"Did you not understand the reason why I threw the vegetable soup at you? You barred me from eating the dishes on the table, mocked me, and in the end, even dared to raise your hand as if to slap my face? Yet, between a man and a woman, some matters, once spoken aloud, only breed suspicion and insinuation."
Ye Jiao bowed her head low, bracing herself for the emperor's wrath, her mind racing to devise an explanation. To her surprise, the emperor instead turned to Li Zhang with a stern question.
"Is the Crown Prince a mere child of three years?" His voice was severe. "Soup was thrown? I take a nap, and while I'm resting in the side hall, you neglect your meal and come to blows? And afterward, you complain to me?"
Shaking his head in helplessness, the emperor continued, "Never mind that you are the heir apparent; by the end of this month, you will be Ye Jiao's elder brother." The last words carried a tone of deep gravity, sounding less like an emperor issuing orders and more like a patriarch speaking to his clan.
Ye Jiao's heart stirred with realization. The Crown Prince was shrewd; he deliberately caused a scene in the side hall and promptly informed the emperor of their dispute. This was a subtle reminder that friction had existed between him and Ye Jiao. Thus, her investigation into the missing arm-crossbows could be perceived as a personal vendetta. Consequently, her forthcoming report would be met with suspicion.
The emperor accepted the tea from Gao Fu, blew away the floating leaves, took a few sips, and then asked Ye Jiao, "Speak. With Xiao Jiu absent, who dared to bully you? I will stand by you."
A warmth blossomed in Ye Jiao's chest, and she lowered her forehead further. For a fleeting moment, she wished to remain silent. To speak would mean the Crown Prince would be punished, and the emperor would be angered and saddened. Should the emperor fall ill from grief, it would be a tragedy.
With a sigh in her heart and a moment's hesitation, she finally spoke, "I threw soup at the Crown Prince because I discovered that during his command of the Northwest Army, three hundred and seventeen arm-crossbows went missing. Despite such a grave matter, the Crown Prince had the audacity to continue eating. It was truly infuriating."
"Arm-crossbows?" The emperor set down his tea cup. His once gentle expression turned as cold as ice. Military armaments were matters central to the stability of the realm.
"I know nothing of this," Li Zhang knelt, his innocence tinged with confusion.
"Are these missing crossbows connected to those taken by the rebels in Jinzhou?" the emperor inquired.
"I was about to request Your Majesty's permission," Ye Jiao said, "to dispatch a formal inquiry to the Governor of Jinzhou."
"Do it!" The emperor cast a sharp glance at Li Zhang. Behind his resolute demeanor lay untold thoughts. "This matter is of utmost importance. Do not be negligent."
Relieved, Ye Jiao noted the emperor did not rebuke her for dousing Li Zhang with soup. Next time, perhaps she might just throw his meal at him.
After these words, the emperor began coughing.
"These next two days," he said gravely, looking at Li Zhang, "do not leave."
"Do not leave?" Ye Jiao wondered if this meant confinement within the city or even forbidden to leave the Daming Palace. She tilted her head in puzzlement, then saw Li Zhang bow and say, "My duties in court are numerous; I shall not stray from the Zi Chen Hall."
"No," the emperor cleared his throat, suppressing his cough. "Since the arm-crossbow affair involves you, I cannot overlook it. You are confined to the Eastern Palace. Until the investigation concludes, you shall not venture out. I shall appoint others to assist with state affairs."
That decree stripped the Crown Prince of both authority and freedom. Ye Jiao's heart quaked; she cast a furtive glance at Li Zhang, who remained composed, his eyes calm and subdued like a well-trained steed, head bowed in obedience.
"I shall dutifully abide by the Emperor's will."
At that moment, Gao Fu stepped forward, whispering something into the emperor's ear. The emperor frowned slightly, motioned Li Zhang to leave, and then spoke privately to Ye Jiao.
"Do you share a history with Deputy Commander Yan?"
The phrase "share a history" carried profound implications. Undoubtedly, the emperor had learned of the earlier incident on the steps and had inferred why Shu Wen refused the marriage proposal. Nothing that occurred within the Daming Palace escaped the emperor's gaze.
Though innocent, Ye Jiao felt her ears flush and her demeanor grew uneasy.
"We are old acquaintances," she admitted.
The emperor did not press further, sparing her discomfort. He merely lifted his gaze and asked, "Old acquaintances — will you remain so in the future?"
Even if he was willing to sully her reputation to vex Shu Wen and reject the marriage, in the emperor's eyes, Ye Jiao was a resolute and decisive woman, graceful and efficient. That Yan Congzheng had not been punished was baffling to him. Could it be that because he was the emperor's son, he was exempt from reprimand?
"In the future..." Ye Jiao hesitated, her face tense, emotions tangled and heavy as lead. For a long time, she had believed they were no longer friends—ever since her engagement to Fu Mingzhu. Yan Congzheng ceased contact; even when they crossed paths in the streets, he avoided her, pretending not to know her.
Yet later, he had helped her on many occasions. Cautiously, Ye Jiao maintained a friendship with him, restraining her smile and keeping distance to avoid any misunderstanding of his intentions.
Though angered today, she had not yet severed ties.
Though she sensed the emperor sought a particular answer, Ye Jiao answered candidly, "Deputy Commander Yan is an honorable man. Perhaps today's incident is a misunderstanding."
"A misunderstanding?" The emperor rolled his eyes in disbelief. Ye Jiao stared at him, doubting her own vision. Was such an expression fitting on the emperor's face?
He continued, "Xiao Jiu has been gone only a few days, and already you praise another's honor?"
Gao Fu laughed aloud, hastily covering his mouth and coughing.
Ye Jiao: "..." Was he jealous on behalf of his son?
"Enough," the emperor waved his hand irritably at Ye Jiao, then turned to Gao Fu. "Who set the wedding date for March 29th? Too late — they should be executed!"
Ye Jiao shuddered on behalf of the officials from the Astronomical and Rites Departments.
After standing and retreating, she finally exhaled. She had thought the arm-crossbow matter would be delegated to a few superiors and she could return to her official duties.
But after hastily finishing lunch, Minister of War Jiang Min personally delivered a message: the emperor had decreed that Prince Wei Li Chen would enter the Political Affairs Hall to assist with governance, and each of the six ministries would select two people to aid the thorough investigation of the arm-crossbow case. Ye Jiao was appointed by imperial decree.
"Me? To the Political Affairs Hall?"
Feeling overwhelmed, Ye Jiao nearly faltered. She touched her official hat, confirming, "Minister Jiang, have I been promoted?"
"No," Jiang Min doused her hopes coldly. "This is a temporary formation. Once the Crown Prince's innocence is proven, you will be disbanded. However," he paused, amused, "you will be the lowest-ranking official in the Political Affairs Hall, so you'll be fetching tea and running errands..."
To safeguard military secrets, the Political Affairs Hall had no servants.
Feigning compliance, Ye Jiao nodded, "I shall do as commanded."
"No," Jiang Min scoffed loudly, "Don't listen to those old men! Let them thirst to death. Our Ministry of War people don't take orders from them."
Ye Jiao's eyes brightened as she stepped forward. "Minister Jiang, will you also be going to the Political Affairs Hall?"
"I shan't," Jiang Min sneered, then sighed dejectedly, "Even if I went, I'd still be low rank."
Soon, each ministry submitted their selected representatives to the palace. Though brief, it was a rare opportunity—both for training and to be seen by the emperor.
Rumor had it that apart from the Ministry of War, other ministries nearly came to blows over their nominations.
The emperor glanced over the roster and handed it to Gao Fu. "Look," he sneered, "there are three from the Lu clan."
The Lu clan were descendants of Duke Lu Xi, and the maternal family of Prince Wei Li Chen.
Gao Fu pondered, then replied, "Their roots run deep; naturally, their branches flourish."
The emperor wearily removed his pillow, lay back, and sighed deeply.
"Gao Fu," he asked, "Am I being too harsh on Xiao Jiu and Ye Jiao?"
Gao Fu's expression darkened slightly; his lips moved as if to speak. The emperor could never be wrong; even if he erred, it was unspeakable.
"Your Majesty values them highly," Gao Fu affirmed, "It is their fortune."
"This is a perilous matter," the emperor shook his head.
Just as Gao Fu sensed hope, the emperor struck the bed forcefully and declared, "But I have given Ye Jiao a golden token. In times of crisis, she will wield it."
The light in Gao Fu's eyes dimmed as he sighed faintly. Would wielding it truly save her?
"Summon the Imperial Physician," the emperor resolved, closing his eyes. "My illness worsens over the arm-crossbow affair. I shall move to the more secluded Nanxun Hall to recuperate."
The decree sent to Prince Wei's residence caused an uproar.
The eunuch carrying heavy reward coins left long ago, yet Li Chen paced excitedly in his chamber.
"The Crown Prince is confined to the Eastern Palace," he repeated the emperor's order, "I will assist with governance and enter the Political Affairs Hall to investigate the arm-crossbow case with the others."
"This is excellent news!" his advisors rejoiced. "The Crown Prince is unfit for heavy responsibility, and the Third Prince guards the mountain tombs. The emperor has no other choice but to rely on Your Highness."
Li Chen paused, the smile fading from his face as he regarded his advisor. "You mean the emperor has no one else suitable, not that I am especially capable?"
The advisor's face instantly paled. He bowed stiffly and muttered, "I spoke in error, please forgive me
."
Li Chen resumed pacing, resolving inwardly, "The arm-crossbow incident is an opportunity to prove myself. I will clear the name of the Crown Prince and bring peace to the empire."