The Blood Crown - Chapter 155

The Ministry of Rites had long been preparing for Yan Sikong and Princess Wanyang’s wedding. With the recent successes in reducing feudal states and increasing maritime taxes, the national treasury was quite ample. Emperor Zhao Wu, fond of grandeur and eager to showcase the nation’s strength, intended for the princess’s wedding to be both luxurious and extravagant.

Officials from the Ministry of Rites were sent to personally oversee the wedding arrangements at the Yan residence. They were also responsible for teaching Yan Sikong and the servants of the Yan family about proper etiquette. Yan Sikong had been too occupied to visit the office for several days. Despite this, no one reproached him. Firstly, he was about to become the imperial son-in-law, and secondly, most people around him held him in disdain. The few who still sought to curry favor were often deceitful flatterers, which he had no time to deal with.

Due to the constant influx of guests at his residence, Yan Sikong’s movements were restricted. Even sending Ah Li to find She Zhun became more cautious than before. She Zhun’s covert preparations were complete, and Yan Sikong had also communicated the plan to the Feng family through a prison guard whom he had bribed.

Yan Sikong wanted to see Feng Ye in person, as this might be their last meeting. However, he was both unable and unwilling to take risks on the eve of their plan. He could not afford any mistakes.

In the midst of this urgency, he still found time to attend Xie Zhongren’s birthday celebration.

At Xie Zhongren’s sixty-sixth birthday banquet, he deliberately mocked Yan Sikong in public, suggesting that his filial piety and wisdom would make him a worthy imperial son-in-law who would be loyal and dutiful. This remark not only hinted at Yan Sikong’s betrayal of his mentor but also ridiculed his high aspirations. The guests at the banquet displayed disdain and scorn, and not only did the righteous and honorable distance themselves from him, but even the eunuchs held him in contempt.

Yan Sikong ignored the comments, remaining calm and composed. He personally recited the congratulatory speech he had written for Xie Zhongren, expressing extreme flattery.

He knew that Xie Zhongren was testing his loyalty, and he would play along with this farce to the end, even if it meant being pointed at by a thousand fingers and leaving a notorious reputation.

Halfway through the banquet, Yan Sikong stood up to use the restroom.

As he emerged from the outhouse, he suddenly felt a rush of pressure from his side. His body reacted faster than his thoughts. Before he could turn his head, he had already raised his hand to block the attack. The assailant’s fist grazed his forearm, causing a sharp pain. He dodged the second attack by twisting his waist and quickly created some distance between himself and the attacker.

When he looked closely, he saw that the attacker was Zhu Lanting.

Zhu Lanting withdrew his hand and coldly stared at Yan Sikong. “You really do know martial arts.”

Yan Sikong glanced around. Compared to the lively banquet hall, this place was quite secluded. However, he had made a mistake in Xie Zhongren’s residence and felt a tightening in his chest. He said in a low voice, “What is the purpose of your visit, Commander Zhu?”

“Are you still pretending?” Zhu Lanting narrowed his eyes. “I’ve long noticed that your posture and gait are unusual. During the spring hunt, you saved the Crown Prince from a stampede with only minor injuries. Others might think you’re lucky, but I know that if you weren’t skilled in martial arts, it wouldn’t be surprising if you died under the hooves.”

Yan Sikong remained expressionless. “So what if I know martial arts? What law have I broken? Commander Zhu, you are being quite aggressive. If there is nothing else, I will take my leave.”

But Zhu Lanting blocked his way. “I came to this birthday banquet despite my disgust just to see you.”

Yan Sikong cautiously assessed Zhu Lanting. “What do you want?”

“I have a few questions to ask you.”

“…Go ahead.”

“Did the Feng family plot a rebellion?”

“Whether the Feng family plotted rebellion is something you, like many others, can judge for yourself. Since His Majesty has already issued a decree of guilt, as servants of the state, we should not dissent.”

“I want to hear it from you directly.”

Yan Sikong frowned. “Commander Zhu, you are being quite strange. Whether the Feng family plotted rebellion has nothing to do with me.”

Zhu Lanting sneered. “I, Zhu, am meticulous in my work. If I am not certain, I would never act recklessly. I already knew about your connection with Feng Ye, that you two have had several secret meetings.”

Yan Sikong was shocked, cold sweat instantly breaking out. When had Zhu Lanting been keeping tabs on him? He had been completely unaware. Or perhaps Zhu Lanting was just probing for information. He had to stay composed. His face remained impassive. “I really don’t understand what you are referring to. Although Feng Ye and I are at odds, I do not wish to add to the trouble…”

“On New Year’s Eve last year, you and Feng Ye met secretly at the old Yan residence and spent the night together. Is that true?” Zhu Lanting interrupted him unceremoniously.

Yan Sikong’s gaze grew cold. He realized that Zhu Lanting knew something for sure.

“You must be very curious about how I found out.” Zhu Lanting said quietly. “On New Year’s Eve, we caught a drunken man urinating on the palace wall. I was quite upset about my poor guarding and stayed awake all night, patrolling the streets with the Imperial Guards. By coincidence, I spotted someone sneaking out at night and, suspecting them of nefarious intentions, followed them secretly. To my surprise, I followed them all the way to the old Yan residence and found it was you and Feng Ye.”

Yan Sikong clenched his fists. “You knew then. Why didn’t you say anything?”

“I wanted to find out what you two were planning, why you were so close, yet appeared to be at odds in public. So, since then, I have been monitoring you.”

Yan Sikong felt a chill run down his spine. He never expected that many things he thought were foolproof had actually been flawed. Only someone with Zhu Lanting’s skills could have tracked him and Feng Ye without being discovered, and he had run into Zhu Lanting.

He suddenly recalled the day he had captured Ye Li. Narrowing his eyes, he said, “So it was you that day…”

Zhu Lanting frowned slightly. “Which day are you referring to?”

Yan Sikong’s expression changed slightly. Since Zhu Lanting had already confessed, there was no need to hide anything. But if it wasn’t Zhu Lanting who had been in black clothes that day, then who was it?!

“Are there others?” Zhu Lanting pressed.

—

Yan Sikong did not immediately answer. He took a deep breath, gazing steadily at Zhu Lanting. “Since you’ve seen through me, I have no intention of hiding the truth. My pretense with Feng Ye was to lure Xie Zhongren into a trap.”

“What trap? The capital investigation list?”

“Yes, that was a scheme devised by my mentor and me to have King Jingyuan use the capital investigation.”

Zhu Lanting’s chest heaved deeply. “And what about the rebellion?”

“Xie Zhongren sent a courtesan to seduce Feng Ye’s coachman and steal the military token. It was all his plot.”

Zhu Lanting’s eyes widened. “Do you have any evidence?”

“No.” Yan Sikong replied coldly. “Even if I did, it would be too late.”

“So you’ve turned against the eunuchs?” Zhu Lanting said fiercely. “Can you still justify your actions to the Crown Prince and Elder Yan? You are utterly shameless!”

“He is no longer the Crown Prince; he is now ‘King Chu’.” Yan Sikong lowered his eyes to hide his emotional turmoil and said calmly , “Commander Zhu should be careful with his words, or he might bring trouble upon himself.”

Zhu Lanting’s expression softened immediately. “You still want to hide things from me.”

Yan Sikong frowned deeply.

“I was just testing you.” Zhu Lanting said. “I’ve been tracking you for half a year. Do you really think I don’t know what you’re up to?”

Yan Sikong didn’t know how much Zhu Lanting actually knew, so he spoke each word with great caution. “What else do you know?”

“I also know that an intelligence broker known as ‘Heaven’s Savior Bai Ling’ is in the city, and you’ve had at least two dealings with him.” Zhu Lanting stared deeply at Yan Sikong. “Yan Sikong, the more I investigate you, the more I find you suspicious. I sent people to your original hometown. While there is indeed such a person, he is not you. With your appearance and talent, it’s impossible that your hometown has no impression of you. You must have assumed that person’s identity. You may not even be Yan Sikong or from Panyang Prefecture’s Jixian County.”

Yan Sikong’s mind raced, thinking about Zhu Lanting’s intentions and how to minimize the damage.

Zhu Lanting continued, “I suspect you have a hidden background. You came to the capital with a purpose. Speak up, what exactly are you planning? If I discover that you are threatening His Majesty’s safety, I can arrest you right now.”

Yan Sikong chuckled. “No wonder you are the leader of the Imperial Guards and the top expert in the palace. Your meticulous and sharp mind is truly impressive.”

“Enough of the flattery.” Zhu Lanting said coldly. “Do you know why I came to find you today? Originally, I intended to investigate you secretly and make plans once I had concrete evidence. But since you are about to marry the princess, as the leader of the Imperial Guards, I have sworn to protect His Majesty and the harem. I cannot allow anyone with ulterior motives to touch the princess. If you cannot give me a satisfactory explanation today, don’t blame me for being rude.”

Yan Sikong mocked, “Zhu Lanting, you once swore to the Empress Dowager, your grandmother, to support the eldest prince and future emperor. Now that His Highness has been deposed, you haven’t spoken a word for him. How can you have the face to talk about swearing to protect His Majesty?”

Zhu Lanting’s expression changed, filled with shame and anger. “You… Now that the eunuchs are in power and His Majesty does not listen to advice, as a military officer, I cannot meddle in politics. Moreover, I am the eldest grandson of the Zhu family’s main line. How can I act recklessly and implicate the entire family…”

In fact, Zhu Lanting’s predicament wasn’t entirely his fault. The decision to depose the Crown Prince was clear to everyone in the court. At a time when the eunuchs were consolidating power and purging the gentry, no one dared to dissent, lest they seek their own doom.

Yan Sikong’s goal was simply to provoke him. “It’s understandable that Commander Zhu wants to protect himself, but you have your concerns, whereas I, Yan, am alone and unburdened. I am determined to fight for justice and to cleanse the court and the nation.”

Zhu Lanting trembled. “What… what exactly do you want?”

“Commander Zhu, aren’t you curious about my background? I was driven to ruin and seek vengeance by Xie Zhongren, and I have a deep-seated grudge against the eunuchs. I concealed my identity and entered the court to seek revenge. Now, I endure humiliation and live a precarious life to avenge myself and ensure the eldest prince inherits the throne, to restore the era of peace and prosperity.”

Zhu Lanting looked at him in shock.

Yan Sikong deeply bowed to Zhu Lanting. “I have been rude earlier. You are upright and honorable, and your reputation is well-deserved. In front of you, I am at your mercy. If you are truly willing to watch the eunuchs destroy the century-old foundation of Da Sheng, you may arrest me. But if you still have some integrity, please allow me to face that mountain of swords and sea of flames.”

Zhu Lanting’s expression showed struggle.

Yan Sikong straightened up and said calmly, “I am always ready.” With that, he turned and left.

Hmm~ Who could that person in black be~ (End of chapter)