Deposed 7

Chapter 7. Meeting

Wei Zhao also hadn’t expected to encounter such a troublesome matter as soon as he returned to the capital.

His gaze swept coldly across the room, finally landing on the handsome youth sitting in the first seat on the left, who was still lowering his head and drinking wine. His phoenix eyes narrowed, revealing a hint of chill.

Based on the various information provided by the secret guard, he couldn’t help but suspect that this matter was related to the little Crown Prince. After all, this little madman even dared to harm imperial fetuses. As the most legitimate candidate for the throne, the First Prince, Mu Jue, was naturally a thorn in the little Crown Prince’s side.

“Is that… Is that Zhao’er who has returned?”

Old Madam Wei’s eyes reddened, and she stood up from her seat.

Wei Zhao withdrew his gaze and stepped forward to kowtow and greet Old Madam Wei. He had been stationed in the northern frontier for many years and had not been able to properly fulfill his filial duties to Old Madam Wei. Seeing his grandmother’s face again, he felt as if he were in a dream, and his eyes also reddened. Old Madam Wei also held her grandson’s hand tightly, unwilling to let go. The two had a lot to say to each other, but they also knew that this was not the time. Wei Zhao ordered someone to escort Old Madam Wei to a side room to rest.

Old Madam Wei protested, “Aren’t you investigating the case? I can’t leave.”

Wang Fulai hurriedly explained, “Old Madam, you worry too much. His Majesty said that due to your advanced age, you do not need to be involved in these matters.”

But Old Madam Wei still stood there, unmoving.

Wei Zhao asked, “Does Grandmother have any other instructions?”

“Can you let Xiao Yun accompany me? He’s a good child. He would never do such a cruel thing.”

Old Madam Wei whispered her request.

Xiao Yun?

Wei Zhao was momentarily confused before he suddenly realized who Old Madam Wei was referring to as “Xiao Yun.” His brow furrowed, and he said, “Grandmother, everyone in this hall is a suspect. Apart from you, who have been granted special pardon by His Majesty, this grandson cannot show favoritism to anyone.”

A look of disappointment washed over Old Madam Wei’s face, and she had no choice but to allow herself to be helped away to rest. As she departed, she did not forget to pat Wei Zhao’s hand and earnestly implore, “Then you must take extra care of Xiao Yun. Don’t let those fierce soldiers of yours frighten him.”

Wei Zhao: “…..”

What kind of bewitching potion had his grandmother been given? The little Crown Prince’s heart was black to the core. The person who could frighten him probably hadn’t been born yet.

Wang Fulai went to the inner hall to check on Mu Jue’s condition. When he came out, he looked at Wei Zhao meaningfully and sighed, “Tonight will be hard on the Marquis.”

Wei Zhao had already made his decision. He nodded and said, “Rest assured, Chief Eunuch. I will ensure stability and will not fail His Majesty’s trust.”

After sending Wang Fulai away, Wei Zhao’s first order of business was to summon the light cavalry that had returned with him from the northern frontier and surround the entire First Prince’s residence, making it impenetrable.

“Your Lordship, we have checked. There are no problems with any of the utensils.”

“Your Lordship, we have interrogated all the servants in the residence. No suspicious persons were found.”

These soldiers were all seasoned veterans of the battlefield. They acted swiftly and decisively and soon came to report the situation.

Wei Zhao narrowed his eyes, looked around at the people in the hall, and said unhurriedly, “The utensils are fine, the servants who handled them are fine, but the First Prince was poisoned. Why do you think that is?”

Everyone felt a chill run down their spines.

Why else could it be? Naturally, it was close-range poisoning. And the biggest suspects were undoubtedly those who had drunk with the First Prince in the hall today. Because when the guests entered the hall, the First Prince personally greeted them at the door and exchanged pleasantries with them at close range.

Wei Zhao waited calmly for someone to speak. Although he still looked casual, there was a clear glint of coldness in his eyes.

An official finally couldn’t bear this slow-torture-like pressure. He steeled himself and said, “A clear conscience does not fear a crooked shadow. Your Lordship, just tell us directly how you want us to prove our innocence!”

Wei Zhao raised an eyebrow.

“A body search.”

!!!

This time, everyone in the hall paled, especially the Confucian officials who valued propriety, integrity, and honor.

“This, this is outrageous! A scholar may be killed but not humiliated. Marquis of Dingbei, don’t go too far!”

“That’s right! There are thousands of ways to investigate a case. Why must you resort to a body search? It’s truly a disgrace to our dignity! A disgrace to our dignity!”

“You don’t have to be searched.” Wei Zhao tapped his fingers on the table and said unhurriedly, “Then you will have to trouble yourselves to go to the interrogation room of the Supreme Court.”

The protesting Confucian officials were shocked. They finally realized that tonight they were facing Wei Zhao, who was known for his ruthlessness, not the Emperor or anyone else who would listen to their suggestions. And Wei Zhao was simply an unreasonable bandit who would do anything to solve the case and gain merit.

“Wei Zhao, you dare!”

An old minister from the Emperor Wu’s reign slammed his hand on the table and stood up.

“Master Liu can test whether this Marquis dares or not.”

He calmly clapped his hands, and two rows of fully armored soldiers immediately marched in with a clanking of armor. The entire hall was instantly filled with a murderous aura.

After that, things went smoothly. Two rows of soldiers each took a person to a specially designated room for a search. In addition to the guests attending the banquet, the personal guards and servants accompanying the guests also had to undergo the same inspection.

Su Yulin breathed a long sigh of relief. A body search was good. As long as he didn’t have to be in the same room as Wei Zhao, he was fine with being searched for three days and three nights.

The other dandie’s were a bit curious. They were used to being shameless, but how come the usually arrogant, domineering, and hot-tempered Second Prince didn’t make a fuss when faced with such a humiliating thing as a body search? He even seemed to be cooperating very obediently.

Mu Xiao naturally wouldn’t admit that as a martial arts enthusiast since childhood, the moment he saw Wei Zhao, he unexpectedly felt a surge of emotions called “hero worship” and “worship of the God of War.” He stubbornly covered it up, “At a time like this, refusing a body search is equivalent to admitting you are the murderer. Do you think this Prince is stupid?”

Wei Zhao actually had no interest in paying attention to Su Yulin and his new little fan, Mu Xiao.

Wei Zhao poured himself a cup of wine, slowly swirled it, and scanned the room. He soon turned his gaze back to Mu Yun.

Three years ago, when the little Crown Prince was dressed in mourning clothes and keeping vigil for Emperor Wu, he was still very young and immature, and not fully grown. Due to excessive grief, he was thin and out of shape, like a little wild cat, as if a gust of wind could blow him over. Wei Zhao’s memory of him only remained at that one stab. Now, he couldn’t help but look closely.

The youth in wide-sleeved robes and a jade belt, holding the most noble and unparalleled identity in the world besides the Emperor, had skin like carved jade. The corners of his eyes tilted slightly upwards, not appearing arrogant but rather accentuating his well-behaved demeanor. When his eyelashes fluttered, it was as if pink and white peach blossoms were falling. His eyes were full of spirit and light. Just sitting there, he was a pleasing sight to behold. If he hadn’t heard about this little Crown Prince’s various acts of cruelty, Wei Zhao would almost have been fooled by his seemingly harmless appearance.

“Your Lordship.”

Just as Wei Zhao was lost in thought, a personal guard ran over with a troubled expression. “His Highness, the Crown Prince, refuses to be searched. The Crown Prince’s personal guards are also refusing to cooperate, citing the Crown Prince’s status as heir apparent. What should we do? Should we…”

“No need.”

Wei Zhao knew he wanted to ask if they should report to the Emperor. He put down his wine cup, his eyes darkening, and said, “This Marquis will personally search His Highness, the Crown Prince.”

***

“Your Highness, although a body search is excessive, it is a good way to prove one’s innocence. Why did Your Highness refuse and deliberately make us clash with the Marquis of Dingbei’s personal guards?”

A guard of the Crown Prince’s residence looked at the little Highness, who could still leisurely drink wine at a time like this, with great confusion.

Good heavens, that’s the Marquis of Dingbei! The Marquis of Dingbei who you almost stabbed to death three years ago. The Marquis of Dingbei who, to get revenge, can chop people into mincemeat to make dumplings. At a time like this, shouldn’t we try to minimize our presence, preferably to the point where the Marquis of Dingbei doesn’t even notice the existence of our Crown Prince’s residence? We are both enemies, look at how Little Imperial Uncle Su is doing it. The moment the Marquis of Dingbei entered, he covered his face with his sleeve and even hid behind the Second Prince in humiliation. It’s practically a textbook example.

Even if we don’t learn from him, why would we actively throw ourselves onto the knife’s edge?

“No.”

He saw His Highness put down his wine cup and say with a gentle and firm gaze, “This Prince is the heir apparent. I must maintain my dignity at all times. Even if I am to be searched, it cannot be done casually by just anyone. Do you understand?”

The guard thought to himself, we don’t understand. If you don’t want to be searched casually by just anyone, could it be that you want the Marquis of Dingbei to search you personally?

Just thinking about it is terrifying.

Guard A gave Guard B a pained look. Judging by His Highness’s innocent and ignorant appearance, he really doesn’t know the terror of the Marquis of Dingbei. It’s time to buy some storybooks for His Highness to study.

“Do you think what I did… was inappropriate?”

The youth looked up and asked sincerely, as if he really didn’t know what to do.

“No, this subordinate dares not.” The guard hurriedly waved his hand and explained with difficulty, “Regarding some of the Marquis of Dingbei’s… methods and rumors, is Your Highness really unaware?”

“Know what?”

The youth’s eyes were even more innocent. His starry eyes were moist under the influence of the wine, like a pitiful little deer.

The words that were about to come out of the guard’s mouth took a turn and went back into his stomach. Faced with such a kind and gentle Highness, he simply couldn’t bear to let the bloody and cruel descriptions in those storybooks frighten him.

As it turned out, he didn’t get a chance to say them anyway.

Wei Zhao had arrived.