In the Zichen Hall, the exquisitely carved imperial throne was made of small-leaf purple sandalwood, with comfortable cushions laid upon it. Ah’man performed an awkward, non-standard three kneels and nine kowtows to the Emperor on the throne before raising her head to glimpse His Majesty’s true countenance.

The Emperor had refined features, as handsome as jade, truly the exceptional beauty that common folk rumors described. The Empress Dowager’s face was hidden behind a pearl curtain, so Ah’man couldn’t see her. The Empress Dowager had already returned governing power and usually secluded herself in Penglai Hall, not emerging except for important matters. Presumably, she made an exception this time because the accused was her nephew, sitting behind the pearl curtain to preside over the Zichen Hall.

These two individuals were the highest authorities in the Great Zhou, figures she could hardly have hoped to see in her lifetime. Ah’man knelt prostrate on the ground, her fingers digging nervously into the ebony floor. She recalled Cui Xun’s words, “Don’t be afraid,” and gradually calmed herself. Yes, she had come to seek justice for her brother. She had done nothing wrong. She had no reason to fear.

Ah’man kowtowed: “This humble woman, Sheng Ah’man, pays respects to the Empress Dowager and Your Majesty.”

Emperor Longxing nodded. His voice, like his appearance, was refined: “Sheng Ah’man, you struck the petition drum. Whom do you accuse?”

“I accuse Duke Shen, Shen Que.” Ah’man’s tone grew increasingly sorrowful and indignant: “This humble woman accuses him of murdering my brother, Sheng Yunting, military officer of the Tianwei Army!”

“Tell us in detail.”

“During this year’s Cold Food Festival, at the Spring Appreciation Banquet, that was the first time this humble woman met Duke Shen, Shen Que. At the banquet, Shen Que humiliated me thoroughly and said he treated me this way because of my brother, Sheng Yunting.”

As Ah’man spoke, Undersecretary Lu Huai of the Dali Temple, who had been dispirited, suddenly raised his head. He remembered that the Sheng Ah’man kneeling in the hall was the pipa musician from the entertainment district who had been humiliated by Shen Que that day. At the time, unable to bear Shen Que’s humiliation of Ah’man, he had wanted to intervene but was dissuaded by his friend Wang Xuan. Ultimately, out of consideration for his uncle, he had not helped the pitiful musician but had angrily left.

Later, he heard that Cui Xun had confronted Shen Que at the Spring Appreciation Banquet over that musician, causing Shen Que great embarrassment. Thinking of this, Lu Huai’s expression turned painful as he lowered his head in shame.

He kept thinking: Cui Xun dared to speak up, so how am I inferior even to a scoundrel like him? What about my principles? What about the teachings of the sages I’ve studied? What about the couplet I wrote about punishing lawbreakers even if they are relatives? Do I, Lu Huai, deserve to wear this official robe and hold the position of fourth-rank Undersecretary of the Dali Temple?

While Lu Huai was caught in his painful internal struggle, Ah’man continued her account: “At that time, this humble woman found it strange. My brother was merely a minor military officer. Shen Que was a duke. Why would he harbor such enmity toward my brother? Later, Shen Que defiled my innocence and took me as his concubine. While in the duke’s mansion, he repeatedly spoke ill of my brother. With growing suspicions, I decided to follow him into exile in Lingnan to seek evidence.”

Hearing this, the ten Imperial Academy students couldn’t help but show admiration in their eyes. Lingnan was distant and mountainous, and Ah’man was a mere woman. That she could go to such lengths to avenge her brother was truly admirable.

Ah’man continued: “After arriving in Lingnan with Shen Que, this humble woman pretended to be submissive and gained his trust. Finally, one day after getting him drunk, in his intoxicated state, he said he was sorry to me. I asked him why he was sorry, and he said he had killed my brother.”

As Ah’man recalled Shen Que’s drunken confession that day, tears streamed down her face. She choked with emotion: “Shen Que said that six years ago, when my brother came to Chang’an seeking aid because the Tianwei Army was trapped, he was passing through Changle Relay Station when Shen Que and Pei Guanyue’s wife, Wang Ranxi, lured him into the station, hacked him to death with swords, and buried his body beneath Tonghua Gate. For six full years, his remains couldn’t see the light of day…”

Ah’man was crying uncontrollably. She kowtowed heavily: “My brother died unjustly! I beg the Empress Dowager and Your Majesty to arrest Shen Que and give justice to my brother!”

Her forehead struck the ebony floor, becoming red and swollen. The officials and Imperial Academy students whispered among themselves. On the imperial throne, the Emperor’s expression remained unchanged. Behind the pearl curtain, the Empress Dowager’s expression was indiscernible. After a moment, the Emperor slowly said: “Sheng Ah’man, this is merely your one-sided account. Do you have evidence?”

“Yes!” Ah’man wiped away her tears: “When Shen Que killed my brother, his sword and armor were stained with my brother’s blood. He said he despised my brother’s lowly blood, so he discarded the sword, removed the armor, and ordered a subordinate named Yang Heng to bury them. If Yang Heng is arrested and questioned about the whereabouts of the blood-stained sword and armor, the truth will be revealed.”

After hearing this, the Emperor glanced at Lu Yumin. Lu Yumin stepped forward and said, “Your Highness, Your Majesty, even if the sword and armor are excavated, they prove nothing. How do we know they weren’t planted by someone who bribed Yang Heng? To arrest a hereditary duke based solely on one woman’s testimony, in this official’s opinion, is inappropriate.”

Hearing this, Ah’man became angry: “You haven’t even arrested Yang Heng, how do you know someone bribed him? And what does it matter that I’m a woman? Does being a woman make my testimony one-sided? Why don’t you amend the Great Zhou’s laws to forbid all women from filing complaints?”

Lu Yumin had never been openly contradicted like this. His face alternated between red and white, his lips trembling for a long time before he managed to squeeze out two words: “Shrew!”

The Emperor had to intervene: “Sheng Ah’man, mind your manners!”

Ah’man gritted her teeth in silence. Another official from Lu’s faction stepped forward: “Sheng Ah’man was formerly a musician from the entertainment district. Prostitutes are vain and heartless. She probably fabricated this lie because life in Lingnan was too harsh, and she wanted to divorce Duke Shen. If we arrest imperial relatives based on a prostitute’s words, wouldn’t that invite mockery?”

If Lu Yumin’s earlier words had left some room for interpretation, this official’s statement was blatant humiliation. Both Cui Xun and Lu Huai’s expressions changed, and even the ten Imperial Academy students showed indignation. Ah’man was so angry that her entire body trembled. She raged: “You’re talking nonsense!”

The official was stunned by her retort. Ah’man continued: “I may be a prostitute, but what does that make Shen Que, who tied my limbs to a bed and raped me against my will? Is he a beast? If a prostitute isn’t worthy of filing a complaint, is a beast worthy of being an imperial relative?”

She spoke so bluntly that Emperor Longxing’s expression changed. Behind the pearl curtain, the Empress Dowager coughed lightly. The sixty-year-old official’s face turned bright red. Pointing at Ah’man, he finally managed to curse: “You… you’re corrupting public morals…”

Ah’man laughed coldly: “Shen Que could do it, why can’t I speak of it? Why don’t you go accuse Shen Que of corrupting public morals?”

The official was both embarrassed and angry, stammering for a long time without forming a complete sentence. Emperor Longxing had to intervene again: “Sheng Ah’man, today we’re questioning you about Shen Que killing your brother. You are not permitted to speak on other matters.”

But this time, Ah’man didn’t remain silent. She suddenly laughed: “Now I understand. You claim Yang Heng was bribed, you call me a prostitute, you find fault with me, the plaintiff, in every way, yet you’re unwilling to even question Shen Que, the defendant. Ultimately, isn’t it because Shen Que is Your Majesty’s cousin? Your Majesty doesn’t want to punish his cousin, and the Empress Dowager doesn’t want to punish her nephew. As for my brother’s life, a mere military officer not even of the ninth rank, who cares?”

Emperor Longxing was dumbfounded, as were the assembled officials. Lu Yumin was the first to react, shouting: “Insolent woman! How dare you!”

The imperial guards on both sides drew their swords, shouting: “How dare you!”

The gleaming blades reflected light into Ah’man’s eyes. She slightly raised her sleeve to shield her eyes. In the vast Zichen Hall, the Empress Dowager sat behind the pearl curtain, the Emperor sat on the throne, and the officials and Imperial Academy students stood densely packed. Only she knelt humbly. Anyone in the hall outranked her in position and family status by far. She was like an ant, so insignificant that they could trample her at will, and even if she were crushed to death, it would be without a sound or a trace.

Ah’man suddenly burst into laughter. Lu Yumin frowned: “Insolent woman, what are you laughing at?”

Ah’man didn’t answer. She slowly stood up and, to Lu Yumin’s astonishment, walked up to him: “Prime Minister Lu, right? Your reputation among the common people is good. They say you’re honest and dedicated to public service, caring only for the people. But am I not one of the people? Was my brother not one of the people? Where is your honesty and dedication? Where is your care for the people? Or you might as well tell everyone that you’re just a hypocrite seeking fame, and only imperial relatives like Shen Que deserve to be considered people, and deserve your protection!”

Lu Yumin was so angry that his face turned ashen. Ah’man then walked to the silent Cui Songqing: “Prime Minister Cui, your reputation is significant; even I recognize you. You are the ‘White-Robed Minister’ who provides opportunities for countless scholars from humble backgrounds to enter government service. But my brother, Sheng Yunting, was also from a humble background. Though not a scholar but a rough man, he guarded the border for ten years, his body covered with countless wounds, large and small. It’s because of people like him that you can sit comfortably at home, planning how to help your humble disciples enter officialdom. He sacrificed for your dreams, yet you won’t even uphold justice for him. What right do you have to be called the ‘White-Robed Minister’?”

Cui Songqing was dumbfounded. Before he could react, Ah’man had already walked up to Lu Huai: “Sir, I don’t know you. You remain silent—do you also think I shouldn’t file a complaint? But don’t you have brothers? Don’t you have sisters? If your loved ones were cruelly murdered, wouldn’t you want revenge? Don’t think this matters doesn’t concern you. You’re a high official, but there are always higher officials. Today, the one whose grievance cannot be redressed is me, Sheng Ah’man. One day, it could be any of you sitting here.”

She walked to the Imperial Academy students: “You are all scholars, nobler than I. Though I am lowly, I too know the saying, ‘When a prince breaks the law, he should be punished the same as a commoner.’ You study diligently to one day serve the country. But if this country, to protect a depraved nobleman, can pretend not to see the unjust death of a soldier who defended its borders, then I ask you, why do you still study? Why do you still serve it?”

The ten students were all taken aback. Veins were now pulsing on Emperor Longxing’s forehead. Lu Yumin was pointing at Ah’man, his finger trembling, ready to denounce her for treason and have her immediately removed from the hall. But before he could speak, Cui Xun in his dark crimson official robe suddenly frowned, stepped forward with his ivory tablet, and said to Ah’man: “Silence!”

Ah’man was stunned. Cui Xun coldly added: “Kneel!”

Ah’man didn’t move. Cui Xun repeated: “Kneel!”

He had rarely used such a tone with Ah’man. This tone reminded her of her brother. When she caused trouble as a child, her brother would scold her like this, then clean up her mess and apologize on her behalf.

Ah’man also recalled how, before entering the Zichen Hall, he had risked coming to tell her that she only had one chance to convince everyone in the hall. But she seemed to have ruined it…

Ah’man’s nose stung. She lowered her gaze and woodenly knelt. At this moment, her heart felt surprisingly light. She had said many treasonous things. It didn’t matter. In any case, even if she were to be executed by a thousand cuts, she wasn’t afraid. If she died and went to the underworld to meet her brother, she would have no regrets.

Cui Xun bowed to the Empress Dowager and Emperor Longxing: “This troublesome woman is grieving excessively over her brother’s death, speaking wildly. I request that the Empress Dowager and Your Majesty punish her.”

Before the Empress Dowager and Emperor Longxing could speak, Lu Yumin could no longer contain himself: “Cui Xun! Stop pretending! Who doesn’t know that you once fought with Shen Que over this troublesome woman? Do you think attributing her treasonous words to excessive grief will absolve her of her crimes?”

Cui Xun replied calmly: “The troublesome woman certainly deserves death for her offense. But Prime Minister Lu, you all call her a false accuser, call her a prostitute—a group of well-read scholars using the most cutting words to bully a weak woman who has lost her brother. Is that reasonable?”

Lu Yumin was so angry he laughed, saying: “Undersecretary Cui, are you determined to defend this troublesome woman today?”

Cui Xun merely curved his lips in mockery. He faced Emperor Longxing, knelt, removed his official hat, and placed it aside. He kowtowed: “Sheng Yunting guarded the border for ten years with unwavering loyalty. His death was suspicious, and even with his blood on the murder weapon, the murderer despised his blood as lowly. How tragic! How hateful! This official, with his position as Undersecretary of the Investigation Department and with his life, implores the Empress Dowager and Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate this case, lest a loyal soul become disillusioned in the underworld!”

After he spoke, Ah’man couldn’t help but turn to look at him in shock. He was actually… using his official position and life to seek justice for her brother. Didn’t he love power? Wasn’t he afraid of death? Why would he do this?

Among the officials, Lu Huai also clenched his fists. He thought, even Cui Xun had come forward to speak righteously. Am I inferior even to Cui Xun, whom I despise? If I don’t stand up today, do I still have the right to despise him? Do I still deserve… to be human?

He gritted his teeth, not looking at Lu Yumin’s ashen face, and quickly stepped forward, knelt, and kowtowed: “I, Lu Huai, also pledge my official position and life to implore the Empress Dowager and Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate this case.”

The ten Imperial Academy students exchanged glances. Lu Huai had previously been the Director of the Imperial Academy, and they all respected him greatly. Moreover, Ah’man’s words had stirred their emotions. If a country only cared for imperial relatives while disregarding the soldiers who bled and sacrificed for it, allowing the families of loyal souls to be humiliated with grievances unaddressed, did such a country deserve their protection? What was the purpose of their diligent study? The ten students knelt in unison: “We, representing the 3,200 students of the six schools of the Imperial Academy, implore the Empress Dowager and Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate this case.”

As they knelt and kowtowed, more and more officials stepped forward to kowtow. Among these officials were the scholarly officials and members of both the Cui and Lu factions. They still possessed some conscience and could not bear to see soldiers who had bled on the battlefield treated this way.

Behind the pearl curtain, the Empress Dowager finally spoke. She sighed and said to Emperor Longxing, “Your Majesty, make your decision.”

The Empress Dowager’s meaning was clear—she was inclined to no longer protect Shen Que. Emperor Longxing looked at the mass of officials kneeling in the hall and, after a long while, reluctantly said: “A loyal soul cannot suffer injustice. By imperial decree, arrest Shen Que immediately and escort him to Chang’an. Thoroughly investigate the case of Sheng Yunting!”