The Kingdom That Never Sleeps CH 110 Incomparable To Even One Ten-Thousandth Of Senior Brother
After the assassin was captured, he immediately confessed that night, implicating Xiao Lü.
Xiao Lü, tortured to near death by Yelü Shege in prison, finally yielded under duress and revealed the mastermind behind the plot. Had this taken place in Shangjing, such brutal interrogation would never have been allowed, especially not by Yelü Shege’s men. This was because, in Shangjing, Grand Preceptor Yelü Ding wielded immense power. Hence, Yelü Shege and Yelü Qin traveled all the way to Xijing, the Southern officials' stronghold, to handle the matter personally.
When Xiao Lü named the mastermind, Yelü Shege acted incredulous. He widened his eyes in confusion and muttered repeatedly, "How could it be His Excellency, the Grand Preceptor? How could it be?"
The evidence seized from Xiao Lü's residence wasn’t entirely fabricated by Yelü Shege’s men. The government officers found several rare treasures unique to Shangjing and, shockingly, a blood-stained garment in the backyard—proof that Xiao Lü was indeed an accomplice of the assassin. However, whether the mastermind was truly Grand Preceptor Yelü Ding was something only Xiao Lü himself could confirm.
Due to his injuries, Yelü Qin didn’t personally interrogate Xiao Lü. After the confession, he skeptically remarked, "Your Highness, by all accounts, Xiao Lü should be an ally of the Third Prince. The evidence found in his home is irrefutable. Yet, his behavior leaves me puzzled. Having navigated the political arena for years, I sense he may not be who we think he is."
Yelü Shege agreed. "I feel the same. Something’s amiss. However, Commander, someone in Xijing must have aided the assassin. How else could he have hidden in the city for so many days without being discovered?"
A cold expression flashed across Yelü Qin’s face as he pondered. After a moment, he speculated, "Could it be that Xiao Lü isn’t aligned with the Third Prince at all…" He clapped his right hand over the back of his left, lowered his voice, and continued, "…but was framed by the other two princes? They might be trying to sow discord between you and the Third Prince, hoping to profit from your conflict."
Yelü Shege chuckled coldly. "I considered that possibility as well, and it’s utterly laughable. The saying 'When the snipe and clam struggle, the fisherman benefits' implies that the fisherman must have the strength to act, not merely pick up a windfall. It’s not that I look down on my elder brother and fourth brother, but Yelü Zhan’s schemes are transparent, and Yelü Long, though wanting to appear shrewd, lacks any real cunning. Even if they were aided by a brilliant strategist to set this trap, luring me into conflict with Yelü Han, what of it?"
Yelü Qin asked, "Your Highness means?"
Yelü Shege snapped open his folding fan with a flick, gently waving it like a refined gentleman from Jiangnan. Yet, the dark look in his eyes betrayed his demeanor. "I only want to deal with Yelü Han—or rather, the Grand Preceptor behind him. As for the others? Why concern ourselves with them? They’re merely clowns."
Realizing his intent, Yelü Qin saluted. "Your Highness is wise. I am willing to follow you through fire and water, no matter the cost!"
Confident they had considered everything, neither of them realized that behind the scenes, the forces of the Song Dynasty were also involved.
Meanwhile, at the Left Minister’s residence, Xiao Zhen, already ill from fury about Xiao Lü's crime. Now, upon hearing that Xiao Lü had implicated him as an accomplice, he was so enraged that his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, and he almost passed out.
Though distant relatives with little connection, there were no other outstanding children in their lineage so when Xiao Lu came to please Xiao Zhen and presented him with generous gifts, Xiao Zhen refused for a few times, then accepted the gifts and even treated Xiao Lu as his confidant.
Xiao Lü’s accusation wasn’t baseless.
First, the officers found several precious gifts related to the assassin in his home. Xiao Lü said that one of them was given by Qiao Jiu, a tea merchant from Song, and another one was something Xiao Zhen gave to him casually. When Xiao Lü heard that there were problems with these two things, he hated Xiao Zhen and Qiao Jiu with a passion. He had been tortured to the point of losing his mind and being unable to think. Knowing that he was doomed, he wished to drag everyone else down with him.
Hearing this news, Qiao Jiu hastily sought out Xiao Zhen for help. With no other options, Xiao Zhen donned his official robes and personally visited Yelü Qin’s residence. Astonishingly, Yelü Shege agreed to see him. As soon as they met, Xiao Zhen fell to his knees, crying, "Your Highness, I’ve been wronged! I had no idea Xiao Lü was involved with the assassin. I have always been loyal to His Majesty and Your Highness!"
Yelü Shege, seemingly surprised, responded, "Why such a grand gesture? Please rise and speak."
Xiao Zhen, trembling, remained kneeling. "Your Highness, I truly knew nothing. Please have mercy!"
Yelü Shege smiled faintly. "It appears that Minister Xiao has already heard about Xiao Lü’s confession. Indeed, he did name you. However, I know well what kind of person you are. Please stand up and speak."
Relieved yet apprehensive, Xiao Zhen stood and, after an hour of tense conversation, left the residence pale and shaken.
After Xiao Zhen left, Yelü Qin emerged from a side room. "Your Highness, I’ve been feigning illness and avoiding visitors. Thank you for dealing with fools like that on my behalf."
Yelü Shege chuckled. "Don’t mention it. Though foolish, Xiao Zhen holds a significant position. We can still use him. With this incident, we now have leverage over him—he won’t dare betray us." After a pause, he asked, "By the way, who is this Qiao Jiu that Xiao Lü implicated?"
Yelü Qin’s expression shifted slightly. "...I have heard of him. Your Highness knows that Xiao Lü has always wanted to please Your Highness. Now it seems that he had evil intentions and was plotting something from the start. We attended a banquet at the Xiao Manor that day. After the banquet, His Highness and Xiao Lü went to appreciate paintings. Xiao Zhen once told me that Qiao Jiu was a tea merchant from Song whom Xiao Lü knew. He was very wealthy and had a beautiful son.”
Yelü Shege paused, then smirked. "Ah, I remember now. So, that’s the Qiao Jiu Xiao Lü mentioned."
Yelü Qin nodded. "After being spurned by Your Highness, Xiao Lü harbored resentment toward Qiao Jiu. According to his captured shopkeeper’s confession, Xiao Lü despised Qiao Jiu and had long intended to harm him. Knowing he had no chance of survival, he likely implicated Qiao Jiu out of spite."
Yelü Shege thoughtfully nodded, leaving the room in silence. After a while, he suddenly asked, "Is his son truly that beautiful?"
Yelü Qin, unperturbed by the unusual question, replied casually, "I’ve never seen him. If Your Highness desires, we can fabricate a charge and capture him."
Yelü Shege frowned slightly. "I am no bandit. I won’t abduct people without reason."
Yelü Qin immediately corrected himself. "My apologies, Your Highness. I misspoke. Please forgive me."
Yelü Shege sighed. "These are troubled times. I have no interest in frivolities."
Meanwhile, upon returning home, Xiao Zhen was met by a waiting Qiao Jiu, who had been anxious for news. Seeing him, Xiao Zhen felt conflicted. After all, he had now been forced onto the Second Prince’s boat, making him an enemy of the Third Prince and Grand Preceptor Yelü Ding, who would never let this slide.
Qiao Jiu lamented, "Daren, this calamity came out of nowhere! I only wanted to do business in Xijing. How did it come to this?"
Xiao Zhen, seeing the shared misfortune, sighed. "The Second Prince saw through Xiao Lü’s lies and didn’t believe him. But we must remain cautious. Though he claims to trust us, who knows when he might change his mind? Life is becoming increasingly difficult."
After delivering gifts and returning home, Qiao Jiu reported everything to Su Wenyun, who was slightly surprised. "So Yelü Shege just let Xiao Zhen go?"
Hearing Qiao Jiu’s account, Su Wenyun sneered. "Yelü Shege knows how to win people over. He’s done this many times before. But after this, Xiao Zhen will see us as friends as we are in the same boat. Have you learned how Xiao Lü curried favor with Xiao Zhen?”
Qiao Jiu responded, "Rest assured, daren."
Su Wenyun said, "We don't necessarily have to turn him to our side. We can still get information from him by being his confidant. After this incident, he will never doubt us again. And after he becomes part of the second prince's party, we can get information from him. How could this not be a blessing in disguise?" He paused and continued, "Earlier, Xiao Lü often asked Tang Jingze to meet the second prince. I always felt that something was wrong. You should check it carefully. Clearly, there may be anomalies.”
Qiao Jiu: “Yes, daren.”
For several days, Qiao Jiu visited Xiao Zhen regularly, bringing generous gifts. Gradually, Xiao Zhen grew close to him. One night, after a few drinks, he revealed a shocking truth. Alarmed, Qiao Jiu immediately reported it to Su Wenyun.
Su Wenyun: “...”
That night, he personally penned a letter and dispatched it urgently to Youzhou City.
The letter, marked as urgent, reached Tang Shen in just a day and a half. Realizing its importance, Tang Shen quickly opened it, only to find two short lines:
"Yelü Shege has a fondness for men.
Tang daren, your foresight is unmatched."
Tang Shen: “...”
Tang Shen burned the letter in exasperation, thinking, How was I supposed to know he had such tendencies? It wasn’t deliberate. And what’s with calling me ‘unmatched’? Whether or not Yelü Shege prefers men, Xijing remains a dangerous place. You’re already there—what’s the point in worrying about one prince’s personal preferences?
When Tang Shen received the letter, Wang Zhen was beside him and he didn't hide it from the other either.
Wang Zhen noticed his displeasure and asked, "What’s wrong?"
Tang Shen fell silent for a moment, then pursed his lips, as if tattling, and recounted everything Su Wenyun had said to Wang Zhen.
Feeling aggrieved, Tang Shen added, “Senior Brother, you tell me, that Yelü Shege being a cut sleeve is not something I forced on him. He was born that way. Su Wenyun was originally going to Xijing Prefecture anyway, that has nothing to do with me either—I didn’t compel him to go.” (TN: cut sleeve: A historical euphemism for homosexuality, originating from a tale involving Emperor Ai of Han)
Wang Zhen frowned slightly but said nothing.
Tang Shen called out, “Senior Brother?”
Wang Zhen seemed to snap out of a daze. “How is the situation in Xijing now?”
Dropping the previous topic, Tang Shen began reporting on Xijing Prefecture. “Su Wenyun is indeed quite capable, though it’s a pity he failed to turn Xiao Zhen onto our side. My initial plan was merely to use the captured assassin to frame Xiao Lü and use that as leverage to establish a connection with Xiao Zhen. But the timeframe was too tight, and I didn’t come up with a concrete plan—just an idea. Su daren, however, managed to pull it off entirely.”
Wang Zhen asked, “Do you know why His Majesty favors Su Wenyun?”
Tang Shen’s interest was piqued. “Why?”
He could understand why Zhao Fu favored Li Jingde—Li Jingde was a war hero with no ambitions beyond exterminating the Liao people. As for himself, Tang Shen was aware that Zhao Fu appreciated him because he was low-ranking, had no powerful background, and was adept at flattering in ways that put the emperor at ease. Wang Zhen, however, was trusted because he always aligned perfectly with the emperor’s intentions.
Whether it was something Zhao Fu had done, wanted to do, or hadn’t yet dared to do, Wang Zhen handled it flawlessly. Even if the emperor wasn’t Zhao Fu, as long as it was an emperor, Wang Zhen would always be trusted.
But Su Wenyun?
Wang Zhen glanced at the sky, noticing that dark clouds had shrouded the moon. He pointed outside and said, “Night has fallen. There are always matters the emperor cannot openly handle but still wishes to see done. Su Wenyun is someone without limits—ruthless and unscrupulous in achieving great aims. Such a person is naturally favored and employed by His Majesty.”
Tang Shen asked casually, “To achieve great aims without regard for means—has he done anything particularly ruthless?”
Wang Zhen looked at Tang Shen quietly, then smiled leisurely. “Anything you can imagine that His Majesty might want to do but cannot do openly—Su Wenyun has done it for him.”
Tang Shen felt a jolt in his heart but forced a smile and changed the topic. “Between Su Wenyun and you, Senior Brother, whom does His Majesty trust more?”
Wang Zhen seemed to fall into deep thought at that question. After pondering for a long time, he countered, “Although it’s said that one shouldn’t speculate on the emperor’s thoughts, it’s just the two of us here, so there’s no harm in discussing it. What do you think, little Junior Brother—who does His Majesty favor more?”
Was there even a need to think about it?
Tang Shen answered without hesitation, “Naturally, I lean towards Senior Brother. No matter whom His Majesty favors, to me, Su Wenyun can’t compare to even one ten-thousandth of you.”