Chapter 213: The Crime of Deceiving the Emperor

Back then, His Majesty bestowed upon her the golden token, saying, "War is the most significant affair of the state, the domain of life and death, the path to survival or ruin—it must not be taken lightly." He also added that if ever the road seemed too arduous and she could no longer go on, she should open the brocade pouch and take a look.

But fate played its cruel hand—Li Ce was assigned to investigate the case involving crossbows in Hedong Circuit, and Ye Jiao, worried for him, secretly placed the token in his luggage. With the real token gone, and Gao Fu subtly suggesting its importance, Ye Jiao had no choice but to melt down her gold hairpin and forge a new one.

Yet that imitation was switched out by Li Chen's men—the one Ye Jiao now held was a counterfeit crafted by Li Chen. Using her enemy's forgery to intimidate that very enemy, Ye Jiao's heart wavered with uncertainty. This was the crime of deceiving the emperor. To save the emperor's son, she had committed a treasonous act. Was this still her?

She had always abhorred the imperial family, the sort to gloat over others' misfortunes while waiting to attend their funerals. Now, both armies stood still, raising their heads to gaze at the token Ye Jiao held high, shaken beyond words. The Crown Prince's personal guard, who had been ready to flee, now steadied their footing and gripped their weapons anew. Some, timid and reverent, dropped their arms and knelt on the spot. Yet when they noticed that Li Chen's rebel forces did not kneel, their doubt began to creep in, and the kneeling ones hesitated, as if to rise again.

"As if the Emperor were present himself?" A heavy silence was shattered by Prince Wei, Li Chen, as he spoke slowly, "Physician Ye was absent from court this morning, and perhaps is unaware—the Crown Prince, just yesterday, had this very token brought to Hedong's Jinzhou to suppress the rebels, slaughtering three thousand citizens and sending shockwaves through the realm."

What?

Ye Jiao's hand trembled. The Crown Prince had the token? She had always believed it was Li Chen who had swapped it—after all, he presided over the political council then. But what about the real token Li Ce had? He had just sent her a message this morning inviting her to visit the Prince of Chu's residence. Had something happened to him?

As if confirming her fears, Li Chen continued: "I forgot to mention—your fiancé, the Prince of Chu, was gravely injured due to the Crown Prince's actions. He now lies unconscious, clinging to life. And you stand here defying an imperial edict to rescue the Crown Prince? How laughable."

All of this had been recorded in the memorial presented by Zheng Feng'an, the military governor of Hedong, during this morning's court session—a result meticulously engineered by Li Chen. Even if the token in Ye Jiao's hand had been genuine, it would be meaningless now. And it wasn't even real.

Li Chen watched Ye Jiao closely, savoring her expression—shock, concern, and a trace of unmaskable panic. He relished such moments, especially when he held absolute control and his opponent had exhausted all options.

Ye Jiao had always been a piece on his chessboard. Now, the game neared its end, and this piece had served its purpose.

"Any chess pieces left?"

Inside the Hall of Purple Radiance, the court officials were abuzz with today's scandal: the Crown Prince, Li Zhang, had abused the golden token to suppress a rebellion in Jinzhou, resulting in the deaths of three thousand innocents—a heinous betrayal of moral and imperial law. His position as heir apparent was now irredeemable.

Some officials stomped their feet and sighed; others lamented or tried to defend the prince. Amidst this somber gathering, a bored-looking man strolled up to Liu Yan, Prefect of Jingzhao, and asked, "Do you have a chess set?"

Liu Yan stood silently, unmoving.

The official added, "It's taking far too long. Last time, I walked from the palace gate to the Southern Fragrance Hall and back, and it didn't take this long."

Liu Yan remained stiff and still, like a barren tree awaiting spring rain.

The official, unfamiliar to many and seemingly newly promoted, continued talking to himself, "Did you hear that? There's quite the commotion in the palace. I wonder what's going on."

Commotion...

Liu Yan suddenly turned to him and asked, "How long does it take to walk from here to the Southern Fragrance Hall?"

The hall wasn't somewhere ordinary officials could access—Liu Yan only had a general sense of its direction.

"Two incense sticks' time..." The man hadn't even finished speaking when Liu Yan had already set off toward Prime Minister Fu Qian, his steps brisk, his face grave.

The official looked up as Liu Yan whispered something to Fu Qian, and then both men strode to the palace gate and declared loudly, "Let us pass—we have memorials to present!"

The palace guards refused without hesitation.

"By command of Prince Wei, no one is permitted to enter or leave."

Liu Yan and Fu Qian exchanged a glance, and from each other's eyes, they saw the same alarm. Though Li Chen had indeed issued the order, the sight of armed guards raising blades at the threshold filled them with unease.

Their dispute drew the attention of the parched and weary courtiers within.

"Surely a drink of water in a side hall is permissible?" said Deputy Minister of Rites, Zou Jin, with a polite smile.

"I don't need water," added Grand Herald Wang Xuanyi, stepping forward, "but I did eat some strange curry tribute from Lanka and now desperately need the latrine."

As master of foreign tribute and ceremonial affairs, Wang had early access to imported delicacies—rumor had it many caused stomach trouble.

"Apologies. It is forbidden," the guards said coldly, refusing even to lower their weapons. One barked an order, "Bring a chamber pot for Lord Wang."

A chamber pot—used for waste. Had things become so dire they needed to relieve themselves in the court hall?

The ministers began to sense something was amiss. They whispered among themselves, seeking a solution.

At that moment, one man charged from the crowd and kicked at the guard without warning.

It was Minister of War Song Shoujie. Ill-tempered and once a battlefield general, he now stumbled from age. The guard remained unmoved, while Song nearly fell himself. Fearing he might die and bring scandal, the guards stepped aside.

Seizing the moment, Deputy Minister Jiang Min cried out, "His Majesty is in danger! We must risk our lives to protect him—who dares block our way?"

The guards hesitated. Danger? Weren't they just asking to drink and use the toilet?

In that fleeting moment, Liu Yan had rushed through. A blade flashed. He didn't dodge—he swatted it aside. Blood stained the edge, then his sleeve, then poured onto the floor, vivid and furious.

Yet Liu Yan pressed forward, heedless of injury—unyielding, resolute.

"The imperial guard has wounded a minister! The guards have turned traitor! Save His Majesty!" shouted Jiang Min.

Now, the officials hesitated no longer. Over a hundred surged forward. Military men led the charge, but the scholars were not to be left behind. Crimson robes fluttered like birds hurling themselves against obsidian cliffs—undaunted by death.

The guards retreated as the ministers advanced.

These were no frail scholars burdened by paperwork—they were men who shaped the heart of heaven and earth, bore the fate of the people, and would give their lives for the Tang dynasty, loyal unto death.

To the Southern Fragrance Hall—to see if the Emperor yet lived.

Even if it meant dying on the path, even if they would face punishment—so be it!

Beneath the eastern palace's shadow wall, Li Chen still wore his cold sneer. He was certain the token in Ye Jiao's hand was fake, for he had ordered it forged anew by the artisans of the Institute of Design and Craftsmanship, masters of gold, silver, rhinoceros horn, jade, and inlay. Their skill now far surpassed the era when the original court emblems were made.

After swapping out Ye Jiao's token, he had examined hers—its gold inferior, its craftsmanship crude.

Foolish woman. She hadn't even noticed.

Then news of Li Ce's grave injury reached her ears—and Ye Jiao's face changed completely.

No matter who had switched the tokens, her Ce was hurt?

In that instant, Ye Jiao wanted to cast away the token and ride for Jinzhou.

Let them fight. Let the damned perish. I'm going to save Li Ce.