Sweat beaded on Luo Weiran's forehead; he felt this year's Changchun Garden was hotter than ever before.
The Emperor sat cross-legged on the earthen bed, reviewing memorials. Luo Weiran stood to the side, but didn't raise a hand to wipe away the annoying beads of sweat. The Emperor's expression didn't seem angry, but Luo Weiran knew that this supreme ruler rarely showed his emotions.
He knew why the Emperor had summoned him; he was the one who had consistently maintained that Fang Jie was innocent. Of those around the Emperor, apart from the eunuch Su Buwei, who never voiced his opinions, everyone else had more or less doubted Fang Jie's origins. Only he had never believed that Fang Jie would do anything detrimental to the Sui Dynasty. In other words, he didn't believe Fang Jie was a member of the Buddhist sect.
Because he believed in Prince Yang Qi.
He knew how much Prince Yang Qi hated the Buddhist sect. If Fang Jie were truly that so-called Buddhist disciple, he would have been a pile of minced meat under the Prince's control back in Fan Gu.
The Emperor trusted Prince Yang Qi, yet he also doubted everyone except Prince Yang Qi and Dean Zhou.
It sounds contradictory, but the Emperor was not confused.
Indeed, Fang Jie had received favors from Prince Yang Qi while in Fan Gu. For a time, the Emperor firmly believed that Fang Jie was the only heir of the Seventh Prince. However, this heir's appearance was too sudden. Moreover, this heir was indeed worthy of suspicion. Long ago, the Emperor secretly sent people to investigate Fang Jie's background. Luo Weiran's answer was that he could be trusted. Hou Wenji's answer was more conservative: he could be doubted.
The latter was clearly more cautious.
"Trustworthy" and "doubtful" both sound uncertain, but they represent two completely different attitudes. Luo Weiran and Prince Yang Qi had connections and a history, even being quite close. Hou Wenji was promoted to the position of Commander of the Intelligence Bureau after the Emperor ascended the throne; he was suspicious of everyone except the Emperor, including Luo Weiran and Dean Zhou.
It was precisely because of this that Hou Wenji gained the Emperor's trust.
But as I said before, apart from Prince Zhong, Yang Qi, and Dean Zhou, His Majesty's trust in anyone isn't absolute. Therefore, Fang Jie seems destined for this calamity.
"I remember, the answer you gave me a while ago was that he could be trusted."
The Emperor didn't look up, his tone calm.
Luo Weiran bowed and said, "I still say that."
This seemed to pique the Emperor's interest. He put down his writing brush, glanced at Luo Weiran, and said simply, "Reason?"
Luo Weiran carefully chose his words, trying to make them simple yet effective: "After Dean Zhou raised doubts about Fang Jie's constitution, I did indeed have my doubts. And without a doubt, his constitution is very similar to the rumored Buddhist disciple. But… I haven't met the Buddhist disciple, so I dare not make a definitive statement. Many people have said Fang Jie is a clever man, and I have said so too. Because of this, I really can't understand why such a clever man would travel thousands of miles to Chang'an to die."
"What I want is not your defense of him, but the truth."
The Emperor leaned back, swaying his neck back and forth. "You are the Commander of the Imperial Guards. Logically, you shouldn't have such absolute trust in anyone. And precisely because you are the Commander of the Imperial Guards, logically I should believe you… But, don't I understand the reasoning you gave earlier? No one can be certain that Fang Jie is not a disciple of Buddhism, and who can be certain that Fang Jie isn't?"
"I want this answer, which is why I secretly sent you to investigate. I gave Fang Jie the honor he could never attain through his own abilities. Do you think I wanted to destroy this miracle with my own hands? I remember not long ago I was still talking to you…" "As I've said before, Emperor Taizong promoted Li Xiao, my grandfather Emperor Zhenzong promoted Huai Qiugong, and I also want to promote a model… This model won't be a fleeting phenomenon; my intention is for him to shine for a lifetime."
"But Dean Zhou has raised questions, and I cannot ignore them."
Luo Weiran lowered his head and said, "I dare not ignore Dean Zhou's questions."
"This time, the Martial Arts Academy's operation was somewhat unsuccessful; three students died… This was something I didn't anticipate. The reason Mo Wanwu brought Fang Jie into Half-Moon Mountain alone was to avoid involving the other students. But unexpectedly, it wasn't Fang Jie who attracted that Buddhist sect member, but those students."
Luo Weiran said while organizing his thoughts. "If Fang Jie is truly a disciple of the Buddhist sect, then why would the Buddhist sect kill those students? Logically, they should have seen Fang Jie first, yet they killed Mo Wanwu. Even more perplexing is that the young monk tried to kill Fang Jie more than once, yet ultimately died at Fang Jie's hands. If they were from the same sect, why is that?"
The Emperor pondered for a moment and asked, "But Li Nan told me that the old monk, so-called 'wise one,' captured Fang Jie that day. If he had wanted to kill Fang Jie, no one could have saved him. But the old monk didn't kill him. Why?"
Luo Weiran said, "Precisely because of this, I am even more convinced that Fang Jie is innocent."
"Speak,"
The Emperor waved his hand and said.
"If Fang Jie came to Chang'an with a mission from the Buddhist sect for reasons unknown, what would he need most?"
Luo Weiran replied, "Safety, and the best way to conceal his identity. But clearly, Fang Jie never hid his unusual physical condition from the beginning. If this is the most obvious characteristic of a Buddhist disciple, why didn't he conceal it? Also, the old monk Zhihui captured Fang Jie but didn't kill him. If Li Nan finds this suspicious, then I believe something even more suspicious!"
"If Fang Jie is truly a Buddhist disciple, and given his status as one of the two Heavenly Venerables of the Buddhist sect, wouldn't Zhihui know? If he did know, why didn't he capture someone else but Fang Jie?" "Arresting him but not killing him, isn't that suspicious? If Fang Jie is truly a Buddhist disciple, then Zhihui's actions betray him!"
"I've considered all of this."
The Emperor got off the earthen bed, stretched, and sighed softly. "But can you deny that only after Fang Jie arrived in Chang'an did the Buddhists come? In the hundred years since the Sui Dynasty was founded, no Buddhist has ever dared to be so presumptuous! If you say this has nothing to do with Fang Jie, how can I believe you? I'll say it again, I don't want any speculation, I want the truth."
As he spoke, he stretched, perhaps unaware that these movements were taught to him by Fang Jie.
Seeing the Emperor's unintentional actions, Luo Weiran felt a surge of joy.
Fang Jie won't die!
...
...
The Imperial Guards.
The chains binding Fang Jie had been removed, and leaving the cold stone bed made him feel a little more comfortable. The pain in his right arm and chest had lessened considerably; at least he no longer broke out in a sweat at the slightest touch. Fang Jie, after leaving the stone bed, was strangely calm. He didn't shout, curse, struggle, or resist. He even seemed quite interested in carefully examining all the torture instruments hanging on the walls of the stone chamber.
He even took down one and studied how to use it. He brandished the nail-removing pliers in his hand, even grinning as he did so.
Therefore, when Qiu Yu entered the stone chamber and saw Fang Jie, she couldn't help but be surprised. Even she was somewhat puzzled; in such an environment, after such a sudden change, how could this young man still remain so calm? He even seemed relaxed, showing no sign of worry about his life or death.
"Sir, you've arrived."
Fang Jie greeted Qiu Yu with a smile, which only intensified the guilt in Qiu Yu's eyes.
"I'm sorry..."
She uttered three words and couldn't speak further, nor dared to look Fang Jie in the eye. She lowered her head, looking as if she were the child who had done wrong.
"When we were eating six-gilled fish by Crescent Lake on Half-Moon Mountain, Mo Wanwu told me some stories about you. Because of his account, I have a general impression of you—how to put it… a formidable genius? Although he wouldn't elaborate, I can deduce that your identity at the Martial Arts Academy is definitely special."
Fang Jie smiled and said, "But your appearance today doesn't match my impression…"
He sat down on the stone bed, pointed to the chair in front of him, and said, "This is a humble abode; I'll be the bed, you sit in the chair. There's no tea, though. Should I ask them to bring some?"
"Fang Jie."
"Hmm?"
Qiu Yu looked up. "Head," Qiu Yu asked after a moment of silence, "You don't hate me?"
Fang Jie smiled and shook his head. "How could I not hate you? But I don't hate you, because I thought about it for a long time before I was certain that this matter had absolutely nothing to do with you. If it did, it was because you gave Dean Zhou a very honest answer after your research on my physique. It wasn't your fault, because you simply didn't lie. I don't hate Dean Zhou either. If I were in his position, I'm afraid I would have acted even more directly. I don't even hate His Majesty, for the same reason: thinking from their perspective, I seem really suspicious… suspicious, and deserve to die."
"Then what do you hate?"
Qiu Yu asked.
"I hate myself."
Fang Jie said earnestly, "I always thought I was a smart guy. Everyone I met would say, 'Fang Jie, you're a smart person.' Hearing it so often, even I became a little arrogant. If it weren't for this incident, I would never have realized how stupid I actually was. Spending too much time in a comfortable environment, I forgot I should maintain even the most basic vigilance towards the outside world. My hatred lies in my own stupidity, that's it."
"Just before you came, a man named Meng Wudi talked to me for a long time. I'm very grateful that he didn't use torture, although I know that not using torture is not something he has the authority to order. He told me that my current crime is suspected of being a Buddhist disciple… I'm also very grateful that he was very sincere and didn't hide anything. The only thing that bothers me is that this crime sounds very serious, but I don't understand it at all."
"Fang Jie… this isn't your fault."
Qiu Yu's nose tingled, and her heart felt heavy. Fang Jie said, "No, it's my fault."
He glanced at the instruments of torture and said calmly, "If I had more experience, I would know how dangerous it is to easily show off one's uniqueness, rather than something to boast about. I got nine excellent grades in the Martial Arts Academy's exams, which wasn't the beginning of my foolishness, but it's the root of the current situation. If I were just an ordinary student, Dean Zhou wouldn't have been interested in my physique, and then… I should still be sitting in a bright classroom at the Martial Arts Academy, listening to your lecture." "Not here… so dark and cold."
Fang Jie pointed around, finally fixing his finger on the oil lamp: "That's the only light, but it offers no warmth."
"I believe you!"
Qiu Yu looked at Fang Jie and said firmly, "If you were a member of the Buddhist sect, then you would have come all the way to Chang'an to commit suicide. I don't think you're that kind of idiot, nor do I think any Buddhist disciple would be that kind of idiot, so I believe you, I've believed you from the beginning until now."
"Thank you."
Fang Jie got off the stone bed and bowed deeply to Qiu Yu.
"Besides thank you, that's all."
He said.
His indifferent tone made Qiu Yu's heart ache. He said thank you, but where was the meaning in his words? He seemed calm, but anyone who remained calm in such a situation was the most worrying, because calmness in prison often meant a dead heart.
Fang Jie was a very cheerful young man, sometimes annoyingly talkative. But he was always happy, that's what Qiu Yu saw in Fang Jie's eyes. But now, that thing is gone. So Qiu Yu was a little scared. She didn't know if Fang Jie, if he miraculously survived this time, would still be the Fang Jie she remembered?
"I'll take you out!"
Qiu Yu gritted her teeth: "To see His Majesty!"
Pfft!
Fang Jie couldn't help but laugh, looking at Qiu Yu seriously and asking, "Sir, can you stop being an idiot?"