Chapter 325: To Grant Life and Deal Death, to Judge at Will
"It’s easy to take Su Fengyue’s life. Killing a man is a simple matter."
Ji Qingwu looked up at him. "But we can’t just kill him so easily. With so many eyes watching, we need to present solid, reliable evidence."
Zhao Mingyan’s lips tightened. He wasn’t unaware of the importance of evidence; otherwise, he wouldn’t have risked coming here.
But sometimes, for an Emperor, evidence was merely a bonus.
Executing him with proof in hand, making it perfectly justified, would be ideal. But if none could be found, a forced execution was also within his considerations.
Seeing the ceaseless killing intent surging in his eyes, Ji Qingwu stepped closer. "What if the Imperial Censors demand an explanation?"
"An explanation?"
Zhao Mingyan said flatly, "The world will only know that Prime Minister Su, upon hearing of his beloved daughter’s death, returned to his manor heartbroken and died suddenly of a heart ailment."
"And Prince Yong will be the witness."
Ji Qingwu’s hand, which was holding his arm, stiffened. She gazed at his cold, hard profile.
In that brief moment, Emperor Wu Su had already concocted a pretext.
She had almost forgotten that the man before her was different from herself. An Emperor held the power of life and death, doing as he pleased.
If a ruler wants his subject to die, the subject has no choice but to die.
Even without evidence, Su Fengyue’s death could be covered up.
But Ji Qingwu didn’t want Su Fengyue to die so hastily. He had to bear every bit of the infamy he deserved.
She released his arm and stood by his side, her tone gentle yet carrying a weight that could not be ignored.
"Your Majesty, Prime Minister Su has committed too many evil deeds. Letting him die would be letting him off easy. As for the evidence of his treason and collusion with the enemy... I think I can get it."
Zhao Mingyan’s murderous heart finally calmed under Ji Qingwu’s clear, placid gaze.
Ji Qingwu once again tugged his sleeve, leading him toward the back courtyard.
This time, he didn’t refuse.
*
「Back courtyard. Outside the woodshed.」
There had been guards at the entrance, but Sanchuan and Si Hai had already taken care of them.
They had already searched the room. Seeing Ji Qingwu and Emperor Wu Su arrive together, the two of them lowered their heads.
Ji Qingwu entered first. Two candles were already lit inside the room.
Firewood and hay were stacked neatly to one side. A secret door had appeared on the right wall, its mechanism already deciphered by the Hidden Guards.
Holding a candlestick to light the path before her, Ji Qingwu had just stepped into the secret chamber when she saw an iron cage near the entrance.
She brought the candlestick closer for a better look and saw that the cage was old and mottled with rust. Leather shackles lay in a messy heap in a corner by the bars.
Further in was a large, dark purple bed. Beside it stood a shelf made of golden nanmu wood.
Ji Qingwu glanced at the things on it and froze in her tracks, not daring to step closer.
Sanchuan, at the entrance, said, "Master, your subordinate has already searched the room and found the secret chamber, but we did not find a hiding place for letters. However, there are some strange things inside..."
Si Hai’s brows were tightly furrowed. Hearing the word "strange," he clutched his stomach and let out a retch.
Before the wave of nausea passed, he hurriedly knelt. "Your subordinate has lost his composure."
Zhao Mingyan stepped inside and walked straight to the secret chamber. At a glance, he saw a figure on the west side, standing with her back to him, holding a candlestick.
Ji Qingwu recognized his footsteps. She said in a low voice, "All these years... just how many women have there been..."
The top shelf was hung with all sorts of earrings. Each was a single piece, all made of gold and jade, suggesting the high status of their wearers.
Below them were handkerchiefs of various designs.
Some were so old they had faded, but it was easy to see they were all finely embroidered, each bearing the clever artistry of a young maiden.
But every handkerchief was stained with blood.
There was no need to guess what kind of blood it was.
Ji Qingwu had thought this was where Su Fengyue hid letters about his treason and collusion. She never expected it to be a place that chronicled his debauchery.
Su Fengyue must have been very proud of his "conquests" to have kept all these things.
Her gaze drifted to the very bottom...
It was filled with lifelike yet exceedingly cold instruments of torture and pleasure.
Just looking at them sent a chill down Ji Qingwu’s spine.
A large hand steadied her shoulder.
Another hand covered her eyes, turning her around and pressing her into his embrace—a silent gesture of comfort.
Zhao Mingyan’s arms tightened. He didn’t want her to see too much of this filth.
He took it all in and said, "Let’s go outside."
But Ji Qingwu wasn’t afraid. She wanted to see everything clearly, to use these objects to understand all the evil acts Su Fengyue had committed.
She turned her head from Emperor Wu Su’s embrace. "I’m fine."
Ji Qingwu moved closer to the shelf, crouched down, and examined the items on the bottom layer one by one. Each was engraved with a crescent moon pattern.
It was the same shape as the key she had found.
But there wasn’t enough space in these items to store letters.
Just then, Si Hai came in and knelt. "Master, a message from the Hidden Guards in the front hall. The Prince and Prime Minister Su have started fighting."
A glint flickered in Ji Qingwu’s eyes.
’Didn’t Prince Yong come to make nice with Prime Minister Su? Is he here to cause trouble instead?’
’But this is Su Fengyue’s manor. How could Prince Yong possibly come out on top?’
"What’s the situation now?"
Si Hai said, "The Prince, furious, threw a few punches at Prime Minister Su and knocked him to the ground, but he was quickly restrained by the manor’s servants."
This development was beyond Emperor Wu Su’s expectations. Although Prince Yong had a wild personality, he wasn’t someone who acted rashly without considering the consequences.
To provoke Su Fengyue at a time like this, something must have happened that he found unbearable.
Zhao Mingyan asked, "What happened?"
Si Hai replied, "I heard that Prime Minister Su took out a piece of jewelry, and the Prince suddenly became agitated."
Ji Qingwu’s gaze swept over the earrings on the shelf. ’It seems Su Fengyue has other trophies besides these.’
’What Prime Minister Su showed Prince Yong must have belonged to Princess Yong.’
Ji Qingwu gritted her teeth.
’I never should have stopped Emperor Wu Su. Su Fengyue truly deserves to die. Every extra moment this man lives is an insult to the women he abused.’
Although Ji Qingwu was emotional, her mind remained clear.
’If Prime Minister Su dares to have his servants detain a Prince, what won’t he dare to do?’
She looked back at him. "Your Majesty, only you can handle this."
Zhao Mingyan had already intended to go. "These two will stay here to protect you. Report to me immediately if anything happens."
Ji Qingwu nodded.
After Emperor Wu Su left, Sanchuan kept watch outside while Si Hai stood guard by Ji Qingwu’s side.
Si Hai’s face was still pale. He had seen bloodshed, but never anything so depraved.
He had thought the seemingly delicate Ji Qingwu wouldn’t be able to handle it, but she was calmer and more composed than anyone.
She was still surveying the room.
Ji Qingwu didn’t believe the key in her hand was merely an ornament. From overhearing the conversation between Prime Minister Su and his steward earlier, she knew it was extremely important to him.
She just didn’t know where it was meant to be used yet.
Ji Qingwu ran her hands along the wall, tapping it with her fingers, not missing a single inch within her sight.