When faced with the Chancellor's questioning, Vice-Chancellor Yu put on a nonchalant expression and smiled. "Milord, is there something wrong with this matter? The assassin did not have any bone vanishing powder with him when he was locked into the prison. It's evident that someone was trying to silence him, and not just anyone has the ability to kill someone in the prison without being discovered — the culprit must have someone impressive behind him."
"Then have you thought about the consequences? If the Emperor pursues this, we would both be implicated."
"Your subordinate receives a salary from the Imperial Court and is loyal to the Emperor. Naturally, I must report the truth. If I twist the truth in fear of implicating the Supreme Court, how would that be different from the actions of a traitor?"
Ah! Checkmate. Vice-Chancellor Yu had unequivocally won this confrontation with the Chancellor.
The Chancellor immediately asked, "According to what you said, are you implying that it is this official who's cowardly and intentionally hiding the truth?"
"Your subordinate doesn't dare. I only mean that one should carry out the duties of their office. As the Vice-Chancellor, I must report the truth without regard for either position or politics. Even if Milord has other reasons for concealing the truth, your subordinate has no intention of finding them out. If one's actions are just and manners are proper, then they have no need to fear ox demons or snake spirits haunting them." [1]
"You…" He gnashed his teeth together in anger.
Vice-Chancellor Yu remained stoic as he raised a brow and needled him, "In any case, the Emperor has ordered that there is no need to investigate, nor should a single word be leaked about the matter. Since that is the case, the entire Supreme Court would also not be implicated and Milord's personal interests… can be reassured."
It must be said that this Vice-Chancellor Yu was quite talented at irritating others.
The Chancellor's face was hideously twisted and his eyes bulged so much they almost popped out of their sockets. He slammed a hand on the desk. "Vice-Chancellor Yu, you better understand that my official rank is more senior and so is my position. You will never have the chance to get the better of me. Don't think that I will let you off regarding today's matter."
As he spat out this statement, he picked up the document he had flung onto the desk and left furiously.
Behind him, Vice-Chancellor Yu was still peacefully sitting at his spot, sipping his tea.
He wouldn't be afraid even if the sky fell down. It was Jing Yi and the Chancellor who should be scared.
After a moment, Judge Yu entered. "Father, what did you talk about with the Chancellor? I just saw him leaving in a rage."
Why don't you guess!
Vice-Chancellor Yu smiled and twisted the cup in his hand. "This move can be considered to complete the arrangement of the chessboard."
"Your son is a little confused."
"Just wait. A good show is upon us."
……
After the Chancellor left, he headed towards the Prince Yi Estate.
Jing Yi was practising with his sword in the courtyard. The long sword in his hands was like a white snake, hissing as it sliced through the air; it danced like a dragon around his green Court Robe. His steps were light but powerful, rising in sync with his sword as elegantly as swallows migrating southwards. Meandering arcs were inscribed in the air fleetingly, one after another.
The sword plucked leaves from the branches, sending them drifting to the ground, before twirling them up again as his figure leapt up into the air.
The Chancellor clearly recounted the proceedings, then stood to the side to wait for Jing Yi to finish his routine.
He took a cloth from the guard attending to him and polished that razor-sharp sword, wiping away every single speck of dust that it had picked up until it revealed its original lustre. Only then, did he sheath the sword back into its scabbard with satisfaction and passed it to his subordinate.
He then waved a hand casually. "All of you are dismissed." Every guard in the courtyard left.
Jing Yi walked into the pavilion and lifted his robes to sit down. He lifted the teapot to pour himself a cup of tea and took a sip.
The Chancellor followed him into the pavilion but only stood docile to the side without speaking. However, sweat drenched his back and fear clawed at his heart — after all, he had not accomplished what Prince Yi had assigned him.
After a moment, Jing Yi glanced at him. "Did anyone know when you came?
"No, Your subordinate was very careful."
"Hmph!"
He took the opportunity to explain frantically, "Your Highness, Vice-Chancellor Yu purposely damaged the carriage I used to enter the palace so that he could meet the Emperor before me, and reported that the assassin was killed by someone else. When I spoke to say that the assassin died of suicide instead, it was already difficult to explain the difference in our accounts. The Emperor was also suspicious then and almost charged me with the crime of aiding and abetting a criminal, so I could not say anything else."
Jing Yi's face remained stoic. "Vice-Chancellor Yu? I didn't expect that he was already Jing Rong's person. It's even more unexpected that Jing Rong has gotten the better of this prince."
"However, the Emperor has said that there's no need for further investigations and forbade this from being revealed to the public. I believe that there shouldn't be trouble."
Bam! The cup in Jing Yi's hand slammed onto the table. His expression was frighteningly icy and his eyes seemed to emit a penetrating chill, but it remained frustratingly inscrutable.
The Chancellor took a look and flinched. He couldn't help but take a step backwards and lower his head, avoiding that gaze.
The fingers around the cup tightened as Jing Yi inquired lightly, "Imperial Father stopped investigations?"
Strange. This was too bizarre!
He thought of something and asked the Chancellor, "What else did Imperial Father say when you were there?"
The Chancellor racked his memory. "When I went in, the Emperor's mood was terrible. I asked around after I came out and found that before Vice-Chancellor Yu went in, the Ministry of Personnel had sent in several petitions, all of them censuring Prince Rong for interfering with their affairs."
"The Ministry of Personnel censured Prince Rong?" He was surprised.
"From what I understood, that was indeed the case."
"The Ministry of Personnel recently had a new Minister take office, was he called Peng Yuanhai?"
"Yes, he took office half a month ago and succeeded the former Minister Qiao."
"Which faction does Peng Yuanhai belong to?" Jing Yi continued asking.
"I don't know. He is newly appointed." The Chancellor didn't understand the line of questioning.
Jing Yi pondered aloud. "Imperial Father is a suspicious person. Jing Rong's assassination is a major matter and that Vice-Chancellor Yu has upended my entire chessboard. At this time, the Ministry of Personnel just had to stick their foot in. There aren't many people who have the ability to kill someone without being detected within the Supreme Court prisons, so Imperial Father would certainly suspect that this prince is behind the assassination and silenced him before instigating the Ministry of Personnel to censure Prince Rong. All in all, it's disadvantageous for this prince."
Huh? The Chancellor wrinkled his brows. "But His Majesty said to stop investigations."
"It's exactly because Imperial Father said to stop investigations that it's frightening. The Ministry of Personnel clearly means to use this matter to bring disaster onto this prince. In just half a month, that Peng Yuanhai was able to replace the former Minister Qiao. Could the one behind him be Jing Rong?" Jing Yi's brows knitted together as he worried.
Could Peng Yuanhai be one of Jing Rong's people who took a gamble by censuring Jing Rong and used that to point the arrow at Jing Yi himself?
The next moment, he shook his head. "Impossible. Jing Rong doesn't have such capability. His arms are not long enough to grasp the entire Ministry of Personnel. But then who else could it be?" Once again, he sank deep into contemplation.
The Chancellor seemed to have finally understood a little of what was going on.
Jing Yi waved a hand towards him. "Enough, go back first. As for that Vice-Chancellor Yu, get rid of him when necessary."
"Yes, your subordinate understands." He left.
After that, Jing Yi summoned his personal guard Dou Quan and commanded, "Go investigate this Peng Yuanhai. This prince would like to see exactly who sabotaged this prince."
"Yes!" Dou Quan acquiesced.
Jing Yi continued, "Then send some people into the palace to inform Imperial Mother to make the necessary preparations."
"Yes!"
[1] Ox demons guard the gates of hell while snake spirits are generally regarded as evil.