Chapter Thirty-Nine: I Want Him Dead!

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Eastern Palace.

Hall of Martial Virtue.

Zhao Heng, deeply amused, was teasing the white-browed parrot inside its cage.

"Your Highness," Bai Xue hurried into the hall, saluting with cupped hands, "Wang Chang has been exposed."

Zhao Heng’s brows tightened. "Of all times, it happens now."

Losing interest in his amusement, he casually handed the parrot to a maid.

He sat at his desk, brooding for a long while, then suddenly narrowed his eyes and spoke coldly:

"That old fox—what a trickster!"

"What do you mean, Your Highness?" Bai Xue asked.

Zhao Heng snorted. "Wang Chang’s identity was likely exposed long ago."

"In that case, why did Prime Minister Su wait until now to kill him?" Bai Xue asked, perplexed.

"Su Ming deliberately allowed Wang Chang to leak information, so I would be led to find Yu Hu."

"In doing so, Yu Hu’s inevitable demise could easily be pinned on me."

Zhao Heng’s expression darkened, a hint of hatred in his tone.

"But what does he gain from this?" Bai Xue’s face was grave.

Zhao Heng’s countenance grew even colder. "This way, he ensures Li Yunjie becomes my enemy!"

Bai Xue pondered, still puzzled. "But Li Yunjie is merely a fallen heir—what trouble can he stir?"

Zhao Heng frowned slightly. "Li Yunjie is, after all, Li Jia’s only son."

"There are still many in the Northern Command who acknowledge him as their master."

"You mean—" Bai Xue’s face changed, sudden understanding dawning, "Su Ming seeks to use the heir’s influence to vie for control of the Northern Command against His Majesty?!"

Zhao Heng nodded, lost in thought, a cunning smile slowly curling at his lips.

"This game grows ever more intriguing."

...

Outskirts.

Yu Hu’s courtyard.

"What do you plan to do next?" Su Qingmeng asked gravely after a long silence.

Though the truth had come to light, there was no solid evidence—Zhao Heng’s treason could not be confirmed.

Li Yunjie rose slowly, unconcerned. "What do you mean, next move?"

Su Qingmeng was startled. "The Crown Prince’s betrayal! You—"

"Do you have proof?" Li Yunjie interrupted, expressionless.

Su Qingmeng paused. "You are the Deputy Minister of the Court of Judicial Review—how can you stand idly by?"

"You know well," Li Yunjie replied calmly, "I am but a deputy. How can I shake the Eastern Palace?"

"If one day I and the Crown Prince face each other in court—"

"From what you know of His Majesty, Miss Qingmeng—"

"Would he believe me, or his own son?"

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Confronted by Li Yunjie’s question, Su Qingmeng was left speechless.

Only then did she realize—Li Yunjie was facing the heir to the throne.

The Crown Prince, second only to the Emperor.

Li Yunjie, a mere heir himself, was vastly outmatched, and to oppose him directly was no more than a futile gesture.

"So, you’re giving up?" Su Qingmeng asked, her tone tinged with disappointment.

"Not at all," Li Yunjie replied firmly. "My aim has simply changed."

"Before, I only sought to uncover the truth and bring justice for the dead."

"But now—"

He paused, a fierce light glinting in his eyes.

"I want him dead."

His words rang out, resolute and sharp, every syllable brimming with murderous intent.

Su Qingmeng stared in astonishment at this calculating man before her, finding him suddenly strange and unfamiliar.

"Time’s almost up," Li Yunjie suppressed his killing intent, rose slowly, and said, "Let’s head home."

...

Prime Minister’s residence.

Li Yunjie escorted Su Qingmeng back to her room, passing the main hall.

Inside, Su Ming sat upright, his deep gaze fixed directly on Li Yunjie outside.

Their eyes met; Su Ming’s lips curled into a faint, ambiguous smile.

Li Yunjie felt a chill run down his spine.

"Young master?" Eleven glanced toward the hall and asked, "Will you not go inside to see the Prime Minister?"

Li Yunjie turned decisively. "No."

Eleven trotted behind him. "Young master, you seem unhappy?"

Li Yunjie snorted. "Eleven, have you noticed anything different about the Prime Minister’s residence today?"

Eleven looked around.

The trees were still those of the residence, the houses unchanged.

The people...

"Why isn’t Steward Wang here today?" Eleven wondered. "He usually interrogates the maids at this hour."

Li Yunjie scoffed. "I suspect my ruthless father-in-law has already fed him to the dogs!"

As they spoke, the two arrived at the west wing.

"Why do you call the Prime Minister ruthless?" Eleven pressed.

Li Yunjie did not answer, but moved to the desk, grinding ink and preparing his brush.

With swift strokes, he recorded all the events since he had married into the family.

Li Yunjie’s brows were tightly knit, his mind racing through deductions.

As he drew connections between the clues, a tangled web took shape before him.

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Li Yunjie closed his eyes, pondering for a long time.

He slowly lifted his brush and wrote four large characters at the intersection of clues:

Control of the Northern Command!

"He even uses his own daughter," Li Yunjie said, filling several sheets of paper, then answered in a measured tone, "Is that not ruthless?"

Though Eleven did not fully grasp Li Yunjie’s meaning, he nodded vaguely.

"Young master," Eleven pointed to where Li Yunjie had just written, "What does this mean?"

Li Yunjie took a deep breath and exhaled heavily.

"This is what my father-in-law and the Crown Prince dream of day and night!"

With that, Li Yunjie gathered the scribbled papers, crushed them, and tossed them into the bronze cauldron to burn.

"The Crown Prince and the Prime Minister both covet it," Eleven mused. "Don’t you want it too?"

Li Yunjie watched with interest as the flames consumed the words inside the cauldron, laughing softly.

"It was mine to begin with."

...

Early April.

Court of Judicial Review.

"Boss," Qin Fang chewed on a stalk of foxtail grass, eyeing Li Yunjie’s tightly closed door with curiosity. "Lord Li has locked himself in his study for days—what’s he up to?"

"Mind your own business," Jiang Kui said, slapping Qin Fang’s head. "Have you finished reviewing the case files?"

"Chang Yuan is still working on them," Qin Fang replied. "Boss, I heard His Majesty approved Lord Li’s request to re-investigate the old tax silver case?"

Jiang Kui nodded. "It’s true."

"Lord Li is impressive!" Qin Fang’s eyes gleamed. "That was a case ruled by Minister He himself!"

"Word is, even the Crown Prince tried to block it in court and failed," said the bearded man, appearing behind them and startling both.

"No one knows how Lord Li managed it."

"Rumors abound," Jiang Kui said, lowering his case file thoughtfully. "Our lord certainly doesn’t follow the usual path."

Qin Fang spat out the foxtail grass, slid off the table, and paced back and forth.

"If His Majesty has approved it, why has Lord Li been so quiet these days?"

They exchanged puzzled glances.

Qin Fang first signaled toward Li Yunjie’s study.

"Should we take a look?"

Though Jiang Kui protested, his actions betrayed him.

The three tiptoed to Li Yunjie’s study.

"Creak—"

Before they could peek, the door swung open.

"What are you three sneaking around for?"