It would require about 10 days to travel, without stopping, from the Northern Lands to Yan Capital. Yet, Su Qing arrived at Yan Capital at this moment.
How would the officials not be shocked?
Because it had also been about 10 days since Fang Zhengzhi’s arrival. In other words, when Fang Zhengzhi had stepped foot in Yan Capital, Su Qing had departed from the Northern Lands.
No matter how one wrapped his head around this, it simply seemed impossible.
Were Fang Zhengzhi’s arrival in Yan Capital and Su Qing’s departure from the Northern Lands a coincidence? Or was it a deliberate move?
More importantly, as the Chief of the Northern Lands Five Constabularies, his needed a reason to enter the capital. What was his reason then? What was his motive?
None of these officials could make sense of it.
“Your Highness, now that Su Qing has entered the palace, should we… make some preparations?” One of the officials asked after hesitating, though he wasn’t quite sure if it was the right question to ask.
Because no matter Su Qing’s intention for his visit, granted the current circumstances, they could not let Su Qing live. They could not let him meet the emperor, nor step into the Law Council hall.
“Yes, regardless of the reason of Su Qing’s visit, Your Highness, please make a decision quickly!”
“Your Highness, Su Qing cannot live!”
“Su Qing’s arrival in Yan Capital means he knew of Fang Zhengzhi’s overturning of the case. Your Highness, please do not hesitate any longer!”
After a brief exchange of looks, the officials poured their suggestions.
Crown Prince Lin Tianrong grasped his fist. In the contest for the throne, a single misstep would cost him everything. Every decision had to be deliberated carefully because it might just change everything.
He wanted very much to slowly think through the most appropriate course of action or to meet Su Qing and inquire the reason for his visit.
But it seemed that he had not much time left.
Because this letter was ordered to be delivered here by the Law Official. If everything had gone smoothly, at that moment when the Law Official sent this letter here, the action had already begun. How could he hesitate any further?
Just as he wished to respond, another official stood out.
“Your Highness, I think there is something suspicious about this…” he said, furrowing his brows in a worried expression.
As the subordinates of the “real dragon”, there was no chance of backing out for them. When this “real dragon” becomes a “useless dragon”, they wouldn’t see better days ahead too.
“How is it suspicious?” Crown Prince Lin Tianrong asked intently.
“In my opinion, Su Qing would not step into the capital at this moment. Even if he wanted to, he would’ve notified Your Highness. To depart ten days ago, how is that possible…”
“Are you saying this is a ruse?!” Crown Prince Lin Tianrong was shocked. Perturbed by this thought, he could not think straight.
But when he had calmed down, he realized that this matter seemed suspicious too.
Ten days ago, Fang Zhengzhi entered Yan Capital.
Then, the Law Official Wan Chong, Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping and the Ministry of Defence official had not been imprisoned. Even the overturning of the case had not been mentioned.
How could Su Qing have predicted these and entered the capital in advance?
“Yes, since Fang Zhengzhi’s arrival in the capital, we have been under his control. I think this is part of Fang Zhengzhi’s plan, to bait us into action so that he could have our murder evidence!” The official replied after some thought.
“Official Wang has a point. Had he not raised this, we would’ve played into the hands of this shameless fellow!” Another agreed.
“Exactly, that was close!”
“In my view, we should immediately send a message to the Northern Lands. Once we have fully grasped the matter at hand, then it would be a better time to strike!” Official Wang added.
“Wouldn’t it be too late to send a message to the Northern Lands? What if it isn’t a ruse, and Su Qing had indeed entered the capital…” another doubted.
Sending a message to the Northern Lands and waiting for their response would take about two to three days. But with the situation at hand, someone named Su Qing had entered the capital!
Was this really the case?
No one had an answer!
“Today we had lost the fight at the palace gate. If we strike suddenly and get caught red-handed by Fang Zhengzhi, we would really have nothing to say!” Official Wang debated.
“It is ancient wisdom to combat change with consistency. We must remain calm when faced with challenges. Although this matter is urgent, we can still wait for two or three more days.”
“Yes. Even if the Law Council calls for an investigation, they will need time to prepare. And to investigate the Chief of Five Constabularies, the emperor would have to approve of it. The Law Council could only lock him up as a suspect, they can’t do much to him!”
“That’s right. I agree with Official Wang. For the time being, we shall not make any moves!”
Upon hearing Official Wang’s reasoning, the other officials nodded in agreement.
Crown Prince Lin Tianrong was in a dilemma. As the officials had discussed, no one could confirm whether the person who had entered was actually Su Qing.
If they were to act rashly, there may be worse implications.
Three days…
“Send a letter to the Northern Lands now, check if Su Qing had indeed entered the capital!” After a moment of hesitation, Crown Prince Lin Tianrong ordered.
The reason was simple. He had such a thought.
The person who sent for the letter was the Law Official. In other words, Prince Lin Xinjue deliberate wanted him to know that Su Qing had arrived in the capital.
With that, he also decided to wait for a few days.
“Yes!” The officials nodded their heads in agreement.
…
At Yan Capital, King Duan’s residence.
King Duan’s residence seemed much livelier than before. Surrounding a feast, more than ten officials drank till their faces flushed pink.
“Congratulations, Your Highness. With the crown prince mired in the Southern Region case, your dream of ascending the throne is one more step closer to reality!” An official raised his cup in a toast.
King Duan, Lin Xinjue, smiled slightly.
It wasn’t a novel sight for Lin Xinjue’s subordinates to curry his favor. In fact, a year ago, this was displayed even more frequently.
At that time, in the Imperial Halls, more than half of the officials sided with the crown prince, but quite a significant portion of them secretly favored Lin Xinjue too.
Yet, in a little more than a year, his residence had been considerably empty and desolate. Until today, when it restored some of its former glory.
Only some, though.
“Official Li’s words came a little too early. The Southern Region case hasn’t concluded, and now everyone is pointing the blame at Su Qing, seemingly unrelated to the crown prince,” Lin Xinjue replied.
“Your Highness, you are just being humble. Even if the blame is pointed at Su Qing, there are some things that are clearly obvious to us. And even if the Southern Region case fails to crush the crown prince, the emperor’s trust in him would still be weakened. Is this not the best chance for Your Highness re-enter the Imperial Halls?” Official Li said, smiling in another bow.
“Is that so?” Lin Xinjue’s eyes flashed a gleam.
He did not immediately respond to the officials, because he knew that it was still too early for a celebration. But, he remained confident that his residence would grow even livelier in time to come.
And that day wouldn’t be too far away.
“Your Highness!”
At this moment, a golden-armored guard ran here from a far distance away, then kneeled in front of Lin Xinjue.
“What’s the matter?” Lin Xinjue fretted slightly.
“Law Official Wen Chuan delivers a letter.” The guard replied while reaching into his shirt for the letter sealed in an envelope.
“Wen Chuan?” Lin Xinjue wondered. He seemed have reached a thought to which he smiled. “Hand it over.”
“Yes!” The guard presented him the letter.
Upon seeing this, the officials exchanged looks and saw a hint of a smile in one another. Wen Chuan’s letter meant something obvious.
Today at the palace entrance, Wen Chuan publicly declared that the Southern Region case should be investigated. This showed his stance on this matter.
And now, he has sent a letter.
Naturally, it wasn’t suspicious.
With this line of thought, the officials began to calm down. As a matter of fact, they took a gamble by choosing their sides when the Southern Region case had not yet concluded.
But it seems…
This risk was very worthwhile. Because once Lin Xinjue had Wen Chuan’s favor, it would be very advantageous for his situation.
Lin Xinjue was also considerably excited.
If Wen Chuan had really sided with him, it would effectively silence the crown prince. In time to come, the cases of the Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping, the two Law Ministers, and the original Law Official Wan Chong would see the light of day.
Especially the Law Official Wang Chong’s case. Nearly half the entire Imperial Hall was involved in it. But once it has been investigated, each case would follow suit.
When all the crown prince’s officials had been punished, who would still dare to side the crown prince?
With this thought, Lin Xinjue smiled brighter than ever. But as he opened the envelope, his smile froze.
Because…
The letter was not about forming alliances, instead, it only bore a single sentence. The words did not bear Wen Chuan’s handwriting, its content clear and concise.
“Su Qing has entered the capital!”
Lin Xinjue immediately furrowed his brows. With this letter in his hand, the joyful smiles have been wiped off from his face.
The officials wondered what had brought such a sudden change.
“Your Highness, what does the letter say?” an official asked cautiously.
“Su Qing has entered the capital!” Lin Xinjue glanced at the official, then the rest of the officials. He inhaled deeply and gave his reply.
“What?!”
“Su Qing has entered the capital?!”
“So fast? Shouldn’t he be in the Northern Lands?”
The officials were shocked after hearing the news.
Mister Hua, sitting beside Lin Xinjue and dressed like a scholar, also revealed a confused expression.
“Your Highness, this is a ruse!” Mister Hua exclaimed after giving it some thought.
“How do you see this, Mister Hua?” Upon hearing that, Lin Xinjue nodded slightly and turned to Mister Hua, seeking his opinion.
“If I have guessed correctly, this is part of Fang Zhengzhi’s plan to bait the crown prince into action. He sent us this letter, so we could stop the crown prince!”
“Stop the crown prince?”
‘Yes, there are two possibilities here. First, Fang Zhengzhi wants to use our power to catch the crown prince’s current state, and second…” At this point, Mister Hua squinted slightly, was not sure if he should continue.
“What is the second possibility?” Lin Xinjue asked intently.
“If it were another person, this would not be too probable, but if it’s indeed Fang Zhengzhi, then this possibility is high. And it is for a pretense to become true!”
“For a pretense to become true? Mister Hua, what do you mean?”
“Fang Zhengzhi wishes to convict the crown prince using a fake Su Qing. Then, once the crown prince’s emotions are ruffled, he would make mistakes and thereby reach a verdict!”
“Huhh!”
All the officials gasped after hearing Mister Hua’s predictions.
Sending someone to act as Su Qing and setting up a trap for the Crown Prince.
Something like this…
No one could have even ventured such a thought!
Because this would be equal to lying to the Imperial Court, a crime of lying to the emperor. But, if this was really planned by Fang Zhengzhi, then it could be possible after all.
“But if the emperor sent a message to the Northern Lands, would Fang Zhengzhi’s plan still succeed?” One of the officials asked after pondering for a moment.
“Before today, how could we even fathom Fang Zhengzhi could overturn the case?” Mister Hua asked while looking at the officials. His eyes gleamed and he continued: “We cannot underestimate Fang Zhengzhi, he isn’t one who does things by conventional logic!”
“Mister Hua as a point!”
“What should we do now?”
“Should we help him?”
The officials looked at one another and nodded.
“Help him, of course, we will help him!” Lin Xinjue smirked. “No matter what happens, the outcome won’t implicate us. Why should we not help?”
“Your Highness’ opinion is wise!”
“Correct. If the plan worked, it would be our credit. Otherwise, the blame would all be shifted to Fang Zhengzhi. This matter would only bring us benefit and we would have nothing to lose!”
“That’s right!”
The officials nodded in agreement once again.
But at this moment, another guard hurriedly ran here. He seemed petrified.
“Your Highness, Your Highness…”
“What’s the matter again?” Lin Xinjue stowed the letter, his eyes shot an icy gleam. For today’s feast with the officials, he had ordered it not to be interrupted unless it was an urgent issue.
“Your Highness, the Chief of the Five Constabularies wishes to see you!”
“Chief of the Five Constabularies? Which Chief of the Five Constabularies?”
“The Chief of the Northern Lands Five Constabularies, Su Qing, is outside the residence and wishes to see you!”
“Su Qing? At my residence?”