Huangfu Wushuang’s ascension to the throne brought Hua Zhuyu honor and favor as blazing as oil on fire. However, this brought her no joy whatsoever. She knew that from the day Huangfu Wushuang ascended the throne, she had embarked on a path of struggle against the Left Prime Minister’s faction. Whether the road ahead held darkness or light, there was no longer any retreat.
After the new emperor’s ascension came the ancestral worship ceremony. By the time all the bustle had settled, it was already the fifteenth day of the twelfth month. With New Year approaching, the palace was naturally busy with preparations.
This night, Hua Zhuyu was not on duty. She walked slowly through the palace corridors, the winter cold seeming to seep into her very bones. Taking advantage of the night, she headed northeast where there was a corner gate. Usually, night soil carts entered and exited through this gate, and it was guarded by Imperial Guards under An’s command. As Hua Zhuyu approached the gate, she saw An emerge from the shadows and beckon to her. The two slipped out together.
After leaving the palace, they neither took a carriage nor a sedan chair, but simply used their lightness skills to fly over hidden streets until they reached the entrance of a courtyard in An’he Lane.
An stopped and looked back at Hua Zhuyu’s eunuch robes, saying, “I think you should change clothes and put on a mask, or you might frighten Kang and Tai.” An’s sharp tongue remained unchanged.
Hua Zhuyu touched her face and snorted coldly, “Is my face that terrifying?” An, Ping, and even Dan Hong already knew her true appearance—there was no need to disguise herself before Kang and Tai.
The two looked around and saw no one following them, then leaped over the wall into the courtyard. Guards inside had already detected the movement and approached with swords drawn. Seeing it was An, they said quietly, “The three masters are waiting for you.”
An nodded and led Hua Zhuyu slowly toward the house.
Under the dim red candlelight, the three brothers Ping, Kang, and Tai along with a guard were sitting around a table playing mahjong. As soon as An appeared, the substitute guard jumped up joyfully and said to An, “Second Master, if you hadn’t come, I would have lost all my silver.”
Kang glanced at An and snorted dismissively, “He’ll lose just the same.”
Hua Zhuyu stepped out from behind An with a smile bright as flowers, asking, “What if I joined instead?”
Kang’s hand holding the tiles trembled, and he pointed at Hua Zhuyu somewhat speechlessly, “You… who are you?”
Upon hearing this, Tai raised his head to glance at Hua Zhuyu, his eyes immediately focusing.
Among the three, Ping was the most composed. Having just seen Hua Zhuyu on the battlefield, he smiled imperceptibly at Kang’s astonished expression.
Hua Zhuyu walked over with a smile, picked up the teapot from the table, poured herself a cup of tea, sat in the chair the guard had vacated, sipped the tea, and said leisurely, “Guess!”
Kang looked at An, then at Hua Zhuyu, saying puzzledly, “What’s there to guess? Aren’t you a eunuch? An, what are you bringing a eunuch here for?”
Tai quietly observed Hua Zhuyu for a while, emotions churning in his eyes. Hearing Kang’s words, he smiled slightly and said quietly, “General, serving in the palace must have earned you plenty of silver. Don’t blame Tai for being impolite tonight.” With that, he leisurely threw down a tile.
Hua Zhuyu smiled slightly. Tai was indeed more perceptive, having guessed her identity. “I’ve indeed earned quite a bit of silver—let’s see if you have the skill to win it from me.”
Kang gasped, his bone tiles falling to the table with a clatter. Looking completely stunned, he swiftly moved from his seat and walked quickly to Hua Zhuyu, examining her from head to toe incredulously, “You’re really the General?”
Hua Zhuyu didn’t look at Kang, glanced at her tiles, and called out, “Eat! Three, four, five!”
Kang pointed at Hua Zhuyu and laughed heartily, “Definitely the General—all you know is eating! Wait! Don’t eat yet, I want to pong!” He hurriedly flashed back, but when he looked, An had already settled comfortably in his seat.
He stamped his feet in endless regret. The four of them—Ping, An, Kang, and Tai—made a perfect mahjong table. When they were bored on the battlefield, they would play mahjong for entertainment. But every time the General insisted on joining, and every time, one of the four would be kicked out. Tonight, it was his turn to be excluded. With a sorrowful expression, he moved a chair to sit beside Hua Zhuyu and observe the game.
An glanced at Hua Zhuyu and asked, “General, what do you plan to do next? Ji Fengli must be eliminated. The Grand Emperor is incompetent and evil, bewitched by Ji Fengli, causing the Hua family’s destruction.”
“I feel something’s wrong with the Grand Emperor. On the day His Majesty ascended the throne, he looked at the late Empress’s blood letter and was completely unmoved. Ji Fengli wouldn’t act without being completely confident. An, go investigate what happened to the Grand Emperor.” Hua Zhuyu focused her eyes. She also needed to investigate what exactly was written in that blood letter.
An nodded in agreement.
Ping sighed softly, “Ji Fengli’s power is enormous. Wang Yu has troops stationed in the northern frontier. If Huangfu Wushuang moves against Ji Fengli, Wang Yu might lead his army south.”
“In that case, we need military force to counter Wang Yu,” An said slowly.
Hua Zhuyu nodded, “Quickly gather the Orphan Army. Though few in number, they should be able to hold for a while. Eat! Six, seven, eight.”
Kang pursed his lips and muttered, “All you know is eating! The General just has a big appetite—if only you could eat Wang Yu’s hundred thousand troops.”
“That’s not impossible!” Tai, who had been silent, suddenly spoke.
“How so?” Hua Zhuyu raised her eyebrows and asked.
“The Marquis knew early on that the court would be ungrateful and already had me borrow fifty thousand troops. However, the Marquis was afraid you’d rebel, so he didn’t dare give them to you. Now it seems it’s time to use them,” Tai said gently.
Hua Zhuyu froze completely. She remembered that when the Hua family army was executed, Tai and An were not in Liang Zhou. An had been sent back to the palace by Father to investigate the matter of the Hua family being framed. Tai had also been sent away. She had always thought he went to the palace with An, never imagining he had gone to borrow troops.
“Borrow troops? From whom? Could it be the Wing Prince’s?” Looking at the entire Southern Dynasty, only the Wing Prince of Eastern Zhao in the southeast still had troops. But this Wing Prince lived far away in Eastern Zhao in the southeastern part of the Southern Dynasty and, apart from paying tribute to the Southern Dynasty over the years, ignored all other matters. Even the court couldn’t borrow his troops for the northern expedition—how could Tai have borrowed them?
Tai nodded in confirmation.
Hua Zhuyu frowned, still unable to believe it.
“How would he be willing to lend them to you? They’re not troops the Marquis left behind, are they?” Hua Zhuyu asked doubtfully.
Tai smiled with narrowed eyes, “Hardly. How could the Marquis have troops? If the Southern Dynasty falls into chaos, can Eastern Zhao remain peaceful?”
“In that case, excellent,” An threw down a bone tile and said, “I’ll handle the capital, and Tai can lead troops to the northern frontier to intercept Wang Yu’s army. This way, the General will have no worries in the palace.”
Hua Zhuyu felt relieved. Taking advantage of the others’ quiet conversation, she secretly switched a tile, and seeing it was exactly what she needed, she was secretly delighted.
“General, you… is this how you’ve been playing cards all these years?” Kang’s astonished voice came from beside her. He pointed at her, his tiger eyes wide with disbelief. No wonder the General always won—she cheated by switching tiles.
Hua Zhuyu was startled, having forgotten Kang was beside her. She hurriedly said, “How did I play cards?” while silently threatening him not to tell.
Under Hua Zhuyu’s intimidation, Kang sighed and kept quiet.
Ping glanced at Hua Zhuyu and smiled, shaking his head.
Though they discussed military matters that night with no lack of thrilling moments, having not gathered for so long, this game was the most carefree day Hua Zhuyu had experienced in months.
In the Hall of Diligent Government, Huangfu Wushuang slammed the memorial in his hand onto the dragon desk and stood up coldly, “This Grand Tutor Wen—don’t think I won’t dare move against him!”
Hua Zhuyu raised her eyebrows. It seemed Grand Tutor Wen had submitted another memorial that angered Huangfu Wushuang.
“Look at this—what is this writing!” Huangfu Wushuang threw the memorial to Hua Zhuyu, saying angrily.
Hua Zhuyu quickly scanned the memorial, a cold smile curving her lips. Grand Tutor Wen was indeed an upright and incorruptible minister, but the words in this memorial were somewhat extreme. He spoke of Huangfu Wushuang keeping deceptive eunuchs in his entourage and of eunuch despotism. Though he didn’t directly name her, anyone could see the criticism was aimed at her.
“What do you say? I merely play chess with you—why do they dislike you so much? If this continues, we might as well have no palace servants at all,” Huangfu Wushuang said coldly, looking out the window with his hands behind his back, his entire being shrouded in a cold aura.
“Your Majesty, do you really want to eliminate Grand Tutor Wen?” Hua Zhuyu pondered for a moment and asked slowly. Grand Tutor Wen was definitely Ji Fengli’s man—eliminating him would remove Ji Fengli’s right-hand man.
Huangfu Wushuang nodded, “This old fool—when I liked Wan’er, he obstructed me in every way, always favoring Ji Fengli and wanting to marry his daughter to Ji Fengli. However, this old fool appears upright on the surface, clean-sleeved and honest, leaving me no way to act against him.”
“Your Majesty, do you still think of Miss Wen?” Hua Zhuyu remembered that Wen Wan was now with Xiao Yin and asked softly. She wondered if Huangfu Wushuang knew that Wen Wan had played “Sha Polang” for Xiao Yin on the battlefield.
“What if I do? She’s now far away in the Northern Dynasty,” Huangfu Wushuang paced slowly in the room, frowning.
Hua Zhuyu frowned and said, “Your Majesty, Wen Wan has completely committed herself to the Northern Dynasty. On the battlefield, she played the qin to assist the Northern Emperor before a great battle. With Grand Tutor Wen’s daughter aiding the Northern Dynasty, would this charge be sufficient?”
Huangfu Wushuang’s expression darkened as he said slowly, “Wan’er might resent us for marrying her to the north.”
Hua Zhuyu sighed softly. It seemed Huangfu Wushuang didn’t want Wen Wan involved in treason charges, so she said slowly, “Your Majesty, you just ascended the throne and wanted to investigate the military and Ministry of Revenue deficits. You could assign this task to Grand Tutor Wen. If he’s clean, that’s good—though he disagrees with Your Majesty politically, he’s still a pillar minister. But if he’s not clean and takes the opportunity to embezzle, Your Majesty can charge him accordingly.”
Huangfu Wushuang’s black eyes lit up. He paced back and forth in the hall, pondered for a moment, then smiled brilliantly, “Excellent—let’s follow Little Bao’er’s plan.”
A few days later, Grand Tutor Wen completed the deficit investigation. The results implicated many people, including noble children and court ministers, with considerable money and silver confiscated. Hua Zhuyu admired Grand Tutor Wen’s integrity—it seemed overthrowing him wouldn’t be easy.
This day, Huangfu Wushuang sent her to supervise the storage of silver in the treasury. When she arrived at the Ministry of Revenue, Grand Tutor Wen was directing ministry personnel to store and seal the silver.
Hua Zhuyu entered the hall carrying the imperial edict. Seeing her enter, Grand Tutor Wen naturally wouldn’t give her a pleasant expression. In his eyes, regardless of Hua Zhuyu’s talents, she was still a deceptive, evil eunuch who brought imperial downfall. No matter how powerful she was, he didn’t regard her at all.
Hua Zhuyu paid no mind and sent people to inspect. They actually discovered that the confiscated gold, silver, and precious items had all been replaced with fakes. This matter was clearly Grand Tutor Wen’s doing to line his own pockets. Immediately, Hua Zhuyu ordered Zhang Mu, the Ministry of Justice official accompanying her, to raid the Wen residence with his men.
Zhang Mu confiscated gold, silver, precious items, and money totaling four hundred thousand taels from the Wen residence.
Hua Zhuyu was furious and ordered An to lead the Imperial Guards to drag Grand Tutor Wen away.
“Evil demon, evil demon! You bewitch the Emperor and frame this old minister—you’ll receive retribution…” Grand Tutor Wen shouted continuously as he was taken away.
Hearing those repeated calls of “evil demon,” Hua Zhuyu’s heart sank bit by bit. From Grand Tutor Wen’s pale face and trembling words, she vaguely sensed something was wrong. Could this really be a frame-up?
“Zhang Mu, did you really confiscate so much from the Grand Tutor’s residence?” Hua Zhuyu stood up and walked to Zhang Mu, asking calmly.
“Every word this official spoke is true!” Zhang Mu said with lowered head.
Hua Zhuyu chuckled, “Why must you deceive me? I still don’t know His Majesty’s methods?”
Zhang Mu bowed repeatedly in agreement.
“What methods?!” Hua Zhuyu’s dark eyebrows furrowed as she suddenly shouted coldly.
Zhang Mu was startled. He instinctively felt that Eunuch Bao before him had suddenly become like an unsheathed blade, sharp and threatening. His legs weakened and sweat beaded on his forehead. He bowed and said, “Chief Bao, this… it was indeed His Majesty. You can ask His Majesty directly.”
Hua Zhuyu’s heart stopped. She glanced at Zhang Mu and quickly walked out. Outside the Ministry of Revenue, she mounted her horse and rode straight toward the palace along Zhuque Avenue. She had indeed suggested this method to Huangfu Wushuang, but never thought he would actually frame someone.
Hua Zhuyu was an excellent rider and left her escort guards far behind. When she reached Anning Lane, a horse suddenly charged out from the side and stopped, blocking her path.
Hua Zhuyu was startled and hurriedly pulled the reins. Her steed neighed and reared up on its hind legs before settling down. She looked up to see Ji Fengli sitting calmly on the horse before her. His steed snorted heavily and stamped its hooves, but he remained composed with a cold smile at his lips. However, this calm expression carried a surging power that stirred Hua Zhuyu’s thoughts into chaos. She slowly drew a cold breath, turned her horse’s head toward an opening to the side, intending to pass Ji Fengli. But Ji Fengli also turned his horse, and his steed again blocked Hua Zhuyu’s path.
Hua Zhuyu snorted coldly and turned her horse again, but Ji Fengli blocked her once more.
Hua Zhuyu reined in her horse and smiled leisurely, “Left Prime Minister, is there some business in blocking this eunuch?”
The sunlight was gentle, casting a faint halo around Ji Fengli. He slowly smiled in the light and shadow, a faint smile crossing his lips as his gaze suddenly turned to fall directly on Hua Zhuyu’s face. His phoenix eyes were proud and cold.
“Is Chief Bao rushing back to the palace to claim credit?” His tone was melodious, carrying laziness, mockery, and coldness. That voice seemed to carry countless magical powers, seeping bit by bit into Hua Zhuyu’s heart, cold as frost penetrating her skin.
Clearly, Ji Fengli already knew about Grand Tutor Wen’s matter. Since she had handled this affair, he probably thought she had framed Grand Tutor Wen. Hua Zhuyu was indeed at fault in this matter, as investigating the deficit was her suggestion. However, while others could question her, what right did the treacherous Ji Fengli have to question her? Hua Zhuyu’s heart fluttered, her chest seeming to ignite with blazing fire at this moment, while her palms were ice-cold without a trace of warmth.
She forced herself to remain calm and smiled slowly, “Very sorry to have moved Miss Wen’s father, causing the Left Prime Minister’s heartache. However, the evidence is conclusive—this servant had no choice. Please let the Left Prime Minister make way, or don’t blame this servant for being impolite.”
Ji Fengli raised his eyebrows and asked with arms crossed on his horse, “How does Eunuch Bao plan to be impolite to this minister?”
Hua Zhuyu’s lips curved in a brilliant smile as she touched the whip in her hand and smiled charmingly, “Left Prime Minister, do you think that by blocking the road, this servant can’t pass?” With that, she suddenly raised her whip and lashed viciously toward Ji Fengli.
The long whip cut through the air with a sharp whistle, heading straight for Ji Fengli. He sat motionless on horseback, coldly watching the whip tip carry fierce wind toward his eyes. He waved his sleeve, the white sleeve billowing in the wind, his slender fingers emerging from the sleeve to meet the whip tip, appearing about to catch it.
Hua Zhuyu suddenly changed tactics, whipping toward Ji Fengli’s fingers. Ji Fengli quickly withdrew his hand, his long sleeve carrying sharp inner energy toward the whip. The long whip wrapped around Ji Fengli’s white sleeve like a snake.
Black whip and white sleeve, entwined and winding, carried an almost tender quality. However, neither combatant felt tenderness—only deadly intent.
After several more exchanges, Ji Fengli suddenly smiled, his inner energy suddenly retracting, causing his straight sleeve to become soft. Hua Zhuyu’s heart chilled. In a flash, Ji Fengli’s fingers had already emerged from his sleeve. Hua Zhuyu felt her vision blur and heard a sharp crack—the three-foot whip was caught by his fingers and shattered by internal force.
The force rebounded, and Hua Zhuyu felt her hands go numb, unable to control her momentum. She hurriedly reached for the reins with great force. Her startled mount reared up on its front hooves and neighed loudly before heavily settling back to the ground.
As the horse’s hooves hit the ground, countless particles of dust flew up. In the midst of the swirling dust, Ji Fengli spurred his horse past her side at high speed, his voice like clear, cold water drifting past her ears: “You spoke truly—when we meet again, it will be a fight to the death!”
In that instant, the air filled with dangerous intent.
When the dust settled, Hua Zhuyu looked back to see Ji Fengli’s solitary figure on horseback had already disappeared at the end of the long street. She raised her sleeve to slowly wipe away the blood seeping from the corner of her lips. Her robes fluttered fiercely in the wind, while her cold eyes remained calm as deep pools.
“Chief Bao, how are you? Are you alright?” the guards who had caught up asked cautiously.
Hua Zhuyu smiled slightly, “I’m fine! Let’s return to the palace!”
Since Huangfu Wushuang’s accession to the throne, though it had only been a few days, he had been quite diligent in government affairs, handling everything personally—completely different from the arrogant Eastern Palace Crown Prince he once was. It was precisely because of this that when Hua Zhuyu learned the Grand Tutor Wen affair was Huangfu Wushuang’s scheme, she found it very difficult to accept.
In the Hall of Diligent Government, Huangfu Wushuang sat behind the dragon desk reviewing memorials. Seeing Hua Zhuyu enter, he looked up and asked, “Little Bao’er, how did things go?”
“As Your Majesty wished, Grand Tutor Wen has been imprisoned.” The clear voice carried a trace of coldness.
Huangfu Wushuang glanced at Hua Zhuyu, put down the memorial in his hand, rose and walked slowly to her front, “Who has made our Little Bao’er angry?”
Hua Zhuyu lowered her eyelashes and after a long while said, “Your Majesty, was Grand Tutor Wen really framed by your design?”
Huangfu Wushuang’s sword-like eyebrows furrowed slightly. If anyone else had spoken to him this way, he would have been angry long ago. But for some reason, he couldn’t get angry with Yuan Bao.
“Little Bao’er, since I ascended the throne, the court ministers have criticized me greatly. These days, I’ve endured so much pressure, especially from Grand Tutor Wen and Ji Fengli’s faction. You also said that if the Left Prime Minister isn’t eliminated, my empire won’t be secure, and if Grand Tutor Wen isn’t removed, it’s difficult to move against Ji Fengli. Sometimes, political tactics must be used. I’ve already decided—though Grand Tutor Wen is imprisoned today, in the future I’ll release him and put him to good use again.”
Hua Zhuyu smiled with focused eyes. She had underestimated Huangfu Wushuang—having just ascended the throne, he was already quite skilled at imperial political tactics.
“Does Your Majesty plan to move against the Left Prime Minister?” Hua Zhuyu asked calmly. Although Ji Fengli’s northern expedition was mainly to seize northern military power, undeniably he had also rendered great service. In the people’s hearts, his reputation was soaring. Most critically, Ji Fengli’s weaknesses were hard to grasp—he was difficult to move against.
Huangfu Wushuang looked up with a smile, “I’d like to, but I haven’t thought of a foolproof strategy yet. However, it should be soon. Little Bao’er, didn’t you borrow troops from the Wing Prince? Just station them in the north to block Wang Yu’s forces.” With that, he returned to sit at the dragon desk and continued reviewing memorials.
Sunlight streamed through the window lattice onto his robes, making the bright yellow sleeves particularly dazzling in the light.
On the twenty-second day of the twelfth month, New Year was approaching.
This day during court, Right Prime Minister Nie Yuanqiao submitted a memorial.
Hua Zhuyu received the memorial from Nie Yuanqiao and presented it to Huangfu Wushuang.
Huangfu Wushuang took the memorial, opened it for a glance, and his expression suddenly became grave. He slammed the memorial on the dragon desk and said coldly, “Right Prime Minister, this is complete slander. The Left Prime Minister personally went to supervise the army for the Southern Dynasty, driving the northern army from our dynasty. The Left Prime Minister is utterly loyal to our Southern Dynasty—a pillar of the state. Yet you say the Left Prime Minister has treasonous intentions. What are your motives?”
Once Huangfu Wushuang finished speaking, the assembled ministers immediately erupted in commotion.
Hua Zhuyu’s heart also tensed. She glanced at Nie Yuanqiao and saw the usually stone-faced man’s lips curve in a smile as he declared loudly, “I am not slandering—I have evidence.”
“Speak!” Huangfu Wushuang said coldly.
Standing beside Huangfu Wushuang, Hua Zhuyu knew this was a scheme Huangfu Wushuang and Nie Yuanqiao had planned long ago—now they were merely acting. But for Huangfu Wushuang to move against Ji Fengli so quickly, did he already have a foolproof strategy? Who would believe mere accusations of treason?
She looked toward Ji Fengli and saw him standing at the front of the ministers, coldly watching Nie Yuanqiao and Huangfu Wushuang’s performance, a faint smile still hanging at his lips.
“During the Left Prime Minister’s northern expedition, he ostensibly defeated the northern army, but actually made a secret agreement with Xiao Yin beforehand, so the northern army only pretended to retreat in defeat. Left Prime Minister Ji Fengli used the northern expedition to seize military power, intending to return with his army to plot against the Southern Dynasty, then divide our dynasty with the Northern Dynasty. If Your Majesty doesn’t believe this, I have evidence—because the Left Prime Minister’s betrothed is actually Princess Zhuo Ya, the Northern Emperor’s long-lost sister. Your Majesty, think about it—if the Left Prime Minister hadn’t reached an agreement with the Northern Emperor, how would the Northern Emperor marry his own sister to the Left Prime Minister?”
Once Nie Yuanqiao spoke these words, the ministers erupted in even greater commotion.
Huangfu Wushuang also gasped in shock.
But Hua Zhuyu’s heart was greatly alarmed.
How did Nie Yuanqiao know that Jin Se was Xiao Yin’s long-lost sister?
That day, when she brought Jin Se’s pendant to the Northern Dynasty, Xiao Yin recognized it and thought she was his sister. Only then did she learn Jin Se was Xiao Yin’s sister. By rights, she was the first to know, Xiao Yin the second, and now that Xiao Yin had lost his memory, only she and Jin Se remained in the world who knew this.
How did Nie Yuanqiao find out?
Could Jin Se have told him?
This seemed impossible. If Jin Se had truly told him, she would essentially be staking her own life. Besides, Jin Se clearly loved Ji Fengli deeply—how could she harm him?
Ji Fengli’s thin lips curved slightly in a faint smile, “The Right Prime Minister is quite concerned about me. But I wonder how the Right Prime Minister knows that my betrothed is a Northern Dynasty princess?”
Nie Yuanqiao turned to Ji Fengli and said, “At first I didn’t believe the Left Prime Minister would commit treason, but the facts force one to believe. This object should show you all which country it belongs to.” With that, Nie Yuanqiao took an item from his sleeve and held it high above his head.
Hua Zhuyu walked down slowly and took the object in her hands. Though Hua Zhuyu was battle-hardened and extremely composed in crises, seeing this object made her mind suddenly go blank.
This was a pendant—the pendant Jin Se wore around her neck.
Holding the pendant, Hua Zhuyu’s hands began to tremble slightly.
This pendant—that day at Yang Pass, after she was captured by Xiao Yin and thought Jin Se had perished, she had given the pendant to Xiao Yin. And Xiao Yin was currently in the Northern Dynasty—how had this pendant ended up in Nie Yuanqiao’s hands?
Hua Zhuyu suppressed her shock and slowly walked before Huangfu Wushuang, holding out the pendant to him.
Huangfu Wushuang squinted to examine the pendant carefully and asked curiously, “Isn’t this just a pendant? What’s special about it?”
“Your Majesty, this is no ordinary pendant. Your Majesty can see the totem carved on it—this is a totem passed down through the Northern Dynasty’s royal family, which only imperial family members may wear. And this pendant was worn by the Left Prime Minister’s betrothed.”
“Ridiculous! Nie Yuanqiao, you produce a broken pendant and claim it belongs to the Left Prime Minister’s wife—who can prove it? I could say it belongs to your daughter,” a minister said coldly from behind.
“Eunuch Bao can testify to this matter,” Nie Yuanqiao suddenly turned to Hua Zhuyu. “Isn’t this pendant the Left Prime Minister’s betrothed’s? Eunuch Bao supposedly knows the Left Prime Minister’s betrothed.”
Hua Zhuyu stared at the pendant, her heart surging like turbulent waves. She couldn’t quite describe her current feelings—she felt as if all the blood in her body was excitedly clamoring that she could finally bring down Ji Fengli, that she had finally succeeded, that she could finally avenge the wrongly killed soldiers. But on the other hand, she vaguely sensed something was wrong—very wrong. She felt trapped in a fog, with some things becoming increasingly unclear.
The originally noisy great hall suddenly fell silent, with everyone looking toward Hua Zhuyu.
In this instant, Hua Zhuyu’s mind raced with countless thoughts flashing through it.
Though the great hall was warm as spring, these thoughts struck Hua Zhuyu’s heart with boundless, endless coldness. This coldness seemed to seep through her skin straight to her heart, making her almost unable to stop trembling. She controlled herself with great effort, her hands clenched tightly within her wide sleeves, maintaining a calm, unperturbed expression.
She raised her head, deliberately curving her lips in an extremely triumphant smile, and said slowly, “Indeed, I do know the Left Prime Minister’s betrothed, and I have indeed seen this pendant on the Left Prime Minister’s betrothed.”
“You…” Several ministers shouted angrily, countless gazes focused on Hua Zhuyu—some mocking, some angry, some disgusted…
Hua Zhuyu looked back, her clear eyes carrying a trace of arrogance, but when her gaze swept across Ji Fengli, the smile at her lips slowly froze.
Ji Fengli said nothing, only looked at her with focused eyes. The moment their gazes met, Hua Zhuyu felt as if all the surrounding voices gradually faded away.
He was smiling!
A very faint smile, still so refined and elegant, so peerlessly graceful, yet his gaze grew colder degree by degree. That coldness was more heart-stopping than mere cold, penetrating slowly across the distance to chill Hua Zhuyu’s heart completely.
“Yuan Bao, this matter is of great importance—you cannot speak carelessly! How could you know the Left Prime Minister’s betrothed?” Huangfu Wushuang frowned and asked gravely.
Hua Zhuyu turned to report, “Your Majesty, I speak no falsehoods. On the battlefield, I even violated military regulations to save the Left Prime Minister’s wife, and the Left Prime Minister even punished me for it. This matter was witnessed by military officers—Your Majesty need only inquire to know.”
Upon hearing this, Huangfu Wushuang frowned, “Is this true?”
Several generals who had been on the battlefield answered, “That Eunuch Bao knows the Left Prime Minister’s wife is indeed true, but this doesn’t prove this pendant definitely belongs to His Excellency’s betrothed. We ask—Eunuch Bao is male, His Excellency’s wife is female—how could he see such an intimate personal item?” The men spoke passionately, extremely angry.
“Enough!” Huangfu Wushuang suddenly slammed the dragon desk and snorted coldly, “I will investigate this matter thoroughly. Someone come—go to the Left Prime Minister’s residence and summon the Left Prime Minister’s wife to the palace!”
“Your Majesty, this servant is willing to go deliver the edict,” Hua Zhuyu’s brow furrowed slightly as she turned and knelt.
“Yuan Bao, I need you to attend me here. Send someone else. Ji Xiang, you go to the Prime Minister’s residence to deliver the edict,” Huangfu Wushuang ordered coldly.
Ji Xiang agreed and led several Imperial Guards to the residence to deliver the edict.
Waiting!
The great hall was silent as death.
Among the assembled ministers, some looked anxious, some secretly pleased, some frightened… Only Ji Fengli stood coldly in the great hall. Since Hua Zhuyu said she knew Jin Se, he had remained silent throughout, his expression calm as a lake surface, as if even the greatest events couldn’t stir the slightest ripple.
Standing in the great hall, Hua Zhuyu vaguely sensed an oppressive atmosphere like a storm approaching, making it difficult for her to breathe.
After an unknown time, Ji Xiang entered the hall hurriedly with his whisk. Everyone’s gazes immediately fell on Ji Xiang.
“Your Majesty, the Left Prime Minister’s wife is not at the residence. I asked the Left Prime Minister’s servants, who said she went to burn incense early this morning, but I sent people to search all the temples and nunneries in the capital without finding any trace of the Left Prime Minister’s wife,” Ji Xiang reported carefully after prostrating himself.
Ji Xiang’s shrill voice echoed quietly in the great hall, yet this very voice made Hua Zhuyu feel tremendous shock.
Jin Se had disappeared?!
In that case, Ji Fengli’s charges would likely be confirmed in confusion.
“Oh! Not at the residence? Continue searching!” Huangfu Wushuang ordered coldly.
“Your Majesty, she clearly knew her pendant was lost and feared exposure, so she fled,” Nie Yuanqiao declared loudly.
“Beloved Minister Ji, do you have anything to say?” Huangfu Wushuang asked slowly, word by word.
Ji Fengli stepped forward two paces and stood firmly, his gaze extremely cold as it moved from Nie Yuanqiao to Huangfu Wushuang, where his expression shifted to show panic and sorrow. He bowed and said, “Your subject has neither colluded with the Northern Dynasty nor committed treason. As for your subject’s betrothed, though her background is unclear, your subject believes she absolutely cannot be a Northern Dynasty princess. Please investigate this matter thoroughly, Your Majesty, and restore your subject’s innocence!”
Huangfu Wushuang sighed deeply and said gravely, “Very well, Left Prime Minister, you need not panic. I will certainly investigate this matter thoroughly. However, I’m afraid I must trouble the Left Prime Minister for a while. Where are the Imperial Guards?”
Imperial Guards had long been waiting outside the hall. Upon hearing the summons, a pair of golden-armored soldiers rushed in, led by Nie Yuanqiao’s son Nie Ning, who knelt with clasped fists, “Imperial Guard Commander Nie Ning awaits orders.”
“Arrest Left Prime Minister Ji Fengli and imprison him. After the matter is thoroughly investigated, judgment will be rendered,” Huangfu Wushuang ordered coldly.
“This general receives the order!” Nie Ning declared loudly, stood up, and walked toward Ji Fengli.
“Wait!” Several ministers, upon hearing this, quickly stepped forward and surrounded Ji Fengli protectively. Several military generals even rushed forward to block Nie Ning and his men.
For a moment, cold light flashed before the hall, and killing intent pressed forward. Both sides glared at each other angrily, the hall’s atmosphere frozen like an arrow on a drawn bow, ready to fire at any moment.
“How dare you! Are you planning rebellion?” Nie Ning questioned coldly.
At these words, the hall immediately fell silent.
Hua Zhuyu stood quietly beside Huangfu Wushuang, looking down at the hall below.
The entire hall was silent and still.
“All of you step back. I trust His Majesty will investigate this matter thoroughly and restore my innocence,” Ji Fengli’s voice rang out in the silent great hall, unhurried and gentle as a warm breeze, yet clearly carrying authority.
Upon hearing this, the assembled ministers reluctantly withdrew.
Ji Fengli looked up at Huangfu Wushuang, knelt in obeisance, then suddenly turned and strode quickly toward the outside of the great hall. From beginning to end, he never looked at Hua Zhuyu again.
Nie Ning led the Imperial Guards in quick pursuit.
Standing beside Huangfu Wushuang, Hua Zhuyu watched Ji Fengli’s figure in dark court robes grow more distant until it gradually disappeared from view.
Strangely, when she saw Ji Fengli being taken away, her heart felt no joy or satisfaction whatsoever. On the contrary, a deep, hollow feeling spread through her heart.
“Court dismissed!” Huangfu Wushuang’s voice rang beside her ears. Hua Zhuyu started in surprise, and when she looked up, she saw the ministers filing out in small groups.
Only Huangfu Wushuang and Hua Zhuyu remained in the great hall.
“Little Bao’er, I can finally eliminate Ji Fengli. Are you happy?” Her shoulder suddenly tightened as Huangfu Wushuang reached out to pat her shoulder, his lips curved in a triumphant smile.
Hua Zhuyu smiled faintly and said with focused eyes, “This servant truly didn’t realize Your Majesty’s methods were so brilliant. Ji Fengli’s reputation is currently at its peak, making it difficult to charge him. Who would have thought his wife is actually a Northern Dynasty princess—this is his own destruction, and he can blame no one else. However, the matter of that woman being a Northern Dynasty princess must be extremely confidential. How did Your Majesty learn of it?”
Huangfu Wushuang smiled, “Little Bao’er, do you really want to know?”
Hua Zhuyu smiled slowly, “Naturally I’m very curious. Your Majesty knows I have an old grudge with Ji Fengli—I’ve long wanted to bring him down. I’m extremely grateful to whoever helped with this. However, if Your Majesty doesn’t wish to say, I won’t ask.”
Huangfu Wushuang looked up and laughed heartily, “You clearly want to know very much. Very well, there’s no need to hide this from you—I’ll take you to meet this person right now.”