Chapter One Hundred and Four: Lies

Upon hearing Fang Yang’s loud cry, Feng Ye Wu immediately waved his hand, signaling the soldiers on either side to halt. With cold eyes, he looked at Fang Yang and asked in a slightly deepened voice, “Where is the evidence?”

Fang Yang struggled free from two soldiers, then hastily knelt and crawled to Feng Ye Wu’s feet. From his body, he pulled out a letter sent by the King of Pingyi and handed it to Feng Ye Wu. He did not wish to die. Fang Yang knew in his heart that although Feng Ye Wu’s appearance was unexpected, it might also be his chance—a straw to clutch between the King of Pingyi and the King of Changwu that could save his life.

Although Yang Guang had previously given him orders on behalf of the King of Changwu, they were only verbal commands. Surrendering a token would be meaningless. The King of Changwu’s status meant he could easily evade responsibility with any excuse.

Seeing Feng Ye Wu so enraged, Fang Yang had no choice but to hand over the letter and present this ironclad evidence, shifting most of the blame onto Wang Chang Geng to secure a sliver of hope for himself.

Feng Ye Wu read Wang Chang Geng’s letter with growing anger. As the sovereign, he naturally could not fathom the life-saving schemes of a mere county magistrate.

“How shall we deal with this man?” he asked.

Wei Nan Xi, noticing Feng Ye Wu’s increasingly grim expression, naturally guessed that the letter must be undeniable proof. He respectfully bowed his head and inquired.

Feng Ye Wu cast a cold glance at the nervously trembling Fang Yang beside him and quietly gave his order.

“Take him away and lock him up.”

At last, Feng Ye Wu’s command eased the heavy burden on Fang Yang’s heart. The moonlight outside the government office shone clearly and brightly. He surmised that the advisor must have sent his family away for safety.

Fang Yang understood the laws of the Ye Dynasty well: as long as Feng Ye Wu believed Wang Chang Geng was the mastermind, his crime would not warrant death. As long as he lived, there was hope to reunite with his family.

After settling the affairs at the office, Feng Ye Wu sat in the grand counselor’s chair at the rear hall and looked at Wei Nan Xi and Sun Chang Xi, who both appeared wearied from travel. He spoke with gratitude, “I narrowly escaped disaster this time, thanks to both of you. But I wonder, how did you come to know of my situation?”

After all, Yang Guang had previously mentioned the deaths of Wang Jia and Chen Ping Wu.

Wei Nan Xi quickly bowed and replied, “It was the Crown Prince of Changwu, Chen Ping Wu, and a young lady who hurried to the Ministry of Justice to inform us.”

Upon hearing this, Feng Ye Wu and Lu Jue exchanged a surprised glance. The young lady Wei Nan Xi referred to was undoubtedly Wang Jia.

Lu Jue frowned, puzzled. Could it be that Yang Guang had deceived them both?

“Where are the two of them now?” Feng Ye Wu urgently asked about their whereabouts.

Wei Nan Xi continued, bowing his head, “They are resting just outside in a carriage. The young lady is injured and weak. I shall invite them in immediately.”

Feng Ye Wu nodded, and Wei Nan Xi turned to leave.

“How many men did you bring with you this time?” Feng Ye Wu asked, as the others awaited his response.

“Your Majesty, we left in haste with only some officers from the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Punishments. As for other reinforcements, Zheng Tian Lan is already making arrangements.”

Feng Ye Wu nodded. This time the evidence was undeniable: even a single secret letter from Fang Yang was enough to convict Wang Chang Geng of treason. Yet, the letter did not explicitly name Feng Ye Wu or Lu Jue, likely to avoid accusations from other lords.

Feng Ye Wu still needed the secret letter carried by Wang Jia.

Moments later, Wei Nan Xi led a man inside.

Feng Ye Wu was taken aback to see only Chen Ping Wu; Wang Jia was nowhere in sight.

“Where is Miss Wang?” Feng Ye Wu frowned in confusion, noting no one behind Chen Ping Wu.

Chen Ping Wu’s once steady face now bore traces of weariness. The arrogance and pride that once flickered in his eyes had faded considerably.

He respectfully bowed before Feng Ye Wu and spoke softly, “Miss Wang is gravely injured. After a long night’s journey, she is very weak and has fallen asleep in the carriage. I did not dare to disturb her. However, before sleeping, she entrusted me with these items to deliver to Your Majesty.”

Chen Ping Wu’s tone was calm, as if deliberately suppressing his emotions. He reverently took out a stack of letters from his bosom and placed them before Feng Ye Wu.

Feng Ye Wu recognized them at a glance—they were the very documents he had entrusted to Wang Jia before his capture.

Yet now, the letters were stained with blood. Upon opening them, the contents were mostly blurred and difficult to discern.

Lu Jue, standing beside Feng Ye Wu, also saw the damaged letters and harbored doubts about Chen Ping Wu. He questioned sternly, “Why are these letters in such a state? Do you realize Your Majesty almost lost his life because of these?”

These were documents they had risked their lives to obtain. Seeing them soaked and ruined was maddening.

Chen Ping Wu’s face darkened at Lu Jue’s furious question. His eyes held a complex expression as he struggled to contain his pain. Clenching his fists tightly, he replied hoarsely, “Miss Wang risked her life to preserve these letters. If it hadn’t been for our luck, we would not have survived. She might have died without ever knowing that these letters were meant to prove her father’s guilt.”

Each word was clenched between his teeth.

Lu Jue was shocked by Chen Ping Wu’s words. His expression softened, and a lump formed in his throat, rendering him speechless.

Feng Ye Wu looked once more at the letters in his hands. The bloodstains were the price Wang Jia had paid to keep her promise.

The entire rear hall fell into silence after Chen Ping Wu’s words.

After what felt like an eternity, Feng Ye Wu finally spoke softly, looking at Chen Ping Wu, “After Lu Jue and I were captured that day, what did you two endure? Why did Yang Guang later claim that you both had died?”

Chen Ping Wu’s eyes flickered with confusion upon hearing Yang Guang’s name. His thoughts spun endlessly. After a soft sigh, he began to recount.

...

That day, after the soldiers left the inn, Wang Jia happened upon Chen Ping Wu and Yang Guang. The three hurried back to the capital to fetch reinforcements.

Along the way, they were confronted by a group of skilled, mysterious men. Yang Guang fought valiantly to hold them off, allowing the other two to escape.

Fearing that the pursuers would track them along the official road, Chen Ping Wu pulled Wang Jia to traverse the mountain paths.

When they reached a sheer cliff, the pursuers caught up again. To protect Chen Ping Wu, Wang Jia was gravely injured.

Chen Ping Wu, holding Wang Jia, was filled with despair and leapt off the cliff.

Fortunately, below was a river, and fishermen returning from their catch rescued them.

At dawn, Chen Ping Wu and Wang Jia borrowed horses and rushed to the capital to inform Wei Nan Xi.

...

Having heard Chen Ping Wu’s account, Feng Ye Wu and Lu Jue exchanged a glance, clearly skeptical.

Feng Ye Wu then turned to Wei Nan Xi, his eyes silently inquiring.

Wei Nan Xi solemnly bowed and replied, “On the way here, I dispatched people to verify with the fishermen. It is indeed true. The Crown Prince and the young lady survived against all odds.”