Chapter 157

Chapter 157

Is this still the Emperor's realm?

"Mr. Ji!"

Zhang Yiran snapped back to reality and rushed forward again. The imperial physicians hurried over, and chaos erupted around them.

Li Zong looked in shock at the man spitting blood on the ground. Zheng Bikui instinctively glanced at Li Guiyu, who also turned to look at Zheng Bikui.

Their eyes met for a moment. Before Zheng Bikui could react, he was unsure if Li Guiyu had done it. Li Guiyu, having initially suspected Zheng Bikui, quickly regained his composure. Seeing Zheng Bikui's gaze, he knew that Zheng Bikui was not responsible.

Then who? Was it Ji Qing's own choice? Or...

"Test for poison."

Li Guiyu reacted and immediately stood up, shouting sternly as the imperial physicians arrived: "Test for what kind of poison?!"

"Save him!"

Zhang Yiran shouted, his voice trembling with emotion: "Physicians, save him first! Please, he must live, he must..."

"It's the poison from the entanglement grass; move him to the side chamber."

The physician stood up and said hurriedly: "Bring me silver needles; we'll try our best!"

With that, the physician led the team to administer acupuncture to Ji Qing and carried him to the side chamber.

Zhang Yiran hurriedly followed, but after taking a step, he heard Zheng Bikui say: "Minister Zhang, wait!"

Zhang Yiran paused, and Zheng Bikui stared at him: "The case is not yet closed, and the Emperor has not spoken. Are you leaving now?"

Zhang Yiran turned back in disbelief, looking at Zheng Bikui: "He's dying, and you're still talking about the case?"

"A mere commoner, dead is dead," Zheng Bikui sneered. "But you accused my father. Is it wrong for me to seek justice?!"

"He's a witness. If you kill him, what justice do you want?"

Zhang Yiran couldn't help but shout angrily. Zheng Bikui's expression turned cold: "Minister Zhang, you're slandering us. You claim we killed him? How do we know you and the Supervision Division didn't frame us? His family is still in the Supervision Division. Perhaps you failed to extract a confession and decided to stage this murder here!"

"You've wanted to kill him for a long time! I placed him under the protection of the Supervision Division because you've been trying to assassinate him!" Zhang Yiran's voice rose, his emotions unstable. "From Jiangnan to East Capital, you almost killed me too. If I hadn't lacked evidence, I would have reported you long ago!"

"If you have no evidence, why are you making accusations?!"

Zheng Bikui roared, turning to Li Zong: "Your Majesty, please restrain this mad dog! Have him arrested and executed!"

"Your Majesty!"

Zhang Yiran raised his voice. Li Zong looked up and saw the young man before him, his lips trembling, as if about to speak but unable to form words.

He gazed at Zhang Yiran silently for a while before saying: "Since Ji Qing is poisoned, let's handle this as a separate case. Besides Ji Qing, does Minister Zhang have any other evidence against Chancellor Zheng?"

Besides Ji Qing.

But besides Ji Qing, what else is there?

Zhang Yiran breathed rapidly, and Li Zong knew the answer.

He nodded and spoke softly: "Then... since that's the case..."

"Your Majesty," Zhang Yiran interrupted Li Zong, his eyes misty. "Could we wait until Mr. Ji stabilizes..."

"What if he dies?" Zheng Bikui interjected coldly. "If he dies, should we wait for him to come back to life? This case has dragged on long enough. The entire Great Xia is buzzing with speculation. If it continues, how will Your Majesty's reputation be affected? Zhang Yiran, don't let your personal interests jeopardize the nation."

"Your Majesty..."

Hearing this, Zhang Yiran looked at Li Zong, his eyes pleading: "I was the top scholar you personally selected in the eleventh year of Changshun. At that time, you told me that I was a student of the Son of Heaven, and I must serve the Son of Heaven, the state, and the people well."

Li Zong's hand holding the teacup trembled slightly. Zhang Yiran continued: "I have always remembered this and acted accordingly. Ji Qing and I faced multiple assassination attempts in Yangzhou. Fearing he might be threatened, I sought the protection of the Supervision Division and placed his family there. To bring him to East Capital, I took great care, avoiding official roads and contact with officials. We came to East Capital cautiously, nearly being assassinated by Young Master Zheng outside the city."

"Zhang Yiran!"

"Let him speak!" Li Zong finally spoke, glaring at Zheng Bikui.

This small gesture of support brought tears to Zhang Yiran's eyes. He spoke hoarsely: "We survived in Jiangnan, on the long journey, and even in East Capital... but we fell here, in the palace, right before identifying the culprit! Your Majesty, I am an official appointed by Your Majesty, yet I can't even protect a witness! Is this still the imperial palace?"

Zhang Yiran laughed bitterly: "Is this still Your Majesty's realm? Is this still the land of the sovereign?!"

"Zhang Yiran." Hearing such audacious words, Yang Chun shouted, "Do not speak recklessly!"

"Reckless? Am I more reckless than the noble families? Am I more reckless than those who kill in front of the throne?!" Zhang Yiran laughed loudly. "Your Majesty, I have no evidence, no evidence left! Evidence can be destroyed, witnesses can be killed—where would I find evidence?! In a world ruled by noble families, where they govern the nation..." Zhang Yiran's laughter grew louder. "How dare we stand against the chariot of the nobles?"

"So, you admit you have no evidence to accuse?"

Zheng Pingsheng ignored Zhang Yiran's rant and calmly addressed Li Zong: "Your Majesty, since Minister Zhang has no evidence, please clear my name and punish him."

Li Zong looked up at Zheng Pingsheng.

Zheng Pingsheng held Li Zong's gaze steadily. Song Xichao and Xie Guangcheng exchanged glances, and Song Xichao cautiously said: "Your Majesty, concluding the case now seems hasty. Perhaps we should let the Zhong Yufu investigate how Ji Qing was poisoned. Once Ji Qing stabilizes..."

"Minister Song," Zheng Pingsheng looked at Song Xichao. "I have waited a month, and so has the entire realm. Every day this case drags on harms Your Majesty's reputation. Concluding it quickly and giving the people an explanation is crucial."

This made Song Xichao pause. Having served in the court for years, he knew today was just a formality.

But seeing Zhang Yiran kneeling on the ground, he hesitated to speak. He glanced at Li Zong, who was deep in thought, and said hesitantly: "Your Majesty..."

"The case ends here," Li Zong finally said, seeming to concede. He looked down at Zhang Yiran and hesitated. "Zhang Yiran lacks evidence and has dared to defy the throne. Such behavior is disrespectful. Take him to prison for now, and we will decide his punishment later."

The guards approached and dragged Zhang Yiran away.

Song Xichao and Xie Guangcheng exchanged a glance, each lost in thought.

"Since the matter is settled, Chancellor Song and Chancellor Xie," Li Zong said, looking at Xie Guangcheng and Song Xichao, nodding slightly. "Thank you both for your hard work. You should return to the palace with Lord Zheng. Lord Zheng, once we have the results of Ji Qing's investigation," Li Zong looked at Zheng Pingsheng, "I will send someone to inform you."

Upon hearing this, everyone rose and bowed. Li Zong seemed somewhat tired and simply said, "Heng'er, stay behind. Yang Chun, go attend to your duties."

Xie Heng remained still, casting a glance at Luo Wanqing, who then stood up and followed everyone out.

As everyone left the imperial study, Zhang Yiran was led away by the guards. Before leaving, he glanced at Luo Wanqing as if wanting to say something but, noticing others around, held back.

Luo Wanqing understood immediately what he wanted to ask and nodded at him, signaling that she would look after Ji Qing.

Once everyone had gone far enough, Luo Wanqing stood alone in the corridor waiting for Xie Heng. After a short while, she heard Li Guiyu's voice from behind her: "Was it Miss who did it?"

Luo Wanqing turned to look and saw Li Guiyu with his hands in his sleeves. The guards around them had already been dismissed by him. Luo Wanqing ignored him and looked away.

Li Guiyu did not leave; instead, he stood beside Luo Wanqing and whispered, "At first, I thought it was Zheng Bikui being foolish again, but then I realized it wasn't. Zhang Yiran wouldn't use human lives as stepping stones, so... it must be Miss."

He turned to look at her, "Did Ji Qing confess everything?"

"I don't understand why Your Highness is saying these things."

Luo Wanqing spoke cautiously, urging, "But I advise Your Highness, as a member of the Supervision Division, it's best not to converse with me for too long."

"I am merely curious about Miss's motives."

Li Guiyu stared at her, scrutinizing her closely. "Did Miss kill Ji Qing for me or for Minister Zhang?"

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing turned to look at him, "What do you mean?"

"Why did you drive him to his death? Was it to make His Majesty suspect me more, or to lessen his suspicions about Minister Zhang?"

"Third Highness, don't pin your actions on me." Luo Wanqing's expression remained unchanged. "The Supervision Division only protects those under our orders, and does not interfere with investigations."

Li Guiyu looked at the person before him, who showed no signs of weakness, feeling a feather lightly brushing his heart.

He never knew she could reach such heights. The girl who used to hide behind him, holding onto his sleeve, now stood calmly before him, poised and collected.

He couldn't help but focus all his attention on her, watching her for a long time before letting out a soft laugh.

"Sometimes I wish to clip your wings, but seeing you soar makes me think it's fine. It's just a pity..."

Li Guiyu's expression grew fainter. "Miss wants a world without me."

"You're wrong."

Luo Wanqing shook her head upon hearing this, and Li Guiyu looked puzzled.

She raised her eyes to meet his, speaking earnestly, "I'm not trying to fly to a world without you, but to create a world where there is no you."

Li Guiyu listened, watching her like a struggling fledgling bird, a faint smile appearing in his eyes.

He nodded gently and said with anticipation, "Then I shall wait and see."

As he spoke, the door to the imperial study opened, and Xie Heng emerged. Luo Wanqing immediately stepped forward and bowed, "Young Master."

Xie Heng glanced at Li Guiyu in the distance, nodded at him, and then led Luo Wanqing towards the side hall.

After a few steps, Luo Wanqing heard Yang Chun's voice from behind.

"Arrest all the palace servants who came into contact with Ji Qing today! I will personally interrogate them!"