Chapter 48: High Treason

Su Mingxiu looked at Lu Xuanheng, "Young Master Lu, are you alright with your injury?"

Lu Xuanheng withdrew his gaze and briefly replied that he was fine.

The three of them sat around the campfire, still feeling deeply shaken when recalling what had just happened.

Su Mingxiu said, "I never expected that Mount Xing would conceal an armory. Harboring so many weapons privately must mean they are plotting something nefarious. Could the grand scheme mentioned by the Earl of Zhongyuan and the others be rebellion?"

Lu Xuanheng said, "Concealing weapons privately is a capital crime. To dare to do such a thing is most likely for rebellion. It's just unclear who the person behind this really is—perhaps a feudal prince from another domain, or a high-ranking minister holding immense power. The master they spoke of is about to enter the capital. If I'm not mistaken, it's for the Longevity Festival a few months from now, coming to the capital to offer birthday congratulations to the Emperor."

Su Mingxiu nodded, "That's very likely. However, this year marks the Emperor's sixtieth birthday, and many people will be coming to offer congratulations: regional feudal princes, powerful provincial governors, and frontier generals. It's too difficult to investigate them all."

Lu Xuanheng made a noncommittal sound and remained silent for a moment.

Su Mingxiu looked at Jiang You'an, who had been silent the whole time, "You'an, what are you thinking about?"

Jiang You'an rested her chin on her knees, "I'm thinking that even if the Earl of Zhongyuan is indeed involved in the rebellion, it seems to have no connection to my father's case. However, regarding the woman in the cave just now, I felt an indescribable sense of familiarity in her voice."

Su Mingxiu's eyes brightened slightly, "You know her?"

A vague figure surfaced in Jiang You'an's mind, but she secretly dismissed the guess and shook her head, "I don't. I was just speaking casually."

None of the three paid any more attention to the matter. After a while, as the rain eased somewhat, they left the wooden cabin and groped their way out of Mount Xing.

Taking a boat back to the inner city, dawn had already broken.

Lu Xuanheng and Jiang You'an returned to the Lu residence together, while Su Mingxiu also returned to the Yong'an Marquis's Manor.

To his surprise, as soon as he stepped through the door, he saw his father and mother anxiously waiting for him in the front hall.

He had sneaked out the night before, having his personal page boy cover for him by saying he was sleeping in his room, but it seemed the deception hadn't worked.

The moment Madame Su saw him, she first let out a sigh of relief, then said with a stern expression, "What is wrong with you, child? Where did you run off to make trouble behind your father's and my back? If I hadn't gone to check on your room this morning, I wouldn't have known you were gone the entire night!"

The Marquis of Yong'an also walked over with his hands behind his back, frowning as he looked at the mud covering his son: "Alas, with such heavy rain last night, where on earth did you go?"

Su Mingxiu thought to himself that the events in the cave were of grave importance and had no intention of keeping them from his parents, so he pulled them into the inner chamber to talk.

Madame Su was baffled, "What is it, acting all mysterious?"

Once inside the inner chamber where only the three of them were present, Su Mingxiu told them about what he had witnessed the previous night.

Upon hearing the account, Madame Su drew a sharp breath in fright, "Right under the Emperor's nose, someone is plotting treason? This is a catastrophe!"

The Marquis of Yong'an was much calmer and reminded Madame Su, "Lower your voice. Be careful that words bring disaster."

Su Mingxiu said, "Father, the Longevity Festival is fast approaching, and someone is privately hoarding weapons and plotting treason. Should we immediately enter the palace to report this to the Emperor?"

The Marquis of Yong'an, however, said otherwise, "You are not a person of the imperial court; you don't understand the winding complexities within it. Having merely discovered an armory, how can you rashly mention it before the Emperor? The waters here run deep. Our family must not easily become entangled in this; let's first wait and watch how the situation develops."

Since the Marquis of Yong'an was the head of the household, Su Mingxiu felt that what he said made sense and agreed with his father's words.

The Marquis of Yong'an then asked, "However, how did you discover that the Earl of Zhongyuan was engaging in these underhanded dealings behind the scenes? Why were you investigating him?"

Su Mingxiu originally did not want to tell his parents that he was helping Jiang You'an investigate a case. But now that the lead had been cut off, he was anxious as well; perhaps he could learn something from his father.

He told his father about the matter that he and Jiang You'an had been investigating recently.

Madame Su was startled first, "You'an wants to overturn her father's verdict?"

Su Mingxiu nodded, "Her father's case has always been a knot in her heart. As a daughter, knowing her father suffered a grievance, naturally she wants to clear his name."

Madame Su frowned, some displeasure rising in her heart.

She had sought Jiang You'an's hand in marriage for Su Mingxiu merely to dispel bad luck with a joyous event, and thus had not minded her status as the daughter of a criminal official. But if Jiang You'an intended to overturn her father's verdict, who knew what chaos she might stir up in the future? This would undoubtedly bring trouble to the family.

"She is making a fuss, and you are following along. That case was settled long ago; what is there to rake up again?"

Su Mingxiu quickly said, "She is not making a fuss. There are indeed questionable points in Minister Jiang's case. She has never been able to let it go, and I promised her I would help."

At this moment, the Marquis of Yong'an let out a cold snort, "You children are truly inexperienced and hot-headed. Wanting to overturn a verdict—is it really that simple? You'd better stop blindly meddling."

Su Mingxiu looked at the Marquis of Yong'an and asked with a hesitant expression, "Father, do you mean that Minister Jiang's case indeed has problems, but clearing his grievance is simply too difficult?"

The Marquis of Yong'an pondered for a moment and said, "This is merely my speculation. Minister Jiang was a man I had dealings with, and I knew him to be utterly upright and rigorous in his conduct. I also do not believe he would leak the defense maps, but the evidence was conclusive, and no one could argue on his behalf. What puzzled me was that the conclusion of the case at the time was far too hasty, and all related case files were destroyed afterward. I heard from people in the Ministry of Punishments..."

He paused briefly, "It was the arrangement of the Prince of Xian."

Su Mingxiu was slightly stunned, "So the Prince of Xian is the mastermind behind the scenes?"

The Marquis of Yong'an sighed, "It is merely a speculation without proof. But think about it: if it truly is the Prince of Xian, how could you possibly overturn the verdict? Now that the heir apparent has not yet been established, the Prince of Xian represents the general trend. Even if you thoroughly investigate the matter and pin it on the Prince of Xian, would the Emperor abandon his own choice of crown prince for the sake of an unjustly killed official? Once the Prince of Xian routinely ascends the throne as the new emperor, there will be even less hope of the truth coming to light. Therefore, do not waste your efforts."

Su Mingxiu fell into a temporary silence.

Madame Su pulled him close and earnestly exhorted, "Mingxiu, you heard what your father said. This matter cannot possibly succeed. Do not follow You'an in making trouble anymore. Advise her to let it go as soon as possible. If she remains this persistent and startles the Prince of Xian, she will lose her life, and our Su family will also be implicated."

Su Mingxiu gave a soft nod, "I understand."

Two days later, Su Mingxiu met with Jiang You'an again.

Jiang You'an asked him expectantly, "Is there any new news?"

Su Mingxiu shook his head. Holding her hand, he said warmly, "You'an, I've thought about it. This case is extremely difficult to investigate, and trying to overturn Minister Jiang's verdict is as hard as ascending to the heavens. Instead of stubbornly holding on, you'd better let it go and live your own life well."

Jiang You'an froze, slowly withdrawing her hand, "What's wrong with you? Why are you suddenly saying this?"

Afraid that Jiang You'an would go head-to-head if she knew the Prince of Xian was involved, Su Mingxiu had no wish to tell her, "It's nothing, I'm just worried about you."

Jiang You'an stared at him, "No, you are hiding something from me. Did you find out something you don't want to tell me?"