The Palace Front Court’s office building was originally used by the Imperial Archives. After Prince Yi’s rebellion, because many Imperial Archives officials were implicated, this place was taken over by the Palace Front Court and was never returned.
Outside Gongchen Gate, no place had better feng shui than this former Imperial Archives site. Coming from the Forbidden City, it only took the time of one incense stick if one walked quickly. Shen Run looked at the setting sun as it sank… lanterns were being lit on the palace gates across the long street. He closed the register in his hand and languidly dismissed the two eunuchs: “You may go, I have an honored guest arriving. After I review these, I’ll have someone return them to you tomorrow.”
The two eunuchs acknowledged and, slightly bowing, walked backward, their hunched figures reflected in the brightly polished wooden floor.
The Palace Front Court’s tranquility never lasted long – as some left, others entered. Two rows of young eunuchs came carrying candles from both sides of the corridor. In the blink of an eye, this enormous hall, half-submerged in darkness, became bright. That commander in his fine brocade clothes sat at the head, with such a relaxed expression between his brows as if nothing in the world was worth his worry.
Xie Shu hurriedly reached the hall entrance, and before entering, called out first, “Commander.”
Shen Run’s face showed perfunctory politeness as he stood up and walked out from behind the long desk. “I wasn’t on an inspection today, so I didn’t know the Commissioner had entered the palace.” After walking a few steps, he stopped in the gentle glow of the lamp-trees and asked with feigned ignorance, smiling, “The Commissioner’s complexion doesn’t look good – has something happened?”
Xie Shu, looking utterly defeated, hung his head and shook it repeatedly. As a military official posted to the provinces, he had focused on battlefield deployments these years and lacked the slick, roundabout mindset needed to handle imperial reproach. When His Majesty glared, his spine felt electrified, and he couldn’t say any of the words he had prepared. The entire audience ended in complete defeat.
This was exactly what Shen Run had been waiting for. He gestured for the Commissioner to take a seat, “There are no outsiders here. Whatever the Commissioner has to say, you can tell Shen Run freely.”
Xie Shu braced himself on his knees and, after catching his breath, said: “His Majesty has read my memorial. There’s no question about this matter – I expected His Majesty would be pleased to see it, after all, I’ve traveled between the inner and outer regions for over twenty years. Even with my eyes closed, I could wade across the Yaoshui River. But just as things seemed settled above, complications arose elsewhere. Someone accused me of abusing power in the military and slandered me to His Majesty. His Majesty had just inquired about it, which truly terrified me.” As he spoke, he clasped his hands, “Commander, you must help me out of this predicament no matter what. I was too hasty – if I had informed the Commander before the imperial audience, with the Commander mediating from the side, a few words would have smoothed things over. Now before His Majesty, I find myself tongue-tied. I fear that defending myself too much might provoke His Majesty’s anger, so I came straight to the Commander after leaving the palace, desperately seeking your advice.”
So this Military Commissioner was also skilled at burning bridges after crossing them – His Majesty had just received him, and he was already eager to shed his burdens, having gone in alone for the audience. If everything had gone so smoothly for him, why would his memorial have been suppressed for two months?
Shen Run smiled vaguely, “I also wish to help the Commissioner, but His Majesty has heard slanderous words – it might be difficult for the Commissioner to clear himself.”
Xie Shu froze, his sweat-soaked inner garment sticking to his spine, and despite the approaching sixth-month weather, he couldn’t help but shiver. He raised his eyes to look at Shen Run, his small mustache twitching comically, “Please guide me, Commander.”
Shen Run smiled with furrowed brows, his deep eyes containing a faint light, like a lonely moon floating in the center of a bottomless abyss.
“If the Commissioner wants to turn the situation around, you must first understand who is pressing down on you.”
Xie Shu blinked obscurely, “Fu Chunshan?”
Shen Run nodded slowly, “He was appointed as Governor of Yongzhou last year, commanding a hundred thousand troops in Yongzhou. His current rank is equal to yours and mine. But if I remember correctly, didn’t he previously serve under the Commissioner as a Deputy Commissioner?”
Xie Shu said yes – thinking about this truly made one feel unfair. Someone who used to bow and scrape before you now suddenly rises to be your equal, even trying to steal your merits and surpass you – this was more difficult to swallow than dealing with an unconnected upstart.
Once jealousy takes root, the heart becomes crooked and more easily manipulated. Shen Run casually rested his hand on the armrest of the round chair and glanced at Shen Che.
Shen Che caught his brother’s look and smiled, “If I were the Commissioner, I wouldn’t need to guess who made the accusation. Just think about who would benefit from the Commissioner’s downfall – that person would be the most suspicious.”
Xie Shu’s initially hesitant expression gradually became determined. The hand resting on his knee clenched into a fist, and after a long silence, he said, “There are still people under my command who had deep connections with him before… As long as the Commander is willing to help, bringing this person down won’t be difficult.”
Shen Run said, “Then I’ll help the Commissioner once more. I’ll submit a secret memorial to His Majesty, and at that time, I’ll need the Commissioner’s full cooperation. Once this matter is settled, the Commissioner can be free from worry and will have an explanation before His Majesty.”
After Xie Shu left the palace with countless thanks, only the brothers Shen Run and Shen Che remained in the vast office. Shen Che let out a long breath, “Someone like Xie Shu won’t relent until his interests are harmed.”
Shen Run snorted a laugh and looked toward the twelve lamp-trees below the steps – that distant light, each lamp represented one enemy.
Those who had once framed their father had all been sent to the yellow springs by the brothers. Among the twelve yellow wax candles, eleven had been replaced with white wax, leaving only this last one that couldn’t be eliminated because he relied on his sister being an imperial consort. Many things were interdependent – Xie Shu receiving His Majesty’s reprimand today gave him an excuse to thoroughly investigate military matters, and that Defense Commander who had a life-and-death friendship with Fu Chunshan became the target. Once transferred to the Palace Front Court, he would have ways to make him talk.
The Palace Front Court controlled national investigation and punishment. Three days later, when the escort officer came to report that the person had been brought to the torture chamber, Shen Run put down his work and strolled in leisurely to observe the interrogation. This sunless place had made many high officials weep bitterly – even the blue bricks had absorbed human blood, making the area from the torture rack to the drainage wall in the south much darker than other places.
The usher, seeing him arrive, presented a cloth perfumed with artemisia with both hands. Shen Run took it to cover his nose and mouth, his beautiful eyes glancing lightly, “Has he confessed?”
The usher shook his head, “He’s very stubborn, won’t open his mouth yet. I was about to report to the Commander – he still holds the fifth rank, so how should we proceed?”
“Fifth rank?” Shen Run sneered, “We’ve handled those of the second rank – what does a mere fifth rank count for?”
He stepped inside, and although the artemisia fragrance could mask most odors, the stench of congealed blood permeated every inch of the torture chamber, still making him very uncomfortable.
Two guards brought over a gold-lacquered wooden carved chair and placed it directly in front of the torture rack. He sat down, lifting his chin to say: “To find someone so loyal in this world truly makes me marvel. Defense Commander Zhao, why not reconsider? When he was advancing step by step, he never thought of promoting you. In ten years, he rose from fifth rank to second rank, but what about you? Ten years passed unchanged as Defense Commander, yet you still cover for him repeatedly – why bother?”
Those who deal with torture are most skilled at reading people’s minds, but such universal traits don’t necessarily work on everyone.
Just like this Defense Commander, who deeply understood the principle that they would fall together, so Shen Run’s words couldn’t shake him. He took two breaths and said: “Commander Shen, although Zhao is just a military man, I understand honor and shame. To make me confess to something that didn’t happen – if Zhao were to speak falsely, I would be ashamed before heaven above and my ancestors below. Please forgive Zhao’s inability to submit.”
Shen Run made a sound of acknowledgment, “Defense Commander Zhao is a man of iron backbone – I most admire such people.” He then turned his head to glance at the guard beside the torture rack, “This is Defense Commander Zhao’s first visit to the Palace Front Court – let’s show our full hospitality as hosts.”
The Defense Commander had originally been hanging by his hands but could still stand on the ground. However, at Shen Run’s command, the crossbeam above suddenly rose higher, leaving him suspended in mid-air.
How heavy a body’s weight is, the two arms know. When suspended for long, nausea and vomiting were only the mildest symptoms. Shen Run didn’t have so much idle time to waste here. He wanted quick results, so he clicked his tongue and said: “Given the Defense Commander’s lofty loyalty, I’m wondering what method of hospitality wouldn’t make our Palace Front Court seem discourteous… Come!”
At his raised voice, the guards on both sides responded in unison.
“Serve two cups of refreshments, and properly attend to the Defense Commander.”
Those guards were skilled hands at torture, and each torture method had its specific name. When a superior said “refreshments,” everyone understood the instruction.
Two guards eagerly brought two large iron weights and secured them with extremely thin hemp rope – one person supporting them while the other tied them to the Defense Commander’s ankles.
“These two cups of refreshments, each weighing ten jin, when hung for three days and three nights, will cut off the blood flow, and both feet will fall off on their own,” the escort officer said with a cold smile to the person being tortured, then added, “But within three days and three nights, people usually die first – Defense Commander need not worry, you won’t see it yourself.”
They had thought such a strong-willed person would at least hold out for half an hour, but unexpectedly he begged for mercy before even a cup of tea’s worth of time had passed. That Defense Commander, with cold sweat streaming down, said in a tearful voice: “Commander Shen, might I have a private word?”
Shen Run felt somewhat disappointed, but couldn’t very well ask him to hold out longer, so he just lifted his finger, letting the guards lower the person down.
The old case from many years ago, when dug up, still carried its full threatening power. Fu Chunshan had already shown numerous misdeeds when he was still a nobody, and with the investigators deliberately embellishing, the case files sent to His Majesty piled up like a mountain.
His Majesty flew into a great rage, dismissed him from his post as Governor of Yongzhou, and handed him over to the Palace Front Court to investigate jointly with the Justice Commission. In the current political landscape, the boundaries between those close to and distant from the court were strictly drawn – imperial relatives and close ministers of the emperor could establish residences in Youzhou within the capital region. The Palace Front Court received the imperial edict, and Shen Che personally led a team to seal the residence and arrest people. Although Youzhou was vast, the fall of a second-rank official was enough to shock the court and common people, so the news quickly became common knowledge on the streets.
For a time, everyone felt endangered. After Prince Yi’s rebellion, the brocade-clothed, gold-armored guards roamed Youzhou city daily. How long had it been since then? The fear had not yet subsided, and now there would be another round.
However, while everyone else panicked, the Xie family remained calm. Fu Chunshan was the only commander besides Xie Shu who thoroughly understood the military tactics of the Tubo people. As long as he lost power, Xie Shu would have a chance to rise again.
Sure enough, two days later, Xie Shu received an imperial edict commanding him to return to command troops in Jiannan Circuit. The bitter cold beyond Jianmen Pass suddenly became unprecedentedly dear – no one complained anymore about the master not returning for three years.
Only now did the Old Madam truly breathe a sigh of relief. “The ancestors have blessed us – finally after extreme hardship comes prosperity. Although serving the emperor is like serving a tiger, since your great-grandfather’s generation, official careers have had their ups and downs, but none as dangerous as this time. I’ve lived sixty years and seen plenty of good and bad, heard of great families falling overnight, but never thought I’d gain such experience myself. Looking back now, my heart almost jumps out of my throat. Thank heaven your lord made it through safely without incident. This autumn, the three young masters’ military examinations won’t be hindered either. If they all pass with high marks, your father will have strong support – father and sons on the battlefield, eh? With such a large family and estate, how could there ever be too many officials?”
Qingyuan stood in the corner, watching the Old Madam, who had been dejected just days ago, regain her spirit, and secretly found it somewhat amusing.
When the future was uncertain, people sighed that it would be better to be a commoner, not having to put one’s neck on the chopping block. Now that danger had turned to safety, the first thing to calculate was how to get the grandsons promoted to official positions. The human heart truly changes with circumstances, never knowing satisfaction.
Concubine Lian said, “We’d only heard before that the Palace Front Court had real power, but who knew it was this formidable! It would be good if the young masters could enter the Palace Front Court in the future – better to have the power ourselves than to exhaustively curry favor with others, to be able to have a say.”
Women think too simply, Xie Shu said: “To have a say in the Palace Front Court, how many years would one have to endure? The Shen brothers leading the guards in their early twenties – when has this ever happened in past years?”
Although Concubine Mei had lost money, she was still very positive about Shen Run’s role, “In any case, thanks to Commander Shen’s help, my lord has turned misfortune into a blessing.”
But Xie Shu smiled faintly, “I only learned later that Fu Chunshan had helped push along Shen Zhibai’s case in his early years. The Shen brothers were determined to eliminate him but had no way to start. This matter was mutually beneficial – we appreciate Commander Shen’s kindness, but who knows if Shen Run shouldn’t appreciate my helping hand?”
So this was the Xie family’s way – when in difficulty, they would lower themselves and be willing to give anything, but once recovered, they changed their tune, speaking of heroes having great use.
Everyone followed the master’s words with more sighs, and Concubine Lian muttered: “It’s just a pity about that silver…”
Madam Hu gave her a cold look, “Keep those words in your belly. Be careful what you say in public and private – don’t spread it around. If it’s investigated later, none of us could bear the punishment.”
Concubine Lian instantly felt greatly displeased, hating Madam Hu for using their silver to put on airs, but unable to contradict her to her face, she could only secretly gnash her teeth in hatred and turn away angrily.
The Old Madam ignored their conflict – looking at the long term, the Shen family was still worth befriending.
“If we can maintain regular contact, it would be all benefit and no harm to us.” The Old Madam then thought of Qingyuan, “Fourth Miss, that Commander’s wife has been in close contact with you lately, sending patterns and fruits. Pick a good time and invite her to visit our mansion.”
Qingyuan acknowledged, “The day before yesterday she sent word again, saying she wants to fulfill a temple vow tomorrow and asked if I’d like to go along. I was just about to ask Grandmother – should I go or not?”
“Why even ask?” The Old Madam smiled, “This is an opportunity we couldn’t ask for – just go ahead. After all, they extended help when we were in difficulty, and the road ahead is long – who can guarantee a lifetime without disaster or difficulty? Having one more friend is always good. When you go, take the opportunity to inquire when Commander Shen might have free time. Even if your father isn’t here, we can’t skimp on proper etiquette – we can’t let people say we’re ungrateful after crossing the bridge. In the future, for instance, your brothers’ careers might need to rely on them – excessive courtesy never offends. If we do it properly this time, it will be easier to speak next time.”
Qingyuan agreed, knowing in her heart that the Old Madam was still not satisfied. Simply resolving her lord’s predicament wasn’t enough – she still thought of paving the way for Zhengze and his brothers. So that Commander absolutely couldn’t be let go – after all, this time he could create such a big disturbance, with every high official in Youzhou trembling with fear while the Xie family kept their composure – whose backing did this rely on? None other than Shen Run!