chapter 59

Chapter 59: Erasing the Evidence Face-to-Face

Shen He slept for a whole day.

The next day, he took a leave and stayed at home.

This incident caused quite an uproar in Zhongsheng Hall.

"Have you all heard about yesterday's events?"

"Are you referring to the incident at Linjiang Pavilion?"

"Yes, I heard that Prince Yun's heir was imprisoned that very night. I wonder when he'll be released."

"According to our empire's laws, both officials and noble scions are forbidden from consorting with courtesans. Although the nobility's young masters aren't officially in service and don't have any titles to their names, the punishment should be lighter. Still, it might not be just a few days before they're released, right?"

"What do you know? Ordinary nobles indeed face the law as it stands, but Prince Yun's heir is surnamed Qi, a royal kin. Do you really think a distinguished heir will stay in prison for years over such a trivial matter?"

"Even the Emperor, when breaking the law, faces the same punishment as commoners. Moreover, what do you mean by 'such a trivial matter'? To my knowledge, Prince Yun's heir frequenting courtesans isn't a mere whim. He's known to frequent Linjiang Pavilion. Those who've been there a few times would know that the prince and Jiang Zhi often hold gatherings there."

Noon was when the students had free time. A group, unable to leave the classroom, suddenly found themselves in a heated debate.

The fifth prince wore a stern expression.

The sixth prince approached him, inquiring, "Fifth brother, is what they're saying true or false? I heard you were at Linjiang Pavilion yesterday too."

The sixth prince didn't lower his voice purposefully when he asked.

The surrounding bickering suddenly went silent.

Glimpses, subtle yet obvious, landed on the fifth prince, trying to discern the truth.

The fifth prince frowned, "Why are you all staring at me!?"

He just happened to be nearby, and although he shares the Qi surname, he doesn’t indulge in such vices. Why look at him?

Could he possibly know how many days Prince Yun's heir has to spend in jail?

The sixth prince shrank back.

He was just asking. Why did his brother have to be so fierce all of a sudden?

The fifth prince tried to hold back but finally said, "The matter will be handled according to the law! Even the Emperor, when breaking the law, faces the same punishment as commoners. Even if he's a royal relative, or a prince, he should be imprisoned."

The fifth prince added, "It's his fault for getting involved with Shen He. He's asking for trouble."

His tone was filled with noticeable irritation.

And then there's Jiang Zhitong.

Is your brain a sieve?!

Involving Shen He with people like Prince Yun? They must think Shen He is just like them.

The Fifth Prince could surmise a little about what Jiang Zhitong and his group were planning.

It's just that they realized Shen He's status was not ordinary compared to the common nobility, so they wanted to bring him onboard.

But they miscalculated one thing: the Crown Prince values Shen He much more than they thought.

If they truly pull Shen He into their schemes and he naively gets involved in their debaucheries, the Crown Prince wouldn't turn a blind eye. Instead, he'd probably have them all eliminated.

Sometimes, the Fifth Prince feels that Shen He is so naive, almost to the point of stupidity.

And yet, he also thinks that it's precisely because of Shen He's nature that he has survived so well under the Crown Prince's protection.

Thinking of this, the Fifth Prince suddenly recalls the times he was bested by Shen He, his face instantly turning green with envy.

Shen He might be foolish, but even he couldn't outsmart him.

It's truly infuriating!

The Fifth Prince pressed his lips together and walked out briskly, casting a cold glance at the Sixth Prince on his way, "What are you staring at? Come out!"

The Sixth Prince muttered, "What's wrong? Since Shen He isn't here today, is my elder brother feeling out of sorts because he's not being bullied?"

As the Fifth Prince departed, the quiet room became lively once more.

Someone whispered, "It was just some discussion. Wasn't the Fifth Prince always at odds with Shen He? Why today...?"

"Probably because Prince Yun didn't let Shen He suffer a loss, so he's upset."

"Tsk, what do you all know? Since their academy days, the Fifth Prince and Shen He have been like this. Their animosity is just for show; they're actually frenemies." This comment came from a young noble who had been classmates with both at the academy.

He gets along well with Shen He, or rather, all those from the academy have a decent relationship with Shen He.

With that remark, he sneered, showing clear disdain to engage further with this group. He pulled along two friends and left.

“……”

Such is the case in the Zhongsheng dormitory.

The Academy is not much quieter.

The students at the Academy are even more diverse.

The Tongshe and Zhongsheng dormitories are exclusive schools set up for the sons of the most influential and powerful families in the capital.

The Academy, however, is different. It’s the institution for students from all over the country.

Only after passing the court examination and achieving the title of scholar can one enter the Academy.

While there are requirements for family background, in order to attract talent, the entry threshold is relatively lower.

Those students from modest backgrounds, unfamiliar with the capital's affairs, gathered and discussed endlessly upon hearing the news.

The details they knew were limited, mostly rumors from the casual visitors on the lower two floors of the Linjiang Pavilion.

"I heard the son of Prince Yun was brutally beaten, breaking two of his legs! That young Master Shen was also severely injured and his face marred! Tsk tsk."

"When the elite clash, this young Master Shen even dares to strike a prince. He must have quite the temper."

"Let's see who in the capital will dare to offend this young Master Shen in the future. One should think twice. If he can hit even a prince without hesitation, where do we stand in comparison?"

The group erupted in laughter.

Liu Zheng and his two companions: "..."

Liu Zheng, holding his forehead, whispered, "Rumors truly distort the truth. My mother personally visited the mansion yesterday and saw Xiao He. He wasn't gravely injured, let alone drenched in blood."

Zheng Xue squinted his eyes, listening to the departing crowd behind the corridor wall.

He remarked, "Without asking, I know he was probably hoodwinked."

Qi Yanbing rolled his eyes, "Do you even need to say that? Our younger brother is such a well-behaved child, not like that scoundrel Qi Chengqi."

Annoyed, Qi Yanbing fanned himself vigorously, "Since Lady Liu visited yesterday, she must've seen who was there, right? The Emperor's uncle will probably have them all imprisoned. But those who are classmates with Xiao He in Zhongsheng dormitory come from influential families. We must ensure none of them find a loophole. Liu Zheng, tell us, who were they?"

Zheng Xue remained silent, his gaze fixed on Liu Zheng.

Clearly, just like Qi Yanbing, he was waiting for Liu Zheng to speak.

Liu Zheng pulled out a piece of paper from his sleeve and spread it on the stone table, "I got this list of names from my mother after I returned last night. There’s really no need to worry about these people."

Qi Yanbing quickly chimed in, "The Imperial Uncle will deal with them. Your Liu family will mediate, and the Duke’s residence isn't to be trifled with... Even though little He’s father is a bit of a good-for-nothing when it comes to wine and food..."

Qi Yanbing's voice trailed off a bit, glossing over these words, and continued, "General Shen has a volatile temper. I've heard my grandmother speak many times about General Shen's battles at the frontier. Back then, the Shen family wasn't among the elite, just a humble household. Yet, with his distinguished war achievements, he earned the title of Duke for his son. Although the title isn't hereditary, it’s esteemed throughout the capital. Even though he doesn’t hold military power now, dealing with Prince Yun's residence might not be a challenge for him."

Although all are royal relatives, there are distinctions in their ranks and closeness to the throne.

For instance, Qi Yanbing's father rendered meritorious service to the dynasty, assisting the current Emperor in successfully securing his inheritance and even sacrificing his life for the Emperor. As a posthumous child, Qi Yanbing was specially granted the title of a regional prince by the Emperor.

His elder brother inherited their grandfather's title, resulting in two princes within their family.

Their family firmly stands as staunch imperial loyalists and is among the Emperor's most trusted.

Hence, the Prince Heng's residence holds a preeminent position among the royal relatives.

In contrast, the Prince Yun's household is naturally considered to be among the lesser ranked princely residences.

There is a generational gap to begin with.

This generation has but one sole heir, who isn't particularly outstanding. Thus, the Emperor neither favors nor despises him.

Their standing is somewhat awkward.

The Duke's residence, being a nouveau riche family without deep roots and having weak heirs, and with Duke Shen not particularly competent, would technically rank below the Prince Yun's household.

But precisely because they lack deep roots, and the two grandsons are essentially the family's lifeline, when the old Duke gets serious, even the Prince Yun's household has to yield.

The Emperor would undoubtedly prioritize the old general, Qi, who has significantly contributed to the empire, aiming to appease the hearts of loyal civil and military officials.

Shen He is a unique case.

There's a favored imperial consort in the palace who, since Shen He's childhood, has cherished him as if he were more precious than her own son.

The Prince Yun's heir is no match.

Zheng Xue's eyes remained half-lidded, lost in thought.

He spoke slowly, "You're talking about identifying distant relatives and connections."

Liu Zheng nodded, "We might not necessarily act on it, but it's crucial to know exactly who is involved. Better safe than sorry."

In the capital, the relationships among noble families are intricate and intertwined.

Sometimes, offending one individual could equate to offending a dozen or even scores of others.

Given that Shen He has already offended over ten individuals, their combined networks could span half the city.

Having said that, they didn't find any fault in Shen He's actions.

What's done is done. Not to mention Shen He was in the right, upholding the law. Even if the matter escalated to the Emperor's attention, Shen He would still be justified.

Qi Yanbing waved dismissively, "No need to worry. I'll ask my grandmother about their relatives. We'll have at least half of the information!"

Given the information his grandmother had access to, Qi Yanbing felt "half" was an understatement.

If there's any missing information, she could gather it from attending garden parties or other social events.

As they were discussing, Shen He, who had snuck in from outside, interjected, "..."

Seriously? They had such strategizing abilities all along, and he was none the wiser?

It felt like a spy thriller.

Having lived here for over a decade, Shen He realized, for the first time, the deep-seated political intrigue surrounding him.

...Was he the only one idly eating, drinking, and sleeping without getting involved in any serious business?

Shen He squatted behind the bamboo grove, counting on his fingers.

He thought, "This makes me look rather naive, doesn't it?"

Was he the only one fixated on that bet about dressing them up in women's attire?

Oh well, naive it is, then.

Shen He swiftly slapped a mosquito that landed on his face. Unable to bear hiding behind the dilapidated bamboo grove any longer, he burst out, exclaiming, "Brother!"

Just as a servant was setting up ink and brushes, the three individuals engrossed in writing names flinched, causing a bold black streak across the white paper.

Zheng Xue looked up, meeting the gaze of the young boy.

On his delicate cheek, a distinct red mark was visible.

The soft flesh of his chin, characteristic of baby fat, now bore a notably obtrusive dark red scratch.

The mark stood out starkly against the boy's smiling face.

Zheng Xue quietly pulled the list closer.

Carelessly holding the pen, he rested it on his thigh, adding another name.

He couldn’t even bring himself to glance further down.

Qi Yanbing and Liu Zheng acted swiftly, snatching the paper with the names from under the paperweight, quickly crumpling it and tucking it into their sleeves, grinning, "Xiao He, how did you get in?"

Shen He: "No need, really."

He saw everything with his own eyes!

He's been standing right here!