Chapter 23: The Suspect Is Dead

Out of consideration for the fact that Li Xubai had just saved her life, Empress Dowager Wen remained relatively polite and refrained from being aggressive. "Young man, where are you from? What is your name, and why were you in that abandoned Buddha hall?"

Li Xubai answered candidly without reservation, "I am from Bianliang. I live on Sweetwater Lane and work as an assistant at the Lulu Tong Carriage and Horse Agency." He recounted the origins of the matter in full detail and continued, "Since I could not leave the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple for the time being, I returned to my previous guest room. Later, a guard named Yang Changsheng came to chat with me. After we had a few cups of tea, I lost consciousness. When I woke up, I was already in the fire."

After hearing Li Xubai’s account, Empress Dowager Wen raised her voice toward the screen, "Your Majesty, have you heard everything?"

Zhao Yizhen emerged from behind the screen with a face as gloomy as water. He ordered Yu Zhong, "Go and arrest him!"

Yu Zhong acknowledged the command and hurried out with swift strides.

"Your Majesty, this Yang Changsheng came to the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple with you. Surely you know his background," Empress Dowager Wen said calmly.

Zhao Yizhen nodded. "I know. He is the nephew of the Junior Consort’s family. He has been in the Imperial Guard for three years and was only transferred to my personal service a month ago. I have only spoken to him a few times and am not familiar with him."

Empress Dowager Wen looked suspicious. "If you are not familiar with him, why did you let him accompany you to the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple?"

Zhao Yizhen met the Empress Dowager's gaze candidly. "My visit to the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple was an impulsive decision. I simply pointed to whichever Imperial Guards were on duty at that moment."

Empress Dowager Wen gave a light laugh. "I wonder if it is the Emperor’s good fortune or my own bad luck that the person the Emperor randomly pointed to wanted to take my life."

Zhao Yizhen looked slowly at the Empress Dowager, speaking the most ruthless words in the gentlest tone: "Does Mother believe that? If I wanted someone’s life, I would never let them have any chance of survival."

The corner of Empress Dowager Wen's eye twitched twice. "The Emperor is the master of the world; if you want anyone's life, they would naturally offer it up with both hands. I naturally believe you."

Zhao Yizhen calmed down as well. "Mother, please rest assured. I will certainly get to the bottom of this matter and will never let Mother suffer such unprovoked disaster." He paused slightly, his words laden with subtext: "The person behind this has sinister intentions, hoping to sow discord between you and me. They truly deserve to be cut into a thousand pieces!"

Watching the two most powerful people in the world spar with such sharp, confrontational words, Li Xubai felt a chill creeping up his back. He hunched his shoulders and played the part of a silent quail, doing his best to minimize his presence.

Empress Dowager Wen also wanted to see what Zhao Yizhen’s true intentions were and whether he had any connection to the fire. She nodded and said, "Since the Emperor has said so, I naturally have nothing to worry about. It is just that we, mother and son, will likely have to stay at the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple for a few more days."

Zhao Yizhen replied calmly, "Mother, rest assured. I have already ordered people to return to the capital to retrieve the urgent memorials; it will not delay state affairs."

"That is good." Empress Dowager Wen looked weary and waved her hand. "I am tired. You should go and rest as well." She pointed at Li Xubai. "As for this person, he must not leave the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple until this matter is clarified."

Zhao Yizhen nodded. "That is my intention as well."

Li Xubai was stunned.

No, what did this have to do with him? He hadn't started the fire, nor had he set a trap; on the contrary, he had saved the Empress Dowager’s life. Was it a crime to save someone?

Before Li Xubai could argue, Zhao Yizhen ushered him out in a hurry.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty! I... I have a younger brother and sister at home. If I don't go back for ten days or half a month, they will starve to death!" Li Xubai paced anxiously.

Zhao Yizhen said, "You just saved the Empress Dowager. There is no guarantee that the mastermind won't take their anger out on you. If I let you down the mountain now, your life will be at risk."

Li Xubai froze. Upon careful reflection, he realized it was indeed the case. He reluctantly accepted Zhao Yizhen’s reasoning and asked, "Your Majesty, what about my family?"

Zhao Yizhen pondered for a moment and said, "I will have someone send word to your home—and to the Lulu Tong Carriage and Horse Agency—saying that you ran into people from the Gu family at the temple and they have asked you to stay and run errands for a couple of days."

The arrangement was exceptionally proper; it would neither frighten the Li siblings nor cost him his job at the agency.

Li Xubai had no more excuses left. He reluctantly replied, "Then I thank Your Majesty."

Zhao Yizhen had initially felt a bit of jealousy toward Li Xubai’s carefree nature. Seeing him now stripped of his freedom and looking completely wilted, his own mood improved slightly. Jealousy is a devil; it can make a person unrecognizable.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! That Yang Changsheng is dead!" Yu Zhong rushed back, his face deathly pale, panting heavily.

"Dead? How did he die?" Zhao Yizhen asked urgently.

"He... he hanged himself!" Yu Zhong gasped, unsure if it was from fear or the exertion of running.

"Where is he? Lead the way," Li Xubai blurted out.

This man surnamed Yang was the key to his own innocence. If he died at this juncture, he would be covered in mud—even if it weren't excrement, it would look like it. If he wasn't careful, his act of saving a life would be twisted into an attempted assassination!

Yu Zhong, not hearing Zhao Yizhen stop Li Xubai, snapped out of his shock and hurriedly led the way.

The small courtyard where the Imperial Guards lived was right next to Li Xubai’s guest room, and Yang Changsheng’s room was separated from his by only a single wall.

Sunlight fell upon the window paper, casting a swaying shadow. The figure was hung high from the rafters.

"Your Majesty, the sight of Yang Changsheng is gruesome. Please, stop here," Yu Zhong hurriedly blocked Zhao Yizhen.

Li Xubai stopped as well. A person who hangs themselves looks as grim as someone who has been strangled; none of them are pleasant to look at. However, Li Xubai was not afraid.

"If Your Majesty trusts me, I would like to go in and take a look." Li Xubai finally realized the lapse in his address. Although Zhao Yizhen hadn't corrected him, he couldn't keep playing dumb forever. Once he exhausted the shred of goodwill Zhao Yizhen initially had for him, what awaited him would be disdain and a threat to his life.

Zhao Yizhen looked Li Xubai over. "You... are not afraid?"

Li Xubai shook his head. "I am not afraid."

He had a background in law. Before becoming an entertainment reporter, he had spent ten years as a lawyer, handling all sorts of cases—every variety imaginable. There was no gruesome sight he hadn't seen. How else would he know which method of death looked the most hideous? It was precisely because he no longer wanted to endure that kind of psychological trauma that he had switched careers while his legal practice was at its peak.

Zhao Yizhen’s eyes showed admiration. "Good, go ahead. I will not let you be shocked for nothing."

Li Xubai did not decline. "That man surnamed Yang tried to frame me. I am a petty person, so I must see if he is truly dead. If he still has a breath left, I’ll hang him up all over again and make sure he’s dead for good."

Hearing this, Zhao Yizhen couldn't help but burst into laughter.

The gloom brought about by the only suspect committing suicide in fear of punishment dissipated before they even realized it.

Yu Zhong looked at Li Xubai with a meaningful expression. This really was a man of good fortune.