When dealing with servants, Li Zhang was always sparing with his words, maintaining the dignity befitting the Crown Prince. Yet today, he unexpectedly inquired a little more, causing the eunuch's face to flush with excitement as he babbled incessantly.
"Indeed," the eunuch smiled obsequiously, "Originally, I was unaware myself, but then the Virtuous Consort personally prepared a bowl of longevity noodles for Doctor Ye. The flour was from the consort herself, harvested from wheat grown last year on Jiuzong Mountain by Prince Chu. After the summer harvest, it was ground into flour and recently delivered to the palace specially for this purpose. This singular token of affection was meant as a birthday gift for her fiancé—naturally, it is exquisite."
Li Zhang was usually annoyed by loquacious servants, but today, unconsciously, he listened to every word. An inexplicable stir of emotion welled within him.
"Leave now," Li Zhang said coldly.
The eunuch bowed respectfully and withdrew, though his eyes furtively glanced back, studying Li Zhang's expression. The prince's face, bearing a striking resemblance to the emperor, exuded an unspoken authority, no different from usual.
The eunuch couldn't fathom why his master had him relay this matter to the prince. They were never on good terms—was this information truly of any value?
Just as he was about to step away, a voice called from behind him.
"What is your name?"
Startled, the eunuch immediately turned and knelt.
"I have no given name," he replied humbly. "My family name is Chen; everyone calls me Little Chen. I was recently promoted from the Yeting Palace."
Li Zhang's gaze darkened as he stirred the soup with his ladle, his tone indifferent.
"Little Chen, there are many mosquitoes in the Hall of State Affairs. Fetch two carts of mugwort, burn it in the courtyard to repel them, and fumigate every chamber here as well."
So that was why he was to burn mugwort for mosquito control. Little Chen glanced around. Had mosquitoes emerged this early in spring to bite already? He took his orders and soon returned with the mugwort. As it smoldered in the courtyard, releasing a pungent smoke, Ye Jiao immediately emerged from the hall.
"What are you doing?" she demanded fiercely, still clutching her chopsticks.
"Reporting to Doctor Ye," Little Chen bowed low, "By order of His Highness the Crown Prince, we are fumigating to drive away mosquitoes. Not only the courtyard, but also the main and side halls."
Ye Jiao glanced toward the main hall and saw Crown Prince Li Zhang standing beneath the corridor, holding a book, flipping through its pages in the gentle glow of the setting sun.
"I'll fumigate after I finish eating," she said and turned away.
In that instant, Little Chen suddenly understood: the Crown Prince did not wish for Ye Jiao to eat in peace!
He quickly replied, "Better for Doctor Ye to come out. Once it's dark, I won't see well and might accidentally set fire to your documents."
Ye Jiao caught on too—this was clearly an attempt to prevent her from finishing her meal. She could forgo anything else, but the noodles gifted by Sisi could not be wasted. Noodles should be eaten hot, while the broth was abundant and flavorful.
Half an hour later, Ye Jiao stood beneath the corridor, sipping the last drop of soup, then set down her bowl. Content, she drew out a handkerchief and wiped the corners of her mouth. At the smoky entrance to the side hall of the Hall of State Affairs, she asked the eunuch,
"Is the fumigation finished?"
The servant, dumbfounded to see a noble standing while eating, blinked in slow confusion before nodding.
"It's… finished."
Was she truly the daughter of Duke Anguo? Eating noodles so hastily, so thoroughly, one almost expected her to burp on the spot.
At last, seated at the dining table, King Wei Li Chen flexed his wrists and shoulders, feeling utterly relaxed. Meals were only truly satisfying when eaten personally. The dishes were simple, the sweet porridge stirred leisurely.
His aides stood nearby, reporting on court affairs.
"Bai Fanxi has completed the handover of the city defenses with Deputy Commander Yan. The Crown Prince's actions are swift."
Li Chen remained composed, eating attentively.
"News from Hedong Circuit: Prince Chu has arrived in Jinzhou and is thoroughly inspecting the Arm-stretch Crossbows. All is proceeding smoothly."
Li Chen raised a brow and smiled faintly. "Smooth is good."
"They have already secretly searched the Duke Anguo estate but found no sign of the golden token. It's presumed Ye Jiao carries it on her at all times."
Li Chen nodded gravely, envisioning the flutter of Ye Jiao's robes revealing a glimpse of yellow at her cuff, like a delicate side dish accompanying a meal.
The aide also recounted palace events of the day.
"The Crown Prince appears to harbor extreme disdain for Ye Jiao; he didn't even let her eat her birthday noodles in peace."
Li Chen's smile deepened.
"You do not understand my second brother," Li Chen said with contempt. "He is a man enslaved by passion."
"A man enslaved by passion?"
This term jarred with the aide's perception of Crown Prince Li Zhang.
"That year, Father commanded a fine rod to beat to death the court attendant Liu. Li Zhang knelt silently through the punishment, offering no plea. Yet afterward, he removed from the mutilated Liu a ring-shaped ink jade and has worn it ever since."
Hearing this for the first time, the aide's expression shifted, sighing quietly.
Li Chen reminisced with keen interest. At that time, he had stood across the lake, watching Li Zhang kneel by the water's edge, slowly cleansing the blood from the ink jade. His dark blue robe soaked through by the pond's water.
Having endured betrayal and death within a day, Li Zhang's expression was blank, as if already dead once over. His pale fingers washed the jade stiffly and repetitively, until Li Chen's patience to watch waned.
Then, a single tear escaped from Li Zhang's eye, falling straight into the water.
A man seldom sheds tears lightly. Yet Li Zhang wept for the woman who had betrayed him and nearly caused his ruin.
If not a man enslaved by passion, then what else?
After five days, the Ministry of War and Treasury finally reconciled the Arm-stretch Crossbow ledgers and issued investigation documents to the relevant prefectural offices.
Each prefecture was required to inventory their existing bows and crossbows within three days of receipt, having both commanding officers sign for confirmation before reporting to court—an audit to verify no arms had been lost.
Prince Chu Li Ce, however, employed another method.
"I hear, despite harsh punishment, you refuse to disclose where the Arm-stretch Crossbows came from?" He stood in the dim cell, his back to the roaring flames on the wall, asking gently and deliberately.
The rioting villagers were bound to pillars, bruised and barely breathing. They seemed resigned to their fate, unwilling to speak a word.
Their eyes opened to look at Li Ce, then slowly closed in exhaustion.
Li Ce approached and untied one of them. His attendants Yan Yun and Qing Feng hurried to release the others.
Though shocked, the villagers remained silent.
"I understand your plight," Li Ce said, "Originally, the irrigation canal serving you was suddenly redirected, cutting off your water supply. Half the water was allocated to others, leaving you insufficient. No water meant no crops, no livelihood. Of course you fought desperately to seize it back."
The man gasped, trembling.
Li Ce looked him over and asked,
"What is your name?"
"I am Zhang Huai," the man coughed, "a villager from Dahuaishu."
"Zhang Huai," Li Ce said, "Did the Prefect's office inform you that though the canal was diverted this year, next year the Ministry of Works and Water will repair it to divert Fen River water eastward, and then you will have ample water?"
Zhang Huai muttered, "They said so, but no water this year means starvation now. Who can wait until next year?"
"Therefore," Li Ce solemnly declared, "I order the Jinzhou Prefect to open granaries to relieve the famine, compensating fully for your losses."
"Really?" Zhang Huai looked up in disbelief.
"My word is my bond as prince," Li Ce affirmed.
"Do you expect us to confess about the Arm-stretch Crossbows?"
Zhang Huai recoiled.
"It's best if you do."
"But we truly do not know!" Zhang Huai's voice cracked. "Those things were thrown into the courtyards at night. We have no idea who sent them. At first, we thought they were just for firewood. A hunter in the village figured out how to use them. We thought it was powerful and used it to intimidate other small villages, not knowing it would kill someone and bring the officials down upon us. Then we learned those crossbows were forbidden."
"The Arm-stretch Crossbow," Li Ce explained, "is strictly for military use and can only be manufactured by the Great Tang Armory."
"We really didn't know," Zhang Huai insisted, his grievance apparent. His demeanor seemed sincere.
Li Ce remained calm and pressed on,
"How many were thrown into your village?"
"Twenty."
Li Ce furrowed his brow, pondering. Twenty crossbows were heavy and required a cart to transport.
"Do you remember roughly when?"
Li Ce asked.
"That night, starting from the west," Zhang Huai said, "we later asked about the timing. The west-side households said the crossbows were thrown at the first cockcrow. My house is in the east; the last was heard then—a 'thud' in the courtyard."
That was the only clue.
Without delay, Li Ce rode directly to Dahuaishu Village.
The remote hamlet was far from the main road. No one there could afford carts; the best family owned a flatbed cart at most.
Outside the village, traces of cart wheels were faint and few, barely visible on the dirt road.
Li Ce sat firmly on his horse, unfolding a map, glancing at it intermittently as he proceeded slowly.
After riding along the narrow dirt road for about the length of an incense stick burning, he suddenly dismounted and bent
down.
In the soil, he found tiny hoofprints—four small marks arranged as a square.
Carefully, he followed them for some distance.
The footprints led to the base of an old elm tree where the earth was freshly disturbed.
Next to the tree, he discovered a bundle wrapped in coarse cloth.
The bundle was heavy.
Li Ce ordered his men to open it carefully.
Inside, neatly stacked, were twenty Arm-stretch Crossbows, each with a silk tag tied around the trigger guard.
Li Ce unfolded a tag and read the inscription:
"To the hidden bearers of justice, this weapon shall serve to defend righteousness and protect the innocent."
He looked up, a grim resolve settling over his face.
The mystery of the forbidden crossbows was deeper than anyone had imagined.