Chapter Seventy-Seven: Gathering Grass and Catching Rabbits

Wu Chengsi had "woken up," returned, and happened to overhear Wu Ming and Lai Wangcai's conversation. Shouting, he burst in, seized Lai Wangcai, and began to pummel him with his fists. Like a madman, he attacked Lai Wangcai with fists and kicks, and in his desperation, even bit deep into Lai Wangcai's shoulder.

Lai Wangcai struggled fiercely from the pain. By the time the Imperial Guards separated them, a sizable chunk of flesh had already been torn from Lai Wangcai’s shoulder by Wu Chengsi’s teeth.

Hearing Lai Wangcai howl in agony and seeing Wu Chengsi, eyes bloodshot, still trying to leap at him, the old emperor furiously slammed his hand on the imperial desk.

“What sort of conduct is this? What sort of decorum? All of you, be silent and stand at attention!”

With the emperor enraged, Lai Wangcai dared not protest. Though he kept his mouth shut, cold sweat poured from him as if it were raining.

Wu Chengsi, facing the old emperor, dropped heavily to his knees with a thud, bowing his head to the floor, his shoulders shaking violently.

In this way, he wordlessly conveyed his grief and anguish to His Majesty.

The old emperor felt it. Thinking of Wu Chengsi’s loss of his son, the emperor glared at Lai Wangcai.

Sweeping his gaze over the assembled officials, the emperor pronounced, “Though Zhang Maoqing was unjustly accused, his misfortune stems from his own careless words. He shall be confined to his home to reflect for half a month.

Wu Desen: senile, muddled, greedy for merit, reckless in speech, and weak in character—he is unfit to remain chief official of city security. From this day, he is retired and sent home to live out his days in peace.

Wu Chengsi: having lost a son in middle age, he has our deepest sympathy. Therefore: he is granted succession to the Duke of Zhou, appointed as Chancellor of State, and promoted to Senior Left Minister of the Secretariat.

Lai Wangcai… though guilty of lax discipline, has already suffered a loss of flesh. He is ordered to return to the Investigation Bureau and strictly discipline his subordinates. Should there be further misconduct, I will not hesitate to punish him severely!

Song Wen: meticulous in thought, diligent in duty, steady in crisis and decisive in action; with excellent professional skill, a cool head, and clear reasoning, he is truly a capable minister of the realm. Thus: he is promoted to Prefect of the Capital Prefecture. May he remain true to his principles and continue to uphold the peace and security of the capital with unwavering resolve!”

Having issued his commands in one breath, the old emperor gave no one the chance to object, and immediately ordered, “Court is dismissed!”

The officials could only respond with silence.

After the ritual acclamation of “Long live the emperor!” they filed out of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Lai Wangcai hobbled and crawled after the emperor to the imperial study to explain himself.

Zhang Maoqing felt his neck, realizing his life had been spared. Though punished, he believed Lai Wangcai would not dare touch him again.

But thinking of Lai Wangcai, of Wu Chengsi’s meteoric rise, and of his own narrow escapes, Zhang Maoqing could not help but feel dejected and dispirited.

This sort of court, this kind of officialdom, he no longer wished to serve.

Yet before resigning, he still wanted to express his gratitude to Song Wen.

Previously, after being knocked out and dragged to an empty room by two men in Investigation Bureau uniforms, Zhang Maoqing had been revived and had seen Song Wen. Only then did he realize those two were imposters.

When he pressed Song Wen for answers, Song Wen merely replied, “You’ll understand in time.”

It was only when Song Wen drew his courtroom diagram before the emperor that Zhang Maoqing realized his life had been saved by him.

Now, wishing to thank him properly, Zhang Maoqing could not find Song Wen anywhere.

He did not know that, just as he was shuffling dispiritedly along, Song Wen had already slipped out of the palace in a flash.

He had no intention of staying there to attract unwelcome attention.

Once outside the palace, Song Wen climbed into his carriage and headed to an inconspicuous teahouse in the northern district.

He nearly finished a whole pot of tea, his seat growing uncomfortably hot, before the unhurried Lord Di finally arrived.

Upon seeing Di Ying, Song Wen leapt up, took several hurried steps forward, and bowed deeply to the floor.

All his brilliant answers before the throne had been thanks to Lord Di’s guidance—he owed him his gratitude.

Di Ying did not refuse Song Wen’s gesture. He reached out with both hands to help him up and, with a forced smile, drew him to sit at the table.

But his smile seemed almost painful, enough to fill one’s heart with unease.

No sooner had Song Wen sat down than he asked urgently, “My lord, you heard it all, didn’t you? That thug did it for the Minister of State! And that scoundrel only lost a bit of flesh!”

Incensed, he thought of something else and quickly asked, “By the way… in the throne room, where were you hiding? Why didn’t His Majesty realize you were there?”

Di Ying’s lips twitched.

“I was standing in front of Wu Yizong, who had returned to the capital to report for duty.”

Song Wen immediately understood.

Wu Yizong was a towering, broad-shouldered man. Wherever he stood, he could easily block anyone from view. Ferocious and bloodthirsty, though the emperor valued him, he always avoided his gaze. Since Wu Yizong was only in the capital briefly, he wouldn’t draw much attention. A face not often seen is seldom remembered.

Just as Song Wen was about to laugh, Di Ying continued, “I have a backlog of cases to handle. Let’s not see each other unless necessary. During the court session, one matter came after another—His Majesty had no time to think of me. But if anyone discovers you’ve been associating with me, and if she learns of it, she will surely see through everything.

As for the rest… let it be for now. This is not the time to pull the tiger’s whiskers.”

Song Wen covered his face, understanding well that today’s dramatic court session had all been orchestrated by Lord Di to promote him. Wu Desen, Wu Chengsi, Lai Wangcai—dealing with them was just hunting rabbits while beating the grass.

Who could have known that, aiming for rabbits, they’d hit a tiger instead? Lord Di must be deeply frustrated.

With these thoughts, even his promotion felt meaningless.

He rose, offered a bow, and said, “If you need anything, just command me. Don’t forget about me.”

Then, lifting the teapot, he poured a cup of tea for his lord with great care, and quietly slipped out the back door.

Di Ying picked up his cup and sipped slowly.

For now, he had no intention of attending morning court. He needed to focus on handling his backlog of cases.

After Song Wen’s departure, Peng Liang, who had been holding back a bellyful of questions, finally asked, “My lord, was Wu Yanyi really killed by someone from the Investigation Bureau?”

“Mm.”

Di Ying, brought back to himself by the question, nodded and explained, “Based on the autopsy results and the reconstruction of the scene, only the Investigation Bureau guard in front of Wu Ming could have killed Wu Yanyi.

From the traces, it’s clear the blow was precise, swift, and ruthless. It was no accident.

When I entered the brokers’ guild hall, I deliberately observed and memorized every guest’s identity and position. I saw Wu Ming, and also noticed that the guards accompanying him were not his usual men.

Of the two guards, one of their faces was familiar—I’d seen him with Lai Wangcai before.

At the time, I was puzzled, thinking Lai Wangcai intended to target Wu Ming.

But after the autopsy, I realized he meant to kill Wu Yanyi.

Once I saw that, it wasn’t hard to deduce: Lai Wangcai’s knife had a mind of its own. He wanted to become Wu Chengsi.

To become Wu Chengsi, he first had to remove him.

And targeting his kin to intimidate and instill fear is Lai Wangcai’s usual tactic.

He truly meant to frame Wu Ming as well.”