“These pitiful girls used tokens to negotiate with you, telling you that if they continued to die in the palace and caused a big commotion, when the Late Emperor thoroughly investigated, you would also be in great trouble. You knew they didn’t have the courage to speak out, so you let them off.”
“My father must have advised them not to leave the palace until Lian Yu ascended the throne. But several years later, when they reached the age where they could leave the palace, seeing that all was well and safe, they forgot the danger and still left this terrifying imperial city to return home and marry. It was only then that you killed three of them, making it look like disappearances, but buried their remains back in the cellar of their former palace quarters. I checked the list – those were the three palace maids who weren’t very friendly toward Lian Yu and his mother back then.”
Marquis Murong Jing laughed softly. “Why didn’t this old man kill all the others together?”
Su Zhen: “I went to Chen Jin’s home. She’s living quite well, which should be Lian Yu’s instruction for local officials to take care of her, to repay old kindness. Besides Chen Jin, there were several others who were very good to him and Jade Consort back then. Since he had people look after them, killing them would inevitably draw his attention.”
“Who would have thought this case would still be reinvestigated? So you set up traps, luring and killing the investigators one by one. First you made Li Zhaoting fall alone into the cellar. I could never understand why Consort Qi called me away that day, and that eunuch who led away the Ministry of Justice people. Now I finally understand – they were probably all acting on the General’s instructions. But through a twist of fate, we didn’t die, and the bones in the cellar were excavated. To prevent us from investigating the palace maids, you sent people to kill them all.”
As she spoke here, she slowly paused. All around was also completely quiet, with only the rustling of leaves still gently responding.
“Is the story finished here?” Marquis Murong Jing asked with a smile.
Su Zhen’s expression grew solemn. “General, whether this is a story or not, you know in your heart. Those events from long ago, most can no longer be traced, and much of it includes my speculation. But today’s assassin was sent by you – the evidence is here. Could it be that a dignified Nation-Protecting General dares to act but not admit it?”
Marquis Murong Jing: “What this old man dares to do, I naturally dare to admit. It’s just that the contradictory one is you, Magistrate Li. You won’t take me in.”
As he spoke, he looked around, his eyes revealing the insight of seasoned worldliness. “You separated people to investigate – it wasn’t merely hoping to clearly present everything, was it? Besides, His Majesty isn’t here either.”
When Su Zhen was named top scholar and went to the Imperial Study to pay respects to the Son of Heaven, she was lectured thoroughly by Lian Yu in the manner of a teacher to his student. At the time, she found Lian Yu thoroughly detestable, with a wretched air about him, very cunning. Marquis Murong Jing was also there then, and she finally understood now who Lian Yu resembled.
The crowd around was shocked by this – what did Marquis Murong Jing mean?
Wuqing, usually calm, couldn’t help but walk in front of Su Zhen upon hearing this. “Are you planning to let him go?”
“That’s right, Huaisu. This person is not to be trifled with, but he killed people, even killed His Majesty’s mother,” Zhui Ming and Tie Shou also stepped forward, their eyes full of shock and confusion. Tie Shou said: “If you hand him over to His Majesty, His Majesty will definitely handle it fairly.”
“Didn’t you already prepare for this before taking on the case?” Zhui Ming said, suddenly thinking of something. “Could it be you’re afraid His Majesty will be in pain?”
“No, no matter how difficult it is to bear, what must be faced must still be faced.” Su Zhen had been silent, but finally spoke now.
“Or are you truly afraid of offending the Murong family because of this, and making the Emperor angry and ashamed? After all, for him, how to deal with Marquis Murong Jing is a great difficulty. To kill him would offend the Empress Dowager; not to kill him goes against his conscience. You’re afraid he’ll blame you for this and not allow you to overturn the Feng family case anymore?” Wuqing slowly spoke, but his tone had already turned cold.
“Enough! Let Huaisu speak. She’s the chief investigator, she has the right to decide what to do!” Seeing everyone pressing with questions, Little Zhou suddenly shouted loudly, glaring fiercely at Wuqing.
Wuqing smiled coldly. “The world is dark. I originally thought the Ministry of Justice was finally a place that could uphold justice. Turns out I was wrong. I know you understand best how to seek good fortune and avoid disaster, but forgive me for being unable to agree.”
“You!” Little Zhou’s eyes turned red, clenching his fists.
Nearby, the blue-robed constable and the nameless female constable were also extremely angry. The female constable said coldly: “Everyone’s efforts were in vain, all the injuries were for nothing. What use is it to have truth without judgment in this world?”
Su Zhen slowly lowered her head, her gaze falling on the oil-paper umbrella on the ground and the leg bone that Marquis Murong Jing had thrown down.
As everyone argued with flushed faces, Marquis Murong Jing spoke again: “Magistrate Li’s actions have earned the Murong family’s deep gratitude. When the Feng family’s case is overturned in the future, the Murong clan will definitely provide full support to help you restore your family’s glory.”
This time, there was no trace of mockery in his eyes.
He wasn’t as confident as he appeared on the surface. The continuous provocations and questioning were merely to find out how much she actually knew. Now he understood in his heart that she knew too much. Even if Lian Yu wasn’t present, if she were to tell Lian Yu something, it would be earth-shaking. The position of Chief Magistrate wasn’t randomly appointed by Lian Yu – it must be someone he trusted. He could no longer treat her with hostility, and since she seemed inclined to let him go, he naturally should show his greatest sincerity.
“Huaisu!” Wuqing gripped Su Zhen’s shoulder, his clear, handsome eyes already ignited with anger.
Such occasions from Wuqing could be counted on one hand.
Su Zhen felt suffocated in her heart, but she had already made up her mind. Therefore, she held his hand and slowly released it. “I’m sorry.”
She turned to Marquis Murong Jing, pointing toward outside the palace walls, and smiled: “The General is right. This subordinate separated people for thorough investigation and didn’t let Li Zhaoting and others participate, precisely to prevent this kind of situation.”
“Today, Huaisu will definitely let the General walk out of this courtyard gate, but this has nothing to do with my Feng family. To speak unpleasantly, if it were Minister Yan here today instead, this subordinate would be a hundred times happier. But the General is different. If something happens to you, it would be more troublesome than if something happened to the Empress Dowager. Before Huo Chang’an returns, General Murong, who represents the Son of Heaven’s military power, absolutely cannot have anything happen to him.”
“But once Huo Chang’an returns to the capital, this subordinate will report everything from today. How to handle it will be left to His Majesty’s decision.”
Su Zhen looked again at the people from the Ministry of Justice and the constables from Six Doors. “It’s not that there will be no judgment, but that it’s postponed. If His Majesty knew now, if General Murong died, there would be no one to command the army. Even if he weren’t killed, His Majesty would certainly have reservations in his heart. Consort Ai is already stirring restlessly, and behind her are the Prince Jin faction forces that we know nothing about. If both sides take advantage of the void, the political situation will surely be in chaos. As an emperor, His Majesty is a wise ruler. The people are now living in stability – we cannot let them fall into the flames of war again.”
Marquis Murong Jing’s brow furrowed tightly as he looked over coldly and sharply. “Can the lives of several palace maids be worth that of a Nation-Protecting General?”
Su Zhen met his sharp, cold gaze. “General, in your heart, their lives aren’t worth money, but in this subordinate’s heart, even if the Son of Heaven breaks the law, he’s the same as a commoner – let alone the lives of dozens of people. Huaisu respects you for teaching the Great Zhou a wise ruler and talented general, and for being a good elder brother who protects his sister. In the future, the Great Zhou’s historical records will surely have your name, but the sins you’ve committed must also be repaid. Only by being so upright and honorable can you be worthy of your Murong clan’s glory?”
As she spoke, amid Zhui Ming’s exclamation, she seized the sword at his waist and made a cut across her own wrist. Blood flowed down the blade and dripped onto the leg bone on the ground.
“I swear by this that Li Huaisu will definitely fulfill today’s promise in the future,” she said.
“These three eunuchs – I believe the General has bloodless methods to make them keep quiet. It’s time to go out and handle the aftermath. Are you leaving or not?” Finally, she asked everyone.
Little Zhou’s eyes flickered, then he came over first, hooking her shoulder and smiling: “Let’s go! It’s just that this time we’re going out empty-handed – you’re probably in for it.”
Zhui Ming and Tie Shou said nothing but slowly followed. Then came the people from Six Doors.
“Sir, regarding today’s events, we, like the other courtyards, discovered nothing.”
The female constable bowed to her, then left with the blue-robed constable leading everyone else.
“Wuqing, aren’t you leaving?” Su Zhen turned back to ask.
Wuqing stood in the courtyard, his figure tall and sharp. He stared at Su Zhen for quite a while, then finally smiled helplessly and walked to Little Zhou’s side. But Little Zhou snorted coldly and walked further away.
At this moment, Marquis Murong Jing’s aged voice slowly came from behind: “Magistrate Li, please wait.”
Su Zhen tensed, telling everyone to go ahead.
“Regarding all those past events, Jade Consort and the palace maids were killed by me, the latter buried at their former location. I don’t object to what you said, except for two things. First, on the day of the case review, I didn’t have Qi’er send you away. Li Zhaoting was manipulated by someone else and fell into the trap – whether it was the Quan faction or Jin faction is unknown. Second, I did later kill four other palace maids, but I didn’t touch their families. Someone followed closely behind and finished the job, escalating the conflict even more.”
“Though our paths differ and we cannot work together, your father was a remarkable person, and so are you. Since you’re considering the Great Zhou’s political situation, this old man won’t mince words either. But if things were to happen again, this old man would still do the same.”
Su Zhen felt a chill rise from her heart, but ultimately didn’t turn back. This case was now concluded.
When they reached their original gathering place, she slowly stopped, seeing palace consorts and ministers walking in through several gates one after another, voices bustling loudly. Having been manipulated and dealt with assassins, constables, blades and arrows without understanding what was really happening, but knowing their personal safety wasn’t guaranteed was real – everyone’s faces showed anger as they submitted memorials to Lian Yu.
Li Zhaoting looked over at her, his gaze deep and probing. Not far from him, Quan Feitong stared at her with unfriendly eyes – she didn’t know where she’d offended this person again.
The people from the Ministry of Justice waited for her in the distance.
She signaled them not to move and walked toward the black-robed, gold-crowned man standing with hands behind his back in the center.
Lian Xin looked curious and anxious. Beside him, Murong Qi and A Luo both had similar expressions of doubt in their eyes.
Only he gazed as always, profound and clear, his eyes falling on the top of her head, his emotions hidden.
“Your Majesty, this subject is guilty. This case… this subject is incompetent and unable to find results,” she reported with lowered head, having no other words in her mind except Little Zhou’s phrase “you’re in for it.”