History of Women in the Wei Dynasty

Chapter 359 The Prince of Rencheng's Ship

And so, Yuan Yu's new chief secretary, Li Bi, and Wei Jia, the little bodyguard of the Prince of Rencheng, dug the ground together. Wei Jia asked, "Chief Secretary Li, why are there so many plum blossoms embroidered on the back of your official robe?"

Li Bi didn't want to answer, because those were dog paw prints! He'd been kicked by the dogs of the Prince of Yangping's mansion last night!
"We've dug something up."

Yuan Yu looked over: "It really is a jar."

Wei Jia scraped the soil off the urn, and the stench, so strong even the stopper couldn't block it, made him gag instantly. "So stinky!"

Yuan Yu smiled as he looked at Prince Rencheng. If he still didn't know that what was buried in the ground was not fine wine, but a secret of great importance, he wouldn't be Yuan Yu, but a fool like Yuan Yu or Yuan Huai!

He ordered, "Keep digging."

All ten earthenware urns were exposed above the ground. One urn was larger than the other nine. Wei Jia covered his face with two layers of cloth and opened the large urn.

Inside was a human head filled with lime, with a bamboo plaque on top of the head's hair. Wei Jia muttered the words on the bamboo plaque: "Zhao Xiu, courtesy name Jingye, a native of Fangzi County, Zhao Commandery, a palace attendant..."

Wei Jia was speechless. When he read "Imperial Guards", he remembered that the white-clad guard who was once the emperor's most trusted and then disappeared was named "Zhao Xiu".

Li Bi was on the verge of tears and really wanted to resign.

Yuan Yu stared at the severed head for several breaths before saying, "I don't believe Yuan Ji and his son would dare to kill Zhao Xiu."

The Prince of Rencheng, finding the place smelly, gestured for people to move away and said, "That's right. His Majesty and the Court of Justice won't believe it."

Yuan Yu jumped up and down, grabbing Ren Cheng Wang's neck with both hands: "You fatso, stop pretending to be confused! You know what I'm saying, you killed Zhao Xiu!"

His strength was like a tickle to Prince Rencheng.

"With Zhao Xiu dead like this, how can we find out who killed him? So the key is... after His Majesty finds out, who will he blame for his grief over losing Zhao Xiu?"

After saying this, Prince Rencheng easily pried open Yuan Yu's fingers and then earnestly told him, "You think that Feng Junxing hired an assassin to kill you because His Majesty found out and then ordered Zhao Zhi to save you? Actually, when Zhao Zhi was investigating evidence of corruption by officials in Yuanxiang's office, she discovered that Feng Junxing was colluding with the Prince of Beihai's mansion. When I left the capital at the beginning of the year, I instructed Zhao Zhi to seek help from my former chief secretary, Li Xuanmao, if she encountered any difficulties. It was Zhao Zhi who secretly informed Li Xuanmao of this matter, and Li Xuanmao then revealed the clues about Feng Junxing's search for assassins to the imperial physician Wang Xian at the right time and place. That's how, after saving you once, we were able to use His Majesty's will to intimidate Feng Junxing and prevent that scoundrel from having any more thoughts of killing you."

Yuan Yu's expression kept changing. He had received some information that the imperial physician Wang Xian had been expanding his network of informants outside the palace and building connections for His Majesty since His Majesty was the Crown Prince.

"Stop talking nonsense!" He jumped up again and pinched Prince Rencheng again, saying, "Let's talk about these stinking urns. Did you bury them to frame me?"

“If I wanted to frame you, I could have bribed your servants to report you. Why would I have to deliver myself to your door? I have no choice but to give you the evidence that Zhao Xiu died at my hands. I ask for nothing more than that after I leave the capital, if my old friends and officials encounter any crisis, you should try your best to help them save their lives.”

"Eloquent words." Yuan Yu still looked angry, but he let go of her hand.

Prince Rencheng: "Actually, the winds of change in the court have shifted today, as you should have noticed. The division of power among the close attendant military officers has changed. Yu Zhong only holds the position of the Imperial Household Department. Regardless of what mistakes Yu Zhong has made that have displeased His Majesty, the fact that Yang Daye has only been in the capital for half a year yet is able to hold two of the five departments, making him equal in power to Zhao Zhi, shows that His Majesty is already wary of Zhao Zhi."

Yuan Yu was the most cunning among the princes of his generation. He smiled like a fox and said, "After Yuan Xi's rebellion failed and he was captured and imprisoned in Hualin Garden, he still had the prestige of a prime minister. The officials of the Court of Justice dared not interrogate him. At that time, Zhao Zhi led troops to supervise him. The woman was reckless enough to stuff a few dates down Yuan Xi's throat, which choked my stupid second brother to death."

His smile turned cold: "From that moment on, her fate was sealed."

Prince Rencheng sighed, "Relieving your worries may not be a merit. I recommended Zhao Zhi to the palace, and she has risked her life to save me several times. I must protect her. If you are unable to help us, I will think of another way."

"Don't provoke me!" Yuan Yu had a secret on his mind, one he hadn't even told his wife. It was after being ambushed and attacked by assassins in the music hall that he had several incredibly vivid nightmares, dreaming that he died in that assassination attempt. When he woke up and returned to reality, he was even more grateful for meeting Zhao Zhi. He would never forget their conversation.

"Among all the officials in the court, no one is willing to help me except you."

"If you encounter difficulties again in the future, just say so."

Yuan Yu first threatened Chief Secretary Li Bi: "What happened today, you either keep it to yourself, or you'll be stuck in a jar."

He then promised the Prince of Rencheng, "Protecting Zhao Zhi is my true intention, not something you did by using tricks to coerce her. Also, if you encounter any difficulties in the future, just tell me!"

The first step of Rencheng Wang's plan was completed. Under the pretext of protecting Zhao Zhi, he bound General Yuan Yu of Chariots and Cavalry to his own side.

Next, they pulled Pengcheng King Yuanxie onto the ship.

Knowing that Yuan Xie had many spies from other forces around him, the Prince of Rencheng chose to talk to them on August 16th, the day that the Prince of Jingzhao, Yuan Yu, was getting married.

“You’ve had too much to drink, go relieve yourself.” Prince Rencheng patted Yuan Xie on the shoulder and swayed as he walked.

"Uncle, be careful." Yuan Xie helped the Prince of Rencheng to his feet and walked with him.

Yuan Xie's attendant, Gao Zuzhen, immediately followed.

"Uncle, the latrine is over there."

"Why go to the toilet? Aren't there trees over there? Let's go." Prince Rencheng took Yuan Xie's arm and walked towards some flowering trees.

The flowering trees stand by the water's edge, surrounded by open space.

As soon as they arrived, the Prince of Rencheng clutched his stomach, hurriedly squatting down while trying to pass a foul fart. Yuan Xie was both amused and exasperated, and ordered Gao Zuzhen to find toilet paper and a rag.

After Gao Zuzhen left, Yuan Xie and Prince Rencheng exchanged a glance, both understanding each other's intentions. The former asked, "Uncle... what do you want me to do?"

Prince Rencheng: "Lend me twenty highly trustworthy warriors. I fear I will be leaving the capital again next month, and I would like to borrow Emperor Gaozu Zhen as a military officer in my household."

Yuan Xie hesitated: "I can give Wu Yong to my uncle, but Gaozu Zhen... while he is outstanding in martial arts, his ability to lead troops is only average. He cannot be entrusted with the liaison between military camps, the transport and protection of provisions, or the defense of cities."

King Rencheng: "Great, I've been needing just such a useless piece of trash."

When Yuan Xie initially relinquished military power and left Luoyang, his future was uncertain. Gaozu Zhen, fearing for his life, was unwilling to continue following Yuan Xie. He secretly bribed Li Xuanmao, the former chief secretary of the Prince of Rencheng's residence, hoping to remain in the capital. Given this opportunistic nature, the Prince of Rencheng, regardless of whether he had evidence of Gaozu Zhen's betrayal of Yuan Xie, was determined to eliminate this threat.

Gao Zuzhen arrived with several pieces of soft cloth, which surprisingly had a scent of incense when she handed them over. Yuan Cheng praised, "Zuzhen's work is truly to my liking, and it makes me very happy."

Gao Zuzhen said modestly, "I dare not, I dare not." He knew that the emperor was very suspicious of the Prince of Pengcheng, so he had wanted to leave his master since the year before last. He had been tormented by this thought until today. Even if he joined the Prince of Rencheng's mansion, which had lost power, as an ordinary staff member, it would be better than continuing to stay in the Prince of Pengcheng's mansion!
On their way back to the banquet, the Prince of Rencheng feigned concern and asked Yuan Xie, "I have news that I will be going to Yangzhou after leaving the capital. I will ask you for General Fangge's assistance then. Are you willing to part with him, Prince Xie?"

Gao Zuzhen was extremely excited, her heart instantly leaping into her throat!