Chapter 48

Chapter 48

Ying Fusheng looked down and saw a small arm guard, the kind often worn by those who train beasts. This item had nothing to do with him. Even if he went to the training grounds, the military officers were always mindful of his health and never allowed birds of prey near him. Naturally, he never kept such items. He frowned slightly as he watched the Eighth Prince leave, surrounded by palace attendants.

“Your Highness?” Song An noticed his master seemed distracted. “This servant was negligent. I should have had the Imperial Household Department prepare these.”

Ying Fusheng gently touched his own wrist, where the residual warmth from the arm guard felt almost scalding to his skin.

He said softly, “No need.”

Inside the Cining Palace, the snow-sweeping attendants moved about amidst hurried calls. Bending over with heads lowered, a sharp gaze swept across the palace grounds, taking in the scene just witnessed, until Ying Fusheng disappeared through the side hall entrance.

“What are you doing? Hurry up and finish your work!”

A palace attendant from Cining Palace called out, “Hey, you! Which palace are you from?”

The snow-sweeping attendant quickly apologized and swept away the remaining snow in front of him.

The attendants of Cining Palace moved about giving orders. In front of the side hall, an oddly shaped lamp was placed. As the snow-sweeper approached, the steward of Cining Palace scolded, “This is a lamp sent by the Imperial Observatory to ward off misfortune for Cining Palace. Be careful when sweeping snow nearby; don’t damage it.”

The broom hit the ground heavily, stirring up residual snow.

…

Inside the Northern Pacification Office of the capital, harsh cries rose and fell.

The prisoners in the Imperial Prison shivered at the sound of footsteps, like birds startled by the twang of a bow.

When Qi Hanzhou emerged from the prison, Ye Xuanjiu handed him a cloth. Qi Hanzhou wiped the lingering bloodstains from between his fingers, his expression cold and indifferent. “No confession?”

“No. All the suspicious witnesses have been interrogated, and they all claim ignorance,” Ye Xuanjiu said. “Vice Minister of War, Lord Hu, remembers the favor owed to the Embroidered Uniform Guard, so he handed them over readily. These witnesses were all transferred by Lord Hu.”

Because of the Sixth Prince’s actions at the Court of Judicial Review a few months ago, the Three Judicial Offices dared not show favoritism. This also made it much easier for them to investigate the Ministry of War. They followed the trail and uncovered some old cases of the Ministry of War, including a secret order sent to the capital a few years ago. At that time, an urgent report dispatched by fast horse from the northern border stopped near the capital.

Ye Xuanjiu knew that the Junior General had been investigating the matter of Youzhou City for years. “Lord Hu said that what the Junior General seeks might not be found in the Ministry of War.”

Meaning that what the Embroidered Uniform Guard wanted to find was not recorded in the Ministry of War.

“What about the Minister of War?” Qi Hanzhou asked.

Ye Xuanjiu was silent for a moment before replying, “The old minister fell seriously ill before winter. We sent someone to check on him, and now he is somewhat unconscious.”

They moved fast. The Ministry of War had been infiltrated too deeply before. Even if Hu Buyu took charge, thorough investigation would be difficult.

And at this crucial moment, the Minister of War, the only possible breakthrough, fell ill.

“What about the palace?” Qi Hanzhou asked. “How is he lately?”

“The Sixth Prince has been sensitive to the cold lately. He did leave the palace today but returned to rest soon after,” Ye Xuanjiu said, then suddenly recalled something. “By the way, Junior General, there is something strange.”

“Earlier, the Sixth Prince asked that eunuch Song An to look into the people in the Laundry Bureau. After you learned of this, you ordered me to investigate. Over the past few months, I have gone through all the identification records of the Directorate of Ceremonial and the Imperial Household Department… I checked all the palace maids and matrons of appropriate age in the Laundry Bureau who met the criteria.”

Some matters were hard for the palace eunuchs to investigate, but the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s archives still had records. Ye Xuanjiu reported in detail: “At the time, the Sixth Prince’s exact words were that the palace maid should be in her forties. I searched carefully and found one matching candidate among the servant records. However…”

Qi Hanzhou frowned and looked at him, seeing Ye Xuanjiu’s expression turn unusual. “What is it?”

“This person once served in the Kunning Palace but was expelled a few years ago for theft. The Empress, remembering old ties, sent her to the Laundry Bureau without severe punishment.” Ye Xuanjiu hesitated slightly. “Strange thing is, after she left Kunning Palace, she vanished without a trace.”

Qi Hanzhou’s expression changed slightly. He thought of what Ying Fusheng had said earlier—that the tampering with the intelligence from Youzhou City originated from within the court.

But if the palace itself was unclean…

He ordered, “Handle this matter. Use the Qi family’s connections. You must find out.”

…

Before long, the twelfth month came to an end. New Year’s Eve was approaching, and everywhere was decorated with lanterns and festoons.

“Your Highness, the person you asked Adjutant Ye to investigate—the results are unusual,” Song An reported the findings of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. “Junior General Qi said he will continue the investigation and inform Your Highness of any results.”

Ying Fusheng frowned upon hearing this. In his previous life, this deaf-mute matron had helped him greatly. He had once thought she was Qi Hanzhou’s person, which was why he had let Song An pass the information to Qi Hanzhou. In his previous life, he had learned about the baby-swapping through her. Regardless, she must have known the details of that incident. Yet now the Embroidered Uniform Guard could not find this person.

Why?

Had the mastermind eliminated her beforehand?

That shouldn’t be. She had no connection to this matter. The mastermind had nothing to follow.

Ying Fusheng pondered, feeling that something was off.

Song An’s investigation into Kunning Palace had also yielded no results. The few palace maids newly assigned to Kunning Palace, aside from discrepancies in their servant records, showed no unusual behavior in the palace.

After learning this, Ying Fusheng ordered him to keep monitoring them.

On New Year’s Eve, a palace banquet would be held, bringing together civil and military officials and their families to celebrate.

Ying Fusheng was called up early by the attendants of Cining Palace, dressed in new clothes and measured for his size. Compared to last year, he had grown taller. When word reached the Dowager Empress, she was delighted and rewarded the attendants.

He couldn’t remember how tall he had been at this time in his previous life. Back then, he had lain ill in bed for a long time, and no one measured him.

“Did I send the gifts to her?” Ying Fusheng asked.

Song An knew he meant Consort Ning. “They were delivered. The imperial physician said she is not very lucid lately, so the gifts were left in the outer room by the attendants.”

Ying Fusheng listened calmly. The attendants of Cining Palace had already prepared everything.

The New Year’s Eve banquet was held as usual in the Wangyue Pavilion. As a prince, Ying Fusheng arrived early. By the time he got there, the other princes had already arrived. From afar, he saw the Eighth Prince waving at him. He nodded quietly in acknowledgment, noticing the gazes from others.

Several princes gathered together. Ying Fusheng paused briefly, and as he walked over, the First Prince looked at him and said, “So the Sixth Brother has arrived. Now, the Sixth Brother is no ordinary person.”

His tone was similar to usual, but the discontent was audible: “From now on, if I, your elder brother, want to go to the Court of Judicial Review, I’ll have to notify you first.”

Ying Fusheng replied respectfully, “The Court of Judicial Review belongs to the Three Judicial Offices. I am merely a supervisor.”

At this point, the Second Prince stepped in to mediate, smiling. “Brother, don’t jest. The Sixth Brother has been unwell lately and has been staying in the palace often. It’s been two months since he last went to the Court of Judicial Review, hasn’t it? But the Sixth Brother is truly a lucky star. Father frequently praises you in court.”

The Second Prince had previously worked in the Ministry of Works and was close to the Crown Prince. Later, he was transferred to the Ministry of Personnel, where he now handles affairs. His words were clever, making it hard to discern his intent.

Ying Fusheng exchanged a few words with him before ending the conversation. As he turned, he saw another person standing nearby. The Third Prince was rather quiet compared to the other two. When Ying Fusheng bowed to him, he merely nodded, standing a few steps away from the others, seemingly uninterested in chatting.

Third Brother had held a sinecure post until two months ago, when he was transferred to the Ministry of War by their father.

This man had a strange temper, disliking interpersonal interaction, and was more interested in weapons. After entering the Ministry of War, he didn’t take charge of affairs but instead buried himself in training troops on the outskirts of the capital. In Ying Fusheng’s memory, in his previous life this elder brother’s final fate was on the border. A reckless deep incursion into enemy territory left him crippled, and he was never heard from again.

Ying Fusheng lowered his eyes. His entry into the Ministry of War mirrored his past life.

Just as he was thinking, a soft call came from beside him. He came back to his senses and saw a figure standing before him.

Judging by the attire, it was a princess.

"Brother, this is for you." The little princess tiptoed slightly, quietly handed Ying Fusheng a piece of candy, and then turned and ran away.

"That's the Third Princess. Her mother is Concubine Ruan," Song An reminded.

Concubine Ruan had frequently visited the Empress Dowager these past two years. Ying Fusheng vaguely remembered Concubine Ruan, but he didn't have a clear memory of this younger sister. Concubine Ruan seemed to often bring her to Cining Palace to curry favor with the Empress Dowager. He looked over; the little princess was following behind Concubine Ruan, occasionally glancing in his direction.

Concubine Ruan noticed him and gave a warm smile, as if trying to get closer to him.

Ying Fusheng averted his gaze. Concubine Ruan's smile faded. His status was no longer what it used to be.

"I told you to stay by his side and say a few more words. Why did you come back so soon?" Concubine Ruan lightly grasped the Third Princess's wrist, then looked at her with displeasure. "Never mind. You can't even handle a small task."

The Third Princess lowered her head, afraid to speak, but quietly glanced at Ying Fusheng.

Her mother told her to win over Sixth Brother, but she didn't want to. She knew Sixth Brother didn't care about such things.

Before long, the palace banquet began.

Ying Fusheng took his seat among the princes. The civil and military officials gathered, and as the eunuch loudly announced the Emperor's arrival. He followed the sound and saw Qi Hanzhou walking beside the Emperor.

They hadn't seen each other for two months. Compared to Ying Fusheng's slight growth in height, Qi Hanzhou had grown much taller. The youthful immaturity in his expression had faded, and his features had become more defined. He walked calmly beside the Emperor, glancing at Ying Fusheng as they passed the princes' seats.

The glance was brief. Ying Fusheng noticed the other's gaze lingered on him for just a fraction of a second.

Qi Hanzhou, as the Emperor's trusted advisor, sat at the front of the military officials' row.

"At the New Year's Eve banquet, please, everyone, make yourselves comfortable," the Emperor said.

The Crown Prince stepped forward, offered his New Year's congratulations, and led the officials in paying respects. The Emperor was delighted.

"The Crown Prince has become much more mature this year," the Emperor said, looking at him with approval.

"This year, the construction of dikes in Jiangnan—the Crown Prince and the Guozijian scholars worked together, drawing up several blueprints with the artisans, greatly reducing the Ministry of Works' construction costs," the Minister of Works spoke up.

The Emperor looked at Empress Xu beside him, surprised. "That was indeed well done."

"The Crown Prince is growing up. It's only right for him to ease His Majesty's burdens," Empress Xu said softly.

Hearing this, the Emperor seemed to remember, "Yes, the Crown Prince has come of age."

Previously, the Crown Prince was young, and the Eastern Palace only helped with his studies.

Earlier, the Crown Prince had been somewhat impulsive, but with this year's dike construction project in the south, he had shown particular attention and frequent involvement. The Emperor knew that the Crown Prince and his companion Zhou Qingyuan had worked hard on the matter, even bringing in many talented people for the Ministry of Works, which allowed the project to be completed by year's end.

"In that case, the Crown Prince shall begin familiarizing himself with the affairs of the Ministry of Works in the new year," the Emperor declared.

The Crown Prince's face lit up with joy. "I accept Your Majesty's decree and will live up to Your Majesty's expectations!"

The First Prince sneered at this. The expressions among the princes were varied. Ying Fusheng, however, looked across to the Xu family's seats. Grand Secretary Xu remained silent. The Emperor rarely asked Empress Xu for her opinion, but her response just now was clever, directing His Majesty's attention to the Eastern Palace.

For months, the Crown Prince had been acting steadily. The Emperor had punished some in court, but the Crown Prince was still his chosen heir. Six months of reprimands were enough; it was time to give him a sweet reward.

Consort Yun glared at the Empress. Her eyes glittered, and she suddenly said, "The Sixth Prince has also done well these past months. He's about the same age as the Crown Prince, isn't he?"

Qi Hanzhou heard this and looked at Ying Fusheng across the princes' seats, curious how he would respond.

Everyone knew the First Prince's Ministry of Revenue had been heavily investigated this year. The Yun family dared not openly push the First Prince. With this move, Consort Yun directly thrust the Sixth Prince into the spotlight. Over the past six months, the Sixth Prince had gained considerable prestige at court and was favored by the Emperor. Now that the Eastern Palace was starting to involve itself in court affairs, the Yun family didn't want the Crown Prince to dominate without opposition.

"Little Six," the Emperor called.

Ying Fusheng was about to rise, but moved too quickly, knocking over his small hand warmer hidden under the feast table. It rolled away.

Seeing this, the Emperor didn't get angry. "Take your time."

The court officials dared not comment.

The Crown Prince's expression stiffened briefly but quickly relaxed.

Grand Secretary Xu remained impassive. Xiao Yan, sitting beside him, watched silently, eyeing the small, bundled figure heading to the center of the hall.

Ying Fusheng glanced at the hand warmer that had rolled away, gave a slight start, and bowed hastily. "Your Majesty."

"You did well in your duties at the Court of Judicial Review. Is there any reward you desire?" The Emperor saw how thickly bundled up he was, standing beside the Crown Prince—the contrast was obvious. If only the boy had a bit more meat on his bones. "You cannot refuse," he added, seeing Ying Fusheng hesitate.

Ying Fusheng seemed unsure how to handle this. After a brief pause, he said, "I don't want much. If I must choose a reward..."

"Could Your Majesty authorize a pay raise for the Court of Judicial Review? Your son didn't do much, but they've been busy for months. The Vice Minister hasn't returned home in months."

The court officials all turned to look at the Court of Judicial Review.

The officials there were sweating. The Vice Minister cleared his throat. Proposing a pay raise required submitting extensive paperwork through the Ministry of Revenue. And the Sixth Prince had just brought it up openly.

The Court of Judicial Review wanted to tactfully decline, but the Emperor laughed instead. "I've been remiss. These past months, the Three Judicial Offices have indeed been overworked. They deserve a reward." He looked at the First Prince. "What do you think?"

The officials of the Ministry of Revenue looked toward the First Prince.

Consort Yun had tried to put Ying Fusheng on the spot, but he turned the tables on her, putting her in a tight spot. The Ministry of Revenue was under the First Prince. How could he refuse in front of the Emperor? That meant money had to be allocated, and he could only agree.

The First Prince quickly stood. "I'll see to it, Your Majesty."

The officials of the Court of Judicial Review were overjoyed. Such good fortune! Even the Censorate and the Ministry of Justice were surprised. A single mention from the Sixth Prince, and they all received rewards. Their superior, Xiao Yan, sat calmly, expression unchanged, as he and the Chief Judge of the Court rose to thank the Emperor.

The officials of the Three Judicial Offices looked at the Sixth Prince: truly, as those in the Court of Judicial Review had said, he was a lucky star.

Ever since His Majesty had praised the prince, and with the great scholars of the Guozijian spreading the word, a rumor had quietly spread that the Sixth Prince was a lucky star. Among the common folk, the tales were even more exaggerated: they said the prince was often ill because he brought good fortune to Dayuan—his illness was a sacrifice for the nation.

"The auspicious hour has arrived—" came a voice from outside the hall.

Ying Fusheng returned to the present. Several people in unusual clothing entered, carrying a massive lantern structure before the assembled officials. The structure was composed of multiple lamps, arranged like an intricate lantern array in the center of Wangyue Hall.

"What is this?"

"It's a ritual prepared by the Imperial Astronomer to pray for blessings in the new year."

Two months ago, Dayuan had just endured war, and there had been months of turmoil at court. The Imperial Observatory's grand astrologer had observed the stars for months. On this day, bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new, they would pray for the nation's fortune. For those two months, these lantern devices had gathered qi at various points around the palace, awaiting the lighting of the heavenly lanterns to ward off evil.

"Please, Your Majesty and the princes, come forward to light the lamps."

The Emperor stepped forward; the other princes quickly followed. The lantern devices were numerous.

Ying Fusheng initially intended to hang back, but a eunuch had already handed him an incense stick and a candle. "Sixth Prince, this way, please."

In the past, only members of the imperial family participated in such blessings. Ying Fusheng was still young and ordinarily not expected to join. But with the incense and candle presented to him, refusing would be improper. He had no choice but to follow. He saw even the Eighth Prince was among them, led to a lamp stand. The accompanying prayer dance and music were coming to an end.

Ying Fusheng moved slightly, frowning as he looked at the hall. Everyone else seemed at ease.

He lowered his eyes to the candlelight in his hand, hearing the eunuch beside him say, "Your Highness, simply light the lamp at the appropriate time."

As Qi Hanzhou saw Ying Fusheng walk over, he suddenly noticed a strange odor in the air.

“Young General, what’s wrong?” Ye Xuanjiu said.

Qi Hanzhou traced the strange smell to the ceremonial lanterns, “There’s an odd smell.”

“It must be the candles prepared by the Imperial Observatory,” Ye Xuanjiu said.

No… the smell isn’t like ordinary incense candles; it’s too sweet.

“Wait.”

Qi Hanzhou was about to stand when a cry rang out through the courtyard—

“Light the lamps!”

The Emperor lit first, followed by the princes.

When Ying Fusheng’s incense touched the fuse, he suddenly noticed something odd about the lantern—there was a sound!?

At that moment, the flame caught, and the lamp soared into the air, bursting into flames as it rose, gradually forming a dragon-leaping vision that filled the entire sky. But just then, the celestial lamp above Ying Fusheng burned halfway, then suddenly most of it went out, its bright flame turning into blue flames. The dragon’s expected flight was incomplete, as if a dragon had turned into a flood dragon, making everyone’s expression change drastically—

That was an omen of calamity!!!