Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 414 - 389 - s·Kill five in the Central Palace!

Chapter 414: 389 Chapters·Kill five in the Central Palace!

All those present were astonished at Shen Erxian’s words.

In the beginning, everyone thought the Floating Corpse Case was perpetrated by some Martial Artists, whose motives were unclear but were presumed to be either vengeance or profit.

But to everyone’s utter surprise, as the investigation progressed, the target seemed to be directly pointing at Emperor Kaihuang.

At this moment, Emperor Kaihuang was also somewhat horrified.

He certainly knew the endless wonders of the Rune Array, for their uses were boundless.

If someone had set up a powerful formation targeting him or even the entire Yang Clan, it wasn’t impossible.

Emperor Kaihuang took a deep breath to calm himself down.

Having started as a minister to Northern Zhou and come a long way to this day, Emperor Kaihuang had weathered countless storms. This was not the first time he faced such a stifling crisis.

Emperor Kaihuang glanced at Shen Erxian, whose expression did not seem exaggerated or alarmist.

At this time, the Crown Prince, already in utmost panic, hurriedly turned to Shen Erxian and asked, "Magistrate of Metropolitan prefecture, did Zhang San mention how exactly those five people in the center died? Father, if we are aware of this method, we can be on guard. As long as we are prepared for the fifteenth day of the eighth month, we needn’t worry."

Though these words came from his mouth, the Crown Prince’s nervous and profusely sweating visage betrayed no sign of "no need to worry".

Shen Erxian bowed and said, "Your Highness, don’t you understand? This is a formation. The eight surrounding points have already been set up according to the Bagua, and we do not know the manner of death for those five at the center, nor does it matter. What’s important is, who is the intended victim?"

"At least according to the information uncovered by Zhang San, everyone involved is connected to the deaths within the Yuwen Imperial Clan of the past. Therefore, Zhang San fears that the target is Emperor Kaihuang himself. After all, the deaths of the Five Kings were your doing, Emperor. The same goes for... Yuwen Ming afterward."

"Now all those who have died had close ties with the former Yuwen Imperial Clan, were granted imperial surnames, or were descendants of the Five Kings’ scattered bloodlines."

"Zhang San’s estimate is that this time, the target is the bloodline of the Yang Clan. Although not all of Emperor Kaihuang’s five sons are in the Capital, finding five people connected by blood to Emperor Kaihuang within the Capital is no difficult task."

Emperor Kaihuang took another deep breath and exhaled slowly, steadying himself.

A moment later, Emperor Kaihuang spoke up, "Increase patrols around the Capital and seal off roads."

"From this day forth, declare martial law throughout the city, and cancel the Moon Worship Ceremony scheduled for the fifteenth day of the eighth month. No one is to leave their home."

"For the Imperial Palace, double the security. On the fifteenth day of the eighth month... No, starting now, all Imperial Clan members must come to the palace to ’celebrate’."

Everyone knew that Emperor Kaihuang was exceedingly frugal, even alleviating the burden on the Imperial Treasury by cutting expenditures to supplement the national treasury. Though the whole country belonged to Emperor Kaihuang, he never abused public resources for personal use.

But this time, everyone was also aware that this matter involved the former Yuwen Imperial Clan and the handiwork of the Heavenly Punishment Sect, necessitating heightened vigilance.

Once Emperor Kaihuang had arranged everything, Shen Erxian bowed and said, "Emperor Kaihuang, you personally ordered the Town Demon Office and the Town Martial Office to investigate the Floating Corpse Case, with the Magistrate of Metropolitan prefecture merely assisting. However, now that Zhang San, who is mainly responsible for the investigation at the Town Martial Office, is wanted, and given that all these crucial leads have come from him, perhaps Your Majesty might wish to reconsider the suspicion surrounding him."

Emperor Kaihuang nodded slightly and was about to speak when the Crown Prince, beside him, angrily said, "The decision to issue a warrant for Zhang San’s arrest was personally made by you, Father. Are you suggesting that Father should go back on his word?"

Shen Erxian bowed his head, staying silent, waiting for the Crown Prince to receive his scolding.

Emperor Kaihuang looked at the Crown Prince with immense disappointment.

Emperor Kaihuang was not unaware that the ministers below would sometimes fight amongst themselves; he had experienced an era with a tyrant above oppressively ruling, petty villains causing mischief below, and a group of ministers fighting internally in between.

But internal strife should also be appropriate to the occasion and context!

Thus, Emperor Kaihuang slowly began, "Crown Prince, if this Zhang San truly were the mastermind behind the Floating Corpse Case, why would he tell us about these clues?"

The Crown Prince was startled; after all, normally speaking, a murderer has no reason to tell anyone all the clues of his crime, especially not to the next person he plans to kill.

"Could it be... could it be that... Zhang San... he... he wants to gain our trust first, and then find an opportunity to strike?"

The Crown Prince felt that the explanation he had cleverly thought of in desperation must be the truth.

Emperor Kaihuang sighed. Had it not been for his deep affection with Empress Gudu and their profound marital bond, he would have doubted whether the Crown Prince was truly his own offspring.

How could he be so foolish and clumsy!

Such a specimen, I’m afraid, would not be picked up even if thrown in Nanyang!

Yet, even so, there were ministers within the palace who seized the opportunity to flatter the Crown Prince, nodding in agreement.

Emperor Kaihuang gently coughed to disregard the Crown Prince’s unintelligent remarks, and spoke to everyone present: "In this formation, the sum of the horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines in the nine grids is fifteen, and the nine numbers add up to forty-five, which happens to be nine fives, perhaps hinting at the esteemed sovereign."

"And now that the surrounding eight numbers have all been filled in, each number represents a bloody human life. I have heard that a lot of blood was drawn from the bodies of the victims in the Floating Corpse Case, suggesting that what is needed in the center is the bloodline of our Yang Clan!"

"Perhaps this formation could be used to curse the Yang Imperial Clan in some special way, or it might require the blood of our Yang Imperial Clan to complete a greater conspiracy!"

"In any case, whether it be one situation or the other, it’s enough to prove the danger of this formation and the massive conspiracy behind the Floating Corpse Case."

"If Zhang San really were the mastermind, he would simply remain silent, and we would be unaware. If unaware, we would have no precautions."

"Therefore, no matter what Zhang San’s true identity is, at least this time, Zhang San has contributed to our cause! For contributions, there must be rewards!"

"However, it is a special period right now, and it is not convenient to hold a grand award ceremony. Thus, after the fifteenth day of the eighth month, if the Imperial Clan is safe and sound, then bestowing on Zhang San wealth greater than the heavens, even a Marquisate, how about that?"

"Conversely, if everything turns out to be Zhang San causing trickery, then at that time, we will take his life for compounding the crimes."

"For now, let’s cancel the warrant for Zhang San’s arrest. Proclaim Zhang San’s innocence!"

Having said this, Emperor Kaihuang turned his head to look at the Crown Prince beside him and said in a low voice, "Crown Prince, do not forget, although you are privileged as the Crown Prince, in this Great Sui, whether it’s anyone, they are my subjects, and they are also your subjects. You must understand, without them, there is no you! Do you comprehend?"

The Crown Prince did not quite understand but, seeing the anger on his father’s face, still bowed and said, "Your son understands."

"Since you comprehend, you will personally handle this matter. Go inform all departments of Zhang San’s innocence and cancel the arrest warrant."

"Yes."