The birthday banquet at the Eastern Palace was a celebration in name, but in truth it was a trap set by the Crown Prince to extort donations under the guise of relief for the Jiangnan flood. All the civil and military officials were treading on thin ice.
The Crown Prince sat high in the main hall, gently tapping his fingertips on the table. His smile was warm, yet it concealed a sharp edge.
"My lords, the Jiangnan floods are raging and the common people are displaced. Taking the opportunity of my birthday banquet today, I hope everyone can open their purses generously to save the people of the world."
With those words, officials began to step forward one after another to present their bank notes. The Crown Prince accepted them all with a smile.
Slightly below him, on the side, Lu Yanzhu, who had just been promoted to the Eastern Palace, stood in his green official robe. Though he was only an eighth-rank minor official, he held his head high and chest out, looking thoroughly like a dog flaunting its master's power.
In the seating area for female guests, Shen Biwei wore a borrowed gold-laced ruby hairpin. Surrounded by several noble ladies who flattered her, she let out a feigned sigh, her voice not loud, yet just enough for those around her to hear.
"It is only because my husband is capable that he could catch the Crown Prince's eye. Unlike my concubine-born younger sister Nanzhao, who married into the Prince of Qi's manor in my place, only to be stuck with a living demon whose legs are ruined and who cannot even get out of bed. For a grand gathering in the capital like today's, I am afraid she can only wash her face with tears back at the manor."
"Announcing the arrival of the Prince of Qi and the Princess Consort of Qi."
The eunuch's announcement shattered the clamor. The grand hall instantly fell into a dead silence.
I wore the formal crimson robes of a princess consort, woven with purple and gold, and a nine-tailed phoenix hairpin on my head, and pushed Xiao Jingyan in his pure gold wheelchair, stepping into the main hall under the escort of ten black-armor guards. Xiao Jingyan, clad in a black python robe, rested with his eyes closed. His pale face exuded a murderous aura from years of holding high office, making everyone feel suffocated.
Seeing the two of us arrive, the Crown Prince had a flash of coldness in his eyes, but he quickly put on a smile again, speaking with a fake, insincere grin.
"Seventh Brother, since you are unwell, why bother coming in person? Someone bring a seat for Seventh Brother." He paused for a moment, then shifted his tone, speaking with deliberate difficulty. "Today all the ministers have generously donated to the people of Jiangnan. As a member of the royal family, Seventh Brother, I am sure you will not be stingy either. I wonder how much silver the Seventh Prince's mansion plans to donate to relieve the plight of Jiangnan?"
Xiao Jingyan slowly opened his eyes, a cold light flashing in them, and let out a cold laugh. "Since Imperial Brother has spoken, how would I dare to disobey? However, my contribution is not a vulgar item like bank bills. Nanzhao, bring it forward."
Responding to him, I took out a brocade box and opened it in front of everyone. Inside, a thick stack of ledger books was clearly visible.
Seeing this, Lu Yanzhu stood up immediately, letting out a disdainful snort. "Is the Seventh Prince playing a joke on Your Highness? Can these ledgers be used as silver? I'm afraid you simply can't produce the silver, so you are deliberately using this waste paper as a pretext."
I raised my eyes, looking at him with a half smile, my voice clear and bright as it echoed throughout the entire hall.
"What is the rush, Lord Lu? What is recorded in these ledgers is far more precious than bank bills. Every word inside tracks the destination of the Jiangnan disaster relief funds, along with ironclad proof of embezzlement and withholding. It is no exaggeration to call them mountains of gold and silver. I just wonder — into whose private treasury did this money, which should have saved the people from dire straits, end up?"
The Crown Prince's face changed drastically. He slammed his hand on the table and stood up abruptly, harshly reprimanding me.
"Impudent. Shen Nanzhao, you are just a mere woman. How dare you speak so wildly in the Eastern Palace and slander court officials? Guards, seize this madwoman for me and punish her severely."
Just as the imperial guards were about to draw their swords and step forward, Shen Biwei suddenly rushed out from the female guest section like crazy. Pointing right at my nose, she shrieked and roared.
"Please calm yourself, Your Highness. This wench has harbored malicious intentions. Half a month ago, she personally came to find me, stuffed a packet of poison into my hand, and ordered me to poison the Seventh Prince. She even said that as long as it succeeded, she would guarantee my wealth and glory. Not only that, she also uttered wild words, saying she would conspire with the Seventh Prince to murder Your Highness and usurp the position of heir apparent. For such a poisonous woman, even death is not enough to expiate her crimes."
As these words were spoken, the entire crowd went into an uproar. Discussions arose one after another.
The Marquis of Pingyang was trembling with fear. With a thud, he rolled down from his chair, prostrating himself on the ground and kowtowing repeatedly. "Your Highness, spare my life. I did not know my daughter had such wild ambitions. I will sever all ties with her. Sever all ties."
A flash of ecstasy crossed Lu Yanzhu's eyes. He immediately knelt down in front of the Crown Prince and kowtowed with a righteous air.
"Your Highness, every word my wife said is true. The Seventh Prince holds heavy military power, yet he has claimed illness for years. In truth, he is building up his own army and harboring rebellious designs. These account books must be the evidence of his corruption and lawlessness. I beg Your Highness to immediately order the arrest of these two treasonous rebels, to restore order to the court."
Guards instantly surrounded the two of us. The Crown Prince laughed in triumph.
Xiao Jingyan, however, remained calm. Slowly, he placed his hand on the armrest of his wheelchair. With a click, the hidden latch popped open. The living Yama, who had sat in a wheelchair for three years and had been declared to have withered, dead legs, actually stood up, swift and agile. His stature was tall and erect, like a god of war, without the slightest trace of stiffness.