The next steps were easy to handle. The case was to be concluded within her department, without much fuss. Since Commander Nan Yushu was in charge, the first step was to submit the paperwork to him. Once he stamped it, the main clerk of the Twelfth Office could be called upon to start the formal hearing.
However, Commander Nan Yushu stared at the petition for a long time, then raised his eyes to examine the cook kneeling below. “He’s the one who poisoned them? Where’s the physical evidence? Where are the witnesses? You can’t convict someone based on just a confession!”
He was deliberately making things difficult for her. In all the cases handled by the Ministry of Military Control before, there was never any strict emphasis on evidence or witness testimonies. As long as the presiding officer believed it, they could spin any story, even from thin air. Commander Nan Yushu, being the spineless person he was, was only trying to make trouble for her in this case. What kind of skill was that? He didn’t realize his own master orchestrated this case. The sooner it was resolved, the easier it would be for everyone. But instead, he was making a scene. If the Crown Prince found out, it wouldn’t be surprising if he kicked Commander Nan Yushu in the chest.
Having the cook confess was just a diversion. She couldn’t arrest Consort Gao Zhiya directly; that would have been a complete offense to Prince Jianping’s faction. The cook had to confess first. When they reached the Twelfth Office, he would suddenly recant, and with the twelve presiding officers witnessing it, there’d be nothing she could do to stop it. She’d have no choice but to sacrifice Princess Xialing’s little lover. Later, she could shed a few tears in front of Prince Jianping, and knowing that he might still need the Su family in the future, he’d have to swallow his pride even if it left a bitter taste.
But this Commander Nan Yushu, was just too troublesome. Su Xinghe sat in the armchair, holding a teacup, scraping off the tea leaves. She took a sip only to find her mouth full of tea residue. Frowning, she turned to ask the clerk below, “Is this low-grade tea? Are we going to serve this to the officials from the Twelfth Office when they come?”
The clerk, bowing and scraping, replied, “My lord, the office consumes tea in large quantities, especially when several cases are being reviewed back-to-back. Strong tea is needed to stay awake at night, and we brew entire strings of it at once. We can’t afford to use premium tea leaves and with the department’s limited budget…”
After listening, she threw the teacup onto the table. Water splashed all over, and she sneered, “The department’s budget is limited? Crying poverty in front of the Crown Prince might work, but trying to pull that trick on me? You underestimate me. I won’t bother going over the accounts with you. If you’re so short of funds, I’ll use my salary to cover the cost of the tea every month. The captains and brothers work hard, and when they have downtime, they should at least be able to enjoy a decent cup of tea. We don’t need imperial-grade supplies, just regular tea leaves will do. Don’t try to pass off old, broken tea leaves as if that’ll cut it. I won’t tolerate such sloppiness here.”
Her outburst drew the attention of everyone present, all of whom now had a look of anticipation. The idea that the esteemed the Ministry of Military Control couldn’t afford good tea was a joke. Everyone knew that the good tea was reserved for the Commanders and a few trusted captains. As for the rest, they were left with low-quality tea crumbs, whether they liked it or not. But they couldn’t fool her, a Minister from the palace who had never touched such subpar scraps in her life. To treat her like a fool was pure arrogance.
The clerk responsible for miscellaneous duties immediately broke into a sweat. Wiping his forehead with his sleeve, he tried to smooth things over, “Oh, we wouldn’t dare! Please, my lady, calm down. I will immediately send someone to purchase better tea. The principal clerks from the Twelfth Office are all close to the Emperor, and we certainly wouldn’t dare serve them tea crumbs.”
Commander Nan Yushu was now feeling a little embarrassed. With a cold tone, he said, “It’s not a big deal, Lord Su, there’s no need to be so particular. Let’s continue discussing the case.”
“What’s there to discuss?” She smiled, but her words were sharp as a blade. “Technically, cases involving women of noble rank are handled by the Jinyi Guard. If I close this case, I can report directly to the Emperor. But since it’s my first time overseeing such a matter, I specifically invited Commander Nan Yushu to review it. If Commander Nan Yushu finds it inadequate, we can put it on hold. If the Crown Prince asks, I trust Commander Nan Yushu will provide a thorough explanation on my behalf.”
She didn’t rush to debate with him over the lack of witnesses or evidence. By retreating instead of advancing, she put Commander Nan Yushu on the defensive. He exchanged a glance with the captain beside him, cursing this woman’s cunning in his heart. Tapping his fingers on the confession paper, he had no choice but to close the file, feeling cornered.
“Lord Su always handles matters with caution. Since the culprit has been identified, we’ll report the case based on Lord Su’s findings.” As he spoke, Commander Nan Yushu shifted his gaze to the cook kneeling below, offering a dry smile. “Once someone enters the Ministry of Military Control, they usually leave without a piece of unscarred flesh. This one is at least smart enough to meet the King of Hell with a complete body. Saves the underworld from the trouble of identifying him.”
Su Xinghe smirked at his words and gestured for the Jinyi Guard to take the prisoner away. She then took a moment to respond to him, “There’s a saying: ‘The best victories are won in the mind, not on the battlefield.’ You’ve heard that before, haven’t you? Handling a case is just like fighting a war. If you use your brain more than your fists, the results are far more effective.”
Commander Nan Yushu turned pale, clearly annoyed by her sharp remarks, but Su Xinghe didn’t pay him any mind. She returned to her office and drafted a secret letter, which was then passed to Prince Jianping by the sentries stationed outside the office. In the letter, she reassured the prince in earnest, asking him to remain calm as the turmoil at the princess’s residence would soon be resolved, and no harm would come to the princess.
Afterward, she entered the inner walkway of the Chengtian Gate and personally visited the principal clerks of the Five Departments and the Twelve Offices, requesting that they hold a court session the next day to conclude the case of the attack on the imperial son-in-law.
Given the importance of the case, everything had to be foolproof before the hearing. The cook was placed in solitary confinement, watched closely overnight by Su Xinghai and others. Su Xinghe stood coldly outside the wooden bars, staring at the cook huddled inside. His filthy hands, covered in grime under his fingernails, clung tightly to the cell door as he looked at her with pleading eyes. “My lady, you promised to spare my life.”
She nodded. “As long as you follow my instructions, you’ll merely be a witness in the end. No one will harm you. But if you slip up and say the wrong thing… remember this: there are three knives outside, poised at your family’s throats. For every word you get wrong, one cut will be made. When that happens, don’t blame anyone but yourself.”
The cook trembled uncontrollably, pressing his head repeatedly against the wooden bars. “I understand, my lady. Please, don’t harm my family… I’m begging you.”
Was it cruel? In the Ministry of Military Control, such scenes were all too common, so much so that cruelty had become numbingly routine. The only difference now was that a woman was in charge, and that made the officers below her feel uneasy.
In the dim, shadowy prison, torches burned constantly, the resinous scent of pine filling the air. The flames crackled now and then as leftover fuel sizzled under the heat, their flickering like banners waving in the frozen air. She stood with arms crossed, tall and regal, her embroidered official robe gleaming in the torchlight, accentuating her cold and emotionless face.
Women like her were rare. The typical image of a woman was one of delicate beauty, a flower-like presence that brought warmth and comfort to men whose hands were stained with blood. At home, these men found solace and relief in such women. But in this world, everyone is different, and this Jinyi Guard Commander was the exception. She wielded power, formed alliances, and eliminated her enemies, bending the entire department to her will. It wouldn’t be long before this office became her domain. Though the Crown Prince’s favoritism and indulgence played a role, her decisive, fierce methods were the real steps by which she climbed higher and higher.
Su Xinghe knew exactly what she wanted. In a department full of tigers and wolves, kindness wouldn’t command respect. To assert authority, she had to be harsher than their cruelty, more ruthless than their cold-bloodedness, teaching them what true obedience meant. Only then could their blades truly serve her purpose. Yet, amidst the submission surrounding her, she suddenly thought of the Crown Prince her only true rival in life. Their confrontations often left her blood boiling with frustration. She should have relished in his setbacks, yet the sharp pain that tugged at her heart whenever he faltered was puzzling. Perhaps it was because they had grown up together, making it impossible to sever that bond of attachment.
She let out a soft sigh and turned her head, asking, “What time is it?”
Jinyi’s guard ran up the slope and glanced through the skylight. “The sky is darkening; it’s just after the first hour of You (early evening).”
She nodded. “Thank you for your hard work tonight. Once this case is closed, you’re both granted two days of rest.”
Su Xinghai and Jinyi Guard exchanged smiles. “Before you took charge, my lady, we’d been resting for seven or eight years. We’ve had plenty of downtime. Don’t worry, everything is in our hands; nothing will go wrong.”
She slowly walked out of the prison, and just as she stepped outside, she came across several captains under Commander Nan Yushu. They halted their steps and bowed to her in greeting.
She acknowledged them with a sound, “Was Fang Youlin’s case wrapped up today?”
Su Xinghe responded, “It has already been reported to the Emperor.”
That was good news. She smiled faintly, knowing that with Fang Youlin convicted, she could now give a proper explanation to Prince Jianping. Commander Nan Yushu had gone through so much trouble, but in the end, it was all for her benefit. Reflecting on it, she found it somewhat pitiable.
She waved them off, dismissing them for the day, and boarded her official sedan chair to return to the palace. Things had changed significantly. No longer was it just Ye Jinchun and four chair-bearers making up her entourage. Her official position was now solid, and she was escorted by agents from the Office of Military Affairs to ensure the deputy commander’s safety. In truth, the authority of the Office was immense. The imperial guards of the Five Armies were stationed at the east, west, and north gates of the inner city, but only the Office of Military Affairs had generals guarding the Chengtian Gate day and night. As the main gate to the Imperial City, it was a sign of immense trust to be given such responsibility, a testament to the Office’s high standing.
She was determined to tread carefully, step by step, knowing that one day she could control the entire department. But for now, it was best not to act against Commander Nan Yushu. It was difficult for a woman to hold power alone. It might be wiser to let someone take the lead. If she were to bring down Commander Nan Yushu, only to have another adversary rise in his place, it would be a waste of effort. After all, working hard to pave the way for someone else’s success would only make her a fool.
She rested her head back and closed her eyes, letting out a long, deep breath. The day was drawing to a close, and the sunset during this season always brought a feeling of desolation. As she traveled, she could hear the street vendors closing up shop, calling out, “Selling what’s left, cheap prices, get more for your money…” The sounds of everyday life, though close, still felt distant and unreachable.
She was still thinking about her responsibilities for the evening. She needed to visit the Eastern Palace and check in with the Crown Prince. She had already made all the arrangements regarding the situation at the Princess’s residence, ensuring everything was in order. Additionally, after being so busy with work at the office for several days, her palace duties had been neglected, and she didn’t want to be seen as shirking her responsibilities. Even if all she did was serve tea or hand someone a cup of water, she needed to show her presence and fulfill her duties.
So, she first returned to her quarters to change out of her official uniform. Although the Jinyi Guard commander’s robe had a somewhat feminine design compared to those worn by men, it still leaned more toward the masculine side than the delicate one. The female court official’s robe had different gold and silver threads adorned the collar, complementing the deep red silk, like the jewelry draped across the chest of a Buddha statue. Her headdress featured delicate ornaments that trembled with each step, and as she walked, the tassels around her ears made a soft rustling sound.
Once she was dressed, she walked along the long street and turned in at the side gate. There, she ran into staff from the Wardrobe Bureau delivering clothes for the next day. Wei Gugu (Nanny Wei) saw her and greeted her with warmth. “I’ve come by a few times but missed you each time, Lord Su. Now that you’ve been promoted, I can see you’ve been really busy.”
“Indeed,” she replied with a rare, relaxed smile. “I’m not often in the palace these days. I’ll have to trouble you, Gugu, to keep an eye on things in the Wardrobe Bureau. If there are any mistakes, I won’t be able to show much leniency.” She said this as she stepped over the threshold and headed toward the main hall.
As she lifted her robe and ascended the steps, she saw Dequan and two other eunuchs standing under the window. Dequan held his signature duster, while the other two stood upright, holding books. The unusual sight made her curious, so she approached to inquire about the situation.
The two eunuchs bowed low with smiles and replied, “In response to Lord Su, we are from the Directorate of Ceremonies. Today, we are here to record official matters for the Eastern Palace.”
This was indeed strange. She glanced at Dequan for an explanation. Dequan gave an awkward smile and said, “Well… we’ve recently added a new female attendant in the palace. The higher-ups have instructed the master to spend time with her. These two are here to record the details of the daily activities for the archives.”
