6: Chapter 6 The Petition from the Imperial Clan Court

Three days later.

Great Yan Dynasty, Imperial Clan Court.

The Imperial Clan Court was located on the eastern side of the Imperial City, covering a hundred acres. It was the yamen specifically in charge of affairs concerning the imperial clan and relatives. From the bestowing of titles upon princes to the weddings and funerals of the clan, everything was handled by the Imperial Clan Court. If a member of the imperial clan broke the law, they were also tried by the Imperial Clan Court—this was a rule established three thousand years ago at the founding of Great Yan; the imperial Bloodline was not to be touched by outside officials.

Today, the gates of the Imperial Clan Court were knocked open by a letter.

The letter had been delivered in the early morning. It bore no signature, only a wax Seal. When the gatekeeper opened it to take a look, his expression changed drastically, and he ran all the way to the main hall to deliver it.

The Zongzheng of the Imperial Clan Court was the current Emperor's younger cousin, Prince Duan, Xiao Yuanhong.

Prince Duan was sixty-seven years old this year, with a cultivation at the Perfection of the heaven-man realm, and held an extremely high seniority within the imperial family. He finished reading the contents of the letter and then looked at the items attached—twelve waist tokens recovered from assassins, three secret letters written in Baili Qingyun's own hand, and a stub for a three-hundred-thousand-tael silver note bearing the Seal of the Baili Clan's bank.

After a long silence, Prince Duan spoke slowly:

"Someone, come."

"Present."

"Go and invite the Minister of Justice, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and the Chief Censor of the Censorate. Tell them... this Prince has matters to discuss."

"Yes!"

One hour later.

Imperial Clan Court, Main Hall.

Prince Duan sat high in the seat of honor, with Minister of Justice Zhou Yan, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Minister of the Court of Judicial Review Zheng Zeshi, and Left Censor-in-Chief Liu Chong seated on either side.

Before the four of them lay that letter and the evidence.

"Have you all finished reading?" Prince Duan asked.

The three exchanged glances, and Minister of Justice Zhou Yan was the first to speak: "Your Highness, is this letter... credible?"

"The waist tokens are the standard issue for the Baili Clan's guards, with unique markings that cannot be faked. As for those three secret letters, this Prince has had handwriting experts compare them, and they are indeed in Baili Qingyun's hand. Regarding that silver note stub..." Prince Duan paused, "The manager of the Baili Clan's bank has already confessed, saying the Third Young Master deposited it himself."

Zhou Yan sucked in a breath of cold air.

The Third Young Master of the Baili Clan, Baili Qingyun—he was the biological younger brother of the Crown Prince's side consort.

Hiring assassins to kill a prince?

This was a capital crime that could lead to the extermination of an entire clan!

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Minister of the Court of Judicial Review Zheng Zeshi pondered: "Your Highness, who delivered this letter? Why is it unsigned?"

"I do not know," Prince Duan said. "But the evidence is conclusive. Regardless of who sent it, this Prince must accept it."

Left Censor-in-Chief Liu Chong said in a heavy voice: "What does Your Highness intend to do?"

Prince Duan was silent for a moment before saying slowly: "Proceed according to the rules."

As soon as the words 'proceed according to the rules' were uttered, the expressions of all three men changed.

To proceed according to the rules meant opening a case, summoning for questioning, and holding a trial.

The one to be summoned was the Third Young Master of the Baili Clan.

The matter to be tried was the grave crime of assassinating a prince.

Once this matter was made public, the entire Capital would be shaken.

"Your Highness," Zhou Yan whispered, "The Baili Clan... they are the Crown Prince's people."

Prince Duan glanced at him and said indifferently: "This Prince knows."

"Then..."

"This Prince only recognizes evidence, not people." Prince Duan stood up, standing with his hands behind his back. "Baili Qingyun hired assassins to kill Seventh Prince Xiao Xuan, and the evidence is conclusive. As the Zongzheng of the Imperial Clan Court, if I were to bend the law for personal gain, how could I face my ancestors?"

The three looked at each other, not daring to say more.

Prince Duan said: "Pass my order—Baili Qingyun, the Third Young Master of the Baili Clan, is suspected of hiring assassins to kill a prince. Summon him to court immediately. If there is resistance, kill him without hesitation!"

"Yes!"

...

The news spread, and the Capital was shaken.

The first to receive the news was, naturally, the Baili Clan.

Baili Yuan was in his study reviewing account books when he heard the servant's report, and he froze on the spot.

"What? A summons from the Imperial Clan Court?"

"Ye-yes! They've already sent people, saying... saying the Third Young Master is suspected of hiring assassins to kill a prince and must be brought to court immediately!"

Baili Yuan's face turned ashen, and the brush in his hand snapped with a 'crack'.

"That idiot!"

He cursed loudly and rushed out of the study.

In the main courtyard, a squad of bailiffs from the Imperial Clan Court had already burst in. The leader was the Right Vice-Minister of the Imperial Clan Court, with a cultivation at the Perfection of the Ninth-Grade Great Grandmaster Realm.

"Clan Head Baili," the Right Vice-Minister cupped his hands, his tone neither humble nor arrogant. "By order of Prince Duan, we are here to bring the Third Young Master, Baili Qingyun, to court for questioning. Please cooperate."

Baili Yuan took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

"Sir, could there be some misunderstanding in this?"

"Whether there is a misunderstanding will be known once the trial begins," the Right Vice-Minister said. "Please have the Third Young Master come out."

Baili Yuan looked at the steward behind him. The steward understood and hurried toward the inner courtyard.

A moment later, Baili Qingyun was brought out.

His face was deathly pale, his legs were weak, and he could barely stand steady.

"Fa-father..."

Baili Yuan looked at him, his eyes filled with the anger of failing to turn iron into steel, but even more so with worry.

"Go with them," he said in a heavy voice. "Remember, you know nothing, and you have done nothing. Do you understand?"

Baili Qingyun nodded desperately.

The Right Vice-Minister gave a cold laugh and waved his hand: "Take him away!"

...

At the same time, the Crown Prince's Mansion.

Xiao Jing was having his morning meal. When he heard the news, his chopsticks paused in mid-air.

"The Imperial Clan Court has summoned Baili Qingyun?"

"Yes," Xie Duan said. "Prince Duan personally issued the order, and the evidence is conclusive—waist tokens, secret letters, and silver note stubs, not a single thing missing."

Xiao Jing was silent for a moment before slowly putting down his chopsticks.

"Who delivered the evidence?"

"Unknown. An anonymous letter."

A sharp glint flashed in Xiao Jing's eyes.

"Old Seventh... it's him."

Xie Duan was startled: "How can Your Highness be so sure?"

"Besides him, who else?" Xiao Jing sneered. "Baili Qingyun tried to assassinate him, so of course he wants revenge. But he didn't do it himself; instead, he submitted the evidence to the Imperial Clan Court—this move is much more ruthless than killing someone directly."

Xie Duan realized: "Does Your Highness mean he wants to use the Imperial Court's hand to get rid of Baili Qingyun?"

"It's not just Baili Qingyun." Xiao Jing stood up and walked to the window. "Baili Qingyun is his brother-in-law. If he sits by and does nothing, he'll be seen as cold and unfeeling. If he steps in to save him, he'll be dragged down with the Baili Clan. Old Seventh is forcing this Prince to take a stand."

"Then what does Your Highness intend to do?"

Xiao Jing was silent for a long time before saying slowly: "No rush. Let's see how Baili Yuan responds first."

...

Third Prince's Mansion.

After Xiao Yu received the news, he laughed loudly.

"Good! Good! Old Seventh's move was beautifully executed!"

His advisors looked at each other, not knowing why he was so happy.

Xiao Yu slapped the table and said: "Baili Qingyun is the Crown Prince's brother-in-law. Now that he's been seized by the Imperial Clan Court, will the Crown Prince save him or not? If he does, he'll be dragged down with the Baili Clan; if he doesn't, the Baili Clan will hate him. No matter what he chooses, the Crown Prince will lose a layer of skin!"

He looked at the advisor beside him: "Go, send people to keep an eye on the Imperial Clan Court. Report back immediately with any news."

"Yes!"

...

Lingxiao Sect contact point.

Zhou Tong finished listening to the news and was silent for a long time.

"That Seventh Prince... is even more formidable than this old man imagined."

Zhou Xian said: "Father means that he was the one who sent that evidence?"

"Besides him, who else could it be?" Zhou Tong said. "Guards at the Late Stage of the Void God Realm, a backer at the Middle Stage of the True God Realm, and now he's pulled off this move—this Seventh Prince has hidden himself too deeply."

A trace of wariness flashed in Zhou Xian's eyes: "Father, then we..."

"Do nothing," Zhou Tong said. "Let them fight. We only need to watch."

He paused, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

"However, from today on, increase our focus on the Seventh Prince. This person... will sooner or later become a major figure."

...

Yongan Ward, Seventh Prince's Mansion.

First basement level.

Xiao Xuan stood before the sand table, watching as Zhao Gao painted the marker for the Imperial Clan Court red.

"Your Highness," Jia Xu smiled, "Prince Duan did indeed take the case. This Prince has an upright and incorruptible character and hates bending the law for personal gain most of all. Since Baili Qingyun has fallen into his hands, even if he doesn't die, he'll lose a layer of skin."

Xiao Xuan nodded: "What movement is there on the Crown Prince's side?"

"None for the time being," Zhao Gao said. "But my people are watching outside the Eastern Palace. The Crown Prince did not leave his home this morning, nor did he summon any officials. He is waiting."

"Waiting for what?"

"Waiting for Baili Yuan to make a move," Jia Xu said. "Baili Qingyun is his son; it's impossible for him not to try to save him. But how to save him is the question."

Xiao Xuan gave a slight smile.

"Then let him save him."

He turned and looked at Xiao He: "Is that account book ready?"

Xiao He nodded: "It is ready. The Baili Clan's embezzlement of military funds, private trafficking of Spirit Medicine, and seizure of civilian land over the years—every single entry is recorded clearly. As long as it is sent to the Emperor's desk, Baili Yuan will find it hard enough to save himself, let alone his son."

"No rush." Xiao Xuan waved his hand. "Let them bounce around for a few days first. When Baili Yuan has exhausted all the connections he can use, and the Crown Prince is dragged into a dilemma where it's hard to advance or retreat, then we'll send it up."

Jia Xu clapped his hands and laughed: "Your Highness is brilliant! Sending it then will be the fatal blow!"

Xiao Xuan smiled slightly and looked toward the south of the city.

"Master Jiang, what do you say?"

...

South of the city, Taoist temple.

Jiang Ziya sat cross-legged on a prayer mat and slowly opened his eyes.

"Your Highness's step was taken steadily."

He murmured to himself, a trace of a smile appearing at the corners of his lips.

"Not hasty or impatient, building up step by step. The Baili Clan... is merely a whetstone for the blade."

He closed his eyes again.

That fishing rod with the baitless straight hook still lay across his knees.

But the radiance on the fishing rod was a few shades brighter than yesterday.

As if saying—

Soon, soon.

...

Imperial Clan Court, dungeon.

Baili Qingyun was locked in a solitary cell, surrounded by cold stone walls, with only a dim oil lamp overhead.

He crouched in the corner, his whole body trembling.

From childhood to adulthood, he had always lived in luxury; when had he ever suffered such a plight?

"Let me out... let me out..." he murmured to himself, his voice carrying a sob.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps came from outside the cell.

Baili Qingyun jerked his head up, hope igniting in his eyes.

"Father? Is it Father coming to save me?"

The one who came was not Baili Yuan.

But a middle-aged man dressed in a green official robe, with a lean face and deep eyes.

The Right Vice-Minister of the Imperial Clan Court, surnamed Wei, named Zheng.

Wei Zheng walked to the front of the cell, looking at Baili Qingyun through the iron bars, and said calmly, "Third Young Master, someone is here to see you."

Baili Qingyun was taken aback. "Who?"

Wei Zheng stepped aside, revealing the person behind him.

It was a young man dressed in black casual clothes, with a handsome face, gentle eyes, and a faint smile on his lips.

Baili Qingyun's pupils constricted suddenly.

"You—you are—"

Xiao Xuan.

Seventh Prince Xiao Xuan.

"Third Young Master, I hope you have been well," Xiao Xuan said with a slight smile.

Baili Qingyun's face turned deathly pale. He took several steps back and hit the wall.

"How... how did you get in? What... what do you want?"

Xiao Xuan didn't answer, he just looked at him quietly.

That gaze was as calm as water, yet it made Baili Qingyun feel cold from head to toe.

"Third Young Master," Xiao Xuan spoke slowly, "when you sent people to assassinate me, did you ever think there would be a day like this?"

Baili Qingyun's lips trembled, but he couldn't say a single word.

Xiao Xuan smiled and turned to leave.

After a few steps, he suddenly stopped and looked back, saying:

"By the way, let me tell you something."

"Your father is out there everywhere, begging people to save you. But what he doesn't know is—"

He paused, his smile deepening.

"Every person he begs, I have people watching them."

Baili Qingyun's pupils constricted, and he collapsed onto the ground.

Xiao Xuan stopped looking at him and strode away.

Wei Zheng followed behind. Once they left the prison, he couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, why did you want to see him?"

Xiao Xuan didn't stop, saying indifferently, "To make him afraid."

"Afraid?"

"When people are afraid, they make mistakes," Xiao Xuan said. "The bigger the mistake he makes, the more passive the Baili Clan becomes."

Wei Zheng looked thoughtful, his gaze toward Xiao Xuan gaining a deeper meaning.

This Seventh Prince... is not simple.

...

Three days later.

Baili Yuan's efforts had yielded no progress.

He went to the residence of Minister of Rites Zhou Yan to beg, but Zhou Yan closed his doors and refused to see him.

He went to the residence of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Minister of the Court of Judicial Review Zheng Zeshi, but Minister of the Court of Judicial Review Zheng Zeshi made excuses about being busy with official business.

He went to the residence of Left Censor-in-Chief Liu Chong, but Liu Chong simply went out of the city for an "inspection."

Finally, he gritted his teeth and sent a petition to request an audience with the Crown Prince.

This time, the Crown Prince met him.

The Eastern Palace, the study.

Baili Yuan knelt before Crown Prince Xiao Jing, tears streaming down his old face.

"Your Highness, I beg you to save Qingyun! He... he is still just a child, he's ignorant and was momentarily confused..."

Crown Prince Xiao Jing sat behind his desk, his expression calm.

"Momentarily confused?" he said indifferently. "Hiring an assassin to kill a prince—can that be explained by being momentarily confused?"

Baili Yuan kowtowed repeatedly. "Your Highness, I beg you to consider the sake of the Secondary Consort..."

"Enough."

Crown Prince Xiao Jing interrupted him, stood up, and walked to the window.

"This Prince can save him."

Baili Yuan was overjoyed. "Thank you, Your Highness!"

"But this Prince has one condition."

"Please speak, Your Highness! As long as it can be done, this old man will not hesitate even at the cost of his life!"

Crown Prince Xiao Jing turned around, his gaze deep.

"From now on, the Baili Clan shall only follow this Prince's orders."

Baili Yuan was stunned.

To only follow orders?

Wouldn't that be... being the Crown Prince's dog?

"What? Unwilling?" Crown Prince Xiao Jing raised an eyebrow.

Baili Yuan gritted his teeth and kowtowed heavily. "This old man is willing!"

Crown Prince Xiao Jing smiled.

"Good. Go back and wait for news."

...

After Baili Yuan left, Xie Duan stepped out from behind the screen.

"Your Highness, are you really going to save Baili Qingyun?"

Crown Prince Xiao Jing shook his head.

"I won't."

Xie Duan was taken aback. "Then Your Highness just now..."

"What this Prince promised was to save him," Crown Prince Xiao Jing said calmly. "But I didn't promise when I would save him."

Xie Duan suddenly understood. "Your Highness intends to..."

"Delay," Crown Prince Xiao Jing said. "The longer we delay, the more the Baili Clan will rely on this Prince. When they completely cannot leave this Prince, only then will I take action."

"Then Baili Qingyun in the prison..."

"Let him stay there," Crown Prince Xiao Jing said. "He won't die."

...

Yongan Ward, Seventh Prince's Mansion.

Underground level.

Zhao Gao reported the news of Baili Yuan seeking an audience with the Crown Prince to Xiao Xuan.

"...Baili Yuan agreed to the Crown Prince's conditions. From now on, the Baili Clan will only follow the Crown Prince's orders."

Xiao Xuan nodded and looked at Strategist Jia Xu.

Jia Xu stroked his beard and said, "The Crown Prince's move is brilliant. He delays without saving, waiting until the Baili Clan is completely desperate before acting. At that time, the Baili Clan will become a dog in his hands."

Xiao Xuan smiled.

"Then let him delay."

He looked at Xiao He. "The ledger can be sent now."

Xiao He nodded. "This official will arrange it immediately."

...

The next day.

An anonymous memorial appeared on the imperial desk.

Inside the memorial was a thick ledger.

The ledger was densely packed with evidence of the Baili Clan's crimes over the years: embezzling military funds, private trafficking of Spirit Medicine, and seizing civilian lands. Every transaction had a time, location, and person in charge; the evidence was as solid as a mountain.

After Emperor Xiao Yuanshan finished reading the ledger, he remained silent for a long time.

Then, he picked up the vermilion brush and wrote two words on the memorial:

"Investigate and Prosecute."

...

When the news spread, the capital was shaken once again.

When Baili Yuan received the imperial decree, he collapsed into his chair, his face ashen.

It was over.

Everything was over.

Embezzling military funds was a capital offense.

Private trafficking of Spirit Medicine was a capital offense.

Seizing civilian lands was also a capital offense.

With all three crimes punished together, confiscating the family property and exterminating the clan would not be an exaggeration.

"Father!" Baili Qingyun's elder brother, Baili Qingfeng, rushed in. "Father, what should we do?"

Baili Yuan looked up, his eyes filled with despair.

"Go... go beg the Crown Prince..."

"The Crown Prince? Will the Crown Prince save us?"

Baili Yuan fell silent.

Indeed, would the Crown Prince save them?

He had just promised to only follow the Crown Prince's orders, and before the Crown Prince even had time to save Baili Qingyun, the Baili Clan had met with a catastrophic disaster.

Would the Crown Prince... still save them?

...

The Eastern Palace.

Crown Prince Xiao Jing looked at the copy of the imperial decree, his face turning livid.

"What a brilliant move to pull the rug out from under me!"

He gritted his teeth and said, "Old Seventh... this Prince underestimated you!"

Xie Duan said cautiously, "Your Highness, about the Baili Clan..."

Crown Prince Xiao Jing took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

"Ignore them."

Xie Duan was stunned. "Ignore them?"

"I can't manage it," Crown Prince Xiao Jing said. "Embezzling military funds—that is Father's reverse scale. Anyone who touches it dies. If this Prince gets involved, even I will be in trouble."

"Then Baili Qingyun..."

"Let him die," Crown Prince Xiao Jing said coldly. "A piece of trash—if he dies, he dies."

...

Three days later.

The Baili Clan's property was confiscated.

Baili Yuan, Baili Qingfeng, and other direct male descendants were all imprisoned, to be executed after autumn.

The female family members were sold into slavery.

The collateral relatives were exiled three thousand miles away.

As for Baili Qingyun—

He was still in the Imperial Clan Court's prison, waiting for the trial of the prince's assassination case.

But no one cared about him anymore.

His father and brother were all going to die.

He himself would not survive either.

...

The Imperial Clan Court prison.

Baili Qingyun huddled in the corner, his eyes hollow, murmuring to himself.

"It's over... everything is over..."

Suddenly, footsteps came from outside the cell.

He snapped his head up and saw a familiar figure.

Xiao Xuan.

Seventh Prince Xiao Xuan.

"You... what are you doing here again?" Baili Qingyun rasped.

Xiao Xuan looked at him quietly, his gaze as calm as water.

"Just came to see you."

Baili Qingyun gave a miserable laugh. "To laugh at me? To see my end? You won! You won, alright!"

Xiao Xuan shook his head.

"I didn't win."

Baili Qingyun was taken aback.

Xiao Xuan said slowly, "Embezzling military funds, private trafficking of Spirit Medicine, seizing civilian lands—these crimes were not made up by me. They were committed by the Baili Clan themselves. I merely sent the evidence to where it needed to go."

He paused and said indifferently, "Your father and your brother—they are dying not because they offended me, but because they broke the law."

Baili Qingyun opened his mouth, but couldn't say a single word.

Xiao Xuan turned and left.

After a few steps, he suddenly stopped and looked back, saying:

"By the way, let me tell you something."

"The day you sent someone to assassinate me, I knew it was you."

"But I didn't expose you immediately."

"Because I was waiting."

Baili Qingyun's pupils constricted. "Waiting for what?"

Xiao Xuan smiled slightly.

"Waiting for your father to do something stupid to save you."

"Waiting for him to run around and offend everyone once over."

"Waiting for him to run out of options and go beg the Crown Prince."

"Waiting for the Crown Prince to abandon you all to save himself."

He paused and said softly:

"And then, I sent that ledger up."

Baili Qingyun collapsed on the ground, his eyes filled with terror.

This person... this person had calculated everything from the very beginning.

His assassination of Xiao Xuan was walking right into a trap.

His father's efforts to beg for help was digging their own grave.

The downfall of their entire family was already destined from the moment they decided to move against Xiao Xuan.

Xiao Xuan looked at him and said indifferently:

"In your next life, remember one sentence."

"Don't provoke people you can't afford to provoke."

He turned and left, never looking back again.

...

Yongan Ward, Seventh Prince's Mansion.

Underground level.

Xiao Xuan stood before the sand table, watching as the marker for the Baili Clan was painted black.

"Your Highness," Jia Xu said with a smile, "the Baili Clan has fallen. The Crown Prince has lost an arm."

Xiao Xuan nodded, his expression calm.

"This is just the beginning."

He turned and gazed in the direction of the Imperial Palace.

That was the direction of the Crown Prince's Mansion.

That was the direction of the Third Prince's Mansion.

There, there were still more people waiting for him.

"Strategist."

"This official is here."

"The next game of chess is about to begin."

A sharp light flashed in Jia Xu's eyes. "Please give your orders, Your Highness."

Xiao Xuan smiled slightly.

"No rush."

He walked to the window and looked toward the south of the city.

"Let's wait first."

Waiting for what?

Jia Xu didn't ask.

But he knew that the person His Highness was waiting for would surely come.