Tigers Sniff the Rose - Chapter 115
Chapter 115
At the entrance of the Court of Judicial Review, the Chief Justice was just about to head out, sword in hand, when he was blocked at the courtyard gate by the Minister of Revenue.
The Minister of Revenue still maintained his usual leisurely air: "Where are you headed? I just acquired two taels of fine tea; why not stay and sample it with me?"
The Chief Justice struggled to suppress his impatience: "I have official business to attend to. If you want to drink tea, do as you please!"
The Minister of Revenue continued to block his path, refusing to let him pass: "What business can't wait for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea? I wonder what sort of urgent official business this is?"
The Chief Justice was burning with anxiety, yet he could hardly strike down this meddlesome old man: "There has been a murder in the street."
The Minister of Revenue replied: "I heard as well, but I also heard the Minister of Justice is on the scene and witnessed it himself. There is no need for you to join the fray."
The Chief Justice retorted: "Are you intentionally delaying the tasks the Crown Prince has ordered?"
The Minister of Revenue wore a mask of confusion: "The Crown Prince ordered you to do something? What task? It couldn't possibly be a murder case, could it? That is just a trivial matter of street violence; it shouldn't require your personal attention. Are you perhaps deceiving me, using the Crown Prince to pressure me?"
After the two men circled each other in verbal sparring for quite some time, the Chief Justice slowly calmed down.
He stared at the old man: "It seems the Minister will not let me leave. You are a third-rank official, and I am also a third-rank official. I wonder how exactly you intend to stop me?"
The Minister of Revenue said: "I am a Senior Third Rank, while you are a Junior Third Rank. Why be so irritable? We are colleagues; what is wrong with fostering our relationship?"
The Chief Justice let out a cold laugh and immediately gave an order to his men: "Men, on the charge of obstructing official business, please our Minister here to sit and have a cup of tea! Since the Minister is so eager to drink tea, he can drink to his heart's content. When I return from my business, I shall drink with him properly!"
With that, he straightened his attire, drew his sword, and strode out of the compound. He mounted his horse, signaled for his troops to follow, and the group galloped out of the Imperial City.
The Minister of Revenue sighed. Regardless, he still held his official title; even if he were left here to drink tea, no one would truly dare to touch him. He just didn't know if his position would still be worth anything by the time the Chief Justice returned...
The Minister of Revenue was not particularly fastidious. He good-naturedly allowed himself to be invited into the room for tea. As he picked at his finely chosen, long-leaf tea with great reluctance and aching heart, he gazed out at the cloudless sky.
He sighed inwardly: At least I bought some time. I wonder if this delay will be of any use for the events unfolding over there...
As long as the Ministry of Justice takes the man into custody and settles the matter swiftly, there will be no room for a reversal—
Yet, there was still room for a reversal.
Princess Danyang returned unexpectedly, leaving the Ministry of Justice officials who had come to arrest the Vice Minister of Revenue in a passive position.
Originally, the Ministry of Justice had intended to play a murky game, using other cases to drag the Vice Minister of Revenue inside. But now that Mu Wanyao had returned and personally confirmed that this was indeed the Vice Minister of Revenue... may one ask on what grounds the Ministry of Justice could imprison a high-ranking Fourth Rank official?
In the official system of Great Wei, aside from the first and second-rank honorary titles, the highest officials were only the third rank, followed by the fourth. Without an Imperial decree, on what basis could the Ministry of Justice imprison a high-ranking Fourth Rank official?
The Ministry of Justice was stuck in a stalemate, unable to close their eyes and claim to the Princess that the man was not the Vice Minister of Revenue, but merely a fugitive... that would be looking down on her too much. Just as the Ministry of Justice thought the mission was a failure, they did not expect that someone on Mu Wanyao’s side would turncoat—Yan Shang pressed his sword against the neck of the Vice Minister of Revenue.
Mu Wanyao cried: "Yan Shang, put down the sword!"
The one person she hated seeing turn against her was him.
Yan Shang gave her a light look, then looked away. He was like a jade statue devoid of emotion. If he had been troubled by personal feelings before, he had now reached a point of no return. If the Vice Minister of Revenue wasn't imprisoned, or at least not imprisoned immediately... how could this matter proceed?
If they didn't pry open the Vice Minister’s mouth, who would answer for the many lives lost in Yizhou?
Yan Shang didn't care if he made himself a laughingstock; he only feared that if this plan failed, no one would ever be able to move against these people in the Ministry of Revenue again. These people would never believe they were wrong; any small mistake would be covered up by people like the Princess... it was only the commoners who suffered and were sacrificed.
Yet, from their high positions, they could not see that those were human lives.
Human lives should not be this humble.
Facing the Ministry of Justice officials, Yan Shang said softly: "Dare I ask, my lords, if two officials come to blows in public, shouldn't both be taken into custody for investigation?"
The Ministry of Justice officials had shifty eyes: "But after all, he is a high-ranking Fourth Rank official..."
The implication was: Your rank is too low. If you brawl in the street with a Fourth Rank official, it is difficult to throw the official in jail.
Yan Shang said softly: "If a seventh-rank minor official is injured by a Fourth Rank official, does the law not punish him either?"
The eyes of the Ministry of Justice officials brightened slightly. Mu Wanyao realized what was happening and ordered Fang Tong to intervene, but none of them were as fast as Yan Shang. The Vice Minister of Revenue, who had been held hostage a moment ago, was caught in a daze as Yan Shang stuffed the sword from his own neck into the official's hand.
And the very next moment, the tip of the blade in the Vice Minister’s hand pressed against Yan Shang’s chest.
Fresh blood spilled out.
Mu Wanyao felt she was going mad: "Yan Shang!"
Yan Shang’s face was pale, his chin lifted slightly. He was still gripping the Vice Minister's hand, holding the sword together with him. The tip of the blade was dripping; that was Yan Shang’s own blood. To topple a high official, how could he spare his own body? The Ministry of Justice officials immediately called out, preparing to arrest both men.
Yan Shang had found them an excuse, and the Ministry of Justice men immediately said: "Forgive us, Your Highness! Both of these men are imperial officials, yet they engaged in a public brawl, and the Vice Minister even used a blade to injure the other. In reason and by law, both should be taken into custody..."
Mu Wanyao stared at the bloodstain on Yan Shang’s chest, which was growing deeper in color. Seeing the Ministry of Justice men moving in, she gave a look, and the Princess’s guards simultaneously drew their blades. The Ministry of Justice officials’ faces changed drastically. Mu Wanyao said with cold, stern eyes: "I have already notified the Court of Judicial Review; this case should rightfully be handed to them. Since these two brawled in front of my Princess Mansion and insulted my dignity, I will clarify this matter before handing them over to you."
The Ministry of Justice officials were shocked: The Court of Judicial Review? How could the Princess have reacted so quickly to call them?
The Princess was breaking ties with them. This was using power to suppress them, using authority to force them, not even bothering with a pretense!
Time waited for no one. The Ministry of Justice side gritted their teeth: "The Princess is obstructing official business; we need not show restraint! Attack!"—
The groups remained deadlocked in front of the Princess Mansion. The Ministry of Justice men pressed toward the Princess Mansion, and as both sides were on the verge of fighting, the savior from the Court of Judicial Review had still not arrived.
The Vice Minister of Revenue suddenly let out a low chuckle: "So that’s how it is."
He finally understood Yan Shang’s plan, finally understood that he was destined to be imprisoned today, and what awaited him if he went to jail.
The Vice Minister of Revenue stepped back, and Yan Shang kept his eyes fixed on him. But the moment Yan Shang moved to follow, Fang Tong pressed him down. Obeying the Princess’s order, Fang Tong made sure Yan Shang had no further mobility. Unable to stop him, Yan Shang watched helplessly as the Vice Minister retreated five paces.
The Vice Minister still held the sword in his hand.
The Ministry of Justice men also stared at him: "He’s trying to escape! Everyone, be careful, don't let him get away!"
The Vice Minister was amused: "Escape? You low-ranking clerks, you look down on me too much!"
He had no intention of escaping at all.
Stepping back five paces, he faced the Princess’s direction, and with a thud, the Vice Minister of Revenue knelt down and kowtowed to Mu Wanyao.
Mu Wanyao’s face turned pale.
She said with difficulty: "Get up! With me here, today you shall not enter the Ministry of Justice prison!"
The Vice Minister of Revenue looked at the Princess with deep emotion, gave a self-deprecating smile, and then faced Yan Shang, his eyes turning icy cold.
Kneeling on the ground, the Vice Minister said: "Second Master Yan, this trick of 'throwing a brick to attract jade' is quite good. That Zhang the Eleventh, he was just a lure. It turns out that the person you really wanted to send to prison was me. And who do you think you are?
"You are merely someone chasing fame, hoping to use me to achieve a good reputation for yourself. 'Speaking for the people'! What a glorious reputation! But what have I done wrong? Was the Yizhou affair masterminded by me? Wasn't it I who sent you to provide disaster relief? The exchange of money in officialdom is common; what is wrong with that?
"You are so arrogant, so inflexible, and you have forced me and the Princess to this point! You caused my cousin’s death, yet you don’t feel it’s enough. You must see me fall as well, right? I was also working for the people. If it weren't for the Ministry of Revenue, if it weren't for my mediation, who knows what condition Yizhou would be in today! By pushing people like this, you are nothing but a 'cruel official'! How could you ever leave a name in history!"
No one treated the wounds on Yan Shang’s body.
Because of the blood loss, his face was turning pale. Held down by Fang Tong, facing Mu Wanyao’s hateful gaze, where could he find any comfort?
The Vice Minister questioned him, and Yan Shang looked over with dark, deep eyes. Staring at the other man’s powerful rhetoric, a touch of chill rose in Yan Shang’s eyes.
Yan Shang said softly: "I have no use for the words 'speaking for the people,' and you are not worthy of mentioning them. If I were after a good reputation, I wouldn't have returned to the capital with the Princess today. Do you have the face to speak of working for the people? Seventy-two lives in Yizhou, or perhaps more... You say you’ve done nothing wrong, then I ask you, what did the common people of the world do wrong? What did the people you deceived do wrong? Did they deserve this?
"You merely took some money, while they paid with their very lives.
"When I went to Yizhou to investigate the case, I moved more than just officials. There were merchants colluding with the bureaucracy, powerful clans buying grain from those merchants, commoners forced into the mountains to become bandits... everyone, what did they do wrong?
"Did they deserve to have such officials? Did they deserve to suffer like this? Did they deserve for not a single person to speak a word for them?
"I am not worthy to say I speak for the people, and you are even less worthy to use that to question me."
Though his voice was quiet, it was thunderous.
The Vice Minister of Revenue’s face turned from blue to white; he finally knew he could not out-argue Yan Shang. He left only one last cold sentence: "Second Master Yan, a word of advice: there are so many smart people in this world. Don't think you can truly control the situation and that no one can turn the tables."
Yan Shang felt an immediate, ominous premonition.
The Vice Minister no longer wasted words with him but turned toward Mu Wanyao. Seeing that she was stunned, he bowed once more—
"Your Highness!
"Second Master Yan wishes to use me to achieve his name as a man of virtue, to harm the Princess’s reputation, and to damage the Crown Prince’s honor... Your servant has followed you since you were young, and the Heir Apparent entrusted you to me. It was I who took the wrong path and failed to fulfill my duties as a loyal subject.
"I failed to manage my subordinates well, and I failed to restrain Yan Shang. But this Yan Er is a man who covets fame; I cannot bear to see Your Highness suffer his diabolical words! I must warn Your Highness to be vigilant and never trust him!
"I have taken the wrong path, causing Your Highness to be trapped in a dilemma, and yet still be threatened by such a petty man! I am filled with guilt and cannot bear for Your Highness to be held hostage by him. I... I offer my death to repent for my sins!"
Mu Wanyao cried: "You—"
It was finally a step too late.
No one possessed the resolve of the Vice Minister of Revenue. As he spoke, he held the blade, looked at the Princess one last time with tear-filled eyes, and committed suicide on the spot. No one could stop him!
He would rather die than enter prison, would rather die than confess.
He would rather die than let Yan Shang’s plan move forward!
He had seen through Yan Shang’s thoughts and immediately used his death to break the situation, forcing today's events into a dead end!
Yan Shang’s face was pale. He watched as Mu Wanyao let out a shrill cry, pushed through the crowd, and stumbled toward the Vice Minister’s body, kneeling beside it. She held the Vice Minister’s hand, but no matter what, she could not wake him. Mu Wanyao looked up, glaring at Yan Shang with hatred and anger, and Yan Shang’s face turned even paler.
She had been pushed step by step into a dead end, and now her most capable subordinate was dead! She looked at him as if he were an enemy.
Her gaze was like a knife carving into his heart, dripping blood with every inch.
Mu Wanyao’s voice was hoarse: "Are you satisfied, then?
"You pushed me into a dead end, are you satisfied?!"
"Blocking the path in front, killing in the back... Yan Shang, do you think no one knows your methods!"
Yan Shang’s lips trembled, his eyes rimmed with red. He stood stiffly under the scorching sun, his lips ghastly white, the collar of his shirt stained even redder by his blood. Yet he, too, had been pushed into a dead end by the Vice Minister—
The Vice Minister of Revenue was dead!
He never confessed!
Yan Shang had lost after all!—
The men from the Court of Judicial Review arrived fashionably late, confronting the Ministry of Justice officials in the crowded alley.
Mu Wanyao knelt by the corpse, watching the Vice Minister with deep grief. Her mind was filled with rage and heartache, but shouldn't this game be over now?
If the Court of Judicial Review were here, what crimes could the Ministry of Justice still prosecute? Could the ridiculous case of Zhang the Eleventh really make the Princess Mansion pay the price?
The Ministry of Justice officials looked embarrassed, knowing that with the death of the Vice Minister, they had lost this round. They were about to retreat, waiting for the Princess to settle scores with them later, when they heard a very soft voice: "It is not over yet."
Mu Wanyao was furious: "What else do you want to do!"
That soft voice came from Yan Shang.
As if he were undying and unbreakable, he would not let go of this, no matter what.
They had come this far; there was no turning back... If he turned back, Mu Wanyao would blame him; if he moved forward, Mu Wanyao would still blame him... there was nowhere left to retreat!
Fang Tong held Yan Shang, and Yan Shang’s body swayed slightly. He took two steps forward, his wide robes billowing in the wind. He knelt down, though it was unclear who he was facing.
Yan Shang bowed his head and said softly: "I want to reopen the case."
The men from the Ministry of Justice did not understand: "Reopen what case?"
What case was there to reopen?
Yan Shang raised his face and looked toward Mu Wanyao, but she turned her head away, refusing to look at him. He watched her quietly, with immense grief, his voice ethereal: "In my previous memorial, I stated that the Yizhou disaster was the fault of the Yizhou Governor alone. I now want to retract what I said that day.
"The disaster in Yizhou was not the fault of the Governor alone; it was the result of collusion between all the officials of Yizhou and the Ministry of Revenue in Chang'an... The Ministry of Revenue is not clean. I spent months in the Ministry, and I know what it is like. The entire Ministry is a pool of stagnant, murky water; no one is innocent."
The faces of the Ministry of Justice officials turned deathly pale.
The Chief Justice’s face changed dramatically.
Mu Wanyao suddenly lifted her head, looking at him.
The Chief Justice said threateningly: "Second Master Yan, you must realize what you are saying. As an imperial official, claiming that what you wrote in your memorial was wrong, seeking to overturn your own report... even the Censorate will not forgive you! Do you really intend to do this?"
Yan Shang’s lips trembled, but he did not speak.
The Chief Justice’s face went cold: "You are accusing the entire Ministry of Revenue as a single individual. Do you have evidence?"
Yan Shang said softly: "Am I not the human evidence?"
The leader of the Ministry of Justice officials began to feel uneasy, feeling that this was not what had been agreed upon. Before arriving, no one had expected Yan Shang to play such a massive gamble—even he, who had been eager to watch the Crown Prince and the Ministry of Revenue suffer, could not help but warn: "Accusing so many officials and overturning your own previous report is an admission that you covered for them, an admission that you were complicit... Second Master Yan, regardless of the others, the law must punish you first.
"Only if you are clean can you accuse others. The crimes you committed, whether it be shielding or collusion... in the Ministry of Justice, that requires harsh interrogation."
The Chief Justice said coldly: "At the Court of Judicial Review, it also requires harsh interrogation."
Yan Shang said softly: "Yes, I know. I confess. I submit to the law. I accept all my crimes... I only ask that the crimes of others not be overlooked!"—
Yan Shang was taken away by the Ministry of Justice.
The Court of Judicial Review had been caught off guard by this situation. To avoid suspicion, they could only watch as Yan Shang was taken away. Afterward, the Chief Justice hurriedly went to the palace to consult with the Crown Prince. Immediately following, Mu Wanyao also entered the palace to discuss the current situation with the Prince in greater detail.
With Yan Shang’s imprisonment, he would not escape with his life, or at least half of it, under such severe interrogation.
In less than half a day, memorials impeaching the Ministry of Revenue and Yan Shang flew onto the Crown Prince’s desk.
Under the dim candlelight, the Crown Prince threw the memorials at Mu Wanyao, gnashing his teeth: "What a fine dog you raised! He turned around and bit us! Yaoyao, this bite really hurts!"
Mu Wanyao closed her eyes, letting the papers hit her. When she opened them, her face was deathly white, but her voice was calm: "What good does it do to blame those things? What matters now is protecting the Ministry of Revenue."
The Crown Prince laughed mockingly: "Protect? How do you protect it? Just wait and see, starting tomorrow, all the officials will come to impeach us! The matter has blown up, and even our father, who never handles affairs, will investigate! We can hardly protect ourselves!"
Mu Wanyao stood up abruptly, her voice filled with suppressed fury: "We must protect it regardless! Should we just concede? Are we not going to struggle at all? Are our wings to be clipped just like that? Regardless of what Eldest Brother thinks, I will not watch my power be torn down by others!"
She turned and strode out of the hall.
The Crown Prince stared at her back, finally confirming that Mu Wanyao was still on his side.
The Crown Prince said softly: "Little sister, the layer of skin we are losing this time is all because of Yan Shang. I want Yan Shang to die; you don't mind, do you?"
With her back to the Crown Prince, Mu Wanyao’s face was as pale as paper.
Her expression was empty.
She was like a hollow puppet.
But she braced herself, turned back, and answered the Crown Prince: "...I don't mind."——
After all, it had been said long ago.
Each by their own means.
After all, she had warned him when she first started getting close to Yan Shang.
After all, she had said long ago—
If you stand on a different side than me, I will kill you—
How could that be wrong?
Could it be that Yan Shang was right, and were they just supposed to be suppressed?
What wrong had she done to know Yan Shang, to introduce him to this path, and to end up in a situation where she was surrounded by enemies—
The Crown Prince and Mu Wanyao’s concerns were not wrong.
Yan Shang was subjected to harsh interrogation in the Ministry of Justice prison, barely clinging to life. By the next day, he had formally accused all the officials of the Ministry of Revenue.
The Censorate and various officials continued their endless barrage of impeachment memorials.
Some impeached the Ministry of Revenue, others impeached Yan Shang... it was a situation of mutual destruction, a lose-lose for everyone.
Yan Shang had pushed the situation to such a tragic end that even if the Crown Prince’s Ministry of Revenue power collapsed, Yan Shang himself would likely not survive the prison. The Crown Prince had united too many people, focusing on the crime of Yan Shang overturning his own case, claiming he was unfit for office, a fickle man, and that a man who lied in his memorials had not a single word of truth in his mouth... his accusations could not be trusted!
Others said they were all birds of a feather; the Crown Prince must be investigated, and Princess Danyang, a mere princess, should also be investigated and banned from participating in politics! All these disasters were caused by the Emperor’s leniency toward his children.
The ministers allied with Mu Wanyao also tried their best to explain the innocence of the Ministry of Revenue.
Yet, some officials also argued that Yan Shang represented the spirit of a true scholar, a man who feared no power and should be shown leniency—first investigate the Ministry of Revenue, then reward Yan Shang. But such voices were weak and failed to gain momentum.
In the chaos, even the Secretariat intervened.
Minister Liu spoke resoundingly in court, spraying all the ministers with his saliva, and blocked those with ill intent who wanted to execute Yan Shang. But although Minister Liu drove them back with his tirade, he knew it was only a temporary momentum that made them hard to speak... these people still wanted Yan Shang dead.
Because Yan Shang had torn open a hole in officialdom that everyone knew to ignore.
He not only ripped open the corruption of the Ministry of Revenue, he made every official fear for himself, afraid that if they could not bring Yan Shang down, they would one day encounter someone like him who would strip them of their own skin...
The Emperor had been in better spirits lately, and because the situation was unique, it was no longer suitable for the Crown Prince to oversee the court... The Emperor attended the morning court today.
Listening to the righteous indignation below, the Emperor’s face remained calm.
Finally, the Emperor temporarily relieved the Crown Prince of his duties, ordered the Court of Judicial Review and the Ministry of Justice to investigate the matters of Yan Shang and the Ministry of Revenue together, and tasked the Secretariat to oversee the matter with the Censorate.
This was a major case before the end of the year. The Emperor decreed that the Secretariat was to uncover everything, and anyone found engaging in favoritism would be removed from office and investigated—
Liu Wenji, as a palace eunuch, had the good fortune to participate in court affairs. But his face was blue and white, and from start to finish, he could not get a word in.
Moreover, he did not know the Emperor’s attitude.
He only heard that this matter had been sparked by Zhang the Eleventh molesting a courtesan, and now, including that courtesan, everyone had been thrown into the Ministry of Justice prison. And unsurprisingly, Zhang the Eleventh would likely die in this case.
Liu Wenji felt utterly bewildered.
He did not expect that Yan Shang would choose this move as his opening... He had the Censorate impeach himself, keeping himself overwhelmed. At the very end, at the start, he had used Zhang the Eleventh as a pawn—to avenge himself?
It was as if he had been struck by a blunt object.
Liu Wenji was deeply ashamed, fearing that Yan Shang would die in this affair. If Yan Shang died in prison, had he played a part in it?
Listening to those ministers, the attitude of eighty percent of them was that the Ministry of Revenue might be guilty, but it hadn't been proven yet; however, Yan Shang was already guilty. They even hoped Yan Shang’s crimes were capital ones, and that it would be best to behead him immediately.
These ministers usually had a decent relationship with Yan Shang, but once the real fight began, no one held back.
Then... the Emperor’s attitude was extremely important.
Because the remaining twenty percent were watching, waiting to see if the Emperor would protect the man.
To say nothing of those ministers, even Liu Wenji, who served the Emperor daily, could not guess if the Emperor would protect him.
Liu Wenji could only use his chances to serve the Emperor to carefully suggest: "...The voices in the court are too one-sided, perhaps they are just afraid of Second Master Yan. But this precisely shows that Second Master Yan is right..."
The Emperor glanced at Liu Wenji indifferently and suddenly said: "Because Yan Shang is your fellow countryman, and that Zhang the Eleventh crippled you, is that why you speak for Yan Shang?"
Liu Wenji was startled, then knelt: "Your Majesty, your servant would never dare to put personal affairs before public duty! Second Master Yan did the right thing, that is why your servant speaks for him..."
Liu Wenji was not surprised that his background was known to the Emperor. Since the Emperor employed him, how could he not have investigated him?
The Emperor must know that Liu Wenji had no backing from any faction; even though Liu Wenji had been sent into the palace by the Princess, he had never walked the same path as her... Liu Wenji could only rely on the Emperor; all his power was granted by the Emperor, which was the only way the Emperor could feel secure using a eunuch like him.
The Emperor laughed softly and said gently: "Get up, I am not blaming you."
The Emperor looked thoughtful: "I thought the Yizhou incident last time was over, I didn't think they could go this far... Yan Shuchen, I truly did not misjudge you."
Liu Wenji’s heart stirred: "Does Your Majesty intend to protect him?"
The Emperor smiled coldly.
The Emperor said slowly: "Let us see. Let us see what they all think, let us see how far these ministers go... Wenji, I have been thinking lately, if there are strong ministers and a weak Emperor, but the ministers are tough and dedicated to the public good, perhaps this world can transition a while longer?"
Liu Wenji was stunned.
He thought to himself, is the Emperor’s body really unable to hold out?
But looking at the princes now... he said cautiously: "The princes have their own strengths. Overall, it is still the Crown Prince who holds the most power. But the Crown Prince this time... perhaps he was wrong."
The Emperor was noncommittal.
He murmured: "I hope he can wake up."——
However, the path is walked by others. The Emperor had no interest in his own sons, so he simply watched and said nothing—
"Grandfather! Grandfather!"
When Minister Liu returned from court, despite it being the depths of winter, he was drenched in sweat, showing how troublesome recent court affairs were. He walked in with his hands behind his back, and just as he entered the gate, he was chased by Liu Ruozhu.
Liu Ruozhu stamped her feet, chasing him to the door of his study, and said nervously: "Grandfather, I heard about the major case in court... will Second Brother Yan be alright? Grandfather, you will protect Second Brother Yan, right? Second Brother Yan did nothing wrong!"
Minister Liu sighed.
He said: "This time, he touched the interests of too many people... I did not expect him to be this tough, this reckless. If I had known he would do this, when he came to ask me before, I shouldn't have said anything about 'accomplishing great things while sparing oneself.' This isn't failing to spare himself; he has already abandoned all concern for his own safety."
Liu Ruozhu was flustered.
She didn't believe others, but her grandfather said the same, showing just how difficult Yan Shang’s situation was.
Liu Ruozhu: "But he is right! We all know he is right! Why are there no ministers speaking for him? Why has no one stood up to support him? Is it because Second Brother Yan is alone and has no power behind him... but as long as it is the right thing, there should always be someone to support it."
Minister Liu said: "The smart ones now are all waiting... waiting to see the Emperor’s attitude."
He gave a bitter smile: "However, our Emperor... is he not also waiting to see us? Our Emperor is the one who least likes to interfere forcibly. We have reached this point, and even I don't know if the Emperor intends to protect the Crown Prince or Shuchen. I can only act impartially according to the law..."
Liu Ruozhu sighed in relief: "Acting impartially is good enough. I believe Grandfather and the others will sort it out... I went out today, and when the people talked about this, they all said Second Brother Yan was right. The people support Second Brother Yan."
Her eyes were radiant, trying hard to suppress her anxiety: "The hearts of the people are with Second Brother Yan; it will surely be like last time with the head of the Zheng clan, Second Brother Yan will gain the support of the people..."
Minister Liu said coldly: "Last time he gained not the hearts of the people, but the support of the scholarly clans. This time, he has turned against the clans. Although we are all unwilling to admit it, however... the voice of the great families is the loudest. Aside from sympathy, can the people go to the throne to beg for justice?
"And I fear if such a scene really happens... the Crown Prince will only call Shuchen a fame-chaser even more.
"He still wants Shuchen dead."
Liu Ruozhu was stunned, the radiance in her eyes dimming. She actually knew this in her heart; she just hoped Second Brother Yan would have a good ending... Her eyes filled with tears, and she said: "Then what can be done? Is there no one who can save Second Brother Yan? Can’t you save him, Grandfather?
"And the Princess... Princess Danyang, she has abandoned Second Brother Yan, right?"
Minister Liu smiled bitterly.
He said: "If Princess Danyang didn't hate him enough to kill him herself, I would have thought their past feelings were actually good."
Liu Ruozhu was tearful. After a long while, she said: "Then... can I go see Second Brother Yan?"
Minister Liu shook his head: "The Ministry of Justice prison is not a place for ordinary people to enter. Besides, what can you do if you go?"
Liu Ruozhu: "I... I at least want Second Brother Yan to know that the people's voices are with him. That they support him. He doesn't have to doubt it. Even if all the officials want him dead, there are people—people who know he is right. It is just that since ancient times, those who moved the interests of others have always faced such hardships.
"I hope he doesn't give up hope, doesn't despair."
As she spoke, she choked up, standing in the twilight, crying until she could no longer speak.
Minister Liu turned back to look at her, seeing his granddaughter weeping uncontrollably, wiping away tears again and again. He had always taught his granddaughter about justice, love, and national affairs... However, at this moment, Minister Liu felt a sense of relief—it turned out he had raised his granddaughter so well.
Liu Ruozhu bit her lip and suddenly said stubbornly: "I, I must let Second Brother Yan hear the people’s voices... I don't care how the court thinks of him; I just hope to use my own strength to let him know that in this world, there are people who can understand him."
Minister Liu said: "...Good child.
"You are all good children.
"...If so, how can I not give my all to protect you?"——
Ministry of Justice prison, dark, gloomy, and damp.
Yan Shang awoke groggily, awakened by the pain of the lashes on his back. Entering the prison this time was completely different from the last. The daily interrogations were no longer mere formalities. Every question was accompanied by harsh punishment.
Every day and every night, time lost all meaning. Yan Shang clung to his life, knowing that those people must want him to die under interrogation, so he could not die—at least he had to see a good result before he would be willing to face death.
Waking up in pain in the middle of the night, Yan Shang saw the dim light of a candle when he opened his eyes.
Where he was held, no one would ever light a candle. Yan Shang rested his hands on the straw and looked up; he saw Mu Wanyao sitting on the opposite side, leaning against the wall, looking down at him.
Yan Shang stared blankly at her.
Mu Wanyao watched his haggard appearance. Through his inner garment, she could vaguely see bloodstains on his white clothes, yet she acted as if she did not see them.
Mu Wanyao said softly: "You have ruined me."
Yan Shang looked at her as if in a dream and reached out a hand toward her: "Yaoyao..."
Mu Wanyao sat against the wall and did not come over. She said coldly: "Yan Shang, I have come to break with you. We are finished."
He did not speak, just watched her like that.
Mu Wanyao dared not look at him more, fearing that if she looked at him one more time, she would soften. But what right did she have to soften now?
After a long time, Yan Shang whispered: "Alright."
Mu Wanyao was silent for a moment, then suddenly mocked herself: "Alright?
"Because you think you are about to die, and you don't want to implicate me, so you say 'alright'?"
She suddenly stood up, a surge of anger filling her entire being. She knelt in front of him in a few steps, grabbed his shoulders, made him look up at her, and said with intense agitation: "You are on the verge of death, and you still want to be a 'good person'?! Is being a good person that important? Are the common people that important?
"Why... why won't you just bow your head! Why... even now, you won't bow your head!
"The Crown Prince told me to come find you, saying that as long as you bow your head, he can spare your life... but I knew you wouldn't bow your head, yet I still came... I feel... you make me feel that I am watching you walk toward death! It was clearly you who forced everyone toward death, yet now, you want me to watch you die first!
"Everyone wants you dead! Everyone wants you dead! Do you know! Do you know!"
As she spoke, her eyes turned completely red; as she spoke, she felt immense despair; as she spoke, tears rolled down.
Yan Shang looked at her, his heart filled with sorrow.
He said one sentence.
Mu Wanyao: "What."
Yan Shang said: "It should be that you don't want me. Because I am so bad, I am not worthy of you."
He slowly reached out to embrace her shoulders and whispered: "It is my fault. It is my lack of ability to protect you, my naivety in not knowing how to bide my time, my insistence on opposing everyone... but, I have no choice. I cannot pass the test of my own conscience; I cannot do it.
"I cannot know that so many have died and still act as if I don't know, only strengthening my own forces, only enduring. I cannot endure it... things like this, no matter how many years it takes, as long as I come out and confess, I will have to die. Since ancient times, how many like me, no matter how well they prepare, can survive?
"Just be a high and mighty princess, abandon me, forget me, hate me."