The Duke of Anguo's residence had descended into chaos. At last, Li Ce's gaze settled on Ye Changgen.
Ahem. He set down his teacup and said gently, "Brother Ye, since you've returned safely, it suggests that this case contains unusual elements. I assume Liu Yan has temporarily stepped away from the Jingzhao Office."
Liu Yan was a man of such rigorous integrity he bordered on the pedantic—had he been present, he would never have allowed a man accused of murder to roam free.
"Who knows?" Ye Changgen stretched his neck and replied, "All I did was scare Qian Yougong a little. It was his own weakness that led to his death from fright."
"Frightened to death?" Ye Jiao added fuel to the fire. "How does that even count as murder?" Her clenched fists suggested she still itched to land a punch or two.
Ye Changgen recounted in full what had transpired at the Jingzhao Office. Only then did Lady Ye's pale face begin to regain some color.
"If that's the case…" she said, brows furrowed, "then it all depends on how Prefect Liu decides to rule." She turned to consult Li Ce. "Your Highness, what is your view?"
From the moment Ye Changgen had begun speaking, Li Ce had listened with rapt attention. As the tale concluded, his expression eased.
"Did you truly register at the Ministry of War?" he asked. This seemed to be the critical detail.
"Yes," Ye Changgen answered. "The court always favors civil officials, but I've never had a scholar's mind. However..." He looked toward his mother with uncharacteristic meekness. "I humbly ask for your blessing to pursue a military career."
According to the conscription decree, an only son could be exempt from military service. If Ye Changgen left, there would be no man left in the Duke's household.
Lady Ye tightened her grip on her round fan and sighed. "I once forbade you from joining the army because this house needed a man to hold it up. But if this is your only path to escape calamity, how could I stop you?"
"I'm not running from disaster," Ye Changgen protested. "I've simply come to understand that a man must do what he excels at. I'm good with weapons—blade, spear, bow, and halberd. The barracks is where I belong."
"In that case," Li Ce mused, "the only way to prove you didn't intend to kill Qian Yougong is through your archery skills."
Li Ce studied Ye Changgen closely. He remembered their first encounter: a spirited, straightforward young man, rough around the edges. Only now did he see the cunning strategist hidden beneath that bold exterior. He had avenged a sister, fulfilled his dream of joining the army, dared to tread a dangerous path—and emerged composed.
Li Ce felt relieved he wasn't Qian Yougong. To marry into this family was not without peril.
"My archery?" Ye Changgen blinked. "Do you think Liu Yan will see it that way?"
Li Ce smiled knowingly, as if to say, Why pretend you haven't already thought of that?
Ye Changgen scratched his head and chuckled sheepishly. "My archery is flawless," he said with pride.
Ye Jiao watched the cryptic exchange between them, bewildered.
Li Ce stood. "I suspect this will be more smoke than fire. With the winds and tides in our favor, I shall return to the palace."
Winds, tides… all that remained was the right people.
Before leaving, he said to Ye Jiao with gravity, "What happened with Brother Ye is no trivial matter. We mustn't act out a quarrel in public today."
Ye Jiao nodded rapidly in agreement.
As Li Ce turned, his eyes sparkled with childlike delight, like a boy granted permission for an extra sweet.
Prince Su, Li Long, felt a pang of regret at failing to secure Ye Jiao's hand in marriage. It was a strange emotion. The proposal had always been a political ploy, meant to veil his ambition. Now that it had failed, his concern should've been the emperor's suspicions. Yet his mind kept drifting back to Ye Jiao—perhaps because his prized Cangni hound had nearly been bludgeoned by her.
He was lost in thought during a strategy meeting when the palace steward spoke softly, "Your Highness? We believe the crisis has been momentarily averted. What say you?"
"Has it?" Li Long echoed absently.
The steward nodded. "His Majesty permitted Your Highness to return to court last night—proof of his trust. Though the proposal was declined, it was a deft move amidst a deadlock. Now Your Highness must play the humble card, and observe the Second Prince's next move."
Though rejected, he had at least shown no intent to ally with the great clans.
Li Long sipped his tea, his eyes dark and brooding. "On the northern frontier, I've always led with bold offense. Why must I shrink and wait in the capital?"
His advisors exchanged glances, urging patience.
"The Second Prince…" Li Long ground his teeth. "He will soon learn that I am not so easily crossed."
In the Hall of Purple Radiance, Liu Yan of the Jingzhao Office awaited the emperor's verdict. Standing stiff and motionless amid the faint aroma of incense, he began to sway slightly with fatigue.
The emperor sat relaxed, conversing with Gao Fu, the chief eunuch. "So the three arrows on Imperial Street were also him?"
Gao Fu smiled deferentially. "I believe that, too, was to avenge his sister."
That time it had been for Ye Jiao; this time, for Ye Rou.
The emperor nodded. "The Ye family once aided the founding of this dynasty—producing one duke and two generals. Ye Xi was never a warrior, yet his son seems promising."
Implicitly, Qian Yougong's "death by fright" had already been forgotten.
Liu Yan lifted his eyes anxiously, only to hear the emperor bring up Prince Chen. He quickly stepped back.
"The matter of Prince Chen…" the emperor hesitated, then continued, "I wonder if the Duke of Anguo's family bears resentment toward me."
Prince Chen had been ordered to take his own life. His widow still mourned at his grave.
Gao Fu bowed. "Prince Chen was guilty. Your Majesty showed mercy by sparing his kin. The Duke's family ought to be grateful."
But this did not ease the emperor's unease.
The House of Anguo had faded from memory. In a decade, none in court had mentioned them, nor had the emperor considered reinstating their name. Word had spread that once, a former subordinate of the Duke held a birthday feast—Ye Changgen brought a gift and was turned away coldly at the door.
The once-glorious household now merely bore a title, surviving through mundane trade, barely keeping the estate from collapse.
When the Prime Minister arranged a marriage alliance with the Duke's family, the court said he did so to preserve his reputation, avoiding ties to the imperial clan or fellow ministers. No one thought much of it.
But now things had changed.
Ye Changgen had grown. Though unlearned, his martial prowess was undeniable.
The emperor knew—how he ruled this case would determine everything.
To grant the Duke's house another chance, or to crush the budding sprout before it could grow?
He paced the hall, weighing the costs. A sovereign must think long and far.
As his mind wavered, Gao Fu announced the arrival of the Ninth Prince.
Li Ce stumbled in, coughing and weak, and knelt at once, pleading for a royal marriage to Ye Jiao.
The emperor, already agitated, grew more irate.
"Didn't I tell you to ask for her hand yourself?"
Looking at his frail son, the emperor thought grimly—if I force this marriage and Ye Jiao resents it, your wedded life will be pure torment. Aside from Ye Rou, which of those Ye daughters is easy to handle? I wanted you under someone's control, not beaten half to death.
Was Li Ce sturdier than a fat dog? Hardier than Qian Yougong?
Li Ce pulled a pained expression. "I went, Father, but the eldest son of the Ye family was in trouble—on his knees at home, begging his mother to spare his life. I feared that if Liu Yan made a poor ruling and sentenced him to death, the mourning period would delay the wedding. So I rushed here to beg Your Majesty."
Behind him, Liu Yan's face turned ashen. His breathing grew ragged with anger.
Who are you calling incompetent? I'm standing right here, alive and breathing!
Li Ce clearly didn't care if he provoked one more official. He'd already offended plenty. He only cared to wed before the funeral rites could begin.
He rambled on, but the emperor heard only one thing:
The eldest son of the Ye family… has erred.