The winter examination case had been solved, yet the Remonstrance Court and Hanlin Academy’s deliberations on Wu Jikang’s punishment had dragged on for a full month. The two sides had initially only been unable to agree on the sentencing itself, but later they became increasingly at daggers drawn, arguing daily with sharp tongues and red faces.

Just as the Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching—a time for celebration—the Remonstrance Court and Hanlin Academy actually came to blows in the Qinghe Hall, unable to contain themselves.

When the two sides fought in front of the Emperor, the Emperor’s head ailment flared up, throwing the Imperial Medical Bureau into chaos—they had to take the Emperor’s pulse while also treating the officials’ injuries.

“Scholar He, this is your fault. If they want to fight, let them fight. Why did you join in the commotion? You should have stayed far away.”

When Pei Zhiyuan returned to the Political Affairs Hall, he saw Hanlin Scholar He Tong kneeling outside the main gate. He casually lifted the man’s official hat and looked at the fine cloth wrapped underneath. “Look at your head, tsk…”

“Who wanted to fight? Those old stinking bugs from the Remonstrance Court are an utter disgrace to scholars!” He Tong indignantly snatched back his winged hat and put it back on properly. “Except for Censor Jiang, every single one of them spouted nonsense before His Majesty! When they couldn’t win the argument, they started throwing punches. If I didn’t know how to fight back, wouldn’t that just embolden the Remonstrance Court’s arrogance?”

Seeing that after just a few words He Tong’s temper was rising again, Pei Zhiyuan nodded and made agreeable sounds. Before he could continue his agreement, a voice from inside the door contained suppressed anger: “He Tong! Kneel properly!”

Hearing his teacher Zhang Jing’s fury, the previously righteous He Tong immediately wilted and hung his head, not daring to speak further.

“Scholar He, your hat is crooked.”

Pei Zhiyuan coolly reminded him, then said, “Minister Zhang is angry. You’d better wait outside for now. I’ll go in and have a look first.”

He Tong straightened his hat. Hearing the sarcasm in Pei Zhiyuan’s words, he snorted and ignored him.

“Chongzhi, he is part of the Hanlin Academy after all.”

The Political Affairs Hall officials hadn’t all arrived yet. Meng Yunxian glanced at Zhang Jing’s stormy expression and placed the memorial on his lap, lowering his voice slightly. “Though you’re his teacher, there are some matters you cannot decide for him.”

Hearing this, Zhang Jing turned to look at him. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking. Speaking of the current situation, isn’t this exactly what you most wanted to see?”

“The Remonstrance Court and Hanlin Academy have reached such a point of mutual hostility—you’re not even as anxious as that Jiang Xianming. Ni Qinglan’s case is no longer simple. They’re no longer arguing for Ni Qinglan’s sake.”

Zhang Jing coughed for quite a while. He didn’t accept the tea Meng Yunxian offered, instead having the hall attendant pour him a bowl which he drank before continuing, “I want to ask you—is this enough?”

Meng Yunxian’s smile faded somewhat. “Not enough.”

“Chongzhi, though Grand Preceptor Wu hasn’t seen His Majesty in all this time, look—today when His Majesty fell ill, Consort Wu immediately went to attend to him at Qinghe Hall.”

“Consort Wu has been by His Majesty’s side for so many years. She’s the one who most holds the Emperor’s heart. Wu Jikang is her only younger brother. With such a large age gap between them and no children of her own, her favoritism toward Wu Jikang cannot be understated. As for His Majesty—he also watched Wu Jikang grow up. Do you think his refusal to see Grand Preceptor Wu indicates his attitude?”

Meng Yunxian gazed at the brilliant sunlight beyond the doorway, his tone meaningful:

“I believe His Majesty may not truly want to punish Wu Jikang.”

On the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Emperor Zhengyuan remained bedridden. The struggle between the Remonstrance Court and Hanlin Academy intensified, yet they still couldn’t produce a plan for sentencing Wu Jikang.

“I heard he has asthma and fell ill in the Yinye Bureau. That Consort Wu sister of his is attending His Majesty’s sickbed and supposedly pleaded with the Emperor…”

“His Majesty issued an edict this morning permitting him to return to the Wu mansion to recuperate…”

In the bright afternoon autumn sun, Ni Su heard many people’s discussions and felt bone-deep cold. In a daze she heard someone nearby shout “He’s coming out,” and she immediately looked up.

The dark, forbidding gates of the Yinye Bureau slowly opened. A richly dressed young man was carried out on a sedan chair by people. His face was deathly pale, his breath faint as gossamer as he leaned against the chair back with half-opened eyes.

“Han Qing, since taking on this winter examination case, you’ve rarely been in the palace. If our family hadn’t come on His Majesty’s orders today, seeing you would still be difficult.”

The Chief Eunuch of the Palace Domestic Service, Liang Shenfu, first instructed the chair bearers to be careful, then turned with a smile to see Yinye Bureau Director Han Qing emerge.

“Godfather, tonight this son will return to the palace. On this Mid-Autumn Festival, this son should naturally be before his godfather.” Han Qing’s face showed a smile.

“For people like us, what festivals are there? His Majesty’s head ailment is unbearable. Even if you came, our family would likely have no leisure.” Liang Shenfu patted his shoulder. “We know your heart. Precisely because of this, our family must remind you—be less earnest, lest you truly displease His Majesty.”

Liang Shenfu spoke these words very tactfully, his voice very low, only audible to Han Qing alone.

Han Qing bowed his head. “This son remembers.”

As the two were speaking, Zhou Ting nearby saw Ni Su in the crowd below. She wore plain white mourning clothes with a narrow white cloth bound around her forehead, not a single ornament in her jet-black hair.

“Director, Miss Ni has come.”

Zhou Ting gave a reminder.

Not only did Han Qing hear this—Liang Shenfu heard it too. The two looked together in the direction of Zhou Ting’s gaze. Under the bright sunlight, that young woman in plain white clothing was particularly eye-catching.

“Don’t let her cause trouble here.”

Han Qing frowned and said to Zhou Ting.

Zhou Ting immediately descended the steps. At the same time, Wu Jikang’s sedan chair was about to pass through the crowd. The Wu mansion’s servants busily created a path through the onlooking common people. One servant shouted “Make way,” his gaze suddenly catching the girl in mourning clothes before him. He clearly paused.

In an instant, everyone’s gazes fell on this woman.

“Miss Ni, you shouldn’t have come today.”

Zhou Ting quickly walked to Ni Su’s side and said in a low voice.

“I’m just here to look. You won’t even allow that?”

Though her words were for Zhou Ting, Ni Su’s gaze remained fixed on the sedan chair.

“Look at what?”

In broad daylight, Zhou Ting couldn’t discuss the case details with Ni Su.

“Naturally to see what this murderer who took my brother’s life looks like.”

The young man on the sedan chair looked sickly, and Ni Su’s words were not quiet. As soon as he heard clearly, his eyes met hers.

Then he began coughing violently.

Seeing him look as though he might not draw another breath, coughing as if his heart and lungs would come out, Chief Eunuch Liang Shenfu hurriedly said, “Quickly! Quickly take the young master back to the mansion. The Imperial Medical Bureau’s physicians are all waiting—we must not delay further!”

Everyone hurried to escort the young master on the sedan chair away. Ni Su watched coldly, but saw Wu Jikang look down at her from his elevated position.

He was smiling.

In that instant, Ni Su’s mind went blank.

Many people surrounded Wu Jikang as he left through the crowd. Zhou Ting said something to her in a low voice that she couldn’t hear clearly. Her mind was full of that glance Wu Jikang had cast at her just now.

Like dense needles constantly piercing her heart, tearing at her reason.

She turned her head and stared fixedly at that person’s retreating back.

He was high and mighty, surrounded by people.

“Miss Ni.”

Zhou Ting wouldn’t let her go toward Wu Jikang.

The surrounding common people had already dispersed. Only Ni Su and Zhou Ting remained before the Yinye Bureau gates. Ni Su looked at his hand gripping her wrist and lifted her head.

Zhou Ting immediately released her. Meeting her reddened eyes, he froze for a moment, then said, “Don’t be impulsive. He’s returning to his mansion by imperial decree. If you block him, it’s defying the decree.”

“Then what wouldn’t count as defying the decree?”

Ni Su’s voice trembled. “Officer Zhou, please tell me—why can he kill someone yet still be openly escorted home? Why was it so hard for me to walk out from here?!”

Why?

Because Wu Jikang insisted it was manslaughter. Because the Emperor was partial to Wu Jikang. And also because the Wu family held power while she had only herself.

These words couldn’t be spoken aloud. If spoken, it would be disrespectful to the Emperor.

After a moment of silence, Zhou Ting said, “Miss Ni, the justice you seek—I very much want to give it to you as well. The Yinye Bureau has not abandoned this matter. Please take care of yourself.”

Ni Su no longer had the heart to hear what else Zhou Ting had to say. She had no reason to make things difficult for the Yinye Bureau. She turned and headed back the way she’d come.

“Officer Zhou, I heard the Hanlin Academy officials repeatedly tried to determine that Young Master Wu’s crime, but His Majesty used illness as an excuse to ignore them… The Emperor’s heart is biased—where is there justice? Do you think in the end, Wu Jikang’s death sentence won’t be determined? I think our Director can’t handle this matter anymore. No matter what, he won’t oppose His Majesty…”

Chao Yisong sighed.

Zhou Ting had been immersed in officialdom for many years. He understood clearly in his heart how unfavorable the current development was for Ni Su. A trace of complexity showed in his handsome features.

On the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the day of reunion, a lantern mountain had been erected on the street at some point. In broad daylight, many people climbed ladders to light the lamps on it. It slowly brightened, though the light didn’t look particularly beautiful.

Ni Su stared at it from below in a daze, seeing only chaotic human figures. The lantern mountain was tall and towering, as if it would soon collapse, burying her beneath, crushing her flesh and bones until she couldn’t even cry out.

She seemed to hear the “creaking” sound of the lantern mountain swaying precariously. But standing beneath it, she’d forgotten which way to go, only knowing to raise her hand to block.

The world spun.

She could hardly see the lantern mountain clearly, nor the people on the street, until someone’s arm encircled her waist. She looked up into the blazing sunlight at his pale, beautiful face for a moment, then looked at the lantern mountain.

It turned out it still stood firmly there and hadn’t collapsed at all.

Ni Su’s eyes moistened almost instantly. She suddenly grabbed onto Xu Hexue tightly like a drowning person clutching a lifeline.

To keep her from looking strange, Xu Hexue pressed his lips together and still soundlessly manifested before others, letting her hold him.

Before him stood that enormous lantern mountain, its light shining on his face, reflecting crystalline shadows in his eyes.

No one noticed how he had appeared. He quietly listened to her sobbing, gazing up at the lantern mountain. “Ni Su, don’t cry. We haven’t reached a dead end yet.”

Ni Su looked up at him through tear-blurred eyes.

Xu Hexue lowered his gaze. “Even if His Majesty intends to shield him, he still cannot change the fact that Wu Jikang killed someone. And you can force him.”

Force him how?

Ni Su’s eyelids moved slightly as she murmured, “The Court of Censorial Appeals…”

“His Majesty cares about public opinion. You can use it—make all of Yunjing City know of your brother’s injustice. Let all the common people of Yunjing City become your petition.”

Xu Hexue paused, then continued, “But Ni Su, you should know what you’ll face if you truly go to the Court of Censorial Appeals.”

This wouldn’t merely be appealing to the Emperor—it would damage the Emperor’s dignity. The punishment the Court of Censorial Appeals gave her would only be severe, not light.

“I’m going.”

Ni Su choked out.

He knew she would definitely go. If there were a better way, he actually didn’t want to tell her these things. The Emperor’s favoritism toward Wu Jikang was already blatant. He could roughly guess what Meng Yunxian was waiting for at this moment.

This was the best method, most aligned with Meng Yunxian’s plans.

But Xu Hexue couldn’t help thinking—these dirty political struggles in officialdom were unutterably cruel to Ni Su.

The lantern mountain grew brighter and brighter, almost dazzling.

The surrounding clamor grew heavier.

In this interweaving of daylight and lantern glow, Xu Hexue, almost tentatively, gently touched her hair:

“Ni Su, do you want to eat moon cakes?”

—