On the first day of the tenth month in the nineteenth year of Zhengyuan, the Emperor issued an edict regarding the “Double Ninth Festival Petition” case at the Petition Drum Court, charging National Uncle Wu Jikang with the crimes of scorning the new policies and causing death through fraud.

Grand Preceptor Wu Dai knelt at Yongding Gate until he fainted. Imperial Consort Wu requested an audience with the Emperor several times but was unable to see His Majesty’s countenance.

On this day, a heavy rain fell.

The marketplace of Yun Jing remained lively. The common people all clapped their hands in satisfaction, praising His Majesty’s enlightened virtue and justice, spontaneously burning paper money for the wrongfully dead Ni Qinglan.

The thirty-six scholars who had received punishment together with Ni Su at the Drum Court that day took advantage of this Cold Clothes Festival to personally write commemorative texts for Ni Qinglan and burn incense and paper money.

“Brother Jiming, if you have knowledge beneath the springs, is your heart somewhat comforted?” As He Zhongping burned the commemorative text he had written, he raised his head. On the dark memorial tablet behind the incense table, the cold gold-painted characters immediately stung his eyes red. “His Majesty is willing to charge Wu Jikang with crimes—that will certainly be a capital offense. But Brother Jiming…”

His throat bobbed. “I only hate that his life cannot bring you back to life.”

“Brother He, you must not grieve so. Today is truly when we should lift our spirits. Surely Brother Jiming beneath the Yellow Springs should also be happy today.”

A tribute student reached out to pat He Zhongping’s shoulder, then burned the commemorative text he had written. “Brother Jiming, though you and I were not previously acquainted, within the four seas, we are all disciples of Confucius and Mencius. I have read your poetry and essays and know your character. May you in your next life ride upon the back of the great roc, follow the will of your heart, and soar tens of thousands of miles!”

Saying this, he stood up, lit incense, and bowed.

This room was not large but was packed with people. Some simply stood in the covered corridor. Everyone lit incense and together bowed toward the memorial tablet behind the incense table.

All these people had received rod punishment and could not walk conveniently, but each person forced themselves to rise from their beds, leave their dwellings, and hobble along supporting each other to come to Ni Su’s place to burn paper in memorial.

Having received sixteen strokes, Ni Su found it very difficult to stand, but she still asked Cai Chunxu to help her change into plain white mourning clothes. Gritting her teeth, she rose to burn two sets of cold-weather clothing for her elder brother.

Whether it was the paper ash in the copper basin that made her eyes burn, or the pain from her wounds was too severe, Ni Su’s eyelids twitched from time to time, her entire forehead covered in cold sweat.

She released Cai Chunxu’s hand and bowed to everyone. “Thank you all for coming here today to pay respects to my elder brother. That day at the Petition Drum Court, you all let this young woman know that justice in this world ultimately resides in people’s hearts, and as long as hearts do not die, justice does not die.”

“During his life, my elder brother was not skilled at socializing—his close friends were few. But after his death, you all felt injustice for him and worked on his behalf. This young woman believes that even though life and death are at opposite ends, if my elder brother has spirit in heaven, he can be counted as having made your acquaintance as friends.”

“What Miss Ni says is very true. What does it matter that life and death are at opposite ends? Through this matter, we and Brother Jiming can be counted as friends!” A candidate bowed in return.

They all bore injuries and did not stay long. After paying respects to Ni Qinglan, they departed one after another.

“Little Sister A’Xi, quickly go back and lie down. In your condition, being able to stand for even this short while is already extremely difficult…” Seeing the fabric at Ni Su’s back soaked through with blood, Cai Chunxu summoned Yuzhen to help support Ni Su together.

Just as she was about to step over the threshold, Ni Su suddenly turned back. White smoke curled up from the incense table. Her elder brother’s memorial tablet stood together with their mother’s memorial tablet. She pressed her pale lips together, her eyes slightly moist.

“Where is the medicinal salve His Majesty bestowed this morning? Yuzhen, quickly fetch it.”

Having just helped Ni Su lie face down on the bed, Cai Chunxu urgently ordered Yuzhen about.

This morning, as soon as Emperor Zhengyuan’s edict charging Wu Jikang with crimes was issued, an inner court attendant came with the Emperor’s oral decree, praising Ni Su’s courage in seeking justice for her brother and her resolute and loyal character. He also bestowed some gold, silver, cloth, and excellent medicinal salve from the palace.

Though the medicine was good, the process of applying it was extremely torturous. The pain left Ni Su’s thoughts in chaos. She tightly gripped the soft pillow and heard Cai Chunxu say from the side, “Little Sister A’Xi, it’s done now.”

This was not the first time Cai Chunxu had seen the wounds on Ni Su’s body, but each time she saw them, she found them shocking to behold. She tidied Ni Su’s garments and sat on the edge of the bed, using a handkerchief to wipe the cold sweat from Ni Su’s forehead. “By now, you’ve finally endured through it all…”

She couldn’t help feeling her nose sting. “You gave up half your life, but at least you obtained justice for your elder brother.”

“So Sister Cai, I’m very happy.”

Ni Su’s voice was still hoarse. Outside the window, rain poured down, but smelling this damp, cold, fresh scent of grass and trees, she only felt it refreshing to the heart.

Seeing her half-open eyes, her cheek resting on the soft pillow as she breathed in the rain’s fragrance, Cai Chunxu couldn’t help reaching out to touch Ni Su’s sweat-dampened temples. She said softly, “Little Sister A’Xi, you are the young woman I admire most in my heart.”

Ni Su smiled slightly. “Sister Cai is the best sister I’ve met in Yun Jing.”

“Now you can let everything go, so sleep well. When you wake, I’ll accompany you to eat.” Cai Chunxu also showed a smile, then stood and went out.

The room quieted. Ni Su closed her eyes and murmured, calling out, “Xu Ziling.”

“Mm.”

Beyond a screen, pale mist condensed into a person’s form.

Ni Su’s hands tightly gripped the edge of the quilt, but she didn’t open her eyes. “Will Wu Jikang truly receive a capital sentence?”

Though the Emperor had issued the edict, the deliberation on his crimes was still ongoing today.

“His Majesty’s golden words and jade speech declared the re-implementation of new policies, and among Wu Jikang’s charges is ‘scorning the new policies.’ This charge alone has already determined his death sentence. Though the deliberation on crimes continues today, I think the focus of deliberation is merely the date of execution.”

Xu Hexue sat on the soft couch, his back to the plain gauze screen. “Also…”

“Also what?”

“The date of execution may not come so quickly, because charging Wu Jikang with crimes is likely only a beginning. His Majesty may first deal with some officials from the Remonstrance Court and Hanlin Academy.”

He said.

Ni Su fell silent for a moment. She could roughly understand that even Han Qing and Minister Meng were not helping her seek justice out of purely altruistic motives. They existed within officialdom and had their own fierce, bloody struggles.

“I can wait. I must personally watch him go to his death at the execution ground with my own eyes. But I always feel I’m dreaming—as long as I sleep and then wake again, nothing will remain.”

Perhaps it was because the pain from her wounds left her so dazed that she constantly felt she was in an illusory dream.

“Then are you afraid of going through it all again?”

“I’m not afraid.”

Even if she had to go through it again, she would not fear seeking justice for her elder brother once more.

Xu Hexue gently raised his eyes, gazing beyond the window lattice at the heavy rain and mist, the boundless autumn mood. “Then sleep.”

His voice had a comforting power. Ni Su’s thoughts grew increasingly muddled. Listening to the autumn rain by her ear, this was the most peaceful sleep she’d had since coming to Yun Jing.

——

Just as Xu Hexue had predicted, this early-tenth-month edict charging National Uncle Wu Jikang with crimes was only a beginning. Emperor Zhengyuan’s purge targeting the Remonstrance Court and Hanlin Academy continued until the year’s end drew near.

The Night Watch Bureau’s punishment pools were almost filled with blood. Of the dozens of officials implicated, those demoted were demoted, those whose homes were confiscated had them confiscated, those punished were punished. The entire city of Yun Jing was shrouded in dark clouds.

The officials who had embezzled funds for dredging river channels were also dealt with one by one. Among them was Grand Preceptor Wu Dai, who was stripped of his official robes and had his title revoked.

“Your Night Watch Bureau has been quite busy lately. I see you seem to have lost a whole circle of weight.”

Having just returned home, Meng Yunxian hadn’t yet had time to change out of his official robes. He only removed his winged official hat and placed it aside before accepting the tea bowl Han Qing handed him.

“Being busy is a good thing. Those who opposed you most fiercely at the start—through this matter, quite a few have already been removed.” Though Han Qing’s eyes couldn’t hide his exhaustion, his mood was quite good.

There had long been conflicts between the Remonstrance Court and Hanlin Academy. When Meng Yunxian secretly helped push Jiang Xianming to submit the winter examination case to His Majesty’s desk, he had guessed that His Majesty would definitely ask officials from both courts to jointly deliberate this case.

Disputes were inevitable.

Their evolution into incompatible factional struggles was also within Meng Yunxian’s expectations.

They weren’t truly arguing endlessly over an unfamiliar winter examination candidate. That the fire had reached this uncontrollable degree was nothing more than the four words “supporting one’s faction and attacking the other.”

Very few people truly cared about the name “Ni Qinglan.” They merely borrowed this name to transform a case of fraud and murder into a political struggle to attack and suppress opposing factions.

And Meng Yunxian and Han Qing were also part of this struggle. As the saying goes, when the snipe and clam fight, the fisherman profits. They had facilitated this struggle that transcended the winter examination case itself and took this opportunity to remove several stubborn, inflexible individuals who had previously opposed the new policies and attacked the two ministers Meng and Zhang.

Meng Yunxian slowly took a sip of tea. “What you and I removed were several stones obstructing the new policies, while what His Majesty removed were parasites who opposed his Feng and Shan ceremony and colluded with the imperial clan to amass wealth.”

“Isn’t that just right? His Majesty has obtained silver for building the Daoist Palace, and you’ve also removed a few foul and stubborn stones. But this servant sees that Minister Meng doesn’t seem very happy?”

Han Qing observed his expression.

“I’m just thinking back to twenty years ago, when your older sister barely escaped with her life and was released from prison. At that time, you came to kowtow to me, kowtowing until your head bled. Blood streamed down your face, yet you still smiled at me. I was quite happy too.”

Meng Yunxian’s brows relaxed slightly, revealing a trace of a smile, but he quickly restrained it again. “At that time, both you and I thought we had won.”

“Wasn’t that so?” Han Qing didn’t understand.

Meng Yunxian shook his head. “The one who won was actually His Majesty.”

“How was it His Majesty?”

Han Qing started, even more unable to understand.

“At that time, in my forties, I was appointed Vice Administrator for the first time. I deeply felt that our Great Qi had accumulated problems for too long, so I submitted the ‘Clear Channels Memorial’ requesting His Majesty to implement new policies. His Majesty’s approval set my blood boiling. I pulled Chongzhi to work with me on reforming the civil service, striking without leaving any margin. I offended quite a few people at court. At that time I thought that to accomplish great things, everything was worth it. His Majesty’s trust gave me sufficient confidence.”

“But later, when Jade Scepter General was subjected to death by a thousand cuts in Yongzhou for the grave crime of treason, and a year later when His Majesty unhesitatingly abandoned both Chongzhi and me, I began to wonder—did the new policies that Chongzhi and I implemented bring even the slightest change to Great Qi? Only several years after my demotion to Wenxian did I think it through clearly. The stillborn new policies brought no change whatsoever to the state or the people. But one thing changed.”

“What?”

“The power His Majesty grasped in his hands, and the power of us ministers to remonstrate with His Majesty.”

Meng Yunxian’s expression grew increasingly heavy. “Han Qing, at that time I thought I was doing great things beneficial to the state and the people. But in truth, I was merely a blade grasped in His Majesty’s hand. He held me and used me to pierce through the courage of Great Qi’s remonstrating officials.”

From some point on, it had become difficult for Great Qi’s scholar-officials and the ruler to jointly govern the realm together.

“According to the law, your sister’s crime originally warranted death. But why was she able to keep her life? At that time you were still too young, and I was too carried away to think deeply about it.”

Meng Yunxian asked him, “Your sister was able to preserve her life—though it was due to me, it wasn’t entirely due to me. The two words ‘royal law’—do you know how to interpret them?”

Han Qing lowered his head in thought for a moment, then shook his head. “I don’t know.”

“The ruler is above the law.”

Meng Yunxian sighed slowly.

Royal law—the ruler is above the law.

Han Qing’s face showed shock.

His Majesty had used the implementation of new policies to make imperial edicts greater than the law, which was why his sister could bypass the law and preserve her life. But Han Qing found it very difficult to say whether imperial edicts being greater than the law was good or bad.

In his private heart, he was grateful for it.

But from the standpoint of justice, he couldn’t help feeling sorrow for Meng Yunxian. Edicts arose from a ruler’s momentary preferences, while laws were the principles that governed all under heaven. Once edicts became greater than laws, it brought no benefit to the state.

“Then when His Majesty this time requested you and Minister Zhang to return to the capital to re-implement the new policies, is it also…”

Han Qing couldn’t quite continue.

“Previously His Majesty implemented new policies for the sake of power, and this time he may not truly be prepared to withstand the pressure from all sides of the imperial clan.”

Meng Yunxian listened to the sound of rain and smiled. “His Majesty cannot bear to see the imperial clan amassing wealth like giants while he himself has no money to build his Daoist Palace. Chongzhi and I are the instruments he invited back to intimidate the imperial clan and all officials.”

“What he wants is money.”

“But now I actually don’t care what His Majesty really wants. In any case, since it can fulfill His Majesty’s wishes while also removing my stumbling blocks…”

The rising tea vapor diluted the expression in Meng Yunxian’s eyes. “In the end, it can also be counted as everyone being happy.”