Chapter 24
Edward Quan ·
He pointed furiously at me.
I stood, innocent-faced.
“Your Highness, an ill-chosen meal may upset your stomach. An ill-chosen accusation can do far greater harm.”
“I’ve remained at home recuperating, never stepping outside.”
“How could I forge your handwriting?”
Changing my tone slightly, I looked at Qin Wanrou.
“Besides… didn’t my cousin submit these herself?”
“What have they to do with me?”
My words were cold water in his face.
He froze.
Yes.
Qin Wanrou had brought them out.
However much he wanted to frame me, he couldn’t lay this at my door.
He spun toward her, astonished and furious.
“Why?”
His voice trembled.
“Why would you do this to me?”
Panic flashed in her eyes, quickly replaced by resolve.
“To save you, Your Highness.”
“And myself.”
Then Zhao Kai, silent until now, stepped forward.
He knelt, his face pained.
“Father.”
“The crown prince has been foolish and committed a grave offense. He must be punished.”
“But for our brotherhood, I beg you to spare his life.”
Apparently a plea for mercy.
In truth, it quietly confirmed Zhao Yi’s guilt while making Zhao Kai appear a compassionate, devoted brother.
The emperor looked at the two sons kneeling below—one wretched, one apparently generous and righteous.
Then at Qin Wanrou, who had driven her lover to the brink herself.
Heavy weariness and disappointment crossed his face.
He was about to speak when Zhao Heng moved beside me.
He wheeled into the center.
“Father.”
Not loud, but clear throughout the hall.
“I have something to say about these letters too.”
18
His voice was a great stone cast into a lake, stirring countless currents beneath.
Every eye turned to him, including the sovereign’s.
“Heng.”
The emperor’s expression was complicated.
“What do you wish to say?”
He didn’t answer at once.
Slowly, his gaze passed over everyone.
Zhao Yi, panicked and lost.
Qin Wanrou, struggling for composure.
Zhao Kai, full of “sorrow,” with excitement he could barely hide in his eyes.
At last, he looked at the letters before the imperial desk.
“Father,” he said calmly, “I believe some are genuine, some forged.”
“Some were written by the crown prince. Others were not.”
The hall stared.
Zhao Kai’s brows drew slightly together.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean…”
Zhao Heng’s voice chilled abruptly.
“Someone imitated my eldest brother’s hand to write false letters.”
“Then used a highly skillful method to place them in my third brother’s hands.”
“Then used Qin Wanrou to expose them before the court.”
“Three targets with one arrow.”
Each word hammered into Zhao Kai’s heart.
His face whitened.
“Seventh Brother! Don’t… don’t slander me!”
His rebuttal was harsh.
“I have nothing to do with it!”
“Really?”
Zhao Heng smiled coldly.
“You seem to have forgotten.”
“Only one man in this capital can imitate the crown prince’s hand so perfectly.”
“The renowned calligrapher of the previous reign, Lin Sanren.”
“In his later years, you have supported him and housed him in a separate courtyard of your residence.”
“Am I wrong?”
Zhao Kai swayed slightly. Cold sweat covered his forehead.
“I… I only respect his talent. Ours is a gentleman’s friendship!”
“A gentleman’s friendship?”
The smile grew colder.
“Why, then, did your steward secretly leave the city a few nights ago to dispose of his whole family?”
“Fortunately, my people arrived first.”
“Otherwise, today there truly would be… no living witness.”
He clapped once.
Tie Mian escorted a trembling old man and two tightly bound household servants into the hall.