Chapter 128: Rising Instantly to the Immortal Poet

He recited six lines, borrowing from the works of Su Dongpo to pray for the well-being of the people. Through a scene of joy, he expressed sorrow; through splendor, he highlighted grief; and through his imagery of a snowy landscape, he pinned his hopes on a bountiful harvest for the people in the coming year, all while grounding his verses in the harsh reality of the famine in Huaibei.

It perfectly reflected the situation at hand. It was not an exaggeration in the slightest.

Upon hearing this, the Emperor was overjoyed. This man truly deserved the title of "Poet Immortal," and even the scholars of the Imperial Academy could not compare to him in the least.

"Good, very good!"

The Emperor praised him repeatedly and even ordered his attendants to immediately bestow several exquisite dishes upon him. Dishes gifted by the Emperor were a mark of supreme honor. The other officials looked on with envy, yet they could not help but admire the man’s talent; in all of Luojing, there was no second like him.

Prince Huai’s expression turned incomparably dark. He had intended to eliminate this man, yet he had accidentally allowed him to turn misfortune into a blessing, earning the Emperor's favor in the process. It would be much harder to make a move against him in the future.

Han Qing offered his thanks and sat back down, having no desire to engage with those sycophants. However, some did not let the opportunity slip, especially Cai Zheng, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.

"Young Master Han, you are clearly someone the Emperor values highly. These six lines contain wisdom I have spent a lifetime trying to grasp, yet you have articulated it so effortlessly?"

Han Qing smiled slightly, offering no explanation. Was this official’s flattery not a bit too exaggerated? Having spent half a lifetime in office, how could he not see through the underlying issues? He was merely using someone else’s mouth to say what needed to be said.

"If you have the time, would you care to visit my humble manor?"

This was the Minister’s true intention. The previous flowery words were merely a means to this end.

"If there is an opportunity in the future, I certainly will." He nodded calmly. But this old fox was cunning; it was not just about that one invitation.

"Have you offended Prince Huai?"

"I have been in Luojing for less than two months. How could I have possibly offended such a noble personage?" Han Qing said with a faint, enigmatic smile.

"You don't understand. He and the Third Prince are locked in a bitter struggle for the position of the one-above-all. But what kind of man is the Emperor? How could he willingly promise that position to anyone?"

This old man saw things with startling clarity. Only someone this shrewd could survive in the imperial court. If one were too honest, they would soon find themselves without a path forward.

"Oh? I care little for such matters. What do the squabbles of the royal family have to do with small figures like us?" He shook his head.

"Can you truly not see it? He deliberately pushed you into the limelight earlier; I fear you must have offended him in some way prior to this." Minister Cai seemed somewhat sincere, but what he said next was his true objective.

"Perhaps I acted improperly and sparked someone’s dissatisfaction."

"Young Master Han, since Prince Huai already views you as an enemy, why not simply pledge your loyalty to the Third Prince?"

"Huh?" Was he really being this candid? He did not even consider whether the other party might report his words directly to Prince Huai.

"I have only just passed the provincial examination; it is far too early to speak of such things," he said dismissively.

"I believe your only way out is to throw your lot in with the Third Prince; otherwise, I fear you will have no place to stand in Luojing." Seeing that his persuasion was in vain, Minister Cai turned away to court others.

It was quite interesting.

The banquet continued until late into the night, and by the time they left, the poem of prayer had already reached the ears of the common people. Those who were literate understood the true meaning of the verses and placed their hopes in them, praying for a great harvest in the coming year.

However, the following day, Young Master Zhu rushed over in a panic, seemingly bearing major news.

"Brother Han, how can you remain so calm?"

"It is only just morning. What grave news have you uncovered now?"

"You have no idea. After the prayer ceremony ended last night, the son of the Minister of Personnel was murdered at Qianye Tavern. The Ministry of Justice received the report this morning and rushed over," he said, breathless. Had it not been for Chen Tianwei’s swift access to information, he likely wouldn't have heard of this for days.

"If that is the case, then according to the law, we need only identify the culprit. Why be so nervous?" He remained extremely calm, entirely unmoved.

"That is exactly the problem. The gates of Luojing were locked last night, making it impossible for the killer to leave the city. From the moment Qianye Tavern closed last night until it opened this morning, no outsiders entered..." That was the strange part.

No one had a motive. It was as if this had become an unsolvable mystery.

Before he could finish his explanation, Chen Tianwei hurried over, his face etched with worry.

"Brother Han, have you heard about the murder at the tavern last night? I am completely at a loss and wanted to see if you could assist in solving the case."

The son of the Minister of Personnel could not be left to wait. Furthermore, this was the only son of Minister Cai, a man who had doted on him his entire life. To have such a tragedy occur—Minister Cai was applying pressure, and the investigation had to be accelerated. Because no motive or suspect had been identified, the case risked being stalled indefinitely.

"Will I be helping for nothing?"

"Certainly not. Minister Cai has promised a generous reward, and the Ministry of Justice will provide appropriate compensation as well."

Han Qing nodded. That was acceptable.

The group immediately rushed to Qianye Tavern, a property that had previously belonged to Prince Huai. It had since changed owners, and the style of the interior had been altered significantly.

The crime scene remained untouched. In the fourth private room on the second floor, the body of Cai Zhisong, son of the Minister of Personnel, lay on the bed. He had been stabbed six times. The depth of the wounds varied, and the perpetrator's methods were extremely brutal, suggesting a deep-seated hatred or a long-harbored grudge.

"What else happened last night?" Han Qing asked the tavern proprietress, Mother Li, who was standing to the side.

"My lords, he arrived at my tavern during the hour of the Pig. Although he was a bit unsteady, his mind seemed clear. He requested a top-tier private room and asked me to arrange for two young women to accompany him."

The coroner arrived to examine the body. Cai Zhisong had been killed during the hour of the Ox. By then, the tavern had already closed, and since all rooms were occupied, no other guests were being admitted.

"Bring those two women here," Han Qing said slowly. Since they were with Cai Zhisong, they were bound to have some impressions, and perhaps, a clue would emerge.