Chapter 688: Intent

Chapter 688: Chapter 688: Intent

The Emperor had already been sitting in silence for a full half an hour. The aura around him was somewhat chaotic; though his eyes were closed, his expression shifted now and then from a faint smile to a grimace, until finally it melted into a long, drawn-out sigh.

"I expected this. I thought I’d be able to handle it calmly, but in the end my heart still aches terribly. Second Son always liked to compete for first place since he was a child, and now his wish has come true. Out of the seven, he’s the first to fall. Ah, it’s not a taste anyone can easily bear."

The Emperor seemed to be mocking himself, yet at the same time he was confessing his sorrows.

None of the eunuchs around dared respond. Only Yang Xiusheng, who tended to the Emperor, found the nerve to speak: "So you’re convinced it was one of the other brothers who killed Yang Ye?"

"What other possibility is there? You’ve been through it yourself, Uncle—when the Royal brothers stand the Major Examination, is there any brotherhood left then?" The Emperor’s voice quivered slightly, but he quickly regained his composure. Only, when his eyes opened again, there was a clear trace of sorrow within them.

One son was dead, and there would be more who would die in the days ahead. The Emperor had overestimated the hardness of his own heart. To watch—and even help orchestrate—this fratricidal carnage was a pain no outsider could truly grasp.

Brothers? Before ascending the throne, anyone standing in the way is an enemy—there are no brothers at all. Life and death struggle: any means will be used. Only after sitting on the throne does one finally have the leisure and the right, at the cost of so many lives, to look back and light a stick of incense for the losers as a tribute to their passing.

"According to the Ministry of Justice Major Case Department, Prince Qian should have died from some indirect method targeting the soul. They want people from Fenghong Manor to come assist and give some advice concerning such soul techniques." Yang Xiusheng sighed as well, though he wasn’t worried whether the Emperor could come to terms with it or not—a man whose heart is not ruthless cannot become Emperor.

The Emperor had been mentally prepared for Prince Qian’s death. In truth, he was prepared for the death of any prince; the only difference was who would go first and who would go last. In the end, the goal was for the final survivor to become Crown Prince and claim the Jingjiu Dynasty’s throne.

But the officials below would not slacken in their investigation of this catastrophic case simply because the Emperor could "accept" the death of a prince. Minister of Justice Ma Xuanlin had already sent three memorials offering to resign and apologize. Left Minister Ye Lansheng also tried twice to seek audience. Yet each time, the Emperor refused to see them.

What’s the point of seeing these ministers now that the prince is dead? To assign blame? Neither Ma Xuanlin nor Ye Lansheng were good men; it was still too soon, so best let them jump around for a couple more days. In the future he would tidy them up all at once anyway.

But Fenghong Manor was another matter. The Golden Sword Cultivators were the Royal Family’s greatest support. Before the new Emperor appeared, Golden Sword Cultivators should not involve themselves in affairs that might be seen as "taking sides"—even if it was to assist the Ministry of Justice in investigating a case.

So the Emperor waved his hand and said, "Uncle, it’s best your Fenghong Manor doesn’t get involved in this matter. It’s not appropriate."

"Hm? What do you mean by that?"

"The Ministry of Justice mainly deals with ordinary cases, those unrelated to cultivators. Now that the Major Case Department believes someone used a profound soul technique to kill Ye’er, and the Ministry of Justice lacks the means to cope, they should find another government office that specializes in such cases. It’s just not right for Fenghong Manor to get involved at this time."

"You mean the Xuanqing Guard?"

"Exactly. The very purpose of establishing the Xuanqing Guard was to eradicate treachery and evil, to uphold the righteous path. When it comes to matters involving cultivators, no government office like the Ministry of Justice can compare. Special affairs should be handled by special offices. It’s logical."

Yang Xiusheng nodded at these words. As for whether it was truly "logical," that wasn’t his place to comment. So long as the Emperor had his plan. Just now, he’d only brought up the request from the Major Case Department to Fenghong Manor on the off chance the Emperor wanted their help.

The Emperor raised his hand, and a nearby eunuch hurried over in small shuffling steps, head bowed, attentive.

"Go inform the Major Case Department: if they cannot solve it, seek the Xuanqing Guard’s assistance. Fenghong Manor is not at their disposal for investigations. Also, have them return Prince Qian’s corpse. The Royal Family will lay him to rest according to the rites.

And... let Prince Jing out.

Instruct Pang Ban—I want him to put all his effort into this investigation."

The eunuch, not daring to say a word, accepted the order and hastily went off to relay the message. Meanwhile, Yang Xiusheng watched the Emperor with some surprise, but held his tongue. Naturally, the Emperor had no intention of explaining further to Yang Xiusheng.

As for the two men who received the orders in the palace, they were both left utterly stunned.

Xue Gui’s intention had been to seek the insight of the Golden Sword Cultivators in hopes of quickly finding a breakthrough in the case. He had also calculated that the Golden Sword Cultivators would not steal the credit. But now, to his surprise, the Emperor had simply tossed the matter over to the Xuanqing Guard. And judging by the Emperor’s words, if the Xuanqing Guard weren’t brought in, the entire case might outright be handed over to them?!

Pang Ban, upon receiving the writ, felt as if he’d been struck hard across the forehead. He had meant to keep his hands clean; and when he’d heard Prince Wen Qian had died unexpectedly in the Celestial Prison, he’d ordered all his subordinates to keep a low profile, not wanting anyone to attract attention at such a critical moment. He never imagined the Emperor would directly throw the case into the Xuanqing Guard’s lap.

What was His Majesty planning?

Many others had the same question. Anyone who heard the news understood Prince Qian’s death would not be left unsettled; the government offices dragged into it were bound to be forced to give an explanation. But no one expected it’d be the Xuanqing Guard.

Yang Shu, who was currently in Jingxi, was also discussing with his strategists what this meant—for no one could say whether, in the near future, they too would be dragged into such a matter.

"Speak your thoughts: why would the Imperial Father toss Second Brother’s case to the Xuanqing Guard? At this moment, involving the Xuanqing Guard—what is he after? Is he really seeking the truth?" Yang Shu paced the room, unable to hide his anxiety.

Perhaps out of blood instinct, though he’d never been close with his second brother, now that he was dead, Yang Shu felt no relief, only a strange agitation, like a wolf that had just seen another of its kind fall violently dead, a cold light burning in his eyes.

The several guest elders and strategists sat on edge, as if on pins and needles. They’d steeled themselves for the bloodshed of the Royal Family’s "Major Examination," but now that it had truly come to them, they could not help but be a little dazed. Still, as strategists, it was their duty to keep calm and analyze the situation after a brief pause.

"Prince. This, too, should be part of the ’Major Examination.’"

"What? The Xuanqing Guard has always been neutral. Pang Ban previously used Jiang Cheng’s ’private vendetta’ as an excuse to get rid of Liao Chengfeng, who was close to Third Brother—he obviously didn’t want to get involved in this mess. Now, forced in by Imperial Father—how is this part of the ’Major Examination’?" Yang Shu clearly didn’t agree with this analysis.

"Your Highness, suppose this were an ordinary time—a Prince is assassinated; could the Xuanqing Guard really stand aside? Impossible. So it is entirely reasonable for His Majesty to order the Xuanqing Guard to investigate. What His Majesty intends is perhaps a warning—a warning to those responsible: if you dare to make a move, then you’d better have the ability to evade the Xuanqing Guard. Otherwise, the Xuanqing Guard answers only to His Majesty, not to any Prince."

PS: Two Chapters today, taking half a day off. With respect.