To be honest, the case involving the Princess’s residence was a hot potato. Anyone serving in the court would try their best to avoid getting involved if they could.
Among the six princesses of the current dynasty, the one who was most favored by the Emperor was Princess Xialing. Perhaps it was because she was his firstborn daughter, similar to Prince Xin who had also been doted on, both having lived with the Emperor for a period during their childhood. Later, when she was married off, she was allowed to pick any antiques or treasures she fancied from the Department of the Imperial Treasury as part of her dowry, an honor that the later princesses couldn’t even dream of. Now that something has happened in the Princess’s residence. the Prince Consort was murdered, and the prime suspect is her own brother, if this had happened among the common folk, wouldn’t it be a tragic case of misfortune within the family? However, given the high status of those involved, even the law must account for some degree of personal connections.
If the Imperial Guard were to handle this case smoothly, they could easily frame a kitchen servant as the murderer. Everyone hesitated at first, but before any discussion could take place, she had already given the order to arrest someone. Since this was the case, everyone had no choice but to go along with it. After all, with the Crown Prince supporting her, she had nothing to fear.
The chief scribes of the Twelve Departments stood up, cupping their hands toward her in respect. ” Lord Su, please rest assured. Once we enter the palace, we will certainly report the full details to His Majesty. The case has taken an unexpected turn, and once the suspect is brought to justice, the Ministry of Military Control can draft a report and submit it directly to the Grand Secretariat’s Military Office. After all, this matter concerns not only the state but also the imperial family. When the time comes, if the Crown Prince is available, it would be best for you, Lord Su, to invite him to accompany you. That, uh, would…” They left the rest unsaid, but the implication was clear, if the Emperor were to direct his anger toward anyone, the presence of the Crown Prince might help smooth things over.
Su Xinghe bowed to the officials, saying, “When this all happened, it truly caught me off guard. I’m very grateful for your advice, and I will be more cautious moving forward.” As she spoke, she escorted the officials out of the Military Departments affair.
The kitchen servant was taken back to his cell, and she sat alone in the dark, quiet main hall for a long time. The hall had been cleared out earlier for handling the case involving the Princess’s residence, and as usual, Commander Nan Yushu had kept his distance. Now, he slowly approached from the corridor, peeking through the lattice window first. Seeing her sitting there in silence, he stopped at the doorway and, like an outsider, asked casually, “Something went wrong?”
The suspect had suddenly changed his testimony, and the Imperial Guard’s efforts had hit a snag. She had faced a setback, while he quietly enjoyed the situation, standing there with a proud and imposing posture.
Su Xinghe rubbed her nose, speaking with a touch of melancholy, “Indeed, things have gotten tricky. Xu Erma claimed that his confession was coerced and that the real culprit was someone else.”
” High Commissioner Gao Zhiya from the Imperial Stables?” Commander Nan Yushu let out a long, sympathetic sigh. “Only now do I realize that the case you’re handling is truly difficult. My problems involve high-ranking nobles, mostly officials. But on your side, everyone involved comes from the imperial family, each one either a royal daughter or closely related by blood. Blood ties, generation after generation, are hard to sever, and all of them are connected to the palace in some way.” He clicked his tongue in admiration. “In this position, you can’t avoid offending powerful figures.”
She knew he was gloating over her misfortune, but she pretended not to notice. Standing up, she cupped her hands in a gesture of respect and said, “My dear lord, at a time like this, you can’t just stand by. You have to help me.”
Commander Nan Yushu let out a casual “Oh,” and replied, “This is a case under the jurisdiction of your Imperial Guard. Even if I wanted to intervene, I probably wouldn’t be able to.”
Su Xinghe fiddled with the horse-shaped jade pendant in her hand, smiling gently. “That’s not quite right. If the Imperial Guard is just dealing with a suspect like Xu Erma, a commoner, then I’d handle it without any issues. But now, the case involves Consort Gao Zhiya… He’s a High Commissioner in the Imperial Stables, so this matter falls back into your hands. You’ll need to conduct the interrogation.”
She paused briefly, deliberately lowering her voice, and added, ” Commander Nan Yushu, we both work for the Crown Prince, so why make distinctions between us? When I was appointed, my master instructed me to cooperate sincerely with you. But now it seems I’ve been wholeheartedly loyal, while you haven’t treated me like one of your own.”
Her persuasive words flowed smoothly, turning the situation in whichever direction she desired. Yet, what truly moved Commander Nan Yushu wasn’t her rhetoric but the phrase “We both work for the Crown Prince.” Anyone with sharp eyes could see that the real culprit in Princess Xialing’s residence case might be someone unrelated to the imperial family. But suddenly implicating Consort Gao Zhiya complicated the matter greatly, especially since the key figure in all of this was Princess Xialing herself. If they handled this case well, it would be a great merit in front of the Crown Prince.
Commander Nan Yushu shifted his gaze toward the female officer, unsure of her true intentions. After weighing his options, however, he decided to take on the responsibility of interrogating Consort Gao Zhiya.
Su Xinghe, fully satisfied, cupped her hands and said, “I’ll be relying entirely on you, Commander Nan Yushu. I’ve already sent a commander to arrest Consort Gao Zhiya, along with his personal servant, and they’ll be brought back to the office for you to handle. The High Commissioner’s residence is also tightly controlled now. You can send men to search the premises later, there will surely be some clues.”
She had already paved the way; she was merely borrowing his authority to carry out the plan. Commander Nan Yushu understood this but wasn’t sure if she had received prior approval from the Crown Prince. Regardless, the ultimate goal was to use this case to bring down Prince Jianping. As long as that was achieved, whether through clever or clumsy methods didn’t matter.
With a swing of his arm, Commander Nan Yushu summoned his men and headed straight for Gao’s residence. Su Xinghe let out a long breath in the shadows by the door. Now, she had something to use as a defense when facing Prince Jianping.
Jiang Chengzi entered with his sword sheathed and reported that Consort Gao Zhiya had been captured at the Imperial Stables and was being escorted to the office. She nodded, saying, “Assign someone to keep a close watch on the Princess’s residence. Report any unusual activity immediately. And one more thing… send two constables, disguised as beggars, into the crowds to spread the word about Consort Gao Zhiya’s arrest by the Ministry of Military Control and also about his affair with Princess Xialing.”
Jiang Chengzi understood instantly, bowed, and left the hall to carry out her orders.
With half the work done, she could finally take a brief breath of relief. Walking out the door and into the sunlight, she observed the black-clad guards stationed both inside and outside the office. The scene was heavy and oppressive. Turning her gaze, she spotted the single ginkgo tree in the courtyard. Though the winter had long since stripped it bare, one last golden leaf clung stubbornly to a crooked branch, glimmering brightly in the sunlight.
The afternoon could be spent unhurriedly. After lunch, she took a trip to the torture chamber to observe Commander Nan Yushu interrogating the suspects. There was a procedure to follow in handling cases, and it was inevitable that Xu Erma would undergo a round of torture to question whether he was falsely accusing a court official. Compared to losing his life, enduring some physical pain was something he had to bear. When Xu Erma glanced at Su Xinghe in panic, she simply raised her hand and blew the dust off her fingernails. He had to think of his family outside, even if he didn’t care for himself. So, under the beatings, blood filled his mouth, yet he did not plead for mercy, still insisting that Consort Gao Zhiya had poisoned the prince consort.
Next up for interrogation was Consort Gao Zhiya’s personal servant, who had already been prepared and spared no effort in accusing his former master. Su Xinghe listened in for a while, unsurprised by what she heard, and eventually lost interest. She cradled her small hand warmer and walked out of the torture chamber.
As she passed the carriage house, she saw Ye Jinchun using a duster to carefully clean the blue cloth covering the sedan chair, paying meticulous attention to every corner. Distracted, he tripped over the lifting pole and stumbled heavily. Su Xinghe paused for a moment, watching him rub his shin. Suddenly, she thought of the Crown Prince, who had been in such a pitiful state the previous night. She’d been so busy today handling the case that she’d forgotten about him; she wondered if the kick from last night had left any lasting injury. Was he even able to stand up straight today?
Checking the time and considering the tasks ahead, she thought about returning to the palace, but it felt too early, she might not even see him if she went back now. So, she decided to head to the archives, where she settled in to review case files, going over the major cases from the past ten years. By the time, she finished, she looked up to find the sun already setting in the west. Hurriedly, she gathered her things, left the office, and returned to the palace.
The office was located near Shichahai, and they had to travel, a bit along the lakeside. The official sedan chair swayed gently as they proceeded, but suddenly it came to a halt. From outside the chair, Ye Jinchun, using a high-pitched voice, announced, “My lord, we’ve encountered the Deputy Chief of the Privy Council!”
Upon hearing this, Su Xinghe quickly lifted the curtain and stepped out of the sedan. Sure enough, standing in front of her was her brother, smiling as he looked at her.
In their family, it had always been just the two of them, brother and sister. Over the years, Su Xinghai had risen higher and higher in rank, and with that came the habit of maintaining a distant, dignified demeanor. Yet when it came to his younger sister, that formality always melted away. Before even seeing her, a smile had already spread across his face, and the steady, composed expression he had cultivated through years of experience brightened with warmth when he saw her.
Su Xinghe, just like when she was a child, spread her arms wide and leaped toward him, calling out, “Brother!”
Su Xinghai quickly caught her, muttering how she hadn’t matured at all, though his hands held her firmly.
In the glow of the setting sun, their bright eyes studied each other. Su Xinghe noticed that her brother had grown a beard. After so many years apart, he no longer had the youthful, clean-shaven look he once did. She giggled and said, “That beard looks good, much better than Father’s.”
Their father, Master Su, was famous for his unruly beard, it grew in every direction, unlike most people’s, which followed a neat pattern. Hearing her tease their father, Su Xinghai scolded her for being disrespectful, but the smile on his face never faded.
They were truly brother and sister, no matter how skilled they were in the official world, all of that melted away here, leaving only the deep affection between siblings. Su Xinghai asked how she was doing and how the case at the office was progressing. In reality, he had already heard the news and knew she had made some significant moves today. Worried about her, he intercepted her on her way home from work.
Su Xinghe brushed over it, saying everything was going smoothly. After hearing this, Su Xinghai nodded and handed her a small bundle. “Inside are celebratory cakes and red eggs. Your sister-in-law just gave me another son. His one-month celebration is tomorrow.”
She was surprised. “Didn’t she just give birth?” She quickly realized that the “sister-in-law” he referred to was his concubine.
Historically, it was common for men to have multiple wives and concubines, but in the Su family, there had only ever been one main wife for the past two generations. So, Su Xinghai looked a bit embarrassed as he explained, “It was part of your sister-in-law’s dowry. She was originally a secondary wife, but later she was officially brought into the household.”
Su Xinghe felt an inexplicable sense of disappointment. She had thought her brother was different from other men.
She accepted the bundle, holding it close as she congratulated him. He waved away the bystanders, finally revealing the true purpose of his visit.
” Prince Jianping received news and arranged to meet with me this afternoon. He was furious, so it’s clear he sensed something was wrong. You don’t need to worry about that; I’ll handle him with kind words for now, he can’t do anything drastic. But you must be careful. The palace is not like the outside world; I can protect you out here, but once you’re inside the depths of the inner court, I won’t be able to reach you, it’s all up to you.”
She looked up at him. “Did Prince Jianping issue any commands?”
Su Xinghai shook his head. “At this point, it’s too late for any remedies. Once someone is in the Ministry of Military Control, it’s up to you to decide whether they’re treated harshly or leniently. He cannot take the risk of showing favoritism for his sister.”
Su Xinghe let out a sigh of relief. “That’s good. Once I get this matter sorted, I can always apologize to him later.”
Su Xinghai repeatedly urged her to be cautious, reminding her that they were under watch and that any delays could lead to trouble. After sharing a few more heartfelt words, Su Xinghe bid him farewell and returned to the palace.
However, today was indeed different from usual. She received urgent news at Xuande Gate regarding Princess Xialing entering the palace. Just then, a eunuch hurried over from the Guande Gate on the Tianjie, cupping his sleeves in greeting. “Lord Su, auspicious tidings! Our Lady Zuo Zhaoyi has summoned you to Fengchu Palace for a discussion.”
Ultimately, the incident had occurred unexpectedly, and with the princess coming to the palace to report a grievance, Zuo Zhaoyi could no longer sit idly by. It seemed she had no choice but to face the music today.
Taking a deep breath, she followed the little eunuch into Fengchu Palace. It was just the right time for lanterns to be lit. Zuo Zhaoyi wore a cold expression as she sat on the throne, where light and shadow intertwined, while the Princess of Xialing sat beside her, her brow furrowed in displeasure.
Su Xinghe performed a deep bow, saying, “I pay my respects to the Lady, and to the Princess…”
Zuo Zhaoyi replied with a faint smile, “You are too kind. Lord Su, your position is now high and powerful; it should not be you, bowing to us…” As she spoke, she stood up and formally bowed to Su Xinghe, “It should be I who bows to you.”
This gesture truly took Su Xinghe by surprise. Under such circumstances, she could not continue standing and had no choice but to kneel before the throne. She bowed her head and said, “I am overwhelmed, Your Highness. I deserve to be punished, please mete out my punishment.”
Zuo Zhaoyi, with a face ashen as iron, fixed her gaze on Su Xinghe and spoke in a sarcastic tone, “What crime have you committed? As the fair and impartial judge, I should not have recommended you for the position of Jinyi Guard. I should have asked the Emperor to make you a commanding officer instead. Su Xinghe, have you forgotten how you came to this point? You’ve stirred up so much trouble over such a trivial case in the Princess’s household; what exactly are your intentions?”
Su Xinghe rested her forehead on the plush blanket and replied, “Your Highness, I had already arranged everything in the prison. As long as we pass today’s examination, this case will be concluded. However, I did not expect that the cook would suddenly change his statement and drag in the young official. Even if I wanted to favor him, I couldn’t act in front of the scribes from the Twelve Departments. Please see my predicament.”
“Those are all excuses!” The Princess of Xialing interjected sharply, her voice piercing. “If that’s the case, then why did you let that cook have the chance to speak? What kind of work is your Controlling Troops Division doing? Can’t you silence him by any means necessary? Leaving such a potential problem behind, Lord Su, you’ve truly done a poor job!”
Su Xinghe felt it was unreasonable for a dignified princess to lose her wits when emotions were involved. Once the princess finished her outburst, she hesitated before responding, “If I didn’t have to go through the Twelve Departments, I could have wrapped up this case directly in the prison. But since we need to undergo an examination, if the suspect can’t speak, then going through the motions is pointless. It wouldn’t count…”
Before she could finish, she was met with another wave of the Princess’s fury. “What a twisted argument! It’s all just sophistry! I see you’ve turned against us at the last moment while pretending to be loyal in front of us. Why did you come to my residence to ask questions, with the Crown Prince following right after? You had the audacity to admit you are his favored one, and I found that strange then; now it seems I wasn’t being overly suspicious.” She then turned to her mother and said, “They’re colluding to frame us, and you still can’t see it? How long are we going to tolerate this rebellion?”
Naturally, Su Xinghe wanted to defend herself. Changing her tone to one of panic, she said, “Your Highness… Your Majesty, I absolutely have no intention of betraying my master. I just joined the Controlling Troops Division and am more eager than anyone to make a good start. The suspect’s change of statement was unexpected, and such an incident is beyond my control.”
Zuo Zhaoyi, seeing that the coveted position might slip through her fingers, gritted her teeth in anger as Su Xinghe’s rebuttals further ignited her fury. Gripping the armrests tightly, she was taut with rage like a drawn bow. “I ask you, can you pull Consort Gao Zhiya out of there?”
At this point, how could she pull him out? She shook her head. “The officials involved in the case are under the jurisdiction of Commander Nan Yushu. Consort Gao Zhiyao has already been taken into prison, and he’s currently being subjected to severe torture. It’s unlikely he can be rescued now.”
Upon hearing this, the Princess of Xialing burst into tears, for her beloved servant could not escape misfortune, which struck at her very core.
Once the case was turned upside down, the tide would shift as well. Zuo Zhaoyi sighed heavily, “Initially, I was worried that this case would be mishandled by the Ministry of Military Control, so I went to great lengths to persuade the Emperor to appoint you as the deputy. I thought you were capable and could handle such a trivial matter, but it seems I overestimated you… or perhaps you’ve developed feelings for the Crown Prince and plan to betray your master for personal gain.”
Women are different from men; they place more emphasis on emotions. When something goes wrong, they ponder the reasons and often get caught up in feelings. Su Xinghe had prepared a response for Prince Jianping, but that strategy was ineffective in front of these two. They didn’t care whether she had just completed another important task assigned by her master; they only focused on the present. If things weren’t handled well, it was a given that her heart was no longer in it.
Growing impatient with these superficial women, she lacked the need to swear oaths or shed tears. To Zuo Zhaoyi and her daughter, this was nothing short of defiance.
Suddenly, the Princess of Xialing stood up, pointing a finger straight at her. “She is the Crown Prince’s favored one, and even she admits it!”
Zuo Zhaoyi finally showed a look of disdain, squeezing out three words from between her teeth “shameless.”
“Your parents didn’t teach you the rules properly; I am in charge here in the palace, so I will teach you,” Zuo Zhaoyi turned her head, half of her face falling into shadow, and loudly called out, “Nian Shikuan, slap her, aim for her face, and give her a hard one!”
The eunuch Nian Shikuan replied affirmatively and soon approached with a small leather glove in his hand, saying a polite “sorry” as he came before her.
In the palace, slapping didn’t concern itself with noise; it only aimed to inflict deep pain. It was like the whip striking the flesh, on the surface, everything appeared intact, but inside, it could be utterly shattered. Su Xinghe watched as Nian Shikuan raised his hand, her mind blank, knowing there was no escape this time. The slap was a tremendous humiliation for a female official; the sharp crack echoed in her ears, shattering the last bit of guilt she felt toward her former master.
