As soon as Jing Yi finished speaking, his eyes lit up, and he tapped his fingers lightly on the table.
“Oh, you’re talking about that case from three years ago in Yufu County? When the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review came to sit with me, he did mention a few things. That case has no substantial evidence, and according to the Great Lin legal code, it cannot be reopened. The Minister is also afraid of taking on responsibility, so don’t make things difficult for him.”
Speaking as if he were a saint.
Jingrong understood Jing Yi’s tactics perfectly well and said: “Jing Yi, don’t beat around the bush with me.”
I’m not falling for this act!
Jing Yi let out a breath: “Fine, since you don’t want to go in circles, I won’t either.”
He brushed his sleeves and looked up at Jingrong: “Regarding this case, whether publicly or privately, it cannot be reopened. And Scholar Ji is neither a court official nor a government coroner, so for her to take on this case doesn’t make sense. The only solution is for her to personally beat the imperial drum herself. That way, the case can be investigated, and Scholar Ji can legitimately take it on. Besides this method, I imagine there’s no better way.”
“You knew she couldn’t possibly endure forty rod strikes.”
“I knew.” Jing Yi said: “Otherwise, you wouldn’t have come here today.”
Uh!
So everyone had calculated this chess game all along.
Jing Yi picked up the paper he had written on from the table, then stood up, walked around the table in front of him, and displayed the calligraphy he had written before Jingrong.
While saying: “Do you still remember when we lived at the Eighth Prince’s Manor as children? Father Emperor once praised that among all his many sons, only my calligraphy was the most beautiful. But that piece I sent for him to see was actually one I had stolen from you. I still remember very clearly the words you wrote on that paper back then.”
He paused, then continued: “The nature of man lies within; emptiness becomes substance, substance becomes emptiness. Heaven values those who can discuss the Way again, wisdom does not betray the heart and arrives naturally to sufficiency. What is, is; what is not, is not—all is determined by heaven’s will.”
As he spoke, Jing Yi had already folded the paper in his hand and began burning it over the candle flame.
The faint smell of burning irritated the nose, truly unpleasant.
Jingrong’s gaze remained fixed straight ahead!
He didn’t speak.
“The words you wrote back then conveyed indifference to fame and fortune, seeking freedom as your purpose. The only person who could have that kind of mentality was you—no one else. Father Emperor knew in his heart that you wrote it, and he also knew that I had stolen it from you, but he said nothing. He only said my calligraphy was beautiful. Jingrong, Father Emperor has always known that you don’t want to compete, that you’re unwilling to compete. So this time, Father Emperor is giving you an opportunity to become the person you wrote about. Yufu County is your opportunity—to distance yourself from the court, to leave the capital, to become your wise and contented person.”
He continued in his sarcastically strange tone: “As long as you agree to actively tell Father Emperor that you’re willing to go to Yufu to investigate the missing disaster relief funds, then everything can be resolved. With just one word from me, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review will agree to reopen the case and will specifically designate Scholar Ji to investigate. You’ll also be able to go to Yufu County together with her. It’s perfect for both parties, isn’t it?”
It had to be said, it truly was a good idea.
After listening to this lengthy discourse, Jingrong took a deep breath and turned his head to look at him.
He said: “From the very beginning, you had made up your mind.”
“Yes!”
“What if your plan fails?”
“The facts prove that you came, so I haven’t failed.” Jing Yi smiled with confidence in his victory: “Actually, why must you compete with me? I know that Jing Hua’s death may have provoked you, that you want to avenge him, and even want to prevent me from becoming Crown Prince. That’s why you stepped one foot into factional strife. But Jingrong, if you can spend your life with the person you love, wouldn’t that be one of life’s great joys? You and Scholar Ji go to Yufu County and become a couple unbothered by worldly affairs. No matter how fierce the storms in the capital, they’ll have nothing to do with you. You can peacefully be your carefree prince, and after I become Emperor, I won’t strike you down either.”
Who would believe that?
But given the current situation, Jingrong had no choice but to believe it.
This deal, he had to make.
“If I agree to you, will you have the Court of Judicial Review agree to reopen the case?”
“Of course!” Jing Yi was very forthright.
Jingrong said: “Fine. Tomorrow I’ll enter the palace to see Father Emperor. I’ll take over the matter of the disaster relief funds in Yufu County. You must also keep your word.”
“A gentleman’s word is his bond.”
Purpose achieved.
Jingrong didn’t linger and left.
As soon as he left, Jing Yi went to notify the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, having him stamp the document submitted by the Jing Zhaoyin, agreeing to reopen the case.
And Jingrong didn’t break his word either. Early the next morning, he entered the palace for an imperial audience.
He voluntarily requested the assignment to go to Yufu County.
“You truly want to go to Yufu?” Emperor Qizhen asked.
Jingrong lowered his head: “Your subject is willing to go.”
“Since that’s the case, I shall grant it.”
You could at least try to persuade him to stay!
However, just as Jing Yi had said, in fact, regarding the Yufu County disaster relief funds matter, Emperor Qizhen’s ultimate objective all along was to have Jingrong go. Although secretly it was exile, so-called exile was nothing more than being far from the capital. Jingrong could be a carefree prince there, not having to be deeply mired in factional strife—it was also a kind of protection Emperor Qizhen was giving him.
After all, Jing Yi’s power was beginning to grow. With the Crown Prince dead, Jing Yi’s next step would definitely be to deal with Jingrong.
Emperor Qizhen had lost the Crown Prince and couldn’t lose another son, so he thought of this method. Sending Jingrong away from the capital was indeed a good idea.
Soon, the imperial edict came down as well. Jingrong held that edict and left the palace.
At Prince Rong’s Manor!
Ji Yunshu had lain there for a day and a night and finally woke up. The pain on her back made her involuntarily furrow her brow.
Wincing from the pain, she sat up from the bed. The little maid placed several soft pillows behind her back.
To prevent her back from being hurt.
Muruo hadn’t left since yesterday and had been there until today. When bored, he also had someone warm several pots of wine and began drinking openly in the room.
At this moment, he still held a small cup in his hand, turning it around and around.
Then, seemingly talking to himself, he said: “What is most difficult in this world? It’s love!”
Ji Yunshu looked at him with those hollow, bloodshot eyes, understanding his meaning. Her pale lips parted slightly.
“Was I wrong?”
“No, you weren’t wrong!” Muruo put down his wine cup and looked at her. “In this world, everyone’s choices are different, and the paths they walk will also be different. You can sacrifice your life for someone you’re not familiar with—that’s your fate, not your mistake.”
She smiled bitterly: “Perhaps I truly should have been beaten to death.”
“If you died, Jingrong wouldn’t be able to live either. You have your choice, and he can also make his choice for you. Miss Ji, I actually admire you very much. Perhaps in others’ eyes, you’re far too stubborn, stubbornly selfish even. But it’s precisely because of you that case after case has been solved. The world needs you, just as it needs physicians. Who hasn’t been sick? Who hasn’t made mistakes?”
“Then can you tell me? What is Jingrong’s choice?”
Muruo fell silent for a long while.
Only then did he say: “To go to Yufu!”