been committed right under the Emperor’s nose in the span of a single night.
And he had failed to detect any of it in time.
The wrath of an Emperor could lay a million corpses to rest; he feared his own end was near.
Murderous intent filled the Emperor’s brow, and his imperial aura surged. "As the Commander of the Patrol Battalion, you allowed such an act of contempt for imperial power and majesty to occur right under your eyelids. How do you plead?"
"This humble subject deserves death!"
Just as Wang Zhi prepared to offer his life to atone for his failure, Xiao Qianyue, the Commander of the Imperial City Bureau, draped in a black robe, strode quickly into the hall.
He lowered his voice. "Reporting to Your Majesty, a sudden fire broke out in the Imperial City Bureau last night. Princess Anyang... Princess Anyang has perished in the sea of flames."
"Bang!"
The Emperor rose abruptly, sweeping the memorials off his dragon desk. "What did you say? Anyang... Anyang..."
"Your Majesty, Princess Anyang... has passed..."
"Shut your mouth!"
The Emperor descended from his throne and paced back and forth in the hall. "Seal off the news. The Empress must not know."
"Your Majesty, it cannot be hidden."
Xiao Qianyue spoke with a grim expression: "When I returned from outside the city with you, although the fire had been extinguished, it was already known to all in the Capital that Princess Anyang was being held in the dark cells. According to my investigation just now, the fire started in the interrogation room of the Imperial City Bureau..."
"I gave orders for you to look after Anyang properly. Although she was in the dark cells, it was far from the interrogation room. How could she..."
"Thump!"
Xiao Qianyue knelt, daring not to hide the truth. "I discovered that all the guards in the dark cells were redeployed by Qiao Kun last night. Furthermore... furthermore, Princess Anyang was taken to the interrogation room. Her body is now charred beyond recognition."
Rage burned in the Emperor’s eyes, his voice roaring like thunder: "If she is charred, how can you be certain it was Anyang?"
It was not that he felt such profound sorrow for Princess Anyang, but he did not know how to answer to the Empress. Though the Feng family had fallen, he was well aware that the mysterious Jiuli Tribe stood behind them. He still had no clue about this family, so it was not yet the time for a falling out.
Moreover, he did not want the Empress to grieve, and a sickly, foolish princess posed no threat.
"Bang..."
He kicked the kneeling Xiao Qianyue several times. "This is the Imperial City Bureau you lead! You dare to deceive me like this? Do you truly think me so soft-hearted?"
"Clatter..."
With that sound, the Emperor drew the sword from Xiao Qianyue's waist, and a chilling, murderous aura permeated the Council Hall.
Xiao Qianyue closed his eyes, silently awaiting the Emperor’s blade.
From the moment he discovered Qiao Kun’s betrayal and Princess Anyang’s death, he knew his time was up.
Beside him, Wang Zhi walked on eggshells, enduring the Emperor’s storm-like murderous intent.
Prostrating himself in terror, he said, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. Since Qiao Kun had betrayed you, who killed him last night? And to hang the body on the gates of Duke Chen’s mansion—could it be the same person who set the fire in the Imperial City Bureau?"
"Clang!"
The Emperor dropped the sword to the floor, his dragon robes fluttering as he turned and walked toward the throne with imposing majesty.
Xiao Qianyue took a deep breath and slowly opened his eyes, though he remained kneeling.
He had not expected Qiao Kun to be killed, let alone for his body to be hung on the gates of Duke Chen’s mansion. His eyes were cold—who on earth had done this?
Wang Zhi sighed in relief internally and continued, "Your Majesty, based on Qiao Kun’s arrangements last night, it is clear that someone wanted Princess Anyang’s life. I suspect that perhaps Qiao Kun was killed in retaliation after completing that person’s task. If this is truly the case, the person behind this must be guarded against."
Grand Eunuch Xia had already picked up the scattered memorials and poured a cup of tea for the Emperor, standing to one side with caution.
The Emperor took a sip of tea, his gaze sweeping over Wang Zhi like a sharp blade.
Finally, it settled on Xiao Qianyue. "What is your take?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, Qiao Kun’s betrayal led to Princess Anyang’s death. I deserve to die ten thousand times over, but the person behind this is cunning and vicious. To be able to reach into the Imperial City Bureau and commit such a lawless and audacious act shows great capability and deep concealment. I am willing to redeem myself by finding the mastermind."
The Emperor rotated the imperial green jade ring on his thumb. "Among the many households in the Capital, Qiao Kun’s corpse was hung specifically on the Chen family's gates. It is clear that there is some unknown connection between the two."
A dark glint flashed in the eyes of Xiao Qianyue below.
Then, he heard the words: "Xiao Qianyue, I command you to investigate this matter in secret. Investigate it thoroughly for me. I want to see exactly who it is that dares to stir up trouble right under my nose!"
"As you command!"
"Wang Zhi."
"I am here, Your Majesty."
"Investigate Zhou Qi’s side as well. The top scholar I personally appointed was hung on the gates of a Prince’s mansion—who is it that dares to challenge imperial power?"
He paused, then continued: "You are to assist Xiao Qianyue. The two of you, one in the light and one in the dark, will turn this Capital upside down until you find the truth."
"As you command."
Just as the two were about to withdraw, the Emperor spoke in a low, casual voice: "Anyang was sent by me to the imperial villa to recover from illness long ago. The one in the Imperial City Bureau’s dark cells was merely a body double I arranged to protect her."
Xiao Qianyue and Wang Zhi understood instantly and hurried to chime in: "Your Majesty is wise. Princess Anyang shall surely live a long and peaceful life."
Grand Eunuch Xia stood quietly to the side, eyes fixed ahead, though his hand gripping the whisk tightened.
-
Sichun Pavilion.
Uncle Tong, his hair fully white, entered the east wing and saw his master still sitting by the window.
He said with concern: "Young Master, you have not slept all night. Would you like..."
"Uncle Tong, A-Jiu has come to the Capital."
The man looked over with melancholy eyes: "What do you think is the relationship between A-Jiu and the Great Zhou’s Princess Anyang?"
Uncle Tong draped a cloak over his master, noticing the hand the master had rested on the side was trembling slightly.
Both pained and helpless, he said: "If you wish to know, Young Master, why not simply ask Ninth Miss?"
The man turned his head to look out the window again: "...I am afraid."
His voice was very soft, as if speaking to himself rather than Uncle Tong.
"Regardless of the relationship, it is a fact that Ninth Miss rescued Princess Anyang. In this world, no one other than Ninth Miss uses the Thousand-Mechanism Needles."
Uncle Tong poured a cup of warm water and brought it over: "Princess Anyang was framed and imprisoned in the Imperial City Bureau, not by your doing. Ninth Miss will not blame you."
"But it started because of me."
The man’s eyes were vacant: "...Uncle Tong, I am so tired... If only I were just Ying Yuan and not... how good that would be."
...Sigh.
Uncle Tong sighed silently: "If you wish, Young Master... you could actually choose to be just the Young Master."
Ying Yuan gave a bitter smile: "...It is too late."