Unexpected Imprisonment

Yan Ming was just about to rise and tell Yang Qing what he had discovered when a shout rang out from outside the guest residence. "An imperial edict has arrived!"

An imperial edict?

Liu Mengde's death was no small matter, after all. A dispatch had been sent to the court by express courier on the very day it happened.

But what conclusion had the court reached about a case that had yet to be settled?

At those words, Yang Qing and Dai Sheng straightened their robes and strode outside.

When they reached the front hall, Yang Qing saw that the man sent to deliver the edict was once again Suotu, a first-rank imperial guard serving Emperor Gaozong of Chu.

This time, however, the chill on Suotu's face was even deeper. Merely standing before him was enough to feel that bone-piercing cold.

Yang Qing understood. If the emperor had sent Suotu to deliver the edict, this likely boded ill.

Sure enough, a trace of worry flashed through Suotu's eyes when he saw Yang Qing, though he quickly masked it with another expression.

Once everyone had arrived, Suotu cleared his throat and announced, "Yang Chengming, receive the edict!"

"Long live Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty! May Your Majesty live ten thousand years!"

Yang Qing shook out his robes and knelt.

Suotu glanced at him again before continuing, "Though appointed a special envoy, you failed to ensure the safety of others. The Yan Prefecture Military Commissioner is hereby ordered to hand the case concerning the Northern Liang special envoy over to Chancellor Wei. He shall be stripped of his official hat insignia and peacock plume and await judgment. By imperial decree!"

Await judgment? Did that mean he was to be charged?

Dai Sheng and Bu Er, who stood beside Yang Qing, both felt their hearts jolt and looked at Suotu in astonishment.

Suotu's features were taut, his eyes fixed firmly on Yang Qing.

Yang Qing, by contrast, remained calm, as though the man being stripped of office were someone else.

"Yang Chengming, receive the edict!"

With the decree issued, Yang Qing was no longer the Yan Prefecture Military Commissioner from that moment onward.

Thus, Suotu addressed him directly by name.

Yang Qing bowed deeply. "This commoner receives the edict. Long live Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty! May Your Majesty live ten thousand years!"

"Yang Chengming, read His Majesty's decree carefully. You must not disappoint the care he has shown you!"

Suotu placed the edict in Yang Qing's hands, taking particular care to offer those words of admonition.

"Guard Su, may I ask whether Chancellor Wei will truly be handling the Northern Liang envoy's case in person?"

Dai Sheng asked from the side.

"That is correct. Because of the matter involving Wei Li, Chancellor Wei had already been considering a trip to Yan Prefecture. Now that this has happened, he has all the more reason to come."

As he spoke, Suotu stepped forward and patted Yang Qing. "Take good care of yourself!"

Yang Qing returned his salute. "Thank you, Guard Su!"

Suotu nodded, then stepped back and waved to the men behind him. "Seize Yang Chengming and throw him into prison to await judgment!"

The instant Bu Er, who never strayed from Yang Qing's side, heard the words "throw him into prison," his fingers moved. With a clang, he lifted the sword's hilt slightly from its scabbard, exposing a blade that gleamed with cold light.

Yang Qing raised a hand and pressed it down. "Do not act rashly!" he said quietly.

Bu Er stiffened, but ultimately obeyed Yang Qing and thrust the blade firmly back into its scabbard.

Only then did Yang Qing breathe a silent sigh of relief. He removed his official hat, then his official robes, and handed both to Suotu before slowly making his way out of the guest residence.

When the people of Yan Prefecture saw that Yang Qing had been stripped of his insignia and dismissed from office, they all cried out against the injustice.

As he walked, Yang Qing told them, "I failed to carry out the task His Majesty entrusted to me. It is only natural that I should receive this punishment."

After that, he offered no further defense and allowed the Prefectural Soldiers to escort him to the Yan Prefecture County Office.

The Prefectural Soldiers at the County Office were also greatly startled to see that the man being brought in under guard was Yang Qing.

But they knew that he had become embroiled in the death of the Northern Liang special envoy. Men in their position had neither the authority nor the opportunity to speak on his behalf.

All they could do was arrange a relatively dry, clean cell for him and select the foods he preferred for his meals.

Yang Qing was deeply moved by their kindness. "Everyone, please return to your duties. I am merely a prisoner now and cannot accept such special treatment."

The jailers spoke up one after another. "Lord Yang, we may be rough men, but we can still tell right from wrong where it matters! Please bear with a few days here. You should be able to leave very soon."

The others all voiced their agreement.

After this bustle had continued for a while, the area outside Yang Qing's cell gradually quieted down.

He had only enjoyed a brief moment of peace when he saw someone hurrying straight toward him.

Looking closely, he recognized Yan Ming.

"Lord Yang, I never imagined things would turn out this way! If they would only listen to what I have to say, surely you would not have to suffer imprisonment!"

Yan Ming then quietly recounted what he had found during his second examination of Liu Mengde's body.

Yang Qing's eyes flickered. "Fortunately, you did not have time to speak of these findings earlier. Otherwise, as things stand now, I could not protect your life!"

"You mean..." Yan Ming said, startled.

"I am no longer the Military Governor. Physician Yan, you must not call me 'my lord' again. Take care—disaster can spring from the mouth," Yang Qing warned.

"My lord... you are quite right. I will remember."

Yan Ming had instinctively started to address him as Lord Yang again, but forcibly corrected himself.

"I certainly understand that Left Chancellor Liu's death was suspicious. But this time, they clearly came prepared. Matters in Yan Prefecture are a tangled web. Physician Yan, you would do better to return to Yan Pass as soon as possible."

"General Chen still needs your care there. Besides, in my view, Yan Pass will not remain peaceful either. Before long, more waves may rise."

"But you are here..."

Yan Ming looked at Yang Qing, still somewhat uneasy.

"I am guilty of nothing more than dereliction of duty. It is simply that this matter has far-reaching consequences and involves too much. His Majesty's response is understandable."

"Then... then I shall return to Yan Pass first." With that, Yan Ming rose to leave.

"Yes. If anyone at the guest residence asks what you discovered earlier, find something else to put them off. Whatever you do, do not act rashly."

"I understand." Yan Ming looked at Yang Qing once more before leaving.

Only after Yan Ming had gone far away did Yang Qing slowly settle against the corner of the wall. He took the imperial edict from inside his robes and began studying it carefully in the prison's dim light.

At first glance, there was nothing unusual about the edict.

But Yang Qing had never forgotten the meaningful words Suotu had spoken when handing it to him.

He unfolded the edict and scanned it several times, until his gaze settled on a single character.

It was the character "cheng," meaning "to receive."

The "cheng" in "By Heaven's mandate, the emperor receives his destiny."