Chapter 518: Transition

Chapter 518: Chapter 518: Transition

"Bang!"

The new tea table in Yang Lin’s study was smashed again, splintered all over the floor, and the tea set that was knocked down would also have to be replaced. The advisor beside him felt a pang of regret in his heart—that tea set was worth five thousand taels, just gone like that...

"Are you sure you didn’t see wrong?" Yang Lin’s anger eased a little after shattering the table. He wasn’t looking at the advisor, but at a Royal Guard who had brought the report.

"Yes, Prince, I saw it with my own eyes."

"Unbelievable! These civil servants are utterly shameless! How dare they make a fool of me like this!" Even though he tried to keep his voice down, the fury in his throat could not be concealed, so cold it carried a hint of killing intent.

The Guard looked somewhat uneasy, unsure if he had done meritorious service or incurred displeasure, lowering his head and standing silently, not daring to speak.

Yet the advisor beside Yang Lin, judging that Prince Shou was still too furious to think clearly, turned and asked the Royal Guard: "Describe in detail what happened at that time."

"Yes. At the time, that Deputy, Wang Yiming, was scribbling and drawing for a long time over a stack of documents, gesturing toward rooms. I was curious what he was doing. Later, at noon, a companion brought him tea with oil, and as he turned to take it, he soiled his clothes and went to the washbasin to clean up. The stack of documents was set on the table by him. I hurried over, flipped through a few pages, and saw what I just reported."

"Got his clothes dirty with oil tea, so went to wash?" The advisor slightly frowned, pondering a moment before asking, "How long did you look?"

"About five or six breaths in total. That Deputy, Wang Yiming, reacted quickly. He hadn’t even washed off all the oil tea when he remembered the documents and came back for them. Fortunately, I heard his footsteps and left in advance; otherwise, I’d have been caught red-handed." The Guard was certain he had acted swiftly and not been discovered.

However, the advisor was still not at ease, brow tightly furrowed: "Are you certain what you saw was a rubbing of the documents? And that it clearly bore the Ministry of Justice Major Case Department Chief Xue Gui’s personal signature?"

"Yes, I’m certain. Although the time was short, the rubbing was recognizable, and it was the kind of paper with the Xuanqing Guard watermark; the final signature was also very clear."

The advisor nodded wordlessly, then called someone from outside, ordering them to bring a copper rod—a routine warrant from last year issued by the Ministry of Justice to the Prince Mansion, with the closing signature of Chief of the Major Case Department, Xue Gui.

"Take a look at this and see if the signature matches the one you saw before."

The Guard carefully distinguished it, then nodded: "Exactly the same. I can’t be mistaken."

Then the advisor cupped his hands, indicating that the Guard could withdraw. The Guard glanced at Yang Lin, bowed, and retreated.

After that, the study fell into silence, only the gradually calming sound of Yang Lin’s breathing. Waiting until he regained his composure, Yang Lin sat down again and spoke: "What do you think? There is something odd about this."

"Prince, you also heard what the Guard just said. Unless he is lying, he did indeed see the preliminary case file of the Qin Xiuyuan case in the hands of the Xuanqing Guard.

According to previous information, the death of Qin Xiuyuan was investigated by the Ministry of Justice Major Case Department, with the Xuanqing Guard dispatching Deputy Thousand Households Shen Hao from Fengri City’s Black Banner Battalion to assist. So, the preliminary case file should have been drafted by Chief of the Major Case Department Xue Gui. Now that the Guard has identified Xue Gui’s signature, it gives credibility to what he saw."

Yang Lin shook his head, "My Guards cannot lie; they are absolutely loyal to the Royal Family." He paused, then continued, "So you think this is genuine? But why would the civil officials drag me into this? What’s in it for them? If they go back on their word so easily, which Prince would still draw near them? No matter who takes the throne in the end, what good could it do them?"

The advisor weighed his words before saying, "Prince, in truth, I too find it odd, but not because of why the Ministry of Justice would do so, but rather the Xuanqing Guard’s Deputy is suspicious. How could such a thing as a preliminary case file be left carelessly? Although he reacted quickly, it’s still hardly justifiable. The Black Banner Battalion is reputed to be the elite of the elite, and Shen Hao is known as a strict commander—would his men be so careless?"

"You mean this is a conspiracy orchestrated by the Xuanqing Guard? To sow discord between me and the Ministry of Justice?"

"I’m merely saying it’s possible. Otherwise, I don’t believe the Xuanqing Guard would make such a mistake."

"But what if you are wrong? Is there a chance the Ministry of Justice is preparing to drag me down with them?" Yang Lin did not like drawing conclusions lightly, especially when they sounded unpleasant to his ears. What do you mean, ’wouldn’t be so careless?’ In Yang Lin’s view, the Deputy’s actions were perfectly normal; in fact, it was the advisor who seemed to be overthinking.

In the end, between the advisor and his own Guard, Yang Lin instinctively chose to trust the ones absolutely loyal to him, not the advisor.

Still, Yang Lin’s question was valid—what if the advisor was wrong? Was it really impossible for the Ministry of Justice to drag him in?

One must know that once his name was put in the case file, a charge of ’harboring a fugitive’ would land squarely on his head. In these sensitive times, that was virtually fatal. Who knows what the Emperor would make of him once he bore such a stain, or what the surrounding powers waiting and watching would think.

It wouldn’t even take imperial censure. If Yang Lin were deemed ’unfavorable’ and lost outside support during his preparations, what right would he have to compete for the throne?

The advisor, however, had seen through it and continued: "Prince, what you said is indeed correct—under normal circumstances, neither the Ministry of Justice nor the civil officials would have reason to drag you down, as it does them no good." Then, his tone changed: "But, if the Xuanqing Guard is factored in, things become different."

Yang Lin’s brow furrowed deeply; he said nothing and let the advisor continue.

"The Xuanqing Guard is at odds with both you and the civil officials. This time, the Qin Xiuyuan case was supposed to be their most straightforward path to cleansing their own reputation, and it was simple—they only needed to capture Qin Xiuyuan and force him to admit that all the previous rumors were spread by the Qin family. That way, it would turn into mere ’slander and defamation,’ and the Ministry of Justice’s ’reckless killing of innocents’ could, at root, be chalked up to ’malicious intent.’ Moreover, the Xuanqing Guard never needs to explain its actions to the Ministry of Justice."

"Now that Qin Xiuyuan is dead, the Xuanqing Guard cannot clear its name, and they are bound to harbor resentment. They may even blame you, Prince, or the Ministry of Justice for Qin Xiuyuan’s death.

Thus, the Xuanqing Guard may be planning to discard its auxiliary role and thoroughly investigate Qin Xiuyuan’s death, which would inevitably drag you in, and at the same time impeach the Ministry of Justice for ’disregarding lives to curry favor with the Prince,’ thereby shifting blame back onto the Ministry of Justice..."

At this, Yang Lin also understood and interjected, "So, to avoid being on the defensive or threatened by the Xuanqing Guard, the Ministry of Justice might strike preemptively? Which would mean I become the collateral damage in their struggle?!"