Chapter 113 Part 2

 

The light inside the hall was dim, the curtains were hung low, no one could be seen, and no sound could be heard.

At this time, Wei Juren and several of his confidants also hurriedly arrived. He rushed forward, fell to his knees on the threshold of the hall, and cried out toward the inside, “Your Majesty, please restrain your grief! But this matter truly has nothing to do with the Crown Prince! After Your Majesty’s reprimand during the last court meeting, the Crown Prince deeply blamed himself for failing to keep those around him in check, regretting his negligence. For the past few days, he has voluntarily confined himself to the East Palace in self-reflection. Moreover, without any evidence, Minister Feng rashly accuses him—this crime is far too great, and the Crown Prince cannot bear such a charge! The greater the tree, the stronger the wind; yet the Crown Prince’s loyalty to Your Majesty is steadfast, and even the heavens can bear witness! This minister implores Your Majesty to see clearly and not be misled by those with ulterior motives!”

The second son of the Feng family, who was a military officer, had already climbed to his feet. He grabbed Wei Juren’s official robe from behind and shouted, “The Crown Prince’s loyalty? And what about Liu Ceye? Was it not he who, like a cornered beast, killed His Highness in desperation just to protect the Crown Prince? Had the heavens not shown mercy, allowing us to discover His Highness’ whereabouts so quickly, his sinister scheme might have truly succeeded this time!”

“General Feng Er’s words are too arbitrary.” Li Cheng, a secretary of the East Palace who came with Wei Juren, hurriedly retorted.

“The person died in the Forbidden Garden. Prince Consort Pei hasn’t said anything yet, how can you conclude that it was the Crown Prince who did it?”

Although this sentence was short, it was full of meaning.

After hearing this, Cui Daosi could no longer hold back. He stepped forward angrily and shouted the other person’s name: “Li Cheng! It’s no secret that Prince Kang went to the Forbidden Garden yesterday to look for the Princess and Prince Consort. Everyone knows it! Even if Prince Consort really wanted to harm Prince Kang, why would he do it at this time? What’s your intention in saying this, I don’t need to say more, right? Your intention is so sinister that it is outrageous!”

Prince Kang died suddenly, who was the murderer? If one inferred from the conflict of interests, the biggest suspect was either the crown prince or the prince consort. Comparing the two, the crown prince seemed to be more suspicious. At this moment, Li Cheng’s words were of course to direct the disaster to the prince consort.

When Cui Daosi finished his rebuke, Li Cheng lowered his head in embarrassment. Soon, the people around him followed Cui Daosi’s lead and echoed him.

“Minister Cui’s words make sense. How could Prince Consort do such a thing?”

“Prince Consort has received His Majesty’s grace and married the Princess—he can hardly repay such boundless favor. To spew such reckless slander to this extent is truly insufferable! Utterly absurd!”

“The Dali Temple is already investigating. I believe the real culprit will be caught soon.”

Just as everyone was discussing in low voices, a Lieutenant from the East Palace’s guards hurried over from the palace gates and whispered a few words to Wei Juren and the others.

Wei Juren seemed a little hesitant and didn’t dare to speak immediately. However, Li Cheng, the secretary of the East Palace who had been suppressed by Cui Daosi’s words, suddenly straightened up, his spirit reignited. Without hesitation, he called out loudly: “A message has just arrived! This morning, all the commanders of the Sixteen Guards were summoned to stand by. The rest of them were all present, except for Ashina! Not only that, he has been missing since yesterday! If it were just one coincidence, it could be overlooked—but one after another? Where exactly has he gone? Could it be that he committed some great crime for someone and fled out of fear, or was he simply too late to return, so he missed the imperial edict this morning?

“Moreover! There are members of Ashina’s clan among the Forbidden Garden’s gatekeepers! It would be easy for him to enter and leave the Forbidden Garden to commit a crime!”

The outside of the hall fell silent again.

Ashina had no grudge against Prince Kang, but his relationship with Pei Xiaoyuan was known to everyone. If this foreign prince who had disappeared overnight was really related to Prince Kang’s sudden death, not only would the crown prince be able to clear his name, but it would also be impossible for Pei Xiaoyuan to get rid of the suspicion. No wonder Li Cheng was so excited and wouldn’t let Ashina go.

Cui Daosi’s heart sank. Feng Zhenping slowly raised his bloodstained face and stood up from the ground. His eyes flickered, full of hatred and suspicion, as if he hadn’t figured out how to respond yet.

His son gritted his teeth and glared at Wei Juren and the others with hatred. He turned his head to look in the direction of the palace gate. When he was about to turn around, his arm was suddenly grabbed by Feng Zhenping.

He kowtowed again towards the hall and pleaded loudly: “Your Majesty! I beg you to investigate! Please gives Prince Kang justice!”

An old palace eunuch with white hair and staggering steps slowly walked out of the hall.

Zhao Zhongfang announced in a hoarse voice: “Pass on His Majesty’s order to find Ashina as soon as possible!”

From morning till dusk, an entire day had passed. What began as a search led by Ashina’s direct superior, Zuowu Guard General Yang Qu, soon escalated. Yuan Zhi, Han Ke Rang, Fan Ximing—along with various other guards—were forced to temporarily set aside the search for Lu Wenjun and instead focus on tracking Ashina’s whereabouts. They scoured every possible location he might have visited or hide. From the dingy taverns of back alley he frequented to the lavish residences of Pingkang Lane, from the wild temples outside the city to the food shops in the West Market where his clansmen regularly gathered. Yuan Zhi even captured Ashina’s clansmen in the imperial army, the Jinzouyuan, and the various guards, and interrogated them about his whereabouts…

However, the person could not be found anywhere and no one knew where he had gone.

Pei Xiaoyuan knew very well what kind of debate had taken place around him in the morning.

In fact, from the moment he dug up Prince Kang’s body, he knew that he was bound to be involved in this matter. Not only that, but he also had a strange feeling in his heart. This was a keen intuition that could not be known to others.

He suppressed his doubts deep in his heart and never expressed them. Of course, to avoid suspicion, he did not join the search for Chengping. Moreover, Lu Wenjun was still missing. Chengping was important, but the unknown whereabouts of the county princess also made him anxious. And, as time went by, this anxiety became stronger.

In the evening, he led the team out of the Forbidden Garden and was continuing to search for people along the banks of the Wei River when a fast horse came from the direction of Chang’an.

It was Liu Bo who came and delivered Han Kerang’s message, asking him to rush to Qingyue Tower as Ashina might be inside.

Qingyue Tower was the most luxurious inn in Chang’an, located near the prosperous East Market. It was as famous as Chunfeng Tower where Pei Xiaoyuan was invited to a banquet when he first came to the capital. However, Chunfeng Tower was famous for its lavish banquets, while this place was famous for its luxurious residences. It was said that the furnishings in the building were comparable to those in the imperial palace. Of course, in addition to the high price, people of low status would not be allowed to stay even if they could afford it. Its usual costumers were either Chang’an nobles who spend a lot of money, or officials or wealthy guests from other places who come to the capital to enjoy themselves.

Pei Xiaoyuan rode his horse and arrived at Qingyue Tower at dusk, amid the sound of evening drums that echoed throughout the city. Led by the sad-looking innkeeper, he passed through a magnificent hall and turned to a garden with elegant decorations at the back. Han Kerang and Yuan Zhi both looked solemn, standing under a staircase painted with golden carvings, looking like they were waiting for him on purpose.

All other residents living in this courtyard tonight should have been driven away. At this moment, the entire building was brightly lit, with countless dazzling lanterns on each floor. However, except for the guards surrounding the dark and the entrance to the passage, there was not a single figure to be seen.

As soon as he saw him, Han Kerang called him to a secluded corner, stood still, and pointed to the highest floor above his head: “Ashina should be upstairs. They say that after nightfall yesterday, he arrived with a veiled woman—identity unknown. Since entering, he hasn’t stepped out, not even once. It’s been nearly a full day and night now. Even his meals have only been left outside the door.”

Han Kerang was not very interested in what kind of woman Chengping would bring here to have fun, merely mentioning it in passing. But after a brief hesitation, he lowered his voice further and added, “Prince Ashina is not yet a wanted criminal, but things have come to this point. If he can’t explain where he was when the crime happened yesterday, not to mention himself, I’m afraid even you…”

He looked at Pei Xiaoyuan with a worried look, then turned his head and glanced at Yuan Zhi’s figure not far away, and said in a lowered voice: “After I found out Ashina’s whereabouts, I didn’t want to let others know, but he came here so soon, almost at my heels, so I had to give up, but I insisted on calling you first. Fortunately, he should be afraid of the Princess and didn’t say no. When the time comes, if you and Ashina need to talk alone, I will try my best to delay him, so you two need to hurry!”

Pei Xiaoyuan thanked him in a low voice, and Han Kerang nodded slightly.

Although the possibility was not very high, Ashina was very skilled and fierce. If a conflict occurs, or even if he resists arrest, it would be troublesome.

He summoned a team of skilled guards, led them, and went upstairs first.

On the opposite side, Yuan Zhi also led a team of imperial guards and went up.

Pei Xiaoyuan looked up at the brocade window in the corridor above his head through which the light was faintly reflected, then lowered his head and followed them up to the magnificent building.

Dozens of people controlled the sound of their boots and silently stepped on the thick staircase, quickly climbed to the door of the bedroom on the top floor. The guards were distributed on both sides of the door.

At Han Kerang’s signal, a maid brought up from the building knocked on the door and said she was here to deliver food and drinks.

“Same as before! Just put it down! I’ll get it myself!”

After a moment, a lazy voice that Pei Xiaoyuan was very familiar with came from behind the door.

Pei Xiaoyuan couldn’t help but pinch his palms, feeling the calluses on his palms from holding swords prickling his fingers.

The maid followed his instructions and placed the food tray on a low table outside the door, then left. However, after waiting for a long time, for some reason, he never came to open the door to take the food.

Han Kerang and Yuan Zhi both turned their eyes to Pei Xiaoyuan.

He said, “Open the door! It’s me!”

The person inside the door seemed to be busy doing something. When hearing his voice, there was a brief pause before a response came: “Pei Er?”

“Yes! Open the door, I need to talk to you.” Pei Xiaoyuan said in a deep voice.

“Why is it you? I’m busy tonight, so it’s not convenient for us to meet. You go home first. I’ll find you when I return tomorrow.”

Chengping’s voice was obviously nonchalant, and it sounded like he really wouldn’t come out to open the door.

Han Kerang finally lost his patience at this point. He walked to the door, and under Pei Xiaoyuan’s gaze, he silently drew out the sword he carried with him, held it tightly. And then, unexpectedly, he raised his boot suddenly, and with a bang, kicked open the bolted door in front of him.

Accompanied by a scream of a young girl, Han Kerang, holding a sword, strode in with his men.

Facing him was a screen painted with gold. He shouted, “Ashina, I’m sorry! I came here carrying His Majesty’s order…”

“Ah—ah—”

Behind the screen, the girl’s screams continued.

Chengping was sitting on a large bed covered with a brocade quilt, with his hair disheveled and his bronze upper body exposed. The frightened girl lying beside him was also disheveled, with black hair and fair skin, her arms spread out, and on her jade neck, there were faint scars that looked like they were caused by biting or kissing.

“How dare you! Get out! Get out now!” When the panic subsided, a continuous screech came out of her mouth.

Accompanied by the sound of heavy boots hitting the ground, Han Kerang and others were about to turn around the screen.

Chengping pulled the quilt over, wrapped the girl in it, and quickly hid her under it.

After protecting her, he turned around with anger and shouted at the stunned Han Kerang and the others: “What the hell are you doing? Get out now!”

Not only Han Kerang, but also Pei Xiaoyuan, and even Yuan Zhi who was behind the screen at the moment, were all stunned.

Although Chengping moved very quickly and did not allow anyone to see the girl’s appearance clearly, but her voice and tone of voice…

It’s easy to remind people of someone.

That was County Princess Lu Wenjun, who everyone had been looking for nearly two days and one night.

Han Kerang finally recovered from his shock, feeling somewhat confused and embarrassed. After hesitating for a moment, he put away his sword, glanced at Pei Xiaoyuan, and signaled that he would take care of the rest. He then quickly led his men to retreat.

As for Yuan Zhi, he was already standing outside.

“I really didn’t expect…” Han Kerang muttered to himself, with a self-deprecation tone.

Yuan Zhi still looked at him expressionlessly.

Inside the door, Pei Xiaoyuan stopped behind the screen and waited.

Accompanied by the rustling sound of people getting dressed, Chengping walked around the screen barefoot and came in front of him.

“What’s going on? Why are you acting like this?”

“Is she the County Princess?” Pei Xiaoyuan asked in a low voice.

“Yes.” Chengping paused, then nodded in acknowledgment.

“Put on your clothes and send County Princess back immediately!”

Pei Xiaoyuan said.

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