After returning from the teahouse that day, Shen Chen lingered between sickness and health for two days before slowly coming to his senses.
This bout of cold had struck fiercely and violently, and he had truly suffered greatly from it. When he thought back to his previous life, his heart was filled with a jumble of emotions.
He braced himself against the pillow, just about to rise, when his fingers inadvertently brushed against the corner of a book page. He froze for a moment before pulling out a copy of The Book of Lord Shang from beneath his pillow.
The pages were pristine white, the handwriting crisp and clear, preserved with great care. When he opened it, the annotations stopped at the "Opening Barriers" chapter, at the passage: "The sage does not emulate antiquity, nor does he cling to the present. To emulate antiquity is to lag behind the times; to cling to the present is to block the momentum of change."
The meaning was: do not blindly imitate ancient methods, and do not be bound by the current system. Emulating antiquity would fail to keep pace with development, while clinging to the present would cause one to miss opportunities. Only through reform could the nation grow strong.
This was the view advocated by Shang Yang, and also the maxim that Shen Chen held dear.
Because the Great Qian revered Confucianism, considering this book "harsh and ungrateful, at odds with the people," it was banned from circulation among the common folk and the imperial clan. Only the Crown Prince could study it under the guidance of virtuous scholars, and even then, one had to discard its dross and keep its essence, constantly criticizing its more extreme methods.
Shen Chen had read this book in secret. He did not find its harsh laws and punishments, its weakening of the people and strengthening of the state, to be at all biased. He felt that only through such methods could the Great Qian sweep across the Nine Provinces and unify all of China.
Unfortunately, he was merely an unprivileged and frail prince, full of grand ambitions but neither the legitimate son nor the eldest.
But he did not believe in fate. No matter how poorly heaven treated him, no matter how many times he had to tread this bloody path anew, he was determined to ascend the throne!
Consort Yi had stayed by his side these past few days, silently weeping, her crying grating on Shen Chen's nerves.
His mother had originally been the daughter of an embroiderer in Nanzhou. Thanks to her inherited skill in embroidery, after the embroiderer died, she was nearly seized by a passing merchant to be forced into concubinage.
The Marquis of Yongning, returning to court from the northern expedition, happened to hear of this. Moved by the fact that she was blamed for possessing a treasure, he rescued her from the merchant, adopted her as a righteous daughter, and let her keep company with his own daughter.
So Consort Yi had only entered the marquis's household at seventeen. She had never received the education of a proper young lady, nor had she trained in martial arts from a young age like Consort Liang.
There was no such thing as sudden enlightenment or a complete transformation overnight. Consort Yi had read few books and knew nothing of building connections. All she had was the petty cleverness to seize an opportunity when the emperor summoned her to his chambers at night. She was utterly incapable of helping Shen Chen with the matter of the succession.
She couldn't even figure out how to plead on her son's behalf before her husband.
Shen Chen had originally sympathized with his mother, believing that she had struggled to survive in the cracks of life and had tasted much bitterness, and that she deserved to be cared for and treated with kindness.
But over time, he had grown weary.
So many years had passed, and she never sought to improve herself, never learned to grow.
Take now, for example. She had been crying and wailing in the palace for two days and hadn't even thought to help Shen Chen keep an eye on Wen Zhuo's movements or the changes at court.
So by the time Shen Chen learned that his father had summoned Shen Zheng, and that this matter involved the Cao family, the Crown Prince, Liu Qiying, and Wen Zhuo, two days had already gone by.
Such a massive shift, and he hadn't been able to learn of it at the first moment—this made Shen Chen's heart flutter with unease.
He was now bereft of allies, isolated and alone, afraid that one wrong step would cost him the initiative, and then it would be one mistake after another, ultimately parting ways with the throne forever.
"Stop crying, Mother!" Shen Chen said with some impatience.
Consort Yi was startled by his outburst.
For some reason, this son of hers, who had always been so well-mannered, intelligent, and considerate, had suddenly turned irritable and gloomy in demeanor, in a way that made one's skin crawl.
At that moment, a eunuch announced that Vice Minister Xie had come to request an audience.
Shen Chen's eyes lit up suddenly. He hurriedly threw on his robes, slipped on his shoes, and instructed, "Quickly, invite him in! Brew some tea—the finest tea we have!"
Now he had only one card left in his hand, Xie Langyang, and he had to hold onto it tightly.
Xie Langyang did not disappoint. He brought Shen Chen exactly the news he most wanted to hear.
"Your Highness was burning with fever and unconscious all day yesterday. I came to pay my respects but did not wish to disturb you, so I left again," Xie Langyang said as soon as he entered, dropping to his knees in the formal prostration—the same one he had used to pay respects to Emperor Shengde in his previous life.
Shen Chen hurriedly reached out with both hands to help him up, a look of concern and care on his face. "Minister Xie need not trouble yourself with such comings and goings. I know your heart."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Gravely moved by the favor, Xie Langyang bowed once more.
"Well timed—I was just about to summon you. I hear that Cao Fangzheng has committed the crime of great irreverence and has been thrown into the Imperial Prison. They say this matter also involves my Fifth Brother and Wen Zhuo. How did they all end up tangled together? And what about this Liu Qiying—what's her part in all this?" Shen Chen was so anxious he couldn't even pause to take a sip of water, his throat burning like fire.
"My mentor is at his wit's end over this matter. The Crown Prince, having just suffered the loss of his mother, cherishes family ties deeply and is determined to save Cao Fangzheng. But the Wise Prince's faction is watching closely and yielding not an inch. I fear he will not be saved."
Xie Langyang recounted the whole affair from beginning to end. Although he too was shocked by how events had unfolded, at present it seemed more like an accident. None of those involved showed any sign of having been reborn.
Shen Chen braced himself against the edge of the table, a flicker of worry crossing his face. "So you're saying that Fifth Brother unintentionally protected members of the Wen household that day?"
"Yes." Xie Langyang nodded.
Shen Chen suddenly reached out and grabbed Xie Langyang's arm, the blood vessels in his eyes practically bulging. "Minister Xie, do you think Wen Zhuo might repay the favor at the Spring Terrace Chess Gathering by helping Shen Zheng out? That way he could both return the kindness and take revenge on me at the same time—killing two birds with one stone! It must be so. Wen Zhuo will definitely help Shen Zheng!"
"Your Highness… Your Highness!" Xie Langyang quickly reined in Shen Chen's runaway thoughts. "Do you remember? In the previous life, the Fifth Prince did nothing at all."
Did nothing at all. He had even hidden in the guest lodge for the entire event, never participating in the Spring Terrace Chess Gathering, and yet the blame had still been successfully pinned on him.
It was simply because he was dull-witted, and because he was connected to Nanping. The eight lineages, and even Emperor Shunyuan himself, all needed someone to bear responsibility.
As for evidence?
Once there was a suspect, evidence could always be found.
It wasn't that Shen Zheng had done something wrong. Rather, his very return to the capital was itself the crime. All it took was a gentle push, and he would fall like a kite with a broken string.
Who it was that pushed him didn't matter. What mattered was that as long as someone acted as the hand, no one could save him from this death trap.
Not even Wen Zhuo.
Shen Chen was quick-witted. With a brief moment of thought, he grasped the deeper meaning in Xie Langyang's words. Yet the unease in his heart lingered. "What if Wen Zhuo secretly guides him, and seizes the opportunity of an audience with the Emperor to expose the corruption of the Spring Terrace Chess Gathering, so that Father will issue a decree for a full investigation of the eight lineages, breaking this dead end?"
Xie Langyang slowly raised his eyes, a hint of heaviness hidden between his brows. He shook his head, his voice tinged with bitterness. "When Shen Zheng had his audience with the Emperor, he spoke not a single word about the Spring Terrace Chess Gathering."
For Shen Zheng, a prince born with congenital deficiencies, Xie Langyang felt more sympathy than anything else.
He seemed born to carry debts—the debt of the Great Qian's insufficient national strength—and was sent to Nanping for ten years of humiliation. Finally, he managed to return, only to run into the Spring Terrace Chess Gathering and become the scapegoat for the eight lineages.
How innocent Shen Zheng was!
Xie Langyang still remembered how lost and timid Shen Zheng looked during interrogation, foolishly walking into one trap after another.
The chief interrogator had long been bribed by the Crown Prince, the Wise Prince, the Third Prince, and others. During questioning, they deliberately steered the proceedings, every sentence laced with poison.
No one warned Shen Zheng, because everyone wanted him dead.
Yet he remained blissfully unaware, still asking persistently as he was dragged into Phoenix Terrace: "Father… does the Emperor not believe me either?"
"Not mentioned?" Shen Chen suddenly felt relieved. With his mind at ease, his thoughts became clearer, and he recalled something crucial.
"I was overthinking things. How could Wen Zhuo possibly help Shen Zheng? In the previous life, it was he who devised the scheme to frame Shen Zheng. We both know this well, so he must have his reservations. If he were to side with Shen Zheng, we could simply reveal this matter. Even if the whole rebirth affair seems far-fetched, Shen Zheng and he would inevitably develop a rift."
Xie Langyang lowered his eyes: "I think so too."
In truth, he didn't believe they had to kill Shen Zheng to secure the Marquis of Yongning's support, but Wen Zhuo and Shen Chen both thought so.
He even secretly hoped that this time Wen Zhuo might actually offer Shen Zheng some guidance, at the very least sparing his life.
But Wen Zhuo did not.
Wen Zhuo's heart was harder than winter ice, and Xie Langyang no longer expected him to show any trace of compassion.
"Though Wen Zhuo hasn't given us a hand this time, Shen Zheng has nevertheless offended the Crown Prince. That's his death warrant. To ensure everything is foolproof, Minister Xie, you must go through Grand Secretary Gong to remind the Crown Prince that Shen Zheng can be framed." Shen Chen instructed.
It wasn't that he didn't want to get involved himself, but Gong Zhiyuan kept his distance from him and would never believe his words.
Xie Langyang, however, enjoyed Gong Zhiyuan's trust. If Xie Langyang recommended someone to be the scapegoat, Gong Zhiyuan would not suspect a thing.
Xie Langyang's eyes shot open.
What was going on?!
Why was the task Wen Zhuo had undertaken in the previous life now falling on his shoulders?
His nature was pure and virtuous. He had studied the teachings of Confucius and Mencius since childhood and aspired to be a man of integrity—how could he possibly engage in such a black-hearted, despicable scheme!
"Your servant—"
"Minister Xie, don't forget—on the final match lost to Nanping, your house's fate hangs in the balance."
Xie Langyang's mouth opened but no words came out.
Shen Chen's tone softened, using the gracious tone he'd adopt after ascending the throne: "It's settled then. Minister Xie, you haven't dined yet, have you? Stay and share a meal with us."
Xie Langyang was in utter disarray. How could he possibly eat at a time like this? He could only force down his panic, lower his head, and stammer: "Your… your servant wouldn't dare disturb Your Highness's rest. I shall take my leave."
Xie Langyang maintained his courtesy, hands folded and back bowed, retreating from Shen Chen's bedchamber with some visible clumsiness.
Shen Chen watched him leave with a faint smile curling at his lips.
-
For the past two days, Wen Zhuo had deliberately taken sick leave.
In the previous life, after getting soaked in the rain, his whole body ached, yet he had forced himself to attend court. This time, he felt no pain at all, and still he didn't want to go.
One reason was that he didn't want to be dragged into the Cao Fangzheng case by the Crown Prince's faction and be forced to take a stance. The other was that he needed to race against time to reconstruct the chess game so he could negotiate terms with Shen Zheng.
Though Emperor Shunyuan was ill, his mind was sharp. He knew full well that Liu Qiying, who was implicated in this case, must have secrets. Cao Fangzheng, though overbearing, was not without cause for making trouble.
But Wen Zhuo's reputation as a dissolute playboy was deeply ingrained. If he had hidden some "rouge thief" in Bozhou and brought her back to his estate, it was hardly a major matter. Emperor Shunyuan would rather indulge him.
So this case, as long as the "rouge thief" wasn't mentioned, would likely be settled as an offense of humiliating a prince and showing grave disrespect to the Emperor.
It was said that in court, Gong Zhiyuan was so furious his beard bristled, his chest pounding, and he nearly came to blows with Bu Zhangyi, both of them grabbing at each other's collars.
Luo Mingpu racked his brains for an angle, hoping Emperor Shunyuan would investigate Liu Qiying thoroughly. Ideally, she really would turn out to be a rouge thief—at least then Cao Fangzheng would have a chance to redeem himself.
But Emperor Shunyuan coughed and pretended to be deaf, refusing to take the bait regarding Liu Qiying.
The Crown Prince's faction could see clearly: Emperor Shunyuan was afraid Liu Qiying would implicate Wen Zhuo. With such blatant partiality, they truly had no recourse.
Wen Zhuo wasn't in court, but he had his own channels for information.
Those within and outside the palace who sought to curry favor with him were as numerous as fish crossing a river.
"His Majesty sent me to deliver some nourishing supplements, and he also conveyed an oral decree telling you to rest easy and recover," said Ge Wei, a young eunuch under Liu Quan of the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs, fawning eagerly.
"Cough, your servant thanks His Majesty for his grace." Wen Zhuo pretended to be ill, reclining against the grand chair and lifting his neck just slightly.
Liu Qiying deftly slipped Ge Wei two taels of silver, then quietly retreated to the side.
Ge Wei didn't even wait for Wen Zhuo to ask—he chattered on unprompted: "Rest easy, sir. The scene in the Hall of Military Valor was absolute chaos, but His Majesty never once mentioned Miss Liu. In fact, he didn't breathe a single word about you. In this servant's view, this matter is closed."
Wen Zhuo suddenly let out a light laugh. He propped his forehead with one hand, half his body languidly leaning against the chair back, his exposed arm as smooth as white jade, nestled within sleeves that drifted like flowing mist.
"That's not what I asked."
Even a castrated eunuch felt his limbs go weak from Wen Zhuo's smile. Ge Wei quickly averted his gaze: "Then, sir, you were asking about…"
"His Majesty summoned the Fifth Prince. What was said?"
Nothing could escape the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs, especially since Emperor Shunyuan hadn't tried to hide it to begin with.
"Yes… nothing of consequence, really. It's just that the Fifth Prince was rather amusing and quite talkative. He even sang a little tune, supposedly to express fatherly-and-sonly affection. He made His Majesty laugh."
Wen Zhuo's eyes narrowed, and he sat up straight. Now that was strange—Shen Zheng had actually managed to make Emperor Shunyuan laugh without any guidance?
Curious, he asked: "What tune?"
He no longer cared about the question of whether "amusing" and "talkative" suited Shen Zheng's character. He simply chalked it up to Shen Zheng's rebirth having unlocked some hidden talent.
"Er… it was called 'Listen to Your Father's Words.'"
Wen Zhuo's brow furrowed inch by inch. In his many years as an official, he had heard countless songs, both highbrow and lowbrow, yet he had never come across such a blatantly sycophantic title.
"Composed by the Nanping Academy of Music?"
"It must be. The Fifth Prince hasn't been anywhere else these past years."
"What were the lyrics?"
"Th-the opening went… 'Little prince, do you have many questions? Why do others perform filial piety in the palace…' and then something like… 'Listen to your father's words, don't let him get hurt; want to grow up fast, so you can protect him…' The rest this servant truly cannot recall. The Fifth Prince sang quickly and his enunciation was slurred." Ge Wei broke into a sweat of embarrassment.
Wen Zhuo fell silent for a long time.
The courtyard was so still that only the "shua-shua" sound of wind through the leaves could be heard.
Wen Zhuo maintained his composed expression on the surface, but inwardly shook off a layer of goosebumps: "I see. Did the Fifth Prince mention anything else?"
If Shen Zheng had brought up the Spring Terrace Chess Gathering, it would mean he didn't trust him. In that case, there would be nothing more to discuss—Wen Zhuo could seek out someone else.
"Just idle family talk. Nothing more."
"He didn't mention the Spring Terrace Chess Gathering?"
"Not a single word about it."
Wen Zhuo's chin lifted slightly, a hint of satisfaction flashing through his eyes, tinged with a measure of surprise.
Could Shen Zheng truly trust him this much?
But then again, he thought, it made sense. He did possess a captivating appearance, after all. How could Shen Zheng possibly know the darkness that lurked beneath this handsome exterior?
Wen Zhuo smoothed his sleeves and gave the order: "Go tell the Fifth Prince—tomorrow at noon, come to my residence. If he's late, the offer expires."
