A large-scale scientific exhibition required extensive preliminary preparation work. This was the best way to make the academy’s reputation resound. Li Tai said he needed to make proper preparations to avoid embarrassing himself at the venue. He tossed all other matters to Yun Ye to send out invitation letters in the academy’s name.

The emperor and empress would definitely come. Yang Fei and Yin Fei had always supported these academic activities and also needed to be invited. Li Tai was a member of the imperial family, so those reclusive imperial clan members would also be on the invitation list. It was said that Li Chengqian had even sent invitations in advance to elders of the Li Family back in Jinyang’s hometown. The Li Family had produced an unprecedented talent who needed to be widely proclaimed.

The princes, marquises, dukes, and high ministers treated this exhibition day like a festival to celebrate. Naturally, this would include the Great Tang’s famous great scholars and capable extraordinary individuals. Several nameless old fellows living in Mount Tai would also come. Li Chengqian said simply writing “Elder of Mount Tai” would suffice—four or five people could use one invitation.

Hypatia was very jealous of this. Her barrel experiment had only attracted some idle, bored noblewomen, yet Li Tai’s experiment could shock the world. Before the experiment even began, the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs had sent five thousand strings of cash for experimental expenses. When the time came, if Li Tai opened his mouth, countless wealth would surely come pouring down, burying this increasingly portly prince.

Knowing she couldn’t compare with Li Tai, Hypatia could only think about how to perfect this great experiment. The experiment’s success wasn’t just Li Tai’s alone—it was the success of all the academy’s colleagues. At Hypatia’s suggestion, the iron sphere’s adhesive surface would be replaced with soft ox tendon, and the sphere’s interior would also be filled with water. Only when the experimental personnel pumped out all the equivalent water would it indicate they had evacuated all the air inside.

Although Li Tai was very dissatisfied with Hypatia interfering in his experiment, these two methods were indeed good approaches. Knowing full well this woman was drilling her way in with sharpened wits just to get a piece of the action, but considering she had contributed good methods, he held his nose and accepted it. Wasn’t it just money? What did it matter to give her a share?

Yan Zhitui needed Yun Ye to personally invite him. Leaving the academy’s laboratory, Yun Ye went directly to Yan Zhitui’s home. Upon arriving, he discovered the old man was unwell, with a cloth wrapped around his head and a stern expression. He didn’t know what had happened. These past days, Yun Ye had been eating and sleeping in the laboratory, knowing nothing at all about outside affairs.

“Old master, what’s wrong with you? Are you unwell? This cannot be delayed—I’ll go find Master Sun immediately to come examine you. I don’t trust the physicians of Chang’an.”

Yan Zhitui waved his hand, pointed to a chair for him to sit, dismissed all servants and maids, and asked Yun Ye gravely: “What have you been busy with these past days? Have you left the Yun Family estate at all?”

Watching the old man question him, Yun Ye shook his head in confusion: “I’ve been in the academy’s laboratory these past days, haven’t even gone home. Ten days from now is Qing Que’s grand experiment. We’ve all been at the academy perfecting the experimental procedures—only finalized today. I’ve come to invite you to attend the experimental site, specifically to deliver the invitation.”

Yan Zhitui visibly breathed a sigh of relief and sat up: “So you know nothing about what’s happened in Chang’an? Your family didn’t tell you?”

“When I enter the laboratory or enter the military camp, household matters are not to be told to me, to avoid disturbing my concentration. My thoughts are scattered—if my mind holds two matters, then I can’t do even one well. What exactly has happened? Please inform me, old master. These days have been calm and peaceful—what major event could have occurred?”

“Young man, you won’t be able to laugh after I finish speaking. Do you know that Duke Yun of Yun Prefecture Zhang Liang’s elderly mother, wife, children, and servants—a total of one hundred forty-four people—left at his Mount Li estate were all killed clean the night before last? If the mountain patrol officers hadn’t heard the Zhang Family’s dogs howling miserably and knocked to inquire about the situation, this terrible case wouldn’t have been discovered that very night.”

After hearing Yan Zhitui’s words, Yun Ye asked strangely: “The Zhang Family was exterminated—I’m certainly saddened to hear it. But why do you ask about my whereabouts these past days? What does the Zhang Family’s extermination have to do with me? Even if I wanted to kill Zhang Liang, I would absolutely never touch old people, the weak, women, or children. I couldn’t do such a thing. The Zhang Family has enemies all over the world—just investigate slowly. Such matters are probably very difficult to accomplish without leaving any trace.”

Yan Zhitui pulled the slipping cloth back up on his head, nodding: “This old man also doesn’t believe such a thing is something you could do. Though you have this capability, but another matter—is it also unrelated to you?”

“There’s more? Who else was exterminated? The murderer’s audacity is too great, isn’t it? This is Chang’an, not some remote wilderness. Even killing a commoner requires solving the case within a time limit. Doing this is purely making an enemy of all Chang’an’s people. If this person is found out, complete family extermination would probably be considered light punishment.”

“Young man, do you know that the murderer infiltrated Chang’an City and carried out an assassination at Cen Wenben’s home? If not for his Japanese students fighting desperately to save him, Cen Wenben would no longer be in this world.”

“Japanese people would be so noble? Maybe they’re the ones who did it. Cen Wenben really invited a wolf into his house this time.”

“Bah! What ‘inviting a wolf in’? There were only five Japanese students total. One fought desperately to block a fatal blade for Cen Wenben, and while severely wounded still pushed the assassin out of the study. Another had his head completely severed. Yet another student’s arm, even if it heals, will basically be useless. Such excellent students, yet you slander them. If you don’t believe me, go to Chang’an’s marketplace and repeat your words—see if you won’t be drowned in spittle.”

Yan Zhitui’s words thoroughly confused Yun Ye. The Japanese students had truly been rescuing—there was no hint of acting. To continue speaking ill of them would indeed be excessive. But what did these two matters have to do with him?

“Young man, do you still remember how you dealt with the Dou Family? Now, from who knows where, rumors have spread saying both these murder cases were done by you. It’s just that you’ve always been supremely clever, and the constables of Chang’an and Huichang County are too stupid to discover any clues.”

“Since when did being clever become a crime? I have no old grudges with Cen Wenben, no recent enmity—why would I kill him? Besides, we’re not even the same type of people. Normally we’re like strangers—there are no conflicting interests. I really can’t find a reason to want to kill him. I’m not a madman who kills whoever I encounter.”

“A tall tree attracts the wind! Young man, these two matters are aimed directly at you. The assassin who killed Cen Wenben disappeared into the pear orchards of Xinghua Ward—that’s your stronghold. Hiding an assassin there would be easy as pie. Anyone in Chang’an with any status knows about your feud with Zhang Liang. There are many nobles at the foot of Mount Li—how come nothing happened to other families, but the Zhang Family was completely killed off? You’re in big trouble, young man. If you can’t wash away the suspicions on you, even if His Majesty doesn’t punish you, from now on in Chang’an you won’t be able to move an inch. Now, set aside your official duties, first go to the Ministry of War to hand over your position, then submit your military command tallies and seals to His Majesty. Stay at home and don’t go anywhere—this is posturing, and it must be done thoroughly. Hurry and go.”

Yan Zhitui pounded the bed board, urging Yun Ye to quickly get lost. First wipe the shit off his own ass before considering other matters. Yun Ye had no choice but to leave the Yan residence. No need to return home—the military tallies and seals were always tucked in his chest. The old man was right—right now, the immediate posture was extremely important.

Taking his guards, he galloped toward Chang’an City. Chang’an City was now under strict guard. When entering the city, the gate official examined Yun Ye’s waist token for quite a while, repeatedly demanding that since Chang’an City was currently under martial law, weapons were not permitted, and the guards’ blades needed to be surrendered.

Yun Ye didn’t surrender the weapons but instead gave the gate official a whip lash. If the matter weren’t urgent, he would have lashed him a few more times to vent his anger. Since when did the Great Tang have a legal provision forbidding nobles from carrying weapons?

Several big shots were holding court at the Ministry of War headquarters. Du Ruhui, Li Jing, and Wei Zheng were all there. It was strange why Wei Zheng was here. Not thinking too much about it, he took out the seal from his chest, placed it on Li Jing’s desk, and planned to immediately go to the palace.

“Marquis Yun, wait a moment. This old man has questions for you. After answering this old man’s questions, it won’t be too late to go to the palace and surrender your military tallies.” The speaker was Du Ruhui. He was Yun Ye’s legitimate superior—difficult to refuse. If it were Wei Zheng asking, Yun Ye wouldn’t even bother answering. Not erupting on the spot would already be giving face.

“I don’t know what Minister Du wishes to ask. If you’re asking whether I killed people, I can only say I know nothing about this matter.”

Du Ruhui nodded: “It should be thus. That Marquis Yun came at the first opportunity to surrender his seal is sufficient to demonstrate your attitude. This old man presumes to be the Great Tang’s Minister of War—I must inquire clearly about this matter. I ask Marquis Yun to answer truthfully without concealment.”

Li Jing, who also held the title of Minister of War, didn’t say a word but stared at Yun Ye without blinking. Yun Ye smiled and said: “Marshal Li, you needn’t look. I have a discipline specifically studying how to maintain an unchanged expression and steady heartbeat after doing wrong things, so discerning truth from falsehood from my demeanor probably won’t be easy.”

Du Ruhui took over and began asking: “Marquis Yun, how do you view the conflict between you and Zhang Liang?”

“How else? Given the opportunity, both of us would love to kill the other. Resolving it won’t be easy.”

Wei Zheng lowered his head and recorded Yun Ye’s words, waiting for Du Ruhui to continue asking.

“Marquis Yun, where were you on the evening of August twenty-second? Do you have witnesses?”

“The night before last, I was in the academy’s laboratory doing research through the night—didn’t close my eyes all night. Witnesses include Prince Wei Li Tai, the academy’s teacher Hypatia, and seven or eight students.”

“Minister Du, this is useless. At your and my status, wanting to kill someone doesn’t require doing it personally—just give an order and it can be done. So you proving I had no time to commit the crime is completely useless.”

Li Jing said: “It’s useful—how is it useless? From beginning to end, this old man doesn’t believe you would do something that angers heaven and enrages people. Now, as long as we verify with Prince Wei, the academy’s teacher, and students that you never left the academy that night, we can first preserve your official position from being stripped. To prove you guilty, the case must first be solved.”

“Marquis Yun, hurry to the palace. His Majesty is surely waiting for your arrival.” Wei Zheng, for once, spoke a sentence.