A thousand gold coins are easily obtained, but a true friend is hard to find.
If we say Boya and Ziqi represented high mountains and flowing water, then Yuncheng and Haiyan were like fruits that grew together from the mud. For ten years of seeking office, they weathered storms together. Later, when they became wealthy, when Yuncheng married, Haiyan broke through doors to escort the bride for him. When Haiyan had a son, Yuncheng even crafted an enormous golden spoon as a gift, selling one of his estates to afford it.
Ruyi remembered where she had heard this name before. During those busy days at the wine house, guests often chatted idly in the main hall, and people had spoken of the “friendship of Yun and Hai,” which had always been praised by the people of Great Qian.
These two men could have originally grown old together, drinking wine and reminiscing about their lives, but at the juncture of their thirties, Haiyan died.
Ruyi sighed with melancholy, feeling she could understand Yuncheng’s emotions.
Yuncheng led this group back to Ten-Li Wind Pavilion, where His Majesty, having just hunted three flower deer, was loudly praising County Princess Jinghong’s bravery.
“Your Majesty.” He strode forward urgently and, without another word, knelt, kowtowing toward the dragon throne. His forehead struck the cold brick and stone, drawing blood after just two or three strikes.
The emperor was startled by this commotion and quickly ordered attendants to help him up, frowning as he asked: “What has happened?”
Yuncheng tremblingly presented a jade flute, choking up speechlessly: “Haiyan has been murdered, his body lies in the forest. I beg Your Majesty to deliver justice!”
The emperor’s expression immediately darkened.
If County Princess Jinghong’s earlier assassination could be attributed to her carelessness, Haiyan was always cautious, a pillar of the nation whom he greatly relied upon as a favored minister. How could he die in the forest?
Yuncheng’s weeping cast a shadow over the surroundings. The emperor suppressed his anger and spoke: “Ziyan, go take a look first. Bring a stretcher for proper burial preparation.”
“Yes.” Shen Qiyuan rose, his gaze lingering on Ruyi for a moment.
Li Zhaoying was also curious how Ruyi had returned with Yuncheng, but with the emperor’s great fury at present, it wasn’t the time to ask. She only whispered to Shen Qiyuan: “With me here, no matter what happens, I can hold things together until you return.”
Shen Qiyuan nodded before striding away with his men.
“Haiyan and I agreed to shoot foxes. After I shot two, I turned to find him, only to discover him lying in that maple grove with a huge hole in the back of his head, covered in blood, unable to answer me at all.” Yuncheng’s grief was unstoppable. “He served as an official for over ten years, upright and honest, as Your Majesty knows. What kind of person would want to harm him?”
His Majesty consoled him while looking at Ruyi with puzzlement: “Miss Liu?”
Ruyi helplessly stepped forward to bow: “Greetings, Your Majesty.”
“Ziyan did mention you would come, but what are you doing here?”
“Reporting to Your Majesty, it was truly unfortunate that this humble woman stumbled upon the earlier murder case.” She answered respectfully.
“Oh? Did you see the killer?”
“No, when this humble woman arrived, Lord Hai had already fallen beneath the tree.”
A nearby official stepped forward to explain: “A waist sash dropped by the killer was found at the scene, matching the style worn by this Miss Liu. That’s why Lord Yun brought her over.”
Yuncheng presented the waist sash from his hand. His Majesty examined it briefly and asked: “Miss Liu, do you have evidence to prove this case has nothing to do with you?”
Ruyi thought for a moment: “Before going to the maple grove, this humble woman was with the County Princess the entire time. As long as the coroner determines Lord Hai’s time of death, this humble woman may be cleared of suspicion.”
Li Zhaoying quickly stepped forward: “Your Majesty, Miss Liu has a gentle nature. Never mind killing people—when we hunted together earlier, she couldn’t bear to shoot even a rabbit.”
Ruyi rarely felt a pang of conscience.
This perfectly good young girl had learned to lie in the blink of an eye. What a sin, what a sin indeed.
Li Zhaoying’s words carried considerable weight. The emperor pondered for a moment before returning his gaze to the waist sash: “Send people to investigate. If anyone’s clothing is disheveled, bring them before me.”
“Yes.” The Imperial Guards received the order and departed.
Ruyi’s eyes flickered.
She had never inquired about Fuman’s past and didn’t know if she had any grudge against Lord Hai. If she hadn’t killed him, that would be fine—Shen Qiyuan would clear her name.
But what if she had committed the deed?
Those with disheveled clothing were quickly brought into the pavilion.
When Ruyi turned to look, her eyelid immediately twitched.
Zhao Yanning wore loose stone-blue robes, his waist completely unbound. He was pressed to kneel at the bottom of the steps, his face perfectly calm.
“Your Majesty, this person was loitering nearby, behaving suspiciously.”
Yuncheng turned his head, his gaze suddenly fierce: “It’s you!”
“What?” The emperor was puzzled. “You know him?”
“Your Majesty, this person was originally a coroner at the Ministry of Justice and previously had conflicts with Haiyan.”
“Explain in detail.”
Yuncheng gritted his teeth. If not for being in the imperial presence, judging by his expression, he might have pounced to bite through Zhao Yanning’s throat.
“A year ago, a tea guest under Haiyan’s patronage died. It seemed to involve a case and was sent to the Ministry of Justice for examination. This person examined the body and immediately spoke disrespectfully to Haiyan, calling him a murderer. Without evidence, Haiyan naturally paid no attention, but this person repeatedly made accusations and even incited Lord Shen to convict Haiyan.”
“Haiyan was magnanimous and wouldn’t stoop to argue with such a petty person, but this man’s obsession never faded over the years. Just over a month ago, he was still loitering outside Hai Manor.”
Ruyi listened with narrowed eyes.
Over a month ago—wasn’t that just when they had left the Ministry of Justice office? At that time, Zhao Yanning did indeed want revenge, but hadn’t he gone to the Grand Preceptor’s manor? What did that have to do with Haiyan?
No one answered her confusion. Upon hearing these words, His Majesty’s expression darkened as he sternly shouted: “Zhao, in broad daylight, how dare you murder a court official!”
Zhao Yanning replied calmly: “This commoner doesn’t know what that lord inside is talking about. This commoner has been waiting for someone here, loitering for half an hour. The nearby guards can all testify.”
Yuncheng was speechless and incredulously summoned several guards. Indeed, this person had been in the vicinity the entire time, only leaving for the duration of one incense stick’s burning. The time of one incense stick wasn’t enough to go to the maple grove and return.
“Then where is your belt?” The emperor frowned.
“Earlier, when relieving myself, I set it aside, but it disappeared. This commoner was also puzzled—with such distinguished nobles gathered here, how could an ordinary waist sash be stolen?”
The emperor produced the earlier waist sash: “Is this it?”
Zhao Yanning glanced at it and nodded: “Yes.”
“He’s lying! If he merely lost his waist sash, how did it appear in the maple grove? He devised a vicious method, following Haiyan to murder him!” Yuncheng kowtowed again. “I beg Your Majesty to deliver justice for Haiyan!”
With motive for murder and key evidence, the emperor simply waved his hand: “Enough, drag this person away. Let him accompany my beloved minister Hai in death.”
Ruyi looked up in surprise.
That was it? The logic hadn’t even been sorted out. If Zhao Yanning went to kill someone, then who did the guards see?
The emperor’s face showed complete indifference.
Just a commoner—if it could appease his distraught favored minister, that was already useful enough. With such great suspicion, accompanying him in death wasn’t particularly unjust.