Chapter 333: Ordered to Quell the Rebellion

In the Pipa Hall, Lin Chaoqing held a red-hot branding iron, hesitating to put it down. It wasn't until the iron cooled and turned a dull grey that the Commander of the Jiefan Guard finally smiled faintly. He turned to Chen Ji and said, "Every time I see Dr. Chen, it seems there's a dramatic escape from certain death. This is the first time I've encountered someone who can just walk in and out of the Imperial Prison's Pipa Hall as they please. I'm truly impressed."

Still bound to the wooden rack, Chen Ji's expression remained unchanged: "Perhaps it was never a dead end to begin with."

Lin Chaoqing chuckled, "You have a point."

He casually tossed the branding iron into the brazier, then personally untied Chen Ji's ropes. Raising an arm, he gestured towards the exit: "Please, it's late, and His Majesty is still waiting!"

Chen Ji rubbed his wrists, looking down at his bare feet.

He lifted a foot and looked at Lin Chaoqing, "Would you mind helping me put them on?"

Lin Chaoqing's smile didn't waver. "Young man, has no one taught you not to make enemies carelessly?"

Chen Ji replied calmly, "I only know that if someone throws a punch, you can't just let it go easily, or there will be a second punch sooner or later!"

Lin Chaoqing scrutinized Chen Ji seriously. "You're a bit different from when you were in Luocheng."

Chen Ji nodded. "Things always change."

The next moment, Lin Chaoqing actually squatted down and helped Chen Ji put on his boots.

As he helped Chen Ji with his boots, he spoke without looking up, "Lord Chen, 'face' is the least valuable thing in this world. My act of putting on your boots might even become a unique story later."

Chen Ji said earnestly, "Lord Lin is certainly adaptable; you will surely achieve great wealth and honor in the future!"

After fastening his boots, Lin Chaoqing stood up and dusted his hands. "I merely seek to ease His Majesty's worries. Please proceed!"

A young eunuch led Chen Ji through a long, dark passageway. Behind them, Lin Chaoqing stood upright with his hands clasped behind his back, his expression fading into the dimness of the Pipa Hall.

This time, they didn't enter the palace through the Meridian Gate but via the Xihua Gate.

The young eunuch guided Chen Ji past the Imperial Wine Cellar, Wuying Hall, and Huangji Gate. Moonlight cast Chen Ji's shadow unhurriedly on the vermilion palace walls.

Chen Ji looked up at the eaves beasts on each corner of the roofs, feeling as if he had accidentally stumbled into this place from a thousand years ago. After much struggle, he had finally learned how to coexist with it.

Seeing him looking around, the young eunuch anxiously said, "Lord Chen, please don't look around."

Chen Ji smiled. "Looking won't hurt anything."

The young eunuch paused, then lowered his head and led the way with small, quick steps, saying no more.

The two walked one after another through the dark forbidden palace grounds. Only Renshou Palace was brightly lit, with smoke wafting from within.

Even standing several yards outside the hall, one could smell the faint scent of sandalwood.

When Chen Ji arrived outside Renshou Palace, he saw the Crown Prince, dressed in ceremonial robes, kneeling before the Filial Piety Stele, remaining in a long kneeling posture.

Behind the Crown Prince stood several high-ranking officials, summoned to the palace overnight, each clad in vermilion robes.

When Chen Ji appeared, all heads turned to him, then quickly turned back, their hands hanging by their sides.

The young eunuch whispered to Chen Ji, "Lord Chen, please wait here for the imperial decree. You may not enter the hall without a summons."

Chen Ji nodded and cupped his hands. "Understood."

At this moment, the vermilion doors of Renshou Palace were wide open, and those outside could hear an official speaking loudly from within: "Your Majesty, our Great Ning law strictly forbids private possession of bows, crossbows, and heavy armor among the populace. Now, someone has openly used bows and crossbows right under the Son of Heaven's nose, which is a heinous crime of treason. The mastermind must be found, their family confiscated, and they must be executed!"

Another voice spoke: "The Imperial Guards are the forbidden army of the imperial presence. Bearing arms and abandoning their posts without authorization is also a crime of treason. The principal offenders, Chen Wenren and Chen Ji, should be immediately executed!"

Someone else interjected, "Chen Ji is merely a junior officer; how is this related to him?"

Chen Ji recognized the voice as that of Chen Lizun, the head of the Chen family's main branch.

However, the first speaker continued, "Chen Wenren and others have been apprehended by the Five City Garrison and have confessed. They stated that Chen Ji was the actual leader of the garrison under Li Xuan. Your Majesty, I implore your imperial judgment to execute Chen Ji and Chen Wenren by beheading as a warning to others."

From beginning to end, the person on the imperial throne remained in tranquil meditation with closed eyes, uttering not a single word.

Just then, Elder Chen, seated on an embroidered stool, slowly lowered his eyelids and said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the matter of the bows and crossbows is highly significant. It would be best to first identify the traitors! As this old minister understands, Prince Fu was also in the Eight Great Alleys at that time. Perhaps he could be summoned for questioning!"

With that single statement, the focus of condemnation abruptly shifted from the Chen family to Prince Fu.

Everyone present felt a chill. Elder Chen was the Crown Prince's tutor, and now his accusation pointed directly at Prince Fu. This was no longer merely an investigation into treason; it was a struggle for the succession!

Across from him, Elder Hu lifted his eyelids, glanced at Elder Chen, and then lowered them again.

Emperor Ning, seated cross-legged behind a gauze curtain, his expression indistinct, commanded, "Summon Prince Fu!"

Wu Xiu announced loudly, "By His Majesty's oral decree, Prince Fu is summoned for an audience."

Two incense sticks later, a young man wearing a black robe with a slanted collar and large lapels entered the palace with a young eunuch. On his lapel, silver threads embroidered a coiled dragon amidst floral patterns. Curiously, the dragon's tail in this coiled design was intertwined with honeysuckle vines, and even the chi dragons on his robe had their eyes closed.

As the young man passed Chen Ji, he winked at him.

He then quickened his pace, entered the hall, and prostrated himself: "Your humble son bows before Your Majesty. May Your Majesty's imperial legacy be forever secure, the nation stable, your virtue aligned with the heavens, and may you live ten thousand years!"

Emperor Ning interrupted, "Enough, enough!"

Prince Fu's voice abruptly ceased.

Someone questioned, "Your Highness Prince Fu, were you in the Eight Great Alleys today?"

Prince Fu honestly replied, "Yes!"

Another person asked, "What were you doing in the Eight Great Alleys, Prince Fu?"

Prince Fu looked up and smiled, "What else can one do in the Eight Great Alleys? Of course, I was listening to music and watching plays!"

Elder Chen slowly began, "Your Highness Prince Fu, did you see anyone using bows and crossbows?"

Prince Fu honestly replied, "Yes, I did!"

Elder Chen then asked, "And did you see who was using the bows and crossbows?"

Prince Fu shook his head. "No, I didn't see. The moment I saw someone using bows and crossbows, I immediately ran away!"

Elder Chen pressed, "If it had nothing to do with you, why did you run?"

Prince Fu's expression was sincere. "I was afraid Elder Chen would pin this incident on me!"

Across from Elder Chen, Zhang Zhuo lowered his head, his shoulders subtly trembling.

Emperor Ning leisurely asked, "Prince Fu, who do you think hid the crossbows?"

Prince Fu quickly replied, "The Wang family!"

Emperor Ning calmly said, "You answered quite directly. But how do you know it was the Wang family?"

Prince Fu bowed low. "Reporting to Your Majesty, I guessed!"

An imperial censor beside Elder Qi suddenly asked, "May I ask, Prince Fu, is Furuixiang in the outer city your property?"

Prince Fu again replied honestly, "Yes, Furuixiang was something I started when I had nothing else to do. My original intention was just to earn some money to spend!"

The imperial censor speculated, "To my knowledge, Furuixiang has been at odds with Hoji for years, and it's commonly rumored that Hoji has always suppressed Furuixiang. So, might it be that you intended to assassinate Wang Huan amidst the chaos to seize Hoji's assets?"

Prince Fu looked up at the imperial censor, then at Elder Chen and Elder Qi, finally turning to the gauze curtain and declaring loudly, "Reporting to Your Majesty, your humble son would never dare! Following this incident, I immediately sent the twelve principal offenders from Furuixiang to the Five City Garrison to confess their crimes and face justice. The total seventy-four thousand one hundred and ten taels of silver earned over these years have also been submitted to the imperial treasury and are currently being counted by the Directorate of Ceremonials!"

Elder Chen said in a hoarse voice, "Prince Fu seeking to 'cut off his tail to survive' now might be a bit too late!"

Prince Fu loudly retorted, "Elder Chen, why don't we first investigate the origin of the archers before making a judgment? You say I used this opportunity for revenge, but I believe the Wang family committed murder to silence witnesses!"

Elder Chen casually remarked, "It seems Prince Fu knows that the two archers committed suicide by poison, leaving no witnesses!"

Standing outside Renshou Palace, Chen Ji personally listened as the Qi and Chen families twisted black into white. Everyone with clear eyes knew the bows and crossbows likely had nothing to do with Prince Fu, yet this dirty water had to be splashed onto him.

The imperial censor beside Elder Qi pressed on, "Prince Fu, do you have anything else to say to prove your innocence?"

Everyone looked at Prince Fu. Prince Fu rolled his eyes and brazenly said, "In any case, it wasn't me. If you can prove it was, I will confess and accept my punishment!"

Elder Hu suddenly opened his eyes and reprimanded, "How can you be so disrespectful in the imperial presence?"

Prince Fu no longer knelt. He shifted his body and sat cross-legged on the smooth, mirror-like lapis lazuli bricks, slapping the ground with both hands and wailing, "Oh, Imperial Father, please uphold justice for your son! I have always been law-abiding; how could this possibly be my doing?"

Silence fell over Renshou Palace. Everyone watched Prince Fu's antics, their expressions complex.

Elder Hu suddenly spoke, "You all claim Prince Fu is the mastermind behind this, but do you have any evidence? Tonight, not only was Prince Fu present, but also a group of Imperial Guards. Why not summon the Imperial Guards for questioning as well?"

Emperor Ning rang the Three Mountains Bell in his hand.

The next moment, Wu Xiu's voice echoed from Renshou Palace: "Summon Chen Ji, the Imperial Guard junior officer, into the hall."

Chen Ji lifted his robes and walked past the Crown Prince. He stepped over the threshold and prostrated himself: "Your humble servant Chen Ji bows before Your Majesty. May your imperial legacy be forever secure, the nation stable, your virtue aligned with the heavens, and may you live ten thousand years!"

Instantly, all eyes focused on his back.

From behind the gauze curtain, Emperor Ning slowly asked, "Go on, why aren't you continuing?"

Chen Ji, prostrated on the ground, replied sincerely, "Your humble servant only learned those few lines just now!"

"Nonsense."

A high-ranking official beside Elder Hu stepped forward. "Chen Ji, do you admit your guilt?"

Chen Ji replied, "Reporting to this esteemed official, I do not!"

The previous official from the Ministry of War spoke loudly, "Chen Ji, you and your comrades, as Imperial Guards, engaged in private armed conflict among the common people. What crime do you deserve?"

Chen Ji did not answer.

Another person cupped his hands towards the gauze curtain and said, "Your Majesty, I request severe punishment for the Imperial Guards Li Xuan, Qi Zhenzhuo, Chen Wenren, and Chen Ji, as a warning to others!"

"Li Xuan, Qi Zhenzhuo, Chen Ji, Chen Wenren, and others have disregarded state law and should be flogged one hundred times and exiled to Lingnan."

"Chen Liqin, Chen Lizhi, and Qi Xianshu, for failing to discipline their sons, should also be severely punished."

Amidst the barrage of accusations, Chen Ji remained silent, offering no defense. At this moment, Zhang Zhuo suddenly spoke, "Chen Ji, I ask you: Why did you and your Imperial Guards go to the outer city and engage in private fights with the common people?"

Chen Ji replied, "Your humble servants discovered someone hiding bows and crossbows in the marketplace, so we went to suppress the rebellion!"

The Vice Minister of War angrily exclaimed, "Nonsense! Who authorized you to arbitrarily deploy imperial troops to suppress a rebellion? Where was the need for you?"

Chen Ji replied again, "Reporting to this esteemed official, the Imperial Guards did not arbitrarily deploy imperial troops. Your humble servant was ordered to suppress the rebellion!"

The Vice Minister of War visibly flinched. Everyone looked at Chen Ji; even Chen Lizun hadn't expected such a reply from him.

"Ordered to suppress a rebellion?" How could it be "ordered to suppress a rebellion"? Such words must not be spoken carelessly.

The Vice Minister of War pressed in a grave voice, "By what order? Whose order?"

Chen Ji said, "By His Majesty's oral decree, the Imperial Guards were to go to the Eight Great Alleys to suppress the rebellion and apprehend the rebels!"

The Vice Minister of War's expression was stunned; he never imagined Chen Ji would dare to utter such a monstrous lie.

Chen Lizun, standing nearby, urgently said, "Chen Ji, don't talk nonsense!"

The Vice Minister of War angrily denounced, "Still daring to deceive the Emperor? Such audacity! Your Majesty, I request that this boy be taken out to the Meridian Gate and beheaded as a public warning!"

Just then, the figure behind the gauze curtain slowly spoke: "It was indeed My oral decree!"

In an instant, everyone turned to look at the faintly swaying gauze curtain, but they could not discern the expression of the person behind it.