Tie Ci led the mighty throng of people, charging all the way to the Dengyuan Court, and kicked open the great doors with one foot.
The door panels flew out, crashing into the courtyard, exposing the entire yard before the crowd. The Dengwen Drum that had just been struck last night stood quietly in the drum pavilion.
The onlooking crowd watched as the Crown Princess strode directly inside, grabbed the drumsticks, and without hesitation struck three thunderous boom-boom-boom sounds.
This momentum was far more fierce than Ma Hetong’s drumming last night. Everyone felt as though the sound was hammering right beside their ears, making their heads buzz and ring.
Perhaps their heads were already dizzy—what was the Crown Princess doing?
Everyone understood this action, but when it came from the Crown Princess, they suddenly seemed not to understand.
She had struck the Dengwen Drum.
Why would she strike the Dengwen Drum?
Like cold water poured into boiling oil, there was instant deathly silence. Everyone watched with wide eyes as, after three strikes, the Dengwen Drum was broken.
Tie Ci threw down the drumsticks, which landed in an overnight rain puddle.
The deathly silence was finally broken by someone who couldn’t help but ask tremblingly: “Crown Princess, what are you doing! Are you striking the drum!”
“Yes.” Tie Ci’s voice was not loud, yet it reached every person’s ears. “Those with grievances strike the drum to reach the Son of Heaven’s ears.”
“You are the Son of Heaven, why put on this act!”
“If I were the Son of Heaven, why would I have been trapped in the palace last night? If I were the Son of Heaven, why would the Zhuque and Baize guards dare block my exit from the palace last night? If I were the Son of Heaven, why was the imperial examination fraud discovered and people arrested, yet His Majesty and I were uniquely kept from the news? If I were the Son of Heaven, why are all the accusations aimed at my teachers and friends!” Tie Ci said coldly. “Someone is trying to cover the sky with one hand, so I personally strike the drum. If someone strikes the drum to file complaints, I too have complaints!”
She turned and walked toward the Court of Judicial Review. The crowd watched in confusion as the doorkeeper at the Court’s entrance changed color and instinctively tried to close the door, but when Tie Ci pointed at him, he dared not move.
“Ma Hetong said he had grievances and could strike the drum to file complaints. What, can’t I do the same?”
“I have not abused my power or pressured with troops, only doing what any ordinary citizen can do. Can’t I do this!”
Someone in the crowd shouted: “You can!”
Someone else hidden in the crowd said: “You say you’re not abusing power, only doing what ordinary citizens can do, but ordinary citizens can’t capture court officials from Shengdu Prefecture.”
“The victim personally capturing the criminal lightens Shengdu Prefecture’s burden,” Tie Ci said. “There are many criminals—we’ll take them one by one, no need to rush.”
The person hiding in the crowd dared not speak again.
The Blood Cavalry arrived, clearing a space. There had originally been considerable open areas in front of the major government offices.
Tie Ci stood before the Court of Judicial Review and said: “Didn’t you want a joint trial by the Three Legal Departments? Let’s do it right here, let all the people of Shengdu watch whether I am corrupt and fraudulent, or whether someone is manipulating power to create schemes… Minister Huang of the Ministry of Justice! Minister Li of the Court of Judicial Review! Minister Wu of the Censorate!”
The three calls rang out like spring thunder, plunging the entire area before the Court of Judicial Review into silence.
Behind the crowd, Murong Yi stood with arms crossed watching, turned his head to say a few words to Mu Si, and Mu Si departed.
A moment later, under everyone’s gaze, the doorkeeper tremblingly poked his head out and said in a shaky voice: “…Our lord has gone to court…”
Dan Shuang coldly said: “Responding with lies is tantamount to deceiving the sovereign.”
The doorkeeper was so frightened his legs went weak and he pulled his head back inside.
Tie Ci laughed once and said: “Gone to court? Then I’ll wait. I’ll wait until you all come out. But if you come out through the door then, you can weigh the consequences yourselves.”
Before her words finished, three high officials with brilliant feathered caps rushed out the door in panic.
Tie Ci chuckled.
These three wouldn’t go to court this morning—they were waiting for Shengdu Prefecture to extract confessions so they could rush to Shengdu Prefecture to hear the case at the first opportunity.
The three officials didn’t look well either, because they weren’t all chief ministers, yet their names had been precisely called out by the Crown Princess, showing she had everything clear in her mind.
For instance, the Minister of Justice didn’t know about last night’s developments and went to court as usual today, because he wasn’t from the Xiao or Rong faction. He had once studied under a disciple of He Zi, making him He Zi’s grand-disciple.
The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review also wasn’t present. The Minister was one of the most senior old ministers in the Great Qian Dynasty, elderly and never involved in court factions, nor did he manage affairs. Currently this Assistant Minister Li was presiding over all matters.
But everyone in the Great Qian court knew that among the Three Legal Departments, this Minister of the Court of Judicial Review carried the most weight—it was just that no one could persuade him to act.
When Tie Ci saw them, she gestured and said: “Arrange seats for the three lords.”
People immediately arranged tables and cases in a row, setting up the three lords’ seats as in a regular court hearing.
Since this was at the Court of Judicial Review near the Imperial Academy and Dengwen Drum Court, Assistant Minister Li took the main seat.
The three had never tried cases outdoors under everyone’s gaze, but could only smile bitterly, bow, and sit down very uncomfortably.
When Assistant Minister Li sat down, he gave his attendant a look, and someone quietly left at a quick pace.
Tie Ci saw this but pretended not to.
She stood below while the three officials sat on pins and needles. Assistant Minister Li coughed and said: “Since this is so, we shall obey the command to try the Renxin year spring imperial examination fraud case…”
Tie Ci said: “Wrong.”
Assistant Minister Li: “…”
“May I ask whose command the Assistant Minister is obeying?”
Assistant Minister Li was struck speechless.
If anyone else had asked him this question, he could reply without changing expression that he obeyed the Sacred Command, but now with the Crown Princess standing right there, how dare he say that?
“Ma Hetong filed the fraud case complaint last night, and within half an hour Shen Mi and others were imprisoned. During this time, neither His Majesty’s Chongming Palace nor my Ruixiang Hall received any messages. Today, court has only just begun and no imperial edict regarding this case has left the Meridian Gate plaza. Whether major examination cases require joint trials by the Three Legal Departments, and which officials should preside, should all be determined by His Majesty’s decree. Assistant Minister Li, His Majesty hasn’t designated the presiding officials—whose command are you following?”
The three officials’ faces flushed red.
The Crown Princess held to principle and reason—they had no response.
Strictly speaking, last night they ignored protocol to save time, thinking they would definitely extract confessions this morning, then pressure the court officials to force His Majesty to order a thorough investigation.
But now there were no confessions, His Majesty had issued no edict, and who should try this case remained undetermined—they had no authority to hear it.
Citizens familiar with court protocols and procedures also caught the strange scent and began whispering among themselves.
“Ma Hetong filed a complaint about examination fraud, which requires His Majesty’s edict. Three lords, what you should be trying now is my drum-beating grievance case.”
“I have three complaints.”
“First complaint: I accuse Grand Secretary Xiao Liheng of the Jinshen Hall of framing innocent examination candidates Shen Mi, Qi Yuansi and others, fabricating fraud charges to implicate Crown Prince Tutor He Zi and Grand Minister of Court of Imperial Sacrifices Duan Yande in examination fraud, attack the Crown Prince, disturb court politics, and destroy the foundation of our Great Qian.”
“Second complaint: I accuse the Assistant Prefect and Court Officials of Shengdu Prefecture of following Xiao Liheng’s instructions, establishing private tribunals without His Majesty’s edict or proper judicial review, torturing candidates to force false confessions and create wrongful cases. The dignified parent officials of the capital, trusted and cultivated by His Majesty, willingly became others’ hunting dogs.”
“Third complaint: I accuse all the above persons of falsifying edicts to disrupt government, arbitrarily arresting innocents, inciting student unrest, attacking state institutions, first deceiving the sovereign, then fooling the people!”
The three statements were crisp and clear, each word distinct.
The three officials above changed color repeatedly.
The students and citizens below suddenly fell silent.
Suddenly someone cried out miserably: “She’s lying! She’s trying to exonerate herself! I saw them cheating with my own eyes! I saw it myself!”
The crowd parted as a disheveled man burst in under military escort, eyes red, fearlessly pointing at Tie Ci.
It was Ma Hetong.
Assistant Minister Li breathed a slight sigh of relief.
He had earlier ordered someone to quickly bring Ma Hetong, and fortunately the man came quickly.
As soon as Ma Hetong appeared, it caused a commotion. He was already a highly acclaimed talent for this spring examination, many candidates recognized him, and immediately called out “Brother Ma.”
Assistant Minister Li quickly said: “Ma Hetong, since you climbed over Dengyuan Court to strike the drum at midnight, you must have enormous grievances. If so, please speak in detail.”
Ma Hetong said through gritted teeth: “Lords! This student saw with his own eyes that Shen Mi and others received preferential treatment throughout. During searches, others were examined from head to toe—I… I was even made to remove my pants. When it came to Shen Mi and others, the guards barely looked before letting them pass! His and Qi Yuansi’s examination booths were in the best, most sheltered positions, and this continued for all three sessions. I ask you lords, apart from Qi Yuansi, Shen Mi and others come from ordinary backgrounds, and Shen Mi is even said to be a criminal’s son. If not for being students of Yueli Academy, if not for their close friendship with the Crown Princess, how could they receive such preferential treatment!”
When he said this, someone loudly added: “That’s right, he even wrote ‘The Chronicle of Benevolence’ singing the Crown Princess’s praises! In the book he says he was rescued from humble circumstances by the Crown Princess—such grateful, tearful language, bah, spineless scholar!”
“Right, I also read ‘The Chronicle of Benevolence.’ Since the Crown Princess had won him over, naturally she would see it through to the end. Such meticulous care! From inspections to grades, sheltered all the way!”
Ma Hetong said bitterly: “And me! Subjected to repeated searches and extreme humiliation that ruined my composure, not to mention my booth was the worst, for all three sessions! Moreover, I got stomach trouble and ran to the latrine seven times! If this wasn’t arranged by someone, did all the world’s bad luck fall on me alone!”
His words resonated with the students, who all sighed in sympathy, and some spat contemptuously at Shen Mi.
Tie Ci said nothing, watching Shen Mi.
This situation was cruel to Shen Mi and the others, but if they couldn’t weather this storm, they would hardly achieve anything in the future.
Shen Mi’s face was pale. Meeting everyone’s gaze, he stepped forward, first bowing to the officials above and Tie Ci, then said: “What Brother Ma said is indeed true.”
The crowd hadn’t expected him to admit it. For a moment there was an uproar and curses arose.
But Shen Mi immediately continued: “However, I don’t know why it was like this. Brother Qi and others are the same. We study at the academy, have spent years in cold study, and believe we have stored knowledge and calm temperaments. We don’t feel that strict or lax searches, or good or bad booth positions, could determine our futures. If so, why waste effort making such a big show to attract attention?”
Ma Hetong’s face reddened and he was about to refute when Shen Mi said: “This junior would like to ask Brother Ma a few questions.”
Ma Hetong sneered: “Want to make excuses? Go ahead and ask!”
“Brother Ma’s treatment was indeed extremely harsh, just as you said, so harsh as to raise questions—why should bad luck be so concentrated? Since bad luck shouldn’t be so concentrated, it should have been deliberately arranged. May I ask Brother Ma, did you offend the guards or examiners?”
“Of course not!”
“I ask again, Brother Ma—besides the stark difference in treatment between you and us neighbors that left such a deep impression and resentment in your heart, did any others around us suffer Brother Ma’s same treatment?”
“Everyone else’s searches were stricter than yours!”
“That should be said as most people were strict. But what about booth arrangements? Stomach troubles?”
“…I don’t know.”
Shen Mi turned to the student crowd: “I ask you all, did anyone else experience Brother Ma’s same treatment?”
The crowd was silent.
Being so unlucky was a once-in-a-millennium occurrence—where could you find a second person?
“As said before, too much coincidence means deliberate arrangement. Brother Ma, consider whether there’s this possibility: this entire affair was arranged—arranged for you and me to be neighbors in the examination, arranged for vastly different treatment so you would witness it and be provoked, arranged for you to finally fail while giving you the final, heaviest blow, forcing you with indignation to angrily strike the drum and file grievances, exposing the so-called fraud case!”
Ma Hetong’s eyes gradually widened, as if unable to process this, yet also seeming struck by this calculating and terrifying possibility.
The crowd also quieted, some showing thoughtful expressions.
“Brother Ma, recall whether before you went to strike the drum, someone hinted at or guided you toward this drum-beating grievance.”
Ma Hetong seemed struck again.
The crowd stirred slightly, someone loudly saying: “How cleanly you deflect blame. But perhaps it was your deliberate plan—after all, Brother Ma is supremely talented and should have passed this year. You deliberately squeezed out Brother Ma to remove a competitor, then used this as an excuse to make excuses afterward!”
Fire flared again in Ma Hetong’s eyes.
“The metropolitan examination has countless talents—thirty to fifty are on the must-pass list. What kind of fool would choose not to work hard themselves, but use such methods to squeeze out competitors one by one? Could you squeeze them all out? Wouldn’t quietly passing yourself be better? Even if you really used such foolish methods to squeeze out competitors, shouldn’t you target Brother Su from Shannan, Brother He from Lizhou, Brother Chang from Huichuan and others? After all, on everyone’s talented must-pass list, these few all rank ahead of Brother Ma!”
Tie Ci gestured and someone handed her this year’s passing candidates list. Tie Ci flipped through it and smiled: “Su Xiu from Shannan, He Shijuan from Lizhou, Chang Yuan from Huichuan… Hmm, except for Chang Yuan who was finally dismissed for moral failings, the rest all passed, and Su Xiu even became top scholar.”
Everyone knew these results, and more people fell into deep thought.
Shen Mi added: “There’s another crucial question. As everyone knows, metropolitan examination questions are drafted by the chief and deputy examiners in Chengqian Hall before the exam, then reported to His Majesty for consideration. Afterward they’re escorted by the army into the examination compound, then the gates are sealed tight with heavy guard. How could we mere scholars obtain the exam questions?”
The Vice Censor-in-Chief said ominously: “Ordinary people naturally couldn’t.”
Tie Ci raised an eyebrow: “So you mean me?”
The Vice Censor-in-Chief smiled, lowered his head, bowed, and said: “This subject dare not.”
It was “this subject dare not,” not “this subject doesn’t think so”—everyone could hear the sarcastic tone.
Tie Ci heard Murong Yi behind him lightly say to Mu Si: “This speaking style is a bit like Lao’er’s—makes people itch to hit him just looking at him.”
Mu Si said: “That’s why Second Prince couldn’t handle you.”
Murong Yi said: “Also like old Qiu.”
Mu Si said: “Qiu Wujiu was killed by the Crown Princess.”
Murong Yi laughed and praised in a low voice: “So Ci Ci and I are truly a perfect match!”
Tie Ci didn’t know Mu Si’s reaction, but she herself shuddered from the cringe.
She turned her gaze to the sarcastic Vice Censor-in-Chief, who remained unafraid, lips curling at her with a confident air.
Footsteps sounded again outside the crowd, someone calling loudly: “Reporting to the lords, more witnesses have been brought!”
Before Tie Ci could react, Assistant Minister Li eagerly said: “Present them!”
Tie Ci glanced at Assistant Minister Li.
Assistant Minister Li avoided her gaze.
He was firmly in Xiao faction’s camp. Today’s situation was life or death—even if he switched sides to the Crown Princess now, he’d still face reckoning afterward, so he might as well fight to the end.
After all, since the Crown Princess chose to strike the drum and file grievances, following legal procedures with grand airs, now in this public court, he was the highest authority!
…
In the court hall, Xiao Liheng was somewhat agitated.
Indeed many people had stepped forward to impeach the Crown Princess, demanding His Majesty investigate strictly, but the numbers weren’t as high as he’d imagined.
The expected two-thirds majority to create an overwhelming situation—under such circumstances, if the Emperor still insisted on opposing, the Cabinet would propose requesting the Empress Dowager to temporarily assume governance of this matter.
Great Qian law stipulated that for major government affairs, when the Cabinet, Palace Secretariat, and two-thirds of fourth-rank and above officials reached consensus, they could return the Emperor’s edicts and handle matters according to the ministers’ opinions. This was a rule established by the founding Emperor to prevent future despotic tyrants, but because court ministers were usually divided into factions with difficulty reaching consensus, there had never been precedent.
Yet in this dynasty, because of Tie Ci the Crown Princess, the Cabinet rarely united in targeting the imperial family, and even more rarely joined hands with their despised archenemy the Palace Secretariat.
Two-thirds had originally been certain or even exceeded, but somehow, many who were supposed to step forward ultimately didn’t.
Xiao Liheng’s gaze swept over the Grand Secretaries of Wenhua and Wuying Halls, the Minister of War, two Vice Ministers of Personnel, the Minister of Court of Imperial Banquets… even several censors from the Censorate closest to him hadn’t stepped forward.
Xiao Liheng immediately thought of what happened earlier in the duty room. Those who hadn’t stepped forward now, except for the Wuying Hall Grand Secretary, were basically all people who had been called out by attendants earlier.
What was this about?
In that brief half hour, with just a few words, what exactly had happened?
The situation seemed somewhat out of control, anxiety growing in his heart.
Court was currently in session, and he didn’t know how things were progressing outside.
His Majesty remained silent without taking a position. Since the numbers couldn’t reach the threshold to return edicts or replace with the Empress Dowager’s regency, he’d take a step back and first urge sending the case for joint trial by the Three Legal Departments.
Once sent for joint trial by the Three Legal Departments, the direction would still be in his hands.
With someone filing examination fraud accusations, it had to be investigated. Such cases always went to joint trials by the Three Legal Departments—His Majesty couldn’t avoid it.
Xiao Liheng was irritated. Despite all last night’s arrangements, the affair still wasn’t secret enough. The Crown Princess had gotten news immediately and boldly left the palace.
Clearly everyone was watched—who had passed her the message?
Hateful that the plan to assassinate the Emperor and force the Crown Princess back to the palace also failed. The Empress Dowager’s retainers refused to act, and other secret guards were simply beaten senseless by that foolish woman.
He wondered what the Crown Princess was doing outside.
Zhu Yi had led the royalist faction in jumping out to begin verbal battles. The situation was clearly deadlocked—this argument could last all day.
Xiao Liheng had an increasingly bad premonition and was more determined to end this quickly and leave the palace. The battlefield should have been in the hall, but that damned Crown Princess had already moved it outside the palace. She had a good reputation outside and was skilled at using the people—he couldn’t let her continue!
He signaled his accomplices.
Understanding his meaning, they immediately stopped demanding the Crown Princess’s deposition and ceased mentioning the two chief examiners, instead focusing fire on the examination fraud case itself.
If there were problems they had to be investigated—this was natural justice. Even the royalist faction couldn’t object. His Majesty breathed a sigh of relief, knowing further resistance was futile, and finally agreed to joint trial by the Three Legal Departments.
Before issuing the edict, he specifically emphasized no private torture during interrogation. Xiao Liheng magnanimously declared he would absolutely uphold legal dignity, then immediately pursed his lips.
The Emperor, worried about outside affairs, knew he should keep Xiao Liheng here. Seeing Xiao Liheng turning to leave, he spoke up: “We have other important matters here. Lords of the Cabinet, please remain to discuss in the Imperial Study.”
Xiao Liheng was about to claim illness when Tie Yan said: “Regarding Xiao Xueya’s transfer to defend Lizhou.”
Xiao Liheng stopped.
Recently Xiao Xueya had submitted memorials saying he’d heard Yannan seemed to have unusual activity, requesting transfer or troop expansion to monitor Yannan’s inland front.
Xiao Xueya was stationed by the sea in Nanyue Province. This past year he’d built many ships and fought numerous pirates, expanding Great Qian’s southern naval forces several times over.
He was currently the Xiao family’s only remaining military power and one of Great Qian’s most powerful military leaders, along with Di Yiwei known as the Twin Stars of north and south.
Previously the Xiao family only regretted he wasn’t ambitious for power, being a madman with eyes only for the military. Rarely did he show interest in pacifying Yannan—this was exactly another opportunity to expand strength and influence. Xiao Liheng was happy to see it succeed.
But if he was pleased, the Rong faction and royalists naturally weren’t, especially the Emperor. With Tie Ci soon going to Yannan, he dared not transfer the army-commanding Xiao Xueya near Yannan. Therefore, no matter how Xiao Xueya memorialized, the Emperor always held back without issuing orders.
Now the Emperor finally brought it up actively. Even knowing it was bait with ulterior motives, Xiao Liheng had to take it.
He turned back to follow the Emperor, but his eyes glanced toward the Censorate officials.