On the third day of the twelfth lunar month, a banquet was being held in the Eastern Palace. Li Zhong, as usual, came to instruct the musicians. Songs and dances filled the air, creating a stark contrast between the snow-covered landscape outside and the warm atmosphere within.
Li Zhong sat with a wine cup in hand, his eyes half-closed as he watched the dancers. Jin Cang, the chief musician of the Music Bureau, sat nearby playing the konghou. The melody was sorrowful.
Crown Prince Li Zhong would turn forty-two after the New Year. He had ascended the throne before the incident at the Shen family residence. However, due to that case, Empress Dowager Zhou Zhao staged a coup, demoting Emperor Li Zhong back to Crown Prince. Zhou Zhao then proclaimed herself Emperor, reasoning that Li Zhong was too soft-hearted to bear such a great responsibility.
Since his demotion, Li Zhong had been caught between Xu Wan and Zhang Baohuan internally, and the Zhou family’s relatives externally. At the very least, there was also Lai Luozhi. As for Li Zhong himself, only old ministers like Zhang Xingwei secretly supported him, but what use was that? Those old ministers were too aged, and the one who had deposed him was his mother.
From then on, Li Zhong had no interest in court affairs. He spent his days idly seeking pleasure. Even now, as the Empress’s health weakened and various factions secretly conspired, Li Zhong remained unmoved. He even advised Zhang Xingwei and others not to act rashly and risk their lives.
To die for a righteous cause – what did they fear about death?
Thinking of Li Zhong’s current situation and the state of affairs, Jin Cang changed his tune. He stopped playing the decadent “Rainbow Skirt and Feathered Coat” and began “The Song of the Qin Prince Breaking Through Enemy Lines.”
“The ruler leads by example, generals unite to quell rebels. All sing ‘Breaking Through Enemy Lines,’ together we enjoy peace.”
This was a song personally composed by Emperor Taizong of the previous dynasty for his soldiers on the battlefield. The melody was bold and inspiring.
Li Zhong, who had been lounging with his robe open, suddenly opened his eyes when he heard “The Song of the Qin Prince Breaking Through Enemy Lines.” His fierce gaze fell on Jin Cang. Seeing Jin Cang’s sorrowful and earnest look, he sighed and closed his eyes again.
Let it be. What’s meant to come will come.
Soon, someone from the Crown Prince’s residence informed Lai Luozhi, who was overjoyed and rushed to report this to the palace.
The Office of Scrutiny and Investigation specialized in reporting such matters. Lai Luozhi had been given tacit permission to monitor the imperial family and nobles. The Empress’s expression changed immediately upon hearing the news.
“Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is reminiscing about the previous dynasty and plotting rebellion.”
The Empress flew into a rage. She immediately ordered the arrest of all officials in the Eastern Palace for interrogation under torture. The Crown Prince was to be confined in the inner cabinet.
As Jin Cang was the musician who had played the song, he was the first to be seized. The crime of treason implicated his entire family. The Jin family’s property was confiscated by the Office of Scrutiny and Investigation. However, Jin Aunt, Zhu Yan’s mother and Jin Cang’s cousin, was not implicated as she had married out of the family.
At that time, Zhu Yan had just returned from examining a corpse and was writing her report when she received this terrible news. She nearly fainted and was promptly supported by Shen Du.
The two sat together in silence. Shen Du put his arm around Zhu Yan’s shoulders, comforting her softly.
Just a few days ago, he had helped her out of a difficult situation, and now he had been taken to the Office of Scrutiny and Investigation.
They called it questioning, but it was a death sentence. Everyone knew that only corpses came out of the Office of Scrutiny and Investigation, tortured to death by Lai Luozhi’s most cruel methods.
Jin Aunt, her face streaked with tears, weakly asked Zhu Yan if she could request Shen Du’s help. Zhu Yan was at a loss for what to do. She comforted Jin Aunt and sent her home. When Shen Du returned, he was already aware of the situation.
“Husband, I must save them,” Zhu Yan said, forcing herself to regain composure. When she looked up, her eyes were brimming with tears.
“Don’t be afraid,” Shen Du said, his expression cold and his voice low. “I’ll handle everything.”
Shen Du knew they couldn’t just sit and wait. If they didn’t take action now, they would be at a disadvantage.
He wasn’t sure if this incident involved him, but he felt it couldn’t be that simple.
Despite Shen Du’s assurance, how could Zhu Yan just leave it alone? After much consideration, she went directly to Zhang Xingwei.
Everyone said that Zhu Yan’s father, Zhu Kuo, was on good terms with Zhang Xingwei’s faction. Although she knew her father’s personality well enough to know this wasn’t true – he was merely a minor official without much backbone, aligning with Prime Minister Zhang probably just to avoid being ostracized in officialdom, rather than harboring any grand ambitions – but since everyone, including the Empress, suspected this, how could Zhang Xingwei stand idly by now that trouble had come?
Zhu Yan didn’t bother with a formal visit card, instead intercepting Zhang Xingwei at his mansion gate. The sight of Zhu Yan gave Zhang Xingwei a headache. He seriously doubted whether arranging the marriage between the Zhu family and the Shen family had been a good idea.
“Do you know why this old man is unaffected by the Crown Prince’s confinement?” he asked.
This was also Zhu Yan’s question. Everyone knew Zhang Xingwei had always been part of the faction supporting Li. How was it that the Prime Minister remained unscathed when even the Crown Prince had been confined?
“The Empress is wise. She knows that as long as the Crown Prince’s life is not in danger, this old man will behave. That scoundrel Lai Luozhi only knows how to inform, while Minister Shen oversees the officials, governs the country, and manages the court. The Empress can’t do without this old man.”
“But if this old man were to intervene, the Crown Prince would surely die, and the Zhu family wouldn’t be spared either.”
So when faced with the choice between protecting the Crown Prince or the Jin family, Zhang Xingwei chose the Crown Prince.
Zhu Yan understood that saying more would be useless, but she couldn’t help feeling resentful. Her nose tingled with emotion as she said sarcastically, “Back then, did you also choose the Crown Prince and sacrifice the Shen family?”
A teacup fell to the ground and shattered. Zhang Xingwei’s aged eyes bore into Zhu Yan like knives, but only for a moment before he resumed his frail, elderly demeanor and turned his back.
Seeing this, Zhu Yan said no more and left.
After a long while, Zhang Xingwei turned back and used some spilled tea to write the character “Shen” on the table.
“Someone come!” he called out.
That night, at the Hour of the Rat, some Jin family members who had evaded capture were brought into the Office of Scrutiny and Investigation. Although the Jin family didn’t know this person well, they still took care of them.
Shen Du entered the Palace of Great Brilliance three times in one day, requesting that the Empress transfer the Jin family prisoners from the Office of Scrutiny and Investigation to the inner cabinet or the Ministry of Justice. Each time, the Empress refused.
The Empress was determined to make an example of the Jin family and punish the Crown Prince.
As Shen Du was leaving, Princess Zhaoyang was hurrying to the Imperial Study to see the Empress, with Princess Yong’an close behind.
Thinking of Zhu Yan anxiously waiting outside the palace, Shen Du quickened his pace. However, just as he was about to exit the palace gates, he was stopped at a side door by Noble Consort Xu Wan.
“Don’t mention the Crown Prince’s case again, or the old Shen family case will be brought up. You won’t be able to protect Zhu Yan, or even yourself,” she warned.
Seeing the darkness in Shen Du’s eyes, Xu Wan looked around and added with a note of caution, “It was I who recommended you leave the Imperial Harem to serve in the military. You can be as unorthodox and ruthless as you like in other matters, but on this issue, you must keep your mouth shut. Don’t get involved. Think about it – thousands of lives from your Shen family were exchanged for your life alone. Do you want to destroy everything for the sake of one woman?”
Normally, Xu Wan wouldn’t be so earnest in analyzing the pros and cons. She must truly fear that Shen Du’s rash actions would implicate her, to come and admonish him so desperately.
“Shen Du, you’d better remember what I’ve said. Otherwise, if you bring down a catastrophe, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
After giving her a glance, Shen Du’s eyes darkened. This wasn’t the place for a detailed discussion. He turned and left.