Chapter 36: Qin Ye Is Actually Dead

Wang Ziteng was the Commander of the Capital Garrison, a position equivalent to the Commander of the Nine Gates in Jiang Nian’s past life. His primary responsibility was the garrisoning of the capital city, but his authority also encompassed arrests, interrogations, night patrols, the enforcement of prohibitions, firefighting, and the census of the local militia.

In truth, Wang Ziteng had been so incensed by Jiang Nian’s forceful defiance and humiliation earlier that day that he had indeed considered arresting him on the spot. However, he hesitated and ultimately abandoned the idea. He did not merely want to apprehend Jiang Nian; he wanted to seize everyone in the Jiang household to ensure the secret of Baochai’s betrothal as a concubine remained suppressed. Yet, he had brought only eleven personal guards, all of whom were mounted, making it impractical to haul away the entire household. Furthermore, Wang Ziteng knew this affair was sordid and that he should remain behind the scenes rather than personally conducting the arrests. After leaving the Jiang residence in a fury, he had busied himself with mobilizing troops.

…

Qin Ye arrived at the small Jiang residence. Jiang Nian personally welcomed him into the main hall and instructed Qi’er and Qin’er, the two maidservants, to bring out two camphor wood chests. Pointing to the larger one, he smiled at Qin Ye and said, "As we have just moved in, the house lacks even proper seating. I must apologize for asking you, sir, to make do with this camphor chest as a chair."

Qin Ye frowned slightly, feeling a ripple of displeasure. In his view, such hospitality was a breach of etiquette. Upon reflection, however, he realized the Jiang family had indeed just moved in, and the oversight was perhaps excusable. He did not sit down, instead saying with a composed expression, "I shall not sit. I have come today merely to offer my congratulations on your move."

With that, he gently placed a silk-covered box he had been carrying onto the large camphor chest and said, "This is a gift for you—an inkstone."

Without waiting for Jiang Nian’s response, he took two more silk boxes from his servant and placed them beside the first, his tone calm: "These are the celadon vases you sent over. They are far too valuable for me to accept, so I have come to return them personally. The two canisters of tea, however, were a gift of genuine sincerity, and those I have kept."

Since Qin Ye did not want the celadon vases, Jiang Nian had no intention of engaging in a tedious back-and-forth. Jiang Nian smiled slightly, his tone respectful yet composed: "I thought that since you are an elder and a government official, the gift should not be meager, which is why I chose to present those celadon vases from the south for your appreciation. Since you feel it is inappropriate, I shall not insist. As for the inkstone you have gifted, I accept it with pleasure."

Qin Ye nodded, paused for a moment, and asked, "There is something I wish to ask. If you feel it inconvenient to speak of it, you need not answer."

Jiang Nian replied, "Please, Elder Qin, feel free to ask."

Qin Ye asked bluntly, "What is your background? Why is your household steward a fifth-rank Dragon Guard?"

Jiang Nian, naturally, had no intention of answering this directly.

At that very moment, dozens of officials and soldiers suddenly stormed into the small residence. Among them was Cheng Xu, a fourth-rank commandant who had accompanied Wang Ziteng earlier, though his role this time was merely to lead the way. The Capital Garrison was divided into the Infantry Battalion and the five Patrol Battalions; the Left Patrol Battalion was responsible for patrols and security in the eastern suburbs of the capital. The dozens of soldiers who arrived were from the Left Patrol Battalion, led by Ma Peicheng, a regional commander.

Ma Peicheng was clad in armor, a long sword at his waist, his expression as cold as frost. His sharp gaze swept over those in the courtyard. The soldiers behind him moved with an aggressive, murderous aura, clearly harboring ill intent. Jiang Nian, Qin Ye, and a servant from the Qin family, all startled by the sudden upheaval, emerged to the doorway of the main hall.

Cheng Xu raised a hand, pointed at Jiang Nian, and whispered to Ma Peicheng, "That is Jiang Nian."

Ma Peicheng nodded slightly, his gaze cold and stern. Pointing at Jiang Nian and Qin Ye, he shouted, "Seize them!"

Qin Ye stood frozen, his face a mask of utter bewilderment, as if struck by lightning. "..." What was happening? Why had so many soldiers suddenly arrived to make arrests? Why was he to be seized as well? He had only come to return a gift and offer his own! His mind was in a turmoil.

Before he could react, over a dozen soldiers charged up the moss-covered stone steps like wolves, their footsteps heavy and rapid. Jiang Nian remained calm, his eyes deep as pools. Having anticipated such a scenario, he offered no resistance and allowed the soldiers to bind him.

Qin Ye, however, was incensed. While struggling to fend off the soldiers, he shouted, "Why are you arresting me? I am a Vice Director in the Bureau of Construction under the Ministry of Works! What is the meaning of this? Let me go! I am merely a neighbor from next door; I am not part of the Jiang household..."

The soldiers paid no heed to his cries, as if they were nothing more than whispers in the wind. Ma Peicheng had been ordered by Wang Ziteng to seize everyone in the residence, leaving none behind. Qin Ye was elderly and frail, his health failing, and he usually walked with a limp. Against several strong, able-bodied soldiers, he stood no chance. As he struggled with all his might, a soldier, irritated by the man grabbing his neck, gave him a shove. Though the push was not exceptionally hard, it caused the elderly Qin Ye to lose his balance like a candle flickering in the wind, and he tumbled from the stone steps in front of the hall.

"Thud—"

A dull, heavy impact echoed, as chilling as a drumbeat. Qin Ye’s head struck the blue bricks at the foot of the steps, and his body lay motionless, like a puppet with its strings cut. Though the house was small and old, the stone steps in front of the hall were quite high. This fall was no minor matter.

"Master!"

The Qin family servant who had accompanied him cried out in panic, attempting to rush to his side, but he was seized by soldiers and could not break free. Ma Peicheng and Cheng Xu were both stunned by the sudden turn of events. They rushed to Qin Ye, knelt down to examine him, and their faces shifted drastically.

He was dead! Qin Ye had actually died from the fall!

Jiang Nian’s eyes widened, and he sighed inwardly: "Wang Ziteng, oh Wang Ziteng, you shall not escape the consequences of this!"

Ma Peicheng and Cheng Xu looked at each other, then tacitly stepped back a few paces. Ma Peicheng lowered his voice and asked, "This has resulted in a death! Judging by the old man’s shouting, he was a Vice Director of the Ministry of Works. How are we to resolve this?"

Cheng Xu’s brow furrowed. After a moment of contemplation, he whispered, "Stuff the old man’s corpse into a sack and take it away. Seize everyone in the house as well, and leave it to Lord Wang to decide."

The soldiers of the Left Patrol Battalion had brought plenty of hemp rope, but they had not brought large sacks suitable for a body. However, the Jiang household had large sacks used for luggage, which the soldiers promptly scavenged. Once Qin Ye’s body was stuffed into a large sack, Ma Peicheng immediately ordered, "Seize everyone in this house!"

Hearing this command, a flash of cold light appeared in Jiang Nian’s eyes. He could no longer restrain himself. He suddenly looked up, his gaze piercing like a blade toward Ma Peicheng and Cheng Xu, and shouted, "Stop! I am on intimate terms with the Thirteenth Prince!"