Chapter 33: The News Spreads, Li Shimin’s Surprise

Liu Shuyi’s voice faded away, yet no one else spoke afterward.

Cheng Chumo, with his stern face, was utterly dumbfounded, completely stunned by Liu Shuyi’s words. At that moment, it felt as if he were dreaming, the reality too surreal to grasp.

After all, he had never even dared to imagine, even in dreams, that the corpse they had been searching for over ten days was never lost here in the first place!

No wonder that after discovering the corpse missing, they had immediately set up an impenetrable net, yet found no suspects, no trace of the corpse…

The corpse wasn’t lost at that time; it had been missing for as long as a month. No matter how meticulously they had laid their trap back then, what use was it?

Du Gou, gentle and refined, whose warm eyes now churned like a raging storm, his expression shifting constantly, revealing the turmoil within.

His father was one of the chief investigators, so Du Gou was more deeply involved in the case than Cheng Chumo, more steadfast in believing the judgments of Du Ruhui and others.

Therefore, when Liu Shuyi directly overturned all their previous assumptions with facts, decisively dismantling their entire judgment…

He felt suffocated, as if his very understanding of life was shattering and reconstructing.

Zhao Feng, who had just followed Liu Shuyi, was not only shocked but also filled with admiration and respect.

Originally, he was grateful to Liu Shuyi out of kindness.

But now, he was even more in awe of Liu Shuyi’s abilities.

He had once been ambitious and had seen many talented young men, yet none had ever struck him with such overwhelming impact as Liu Shuyi did.

Liu Shuyi’s gaze swept over the three men. Seeing they remained silent, he took the initiative to continue speaking: “If my speculation is correct, even if this disappearance of the corpse is an accident…”

At the sound of Liu Shuyi’s voice, everyone quickly steadied their restless hearts and instinctively looked at him.

Liu Shuyi said, “From the cracks in the stone gate and the blood-written words on the coffin, it’s clear…”

“The disappearance of the Prince Xi’s corpse is still a vast conspiracy!”

“Moreover, the conspirators began plotting this scheme long before the blizzard night we know of!”

“They have been acting for a long time!”

Those words sent a chill through the three men, whose minds were already shaken, causing their scalps to tingle.

Liu Shuyi explained, “As Du Siren said, the stone gate is extremely sturdy and thick. Under normal circumstances, with such an earthquake, it shouldn’t have cracked. Yet it did, proving that the thieves tampered with the stone gate when no one was aware, making it appear solid while hiding a fatal flaw.”

“They did this undoubtedly so that one day, when the gate failed, it would attract people into the tomb to see…”

He lowered his head, staring intently at the frozen coffin before them, his voice grave: “...the blood-written words on the coffin, revealing the disappearance of Prince Xi’s corpse, thereby accomplishing their sinister plot.”

Listening to Liu Shuyi, Cheng Chumo felt a chill surge from the soles of his feet to his crown, causing him to shiver involuntarily.

He could not help but say, “Isn’t this even worse than the current situation?”

“The thief’s conspiracy could have begun at any time. If we only discover it now, and they have already succeeded, isn’t it too late to do anything?”

Zhao Feng nodded solemnly in agreement.

This was his first time participating in a matter of such high stakes, and hearing their words made him tremble all over.

Unexpectedly, Liu Shuyi responded to Cheng Chumo’s worried words, “It could be worse, but it also might be a good thing.”

“What?” Cheng Chumo was startled. “A good thing?”

The three men stared intently at Liu Shuyi.

Liu Shuyi smiled, his expression far less tense than theirs.

He said, “Don’t forget what I just said: we cannot predict the earthquake, and neither can the thieves! So, the tomb collapse and the exposure of the blood-written words were completely unforeseen accidents for them.”

“An accident means we discovered the disappearance of Prince Xi’s corpse at a time they did not intend!”

“If everything had gone according to their plan, we would still be in the dark, allowing them to plot in secret until they deemed the time right to reveal the disappearance, using it to achieve their nefarious purpose.”

“But now the situation is different.”

Liu Shuyi looked thoughtfully at the three men: “Because of the earthquake, we discovered the disappearance ahead of schedule! Whether or not we can reclaim the corpse, His Majesty and Duke Du will certainly take action, which means their secret plan cannot proceed smoothly as before.”

“After all, being prepared versus unprepared in the face of the same crisis yields very different outcomes.”

“So, General Cheng…”

Liu Shuyi turned to Cheng Chumo, “Do you think this counts as a good thing?”

Cheng Chumo scratched his head and nodded: “Now that you put it that way, it really does seem like a good thing!”

Zhao Feng also exhaled in relief.

Liu Shuyi smiled again and added, “However, the situation could also be as bad as you said.”

Cheng Chumo was startled once more.

Liu Shuyi continued, “Because we don’t know the thief’s original plan—when they intended for us to discover the disappearance. If their planned time was these very days, then it means…”

His gaze darkened, his tone deepened, chilling the listeners’ souls: “The thieves have already completed their scheming in secret, and we only learned of it now—too late.”

“What do we do then?” Cheng Chumo felt his heart jump wildly, unsure whether to relax or grow more anxious.

Du Gou remained calm and composed, carefully pondering Liu Shuyi’s words. Suddenly, it seemed he understood something.

He looked at Liu Shuyi and said, “You mean we should split into two groups—one continuing to investigate the case, to find the thieves and uncover their conspiracy as quickly as possible; the other immediately reporting to His Majesty, so he knows the conspiracy has been ongoing for at least a month and can prepare and respond, lest the thieves strike when the moment is ripe and we are utterly helpless?”

Liu Shuyi smiled and nodded: “As Deputy Du said, we cannot be sure whether the situation is more dangerous or safer. Thus, the only course is to uncover the truth swiftly while preparing for the worst.”

Of course, there was one point he didn’t mention: alerting Emperor Taizong to the severity of the situation would elevate Liu Shuyi’s standing and reputation when the case was eventually solved.

After all, a case born of imperial wrath and one involving a long-conceived conspiracy that might destabilize the throne are entirely different in significance.

***

“This is a grave matter that brooks no delay.”

Liu Shuyi wasted no time and said, “Deputy Du, immediately instruct someone to relay my deductions to Minister Du. Minister Du is wise and decisive; once he knows, he will see His Majesty at once.”

Upon hearing this, Du Gou nodded immediately: “Very well, I will send someone posthaste to Chang’an.”

With that, he hurriedly left the underground palace.

“What about us?” Cheng Chumo asked as he watched Du Gou’s figure vanish.

Liu Shuyi’s gaze swept over the collapsed tomb chamber, finally resting on the black coffin before them.

He said, “The corpse did not disappear here, so there’s no need to waste time.”

“General Cheng, have the coffin moved.”

“Move the coffin?” Cheng Chumo was startled. They had searched for over ten days and dared not touch the coffin for fear of disturbing evidence.

Yet Liu Shuyi now ordered its removal.

But reflecting on the fact that the corpse was not lost here, moving the coffin would hardly destroy any clues.

He nodded quickly: “Very well, but… where to move it? The Ministry of Justice?”

Liu Shuyi shook his head, eyes deep and inscrutable: “To the Ministry of Public Works.”

***

At the Taiji Palace, in the Two Phenomena Hall.

Clad in the imperial dragon robe, with a resolute and extraordinary countenance, Emperor Taizong sat upon the dragon throne.

His gaze fell on the newly arrived Minister of Public Works, Pei Ji, his expression warm as he smiled: “Last night at dinner, Father said it had been a long time since he last saw Minister Pei and missed him somewhat. I was about to send someone to fetch you to accompany Father, but before my men could set off, you arrived.”

Pei Ji, dressed in a crimson robe, immediately showed a look of anxiety and guilt: “It is my fault for being preoccupied with investigating the disappearance of Prince Xi’s corpse these days and neglecting to pay respects to the retired emperor. This is my responsibility, and I beg Your Majesty’s punishment.”

Emperor Taizong smiled and shook his head: “Minister Pei serves the state affairs, so I understand. But you were once Father’s most trusted minister. Now that Father is old, you should visit him more often.”

Though Taizong’s voice was gentle and his expression kind, Pei Ji suddenly grew wary.

He could not understand why Taizong was suddenly bringing up the relationship between Li Yuan and himself. Was Li Yuan truly often mentioned before Taizong, or was this a test?

One thing he knew for sure: he must not appear too close to the former emperor Li Yuan.

This would be a grave mistake for a minister.

Whether Taizong was truly filial or not, Pei Ji must not show the slightest familiarity with Li Yuan.

Though his thoughts churned, his face remained composed. He respectfully said, “I know I should pay respects to the retired emperor, but entrusted with the heavy responsibility of Minister of Public Works by Your Majesty, I dare not slacken. I wish I could work twelve hours a day to relieve Your Majesty’s burdens, to be at the office day and night. Thus, I have been somewhat remiss in visiting the retired emperor.”

“But Your Majesty’s reminder is well taken. I shall visit the retired emperor soon, and in future, after aiding Your Majesty, I will visit whenever time allows.”

His implication was clear: the only reason he did not visit Li Yuan was because his entire heart belonged to His Majesty. No other duty was more important.

Emperor Taizong did not reveal whether he believed him, but did not mention the retired emperor again.

He looked at Pei Ji and asked the matter at hand: “Why have you come to see me?”

Relieved by the change of topic, Pei Ji’s eyes flickered with a dark gleam.

He cupped his hands and said, “I heard that Your Majesty entrusted the entire investigation of Prince Xi’s corpse disappearance to Liu Shuyi, a minor official at the ninth rank in the Ministry of Justice…”

“That is correct. Minister Du recommended Liu Shuyi, praising his outstanding investigative talent. I hoped he could uncover the truth.”

“And?”

Taizong’s deep eyes looked down at Pei Ji and smiled: “Do you think Liu Shuyi is unsuitable? That Minister Du chose the wrong man?”

Pei Ji hurriedly shook his head: “I trust Minister Du’s judgment and have never doubted it.”

“However…”

He raised his head and said, “This case is indeed of great importance, even concerning the stability of the Tang Dynasty. Entrusting such a significant case to a low-ranking official worries me.”

His tone was serious: “Liu Shuyi is too young, with only two cases’ experience. More importantly, he is the son of a disgraced official. How can we be sure he doesn’t harbor resentment toward the court for his father’s fate?”

“So, I fear that if Liu Shuyi harbors divided loyalties, he may fail to uncover the truth, wasting valuable time.”

Pei Ji looked earnestly at Taizong, his voice filled with concern for the nation: “As long as Prince Xi’s corpse remains missing and the thieves’ conspiracy unbroken, the threat to our Great Tang grows daily. Our time is precious; we cannot afford any risk.”

Taizong listened to Pei Ji’s patriotic words and asked, “What do you suggest? Should we replace Liu Shuyi?”

Pei Ji shook his head: “Since Minister Du recommended Liu Shuyi, despite my worries, I trust Minister Du’s eye for talent.”

“So, I propose Liu Shuyi continue the investigation, but we should not place all hope on him. As I said, if he harbors divided loyalties or lacks experience, what then?”

“Therefore, I suggest we assign more loyal and experienced officials to work alongside Liu Shuyi.”

“On one hand, they can supervise him, preventing any intentional delays; on the other, their experience can compensate if Liu Shuyi falls short, ensuring we do not put all our eggs in one basket and waste precious time.”

Taizong’s gaze deepened as he lightly tapped the armrest of the dragon throne, not immediately deciding.

Pei Ji bowed his head quietly, waiting.

He knew that after Du Ruhui convinced Taizong to entrust the entire case to Liu Shuyi, Liu’s chances of success were real.

If Liu Shuyi solved the case, he would rise swiftly.

Pei Ji had caused the Liu family’s downfall and had even clashed with Liu Shuyi.

So Liu’s rise was a huge threat to him.

He could not allow it.

Hence, he came to see Taizong immediately.

He understood how sensitive Taizong was regarding Li Jiancheng’s case.

Thus, he first raised Liu Shuyi’s status as the son of a disgraced official.

Regardless of whether Liu Shuyi was truly disloyal, his father was executed by the court.

That was a deep grudge.

Who could guarantee Liu harbored no resentment?

If Liu had any other intentions, his dedication to the investigation was questionable.

With the emperor’s suspicion, once this possibility was raised, Taizong could not ignore it.

Then, Pei Ji proposed the safer, dual-track approach.

No one could find fault with it.

He did not directly oppose Liu Shuyi’s investigation, merely proposed more experienced officials be added as insurance.

Taizong had no reason to reject it.

In fact, if Taizong agreed, Pei Ji would arrange for his own men to join.

If Liu Shuyi solved the case, they could share or steal credit, even apprehend the thieves first, preventing Liu from taking all the glory.

If Liu failed, they would blame him entirely, ensuring his disgrace.

In short, Liu Shuyi could never rise unchecked under Pei Ji’s watch.

He would never allow a second Liu Wenjing to emerge.

After a few moments, Taizong’s voice rang out slowly: “Minister Pei’s words…”

Pei Ji eagerly looked up at Taizong.

“Announce—”

Just then, a eunuch guarding the door suddenly said, “Your Majesty, Minister Du requests an audience.”

Du Ruhui?

Why was he here?

Pei Ji furrowed his brow instinctively but then relaxed.

He had not opposed Du Ruhui or Liu Shuyi, only pointed out Liu’s background and proposed a safer plan, which even Du Ruhui could not reject.

His strategy was open and aboveboard—no one could argue against it.

Thinking this, he looked at Taizong and heard the emperor say calmly, “Let him in.”

Shortly, Du Ruhui strode into the Two Phenomena Hall.

Upon entry, Du Ruhui saw Pei Ji in his crimson robe.

His eyes flickered with suspicion, guessing something, but he showed no reaction and approached to bow before Taizong: “Your Majesty.”

Taizong smiled at his most trusted minister and said, “You’ve come just in time. Minister Pei was just telling me about Liu Shuyi…”

Then Taizong briefly relayed Pei Ji’s concerns to Du Ruhui.

“Minister Du, what do you think of Minister Pei’s suggestion? Should we assign more hands to assist Liu Shuyi?”

Pei Ji looked confidently at Du Ruhui, eager to see how the man known as “Du the Decisive” would respond.

Du Ruhui’s pale face broke into a meaningful smile: “Minister Pei is indeed thoughtful; even I had not considered these points…”

“However…”

His tone shifted: “I oppose it!”

“What?” Pei Ji was stunned.

He did not expect the meticulous Du Ruhui to openly oppose.

On what grounds?

Taizong’s gaze darkened.

Du Ruhui said, “Because Liu Shuyi has already been tested!”

He looked at Taizong and proclaimed loudly, “Your Majesty, Liu Shuyi has made progress!”

“He has found the breakthrough in this case!”

“I have come at Liu Shuyi’s request to report this truth to Your Majesty!”