Chapter Twenty-Eight: Clues

Feng Yewu stared at the list in his hand, his heart churning with turbulent emotions beyond words. Lu Jue had been quietly waiting for Feng Yewu to finish reading the roster before he finally spoke again.

“Your Majesty, although we managed to capture many of Penglai Pavilion’s followers this time and obtained this list, we haven’t found the slightest clue about the Prince of Pingyi.”

Hearing Lu Jue’s words, Feng Yewu snapped back to himself. The list in his hand was filled with names, but indeed, the Prince of Pingyi was not among them.

“It seems I have underestimated the Prince of Pingyi. He is hidden well indeed.”

Feng Yewu tossed the list onto the desk beside him, lost in thought.

For a moment, the entire bedchamber fell silent once more.

“Your Majesty, the hour for your banquet is fast approaching. Shall I…”

Just as everyone was lost in thought, Eunuch Mingde’s voice came from outside the chamber, breaking the silence within.

“You go ahead and make the arrangements. I’ll follow shortly.”

Feng Yewu dismissed Eunuch Mingde, then rose and made his way toward the rear of the palace.

“Let us set this matter aside for now. Tonight, I have other plans.”

Halfway across the room, Eunuch Li from Mingde Hall called out. Feng Yewu paused and turned to Lu Jue.

“Now that the regional princes have all returned with their own schemes because of recent events at court, and since this affair is so entangled with them, at tonight’s banquet, I will see for myself what masks they wear.”

A cold smile curled at Feng Yewu’s lips as he finished speaking, then he turned and departed.

“You may go. Hanyue, help me change.”

Lu Jue accepted the order and withdrew from the bedchamber, while Hanyue hurried forward.

Feng Yewu’s banquet would host numerous regional princes, and the preparations, naturally, could not be mundane.

Moreover, after the turmoil caused by the assassin at the last banquet, leaving the entire palace on edge, this time, although Feng Yewu seemed to give a casual order, everyone below took it as a sign to be on high alert.

From the moment Feng Yewu spoke, the entire palace was cast into a state of strict and hurried preparation.

This was also why Lu Jue required the sovereign’s personal decree to bring prisoners into the palace for interrogation.

Although Feng Yewu’s order was to invite the princes who had returned midway from their journeys, all levels of officials at court were also expected to attend.

This was a celebratory banquet, and by long-standing custom, high-ranking ministers were required to attend accompanied by a female relative.

The splendor of this event could easily be imagined.

While all the dignitaries of the capital busied themselves arranging their evening attire and preparing their households, the residence of the Prince of Pingyi was equally abuzz with activity.

Yet at that moment, the Prince of Pingyi sat alone in his study.

“My lord, I’ve already arranged your clothes for the banquet tonight. Would you like to change now?”

The prince’s wife approached the study, gently knocking on the door to ask.

She knew little of his affairs, but since their return, she had seen enough in his expression to sense something was amiss.

So she dared not disturb him rashly and only inquired softly.

“That’s fine. I know. Go tend to the other matters.”

Attending a banquet required more than just proper attire.

The regional princes and nobles, as well as the court’s eminent ministers, would bring precious gifts to Feng Yewu’s banquet.

So the prince’s wife had many other tasks to oversee. Upon his reply, she assented and went to instruct the servants to prepare other things.

Once the people outside the study had left, the Prince of Pingyi’s face turned grim as he looked toward the screen in the study, speaking in a low voice:

“They’re gone. You can come out.”

It turned out there was someone else hiding in the study. This room was tucked away in a corner of the residence, seldom touched by sunlight, with few doors or windows. At that moment, no candles or lamps were lit, and only a sliver of sunlight from the doorway illuminated the gloom. Anyone else would not have noticed another presence in the room.

At his words, a moment later, a woman stepped cautiously from behind the screen.

“My lord, you knew I was here?”

The woman who emerged was none other than Zhao Xiyan, the master of Penglai Pavilion, who had escaped from Feng Yewu’s confidant.

“Hmph, the news of the musicians’ guild being raided has already spread like wildfire through the capital. I learned of it on my journey back.”

The Prince of Pingyi’s expression darkened when he saw Zhao Xiyan. The methods Feng Yewu used to apprehend the guild members made it clear that their actions had been exposed. Their return to the capital was already a risk, and yet Zhao Xiyan had come to him at such a time.

“You need not worry, my lord. I made sure I wasn’t followed before coming.”

Zhao Xiyan, ever shrewd, could see the prince’s concern even in the dim light of the study. She guessed his worries and spoke before he could.

“Hmph. I hope as you say. Otherwise, both our lives are forfeit.”

The prince knew he had left no trace in the musicians’ guild, but the Penglai Pavilion affair was already treasonous. With its exposure, every step from now on must be taken with utmost caution. Any mistake, and Feng Yewu would show no mercy.

“Do you know where things went wrong this time?”

He moved to a chair and sat, his gaze icy as he regarded the wounded Zhao Xiyan.

“My lord, the soldiers came so suddenly—it was as if they were prepared. We received no warning at all.”

Zhao Xiyan, suppressing her discomfort, hesitated and looked away.

It had all happened so abruptly. They had always maintained close contact with officials in the capital. Though they were a conspicuous target, that was precisely why they hid in such an entertainment venue: to keep abreast of every stir in court.

It was thanks to this that they had remained safe until now.

“This time, it happened too fast. Feng Yewu had barely dismissed the assembly when we were surrounded by soldiers, with no chance for anyone to tip us off.”

At her words, the prince’s eyes narrowed. Such an arrangement was meant to deceive and prevent any warnings from reaching them, was it not?