49

The Emperor, Yuhong Guang, was much better now. Apart from playing the suffocating weiqi with Xu Xing every day, they often engaged in verbal sparring. Even Concubine De said that they were like grown-up children and she stopped paying attention to them. Yuhong Yang became a mediator and punching bag for the two.

One day, while Concubine De and her daughter, Princess Yi, were busy sewing clothes for her grandson, she originally planned to do it in her daughter's palace. However, Yuhong Huang insisted that she did it in Zhengyang Palace. Delighted, she invited Pincess Yi to join her in the bedroom. Meanwhile, Yuhong Guang, Yuhong Yang and Xu Xing played weiqi and chatted in the hall. Yuhong Guang asked: 

"There are more than twenty people caught in the palace. It's really troublesome to deal with. Killing them is too harsh. Most to them transfer messages, not deserving death. But not killing them, yet finding them despicable."

Xu Xing said:

"Fortunately, Concubine De is here. I think she knows how to handle the crimes of eunuchs and ladies in the palace? It's not appropriate for us as an official to deal with them in the palace."

"Huixin, come over here for a moment."

Soon Concubine De walked into the room and asked:

"What's the matter?"

"Many people have been captured in the palace. How do you plan to handle it?"

"I need to discuss this with Concubine Xian and Concubine Shu. Your Majesty has entrusted the management of the harem to us."

"Just tell us what you are thinking."

"Those with lighter offenses can be sent away, while those with serous crimes should be punished with caning."

"But if we simply send them away, it might leak out. Once it does, it will affect the dignity of the royal family."

Concubine De replied:

"It is easy to handle. Please Your Majesty and Mr. Xu provide us with the detailed crimes of these people. After discussing with Concubine Xian and Concubine Shu, we will deal with these people after getting your approval. After all, we are more familiar with the situation of some individuals and can deal with them on a case-by-case. Just give us a bottom line, Your Majesty."

"Make them keep quiet, instill fear and at the same time, create a deterrent effect. Let other persons in the palace be wary and understand who their true owner is in the palace."

"I see. I am ready to handle this affair."

Concubine De, accompanied by Princess Yi, left Zhengyang Palace. Within a few days, the news arrived of several persons being caned to death, some being drugged dumb medicine and sent to extremely cold and wild regions for labor, others being assigned to the place where the criminal persons in the palace work there and a few continuing to serve within the palace. To Yuhong Guang's surprise, some even provided information. Xu Xing, taking advantage of the situation, uncovered hidden conspirators within the palace. Shockingly, two of them were affiliated with Queen Lai and they were responsible for the poisoning of Concubine Xian and the Emperor. The investigation finally pointed towards the Fifth Prince, Yuhong Zhen. Enraged, Yuhong Guang slammed a cup on the table, exclaiming: 

"What a ungrateful and vicious person! I've been raising a treacherous wolf."

Yuhong Yang cast a glance at Xu Xing and Yuhong Guang understood immediately though he was still trembling with anger. 

Xu Xing inquired:

"Your Majesty, how do you intend to handle this matter?"

The Emperor replied:

"How to handle it? Execute him. He dared to commit regicide and patricide. Why should I relieve his sin?"

Xu Xing subtly exchanged a glance with Yuhong Yang, who nodded in understanding, saying:

"My brother, this matter might require careful consideration. Communication between Jingdu and Duanzhou has been cut off. Several postmen have been killed. The governor in Jingdu has been investigating for days without any updates. However, we did receive a message from Zhao Hai secretly. There has also had the postmen killed but Zhao Hai took swift action. He set a trap, killed an assassin and captured one. After initial questioning, he discovered that all of them were ronins hired for the job. They did everything for money. The motive behind the killings is unclear and Zhao Hai is till investigating. However, he mentioned another importance piece of information: Shen Lijin knows about our secret deployment in Nanyue Kingdom. Besides Wang Qing, only I am aware of this. Fortunately, our person was clever enough to escape with evidence and seek refuge in Zhao Hai's military garrison in Nanyue."

Xu Xing asked:

"Is it the true information which you got in Yun's mansion?"

Yuhong Yang said:

"That day I left from Yun's mansion relatively late and saw Yu Weiwei from the Eldest Prince, helping to arrange the party. He told me that the disruption of the postal routes was orchestrated by Xun and Zhen. In Nanyue, someone leaked information to Xun, which we have sent people secretly to Nanyue, and that person is Wang Qing."

"Did he tell you where he got this information?"

"I asked him but he didn't tell me. I also asked him whether he has the spy in Xun's mansion. Yu Wiewei denied this but told me the person doesn't entirely trust the Eldest Prince, but surprisingly, he trusts Nie HuanZhang, Yun's son."

Yuhong Guang asked in disbelief:

"Nie Huanzhang? Yun's son? How did he get involved in this affair?"

"Yu Weiwei didn't tell me but he did utter a sentence: the Second Prince is truly sinful."

Xu Xing interjected suddenly:

"I think it might be that boy who saved Xie Guansan and the one who the Second Prince took to the mansion of Princess Yun's."

Yuhong Yang said:

"Yes, there was a boy who followed Xun there."

Yuhong Guang asked:

"Did you have seen that boy?"

"Yes, I glanced at him twice. If not for the disfigurement, he would be a delicate and handsome boy. Unfortunately, he is disfigured and his unnaturally white skin is a bit strange. Moreover, his expression is icy with a deadpan look."

Yuhong Guang gossiped:

"Why is he disfigured?"

Xu Xing remarked:

"It seems the Second Prince is truly sinful."

Yuhong Yang also became curious:

"How so?"

Xu Xing responded:

"The Second Prince probably favors this boy a lot, inevitably arousing jealousy from others. This child is probably fragile, having his appearance ruined and the unnaturally white skin is a sign of consuming Yurong dripping which is a chronic poison, right? It's a slow-acting poison with severe long-term effects on the body. Your Majesty, it has long been banned. A child poisoned and disfigured, how could he possibly have vitality and spirit? Of course, he would appear lifeless, like a living dead. Judging by his actions, it doesn't seem voluntary, likely coerced by the Second Prince. Yu Weiwei was right. The Second Prince is truly sinful, destroying a child's life."

Yuhong Yang asked:

"How did he come to know Nie Huanzhang?"

Xu Xing gave him a look and said:

"How should I know? I'm not a fortune-teller."

Yuhong Guang inquired:

"Let that child stay in Xun's mansion. Perhaps more information will emerge. Where is Shen Lijing now?"

Yuhong Yang explained:

"In Duanzhou. Zhao Hai is keeping an eye on him. What should we do? He initially intended to bring him to the capital but was afraid of complications on the long journey so he didn't dare to move because he is afraid Shen Lijing is abducted during his escort."

Xu Xing suggested:

"Your Majesty, if I may, I have a thought for your reference."

"Go on!"

"Let Xie Guansan enter Jingdu secretly and, through Lord Dun, deliver the evidence to Wang Qing. Your Majesty can see how he handles this case. After all, Lord Dun is currently the only person you summon. "

Yuhong Guang says:

"Yang, do it in secret! Xu Xing, you continue."

"Additionally, Let Zhao Hai send a person, no, send his son, Zhao Wei, enter the capital under the pretext of delivering a congratulatory gift for what his mother found out his long-lost son. Have him lead two thousand elite soldiers to escort Shen Lijing and the evidence, rushing to the capital. Also, let some of the garrison troops stationed north of Jingzhou, closer to the capital, redeployed from Mr. Mei Changqing, your son-in-law. It's the nearest location to the capital and with fast horse and it'll only take half a day to arrive, serving as reinforcements."

Yuhong Guang says:

"I'll issue a secret decree to Mei Changqing, instructing him to act discreetly. Xu Xing, keep going!"

"Besides there two mobilizations, Your Majesty should also issue a decree to the garrison troops: no one in allowed to act without Your Majesty's decree. Once they are discovered they don't obey this order, one word: execution!"

Yuhong Yang said with lingering fear:

"That's a bit excessive, isn't it? It's not to that extent yet."

Xu Xing explained:

"Just as a precaution, early deployment is necessary."

Yuhong Yang inquired:

"Among these princes, aside from the Eldest Prince, who has the capability to mobilize troops?"

Xu Xing asked:

"Even if they don't have the military capability, they certainly have money. Who were thinking about the money from the auction in Nanyue? There are four princes who maybe are involved in these money. Do you know which one?"

Yuhong Yang responded:

"Isn't it the Second Prince and the Fifth Prince?"

"This information is only from that boy of the Second Prince's, without concrete evidence that two princes have been involved in. Wang Qing doesn't have revealed to the Second Prince which one was secretly investigating the accounts in Nanyue. But don't forget, the relationship between the Fourth Prince and Wang Qing is also quite unusual." 

"But now, it revealed that the Fifth Prince poisoned the Emperor."

"That's a separate matter."

Xu Xing suddenly began to doubt how he has ended up working alongside a foolish person for many years, well, considering he was the younger brother of the Emperor.

Yuhong Guang's face darkened as he said:

"I never expected Wang Qing to betray me. We've been together for s many years."

"Your Majesty, I believe Wang Qing may have acted in a moment of confusion. Perhaps it's because you sealed the palace this time, didn't summon him and left him out, leading to some petty grievances. Let's see how he handle the Nanyue case before judging him this time."

Yuhong Guang said angrily:

"How did I leave him out? Didn't I appoint him to assist the Second Prince? I entrusted him to manage my whole country."

Even Xu Xing was momentarily speechless, only cursing his old friend for being muddled this time. 

Yuhong Yang asks:

"Do I need to write to my son, Yuhong Ye, to help Mei Changqing?"

Yuhong Guang chuckled:

"Yes, tell him not to be a child. He is a father now. Do something to help Changqing and his cousin, Princess Jun."