Chapter Ninety-Four: A Chance Encounter with Wang Jia

Inside the capital’s Court of Judicial Review, Sun Changxi hurried in with a few men and a stack of thick dossiers, then dumped them straight before Wei Nanqi.

With a sharp clatter, Wei Nanqi looked up in surprise.

“I say, Sun Blockhead, what are you doing? Planning to move your Ministry of Justice into my Court of Judicial Review?”

Sun Changxi wore a grave expression and paid no mind to the nickname. Instead, he explained seriously, “Old Wei, these records contain everyone connected to that Vice Minister of Justice—relatives, enemies, lovers, all of it. How are we supposed to investigate a thing like this?”

His round eyes were wide as he stared fixedly at Wei Nanqi, making Wei Nanqi swallow involuntarily.

“Hold on a moment.”

Wei Nanqi set aside his joking expression, rose, and ordered everyone else to withdraw before turning back to Sun Changxi.

“You’re making a scene. We were ordered to investigate this matter, and you come marching in like this... heavens, what a jumble this all is!”

He casually opened one of the files, only to find that it even recorded exactly when the Vice Minister of War had been weaned. He could hardly laugh or cry.

Sun Changxi sat down at one side and asked Wei Nanqi with great seriousness, “Old Wei, there have been repeated incidents in the capital these past few days. First you were assassinated, and then the Vice Minister of War was killed. I have a feeling this is no ordinary matter. I did this to protect you as well.”

Seeing the look in Sun Changxi’s eyes, Wei Nanqi felt a warmth in his heart.

Though Sun Changxi’s martial skill was nothing remarkable, his background in the Ministry of Justice was still better than Wei Nanqi’s own purely scholarly one.

Wei Nanqi nodded. Though he said nothing aloud, he had already accepted Sun Changxi’s kindness.

“You noticed it too, then. How could I not have thought of it myself?”

Wei Nanqi sighed, sat down beside Sun Changxi, and rested a hand on his shoulder as he analyzed the matter.

“Though the Vice Minister of War is not a high-ranking post, he is still a vital link in military affairs. Once he dies, even if someone else takes over, it will take time for them to grow familiar with the work. And I, here in the Court of Judicial Review, am responsible for legal cases. If anything happens to me, the machinery of the capital will be crippled in no small part.”

Sun Changxi nodded silently as he listened.

Wei Nanqi continued, “I fear the one behind this has a status far beyond the ordinary. The truth behind it may well plunge the entire realm into chaos.”

To strike at two officials in the capital at once—Wei Nanqi already had a vague idea of who it might be.

...

At Yanwu County, inside the county magistrate’s office, Fang Yang waited for Yang Guang’s instructions.

Yang Guang glanced at him and said coldly, “Send out more men. Keep watch on Li Ru’s house. Two people will surely sneak in. No need to listen to their excuses. Arrest them, then kill them.”

Fang Yang’s heart lurched at the words.

With a puzzled expression, he asked, “Doesn’t the heir also want to investigate Li Ru? If I do this, won’t it...”

At Fang Yang’s doubt, Yang Guang’s brow furrowed slightly, and killing intent surged in his eyes. Fang Yang hurriedly dropped to his knees.

“You needn’t worry. I’ll deal with the heir. Remember this: your rank and your life were all granted by Prince Changwu.”

Fang Yang nodded repeatedly in agreement.

Yang Guang cast a glance toward the rear hall, then turned and left.

Only after a long while did Fang Yang finally lift his head and let out a long breath, only then realizing that his back was already soaked through.

In a small inn in Yanwu County, Feng Yewu and Lu Jue studied the map of the county that Sun Changxi had given them before they left, with Li Ru’s residence clearly marked upon it.

After calculating the route in and out, Lu Jue looked up at Feng Yewu and said, “Your Majesty, Chen Pingwu has surely already passed the information to the county magistrate. Why not let this servant go alone, just in case?”

Feng Yewu immediately shook her head and refused.

“No. The two of us must act together. If Chen Pingwu has betrayed our trail, then with me present we may still save both our lives. But if they discover only you, I’m afraid your life will truly be in danger.”

Lu Jue looked into Feng Yewu’s earnest, stubborn eyes and wanted to persuade her further, but knowing her temper, he could only nod helplessly.

That night, Yang Guang returned to the room where Chen Pingwu was resting and sat to one side with his eyes closed, gathering his spirits.

Sensing movement, Chen Pingwu looked up and saw that Yang Guang had returned, so he asked, “Did the county magistrate go anywhere today?”

Yang Guang gave a slight shake of his head and said nothing.

Chen Pingwu rubbed his weary eyes, frowned, and muttered in confusion to himself, “That shouldn’t be. I questioned him in such a manner today—how could the county magistrate have had no reaction at all? Were you truly not mistaken? Did anyone come or go from the yamen?”

Yang Guang offered no explanation, only silently shook his head.

Unable to make sense of it, Chen Pingwu had no choice but to sleep and wait for tomorrow’s plan.

Under the moonlight, all of Yanwu County lay spread out in full view, washed clear by silver light.

Feng Yewu and Lu Jue moved along the shadows at the roadside toward Li Ru’s residence. Just as they were passing through the center of the county town, Lu Jue suddenly seized Feng Yewu and pointed across the street.

Feng Yewu froze.

There, she saw a young woman hurrying along in a panic, flustered and timid, and her brows tightened in confusion.

In such a remote county town, the girl’s dress clearly marked her as someone from a wealthy household. Was she not afraid of something happening on the road at such an hour?

Lu Jue lowered his voice and said to Feng Yewu, “Your Majesty, that woman is the daughter of Prince Pingyi. When I was investigating the Penglai Pavilion before, I once saw her at Prince Pingyi’s manor in the capital.”

Feng Yewu was startled to hear this. Why would Prince Pingyi’s daughter appear here?

To be safe, the two of them quietly crept up behind Wang Jia, covered her mouth, and brought her back to the inn.

Wang Jia thought she had fallen into the hands of robbers. Terrified, she did not dare make a sound.

Only when her vision cleared again did she realize that the two men before her were young gentlemen, not villains.

In urgent tones, Wang Jia said to Feng Yewu and Lu Jue, “You, you two young masters, if you want money, I have some in my bundle—take it. I only beg you to let me go save someone. If it isn’t enough, I can bring more later.”

Feng Yewu and Lu Jue exchanged a glance, and the moment they heard that she wanted to save someone, they were even more bewildered.

Prince Wang Changgeng had always been cautious and prudent. There was no way he would send his treasured daughter out to pass messages to his subordinates.

Looking at Wang Jia, Lu Jue spoke calmly to explain, “Miss Wang, do not be afraid. We are not bad people. May I ask whom you are trying to save so late at night?”

Wang Jia went pale when she heard Lu Jue address her that way. It was clear he knew who she was, yet in her memory she had never met either of the two before her.

“How do you know who I am?”

She asked warily, fearing that Feng Yewu and Lu Jue might be assassins sent by her father. In that case, recognizing her would make perfect sense.

Seeing how guarded Wang Jia was, Lu Jue exchanged another glance with Feng Yewu. After receiving her permission, he took out a palace token and showed it to Wang Jia.

“Miss Wang, our identities cannot be disclosed, but please believe that we harbor no ill intent toward you.”