As for Commander Nan Yushu, on the other hand, he wasn’t just sitting idle. Since the situation in the Fang Family had already fallen into disarray, he figured he might as well go all the way and confiscate their assets. It was said that when they dismantled a bed frame made of rosewood, they found the core was filled with gold. This clearly showed how greedy this Fang Family was. But to be honest, what official in the capital isn’t corrupt? If you’re corrupt, you should at least be smart about it. Yet the Fang Family had the gall to act neutral when Prince Jianping tried to pull him in, offending the wrong people. It’s no wonder he ended up in this situation.
The testimony from the Gold and Silver Guards was merely a formality; they wrapped it up in a few sentences. The Ministry of Military Control, having uncovered the embezzlement case, was now in chaos as everyone busied themselves with the aftermath. Su Xinghe took some time to re-examine the documents of the Prince Consort case, and she already had a plan for how to solve the case.
She stayed at the yamen until very late before returning to the Eastern Palace. This was the usual practice in the palace, it was a long-standing rule to lock the gates at noon (12:00p.m)., but because she still needed to come and go, the gates were especially left open, with a few more guards stationed for security. Under the dim light, she saw an official sedan chair slowly approaching. As the curtain lifted, a corner of a richly embroidered robe almost trailed on the ground. The guards hurriedly stepped forward to salute, “Greetings, Lord Su.”
She acknowledged with a hum, rubbing her forehead as she entered Xuande Gate.
She was tired, not just physical exhaustion, but mental fatigue also. She checked the time; it was already 11:00 p.m. The Eastern Palace ahead should have already settled in for the night, so there was no need to attend to matters. She had instructed Dequan before she left that from now on, he would assign the night duties. As for her, she was too busy with both palace and official duties. If the Crown Prince could issue a decree relieving her of her title as Female Minister of Military Control, how wonderful that would be. Right now, she holds multiple roles. She was still indispensable for handling palace affairs, had cases to review at the yamen, and in the eyes of outsiders, she was even responsible for warming the Crown Prince’s bed and producing an heir… Sigh, it was as if a thousand-pound weight rested on her shoulders.
Lan Chu hadn’t gone to bed yet; she was leaning against the light, stitching the sole of a shoe. When she saw her enter, she quickly set aside her needle and thread, lifted the lid of the wooden bucket, and began heating water.
“Why are you back so late?” she asked while turning around, “Have you eaten yet? There are some prickles, and vegetables on the table, and the stove still has some warm chicken porridge. Should I serve you a bowl?”
She shook her head. “I already ate on the way back.” Ye Jinchun had been very attentive, worried that she wouldn’t be accustomed to the rough meals at the yamen. He had gone out to buy some food for her, keeping it warm in his arms as he brought it back. After all, she was a distinguished female official and couldn’t be compared to the coarse men working there.
Lan Chu came in carrying a food box, muttering, “You got up in the middle of the night to check the door? Was it blown open by the wind, letting the cold air in and freezing you?”
She replied, “No, I didn’t even get out of bed.”
Lan Chu hummed in response, and the two stared at each other.
There was no need to say anything further; everything was clear. Feeling embarrassed, she quickly turned to wash her face and fix her hair, then changed into her official robes and fastened her warm hat. After giving Lan Chu some instructions, she hurriedly left the women’s quarters.
She had woken up late today, and by the time she arrived at the Ministry of Military Control, Commander Nan Yushu had already taken his subordinates out on a task. Several others, including Su Xinghai, stood under the corridor, idly basking in the sunlight with their hands tucked in their sleeves. Though the sun was weak, it still felt warm on their bodies. They were chatting animatedly, but when they saw her appear, they immediately stopped and greeted her formally, pressing their swords down. “We climbed over the Princess’s manor wall last night,” one of them reported, “The Princess’s attendants have all moved to the second courtyard for duty, probably to keep Princess Xialing company, afraid of ghosts haunting the place.”
She smiled sarcastically, “They dared to kill, yet they fear ghosts coming for revenge?” As she spoke, she waved her arm and commanded loudly, “Gather the men. We’re heading out.”
A thousand households followed her out of the yamen with great pomp and circumstance. Someone was already waiting at the foot of the stairs. Hearing the commotion, the person turned around. The early winter sunlight cast a golden hue on his profile. He had a tall and slender frame, his waist tightly bound by a sword belt, and the deep green satin of his lined robe accentuated his refined and elegant presence even more.
Su Xinghe smiled as soon as she saw him, “You came?”
He nodded, “This is the first case you’re officially handling, and Su Xinghai was concerned, so he asked me to come and take a look.”
She replied, “Alright, but it’s not convenient for you to be present while I’m on duty.”
He didn’t mind, “I’ll wait for you in the alley across from the princess’s manor. If anything happens, I can come in right away.”
They spoke kindly to each other, while the thousand households nearby were confused, wandering, Isn’t Lord Su rumored to be involved with the Crown Prince? If that’s true, it seems improper for her to be so openly close with another man. However, none of them dared to speak up. After all, when have subordinates ever had the right to gossip about their superior’s personal affairs? They all kept their thoughts to themselves, realizing that Su Xinghe’s position directly affected their fate. If the Crown Prince got angry and removed her from office, their days at the Ministry of Military Control would likely become even harder.
Fortunately, Ye Chinchun had the good sense to diffuse the situation. He gestured for the sedan chair to be brought over and respectfully said, “Master, please get in. The princess’s manor is in Gangwashi, and it’s quite a distance.”
However, she declined, asking for her horse. Jin Yi stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and placed both hands together on his knee. With hardly any weight on her, he easily lifted her onto the horse’s back. She reined in the horse and looked back ahead. the right guard had cleared the snow on the street, and there was still some snow in the gaps of the blue bricks. Because of the heavy passage of carriages and horses, and the road he had become muddy and messy.
She shook the reins, and the tall horse moved forward, the clinking of her armor echoing around her. A group of officers in black helmets followed behind her. Upon seeing her approach, the pedestrians on the street hurriedly stepped aside, as if they had encountered some formidable figure.
Those who had never been in her position could never truly understand the glory she felt at this moment. This was the confidence that power gave a person, far greater than wealth. She had never realized before just how much she enjoyed this feeling.
Even though the Ministry of Military Control had prestige, Princess Xialing’s manor didn’t care much for it. A doorman poked his head out from the entrance, sizing them up. He recognized their background but still asked them to wait while he went inside to seek the princess’s instructions.
That wait stretched on for nearly half an hour. They weren’t even invited to sit inside; instead, they were left standing out in the street.
Su Xinghe leaned against the wall, looking up as he nudged Jin Yi with his shoulder. “Do you think I can jump over the wall in one go without any help?”
Jin Yi snorted, “In broad daylight? Go ahead and try. If the princess doesn’t kick your guts out I’ll take your last name.”
Su Xinghe didn’t find the wait hard to endure. Today’s visit was just a formality, whether the princess saw them or not, the procedure would continue as planned. After so many years, she had the chance to enjoy the sunlight outside the palace, chatting with Lou Yueting, and talking about interesting things in his childhood and memories, and felt like mountains and oceans separated them.
“Just five more years,” she said with a slight smile. “In five years, I can finally relinquish my title as Female Minister.”
He glanced at her, his tone hesitant, “Will the Crown Prince let you leave the palace?”
She paused, knowing how rumors could be misleading. Normally, she wouldn’t bother to address anyone’s curiosity, but with Lou Yueting, she felt she owed him an explanation.
“The Crown Prince and I…” she began, but, before she finished, she noticed someone emerging from the manor. It was a young man, radiating the air of an arrogant playboy, strolling with a birdcage in hand. A servant whispered something in his ear, and he turned to look in their direction.
He was the brother of the Prince Consort and the brother-in-law of Princess Xialing. She had seen him before when the Prince Consort’s murder case first occurred. Her impression of him was bad. he was recklessly arrogant and widely disliked, having made numerous enemies in the official circles.
As expected, the same lack of respect was shown. The second master of the Gao family didn’t even greet them, walking away with his head held high and continuing to stroll with his bird. Su Xinghe gave Su Xinghai a look, signaling him to follow. Lou Yueting understood her intentions this time, the blame would fall on this brother-in-law. An affair between an uncle and sister-in-law, plotting to murder the Prince Consort was a disgraceful accusation. With such a scandal, even Zuo Zhaoyi (the princess’s mother) would struggle to maintain her position, let alone dream of becoming empress. Holding onto her current rank would already be fortunate.
Outsiders might not understand why the Su family, having close ties with Prince Jianping’s household, would strike at a critical moment. The answer was that the Su family needed an opportunity to return to a “neutral” stance. Huo Qinshi’s influence had grown too strong, and more people supported her bid for the empress. Judging by the emperor’s demeanor, it seemed like he wouldn’t be able to resist for much longer. If Zuo Zhaoyi got her wish it would become increasingly difficult to control her and her son. The Su family understood the political situation well. They preferred to support the Duke of Min, who had few family connections, rather than the ungrateful Prince Jianping, who would abandon them after crossing the river. When it came to the throne, brotherly affection meant nothing. Sovereignty was what mattered.
Her father and brothers would first ally with the Duke of Min, while she would work to suppress Prince Jianping’s influence. This would curry favor with the Crown Prince but help maintain the delicate balance among the imperial princess. In an immature political climate, balance was key to survival. Otherwise, the moment power tipped, they’d all be cast aside like tools no longer needed.
“They’re not hiding anything,” Jiang Chengzi remarked, watching the second master of the Gao family walk away. “High Prince Consort’s body is barely cold, and his brother’s already stealing his wife. He’s probably crying in the afterlife, watching from afar.”
Whether or not the Prince Consort was crying, no one could see. The doorman finally came out to deliver a message, inviting Lord Su to enter. The two other officers wanted to accompany her, but the doorman stopped them, smiling insincerely, “His Highness has only invited Master Su to come in alone. The two officers will need to wait outside.”
The frequent visits from the Military Tribunal had worn the princess down, and today’s willingness to meet them was a surprising exception. Su Xinghe told her men to stay calm, tossed her riding whip to Jiang Chengzi, and followed the old maid leading the way. She had been to this residence a few times before. As they passed by the courtyard where the Prince Consort had been murdered, she paused for a moment. Although the princess and the Prince Consort didn’t live together, their residences were not far apart not so distant as to suggest complete enmity.
Thinking back now, the question of who the murderer was seemed less straightforward than it initially appeared. Just like her father had said about political struggles, the Prince Consort’s fatal mistake had been revealing his allegiance too early. He had likely done so to please the princess, showing unwavering support for Prince Jianping.
A person who lacks flexibility often dies young. Su Xinghe stood by the moon-shaped doorway, gazing into the courtyard. She noticed a massive bird’s nest built in the wrong tree, it wasn’t just phoenixes that liked to perch in wutong trees or crows that seemed to favor them too.
