Imperial Husband Chapter 90

Chapter 90

Palace, Linzhi Palace

Ying Ziqi looked at the information sent back from outside and sneered, "As expected of Right Minister Shen. He managed to hide the movements of the seventh brother and that Heir Li so well. Fortunately, I eventually found them."

When Ying Ziqi learned that Li Jin and the others were going to Zhuzhou, he made two preparations. First, he arranged assassins in Ying Zijun's name to kill Li Jin and Ying Yuan. Second, he sent people to infiltrate the team transporting grain.

Thus, after the first plan failed, Ying Ziqi immediately used the second scheme.

Ying Ziqi's trusted palace maid Linglong suggested, "Your Highness, now that we have finally discovered their trail and the person we sent over hasn't been discovered by them, why not order that person to assassinate them?"

"No." Ying Ziqi shook his head. "The letter says they have already captured two people in a row. If I send someone to assassinate them now, it will only startle the grass and alert the snake."

[打草惊蛇 (dǎ cǎo jīng shé): lit. startle the grass and alert the snake; fig. alert the enemy by rash actions]

Linglong quickly knelt and said, "This servant failed to think carefully enough. I deserve punishment, Your Highness."

"It's fine." Ying Ziqi waved his hand indifferently. "The most important thing now is still to investigate who sent that other captured spy. Also, tell Ying Zijun about the seventh brother's information."

Ying Ziqi could be sure he had only sent two people as spies. After being captured, the one who committed suicide was the one deliberately exposed. The other person was still hidden within the team, undiscovered.

Therefore, the other captured soldier definitely could not be his person.

As for the purpose of telling Ying Zijun, it was simple: to make Ying Zijun take action against Li Jin and Ying Yuan, while he himself would peacefully be the oriole behind, waiting to catch the cicada after the mantis.

[螳螂捕蝉，黄雀在后 (tángláng bǔ chán, huángquè zài hòu): lit. the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind; fig. to focus on a short-term gain while being blind to a greater danger looming behind]

"Yes, this servant will go and handle it immediately."

Linglong curtsied and then respectfully withdrew.

"Wait."

Ying Ziqi called Linglong to stop.

Upon hearing this, Linglong immediately stopped and said, "Does Your Highness have further orders?"

Ying Ziqi said helplessly, "Jiang You hasn't sent any messages since he went to Zhuzhou. Investigate for me where he is now. Then have someone tell him to return immediately, otherwise he won't need to come back in the future."

Relying on his special relationship with Ying Ziqi, Jiang You always did things that made Ying Ziqi both laugh and cry. Therefore, when Ying Ziqi found he couldn't contact Jiang You again, he instinctively thought Jiang You must be trying to do something to get his attention again.

"Yes."

Linglong nodded in acknowledgment, a flash of jealousy quickly passing through her eyes.

On the other side.

A deputy general wearing armor knelt on one knee and said, "Your Highness, the spy we sent has lost contact. It seems he was discovered."

"Then continue sending people over. You must find out Li Jin's exact whereabouts for me." Wearing a general's uniform, Ying Zihui gazed at the towering, overlapping mountain peaks before him and said word by word, "Also, have the soldiers under my command prepare. In a few days, I will go to Zhuzhou to suppress the rioting refugees."

"Yes, Your Highness."

The deputy general standing behind Ying Zihui saluted Ying Zihui and then withdrew.

Ying Zihui watched the deputy general's gradually receding back and murmured to himself, "Mother, please watch from the heavens. This time, I will not miss the position of Crown Prince again."

A full seven years.

Ying Zihui and the remaining Helian clan members exhausted all means to help Ying Zihui escape the fate of imprisonment, regain Ying Zhengjing's appreciation, and subsequently obtain long-lost freedom, even earning the title of general.

___

Zhuzhou City.

"Who are those people?"

"They look like soldiers. Could it be... is there war in Zhuzhou?"

"Don't say that! Zhuzhou is already suffering enough. If war starts on top of that, won't it be forcing us all to die?"

"How can this be happening..."

"Wait, everyone, stop speculating wildly. Look—they're carrying grain, it's grain! Maybe they're officials sent by the court to provide disaster relief, maybe they're here to help us."

"If only what you say were true."

"Hey, that's strange. Why are they escorting prisoners?"

As Tao Yichu and the others approached Zhuzhou City, the common people who happened to see them immediately began discussing.

Two soldiers guarding the city gate of Zhuzhou City stopped Tao Yichu. "Please show your entry permit."

"Of course," Tao Yichu nodded and took out the document from his person for the soldiers to inspect.

Shortly after, the soldier finished inspecting the document and respectfully handed it back to Tao Yichu. "Everything is in order, sir. You may enter. Our County Magistrate has already arranged accommodations for you."

Tao Yichu replied without expression, "The security here is quite tight."

"You flatter us, sir," the guard said with a humble smile. "We're just trying to make a living." But then, noticing the bound prisoners in Tao Yichu's group, he was taken aback. "And these are…?"

"Criminals."

"Criminals? Wait—isn't that… Lord Chen?"

The questioning guard was a veteran. He immediately recognized one of the tied-up men as Chen Manzhou, the former county magistrate who had abandoned the people of Zhuzhou and fled in secret. 

Shocked, the hatred in his eyes instantly burst forth uncontrollably.

Tao Yichu pretended to be surprised. "That can't be. The man I've captured is a vile criminal who has brought great harm to the villagers outside the city. How could he be an official?"

Tao Yichu's reaction was an act, he had long known Chen Manzhou's identity from Li Jin and the others.

The guard's pupils contracted, and he said through gritted teeth, "I can't possibly be mistaken. My sister was killed by him back then. Even if he turned to ashes, I could recognize him."

"It's Li San, isn’t it? Save me, quickly!" The moment Chen Manzhou recognized the guard as Li San—who had once served him faithfully—he began shouting, trying to get his attention.

"Chen Manzhou! You dare come back?" Because of Chen Manzhou's appearance, the hatred hidden in the guard's heart for many years instantly erupted.

In the next instant, the guard drew the sword from his waist and thrust it toward Chen Manzhou. "Die!"

"Li San, how dare you?" Chen Manzhou was frightened by Li San's gaze and instinctively wanted to retreat. However, he was tied up all over and restrained by two soldiers on his left and right, completely unable to move.

"He cannot die yet."

Li Jin stepped down from the carriage and blocked the guard’s attack.

The guard roared furiously, "Get out of my way! He killed my sister. I want him to pay with his blood!"

"If you kill him, your vengeance is served. But what about the others?" Li Jin coldly seized the guard's sword. "Should their loved ones just die unexplained? Besides, he still holds an official position. If you kill him, wouldn't that be killing an imperial official? What would happen to your family then?"

"I… I…" The guard understood Li Jin’s meaning. He clenched his fists and fell silent, no longer insisting on killing Chen Manzhou.

"It’s time to enter."

Li Jin glanced at Tao Yichu and returned to the carriage. Tao Yichu shot Li Jin a grateful look, then turned back to the guard. "After entering Zhuzhou City, I will take him to see the new County Magistrate and let the new County Magistrate judge his crime."

The guard’s lips tightened, but he reluctantly nodded in agreement.

However, as they moved into Zhuzhou City, more and more citizens recognized Chen Manzhou. Disgust flashed across their faces—but above all, hatred. Had Tao Yichu’s group not been in military uniform, the crowd might have torn Chen Manzhou apart then and there.

Splat.

A rotten egg struck Chen Manzhou squarely in the face.

Used to a life of privilege, Chen Manzhou was outraged. "Pah! What foul thing is this? Who threw that?" he spat angrily.

Unbeknownst to him. It was precisely this statement that made other commoners, who already bore deep hatred for Chen Manzhou, throw things at him again, each time aiming specifically at Chen Manzhou's face.

Of course, Zhuzhou was in the grip of both drought and famine. The people had little to spare. What they threw were rotten, spoiled things—nothing of value.

Within moments, Chen Manzhou was covered in filth and reeking.

"Stop! Stop, I say! Pah! You’ll pay for this—mmph!" While Chen Manzhou was speaking, a rotten egg was thrown into his mouth. A disgusting, nauseating smell instantly assaulted Chen Manzhou's taste buds, immediately making him afraid to speak.

As for Li Jin and the others, to avoid disturbing the commoners when about to enter the inner city, they had already left all the carriages outside the city, found a few soldiers to guard them, and proceeded on foot with Tao Yichu and the others.

After what felt like a long while, they finally arrived at the government office.

What met their eyes was the extremely dilapidated government office of Zhuzhou City, with the plaque bearing the two characters "Yamen" hanging above being worn and tattered.

"Let’s go in," said Li Jin.

He wasn’t surprised by the state of things. In fact, given the previous magistrate’s corruption, it was a wonder the people hadn’t rebelled already.

No sooner said than done.

Just as Li Jin finished speaking, Lan Mingzhou, wearing the county magistrate's official robes, walked out from the government office and clasped his hands. "Lord Tao, you've worked hard."

Tao Yichu bowed slightly. "Lord Lan, this is the disaster relief grain. Please inspect it."

"Of course." Lan Mingzhou nodded and motioned to the personal advisor and the constable beside him to begin the inventory.

Li Jin walked to Lan Mingzhou's side and smiled slightly. "Lord Lan, I wonder if you need my help?"

"This voice is...Heir Li?" Lan Mingzhou turned his head and, realizing the person really was Li Jin, was stunned.

Shouldn't he be in the capital at this time? How did he come to Zhuzhou?

Lan Mingzhou was now only a minor official, had arrived in Zhuzhou much earlier than Li Jin and the others, and moreover, had fallen out with the Lan family. It was impossible, and no one would have informed Lan Mingzhou of the news that Li Jin and the others were coming to Zhuzhou.

Moreover, the Lan family was probably waiting to watch his embarrassing situation.

After all, he had once been the fifth prince's study companion, while Li Jin was the seventh prince's study companion. It was well known within the palace that the fifth prince hated the seventh prince intensely; he even constantly opposed the seventh prince in the palace. Now that Li Jin saw him, how could he possibly let him off easily?

Thinking of this, Lan Mingzhou couldn't help but smile bitterly.