Chapter 29: The Banquet

That night, the Turkic envoy was summoned to the palace to partake in a royal feast with Empress Chen Zhao to foster goodwill.

The attendees were all high-ranking officials and nobles of Xuanwu, forming the political core of the nation. Among them were Left Chancellor Gongsun Miao, Right Chancellor Changsun Wugou, Minister of Revenue Changsun Qi, Minister of Rites Zhou Li, Minister of the Dali Temple Ci Wen, Prefect of Jingzhao Wen Li, and a group of subordinate officials, totaling about twenty to thirty people.

Jiang Qionglin also had a seat, though he arrived fashionably late after everyone had already gone through three rounds of drinks.

“Jiang Qionglin pays respects to Your Majesty, long live Your Majesty forever,” Jiang Qionglin knelt and kowtowed.

“Rise, my lord, and take your seat,” Chen Zhao waved her hand, and immediately an eunuch led Jiang Qionglin to his seat.

At Jiang Qionglin’s place, the dishes and wine were already served. Across from him sat the Turkic envoy, Mingge.

Mingge was seeing Jiang Qionglin for the first time. He was first astonished by his appearance, realizing that he indeed matched the rumors—beautiful, graceful, and indistinguishable from a woman at first glance.

However, Mingge felt that although Jiang Qionglin was beautiful, he was too delicate, not the sturdy type favored by their grassland men. Moreover, he had heard about Jiang Qionglin’s scandal from the previous day, and his deliberate tardiness today made him somewhat displeased.

In the past few days, everyone had been treating him with utmost respect. It was unreasonable for a minor fourth-rank official to put on airs…

Mingge raised his wine cup and teased, “Lord Jiang is late. According to custom, you should self-punish with three cups.”

Jiang Qionglin’s alcohol tolerance was good; three cups were child’s play, so he nodded.

Unexpectedly, at this moment, Mingge put down his cup, replacing it with a large bowl, pouring three full bowls before saying, “Look, I almost forgot. Lord Jiang previously served in Changle Pavilion, so your alcohol tolerance must be quite high. Using a cup would be underestimating you. Come! Let’s do it big!”

Upon hearing this, Chen Zhao’s expression immediately darkened, and others held their breath.

Mingge, unaware of the afternoon’s events, might not have realized a heavy sword was hanging over his head as he continued to boast, oblivious to the impending disaster.

Jiang Qionglin remained calm and directly drained the three bowls Mingge had poured. After finishing, his face didn’t redden, and his heart didn’t race.

“Lord Jiang has an excellent tolerance; Mingge is impressed.” Mingge pounded his right fist on his left shoulder, performing a Turkic salute.

“Lord Mingge, this subordinate did not arrive late intentionally but because there has been a breakthrough in the case of Princess Tianxiang. Please allow this subordinate to clarify.” After speaking, Jiang Qionglin rose and approached Mingge.

Only then did Mingge realize that although Jiang Qionglin appeared frail, he was taller than himself. Though not robust, he was far from being the fragile young man who could be blown away by the wind.

Apart from appearing somewhat weak from afar, the cold gleam in his eyes was impossible to ignore.

Mingge nodded, “Speak, Lord Jiang.”

“According to this subordinate’s knowledge, every member of the marriage delegation is recorded, including Princess Tianxiang. Have you seen her daily records?” Jiang Qionglin asked.

“Of course, I’ve seen them,” Mingge nodded generously. “These documents were personally compiled by this envoy and then handed over to the Ministry of Rites. Two copies exist, both bearing our national seal.”

“If that’s the case, this subordinate can rest assured,” Jiang Qionglin said, taking two books from his sleeve. “This is a copy I transcribed from the Ministry of Rites. It clearly states that Princess Tianxiang’s body was flawless without scars. However, the corpse’s shinbone clearly shows an old wound, not recent.”

“What do you mean?” Mingge frowned angrily. “Are you implying the deceased isn’t Princess Tianxiang?”

“Your Excellency understands correctly; that is precisely what I mean.”

“You!” Mingge glared, but Jiang Qionglin remained composed.

He continued, “Your Excellency only needs to answer me: Is Princess Tianxiang completely without scars and birthmarks?”

“Yes,” Mingge confirmed with a nod.

After Mingge finished, Jiang Qionglin stopped talking, instead staring fixedly at him.

After a long while, he said, “You’re lying.”

Jiang Qionglin exuded a strong presence, commanding respect without showing anger. He then furrowed his brow and loudly declared, “Princess Tianxiang grew up in military camps. This record is fake; this one is real.”

With a “thud,” Jiang Qionglin slammed the two books onto the table. “On the surface, the two books appear identical, but their contents differ greatly. One shows the princess living luxuriously, never injured, while the other depicts her growing up in military camps, eating and sleeping alongside officers, covered in wounds like stars in the Yellow River.”

“This! This is impossible!” The Turkic envoy Mingge exclaimed. “Princess Tianxiang is supremely noble; how could she be covered in wounds!”

Mingge picked up the booklets, examining them closely. The more he read, the heavier his heart became.

Neither of these booklets were written by him, but the national seals on them were unmistakably stamped by the Khan himself!

Could his memory be faulty?

Mingge was astonished, unable to determine whether his memory was flawed or if these booklets were forged.

Jiang Qionglin continued, “Princess Tianxiang excels in weaponry; her left-hand calluses are evident, though efforts were recently made to remove them. A careful inspection would still reveal the difference. However, the corpse shows calluses on both palms, characteristic of servants doing rough work, unlike the princess.”

“How do you explain the bone bracelet?!” Mingge set down the booklets, his expression changing. “The bracelet on the princess’s wrist has been worn for ten years, its blood-heart pattern made from the marrow of a wolf king, irreplaceable.”

“The bracelet issue is easily resolved,” Jiang Qionglin smiled faintly, his smile resembling a spring breeze but sending chills down Mingge’s spine. “Go to the eastern market and find any skilled craftsman. Whatever bracelet you desire, they can produce.” He took out two bracelets made from wolf bones. “Earlier, this subordinate passed through the eastern market and bought two bone bracelets, having them carved with the blood-heart pattern. Look, are they not identical to the princess’s?”

Mingge took the bracelets, his astonishment unmistakable, his pupils filled with disbelief.

“This… how is this possible…” Mingge was utterly shocked, unable to utter a single word of rebuttal.

The hall fell silent, everyone awestruck by Jiang Qionglin’s eloquence.

He had always been such a person, disregarding others’ thoughts and gazes, unobstructed in his pursuits.

He was meant to shine brilliantly. At this moment, he could retrieve the clothes others had stripped from him, piece by piece.

Jiang Qionglin didn’t intend to stop. He returned to his seat and retrieved two more booklets, saying, “These two booklets are the Dali Temple’s records of prisoners. This one is the count I took at the post station this afternoon. The numbers match, but one individual’s appearance differs significantly. Lord Mingge should be more familiar with this person’s name.”

Jiang Qionglin threw the booklets onto Mingge’s table, the consecutive “thuds” shattering Mingge’s last line of defense.

Almost immediately, Mingge knelt, prostrating himself before the throne, kowtowing, “Forgive me, Your Majesty. This subordinate should not have concealed anything intentionally. Truly, I did not foresee this development. Please forgive me, show mercy—!”

Chen Zhao maintained composure despite the storm within, calmly asking, “What exactly happened?”

“This subordinate heard of the princess’s death and immediately grieved, writing to the Khan. Who would have thought that on the third day, which was yesterday morning, this… this subordinate…” Mingge couldn’t continue.

“Confess everything!” Chen Zhao slammed her palm on the table, the sound reverberating through the hall.

Mingge trembled even more, his body shaking like a sieve. “This subordinate discovered a bloody head in the well at the post station. The head belonged to Langzhu, one of the forty-eight maids in the entourage. Since few were close to her, no one noticed her disappearance amidst the chaos at the post station these three days. Only upon seeing her head did I realize… perhaps… perhaps…”

“Perhaps what?” Chen Zhao narrowed her eyes.

Mingge steeled himself internally but found he couldn’t voice the matter.

As the Turkic envoy, he represented Turkic. If he spoke, it would only bring shame to himself and the entire Turkic nation.

At this point, Jiang Qionglin stepped forward, bowing. “This subordinate investigated the number of people at the post station and discovered that the captured commander Jielì has disappeared. Jielì and Princess Tianxiang grew up together and might have orchestrated a ‘switcheroo’ plan, eloping together…”

Upon hearing this, the hall erupted in shock, everyone stunned.

Especially Chen Zhao, whose expression turned grim, a precursor to her rage.

“Is this true?” Chen Zhao looked at Mingge.

Mingge prostrated himself, took a deep breath, and ultimately resignedly nodded.

Afterward, the high-ranking officials present visibly relaxed, especially Right Chancellor Changsun Wugou and Minister of Rites Zhou Li. Previously, they had humbly appeased the Turkic delegation, but now their positions had completely reversed. Their current haughty attitude towards the Turkic delegation was entirely justified.

It was no longer about negotiating territorial concessions for their country, but demanding an explanation from the Turkic people.

Mingge’s earlier concealment was merely an attempt to shift blame onto Xuanwu, demanding territorial concessions. He hadn’t expected the truth to be uncovered so quickly, leaving him publicly humiliated. Both emotionally and rationally, he had disgraced the Turkic people.

At this moment, everyone present harbored different thoughts.

The officials responsible for the investigation breathed a sigh of relief, while those handling diplomacy felt vindicated and empowered. Their gaze towards Jiang Qionglin subtly changed—from outright disdain to admiration and praise.

However, several noble families remained unsurprised, showing little change. They believed Jiang Qionglin’s actions were only natural. This sentiment was evident on Left Chancellor Gongsun Miao’s face and shared by other top-ranking officials, who remained unfazed and composed.

Fortunately, Jiang Qionglin paid no heed to others’ opinions.

His sole intention was to relieve Chen Zhao of her worries, nothing more.