Chapter 37: I Shall Go Listen to Music First

Within a single day, the rumors that had been deliberately spread swept across the entire city like a storm.

Prime Minister's Mansion.

Wang Defa listened to his servant's report, his aged face turning deathly pale. The teacup in his hand shattered against the floor with a loud crash.

"Green light... ghost fire... evil spirits rising..."

He muttered these words over and over, feeling a chilling draft rise from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. His entire body trembled.

This is aimed at me!

"Prime Minister, what... what should we do?" Zhao Dezhu, the Minister of Revenue and a loyal confidant of Wang Defa, was pacing like an ant on a hot pan. "These rumors are being told with such vivid detail. If this continues, something terrible is going to happen!"

Wang Defa stood up abruptly and paced back and forth across the room, his old face as dark as a gathering storm.

No!

He could not just sit and wait for his doom!

"Prepare my carriage!" he roared. "I am going to the palace! I must see His Majesty!"

He had to demonstrate his loyalty!

No! He had to see for himself what was truly going on inside the palace!

...

Imperial Palace, Bedchamber.

Heavy curtains hung low, concealing the dragon bed entirely. A thick, pungent scent of medicine filled the air.

Wang Defa and Zhao Dezhu knelt outside the curtains, not daring to even breathe loudly.

"Cough, cough..."

From behind the curtains came the Empress's extremely weak cough.

"Prime Minister Wang... Minister Zhao... why... have you come?" The voice was faint and listless, sounding as if it could fade away at any moment.

Wang Defa’s heart tightened. He hurried to kowtow, tears streaming down his face as he cried out, "Your Majesty’s health is failing, and we are burning with anxiety, unable to sleep or eat! I wish I could suffer in your place!"

"Indeed, Your Majesty, you must take care of your health! The Great Zhou cannot survive without you!" Zhao Dezhu chimed in with a forced wail.

There was a moment of silence behind the curtains.

"I am... fine," the Empress’s voice remained weak. "But while I am ill, the affairs of the court must rely heavily on you, Prime Minister Wang."

Hearing this, Wang Defa felt no comfort; instead, his sense of foreboding grew even stronger.

Just then, a eunuch’s announcement came from outside the hall.

"Junior Minister of the Ministry of War, Zhao Yi, requests an audience—"

Zhao Yi?

Why is he here?!

Wang Defa’s heart skipped a beat. Before he could react, Zhao Yi strode into the hall.

As soon as Zhao Yi entered, he saw Wang Defa and Zhao Dezhu kneeling on the floor, his face immediately filling with concern.

"Oh my, Prime Minister Wang, Minister Zhao, you are both here?"

He stepped forward, fussing over Wang Defa with feigned concern.

"Prime Minister Wang is truly a pillar of the nation, so loyal and devoted! His Majesty has only just fallen ill, and you are the first to arrive. Such devotion is truly moving!"

Though these words sounded like praise, every syllable felt like a knife twisting in Wang Defa’s heart.

Wang Defa’s face flushed red and then turned pale. Gritting his teeth, he said, "It is the duty of a subject to share in the Emperor's burdens. Unlike some people, who only know how to use their tongues to stir up trouble!"

"Prime Minister Wang is right to scold me!" Zhao Yi replied with a look of humble acceptance. "I am young and indeed ignorant. But I am puzzled—if you are so loyal, why have those ignorant commoners linked the Emperor's illness to you?"

"You... what nonsense are you spouting!" Wang Defa looked up abruptly, staring daggers at Zhao Yi.

"Enough!"

From behind the curtains, the Empress’s weak voice sounded again, tinged with exhaustion.

"Zhao Yi, the Prime Minister is a pillar of the state. You must listen to his teachings and not be disrespectful."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Zhao Yi replied with a bow. Then, he looked up, his face filled with "confusion."

"Your Majesty, it is precisely because I listened to the Prime Minister’s teachings that I felt I had to report this to you!"

"The entire city of Luoyang is in an uproar!"

Zhao Yi’s voice rose, loud enough for everyone in the hall to hear clearly.

"They are all saying that ghost fires are burning in the Prime Minister’s mansion, with evil spirits rising so high that they have offended the dragon’s body, causing your illness!"

This statement hit the room like a thunderclap.

Wang Defa was stunned. He collapsed to the floor with a thud, shaking like a leaf in the wind.

"False! Your Majesty! This is a grave injustice!"

He scrambled to the curtain, kowtowing like a man possessed, his face wet with tears and mucus.

"My loyalty to Your Majesty is as clear as the sun and moon! This is definitely the work of someone framing me! It is a villain’s plot to sow discord!"

"To prove my innocence, I... I am willing to accept any investigation! I beg Your Majesty to send men to search my mansion! Turn it upside down to clear my name!"

Zhao Yi stood to the side, watching Wang Defa walk willingly into the trap, and he could barely contain his joy.

You old fool, you said it yourself!

"Oh, why must you do this, Prime Minister?" the Empress sighed faintly from behind the curtains. "I naturally trust you. Let us not mention this again."

The more she said this, the more Wang Defa felt his skin crawl.

No!

If this matter isn't cleared up today, I will have to carry this black pot to my grave!

"Your Majesty!" Wang Defa steeled himself and shouted desperately, "If this is not investigated, not only will my reputation be ruined, but it will shake the hearts of the people! I implore Your Majesty to conduct a thorough investigation! Give the world an answer!"

The Empress was silent for a long time before speaking with a tone of utter helplessness.

"If... the Prime Minister insists."

"Very well."

"Tomorrow at the morning court, repeat what you have just said before all the civil and military officials. I will have the Commander of the Imperial Guard, Nangong Yue, lead men to your mansion. It will... silence the wagging tongues and restore your innocence."

"Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Wang Defa felt as if he had been granted an amnesty, kowtowing repeatedly.

"Enough, you may all withdraw. I am weary."

Wang Defa and Zhao Dezhu scrambled out as if they had been pardoned from death.

After they left, Zhao Yi prepared to slip away, but the voice from behind the curtains sounded once more.

"You, come in."

Zhao Yi chuckled, lifted the curtain, and slipped inside.

The Empress showed no trace of illness at all; she was reclining on a soft couch, holding a cup of hot tea, watching him with calm amusement.

"Was my acting just now acceptable?"

"Authentic! Truly authentic!" Zhao Yi gave a thumbs-up, his face full of admiration. "If Your Majesty didn't pursue acting, it would be a great loss to the theater!"

The Empress rolled her eyes at him.

"That Wang Defa is a fool. He insisted on sticking his own neck under the blade."

Zhao Yi leaned in, his eyes uncontrollably drifting toward her breathtaking silhouette.

"Your Majesty, guess where I had Tianyi hide that death-curse talisman?"

The Empress sipped her tea and asked lazily, "Tell me."

Zhao Yi swallowed, lowered his voice, and wore an incredibly lecherous and triumphant grin.

"I had it hidden inside the very pillow he rests his head on every single night."

"Pfft—"

The Empress sprayed the tea she had just sipped.

She began to cough violently, her beautiful face turning bright red from the shock and the urge to laugh.

She pointed at Zhao Yi, unable to utter a single word for a long time.

That is truly ruthless!