That night, Wei Mingxiu received the letter Xiao Wu had brought back from the Elegant Music Palace.
It detailed the various forces involved in the affair concerning the Zhao and Bai families.
These were the essential points Zhou Ye and Zhou Ya had worked out together and passed on to him.
"Leave an opening when surrounding an army..." Wei Mingxiu recalled Zhou Ye teaching him that this was one of the strategies in the art of war.
"If we block every avenue of escape for Zhao Hai, we'll force the Zhao Family to abandon him and protect the family itself. But if we leave them an opening and let them see a way to spare Zhao Hai's life, they'll certainly take it."
"And they'll be bound to make mistakes." Wei Mingxiu reached the last line of the letter. Though Zhou Ya had written it, she had noted that it was a question from Zhou Ye.
"Sixth Prince, where do you think the opening should be?"
Xiao Wu, who had been watching Wei Mingxiu's expression from the side, saw his prince go from expressionless to smiling, his eyes bright with excitement.
He couldn't help asking, "Your Highness, what's made you so happy?"
Wei Mingxiu ignored him. He dipped his finger in tea and drew out all the officials he knew on the table, along with their daughters who had married into the imperial harem.
At last, he settled on one person.
-Kou Yuan, assistant director of the Ministry of Justice.
The next morning, Zhou Ye heard his answer.
His smile nearly reached the heavens.
"Your Highness is indeed clever," he said. "Kou Yuan is indeed the man the Zhao Family planted in the Ministry of Justice, but few people know that secret. So we must continue pretending we know nothing, deliberately lower our guard, and lure them into the trap."
Having received his praise, Wei Mingxiu curled his fingers tightly and rubbed them together.
He asked Zhou Ye, "If no one knows, how did you find out, Junior Preceptor?"
"Because I have a highly capable friend among the common people, and he has informants all over the capital."
"A highly capable friend?" Wei Mingxiu was taken aback. "Junior Preceptor, could the medical and poison manuals you gave me yesterday have come from him as well?"
"Yes." Thinking of Yun Shen, Zhou Ye said, "He knows so many things that even I feel inferior to him."
Hearing this, Wei Mingxiu grew curious. "Would it be convenient for you to tell me this expert's name, Junior Preceptor?"
"You've probably heard the palace servants mention him." Zhou Ye had no intention of hiding it from Wei Mingxiu and told him directly.
"He's Young Master Yunshen, whom I often visit at the Jade Fragrance House."
As soon as Zhou Ye finished speaking, he saw Wei Mingxiu freeze in place.
As though someone had struck him senseless.
Most of the light that had just been shining in his eyes went out.
Now they were as still as water.
"?" Zhou Ye was baffled by his reaction.
Then he remembered he had never mentioned this to Wei Mingxiu before. Suddenly bringing up his relationship with Yun Shen was as shocking as announcing he was gay in front of a child, wasn't it?
Realizing this, Zhou Ye hurriedly said, "Don't worry, Your Highness. My liking men is a private matter and will never interfere with my duties. If you truly dislike it, I won't mention such things in front of you again."
As the morning light brightened, Wei Mingxiu looked at Zhou Ye.
For some reason, an ache spread through his heart.
It was as though, all of a sudden, he felt very far away from Zhou Ye.
He could tell that Zhou Ye and Yun Shen had endless things to talk about, and since Yun Shen had mastered so many skills, he was surely no ordinary person.
But he himself was still young and unable to help Zhou Ye. He could only be the one receiving help.
Comparing himself to Yun Shen and finding himself so far inferior left him feeling helpless and miserable.
Why couldn't he grow up at once and immediately gain enough strength to stand beside Zhou Ye?
Why... was he so insignificant?
Wei Mingxiu lowered his eyes and bit his lower lip, forcing down those inexplicable feelings. When he looked up again, his expression had returned to normal.
He said, "There's no need to worry, Junior Preceptor. It's not that I dislike hearing you talk about these things."
"I'm just a little envious of Young Master Yunshen. He can not only help you, but also earn such trust from you. I think that if I could one day become as capable as him, perhaps I could also share more of your burdens."
Hearing him say this, Zhou Ye felt a slight stirring in his heart.
He leaned forward slightly and tapped a finger between Wei Mingxiu's faintly furrowed brows.
"Your Highness, there's no need to put so much pressure on yourself.
"Eat one bite at a time, and handle one matter at a time.
"I have confidence in your future."
Wei Mingxiu raised his eyes and looked into the man's smiling gaze.
His heart surged. After a long while, he nodded and murmured, "Mm."
After speaking with Zhou Ya that day, Empress Feng did two things.
First, she sent people to keep a close watch on Kou Yuan's daughter, Noble Lady Lian, who had married into the imperial harem.
Second, she had Feng Chenyi reduce the number of soldiers openly monitoring the case and instead have his trusted subordinates disguise themselves as ordinary citizens and secretly watch the Zhao family's movements.
This was the opening they had deliberately left for the Zhao Family.
And the Zhao Family was evidently "unwilling" to disappoint them.
On the fifth day after Zhao Hai was imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice's jail, his mother, Lady Shen, went to see him. She found Zhao Hai living among cockroaches and rats, too frightened to sleep at night and noticeably thinner. She nearly fainted from crying in the cell.
The next day, she entered the palace under the pretext of visiting Noble Consort Shu, then knelt before her and begged her to save her son.
Noble Consort Shu had heard about the matter while confined in quiet seclusion in the Buddhist hall. Now, hearing Lady Shen sob so hoarsely, she too felt sorrowful.
After all, Zhao Hai was her own nephew, and she had always doted on him. Now that he had caused such a disaster, the death penalty was unavoidable. How could she not be distressed at the thought of the child who had followed her around calling her Auntie meeting a miserable death?
"Sister, get up first." Noble Consort Shu helped Lady Shen to her feet and had her sit down. "Hai'er is my own nephew. It pains me to see him in such a plight."
"But His Majesty has issued an order in this matter. There's nothing I can do, even if I want to."
Lady Shen choked out, "Your Highness, I begged my father-in-law. He said there's only one last risky move we can use, but it absolutely requires your help."
Hearing this, Noble Consort Shu understood that her father, Zhao Guofeng, could not bear to let his own grandson be beheaded after all.
No matter what, she had to do her part in this matter too.
"What did Father say?"
"My father-in-law said that Kou Yuan, the assistant director of the Ministry of Justice who oversees executions and exiles, is one of our Zhao Family's people. If we can get him to switch Hai'er with a condemned prisoner and have Hai'er slip out of the capital with the ceremonial procession during the Qingming sacrificial ceremony, we can save his life."
After hearing her out, Noble Consort Shu felt it was dangerous, but she also knew it was the only workable option.
She asked Lady Shen, "Did Father say what he wants me to do?"
"My father-in-law wants you to do two things."
Seeing that she had not resisted, Lady Shen breathed a sigh of relief. Her eyes full of gratitude, she said, "First, put pressure on the pregnant Noble Lady Lian, so Kou Yuan has no choice but to help us."
Noble Consort Shu nodded.
She knew the stakes were enormous. Although Kou Yuan had been planted in the Ministry of Justice by the Zhao Family, his daughter, Noble Lady Lian, was now in the imperial harem and pregnant. If she gave birth to a prince, the Kou Family's rise to prominence would be just around the corner.
At such a critical moment, they would certainly be wary of helping the Zhao Family commit such a grave act of deceiving the emperor.
Therefore, Noble Consort Shu had to make Kou Yuan understand that if they refused to help, Noble Lady Lian could forget about giving birth to her child.
Having thought it through, she continued questioning Lady Shen. "What's the second thing?"
Lady Shen went on, "Your Highness currently holds the empress's seal, so naturally you can intervene in the arrangements for the ceremonial procession. My father-in-law hopes to use your help to get Hai'er out of the city."
--
Zhou Ye: Excellent, I guessed every part of your scheme. [Hands on hips]
P.S. I have a feeling Xiuxiu won't grow up until we're more than sixty thousand characters in. [Crying]
Also, let me clarify the relationships here: there are currently two major powers at court, the Feng Family of the right chancellor and the Zhao Family of the left chancellor.
The Zhou Family is neutral.
The Feng Family consists of loyal officials and capable ministers with genuine ability. The Zhao Family is more like a family of "upstarts," raised up by Wei Zhao as puppets to counterbalance the Feng Family's power. That's why the Zhao family members have little refinement, as everyone can see from Noble Consort Shu, the third prince, and Zhao Junze's family.
The Zhang Family, which Yun Shen belongs to, was also part of the upright civil official faction. They were falsely accused and had their property confiscated. If the Feng Family hadn't pleaded for them, Wei Zhao wouldn't have treated the Feng Family coldly for so many years afterward.
But the Feng Family valued loyalty and affection. They pleaded for them back then and made a big fuss over the matter.
So the suspicious Wei Zhao began targeting the Feng Family. He would never let a child born to Empress Feng become crown prince, either, so he made Wei Zeyu a fool.
Zhou Ye is now joining forces with a bunch of people who have a grudge against the emperor to take down the Zhao Family and help Xiuxiu compete for the throne.
I feel like I've made it quite clear already. I hope everyone doesn't find it too dry and boring. QAQ