Chi Xue smiled unhurriedly and pointed at the chess board, “I don’t know what the Crown Princess would bestow, but I do know what she would never bestow. If you had brought out some porcelain vases or coral today, I couldn’t say much, but this backgammon set… that’s different.”

“What do you mean?” someone couldn’t help asking.

Chi Xue curtsied, “All the distinguished officials present are well-informed. Why don’t you recall – in the hundred-plus years since Da Qian’s founding, through all dynasties, in the joyous banquets of princes and ministers, weddings and funerals, among all types of imperial rewards, has chess ever been bestowed?”

Everyone was stunned and fell into thought. After a long while, their expressions all changed.

One official said, “Speaking of it, Emperor Gaozu bestowed everything – he even gave cuju balls to his subjects, but it seems he never bestowed chess pieces.”

Someone couldn’t help saying, “Is it because bestowing chess doesn’t sound good?”

It had the disrespectful implication of treating subjects as chess pieces.

This was taboo to say. Someone glanced at him and he quickly shut up.

Chi Xue smiled, “This involves a palace secret that this servant has no qualification to mention.” She said this while smiling at Tie Ci.

Outside the flower wall, the minor officials in the side flower hall stood on tiptoe with ears pricked, wanting to hear what was happening upstairs.

Pang Duan moved to another wall, sneakily called over his servant, stepped on the servant’s shoulders, reached up to the second-floor window frame, and clung to it to eavesdrop.

Inside the room, everyone’s gaze turned to Tie Ci. Some were confused, but many people’s expressions changed slightly.

A palace secret – that servant said she had no qualification to mention it, but this person did have the qualification. What qualification was that?

Tie Ci picked up a chess piece and played with it between her fingertips. Sunlight streaming through the window frame gaps hit her fingertips, crystal clear as water.

She smiled, “This involves a secret matter of Emperor Shizu. Emperor Shizu was brilliant and talented, accomplished in both civil and military affairs, the founding ancestor of our Da Qian. But no one is perfect – Emperor Shizu’s temperament was somewhat impatient. He once played chess with the heir of Duke Zhenguo in the palace and argued endlessly over one move. In his impatience and anger, Emperor Shizu picked up the chess board and struck the Duke’s heir dead.”

The officials present were dumbfounded.

Outside, Pang Duan clinging to the window nearly fell.

Although the founding emperor of this dynasty was Emperor Taizu, more than half the realm was conquered by the brave and skilled Emperor Shizu. In the history books, this emperor was also renowned for his wisdom and benevolence. No one knew such a violent incident had occurred in his life.

“Because this matter damaged Emperor Shizu’s reputation, it was suppressed by the palace. Duke Zhenguo was originally a distant branch of the Tie clan. Later, because of this incident, he was granted a hereditary princely title that passed from generation to generation – that’s the line of Prince Tang.”

Everyone was in an uproar again.

Prince Tang had rebelled and was ultimately eliminated. This line had no more descendants.

So Prince Tang’s line had actually risen because of this, actually because an ancestor died at the emperor’s hands and they received compensatory princely status. Could their later alliance with Prince Lu in rebellion also be related to this matter?

Thinking of the equally unspeakable rebellion of Princes Tang and Lu, everyone understood that whether from the perspective of protecting the ruler’s reputation or imperial face, suppressing this old matter about Emperor Shizu was perfectly normal.

“Emperor Shizu greatly regretted it afterward. He reflected on everything thereafter, which achieved his reputation for tolerance and benevolence. Before Emperor Shizu’s death, he left a testament that the imperial family could no longer bestow chess to subjects, as a warning. Since then, this order has been passed down through generations of the imperial family.” Tie Ci said, “But it’s normal for ordinary officials not to know this.”

The room fell into an eerie silence. Many people began quietly sizing up Tie Ci, and some pulled out copies of Chronicles of Compassionate Heart.

Outside by the window, Pang Duan whispered tremblingly to his servant below, “Hold me steady… I think my legs are getting weak…”

Inside the room, after a long while someone finally said, “Then how do you know this?”

Third Master Tan’s eyes suddenly lit up and he clapped, “You must be from the palace!”

Everyone was already nervously comparing with Chronicles of Compassionate Heart when they heard this and thought, oh, Third Master Tan is actually smart today. But then they heard him say, “…You’re sent by the Crown Princess to deliver birthday gifts to us! Otherwise, where in Qianzhou would someone who knows palace secrets come from? Hey! A mere palace servant dares show disrespect to the Crown Princess’s maternal family?”

Everyone: …Let’s take back our earlier assessment of Third Master Tan.

Outside Danhuai Hall, teams of constables led by Fourth Master Tan quickly approached. The guests in the side flower hall looked around in alarm and scattered to avoid them.

Fourth Master Tan directed some constables to spread out and surround Danhuai Hall while personally leading another group of constables upstairs.

He commanded the lead constable with sinister intent, “Those troublemakers all know martial arts. Beat them as soon as you go up – beat them to death. Don’t give these criminals any chance to hold the masters hostage. Let all of Qianzhou’s officialdom see the fate of opposing the Tan mansion.”

Pang Duan, perched high at the second-floor window, looked down and saw a ring of constables surrounding Danhuai Hall. Then he saw several shadows flash by, and this ring of constables fell like mowed grass. A wind passed, and Danhuai Hall’s doors slammed shut in unison, nearly smashing the nose of Fourth Master Tan who had just stepped onto the stairs. Fourth Master Tan lifted his foot, and with a thud, an arrow appeared under his foot.

Fourth Master Tan stared at this arrow embedded deep in the stone slab cracks under his feet. His legs involuntarily began trembling. He wanted to retreat, but as soon as his other foot moved, thud – another arrow pinned down behind his other heel.

Fourth Master Tan dared not move again.

His two legs were twisted into a pretzel shape, trapped between the two arrows.

Pang Duan watched helplessly as the back of his thin gauze robe gradually became transparent, soaked layer upon layer with sweat.

Pang Duan’s sweat also seeped out layer by layer from his back. He suddenly realized his position was extremely dangerous. He wanted to come down but dared not move, feeling that the lush trees and flowers above his head, behind him, in front of him, on his sides, and all around him were now filled with eyes containing deadly intent. One move and he’d go home to meet his maker.

His servant below, supporting him with head down, didn’t know what was happening and kept asking, “Master, are you done? Master, can you see clearly?”

Pang Duan’s expression was between crying and laughing as he grimaced, his catfish whiskers trembling.

He could indeed see clearly – clearly see that his life was about to end.

Having come this far, it was better to stay still than move. He simply clung tightly to the window edge and stretched out his neck.

Inside, Tie Ci glanced at the window and smiled slightly, “I’ve come to deliver a birthday gift to Old Master Tan.”

Third Master Tan felt his guess was confirmed and let out a long breath, then reacted with surprise, “Aren’t you a judicial clerk from Mubang Pacification Commission? You’re just a seventh-rank minor official – is it your turn to deliver birthday gifts?”

Tie Ci smiled, “Bring brush, ink, and paper.”

Immediately some quick-witted person ordered these items prepared. Some looked around searchingly. Old Master Tan looked confused, while Third Master Tan looked around in surprise, “What’s this about? Why give him brush and ink? Could this be a fraud trying to escape punishment through diversion?”

Tie Ci raised her eyebrows.

Stupid birds of a feather.

The Tan family, from top to bottom, was truly beyond words.

At this moment she suddenly felt she could forgive her mother. Growing up in such a family with such poor heredity, that her mother could peacefully stay in the palace for so many years without creating countless irreparable disasters was truly like good bamboo shoots growing from bad bamboo – she had done right by the Tie imperial clan.

And she again marveled at her own fortune – not suffering too long under her mother’s influence, growing up beside Father Emperor in childhood, and receiving Master’s guidance after becoming Crown Prince, becoming who she was today.

When brush and ink were brought, she completed it in one stroke. Chi Xue and Dan Shuang stood left and right beside the table, and no one dared approach.

Everyone stared at Tie Ci. This youth wore ordinary clothes but had noble bearing, with gentle features luminous as if lit from within. Her two maids were like ice, snow, orchids, and moonlight – also of exceptional quality. Aside from everything else, anyone who could employ such maids was definitely no ordinary person.

Combined with the palace secrets unknown to anyone moments before.

And the calm tone when speaking of Emperor Shizu.

Some things were ready to emerge, but it made people’s hearts turn cold. Everyone glanced at the still-oblivious Tan father and sons, thinking they might have come to the wrong place today!

Third Master Tan whispered to Old Master Tan, “…If this kid is grandstanding to delay time, he deserves a harsh lesson to recover the face we lost today… Hey, where did Fourth Brother go?”

With a snap, Tie Ci set down her brush and took out her private seal from her robes to stamp it.

Then she walked to the window, tapped the frame, and said, “Remember to hold on tight later.”

Outside the window, Pang Duan stared with his mouth agape.

Tie Ci clapped her hands and said lightly, “The gift is delivered. Let’s go.” Without looking at anyone, she headed out first.

Everyone instinctively made way, except Deputy Commissioner Qin who raised his eyebrows.

Just let them leave like this? What if this was mystification to escape punishment?

He darkened his face and moved to block them, but saw someone couldn’t wait to see what was written. That Commissioner looked for a long time, then suddenly let out a great shout:

“Pingyun Prefect Tan Qianshan is incompetent in his duties, muddled in conduct, uncaring of people’s livelihood, and unauthorized in adding taxes. He is hereby immediately removed from office and stripped of his seal!”

Like thunder striking everyone’s heads, people’s mouths slowly opened with bewildered yet shocked expressions.

Old Master Tan suddenly stood up, his face instantly pale.

Third Master Tan rubbed his ears with disbelief, opening his mouth to curse, when that Commissioner shouted again.

“Qianzhou Provincial Administration Commission Right Deputy Commissioner Qin Liangfeng is hereby immediately removed from office and stripped of his seal. The Qianzhou Surveillance Commission is ordered to investigate this person’s property and dealings!”

Deputy Commissioner Qin’s ears roared, his mind buzzing blank. After a long daze, he suddenly let out a strange laugh and shrilly said, “What person is playing tricks and discussing court officials rashly – you actually believe it… You stop right there!” He angrily lifted his robes and chased after Tie Ci who had already gone halfway down the stairs.

“Pingyun Prefecture Assistant Prefect Pang Duan is ordered to temporarily assume the position of Pingyun Prefect, pending Cabinet review after the Ministry of Personnel’s Evaluation Department reviews his file.”

Outside the window came a cry of alarm followed by a thud. Pang Duan finally couldn’t hold onto the window sill and fell with his bottom blooming like flowers.

He rubbed his bottom and sat up as if in a dream. Only now did he understand what Tie Ci had meant by telling him to hold on tight.

He grabbed the floating earth and broken grass on the ground, looking at them as if they were flowers for a long while, then let out a “hehe” laugh.

Upstairs, Deputy Commissioner Qin who had chased to the stairway heard this sentence and stumbled.

Just then he heard the final sentence.

“Seal of Auspicious Treasure! The Crown Princess’s private seal!”

Deputy Commissioner Qin’s legs suddenly gave out and he rolled down the stairs with thuds.

Upstairs, Old Master Tan stood up bewildered and walked toward the table. The officials around the table, whose expressions had changed several times, saw him approaching and scattered like a wave.

Half an hour ago, such behavior would have been called courtesy. Now such behavior was called avoiding like the plague.

Old Master Tan clearly saw mockery, shock, and disdain in the eyes of these people who had just been arm-in-arm with him…

He suddenly felt cold all over, his legs heavy as if filled with lead. With great difficulty he moved to the table edge and saw those lines of dripping ink. Below them, the bright red Seal of Auspicious Treasure pierced his eyes, and he quickly shut them.

After a long while he opened them again, but those terrible four seal script characters were still there.

Coldness rushed from his heart to the top of his skull, nearly choking off his breath.

The Crown Princess’s private seal design had been published in court gazettes – all officials throughout the realm recognized it. And ordinary people would never dare forge the Crown Princess’s private seal, as discovery would be a capital crime implicating nine generations.

So that youth just now was the Crown Princess in disguise.

She had originally come to pay him birthday respects but was humiliated by him, so she gave him such a birthday gift!

Tan Qianshan didn’t think about why, if she came to pay respects, she wouldn’t reveal her identity, why she wouldn’t come upstairs, and why her attitude was cold after coming upstairs. Just as people always like to interpret things in favorable ways, beautified causes often make consequences harder to accept. The two words “regret” are the most heart-gnawing in this world. Tan Qianshan thought that today could have been even more glorious but was ruined by himself and his foolish sons – he almost wanted to vomit blood.

He suddenly grabbed the dumbfounded Third Master Tan and picked up the paperweight from the table to beat him, “It’s you, you unfilial son! It’s you! Making noise without manners, driving away the Crown Princess! Today I’ll beat you to death before confessing my crimes to the Crown Princess!”

All the officials in the room stepped back in unison, exchanging glances with mocking eyes.

They had known the Tan family was obtuse, but seeing them now truly exceeded their reputation. At this time, instead of quickly chasing after her to make amends, they were here shifting blame and embarrassing themselves.

Now it seemed the legend that the Crown Princess had a distant relationship with Quiet Consort and didn’t grow up beside her was indeed true. The Crown Princess’s character and conduct showed not the slightest trace of Tan family style.

The officials’ gazes were complex, tinged with fear, grateful they had remained silent observers and hadn’t participated in this bullying farce.

The Crown Princess could even conduct private inspections of her own grandfather’s birthday celebration and could dismiss her grandfather at will. Thinking of her actions along the way – auditing accounts in Huangzhou, where it was said Ministry of Revenue Observer Gu Xiaoxiao brought a team of veteran clerks and wolf-like guards, directly entering Huangzhou Prefecture offices without notice, sealing account books and official storehouses while also confining the officials in separate courtyards of the office, not accepting entertainment or seeing people, setting up bronze boxes to receive accusations from Huangzhou people and merchants, auditing accounts day and night without rest until the Huangzhou Prefect’s hair turned white with worry.

And the water bandits’ corpses on Fuguang River swayed in the wind along the river, Xizhou from prefect to patrol commissioners and all garrison commands were completely purged, Qianzhou’s officialdom was shaken, even Qianzhou’s Regional Military Commission was implicated and was currently like ants on a hot pot seeking connections everywhere. For this Tan Qianshan birthday celebration, not a single person from the Regional Military Commission or Surveillance Commission offices came.

And today’s full attendance was ultimately related to these turbulent circumstances – wanting to curry favor with the Crown Princess’s maternal family, gather the latest news, and protect themselves from failure in the coming upheaval.

Now it seemed today’s trip was truly dancing on knife’s edge, but not in vain.

Third Master Tan held his head and dodged around the table, shouting, “Father, Father! How could the Crown Princess give you such a birthday gift on your birthday! She loves and reveres you dearly – it must be an imposter, an imposter! Let your son catch him and charge him with the great crime of impersonating imperial family!”

Old Master Tan’s eyes rolled and he quickly said, “That makes sense. The Crown Princess has always been very fond of our Tan family – how could she do such an unfilial thing? Quickly go bring that person back and interrogate him clearly!” He gave Third Master Tan a meaningful look.

Third Master Tan ran downstairs holding his head, continuously calling for guards. Who knows if he understood that look.

Here Old Master Tan rolled up the paper and continued entertaining everyone as if nothing happened. Deputy Commissioner Qin also climbed up from the stairs, dusted off his clothes, and said to everyone, “Some worthless brat from who knows where dares joke about such matters.”

Everyone also laughed perfunctorily, playing along vaguely. The chess board was quietly removed, Old Master Tan started the birthday banquet early, but unfortunately no one was in the mood to eat and drink. Before even one round of wine, more than half had bid farewell. Half an hour later, looking from the windows, the previously crowded side flower hall below was completely empty, and upstairs at the main round table in the VIP section, only Old Master Tan and Deputy Commissioner Qin sat facing each other.

Facing each other like this looked quite lonely.

Old Master Tan was the host and couldn’t leave. Deputy Commissioner Qin was stubbornly holding on, feeling he couldn’t flee now or it would be like confirming the terrible contents of that paper.

The two stared at each other in silence. After a long while, Old Master Tan picked up his wine cup, coughed, and said, “Fewer people is good – quiet. Come, old brother, drink.”

Deputy Commissioner Qin woodenly raised his cup, “Right, quiet. Come, drink.”

…