It now appeared that the clay, beyond losing its waterproof qualities, had been mixed with gunpowder—rendering it not only more flammable but capable of sustaining higher temperatures. This, in truth, was the root cause behind the mishap with the Mo-knife at the Bureau of Military Armaments.When had the gunpowder been added? How much had been used? Was it intentional or accidental? Neither he nor Ye Jiao knew the answer.Ye Jiao was at the Bureau, wasn't she? Was she near the gunpowder?The uncertainty gnawed at Li Ce's mind like a fever. His pulse quickened; his complexion turned pale as frost.
The crown prince's investiture ceremony, the ancestral rites at the imperial temple—these were trivial to him now. He had to go to the Bureau of Military Armaments. Not a moment could be wasted.
The imperial guard driving the carriage was baffled upon hearing Li Ce's order to turn back."But Your Highness, our destination is the imperial temple.""We're not going there," Li Ce snapped, lifting the curtain. "Take me to the Bureau of Military Armaments. Whatever punishment comes, I alone will bear it."
At the command, the driver promptly turned the carriage. From within came a voice raised in alarm:"What are we doing going to the Bureau? Let me out first!"It was Prince Kang, the emperor's only brother residing in the capital. A man in his fifties, timid by nature and frail of health.
The sudden turn of the carriage caused him to crash into the wall, leaving him dizzy and reeling."You brat! Let me out, now!" he barked.But Li Ce paid him no heed.
"Uncle, hold onto the side. Once I reach the Bureau, you may disembark."
The carriage veered off from the crown prince's procession, careening through city streets with sharp turns. Prince Kang clambered forward, clutching Li Ce's sash."What's the urgency? I must get to the temple—the temple—"His words halted abruptly.
From the direction of the Bureau of Military Armaments, a thick column of smoke was rising."Is that a fire?" murmured bystanders, pointing with alarm.It was a fire.
At the moment the blaze ignited, Ye Jiao still held a fistful of earth. She stood before the iron forge, eyes fixed on the two blades.The clay coating the blade seemed to burn alongside the iron itself.
"Take them out," she said in disbelief.
A craftsman obeyed, extracting the glowing red blades but placing them on dry clay rather than plunging them into water—allowing Ye Jiao to examine them.
Then, without warning, flames erupted from the storeroom."Run!" bellowed Director Wang.
Everyone bolted for the courtyard. When they looked back, fire was roaring, thick smoke billowing skyward."What caught fire?" Ye Jiao asked.
"Never mind that!" Director Wang commanded. "It's an inferno! Extinguish it, now! It's the crown prince's investiture day—if this goes wrong, we all perish with him!"
The Bureau dissolved into chaos. Officials and artisans alike hurled themselves into firefighting. Thankfully, water vats had been prepared under the eaves, and a pond lay just behind the rear court.
Ye Jiao didn't stand idle—she joined in the effort.The wind fueled the fire, spreading it to the neighboring storeroom. But sheer manpower and unity ultimately subdued the blaze.
Director Wang let out a quiet breath. It was enough.He had promised someone that there would be an "accidental" fire today, disrupting the prince's grand ceremony.He had hidden flammable materials beneath the clay.
In Great Tang, military strength was paramount. For a fire to erupt at the Bureau on such an auspicious day would surely lead the emperor to question the crown prince's virtue—as though Heaven itself disapproved.
And should anyone seek the real cause of the fire? Blame would fall squarely on Ye Jiao.He, the director, would walk away untouched.
He turned to return to the front hall to wash his face and take some tea. But a desperate voice froze him in his tracks.
The Bureau's front gates burst open.A man in ceremonial violet robes, his shoulders draped with sash and insignia, charged forward like a thundering host.
"Ye Jiao! Ye Jiao!"His cries rang out not from his throat, but from the depths of his soul.
Director Wang recognized him at once. He stepped forward, bowing."Your Highness—Prince Chu—"
But before he could finish, Li Ce struck him aside.The director staggered back, nearly falling into the still-smoldering ashes.
Not far away, a voice called out, "Your Highness? You're supposed to be at the ceremony—"Ye Jiao ran to him, hastily wiping the soot from her face."I'm fine. Really, I'm alright."
Li Ce clutched a pillar, bent slightly, gasping for breath. His lungs burned; iron flooded his throat. He swallowed the taste of blood with effort and nodded."Good. So long as you're unharmed."
People began to gather around, all offering apologies—but every excuse began with the same phrase:"Physician Ye was testing the clay in the storeroom..."
They were pushing the blame entirely onto Ye Jiao.
Ye Jiao didn't protest. Calm and upright, she said,"I don't know how the fire started. Don't worry—I'll report to the Ministry of War and accept responsibility. I'll also compensate for the damage in full."
Li Ce's brows drew together. He looked at her ashamed expression—feeling both angered and heartbroken.She was forthright and honest, yet blind to the depths of human deceit.
He reached out, gently grasping her arm."Why the rush to confess? We've yet to determine the cause. How can there already be a conclusion?"
At these words, murmurs rose. Doubt flickered in their eyes.
Director Wang raised his voice, standing before the ashes."Everyone saw what happened—"
"Did they?"Li Ce glanced coolly at the scorched ruins."Then allow me to ask—does ordinary clay burn?"
He strode forward, kicked aside a charred plank, and used a spade to uncover a lump of clay."Is anyone from the Gunpowder Division present?"
The division was responsible for producing explosive-tipped arrows for sieges—arrows that detonated upon impact, igniting structures and instilling terror.
Because of the fire, most Bureau officials were gathered here. Someone stepped forward."Your Highness, I serve as the division officer."
Li Ce nodded."Examine this clay for me. What's been mixed into it?"
The young man, in his twenties, quick-footed and sharp-eyed, crouched to collect a handful of soil. He let it trickle through his fingers, then pinched a bit to roll and sniff.
The clay was still hot. The storeroom continued to smoke. The shifting wind caused fits of coughing, but no one dared to leave.All eyes were fixed, all breaths held, awaiting his verdict.
His face shifted as he examined it—eyes widening, nose twitching, brows drawing tight. He hesitated.
Li Ce saw his rising anxiety and darkened complexion."If you hesitate, I'll find someone else—and they can all accompany me to Daming Palace to await His Majesty's judgment!"
The officer knelt abruptly."Your Highness, if I am not mistaken, this clay contains black powder."
Gasps swept through the crowd.Director Wang lunged forward and kicked the officer.
"Nonsense!"Not satisfied, he grabbed an unsharpened blade and raised it.
Others rushed to restrain him, wresting the blade away.
Li Ce bent down, let another handful of soil scatter to the ground, and gave a bitter laugh."So the Mo-knives failed because of this black powder.And today's fire—also due to this same black powder.Then allow me to ask the Gunpowder Division: how exactly are you storing such lethal materials?That you allow them to be strewn about so carelessly?"
His tone was sharp as a blade, chilling the blood of all who heard. The Bureau's officials fell to their knees as one…