Chapter 251
Ye Chutang and Qi Yanzhou returned to the inn just after the hour of the Pig.
Most people had already retired for the night.
Han Chong was sitting in the main hall. When he saw the two of them return, he immediately rose to his feet.
“Are you two all right?”
He had already heard about what happened at Jing'an Temple and was deeply regretful that he had failed to send anyone to protect them.
Qi Yanzhou patted Han Chong on the shoulder and said with a smile, “Don't worry. They were just a few petty thieves.”
He had been the one who insisted on going without anyone else, simply because he wanted some time alone with Ye Chutang.
After confirming that neither of them was injured, Han Chong let out a sigh of relief.
“Prince Yong is courting death. What do you plan to do?”
Qi Yanzhou poured Ye Chutang a cup of water, then poured one for himself.
“Since he wants to die, I'll send him all the way to the grave!”
Seeing that Qi Yanzhou already had a plan, Han Chong did not ask any further questions.
“There’s hot water in the kitchen. I’ll head upstairs first.”
Qi Yanzhou turned to Ye Chutang. “Atang, you go upstairs first. I’ll bring hot water up for you in a while.”
Ye Chutang finished the water in her cup and yawned.
“No need to go to so much trouble. I’ll just rinse off with warm water.”
Taking a bath in a wooden tub would require at least four buckets of water to be carried back and forth. Not only was that troublesome, it could easily disturb the other guests.
“All right. Sit here for a moment. I’ll go upstairs and get you a change of clothes.”
Ye Chutang called out to Qi Yanzhou as he headed upstairs.
“You don’t know what I want to wear. Just bring the bundle down.”
She needed to conceal the fact that she was using shower gel and shampoo; otherwise, it would be too easy for her secret to be exposed.
Qi Yanzhou did not think much of it and answered, “All right.”
By the time he brought the clothes downstairs, Ye Chutang had already mixed the water to the perfect temperature.
He handed her the bundle, then placed a lamp in the washroom and carried two buckets of water inside.
“Go ahead and wash. Take your time. I’ll keep watch outside.”
Ye Chutang took the bundle into the washroom.
The room was small, with bluestone slabs covering the floor. There were gaps between the slabs, and beneath them lay a layer of gravel to help the water drain away.
She washed her hair and bathed, spending nearly half an hour in all.
When she emerged from the washroom, a refreshing fragrance from her bath products clung to her skin.
Qi Yanzhou came forward with a cloth he had prepared earlier and began wringing out her hair for her.
The rich fragrance wafted toward him.
“Atang, did you make the soap you use to wash your hair yourself as well?”
Ye Chutang had previously given Qi He'an a bar of essential-oil soap made with mugwort, so Qi Yanzhou knew about it.
She nodded. “Yes. If you like it, I’ll make some for you when we reach Tianshan Commandery.”
“All right. I’ll help you make it.”
“You go wash. I’ll head back to the room first.”
With that, Ye Chutang took the cloth from Qi Yanzhou’s hands, slung the bundle over her arm, and left the rear courtyard.
Back in the room, she used a dry towel to wring out her hair.
By the time Qi Yanzhou finished rinsing off and returned, her hair was almost dry.
She sat by the window, letting the night breeze carry away the last traces of dampness from her hair.
“The governor’s residence is over there, isn’t it?”
Qi Yanzhou followed the direction of her finger.
“Yes. It’s just blocked by the teahouse. Do you want to take a look?”
The prefectural office was probably quite lively at this hour.
Ye Chutang had been rather sleepy before, but after bathing, the drowsiness had disappeared.
“I can’t sleep. I want to go see what’s happening.”
“Then let’s take a trip over.”
After saying this, Qi Yanzhou used his inner power to dry his hair halfway, then put on his outer robe.
Ye Chutang changed as well and pinned her hair up with a hairpin.
The two of them left through the window.
The streets were still lively, though there were noticeably fewer people than before.
It took three streets to get from the inn to the prefectural office.
With their swift steps, Qi Yanzhou and Ye Chutang arrived at the gate of the governor’s residence after the time it took an incense stick to burn.
The constable standing guard recognized them and hurried forward.
“Young Master Qi, Madam Qi, have you come because of the assassination attempt at Jing'an Temple?”
Qi Yanzhou put on a stern expression and nodded gravely.
“Yes. How is the investigation progressing?”
The constable quickly gestured for them to enter. “The governor is interrogating the suspects. Please, come inside.”
As he spoke, he exchanged a meaningful glance with his fellow constable.
The other man immediately went to the courtroom to deliver the news.
Governor Kong had not expected Qi Yanzhou and Ye Chutang to come at such a late hour.
He said to his aide, “Have Governor Liu and General Zhang come to the courtroom.”
The two men had originally been discussing how to use Qi Yanzhou to deal with Prince Yong in the rear hall with Governor Kong.
They had not yet reached a conclusion when the warrior monks from Jing'an Temple delivered the assassins to them.
They had also made it clear that the mastermind behind the plot was Princess Consort Yong.
Such a perfect opportunity had fallen into his lap, and Governor Kong naturally had no intention of letting it slip away.
He was conducting the interrogation in the courtroom while leaving Governor Liu and General Zhang in the rear hall to continue discussing their strategy.
By the time Qi Yanzhou and Ye Chutang arrived in the courtroom, Governor Liu and General Zhang had arrived as well.
Governor Kong explained the progress of the interrogation.
“Young Master Qi, I’ve already obtained the prisoners’ confessions. I was just about to go to the Yuan residence to arrest the culprits.”
Although the prisoners had stated that Princess Consort Yong was the mastermind behind the plot, the people who had paid them were members of Princess Consort Yong’s maternal family.
They first had to arrest the Yuan family members before they could implicate the Prince Yong’s residence!
Qi Yanzhou looked at the men kneeling in the courtroom and said, “Prefect Kong, send someone to invite Princess Consort Yong over as well.”
His words gave Governor Kong the confidence he needed.
He ordered the constables, “Go to Prince Yong’s residence and bring Princess Consort Yong here.”
“Yes, my lord.”
After the constables left to arrest the members of the Yuan family and Princess Consort Yong, Governor Kong ordered the prisoners to be taken to the cells for safekeeping.
He then had someone bring over a table and five chairs.
“Young Master Qi, Madam Qi, Governor Liu, General Zhang, please take a seat.”
The five of them sat down.
The aide immediately served tea.
Governor Kong waved to the constables in the courtroom. “All of you, go stand at the gate. If the Yuan family members or Princess Consort Yong arrive, report it at once.”
“Yes, my lord!”
The constables filed out one after another and went to stand at the gate of the governor’s residence.
The spacious courtroom suddenly seemed incredibly empty.
Governor Kong got straight to the point and asked Qi Yanzhou, “Young Master Qi, are you planning to deal with Prince Yong?”
Qi Yanzhou answered with a question of his own. “What about you, Prefect Kong?”
“It’s not just me. Governor Liu and General Zhang both want to drive Prince Yong out of Ji Province!”
“I’ve read the memorials you sent to the imperial court. If the emperor is unwilling to concern himself with the matter, then I will.”
His words were like a calming pill, putting the three high-ranking officials responsible for governing Ji Province at ease.
They rose and bowed to Qi Yanzhou.
“Young Master Qi, you are acting for the good of the people. On behalf of the people of Ji Province, we thank you in advance!”
“As long as you have evidence that Prince Yong’s residence has disregarded the law, I can strip him of his authority and restore peace to Ji Province.”
At these words, Governor Kong looked excitedly toward his aide.
“Go and bring me all the evidence I’ve collected over the years of Prince Yong’s residence embezzling funds and violating the law. Let Young Master Qi take a look.”
“Please wait a moment, my lord. I’ll be back shortly.”
The aide soon returned, carrying a thick stack of evidence.
Governor Kong took it with a solemn expression, then respectfully handed it to Qi Yanzhou.
“Young Master Qi, every sheet records a separate crime. The witnesses and material evidence are all clearly documented and can withstand scrutiny. Most of these crimes were committed by Prince Yong’s heir.”