The next day, the Court of Justice arranged for the Jin clan to be paraded through the streets. All members of the Jin family were confined in prison carts and swiftly toured through Chang’an, with crowds of commoners gathering to watch.
Zhang Xingwei stood on a teahouse balcony, his expression grave. Suddenly, someone leaped in through the back window and came up behind Zhang Xingwei, cupping his hands in greeting:
“Master, we’ve already sent people disguised as Jin clan members to infiltrate the Court of Justice’s prison. Today, we’ll surely succeed.”
Zhang Xingwei’s face showed compassion: “Does he blame me?”
The man knelt on one knee: “He wouldn’t dare blame you, my lord. We’re willing to go through fire and water for you, without hesitation.”
“Alas, how can he not blame me? Even if you don’t, I blame myself.”
Just as he finished speaking, they heard loud cries for justice from the street below. The man immediately vanished, and Zhang Xingwei went to the window to look down, his face suddenly changing dramatically.
They saw Jin Cang kneeling in the prison cart, wearing prisoner’s clothes, crying to heaven and earth about the injustice:
“The Empress is wise and clear-sighted. ‘The Music of the Qin King Breaking Through the Enemy Lines’ was composed by this humble one alone. It has nothing to do with the Crown Prince, nor with my clansmen.”
Zhang Xingwei looked at the other prison carts. The people he had arranged were also shocked by this change. He had been instructed to die to prove his point, so how had Jin Cang beaten him to it?
Jin Cang kept crying out about the injustice, repeatedly banging his head against the prison cart until blood flowed, seemingly without noticing.
“Years ago, the Crown Prince saved this guilty one from obscurity and recommended me to join the Imperial Music Academy. I am eternally grateful.”
Hearing this, Zhu Yan wanted to rush out but was stopped by Shen Du. He shook his head, having already arranged for assassins to intercept the carts at the execution ground, ensuring they wouldn’t die in vain.
Zhu Yan restrained herself, wiping away tears.
“This guilty one played this piece at the behest of Dai Xiaoqing Lai. I knew I was betraying the Crown Prince, but today I reveal the truth and die to prove my sincerity. I beg the Empress to see clearly and restore justice to the Crown Prince.”
As soon as Jin Cang said this, people from the Court of Justice came forward to whip him. Jin Cang couldn’t avoid the blows but bore them with iron resolve. Seeing Lai Luozhi approach, he cursed at him vehemently.
At first, Lai Luozhi paid no attention, but as Jin Cang described the events in vivid detail, as if Lai Luozhi had indeed instructed him to play “The Music of the Qin King Breaking Through the Enemy Lines,” Lai Luozhi became annoyed. With a command, he ordered the prison door opened and Jin Cang dragged out, then pulled along the bluestone pavement.
In the depths of winter, icicles still hung from the eaves along the street, and a layer of frost covered the bluestone slabs. Jin Cang, barely clothed, was dragged along, the cold biting into his flesh. Having already been tortured at the Court of Justice, he couldn’t withstand it for long and soon began vomiting blood profusely.
Seeing this, the light in Lai Luozhi’s gray eyes dimmed. He raised his hand, signaling them to release Jin Cang. Jin Cang curled up, fresh blood spilling from his mouth onto the frost-covered ground, melting the ice and seeping into the cracks between the stones.
Stepping on Jin Cang’s fingers, Lai Luozhi sneered: “Daring to spout nonsense even at death’s door. Men put him in the urn.”
Several men surged forward from behind, dragging Jin Cang towards a large urn. Once inside, with a fire lit underneath, it wouldn’t be long before the person inside would be roasted to charred, brittle bones.
This was Lai Luozhi’s newly invented torture device, called — “Please, Sir, Step into the Urn.”
Zhu Yan covered her mouth and nose, unwilling to cry out. Shen Du frowned, not expecting Lai Luozhi to carry out a private execution midway. He glanced at Jing Lin nearby, his meaning clear.
Jing Lin nodded and ducked into the crowd.
Before anyone could react, Jin Cang, who had been hanging his head resignedly as he was dragged along, somehow found strength. He broke free from those dragging him, rushed to Lai Luozhi, grabbed his collar, cursed, and spat in his face. Lai Luozhi kicked him away, his expression turning sinister as he saw his collar torn open. Before he could kick again, Jin Cang seized the opportunity to snatch a saber from someone’s waist. He slashed fiercely at those closing in, driving them back. Then, with a long howl to the sky, he gripped the saber with both hands and plunged it straight into his abdomen, then savagely pulled it sideways. Blood gushed out along with his entrails.
“We were incompetent, allowing the despicable Lai to deceive and harm the Crown Prince. Today, I deserve to die, but the Crown Prince is wronged. I have written a blood letter, begging the Empress to see clearly and restore the Crown Prince’s innocence.”
With these words, Jin Cang pulled out a white cloth covered in bloody writing. He flung it into the air with all his might. Lai Luozhi, sharp-eyed, tried to snatch it but was intercepted by Shen Du, who appeared out of nowhere. Seeing this, Jin Cang seemed relieved. He plunged the saber into his abdomen once more, twisting it viciously, and breathed his last.
Blood spread in large patches beneath him, quickly covering the street around Jin Cang. The Jin clan members wailed uncontrollably. Seeing this, the people Zhang Xingwei had arranged also began to wail, proclaiming their innocence.
The crowd on the long street erupted in cries of injustice.
The common people, wary of the blood, all moved away from Jin Cang. Zhu Yan could no longer contain herself and rushed forward. Shen Du, seeing this, knew it was bad and quickly flew over. He reached Jin Cang first, lifting him, heedless of the blood staining his clothes. After checking his pulse, he hesitated briefly:
“Speak quickly, there’s not much time left.”
Tears gushed from Zhu Yan’s eyes as she grasped Jin Cang’s hand, sobbing: “Uncle.”
Lai Luozhi brought men over but was blocked by the Imperial Cabinet’s guards. Lai Luozhi said darkly: “Shen Du, I advise you not to interfere in this matter.”
Shen Du coldly retorted: “The Cabinet is charged with investigating the Crown Prince’s case. Since Jin Cang is crying injustice for the Crown Prince, it concerns us.”
Seeing Shen Du was unyielding and Jin Cang was at his last breath, Lai Luozhi ordered his men to secure the scene, then turned and rode into the palace.
Blood continuously flowed from Jin Cang’s mouth. He tried to smile, but the pain made him cough incessantly.
“Uncle!” Zhu Yan’s eyes were blurred with tears she couldn’t wipe away.
Jin Cang shook his head, gasping for breath:
“Just now, I saw a red moth tattoo on Lai Luozhi’s chest near his heart, very conspicuous. *cough cough*… You must be careful, protect yourself, and your mother.”
As he finished speaking, his grip on her hand gradually weakened and slipped away.
Even Shen Du, who had handled countless cases, had never seen such a cruel method of suicide. He reached out to close Jin Cang’s eyes. Seeing Zhu Yan stunned and somewhat dazed, he quickly pulled her into his arms. He instructed those around him to take good care of Jin Cang’s body and had Jing Lin escort Zhu Yan back in a carriage. He then took Jin Cang’s blood letter and entered the palace.
Zhu Yan’s eyes were unfocused, not noticing Shen Du’s departure, but she clung tightly to a corner of his robe.
“Be good, I’ll return.”
When Shen Du arrived, Lai Luozhi had long since preceded him. It wasn’t hard to imagine what Lai Luozhi had said.
That mouth, twisting black and white, was the source of all original sin.
“Lord Shen of the Cabinet flies into a rage for the sake of beauty, risking his life for a mere musician. How laughable, truly laughable.”
Shen Du ignored his mockery, glancing at his chest area. He took out the blood letter, knelt on the ground, and said solemnly:
“Your Majesty, this is Jin Cang’s blood letter, crying injustice for the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince’s case is currently under investigation. Since there is new evidence, we should reinvestigate the Crown Prince’s case.”
Zhou Zhao remained silent for a long time, looking at Shen Du’s clothes soaked in blood, then at Lai Luozhi’s pure white clothes without a speck of dust. She smiled faintly and asked Lai Luozhi:
“What does Lord Lai think?”
Lai Luozhi had already spoken once before Shen Du arrived, and now he couldn’t help but resent Shen Du. He had to repeat himself:
“I think…”
“Your Majesty,” Shen Du interrupted Lai Luozhi, addressing Zhou Zhao, “In his blood letter, Jin Cang states that he was deceived by Lord Lai into framing the Crown Prince. He was controlled by Lord Lai’s mind-control technique. I wonder if Lord Lai admits to this crime?”
“Nonsense, of course, I don’t admit it. How can his baseless accusations be trusted?” Lai Luozhi was angered just by looking at Shen Du.
Shen Du smiled lightly, growing even calmer: “All matters require evidence. Since Jin Cang has made this claim, to clear Lord Lai of suspicion, we should reinvestigate this case. And Lord Lai, as a suspect, should recuse himself.”
Changing his tone, he kowtowed to the Empress:
“Your Majesty, the Jin clan members should be handed over to the Cabinet for handling. Only then can we do justice to Lord Lai.”
Zhou Zhao waved her hand, seeming impatient: “Then let it be so.”
Lai Luozhi’s words were stuck in his throat, and in his frustration, his usually pale face flushed.
Suddenly, Zhou Zhao threw three writing brushes at Shen Du, leaving long black ink marks on his already messy official robes:
“If you wrongly accuse Lord Lai, I will make sure you regret it.”
Shen Du bowed in fear: “Your servant trembles at the thought.”
Only then did Lai Luozhi feel somewhat better. The two men knelt and took their leave, each going their separate ways, ignoring each other.