The Old Prince and Concubine Chen immediately knelt before the Emperor to make their act convincing.
"Your Majesty, Zhou'er is speaking in anger. Prince Chen's Mansion harbors no rebellious intent, nor have we colluded with the 'Ghost Thief'. We beg you to thoroughly investigate the matter of the weapons and tribute!"
The Emperor ignored them and asked Qi Yanzhou, "Is the Prince of Chen still the head of his household?"
The implied meaning was: Does his request for exile count?
Qi Yanzhou nodded affirmatively.
"My decision represents the decision of Prince Chen's Mansion. If anyone is unwilling to share the fortunes of the Qi family, they may take a letter of divorce or severance and leave Prince Chen's Mansion. From then on, glory and disgrace will no longer be shared."
Concubine Su, being the Emperor's spy, had no desire to suffer the hardships of exile.
She was about to ask the Old Prince for a letter of divorce when a cold glare from the Emperor silenced her.
Seeing that no one wished to break from the Qi family, Qi Yanzhou addressed the Emperor once more. "I voluntarily request exile!"
The Emperor was inwardly overjoyed, but he asked with a stern face, "Since the Prince of Chen has a clear conscience, why request exile?"
"Because Your Majesty does not trust the Qi family. You have long wished to strip the Qi family of its title and wipe us out completely!"
The words were blunt and sharp, laying bare the Emperor's unsavory thoughts.
Although the Emperor thought exactly that, he would never admit it.
"Nonsense! If I lacked the capacity to tolerate others, I would not have given you military authority and allowed you to lead troops into battle!"
Qi Yanzhou, feeling they had already torn all pretense with the Emperor, saw no reason to hold back.
"Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty, sending me with the fewest troops to suppress the fiercest bandits and fight the most uncertain battles."
The Emperor: "..."
"I entrusted you with heavy responsibilities because I believed in your capabilities."
Qi Yanzhou looked at the guests, his tone mocking. "Your Majesty, ask them if they believe that."
Anyone who wasn't blind or willfully ignorant could see the royal family had long intended to eradicate the Qi family.
The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, being the Emperor's man, hurriedly replied, "I believe it!"
Many ministers echoed in agreement.
"We believe it!"
Qi Yanzhou had long lost hope in the corrupt court and was accustomed to the officials' flattery.
He felt saying another word would be a waste and looked at the Emperor.
"Your Majesty, I voluntarily request exile. Henceforth, you need not worry about the Qi family amassing military power, overshadowing the sovereign with our achievements. The Qi family will also no longer need to constantly fear that a mistake will bring disaster upon our entire household."
The Emperor didn't know if Qi Yanzhou's words were sincere or not.
But it didn't matter.
Exile suited his wishes even more than house arrest.
"I never imagined the Prince of Chen harbored such deep misunderstandings of me. Since your resolve for exile is firm, I shall not dissuade you."
The Emperor looked at the assembled officials in the courtyard and declared, "From this moment, the Prince of Chen is stripped of his title. The ancestral imperial pardon gold plaque and the Shangfang Sword bestowed by his ancestors are to be confiscated, along with all family assets. He is to be exiled on a chosen date. However, the matter of the weapons and tribute will continue to be investigated, to give the people an answer."
He said this merely as a formality, with no intention of clearing the Qi family's name.
Qi Yanzhou bowed to the Emperor.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for granting this!"
"Before the exile edict is issued, no one from the Qi family may leave the front courtyard."
After speaking, the Emperor looked at the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.
"Minister Kang, you will handle the confiscation of property."
"I obey the decree."
"Eunuch De, you will assist."
"This servant obeys."
The Emperor then instructed the Commander of the Imperial Guards, "Keep watch over everyone in the Qi household."
Hearing this, Qi Yanzhou said, "Your Majesty, this commoner is voluntarily requesting exile, not a convicted criminal. I beg you to spare the innocent servants of Prince Chen's Mansion."
For the Emperor, this was merely a matter of words.
"Everyone in Prince Chen's Mansion will be thoroughly investigated. If they are found to have clean backgrounds, I naturally will not trouble them."
Then, the Emperor looked at Ye Chutang.
"Miss Ye has not yet been entered into the Qi family register. She is not the Qi family's principal wife and may leave."
All eyes fell upon Ye Chutang. No one was surprised by the Emperor's suggestion for her to leave.
They were not fools; they had long seen that the charge of treason against Prince Chen's Mansion was a scheme by the Emperor and Ye Jingchuan!
Everyone assumed Ye Chutang would sever ties with Qi Yanzhou without hesitation.
Instead, she said, "A'Zhou and I have completed the three letters and six etiquettes, performed the wedding ceremony, and tied our hair as husband and wife. Even if my name is not yet in the family register, I am still a member of the Qi family."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was shocked, except for the three who were in the know.
"The Emperor has graciously offered, yet Ye Chutang refuses. What is she thinking?"
"How could anyone seek out hardship? Doesn't she know people die on exile journeys?"
"Qi Yanzhou believes the Minister's estate framed him, yet Ye Chutang wants to follow him into exile. Is she mad?"
"She must be blinded by so-called love, wanting to follow her husband's lead!"
Listening to the officials' discussions, the Emperor's anger surged, his face dark and terrifying.
"Ye Chutang, are you certain you wish to accompany the Qi family into exile?"
Ye Chutang heard the Emperor's implied threat regarding the antidote, pressuring her to enter the palace as an imperial concubine.
She said, "Your Majesty, this commoner has important matters to report privately."
The Emperor took Ye Chutang to a pavilion in the garden.
Prince Chen's Mansion was fully controlled by the Imperial Guards, and the garden was also being searched, but it did not hinder their conversation.
A white jade tea set was placed on the stone table in the pavilion.
The Emperor swept it onto the ground with one slap.
"Ye Chutang, do you not wish to live? Why go into exile? Has the plan gone awry because you've taken a liking to Qi Yanzhou and interfered?"
Choosing to be a convict facing death at any moment over being a favored imperial concubine made him suspect.
Facing the Emperor's wrath, Ye Chutang remained perfectly calm.
"Your Majesty overestimates me. Even if I wished to help Qi Yanzhou, I could not obtain the letters between Ye Jingchuan and the prince, nor the fabric for the dragon robe."
"You lack that capability, but you could have informed Qi Yanzhou of my plan. He has the ability to join forces with the 'Ghost Thief' and turn the tables!"
Ye Chutang kicked the shattered tea set aside and sat on a stone stool.
"Your Majesty, please sit. Allow me to analyze this properly for you."
Looking at the breathtakingly beautiful Ye Chutang, the Emperor suppressed his anger and sat opposite her.
"Speak."
Before launching into her fabrication, Ye Chutang asked the Emperor.
"Your Majesty, what do you believe is the purpose of the 'Ghost Thief's' appearance in the capital?"
The Emperor answered without hesitation. "To steal wealth."
"No. It is to destroy the state!"
As soon as the words "destroy the state" were uttered, the Emperor's face darkened as if ink could drip from it.
He stared coldly at Ye Chutang. "How did you arrive at this conclusion?"
"Wealth is the foundation of the state. Without silver, one cannot purchase provisions, pay military salaries. The consequences of disheartening the troops, Your Majesty should know."
Hearing this, the Emperor had a sudden realization.
"So that's the 'Ghost Thief's' scheme! I underestimated him!"
Ye Chutang rolled her eyes inwardly and asked another question.
"Your Majesty, why do you think Qi Yanzhou voluntarily requested exile?"
The Emperor had considered this.
"Naturally, he fears I will use the hidden weapons incident as a pretext to place the Qi family under house arrest and find an opportunity to exterminate the entire household!"
He worried the Qi family remaining in the capital might clear their name; Qi Yanzhou also feared being eradicated while under house arrest.
Voluntarily requesting exile, far from the capital, was the best choice to preserve the Qi family.
Ye Chutang nodded, offering her conclusion.
"So, the 'Ghost Thief' and Qi Yanzhou are not in cahoots. The charge of treason offers no benefit to the Qi family. Qi Yanzhou's goal couldn't possibly be to get himself exiled, right?"
The Emperor nodded in agreement.
Qi Yanzhou had no reason to destroy his family's century-old reputation just to suffer the hardships of exile!
"Continue."
"I suspect the 'Ghost Thief' targeted Prince Chen's Mansion for two reasons: first, to get revenge on Qi Yanzhou for luring him into a trap; second, to dig a pit for Your Majesty, making you despised by the people."
The Emperor didn't understand. "What do you mean?"
"Your Majesty's desire to destroy the Qi family is plain for all to see. Now that three thousand mysterious weapons have been discovered in Prince Chen's Mansion, if Your Majesty punishes the Qi family because of this, the 'Ghost Thief' will surely release evidence proving the mansion was framed. You would then become a tyrannical ruler persecuting loyal subjects!"
After hearing Ye Chutang's analysis, a chill ran down the Emperor's spine.
"What a vicious scheme!"
"Indeed, it is vicious. As long as Your Majesty moves against the Qi family, you will be labeled a 'tyrant.' Now that Qi Yanzhou has requested exile himself, as long as Your Majesty refrains from kicking the Qi family while they're down, this crisis can be averted. If you wish to deal with the Qi family, there will be plenty of opportunities on the road to exile and at their destination."
Ye Chutang's lengthy explanation to the dog Emperor was all to prevent the Qi family from being burdened with the crime of treason.
If the Qi family was not guilty, they wouldn't be bound by the strict rules of exile and would suffer much less.
The Emperor found Ye Chutang's reasoning very sound and admired her even more.
He reached out to touch Ye Chutang's face. "Chu'er, how do you think the exile edict should be written?"
Ye Chutang suppressed her disgust and slapped his hand away.
Before the Emperor could get angry, she took the initiative.
"Does Your Majesty still wish to discuss serious matters?"
The Emperor wisely withdrew his reddened hand.
"Please enlighten me, Miss Ye."
Watching this forty-something, impotent old man pretending to be a gentleman made Ye Chutang feel so nauseous she could vomit.
"The edict only needs to state the facts: it is true that three thousand weapons were found in Prince Chen's Mansion; it is true that Qi Yanzhou requested exile to prove his innocence; it is true that Your Majesty confiscated the mansion's assets to replenish the state treasury; it is true that Your Majesty spared the mansion's servants; and it is true that Your Majesty, showing compassion, is allowing the Qi family a less arduous exile."
The Emperor nodded repeatedly. "Excellent. First, make all the proper gestures on the surface, then strike the deadly blow in secret!"
After saying this, he stared at Ye Chutang and asked, "Why do you want to follow the Qi family into exile?"
"I have no desire to compete with three thousand beauties in the harem for one man, nor do I wish to be trapped in the palace, deprived of my freedom."
The Emperor knew Ye Chutang was different from ordinary women.
He said, "I will give you the greatest favor, confer upon you the title of Imperial Noble Consort, and allow you to leave the palace three times a month."
Ye Chutang refused without hesitation. "Unnecessary."
Her words caused the Emperor's expression to turn cold.
"Have you taken a liking to Qi Yanzhou?"
"How could I possibly fancy a dead man walking?"
Hearing this, the Emperor suppressed the excitement in his heart and asked, pretending not to know.
"What dead man walking?"
Ye Chutang raised an eyebrow.
"Wasn't it Your Majesty who poisoned Qi Yanzhou with the Fire Toxin? Are you unaware that his life is nearing its end?"
"Is that true?"
"Given Qi Yanzhou's physical condition, he won't live past a month."
The Emperor grew even more curious. "Then why follow him into exile?"
Ye Chutang fabricated a story on the spot. "I wish to ask for a boon after helping Your Majesty eradicate the Qi family."
"What boon?"
"I want a fiefdom to rule as its lord."
The Emperor looked at the ambitious Ye Chutang and said, "I can eradicate the Qi family without your help!"
"Then let's make a bet. If Your Majesty can destroy the Qi family without my help, I will return to the capital and become your Imperial Noble Consort. If you require my assistance, you grant me a fiefdom. How about that?"
"I agree!"
"Then let's put it in writing."
The Emperor, thinking Ye Chutang's life was still in his hands and she wouldn't dare betray him, agreed.
He ordered the Imperial Guards to fetch writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.
Ye Chutang asked, "Has Your Majesty decided where to exile the Qi family?"
The Emperor, off guard with Ye Chutang, shared his analysis with her.
The result matched Ye Chutang's guess.
Place of exile—the Northwestern Desert.
Ye Chutang said, "The Qi family certainly won't make it to the northwest. Your Majesty can designate Tianshan County as the final destination of the exile, to demonstrate the vastness of the imperial grace."
"Good, Tianshan County it is!"
As soon as the Emperor finished speaking, the Imperial Guards brought the writing materials.
Ye Chutang personally wrote out the wager.
The Emperor signed it with his reign name—Emperor Yongchang—and pressed his fingerprint.
Ye Chutang took the wager, stood up, and said, "Your Majesty, this commoner woman should return to the front courtyard."
"Go. I will await your return to the capital to become my Imperial Noble Consort."
Before leaving, Ye Chutang reminded him, "Your Majesty, do not issue the exile edict too hastily. First, investigate the origin of the weapons. Otherwise, it will seem too rushed, and the people may grow suspicious."
She needed to buy time to empty her enemies' treasuries!
The Emperor, seeing how Ye Chutang seemed to consider his interests at every turn, nodded.
"I understand. Rest assured, I will not let you suffer on the road to exile."
"Your Majesty, Qi Yanzhou is inherently suspicious. It's better to have the officials treat everyone equally. Confiscating property is fine, but no body searches."
As she spoke, Ye Chutang fiddled with the gold hairpin in her hair.
The Emperor understood her meaning.
"Don't worry, I will allow the Qi family to keep the gold and silver items they wear on their persons, for use on the journey."
But whether the Qi family could hold onto that gold and silver was another matter!
When Ye Chutang returned to the front courtyard, the banquet tables and chairs had been cleared away, replaced by treasures confiscated from Prince Chen's Mansion.
Imperial Guards were still continuously carrying items out.
Since the Emperor hadn't left, the officials and their families remained as well.
They were all crowded under the corridors of the side and main halls, marveling at the immense wealth the Qi family had amassed.
When the Emperor returned from the garden, he too was dazzled by the opulence.
He had always known the Qi family was wealthy, but never imagined their holdings surpassed even his private treasury.
Such an abundance of treasures could not only fill the state coffers but also replenish his private vault!
Thinking of this, the Emperor felt pleased.
A moment later, worry surfaced in his heart.
Would the "Ghost Thief" target these treasures?
