A thunderclap sounded outside the hall, splitting the long-stagnant heavy clouds, and large raindrops began to fall. The pounding rain created a rushing sound, separating the inside and outside into two different worlds.

In the great hall, the officials’ ears were filled with the mixed sounds of rain and the official’s voice.

This subject has been studied with Zheng Xia since childhood. Zheng Xia’s family was poor, but his character was noble and pure. He would never commit corruption like taking bribes,” Zhu Yong said loudly.

Chu Zhao shook her head: “This proves nothing. This is not evidence.”

Zhu Yong kowtowed. He certainly knew this wasn’t evidence; otherwise, when he had repeated this sentence to countless people over the past half year, it would have been effective long ago.

Having exhausted all options, he could only sadly repeat these words.

“This subject visited Zheng Xia in prison once.” he set aside his sorrow and continued. “Zheng Xia said he was only responsible for keeping the examination questions determined by the central office. He didn’t even know the content himself until after the examination was over.”

Chu Zhao shook her head again. When she had reviewed the case file, she felt there were too many loopholes. It seemed like they had arbitrarily blamed a mid-level official who knew about the matter. But the suspect’s statement wasn’t evidence either.

Zhu Yong raised his head: “Zheng Xia said he sealed the box he was keeping with a seal strip. The seal strip he applied was different from the one the central office magistrate opened at the examination site.”

Chu Zhao frowned: “But the case file states that the handwriting was confirmed to be his.”

Zhu Yong’s expression turned sorrowful: “Zheng Xia is left-handed. Because it was considered inauspicious, he always concealed it, and not many people knew. He had trained his right hand well enough that in daily life, he appeared no different from others. Zheng Xia told me that he used his left hand to write the seal strip that day. Though the handwriting looked similar at first glance, there were many differences—”

Could it be so? Then, Chu Zhao couldn’t help but lean forward: “Then he—”

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

“But when the questioning began after the case was discovered, Zheng Xia’s left hand was injured.” He bowed to the ground, his voice sobbing.

His left hand was injured? That meant Zheng Xia couldn’t prove his innocence. Chu Zhao was surprised—was this a coincidence or deliberate?

This case indeed had problems.

Chu Zhao nodded: “This case needs to be re-examined.”

Zhu Yong bowed to the ground, weeping: “The Empress is most wise.”

The two stopped talking. In the hall, there was only the sound of the rain, and besides that, a suffocating silence.

Only the two of them had been speaking all along. No one had refuted, no one had inquired, and no one had responded. The Vice Minister of Justice had even closed his eyes.

The official who had been interrupted earlier began counting on his fingers again inside his sleeve: one, two, three—

“Are there any other matters to report?”

Another male voice sounded, this time the familiar voice of the Imperial Tutor.

His voice broke the stagnation, and everyone in the hall instantly came alive.

“This subject has a matter to report,” an official stepped forward. “Imperial Tutor, for the birthday ceremony of the Prince of Zhenguo this year, will it be the same as usual? Or will it be upgraded?”

The Prince of Zhenguo was the Prince of Zhongshan. The late Emperor had been concerned about his brother outside the capital and had the Ministry of Rites send gifts every year for his birthday. Now that the court and the Prince of Zhongshan were in a state of implicit confrontation and mutual vigilance, should the gifts be sent or not? According to what protocol?

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

“The Prince of Zhenguo is disrespectful and does not deserve the Son of Heaven’s ceremonial treatment.”

“Minister Huang’s words are incorrect. Although the Prince of Zhenguo is rebellious and guilty of many crimes, the Emperor’s benevolence can forgive and educate him, and also indicates that he will not be left unattended.”

“If it were up to me, I’d send a disciplinary whip and a book on filial piety and brotherly respect.”

“The war with Western Liang has not been settled. We should avoid creating more trouble.”

The hall was filled with arguments and clamor, with Deng Yi occasionally adding a word or two.

This was the true atmosphere of the court.

The kneeling Zhu Yong and Chu Zhao behind the dragon throne seemed to have been forgotten.

Though in the same court, they were like being isolated by the sound of rain.

Zhu Yong knelt blankly on the ground. No one asked him to speak, nor did anyone rebuke him to withdraw. Gradually, his eyes became hollow, and he stopped speaking.

Chu Zhao also stopped speaking.

Today’s embarrassment was worse than before. After all, someone had stood up to speak to the Empress, but they were still ignored by the entire court—

Xiao Yu was somewhat worried and couldn’t help turning to look at Chu Zhao.

Chu Zhao sat in her chair, her expression calm, without any sign of anger. When Xiao Yu looked back, she even smiled at him.

Did this child worry she would become angry and start scolding the court officials or storm out in rage?

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

She wanted to secure her position in court, so she wouldn’t get angry. Being provoked would only fulfill others’ wishes.

……

……

When the court was dismissed, the dull thunder and heavy rain had stopped. The palace servants had cleared away the standing water, and the court officials walked refreshed along the path.

“I thought we would get caught in the rain.”

“This morning’s court session was dignified.”

Everyone chatted and laughed as they dispersed.

Zhu Yong walked out of the front hall with empty eyes. Somehow, one foot stepped into a drainage ditch, soaking his shoe. The splashed water not only wet his robes but also splattered onto someone nearby.

“Watch how you walk!” the nearby official reprimanded. Turning his head and recognizing who it was, he immediately scolded without courtesy, “Are you blind?”

Several officials who had caught up were both embarrassed and displeased: “Don’t curse.” “We’re all colleagues in the same court.”

Hearing their words, that official smiled ambiguously: “Colleagues in the same court? That’s not necessarily true.” With that, he gave Zhu Yong a contemptuous look. “Not only blind but also black-hearted and spineless, willing to do anything to please Empress Chu.”

With that, he stormed off.

“It’s not about pleasing her.”

“How can you speak like that?”

Several officials objected, but they didn’t dare speak loudly or chase after him. Seeing the glances from those around, they lowered their heads and hurriedly pulled Zhu Yong along, walking quickly until they were away from the other officials outside the imperial city, only then stopping.

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

“You’ve already done your utmost for Zheng Xia’s case. Hadn’t you already accepted the outcome?”

They all reproached him.

Zhu Yong finally came to his senses. He had indeed been working on this matter for half a year, trying every possible method and had resigned himself to the outcome. But first hearing about the death sentence, and then suddenly hearing someone who shared his view, he couldn’t help but—

He murmured: “I still can’t watch Brother Zheng die with my eyes open.”

“You’re being foolish,” a good friend sighed. “Don’t you understand this case clearly? It’s already decided.”

Another official spoke bluntly: “You’re just holding onto old friendships. You hear someone cry injustice, and you believe it right away. People change. Your good brother has been a central office inspector for many years. How could he possibly be completely clean?”

“That’s right. Which lower official is truly clean?” Yet another shook his head. “It’s just a matter of who gets caught and who doesn’t. He was unlucky this time—not only was he caught, but he also encountered a distraught scholar who drowned himself. The matter became big, so someone had to pay with their life. In other times, it wouldn’t have been such a big deal.”

As they all tried to persuade him, Zhu Yong’s expression changed repeatedly, becoming dejected.

“I know about others, but Brother Zheng,” he gritted his teeth. “Back then, he missed his opportunity to enter the capital because of corruption in the central office. He hates academic fraud the most. He once told me he was willing to remain in Jingzhou as an honest official precisely to prevent students from experiencing what he did.”

The officials sighed helplessly: “That’s just talk, don’t take it seriously.” “Now look, you haven’t saved him, and you’ve implicated yourself.”

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

They all interrupted him at once, not letting him mention the Empress again.

“So what if the Empress believes it? What can the Empress do about it?”

“Besides, the Empress might not truly believe there’s something suspicious about Zheng Xia’s case. The Empress is desperately trying to find something to say, wanting someone to respond to her words. Look, you’ve fallen for it.”

“She speaks casually, and you believe it. After it’s over, she’s fine, but what about you?”

Zhu Yong looked at the group, and they looked back at him.

The court officials might ignore the Empress and couldn’t do anything to her, but what about you, a mere Hanlin editor!

They said in unison: “You’re finished!”

Am I finished? Was the Empress just speaking casually?

Zhu Yong walked absent-mindedly along the imperial avenue. He didn’t go to his office—what was the point? He might as well go home and make arrangements for his family. After being dismissed from office, he would leave the capital. If there was further investigation beyond dismissal, he would—

The rapid sound of hooves, splashing rainwater, and angry shouts interrupted Zhu Yong’s wild thoughts. He hurriedly moved aside as several horses galloped past, barely missing him.

He looked up and saw about a dozen imperial guards with tall builds and rough features. Dressed in black with swords, they looked especially cold and intimidating, with flecks of gold glinting among the dark.

Other officials on the imperial avenue also moved aside, pointing and showing dissatisfied expressions.

“How unruly these imperial guards are!”

“They’re not ordinary imperial guards; they’re Dragon Robe Guards.”

“They’ve always been a group without proper conduct.”