Chapter 38: The Harmless Princess of Beiyang vs. The Fratricidal Prince of Beiyang
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Chang Jiu glanced at Liu Yangjiang on the floor and continued, “Rest assured, Marquis. After all these years, the Crown Prince still holds you in some regard. From now on, I hope you will cooperate fully with our actions. Otherwise, once this matter is exposed, I need hardly explain the consequences, do I?”
The Marquis of Western Garrison’s expression was grim.
Zhou Ziqing’s gaze swept over Liu Yangjiang before him. He frowned slightly, then said, “As for the Second Young Master’s death, the Eldest Young Master has taken responsibility, and His Majesty has received an explanation as well. Am I right, Marquis?”
“Mm.” The Marquis of Western Garrison nodded. “We shall do as the Crown Prince has instructed.”
Upon hearing this, Liu Yangjiang stared at his father in utter disbelief. Ever since childhood, his father had favored Liu Wenyu. Though he clearly knew Liu Wenyu was not the murderer, he had still made him take the blame. Perhaps death was a kind of release. It was only a pity for her.
Yun Xi, I am sorry. You should have been able to leave…
“Very good. From now on, we are all in the same boat. Whenever you have the time, please visit the Eastern Palace more often, Marquis.”
The Marquis of Western Garrison remained silent, but he had already made up his mind. Wenyu was dead; Yangjiang could not die as well. Otherwise, who would inherit his position after he was gone?
For now, he could only take matters one step at a time. The most important thing was to discover the Crown Prince’s plans. He had to muddy the waters.
“I understand.” The Marquis of Western Garrison inclined his head.
He looked toward Zhou Ziqing, then suddenly thought of something. “I heard that the Crown Princess and the Princess Consort of Beiyang are enemies. Do you know why?”
“I do not. You would be wise not to inquire further, Marquis.”
Zhou Ziqing rose and walked over to Liu Yangjiang. He crouched down, glanced at him, then dragged him aside.
Chang Jiu was slightly taken aback, but said nothing.
Zhou Ziqing paused, then continued, “Marquis, regarding the national examination, keep a close watch on the Inspectorate’s movements. There must be no mishaps.”
With that, he smiled faintly. “We shall take our leave.”
Chang Jiu followed him out.
Inside the study, the Marquis of Western Garrison looked at Liu Yangjiang’s face, then at the bloodstains on the floor. His eyes darkened as he ordered coldly, “Have the Second Young Master cremated and buried in the ancestral graveyard.”
The steward hesitated for a moment before answering, “Yes, my lord.”
The Marquis of Western Garrison slowly sat down. He tightened his grip around the teacup in his hand and did not release it until a long while later. Then he raised his head and glanced at the sky before speaking slowly.
“Yangjiang, I am sorry. Your father has wronged you. Secretly return him to the Inspectorate prison…”
“Father…” Liu Yangjiang stared at the man before him in disbelief.
“This is for your own good.”
Hearing this, Liu Yangjiang hurried forward to stop him. “Father, I beg you…”
He was just about to kneel when the Marquis could not bear it any longer and seized his arm, cutting him off.
“There is no room for discussion. For the sake of the Marquisate, you must be sacrificed. Who told you to leave evidence behind when you acted?”
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“Father, I truly was not the one who killed Wenyu!”
“I know.”
The Marquis of Western Garrison looked at him, his eyes deep and unfathomable. After a moment, he said, “Whether you did or not is no longer important. The Crown Prince merely wants to use this matter to drag me into…”
He waved his hand, and a man dressed in black stepped out from the corner.
Suddenly, a tremendous force hurled Liu Yangjiang to the ground. Clutching his chest, he let out a muffled cry. As he looked at the expression on his aged father’s face, the light in his eyes gradually faded.
At the same time, the steward opened the door.
Liu Yangjiang weakly raised his head. A faint smile appeared on his face as he looked at the Marquis of Western Garrison.
“Is this what you wanted, Father? All these years, you have never treated me this way. Is it because of my mother? She was the principal wife, after all. You detested her so much back then—why did you not refuse the marriage?”
As Liu Yangjiang looked at his father, his heart grew colder and colder.
The steward immediately came over and ordered the guards to take him away. Liu Yangjiang opened his eyes, which were brimming with tears, and spoke in a hoarse, choked voice.
“Why… Why are you treating us like this?”
“…”
The Marquis of Western Garrison looked at him without speaking.
Liu Yangjiang froze and stared at the man before him in disbelief. “Father?!”
“Your father believes you. It is only that, under the circumstances, I have no choice but to do this.”
“Do not concern yourself with these matters. The Crown Prince will spare your life.”
“Remember that everything I am doing today is for the Marquisate. You cannot suffer the slightest mishap. Otherwise, the Marquisate will be finished, and so will you.”
With that, he closed his eyes.
“…”
Liu Yangjiang’s face was deathly pale. He opened and closed his mouth, unable to think of anything to say.
Inside the Inspectorate prison, Liu Yangjiang lay on the floor while a pair of long, narrow eyes gazed down at him with icy light.
With great difficulty, Liu Yangjiang raised his head. His eyes were swollen and bloodshot, and tears seemed to burn their way from them. His lips moved as his throat worked.
“Kill me.”
“The Crown Prince still has a use for you.”
With that, the man turned to someone behind him and said in a low voice, “Once the corpse is ready, proceed according to the plan.”
Several days later, the story that Liu Yangjiang had killed his own younger brother out of love turned to hatred before taking his own life spread vividly from mouth to mouth among the common people.
“I never thought Liu Yangjiang was the one who killed his own brother. How could he bring himself to do it?”
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“Was it not because of the Second Young Miss of the Wen family?”
…
The people shook their heads one after another, finding the motive for the murder most perplexing.
“How could Liu Yangjiang be so heartless?”
“Who knows…”
Someone shook his head helplessly, worry flickering in his eyes.
“Hey, have you heard? The examination grounds for this year’s national examination have been set at Hundred Academy in the eastern suburbs.”
“I have. Was that not the place they planned to convert into a medicinal workshop?”
“It seems construction has already begun. Hundred Academy is the largest compound in the capital.”
“But the timing does not make sense. How long will it take to build the examination grounds? The date of this year’s national examination was decided long ago. Why would construction only begin now?”
“Who knows? Perhaps they chose it because the land is broad, sparsely populated, and open. Or perhaps there is some other reason. In any case, Hundred Academy is not far from the city. I only wonder whether my family’s candidate will make the list.”
“He should, surely. There will be so many candidates by then. What do you all think?”
“Exactly.”
“…”
The people chattered among themselves, speculating about where the national examination would ultimately be held.
At that very moment, on the second floor of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion at the easternmost edge of the capital, Xiao Zexuan sat beside the window. Qingyu stood behind him. Looking at the construction site in the distance, where clouds of dust billowed into the sky, Xiao Zexuan’s eyes shone with brilliant light. They were filled with intense anticipation—the anticipation of seeing Hundred Academy shine with new glory once more.
“What is the situation on the Crown Prince’s side?”
“They tortured Liu Yangjiang until he confessed and took his own life. The four-edged wounds have appeared as well, but the military tally is probably already in the Crown Prince’s hands.”
Xiao Zexuan narrowed his eyes, a trace of icy intent flashing through them. The cup in his hand suddenly shattered beneath his grip.
Qingyu stood beside him, his brows drawn tightly together. “Your Highness?”
“Pass word of the four-edged wounds to the Chancellor…” A strange smile curled across Xiao Zexuan’s lips.
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