Chapter 157: Clash
The road back to the city seemed exceptionally long.
Xue Sui and the Luo family mother and daughter still passed through East Victory Street.
Guo Yunrong leaned against the carriage window, her eyes red, her sleeves crumpled from being rubbed, and Madam Luo’s silk scarf was damp, her hairpin askew without her noticing.
Xue Sui’s carriage followed behind, lifting the curtain to look outside.
In the twilight, East Victory Street was filled with the burnt aroma of candied chestnuts. The street was bustling with traffic, and a crowd of commoners gathered around a notice board where a public announcement was posted—
“Wanted: Xizi Death Warriors.”
The onlookers blocked half the street, a dense crowd. At the street entrance, armored Imperial Guards with weapons patrolled back and forth, inspecting suspicious individuals, especially merchants and travelers from foreign lands such as Xizi, Dongyi, and Nanzhao. Upon seeing them, they would inevitably be stopped for inspection of their travel documents.
The Imperial Guards’ large-scale mobilization sparked widespread discussion among the populace.
“Something big has happened in the capital again.”
At a tea stall, a few commoners whispered to each other.
“Yongfeng Granary caught fire, and it’s said that two hundred thousand piculs of newly stored grain were destroyed. Minister Luo of the Ministry of Revenue is suspected of dereliction of duty and has been detained by the Crown Prince at the Ministry of Justice…”
“Minister Luo? That’s serious.”
Luo Huan in the capital was someone whose every breath made the commoners tremble. For him to be taken in like this was naturally astonishing, and at the same time, it subtly evoked a sense of schadenfreude.
Who doesn’t enjoy watching a spectacle?
“This Crown Prince’s methods are far more ruthless than Prince Duan’s. Prince Duan has been in charge of governance for so long, yet I’ve never heard of any high-ranking officials or important ministers falling into his hands. This Crown Prince, however, acts with lightning speed, a complete purge…”
“Decisive!”
“Prince Duan is still benevolent. Those who are bloodthirsty are by no means a blessing to the people…”
“Brother, be careful, be careful.”
The few men chuckled and did not delve deeper into the discussion.
Several traveling merchants, who had been drinking tea and listening nearby, silently put down their teacups and asked the waiter for the bill.
Xue Sui watched the marketplace for a long time, slowly withdrew her hand from the carriage curtain, a ripple spreading across her gaze. Upon closer inspection, the corners of her lips held a faint smile.
This continued until the carriage stopped at the entrance of the Duke of Zheng’s Mansion.
The gatekeeper’s servant came to greet them, and Madam Luo, having just wiped away her tears, stepped forward to bid farewell.
“Princess Consort, Madam Ping’an, I have urgent family matters to attend to, so I will not accompany you further. Let’s meet again another day.”
Xue Yuechen: “Madam Luo, please go ahead with your business, there’s no need to be polite.”
Xue Sui also said: “Don’t worry, the more urgent it is, the less you should rush…”
Madam Luo nodded and hurried into the mansion, anxiety written on her face.
Guo Yunrong, holding up her apricot-red skirt, also bit her lower lip and bowed to them. Her expression suggested she had also been crying—
One was the man she had just begun to like, and the other was her maternal grandfather. Coupled with the tears of her mother, Madam Luo, the young girl’s heart was shattered.
—
Returning to Prince Duan’s Mansion, Xue Yuechen had Fei Cui send someone back to her maternal home to inform Old Madam Cui that the marriage of the Eighth Miss had been settled at Pu Ji Temple. She then prepared a meal and invited Xue Sui to dine with them.
Xue Sui readily agreed. She knew that Xue Yuechen sending someone to report was to claim credit, but she did not expose it, maintaining a calm and detached demeanor.
Seeing Xue Sui’s magnanimity and lack of contention, Xue Yuechen’s lingering resentment towards her diminished further…
Especially upon careful consideration, her own life had become much easier since Xue Liu entered the mansion.
Previously, there was constant competition among the concubines, and Yuan Qingzhu had made things difficult for her at every turn. Xue Liu had eliminated this major source of trouble for her, and the remaining Consort Zhang and other concubines had also become much more well-behaved…
Moreover, the Prince had never stayed overnight anywhere other than her Mu Yue Residence, showing her great respect as the Princess Consort. And all of this was thanks to Xue Liu.
The more she thought about it, the more she felt Madam Luo was right; having sisters to support each other was a blessing.
“Sixth Sister, the chef cooking today was specially found by the Prince from Jiangnan. He’s said to have been in charge at the largest restaurant in Jinling City, and his Huaiyang cuisine is exquisite. Please try it and see if it suits your taste?”
Her eyes twinkled with a smile, visibly radiant.
Xue Sui gently curved her lips, “Eldest Sister has gone to great lengths. Even simple fare would satisfy me; anything is fine…”
The two chatted and laughed, the atmosphere harmonious and amicable.
At this moment, a maid from Mu Yue Residence entered with small steps and whispered into Xue Yuechen’s ear.
“The Prince has returned. The gatekeeper sent word that his expression is not very good…”
Xue Yuechen, not yet aware of what had happened in the palace, immediately stood up and, with Xue Sui, went to greet him.
“Your Highness has worked hard. Would you like to dine with us?”
Li Huan looked weary. He glanced at Xue Yuechen and Xue Sui and gave a soft hum.
He never spoke of court matters at home, so Xue Yuechen did not ask anything. She simply served him with utmost care. Beneath Li Huan’s apparent calm, there seemed to be surging waves, and even the finest delicacies before him could hardly move him.
“Your Highness, try this.”
Xue Yuechen placed a shrimp ball into Li Huan’s bowl, gently serving him food with meticulous care. Her gaze towards her husband was filled with adoration.
Her husband was handsome and tall, with an extraordinary aura…
If they had a legitimate son, how perfect would that be?
Li Huan, completely unaware of her inner thoughts, looked at her with a blank expression.
“I do not like to eat shrimp.”
Xue Yuechen felt a pang of disappointment.
Did he no longer love what he used to love?
She gave an awkward smile, “It was my oversight…”
Fortunately, Li Huan was not particularly gentle with Xue Liu either, nor was he as eager as he was with Li Zhao that day, asking her to call him “Husband.” His gaze towards Xue Sui was scrutinizing, deep, and complex.
Three people ate, two with hidden agendas.
Only Xue Sui had a good appetite and ate her fill.
Putting down her chopsticks, she rose to take her leave.
“It’s getting late. I won’t disturb Eldest Sister and Brother-in-law’s affection. Xue Liu will return to Tan Qiu Courtyard first…”
The address “Brother-in-law” brought a beaming smile to Xue Yuechen’s face, but it caused Li Huan’s expression to falter inadvertently.
“I’ll go with you.”
Li Huan put down his chopsticks and rose without hesitation, striding ahead.
Xue Yuechen’s expression changed slightly. She stared at his retreating back, then looked at Xue Sui, who stood still. She forced a smile, “Your Highness may have encountered a difficult matter. Sixth Sister, please accompany him and talk for a while…”
Xue Sui had anticipated Li Huan’s intentions and smiled calmly.
“It’s likely about the incident on East Victory Street. He wants to interrogate me again.”
She glanced lightly at Xue Yuechen and shook her head with a laugh, “This Brother-in-law has never trusted me for a single day.”
Xue Yuechen also chuckled softly, “Perhaps it will be different once there are children.”
Xue Sui smiled without speaking.
In Xue Yuechen’s world, children were the sole reliance, a ladder to climb to the peak of power. However, Li Huan seemed indifferent to this. The facts were indeed so; Prince Xian had already given the Emperor a grandson, and Prince Wei, Li Yan, had two sons, yet they had not received any special favor for it…
What Li Huan was competing for was not children.
The struggles among imperial brothers were far more brutal than those among commoners. Ordinary people might compete for a small plot of land at most, while imperial brothers often engaged in power struggles and life-or-death contests. They gambled with their lives. The stories of becoming kings or becoming outlaws were too numerous throughout history…
The two entered Tan Qiu Courtyard one after the other.
Jinshu quickly had someone arrange for tea to be served, intending to entertain the Prince.
Li Huan, however, waved his hand, “Ping’an, accompany me for a game of chess.”
Xue Sui agreed and instructed Jinshu, “Bring the tea into the inner room.”
The chessboard and pieces were ready. The two sat opposite each other and began to play.
Xue Sui held the white pieces, gently caressing them, deeply fond of the smooth texture of ivory and jade. With every move, she pondered carefully.
“My chess skills are not refined; I hope Your Highness will forgive me.”
“There’s no need to be so reserved.”
Li Huan placed a black piece, the click of the piece on the chessboard clear and crisp.
“The court has been in turmoil recently. Xizi death warriors committed violence on East Victory Street, and Yongfeng Granary burned two hundred thousand piculs of military grain. The Emperor actually allowed the Crown Prince to detain officials of the third rank and above without an imperial decree…”
He paused and looked up at Xue Sui.
“I wonder if Ping’an has heard about this…”
“I was at the scene when the incident occurred on East Victory Street,” Xue Sui replied truthfully. “I know little else.”
Li Huan suddenly leaned forward, his dark eyes fixed on her clear pupils.
“Has Ping’an settled the matter of Old Mausoleum Swamp?”
Xue Sui said, “To be honest, Your Highness, if you hadn’t come today, I would have sought you out to report. That antique merchant’s surname is Qiu, and he has some acquaintance with an old friend of mine. He has already agreed to help…”
Li Huan’s eyebrows subtly rose, “To introduce an Imperial Envoy?”
Xue Sui pondered, her expression serious, “The Imperial Envoy is elusive, appearing only briefly. We may not be able to meet him immediately. However, if Your Highness has any secret requests, Mr. Qiu can certainly convey them and act as a go-between…”
—
“Miss, the Ministry of Justice Prison is just ahead…”
The maid Bi Yu lifted the curtain and helped Guo Yunrong alight from the carriage.
Darkness had already fallen, and the surroundings were silent.
Outside the Ministry of Justice Prison gate, several guards with long sabers at their waists and wearing light armor stood on either side of the gate.
Guo Yunrong clenched her hands several times before mustering the courage to step forward.
Casually glancing, she suddenly grabbed Bi Yu’s hand.
“Bi Yu, isn’t that the Crown Prince?”
Bi Yu’s eyes lit up, and she nodded excitedly, “Yes, Miss, it is His Highness.”
Guo Yunrong lifted her skirt and chased after him. Li Zhao had already passed the guards and walked in with long strides, leaving only a tall and straight silhouette.
She wanted to step forward and inquire, but was stopped by the guards.
“This is a restricted area of the Ministry of Justice. Unauthorized personnel are not allowed!”
Guo Yunrong was extremely anxious, “Guard brother, please help. I just want to see my maternal grandfather, or… at least ask about his condition. It’s already dark, and he hasn’t returned home. The family, young and old, are very worried. Can you make an exception…”
The guard did not recognize her as Third Miss Guo, but he could hear the absurdity in her words.
“Young lady, don’t harbor foolish hopes. Once you enter the Ministry of Justice Prison, it’s not a place you can just leave. If you don’t risk your life, you’ll lose a layer of skin! Go, go, hurry…”
Guo Yunrong was thin-skinned and did not press further.
She retreated but did not leave. Instead, she waited expectantly.
Waiting for Li Zhao to come out…
—
Deep within the Ministry of Justice Prison.
The oil lamp flickered, crackling.
Xiao Jing lay disheveled in the cold straw, counting the marks left by the previous occupant on the wall.
Having come from a noble family, lived a life of luxury, and enjoyed a smooth and prosperous official career, he had never endured as much hardship in his life as he had in recent days, and all of this was brought about by Li Zhao…
The iron chain of the cell door suddenly rattled.
He looked up. Li Zhao’s black boots had already crushed the damp ground and stopped before the door.
Xiao Jing gave a desolate smile.
“Is the Crown Prince here to deliver the last meal?”
“Escort him to the interrogation chamber.”
These few words, devoid of emotion, were brief and powerful, yet they struck Xiao Jing’s heart like a heavy hammer.
The interrogation chamber.
Not a normal interrogation.
It was torture.
“Crown Prince…” His voice trembled as he tried to say something for himself.
Li Zhao had already turned away. His straight back, cast in the dim, flickering lamplight, was exceptionally sharp, like his icy face.
The interrogation chamber was silent.
Li Zhao sat upright. Only after Xiao Jing was brought over and tied to the torture rack did he put down his teacup and cast a cold glance.
“My patience is limited. I will ask you one last time.”
“Who delivered those ten barrels of kerosene into Yongfeng Granary?”
The interrogation room was filled with the pungent smell of blood. The torture instruments piled in the corner exuded a cold aura.
Li Zhao’s voice also seemed to carry the taste of rust.
“How did the Xiao family, who harbored death warriors, secretly collude with Xizi? What is your conspiracy?”
Xiao Jing closed his eyes, unable to suppress the trembling of his body.
“There is none. The Xiao family has been passed down for a hundred years, adhering to loyalty and integrity…”
Li Zhao snorted coldly, “Minister Xiao’s bones are quite hard.”
He picked up a branding iron heated on the stove. The dazzling red light flickered in his eyes, casting his handsome face in an extremely cruel light.
“For the sake of the Xiao family, I guessed you could endure this. But I don’t know if it will be one hour, two hours, or one day, two days, three days?”
Xiao Jing gritted his teeth, his unkempt beard trembling slightly.
“Everything I say is true. I fled to Jiangzhou by grain transport boat because I didn’t want to suffer in Lingnan. I escaped while relieving myself and took a Ministry of Revenue boat, only spending some silver. I knew nothing about Luo Huan’s affairs. Luo Huan also didn’t know I was on the boat…”
Li Zhao shook his head slightly and smiled.
When Luo Huan was brought to the Ministry of Justice hall, he said the same thing.
He had already been penalized with salary deductions and ordered to return ill-gotten gains for the mess in the Ministry of Revenue’s Gold Department. The case with Prince Duan had also been concluded. He knew nothing about the Xiao family’s affairs, nor did he know that Xiao Jing was hiding on the grain transport boat. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have dared to harbor a fugitive, no matter how bold he was…
“It seems Minister Xiao still harbors delusions, thinking that by withstanding torture, he can leave here intact. Who are you hoping will save you?”
Xiao Jing lowered his head, “As an official of the court, I am inexcusable for allowing my descendants to act recklessly… I am guilty, but my father served the imperial family with unwavering loyalty. He was also unaware of this private escape this time…”
Li Zhao gave a soft “Oh.”
“So, the Xizi burning the granary and committing murder indeed has nothing to do with Minister Luo?”
He tilted his head slightly, looked at the scorching heat of the branding iron, and chuckled coldly.
“If one less person bears responsibility, the consequences will have to be borne solely by the Xiao family. Minister Xiao, I wonder if the Xiao family can afford this price?”
Xiao Jing looked at the red-hot branding iron in his hand, swallowed hard, his teeth grinding.
“Is the Crown Prince going to disregard the law and forcibly convict the Xiao family?”
Li Zhao let out a low laugh.
“If you wish to think so, it is not impossible…”
Xiao Jing’s eyes, hidden beneath his messy hair, held a trace of hatred in their turbidity: “The Crown Prince abuses his power and frames loyal officials. Aren’t you afraid of inciting the wrath of the people? Which deficit in the Ministry of Revenue’s accounts doesn’t lead to Xuanzheng Hall?! Is the Crown Prince deliberately fabricating evidence to overthrow the Emperor on the Dragon Throne…”
Guan Ya’s fist smashed heavily, crushing his last few words.
Li Zhao smiled and threw the branding iron back into the blazing furnace, sparks scattering.
“Yuan Cang, you interrogate him.”
Before he finished speaking, he turned and left quickly.
Behind him, the sound of the branding iron burning flesh, emitting a scorched smell, instantly filled the prison.
—
Guo Yunrong waited until her legs felt weak before she saw that tall, imposing figure emerge from the Ministry of Justice gate.
A groom stepped forward and handed the reins to the Crown Prince.
Guo Yunrong could no longer hold back. She rushed forward and directly blocked Li Zhao’s path.
“Crown Prince, please wait…”
Li Zhao glanced at her, seeming to find her somewhat familiar, and frowned slightly.
He said nothing, waiting for her to speak.
Guo Yunrong had rehearsed countless times what she would say upon meeting him, but facing Li Zhao, she became completely flustered and couldn’t articulate clearly, her mind going blank.
In the end, she could only blush and plead.
“This subject wishes to see my maternal grandfather. I want to know if he… is well, is that possible?”
The young lady, wrapped in the night, stood under the lamplight where the summer heat had not yet dissipated, looking pitiful and charming.
Lai Fu kept glancing at Li Zhao’s expression, thinking he might relent.
Unexpectedly, Li Zhao did not wait for her to finish. His dark black boots had already stepped into the stirrups, and he mounted with agile grace.
“If there is an injustice, appeal to the Censorate!”
His words were like ice-cold water, chilling Guo Yunrong to the bone.
“Crown Prince, my maternal grandfather is an upright man and could never have colluded with foreign powers. Crown Prince, please wait…”
Seeing that he was ignoring her, the young girl suddenly raised her voice and quickened her pace to catch up.
“Please, have mercy and spare my maternal grandfather. He is old and not in good health, he…”
“Presumptuous!” Guan Ya shouted sternly, his hand resting on the sword at his waist, his face full of anger, showing no trace of pity for the fair sex.
“The court enforces the law, how can a woman cause a disturbance? Retreat!”
The sword emitted a clear, resonant clang.
Guo Yunrong watched Li Zhao ride away, her eyes filled with grievance. She bowed to Guan Ya and slowly returned to the carriage.
Bi Yu supported her and gently comforted her, “Miss, let’s return to the mansion. The matter of Master Luo will be handled by the adults. Miss, don’t worry too much.”
“I was mischievous since childhood, constantly getting into trouble at home and often sent to my maternal grandfather’s by my mother. Among so many elder and younger sisters, my maternal grandfather doted on me the most. He was so kind, how could he have done such a wicked thing…”
What Guo Yunrong couldn’t understand, Bi Yu certainly couldn’t either.
The carriage moved slowly through the streets and alleys. Guo Yunrong looked at Shangjing City, now lit up with lamps, her mind in a daze, as if she had lost her soul.
It wasn’t until the carriage passed the streets outside Prince Duan’s Mansion that she seemed to recall something.
“Stop! Bi Yu, tell the coachman to drive to Prince Duan’s Mansion.”
She wanted to find Xue Sui, that exceptionally intelligent Madam Ping’an.
She trusted her intuition; Xue Sui was not a bad person and possessed a reassuring strength. Sometimes, a glance or a word could inexplicably make her feel warm, secure, and at peace.
Matters she couldn’t confide in her girlfriends had to be told to someone, otherwise, she wouldn’t get through this night…
Madam Ping’an was the most suitable person.
Unexpectedly, Li Zhao arrived before her.
Upon her arrival, he had already barged into Prince Duan’s Mansion, radiating a chilling aura.
“Go and inform Prince Duan that the Crown Prince is visiting.”
Two chapters combined!
Xue Sui: So long!
Li Zhao: Indeed!
