Chapter 93
Chapter 93
Li Wenzheng's mind went blank. He pointed at Shen Lang, his voice hoarse.
"Lies, all lies! How could King Gong possibly rebel? If he had attempted treason, why has there been no news of it? How could you, Shen Lang, know something that even I, the Imperial Censor, am unaware of?"
*That's right. Hasn't King Gong of Nanguo always shown such wisdom and loyalty to the State of Yue? How could he possibly rebel? The bond between the King of Nanguo and the King of Yue was said to be stronger than that of a biological father and son, moving all who heard of it. And what of his relationship with Princess Ningluo? It was as perfect as a prince and princess from a fairytale.*
But there were no more fairytales for adults. Fairytales were all lies meant to deceive people. The power struggles between nations were a harsh reality. The bloodline of Nanguo was closer to the Shaman tribes. However, the Kingdom of Nanguo had aligned itself with the State of Yue to gain a small hegemony in the southwestern region.
Decades ago, during a great war, the hundreds of thousands of troops from the State of Yue stood by and watched at a critical moment, allowing the King of Nanguo to die on the battlefield. Afterward, the King of Yue welcomed the crown prince of Nanguo to the capital and raised him like a son.
A heartwarming story circulated among the people that the two were closer than a real father and son, but the reality was different. During the decade the crown prince of Nanguo spent in the State of Yue, the King constantly dispatched officials to Nanguo, gradually seizing control of the vassal state's military and political power.
Furthermore, after the crown prince of Nanguo, Ning Gong, came of age, the King of Yue married Princess Ningluo to him, thereby gaining a perfect pretext to seize full authority.
Later, after the crown prince returned to Nanguo and ascended the throne, he realized that most of the country's power had been usurped by people from the State of Yue. Even after that, the important officials of Nanguo only sought out Princess Ningluo, treating him, their king, like a puppet.
But King Gong of Nanguo was no ordinary man. In just a few years, he worked behind the scenes to reclaim power, and after a fierce political struggle, he managed to take back most of it. In this process, his wife, Princess Ningluo, was the biggest obstacle, and King Gong used an undetectable method to try and poison her.
This was the truth of the matter. The stories of a loving couple or a bond like father and son were all just beautiful lies. So how did Shen Lang know of King Gong's secret attempt to poison Princess Ningluo? It went back to a month ago...
At that time, Shen Lang had finished writing *Boundless Wind and Moon* and was at home drawing a massive color poster. It was during this period, when Jin Mucong was so engrossed in something that his skin was peeling, that a very mysterious guest arrived at the Count of Xuanwu's Estate. That person was Princess Ningluo. She was not close with Jin Mulan, nor did she have any connection to the Count of Xuanwu's Estate. She had simply come to seek a diagnosis from Physician An Zaishi.
Physician An Zaishi possessed such renowned medical skills that he was not someone who would typically remain a retainer in a mere count's estate. Of course, he was genuinely loyal to the Count of Xuanwu, but his fame had already spread far and wide. Thanks to this, Princess Ningluo had heard of his reputation and secretly came to him for treatment. However, her symptoms were so strange that even Physician An Zaishi couldn't identify the cause.
Mulan, though she didn't understand why, trusted Shen Lang and told him about the princess's visit. After secretly observing Princess Ningluo's jade-like face, Shen Lang immediately realized she was suffering from lead poisoning. Her symptoms were too obvious.
She had twitching under her eyes and severe abdominal pain. Besides that, she suffered from anemia, nausea, vomiting, and fever—it was definitely lead poisoning. Someone was trying to murder her using a method unknown to others. Records of lead poisoning were extremely rare in this world, so almost no physician could tell what illness she had.
Princess Ningluo had sought out famous doctors, but they all made various guesses and couldn't identify the lead poisoning. Because her symptoms didn't resemble typical poisoning, they couldn't treat her properly in the first place.
Through conversation with Princess Ningluo, Shen Lang figured out how the poison was being administered. The bowls, pots, and cups she used all contained a large amount of lead. Administered this way, no one would ever notice.
After several more in-depth conversations with her, Shen Lang and Princess Ningluo became convinced that the poisoner was her husband, King Gong. The princess was severely poisoned, and even Shen Lang wasn't sure if he could cure her completely. But he didn't give up. He chose a method to expel the lead from her body, even if it took a long time, instructing her to stop ingesting lead-based metals and instead take a combination of milk and medicinal herbs.
Shen Lang wrote a prescription for her himself, and Princess Ningluo stayed at the estate for about two days before stopping by the capital and then returning to Nanguo. With King Gong's intentions revealed, she had to act immediately. At the same time, the Count of Xuanwu's Estate dispatched its best spies to Nanguo to investigate King Gong's every move.
A few days ago, the spies from the Count of Xuanwu's Estate sent a secret message by carrier pigeon, reporting that Princess Ningluo and the King of Nanguo were now officially at odds. It was now as clear as day that King Gong of Nanguo would raise his troops and attempt a rebellion. An ordinary person would have pretended not to know this secret, but Shen Lang immediately saw an opportunity.
A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, a chance to eliminate all his enemies at once. But this matter also carried political risks. Even if King Gong did rebel, for Shen Lang to hide the words 'Heaven Punishes King Gong' (天诛矜君) in his book was to commit a taboo.
When executing such a political move, Shen Lang preferred to follow his father-in-law's judgment rather than act on his own.
He discussed it with the Count of Xuanwu for several hours before finally deciding to 'do it'. At that time, Shen Lang discovered another of his father-in-law's strengths. At critical moments, he made bold decisions and took responsibility for the consequences!
Shen Lang immediately reprinted one page of the three thousand books and had them rebound. He changed the character 'Zhu' (朱) to 'punish' (誅) in the book and hid the phrase 'Heaven Punishes King Gong' (天诛矜君) within the poem. This was the landmine he had planted. Shen Lang just waited for someone to step on it and die.
Originally, he and the Count of Xuanwu had sincerely hoped Zhang Jin would fall into the trap. If he had, they could have eliminated a figure threatening the Count's estate in one fell swoop. But the one they wanted didn't bite; instead, the newly appointed young Silver-Clad Imperial Censor, Li Wenzheng, took the bait.
But since he had already fallen for it, he would have to pay with his life!
***
"Impossible, impossible..."
The Silver-Clad Imperial Censor, Li Wenzheng, felt his entire body turn ice-cold, and his vision went dark. He didn't know why, but his limbs kept trembling, and that thing between his legs kept shrinking. Of course, this was just a physical reaction; he still couldn't fully believe Shen Lang's words.
"Shen Lang, are you spreading false rumors? Are you making a desperate last stand now that you're cornered? An act like this will only lead you to a more miserable end and completely destroy the Count of Xuanwu's Estate."
Li Wenzheng then shouted in an angry voice.
"What are you all standing around for? Seize them!"
Until a moment ago, Li Wenzheng had been as calm as a clear sky, looking so brilliant as if he could handle anything, a sight that Shen Lang found incredibly irksome. But now, he had a bewildered expression, an abnormal flush on his face, and his eyes were filled with terror—a state of extreme agitation. This was exactly what Shen Lang wanted to see.
"Go and seize them. Bring Shen Lang and Jin Mulan before me. They will confess their crimes in the prisons of the Blackwater Terrace."
However, the hundreds of soldiers present were not fools. They merely surrounded Shen Lang and Jin Mulan, not daring to advance.
"Li Wenzheng, don't be so hasty. King Gong of Nanguo rebelled four days ago, so the news of his rebellion has likely already reached the capital. At the latest, the official gazette from the capital will arrive in Xuanwu City the day after tomorrow. To be honest, I was worried the gazette would arrive too soon. If the truth got out early, I wouldn't be able to trap and kill someone, now would I?"
After finishing his words, Shen Lang took Mulan's hand again and returned to his seat. Shen Lang addressed everyone.
"Well then, why don't we all sit here and wait? We can end the banquet when the capital's gazette arrives. Come, come, everyone, let's enjoy ourselves! Our night of revelry has just begun!"
But from beginning to end, only Shen Lang was enjoying himself. The complexions of Zhang Jin and City Lord Liu Wuyan were dreadful to behold. They wished everything Shen Lang said was a lie, but bitter past lessons had taught them that Shen Lang was a man of his word, not one to lie.
If he said he would kill someone, he would definitely kill them. If he said he would annihilate someone's entire family, he was a man who would definitely annihilate their entire family.
Liu Wuyan waved his hand, and the several hundred private soldiers all withdrew cleanly. In the end, Li Wenzheng had no choice but to return to his seat. But his face, which had been crimson just a moment ago, was now deathly pale.
***
And so they all waited, and waited. Shen Lang was bored to tears. He had already admired his wife's oval face, the side of her body, the curve of her hips, her palms, the back of her hands, and the line of her legs more than ten times over. Then, his wife's delicate hand came to rest on his waist, as if about to pinch him again. With a look of regret, as if he hadn't finished appreciating her, Shen Lang averted his gaze. He then raised his cup and said.
"Lord Li, allow me to offer you a drink."
Li Wenzheng instinctively tried to lift his cup, but his hands were shaking so uncontrollably that it seemed impossible. He quickly thought to himself, why should he raise his cup to accept a drink from a scoundrel like Shen Lang, and immediately slammed the cup he was about to lift back onto the table.
"Lord Li, aren't you called the pride of Xuanwu City? I grew up getting beaten while hearing your name. It must not have been easy for your parents to raise you into such a talent."
In the great hall, only Shen Lang's voice could be heard.
"You are truly an unfilial son. To make your white-haired parents watch their black-haired child die before them."
Li Wenzheng could bear it no longer and crushed the cup in his hand.
"You are too young. Did you really think you were the only one who discovered the acrostic poem in my book? Lord Zhang Chong is just as sharp as you are; he surely noticed it too. But why did Lord Zhang Chong not step forward, while you alone charged in? It must be the difference in experience. Now, it's not just you who will die, but many others as well. This is a world-shaking treason case. Perhaps by the time it's over, at least a hundred people will have died, no? But among them, there won't be anyone else who so eagerly stepped in shit like you."
Li Wenzheng, shocked and enraged, yelled loudly.
"Shen Lang, what are you so smug about? This is all just your speculation! We will wait here until the gazette arrives, whether it's tomorrow or the day after! Just know this, Shen Lang. If King Gong has not rebelled, your crime will be immense, and you will be sentenced to death by a thousand cuts to serve as an example! Not only that, but the Count of Xuanwu's Estate, the Jin Clan's century-long legacy, will also crumble in an instant!"
Just then, a voice echoed from outside. The owner of the voice was Jin Zhong from the Count of Xuanwu's Estate.
"Young Master, Young Lady, an urgent report has arrived from the capital. The King of Nanguo not only attempted to murder Princess Ningluo but has also massacred a large number of officials from the State of Yue. King Gong has committed treason!"
Hearing those words, Li Wenzheng was so startled he nearly wet himself, but then he realized the person delivering the message was a servant of the Count of Xuanwu's Estate. In that instant, his face turned red up to his ears.
"Shen Lang, stop putting on this act. This will only deepen your crime."
A few seconds later, City Lord Liu Wuyan's trusted subordinate came running in like a madman and shouted loudly.
"City Lord, an urgent report has arrived from the capital. It says that King Gong of the vassal state of Nanguo has committed treason and massacred a large number of officials from the State of Yue."
Not long after, the urgent sound of horse hooves echoed from outside. Prefect Zhang Chong's trusted subordinate rushed into the great hall, approached Zhang Jin, and whispered quietly in his ear. Seeing this, Shen Lang spoke to him with an annoyed expression.
"Everyone already knows, so don't bother whispering."
Zhang Jin frowned.
"Just say it."
Prefect Zhang Chong's subordinate said.
"Reporting to the Second Young Master. An urgent report has arrived from the capital. It says King Gong of Nanguo has rebelled."