Chapter Six: A Grave Accusation

During the Northern Song Dynasty, due to its unique geographical position, Kaifeng was known as the foremost prefecture under heaven, and its highest official was the Prefect of Kaifeng. This position was no ordinary office, nor was it something any official could assume, unlike the heads of other prefectures. Typically, only the most trusted ministers of the emperor were appointed, in order to underline the significance of Kaifeng. Even Emperor Taizong, Zhao Kuangyi, once held this esteemed post.

Zhao Kuangyi was undoubtedly a man of great capability, a doer who, in the end, managed to secure his elder brother’s empire—surely, that attests to his competence!

At present, the Prefect of Kaifeng is Cai Jing. Yet, Cai Jing is plagued by ill health, his severe nearsightedness rendering him all but blind—how could he possibly spare the energy to deal with the trifles of the prefecture?

Thus, the real authority over Kaifeng Prefecture now rests with the Deputy Prefect, Liu Xiantang, one of Cai Jing’s most loyal cronies.

Ever since the incident in which High Commander Gao’s son was crippled, Liu Xiantang had not slept a wink through the night. Now, he was like a turtle in an oven—suffocating and simmering with pent-up fury.

With Gao Qiu pressing from above and the constables failing below, he knew full well that if he could not apprehend that notorious outlaw, Little Yu, even Cai Jing’s protection would not save his position. After all, everyone knew Gao Qiu was an intimate companion of Emperor Huizong, his influence rivaling even Cai Jing’s.

Having just driven off a group of constables empty-handed, he was sitting in the main hall, seething and eager to vent his wrath on someone, when a yamen runner came scrambling in, half tumbling to the floor.

Liu Xiantang, red-eyed from his sleepless night, was in no mood for such clumsiness. He glared daggers at the runner, about to explode.

“M-my lord, the—the outlaw Little Yu has come to turn himself in!”

Before Liu Xiantang could unleash his fury, the runner hurriedly blurted out his report, panting for breath.

Liu Xiantang thought he must have misheard. He sprang to his feet and was about to demand the runner repeat himself when yet another yamen runner came charging in.

“Report! My lord, His Highness Prince Yi and Lord Li from the Inner Palace have arrived at the prefectural office. Lord Li orders you to attend at once to receive Prince Yi.”

Upon hearing this, Liu Xiantang was momentarily stunned—was he dreaming?

First, the notorious outlaw comes to surrender; then, Prince Yi and Li Yan arrive together. Could it be that the outlaw was captured by Prince Yi and Li Yan?

No time to ponder—whether the outlaw had been caught, or Prince Yi and Li Yan had personally come, both were reasons enough for him, as Deputy Prefect, to greet them himself.

Zhao Yu customarily avoided dealings with court officials, so many did not recognize this Prince Yi, including Liu Xiantang. Otherwise, he would have recognized him from the wanted poster long ago.

He strode quickly outside. From a distance, he saw Zhao Yu standing at the foot of the prefectural steps and immediately understood why the runner had spoken as he did—wasn’t that the very image of the outlaw in the drawing?

Oh, this was bad! He recalled that Prince Yi’s name was Zhao Yu, and the wanted notice listed the outlaw’s name as Little Yu. The resemblance between the two was unmistakable...

These thoughts flashed through Liu Xiantang’s mind, but he dared not dwell on them. Anyone with sense could guess why Prince Yi and Lord Li had come.

“I was unaware of Your Highness Prince Yi and Lord Li’s arrival. Forgive me for not greeting you sooner.”

Prince Yi was approachable enough, but Li Yan carried himself with a haughty arrogance that set Liu Xiantang on edge—clearly, today’s affair would not be resolved easily.

“Lord Liu, such authority you wield! To dare place Prince Yi’s portrait on a most-wanted notice—His Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress have sent me to ask: is Kaifeng Prefecture still an office of the Grand Song, or do you, Lord Liu, harbor some grievance against the Royal Family?”

As he spoke, Li Yan even offered a ceremonial bow toward the palace, making his point unmistakably.

Such a charge was a heavy one indeed—this was intimidation cloaked in imperial authority, the very embodiment of “foxes flaunting the might of the tiger.” Only by invoking the emperor could such officials be cowed into obedience.

Sure enough, cold sweat streamed down Liu Xiantang’s back. At that moment, he dearly wished he could strangle the portrait artist, though such regrets now were pointless.

Zhao Yu, however, was tactful. With so many onlookers outside the prefecture, Li Yan’s theatrical display had already served its intended purpose.

He smiled calmly. “Gentlemen, this is hardly the place for conversation. Let us speak inside.”

The commotion outside had drawn a crowd. The people’s love of a spectacle was well known, but as the outlaw had dealt with High Commander Gao’s son, many had arrived out of admiration.

“Yes, yes! It was remiss of me. Your Highness, Lord Li, please, this way!”

Now fully aware of the situation, Liu Xiantang cast a grateful glance at Zhao Yu. What a noble prince! That wretched eunuch, even if reborn ten thousand times, could not compare...

With so many eyes outside, if he were accused of disrespecting the royal family, he would be finished.

As Zhao Yu and Li Yan were ushered inside, the crowd outside gradually dispersed. Yet, it was certain that the scene just witnessed outside the Kaifeng Prefecture would spread through the city in no time...

Not far away, beneath the eaves by the street, two figures watched Zhao Yu’s retreating back with keen interest.

One was a burly, fierce-looking monk sporting a full beard and a chest bared to reveal a hand’s width of protective hair—enough to intimidate any onlooker. His arms and neck were covered in tattoos.

The other, though far more refined in appearance, had the back of an ape and a wasp-like waist, radiating an inexhaustible strength—clearly a martial artist of great skill. With sword-like brows, star-bright eyes, straight nose, and square mouth, he was, in truth, a strikingly handsome man.

Together, they made an odd pair—one like a raging beast, the other the very image of a genteel gentleman.

“How strange, how bizarre! How is it that His Highness, Prince Yi, so closely resembles a notorious outlaw?”

“What’s so strange? There are plenty of people in this world who look alike. Good thing he’s a prince—otherwise, just for dealing with that little scoundrel Gao, I’d be the first to break him out of jail.”

“Haha! Brother, even after becoming a monk, your temper still burns so hot? The law of the land is the law of the land, the rules of the home are the rules of the home. Even a prince cannot escape punishment if he breaks the law.”

“You! You’re fine in every respect, but you’re too stubbornly principled. Enough talk—my throat’s dry. Come, let’s have a drink!”

“Brother, isn’t it a bit early?”

The handsome man tried to protest, but the great monk dragged him off without further ado.

Not far away, a girl dressed in the traditional garb of the Khitan watched the spectacle. She had overheard the two men’s exchange.

She was about fourteen or fifteen, with luminous eyes and pearly teeth—a true beauty in the making. Yet, beneath her loveliness was a wildness not found in girls from the Central Plains. Her eyes sparkled like the morning star, brimming with spirit—clearly, she was no ordinary child.

She cast a glance at the departing figures of the monk and the handsome man, then looked back at the prefectural office, her eyes reflecting thoughtful contemplation...