Chapter 75: An Icy Chill That Sets the Heart Free

About an hour later, the Imperial Guards returned from their search of the Wang residence. One of the guards reported, "Your Majesty, we discovered a box in Master Wang's chamber. The contents of the box are of considerable consequence; I dare not decide its fate. I beg Your Majesty to inspect it."

Wang Zhen’s face turned rigid. A box found in his own chamber? When he saw the small chest brought forth by the Imperial Guard, Xia Jiujang’s eyes lit up—it seemed Jiang Beiying had succeeded as well. This drama was nearing its crescendo; the final act was about to unfold.

Wang Zhen anxiously protested, staring at the box in the guard’s hands. "That box is not mine... I have never seen it before."

The Imperial Guard replied, "The box was found in the secret chamber of Master Wang’s room. Is it possible that this chamber is known to all, that anyone might enter?"

A secret chamber? How could it have been found there? That chamber was custom-built by Wang Zhen’s orders. Wang Zhen, ever cautious, had summoned craftsmen in batches, each completing a small portion of the work, never realizing they were constructing a hidden room. Only Wang Zhen and his wife, Jiang Ying, knew of its existence.

Wang Zhen trembled, and realization dawned—if it was not his doing, then the box must have been placed there by Jiang Ying!

The Imperial Guards presented the box to Emperor Zongkang. Eunuch An opened it and withdrew various account books, letters, and a few pieces of soiled cloth.

Emperor Zongkang’s face grew steadily more rigid as he surveyed the items. The air in Jade Hibiscus Hall grew ever more oppressive and sinister. The Emperor knew that Consort Yi and Wang Zhen were victims of a scheme. Though he had no intention of sparing them—someone among these nobles would have to answer for the matter of the gilded cloth used in the sacrificial ceremony—what he saw in the box drove him to fury. Such evidence of treason and deceit was intolerable!

Emperor Zongkang slammed his palm onto the table in rage. "Outrageous! The Wang family has defied the heavens!"

At this display, Wang Zhen’s heart dropped to the depths of despair. He had no idea what those items were, but the Emperor’s expression left no doubt—they were nothing good.

Of the Thirty-six Stratagems, begging for mercy was the most prudent. Wang Zhen, bewildered, pleaded desperately, "Your Majesty, spare my life! Spare my life! The Wang family has ever been loyal—how could we commit such grave treason? I beg Your Majesty for mercy!"

Emperor Zongkang’s eyes burned with wrath. He sneered, "I found it odd that the gilded cloth for the sacrificial ceremony appeared first in He Yi Palace, before even the Imperial Palace. I thought Consort Yi had been framed by someone. But now, it seems that is not entirely the case."

Once more, the matter circled back to Consort Yi. She exclaimed in shock, "Your Majesty, I truly was framed! You must believe me. My loyalty to you is attested by the heavens and witnessed by the sun and moon."

Emperor Zongkang laughed coldly. "Attested by the heavens and witnessed by the sun and moon? Then tell me, Consort Yi, what is your connection to Golden Hall?"

This question left Consort Yi stunned for several seconds. "Golden Hall and me? How could there be any connection? Golden Hall is Master Wang’s fabric shop; I have nothing whatsoever to do with it."

With these words, Consort Yi had sealed her fate.

The Emperor’s mocking tone sent chills through all who heard it. "What? Your entire Marquis Guan Yuan household is the true master behind Golden Hall. All the accounts flow into the Marquis’s home. Even the gilded cloth used for the ceremonies was given first to Consort Yi—how can you claim you have no connection?"

The Emperor’s derision struck Chancellor Xia, Lin Baixue, Consort Yi, and Wang Zhen like a thunderbolt, leaving them utterly shaken. How did the Emperor know about the connection between Golden Hall and the Marquis Guan Yuan?

Now that the Marquis’s role as the patron behind Golden Hall had been exposed, the appearance of gilded cloth in He Yi Palace was even less explainable!

Xia Wentao’s heart was in turmoil. He had only meant for Xia Yue’er to perform her dance; how had matters spiraled so far out of control?

Emperor Zongkang’s gaze was icy. "Well done, Marquis Guan Yuan. Five years ago, you conspired with the Wang family to frame Jiang Mantang. Once Wang’s Golden Hall replaced Jiang Mantang, you became its secret master. These thick account books—your household is richer than the royal treasury!"

The Emperor flung the account books to the ground.

With a loud slap, Consort Yi recoiled in terror. She, a legitimate daughter of the Marquis Guan Yuan and a consort of the palace, could hardly be ignorant of her family’s role as the patron behind Golden Hall. Furthermore, Golden Hall was the manufacturer of gilded fabric; its presence in He Yi Palace was a stain she could never wash away.

Hearing the Emperor’s words, Marquis Guan Yuan burst forth and knelt, pleading, "Your Majesty, this must be a misunderstanding. How could my family have any connection to Golden Hall? Surely, someone has plotted against us..."

Emperor Zongkang thundered, "Marquis Guan Yuan, do you think I do not recognize your private seal? Since you claim to have no connection, guards—conduct a thorough search of the Marquis’s household and clear their name!"

Marquis Guan Yuan’s face turned pallid. It was over. The days of prosperity for the Marquis’s family had come to an end.

The Marquis and the Wang family had conspired to frame Jiang Mantang; afterward, Golden Hall replaced Jiang Mantang and delivered profits to the Marquis Guan Yuan. Calling him the secret master was no exaggeration.

Under ordinary circumstances, even if the Marquis’s connection to Golden Hall were revealed, it might have been concealed. But the matter of the gilded cloth was now exposed—neither the Marquis nor Consort Yi could escape.

After the Emperor finished speaking, Xia Jiujang rose from her seat. Now it was her turn to play her part. She stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, you spoke of Marquis Guan Yuan and the Wang family conspiring five years ago to frame Jiang Mantang, allowing Wang’s Golden Hall to replace Jiang Mantang. Did I hear correctly?"

Xia Wentao’s entire body trembled. The Emperor’s words had already left him shaken to the core. He knelt, beads of sweat rolling down his brow like beans, his soul in turmoil, wishing the matter could be quickly resolved. But now Xia Jiujang had stood up to repeat the accusation, as if to frighten him to death.

He chided Xia Jiujang irritably, "Jiang’er, what are you doing? This matter does not concern you—step back!"

Xia Jiujang replied with resolve, "Father, you are mistaken. My mother, Jiang Ruan, was a daughter of the Jiang family. After Jiang Mantang’s household was confiscated, Mother succumbed to grief. This matter is of great significance to me."

Xia Wentao, furious, gritted his teeth. "You... The confiscation of Jiang Mantang’s household was five years ago. What do you know of the truth? This is not your place to speak."

Xia Jiujang, undeterred, pressed on, "Though I know little of the details, the Emperor’s words suggest there is more to the story from five years ago. I beg Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate the extermination of Jiang Mantang’s family, and grant them justice."

Hearing Xia Jiujang’s words, Xia Wentao was struck by sudden realization. From Xia Yue’er’s fall, to the discovery of the gilded cloth, then the Wang family’s involvement, and now the exposure of Marquis Guan Yuan—at the root, it was the revelation that Jiang Mantang had been framed five years ago!

Xia Wentao’s frightened gaze lingered on Xia Jiujang, his trembling voice whispering, "It... was you..."