After Tian Cheng found an excuse to dismiss the guards outside Jinyun Pavilion, Gao Shao brought Li Qilü—whose head and face were covered with cloth—through the side door into the courtyard.
Gao Shao covered Li Qilü’s mouth from behind while Tian Cheng drew his blade and thrust it into Li Qilü’s chest.
After he stopped struggling and breathed his last, Gao Shao quickly created some climbing marks on the courtyard wall to the south. Seeing Gao Shao quietly leave, Tian Cheng shouted that there was an assassin and repeatedly stabbed with his blade. Li Qilü had just died moments ago, so when the blade pierced his body, fresh blood still spurted out, splashing all over Tian Cheng. By this time, guards from the outer courtyard rushed over, only seeing the scene of Tian Cheng cutting down the assassin.
Han Qian had just returned to the Han family mansion in Lanting Lane not long ago and had just pretended to undress for bed when people from the Prince’s Manor rode over and pounded on the gate: “Lord Han, an assassin has broken into the Prince’s Manor at night. His Highness requests Lord Han come to the Prince’s Manor immediately.”
Only then did Han Qian put on a show of dressing properly. Moreover, to perform the act completely, he specifically put on leather armor and, bringing Zhao Wuji, Xi Fa’er and others, led out his horse and galloped toward the Prince’s Manor, not caring how many people’s sweet dreams were awakened by the urgent drumming of hoofbeats.
The Third Prince returning from the palace to his manor and encountering assassins wasn’t the first time, but even though the assassin had just infiltrated the Prince’s Manor and hadn’t even found where the inner residence gate was before being stabbed to death by Tian Cheng, absolutely no one dared treat this lightly.
When Han Qian rushed to the Prince’s Manor, Marquis Xinchang Li Pu, Chen De, Shen Yang, Zheng Hui, Wang Lin, Gao Chengyuan, Guo Liang, Zhang Ping, Guo Rong, Li Chong, Zheng Xingxuan and others all arrived one after another.
“I must trouble Lord Zhang to immediately send someone into the palace to report. With such an incident occurring, His Majesty must be informed at the first opportunity.” Han Qian didn’t go to see the Third Prince but went directly to the courtyard of Jinyun Pavilion. Seeing the corpse had been stabbed three times, he looked up at the climbing marks on the courtyard wall. After confirming that the work done by Tian Cheng and Gao Shao had left no flaws, he spoke to Zhang Ping, who had arrived at the scene first.
“Someone has already been sent to the palace,” Zhang Ping said.
“Then we’ll seal off the scene and await His Majesty’s decree. Perhaps this case will still need to be handled directly by the Palace Attendants Bureau?” Han Qian looked toward Shen Yang and asked inquiringly.
“Don’t you think this person’s face looks familiar?” Li Chong reminded Han Qian in a suppressed voice.
Li Chong and the others all lived closer than Han Qian and had already conducted a preliminary examination of the scene.
“Oh!” Han Qian squatted down, used his hand to move the corpse’s face, drew in a sharp breath, and immediately looked toward the courtyard where the Feng brothers were confined with suspicion all over his face. He asked Gao Chengyuan, Commander of the Personal Guard Bureau: “Have you added more personnel to that courtyard?”
Although Feng Yi hadn’t entered and left the Prince’s Manor many times after the New Year, many people in the Prince’s Manor recognized the faces of several of his attendants. However, Han Qian had no need to pretend not to recognize them.
“We’ve already sent people to put leg irons on all three of them,” Gao Chengyuan said.
As Commander of the Personal Guard Bureau, Gao Chengyuan actually held the same role as the previous Guard Battalion Commander, only with a higher military rank now.
He was solely responsible for guarding inside and outside the Prince’s Manor. Although the assassin had just infiltrated and was discovered and killed by Tian Cheng, the pressure on Gao Chengyuan’s shoulders was considerable.
Before everything was investigated clearly, Gao Chengyuan naturally first ordered that Feng Liao, Feng Yi, and Kong Xirong be imprisoned.
“What do they know?” Han Qian asked.
“The person had just infiltrated when Tian Cheng spotted him. They shouldn’t have made contact yet. I put leg irons on them just as a precaution, but haven’t questioned them. How about you go probe them?” Gao Chengyuan asked.
As Commander of the Personal Guard Bureau, Gao Chengyuan’s rank was a level higher than Han Qian’s, but he knew Han Qian’s status in the Third Prince’s eyes.
Gao Chengyuan absolutely didn’t believe Han Qian was involved with the assassin, but the assassin had infiltrated the Prince’s Manor from the Jinyun Pavilion side, making it more likely he came to make contact with the Feng brothers. Moreover, it was Han Qian who, mindful of past friendship, had the Feng brothers confined in the Prince’s Manor. If this matter was truly handed over to the Palace Attendants Bureau for investigation—especially since most of the eunuchs in the Palace Attendants Bureau were from Anning Palace—Gao Chengyuan felt it necessary to let Han Qian communicate with the Feng brothers first to avoid being implicated by schemes from Anning Palace people.
Han Qian glanced left and right, then said to Shen Yang: “Master Shen Yang, you all go see His Highness first. I’ll delay briefly then come over.”
The others didn’t find it odd that Han Qian wanted to see the Feng brothers alone. Since guards had been strengthened inside and out, they went first to the inner residence to see the Third Prince.
Han Qian entered the courtyard where the Feng brothers were confined and indicated that the guards should station themselves inside and outside the courtyard, not standing before the corridor and interfering with his conversation with the Feng brothers.
Feng Liao sat in the corner, not even glancing at Han Qian. Kong Xirong’s face was full of anger, but it was Feng Yi who couldn’t hold back first, demanding of Han Qian in a suppressed voice: “What is the meaning of this? That scum Li Qilü was clearly in your hands. Suddenly breaking into the Prince’s Manor and being killed by Tian Cheng—what exactly are you trying to do?”
“Have you told anyone else about this?” Seeing that guards had already secretly informed them about Li Qilü breaking into the manor and being killed, Han Qian thought this saved him the preamble and asked with feigned alarm.
“Han Qian, you’re ruthless and merciless—do we dare tell others about this?” Feng Yi said indignantly. “What exactly are you trying to do? Damn it, speak quickly! Even if you’re going to kill us, please make it quick!”
“Brother Feng Liao doesn’t think I’m deliberately trying to harm you, does he?” Han Qian asked Feng Liao with a face full of grievance.
This was precisely what puzzled Feng Liao endlessly. He truly couldn’t guess Han Qian’s motive for harming them, but Li Qilü had been detained by Han Qian, and it was only after interrogating Li Qilü that Han Qian learned of their whereabouts.
Seeing Feng Liao remain silent, Han Qian sighed and said: “You were able to keep your mouths shut—that’s fortunate. When I just saw Li Qilü, I worried you might let something slip in your urgency—people from the Inner Palace Bureau took Li Qilü away two days ago! Currently, others in the Prince’s Manor don’t yet know that Li Qilü was detained by me and then secretly taken away by people from the Inner Palace Bureau!”
“Ah!” Feng Liao stood up abruptly, asking in disbelief: “What does this mean?”
“Who knows? Can I run before His Majesty and ask? I can only pretend not to know about this. Even if you shout it out, I won’t admit it,” Han Qian said with a bitter smile.
Seeing Han Qian’s fearful expression, Feng Liao said nothing.
With such treatment of the Feng family, who in the court still dared speak carelessly? Moreover, Han Qian had just received an audience today—perhaps great success was imminent. How could he do something to offend the Inner Palace Bureau?
Feng Yi, however, asked through gritted teeth:
“Could it be that even now, he still thinks we’re hiding some wealth we haven’t mentioned?”
“Regardless of what His Majesty thinks or wants to do, I will vouch for you before His Highness that this matter has absolutely nothing to do with you,” Han Qian said. “If the Palace Attendants Bureau sends people to question you, just claim ignorance. You’ll just be wronged for two more days, then I’ll take you to Yandang Promontory Manor. I estimate the Feng family’s side may still suffer some more disturbances for a couple days, but it should be nothing—unless you truly are hiding something and they’ve detected some clues!”
“You don’t trust us?” Feng Yi anxiously wanted to swear to heaven.
“No, no, no, this truly has nothing to do with me. Whether I trust you or not really isn’t important,” Han Qian spread his hands. “I’ve been frank enough before His Highness, and everyone sees my ability to operate workshops, warehouses, and money shops. If I want to accumulate wealth, I have my own ways—I won’t covet ill-gotten gains. So I’ll still speak for you. Even if you are hiding something, it won’t implicate me in the end. Others will only say I was deceived by you.”
“If the Feng clan ever has a day to rise again, we will never forget your kindness today,” Feng Liao said solemnly.
After settling matters with the Feng brothers, Han Qian rushed to the inner residence. By this time, the weary-faced Shen He arrived with several young eunuchs and palace guards.
Shen He’s eyes looking at Han Qian were full of resentment, clearly complaining that of all times to stage this scheme, Han Qian chose this midnight hour, when he was sleeping most comfortably, to drag him from the palace to act in this play.
Surrounded by a crowd including Han Qian, Shen Yang, Zheng Hui, and Chen De, Shen He went to Jinyun Pavilion to examine the scene. After confirming the deceased’s identity as a former subordinate of Feng Yi, he arranged for subordinate eunuchs to question the Feng brothers while they went to the inner residence to see the Third Prince.
“Third Prince, Lord Shen, what do you think this case is about?” Shen He always gave the impression of being slippery. His opening words matched his usual style—first letting this side speak, then he would exercise appropriate judgment. This way he could handle matters well while offending no one.
“Feng Liao and Feng Yi are confined in the manor. The Feng family perhaps worried about their safety and sent someone to check on them. There should be no intention to harm His Highness,” Han Qian directly characterized the matter.
“Whether it’s as Lord Han says, we should still interrogate thoroughly to be certain. Matters concerning His Highness’s safety are no small matter,” Wang Lin said.
Han Qian glanced at Wang Lin, knowing his words weren’t necessarily contradicting him. Rather, since Wang Lin had no relationship with the Feng family, now that this incident had occurred, it should be made into a major upheaval to demonstrate the Prince’s Manor’s importance. Perhaps many present shared this sentiment.
The Feng family was already a drowning dog—no matter how this case was investigated, it would just torment the Feng family.
Han Qian looked toward Shen Yang and asked: “Master Shen Yang, what do you think?”
Shen Yang pondered briefly before saying: “Han Qian’s speculation is reasonable, but we should still investigate as thoroughly as possible to determine what actually happened.” At this point, he looked toward Shen He and asked: “Lord Shen, what do you think?”
“This matter still depends on you all,” Shen He said. “His Majesty just went to sleep at midnight and has already been awakened once. If there’s truly nothing urgent, I don’t want to return to the palace and wake His Majesty again.”
“Father Emperor’s health is important. This matter needn’t disturb Father Emperor further! Report this case to the Court of Judicial Review for joint investigation tomorrow!” Yang Yuanpu made the final decision. Their purpose was to startle the snake, nothing else. Only a suspicious case that no one could explain clearly would make the westward relocation of Feng family household troops and servants seem logical and natural.
How could the others know the thoughts of the Third Prince, Han Qian, and Shen He? They thought that the Imperial Mausoleum collapse case was being tried primarily by Court of Judicial Review Vice Minister Zheng Chang. Although Feng Wenlan and Kong Zhou had committed suicide out of guilt and the case was essentially closed, surveillance of the Feng family hadn’t ended.
The confiscation of Feng family clan property was also primarily led by the Court of Judicial Review in coordination with the Censorate and the Ministry of Justice.
Now the Third Prince was treating tonight’s incident as a minor episode in the Imperial Mausoleum collapse case, turning it over to the Court of Judicial Review for joint investigation—this was both reasonable and appropriate.
Otherwise, if they truly made a great fuss troubling the Feng family, outsiders might misunderstand that His Majesty didn’t intend to be lenient with the Feng family, inevitably causing another disturbance in the court!