Fish Meat – Chapter 90
by Little PandaThe Ninth Year of Shenchu
Conspiring for Power (3)
Guan Xun actually went to the Ministry of Justice Office wearing his court dress, and dealt with Wei Lun until midnight, intending to go directly to the early court session.
However, some unexpected things happened.
Wei Lun still said nothing at all; since he was taken into the imperial prison, he hasn’t uttered a single word, hasn’t spoken to anyone, and hasn’t pleaded for mercy, showing more resolve than Hong Ai.
Guan Xun did not show any mercy; he knew he couldn’t be biased towards any side, otherwise, how could he respect the late emperor’s sacred intent in establishing the Ministry of Justice Office. Wei Lun endured all the tortures Hong Ai once suffered, but Wei Lun’s body was somewhat weaker. Guan Xun arrived at his cell and found he had already fainted.
He ordered the jailer to carry Wei Lun up, and a bucket of cold water was poured over his head, causing Wei Lun to shiver and painfully awaken.
“Master Wei, I advise you to quickly confess. Otherwise, in at most three more days, you will die here. During years of disaster and famine, the corpses of all guilty officials who die in the imperial prison are fed to the office’s fierce dogs. Master Wei, as a noble first-rank duke, you wouldn’t want to fall to such a miserable state, right?” Guan Xun stood with his hands behind his back, his knife-carved face faintly illuminated by the flickering firelight of the imperial prison.
Wei Lun coughed, then suddenly laughed: “Hahaha, satisfying! This imperial prison is good everywhere, just too stuffy. So many days without being able to properly wash, this one bucket poured on me feels too comfortable. Tingwei Guan, I, an old man, ask you for one thing.”
Guan Xun looked towards him.
Despite his disheveled hair and body covered in wounds, Wei Lun completely lacked a ferocious appearance, even maintaining the composed demeanor of an old minister from two dynasties.
Wei Lun said: “Another bucket, okay?”
Guan Xun lowered his eyelids, turned, and walked away.
As the prison door closed behind him, the sound of torture instruments whipping flesh echoed in the narrow corridor. This sound was inherently cruel, enough to make anyone’s jaw clench and hair stand on end, but Guan Xun was already accustomed to it. This was the most important and routine part of his life. Blood, flesh, corpses—he had long become indifferent to them.
He walked up the crooked earthen steps, and the further he walked, the brighter it became.
The imperial prison was located beneath Luoyi Alley, cold as bone-piercing in winter and unbearably stuffy in summer. As Guan Xun was about to reach the surface, the heavy court dress had already made him sweat all over. He unfastened the button at his chin, reached in with his fingers, and tugged hard to let the heat disperse.
“So hot.”
When Guan Xun lifted his eyes to look upward, his raised brow squeezed two wrinkles onto his forehead. Jiang Wang was squatting at the top of the steps, with his back to the light, so his expression couldn’t be seen clearly. However, there was no need to see his face; Guan Xun could discern his emotions from the modulation of his tone.
“There is still some time before the early court session.” Jiang Wang stood up and slowly walked down towards him, getting close to his side, with slender fingers adjusting his loose collar.
As the two people drew close, Guan Xun heard his breathing become heavy.
Jiang Wang, while looking at Guan Xun’s face full of masculine aura, licked his lips: “Tingwei, you’ve been so busy lately, do you need your subordinate to help you release some stress?”
Guan Xun had a small rest room in the imperial prison, where there was nothing at all, only a hard blanket. Guan Xun was never a person greedy for enjoyment; when tired, he would sit down and sleep a bit, then return to continue interrogating prisoners.
Jiang Wang occasionally came as well.
Every time Jiang Wang came, he would always lock the door. The jailers of the imperial prison didn’t like dealing with Guan Xun much and were mostly afraid of him, so very few people came here.
Guan Xun sat leaning against the wall, eyes closed, while Jiang Wang occasionally lifted his head to look at him, trying to find some clues from his face. Finally, Guan Xun only let out a slight hum, turned his body, and released everything, then pushed Jiang Wang away.
Guan Xun stood up and put on his wide pants again, tying his belt.
Jiang Wang lay on the blanket, his throat moving as he swallowed what belonged to Guan Xun, even licking the remnants at the corner of his mouth, carefully observing Guan Xun’s upright figure, and laughed: “You truly are a heartless person, in every aspect.” (LP: S-shocking!!!)
Guan Xun did not intend to refute him and said while tidying his cuffs: “You know I don’t like the smell of Furong Powder. I still have to attend court soon, and you’ve smoked me all over with this scent. Did you do it on purpose?”
Jiang Wang giggled: “Furong Powder is a good thing, Fengdian, you need to know how to enjoy it.”
Guan Xun no longer paid attention to him and left.
After Guan Xun left, Jiang Wang took the snake token in hand, carefully looking at the lifelike black snake, stroking it inch by inch with his fingertip.
Almost reaching the Forbidden Garden, Guan Xun touched his waist and discovered the snake token was missing.
Usually, the snake token was carried by either him or Jiang Wang, depending on who needed to execute official business, but today it was essential for attending court. Most importantly, he clearly remembered that from ten days ago, he had been carrying the snake token by his side continuously. The snake token, bestowed by the late emperor, was extremely important, having been passed down through three generations of Tingwei (Ministry of Justice). If lost, it was a capital crime. Recently, he had an ominous feeling in his heart, and he had not let the token leave his body, even when sleeping. Yet, it was unexpectedly missing now.
“Stop the carriage!” Guan Xun flung open the carriage’s curtain and shouted to the driver, “Turn around! Return to the imperial prison!”
Guan Xun’s carriage raced wildly in the direction of the imperial prison. In the heavy rain, it brushed past a man wearing a straw raincoat and hat, whom Guan Xun did not notice.
Jiang Wang lifted his head, and the rainwater flowing down from the brim of his hat almost blocked his vision. He watched as Guan Xun’s carriage hurriedly disappeared into the pouring rain. His face was missing the usual gloom, instead being covered by a thick layer of worry.
The heavy rain poured down, and there was not a single person on the street.
He came alone to the most remote inlet of the underground waterway in Runing City, took the snake token out from his sleeve, and held it over the inlet.
Listening to the rushing water inside the underground waterway, one could completely imagine how rapid the water force was. Once thrown in, it would be swept into the sea, and no one could retrieve it again.
Fengdian, oh Fengdian…
Jiang Wang released his hand.
As the early court session began, Zhangsun Yao stepped forward to mention Hong Ai’s case, hoping to soon punish Hong Ai for the crime of treason and selling out the country, according to Da Yu law, by executing nine generations, to uphold the court’s order.
Li Ju sat steadily on the dragon chair and said, “Zhangsun Shaofu’s words are indeed very correct, but according to the report from the Ministry of Justice Office, Wei Lun has never admitted to instructing the student Hong Ai to commit treason. This truly shows the Ministry of Justice Office’s incompetence. In my opinion, Tingwei Guan is in a position without fulfilling his duty. Previously, when nothing had been uncovered, he allowed Hong Ai to commit suicide in the imperial prison. Now, even with conclusive evidence of Wei Lun’s guilt, he has not been convicted, and today he is openly absent from the early court session. Hmph, he must be relying on holding the late emperor’s bestowed snake token to disregard me! Sima Xie!”
Xie Fuchen stepped forward: “Minister present!”
“Tingwei Guan is absent from the early court session. Did he apply for leave to you?”
“Minister did not receive Tingwei Guan’s leave request.”
“See! This person is lawless, disappearing without even applying for leave! Sima Xie, you must record this matter. How can someone who disregards court order be employed? I think the position of Tingwei should find another candidate.”
Zhangsun Yao lowered his head, a faint smile emerging at the corner of his mouth.
Li Ju and Xie Fuchen began to plot to take control of the Ministry of Justice Office. If the Ministry of Justice Office also falls into Li Ju’s hands, military power, supervision, prisons, and decision-making will all be under Li Ju’s sole control. Even if Empress Dowager Geng can suppress it temporarily, she cannot interfere too much.
This scheme was calculated with great ambition.
However, this matter was also within the expectations of the Eldest Princess and Zizhuo.
Last night, he and the ministers secretly met at Huaichen’s Mansion to discuss today’s early court matters.
They have already submitted all the memorials to impeach Xie Fuchen, but there has been no response from Li Ju’s side.
“Li Ju very likely hasn’t even looked at them,” Li Yanyi said. “From my understanding of him, he surely feels victory is within his grasp now, focusing solely on how to bring the Ministry of Justice Office into his control. Yan Zhen’s strategy is slightly inferior, so now they only need to guard against Xie Fuchen. But even if Xie Fuchen is clever, he only has one brain and cannot attend to everything.”
Wei Tingxu said, “If Li Ju doesn’t look at the memorials, let it be, but if he does, even better. This series of memorials seems to impeach Xie Fuchen over matters from six years ago, but it is a strategy of feinting in the east to attack in the west. If he or Xie Fuchen examines them, they’ll think about how to resolve the crisis, but tomorrow Uncle Zhangsun actually intends to impeach over Hong Ai’s case.”
“Your Majesty,” Zhangsun Yao remained calm, completely ignoring Li Ju and Xie Fuchen’s echoing complaints about the Ministry of Justice Office and continued to steer the conversation back to Hong Ai’s case. “As an old minister alongside Lord Wei, who has been loyal to Da Yu for over thirty years, I know Lord Wei’s character well. Lord Wei would never commit treason or sell out the country. When the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact; if Da Yu perishes, what benefit would that bring to him or the Wei family? There’s no profit in treason, that’s the first point. Second, the entire court knows that although Hong Ai was once Lord Wei’s student, the two have long had no contact and are even as hostile as water and fire. With such a tense relationship, how could Hong Ai be used by Lord Wei?”
“Li Ju will probably say that no one can clearly explain their private matters,” Wei Tingxu said. “Do you see any traitor who would put rebellion and treason matters on their face?”
Li Ju let out a cold laugh: “I know Zhangsun Shaofu and Wei Lun have deep feelings, and reportedly your two families have even arranged a marriage. If Wei Lun’s evidence of guilt is conclusive, I wonder if this marriage will continue or not. Humph, if it’s about superficial efforts, anyone can do that. Do you think Hong Ai is someone who would sell out the country? What benefit would selling out Da Yu and leading the enemy into the pass bring him? Ultimately, isn’t it riches and honor? How many people are eagerly eyeing my emperor’s throne, wanting to usurp it! Wanting to rebel! Wanting to be the emperor themselves! Do you think such people are few? Would they write the word ‘rebel’ on their faces?”
Zhangsun Yao lowered his head, and after Li Ju finished speaking, he felt much better, just waiting to see how Zhangsun Yao would respond.
“Your Majesty’s words are very correct,” Zhangsun Yao unexpectedly agreed.
Li Ju’s heart was in chaos, and he looked at Xie Fuchen.
Xie Fuchen acted as if he neither heard nor saw anything, maintaining the same expression from beginning to end.
“At that time,” Wei Tingxu, sitting in the four-wheeled cart, leaned her body slightly forward, “Uncle Zhangsun can then take action.”
“Your Majesty’s words are very correct. Those who want to rebel certainly wouldn’t write the word ‘rebel’ on their faces but would hide behind the scenes and plan everything. Your Majesty, have you seen the letter in which Hong Ai sells out the country?”
Li Ju said, “Naturally.”
“If so, Sima Xie’s crime of rebellion can be determined.”
Zhangsun Yao’s words made Li Ju’s eyes widen, and a low murmur of discussion immediately arose in the court.
“You!” Li Ju said angrily, “Zhangsun Yao! You confuse the public and fabricate false accusations, what is your intention!”
Xie Fuchen, who had been motionless, only slightly moved at this time. He looked at the calm Zhangsun Yao, listening to what he would say next.
“Your Majesty, I am not fabricating false accusations. The letter of rebellion has already clearly written Sima Xie’s crime.”
“The letter clearly states that Wei Lun instructed his student Hong Ai to steal Da Yu’s intelligence and collude with Chongjin. How did Sima Xie rise to the position of Sima again?”
Everyone in the hall was watching Wei Tingxu, waiting for her to continue speaking, but Wei Tingxu gave the opportunity to speak to Zhen Wenjun: “Sister Wenjun, you come and answer everyone’s questions and resolve doubts.”
Standing behind Wei Tingxu, Zhen Wenjun showed no stage fright and calmly said, “Hong Ai falsely accused Lord Wei with a blood-written letter, but my sister had already embedded a counterattack strategy in the letter. Among the twenty-six letters found, twelve mentioned the northwest pass, saying if the Chongjin army entered through the northwest pass, the gate would be wide open, allowing them to drive straight down and capture Runing. This was written in the Chongjin language, which Li Ju and Xie Fuchen might not have checked carefully. I also spent money to hire a Hu person who does business in Runing and understands the Chongjin language to find out the meaning.”
“Northwest pass…” one of Li Yanyi’s strategists remarked, “Isn’t that Qianhai Pass?”
“Correct, guarding Qianhai Pass is Xie Fuchen’s son, Xie Changliu. To convict Lord Wei, they must admit that the collusion letter is true. Once confirmed, the garrison general at Qianhai Pass must have been bribed. So, do Xie Fuchen and Li Ju admit it or not? If they admit, then Xie Changliu is an accomplice. If they don’t, Hong Ai’s blood letter is slander, and the crime of collusion falls back on Feng Kun. More critically, Qianhai Pass is the northern entrance to Mengliang, and Xie Fuchen’s secret troop stationing there was their most fatal mistake. Even if they abandon pursuing the collusion matter, secretly stationing troops is tantamount to rebellion, still threatening their entire clan’s safety.”
After Zhen Wenjun finished speaking, everyone in the hall marveled repeatedly. Li Yanyi, very curious, asked Wei Tingxu:
“When did you learn that Li Ju had sent Xie Fuchen north to station troops? The letters found at Hong Ai’s house were prepared before you went to Mengliang. Could it be that you already knew their plan to station troops before that?”
“This idea was also blindly guessed by Zizhuo. I think that Xie Fuchen, being old and cunning, certainly would not easily let us overthrow Feng Kun and would surely retaliate. The only slight connection with Hong Ai is through my family lord. If my family lord is falsely accused, then I will let Xie Fuchen’s family take the fall. As for the troop stationing, it was discovered only after going to Mengliang, which was a heaven-sent opportunity. Li Ju stationed troops in the north to avoid attention, but now it has become a guillotine hanging over Xie Fuchen’s head. If Li Ju wants to protect Xie Fuchen, he must abandon the hard-earned stationed troops; if he wants the troops, he must break a leg. What he ultimately wants, let him choose himself.”
The four corners of the Tai Ji Hall had large copper basins filled with ice, and the attendants continuously fanned cold air toward the hall’s center, yet Li Ju was still drenched in sweat.
After Zhangsun Yao’s speech, he had no idea how to refute it.
Qianhai Pass? Secretly stationing troops! Whose idea was it to connect these two together? Sima Xie! Why don’t you speak? Why don’t you exonerate yourself?
Even Zhangsun Yao looked somewhat curiously at Xie Fuchen, who still showed no reaction, as if Zhangsun Yao’s words had nothing to do with him.
This kind of person is the one Zhangsun Yao hates the most.
Thinking they have already pierced his weak spot, yet he doesn’t even give the slightest feedback of pain, making people doubt whether they hit the right place.
The snake token fell from Jiang Wang’s released palm into the underground waterway.
Jiang Wang watched as the snake token was about to be swallowed by the black hole, not even blinking his eyes.
He knew what he was doing, and his actions were very likely to ruin Guan Xun’s career path, even forcing him into a dead end. But he had no choice; he had to do so.
The snake token fell into the waterway entrance, and at the same time, a person also jumped down.
Jiang Wang was startled, thinking he was seeing things, but the subsequent splash sound confirmed it was real.
He immediately leaned at the entrance to look down, but the pitch-black underground waterway revealed nothing, only the sound of rushing water could be heard.
Who is it?!
Does this person know how deep and turbulent the waterway is after the storm? Jumping down so rashly, do they not value their life?!
Hearing footsteps gradually approaching, Jiang Wang immediately stood up, lowered his brim, and quickly left.
Zhen Wenjun was being pushed by the current, unable even to turn over, seeing nothing in the dark waterway, unable to distinguish up from down. Her lungs were about to explode; she must immediately rush to the surface for air, or she would surely die here!
Suddenly, something heavily hit her foot, the pain mixing her tears with the water. Another hit, this time on her other leg’s ankle, but it also helped her confirm the direction, understanding that what hit her was perhaps a protrusion at the waterway’s junction. Timing it right, as the next collision approached, she suddenly shrank her legs and kicked downward, instantly breaking through the water.
Zhen Wenjun faced upward in the dark waterway, gasping for breath, her body still being swiftly carried forward by the rapid current, swaying left and right, very unstable.
After coughing for a while, she gradually adapted to the darkness of the waterway, vaguely seeing circles of shadows passing by. If she could grab onto a shadow, she might have a slight chance to catch her breath.
Zhen Wenjun put the snake token in her mouth, extended both hands, and forcefully grasped the shadow. She felt slippery stone, and the water flow boomed, pushing her away. She gritted her teeth and swam against the current, and when the next shadow appeared, she used her bent arms to hang on tightly.
The water flow continuously hit her body, and Zhen Wenjun felt her insides being battered into mush. She gritted her teeth, enduring, her feet kicking wildly until they finally hit a hard stone in front. Stepping on the stone, she tested upwards, finding a waist-high flat surface she could climb onto.
Zhen Wenjun tried several times, and just when her waist was about to break, she finally got her leg onto the platform above, hooked and flipped her body, and landed on the platform.
This platform was not spacious; it was an arc-shaped slippery stone ring. Even if not spacious, it was enough for Zhen Wenjun to catch her breath.
Tightly holding the snake-shaped token, the almost exhausted Zhen Wenjun collapsed on the stone ring. The water flow still occasionally slapped her, but with the snake token in hand, she had beautifully completed her task.
But… Zhen Wenjun looked around, wondering how she should leave this place.
Jiang Wang spat a mouthful of blood on the rainy ground, along with two teeth.
Xiaohua swiftly tied him up, and Jiang Wang did not resist, allowing her to bind him.
“The little girl hits quite hard.” Jiang Wang took such a punch and knew he was no match for Xiaohua, especially since it wasn’t just her; there was also someone wielding a soft sword, likely another martial arts expert.
Of course, what made Jiang Wang completely give up resistance, besides these two people, was most importantly Guan Xun standing in front of him.
Guan Xun did not take any rain gear or raincoat, letting the heavy rain pour over his body. He lifted Jiang Wang up and asked him, “Was it you who stole the snake token?”
Jiang Wang did not answer his question; instead, he stretched his neck and kissed him.
Guan Xun’s facial expression tightened, and he delivered a violent punch to Jiang Wang’s face. Jiang Wang was knocked to the ground, his whole body covered in mud and water.
“You want to kill me? Want to destroy the Ministry of Justice Office?” Guan Xun pulled him up again, Jiang Wang’s official hat had already fallen three steps away, his official uniform was pulled out of shape, blood flowing from his mouth dyed his chin red, yet he was still smiling, still trying to lean forward to kiss him. Guan Xun disgustedly pushed him to the ground.
“I misjudged you; you are not someone who can be entrusted with important tasks.”
Jiang Wang lay on the ground giggling.
“I am not, I never was. I’ve said it long ago, I entered officialdom, became this unlucky Tingwei official all for you, but you just don’t believe it. Look, now you believe it, right? I don’t have your great ambitions, just wanted to follow beside you and occasionally enjoy some good food. Now, I’m tired. I’ve seen enough of your cold face and realized that gold is more practical.” Jiang Wang saw that behind those two women appeared a carriage, the curtain of the carriage was lifted, and Li Yanyi and Wei Tingxu were sitting inside coldly watching him.
“Xie Fuchen gave me one hundred thousand taels of gold!” Jiang Wang loudly said, “He bribed me to steal the Ministry of Justice Office’s snake-shaped token! As long as Guan Xun loses the snake token, his head won’t be safe! This unlucky Ministry of Justice Office will also close down for good! Hahaha! Did you all hear?”
Jiang Wang laughed endlessly towards the sky, while Guan Xun didn’t look at him, his cheeks clenched tightly.
“Zizhuo foresaw things like a god, guessing Xie Fuchen would make a move on the Ministry of Justice Office,” Li Yanyi said. “But Zizhuo, do you think this Jiang Wang is a bit strange?”
“One hundred thousand gold is naturally false; he was forced helplessly to do it. Xie Fuchen should have used something to coerce him, forcing him to comply,” Wei Tingxu said. “Regardless of whether the matter is exposed, he will use this set of already thought-out lies.”
Li Yanyi silently pondered, her heart filled with emotion: “Could it be that she wants Guan Xun to no longer care about her, to distance himself, so she would no longer have any value to be used, and Xie Fuchen would not be able to plot against Guan Xun?”
Wei Tingxu, however, was expressionless, unmoved.
Xiaohua, taller than Jiang Wang by a head, lifted him effortlessly. Lingbi asked him to lead the way to find the waterway entrance where Zhen Wenjun jumped down. This little monkey runs too fast, disappearing in the blink of an eye, knowing she went to intercept Jiang Wang, but not expecting she jumped into the water herself.
Jiang Wang led them to the entrance, and Lingbi leaned over the waterway, shouting Zhen Wenjun’s name, but after shouting for a while, no one answered.
“Stop shouting.” Jiang Wang spat a mouthful of blood and said, “Look at how strong the water is here; even the best swimmer would be swallowed.”
“Shut up,” Lingbi warned him.
The words were directed at Lingbi and the others, but his eyes looked towards Guan Xun: “Some people just don’t like to hear the truth.”
Lingbi kept shouting until her throat was hoarse, but Zhen Wenjun did not respond to her.
They all knew the water flow was rushing forward, and Zhen Wenjun couldn’t be in the same place, but they still held onto a hopeful mindset, shouting and waiting.
One day, two days, three days.
The heavy rain continued to pour, and Zhen Wenjun still did not return.
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