In the capital, nothing can stay hidden for long, especially something as big as the Duke of Song's rebellion. Guests at the City King’s banquet had just returned home, barely having processed the shocking events they witnessed, when word spread that Xiao Yan had led the Black Armored Guards to "raid" the Song family.
Everyone in the Duke of Song’s residence was taken to the judicial department, including Song Hong, who was arrested while on duty. The spectacle alarmed many officials, and when the news broke, it caused an uproar among everyone.
When Xiao Yan entered the palace to meet the Emperor, the Emperor was by the Yuhua Pool feeding fish. He held a spiral-patterned porcelain jar, leaning against the railing, and tossed some fish food into the pool.
The fish food scattered and hit the water, and the koi in the pool, smelling the scent, rushed up in a frenzy, competing with one another. Their colorful scales clumped together, their fins stirring the water into ripples, as they leaped out of the water, desperately scrambling for the food floating above. The once-clear water turned murky in an instant.
"Your servant greets His Majesty," Xiao Yan knelt to pay his respects, but the Emperor did not, as usual, tell him to rise. Instead, he remained focused on the fish in the pool.
Another handful of fish food was thrown, and the fish fought even more fiercely. After an unknown amount of time, the fish gradually sank back to the bottom, and the Emperor, having grown tired of the sight, finally turned his gaze to Xiao Yan. “Do you realize the mess you’ve caused?”
Xiao Yan bowed his head, “Your Majesty, please forgive me.”
"Forgive you? That's easy for you to say!" The Emperor’s expression darkened. “You were quick to arrest them, but did you consider the consequences? The Duke of Song's residence was a title bestowed by the late Emperor. Even I have to think carefully before taking action against them, but you, without even reporting it, marched in with your Black Armored Guards and arrested them outright.”
“Do you have any idea how many people have come to the palace within the last hour to accuse you, Governor Xiao, of being a tyrant who abuses his power? I granted you command over the Black Armored Guards and control of the Privy Council, but not so that you could disregard the laws of the court!” As his anger mounted, the Emperor threw the fish food in his hand at Xiao Yan.
The crushed, fishy-smelling food brushed past Xiao Yan's face. When he turned back, he bowed his head and quietly said, "I know His Majesty will protect me."
The Emperor almost laughed in exasperation, “I’d rather cut off your head.”
“You won’t, Your Majesty,” Xiao Yan’s voice was calm, unperturbed by the Emperor’s fury. He simply addressed the matter. “If Your Majesty truly intended to execute me, why would you waste time discussing it? As for those officials, they’ve been dissatisfied with me for a long time. Even if I did nothing, they would still find something to criticize.”
The Emperor glared at him, “If you know what they’re thinking, why give them an excuse?!”
He tossed the fish food jar onto the table, and a palace servant immediately brought over a golden basin of water, patterned with dragon scales, for him to wash his hands. Xiao Yan stood up without hesitation and took the basin himself, unbothered as some water splashed onto his face. After the Emperor finished washing, Xiao Yan offered him a towel to dry his hands.
A tea set was brought in from outside, and Xiao Yan began to brew tea for the Emperor. Seeing how familiar Xiao Yan was with the tasks, the Emperor’s anger lessened, and he no longer blamed him for standing up without permission. Sitting across from Xiao Yan, he frowned and asked, “Why did you suddenly move against the Song family?”
Xiao Yan replied, “Song Hong colluded with the former Crown Prince's ministers.”
The Emperor shot him a look, “Don’t play dumb with me.”
The case of the Duke of Song was indeed significant. Song Hong had violated the late Emperor’s decree by switching out a condemned criminal, essentially pardoning someone who was supposed to be executed. This was a serious act of defiance and could be considered treason. However, this happened twenty years ago. At the time, it was the late Emperor who ruled, not the current Emperor, and the Crown Prince’s matter had long since passed. The issue was essentially a minor scandal of youth, not something that warranted a massive raid on the Duke’s residence.
The Emperor spoke in a low voice, “The Crown Prince is no longer a threat. Why would you risk giving others ammunition over such a minor issue?”
Xiao Yan stirred the tea lightly, “The Crown Prince may be insignificant now, but he was once a traitor whom the late Emperor ordered to be severely punished. Song Hong disobeyed the late Emperor’s will and swapped out the criminal’s daughter. If this crime goes unpunished, what’s to stop others from doing the same in the future? Where would Your Majesty’s authority stand then?” His face remained partially hidden behind the rising steam, his expression cold.
“Moreover, this matter involves Prince Cheng and the Lu family.”
“Although Prince Cheng has appeared to behave himself over the years, in secret, he has been maintaining connections with the aristocratic families. He’s also closely tied to the Empress and the Fourth Prince. As for the Lu family, they have repeatedly pressured Your Majesty on political matters, and Lu Chongyuan is a cunning and overbearing man. It’s been difficult to make headway with the Lu family regarding the canal grain issue, but if we can leverage the old case of the Crown Prince’s rebellion against them, Your Majesty will have a reason to act. It might ease the tension in the court a little.”
Hearing this, the Emperor frowned, “Are you saying that the Lu family is involved with the Song family’s case?”
“I don’t know if they are directly involved,” Xiao Yan replied, “but this is the best opportunity to strike at the Lu family.”
The Emperor narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan stirred the tea on the stove.
“When the late Emperor ordered the Crown Prince’s faction to be wiped out, all those connected to the Eastern Palace were executed. For Song Hong to have swapped out the criminal's daughter and kept her openly in the capital, someone must have helped him.
“Even if, by some miracle, Song Hong’s actions were entirely his own doing, and he managed to exploit some loophole, who would believe it? Especially King Cheng. He first helped the criminal’s daughter escape, then allied with the Song family through marriage, and later pressured local officials into falsifying records to protect them.
“Those aware of the situation say he was simply trying to shield his wife from being implicated by her family. But those unaware will think that King Cheng must have known about the Song family’s crime all along and intentionally covered it up. If that rumor spreads, Your Majesty, would anyone believe King Cheng’s innocence? Would Your Majesty?”
Of course not.
The Emperor’s fingers lightly stroked the prayer beads he held, contemplating Xiao Yan’s words. King Cheng was a prince of high status, while the Song family was merely a family of courtiers. What power could they possibly hold that would make King Cheng risk his reputation to protect them?
To an outsider, King Cheng’s actions would look suspiciously like he was aiding and abetting the Song family in treason. People would assume he knew about the rebellion all along and even colluded with them to release a criminal. Hence, when the remnants of the Xu family resurfaced years later, he had no choice but to help fabricate a false history for Song Xi, deceiving his wife and the royal court.
As the tea began to boil, its fragrance filled the pavilion. Xiao Yan skimmed the surface to remove the froth and, noticing the Emperor lost in thought, said:
“Whether Song Hong is guilty is for Your Majesty to decide. But what right does King Cheng have to extend his protection to the Song family? Even if he did nothing, the fact that he helped the Song family deceive Your Majesty is a crime in itself. Besides, back then, King Cheng wasn’t the only one tasked with purging the Eastern Palace faction. Lu Chongyuan was involved as well.”
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You can read ahead to chapterr 142 here
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