Although the loss of military equipment was a matter for the Ministry of War, to prevent the possibility of officials there colluding to cover up the theft, only three from the ministry were summoned. Besides the hot-tempered Minister of War, Song Shoujie, there was only Ye Jiao and a junior official responsible for troop deployments. Seeing Ye Jiao retreat behind Song Shoujie, the young official had nowhere to hide and could only shrink his neck even further. Ye Jiao thought to herself, What's the use of shrinking your neck? You might as well pretend to faint.
Just as the thought crossed her mind, a furious bellow exploded beside her—it was Song Shoujie, erupting in rage. He was, of course, lashing out at the Minister of Justice.
"Investigate? What did you find—nothing but nonsense! I refuse to believe that the Ministry of War would assist the Crown Prince in concealing armaments! His Majesty is still gravely ill, and you people are eager for him not to recover! Wang Chenming, come here—let me see what treachery lies in your heart!"
Clearly, Song Shoujie's skills in cursing paled in comparison to Jiang Min's. Had Jiang Min been present, he would've already eviscerated every official from the Ministry of Justice in just a few scathing lines. Ye Jiao wished she could cheer him on from behind, but Song Shoujie had already lifted his robes and charged toward the Justice Minister. A crowd surged forward to restrain him. Yet, before much force could be applied, Song's face flushed crimson, and he fainted.
He collapsed into the arms of the officials attempting to restrain him—fortunately not sustaining any visible injuries. The Hall of Political Affairs descended into chaos. Some called for the imperial physicians, some pinched his philtrum, while others seized the chance to slip out and spread the news.
The junior official, still shrinking his neck, looked helplessly at Ye Jiao, his face full of dread. "Physician Ye, I—I have an eighty-year-old mother at home…"
"Didn't you just take leave last month to bury your mother? I even sent a condolence gift," Ye Jiao replied with arms crossed.
"She was my birth mother," the junior official said with a miserable face. "The one at home now is my mother-in-law. She has no sons and no one to depend on. I took her in to care for her in her final years."
He didn't sound like a bad person.
"Very well," Ye Jiao said. "I'll go instead."
It was a good excuse to see how the Emperor was doing. She hadn't seen him in days and found herself missing him more than she expected.
The junior official looked as though he might kneel and kowtow in gratitude, but Ye Jiao, face stern, ordered him to go fetch a robe to cover Song Shoujie. The floor was cold, and he mustn't be allowed to catch a chill. The other officials had only thought to pinch his philtrum, bruising his lips in the process, without the sense to warm him up.
With Song Shoujie carried off to the Imperial Medical Bureau, the discussions in the Hall of Political Affairs had to continue. With the coveted chance to faint now gone, the remaining officials could only steel themselves and carry on. The outcome was the same: someone from the Ministry of War must report to the Hall of Fragrant Southern Breezes.
Perhaps out of resentment at being scolded, Wang Chenming of the Ministry of Justice decided to accompany Ye Jiao. Prime Minister Fu Qian, concerned that the Crown Prince was being framed, voluntarily followed behind. To everyone's surprise, Prince Wei, Li Chen, did not opt to remain uninvolved; instead, he walked at the very front, as if afraid others didn't know the way to the Southern Pavilion.
After spending several days in the Hall of Political Affairs, Ye Jiao noticed the officials were divided into three camps. The elder statesmen, led by Fu Qian, mostly supported Crown Prince Li Zhang; younger officials favored Prince Wei, Li Chen; and a small group flitted between sides, revealing little of their intent.
But today, as the topic turned to the Crown Prince, Ye Jiao suddenly realized that the supporters of Li Chen had quietly grown more numerous. When had his influence become so vast?
She used to think of him as the dutiful prince—skilled in acupuncture, massages, and foot baths—ever loyal and attentive to the Emperor. But now, while the Emperor was ill, Li Chen's mind seemed elsewhere.
Ye Jiao lowered her eyes, hiding the wariness in her gaze. Was it him who stole the command token? If so, is he planning to harm the Emperor in this moment of weakness?
Driven by these dark thoughts, Ye Jiao quickened her pace, nearly overtaking Li Chen.
Wang Chenming raised a brow in surprise and muttered to Fu Qian, "See that? Even a young military official from the War Ministry has more backbone than that sly old fox."
He still refused to believe Song Shoujie had fainted from rage alone. When the physicians arrived, he'd even asked them to try an acupuncture point to rouse him.
Fu Qian's face remained stony as he walked in silence, his steps measured and rigid.
Within the Southern Pavilion, three large folding screens stood in the center, behind which clouds of mist billowed. The air was thick with steam and medicinal scents, making it difficult to breathe. The officials stepped inside, wrinkling their noses and holding their breath until they could just about tolerate the air.
Fu Qian moved to open a window, but was stopped by Gao Fu.
"Master Chancellor," he whispered, "this is a therapeutic steam treatment by the Imperial Medical Bureau. His Majesty is soaking in a medicinal bath. Opening a window now could chill him."
"Father is bathing?" Li Chen stepped forward, already slipping off his boots and padding toward the screen in white socks. "Perfect timing—his blood is circulating well in the heat. Let me give him a shoulder massage."
Gao Fu smiled respectfully. "Allow this servant to announce your presence."
He slipped through a narrow gap near one of the pillars. After a short while, he returned and said solemnly, "His Majesty is weary. If Your Highness has matters to report, please speak loudly through the screen and then take your leave."
"It concerns the matter of the arm-crossbows," Li Chen replied with evident concern. "Is the court physician in attendance?"
There were only two court physicians from the Imperial Apothecary Bureau, responsible for the Emperor's health. Gao Fu replied, "Physician Lin is present."
Still uneasy, Li Chen asked, "Is there someone attending him personally?"
Gao Fu's tone was gently reassuring. "Servants from the Inner Court are within. Rest assured, Your Highness."
Only then did Li Chen put his boots back on, lead the officials in kneeling, kowtow several times, and raise his voice: "Reporting to the Emperor, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of War have urgent matters to present."
Ye Jiao kept her head down, pretending not to hear.
The hall was silent. Gao Fu looked from one to the other, clearly unsure of their game.
"Chancellor Fu?" he prompted softly.
"It is Lord Wang of the Ministry of Justice who has matters to report," Fu Qian deflected.
Left with no choice, Wang Chenming stepped forward. "The matter of the missing arm-crossbows from the Northwest Army has been resolved. According to Hu Ben Captain Wang Baitang, he acted on the orders of the Crown Prince to relocate the weapons and hide them in Mount Kingfisher near Jinzhou."
Perhaps from years of interrogating suspects, Wang's voice was loud and commanding. His deliberate volume echoed through the hall, buzzing painfully in their ears.
But from behind the screen, there was no response. Was the Emperor too shocked to speak?
Ye Jiao raised her head—then a sharp, rasping voice shrieked from within.
"His Majesty! His Majesty—!"
A eunuch's panicked cry rang out. "His Majesty has fallen into the water!"
Gao Fu spun around and flung aside one of the screens, rushing in. It crashed loudly to the ground. The other ministers scrambled to their feet in a frenzy.
"Forgive this servant!" Gao Fu cried.
A splash echoed—the sound of Gao Fu leaping into the tub.
Li Chen finally realized something was wrong and rushed in after him. "Father! Father—!"
By the time Gao Fu and Li Chen dragged the Emperor out, Physician Lin was already treating him. Ye Jiao stood just outside the screen and pieced together what had happened.
The Emperor, upon hearing that the Crown Prince had hidden arm-crossbows, had tried to rise in fury. But the tub was slippery, and he had fallen straight in.
Thankfully, he hadn't been submerged long. With Lin's swift ministrations, clearing his chest and aiding his breathing, the Emperor was revived.
He was in a miserable state—wrapped in a towel, wet hair clinging to his shoulders. Seated before the tub, his eyes locked onto Li Chen, burning with anger and sorrow—as if the one who had erred was not Li Zhang, but Li Chen.
Li Chen bowed his head. "The Ministry of Justice uncovered this, claiming Second Brother ordered the weapons hidden—the same ones Lord Chu found earlier in Jinzhou. I couldn't believe it. I reported it to Your Majesty because I hoped for further investigation."
The Emperor's eyes—whether reddened by the medicinal bath or his seething emotions—welled with tears and began to fall.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty," Gao Fu knelt beside him, gently wrapping his hair with a towel…