Bai Xianyu took the art of two-faced duplicity to its pinnacle. Just yesterday he had helped Ye Jiao keep watch, yet today, when she sent him to find someone, he accepted the task with docile obedience—only to turn around and stroll into a gambling den. As long as he maintained appearances, that was good enough. Could anyone seriously expect him to diligently serve the person who had usurped his post?
He had assumed many of the deputy marshals would slack off with him, but unexpectedly, Ye Jiao's actions yesterday had won over too many hearts. In the end, only a handful of people accompanied Bai Xianyu in his day of leisure.
By midday, with his purse nearly empty, he finally returned to the Wuhou Office. Ye Jiao was absent. Bai Xianyu casually sank into her main seat and asked the deputy on duty, "Where did that one go?""To see Tian Yingyu," the young marshal replied. "The Imperial Guards came urging."Bai Xianyu sprang from the Eight Immortals Chair. "Who came to urge?" Heaven forbid anyone discovered his laziness."Commander of the Left Guard Division, surname Yan," said the marshal.Relieved, Bai Xianyu exhaled and returned to his seat. Yan Congzheng? He wouldn't dare pressure Ye Jiao. He was clearly using official duties as a pretext to intercept someone else's lady.
Let them. Whether it was Yan or Prince Chu, Bai Xianyu would thank the gods if they'd just take this living Buddha from the Wuhou Office.
Ye Jiao and Yan Congzheng rode fine steeds to Tian Yingyu's residence. The roads were crowded, making conversation inconvenient, which spared them from awkwardness.
While the Imperial Guards could not search private residences at will, the Wuhou Office held such authority under the jurisdiction of the Jingzhao Prefecture. They could pursue thieves, verify household registries, and conduct lawful searches.
Tian Yingyu lived in Chang'an Ward, near the city wall. His home was modest, and with his wife and child residing in Luoyang, only an old servant remained to keep house—along with a cook and a few maids.
The old servant greeted them, saying the master hadn't returned for two days.Ye Jiao nodded. "Allow us to take a look."Hearing this, the servant stepped aside. As Ye Jiao crossed the threshold, she suddenly frowned, her fingers instinctively pressing against her shoulder.
She wore a narrow-sleeved, short jacket and a skirt of muted hues. Her makeup was light, adorned only with a pear blossom ornament between her brows. Now, from the pain, her brow creased deeply, and the ornament loosened, nearly falling off.
Yan Congzheng noticed. His gaze fell on her left shoulder, where a bulge beneath the fabric betrayed an injury. He moved to her right and raised his arm slightly."You're hurt?" His voice was low, gently motioning for her to lean on him."A small wound," Ye Jiao said through clenched teeth, her left arm limp at her side, no longer swinging with its usual vigor."Don't worry," Yan Congzheng matched her pace, offering his arm again. "Since you've made your feelings clear, I won't presume further. Let us remain simply as friends."
Only then did Ye Jiao accept his support."I shouldn't have asked you to come," Yan said ruefully, watching his step."It's not your fault," she replied, silently cursing Li Ce as she entered Tian Yingyu's room.
The servants had cleaned it thoroughly. Ye Jiao casually sifted through the teaware and ornaments but found nothing of value.
It was Yan Congzheng who knocked on the bedframe and discovered a hollow compartment, from which he pulled out a property deed."He owns another residence in the capital," Yan said, already striding outside. Seeing Ye Jiao, he hesitated."You needn't go. You're injured—let me search alone."
His eyes lowered, as though concealing some inner thought. Despite the stark black uniform of the Left Guard, which made him appear tall and commanding, that flicker of hesitation lent him a scholarly gentleness not found in other soldiers.
Ye Jiao worried for him. Before joining the Guards, Yan Congzheng had been a student at the Imperial Academy."You going alone would breach protocol," she insisted on accompanying him.
Tian Yingyu's second residence was also in Chang'an Ward, albeit more remote—just a small courtyard with a three-room clay house.
Yan Congzheng walked ahead, Ye Jiao following. He pushed the door open, then abruptly turned and reached out, shielding her eyes."Don't look." His voice was alarmed, as if protecting a child's innocence.
Ye Jiao's curiosity only grew. She tiptoed and tried to peek around him, but his broad chest blocked her firmly."You'll be frightened.""I'm not afraid."
She crouched, tilting her head for a view. The room was dim, yet the body hanging from the beam stood out starkly.
Ye Jiao staggered back, nearly falling from the step. Yan Congzheng caught her gently."Go stand in the sun. I'll handle this."
Tian Yingyu had been found—hanged, apparently by his own hand.
Jingzhao Prefecture soon sealed off the area. Yan Congzheng handed everything recovered from the house to Liu Yan.
Liu Yan accepted the thick bundle of secret letters and asked instinctively,"Were these found by Commander Yan and Marshal Ye together?""Of course," Yan replied without a change in expression.
Liu Yan nodded and left swiftly with the officers and the body.
The autopsy report was on his desk by evening. Tian Yingyu had died under torture, then been suspended to stage a suicide.
What truly stunned Liu Yan were the letters Yan had uncovered in the hidden house.
He opened them one by one, eyes widening, sweat pouring down his back. Pale and trembling, he stood and said to his subordinates,"I must request an audience at once."
The Emperor's day had begun, as always, with tedium and pressure. Consort Bai clung to him before court, refusing to let him go.
Determined to be a wise ruler, the Emperor finally broke free with great effort, only to run into Lady Deng admiring flowers by lantern-light at dawn.
Claiming a twisted ankle, she threw her plump body against him. He nearly suffocated under the weight."Yanyan, right? Once your foot's better, walk more often," he muttered, dusting himself off.
Court finally concluded. He decided to take a simple breakfast at the Zichen Palace—only to be greeted by three concubines, each bearing food: a pot of chicken, a roasted duck, and one who brought a live fish to make sashimi for him herself.
All meat at such an early hour—the Emperor stared at them bitterly, suspecting they meant to murder him.
Once he dismissed the dishes and the fishy air began to clear, he resumed reviewing memorials. After reading two, he told Gao Fu he would forgo companionship this month and stay in Zichen Palace alone for some peace.
The Empress Dowager promptly sent someone with porridge, along with subtle reminders: His Majesty must care for his health and spread his favor to ensure the Tang dynasty's longevity.
Dynasty's longevity? The Emperor sighed. With over a dozen sons already, what else did they want?
Jealousy among concubines he could endure—but snoring? One even cried when he kicked her awake, and he had to coax her back to sleep until dawn.
Was he merely a royal breeding tool? Could he not enjoy his twilight years in peace?
Just then, Gao Fu announced Liu Yan's arrival. The Emperor welcomed him eagerly, hoping for scandalous gossip—maybe a fight, a shouting match, some chaos.
Something that might allow him to abandon the memorials and sip tea instead.
But Liu Yan said someone had died. An autopsy had been conducted. And what they found must be presented to the throne personally.
The Emperor stared at him, slowly setting his teacup aside. He glanced at Gao Fu.
The chief eunuch wiped his brow and cast Liu Yan a look of sympathy.
The Emperor was fuming. Wasn't he the one who deserved sympathy?
The atmosphere in the hall turned frigid. The Emperor took the letters from Liu Yan.
Though Tian Yingyu's handwriting was poor, the words were legible.
Liu Yan had already summarized the contents: Tian Yingyu had used his station within the palace…