Chapter 24: The Brocade Guard and the Eastern Depot

Xiao Rui entered the Imperial Clan Court. Xiao Mingying arranged for him to live in a quiet house. He had food, shelter, and servants who took very good care of him. He just was not allowed to go out on his own.

Xiao Mingying also sent people to investigate Prince Duan’s Mansion. They questioned people who were familiar with Xiao Rui.

When the Imperial Clan Court officers found the Witchcraft Doll in Prince Duan’s Mansion, Xiao Feng was stunned. Hearing that Xiao Rui was locked up in the Imperial Clan Court, he immediately went to the palace to see Emperor Xia.

Was he going to plead for Xiao Rui?

How could that be!

Xiao Feng met Emperor Xia. He cried out hoarsely, filled with righteous anger. “Father, your son never imagined that Little Seven could do such a treasonous, abominable, and unforgivable act. Your son deserves to die ten thousand deaths. He stayed at your son’s mansion. Your son failed in his duty as an elder brother. Your son did not restrain him properly, letting him fall into hell step by step. Your son begs Your Majesty to punish him.”

One had to admit, Xiao Feng used idioms very skillfully. It seemed he had prepared his speech well before coming to the palace.

“Get out.” Emperor Xia seemed to be in a bad mood and shouted at him.

“Right away.” Xiao Feng scurried out happily. He thought to himself, Father must be angry with Xiao Rui. Since he did not punish me, then I have no responsibility in this.

He finally felt relieved.

But Emperor Xia did not get peace for long. The Ninth Highness, Xiao Yan, entered the palace requesting an audience.

He truly came to plead for Xiao Rui, but his temper was too fiery. “Father, Seventh Brother could not have done something to curse you. This is definitely a frame-up! It’s plant! It’s a false charge! This is an injustice as vast as snow in June! Father, Seventh Brother lost his mother concubine when he was young. He also does not receive your favor. He is pitiful enough. He usually lacks even silver and doesn’t even have his own home. He has never complained, and he has never whined to you about it. I have seen all this. Do you know?”

Being accused by his son, Emperor Xia’s face did not look good.

“Father, you must not become a foolish ruler! This is not the act of a wise ruler. Seventh Brother is wronged.” Xiao Yan shouted loudly.

Emperor Xia really did not want to deal with him. He waved his hand repeatedly and had people drag Xiao Yan out of the palace. Out of sight, out of mind.

What Emperor Xia did not expect was that the Third Prince, Xiao Ze, also came to make a request for Xiao Rui. He was very subtle. He just hoped the Imperial Clan Court could investigate thoroughly. Without detailed evidence, they should not frame an Imperial Prince based solely on a Witchcraft Doll.

Besides these three Imperial Princes entering the palace, the other princes all adopted a wait-and-see attitude.

The people in the Capital City talked endlessly. The usually low-key Seventh Prince became the subject of public discussion.

And the Imperial Clan Court’s investigation also had no leads.

They searched Xiao Rui’s residence in Prince Duan’s Mansion again and found nothing else. Interrogating Gao Quan and the servants of Prince Duan’s Mansion also yielded no results. Xiao Mingying also gave orders not to torture Xiao Rui for questioning without permission. So, this matter could only drag on without a conclusion.

Xiao Rui enjoyed the leisure. He had food and drink, waiting for the next act of the good show to begin.

Sure enough, the Censorate began to impeach Xiao Rui.

They impeached him on three charges:

“First, deviating from the classics and rebelling against the proper way. Neglecting studies, being lazy, offending teachers, frivolous speech, and lacking the will to improve.”

“Second, as a son, practicing the evil of witchcraft, cursing Your Majesty, the crime of great filial impiety.”

“Third, as an Imperial Prince, having improper character, treasonous and unprincipled.”

Emperor Xia was not angry. He discarded the impeachment memorial to the side of the table.

“Who had this sent?” Emperor Xia took a sip of clear tea and asked with a smile.

Eunuch Hai, as the Seal-Holding Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, was responsible for presenting the Grand Secretariat memorials with the Vermilion Endorsement to Emperor Xia. He naturally knew very well.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, Grand Secretary Xu of the Hall of Literary Brilliance presented the Draft Rescript.” Eunuch Hai said.

Emperor Xia nodded, then asked, “What did the Brocade Office find out?”

“They already have important evidence, quietly waiting for Your Majesty’s decree.” Eunuch Hai said.

Emperor Xia rubbed his brow. “We intend to separate the Brocade Office from the twenty-four inner palace agencies and establish the Brocade Guard. At the same time, you will establish the Eastern Depot. Internal and external combined, to carry out espionage and investigation tasks.”

“Yes!” Eunuch Hai knelt down to receive the decree.

His face showed no ripple, but deep inside, he was surging with emotion. He knew Emperor Xia had already started working on establishing the Crown Prince, forging a sharp weapon for the successor.

The Brocade Guard and the Eastern Depot were ideas Emperor Xia had long held. He delayed setting them up, fearing it would affect all the officials at court and bring a bad influence.

Now, this move was finally taken.

In all the land, the one who understood Emperor Xia best was Eunuch Hai. He naturally understood why Emperor Xia was doing this.

But he could not guess which Imperial Prince was the one Emperor Xia approved of as Crown Prince in his heart?

He himself just needed to remember one thing: he was His Majesty’s dog.

The next day, an edict was issued to the Grand Secretariat.

As the Grand Secretary of the Inner Court, Li Mingchong saw that Eunuch Hai personally delivered the edict. He had a premonition that things were not good.

Opening the edict and reading it carefully, Li Mingchong frowned.

The content was simple. The Brocade Office was separated from the inner palace agencies to establish the Brocade Guard. Imperial Guard General Zhang Yu was transferred to be its Commander. Members were to be selected from the various Imperial Guards. The Brocade Guard was to handle personal guard duties for the Emperor, patrols, arrests, management of prisons and punishments, and was granted the power to conduct investigations and arrests. Below it would be set up the Pacification Office.

The Seal-Holding Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, Hai Dafu, was to establish the Eastern Depot, concurrently serving as the Seal-Holding Eunuch of the Eastern Depot. He was entrusted with the great authority of conducting investigations and espionage. Below it would be set up the Eastern Investigation Office.

Seeing the powers and duties of the Brocade Guard and the Eastern Depot, Li Mingchong took a deep breath. He could not guess Emperor Xia’s intention in his heart, but he knew that from now on, the storms in the Capital City would not stop.

The Grand Secretariat issued the edict, proclaiming it to the land. The order was to be quickly transmitted by relay stations to all prefectures, subprefectures, and counties within the borders of Great Xia.

Throughout the Capital City, people heard of the Brocade Guard and the Eastern Depot for the first time and did not pay much attention. However, some officials became wary.

When Xiao Rui heard about it, he was directly stunned on the spot.

History was surprisingly consistent. The feared secret police structure from his memories was quietly established in the Great Xia Kingdom. As an Imperial Prince, he also had to be careful of the espionage of the Brocade Guard and the Eastern Depot. Just thinking about it made him feel like needles on his back.

“Dear Father, you are now fully in power and making strategic plans. Why do you still do this?” Xiao Rui could not understand.

But for him, it was time to start his own plan.

Thinking of this, he smoothed out paper and began to write.

Putting it in an envelope and sealing it with wax, Xiao Rui sent for Xiao Mingying.

“Xiao Rui, what business do you have with this prince?” Xiao Mingying’s words were kind.

Xiao Mingying was older among the current Imperial Princes and had quite high prestige. That was why Emperor Xia entrusted the Imperial Clan Court to him. He took good care of all these princes.

Xiao Rui cupped his hands. “Imperial Uncle, I have a Secret Letter here. May I trouble you to pass it on to Father for me?”

“Oh?” Xiao Mingying took the Secret Letter and smiled. “You kid, very slippery. Alright, your Imperial Uncle will make this trip for you.”

“Thank you, Imperial Uncle.” Xiao Rui thanked him.

Xiao Mingying nodded. “Your temperament resembles your mother’s. I absolutely do not believe you would do something like casting curses.”

Having said that, Xiao Mingying seemed to recall the past, a look of remembrance on his face. Then he stood up and walked out of the room.

Xiao Rui scratched his head. When he crossed over, his memories of his mother concubine were few. She died too early. Now, even her appearance felt blurry.

Strangely, Xiao Rui had not seen his mother concubine’s family for many years. His maternal grandfather and grandmother should still be alive. And there were uncles and aunts. Why did they not come to the Capital City?

Could there be other hidden reasons?