Chapter 82: A Drop of Eye Medicine (Part Two)

Everyone covets merit, but if it's the kind of merit that might incur imperial displeasure, that's another matter altogether. Clearly, the credit currently pressing against Yan Desheng's chest belonged to this latter category. To Yan Desheng, this business was less an honor and more a monumental nuisance—one misstep, and his own livelihood could well be at stake. If he could have passed on this seemingly lucrative “merit” to someone else, he would have done so without a moment’s hesitation. Unfortunately, he could not. Not only were the two princes formidable, but the case itself was so grave that Yan Desheng dared not risk the slightest error. He could only grit his teeth and accept this obvious hot potato.

Why? The reason was simple. As the executor of this “Fox Hunt Operation,” Yan Desheng knew the true nature of the case all too well and could never truly believe in the so-called solid evidence concocted by the two princes. In his eyes, those confessions were either outright fabrications or the product of forced interrogations—there was not a shred of truth to them. But what could he do? Yan Desheng dared not question the authenticity of this evidence, for Empress Wu herself seemed quite pleased to see the matter end in this fashion. Clearly, since he didn’t know whether the princes had any other tricks up their sleeves, Yan Desheng didn’t dare hand over full control of the case to them. Only by clinging to the evidence in his own hands could he ensure his own safety. As for the consequences should the case be exposed in the future, Yan Desheng could no longer afford to care. In truth, even without the princes’ urging, he would have preferred to wrap up the case cleanly before the imperial presence as soon as possible. Thus, although Yan Desheng outwardly appeared reluctant to take on the role of chief judge, there was no hesitation or delay on the journey back to the palace. Before dawn even broke, he had already accompanied the brothers Li Xian and Li Xian right up to the main hall of the temporary palace.

At the third quarter of the hour after sunrise, the gloomy sky had not cleared but instead began to snow. Though the snowfall was not heavy, the wind grew ever colder. Pitifully, the spot where Li Xian and the others stood was directly exposed to the wind, and they were soon chilled to the bone. Worse still, as they were awaiting an audience, there was nowhere to hide. Yan Desheng, for his part, seemed unfazed, his plump face betraying no emotion. As for Li Xian, he had grown used to braving wind and snow for morning exercises lately. Though the sudden assault of the snow was uncomfortable, he could endure it. The one truly suffering was Li Xian, long accustomed to a pampered life—he shivered uncontrollably, sneezed repeatedly, and his handsome features turned pale and bluish from the cold, looking utterly wretched. A little longer, and he might well fall ill. Fortunately, the imperial summons they had waited so long for finally arrived.

“By imperial command: summon Prince Lu, Li Xian; Prince Zhou, Li Xian; and Yan Desheng, steward of the Hall of Virtuous Conduct, to enter and pay their respects!”

As Li Xian was in the midst of a sneezing fit, the chief court eunuch, Gao Hesheng, emerged hurriedly from the inner palace with several junior eunuchs. Standing atop the high steps, he intoned the emperor’s command in a drawn-out voice.

“We obey, long live the Emperor!”

Hearing the imperial summons at last, Li Xian and the others breathed a silent sigh of relief, quickly expressing their gratitude for the imperial favor. Without much conversation, they hurried up the steps and made their way toward the inner hall. Passing through the main hall and winding corridors, they finally reached the rear chambers. As they rounded a screen, the sight that greeted them was Emperor Gaozong reclining on his couch, propped up on several soft cushions, a heavy quilt pulled over him, a hot towel pressed to his forehead—his face haggard and pale as if he had just weathered a grave illness. Empress Wu sat gently at his side, radiating tenderness, as if quietly offering words of comfort. Li Xian and the others dared not look closely, instead hurrying forward to pay their respects with great formality.

“Your sons pay their respects to Father and Mother!”

The two brothers knelt side by side, their bows equally formal, though their manner differed: Li Xian’s voice was steady, while Li Xian, chilled to the bone, could not keep his voice from trembling, his words barely audible. Yan Desheng, meanwhile, knelt respectfully three steps behind the brothers without offering any greeting.

Emperor Gaozong was clearly in poor spirits. Though he heard his sons' greetings, he did not summon them to rise, but merely lifted his arm slightly, bringing the ritual to an end. It was Empress Wu, ever perceptive, who spoke with gentle understanding: “Xian’er, Xian’er, you have both worked through the night and must be exhausted. Rise now and give your account.”

“We thank Father and Mother for their graciousness.”

Empress Wu’s words seemed bland at first hearing, but they concealed a deeper intent. She was pointing out that it was the two brothers who solved the case last night, thus maneuvering them to report the details and shoulder the responsibility. There was also a subtle warning in her words, one that others might not detect, but the brothers, both sharp-witted, understood at once. Still, despite their understanding, they had no intention of complying. Their expressions were proper as they offered thanks, but once that was done, they stood there silently, making no move to speak.

“Xian’er, did you make any progress in last night’s investigation?”

Seeing the brothers’ prolonged silence, a flash of sharpness flickered in Empress Wu’s eyes, though her expression remained unchanged. She merely smiled and put the question directly to Li Xian. Clearly, in her mind, compared to the shrewder Li Xian, Li Xian seemed the more pliant target.

“In reply to Mother, under Eunuch Yan’s direction, we did indeed make progress last night. No one knows the details better than Eunuch Yan. Were I to speak, I might miss something important. I beg Father and Mother to question Eunuch Yan directly.”

Li Xian understood perfectly well why Empress Wu had singled him out, and though a shadow crossed his handsome face, he had no outlet for his frustration in this moment and could only seethe inwardly. Still, being a shrewd man, he refused to let anger draw him into Empress Wu’s trap, and answered with utmost propriety.

“Oh? And do you feel the same, Xian’er?”

Empress Wu saw how deftly Li Xian deflected the responsibility and felt a faint unease, but before the emperor she could not press the matter. She cast a cold glance at Li Xian, and then turned to Li Xian, asking in a mild tone.

“In reply to Mother, last night’s inquiry was conducted under your command, with Eunuch Yan in charge and us assisting in every way. Much was achieved, and though I know the general outline, I might err in the details. My sixth brother’s suggestion that Eunuch Yan give the account is most fitting.”

Had Empress Wu not asked, Li Xian would have let matters lie, but now he unhesitatingly shifted all responsibility to Yan Desheng—in other words, to Empress Wu herself. He did not expect to gain much from this maneuver, but merely hoped to plant a seed of doubt in the emperor’s mind. Whether it succeeded or not was irrelevant; his chief goal—the downfall of the Wu clan’s scions—had already been met. Any further intrigue was just a bonus.

“Hm.”

Empress Wu was no ordinary person; her subtlety and intelligence were unmatched. At a single hearing, she detected the hidden intent in the brothers’ seemingly reasonable response. Her face did not change, but her gaze grew sharp. Still, she merely grunted softly and gave no further sign.

“Speak, Yan Desheng. Make yourself clear. Who dared commit such a monstrous crime? Speak! Speak! Speak!”

While the Empress and the brothers were locked in their silent contest, Emperor Gaozong’s patience ran out. He grieved for the two murdered ladies, was furious at his own narrow escape, and, overwhelmed by anger and sorrow, suddenly threw back his covers and leapt from the couch. Pointing at Yan Desheng kneeling nearby, he shouted hoarsely.

“Your Majesty, please calm yourself—please, Your Majesty!”

Frightened by the emperor’s fury, Yan Desheng trembled and kowtowed, hastily retrieving a stack of confessions from his wide sleeves and raising them high above his head. In a faltering voice, he reported, “Your Majesty, last night’s events were masterminded by the brothers Wu Weiliang and Wu Huaiyun, who harbored resentment at being banished from the capital and sent to distant posts. They plotted to assassinate Your Majesty and Her Majesty, lacing the tofu with pufferfish poison. Only Lady of the State Wei’s unexpected interruption caused the poison to claim the wrong victims. I dare not deceive Your Majesty; here are the confessions of the Wu household and their servants for Your Majesty’s inspection.”

“Hmph!”

Emperor Gaozong paced before the couch like an enraged lion, his face darkening as he listened to Yan Desheng’s account. With a cold snort, he snatched the stack of confessions, rapidly rifling through them, his anger mounting with every page. At last, he hurled the papers at Yan Desheng’s face, roaring, “Scoundrels! After all I have done for them, to repay me so! How can I tolerate such villains? Guards! Send all the culprits to the death cells—I want them to die in misery! I—”

Emperor Gaozong suffered from vertigo, and the shock of the previous night had left him physically weakened, unable to withstand further agitation. This violent outburst triggered an immediate relapse; before he could finish speaking, he clutched his head and cried out in pain, his body swaying perilously. Everyone in the room was alarmed, but Empress Wu, quick-witted and swift, caught him before he could collapse.

“Quick, summon the imperial physicians!”

Seeing how swiftly the emperor’s attack had come, Empress Wu could no longer spare a thought for last night’s case. In a heartbeat, the whole hall was thrown into chaos…