After Fu Bonian, Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, made a trip to Yan Prefecture, the emperor actually had him thrown into prison upon his return. The affair stirred a storm throughout the court, and everyone speculated about the stakes involved.
The officials who ordinarily associated closely with Fu Bonian trembled in their boots, terrified that a moment of imperial displeasure would see them arrested as well and sent to keep him company in prison.
After spending some time on tenterhooks, however, they discovered that not only had Fu Bonian been imprisoned, but Prime Minister Wei Sizhong, whom the emperor trusted most, had also been docked a year's salary and ordered to reflect on his faults in seclusion for a month.
Only then did they understand: Fu Bonian must have done something to enrage Chu Jinghui, dragging his teacher Wei Sizhong down into the mire with him.
Meanwhile, Yang Qing, far away in Yan Prefecture Prison, received a secret imperial decree. Once the truth he had secretly uncovered about the mysterious death of Northern Liang's left prime minister was conveyed to Northern Liang's court, Northern Liang knew it was in the wrong. It made no further mention of the peace talks and recalled Du Liangcai and the others who were still lingering in Yan Prefecture.
It also paid a substantial sum in compensation to appease Yang Qing, the Yan Prefecture Military Commissioner, who had been innocently implicated in the affair.
Yang Qing, however, paid the entire sum into Yan Prefecture's treasury to provide relief for impoverished families.
When this deed was reported to the court, Yang Qing received another commendation from Chu Jinghui.
For a time, Yang Qing, the previously unremarkable Yan Prefecture Military Commissioner, became a figure everyone eagerly sought out.
Yan Prefecture, prison
"Young Master, you truly