Chapter Forty-Three: Full of Ideas

Out of curiosity, the moment Zhao Yu found the stone, he examined it thoroughly. After his inspection, Zhao Yu reached a startling conclusion: the so-called miraculous stone was artificially created, and the dragon that seemed to appear within was actually something floating in the liquid inside the stone. Even the Emperor Huizong, upon acquiring the stone, was so awed by its wonders that he dared not tamper with it, certainly not turning it over and scrutinizing it as Zhao Yu had.

The stone was oval, about the size of a washbasin, milky white throughout. This allowed one to faintly see something inside. When flipped, gravity caused whatever was hidden within to settle at the bottom, so under normal circumstances, only a dragon-like shape was visible. But Zhao Yu held the stone up to the sunlight and thus noticed faint traces of characters within. After a careful look, he managed to decipher them.

Zhao Yu firmly believed he was not the only one to have seen those characters; the mysterious leader of the Canal Guild and Fang La were likely among them. In this era, possessing such a stone was tantamount to holding a divine mandate, and could be used as justification for rebellion.

Therefore, Zhao Yu was certain that the mysterious Canal Guild leader, like Fang La, harbored ambitious designs.

Zhang Shun left with a head full of doubts. He had no choice, for Zhao Yu had made it clear he would not assist them further. Without Zhao Yu’s help, they were powerless in this unfamiliar capital.

Once Zhang Shun departed, Zhao Yu shared his analysis with Yang Xu and the others. When the stone was found in the palace, both Yang Xu and Lin Chong were present, so they knew Zhao Yu had not informed the Emperor.

"If that's the case, this object truly cannot be allowed to fall into others' hands. But why shouldn't we try to acquire it for ourselves?" Yang Xu’s eyes gleamed with a strange light as he spoke.

Lu Zhishen and Lin Chong were no fools; the meaning of Yang Xu’s words was obvious, so they instinctively turned their gaze to Zhao Yu.

Unconcerned, Zhao Yu shrugged. "You think too much, brothers. This thing does not belong to me. If it truly were mine, it would eventually come to me. Let us focus on the present."

Though Zhao Yu spoke lightly, his words stirred a ripple in their hearts.

Before visiting Liu Wenguang’s residence, Zhao Yu first called on Li Yan. In only two days, Li Yan seemed a changed man; his eyes were sunken, his face drained of color, and but for the rise and fall of his chest, he could have been mistaken for a corpse.

When Zhao Yu arrived, Li Yan wept like a child.

"Your Highness, you must bring justice for this old servant!"

Zhao Yu suppressed a smile and spoke with concern, "I heard Lord Li was ill, so I’ve come to visit. Have you summoned a physician? Is it serious?"

"It’s nothing, Your Highness, but all my life's possessions! Who could be so lacking in virtue as to target me?" At this point, Li Yan's tears flowed unchecked, likely more than he shed for his own father’s death.

After tearfully recounting the theft of his estate, Li Yan pleaded, "Your Highness knows many in the martial world—could you help me investigate? If my property is found, I will richly reward you."

Zhao Yu frowned. "Finding someone to help investigate is not difficult, Lord Li, but first you must recover your spirits so as not to give others an opportunity near the Emperor. Second, recall if you’ve offended anyone—who has the means to steal your entire estate?"

Zhao Yu knew Li Yan had committed many unscrupulous deeds, and there were surely countless who wished him harm. It was a miracle he’d survived this long.

Li Yan seemed aware of this himself, for he had spent days pondering who might have been capable of quietly absconding with all his wealth.

After a moment’s thought, he said to Zhao Yu, "If I’m not mistaken, the thief would not have moved the goods out of the city so quickly, so they should still be here. Please ask your friends in the martial world to investigate who has recently moved large quantities in or out, then we can focus our search."

Indeed, the man’s mind was quick, and he correctly guessed that Zhao Yu had not transported the goods away.

Zhao Yu took Li Yan’s hand, speaking sincerely, "Rest and recover, Lord Li. Leave this matter to me; I will do my utmost to solve it for you."

Though he said so, a mischievous thought suddenly sprang into his mind...

Little did Zhao Yu know, within half a day of his discovery of the miraculous stone, his reputation soared; he was now seen almost as a legendary detective.

News spread that Prince Yi would pay respects to his future father-in-law, and the Liu household was busy from dawn. Floors, windows, gardens, servants’ attire—everything was renewed, and fresh ingredients poured into the kitchen.

Unlike the household’s anxious preparations, Liu Wenguang’s study remained silent.

Across from him sat his brother Liu Wenqing, their faces devoid of any joy, as if disaster loomed.

"Brother, Lian’er’s illness grows worse. She may not live to see her wedding. Though Prince Yi is not the most favored, he is beloved by the Empress. Are we not deceiving the sovereign?"

"What else can we do? Without this desperate measure, the entire Liu family would be ruined. Though we have offended His Majesty, as long as we endure, there is always hope for redemption."

"You must have heard—Prince Yi found the Emperor’s lost stone in less than a day. It shows this young prince is not easily fooled. If he insists on seeing Lian’er, what then?"

"That is not a concern. Before the wedding, as a prince, he would not request something so improper. What worries me is if Prince Yi is truly astute, he may investigate Lian’er’s condition beforehand. If he raises a fuss, that would spell true disaster."

"Brother, I have an idea. When Prince Yi arrives, we should try to intoxicate him, then bring him to the rear courtyard..." Liu Wenqing trailed off, but his furtive glance revealed his intentions.

Liu Wenguang pondered for a moment, then nodded solemnly. "It seems this is our only option."

Much as Zhao Yu had deduced, when Liu Wenguang served as the Left Assistant Minister of Revenue, he had embezzled and misappropriated state funds on a grand scale. He believed his schemes airtight, but recently learned that a censor had begun impeachment proceedings.

Upon hearing the court would investigate him, Liu Wenguang was nearly frightened out of his wits.

At that moment, a wise adviser counseled him: as long as he forged ties with the royal family, their honor would prevent them from taking action against him.

Just then, the Emperor ordered him to serve as the Governor of Hedong and Administrator of Taiyuan—appointments he had bought from Liang Shicheng for a hefty sum.

To save himself, Liu Wenguang decided to risk everything, first securing a marriage alliance with the royal family. It so happened that Zhou Jinglong had withdrawn from his betrothal, and the unfortunate Prince Yi was of similar age to his daughter, making the match possible.

But Liu Wenguang never imagined that Zhao Yu had already investigated his family thoroughly, and his acceptance of the marriage proposal, like Liu Wenguang’s, was driven by ulterior motives...