Chapter 32: An Audience with the Emperor
d their contest for the Yun Ding Immortal Palace and left Chiyun Mountain, Zhuang Yong's border troops were still confronting each other on the Qichang Mountains.The order to withdraw should have been...Located at the northeast corner of the grand Daqi Imperial Palace, Qingshi Palace stands alone like an island in the sea of people. It is a scar on this great city.
Time seemed to flow with extraordinary clarity here.
A sparrow stood on the high wall, pecking at it indiscriminately, grinding its sharp beak like a swordsman sharpening his blade.
A spider on the eaves was slowly climbing down, its silk line trailing behind. Its web had long been empty of prey, hanging there lonely and forgotten.
The majestic eagle spread its wings and soared across the sky, flying over the deserted Changsheng Palace and then veering past Huaying Palace.
In the palace, Jiang Wuyu held two swords and walked around the field, wielding them like raindrops.
"It's his own business, let him choose as he sees fit."
An old woman with white hair held a large shield, standing silently on the sidelines.
Through countless degrees of wind and rain, she watched this figure in the hall grow step by step, each step filled with confidence and determination.
Swords, spears, blades, axes, hooks, forks... eighteen weapons are all like extensions of my arm. Embarking on the path of martial arts, with a heart that embraces the world.
When the eagle cries, it is near and yet far away.
The master of the Raising Heart Palace was surprisingly home today, leaning back against a soft cushion with one hand propping his cheek. His silk robe had been thrown open, revealing his muscular physique.
One hand lifted the chin of the beautiful woman in front of him, and he just smiled and said, "While they watch the play, I watch beauties. After all, how many truly grasp reality, unaware that their whole lives are spent dreaming of fish!"
Its feathers were like blades, cutting through the sky without a trace. It circled the outer palace once, flew over Changle Palace, then shot upwards, suddenly shedding its feathers and claws, transforming into a plump worm that burrowed into the clouds.
Upon closer inspection, that cloud resembled a white lantern.
Longle Palace.
The prince, who was pruning the flower branches, suddenly stopped and let out a long sigh: "I am now like a god!"
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She placed the scissors on the wooden tray held by the eunuch.
Thus, blood flowed like a river, and flesh was exposed...
With a turn, he appeared before them.
As the busiest thoroughfare in Beicheng, Xuanwu Street is extremely wide and long, always bustling with pedestrians.
But Jiang Wangqing, in her green shirt, held her sword and strode forward. She seemed to be alone on a solitary boat amidst the crowd.
Unflappable and composed.
Sometimes people would stop and linger, watching him walk away.
Few truly know what he is about to do, but his lofty bearing alone is enough to make one's heart tremble—this is the Qí prodigy!
The palace of the Great Qi was located in the center of Linzi, with three layers inside and out.
The outermost palace complex is the largest, encompassing the Zixie Hall where court meetings were held, the Changle Palace where the prince resided, the Huaying Palace where the three princesses lived... even the Qingshi Palace where the deposed prince was imprisoned, all lay within this area.
But when Jiang Wang walked to the gate of Wai Palace, this solitary journey came to an end.
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From the northern palace to the imperial palace, the journey was smooth sailing, not even a startled horse. It seemed as if Linzi had always been this peaceful and serene.
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With a calm demeanor, Jiang Wang stopped before the crossing swords, bowing to the palace guards: "I am Jiang Wang, a third-rank golden melon warrior from Qingyang Town. I request an audience with His Majesty the Emperor."
The leader of the palace guards stood stiff as a stone statue, commanding his men to leave in a hurry.
The sky is high and the clouds are serene, with ten thousand palaces.
The Qigong Palace was majestic yet peaceful. At this moment, everything seemed to stand still like the palace itself. All those dramatic tales lay silent in the passage of time.
The Empress or the ze family.
He dared to kill Gongsun Yu in Biwu County and dared to kill Wulie overseas.
Killing an ordinary citizen like Yang Jing shouldn't be a big deal.
When pushed to the brink, even killing Lin wouldn't be beyond him.
But he dared not touch Jiang Qingyang in Linzi!
Even if I was scared, terrified, I wouldn't dare to do that.
If one were to ask, what did Jiang Wang gain from his two years of relentless struggle in Qi
This is the answer.
In a short while, the palace guard who had delivered the message returned in haste, accompanied by a eunuch scribe.
This was not the Churchill Jiang Wang was familiar with, but a tall man with a stern face. He did not give his name, only saying to Jiang Wang: “The emperor summons you, please follow me.”
He led the way, looking back at no one.
Jiang Wang didn't try to get close, and followed behind him in large strides.
Behind the palace gate stood a high platform called "The Platform of Disarming Soldiers". On the platform were several rows of ancient weapons racks, heavy with a solemn and imposing aura.
All those entering the palace to see the emperor must disarm here.
The air is thick with the presence of soldiers, but they are all stationed here in this central location.
Jiang Wang raised his head and strode forward with his sword, passing the palace guards in front of the military platform. Neither did they stop him nor did the chief eunuch who led the way utter a word.
In ancient times, when the Yellow River produced a top scholar, the emperor bestowed upon him a sword and commanded him to go to court!
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The Imperial audience was held at Tokugawa Palace. After the Emperor finished his duties, he often practiced there.
Thus, to meet Jiang Wang can also be said to be a kind of intimacy.
When Jiang Wang stepped into the hall, the Son of Heaven was sitting on a golden stone platform. There were nine pillars carved with coiled dragons, standing around the platform on three sides like three high walls, guarding the Son of Heaven.
The coiled dragon holds a jewel, within which jade smoke arises. The smoke constantly shifts and changes, at times resembling mountains and seas, at times throngs of living beings.
Before the stone platform, only Han Ling stood alone. At times, he seemed to not exist at all. But when you looked for him, he was always within your sight. Such skill is beyond ordinary people.
The eunuch who had escorted him out, left outside the palace.
Jiang Wang bent down to bow.
The Emperor waved his hand dismissively, saying, "For non-major ceremonies, elaborate rituals are unnecessary."
The emperor at this time, wearing a loose robe and plain clothes, seemed to have lost some of his solemnity and gained some casualness. With a flick of his wide sleeve, he overlooked Jiang Wang on the stone platform: "What brings Qingyangzi here"
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Jiang Wang stood straight, not daring to look directly at the emperor, but his voice was loud and clear: "For the case of Feng Gu, the chief eunuch of Changsheng Palace!"
"I recall you were in charge of this case..." The Emperor's voice was gentle yet authoritative: "Could it be that there are irregularities or injustices during the course of the investigation"
Jiang Wangdao: "I oversee the investigation of cases, and have made a significant discovery. Due to the gravity of the matter, I dare not conceal it from Your Majesty, hence my presence here. Though this exceeds my jurisdiction, it stems solely from my unwavering loyalty to the Emperor."
The Son of Heaven said, "Since this is a matter of great importance, why not convene a meeting in the Hall of Public Affairs, instead of holding a private audience"
As soon as this question was asked, Jiang Wang's heart skipped a beat!
At first glance, the emperor pointed out his responsibility in this case. He was plainly asking him if there were any problems during Zheng Shangming and Lin Youxie's handling of the case. Implicitly, he was asking if it was inappropriate for him to enter the palace alone to meet with him regarding this case.
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He answered, "This matter is of great importance and my loyalty to the monarch is unwavering."
The emperor then asked him, "Why don't you report government affairs to the Hall of Supreme Harmony..."
This expresses dissatisfaction.
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To be honest, Jiang Wang's intention in making a scene at the Lin family's doorstep and sending everyone who was monitoring them to the Beiya prison was deliberate.
He went from the Metropolitan Inspection Office all the way to the imperial palace, taking no detours and making no attempt to hide his purpose.
Who does not know that he has today met with the Son of Heaven from all over the land
In fact, the act of privately visiting the emperor achieved some of the effects that an official memorial would have.
To a certain extent, it put the emperor on a pedestal.
If the court and the populace all believe that Jiang Wang is bringing evidence of the assassination of Lei Gui Fei from back then to meet the Emperor, then it would be only right for the Emperor to give the world an explanation.
So the emperor asked him, why don't you just hand over the evidence to the Ministry of Government Affairs
If you're going to go public, might as well go all the way.
If you want to make a big fuss, make an even bigger one.
But can your small frame, Jiang Qingyang, withstand the consequences of a major uproar
Jiang Wang lowered his head and said, "Because I have no conclusive evidence, I cannot convince all the gentlemen, nor can I present it publicly."
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Even the Emperor Taizong, known for his stoic demeanor and rarely revealing his emotions, couldn't help but chuckle coldly. "Then what brings you before me Is it your supposed loyalty"
The emperor could also be very humorous at times.
But the two characters "loyal to the monarch" can be used humorously, and in a sense, it is precisely because they are not reliable.
This is a very dangerous signal.
Jiang Wang did not show fear, only earnestly said: "Your Majesty, I wish to tell Your Majesty a story."
The emperor remained silent.
Therefore, Jiang Wang stood upon the grand hall, adjusted his emotions slightly, and began to speak: "Your Majesty, I have traveled beyond the heavens and encountered strange things. There is a floating land out there, where hundreds of races clash endlessly, with wars raging constantly. In the midst of this land lies a nation, surpassing its neighbors in power. Its ruler possesses extraordinary talent and wisdom, excelling in both civil and military affairs, unmatched throughout history..."
One year, the minister raised an army to rebel, and the sovereign led troops in person to quell the rebellion.
That year, the former crown prince was imprisoned and the new crown prince had just been installed. His position as heir apparent was unstable.
The imperial consort is pregnant and desires the position of empress. Therefore, she uses an assassin to create a chaotic scene in the palace, attempting to injure herself and frame the current empress...
The empress dowager, upon learning of this, secretly ordered an outer official to attach a deadly poison to the blade. Thus, the king's beloved consort met her death from a wound that bled profusely.
The beloved concubine died, and the dragon child in her womb was born through a Cesarean section.
The sovereign pitied him and loved him dearly.
This child was born with innate deficiencies. Even in the womb, he had a strange poison in his marrow.
Born a genius, his talents were unmatched in his time. Despite a frail body, he persevered, driven by the heart of ten thousand people.
And so people investigated the past, and finally learned the truth...
...but remained resolutely silent.
Jiang Wang, having said this, bowed respectfully to the emperor: "May I ask your Majesty, do you know why this prince does not avenge his mother or himself"
Upon the golden stone platform, the emperor remained silent for a long time before finally saying, “What do you wish to say”
Yet Jiang Wang didn't let the matter drop. Instead, he pressed on, asking: "Since the world is filled with speculation about Prince Lu, some say he harbors a heart for the whole world and cannot bear to see the court in turmoil, so he chooses to endure his anger in silence. Others say that he faces powerful enemies and cannot openly confront them, therefore he must plot slowly... Your Majesty, which of these do you believe"
"What do you think" the emperor asked. His voice showed no joy or sorrow.
"Your Majesty, I believe..." Jiang Wang respectfully said: "The Duke cares for him deeply. And he, in turn, loves and respects the Duke. The reason he remains silent is simply that. It's not as complicated as you think. He is just a child who grew up alone and fears losing his father's love."
“Jiang Qingyang…” The Emperor’s voice was lofty and majestic: “Is it not the duty of a subject to serve”
It's impossible to tell from the sound of his voice alone whether the emperor was moved.
And the four characters "taken for granted" are truly treacherous.
But having said that, Jiang Wang could only grit his teeth and continue.
"Your Majesty, in my investigation of the Feng Gu case from Changsheng Palace, I had the fortune to see a mural within the palace. It was painted by eleven skilled artists and I found it deeply moving. I believe Your Majesty must not miss this... There is a painting in the imperial garden called "Ten Thousand Beings," depicting a solitary grave with only four characters inscribed on its tombstone. Please, Your Majesty, take a look."
Jiang Wang was still bowing her head slightly, unable to see anything but her own boots and the golden steps ahead of her.
Of course, even if he raised his head, he couldn't look directly at the emperor. He didn't know if the emperor had looked at him or how he was looking at him.
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But he could faintly sense, on the golden stone platform ahead, a great power... radiating out.
He could only perceive the edge of that fluctuation, but he was already awestruck by its vastness and grandeur.
After a long silence, the Emperor's voice echoed down, "You came all this way just to tell me a story"
Jiang Wangdao: “Your Majesty has appointed me to oversee this case. I have come for the truth.”
"You have finished your story, and I have listened to it..."
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Jiang Wang could fully feel that he was being stared at by this Overlord of the World.
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Although the emperor did not unleash any pressure, nor did he mix in even a trace of emotion, just his identity, his power, was enough to crush into a mountain in the hearts of those who were watched.
And that resounding voice, as if resonating with the entire palace, slowly subsided: "Now, tell me about your case."
Jiang Wang stood straight, lowering his eyes slightly: "Today, I bring three cases to meet the emperor!"
The emperor remained noncommittal.
Standing before the stone platform, Han Ling's eyes twitched slightly.
Three items
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This Jiang Qingyang is truly arrogant and ignorant of his own limits... It's a pity.
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Though he felt sorry, there was no expression on his face.
While Jiang Wang had already spoken loudly, "The first case is the death of Feng Gu, the chief eunuch of Changsheng Palace."
Han held her breath, and then heard——
“The Imperial censor supervised, and the Deputy Inspector Lin Youxie personally investigated, confirming that Feng Gu committed suicide without a doubt. The man hanged himself in the spirit hall and left no suicide note. It seems...he may have died to honor his master.”
Feng Gu's suicide, while said to be for the sake of his lord, wasn't necessarily wrong.
And his hatred for the queen and accusations against her, anyone who has a deep understanding of the case can know. There is no need to state it again.
Only the voice of the emperor was heard saying: "If it is suicide to die for the lord, then burial without abandonment is the way. What about the second"
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With no sound, like clouds moving and rain falling, the cycle of heaven runs.
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The second case is the murder of Gongsun Yu, an official of the former Changsheng Palace.
Jiang Wang said loudly: "The person lived in seclusion in Biwu County, studying behind closed doors and never leaving. He was known for his sharp tongue in his youth, so he cut off his own tongue to avoid the world and live peacefully. However, recently, he was murdered by a wicked person. The minister requests Your Majesty to issue an order to thoroughly investigate this case to comfort the spirit of His Royal Highness in heaven!"
The emperor apparently hadn't expected that the second case Jiang Wang would bring up was this one.
In particular, Jiang Wang almost explicitly stated that Gongsun Yu went into seclusion by cutting off his tongue to protect a secret. This person was so devoted to Jiang Wuqidi, yet after Jiang Wuqidi's death, he was easily killed.
If the Eleventh Prince were to have a spirit in heaven, how could he find peace
After a moment of silence, the Emperor's voice spoke: “This matter indeed requires an explanation.”
This sentence means that the person who directly killed Gongsun Yu will be brought to light in some form. Of course, it won't involve anything deeper behind the scenes.
This case remains well-contained.
In this vast Deer Palace, there were only three people present, including Jiang Wang.
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The three of them all knew that the third case they hadn't solved yet was the real reason for their trip.
So even Han Ling, who had always been as still as a sculpture, couldn't help but look up at Jiang Wang.
Looking at this young man who confronts the emperor of Qi head-on.
And Jiang Wanghong declared, “The third case I wish to report is the suicide of the renowned detective Lin Kuang seventeen years ago!”
Han Ling let out a sigh of relief, then inexplicably sighed again.
"After all, few truly grasp the deer; perhaps they dream their whole lives as fish!" - Huang Tingjian, *Seven Poems, First*
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