Chapter Ninety-Three: Wang Jia's Choice

Inside the Prince of Pingyi’s residence, servants bustled to and fro, moving belongings under the princess consort’s direction.

Ping’er hastily finished packing Wang Jia’s things, then hurried to the bedside, where Wang Jia still sat in a daze, and urged her along.

“Miss, the prince has ordered us to return to the fief at once. We should leave quickly, or he will blame this servant again in a moment.”

Seeing Ping’er’s anxious face, Wang Jia let out a soft sigh. Without saying a word, she rose slowly and walked out.

Wang Changgeng hurried to the study, intending to leave a letter for the people he had placed in the capital. By chance, he collided head-on with the princess consort, who was calling orders to the attendants in the courtyard.

The princess consort swayed from the impact, complaining again and again.

“My lord, why are you in such a hurry today? Would tomorrow not do? There are so many things in the residence; I fear we cannot take everything with us today.”

Wang Changgeng frowned and waved her off impatiently.

“What is there to take? Just pack a few things at random.”

With that, he turned to leave in haste.

Hearing this, the princess consort thought he merely meant to depart in a rush and would return after some time. Only then did she relax, smiling to herself.

“So the prince is only in a hurry. Then my daughter and I can stay in the residence and wait for you to come back.”

Wang Changgeng froze midstep. A dark look flashed in his eyes as he glanced at his wife and gave a cold laugh.

“Come with me. As for whether we ever return, who can say if we will still live here?”

With that, he left the bewildered princess consort standing there in confusion and went to the study.

Indeed, who could say whether they would still live here when they returned?

Feng Yewu had already traced Wang Changgeng back to his nest. If any letters between Wang Changgeng and Li Ru were truly discovered in Li Ru’s home this time, the consequences would be unimaginable. Wang Changgeng had already begun to harbor murderous intent.

He had once intended to borrow another man’s hand, but Feng Yewu pressed forward relentlessly. Now she was like a sharp blade held against his throat; one careless move, and his head would be gone.

As Wang Jia slowly made her way into the courtyard, she heard Wang Changgeng’s sour, ironic words. Her pupils contracted, and she clearly understood what her father meant.

Wang Changgeng was preparing to rebel.

At that thought, Wang Jia could not help but continue reasoning it through. If the emperor died, the first person to be suspected would surely be Chen Pingwu. And to prevent the truth from being exposed, Wang Changgeng might even kill Chen Pingwu as well.

A stab of pain pierced Wang Jia’s heart, and her eyes hardened with resolve. She could never allow the young master Chen to be killed by her own father.

After a flurry of activity, Wang Jia joined the Prince of Pingyi’s procession and got into the carriage, while Ping’er walked alongside it the entire way.

The grand convoy rolled out through the east gate before the eyes of the entire capital.

Wang Changgeng turned his head and cast a long, meaningful look at the words above the city gate.

Much later, the Prince of Pingyi’s procession vanished beyond the outskirts of the capital.

In a place no one noticed, a graceful figure flashed past, blending into the flow of people entering and leaving the gate, heading eastward.

...

In Yanwu County, inside a small tavern, Magistrate Fang Yang raised his cup with a smile toward Chen Pingwu.

“Your Grace’s presence in Yanwu County is the honor of all the people here. Allow me to drink this cup on their behalf.”

He finished the wine in one gulp, then looked at Chen Pingwu with a smile.

Chen Pingwu lifted his cup, took a symbolic sip, and set it down. He had no intention of beating around the bush, and said plainly, “Magistrate Fang, I fear you have gone to some expense on my behalf. I came under a secret oral command from His Majesty to investigate the Li Ru household. I wonder whether the magistrate has any relevant information?”

Hearing this, Fang Yang’s eyes flickered with shrewdness. He set down his cup, lowered his eyelids, and began to hedge.

“Your Grace, all officials in the fief are appointed by the prince. To bring me such an oral command so casually makes it difficult for us to believe.”

Chen Pingwu was not anxious. After all, his task was simply to draw everyone’s attention. He had never expected to learn anything truly useful directly from this magistrate.

He paid no heed to Fang Yang’s attitude and only smiled back.

“Do you not trust me, Magistrate Fang?”

Fang Yang gave a dry laugh and explained, “How could a man of Your Grace’s standing possibly pass along a false imperial decree? But Li Ru has always belonged to the Court of Judicial Review; he counts as a capital official. We local magistrates are humble and poorly ranked. For Your Grace to open your mouth and demand that we account for a capital official’s family on nothing but a few words... I fear that would be difficult.”

Fang Yang’s roundabout fencing was impeccable.

Though Chen Pingwu was the heir apparent, he was still merely a son of a feudal prince. The Court of Judicial Review had always handled major criminal cases involving the imperial clan and the nobility. Hidden within Fang Yang’s words was nothing but an excuse.

Besides, if Chen Pingwu meant ill and was seeking to persecute the relatives of an official from the Court of Judicial Review, a local magistrate like him would certainly not be able to bear the blame.

Chen Pingwu lifted his cup and nodded.

“That is true. Magistrate Fang, your thoughts are thorough. Since I have come with nothing but words, it is indeed hard to win your trust. In that case, I shall investigate it myself. If anything happens, you may simply push the matter onto me.”

Fang Yang sneered inwardly, but his face remained unchanged. He poured another cup and repeatedly expressed his thanks.

“Your Grace is righteous and far-sighted. We are deeply grateful.”

After the banquet ended, Chen Pingwu returned to the lodging arranged by Fang Yang. After removing his outer robes, he quietly instructed the impassive Yang Guang at his side.

“Go and keep an eye on that magistrate. See where he goes.”

Yang Guang nodded and vanished in a blur.

In the back hall of the county yamen in Yanwu County, Fang Yang was drinking tea alone. He had just arranged for his secretary to send a message to the Prince of Pingyi when he suddenly heard footsteps behind him. He turned in alarm, only to see the expressionless Yang Guang appearing there at some unknown moment.

“Who are you?”

Fang Yang recognized him at once: this was the swordsman accompanying Chen Pingwu.

Under Fang Yang’s wary gaze, Yang Guang took out a waist token and tossed it into Fang Yang’s arms.

Fang Yang looked down at the token in confusion. His eyes widened in shock as he asked, bewildered, “This is the token of the Prince of Changwu. If you can produce it so casually, your identity cannot be simple.”

Yang Guang said coldly, “There is something I need you to do.”

Fang Yang grew displeased at Yang Guang’s arrogance. He set the token aside on a nearby table and looked at Yang Guang with contempt.

“You have the wrong place. This is the Prince of Pingyi’s fief. Your token has been presented to the wrong man.”

Yang Guang did not even glance at him, and replied indifferently, “No mistake. The Prince of Pingyi will die sooner or later. This token is your way out. Whether you do it or not, think carefully before answering me.”

Having said that, Yang Guang stood where he was and closed his eyes to rest.

Fang Yang heard him out without interrupting and did not rush to respond. Instead, he fell into thought.

He was only a local magistrate. At his age, well past thirty, any hope of promotion was long gone.

Yanwu County had been unremarkable for years, with mediocre results. At this rate, he would likely remain a miserable little magistrate of the eighth or ninth rank for life.

A feudal prince’s token meant that officials below the third rank had to obey. For Fang Yang, that was a temptation difficult to resist.

After thinking for a long while, Fang Yang gritted his teeth, stamped his foot, and tucked the token away.

With a complicated expression and a respectful demeanor, he asked Yang Guang, “May I ask what orders you have for me?”