The downpour hadn’t dispelled the heat in the capital. Officials couldn’t sit comfortably in their offices, though some places were cooler than others.
More people than usual had gathered at the entrance to the Ministry of Justice prison.
Officials, clerks, and guards were all present. The chill emanating from the underground prison helped alleviate the heat—if not for the pungent smell, everyone would have gone inside to escape the summer heat.
With so many people gathered, the atmosphere was lively with conversation. The most discussed topic was the Empress attending court and participating in governance.
“The Empress being allowed to attend court was already a concession from the Imperial Tutor, considering the Emperor is still young. Yet she’s overreaching, trying to interfere in state affairs.”
“What do you call this? A hen crowing like a rooster!”
“Oh! You dare insult the Empress!”
“This isn’t my insult—it’s what the history books say.”
“I would dare say it even to the Empress’s face, if only I were qualified to attend court.”
“Have you heard? There’s a Hanlin editor who, to please the Empress, cried out in court that the Empress is wise and enlightened.”
“Who would be so shameless? Did his education teach him nothing?”
“I know what happened. It’s about that suicide case of the scholar from Jingzhou—”
The group was chatting animatedly when they looked up to see about a dozen people in imperial guard uniforms approaching from the entrance.
“Look, these guards have also come to cool off,” one official joked.
The Justice Ministry prison was a restricted area, and imperial guards were often assigned to guard it. But today’s visitors—one of the officials who had been waving narrowed his eyes: “Unfamiliar faces. Which division—”
His words were cut short as someone behind him pulled his sleeve.
“No,” the person stared at the approaching guards, his gaze falling on their chests. “They’re Dragon Robe Guards.”
The official who had been speaking now also noticed the dragon patterns glinting on the approaching guards’ uniforms as they walked.
The Dragon Robe Guards were imperial guards, but not ordinary ones, and they never came here on duty.
Today, they suddenly appeared—
Whether it was the glinting dragon patterns on their uniforms, their rough, gloomy faces, or their probing gazes, everyone at the prison entrance suddenly fell silent.
The dozen or so Dragon Robe Guards halted before them, and their leader swept his gaze over the crowd.
“Ding Chui, Captain of the Dragon Guard Army’s outer camp, here on official business,” he announced, producing his official token for identification.
As the token was presented, everyone instinctively glanced at it. Someone couldn’t help but make a sound of surprise, seeing three characters on the token—
Ding Dachui cleared his throat: “I’ve altered my name slightly and haven’t had time to get a new token. But I am who I am.”
He had indeed just changed his name, or rather his title. Secretary Yin suggested that “Ding Chui” sounded more formal and authoritative, befitting someone who served the Empress. “Dachui” (Big Hammer) could be his nickname, used only in private.
Ding Dachui considered this and felt it was appropriate.
What did he mean by “changed my name, but I’m still me”? Were the Dragon Robe Guards so casual? Nevertheless, this interruption helped everyone regain their composure.
An official from the Ministry of Justice spoke: “Cai Yi, Chief Clerk of the Ministry of Justice. What business brings Captain Ding here?”
Ding Dachui said: “Her Majesty believes there are problems with the Jingzhou examination fraud case, so we’re here to take the suspect, Zheng Xia, the Jingzhou central office inspector.”
Clerk Cai was startled. Most prisoners in the Justice Ministry’s jail were either sentenced to death or would never be released. Zheng Xia was such a minor figure that he normally wouldn’t remember him, except that they had just been joking about him, which refreshed his memory—
“This, this… is the Empress serious?” he blurted out.
Before his words faded, the Dragon Robe Guard who had just settled on his name darkened his face with a fierce look. Clerk Cai froze, inexplicably feeling like prey before a hunter, and instinctively backed away—
“I mean, this matter belongs to the Ministry of Justice,” Clerk Cai hurriedly explained. “We haven’t received any orders for a retrial.”
An official thought Clerk Cai was too timid and cleared his throat, looking at Ding Dachui: “Captain Ding, you may not be aware, but removing a prisoner from the Justice Ministry jail requires many procedures. To begin with, not mentioning anything else, you need the Imperial Tutor’s written order—”
Before he could finish, Ding Dachui stepped forward, and with his advance, the guards behind him also stepped forward in unison.
“I act on the Empress’s orders,” Ding Dachui said, enunciating each word. “And I’m not here to request your approval, just to inform you.”
With that, he waved his hand.
“Take the prisoner.”
The guards surged forward. One group surrounded the officials and clerks, while another headed straight for the prison.
The officials and clerks came to their senses. As Justice Ministry personnel, they were accustomed to dealing with high-ranking officials and nobles who, upon arriving, had to bow their heads and curry favor. The ministry’s officials, clerks, and guards were normally the most imposing. They immediately shouted: “How dare you!” “Is there no law?” “Help! Someone is breaking into the prison!” “Surrender, or else—”
But before they could finish, they were knocked to the ground by the Dragon Robe Guards who had raised their hands.
They were hitting them, even drawing weapons.
“The Dragon Guard Army acts on the Emperor’s orders. Those who obstruct will be treated as traitors,” Ding Dachui remained in place, one hand on his sword, watching the guards rushing toward him. “Kill without mercy.”
“Kill without mercy”—the officials, clerks, and guards present were stunned.
This group of Dragon Robe Guards had a ferocious light in their eyes, looking at them as if they were prey—excited and bloodthirsty.
……
……
“The Empress’s Dragon Guard Army broke into the Justice Ministry prison?”
Xie Yanfang sat at his desk, asking with a smile.
Seventh Master Xie nodded: “When I heard the news and rushed over, I saw the Justice Ministry guards lying all over the ground. That group of Dragon Robe Guards had brazenly walked away with the death row prisoner Zheng Xia.”
Xie Yanfang laughed heartily, putting down a letter in his hand: “Good, good! An excellent raid.”
“What can she accomplish by abducting him?” Seventh Master Xie frowned.
Xie Yanfang smiled: “Investigate the case.” He reached for another letter, opened it, and began reading.
Seventh Master Xie snorted: “How will she investigate?”
Xie Yanfang divided his attention, reading the letter while speaking.
“There’s nothing to investigate in this case, simply because no one has bothered to investigate, nor was there any need to. Using Zheng Xia to close the case was the best outcome.”
“Those who see no need to investigate include the Imperial Tutor and us—favors traded for favors, layer upon layer.”
“But now, we have the Empress, who isn’t involved and owes no favors, conducting the investigation.”
“This clumsily and barely disguised case—even a fool could uncover the truth.”
At this point, he smiled again.
“And the Empress is no fool; she’s quite clever.”
The last remark was unnecessary. Seventh Master Xie pursed his lips and said: “This is no longer just a hen crowing like a rooster; this is lawlessness.”
……
……
The Empress’s lawlessness didn’t stop after breaking into the Justice Ministry prison.
A few days later, Dragon Robe Guards stormed into the home of the National Academy’s Director, seizing Director Jiang Zhen while he was dining with his family. The entire Jiang clan was shocked. The Capital Garrison, upon hearing the news, confronted the Dragon Robe Guards in a standoff on the street.
“How dare you! How can you arrest someone without proper authorization?” The Garrison Commander’s face reddened with anger.
Ding Dachui’s expression remained impassive: “We are under orders to investigate. Director Jiang is a suspect and will be brought in for questioning.”
The Commander didn’t know what to say and gritted his teeth: “That’s the National Academy Director, the honorable Director Jiang!”
For someone of such rank, only with the Imperial Tutor’s word and the Justice Ministry’s warrant could they be arrested. Unless the crime was treason or plotting against the throne, they would be invited politely. How could a group of guards charge in like wolves and tigers to seize someone, as if raiding and exterminating an entire family?
The Jiang family was a prestigious clan with three generations of high officials. Even the late Emperor had treated them with respect.
Ding Dachui remained wooden-faced: “I only recognize suspects, regardless of who they are.”
To a hunter from the mountains and wilderness, what were high officials and noble clans? He didn’t know, and not know, he had no reverence.
He recognized this commander—they were both military men and had encountered each other several times, but that was the extent of it. Without waiting for the commander to speak further, Ding Dachui waved his hand.
“Commander Yuan, please step aside quickly. Don’t delay our duty,” he said. “You’re drawing a crowd and causing disorder.”
Who was causing the disorder? The commander looked at the gathering crowd, the men, women, young, old, and servants from the Jiang family who had followed. The situation was like water coming to a boil, about to explode on the street.
“Captain Ding,” the commander said, “hand Director Jiang over to us. Go get proper authorization. Even if an investigation is warranted, it should be conducted by the Justice Ministry.”
Ding Dachui gripped his sword: “This is a suspicious case from the Justice Ministry, now under our investigation. Make way quickly, or don’t blame us for showing no courtesy.”
The commander gritted his teeth: “You wouldn’t dare arrest me too?”
Ding Dachui shook his head: “Not arrest.” He revealed a slight smile. “Just beat you.”
These people were like wild beasts! As the commander was about to respond, he felt the ground tremble beneath his feet, and simultaneously heard the crowd shouting.
“The capital troops are coming—”
The sound of hooves echoed through the street as squads of armored and armed soldiers arrived in formation. These were troops from the Capital Garrison.
The crowd, which had been simmering like boiling water, instantly erupted.
Troops were being deployed!
Something major was happening!
“The Imperial Tutor commands,” the troops shouted in unison, “the Dragon Guard Army is acting lawlessly, falsifying orders and forgetting their place. Surrender immediately.”
The commander’s expression also turned grim. He looked at the approaching troops, then back at Ding Dachui.
As regent, the Imperial Tutor not only held the imperial seal but also the tiger tally, allowing him to command the capital’s troops.
If the Empress bypassed the Imperial Tutor to arrest and question someone, the Imperial Tutor could mobilize troops to stop her.
“Captain Ding,” the commander urged, “release him quickly. This is between the Imperial Tutor and the Empress—you’re powerless.”
Ding Dachui watched the capital troops surrounding them.
“The matter between the Imperial Tutor and the Empress is their business. Following orders is our business,” he said, drawing his sword. “I’ve followed the Empress through ambush on the road, faced Western Liang at the border, and besieged the Prince of Zhongshan. If we can’t survive, we die, but we never surrender.”
“Today there may be Dragon Guard soldiers who die here, but there will never be Dragon Guard soldiers who surrender.”
Gripping his sword, he urged his horse forward a step and called out loudly.
“The Dragon Guard Army acts on the late Emperor’s final command to protect the dynasty. Today we are under imperial orders to investigate. All unauthorized personnel withdraw immediately, or be treated as traitors, to be killed without mercy.”
With his movement, more than a dozen Dragon Guard soldiers drew their swords. From another direction came the sound of hooves as dozens more Dragon Guard soldiers arrived as reinforcement.
“Investigating under imperial orders. Withdraw immediately or be treated as traitors.”
“Kill without mercy!”
“Kill without mercy!”
With these shouts, Ding Dachui led the charge. Behind him, the few dozen Dragon Guard soldiers showed no fear as they charged toward the hundreds of capital troops.
The main street instantly erupted in chaos.
“They’re fighting—”
Seeing this scene, officials observing from a distance could no longer contain themselves. These madmen! They weren’t even human!
“Stop, all of you—”
……
……
Deng Yi entered the Emperor’s study in the inner palace, where he saw Chu Zhao sitting with Xiao Yu, practicing calligraphy.
Chu Zhao smiled: “How unusual for the Imperial Tutor to visit today.”
Deng Yi ignored her pleasantries.
“Empress, what do you want?” he asked bluntly.
Chu Zhao set down her brush, her smile fading: “I merely wish to investigate a case.”
Deng Yi said, “Is this what you call an investigation? This is disregarding the law, disobeying regulations, and allowing the Dragon Guard Army to seek merit and rewards through reckless behavior.”
“Imperial Tutor, I am not disregarding the law,” Chu Zhao replied. “Rather, the law disregards me. It is you who disregarded the suspicions in this case, disregarded the insufficient evidence, and disregarded the suspect’s pleas of innocence. Otherwise, I wouldn’t need to personally intervene in the investigation.”
Deng Yi stared at her coldly.
“Furthermore,” Chu Zhao met his gaze without flinching, “Imperial Tutor, you act on the late Emperor’s final command as regent, and so do I. It was I who saved His Majesty, and the late Emperor personally decreed that, for the eternal stability of the dynasty, I be made Empress.”
Deng Yi asked: “So what?”
Chu Zhao replied: “So I have the right to intervene in any matter that threatens the integrity of the Great Xia dynasty.”
Deng Yi gave her an expressionless look, then turned and strode away.