IDWBE -Chapter 400 The Traitor

It really wasn’t wise to ask Butcher Jiang to act as a matchmaker.

Butcher Jiang laughed. “Let me speak frankly. You really shouldn’t have come to me. If I go see her, she might exchange a few polite words out of old acquaintance—that’s already generous. But to formally propose marriage? I’m not qualified. At best, I’m some kind of meat supplier. At worst, I’m just a pig butcher. She’s the Deputy Warden and Chief Constable of the Dali Temple. I’ve heard her rank isn’t high, but her authority is immense. I’m just a commoner. I don’t measure up.”

He knew his place.

Not only was he unfit to be a matchmaker—he didn’t even want to be one.

Sun Chongde and Zhou Xun were already making progress. If he interfered, wouldn’t Sun Chongde hate him to death?

Lord Xie Zan once said something widely spread in Sanhe: “Though the Buddhist gate is wide, it does not ferry the fated-less; though good words are kind, they do not persuade a doomed ghost.”

He deeply agreed.

Between offending Sun Chongde and offending Ye Chen, he knew perfectly well which was heavier.

Ye Chen nodded. “You’re right. The Dali Temple handles legal cases and reviews doubtful judgments. Now it’s especially favored by Prince He. Not only can it review cases from the Ministry of Justice and the Censorate—even cases from the Imperial Guard can be touched. Prince He has said: if the Imperial Guard can handle a case, so can the Dali Temple; if the Imperial Guard cannot handle it, the Dali Temple still can. Nowadays, when Imperial Guard officers see Dali Temple officers, they avoid them. Their former glory is gone. If not for last night’s mishap, Zhou Xun might have been promoted soon.”

Butcher Jiang grew curious. “What mishap?”

Ye Chen looked surprised. “You don’t know?”

Jiang shook his head. “We truly don’t. This morning officials were knocking door to door searching homes. Something felt wrong.”

Ye Chen asked, “Where were you last night?”

Zhu Rourong sensed something off and shot Butcher Jiang a look. Having known each other for years, Jiang understood and kept silent.

Zhu Rourong replied, “Yesterday we took men out of the city to purchase live pigs. We returned after dark, stir-fried two dishes, drank a jar of wine, and fell asleep before curfew.”

Even Jiang felt the answer sounded like a criminal giving testimony.

Ye Chen smiled. “I didn’t mean anything by it.”

Zhu Rourong snorted. “Then what do you mean? Are you suspecting something?”

He had figured it out—the matchmaking was just a pretext. Ye Chen was here to gather information.

Ye Chen, watching Zhu’s expression carefully, said, “Last night, someone used explosives in the northern district to assassinate constables of the Ankang Prefecture. Prince He has ordered a citywide search.”

“Explosives…”

Butcher Jiang and Zhu Rourong looked at each other in shock.

As Sanhe suppliers, they knew how tightly the Arsenal controlled gunpowder.

The workshops that made it, the warehouses that stored it—heavily guarded by high-ranking officers. Even a mosquito couldn’t escape under the eyes of masters.

When Sanhe troops laid siege and received explosives, they needed seven or eight layers of approval. After battle, anyone daring to stash some privately was executed immediately.

These were rules set by Lord He Jixiang.

No matter your merit or skill, break this rule and you die.

What was unthinkable was using explosives to assassinate constables inside Ankang City.

That required brains soaked in water for over a decade.

It was practically begging for death.

Ye Chen nodded. “Mo Shun personally inspected the site. The power of the explosives was slightly different from those made in his family workshop, but nearly identical. Preliminary suspicion is that a craftsman sold the formula privately.”

Butcher Jiang snorted. “Not necessarily. Many craftsmen are our fellow townsmen from Sanhe; others are refugees from Yuezhou and Hongzhou. After work, they eat and sleep in camp. Getting out of the gates is nearly impossible. If anyone could lower Mo Shun’s guard, it would be us suppliers. Are you suspecting me? Let me make this clear—even if I die, I will never betray Prince He.”

His tone was no longer polite.

Anyone could question his character.

But never his loyalty to Prince He.

Bad character only means no friends.

Disloyalty to Prince He means being spat upon by ten thousand people—death wouldn’t be enough.

Ye Chen smiled. “Uncle, you’re taking it too seriously.”

Zhu Rourong rolled his eyes. “Even if an investigation is needed, that’s the yamen’s business. What does it have to do with you?”

Ye Chen replied, “I, Ye Chen, was born a man of Sanhe and will die a ghost of Sanhe. Now that there is a traitor within, to ease Prince He’s burden is our duty.”

Butcher Jiang growled, “But coming to me is just ridiculous.”

In Sanhe dialect, that was practically calling him brainless.

Ye Chen did not get angry. He stood, brushed off his robe, and smiled. “Since you both say so, I’ll take my leave.”

After he left, Zhu Rourong sighed. “This is getting big.”

Bang!

Butcher Jiang slammed his fist on the table. “You stay home. I’ll go gather information and see what’s really going on.”

Zhu Rourong replied, “What’s there to gather? It’s obvious—someone leaked the gunpowder formula.”

They spoke in unison: “Catch the spy!”

Butcher Jiang hesitated. “Then?”

Zhu Rourong said, “Gather all the workers. Those bastards gossip all day—have them dig for news.”

When the sun was high, Lin Yi finally crawled out of bed. Yawning, he waved at Jiao Zhong.

“No need to report yet. I want the final result. If there’s no result, don’t bother me.”

Jiao Zhong smiled carefully. “Your Highness, shall we go fishing today?”

“Of course we fish. Why wouldn’t we?” Lin Yi snapped. “If I got angry over them, I wouldn’t even eat.”

From Prince He’s Manor down toward the southern gate, the streets were sparse. Shops were closed. The air carried an eerie tension.

Riding his donkey, Lin Yi frowned. “This grand display has disturbed the people. Impressive indeed. Issue orders—lift martial law. Everything returns to normal. If we find the assassin, fine. If not, they can hang themselves from the southeast branch.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Though he knew it was a joke, Jiao Zhong trembled. If the assassins weren’t caught, Cao Xiaohuan and the others might avoid execution—but not punishment.

The spring breeze was gentle.

Lin Yi crouched by the river. Before sunset, he caught a full bucket of crucian carp, many swollen with roe. By evening, there was a great pot of fish soup.

He personally served Hu Miaoyi a bowl. “Drink more. It’s good for you.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

After one sip, she covered her mouth and retched.

“Where do you feel unwell?” Lin Yi asked.

She wiped her lips and smiled faintly. “Forgive me for worrying you. I’m just a bit uncomfortable.”

“How long?”

These past days he had been quite… attentive, and hadn’t noticed.

“Five days.”

Lin Yi shouted, “Summon Hu Shilu to check the Princess’s pulse!”

Before Hu Miaoyi could speak, Jiao Zhong had already gone.

In the side chamber, Hu Miaoyi lay behind a curtain while Hu Shilu checked her pulse.

Soon he said with a smile, “Congratulations, Your Highness.”

Lin Yi blinked. “For what?”

“The Princess is with child.”

“I’m going to be a father?”

Though prepared, the excitement was unmistakable.

“Indeed.”

Within three days, the news spread across Ankang City.

In Jinglan Palace, Noble Consort Yuan watched fireworks fill the sky.

“Send my gift list over,” she said. “And send two senior maids. Pregnancy is a major matter. The manor has no experienced women—let them teach some rules.”

Xiao Xizi bowed. “Yes, Your Ladyship.”

She added, “I hear there were rebels recently. Have they been captured?”

Xiao Xizi smiled. “Petty thieves. Not worth mentioning.”

“I heard the Prime Minister was involved?”

“I’ve been in the palace. I’m not clear on details.”

Even if he were, he couldn’t say.

She snorted. “Is there anything you don’t know?”

He laughed awkwardly and withdrew.

Outside, He Lian followed. “Eunuch, Jiang is old and cunning. With security so tight, Qi Yong still escaped.”

Xiao Xizi replied calmly, “Speak plainly. Don’t play tricks.”

He Lian hesitated. “My godfather… is he really dead?”

Xiao Xizi said, “What do you think?”

“I’m not certain.”

“To make so many Imperial Guard defect overnight—who but He Jin?”

He Lian frowned. “But Pan Duo saw his corpse with his own eyes. He wouldn’t dare lie to Prince He.”

Xiao Xizi smiled faintly. “Some things aren’t so certain. And this also involves Hu Banquan, the Sanhe magnate. There will be more excitement yet.”

Dali Temple Prison.

Even in daylight, it was dark.

Hu Banquan was bound to a wooden frame, his body covered in wounds. His swollen eyes barely opened.

“I’m innocent… truly innocent…”

Cao Xiaohuan said, “Old Hu, you’re a Sanhe veteran. You know the policy—confess and be treated leniently, resist and be treated harshly. For old times’ sake, tell us clearly and I’ll give you a quick end.”

Hu Banquan sighed. “I truly don’t know. If I did, why endure this suffering?”

Pan Duo stepped forward. “At death’s door and still stubborn? We won’t wrong a good man, nor spare a bad one. Speak.”

Zhou Xun added, “Who ordered you to steal the formula?”

Hu Banquan shook his head. “The man who approached me was masked. At first, he wanted to use my supplier identity to sell illicit salt. I was greedy and agreed. Then I was trapped deeper. If I refused, he threatened to report me. I had no choice. I got the gunpowder formula from Mo Shun and gave it to them. If I’d known it would harm Prince He, I’d rather die.”

Pan Duo asked, “If you had to guess, who are they?”

Hu Banquan said weakly, “When we fought, I noticed something. They practiced Huiyuan Skill and Lingbo Steps. I almost thought they were from the Capital Camp or Military Command.”

Cao Xiaohuan’s voice turned icy. “No matter who it is, I’ll make him wish he were dead.”

Only Sanhe people knew those techniques.

Hu Banquan swallowed dryly. “Please… some water…”

“Everyone pays for their actions,” Cao Xiaohuan said, leaving.

In the Dali Temple hall sat Minister Pei Qun, Chen Jingzhi, Gan Mao, and He Jixiang.

Pei Qun looked at Pan Duo. “Can you guarantee He Jin is truly dead?”

Pan Duo hesitated. “I saw his body.”

“What if I say he isn’t?”

“That’s impossible…”

“When you saw the corpse, did you see his whole face?”

“It was slashed beyond recognition—but I could tell it was him.”

He Jixiang said thoughtfully, “This grows more interesting. Continue the search.”

Pan Duo asked, “And Hu Banquan?”

He Jixiang replied coldly, “He’s a seasoned Sanhe supplier. It’s not that simple. Interrogate him harshly—but don’t let him die.”

“Yes, sir.”