The lights in the Imperial Guards’ duty compound stayed lit until dawn. One by one, the clerks from the Ministry of Revenue worked themselves into dizzy exhaustion, finally sorting out the problematic accounts into a separate register and submitting it to Fu Linye.
Shen Zechuan read through everything. Fu Linye then attached a memorial and, together with the progress report on the assassination case, presented it at Li Jianheng’s desk.
The Grand Secretariat convened before the emperor to deliberate on the matter.
Fu Linye said, “Your Majesty, from a single taste one can judge the whole cauldron. This case alone shows that Xiao Chiye has been embezzling for a long time. Over these past few years, he has monopolized control of the Imperial Guards—who knows how many more false accounts like this exist. The state treasury is strained, and arrears in local tax silver are cropping up everywhere. To keep such a man close at hand is like piling firewood beneath a blaze—it will endanger the very foundations of the realm!”
Kong Qiu had also read the register, but he said, “The assassination case remains unresolved. This truly is not the time to stir up additional trouble. In my opinion, the bribery case can be set aside for later investigation. At present, we must focus on the major case of the assassination.”
“How strange,” Wei Huaixing sneered. “It’s all connected to Xiao Chiye. Why separate the investigations? We might as well pull up the radish and bring the mud with it—take this chance to settle everything once and for all!”
Kong Qiu was completely unmoved. “This case has already veered away from its main point. From what I see, you gentlemen are not trying to find the mastermind behind the assassination at all—you want to use this opportunity to eliminate your political enemies!”
Fu Linye immediately shot back, “The bribery case was uncovered by following the trail—how is that attacking others? When Minister Kong investigates, it’s called investigating a case; when the rest of us do it, it’s called slander? The Censorate’s duty lies in oversight. I am impeaching him for bribery—am I wrong to do so?”
Kong Qiu said, “Wang Xian has not yet been tried. You want to render a verdict on a bribery case based solely on your own words—then what need will there be in the future for joint trials by the Three Judicial Offices? We might as well let Lord Fu decide cases single-handedly! Right now, what the Ministry of Justice must verify is whether the testimony submitted by Lord Wei is truthful. Only one night has passed, and my witnesses have not yet been examined, yet you are already rushing to convict. If he truly is guilty, why the hurry? Judgment must follow the rules and procedures. Otherwise, where will the laws of the state stand!”
The three of them began arguing before the throne. Li Jianheng could not get a word in edgewise and could only look toward Hai Liangyi. Hai Liangyi sat there listening intently, and after hearing all sides, he nodded slightly.
Li Jianheng hurriedly asked, “What does the Grand Secretary think?”
“What does the Grand Secretary think?” Shen Zechuan toyed with a copper coin. “Naturally, he will reject the memorial on the bribery case. Hai Liangyi has been rigid for so long that everyone treats him as a lone, straight-talking loyalist. But he was the first to bring down Hua Siqian and support Li Jianheng’s rightful enthronement. If he still hasn’t seen through this situation, that would be truly strange. Xi Hongxuan and the others want to use him as a shield for their actions—but they forget that the Grand Secretary has long been sitting calmly on the fishing platform, watching it all unfold.”
“You did well,” Tutor Qi said from the other side of the small table. “You didn’t stop Fu Linye, but instead let him take charge. That way, the credit belongs to him alone. He’ll surely grow impatient, unwilling to wait for a better opportunity, and rush to submit it for praise. Hai Liangyi already sensed something during that impeachment before the throne. By now, he must have guessed who is trying to remove Xiao Chiye.”
“Because the wind fans the fire—and the blaze still isn’t hot enough,” Shen Zechuan said. “Forget Xiao Jiming—even Xiao Chiye himself won’t be burned by this yet. The Quancheng silk case, if truly investigated, is one of those muddled accounts everyone understands perfectly well. Right now, what matters isn’t clearing it up—it’s which way the emperor’s heart will lean.”
“Indeed,” Tutor Qi said, placing a piece on the board. “Public placarding and reprimands may look severe, but in truth they’re only surface-level warnings. His Majesty has absolutely not yet formed the intention to strip Xiao Chiye of his military authority. You must make him maintain that stance. You absolutely cannot let him truly decide to take Xiao Er’s power away—otherwise, even if we win a small victory this time, we’ll be planting the seeds of a great calamity.”
Shen Zechuan scattered the copper coins he had stacked, then patiently piled them up again, one by one, clearly enjoying himself. “Hai Liangyi controls the Grand Secretariat. Though he has heavily employed men of aristocratic backgrounds like Xue Xiuzhuo, he has also established the Imperial Academy and promoted minor officials from humble origins. Tutor, he wants to proceed step by step, gradually setting himself against the great clans. On that point alone, he cannot allow Xiao Er to fall.”
“The Xiao family remains unhurried precisely because they understand these reasons. Xiao Jiming’s decision to stand by is meant to keep this battlefield confined within Juedu, without touching Libei in the slightest. Only then can it be resolved cleanly—only then can Xiao Er have fewer worries behind him,” Tutor Qi said, making his move. “Right now, everyone is gleefully kicking a man when he’s down. His Majesty is still angry, viewing Xiao Er as disloyal, unfilial, and unrighteous. But once the fire grows hot enough, things will reverse. His Majesty will change course and begin to pity the ‘lonely and isolated’ brother instead.”
Li Jianheng had not seen Mu Ru for several days. After the assassination attempt, he insisted on keeping his surroundings brightly lit at night. No eunuchs were allowed to step into the sleeping chambers; all attendants inside were now palace maids.
That day, heavy snow fell again. Hai Liangyi was unwell and could not approach the throne. Li Jianheng ordered the Imperial Medical Bureau to visit Hai Liangyi’s residence for a thorough examination, bestowed many nourishing medicines upon him, and repeatedly assured him that he would continue his diligent studies and not fall behind.
With the Mingli Hall free of affairs, Li Jianheng flipped through a few pages of a book before feeling soreness in his waist and back. He rose to look outside the window and saw snow like shredded silk filling the sky. Suddenly struck by the mood, he summoned the palace maids to dress him and drape his cloak, wanting to go out and admire the snow.
Li Jianheng went strolling through the gardens. Seeing the lake frozen over, he remembered the ice sleds they used to play with in the palace.
“In winter, when the water freezes solid, that’s exactly when one should play,” Li Jianheng asked those around him. “Why hasn’t anyone mentioned it this year?”
The words had barely left his mouth when he remembered—this year, the Xian De Emperor had only recently passed away. During the mourning period, there could be no revelry, or the Censorate would surely denounce it. With that thought, Li Jianheng lost interest. He no longer wanted to look at the snow and ordered someone to summon Mu Ru instead.
Mu Ru arrived wrapped in a cloak, supported by attendants, her figure graceful as she walked through the snow. Li Jianheng saw her through the window and immediately went out to greet her.
“My dear heart,” Li Jianheng said. “You walking in the snow—it’s a painting come to life! I must have someone capture it, mount it in the hall, and look at it every day.”
Mu Ru lifted her cloak and smiled. “How could that be allowed?” She took the food box from her maid’s hands and added, “It’s cold today—I made soup for Sixth Brother.”
Hearing her call him “Sixth Brother,” Li Jianheng’s mood brightened at once. He took her hand and led her inside, dismissed the attendants, and sat with her on the dragon throne where he handled state affairs.
As Mu Ru served him the soup, Li Jianheng complained, “That eunuch’s assassination attempt last time scared me so badly that I haven’t slept well these past few days.”
Mu Ru soothed him. “It’s just the two of us right now—why are you saying ‘We’ again, Sixth Brother?”
Li Jianheng lightly slapped his own mouth. “Your husband is muddleheaded!”
Mu Ru cupped his face and examined it carefully for a moment. “You do look haggard,” she said. “I’ll stay with you tonight, all right?”
“In this whole world, only you truly care for me… I used to treat Ce’an as a brother too, but who would have thought he’d now be entangled in the assassination case as well?” Li Jianheng sighed deeply. “Just stay with me—that will be enough.”
Mu Ru said, “The Empress Dowager is also very worried about Sixth Brother. These past few days, she has been chanting sutras and eating only plain food, praying for Sixth Brother’s safety in the new year.”
Li Jianheng stroked Mu Ru’s hand. “In the past, I wasn’t close to Mother. I even thought of her as a villain. Who would have known she’d still treat me like this now? I—I—ah… it’s all that old dog Hua Siqian’s fault!”
“Isn’t it so?” Mu Ru looked at him tenderly. “Sixth Brother has suffered so much—it was all the trouble Hua Siqian stirred up. Back then, the Empress Dowager tried to advise him in every possible way, but in the end, she was still a woman. Her words carried little weight. He treated them as mere wind in his ears and instead grew resentful toward her.”
“They say hearing is unreliable, seeing is believing,” Li Jianheng said bitterly. “If only I had spent more time with Mother earlier, there wouldn’t have been so many misunderstandings.”
“There were opportunities before,” Mu Ru said, as if hesitating. “I’ve heard that many years ago, when Sixth Brother was still in swaddling clothes, the Empress Dowager had already raised the former Crown Prince. Seeing that Sixth Brother had no one to rely on, she wanted to bring you into the palace as well and raise you properly. Lord Guangcheng even agreed.”
Li Jianheng had never heard of this and could not help but ask, “And then? Why didn’t she take me in?”
Mu Ru comforted him for a while before saying, “Later, the Prince of Libei, Xiao Fangxu, submitted a memorial, saying that the Empress Dowager’s adoption of the former Crown Prince already carried the heavy responsibility of educating the heir apparent. The Crown Prince was already grown—raising another imperial son might create hidden dangers close at hand.”
Li Jianheng said, “Li—so it was the Prince of Libei!”
He had already fallen out with Xiao Chiye. Hearing this old story now and realizing that Xiao Chiye had never mentioned it, Li Jianheng was instantly overwhelmed with emotion, feeling that Xiao Chiye was far too deep and scheming, that he had never truly treated him with sincerity.
“So that’s how he is…” Li Jianheng said hatefully. “In the end, he’s no different from the others—he treats me as nothing but a stepping stone. How pitiful that I, born of imperial blood, now don’t even have a single brother I can rely on!”
Mu Ru held him and said, “After all, he’s not your own blood brother. Who could compare to how the late emperor treated Sixth Brother?”
“It’s a pity… a pity that our Li clan has so few heirs. Now, in the end, only I remain.” At this point, Li Jianheng suddenly asked Mu Ru, “Your younger brother—ever since Pan Rugui was beheaded, he’s been hiding in Xue Xiuzhuo’s residence. How is he now?”
Mu Ru said, “He’s well.” After saying that, she turned away and began to sob softly.
Li Jianheng hurriedly asked, “My good Mu Ru, what’s wrong? Why are you crying all of a sudden?”
Mu Ru wiped her tears with a handkerchief, looking at him through pearly drops of tears. “He’s well, yes—but he’s not by my side. I can only see him once every few months. And he’s not like other people’s brothers, who can achieve merit and serve their ruler. He now… can only serve others.”
Li Jianheng could never bear to see her cry. He immediately said, “Why didn’t you tell me earlier? We are husband and wife of one heart—there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you! Besides, this is only human nature. Don’t cry anymore—your tears break my heart. My good Mu Ru, tomorrow I’ll have Xue Xiuzhuo send him back. He can serve at my side, all right?”
Mu Ru said tearfully, “How could that be allowed? What would the Grand Secretary say? Others wouldn’t agree either—it would make things difficult for you. I can’t bear that.”
Li Jianheng pulled her close. “I am the emperor. Palace affairs are mine to decide! Besides, we can just change his name—who would really cling to him and refuse to let go? Pan Rugui is already dead!”
Mu Ru let him comfort her for quite some time before she finally smiled through her tears. “Fengquan wants to kneel and thank you as well.”
Li Jianheng said generously, “We’re family. In sentiment and in reason, this is what I should do.”
A few days later, the assassination case was still under investigation. Yuan Liu was tortured, his testimony shifting and contradictory, yet he stubbornly insisted that he had never delivered golden peaches to Xiao Chiye and knew nothing of the dealings of the Eastern Longya Firm. Under such brutal punishment, he repeatedly thought of giving in and ending it all—but every time the thought arose, he remembered that Xiao Chiye still held the lives of his entire family in his hands.
Yuan Liu had spent a long time in the Imperial Guards and knew that Xiao Chiye was one person outwardly and another inwardly. When the Second Young Master said he would look after his son, he truly would. But if Yuan Liu misspoke by even a single word, his son would be gone with it.
Caught in the cracks of this power struggle, Yuan Liu could neither live nor die. He only hoped the case would end as soon as possible and give him a clean release.
That moment of resolution came swiftly.
The affair grew ever more intense. Memorials impeaching Xiao Chiye poured in without end, bizarre and varied. After Li Jianheng personally took up his brush and berated Xiao Chiye in scathing terms, the Ministry of Justice submitted a report to the throne, saying they had found a person.
This person was named Yinzhu, a eunuch from the sweets kitchen. According to his account, two hours before the banquet of officials began, he was delivering blessing candies to the various palaces. Near Caiwei Palace, he saw someone scolding Fuling.
Caiwei Palace was precisely where Mu Ru resided.