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Yuchang Sword
墨書 Inktalez
During the Qingming Festival, Yanzhou Prefecture was shrouded in a misty rain. At a grand residence in the east of the city, red lanterns hung high, firecrackers crackled, and guests came and went, creating a lively atmosphere. Today, General Qin Ping was retiring from military service at this very place. The guests included high-ranking officials from the court and regional governors, with some traveling great distances to offer their congratulations.
General Qin, nearing seventy, had served under the Yongle Emperor since his days as Prince of Yan. He had fought countless battles throughout his life, and during the Jingnan Campaign, he had displayed remarkable prowess, helping Prince of Yan seize the throne and achieving unparalleled merit.
Now that the Yongle Emperor was leading an expedition to the north, Qin Ping had submitted a request to join the campaign. However, the emperor, considering his age, was reluctant to burden him further and instead conferred upon Qin Ping the title of Marquis of Resolute Valo, granting him a certificate of nobility and allowing him to enjoy his later years in Yanzhou.
A few days prior, Prefect Yu Yan had received an invitation but hesitated. On one hand, Yu Yan was not one for socializing and disliked attending banquets; on the other hand, he had experienced some friction with Qin Ping in their earlier years.
However, word reached him that Qin Ping would publicly display a rare treasure before the banquet—a legendary artifact known as the Yu Chang Ancient Sword! Yu Yan had always cherished antique appreciation above all else. Weighing his options, he decided to attend with Luo Zuo.
Upon arriving at Marquis of Resolute Valo's residence with his congratulatory gift, Yu Yan was struck by the lavishness within. The banquet was set in the back hall, where most attendees were military officers; as a fourth-rank civil official, Yu Yan could only sit at the back.
Seated in a corner, Yu Yan poured himself a drink while his hands trembled slightly. He anxiously hoped for Qin Ping to reveal the sword soon; urgency flickered in his eyes.
Noticing Yu Yan's discontented demeanor and sighs, Luo Zuo leaned closer and quietly asked about his troubles.
Yu Yan furrowed his brow and replied softly, "It's not that I am petty; it's just that General Qin hails from Luoyang. Why choose to retire in Yanzhou? The people here will surely bear the brunt of it!"
At that moment, Qin Ping rose unsteadily to toast the guests, appearing quite tipsy with a slight stumble in his step. The officials raised their cups in response. With a hearty laugh, Qin Ping declared, "I am grateful for your kindness! I shall fetch the sword now for everyone to enjoy!"
Two attendants hurried forward to support Qin Ping as he left the banquet hall and headed towards the western courtyard. Half an hour passed without his return. Growing anxious, Yu Yan began tapping his fingers on the table and called for an attendant to check on him. Suddenly, a shout came from the direction of the western courtyard: "This is bad! The Duke has been killed!"
Yu Yan was taken aback, his face turning pale in an instant as he hurried with the other officials to investigate.
The main door of the west courtyard was wide open, and he could vaguely see Qin Ping lying on the ground. Yu Yan rushed a couple of steps, blocking the entrance with his body, and clasped his fists, bowing slightly as he said, "Gentlemen, please do not enter. This is a crime scene, and Yanzhou is under my jurisdiction; it is my duty to examine it!" He then whispered a few words to Luo Zuo beside him. Luo Zuo nodded and quickly left the Marquis Residence.
Yu Yan removed his boots and cautiously stepped inside, his eyes alertly scanning the room. The furniture and decorations were arranged neatly, showing no signs of a struggle. There were some dried footprints on the floor, but they were indistinct.
Qin Ping had a short sword embedded in his back, his limbs slack, indicating he had been struck fatally without any warning. Beside the body lay a zitan wood box containing a sharkskin scabbard. Upon closer inspection of the weapon, it measured about fourteen inches long; judging by the patterns on the hilt and blade, it appeared to be crafted using pre-Qin techniques.
"Could this be the Yuchang Sword? How could General Qin be killed by his own treasured sword?" Yu Yan furrowed his brow, murmuring to himself, confusion and gravity etched on his face.
Outside the door, discussions erupted among the crowd. Yu Yan stepped forward and took a deep breath before speaking loudly: "The Duke has been fatally stabbed by a sharp weapon; the murder weapon may very well be the Yuchang Sword... The Duke was an important minister of the court, and now he has met with an untimely death. This matter is of great significance; everyone present tonight is a suspect. I request that all gentlemen remain at the Marquis Residence for questioning."
As soon as Yu Yan finished speaking, he was met with dissent: "How dare you, a mere fourth-rank magistrate, act so arrogantly? Everyone here is a high-ranking official; if this delays state affairs, can you bear the consequences?"
"Hmph! Yanzhou is under my jurisdiction; investigating this case and capturing the culprit is my responsibility! If we let the murderer escape and His Majesty holds us accountable, who among you can bear that burden?" Yu Yan stood tall and unwavering, his gaze firmly sweeping over the crowd.
At that moment, Luo Zuo led over a thousand Fu Bing to surround the Marquis Residence completely. The soldiers quickly formed ranks, their movements synchronized.
The officials continued to murmur among themselves when Luo Zuo placed his hand on his dagger and shouted, "The rooms in the Marquis Residence have been prepared for you gentlemen; please proceed!"
Faced with no other choice, everyone exchanged glances and complied. Yu Yan ordered his subordinates to conduct a thorough search of the Marquis Residence from top to bottom. The soldiers scoured every corner without missing anything but found nothing amiss. They then called forward two attendants who had supported the Duke and a guard from the west courtyard for detailed questioning.
At that time, the two attendants had helped the Duke to the front of the house. The Duke entered alone and closed the door behind him. After waiting for half an hour without seeing him come out, they assumed he had drunk too much and fallen asleep. They knocked on the door but received no response; gathering their courage, they entered to check only to find the Duke lying dead with a weapon in his back. The patrolling guard also reported not hearing any sounds of struggle from within.
Yu Yan dismissed everyone and, looking at Qin Ping's corpse, shook his head slightly. "From the location of Duke's stab wound, it is clear that the assailant struck with precision and decisiveness. This must be the work of a top-notch assassin. It seems the suspicion falls most heavily on the military officers among the guests."
" Head Constable Luo makes a valid point, but most of the military officers here are old subordinates of Duke. Who among them could harbor such deep-seated hatred? Moreover, Duke has fought alongside Your Majesty in battles across the north and south. Although he is now old and weary, it is unlikely that anyone would dare to take his life so quietly. We must consider this matter carefully. I will write a letter at once; please send someone to deliver it urgently to Lord Yang in the capital, eight hundred miles away." As Yu Yan spoke, he quickly walked to the table and picked up a brush, writing swiftly.
Yu Yan worked through the night to gather evidence, arranging for an autopsy and making clear impressions of footprints in the room. He set up a high mourning canopy for those who wished to pay their respects.
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