The court officials connected to the Eight Meridians suddenly froze in place, as if struck by frost.
Their first reaction was not fear, but rather an expression that could only be described as bewilderment. The most absurdly comical among them was Shi Yuan, the Vice Minister of the Grand Court, who had just moments ago knelt at the front, leading the call to report the leaked chess manual with such zeal.
When the bewilderment faded, they finally came to their senses and realized that they had backed the wrong side, said the wrong words, and followed the wrong person.
And so, a frantic scramble for self-preservation began—
“Your Majesty, I am guilty! I should not have dared to discuss the prince carelessly. I beg for Your Majesty’s mercy!”
“I am guilty too, Your Majesty! Your Majesty!”
“Though I am a man of the Eight Meridians, I am truly wronged. I did not speak a single word just now!”
“I… I merely learned chess alongside the Eight Meridians, and I have no deep ties with any of the great clans. Your Majesty, please investigate clearly!”
“Your Majesty, why are we being arrested? I do not understand!”
“Losing to Nanping was not what the Eight Meridians wanted! It is all because of Nanping’s treachery! Your Majesty, please investigate thoroughly!”
Emperor Shunyuan’s fury was already burning fiercely, and this cacophony only added to his irritation. He slammed his hand heavily on the imperial desk, his dragon face contorted with rage: “Guilty or innocent, let the investigation decide! Drag them out!”
The imperial guards, receiving the order, lunged in like ferocious beasts. They swarmed forward, without the slightest courtesy, wrenching the arms of the Eight Meridians officials behind their backs. Iron chains clattered loudly, and they were hauled roughly toward the palace doors.
Xie Langyang, a junior member of the Xie family’s direct line, was of course unable to escape this fate. For the first time in his life, he was treated like a common prisoner. The imperial guards rudely pressed down on his shoulders, yanking and dragging him. His crimson brocade official robe was pulled askew, his topknot came loose, and he was hauled across the grand hall in a disheveled and almost farcical manner.
Even though he had once been of noble status, not a shred of elegance or dignity remained to him now.
Shame coiled around his heart like a poisonous vine, gnawing at his self-respect. He trembled, startled and baffled.
How had it come to this?
Just as he was being dragged out through the palace gates, he raised his head and saw Wen Zhuo walking slowly into the hall.
As ever, he was dressed in a crimson official robe like a blooming lotus, his hems washed spotlessly clean and free of dust. The rolled sleeves exposed a slender, jade-bright wrist. He seemed as unapproachable as a banished immortal.
Wen Zhuo lowered his gaze to look at him. That gaze held no trace of pity—instead, it felt like taking in a spectacle he had long foreseen.
Watching him fall from a man of noble rank to a prisoner, watching him shift awkwardly in front of his former colleagues, watching him shatter years of carefully built pride and dignity right there in the imperial court.
Xie Langyang never imagined that just over a month after returning to the court of Emperor Shunyuan, he would experience, to the fullest extent, the humiliation Wen Zhuo had suffered in a past life.
He knew Wen Zhuo must have secretly engineered this somehow, but he could not figure out how.
Why had Emperor Shunyuan so uncharacteristically trusted Shen Zheng without question, and instead angrily thrown the men of the Eight Meridians into prison?
Wen Zhuo watched his staggering figure grow distant, and only then did he realize—so this was what his own expression had looked like when he had been impeached in his past life.
But Xie Langyang’s experience could never match his. Not his humiliation, not his bewilderment, not his desolation.
Not even close.
Wen Zhuo concealed the chill at the corners of his eyes well as he turned, offering an innocent smile. His voice was gentle: “Your Majesty, please calm your anger. What has happened?”
Emperor Shunyuan pressed a hand against his brow, visibly beyond irritated: “Wanshan, you do not know the half of it.”
A third of the court officials had already been escorted out. The remaining two-thirds were just as puzzled as Wen Zhuo.
But though Emperor Shunyuan was furious, he had not lost his reason. This scandal was far too serious; he had yet to decide how to handle it.
Gong Zhiyuan and Bu Zhangyi were not considered part of the Eight Meridians, so they remained in the hall for now. Both seemed struck by some paralysis, not daring to move an inch.
Gong Zhiyuan’s mind raced, replaying every step, searching for where the scheme had come apart. Why had Xie Langyang’s plan of accusation collapsed so completely?
Bu Zhangyi, meanwhile, glanced nervously at Gong Zhiyuan amid his terror. He wondered if he had been dragged into this mess by Gong Zhiyuan’s machinations, implicating the Shi clan as well.
But looking at Gong Zhiyuan’s expression, that didn’t seem likely. After all, who would sacrifice their own allies just to take down an enemy?
Neither of them had any immediate strategy. As for Shen Chen, he was even more lost. He had come prepared with all sorts of arguments to deepen his father’s suspicion of Shen Zheng—he might have mentioned overhearing Shen Zheng whisper with Consort Liang, longing for Nanping, how Nanping had treated him kindly, and so on—but now he didn’t dare speak those words either.
Could it be that Wen Zhuo had already informed the emperor of the Eight Meridians’ internal strife and secret dealings with Nanping?
No.
If Emperor Shunyuan had known all along, he would never have let the Spring Terrace Chess Tournament reach its final stage, losing face so completely.
Or perhaps Shen Zheng had changed in this life, earning their father extra favor and affection?
Preposterous.
All of them, his sons, served filial piety day after day, and yet none of them had ever earned such trust from their father—let alone a son who had been gone for ten years.
Suddenly, a voice rang out from beyond the hall: “Your Majesty, I thank you on behalf of the Emperor for trusting the Fifth Prince! The Fifth Prince spent ten years as a hostage for his country, and his loyalty remains unshaken. He is truly a hero of the Great Qian Empire, and he could never have done anything to harm the nation’s honor!”
All eyes turned toward the voice. It was none other than Marquis Yongning, who had been conspicuously absent of late.
The Marquis pulled his robes aside and knelt, his voice ringing with conviction. This old general, having weathered countless disappointments and helpless grievances over the years, could no longer tolerate this rotten court.
Emperor Shunyuan hastily raised a hand: “Marquis Yongning, please rise. I naturally trust my own son.”
Shen Chen: “?”
Why was this happening?!
Emperor Shunyuan suddenly gestured for Liu Quan, the chief eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, to step closer. He whispered two brief instructions into his ear.
When Liu Quan finished listening, he gave a slight bow and hurried out of the hall.
Gong Zhiyuan, Bu Zhangyi, the Crown Prince, Prince Xian, and Shen Chen all stared after him, as if they could yank that sentence out of the eunuch’s head if only they could reach his ears.
Only Wen Zhuo kept his eyes straight ahead, unmoving as a mountain.
At that same moment, in the East Tower of Watching Chess Street, Gu Weizhi squeezed his way out from the crowd of agitated onlookers. He boarded the waiting carriage with a bow and headed straight for Huiyang Gate.
In less than half an incense stick’s time, the carriage arrived. At a glance, he spotted the anxiously pacing Nanping envoy Wu Kan, as well as three chess players standing at attention, their appearances strangely unsettling.
Gu Weizhi hopped down from the carriage, smoothed his plain robes, and walked forward with Liu Qiying and Jiang Mannü in tow.
His face was full of smiles, warm as a spring breeze, and even before he spoke, he had already raised his hands in a respectful bow: “This must be the Nanping envoy, Wu Kan? I am Gu Weizhi, an aide to Wen Wenzhang, the Chief Academician of the Hanlin Academy. Today I have come on his behalf to pay you a visit.”
Wu Kan eyed this stranger with suspicion.
If anyone else had said this, Wu Kan would not have listened to them for even a moment— but he recognized Liu Qiying and Jiang Mannü standing behind Gu Weizhi. On that day at the guest residence, Wen Zhuo had kept these women by his side.
Wu Kan sneered: “What sort of trick is your Great Qian cooking up now? Is this how you treat the winners of the Spring Terrace Chess Tournament? Surely you’re not so sore about losing that you plan to go back on your word?”
Gu Weizhi, hearing the barb in his tone, did not take offense. He remained courteous and polite: “The envoy jests. I have come this time to discuss a transaction with you on behalf of the Chief Academician.”
With that, he extended his left hand, and Liu Qiying swiftly placed two red pills into his palm.
Gu Weizhi lifted the object and said slowly, "This was found in the envoy's chamber. After it was broken open and examined by a physician, it was determined to contain cinnabar, realgar, arsenic stone, kaolinite, lead dan, and other highly toxic substances. This medicine can make a person mentally agitated and enhance memory, but it takes a great toll on the body. With long-term use, one's lifespan is likely to be shortened."
His tone shifted sharply, turning severe: "In order to defeat the Great Qian, perhaps there are righteous men in your country willing to pay such a price. But if the soldiers stationed at the border and the common folk living in Nanping learned of this, they would inevitably be disheartened. If it were for a city or a stronghold, that might be one thing—but for the sake of a mere chess tournament, your court is willing to sacrifice the lives of three young men. That is truly..."
In truth, Gu Weizhi had understated the matter. The reality was even more horrifying. With this addictive poison that quenches thirst, would Nanping use it only on Mu Yi, Mu Er, and Mu San?
Presumably, on the battlefields of the southern frontier, this medicine had already run rampant. And the commanders would never tell the soldiers of its dangers—after all, not everyone went into battle against Great Qian with a death wish.
Once the secret leaked, the Nanping garrisons would surely fall into chaos. With panic spreading through the ranks, the losses would be incalculable.
Wu Kan's face darkened, sweat quietly beading at his temples. He asked in a sinister tone, "What does Court Academy Director Wen want?"
Gu Weizhi smiled. "Court Academy Director Wen hopes that if His Majesty our emperor secretly summons you, you will reveal the complete list of Great Qian officials who have colluded with Nanping. As for things you have never done, there is no need to admit to them. I believe this is not a difficult matter for an envoy such as yourself."
Wu Kan let out a cold laugh. "So Court Academy Director Wen has also joined the internal strife of Great Qian. Is he not afraid that I will tell your emperor what you have said today?"
Gu Weizhi tucked his hands into his sleeves, his expression calm: "Then the envoy will be unable to explain why the final chess game of this tournament had already appeared on our emperor's desk before it was even concluded. This chess tournament fraud scandal will be blamed either on the Eight Channels or on the envoy. Surely you are not willing to protect these rotten insects and leave your life in Great Qian?"
"What did you say?!" Wu Kan's eyes were filled with disbelief.
How could a chess game that had not yet ended appear on the emperor's desk? That was utterly impossible!
Gu Weizhi said in a low voice, "I have already told you how to break this deadlock. I trust the envoy will not disappoint Court Academy Director Wen."
The moment he finished speaking, a squad of imperial guards came riding down the street, their horses' hooves striking the stones like rolling thunder.
Gu Weizhi promptly retreated into the crowd and watched as the imperial guards "escorted" Wu Kan and his party away.
Outside the Huiyang Gate, only the soldiers of the Five City Military Command remained, standing there at a loss.
This Spring Terrace Chess Tournament had ended in a manner both shocking and desolate. No one knew what would happen next.
The sky remained heavy with dark clouds, but it seemed the sun had shone into Gu Weizhi's eyes. Watching the backs of the imperial guards, he sighed with heartfelt admiration: "The Court Academy Director is indeed as prescient as ever. Four years have passed, and Weizhi truly misses the days when we fought side by side!"
Liu Qiying asked, "Lord Gu, what do we do next?"
Gu Weizhi's face showed a slight flush of embarrassment: "The Court Academy Director said my mission is complete. He also said that Lady Liu must be carrying a good deal of silver on her, and he has asked you to take me sightseeing and dining around the capital. This official feels ashamed, but I must trouble the two ladies."
Liu Qiying: "..."
Emperor Shunyuan was suspicious by nature.
Although Shen Zheng recounting the entire chess game from memory made it impossible for him to explain, he was also unwilling to believe that the court had decayed to such a degree, so corrupt and obtuse.
Perhaps there was some divination art in this world that allowed Nanping to foresee today's game?
Soon, Liu Quan returned and said in a low voice, "The man has been brought to the Cooling Pavilion."
Emperor Shunyuan ignored the assembled ministers and rose unsteadily to his feet. Flicking his sleeves, he strode away, leaving behind only one sentence: "Wait here, all of you. No one is to move!"
The ministers looked at one another in bewilderment. Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review Xue Chongnian quietly approached Wen Zhuo and asked for advice: "Court Academy Director, could you analyze this for me? Why exactly is His Majesty so furious?"
A third of the court officials had been thrown into his prison. Officials from every department were mixed in together, their connections tangled beyond measure. Xue Chongnian's heart was full of dread.
How was he to try this case? To what extent? Whom to spare lightly, whom to punish severely? Who were Crown Prince's men, and who were Prince Xian's men? Every single detail gave him a pounding headache.
The only one who could guide him was Wen Zhuo, because Wen Zhuo had nothing to do with this affair. He leaned toward no faction, a truly solitary minister, and one whom the emperor deeply trusted.
Wen Zhuo tilted his head, a troubled look on his face: "Lord Xue, you flatter me. I rode back from Huiyang Gate alongside you. I know nothing of this matter either."
Xue Chongnian said with a heavy heart, "Alas, what have we done to deserve this? To be dragged into this muddy water for no reason—truly miserable!"
Inside the Cooling Pavilion.
Emperor Shunyuan accepted the cold tea that Liu Quan handed him and took two sips to suppress his anger.
His gaze sank heavily onto Wu Kan, who was kneeling on the ground. "You are the Nanping envoy."
Wu Kan knelt with his head bowed, his eyes darting furtively: "Your servant Wu Kan, paying respects to the Great Qian Emperor."
Emperor Shunyuan slammed the imperial table with his palm, sending the porcelain bowls trembling and clattering.
The eunuchs inside the hall dropped to their knees in a row, and a single bead of sweat rolled from Wu Kan's nose to the floor.
"Bold Wu Kan! Nanping has secretly colluded with my court's high ministers, rigging the Spring Terrace Chess Tournament in an attempt to crush Great Qian's prestige. Guards! Take Wu Kan and the three chess players away and behead them!"
Wu Kan's mind felt as if struck by lightning. A white flash crossed his eyes, and his back was instantly drenched in sweat.
In his panic and helplessness, he could only grit his teeth and board Wen Zhuo's boat.
"Your Imperial Majesty, this foreign minister is willing to present the complete list of Great Qian officials who have ties with Nanping. I beg Your Imperial Majesty for mercy!"
These people had merely sold some chess manuals to Nanping—it wasn't as if they had given away military secrets. They were not worth dying to protect. He had no intention of becoming cannon fodder in a Great Qian factional struggle!
Emperor Shunyuan closed his eyes slightly, his heart confirming that what Shen Zheng had said was true.
His Great Qian court had raised too many rats, and he had been kept in the dark all this while.
Emperor Shunyuan waved a hand, and the imperial guards sheathed their swords and withdrew.
"Speak."
Wu Kan let out a faint sigh of relief, his twitching muscles finally calming down. But he still did not dare raise his head. Pressing his forehead to the ground, he began to confess in a torrent: "About half a year ago, General Jun Dingyuan achieved a great victory over Nanping. Many of our court officials were resentful, and unwilling to exhaust the people and drain the treasury again, they devised this method to boost our morale."
"Given Nanping's foundations, winning against Great Qian was no easy task. But some in our court knew that the infighting among Great Qian's Eight Channels was severe and could be exploited. So they sent several spies to make contact with members of the Eight Channels. Matters proceeded smoothly—they paid money, and the Eight Channels members stole chess manuals from rival clans and handed them over to us. They even personally taught us how to break the chess strategies of other branches. This greatly improved our chess players' skills."
"Among the Xie clan were Commissioner of Transmission Xie Pingzheng, Election Secretary Xie Dongtan, and Secretary Xie Chenggu. From the Shi clan, Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review Shi Yuan, Chariot and Horse Secretary Shi Tong, and Military Instrument Bureau official Shi Changping. From the Helian clan, Right Vice Censor-in-Chief Helian Song, Supervising Secretary of the Six Offices..."
Wu Kan confessed everything in one breath. The eunuchs of the Directorate of Ceremonial wrote rapidly, recording twenty pages in total, committing every word of the confession to the official record.
Emperor Shunyuan asked coldly, “Is that all?”
Wu Kan replied, “That is everything this humble minister knows!”
Emperor Shunyuan sneered, “Then what about the final battle? Were Xie Qian, Shi Qingjiu, and Helian Qiao colluding with you all along, deliberately throwing the match? Did Nanping buy them off with silver?”
Wu Kan knocked his forehead against the ground, producing dull thuds. “Nanping did indeed steal the chess manual and the eight-branch chess techniques from Great Qian, but the final battle was won fairly, without bribing any opponent. What Nanping has not done, I will never admit to.”
“Your Nanping exploited the internal strife among the eight branches to steal techniques from our court, and you still have the nerve to speak of fairness! You people are detestable!” Emperor Shunyuan laughed in fury, wishing he could tear Wu Kan apart with his bare hands.
But the war between the two nations had only just subsided. If he executed an envoy over a chess competition and reignited the conflict, plunging the people into the horrors of war once more, Emperor Shunyuan could not bear such infamy.
So threatening to behead Wu Kan was merely a scare tactic, to force him into revealing the truth quickly.
“This humble minister dares not lie. On the chessboard, it was indeed our players who won,” Wu Kan insisted stubbornly.
“Outrageous! Escort him back to the embassy and guard him closely. Without my permission, he is not to take a single step outside!”
The imperial guards dragged away Wu Kan, whose legs had gone weak and whose forehead was bruised.
Emperor Shunyuan clutched his chest and coughed violently.
Liu Quan hastily ordered someone to bring a basin and hot water, then massaged the Emperor’s chest and patted his back to help him breathe.
Emperor Shunyuan gulped down two large cups of water and spat several mouthfuls of vomit into the basin before catching his breath.
Leaning on his weary frame, he asked, “Do you believe what he said at the end?”
Liu Quan’s hand holding the basin did not move, but his eyelids twitched almost imperceptibly. After a long moment, he answered, “This servant does not quite believe it. Envoy Wu likely refuses to admit that Nanping is inferior to Great Qian, which is why he insists the final battle was fair. Otherwise, how would one explain the Fifth Prince’s role?”
Emperor Shunyuan snorted, “He is loyal to Nanping, I’ll give him that.”
What Liu Quan said was precisely what the Emperor wanted to hear.
Even with the stolen manual and thorough study of the eight branches’ techniques, how could Nanping possibly surpass Great Qian?
If they won, then it must be a fraud.
Liu Quan set the basin aside and cleaned the residue from the Emperor’s lips. “Fortunately, Great Qian also has a loyal Fifth Prince, a man who served in the enemy camp while remaining true to his homeland. It was he who broke Nanping’s scheme.”
“The Fifth Prince has indeed worked hard, and I am pleased. Let us go.”
After resting a while, Emperor Shunyuan returned to the Hall of Martial Valor. By then, the sun was already setting. The dark clouds that had shrouded the sky earlier had quietly dispersed, and the horizon blazed with molten gold, casting the pavilions and towers of the Forbidden City in a light so radiant they seemed like a celestial palace.
“Issue the decree: Let Grand Judge Xue Chongnian preside over the trial of the eight branches’ treason case, with Hanlin Academy Chancellor Wen Zhuo assisting on my behalf. Within three days, I want to know the full truth of this matter! If any confession from the eight branches does not match the Nanping envoy’s statement, execution on the spot!”
Xue Chongnian knelt trembling. “Your servant obeys!”
Yet he let out a small sigh of relief.
The Emperor’s appointment of Wen Zhuo to assist was, in truth, a way to back him up. Otherwise, as a mere Grand Judge, he could not afford to offend the Crown Prince, Prince Xian, or any of the Grand Secretariat’s ministers, leaving him utterly unable to conduct the trial.
Wen Zhuo, who had been acting as if the matter did not concern him, seemed genuinely surprised by the news.
“Your Majesty, this minister has no experience with trials. I have never even set foot inside the Grand Court’s offices. I fear I would fail the trust Your Majesty has placed in me.”
“Wanshan, the court is in chaos, and it is time you shouldered some responsibilities for me. I trust no one but you.” Emperor Shunyuan’s gaze swept coldly over the grim-faced Gong Zhiyuan and Bu Zhangyi.
He was no fool, aware that the rivalry among the princes had intensified. The court was split, everyone either aligned with the Crown Prince or with Prince Xian, save for Wen Zhuo, who had never joined any faction.
He calculated silently: since this incident had already occurred, he might as well seize the opportunity to purge the court’s chronic ailments and suppress the power of the princes and the aristocratic families.
Wen Zhuo did not decline further. “Very well. I thank Your Majesty for the trust. I will do my utmost.”
Emperor Shunyuan warned him, “Your temperament is too soft. Among the eight branches are many of your fellow examination graduates, such as Xie Langyang. Do not deliberately show leniency or refrain from digging deeper!”
Wen Zhuo lifted the corner of his lips slightly. “Your servant will keep Your Majesty’s teachings in mind.”
Leniency? I’m more afraid I won’t be able to finish him off!
This breathtaking storm had finally, for now, subsided.
Emperor Shunyuan left to return to his chambers for rest, and Xue Chongnian immediately latched onto Wen Zhuo to discuss the interrogation of the eight-branch officials. After all, they had only three days, yet the officials to be tried numbered over eighty. Xue Chongnian calculated that even if he worked himself like a donkey, he still could not grind through this mill.
“Grand Judge Xue, do not worry. Allow me to visit them in the prison tonight to assess the situation before making any decisions.”
“Very good, very good. I am most grateful for Chancellor Wen’s efforts. Were I not so low in rank and weak in voice, you would not have been dragged into this troublesome matter.” Xue Chongnian nodded repeatedly, his face full of gratitude.
“Grand Judge Xue, we serve the same court. There is no need for such formality.”
“With you here, Chancellor, I finally have a pillar of support. Once this case is concluded, I shall invite you to the music bureau for a few drinks. In the future, should you ever have need of my services, Chancellor, please do not hesitate.”
“Grand Judge Xue, it is still too early to speak of such things. Let us return to our residences for a brief rest. These three days will leave us without sleep.”
Having dispatched that pleasantry, Wen Zhuo strode outward, only then noticing that the setting sun had seeped through the temple gates and spilled onto the grand hall. The crimson glow caught the hem of his robes and drew him into a sea of brilliant twilight.
It had been so long since he had seen light this dazzling that he felt a flicker of hesitation. He raised a hand to shield his eyes, squinting slightly.
And then, at the far end of the golden radiance, stood Shen Zheng—tall and upright, robed in deep navy with a jade belt at his waist—arms crossed, smiling at him lightly.
A breeze brushed his sleeves, and from within them peeked the corner of an oil-paper bundle. Long, slender fingers twirled it back and forth, an invitation, a temptation, the sweet fragrance of pastries drifting over along with those deep, searching eyes.
Wen Zhuo did not slow his step, brushing past him.
The instant their shadows intertwined, Wen Zhuo murmured softly, “I want it. Send it to my residence at once.”
