After the new emperor ascended the throne, autumn rain fell without pause over Que Capital. Old roof tiles were blackened, white lanterns hung high. From the palace walls looking down, everything lay under a shroud of bleak, wintry chill.
Because of the autumn hunt, the entire Embroidered Uniform Guard had their waist plaques confiscated. Ji Lei, Qiao Tianya, and other Embroidered Uniform Guard officers of fifth rank and above were all thrown into prison, to be jointly tried by the Three Judicial Offices together with Hua Siqian and Pan Rugui.
Xue Xiuzhuo was transferred out of the Ministry of Revenue’s Inspection Section and promoted to Assistant Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. Though this post appeared to wield less authority than his former position as Supervising Secretary, in truth it placed him squarely within the core of the Great Zhou’s Three Judicial Offices. In other words, he now possessed not only the power to audit and investigate any disputed case, but also the authority to participate in deliberations and rebuttals of proposals submitted by the Ministry of Justice and the Censorate.
“Xue Xiuzhuo.”
Empress Dowager Hua reclined sideways on the Sumeru couch, idly tapping a translucent black jade game piece.
“I had never heard of this child before the Nanlin hunting grounds affair. What relation is he to the Xue family?”
Aunt Liuxiang gently fanned the incense burner and replied, “In reply to Your Majesty, he is the Xue family’s third son by a concubine. He was unknown before, so this servant made a special effort to inquire about him.”
“The Xue family has successors after all,” Empress Dowager Hua said. “These past years, the one basking in glory was Yao Wenyu. That old fox Hai Liangyi—I thought he had imparted all he knew to Yao Wenyu and would sooner or later recommend him for office and into the cabinet. Who would have thought that without a word, he instead made use of this inconspicuous Xue Xiuzhuo.”
Aunt Liuxiang said, “Xue Xiuzhuo first joined forces with Jiang Qingshan, the Provincial Administration Commissioner of Juexi, to secretly gather evidence, and then connected himself to Elder Hai of the cabinet. While serving as Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, he moved among the Six Ministries. Now that he has been promoted to Assistant Minister of the Court of Judicial Review and is presiding over our cabinet elder’s case, I fear he has resolved to investigate it thoroughly and will not let the matter drop.”
“I cannot leave the palace now,” Empress Dowager Hua said thoughtfully. “If Xue Xiuzhuo wants to investigate, then let him investigate. The Hua family has already reached such a critical juncture—tell my elder brother that only by having the resolve to cut off an arm to save the body can we rise again.”
Aunt Liuxiang acknowledged the order and withdrew softly and carefully.
Shen Zechuan shook the rainwater from his umbrella and sat beneath the ruined corridor of an abandoned courtyard. After nearly half an hour, Xi Hongxuan’s mountain-like figure finally stepped through the arched doorway, umbrella in hand, and came straight over.
“At a time like this, ears and eyes are everywhere. I almost couldn’t get away,” Xi Hongxuan said as he gathered his robes, frowning. “Calling me here now—what urgent matter is it?”
“Xi Gu’an has been thrown into prison,” Shen Zechuan said. “Your long-cherished wish is right in front of you. If you don’t press the advantage now, are you waiting for him to corner himself and lash out?”
“His death sentence is already decided,” Xi Hongxuan said. “If I exert force now, it would only be overkill.”
“In this world, nothing is ever ‘already decided,’” Shen Zechuan said, his fair face devoid of any smile. “The more critical the moment, the less room there is for carelessness. If one survives a desperate situation, there is always a chance of rebirth.”
Xi Hongxuan looked at Shen Zechuan’s profile and said, “The Hua faction’s case has been handed over to the Three Judicial Offices. With so many eyes watching, how do you intend to act?”
“I won’t act,” Shen Zechuan said, turning his gaze. “As a lackey of the Hua family, the crimes he committed while in office are too numerous to record. As long as one or two of them are handed over to the Court of Judicial Review, his death will be truly unavoidable.”
“Bearing a blade before the emperor, hunting the crown prince—aren’t those two crimes enough to kill him?”
“As Commander of the Eight Great Garrisons, he already had the privilege of bearing arms before the emperor. The matter of hunting the crown prince has nothing to do with him—he can simply insist that when he saw the situation turning bad, he returned to the capital to seek reinforcements. The new emperor is now wary of the Imperial Guard. Though he has brought down the Hua family, this is precisely the moment when he needs the Eight Great Families to give their full support. A reexamination by the Three Judicial Offices takes time. The longer it drags on, the harder it will be for Xi Gu’an to die.” Shen Zechuan gave a faint, cold laugh. “As long as Xi Gu’an does not die, you will remain ‘Second Xi’ forever, with no chance of rising to prominence.”
Xi Hongxuan fell silent for a long while before saying, “What do you want to do?”
“Since the fourth year of Xiande, Xi Gu’an has served exclusively as head of the Eight Great Garrisons. In the four years since, the Eight Great Garrisons have received a total of nine million taels in military pay. Of that, only seven million can be accounted for in documented expenditures. Where did the remaining two million taels go? They all disappeared after passing through Xi Gu’an’s hands.” Shen Zechuan said. “Auditing the accounts was originally Xue Xiuzhuo’s responsibility. If he investigates further, he will surely uncover even more inflated expenses. With such a massive sum, Pan Rugui and Hua Siqian could take it, because they were merely corrupt. But Xi Gu’an cannot, because he is not allowed to be corrupt. He holds command over the Eight Great Garrisons, which control Que Capital’s patrols and defenses. If he cannot explain where this money went, then the only possibility is that he used the Eight Great Garrisons as cover to divert funds for bribing soldiers and secretly raising personal troops.”
A chill ran through Xi Hongxuan. “…Secretly raising personal troops.”
“At the emperor’s bedside, for what purpose would he secretly raise personal troops?” Shen Zechuan asked.
“No—no!” Xi Hongxuan rejected it outright. He raised a hand to wipe his sweat. “Have I lost my mind? Attaching myself to the Hua faction would only kill him alone. But intent to rebel means the death of my entire family! That’s a crime of exterminating nine generations!”
Shen Zechuan laughed softly, lowering his voice. “A new emperor brings new officials. Now that the new emperor has ascended the throne, this is precisely your moment to rise. Xi Gu’an is handing you his life as a congratulatory gift for your promotion.”
“You want me to…” Xi Hongxuan stared at Shen Zechuan for a moment, then laughed as well. “You are ruthless enough. The Empress Dowager saved you twice, yet you don’t spare even a shred of gratitude.”
“Gratitude?” Shen Zechuan picked up his umbrella. “I can repay it after I finish killing people. Besides, today’s struggle is entirely between the Xiao and Hua families. What does it have to do with me?”
With that, he opened his umbrella, gave Xi Hongxuan a slight nod, and stepped into the night rain. Xi Hongxuan sat alone beneath the corridor. Only after Shen Zechuan disappeared did he reach back and touch his spine, finding it drenched in cold sweat.
Several days later, the Court of Judicial Review reopened the autumn hunt case.
Minister Jiang Xie of the Court of Judicial Review presided, Hai Liangyi supervised, and Xue Xiuzhuo assisted in the trial. This was a major case, with the Censorate responsible for investigation and impeachment, submitted to the Court of Judicial Review under charges of “forming cliques as petty men,” “corrupting tax revenues and disrupting governance,” and “endangering the state.”
The charge of “forming cliques as petty men” sent shockwaves through the Six Ministries. Officials who had ever visited the Hua residence or received recommendations from Hua Siqian or Pan Rugui were all gripped by fear. In these days, countless memorials were submitted impeaching Hua Siqian and Pan Rugui, each filled with impassioned declarations of loyalty, everyone terrified of being implicated.
Li Jianheng developed a headache at the sight of memorials. He was not the sort who could sit still to begin with, and during the period of national mourning he dared not engage in reckless amusements. He had witnessed Hai Liangyi confronting Hua Siqian that night, and it left him deeply afraid of Hai Liangyi.
Hai Liangyi was rigid in the extreme. His beard was always neatly trimmed, hanging just to the second button on his chest. His crown sat perfectly straight, his hair combed without a single strand out of place. In the heat of midsummer at home, he never loosened his robes; in the depths of winter at court, he never tucked his hands into his sleeves. When standing, he was like a mountain pine; when walking, like a swift wind through a silent valley. He handled affairs without the slightest muddle, able to listen to case proceedings for three days and three nights without showing fatigue.
Li Jianheng, used to laxity, went weak in the legs whenever he encountered such a pedantic old minister.
For the Hua faction case, Hai Liangyi constantly summoned him to report in detail. Li Jianheng felt the dragon throne in the Hall of Bright Principle was too hard—after sitting for long, his backside hurt—so he ordered several extra layers of cushions added. But when Hai Liangyi saw it, he still submitted a remonstrance, urging him to cultivate steadiness of character.
The thrill of holding power seemed to last only an instant, followed by an immense, crushing burden. Endless morning audiences were difficult for Li Jianheng to endure. Sitting on the dragon throne, there were times he could not even understand what the people below were arguing about.
No money?
Collect taxes! Kill a batch of corrupt officials and reclaim it. What was there to argue about?
Li Jianheng dared not voice his thoughts. He was afraid of Hai Liangyi, even more afraid of these civil and military officials. He did not know what they were fighting over, did not know why the Hua faction could not be beheaded immediately, and did not know what the Empress Dowager meant by sending him pastries every day.
Curled up on the dragon throne, he felt as though he were merely dreaming.
“Is His Majesty ill?”
Xiao Chiye was summoned to the palace and encountered imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy outside the Hall of Bright Principle.
One physician said, “Excessive worry, compounded by the autumn chill. When the Governor enters later, please be sure to persuade His Majesty.”
Xiao Chiye removed his wolf-headed blade and stepped into the Hall of Bright Principle.
Li Jianheng had just taken his medicine and was lying on the couch in a daze. Hearing that Xiao Chiye had arrived, he hurriedly slipped on his shoes and called him in.
“Ce’an,” Li Jianheng said, “your timing is perfect. The confectionery kitchen will soon deliver shredded honey tiger-eye candy. You should try it too—it’s the same one we ate at the court banquet a few years ago.”
Xiao Chiye kowtowed. “Thank you for the reward, Your Majesty.”
Li Jianheng draped himself in his robe, fell silent for a moment, then said, “Ce’an, sit.”
Xiao Chiye sat. The attendants on both sides withdrew. Li Jianheng suddenly stood up and paced anxiously in place.
“Ce’an, why haven’t Hua Siqian been executed yet? What is the Court of Judicial Review talking about with this reexamination—what is there left to examine? Huh?!”
“The Court of Judicial Review must examine a case three times—that is the rule, to prevent miscarriages of justice,” Xiao Chiye said. “The evidence against Hua Siqian is conclusive. He will certainly be executed before the end of the year.”
“The longer the night, the more dreams,” Li Jianheng said nervously. “The Empress Dowager doesn’t look panicked at all… Do you know? She sends people to deliver pastries to me every day. What is she trying to do? Does she want to poison me too?”
“The Hua family is now the target of universal condemnation. The Empress Dowager must at least put on an appearance of maternal benevolence,” Xiao Chiye said, seeing his agitated expression and the dark circles under his eyes. “Has Your Majesty been sleeping poorly at night?”
“How could I sleep?” Li Jianheng said. “If they don’t die… how can I sleep? Ce’an, go speak to Hai Liangyi for me—cancel the reexamination and execute them on the spot!”
That was impossible.
Xiao Chiye was the Commander of the Imperial Guard and had nothing to do with the Three Judicial Offices. How could he interfere with their joint trial? Moreover, after the autumn hunt incident, the next target would be Xiao Chiye himself. The civil officials led by Hai Liangyi would not let Xiao Chiye off either. In recent days, Xiao Fangxu had already caught wind of this.
No one was willing to gamble on this matter. Xiao Chiye was in Que Capital only because he was far from the north, enabling him to be diligent in all affairs. The crisis in the six provinces of Zhongbo was a persistent worry. Xiao Jiming could save Que Capital once, could save it twice—but could he save Que Capital endlessly, without reservation? Even if he could, who would believe it?
Xiao Chiye would never provoke further conflict with the civil officials at such a moment.
Li Jianheng knew this as well, and so grew even more despondent. When the shredded honey tiger-eye candy was delivered, he ate a few bites perfunctorily, without tasting any flavor.
After Xiao Chiye left, Li Jianheng sprawled sideways on the couch, feeling that being emperor was meaningless.
Shuanglu, who had always attended him closely, saw this and knelt by the couch, whispering, “Your Majesty… shall this servant accompany you outside for a stroll?”
“No,” Li Jianheng said. “I’m too tired.”
Shuanglu’s eyes flickered, and he continued, “…Then shall we invite Miss Muru to play the pipa for you?”
Li Jianheng rolled over, glanced outside to make sure no one was there, and said, “…That wouldn’t be proper. It’s national mourning. Besides, she’s still at Pan Rugui’s residence. Bringing her into the palace now—wouldn’t that invite scolding?”
Shuanglu chuckled softly. “Your Majesty, you are the emperor. In this palace, what you say goes. We inner servants handle matters—how would those outer officials know? We can do it quietly…”
Li Jianheng immediately brightened, pushing the candy aside. “Hai Liangyi won’t find out?”
“No one will,” Shuanglu said, crawling closer on his knees. “You are our master. If Your Majesty says no one is to know, then no one will know.”
“Good!” Li Jianheng clapped his hands. “Excellent—finally a chance. Go, quickly, the faster the better. Bring Muru in. Pan Rugui is going to die anyway—keeping her in that residence is nothing but bad luck!”
When Xiao Chiye left the palace, rain had begun to fall again. For no clear reason, he felt irritable. The momentum he had before the autumn hunt seemed to have vanished overnight; at this moment, he did not even feel like drawing his blade.
Chenyang and Zhaohui came to meet him, and Xiao Chiye boarded the carriage. Halfway along, he suddenly lifted the curtain and said, “Tell Father and Elder Brother that I won’t be returning tonight.”
Without waiting for a response, he jumped down from the carriage, carrying nothing, and headed toward East Dragon Street.
“He’s gone drinking again,” Zhaohui said, also dismounting, and told Chenyang, “Go back and inform the Prince and the Heir. During national mourning, if he gets too drunk and causes trouble, it won’t look good.”
Chenyang said, “Just while you were talking, he’s already gone. Since the Governor doesn’t want anyone following him, then… let him be.”
Zhaohui was a deputy general raised by Xiao Jiming; Chenyang was one raised by Xiao Chiye. Though both were of the Xiao family, they considered different things—Zhaohui was more like an elder brother.
He turned his head in the rain, and indeed could no longer see Xiao Chiye’s figure.
With the Embroidered Uniform Guard stripped of their waist plaques, their subordinate personnel were temporarily incorporated into the Imperial Guard to serve as patrol units.
Shen Zechuan had just finished his night duty. On his way home, he passed through the back alley behind Xiangyun Workshop on East Dragon Street.
Because the rain was light, he had not opened his umbrella.
As he walked, he suddenly heard the sound of retching ahead. Then a courtesan, clattering in wooden clogs without stockings, ran out after someone, only to be gently blocked aside.
Xiao Chiye braced himself against the wall, pointing toward the back door and signaling for her to keep her distance.
The courtesans of Xiangyun Workshop all knew him well. Knowing that when he was drunk he did not allow anyone to touch him, they folded a handkerchief and placed it nearby, speaking softly, “Second Young Master, rest here until you feel better. We’ve prepared hot soup for you.”
Xiao Chiye did not respond.
When the sound of wooden clogs faded, he squatted down, his stomach twisting painfully.
A person ought to live like this—drunk and dreaming. This was his only way out.
Suddenly, there was a slight weight on his back.
Xiao Chiye whirled around abruptly, the cold light in his eyes enough to make one’s heart pound. When he saw who it was, he thought for a moment before saying, “…Why did you kick me?”
Shen Zechuan did not even blink. “I didn’t.”
Xiao Chiye reached back and felt around on his own back, tugging at his clothes, stubbornly insisting, “This is evidence of the crime!”
Shen Zechuan examined him for a moment and said, “You’ve drunk yourself stupid, Xiao Second?”
Xiao Chiye said, “Do I look like a fool?”
Without waiting for Shen Zechuan to reply, he answered himself.
“I’m not a fool.”
Smelling the alcohol on him, Shen Zechuan said, “Don’t block my way. I’m going home.”
Xiao Chiye turned back to face the wall, dazed for a moment, then said, “Don’t block my way either. I’m going home too.”
Shen Zechuan was just about to laugh when he heard him add,
“If I can’t go home, then don’t even think about going home yourself.”