The Blood Crown - Chapter 112

Since the start of the Grand Imperial Assessment, the morning court sessions have been anything but peaceful.

 

Today, Xie Zhongren directed censors to impeach the officials of the aristocratic faction, and tomorrow, Yan Zilian will have his censors accuse the Ministry of Personnel of abusing power. Xie Zhongren, using the Imperial Assessment, has already demoted three of Yan Zilian’s confidants. In retaliation, Yan Zilian incited one of them to make a death petition, dragging their superior into the mess.

 

In just a month, the power struggle between the two factions has been fierce and relentless. Civil and military officials have been taken down one after another, resulting in mutual damage. And this is only the beginning, as the Grand Imperial Assessment usually takes half a year to complete.

 

Feng Ye and Yan Sikong have faced frequent setbacks in gathering evidence against Wenyu Chi and his son. Yan Sikong then asked She Zhun to use his own methods to investigate. She Zhun, being the most skilled intelligence broker in the underworld, was tasked with digging up every detail about Wenyu Chi’s long career, convinced that he would find something.

 

Feng Ye was displeased to learn that Yan Sikong had still sought out She Zhun. “You really do rely on him,” he said.

 

“I never rely on anyone,” Yan Sikong replied calmly. “But She Zhun is the most formidable intelligence broker in the underworld. I’ve known him for many years, and he has never let me down.”

 

“Never let you down?” Feng Ye snorted. “Why does he help you? Could it be because of some ‘childhood friendship’?”

 

“He loves money.”

 

“A greedy person—aren’t you afraid he might be used by others?”

 

“His parents were harmed by the eunuch faction, and he wants revenge,” Yan Sikong said. “She Zhun is a useful person. Why do you view him with such hostility?”

 

Feng Ye stared at Yan Sikong for a moment, then suddenly grabbed his chin. “I don’t like hearing you mention other men. If he can do what I can’t for you, I dislike him even more.”

 

Yan Sikong smiled slightly. “No one can do for me what you do.”

 

“Like what?”

 

“No one treats me as well as you do,” Yan Sikong said, gazing deeply into Feng Ye’s eyes.

 

Feng Ye’s lips curled into a slight smile as he leaned in close to Yan Sikong’s ear. “No one can do to you what I can do.”

 

Yan Sikong’s heart pounded violently. Feng Ye’s intense possessiveness often made him feel uneasy.

 

Feng Ye seemed to recall something and laughed softly. “Recently, there’s been a rumor in the capital that I publicly humiliated you at Baisheng Tower, treating you like a prostitute. In the eyes of the poor scholars and men of letters, I’ve become a narrow-minded, petty person. Some even wrote poems to insult me. Ha ha ha…”

 

Yan Sikong’s face darkened. “Feng Ye, you must not act so recklessly again.”

 

Feng Ye glanced at him, licking his lips seductively. “Of course, some say you and I are cut sleeves, and that I opposed marrying Princess Wanyang to you out of love and hate.”

 

“Feng Ye!”

 

Feng Ye’s arm wrapped around Yan Sikong’s waist, holding him tightly. “Right now, in the teahouses and taverns, people are vividly describing the event, as if they were there. I had some free time recently and went to listen. It was quite entertaining.” He leaned in, tracing the outline of Yan Sikong’s lips with his eyes. “But it’s not a tenth as interesting as what happens between us.”

 

Yan Sikong squinted his eyes. “If the Emperor finds out…”

 

“So what?” Feng Ye gently kissed him. “I want the whole world to know you belong to me. I want to destroy everything, yet I restrain myself. I struggle with this contradiction every day. You made me this way.”

 

Yan Sikong looked into Feng Ye’s deep eyes and saw the repressed turmoil and madness within. His heart suddenly ached. This person used to look at him with unrestrained affection and care, like a sun blazing in the sky—passionate, wild, and without a trace of shadow. Now, that innocence and openness were nowhere to be found. Feng Ye could no longer trust him unconditionally; instead, he was filled with suspicion and resentment. It was true—Yan Sikong had turned Feng Ye into this.

 

But their entanglement ran too deep for either of them to let go easily.

 

Yan Sikong could only wrap his arms around Feng Ye’s neck, saying nothing, just holding him and silently thinking, “I’m sorry.”

 

The light in Feng Ye’s eyes flickered violently before he sighed deeply, closed his eyes, and regained his calm.

 

—

 

The scorching summer soon arrived. In the court, both factions, exhausted from the constant struggle over the Imperial Assessment, were now suffering from the intense heat. Standing without speaking caused them to sweat profusely. Emperor Zhaowu, citing the heat, frequently canceled court sessions to seek tranquility. As a result, the conflict between the two factions finally eased somewhat, especially among the older officials who were truly too tired to continue the fight.

 

At this juncture, Yan Sikong found a breakthrough in the matter of Wenyu Chi.

 

It was nearly two months after he had tasked She Zhun with investigating Wenyu Chi. She Zhun delivered more detailed information, though he was somewhat disappointed. “I’ve dug deep, but this man has no significant weaknesses. It’s easy to bring down his son, but it won’t hurt the foundation of the Wen family.”

 

Yan Sikong quickly skimmed through the thick stack of documents. While She Zhun couldn’t find anything, it didn’t mean he couldn’t. After flipping through it quickly, he closed the file and fell into deep thought, his brows furrowing.

 

She Zhun asked, “How about I just poison him?”

 

“No. The Ministry of Personnel is not a place you can come and go freely. Besides, if he were murdered, the court would put all its resources into investigating. You wouldn’t be able to hide your identity.”

 

“Then what? With Wenyu Chi around, your little Crown Prince will eventually be deposed.”

 

Yan Sikong slowly clenched his fist. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration hit him. He hastily opened the dossier and, after searching for a while, finally found the words that had just caught his eye.

 

“Did you find anything?” 

 

Yan Sikong was stunned for a moment, then slowly, very slowly, a sinister smile spread across his face. “Wen Yuchi, your career is over.”

 

“What exactly did you find?” She Zhun leaned in, scrutinizing the page, and suddenly understood.

 

Yan Sikong closed the book. “I’m going to see Feng Ye. Be careful on your way back.”

 

“Wait.” She Zhun squinted, a trace of anger in his eyes. “That little prince humiliated you at Baisheng Tower. The entire capital knows about it. This person is so reckless and foolish, yet you still dare to plot with him.”

 

Yan Sikong took a deep breath. “I have my own sense of measure in our matters.” With that, he turned to leave.

 

She Zhun grabbed him, staring intently into his eyes. “You have a sense of measure? You like him, don’t think I can’t see it!”

 

Yan Sikong shook off his arm, his gaze resolute. “In my heart, nothing is more important than revenge. So, yes, I have a sense of measure.”

 

She Zhun, suppressing his anger, taunted, “If he knew what kind of person you are, would he still be infatuated with you?”

 

“He knows,” Yan Sikong replied without hesitation.

 

She Zhun’s eyes widened. “What do you mean? You’ve told him everything?”

 

“He first discovered you in Jingzhou, then learned from General Zhao Fuyi that Ge Zhong was the censor who wrongfully executed my father. He’s not a fool.” Yan Sikong said coldly, “She Zhun, you’re meddling too much. As long as I pay you enough silver and can kill Xie Zhongren, the rest is none of your concern.”

 

She Zhun retorted coldly, “Nanyu, you had no weaknesses before, but now you’ve made many mistakes because of this person. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. He’ll ruin your plans sooner or later, and maybe even destroy you.”

 

Yan Sikong said in a deep voice, “No one can destroy me.” No one can destroy someone who is already broken.

 

—

 

Yan Sikong discreetly notified Yan Zilian and Feng Ye, arranging a secret meeting at a small teahouse. However, he had Feng Ye come half an hour earlier.

 

Unless it was urgent, they wouldn’t meet here. As soon as Feng Ye arrived, he eagerly asked, “What did you find? Where’s Elder Yan?”

 

“He hasn’t arrived yet. I want to tell you first.”

 

Feng Ye frowned. “Why?”

 

“I fear you won’t agree, so I want to discuss it with you first. But whether you agree or not, this is the best solution.”

 

Feng Ye, puzzled, asked, “Is it about Wen Yuchi? Tell me.”

 

Yan Sikong opened the intelligence dossier from She Zhun, found the relevant page, and handed it to Feng Ye.

 

“Is this from She Zhun?” Feng Ye reluctantly took it.

 

“Why be so resistant? The Feng family may excel in warfare, but She Zhun is unparalleled in intelligence gathering.”

 

Feng Ye snorted, quickly scanning the page. Then he slowly looked at Yan Sikong. “You intend to…”

 

“Yes,” Yan Sikong said expressionlessly. “Wen Yuchi is over sixty, and his elderly father has been bedridden and comatose for a long time, on the verge of death. If he dies, Wen Yuchi must return home to mourn for three years according to the law. Three years is enough to change everything.”

 

Feng Ye squinted. “You want to kill his father.”

 

“What, can’t bear it?” Yan Sikong’s face remained impassive. “An old man suffering from illness, consider it a relief for him.”

 

Feng Ye closed the book, silent, his face dark.

 

Yan Sikong looked out at the moonlight, speaking softly. “When I was young, the sages taught, ‘One would not commit an injustice or kill an innocent person to gain the world.’ I once held this belief dearly.” He smiled. “How laughable it seems now. A general’s success is built on the bones of many. This prosperous land was seized by stepping over others’ corpses.”

 

Feng Ye said in a low voice, “What if the Emperor pardons him?”

 

“He won’t. First, expose Wen Weixi’s matters. Even if the Emperor doesn’t pursue him, his reputation will be tarnished. Then, when his father dies, by both ancestral and legal principles, he must return home to mourn. If the Emperor tries to keep him, the ministers will object.”

 

Feng Ye asked again, “Will Yan Zilian agree?”

 

Yan Sikong smiled. “If I thought he wouldn’t agree, I wouldn’t discuss it with him. I’m afraid he would suspect me of scheming behind his back. I can’t let my mentor feel his disciple is out of his control.”

 

Feng Ye threw the dossier back to Yan Sikong. “Are you planning to have She Zhun do it?”

 

“He can’t know about She Zhun’s existence.” Yan Sikong looked at Feng Ye. “This task requires your people.”

 

Feng Ye’s expression hardened. “Alright.”

 

At that moment, Yan Zilian arrived on time. He glanced at the two of them, his eyes briefly showing a strange look. Yan Sikong remained composed.

 

After the usual formalities, Yan Sikong explained the plan.

 

Yan Zilian frowned, pondering for a long time, and then said, “This plan is feasible.”

 

Feng Ye and Yan Sikong exchanged a glance.

 

“This plan is feasible.” Yan Zilian stood up, pacing the room. “We can eliminate Wen Yuchi without a trace.”

 

“The prince will handle this matter, while I will rely on you for Wen Weixi’s issue.”

 

Feng Ye lowered his eyes, tacitly agreeing.

 

Yan Zilian took a deep breath. “Alright.”

 

Yan Sikong could tell that Yan Zilian felt a pang of conscience, but that was all.

 

After Yan Zilian left, Yan Sikong approached Feng Ye and whispered, “I could also have She Zhun do it.”

 

“No need.” Feng Ye’s gaze was cold and proud. “Do you think I would be merciful?”

 

“I didn’t think so.”

 

Feng Ye turned to him. “Eliminating Wen Yuchi will prompt Elder Yan to recommend a new Minister of War. Among the suitable candidates, some are aligned with my father. Even if it’s someone else, they’ll be easier to deal with than Wen Yuchi. Only this way can we secure the Datong military funds.”

 

“Exactly.” Yan Sikong gently caressed Feng Ye’s face. “The Dazheng Kingdom cannot do without the Datong defense line, and the Datong defense line cannot do without the Feng family army.”