The Zhang Family Gets Dragged In
Inside Xuanzheng Hall.
Di Yunqian sat on the dragon throne, one arm bent on the desk. Holding a sheet of paper, he lowered his eyes to the words written on it.
The vice minister of the Court of Judicial Review reported from below, "Your Majesty, all the papers that fell from the sky over the royal city bore these same words. The guards traced the person who shot down the kites to a masked man. His qinggong was excellent, and he knew the city's back alleys extremely well. He shook off the guards who pursued him. Fortunately, during the chase, they found the bow and arrows he used."
As he spoke, he presented the bow and arrows with both hands and placed them on the desk.
"Does Your Majesty find this bow and these arrows somewhat familiar?"
Having finished reading the paper, Di Yunqian raised his head and examined the brown bow and arrows closely. After about a dozen seconds, he looked up, frowning.
"The way the cord is tied around the grip is a method Yinli uses."
Di Yinli was the second prince.
The vice minister lowered his head. "I also remembered that the second prince displayed exceptional archery at last year's autumn hunt, when Your Majesty even asked about the unusual way the cord was tied around the grip. The matter is too serious for me to investigate further without authorization, so I could only report it to Your Majesty first."
Di Yunqian could not help picking up the bow and arrows and examining them from every angle. But apart from the way the cord was tied, he could see nothing remarkable about them. They were an ordinary bow and arrows. He tossed them onto the desk, his voice cold.
"A mere way of tying a cord proves nothing. Besides, Yinli is still in Yulu City providing disaster relief. Even if it really were him, he would not be stupid enough to expose himself like this."
"Yes, I also believe this matter has nothing to do with the second prince. Should I continue investigating the bow and arrows?"
"There is no need for now. Although the cord is tied in a complicated way, someone determined to learn it could do so. There is no need to investigate it further. Go to the Wei Family and find Wei Ning. Ask him whether what is written on this paper is true. Retrieve the files on the incident from the Ministry of Punishments. Also, send people to watch the Du Family. Do not let them leave the city."
"Yes, Your Majesty. I obey."
After the vice minister of the Court of Judicial Review left, Di Yunqian picked up the bow and arrows from the desk and examined them carefully again. His dark gaze settled on the cord, and his rough fingers rubbed against it.
Yinli had told him at the time that his maternal uncle had taught him how to tie it. That uncle was Zhang Lingshen, the current minister of rites, minister of works, Duke of An, and the empress's own elder brother.
Du Chengji belonged to the empress dowager's faction, while the Zhang Family had always been at odds with her and often opposed her at court. As things stood, very few people in the entire court were capable of setting such a trap for the Du Family.
Although the attempt to frame someone with the bow and arrows was rather clumsy, it still left Di Yunqian unable to suppress his suspicions. Had the Zhang Family truly had no hand in it?
"My lord, this is bad! Some of the people injured by the strange celestial phenomenon on Mid-Autumn night are already blocking the Du Family's gates with those papers of rumors, demanding an explanation from you! And more and more commoners are gathering. There are people at the side gate too. Our people can't get out to send word to the empress dowager."
In the study, Du Chengji, who had received the news earlier and had been sitting on pins and needles, sprang up and stepped forward, looking at his subordinate.
"What about the vice minister of the Court of Judicial Review? Has he found out who made those papers?"
If the culprit were caught and questioned into revealing the person behind it, he would not have to be so much on the defensive.
"No. They tied the papers to kites and shot arrows from concealment. No one saw who it was."
At those words, Du Chengji's whole body stiffened. In a daze, he lowered his head and quickly searched for a way out.
After pondering briefly, he soon raised his eyes, his gaze sharp.
"Send the household guards out. There's no need to drive the commoners away; just have the guards surround and protect the residence. Tell them that harassing and cursing an imperial official is a serious crime. If anyone dares spread rumors and cause trouble, have the yamen deal with them. But my Du Family has a clear conscience. They may stay and watch the situation unfold, but once the matter has been investigated, they will all have to apologize to the Du Family!"
In any case, he had to appear calm and composed. The more he panicked and tried to hide now, the more it would suggest something was wrong. The empress dowager had already had all the evidence from back then burned in a single fire. He absolutely could not lose his composure and give himself away.
The subordinate said worriedly, "But my lord, I heard His Majesty has already sent Vice Minister You of the Court of Judicial Review to the Ministry of Punishments to retrieve the files on what happened back then. If there really is anything, then the Du Family..."
"There won't be anything!" Du Chengji shot him a sinister glance and snapped, "I, Du Chengji, am entirely innocent. How dare you utter such nonsense?"
The subordinate fell silent at once, a chill running down his back.
"Yes, yes, yes. I spoke out of turn. Those people are smearing your name, my lord. I'll take care of it right away." He had served at Du Chengji's side for many years. Though he did not know exactly what had happened back then, he knew how cunning and ruthless Du Chengji was.
After he left, Du Chengji was alone in the study.
"Who could it be? Wei Ning, the Zhang Family..."