The pageboy received his orders and hurried out with the scroll tube in his arms. Liang Huiying was frantic with worry, but she could not get away even for a moment — the Duke of Chuguo was particularly clingy, and whenever he was not discussing official matters, he was very enthusiastic about deepening their bond.
The room was warm, heated by charcoal braziers. Over a red clay small fire-stove was hung a copper kettle, warming his “Jade Brew” the whole day long. This wine had originally circulated from the Qi district in the east of the city, said to have been brewed by the Princess Wenxian’s consort, Duke Guo. Cold wine held no pleasure — it had to be left on a gentle flame through the winter, slowly warmed for a long time; the longer it sat, the richer its fragrance became.
“You have just come in from outside — would you like a cup of wine to ward off the cold?” the Duke of Chuguo said gently. “On a day this cold, if you want anything, just have the servants go out and fetch it. There is no need to run the errand yourself.”
Liang Huiying smiled. “Is it not your birthday in a couple of days? I was thinking of going to the Zhang Family Garden to order a banquet and have them send it here. Celebrating outdoors is lavish and conspicuous — with all the friends and relatives gathered, one table would hardly be enough. Far better to be at home: just the two of us behind closed doors, eating and drinking — that has the warmth of true family life.”
Her eyes were liquid and tender, her voice soft. He had been smiling light-heartedly at first, but all at once his expression softened, and he exhaled a low sigh, drawing her into his arms.
“Do you not like lavishness?” he murmured. “Guests from all directions wishing you well, everyone looking at you with envy and admiration… Do you not love that air of being above all others?”
Liang Huiying’s mind was on the news outside, but she was held there and could not leave. She forced herself to be patient and humor him, stroking his back and saying: “When I am with my Lord, I do not need them to flatter me — I am already above everyone. My Lord, you have only recently returned to the capital, and the palace is surely watching your movements. If you cultivate a reputation for frugality, it would be to my Lord’s advantage in every way. Was the Duke of Chenguo not just reprimanded by the Emperor yesterday? If the palace has any intention of targeting you, even ordinary socializing could be construed as evidence of factionalism. I believe that in times like these, my Lord must be especially cautious, and must on no account call friends and associates together — it would draw the Emperor’s suspicions.”
Her words reflected good judgment and discernment — these were the virtues a proper mistress of the household ought to possess. What a pity that the mistress of his household did not seem to care about any of that. Madam Deng was more interested in studying which style of dress best displayed her status, and how grand a banquet would inspire the most lavish praise from her guests.
If only the two of them could exchange places — that would be ideal. He raised one rough forefinger and touched her face with the utmost care. “Following me, I’ve made you suffer. Just now I heard her voice — she was cursing you again?”
Liang Huiying gave a soft sound of assent. “It is a trifling matter — my Lord need not take it to heart. As for suffering… I do not suffer. I have food to eat and drink, and my Lord to cherish me. What is there to suffer over?”
He seemed to have reached a decision, and coaxed her in warm tones: “You need not say it — I know. Bear with it for now. Once the greater matter is settled, I will give you a proper answer.”
The Duke of Chuguo was a very peculiar man. He had no particular loyalty or sense of brotherhood toward his own flesh and blood — but toward the woman he loved, he was deeply devoted, protective to the last degree. A man like this, when he loves, may not love forever — in the end, the one who matters most is always himself. The current tenderness and adoration exist only because she has not yet threatened his personal interests. On the day when the truth could no longer be contained, the one calling for her head might well be him.
Liang Huiying listened to his words of endearment, forced a smile, and said, “My Lord owes me no answer. As long as you allow me to remain by your side, that is already the greatest honor for Huiying.”
He was moved to hear it, and gazed at her with lingering tenderness. “When I think back to that meeting on the Bian River — Heaven must have taken pity on me, and sent you to my side.”
Liang Huiying raised her face and pressed her lips softly to his. “Was it not Heaven taking pity on my being alone and helpless, and arranging this meeting? My father and mother are both gone. Those who came to court me were either after money or after beauty. Only my Lord — with such a lofty standing as yours, as brilliant as sun and moon — what could you possibly be coveting in me?”
He smiled with warmth. “I covet something too — I covet your true heart, and that you will stay by my side forever.”
Liang Huiying felt a sudden wave of revulsion — though she could not let it show on her face. They had been playing at affection long enough; it was time to attend to real business. She gently pushed him aside. “My Lord said you were going to have me drink a cup of wine to ward off the chill — I only just came in from outside and haven’t changed my clothes yet. Wait for me a moment, and I’ll change before coming back.”
He felt it quite unnecessary for her to go back into the cold, and said: “Just have the women bring your clothes here.”
That pretty face turned red, cheeks puffed up indignantly. “Am I to change clothes in my Lord’s study? What sort of propriety would that be!”
He was most fond of her adorably petulant moods — but a young woman had her own dignity, and something as private as changing clothes was something even a woman of her position could not do without inhibition before him.
She finally managed to take her leave, stepping out of the warm study and into the bitter cold. The study was some distance from her courtyard, and as she walked she quietly instructed her personal maidservant: “Go immediately and relay word to the Duke of Weiguo — the Duke of Chuguo has imitated his handwriting and written the character ‘edict,’ intending to conspire with General Geng Yü to frame the Duke. Urge the Duke to take the greatest care.”
The maidservant answered and walked her into the inner courtyard, then, behaving as though nothing were out of the ordinary, went to the second gate to pass the message.
Only — far too much time had been lost. In a moment where everything could change in the space of a breath, she did not know whether it would still be in time.
Meanwhile, a Remonstrance Official had already walked directly into the palace to report to the Emperor. At that time, Xiang Xu and a few other Companion Officials were in the midst of expounding upon the Classics for the Emperor when the Remonstrance Official entered and presented the news: “The Duke of Weiguo is harboring treasonous designs — he has assembled Daoist conjurers and opened a ritual altar within his residence. Such conduct is greatly prejudicial to the security of the dynasty.”
The Emperor was quite taken aback. “Opened a ritual altar in his residence? What does he intend?”
The Remonstrance Official replied, “Under the guise of offering prayers as the New Year draws near, it is quite possible he is employing sorcery and witchcraft. Does Your Majesty not recall the incident of the talisman papers from Xuandu Abbey? The presiding Daoist who opened that ritual vanished without explanation — and to this day the person has not been found. On that occasion when the Court of Judicial Review investigated, they actually retrieved a fertility talisman from the Duke of Weiguo — does Your Majesty not find this suspicious? Your Majesty, with hearts throughout the realm now unsettled, and a great many people shifting with the wind, the integrity of the dynasty’s foundation is at risk if this continues unchecked. I implore Your Majesty to resolve firmly to put things in order and restore peace to the realm.”
Everyone exchanged glances with one another. An impeachment this devastating was clearly far more grave than the one the day before.
The Emperor was somewhat caught between difficult options. To begin an investigation of this matter was tantamount to announcing that the selection of a Crown Prince was formally being placed on the agenda, and various factions would take to the stage. At this age, with his health declining by the day, he honestly did not know if he could withstand such upheaval.
He looked at the Remonstrance Official. “Has the Remonstrance Bureau discussed and reviewed this matter?”
The Remonstrance Official replied, “The affair is of the gravest importance. An intelligence report only arrived half an hour ago. This official dared not delay, and came immediately to present the matter to Your Majesty.”
“Then in your view, what would be the most appropriate course of action?”
The Remonstrance Bureau had always carried the right to speak freely and without fear of reproach, so the Official had no reason to consider anyone else’s feelings. He cupped his hands and said: “Throughout every dynasty, sorcery and witchcraft have been strictly forbidden by repeated edicts. The notorious Witchcraft Rebellion of the Han dynasty implicated vast numbers of people and was deeply loathed by Emperor Wu. Now the Duke of Weiguo has broadly invited conjurers to open altars within his residence. Regardless of whether he is praying for good harvests or harboring treasonous ambitions, he must be sternly punished as a warning to others. In this official’s view, imperial outriders should be immediately dispatched to the Duke of Weiguo’s residence to arrest the relevant persons and subject them to rigorous interrogation. Only in this way can such malicious conduct be corrected, and transgressions within the court be brought back into proper alignment.”
“Your Majesty—” Xiang Xu, who had been listening, stepped forward and made a deep bow. “Your Majesty’s discernment is clear. The Duke of Weiguo has always been circumspect in his conduct. The source of this intelligence report is precisely what the Remonstrance Bureau ought to examine carefully. Investigation is not difficult — but if after investigation it proves to be fabrication, how would that then be handled? The Duke of Weiguo’s residence also honors the Precious Imperial Consort Dowager. If Her Honorable Presence were alarmed, would that not invite censure from all under heaven? The Remonstrance Bureau has the right to impeach, but it should not remonstrate merely for remonstration’s sake — it must carefully weigh the circumstances before asking Your Majesty to decide.”
This response of his promptly drew a fierce rebuttal from the Remonstrance Official. “Companion Official Xiang’s words are quite one-sided. It is true that the Duke is of imperial blood and his identity is eminent — but if he harbors treasonous intentions, are we to turn a blind eye? His residence honors the Precious Imperial Consort Dowager, but that is not a talisman granting him impunity. The search can be conducted while carefully avoiding the inner courtyard where the Consort Dowager resides…” He gave a derisive sniff. “And further — if the Consort Dowager were somehow involved, then naturally she should be treated as equally culpable with the Duke of Weiguo. How could she simply stand apart?”
“Then may I ask, Remonstrance Official Sun: in the absence of solid evidence, how does one search a Ducal residence without causing serious injury to all parties concerned? The Duke of Weiguo entered the military at sixteen and over the years stationed himself in Sizhou, repeatedly suppressing uprisings — are we to send men to search his residence on the basis of nothing more than an unverified intelligence report?”
The Remonstrance Official turned, raised his chin, and said: “Companion Official, that argument is entirely off the mark. Who in this court is not a pillar of the state? You cannot rest on yesterday’s merits and lie on the record of past achievements forever! As for evidence — we must investigate rigorously, and after investigation, evidence will emerge.” He cast a sidelong glance at Xiang Xu and said coldly: “Now I recall — the Duke of Weiguo and the Companion Official’s household are related by marriage. No wonder, with such a grave matter at hand, the Companion Official still speaks entirely in the Duke of Weiguo’s defense.”
The two of them traded sharp words, giving the Emperor a headache.
In affairs of this kind, the customary position was to assume there might be truth in it. Although the Emperor aspired to be a wiser sovereign than most, when it came to matters that truly struck at his foundations, he still chose to conduct a thorough investigation.
So he said to the Remonstrance Official: “Have the person who delivered the intelligence report placed under arrest and held for sentencing. If after investigation the matter is confirmed, reward this informant for his service. But if after investigation nothing is found, take him to the city execution grounds and behead him publicly — as a redress for the Duke of Weiguo.”
And so in the end it was the Remonstrance Official who prevailed. He received his orders and retreated from the cabinet, casting a glance at Xiang Xu as he departed.
Xiang Xu was deeply anxious, but could not send word outside, so he braced himself and continued the classical lecture for the Emperor. When it finally ended, he hurried out from the study, not even stopping to take his carriage. He swung up onto his horse and rode at full speed straight for the Duke of Weiguo’s residence.
But at the residence, all was already in chaos. Burning torches surrounded the entire compound. A wall of people stood fixed as nails at the gate, and the more they were blocked, the more bystanders crowded in.
Xiang Xu tried to push his way in — no easy thing. Inside he could vaguely make out cries of alarm, and all at once they sounded rather like Yun Pan’s voice. His heart leapt into his throat. He tried to push forward and presented his credentials to the outriders guarding the gate: “I am Xiang Xu, Companion Official of the Fuwen Pavilion — I have close kin inside. Please allow me to enter…”
But the outriders cared nothing about his identity. A hand came up and blocked the way: “Companion Official, pardon us — a search is under way inside. All unrelated persons must stand clear.”
He tried once more, and the man drew his saber three inches from the scabbard. The blade flashed with icy light in the torchlight. He knew then — there was no way he could help them now.
The Duke of Weiguo and his wife stood in the courtyard, ringed by outriders — and yet they were not cowed.
Li Jibai kept Yun Pan’s hand clasped in his. Yun Pan had never witnessed soldiers this ferocious before and had been at a loss at first — but when she saw his calm eyes, her wildly beating heart gradually steadied.
Some things, when they were destined to come, would come regardless. When these outriders had broken through the gate, she had heard him say quietly to her: “The Captain of the imperial outrider corps, Ma Xingfang, is the brother-in-law of Geng Yü.”
Yun Pan understood at once. What one called a narrow road where enemies meet was no more than this. In a way, this was better — knowing their adversary’s background, they had some sense of what to expect in this matter. There was no point hoping this man in charge would show any mercy, nor could they display even a shred of fear.
Yun Pan tightened her grip on his hand and watched those men rush to and fro before her, overturning and ransacking everything. How strange — when they entered, they had stated their purpose clearly: to root out sorcerers and arrest conjurers. But the manner of their conduct now seemed far beyond what that warrant required.
At least they had partitioned off Maoyuan and not disturbed the Dowager Lady. Since the Princess and Hui Cun both carried imperially conferred titles and were surviving family of the late Prince Liang Zhongxian, this search of the front courtyard had not extended to trouble them.
Yet those shut inside had no way to put their minds at rest. Yun Pan heard the repeated thudding at the moon-gate archway, and the Dowager Lady’s high voice calling out: “You lawless creatures, bursting into my house without warrant or evidence… I will beat the Petition Drum, I will lay my grievance before the Emperor himself…”
But the gates had already been sealed. The Princess and Hui Cun’s cries were cut off on the other side, and no matter how they called themselves hoarse, they could not reach the front courtyard.
Li Jibai knit his brow and looked down at Yun Pan. “I’m sorry. Because of me, the household is thrown into turmoil, and you are all made to suffer alongside me.”
Standing in the bitter cold, his fingertips were icy. Yun Pan could only do her utmost to warm them, while saying: “Don’t apologize. You have not wronged anyone. They say they are here to arrest conjurers — our residence is utterly clean. There are no conjurers here. As long as they find no one, they cannot do anything to you.”
He heard her words and gave a faint smile. “Arresting conjurers is merely a pretext.”
Indeed — moments later, an outrider came forward carrying a scroll of paper and presented it to Ma Xingfang. “Reporting to the Captain — this was found in the study.”
Ma Xingfang unrolled it and looked, then glanced over at Li Jibai with a smile. “The Duke of Weiguo is truly a man of grand ambition — already practicing your calligraphy so eagerly?”
As for what character it was — naturally he showed it to them both. Li Jibai looked at it without surprise. But Yun Pan turned pale with shock and cried sharply: “This was brought here by you from somewhere else as fabricated evidence! I tidy the Duke’s study every day — I have never seen these characters before!”
Ma Xingfang narrowed his eyes slightly, his tone carrying a trace of arrogance. “The Duchess need not argue. We are acting on orders — these items were found in the Duke’s study, and that makes them iron-clad proof. Since the Duchess says she has never seen these characters before, who is to say they were not written by the Duke today? Furthermore, Madam — you and the Duke are husband and wife. You would not fail to recognize his handwriting.” He unfurled the scroll, raised it high with one hand, and said indifferently: “Why does Madam not take a careful look — recognizing it clearly would serve as its own explanation.”
Yun Pan studied it closely. The brushwork and structure did indeed carry Li Jibai’s style, and for a brief instant she found herself confused — she could not understand why he would have intentionally left such a treasonous mark that could be used against him. But thinking it through again: he was a man of such prudence — how could he have willfully left such a hold for others to seize? No matter how she turned it over in her mind, the only explanation other than a frame-up seemed impossible.
Since someone was framing him, this was inescapable. Ma Xingfang’s leading questions would not shake her. She said: “No one’s handwriting remains the same forever, and no one’s brushwork cannot be imitated. Whatever Captain Ma shows me, my answer is still the same. My husband’s character is upright — he has never been disrespectful to the Emperor, and has never harbored any disloyalty toward the dynasty. A few sheets of paper, a few characters — what can they prove? At most, they prove that someone is seizing an opportunity to falsely accuse him, wanting to destroy my husband’s life.”
Ma Xingfang’s original intention had been to intimidate this Duchess first — if she ran out of words to argue, or even so much as said one wrong thing, he could grab hold of it and make an elaborate case. But this was a bold woman. Young in years, yet possessed of a great general’s composure. Even with evidence right before her eyes, she would not yield — she would say until the heavens fell that someone had framed her husband, and she would never plead guilty on his behalf.
Very well. Ma Xingfang gave a cold, nodding laugh. “In that case, it can only be left for His Majesty to decide. This officer will present the physical evidence to His Majesty in person. But the Duke of Weiguo, I’m afraid, will not be sleeping in his comfortable bed tonight — I must ask him to come with me.”
Li Jibai was, as always, unhurried and unruffled. He took the cloak that Lü Tan handed him and put it on, then bowed his head to Yun Pan. “Do you remember what I said to you before? Guard the gates well, and ask Uncle to keep you safe. What lies ahead for me is uncertain — if you can wait for me, it is Ji Fu’s fortune accumulated over a past life. If you cannot wait—”
Yun Pan did not wait for him to say those disheartening words. She said without hesitation: “If I cannot wait for you, I will go with you.” She turned at once and called: “Captain Ma — my husband’s health is poor. Might you permit me to attend to him personally?”
Ma Xingfang gave a contemptuous laugh. “Duchess, the Duke of Weiguo is suspected of crimes against the throne — he is not going into the palace for a leisurely chat with the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. In a matter of this gravity, it is not appropriate for family members to accompany him. I ask the Duchess to understand.”
The imperial outriders were cold-blooded figures — there had been little contact with them to begin with, and now, at a moment like this, their faces were masks of indifference toward everyone they knew. They dragged Li Jibai away, and because he moved slowly on account of his condition, they even shoved him from behind.
Yun Pan saw this and felt as though her heart were shattering. She followed close on his heels all the way to the gate, and said loudly: “The Emperor has not convicted the Duke. He is still a member of the imperial family. I ask Captain Ma and all officers here to treat my husband well.”
Ma Xingfang naturally did not want to cause any unnecessary complications — with all the titles this family held, if they truly came to blows with him, he might not come out ahead. So he signaled to the escorting outriders with his eyes and said, “Escort the Duke of Weiguo to the carriage.”
Yun Pan watched him take his seat in that plain and humble carriage. She tried to step forward, but the outriders formed a wall between them. The pain in her chest tightened desperately. She called out frantically: “My Lord—”
Torchlight lit up his brows and eyes before the carriage. He looked at her and slowly shook his head. “Remember my words… go back.”
But how could she go back? The person had been taken away — and with him, the very pillar of her strength. Those several outriders blocked her path. She could only watch helplessly as the armored procession surrounded the carriage and departed.
The last outrider spurred his horse forward, and in a moment the Ducal residence gate stood empty — save for the crowd of onlookers murmuring among themselves.
Yun Pan’s legs lost all strength beneath her. Fortunately Qin Dan and Nanny Yao were there to support her on either side, or she would have collapsed. At this moment, it seemed she could no longer afford to think of the Duchess’s dignity. Her steps faltered as she staggered forward a long way after them — but there was no catching up. It was not until Xiang Xu came forward and spoke to her that she finally emerged from her daze. Tears flooded her eyes. She said in a trembling voice: “Elder Brother, they have taken Ji Fu away.”