A clap of thunder sounded outside the hall, splitting open the oppressive clouds that had been building for so long, and rain as large as beans came crashing down.

The sound of rain poured down in torrents, separating inside and outside into two different worlds.

Inside the great hall, the sound of rain and the voices of officials mingled in everyone’s ears.

“This subject has studied together with Zheng Xia since childhood. Zheng Xia’s family was poor, but his character was upright and noble. He would never do something like embezzlement and bribery,” Zhu Yong said loudly.

Chu Zhao shook her head. “This cannot prove anything. This is not evidence.”

Zhu Yong kowtowed. Of course he knew this didn’t count as evidence, otherwise his half year of running around everywhere saying these words to countless people would have already worked.

After reaching his wit’s end, he could only repeat these words sorrowfully.

“This subject once visited Zheng Xia in prison,” he said, putting away his sorrow. “Zheng Xia said that he was only responsible for safeguarding the examination questions determined by the Regional Inspector, and didn’t even know the contents himself until after the examination was over.”

Chu Zhao shook her head again. When she had reviewed the case files, she felt this case had too many loopholes. No matter how one looked at it, it was just randomly pinning blame on an official of middling rank to resolve the matter. But relying on the suspect’s own words also wasn’t evidence.

Zhu Yong raised his head. “Zheng Xia said that he had affixed a seal to the box he was safeguarding. The seal he affixed and the one the Regional Inspector opened at the examination site were not the same.”

Chu Zhao frowned. “But the case files stated that it was confirmed to be his handwriting.”

Zhu Yong’s expression was sorrowful. “Zheng Xia is actually left-handed. Because it’s considered inauspicious, he’s always concealed it. Not many people know. He also practiced his right hand, so in daily life he’s no different from everyone else. Zheng Xia told me that day he used his left hand to write the seal. Although the handwriting looks the same at first glance, there are actually many differences—”

It was actually like this? Then— Chu Zhao couldn’t help but lean forward. “Then he—”

Before she could ask, Zhu Yong let out a sorrowful sound.

“But when the case first began and he was being questioned, Zheng Xia’s left hand was—injured.” He prostrated himself on the ground, his voice choking.

His left hand was injured? That meant Zheng Xia couldn’t prove his own innocence. Chu Zhao was shocked. Was this coincidence or deliberate?

This case indeed had problems.

Chu Zhao nodded. “This case must be retried.”

Zhu Yong prostrated himself on the ground, weeping sorrowfully. “The Empress is wise and sagacious.”

The two stopped talking. Inside the hall, the sound of rain swept through. Apart from that, there was no other sound—a suffocating silence.

Actually, earlier only the two of them had been speaking. No one had refuted, no one had inquired, and even more so, no one had echoed them. The Vice Minister of Justice had simply closed his eyes.

The official whose speech had been interrupted earlier once again pinched his fingers inside his sleeves: one, two, three—

“Are there any other matters to present?”

Another male voice rang out. This time it was the familiar voice of the Grand Tutor.

His voice broke through the stagnation, and instantly the people in the hall came back to life.

“This subject has a memorial to present,” an official stepped forward. “Grand Tutor, shall this year’s birthday gifts for Prince Zhenguo follow precedent? Or should they be elevated by one rank?”

Prince Zhenguo was also Prince Zhongshan. The Late Emperor had cared deeply for this distant brother, and every year on his birthday would have the Ministry of Rites send congratulatory gifts. Now that the court and Prince Zhongshan were vaguely in confrontation and mutually wary of each other, should these gifts be sent or not? According to what standard should they be sent?

Before Deng Yi could speak, other officials immediately stepped forward.

“Prince Zhenguo is insubordinate and has no qualifications to enjoy the Emperor’s gifts.”

“Lord Huang’s words are mistaken. Although Prince Zhenguo is unruly and full of transgressions, the Emperor’s magnanimous heart can forgive and educate, which also shows he won’t simply abandon him and ignore him.”

“If you ask me, send him a disciplinary whip and a book on filial piety and brotherly respect.”

“Now that the war situation in Xi Liang has not settled, it’s better not to create more trouble.”

The hall erupted in arguing and clamoring. Deng Yi occasionally interjected a word or two.

This was the atmosphere of court.

The Zhu Yong still kneeling on the ground, as well as Chu Zhao behind the dragon throne, both seemed to have been forgotten.

Though in the same court hall, they seemed to be isolated outside by the sound of rain.

Zhu Yong knelt on the ground in a daze. No one allowed him to speak, nor did anyone rebuke him to withdraw. Gradually his eyes became empty and he said nothing more.

Chu Zhao also said nothing more.

However, today’s awkwardness was even worse than before. After all, someone had stood up to speak to the Empress, but was still ignored by the full court of officials—

Xiao Yu was somewhat worried and couldn’t help but look back at Chu Zhao.

Chu Zhao sat on her chair, her expression calm, without the slightest anger. When Xiao Yu looked over, she even smiled at him.

Was this young man afraid she would be unable to contain her anger and stand up to scold the court officials or storm off in a huff?

If she did that, Deng Yi and these court officials could immediately forbid her from attending court again.

She was here to establish herself firmly in court. She wouldn’t get angry—getting angry would only be playing into their hands.

…

…

When court was dismissed, both the oppressive thunder and heavy rain had stopped. The palace attendants had also swept away the accumulated water, and the court officials walked along the path fresh and clean.

“I thought we’d get rained on.”

“This morning court session was quite respectable.”

Everyone chatted and laughed as they dispersed.

Zhu Yong walked out of the front hall with vacant eyes. Somehow one foot stepped into a drainage ditch, his shoe got wet, and the splashing water not only soaked his own robes but also splashed onto someone nearby.

“How do you walk!” the official beside him scolded. When he turned and saw who it was, he immediately cursed impolitely, “Are you blind?”

Several officials who had caught up felt both embarrassed and displeased. “Don’t curse at people.” “We’re all officials serving at the same court.”

Hearing their words, that official wore a mocking smile. “Serving at the same court? That might not be certain.” He looked at Zhu Yong with complete disdain. “Not only are your eyes blind, your heart is blackened and your spine is gone. To curry favor with Empress Chu, you’ll do anything.”

With that, he swept his sleeves and left.

“It’s not currying favor.”

“How can you speak like that?”

Several officials protested, but didn’t dare speak loudly, nor did they dare to chase after him. Seeing the glances cast their way from all around, they couldn’t help but lower their heads. Pulling and tugging, they hastily led Zhu Yong away, not stopping until they had left the officials behind and reached outside the Imperial City.

“Lord Zhu, how could you be so impulsive!”

“You’ve already done everything in your power for Zheng Xia’s matter. Haven’t you yourself accepted this outcome?”

They all blamed him one after another.

Only then did Zhu Yong come back to his senses. He had actually been running around for this matter for half a year already. He had tried every method he could think of, and had resigned himself to it in his heart. But first hearing about the death sentence, then suddenly hearing someone who agreed with his view, he couldn’t help himself—

He murmured, “I still cannot watch helplessly as Brother Zheng goes to his death.”

“You’re confused,” a friend sighed. “Don’t you understand this case in your heart? It’s set in stone.”

Another official spoke bluntly. “You’re just clinging to old sentiments. You hear him cry injustice once and you believe it. People change. Your good brother was Regional Inspector for so many years—how could he possibly be completely clean?”

“That’s right. Which official below is clean?” Another shook his head. “He just happened to be unlucky this time. Not only was he caught, but he also encountered a scholar who was too inflexible and threw himself into the river in suicide. The matter blew up big, so he had to pay with his life. At any other time, it actually wouldn’t be considered much.”

Everyone chimed in with advice. Zhu Yong’s expression changed repeatedly, lost and melancholy.

“I know about the others, but Brother Zheng,” he gritted his teeth, “back then he was passed over for an opportunity because the Regional Inspector was corrupt, and he couldn’t come to the capital. What he hates most in this life is academic fraud. He told me at the time that he was willing to remain in Jingzhou as a minor official just to prevent students from ending up like him.”

Several officials said helplessly, “Those words were just something to hear. You actually took them seriously?” “Now look—you didn’t save him, but you’ve implicated yourself.”

Zhu Yong looked at everyone and murmured, “But the Empress believes—”

Still daring to mention the Empress? Everyone talked over him to interrupt.

“So what if the Empress believes? What can the Empress do even if she believes?”

“Moreover, the Empress may not really believe there are doubts about Zheng Xia’s case. The Empress is now desperately trying to find things to say, wanting people to respond to her words. As expected, you fell for it.”

“She spoke casually. You believed it. After she spoke, she’s fine. But what about you?”

Zhu Yong looked at them. They looked at him.

The court officials didn’t acknowledge the Empress and couldn’t do anything to her either. But what about you? You’re just a minor Hanlin Editor!

They all said in unison, “You’re finished!”

Was he finished? Did the Empress really just speak casually?

Zhu Yong walked slowly along the Imperial Avenue in a daze, not going to his government office. What meaning was there in going? He might as well return home and make arrangements for his family. If he was dismissed from office, he would leave the capital. If besides dismissal there was also investigation, he would—

Urgent hoofbeats, splashing rainwater, scolding curses—interrupted Zhu Yong’s wild thoughts. He quickly moved aside as several horses galloped past, barely missing him.

He looked up and saw more than ten Imperial Guards—tall and sturdy with rough features, their black clothes and sabers particularly cold and forbidding, with glints of gold amid the coldness.

Other officials on the Imperial Avenue also moved aside one after another, pointing and gesturing with dissatisfied expressions.

“How can the Imperial Guards be so unruly!”

“They’re not ordinary Imperial Guards—they’re the Dragon Robe Guards.”

“They’re just a bunch of unruly people to begin with.”