The Emperor’s punishment of the Cui family continued for many days, adding a touch of bleakness to the autumn wind and placing a dark cloud over the heads of all officials. No one knew how the Emperor planned to handle the matter, and even those requesting leave from court attendance had decreased.
All of this originated from a Chief Clerk in Prince Yan’s mansion who had overstepped his authority to remonstrate directly, delivering evidence before the Emperor.
Within a few days, Lu Huating’s name had become known to everyone. When he stepped forward, the assembled officials turned to look at him one after another.
Lu Huating kept his eyes straight ahead, showing no reaction.
For him, it seemed he was more accustomed to bearing such gazes.
“Father, whether you believe it or not, this is his first step toward high office and ministerial rank.” Meng Guanlou said faintly, “That ledger is now in the Emperor’s hands. The Meng family is not clean either. When you receive the imperial summons, you must be wary of becoming estranged from the Emperor.”
Meng Guangshen naturally also knew the assassins had failed, but the assassins he had sent could not be traced back to him, so who was to say this wasn’t also a kind of victory? He smiled and said, “Young people all have ambition, thinking that squeezing into the center of power will allow them to display their talents fully, yet they don’t know that fighting alone, whether they can withstand the crushing pressure of the waves.”
“Even if the Emperor sees the ledger, it won’t harm the Meng family.” Meng Guangshen smiled at Meng Guanlou, as if mocking his anxiety. “I was the Emperor’s strategist when he raised his banner. The Emperor values old ties and won’t treat us the same as those Chu ministers. Moreover, the Meng family is in that ledger, but the amount is small—not even one-tenth of our family assets.”
“In dealing with the Emperor, I have my explanation. Since our family nearly formed a marriage alliance with the Cui family, couldn’t it be that due to old friendship, we helped support the Cui family back then and invested in this Siye Tower? Who would have thought this Cui Zhu would repay kindness with enmity, abusing his authority for personal gain, and before death still trying to sow discord between sovereign and minister?”
Meng Guanlou discovered he had never guessed his father’s intentions correctly. “If that’s the case, then what is Father worried about? Why did you need to send assassins?”
Meng Guangshen’s brow twitched, but only for an instant. Those brown pupils looked toward Meng Guanlou. “What I’m worried about is you.”
Thinking of everything he might suffer if Lu Huating obtained evidence against him, Meng Guanlou’s face turned deathly pale. “Zhu Su failed in his mission. Your son acted rashly. I only wish to bear the punishment alone, without implicating Father.”
Before his words had finished, Meng Guangshen’s hand rested on his shoulder. “You must remember, the rise and fall of official careers is normal. As long as you can hold on, as long as the Meng family doesn’t fall, sooner or later, what should be taken back can all be taken back.”
Meng Guanlou nodded. Meng Guangshen entered the Zichen Hall for an imperial audience, brushing past Lu Huating without sparing him a glance.
Emperor Chenming’s face was hidden behind the curtain. “Since the Cui family’s wealth has been confiscated to the national treasury and the people are still held in the Justice Ministry, the Vice Minister of Justice came earlier saying the Cui family members fought in prison and caused quite a disturbance. What does Minister Meng think—how should these people be dealt with?”
“This subject believes they should be severely punished—harshly.” Meng Guangshen said, “According to the maximum penalties under Great Chen’s criminal code. Execute all the men, exile the women. This subject can take charge of this matter.”
“Won’t that be too severe?” Emperor Chenming said gently, “After all, we nearly became in-laws. I summoned you here precisely because I wanted to consider your feelings.”
If he wasn’t harsh enough, how could he demonstrate that he had absolutely no collusion with the Cui family? Meng Guangshen said, “The Cui family harmed innocent people to the point of public outrage. The matter of children’s marriage is a trivial matter. If such a major national case isn’t severely punished, how can we deter the hundred officials and uphold justice? As for my son’s marriage, I believe there will surely be a young lady of discernment who values him, regardless of family status.”
Emperor Chenming lifted the curtain, his expression moved. “Speaking of meritorious service and hard work, who can compare to Minister Meng? You are upright and honest, clean-sleeved—aside from you, I don’t know with whom to speak what’s in my heart.”
This reaction stunned Meng Guangshen. He forced a smile. “May this subject see that ledger?”
Emperor Chenming then handed him the ledger. Meng Guangshen quickly leafed through it. Indeed, the Meng family wasn’t in it, but one page showed faint traces of having been torn out.
He finally looked toward Lu Huating, not knowing what trick he was playing. Lu Huating also used those pitch-black eyes to meet his gaze.
“Minister Meng ultimately gave me a life. I dare not forget the grace of giving birth to me, and thus presume to use this opportunity to ask the Emperor to speak on my behalf.” Lu Huating spoke calmly and pleasantly, yet seemed to have implications.
As if he deliberately wanted to do the Meng family a favor, so that Meng Guangshen would accept him establishing himself at court.
Emperor Chenming smiled and indeed began mediating. “I must speak a few words on Yunming’s behalf. Blood is thicker than water—after all these years, why are you still so distant? Look how concerned you are about Ninth Brother’s marriage. What about Qilang? All these years delayed.”
Yet Meng Guangshen only stared at Lu Huating. He didn’t like Lu Huating’s eyes. The shape resembled Lu Wan’s, but the mocking, smiling expression was too much like his own. These eyes that saw through everything set in a young person’s face—like a monster. This is what he thought in his heart, though his mouth agreed.
Emperor Chenming also asked how to handle the confiscated silver now in the treasury. The people whose names were on the register were all anxiously awaiting judgment.
Meng Guangshen steadied himself. “If everything is confiscated, there’s no harm for now, but I fear the hundred officials will harbor resentment, daring to be angry but not to speak, causing hearts to scatter. This subject believes it proper to return everything according to the register. First, it demonstrates the Emperor’s magnanimity. Second, it shows the Emperor knows exactly who is in the ledger, which will serve as a deterrent to them in the future.”
Combining grace with authority, a plan to win hearts—Emperor Chenming nodded, but felt somewhat reluctant.
Lu Huating said, “They can be returned, but this wealth never paid household taxes at the time. This subject believes we should first collect three years of household taxes, then return the remainder. What can be kept in the treasury will still be considerable.”
Emperor Chenming was satisfied, saying “good” several times in a row, and couldn’t help but sigh. “If only you father and son could reconcile, how wonderful that would be.”
Lu Huating smiled. Meng Guangshen could not smile. After reluctantly responding with a few phrases, he withdrew.
Just then, the Vice Minister of Justice entered again, bringing bad news. “Reporting to the Emperor, someone from the Cui family imprisoned in the jail has escaped!”
“Who?” Emperor Chenming asked.
“Cui Zhu has a younger brother named Cui Hao. Those several Cui family members fought in the prison to attract the jailers’ attention and help Cui Hao escape.” He said urgently, “The treasury silver roughly matches the ledger, but the Cui family’s own wealth—what was confiscated shouldn’t be only this much. There should be a large amount of wealth hidden elsewhere. This Cui Hao probably ran off with the key to the private vault.”
Since the previous dynasty, wealthy families had hidden wealth in private vaults to resist property confiscation, devising this golden cicada shedding its shell scheme. The Justice Ministry needed to inventory the wealth immediately, yet they were still a step too late.
“What does the Justice Ministry do? Why haven’t you captured him?” With this incident occurring, Emperor Chenming was naturally displeased. Lu Huating only observed Meng Guangshen with cold eyes, seeing a crack seem to appear in his habitually peaceful face, his color changing slightly.
However, very quickly, his expression returned to normal as he turned around. “Your Majesty, this subject can assist the Justice Ministry in capturing this Cui Hao.”
“Since that’s the case, Minister Meng, please take the trouble.” Emperor Chenming no longer had the mood for idle chat and dismissed them both.
Juan Su was still waiting for Lu Huating at the entrance.
Seeing Lu Huating and Meng Guangshen emerge one after the other, he said in surprise, “Chief Clerk… haven’t you never associated with Minister Meng?”
Lu Huating paused for a moment, then smiled. “Legend has it that Abutoniye was cursed by hell with endless life, but every lifetime he met a bad end. Each time he was reborn, he had to change his method of killing people—otherwise, wouldn’t life be too boring?”
It was just that in his previous life, he had reached the final killing stage. Now having to dissemble, pretending to be weak and friendly, made him somewhat nauseated.
He expressionlessly touched the sandalwood beads on his wrist, touching the five-colored cord knot embedded in the middle, and couldn’t help but pause. Looking down, in the night the five-colored cord knot’s colors were bright, like a budding bellflower.
The wind lifted Lu Huating’s hair strands, inexplicably brushing away that restless mood. “What is the person I told you to watch doing?”
He had given her the ledger—how would she explain this to her superiors? Since the court hadn’t fallen into chaos, there should be Nan Chu spies coming to find her.
Those spies also had to be killed.
“Not doing anything.” Juan Su said, “Miss Qing hasn’t gone anywhere recently. Perhaps she’s busy in the Crown Princess’s palace. Your subordinate will continue watching.”
—
Qun Qing was indeed very busy.
The day for receiving the Buddha’s bone relic was approaching. Besides assisting Zheng Zhiyi with ceremonial etiquette and rules, the Shangshu Bureau had sent down new garments and prayer robes. Qun Qing and Lan Yue inspected the clothes, then Qun Qing helped Zheng Zhiyi alter the prayer robe by candlelight.
Lan Yue said, “Have you heard? The Cui family has fallen. That Cui Ying girl from before, the one who was said to have drowned during the examination, suddenly came back to life, saying she had fallen into an old Chu state tunnel. Surviving a great disaster, Minister Meng petitioned the Emperor to spare Cui Ying’s life and even wants to take her as his daughter-in-law.”
Zheng Zhiyi, who was memorizing texts, looked up. “Minister Meng is truly kind-hearted. At this juncture, he still acknowledges this marriage. It’s just that I don’t know how he gave birth to such a callous thing as Meng Guanlou!”
Qun Qing threaded her needle, thinking that Meng Guangshen truly understood the Emperor’s heart. If he had killed Cui Ying, it would only give people grounds for criticism. This move even gained him a good reputation. “Cui Ying is unlucky. She woke up to find her entire family property confiscated, only able to marry into the Meng family.”
“I heard Meng Guanlou’s face was black as coal, and Cui Ying was still crying and making a fuss even after getting into the bridal sedan.”
Qun Qing finished altering the prayer robe. After Zheng Zhiyi tried it on without issue, she and Lan Yue groped in the dark to store the ceremonial garments in the storeroom.
In the darkness, several fluorescent green sparks flashed. Lan Yue exclaimed “Aiyo!” “Why is this shabby prayer robe the Rites Ministry selected so thin? The electric sparks hurt the back of my hand.”
Chang’an’s autumn and winter were dry, making clothes prone to friction sparks. This year’s newly arrived Huanxue gauze would easily attract and wrinkle at any spot due to electric sparks, making it neither smooth nor beautiful.
Qun Qing had noticed this flaw before and said, “The gentlemen at the Rites Ministry don’t know how to make clothes. They just approved its use because the material looked nice. When the Imperial Concubine wears it that day, just spray some water on it.”
After everything was tidied up and night had deepened, Lan Yue left. Qun Qing quietly slipped out the door, heading toward the garden.
Slight sounds behind her—someone was following. Qun Qing glanced back slightly without acknowledging it, allowing them to follow behind.
The forest that was lush during the day was eerily desolate in the night. Two hooded ladies waited with lanterns. Qun Qing walked toward them, greeting softly, “Princess Consort.”
These two hooded ladies were precisely Xiao Yunru and Cui Yu. Qun Qing said, “Please, Princess Consort, come alone with this servant to that pavilion to talk.”
“How bold! Our Princess Consort trusts you, which is why she’s meeting you in the middle of the night.” Cui Yu said, “You won’t let this servant follow—what if something happens?”
Xiao Yunru stopped her. “No matter. Miss Qing, please lead the way.”
“You wrote a note asking to meet me. Actually, I’ve also wanted to see you alone, to resolve my doubts.” Sitting in the pavilion, Xiao Yunru’s gaze lightly fell on Qun Qing’s face, then landed on the wound on her arm.
At this moment, Qun Qing was grateful to that gray falcon for successfully making Xiao Yunru suspicious of her, which also gave her an excuse to refuse the Six Bureaus.
“The Princess Consort doubts this servant’s identity, feeling this servant is unlike ordinary palace attendants, wanting to know my identity—is that not so?”
Qun Qing said without changing expression, “Actually, I was selected long ago by His Highness the Crown Prince to be a secret guard.”
Xiao Yunru was indeed surprised.
“I deliberately used the Chief Clerk’s influence to go to Siye Tower. The task His Highness gave me was to help the Meng family retrieve the ledger, because that ledger had the Meng family’s name on it.” Qun Qing continued, “Princess Consort knows the Meng family belongs to the Crown Prince’s faction. Not knowing the Emperor’s intentions, His Highness didn’t want to take risks and wanted to hold the evidence in his own hands.”
“What you say seems reasonable.” Unexpectedly, Xiao Yunru said, “But the Meng family isn’t in the ledger.”
Qun Qing’s eyelashes trembled, yet she steadied herself without panicking, directly taking out the transcribed copy. “Princess Consort, please look. According to this transcription, the Meng family’s name is indeed there. Why it’s gone now—you’ll have to ask if the Chief Clerk is hiding something from the Princess Consort. As far as this servant knows, the Chief Clerk has some grievances with the Meng family…”
Xiao Yunru was momentarily led astray by her.
After a long moment, she said, “That you are the Crown Prince’s secret guard doesn’t surprise me. What surprises me is why the Chief Clerk knew this yet concealed it from me, forcing me to personally verify your identity.”
Qun Qing also found it strange why Lu Huating would conceal this for her. Perhaps because a spy’s identity would frighten Xiao Yunru?
“To be honest with the Princess Consort, the Chief Clerk… the Chief Clerk has always wanted to recruit this servant into Prince Yan’s mansion. He didn’t tell the Princess Consort because he feared the noble lady would harbor misgivings, making it difficult to accept me later.” Qun Qing finally fabricated an explanation.
This wasn’t entirely a lie. Lu Huating had indeed entertained such thoughts, though he had long since abandoned them.
“Then why return the ledger? Why tell me all this?” Xiao Yunru pressed.
“Returning the ledger is because although this servant is a chess piece, I still have dignity as a person. If it contradicts my master, my heart suffers.”
Qun Qing’s eyes held the reflection of moonlight. “This servant admires the Princess Consort’s talent and is grateful for the Princess Consort’s appreciation. But does the Princess Consort know that this servant’s task in entering the Six Bureaus was to replace the Princess Consort, to seize your authority in the future and drive you out of the Six Bureaus?”
In this pavilion, there were no outsiders, no hierarchical distinctions—only two ladies sitting calmly across from each other. A flicker of emotion crossed Xiao Yunru’s normally dignified and reserved face.
“Does the Princess Consort think this servant is talking nonsense?”
“No,” Xiao Yunru said, “I believe you have this ability, and you haven’t used it yet.”
“Today I asked the Princess Consort here because I have a request.” Qun Qing took Fang Xie’s letter from her sleeve and handed it to Xiao Yunru. “Qun Qing doesn’t want to be a chess piece. I ask the Princess Consort to help me withdraw from the palace while the going is good, and also for the Princess Consort’s own sake, to remove a future obstacle.”
Xiao Yunru unfolded the letter. Seeing the earnest affection within, her heart slowly became clear.
So this was her purpose.
“If I help you and you leave, I’m afraid the Crown Prince will blame me.” Xiao Yunru said faintly.
“His Highness is only losing one secret guard. In the future, there will be other strategists. Even if there is resentment, it will be forgotten in two or three days. If the Princess Consort removes the rival now, it’s better than crossing swords in the future.” Qun Qing said earnestly, “This servant believes the Princess Consort can handle it.”
“Qun Qing, do you really think I would drive you away in advance because I fear you replacing me?” Xiao Yunru smiled. “If you truly are stronger than me, what harm is there in giving you this authority over the inner palace?”
Qun Qing froze for a moment. The moonlight shone on Xiao Yunru’s hood. She sat upright, fully displaying the bearing of a daughter from a military family.
Fortunately, Xiao Yunru didn’t continue teasing her. “That Miss Qing wants to preserve her feelings is a good thing, but have you considered—you are naturally talented at wielding power. After leaving the palace, you’ll just be a commoner, at most looking after your own livelihood. But if you can stay in the Six Bureaus, perhaps you can help many more people, just as with the Siye Tower matter?”
Qun Qing fell silent for a moment. “This servant has family outside the palace that I cannot bear to part with. Please, Princess Consort, conceal this from everyone and add this servant’s name to the roster of palace attendants being released. The vacant position can be filled by the next lady in line.”
“Since you insist so firmly, I can only agree.” Xiao Yunru felt some regret. “Originally, the position I intended for you was Dianyi, Seventh Rank. I want to keep the recommendation letter for you. If Miss Qing changes her mind and wants to stay in the Six Bureaus, come find me.”
Qun Qing’s eyes showed a smile. Suppressing her excited emotions, she bowed. “This servant thanks the Princess Consort for her grace.”
“Don’t thank me yet.” Perhaps because the night was stuffy, Xiao Yunru covered her mouth, fanning the air with her fan. “Before you leave, the Shangshu Bureau still has some tasks you must complete for me.”
…
The moon was bright and stars sparse. Qun Qing’s shadow quickly disappeared. Seeing that the furtive hooded lady was about to rise, Zhu Su and Juan Su pounced together. Lu Huating’s shout to stop and Cui Yu’s scream rang out simultaneously.
When the hood was removed and they saw it was Xiao Yunru, Juan Su’s eyes widened. The two men’s movements twisted in mid-air as they prostrated themselves on the ground. “Princess Consort?”
Xiao Yunru, startled, stepped back half a pace but steadied her composure.
Lu Huating’s gaze swept across the stone table. There was no food or drink—it should have been just conversation. He couldn’t think of a reason why Qun Qing would seek out Xiao Yunru in the middle of the night. His dark eyes looked toward Xiao Yunru. “What did she say to the Princess Consort?”
Xiao Yunru didn’t answer. Instead, with some doubt, she asked, “Chief Clerk, does my complexion really look that poor?”
“That Miss Qing is exactly like you, Chief Clerk.” Xiao Yunru touched her face. “She advised me to pay attention to my health this year, not to overwork myself, and to eat more red dates.”