The palace doors stood ajar. Li Ce approached Yan Congzheng and stood beside him, smiling faintly as he gazed at the tranquil courtyard, saying nothing for a long while. Yan Congzheng turned as well, following Li Ce's gaze, yet felt the drifting leaves and the unripe fruit held no charm—just the ordinary signs of autumn. What was there to admire?
Just as he was about to leave, Li Ce suddenly spoke in a soft voice."Commander Yan, during your search of Tian Yingyu's secret residence, did you come across any intelligence regarding the Fourth Prince, Prince Wei?"
The Fourth Prince, Li Chen—his mother, Consort Zhaorong, was a descendant of Duke Xi of Lu from the Spring and Autumn period. At Li Chen's birth, the Emperor was so delighted that he took the name "Chen" from a verse in Hymns of Lu – Pan Shui:"You fed me mulberries, cherished my voice. From Huai came the tribes, bearing their treasures."Li Chen, a treasured scion of the imperial family, was thus named. He had married Yan Congzheng's elder sister, Yan Shuangxu, and had now been ennobled as Prince Wei—his moment of glory.
Yan Congzheng's fingers tightened around the hilt of his blade, his expression stiff as he asked,"What are you implying, Prince Chu?"
Li Ce, hands clasped behind his back, replied in a voice calm and measured, as though he saw through the thoughts of others yet showed understanding."Prince Wei has been courting court officials, and instructed Minister Yan to deliver one hundred taels of gold to the censor Bai Lixi. This was all recorded in a confidential letter found in Tian Yingyu's possession. If His Majesty has not seen that letter by now, it means, Commander Yan, that you took advantage of your position to confiscate it."
Li Chen, Prince Wei, was Yan Congzheng's brother-in-law. Minister Yan Lian of the Ministry of Revenue was his father. A brother-in-law entrusting a father to bribe an official—such a letter must never reach the Emperor.
Yan Congzheng's face remained taut. The sleeves of his robe were narrow, concealing the letter he had hidden near his chest. It lay flat yet seared hot against his skin, like the venomous tongue of a serpent licking at his very soul.
Li Ce continued,"This morning, I had someone inform you of Tian Yingyu's whereabouts precisely so that you would find the letter."
"You've read it?" Yan Congzheng asked.
"I have," Li Ce replied."During interrogation, Tian Yingyu rewrote every letter he ever handled. Otherwise, how could there be so many?"
Yan Congzheng gritted his teeth."Bai Lixi never accepted the gold. The letter makes that clear."
"And what of it?" Li Ce turned to him with a faint smirk."If you truly believe it meaningless, then you may still present the letter later."
Tian Yingyu was Yan Congzheng's subordinate. His Majesty would undoubtedly summon Yan for questioning. Though caught in Li Ce's snare, Yan spoke with disdain,"So? What does this have to do with your refusal to marry?"
He questioned Li Ce's rejection of the marriage alliance, yet Li Ce responded by exposing the Yan family's secrets. Was this a warning to keep his nose out of things?
"It has nothing to do with it," Li Ce cast a glance at the sundial in the courtyard and said,"I only want you to understand—we are not opponents. I have no intention of meddling in your family's entanglements with Prince Wei. What I do and why I refused the marriage are not matters for you to concern yourself with."
Take care of your own household first. Before you point fingers at me, consider the fate of your own kin. As for whether you remain Commander of the Imperial Guards—I care as little as you do.
Yan Congzheng turned away, face ashen, storming off in silence. He had barely taken two steps when the courtyard gates opened.
"Ah, here you are, Commander," Prince Zhao, Li Jing, peered in and said,"Father has summoned you."
Yan Congzheng offered a terse salute. Li Jing began to speak again, but Yan had already strode past him. Li Jing's raised hand hung awkwardly in midair before he scratched his head, muttering,"Did he swallow gunpowder or something?"
Unexpectedly, the Emperor asked nothing about the letter. Instead, he inquired about Tian Yingyu:"How long has this man served under you? Is he diligent? Whom does he associate with?"
Yan answered each question. The Emperor's voice was cool:"He was only transferred to the Left Guard in July?"
Just three months ago. Yet the letters spanned a time far beyond that, clearing Yan Congzheng of suspicion with a single inquiry.
The Emperor cast a glance at Liu Yan, Prefect of Jingzhao. Liu Yan stepped forward,"Your Majesty, the investigation confirms that Tian Yingyu committed suicide out of guilt. But certain matters still require further scrutiny. In the meantime, I ask that Commander Yan find a reason to keep the Imperial Guards from growing suspicious."
Suicide out of guilt? Yan Congzheng had seen the body. The tongue of a hanged man should protrude, yet Tian's did not. It wasn't suicide. Still, he could not question it and had no choice but to accept.
As he prepared to leave, the Emperor looked up and remarked,"I ought to commend Minister Yan—for raising such a fine general. Within the Imperial Guards, I need men I can trust."
The Emperor's tone was gentle, yet the weight of his words struck like a royal benediction. Yan Congzheng bowed with uneasy reverence. As he descended the steps of Zichen Hall, the sunlight suddenly stung his eyes.
The Emperor had once trusted Yan Jide. Now, such words hinted at suspicion. Why would those letters concerning courtiers and consorts implicate the Commander of the Imperial Guards? And why did they now validate the Yan family?
It was Li Ce. He had tampered with something.
Yan Congzheng moved forward. The autumn wind sliced past his collar—cold, fierce. He felt as though he stood in the raging waters of the Yellow River, swept helplessly into its muddy torrents with no refuge in sight.
The death of a single officer would not stir much sorrow. Most colleagues, upon hearing the news, were more curious than mournful. Rumor said Tian Yingyu hanged himself over gambling debts, fearing the shame would fall upon his family. The ridicule spread.
"Who dares hound an Imperial Guard for debts?""So timid—he's a disgrace to the Guards."
The laughter faded, the crowd dispersed. Only Yan Congzheng knew the truth: Tian Yingyu had been tortured by Li Ce's men until he confessed, then executed.
Seven years ago, it was Tian who had delivered three urgent letters to Consort Shun, driving Li Ce's mother to madness. His death was deserved. And yet, Yan Congzheng found Li Ce far more terrifying.
When Li Ce spoke to him at the palace gates that autumn morning, Yan Congzheng had sensed it clearly—that unwavering resolve, a willingness to sacrifice all for his goal, even his own life.
Was Li Ce's true aim merely to eliminate Yan Jide? Or were there others?
Yan Jide had shown no interest in Tian Yingyu's affairs. To him, a mere soldier's death was unworthy of attention. Yet when Yan Congzheng next saw him, there was a second blade at his waist—a warrior's instinct for self-preservation.
Three days later, the Emperor ordered Yan Jide to lead the Imperial Guards beyond the city for military exercises. As Grand General of Longwu, he commanded the capital's elite: 150,000 strong.
Each autumn, ten thousand were chosen to train north of the city for a month. Yan Jide departed under imperial decree, but unexpectedly, the Emperor entrusted the defense of the capital to Yan Congzheng.
The censors protested:"Your Majesty, Yan is merely a Commander of the Left Guard. He is not fit to guard the imperial city."
The Emperor nodded with a smile."An excellent reminder. The personnel evaluations are coming soon. Let me jump ahead and promote Yan Congzheng to General of the Left Yulin Army, acting Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guards."
Heads bowed, officials exchanged furtive glances. How had a man without military merit or royal lineage earned such imperial favor? Only Minister Yan Lian's face flushed with pride—his son had risen! A true pillar for Prince Wei!
As the trained guards marched from the capital, a letter arrived in Ye Jiao's hands. She rode home swiftly, urging her horse on. The scab on her shoulder wound was peeling, itching fiercely—but today, she was too overjoyed to notice.
"Mother! Sister!" she called as she leapt down…