Chapter 37: Send Someone to Invite the Thirteenth Prince

When Jiang Nian saw Ma Peicheng order his men to seize everyone in the Jiang household, he was stunned.

Wang Ziteng was acting with such reckless audacity; he intended not only to arrest Jiang Nian but the entire family, including Xiangling. In Jiang Nian’s view, Wang Ziteng had moved beyond mere arrogance. He could not bear to see Xiangling fall into the hands of these soldiers, fearing she would surely be mistreated.

The death of Qin Ye had already placed Wang Ziteng in a precarious position, with a significant chance of facing severe punishment. This tragedy might have driven Wang into a frenzy, potentially leading him to seize Jiang Nian and have him killed.

Driven by these thoughts, Jiang Nian could no longer remain silent. He shouted for them to stop, declaring firmly that he was on intimate terms with the Thirteenth Prince.

The shout rang out like a thunderclap, leaving both Ma Peicheng and Cheng Xu startled. Both men were already anxious due to Qin Ye’s death, and hearing Jiang Nian claim such a close relationship with the Thirteenth Prince only deepened their unease. In the imperial court, everyone knew the Thirteenth Prince was the Emperor’s closest brother and most trusted official. With power that spanned the nation, he was effectively the deputy emperor. Moreover, Ma Peicheng was a protégé of the Thirteenth Prince; his current rank as a third-rank commander in the patrol guards was owed entirely to the Prince’s patronage.

"Stop!" Ma Peicheng commanded his men after a moment of hesitation. He gazed deeply at Jiang Nian, his tone softening, "What is your connection to the Thirteenth Prince?"

Jiang Nian’s expression turned gentle, though his tone remained resolute: "I am extremely close to the Thirteenth Prince. If you do not believe me, I shall send someone to invite him here at once."

At such a moment, Jiang Nian knew better than to act with haughty arrogance or utter threats, as doing so would only provoke his captors and force them into desperate measures. He maintained a calm demeanor, tempering his firm tone with an underlying sense of authority.

His claim of being close to the Thirteenth Prince was not entirely an exaggeration. He was, in a sense, the Prince’s nephew, and the Emperor had designated the Prince as his primary contact since his arrival in the capital. However, Jiang Nian knew the likelihood of getting the Prince to come on such short notice was slim. The Prince was a man of immense responsibility and heavy burdens; why would he come for such a trivial matter? Moreover, when He Yun had gone to the Prince’s residence earlier, he had been told the Prince was at Changchun Garden, far off in the western suburbs.

Jiang Nian’s bluff was meant to deter Ma Peicheng and Cheng Xu, buying him time to send He Yun to the Prince’s residence to halt the arrest. If the haughty Chief Clerk Gao Zhuan refused to intervene, He Yun would be forced to travel to Changchun Garden to petition the Prince or even the Emperor directly—though that would be a time-consuming affair.

Ma Peicheng gripped the scabbard of the short blade at his waist, his thumb tracing the gilded cloud patterns—a gift from his benefactor, the Thirteenth Prince, in years past. He turned to Cheng Xu to gauge his opinion.

Cheng Xu pulled Ma Peicheng aside and whispered, "He is surely terrified and has concocted this lie to deceive us. A mere youth living in such modest quarters, how could he possibly be close to the Thirteenth Prince? In my view, we should take them all and let Lord Wang decide."

Ma Peicheng, however, was not convinced. Cheng Xu was a protégé of Wang Ziteng and his trusted subordinate. While Ma Peicheng was under Wang’s jurisdiction and had received favors from him, he remained a man of the Thirteenth Prince. In his heart, the Prince’s favor carried far more weight. He realized that by accidentally causing the death of the Ministry of Works official Qin Ye, he had already invited trouble; how could he risk further offending the Prince, who was both his benefactor and the de facto deputy emperor?

Yet, he hesitated, fearing that if he complied with Jiang Nian’s request, the ruthless and proud Wang Ziteng would be displeased.

Just then, a minor officer hurried forward and bowed. "Reporting, sir! A fifth-rank Longjin Guard has arrived at the gate, claiming to be the steward of this household and demanding to see his master."

Ma Peicheng and Cheng Xu exchanged looks of pure astonishment. Ma Peicheng only now realized that Jiang Nian’s steward was a fifth-rank Longjin Guard. Cheng Xu, who had arrived with Wang Ziteng, had not seen He Yun earlier as he was out running errands. While a fifth-rank guard was inconsequential to a man like Wang Ziteng, to Ma Peicheng and Cheng Xu, it was a detail of significant weight—especially when it seemed to corroborate Jiang Nian’s claim.

"Bring him in!" Ma Peicheng ordered after a moment of deliberation.

He Yun walked into the inner courtyard, still dressed in his official uniform. He had been out with his wife and son, but had returned early to drop off supplies and dinner, knowing Jiang Nian would be hungry. Finding the house surrounded by soldiers, he had decided to walk right in to assess the situation.

He Yun strode toward Jiang Nian, his boots clicking firmly against the ground. He ignored the soldiers crowding the courtyard, his eyes fixed only on his master. With an expression of concern and confusion, he bowed and asked in a steady, resonant voice, "Master, what has happened? Why are there so many soldiers in our home?"

Seeing this, Ma Peicheng’s heart surged; the possibility that Jiang Nian was truly close to the Prince suddenly felt very real. Even Cheng Xu began to doubt himself.

Jiang Nian looked at Ma Peicheng, his expression still gentle and his tone firm. "Please, sir, allow my steward to go and summon the Thirteenth Prince."

"I believe his words may be true," Ma Peicheng said, his hesitation shattered as he dismissed Cheng Xu’s concerns. He nodded at Jiang Nian. "Very well!"

As the words fell, Jiang Nian finally let out a sigh of relief.