Suspicion

Ji Zhang paused in the middle of drinking his tea. "Who?"

"My lord, do you still remember the attack on the northern grain route?" Lu Qukun leaned forward slightly. "Two years ago, Southern Rong cavalry raided the northern grain route. If this subordinate had not led the brothers of the Central Rampart Battalion to provide support, the north might well have suffered a crushing defeat. At the time, following your guidance, we used the situation to fabricate testimony and falsely accused Yuan Zhiyi, the grain commissioner, of accepting bribes from the Southern Rong, bringing him down."

Lu Qukun was a rough man unaccustomed to tea, so he poured himself a cup of wine.

"When the new grain commissioner arrived, he brought an imperial writ ordering this subordinate to escort Yuan Zhiyi to the capital for trial. That very night, we arranged a show of him taking his own life out of guilt, then laid a trap to force his adopted son, who had long been on the run, to walk into our net. But just as we were about to eliminate them completely, a group of men in black suddenly appeared and rescued him."

Lu Qukun drained his wine and wolfed down meat. Once his hunger had eased, he said, "This subordinate exchanged blows with the leader of those men in black. His martial arts were exceptionally high, and his moves were swift and vicious. He had clearly received professional training."

Whenever Lu Qukun thought of it, his eye ached fiercely. He unconsciously touched the frightening scar at its corner and took a drink to steady himself.

"He nearly blinded this subordinate with a single thrust of his sword. It still aches when I think about it. That is why this subordinate remembers that man in black especially clearly. Even now, I remember the ruthless look in his eyes when he killed."

Ji Zhang raised his head and looked at him thoughtfully.

Lu Qukun suddenly tossed aside his chopsticks, lifted the curtain, and looked out the window. The young man in white was already gone. He withdrew his hand and let the curtain fall.

"When that young master from the Chancellor's Residence looked up just now, his gaze was so sharp that this subordinate nearly thought he was that man in black. My lord, who exactly is that young master?"

Ji Zhang set down his chopsticks and wiped his hands. "I don't know. They say he fell from a cliff and lost his memory. He himself doesn't remember anything from before."

Lu Qukun thought it over, perplexed. "If he himself doesn't remember, did no one from the imperial family or the Chancellor's Residence investigate his origins? Even if he had amnesia, they could have posted imperial notices to look for his family, couldn't they? Shen Huaiwen kept a person of unknown origins by his side as his own son. As the chancellor of a nation, he could not possibly act so rashly. This subordinate suspects this person's identity must be far from simple!"

Ji Zhang closed his eyes in thought and found the reasoning sound.

Even Lu Qukun, far away in Yanbei, had heard of how the young master of the Chancellor's Residence was doted on beyond measure. He and his brothers had even envied him, and he continued, "The Chancellor's Residence treats him as one of their own, and His Majesty favors him as well. Either His Majesty and the chancellor already know his origins, or else..."

A wisp of cold wind slipped through the window crack, making the candle flame sway. In the dim light, Ji Zhang slightly raised his head, his fingertips rubbing the rim of his cup.

Lu Qukun rubbed his arms, leaned across the table, cupped a hand over his mouth, and lowered his voice mysteriously. "Gu poison."

Ji Zhang: "..."

Lu Qukun said with utmost seriousness, "There are many strange talents in the martial world. Some are especially skilled at using gu poison to manipulate people's hearts, while others can perform rites and cast evil spells. Perhaps that young master knows sorcery. Just that face alone gives him the makings of a demon. Add a little gu poison and some sorcery, and ordinary people would be completely bewitched."

Ji Zhang had thought he would hear some useful analysis. Instead, it became more absurd with every word, and he could not help rubbing his temple.

"My lord." Lu Qukun perched on the edge of his chair and enunciated solemnly, "Better to believe it exists than to believe it does not."

Ji Zhang pressed him back down. "When you have nothing to do, train the soldiers under your command more. Listen to fewer of those superstitious tales. If he were truly that miraculous, he would not be fainting every few days."

Lu Qukun touched the scar at the corner of his eye again, his brows drawn tight.

"I once sent people to investigate his origins and found nothing. Now he has grown very close to the Crown Prince. In the future, he may become a threat."

After pondering for a long while, Ji Zhang said, "He is now the proprietor of the Red Sleeve Pavilion and often goes there. Find an opportunity to meet him and probe carefully whether he is the man in black who fought you in the north. But be cautious. The Tiger Roar Battalion has already suffered at his hands. You must not carelessly follow in their footsteps."

Lu Qukun clasped his fists. "Yes, this subordinate understands."

"Yuan Zhiyi's adopted son is still alive. He is ultimately a hidden danger, just like Zhan Lingxiang. Those dutiful sons and daughters seeking justice for their fathers—once they seize an opportunity and gain power, their counterattack will be like that of rabid dogs." Thinking of this, Ji Zhang rubbed his teacup. "Roots must be cut early, or there will be endless trouble later."

Lu Qukun's fingers unconsciously rubbed against his robe. Unable to understand, he asked, "If so, why does my lord wish to get rid of Zhan Lingxiang? Keeping her as a chess piece would make her useful against Xie the Grand Secretary in the future."

"A chess piece must be used when it is time to use it. Back then, Xie Cong diverted the blame for the affair at Twilight Cloud Pass onto the Ministry of War. It is time to settle that account with him."

Ji Zhang clenched his cup. Under the lamplight, his face gradually turned savage and sinister. "Think about it. A sheltered young lady was willing to show her face in public and disguise herself as a man to seek fame and office, all to find evidence and clear her father's name—only to die an unnatural death. Would that not more easily provoke public outrage? Exterminating them all, devoid of all conscience—this is a crime far worse than plotting to murder an official, with an additional charge piled on top."

Wind and snow swirled through heaven and earth. Inside the room, Wang Zhonggui rubbed his hands and paced back and forth anxiously. When Xie the Grand Secretary entered, he hurriedly brushed off his robes, cupped his hands, and bowed. "Teacher."

Xie the Grand Secretary glanced at him, arranged his robes, and sat in the grand chair. A servant brought tea, then bowed and withdrew, closing the door behind him.

Without permission, Wang Zhonggui dared not sit. He bent respectfully at the waist, and his short stature made him appear all the humbler. He said anxiously,

"Teacher, what should we do now? Zhan Lingxiang's death was suspicious. Someone must have been fanning the flames, step by step drawing the Censorate's attention to the Ministry of Revenue. The Censor-in-Chief and Zhan Ru were classmates and close friends. He will certainly use this opportunity to stoke the fire. Now the Censorate and the Court of Judicial Review are investigating day and night. Even if there is nothing there, they are determined to stir up trouble. Sooner or later, the Ministry of Revenue will not be able to contain it. Once it is exposed, the Ministry of Justice will also be implicated for wrongly judging the case and creating an injustice."

Xie the Grand Secretary sat steadily in his chair, staring at the brightly burning charcoal. Just as he was about to speak, hurried footsteps sounded outside. A servant stumbled inside, his face stricken with panic. "My lord, the Black Tiger Guard has arrived!"

The Black Tiger Guard were personal soldiers trained by the Crown Prince himself. Every one of them was fierce and formidable, enough to make children stop crying. Whoever saw them wished only to stay out of their way.

Wang Zhonggui's face went pale, and he could not help shuddering.

Several Black Tiger Guards charged into the room with rough movements and menacing intent. They knocked over an antique vase on the shelf, which shattered with a crisp crash.

Yuchi Sheng did not care in the slightest. He did not even turn to look. He also pretended not to see Xie the Grand Secretary seated in the grand chair, looking only at the Minister of Revenue, who stared at the shattered porcelain all over the floor with a pained expression. He took out a token from the East Palace. "By His Highness's order, the Minister of Revenue is summoned to the palace at once."

Cold sweat instantly broke out across Wang Zhonggui's back. He swallowed and forced a dry laugh. "May I ask... why has His Highness summoned me? What are his instructions?"

Yuchi Sheng stepped forward and shoved him hard, nearly sending him sprawling face-first onto the ground. With a vicious glare, he said, "Enough nonsense. If you are told to go, then go. You'll find out when you get there. If you keep His Highness waiting, you'll suffer for it!"