Winter in the capital is cold. The bed is not like a heated Kang, it can’t be warmed up. The Crown Prince is a strong and stubborn man who hasn’t used a warming pan since he was fifteen. So, it takes a while to warm up this cold bed.
They slept separately without disturbing each other. When her feet got cold, Su Xinghe curled up and gently rubbed them with her hands. After a while, warmth gradually rose from her calves. Turning her face to sniff, the sweet scent on the pillow reminded her of her childhood, the years she lived in the South with her wet nurse.
Their ancestral home was in Zhejiang, where her grandfather entered the government. Although it snowed in winter there, it was never heavy. Every year when the first snow fell, her wet nurse would dig up the huadiao wine buried under the osmanthus tree the previous year. There was a fixed rack on the charcoal stove in the house, specially used for warming wine.
Su Xinghe inherited Shenzhaigong’s capacity for alcohol and liked to take a sip or two since childhood. Of course, she couldn’t drink much, as her mother repeatedly warned her against it. Her wet nurse would at most dip chopsticks in the wine and dab it on her lips. That was a public act; she loved to steal a drink in private. Her wet nurse pretended not to see, as long as there was a little left at the bottom of the cup, it wasn’t enough to get her drunk.
Because she loved drinking, watching the wine being unearthed was also a delight. With snowflakes falling like salt from the sky, she would stand against the wind in a bright red cloak, braving the light snow. The cloak had a heroic style and she never wore it tightly, letting the back flare out, thinking she looked very dashing—osmanthus-flavored wine, a sword at her side, wandering the world, her clothes covered in frost and snow. This had been her dream since childhood. Yes, when she was little, she wanted to be a heroine who could leap across rooftops. But fate is predetermined; she never became a heroine. At twelve, she entered the palace to serve others in their daily needs. However, joining the Ministry of Military Control could be seen as taking a different path. Though she couldn’t act as a polite heroine, she could still instill fear in others.
With a heavy burden on her shoulders, the first thing, she had to do was topple the commander. By her calculations, the instructions she had given Su Xinghe should have taken effect. A thousand households left by Lan Jing had been suppressed for years and had long harbored resentment towards Commander Nan Yushu. Given the chance, they would be foolish not to take him down.
Reaping the benefits while staying out of trouble—ten years in the palace had taught her well. Watching the intrigue and schemes among the palace women, she knew those tactics would work just as effectively in the government.
She remained calm and composed, pondering quietly. Great matters needed to be handled slowly; there was no rush.
She was getting a bit sleepy. The past and present intertwined, and the sound of water in the clepsydra became the murmuring spring waters of Hai River. She turned over and, in a daze, saw the Crown Prince’s back. She thought herself too muddled with nostalgia, that ten years had flown by, and he had grown up.
His breathing was steady, and he must have already fallen asleep. She reached out to tuck him in properly. Just as she was about to sleep, Dequan’s voice came from outside. Through the window, he shouted, sounding desperate, “Master… Master is Lord Su awake… something has happened!”
If it weren’t for that sentence, “something has happened,” she might have thought it was the eunuchs from the Ministry of Military Control worried about the master’s lengthy affairs, coming to remind them.
She sat up abruptly. The Crown Prince was already out of bed before her, lifting the curtain to call Dequan in. “Explain clearly.”
Su Xinghe quickly put on her robe and went out. Dequan, standing outside the threshold with a distressed face, said, “A thousand households from the Ministry of Military Control came to report in the middle of the night. Commander Nan Yushu led troops to surround the residence of the Minister of Justice. The Minister’s servants resisted, leading to a standoff with the Ministry of Military Control. Somehow, the city’s patrol guards also got involved, and it’s turned into a huge commotion…”
The Crown Prince, gritting his teeth angrily, turned to Su Xinghe and asked, “I specifically ordered a secret investigation. Is this how it’s supposed to end, with the world in chaos?”
As Su Xinghe fastened her belt, she responded, “I conveyed your orders to Commander Nan Yushu, telling him not to make a fuss. I don’t know how it ended up like this.” She then asked Dequan, “Where is the person? Quickly, bring them in for questioning.”
Dequan acknowledged and quickly stepped back to clap his hands under the eaves. The large palace gate slowly opened, and a figure hurriedly approached, having removed their sword. Upon reaching the steps, the person bowed with a sweeping gesture, saying, “Greetings to the Crown Prince and Su Xinghe.”
The Crown Prince’s face was stern as he asked harshly, “What is the current situation?”
With his sleeves hanging down, Su Xinghe replied, “Your Highness, Commander Nan Yushu has already ordered the troublemakers to be detained and taken back to the yamen. The Thousand Households has many powerful servants, and it’s said, there are even some martial artists among them. Our constables couldn’t apprehend everyone, and some escaped under the cover of night. Orders have been sent out to capture them within a fifty-mile radius around the capital.”
Snow like torn cotton, was blown into the corridor by the wind. The palace lanterns, still hanging for the night watch, illuminated the snowflakes, making them appear out of nowhere and swirl into their faces. The Crown Prince fell silent, his expression dark and severe, indicating his intense anger. Su Xinghe glanced at him cautiously and said, “Your Highness, please calm down. It’s my fault for not going to the yamen today, resulting in this mess. The weather is cold; please return to your chambers. I will check on the situation immediately. If any decisions need to be made, I will send someone to inform you right away.” With that, she straightened up as palace maids brought an oilcloth coat for her to wear. Fastening her hood, she descended the steps and, along with Jinyi, headed towards the palace gate.
Leaving Chongjiao Gate, though her steps were still hurried, Su Xinghe felt quite satisfied. Ye Chinchun’s small sedan chair was waiting at the palace gate. Jinyi quickly went ahead and lifted the sedan curtain. Before getting into the chair, she exchanged a glance with him, a faint smile reaching her eyes. She said nothing more and settled into the chair.
The porters lifted the sedan and swiftly moved north along the palace walls. Inside, Su Xinghe leaned back against the chair and took a long breath. This was merely a preliminary move, that didn’t require any real harm but could achieve multiple goals. Each of the Thousand Households had their men, who were unfamiliar faces. Planting a few investigators among the excited crowd was a piece of cake. The Emperor wanted a secret investigation, so she did the opposite. Since Commander Nan Yushu was currently in charge of the Ministry of Military Control, he would bear the blame for any mishaps, allowing her to remain completely unscathed. As for Fang Youlin, that old fox had always been ambiguous in his dealings with the various Princes. Prince Jianping had met with him and after a lengthy discussion, failed to win him over, inevitably ordering his removal. All she had to do was follow the instructions. With Fang Youlin gone, it wouldn’t affect anyone negatively. She first gave them a sweet treat and a slap was to follow. At least, it would Prince Jianping, something to reflect on during his struggles, remembering that this pawn had accomplished something, preventing him from suddenly turning his ire toward the Su family.
Lifting the cotton curtain, she looked outside. The road was pitch black, with only the lanterns carried by the lead porters casting a small circle of light. Beside the road was the moat; in spring, the willows along the river would form a green array, but now the leaves had fallen, and the branches brushed against the sedan roof with a rustling sound.
Hurrying along, the steps of the arch bridge were slippery with snow, but there was no time for caution as they crossed. After several turns, they finally saw the white silk lanterns hanging at the yamen entrance. She tapped the sedan’s side, signaling them to stop outside the yamen. Lifting the curtain and stepping out, she was immediately met by someone in a crimson robe and black armor, with a dashing figure. She smiled gently, “Su Xinghe, what brings you here?”
The man under the lantern wore armor but had a refined and handsome face. Once such close playmates, even after ten years apart, they could recognize each other at a glance.
Su Yujin, General of the Right Guard of Jinwu, is in charge of the western defenses and patrols of the imperial city. He was a descendant of a famous general, much like Su Xinghe and her brother, who couldn’t escape the so-called “granted favor for meritorious service” years ago. But after over a decade, he had long shed that label. Now, he served in the Privy Council under Xinghai, making him a true power holder.
Meeting an old friend, there was much to say, but, given the current situation, they couldn’t talk in detail. In the other world, he was an extraordinary figure, but in front of Su Xinghe, he was just the ordinary Su Yujin. His gaze quietly flowed over her face, and the voice that was stern when barking orders to his subordinates was now warm and gentle.
“The city patrol guards had a minor clash with the Ministry of Military Control. Commander Nan Yushu brought everyone back, so I had to step in personally,” Su Yujin said, his tone shifting to familiar warmth. “It’s cold out. Why didn’t you wear more? Your face is all blue from the cold.”
Su Xinghe, replied with a murmur, “I was so flustered when I heard the news. The Crown Prince was furious, and I was so scared that I didn’t even think about putting on more clothes.”
Hearing this, Su Yujin started to take off his cloak and give it to her, but she quickly pressed his hand down. “I’m fine; I don’t feel cold. You take your men back. I still have things to handle.” With that, she hurried towards the main hall without lingering.
The hall was brightly lit, and it seemed everything had been dealt with. Aside from a Thousand Households, there was no one else present. Su Xinghe stepped forward and saw Commander Nan Yushu sitting behind the desk, looking displeased. She cupped her hands in salute and said, “Commander Nan Yushu, the earlier incident alarmed the Crown Prince. I am here at his command to check on the situation. You should go to the palace tomorrow and report to him personally.”
Commander Nan Yushu, overcome with anger, slammed his fist onto the desk, causing the candleholder to jump half a foot into the air. The Thousand Households in the hall were all fearful. Su Xinghe, with her sleeves gathered, observed him as he began to complain, “Damn it, I’ve handled cases for half my life and never encountered something like this. It started with a simple investigation, and suddenly there was trouble at Fang Youlin’s residence. They claim the Ministry of Military Control’s officers broke a guard’s leg. Now they’re demanding an imperial edict and reporting to the Censorate. Since when does the Ministry of Military Control’s work require such fuss? If this is the case we’ll detain them first and investigate thoroughly. I suspect there’s an insider in the division who tipped off Fang Youlin.”
His gaze occasionally flicked to her, prompting Su Xinghe to respond with a cold laugh, “Commander Nan Yushu, your suspicions are excessive. The Crown Prince had explicitly ordered a covert investigation. What does that mean? It certainly doesn’t mean making a grand entrance in the middle of the night. Whether it’s visiting homes or walking the streets, in this weather a sudden visit from the Ministry of Military Control would make anyone in Fang Youlin’s Thousand Households suspicious. Now that this has happened, the Emperor will surely inquire, and the Crown Prince will inevitably be implicated. You should think about how to explain things tomorrow.”
Commander Nan Yushu, feeling defeated, couldn’t quite figure out who had instigated the situation. He recalled that it started with rumors of the Fang Youlin family’s guards being detained and beaten by the Ministry of Military Control. That was why he went to the house. But once he arrived, the situation quickly spiraled out of control. The Fang Youlin residence was brightly lit, and a large crowd spilled onto the street, even attracting the city patrol guards. This kind of scenario was something he had never encountered in his twenty years of handling cases.
While he was still troubled Su Xinghe waited for a while before pulling out two documents from her sleeve and handing them over. “Don’t sigh, Commander Nan Yushu. Sighing won’t solve anything. The best thing to do is to find a way to convict Fang Youlin. I have something here for you to look at.”
Commander Nan Yushu took the documents and unfolded them. One was a report from the prison about a condemned prisoner, and the other was a submission from the Ministry of Justice to the court. He moved closer to the candlelight to examine them, comparing them but found nothing amiss.
“This…” He looked at her in confusion. “What does Su Xinghe mean?”
Su Xinghe smiled slightly. “Take a closer look, my lord. Does the character seem altered?”
Commander Nan Yushu was even more puzzled. He stared at it for a long while, then suddenly gasped.
Su Xinghe smiled and asked, “Did you see it?”
“The original character was?”
“Exactly.” She shook her head slowly with her hands behind her back. “Changing makes a big difference. Fang Youlin is quite clever, taking bribes from the families and getting court funds for relief. Tell me, for such a corrupt official, even if the Emperor inquires, shouldn’t he be dealt with?”
Commander Nan Yushu hadn’t expected that the Jinyi officer, who usually didn’t get along with anyone, would be such a great help at a critical moment. He walked out from behind the desk and bowed deeply to her. ” Su Xinghe, you have solved my urgent problem. Even if I face the Emperor tomorrow, I won’t be at a loss. Rest assured, I will not take credit for your help and will report everything accurately.”
Su Xinghe waved her hand. “Commander Nan Yushu, you have cared for me in many ways. This is just a small matter; no need to talk about credit.”
Commander Nan Yushu, troubled by the chaos, felt relieved now that the problem was resolved. Su Xinghe watched as his furrowed brow relaxed, and she turned her head slightly to suppress a smile. While he was grateful to her now, he might not even find a grave to cry over if he truly faced the Emperor tomorrow.
