Xu Xinnian exchanged his cousin’s belongings for thirty taels of silver. He tucked the small jade mirror into his sleeve and walked out of the dungeon, meeting Song Tingfeng and Zhu Guangxiao who had been waiting at the entrance.
Song Tingfeng said, “We’ve already arranged the pass to enter and exit the Imperial City. Since you’ve never been there, let us two lead the way.”
Xu Xinnian bowed in gratitude.
Song Tingfeng waved his hand, “As long as you can save him, everything else can be discussed.”
The three mounted fast horses and arrived at the nearest gate of the Imperial City. Song Tingfeng produced the internal pass from the Night Watchmen’s Office, easily gaining entry.
Along the way, they were repeatedly questioned by patrolling Jin Wu Guards, and then by Yu Lin Guards.
Finally reaching the outer palace, they were stopped again.
The Night Watchmen’s Office pass could only get them this far. Beyond was the inner palace which, although vast, was nominally the Emperor’s home.
Xu Xinnian said, “I am a student of the Cloud Deer Academy, an old acquaintance of the Imperial Princess. I have a request and hope for an audience.”
The Imperial Princess’s time studying at Cloud Deer Academy was well-known. The guard didn’t make things difficult, asking the three to wait while he went inside.
A quarter-hour later, the guard returned, saying, “Follow me.”
He led the three into the inner palace, warning, “Don’t look around, don’t speak carelessly, and mind your behavior.”
Xu Xinnian lowered his head slightly, while Song Tingfeng and Zhu Guangxiao, well-versed in protocol, kept their heads down and walked quickly.
Even though they had entered the inner palace, they could only walk on certain paths. If they strayed, they would be questioned by the imperial guards, and without the proper pass, swords would be drawn immediately.
After walking for a long time, they finally arrived at Lan Yue Palace where the Imperial Princess resided. Two palace maids were already waiting at the vermilion-lacquered main gate.
The maids curtsied, and after Xu Xinnian returned the greeting, they led the three into the palace grounds.
Passing through corridors and gardens, Xu Xinnian’s group was brought to an elegant reception room.
The beautiful woman in palace attire sat at a table directly facing the door, holding a book and sipping tea, elegant and leisurely.
“Your Highness, the guests have arrived,” a maid announced before turning to leave.
Xu Xinnian bowed deeply and said in a clear voice, “Xu Xinnian of Cloud Deer Academy pays respects to the Imperial Princess.”
The Imperial Princess smiled lightly, “What brings Ci Jiu to seek my audience?”
She did recognize Xu Xinnian. They had met a few times during her studies at Cloud Deer Academy. It wasn’t until she had someone investigate Xu Qi An that she gained a deeper impression of Xu Xinnian.
Ci Jiu… Xu Xinnian was momentarily stunned. He wasn’t surprised that the Imperial Princess remembered him; this royal daughter was intelligent, talented, and had an excellent memory, skilled at cultivating talents.
What surprised him was that the Imperial Princess remembered his courtesy name, even though they had never formally associated.
The Imperial Princess calling him this way was slightly improper, but it undoubtedly brought them closer, which pleased Xu Xinnian.
Xu Xinnian was no pushover. His emotions quickly settled, and he said sincerely, “My elder cousin Ci Jiu has encountered great trouble. I implore the Imperial Princess to lend a helping hand.”
The Imperial Princess’s expression paused, her beautiful face showing surprise. “What happened?”
Xu Xinnian explained the situation to the Imperial Princess, with Song Tingfeng and Zhu Guangxiao filling in the gaps.
After finishing, Xu Xinnian bowed again, “My cousin’s actions were indeed rash, but his heart was pure. If he hadn’t intervened, that poor child would have been violated by Silver Gong Zhu.”
“Where righteousness lies, one does not yield to power or consider profit. Though my cousin is not a scholar, his sincerity commands respect from us learned men.”
His purpose in quoting classic texts was to resonate with the Imperial Princess, who was herself half a scholar.
The Imperial Princess pondered for a while, then asked, “What was Lord Wei’s punishment?”
“Silver Gong Zhu was dismissed and barred from future service. My cousin… is to be executed by waist-cutting in seven days,” Xu Xinnian said gravely.
The Imperial Princess fell silent, her cool face unreadable.
Xu Xinnian sighed inwardly. This princess was not a soft-hearted woman. She had her ideas and could be somewhat domineering at times.
Such a person acted on her principles.
“These are letters from my teacher and the great scholars Mu Bai and You Ping. Please help, Your Highness,” Xu Xinnian decided to use his trump card.
He took out the letters signed by the three great scholars from his sleeve.
“Clang…”
Along with the letters, the small jade mirror fell out.
Xu Xinnian calmly picked it up, put away the mirror, and handed over the letters.
The Imperial Princess took them, read through them, and said coolly, “I understand, but the Night Watchmen’s Office belongs to the royal family and only answers to my father. I can only do my best.”
Xu Xinnian took a deep breath, “Thank you, Your Highness.”
After the maid saw Xu Xinnian and his companions off, she returned. The Imperial Princess ordered, “Send someone to the Night Watchmen’s Office to inquire with Lord Wei. Investigate the conflict between Bronze Gong Xu Qi An and Silver Gong Zhu Chengzhu thoroughly.”
“Yes, Your Highness!” The maid accepted the order.
…
After leaving the inner palace and exiting the Imperial City, Xu Xinnian bid farewell to the two Bronze Gongs.
Riding his horse, he slowly headed towards the outer city, worry etched on his brow.
“I can’t put all my hopes on the Imperial Princess. She’s agreed to help, but how much effort she’ll put in remains to be seen.”
“Father went to the Imperial Astronomy Bureau. I wonder if those occultists have any way to save Big Brother…”
“I must place high in next year’s spring imperial examinations. I need to climb higher, gain more power, or I won’t be able to accomplish anything.”
Xu Xinnian took off his water pouch and moistened his dry lips. Through his clothes, he felt the small jade mirror in his sleeve.
By the time he reached the East City, it was nearly dusk.
The Health Preservation Hall in the East City was located in the slums, where the lowest class of the capital gathered: peddlers, porters, thieves, and bandits.
The residents he encountered along the way wore tattered winter clothes, their faces gaunt, their eyes fixed on him like hungry wolves eyeing prey.
But Xu Xinnian’s scholar’s robe kept these people, teetering on the edge of starvation, in check.
The mud houses in this area were dilapidated and haphazardly arranged. Garbage was strewn everywhere along the roadside and a faint smell of feces and urine hung in the air.
It was evident that in summer, flies would be swarming everywhere.
A sickly-looking child, gathering courage, approached and blocked Xu Xinnian’s horse.
“Sir, please spare some money… I haven’t eaten in seven days,” the child said.
If you hadn’t eaten in seven days, you’d be dead by now… Xu Xinnian instinctively wanted to mock the child but swallowed his words.
He pinched out a small piece of silver from his money pouch and tossed it over.
The child was indeed sickly and listless. Seven days was an exaggeration, but it had been a long time since the last meal.
Seeing this, not only did the eyes of the child who had blocked the way light up but so did those of the surrounding poor and children. Their eyes flickered with greed and desire.
Seven or eight children, following suit, surrounded Xu Xinnian’s horse. The adults discreetly moved closer.
“Sir, please spare some silver.”
“I haven’t eaten in ten days.”
Adults and children surrounded the horse, with the attitude that they wouldn’t let him leave without giving money.
Xu Xinnian’s sharp gaze drove back a man reaching for his money pouch. He shouted, “Silence!”
The clamor immediately ceased, and everyone instinctively fell quiet.
“Get lost!” Xu Xinnian shouted again, his energy sinking to his dantian.
The children and adults surrounding the horse felt a strong fear rise in their hearts. Instinct compelled them to move away from the horse, not daring to come close.
As an eighth-rank Body Refining realm scholar, he could regulate others’ words and actions, mastering the shallowest application of words becoming law.
Xu Xinnian shook his head helplessly and urged his horse away from this area. Soon, he arrived at the Health Preservation Hall.
He dismounted, and fearing the horse might be stolen if tied outside, he led it through the main gate.
In the courtyard, an old clerk was sweeping. He raised his aged face and asked, “Young sir, what brings you here?”
Xu Xinnian asked, “Is there a monk inside?”
The old clerk replied, “You must mean Master Heng Yuan… He left, left two days ago…”
Xu Xinnian frowned, “When will he return?”
“Don’t know. Said he had news of his junior disciple and would be gone for a few days,” the old clerk shook his head.
Disappointed, Xu Xinnian left the Health Preservation Hall and the East City.
…
At dusk, after dinner, the Imperial Princess summoned the head of her palace guards to her study. The guard captain brought intelligence gathered from the Night Watchmen’s Office.
Dressed in magnificent palace attire, the Imperial Princess stood by the window, presenting an infinitely beautiful silhouette to the guard.
She listened quietly, then asked, “Did Xu Qi An have any prior grudges with Silver Gong Zhu?”
The guard captain shook his head, “I’ve inquired specifically about this. They should have been strangers. However, Silver Gong had indeed privately expressed jealousy and dislike towards Bronze Gong Xu Qi An.”
“Were the family members of Department Head Cheng implicated and sent to the Teaching Courtyard?” the Imperial Princess asked again.
“They were not,” the guard captain replied.
The Imperial Princess didn’t speak further, pondering for a moment before casually asking, “What’s your take on this matter?”
The young guard captain hesitated, then said, “I’ve inquired about this. When they assembled, Bronze Gong Xu Qi An wasn’t late, but he was beaten by Zhu Chengzhu. It seems he intentionally caused trouble… Over the years, the Night Watchmen have indeed repeatedly violated the female family members of convicted officials.”
“Some who should have been sent to the Teaching Courtyard didn’t matter much, but those who shouldn’t have been implicated often fell victim to their evil hands.”
Such incidents were not uncommon, but no one was willing to stand up for the families of convicted officials.
Convicted officials were already criminals, and everyone was quick to push down a falling wall.
The guard captain continued, “I’ve also found out that at the time, Silver Gong Zhu intended to provoke Xu Qi An into action. He succeeded, but…”
The Imperial Princess chuckled lightly, “But he didn’t expect such a small Bronze Gong to unleash such powerful strength.”
The Imperial Princess said, “I understand. You may leave.”
The guard captain left the study.
The Imperial Princess stood by the window, gazing at the quiet garden, her eyes deep and calm.
…
Deep into the night.
The moon cast a cold light, its reflection shimmering on the calm surface of Sang Po Lake.
The clanking of armor and the rhythmic sound of footsteps echoed around Sang Po Lake—the patrolling imperial guards.
A cold night wind blew, causing ripples on Sang Po Lake, scattering silver fragments of light.
A delicately cut paper figure, palm-sized, rode the wind, drifting over the surface of Sang Po Lake before landing on the high platform at the center of the lake.
It lay still for a few seconds, then wobblingly stood up. With its tiny legs, it made its way to the temple door, squeezing through the crack.
Seconds later, a faint light flickered through the door crack. Suddenly, with a “boom” like a thunderclap, a fierce blaze engulfed the Eternal Mountain and River Temple.
The violent shock wave stirred up waves, hurling broken tiles, bricks, and beams tens of meters away, crashing into Sang Po Lake.
The sound of the explosion traveled hundreds of li. The imperial guards patrolling near Sang Po Lake simultaneously felt the ground tremble and saw the fiery waves that turned the sky red.