Facing the Dali Temple Minister’s interrogation, Deputy Minister Yu displayed an air of complete indifference.

Instead, upon hearing his words, he smiled and countered, “My lord, is there anything wrong with this matter? When the assassin was imprisoned, there was no bone-dissolving powder on his person at all. This clearly shows that someone deliberately silenced him. To be able to kill someone in the Dali Temple prison without anyone noticing, the culprit behind this must certainly be no simple matter.”

“Did you consider the consequences? If the Emperor investigates this, both you and I will be implicated.”

“This official receives the court’s salary and serves the Emperor with loyalty. Naturally, I must report the true facts. If I were to distort the truth out of fear that Dali Temple would be implicated, how would that be any different from a traitorous minister?”

Ugh!

The two men confronted each other!

Deputy Minister Yu had actually turned the tables, leaving the Dali Temple Minister at a loss.

The Dali Temple Minister immediately challenged him, “So according to what you’re saying, this official is afraid of death and deliberately concealing facts?”

“This official wouldn’t dare suggest that. It’s simply that when one holds a position, one must fulfill its duties. As Deputy Minister of Dali Temple, I must report the truth to higher authorities. As for not overstepping one’s position, even if my lord’s reasons for concealing the facts have ulterior motives, this official has no interest in speculating. As the saying goes, if one acts righteously and sits properly, one need not fear evil spirits clinging to them.”

“You…” He was so angry his teeth were grinding!

Deputy Minister Yu’s expression remained cold as he raised his eyebrows deliberately and said, “In any case, the Emperor has ordered that this matter need not be investigated further and not a single word should be leaked. Dali Temple will not be implicated. Since that’s the case, my lord’s personal concerns… can be set aside with peace of mind.”

It must be said, this Deputy Minister Yu was truly skilled at provoking people!

The Dali Temple Minister’s entire face contorted grotesquely, his eyeballs seeming about to pop out.

He slammed his hand on the table!

“Deputy Minister Yu, you’d better understand that this official’s rank is higher than yours, my position superior to yours. When has it ever been your turn to climb above this official? This matter today will not end here.”

Having harshly delivered these words, he grabbed the memorial he’d previously thrown on the table and left in a fury.

Behind him, Deputy Minister Yu continued sitting calmly, leisurely sipping his tea.

Even if the sky fell, he wouldn’t be afraid. Right now, the ones who should be afraid were Jing Yi and the Dali Temple Minister.

Before long, Deputy Director Yu came in.

He asked, “Father, what did you say to the Dali Temple Minister? I just saw him leave in a rage.”

Guess!

Deputy Minister Yu smiled, turning the cup in his hand. “This chess piece is about to be placed.”

“Your son is somewhat confused.”

“Just wait and watch the show.”

…

After leaving Dali Temple, the Minister went to Prince Yi’s manor.

Jing Yi was practicing swordplay in the courtyard. The longsword in his hand was like a white snake flicking its tongue, hissing through the wind, circling like a swimming dragon around his blue court robes. His footsteps were light yet powerful, raising the sword as gracefully as a swallow flying south. The air was traced with winding, crawling arcs, faint and fleeting, disappearing in an instant.

Leaves from the branches were flicked down by his sword, floating lightly to the ground, then swirling up and down again with his leaping movements.

The Dali Temple Minister explained the whole sequence of events clearly, then stood to one side.

Waiting!

Until Jing Yi finished his sword practice!

He took the cloth handed to him by a nearby guard and wiped the sharp sword, removing the dust that had accumulated on it bit by bit, revealing its original luster. Only then, satisfied, did he sheath the sword and hand it to his subordinate.

With a wave of his hand, “Everyone leave.”

All the guards in the courtyard were dismissed.

Jing Yi walked to the pavilion, lifted his robes and sat down, picked up the teapot and poured himself a cup of tea, taking a sip.

The Dali Temple Minister followed him into the pavilion but merely stood obediently to the side without saying a word, though sweat poured down his face. His heart felt somewhat fearful, after all, he had failed to handle the matter Prince Yi had entrusted to him.

After a short while, Jing Yi glanced at him. “Did anyone know when you came here?”

“No, this official was very careful.”

“Good!”

He seized the opportunity to hastily explain, “Your Highness, Deputy Minister Yu deliberately damaged this official’s carriage bound for the palace and rushed ahead to have an audience with His Majesty, claiming the assassin was killed by someone else. When I stated the assassin committed suicide, all arguments became futile. Moreover, His Majesty became suspicious at the time and nearly accused this official of harboring criminals. Therefore, this official dared not say more.”

Jing Yi’s expression was calm. “Deputy Minister Yu? I didn’t expect he’d already become Jingrong’s man. Even more unexpected that Jingrong would outmaneuver this Prince.”

“However, His Majesty said this matter needn’t be investigated further and not a word should be leaked to outsiders. Presumably, there should be no problem.”

Thud!

The teacup in Jing Yi’s hand was heavily slammed onto the table.

His face turned frighteningly cold, his eyes seemingly quenched with a bone-chilling light, yet inscrutable.

At this sight, the Dali Temple Minister’s entire body froze, and he couldn’t help but step back, lowering his head, not daring to meet that gaze.

Jing Yi’s fingers tightened around the teacup as he murmured softly, “Father Emperor said no need to investigate further?”

Too strange!

Too bizarre!

He seemed to realize something and asked the Dali Temple Minister, “When you entered, what else did Father Emperor say?”

The Dali Temple Minister thought carefully. “When this official entered, His Majesty’s expression was extremely poor. After I came out, I inquired around and learned that before Deputy Minister Yu went in, the Ministry of Personnel had sent up many memorials, each one impeaching Prince Rong for interfering in Ministry of Personnel affairs.”

“The Ministry of Personnel is impeaching Jingrong?”

He was quite surprised.

The Dali Temple Minister: “From what I understand, that’s correct.”

“Recently the Ministry of Personnel changed ministers. The newly appointed one is Peng Yuanhai?”

“Yes, he took office half a month ago, replacing the previous Minister Qiao.”

“Whose man is this Peng Yuanhai?” Jing Yi continued asking.

“I don’t know. He was just recently transferred up.” The Dali Temple Minister was also at a loss.

Jing Yi pondered: “Father Emperor is deeply suspicious by nature. Jingrong’s assassination is a major matter. Now that Deputy Minister Yu has disrupted this Prince’s entire strategic layout, and at precisely this moment, the Ministry of Personnel has interfered. Those who could kill someone in the Dali Temple prison without anyone knowing are exceedingly rare. Therefore, Father Emperor must suspect that this Prince assassinated Prince Rong, then silenced the witness. Now someone has coached the Ministry of Personnel to submit a memorial impeaching Jingrong. All of this is disadvantageous to this Prince.”

Hmm?

The Dali Temple Minister frowned. “But His Majesty said not to investigate this matter.”

“It’s precisely because Father Emperor said not to investigate that makes it more terrifying.” He worried, “The Ministry of Personnel’s actions clearly aim to frame this Prince. And in just half a month, this Peng Yuanhai replaced the previous Minister Qiao. Is the person behind him Jingrong?”

His brow furrowed.

Could it be that Peng Yuanhai truly was Jingrong’s man, deliberately using the impeachment of Jingrong to gamble and thereby point the spearhead at him?

But the next moment, he shook his head. “Impossible. Jingrong doesn’t have such great capability. His hands are not sufficient to control the entire Ministry of Personnel. Then, who could it be?”

He fell into confusion once again.

The Dali Temple Minister on the side seemed to understand, yet also seemed not to understand.

Until Jing Yi waved him off, “Alright, you go back first. As for Deputy Minister Yu, eliminate him when necessary.”

“Yes, this official understands.”

Thus, the Dali Temple Minister left.

Afterward, Jing Yi summoned Dou Quan to his side.

He instructed, “Immediately investigate this Peng Yuanhai. This Prince wants to see exactly who is outmaneuvering me from behind.”

“Yes!”

Dou Quan acknowledged.

Jing Yi added, “Send someone into the palace to inform Mother Consort of this matter and have her prepare accordingly.”

“Yes!”