Chapter 38 Dead of Night

Chapter 38: In the Dead of Night

Of course, Jiang Yanzhou had never heard a rooster crow.

In the capital, neither the Crown Prince's residence nor its surroundings had any chicken coops. Even the little birds were taken to other rooms to sleep at night, just so they wouldn't wake Jiang Yanzhou with their morning chirping.

In Congzhou, Feng Lan had also made sure the area around the estate was clear. Before their arrival, a small space had originally been set aside to raise a few chickens. But with so many people moving in, they became a warm, comforting dish for everyone on the very first day.

So, when Jiang Yanzhou woke from his sleep, the sky was already bright, and it was once again his usual waking hour.

A soft strand of hair fell, dangling limply in front of his forehead. Jiang Yanzhou sat in a daze at the head of the bed. It took him a good while to collect his scattered wits from the bright light.

Jiang Yanzhou silently covered his face: So much for getting up early!

I'm so lazy!

When Feng Lan entered and saw this, he raised his hand to stop the attendants behind him. Only after Young Master Jiang lowered his hand did he let them file in carrying basins of hot water.

Sitting before the mirror to bind his hair, Jiang Yanzhou looked at his reflection and thought, this really can't go on.

Because the estate in the eastern part of the city was closer to the Song residence, the account books and letters moved overnight from the Song family had been sent here first.

Song Yicun had laid bare all the Song family's business dealings, including where the private tea trade accounts were hidden. Therefore, the items were easy to find; what remained was the cross-checking.

Xiao Yunlang had already reviewed some of the letters in the morning. He waited for Jiang Yanzhou and then returned with him to the prefectural office.

When Jiang Yanzhou arrived at the office workspace, he saw Liu Hexuan and Wei Wuyou practically buried under towering stacks of paper.

Wei Wuyou, who hadn't worked for several years, was probably tired but excited, raring to go despite the dark circles under his eyes. Liu Hexuan clearly knew when to take breaks, but his speed in handling matters was not slow in the slightest.

Seeing Jiang Yanzhou and Xiao Yunlang arrive, everyone in the room started to get up to bow. Xiao Yunlang raised a hand to stop them, signaling no need.

Jiang Yanzhou walked over to Liu Hexuan's side and saw he had jotted down some key points onto paper.

Jiang Yanzhou immediately thought of his own handwriting, and his expression instantly fell.

Catching Jiang Yanzhou's embarrassed gaze fixed on the paper from the corner of his eye, Liu Hexuan understood what was bothering him and smiled gently. "Might I trouble the Crown Princess Consort to pick out and note down the key points from these letters? I will later reorganize all the important points and rewrite them into official documents."

So, it didn't matter if the handwriting was good or not, as long as it was legible.

The worry in Jiang Yanzhou's eyes vanished instantly. He took the letters from Liu Hexuan's hands. "It's no trouble at all. You and Official Wei are the ones doing all the hard work."

He'd do a good job. He wouldn't slow them down.

The reason Xiao Yunlang wanted to swiftly detain Zhong Qingfu and the others before conducting a thorough search was to avoid alerting others. He aimed to send a single, decisive message back to the capital that would crush Jiang Linque, giving them no chance to prepare.

"Start by comparing and sorting out a portion of the account books. We won't be able to finish calculating everything. They will be sealed in boxes and taken back for others to tally. As for the letters, pick out the most crucial ones," Xiao Yunlang said. "Together with the official documents, they will be sent by fast horse directly to the palace."

The Vice Minister of Justice, who had just emerged from the courtyard today and realized what had happened, stood in a daze in the hall, his body icy cold. His round belly quivered noticeably with every breath.

Xiao Yunlang threw a blank ledger at him. The Vice Minister, snapping back to reality, fumbled to catch it, but the ledger had already fallen to the ground.

Sweating profusely, he bent to pick it up and saw a pair of black-gold cloud-treading boots stop right before his eyes.

The Vice Minister's heart tightened. He hurriedly grabbed the ledger, carefully stood up, and tried to force a smile. But it was too strained, resulting in a twitching, ugly grimace.

"Y-Your Highness..."

"I am aware the Vice Minister has extensive connections in the court. However, our dynasty strictly prohibits private tea trade. Touching it means losing one's head. If you have any letters you wish to send back to the capital, you must first consider your neck and your family's welfare. Know what should be mentioned and what should not."

This meant that if he was found communicating with the noble families, he would also be suspected of involvement in the private tea trade.

A setback in his career could be remedied later, but if his life was gone, everything was lost.

Clutching the ledger, the Vice Minister bowed repeatedly. "This humble official came to Congzhou with the sole purpose of sharing the burdens of His Majesty and Your Highness. My duty comes first. I have no letters to send home, no letters at all."

Xiao Yunlang said calmly, "That's good. Minister, having recuperated from a long illness, it's time to work. There are still many awaiting trial in prison. Official Sui, I'll leave this to you and the Vice Minister."

Sui Yedao cupped his hands in salute. The Vice Minister secretly wiped his sweat. But Xiao Yunlang followed them out, his eyes sharp.

"You go see the others. As for Zhong Qingfu, I will interrogate him personally."

Everyone busied themselves with their tasks. Even Xu Wenzhi was not idle.

He held no official position, so he wasn't helping with the investigation. Instead, he was running around, comforting the families and loved ones of the seven fellow students who had traveled to the capital with him but never returned.

These families included elderly in their eighties or nineties, wives, and young children. Having received no letters from their distant travelers for so long, they had been anxious and uneasy.

Until the imperial envoy arrived in Congzhou, speaking not of returnees but of those who would never come back.

These past days, the families had already wept their hearts out several times. Even though the Crown Prince had decreed with his golden words that the seven students would be honored as loyal martyrs with erected monuments, and the due compensation would not be lacking, how could that mend broken hearts?

Xu Wenzhi had even been beaten and cursed by some family members overwhelmed by grief.

Because the others hadn't returned, but he had.

He silently endured it all.

Today, he went to one household and was again pointed at, cried at, and cursed by an elderly person. Chased out of the house, he turned away, eyes red and weary.

A woman with a white flower in her hair, holding a young child, her expression haggard, called out to him from the side. "Yiming."

Yiming was Xu Wenzhi's courtesy name.

He hurriedly wiped his face. "Sister-in-law."

The woman said, "The elderly have lost control of their thoughts in their grief. Please don't take their words to heart. They are words of sorrow, not their true feelings. I apologize on their behalf."

Xu Wenzhi quickly said, "No, no, please don't say that. It's me, I..."

"It's good that you came back alive. If not for you, to whom could my husband and the others' grievances be told?"

The woman choked back a sob, tears falling. "Others may not understand, but I know my husband's aspirations. That's just the kind of man he was."

Xu Wenzhi also felt his eyes grow moist but held back his tears.

"You've helped us enough these past days. There's no need to worry about us anymore. Go back, go back to your studies, become an official. In the future, carry their shares with you, be a good official, alright?"

With reddened eyes, Xu Wenzhi swore to the grieving family of his dear friend, "If I, Xu Wenzhi, can one day enter official service, for every day I serve as an official, I will devote my heart fully for that day. In this life, I seek not fame, fortune, or a place in history. I only wish to punish the wicked, eliminate evil, and protect the peace of the common people!"

The woman repeatedly said "good," her eyes blurred with tears. Xu Wenzhi left the house, vigorously wiped his eyes, and straightened the scholar's satchel at his waist.

The departed were gone; the living must carry on. He had to take the lofty aspirations of his fellow students and march forward across the land, undaunted even by a hundred deaths.

*

The Imperial Guards had their methods for interrogation. They didn't even need to resort to torture. The head of the Song family was the first to crack, confessing everything.

Zhong Qingfu, however, proved tight-lipped. But the ironclad evidence from his home was even harder.

This man had actually kept some letters and account books that should have been burned, all related to the Jiang family. He probably feared the Jiang family might one day turn against him, keeping these as leverage to bargain for his life if that day came.

But now, it had become a path to ruin for both sides.

The first courier dispatch, along with some pieces of evidence, was sent to the capital by riders handpicked by Xiao Yunlang. It would reach Emperor Yonghe in just a few days.

With the arrests made and the news suppressed so smoothly in Congzhou, if Emperor Yonghe still couldn't bring down Jiang Linque, he might as well abdicate early.

Too many residences were searched, and evidence was sealed box after box. The warehouses of Zhong Qingfu and the Song family, as well as their accounts in the banks, were also sealed.

Zhong Qingfu had used someone else's name, registered under a bank after several rounds of transfers. The Song family didn't need to do that—their wealth truly rivaled a country.

Once the court issued the order to seize their assets, the silver retrieved from banks across various locations would weigh tons. A single convoy wouldn't suffice; it would take several, and transporting it all to the capital would take quite some time in batches.

Not to mention the many ongoing businesses under the Song family. Once all the money was accounted for, every official in the court would likely be eyeing it like hungry wolves.

And then... there was still the Jiang family to deal with.

After the illicit tea case was resolved, the national treasury would undoubtedly be replenished to an almost unimaginable degree.

Jiang Yanzhou spent the day helping sort out documents and case files at the county yamen, and they all had dinner together.

Liu Hexuan said his calligraphy had indeed improved quickly. Although Jiang Yanzhou was pleased, he still felt it wasn't enough.

Otherwise, he could have helped copy out more today.

Important pieces of evidence, such as the correspondence between Zhong Qingfu and the Jiang family, were of great significance and contained many secrets. They couldn't be entrusted to petty clerks and had to be handled by their superiors, who had to shoulder the extra work.

After dinner, Liu Hexuan and Wei Wuyou were still burning the midnight oil. The prison held too many people, and confessions kept pouring in. However, it was time for Jiang Yanzhou to return to the South Courtyard.

He thought for a moment. "I'll take one back and review it a bit more before bed."

Xiao Yunlang was still going over the ledgers, too busy to look up. "Alright, take one to look over. If you don't finish, continue tomorrow. Get some rest early."

Jiang Yanzhou agreed while secretly taking two thicker letters as well.

When he returned to the South Courtyard, the imperial physician happened to come for a pulse check today, saying Jiang Yanzhou's health was getting better and better. Seizing the opportunity, Jiang Yanzhou asked, "Then can we omit the sedative components in the evening medicine?"

As long as he could sleep at night, there was indeed no need to use calming medicine for too long. The Young Miracle Doctor had also advised stopping it when the time was right.

The imperial physician carefully checked his pulse again and nodded. "It can indeed be stopped. This way, the daytime prescription can also be adjusted, adding an extra tonic ingredient."

He revised the prescription, and Feng Lan took the new one to have the medicine prepared. Jiang Yanzhou used this time to work on the official business he had brought back.

When the medicine was brought in, Jiang Yanzhou drank it while Feng Lan tidied up the writing implements. "Young Master, it's getting late. After finishing the medicine, you should rest."

Jiang Yanzhou nodded. "...Mm, by the way, I'd like to sleep with the lamp on again tonight. Don't extinguish the candle in the inner room."

Jiang Yanzhou had slept with the lamp on before, such as that night of the thunderstorm. Thinking he might have something on his mind again, Feng Lan left the candle lit.

After Feng Lan went to the outer room, Jiang Yanzhou opened his eyes, quietly propped himself up, and reached under the pillow to retrieve the booklet he had hidden earlier when Feng Lan wasn't around.

He didn't plan to stay up all night, as he had repeatedly overestimated this body's endurance. Falling ill would only waste more time, which wouldn't be worth it.

So he simply aimed to get a bit more done. Even if he couldn't compare to others, he shouldn't be too far behind.

The temperature at night was lower than during the day. To avoid catching a cold, Jiang Yanzhou could only bundle himself up in the quilt, pulling it up and wrapping himself tightly, then placing the booklet on the pillow.

Without his writing brush and ink, he could only rely on his memory to memorize the key points he had identified, planning to write them down from memory tomorrow.

Afraid of being discovered, he turned the pages slowly and with great care.

Moreover, Feng Lan also rested in the outer room at night. If he were woken by the sound of turning pages, Jiang Yanzhou would feel guilty.

He flipped through most of the booklet until he was too sleepy to remember much, then rubbed his eyes and put the booklet back under the pillow.

He tugged the quilt and slowly lay down, his hair brushing against the pillow as he curled into a cozy ball and closed his eyes to sleep.

The next day, he woke up feeling well-rested and unaffected, so he thought this method was feasible and repeated it the second night.

The only pity was that he couldn't use ink and brush; otherwise, he could have practiced his calligraphy at the same time.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yunlang was so busy he barely touched the ground. The prefect, the Commander, and the Vice-Prefect of the prefecture had all been imprisoned one after another. To ensure order in Congzhou, he had to coordinate everything.

Fortunately, with the military under his control, the other officials below knew what was good for them, saving a lot of trouble.

So he only learned that Jiang Yanzhou had slept with the lamp on for two consecutive nights on the third late night, when he returned from the prefectural yamen, with the night's chill still clinging to him.

Xiao Yunlang was taken aback when he heard. "He's still keeping the lamp on tonight?"

Feng Yi replied based on the report from the South Courtyard. "Yes."

Xiao Yunlang looked up to check the weather.

The weather had been fine these past few days—clear skies during the day and stars high at night, with no wind or rain. Why was Jiang Yanzhou keeping the lamp on again, and for several nights in a row? Did he have something weighing on his mind again?

Just as Xiao Yunlang was pondering, someone rushed over urgently. "Your Highness, something terrible has happened!"

Xiao Yunlang's eyes sharpened immediately. "Speak."

"The jailer reported that Song Yicun of the Song family has committed suicide. A letter written in blood was found under his straw mat—it's his last words."

The subordinate presented the blood-written letter with both hands, still carrying the stale, bloody scent of the prison.

Looking at the glaring crimson, Xiao Yunlang's brows, sharp as swords, drew together. Everyone around immediately knelt, feeling as if the weight of the silence was crushing their internal organs.

Feng Yi bowed his head. "Your Highness, please calm your anger."

Xiao Yunlang looked at the kneeling person holding the blood-written letter.

It wasn't written for others to see; it was Song Yicun writing to himself.

He said that as a merchant, he had betrayed his conscience; as a son, he had disgraced his ancestors. In this life, he had been neither good nor useful, living in vain and committing countless sins.

He had already said everything he knew. The matter was done, and he had no face nor reason to linger on.

He made no mention of the afterlife, only hoping that people in the world would take the Song family as a warning and avoid repeating their mistakes.

Xiao Yunlang's frosty voice pressed down on each of them. The Crown Prince was enraged.

The person holding the blood-written letter trembled, his teeth chattering. "The jailers explained that after eating dinner in the evening, he lay down to sleep, facing away from them the whole time. It wasn't until one jailer accidentally dropped and shattered a teacup that people in other cells woke up. Only he remained motionless. Feeling uneasy, they went to check on him."

They called his name twice, but Song Yicun didn't respond. Fearing something was wrong, they immediately opened the door to check. When they turned him over, they saw a shard of porcelain deeply embedded in his neck. He was already lifeless.

Because Song Yicun had revealed the Song family's affairs and cooperated actively, the jailers had treated him with some care.

The day before yesterday, he accidentally dropped a bowl while eating. For other serious offenders, experienced jailers would search the person after collecting the shards. But seeing it was Song Yicun, they were lenient and didn't suspect anything.

Who would have thought he would use the hidden porcelain shard to end his life?

The prison guard said the porcelain shard was driven exceptionally deep and viciously, hard to imagine the force and determination it took for him to do that.

Xiao Yunlang listened and fell silent for a long moment.

He raised his hand and picked up Song Yicun's letter written in blood.

The Vice Minister of Justice hadn't slept yet either; he hadn't been able to sleep lately. He had been making frequent trips to the prison, mostly interrogating household servants or minor clerks working for the prefectural officials. Only Song Yicun still had testimony that needed organizing, which he had gone to handle during the day.

As soon as he left, a crucial witness was dead by morning—wouldn't this raise suspicion against him?!

So, upon receiving the news, he rushed over without delay to clear his name before the Crown Prince.

The minister, with a mournful expression, dragged his robes as he ran in, wailing dramatically: "Your Highness! This matter absolutely has nothing to do with me—"

"Get out!"

The thunderous shout startled the minister, making him tremble violently. His feet slipped, nearly causing him to fall flat on the spot.

Staggering forward a few steps, he barely managed to steady himself. Glancing at the people kneeling all over the courtyard, his lips quivered. Bowing without daring to raise his hands, he paid his respects with his hands clasped, lowering his head as he slowly backed away, muttering: "Yes, this humble official will leave at once, leave at once..."

With the nuisance gone, Xiao Yunlang remained silent for a moment before allowing those in the courtyard to rise.

"Deal with those who were negligent according to the rules. Bury Song Yicun with honors. And... for now, don't tell Second Young Master Jiang about this. I..." Xiao Yunlang paused here, closing his eyes, his voice dropping two tones lower. "I'll go see him."

He had originally planned to go earlier, but that was because he was worried.

Now, there was an additional reason.

After reading such a letter, he himself suddenly wanted very much to see Jiang Yanzhou.

The southern courtyard was serene late at night. On his way there, Xiao Yunlang calmed his breathing, and by the time he entered the room, he moved with the silent tread of a martial artist.

He had intended only to check on Jiang Yanzhou as he slept before leaving, but upon entering the inner chamber, he saw Jiang Yanzhou still sitting on the bed, wrapped in a quilt.

Xiao Yunlang was taken aback. The image of Jiang Yanzhou's pale face during the thunderstorm night instantly sprang to mind. Fearing that Jiang Yanzhou might be plagued by nightmares again and unable to sleep, he quickly stepped forward, his footsteps making a sound.

Startled by the sudden noise, Jiang Yanzhou turned around in a panic and met Xiao Yunlang's eyes, filled with concern that bordered on fluster.

Then Xiao Yunlang finally saw what Jiang Yanzhou, who had been facing away from him, had been doing.

Before him lay a booklet—he was still handling official duties.

Xiao Yunlang: "..."

Jiang Yanzhou: "!"

Xiao Yunlang stood silently for a moment, then let out a laugh of exasperation, momentarily unsure what expression to wear.

Helplessness, worry, or anger?

He watched as Jiang Yanzhou hurriedly closed the booklet, looking up at him pleadingly, and felt nothing but resignation.

He pressed his fingers to his temples, sighed, took the booklet away, and sat sideways on the edge of the bed. Reaching out, he touched the back of Jiang Yanzhou's hand—unsurprisingly, it was icy cold.

The quilt could wrap around his body, but not the hands that turned pages.

Jiang Yanzhou's hands, cold for so long, suddenly touched something warm like a stove and instinctively jerked back, his lips pursing uneasily.

Xiao Yunlang pulled the quilt over to cover his hands as well. Facing Jiang Yanzhou, he couldn't bring himself to speak harshly: "What are you doing, hmm? Who promised me they would rest properly?"

Beneath the quilt, Jiang Yanzhou cupped the back of his hand where Xiao Yunlang had touched it with his palm. His ears flushed red, whether from the warmth or the embarrassment of being caught in the middle of the night.

"...I was just about to go to sleep," he muttered, his ears burning.

Xiao Yunlang: "But I thought you should have been asleep long ago?"

Jiang Yanzhou also wanted to argue for some legitimate late-night work time. He extended a finger, indicating a tiny amount: "The physician said I'm fine. I think I can do a little more work at night."

Xiao Yunlang reached out and directly grasped his finger, erasing that small distance: "The sooner you get better, I'll have plenty of matters to discuss with you in the future. There's no rush right now."

His action was so natural. Once he held it, Jiang Yanzhou's icy coldness pressed tightly against his warm palm, and both their heartbeats skipped a beat simultaneously.

—So hot.

This was the shared, unspoken thought between them.

Now, not only were Jiang Yanzhou's ears red, but his face was heating up as well. He wanted to pull his hand back, but perhaps still feeling guilty from being caught, he didn't dare move. His voice was slightly flustered: "Y-Your Highness..."

The dim candlelight cast a warm glow on Jiang Yanzhou's jade-like cheeks. In this room, before him, it seemed any turmoil could settle, yet any emotion could surge and swell.

Xiao Yunlang's fingers unconsciously tightened slightly, then slowly relaxed.

Jiang Yanzhou quickly withdrew his hand, not even daring to let his fingertips peek out now. For a moment, silence filled the room, and the atmosphere grew ambiguous in the blurred shadows.

Time suddenly felt particularly torturous. Xiao Yunlang rubbed his knuckles and was just about to speak when, unexpectedly, Jiang Yanzhou spoke first this time.

Clutching the quilt, his face still flushed and hesitation not yet gone, his gaze darted away several times before he finally spoke softly: "Your Highness, are you in a bad mood?"

Xiao Yunlang was taken aback.

He tilted his head slightly and asked: "Can you tell?"

Jiang Yanzhou said cautiously: "A feeling, just a feeling."

...Quite accurate.

"Did something go wrong? Are things not going smoothly?"

Carrying a heavy heart when he arrived, Xiao Yunlang relaxed his shoulders at the young master's tentative voice and said casually: "It's nothing. It's just that the Vice Minister of Justice got in the way again. Thinking about how many officials like him are still in the court irritates me."

Jiang Yanzhou looked up, his beautiful eyes appearing especially clear and moist in the lamplight. Setting aside his shyness, he said earnestly: "When noble families no longer control the path of official promotions, when commoners have a way forward, when more aspiring individuals flood into the court, and when the court widely opens avenues for counsel—people like him will gradually have no place to stand."

His voice was very soft, like a brush dipped in ink, slowly painting a picture of a clear and righteous world for Xiao Yunlang. In his voice, Xiao Yunlang's expression softened: "Emperor Yonghe's court?"

"Your court," Jiang Yanzhou said without the slightest hesitation. "Daqi's court. He couldn't achieve it, but you can."

He doesn't simply believe I can do it, Xiao Yunlang thought. It's as if he has already seen me leading Daqi to such a future.

Little Young Master Jiang showed no hesitation or wavering, just like when he first came to the Crown Prince's residence. Among the emperor, the noble families, and a Crown Prince serving as a target, he chose the Crown Prince as naturally as breathing.

Jiang Yanzhou laid all his cards, his life and fortune, openly in his palm, without asking about a way out.

Sincerity... this was unreserved, pure, and precious sincerity.

Xiao Yunlang had witnessed it.

He gazed at Jiang Yanzhou for a moment, then suddenly reached out, placed his hands on his shoulders, and gently pressed him down onto the soft pillow.

Three thousand strands of black hair spread over the brocade satin. The quilt in front of Jiang Yanzhou fell open, revealing his inner robe and snow-white neck—a stark contrast of black and white, breathtakingly beautiful in the hazy light of the night.

Jiang Yanzhou lay within the narrow space he had propped up, gazing at him, dazed.

Completely defenseless, endearingly docile.

The tendons in Xiao Yunlang’s hand jumped, then he raised it—

He yanked the blanket over Jiang Yanzhou again, swiftly and meticulously tucking it around his chest and neck, leaving no gap.

“Only you would dare say such treasonous words. It’s fine in front of me, but don’t let others hear you.” With that, Xiao Yunlang patted the blanket. “Sleep.”

Jiang Yanzhou was still processing this. After a moment, his fingers twitched, and he came back to himself, turning his head to look at Xiao Yunlang, who was still sitting by the bed.

Xiao Yunlang: “You need to close your eyes to sleep.”

Jiang Yanzhou: “…I’m going to sleep.”

Xiao Yunlang replied, perfectly at ease: “Mm.”

Jiang Yanzhou felt he clearly understood the implication but was pretending not to, so he couldn’t help sliding further under the covers. “What I mean is, Your Highness should also go back and rest.”

“To prevent Little Young Master Jiang from trying any tricks again, I need to watch you fall asleep before I can believe it.”

The frost and sharpness in Xiao Yunlang’s eyes melted into warm light.

“I’ll watch over you,” his voice was low and steady. “Sleep.”

Xiao Yunlang’s voice had always been a source of calm for Jiang Yanzhou. This voice had once pulled him back from the brink of life and death; even when Jiang Yanzhou was barely conscious, hearing it would make him relax.

But tonight, as Jiang Yanzhou listened and watched, he felt that with Xiao Yunlang guarding him, it made it even harder for him to fall asleep.

Because his heartbeat was too loud.

He held his breath, afraid that this frantic fluttering, worse than a sparrow’s, might be audible to Xiao Yunlang.

Jiang Yanzhou was startled by his own heart, even forgetting how to blink his eyelashes: …How am I supposed to sleep like this?