Chapter Four: Reaping What One Sows (Part One)

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The timeline rewinds slightly to the early morning of the day Zhao Dezhao caused a disturbance in Pig-Slaughter Alley.

At that time, Zhao Dezhao was still sound asleep, snoring loudly. However, in the Golden Throne Hall within the Imperial Palace, the civil and military officials of the Song Dynasty were already dressed and standing respectfully, bowing to Zhao Dezhao’s current adoptive father, Zhao Kuangyin, as they convened the morning court session.

Since Zhao Guangyi had not been granted a royal title in the first year of the Kaibao era, the Song officials were still led by Chancellor Zhao Pu at the morning assembly. Yet, on this particular day, Zhao Pu, as the chief minister, appeared disheveled, humiliated, and—very unusually—was forced to kowtow and publicly apologize to Zhao Kuangyin.

The cause of Zhao Pu’s disgrace was Zhao Pin, the current Director of the Three Departments of the Song government, who, without any prior warning, suddenly launched an accusation against Zhao Pu. With irrefutable evidence, Zhao Pin charged Zhao Pu with condoning his family’s violation of imperial decrees by transporting timber from the Shaanxi-Gansu region to Kaifeng for sale, thereby illicitly profiting from it.

The Central Plains had been ravaged by the wars of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, leaving the land devastated and in dire need of reconstruction. Qualified timber for construction was in severe shortage everywhere. Moreover, the Shaanxi-Gansu region was suffering from overdevelopment, producing only a pitiful amount of building timber. To ensure the Song court would have sufficient timber supplies, Zhao Kuangyin had early on issued strict laws prohibiting private logging and trade of timber from Shaanxi-Gansu, with severe punishments for violations.

Naturally, Zhao Kuangyin, who retained the martial spirit of a general, was furious. He publicly berated Zhao Pu harshly. If not for desperate pleas from Zhao Pu’s staunch allies like Wang Pu, Zhao Kuangyin might have expelled Zhao Pu from the capital and reassigned him to a provincial post.

Even so, Zhao Pu was still punished with a half-year salary deduction. Zhao Kuangyin personally ordered the arrest and severe prosecution of all Zhao Pu family members involved, offering no leniency to his long-time loyal minister.

Witnessing this spectacle, Zhao Guangyi, Zhao Pu’s chief political rival, was ecstatic, reveling in the success of his betrayal. It was obvious that Zhao Pin’s attack on Zhao Pu was orchestrated secretly by Zhao Guangyi.

Familiar with the situation, Zhao Guangyi’s close confidants and aides—Chen Congxin, Yao Shu, and Shi Xizai—quickly deduced that Zhao Guangyi’s ambush had succeeded when he returned to the Kaifeng government offices, radiant with satisfaction. Yao Shu, who harbored a grudge against Zhao Pu, eagerly asked, “Your Highness, how is it? Has the sovereign relieved Chancellor Zhao Pu of his position?”

“Not that easily,” Zhao Guangyi smiled lightly. “A centipede isn’t dead until every leg is severed. Wang Qiwu and his faction are desperately pleading for him. How could my elder brother so hastily decide to dismiss the chancellor?”

Yao Shu was instantly disappointed. Chen Congxin then inquired, “Your Highness, are there any other gains?”

“Let Kaifeng’s government handle the case and punish the Zhao family members involved severely,” Zhao Guangyi replied with a smile.

“Excellent!” Shi Xizai, the Kaifeng government prosecutor, was delighted and volunteered, “Your Highness, please entrust this case to me. I will ensure that Zhao Pu is disgraced and humiliated!”

“Your Highness, we should seize this opportunity to see if we can implicate the Censor-in-Chief Liu Yongling,” Chen Congxin suggested. “He oversees the censorate, which monitors officials. If we can bring him onto our side now, it will be much easier to eliminate Zhao Pu’s supporters in court.”

Zhao Guangyi, a shrewd politician, immediately nodded. “You handle it. Share the evidence we have against Zhao Pu with Liu Yongling. Make it clear that if he submits a formal impeachment, after Zhao Pu is dismissed, I will recommend him for the vacancy in the Secretariat.”

Chen Congxin agreed gravely. Shi Xizai, impatient, asked, “Your Highness, what about me? Can I take charge of this matter?”

“You may proceed,” Zhao Guangyi smiled again. “Zhao Pu loves money. Make him bleed as much as possible. The more desperate he becomes, the easier it will be to catch him making mistakes.”

Shi Xizai was thrilled and confidently promised to handle the matter flawlessly. Zhao Guangyi nodded approvingly, expressing full trust in his capabilities.

However, Zhao Guangyi never dreamed that while Shi Xizai was busy organizing the arrest of Zhao Pu’s family members, the Kaifeng military inspector who had been investigating the case of Old Man Peng’s nephew’s death submitted preliminary results. Preoccupied with major affairs, Shi Xizai accepted his subordinate’s analysis without much thought, concluding that Old Man Peng had fabricated the accusation out of personal grudges with his nephew’s wife and ordered Peng to be publicly shackled and paraded.

This is why the case of Old Man Peng’s roadside complaint was resolved so swiftly.

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As the chief official of the Kaifeng government, Old Man Peng’s case was trivial to Zhao Guangyi, who paid it little attention, focusing all his energy on the overt and covert struggle with his political rival Zhao Pu. He was determined to use this opportunity to thoroughly strike Zhao Pu.

His subordinates did not disappoint. Shortly after noon, the Kaifeng constables arrested over a dozen of Zhao Pu’s household servants caught selling timber illegally. Meanwhile, Chen Congxin returned from the censorate to report that Liu Wen’sou, the Censor-in-Chief, had reviewed the incriminating evidence against Zhao Pu. Although he did not immediately promise to act, he neither outright rejected it, maintaining his usual ambiguous stance.

“That old fox is slippery as an eel coated in oil—sly and cunning. He never takes sides without absolute certainty!” Zhao Guangyi snorted disdainfully, displeased with Liu Wen’s ambiguous attitude.

Before Zhao Guangyi could further strategize, a constable hurriedly entered and reported, “Your Highness, the Crown Prince is beating drums at the Kaifeng government gate, demanding justice. He requests you to preside over the matter.”

“Such a trivial matter doesn’t require my attention. Assign any clerk to handle it...” Zhao Guangyi was holding his tea when suddenly he spat it out in shock. “Who? Who is beating drums and crying injustice outside?”

“The Crown Prince himself,” the constable answered truthfully, adding, “Your Highness, he is your very own nephew, the imperial heir.”

Disbelief spread across Zhao Guangyi’s face. He glanced at the equally stunned Chen Congxin and exclaimed, “Am I dreaming? That fool Dezhao actually came to Kaifeng to drum up grievances? Has he lost his mind?”

“Your Highness, beware of deception,” Chen Congxin warned quickly. “You just confronted Chancellor Zhao this morning, and now the Crown Prince is making a scene at the Kaifeng office this afternoon. It’s too coincidental.”

Knowing that Zhao Dezhao was a strong contender for the throne, and being naturally suspicious, Zhao Guangyi nodded and ordered, “Let Yao Shu deal with him. I will watch from the rear hall to see what tricks he has up his sleeve. Also, tell Yao Shu that if my nephew is truly targeting us, he must show no leniency. We cannot give Zhao Pu’s faction any advantage.”

Chen Congxin agreed and hurried to relay the order to Yao Shu, the Kaifeng deputy magistrate, who hated Zhao Pu’s faction deeply. Upon hearing this, Yao Shu nodded and sneered, “No problem. I can handle others, but dealing with that insufferable Prince Zhao will be like shooting fish in a barrel!”

Thus, under Zhao Guangyi’s orders, Yao Shu quickly took his seat at the right side of the Kaifeng government hall to preside over the hearing, while Zhao Guangyi sat in the rear hall, eavesdropping on the proceedings. Meanwhile, a large crowd of curious onlookers had already surrounded the hall’s entrance, including several with ulterior motives.

Once the court was in session, Zhao Dezhao, dressed as a commoner, stepped forward first. Seeing Zhao Guangyi absent from the central seat, he was somewhat surprised and probing, asked directly, “Who are you? Where is my imperial uncle? Why isn’t he here?”

“I am Yao Shu, deputy magistrate of Kaifeng,” Yao Shu rose and bowed with a smile. “Your Highness, please forgive me. The prince has important affairs, so I am temporarily handling this case on his behalf. May I ask what brings Your Highness to the Kaifeng government today?”

Zhao Dezhao had already thought carefully about this question on his way to the government offices. He knew he held a sure advantage, but expecting a mere civil case to shake his adoptive uncle’s foundation was unrealistic. Therefore, he focused on the prosecutor Shi Xizai, who was handling Old Man Peng’s case, intending to use him as a test to gauge Zhao Guangyi’s reaction, while leaving room to back off if necessary.

Hence, Zhao Dezhao straightforwardly said, “Deputy Magistrate Yao, isn’t there a prosecutor named Shi Xizai in your office? Please summon him. I have a question for him.”

“Clearly up to no good,” Yao Shu’s heart tightened. “Shi Xizai is busy interrogating Zhao Pu’s family, yet he singled out Shi Xizai by name!?”

Yao Shu replied cautiously, “My lord, Prosecutor Shi is currently questioning important prisoners and cannot meet Your Highness at the moment. If you have any instructions, please tell me directly.”

“Very well,” Zhao Dezhao did not press further but candidly stated, “Please inform Prosecutor Shi that I am here to accuse him of murdering without cause and framing the innocent. He should come out immediately to re-examine the case! Otherwise, I will report the matter truthfully to my father, the emperor, and request his personal intervention.”

Yao Shu and Zhao Guangyi’s expressions simultaneously changed, thinking, “No doubt! This is Zhao Pu’s doing! Using the Crown Prince as a pawn to escalate the matter, striking first to pin a crime on Shi Xizai, warning us not to pursue the Shaanxi-Gansu timber case any further!”

Realizing Zhao Dezhao’s intent, and having been forewarned, Yao Shu immediately altered his tone, speaking sternly, “Your Highness, are you not going too far? What proof do you have to accuse my colleague of murder and falsely accusing the innocent?”

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“Of course I have evidence,” Zhao Dezhao replied calmly. He ordered Wang Zhifa to bring the body of Old Man Peng’s nephew into the hall, briefly recounted the events, then condemned Shi Xizai: “I cannot understand why Prosecutor Shi, who is responsible for litigation in Kaifeng, would so rashly determine if the deceased was wronged. Did he not even send a forensic medical examiner to conduct the most basic autopsy?”

Unaware of Shi Xizai’s specific investigation process, Yao Shu could not answer Zhao Dezhao’s question. At that moment, Old Man Peng’s wife, Mrs. Peng, and the butcher leader burst into desperate cries, pleading, “Honorable magistrate, injustice! The prince is abusing his power and framing the innocent!”

Moreover, the butcher leader, sweating profusely, exclaimed, “Honorable magistrate, the corpse of Peng Dalang was tampered with! I saw it with my own eyes! Someone is deliberately framing and planting false evidence!”

Yao Shu, who was wracking his brain for ways to exonerate his allies, immediately brightened at this and ordered Mrs. Peng and the butcher leader to be brought up for questioning. To save his own life, the butcher leader promptly claimed, “Honorable magistrate, I saw with my own eyes that this prince secretly placed unknown substances into Peng Dalang’s mouth after prying it open!”

Yao Shu was overjoyed and quickly asked Zhao Dezhao, “Your Highness, is this true?”

“I am innocent; I did not put anything in,” Zhao Dezhao replied calmly.

“Exactly! Our prince did nothing of the sort!” Wang Zhifa shouted, “There were many witnesses present; they all saw it clearly!”

“Good!” Yao Shu seized the opportunity. “Bring more eyewitnesses from the scene immediately.”

“No need to trouble yourselves,” Zhao Dezhao interrupted, pointing to the crowd below. “The firemen who carried the body and some nearby neighbors followed us here. Magistrate Yao, you may question them directly.”

Fearing a trap from Zhao Pu, Yao Shu firmly refused. “No, witnesses must be brought by the Kaifeng government. Those who volunteer on their own do not count.”

“Is that a rule in Kaifeng?” Zhao Dezhao finally lost his temper. “If the government arranges witnesses and conspires to fabricate evidence, how can the people of the Song Dynasty seek justice or clear their names?”

“Thank you for your advice, Your Highness, but I know how to handle cases,” Yao Shu retorted coldly. “Seize those involved temporarily, send the corpse to the mortuary for safekeeping, and when witnesses arrive, I will continue the investigation.”

“Wait! No one is to touch this body!” Zhao Dezhao, fearing tampering, shouted, “This victim was first murdered, then his body deliberately burned to destroy evidence. A skilled forensic expert can easily verify this! Magistrate Yao, summon a medical examiner for a public autopsy immediately!”

“There’s trickery afoot! We must not be duped!” Yao Shu thought to himself but firmly refused, “There’s no rush for an autopsy. First, send the body to the mortuary. After questioning other witnesses, we will proceed.”

At this point, even the most composed Zhao Dezhao was furious. He shouted, “Are you Kaifeng officials governing my father’s people like this? The case clearly involves one of your own, yet you deliberately withhold evidence? Are you protecting your own or engaging in corruption?”

Yao Shu was silent but did not revoke his order. Infuriated, Zhao Dezhao roared, “Fine. Since you Kaifeng officials are unreasonable, I will take this to a place that is. Bring Peng Dalang’s body here; we will go to the censorate next door! If they’re also unreasonable, then I will take it before the emperor himself!”

At this critical moment, Zhao Guangyi, listening in the rear hall, had no choice but to avoid escalating the matter further. He cleared his throat loudly, then stepped out with a smile, saying, “Nephew, calm down. Speak directly to your uncle; there’s no need to be so rash.”