Chapter 53: Evidence Emerges

Xia Tong felt as if a string in her mind had snapped, buzzing loudly. Her small face flushed crimson, and she suddenly submerged herself back into the water.

The hall was enveloped in a soft, warm mist, and the calm surface of the pool was dotted with vibrant flower petals that floated gently, as if the person who had just been there had vanished into thin air.

Glancing at the tattered little book in her hands, Gu Qin furrowed his brow. He never expected this woman would enjoy reading such things. No wonder she spent all her time cooped up in the yard.

“Such vulgarity, utterly unbecoming.” he said, his expression growing increasingly grim.

Unable to hold back any longer, Xia Tong emerged from the water, gasping for air. Feeling guilty, she stole a glance at the man by the pool and stammered, her face still flushed, “There’s… there’s nothing, what… what vulgarity could there be?”

It was just a romantic story with some kissing scenes. How could he make it sound so scandalous?

As the water rippled, Gu Qin looked at the small head bobbing above the surface and said in a deep voice, “You still fail to recognize how inappropriate it is, yet you show no remorse.”

Seeing the book still in his hand made Xia Tong feel like her weakness was exposed, she couldn’t argue her point. She had another real scandalous book back in her room, so why were these people so sensitive?

“It’s just that the prince is old-fashioned, how can you blame me? And… how can you just walk in like this?” Suddenly realizing something, Xia Tong looked at the man, her face turning red with indignation.

In the misty water, the man furrowed his brow and casually ripped the unsightly book to shreds. He then cast a piercing gaze at her, “Why shouldn’t I come in? Don’t forget your position.”

Their eyes met, and Xia Tong felt a rush of heat all the way to her ears. But hadn’t he been avoiding her before?

“What… what are you doing…” Her expression changed as she looked at him in horror, seeing him start to loosen his clothes.

Glancing down at her, the man’s chiseled features showed no emotion, as if discussing an inconsequential matter. “This is my place, what do you think I’m going to do?”

Her expression changed dramatically. Xia Tong stepped back repeatedly while fumbling for her clothes by the pool, panicking as she said, “Well… you take your time washing, I won’t disturb you.”

Not daring to approach her clothes, Xia Tong quickly slipped on the strapless dress in the water, trying not to think of anything else. With her slender arms, she grasped the edge of the pool, hurriedly attempting to climb out.

The pool was quite deep, and it took her a great effort to finally pull herself up. She quickly reached for her outer robe, but the next moment, her ankle was suddenly grabbed, and she splashed back into the water.

After choking on several mouthfuls of water and with her vision blurred, she felt herself pressed against the pool wall. When she wiped her eyes, her vision began to clear, revealing a well-defined wall of flesh before her, a burning gaze locking onto her.

Xia Tong raised her head timidly, and was suddenly met with a pair of bottomless black eyes. The man’s angular features carried a dangerous aura, his chest muscles were distinct, and his arms were strong and powerful. She felt dizzy and wanted to dive into the water again with a red face.

He wrapped an arm around her waist, lifting her from the water. Gu Qin gazed deeply into her eyes, “I have not yet settled the score with you for your betrayal.”

His hand on her waist was scorching, and despite the strapless dress she wore, Xia Tong felt utterly exposed. Blushing fiercely, she pushed against his chest with both hands, “The prince clearly said he wouldn’t hold it against me. How can you go back on your word? Just because it’s broad daylight… is this how a gentleman behaves?”

Her weak resistance was almost negligible. A few droplets of water clung to her pale collarbone, and her slender arms glistened, catching the man’s attention. His gaze darkened as he suddenly grasped her tiny hand, his voice rough, “This king has never been a gentleman.”

As the words left his mouth, Xia Tong’s breath caught, feeling his familiar outline suddenly loom larger before her.

“Umm… Prince… please… calm down…”

She desperately pounded on his shoulder, her petite frame completely overshadowed by him. As his hand on her waist grew more daring, Xia Tong’s eyes welled up with tears.

Gu Qin captured her soft lips with a rough kiss, eagerly tasting her sweetness, his fervent desire forcing her mouth open as he delved deeper.

The water rippled, and the vibrant petals swayed along, filling the grand hall with a hint of intimacy and allure.

“Gu… Gu Qin…”

Her small gasps gradually made him halt all movements, but his large hand still leisurely roamed along her smooth back. His eyes, swirling with a tempest, fixed intently on her flushed face, “You’re quite bold, daring to call me by name.”

Struggling to breathe, Xia Tong clung tightly to his arm to avoid slipping back into the water. Her porcelain face was flushed with an unusual hue, her lips parted as she fought for air. She realized if she didn’t stop him now, she would surely lose her innocence today.

“Some things are more enjoyable when both parties are willing, Your Highness… behaving like this… you won’t feel any joy,” Xia Tong mustered her courage to meet his gaze, her mind hazy as she spoke, unsure of her own words.

But she knew she didn’t want to do this with him at such a time. Although this man had a really good physique, she had no mental preparation at all. Moreover, he hadn’t clearly indicated that he liked her, so how could she foolishly give herself away, even though she was just being stubborn?

Looking at his alluring red lips, the man frowned slightly, his voice hoarse. “Who taught you these things?”

A woman who knows quite a lot, must have learned it from reading those obscene books.

“I…” Realizing she had said something rather ‘suggestive’, Xia Tong’s face turned as red as fire, and she hurriedly explained, “When… when I get married… my mother and the others taught me how to serve the prince, but… but some things shouldn’t be forced, and I’m sure the prince wouldn’t want to be that kind of despicable person, right?”

She swallowed hard, her bright, watery eyes stealing glances at him before quickly lowering her head. The round droplets of water trickled down her fair collarbone, gradually disappearing into the water.

As he gently caressed her smooth back, the man felt a growing heat in his chest. Suddenly, he slowly lowered his head and fixed his gaze on her. This woman was indeed daring enough to say anything.

“Did your mother ever tell you that some things become more stimulating the more they’re forced?” he said softly.

Xia Tong: “…”

Holding her breath, she nervously kept her head down, not daring to speak. Did this mean she really couldn’t escape this fate today?

Feeling her slightly trembling body, the man smiled faintly and pulled her into his embrace. He lowered his head and inhaled deeply at her delicate neck, his voice husky. “You are not in good health, you should take a few more days to recuperate.”

He hadn’t intended to take her here, but he hadn’t expected this woman to have so many twisted thoughts in her head. It seemed those filthy books must be banned from circulation.

Xia Tong stiffened, waves of ripples rising in her heart. She never imagined that when it came to this point, there would actually be a man willing to stop.

Suddenly, her mind went blank. With a flushed face, she cautiously wrapped her arms around his neck, her voice trembling. “I… I’m not unwilling, it’s just… I’m a bit worried about my parents. Once… once they are fine… you can do whatever you want, Your Highness.”

The last sentence was as faint as a mosquito’s buzz, but Gu Qin couldn’t help but hear it. The fire that had just been extinguished blazed up again, restless and hard to endure.

“The case of the Xiahou family will be retried tomorrow. You will accompany me,” he said in a hoarse voice.

At his words, Xia Tong felt a surge of joy in her heart. She hadn’t expected the retrial would finally happen. Would there be a result this time?

Placing her hands on the man’s shoulders, she gently pushed him away and tentatively glanced at him, saying softly, “Then… can I call you by your name in the future?”

She liked calling him by his name.

Unknowingly, the strapless dress had loosened, revealing half of her fair skin, which shimmered faintly on the water’s surface. The man’s throat tightened, and he didn’t hear her words, he merely responded softly.

Not expecting him to be so accommodating, Xia Tong quickly noticed something off about his gaze. She immediately lowered her head, her small face changing drastically as she suddenly squatted down in the water, looking at him with a face full of grievance. “How could Your Highness do this!”

Those sparkling eyes seemed to seduce him, and Gu Qin narrowed his eyes, a hint of displeasure evident. “If you keep teasing me, you won’t know what might happen later.”

If it weren’t for the fact that her frail body wouldn’t be able to handle it, he wouldn’t care about where they were.

Having never encountered someone who turned the tables like this, Xia Tong didn’t bother about anything else. Covering her dress as much as she could, she climbed up to the ground with difficulty, quickly putting on her clothes and rushing outside, as if she didn’t want to linger for a moment longer.

The man in the pool watched her hastily retreating figure with a distant gaze, feeling that this woman had become increasingly bold, treating him as if he were of no concern.

Stepping out of the room, a cold breeze suddenly swept over her, dissipating much of the heat on her face and making the air feel much fresher. However, the people nearby, like Xifeng and others, looked at her with strange expressions. Considering the time, the prince had only been inside for about a quarter of an hour. It was impossible for him to have finished so quickly.

“The prince is here, why didn’t you announce it?”

As soon as Xia Tong came out, she couldn’t help but find Qing’er to settle the score. This girl must have been thinking of getting her to share a room with the villain again. If it weren’t for the villain’s self-control, she might have become a meal served on a platter today.

Seeing her master’s unhappy face, Qing’er quickly lowered her head and replied, “It was… it was the prince who didn’t allow it.”

The prince hadn’t instructed them to announce it and had quietly entered without making a sound, how could she ruin the prince’s enjoyment?

Xia Tong glanced at Qing’er with skepticism. Although this did indeed seem like the villain’s style, Qing’er must have her own little thoughts as well.

No longer blaming her, Xia Tong hurried back to her courtyard. She would never dare to come and soak in the bath so casually again. Just thinking of the words she had said earlier made her cheeks burn. Has she gone mad? Why had she spoken so boldly?

Back in her room, Xia Tong suddenly remembered that her book had been destroyed by Gu Qin. That was a limited edition—rare and precious. It seemed she would have to ask Qing’er to go out and buy a few more copies next time. Fortunately, she still had a book titled “The Down-and-Out Scholar and the Rich Young Lady.”

Hearing that the old emperor would retry the Xiahou family case the next day, Xia Tong didn’t bother to inform Xia Ning, as the outcome was still uncertain, and no one knew what would happen to the Xiahou family.

The court meeting was scheduled for a quarter past the hour of Chen^[1]“Quarter past the hour of Chen” refers to 15 minutes after the start of the Chen hour in the traditional Chinese time system. The Chen hour runs from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM, so “quarter … Continue reading, and the case would be tried in front of all the civil and military officials during the court session. The next day, Xia Tong woke up especially early. She was a bit worried that her presence would be inappropriate, but thinking that she was being accompanied by the villain, no one would come looking for trouble with her.

Early in the morning, the cold wind was biting, and a solemn group of guards still stood watch at the palace gate. At this point, all carriages had to stop, with only a black wooden carriage moving unobstructed through the palace gate, with no one daring to stop it.

At this moment, court was already in session. Gu Qin hadn’t waited for her, leaving only Xifeng to take her into the palace. As she slightly lifted the carriage curtain to peek outside, Xia Tong felt a strange emotion at the sight of the palace. It was her first time riding in a carriage within these walls, and she realized that, in the face of absolute power, all rules seemed trivial.

When the carriage stopped outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Xifeng guided her toward the side hall, which was adjacent to the main hall. From the side entrance, one could access the main hall and see everything inside. To Xia Tong’s surprise, upon entering, she found a considerable number of people present, including some noble ladies and even the empress, all likely there for today’s retrial.

“Greetings to Your Majesty, the Empress,” she quickly curtsied.

Upon seeing Xia Tong enter, the expressions of some people in the room turned complex, especially the empress in the high seat. Her eyes, filled with inscrutable meaning, rested on the still-beautiful woman as she lazily sipped her tea. “You still remember your Xiahou family.”

This statement carried double meanings. Xia Tong maintained her composure and replied, “Innocence speaks for itself, I naturally believe that the emperor will bring justice for my father.”

The villain and the crown prince’s faction were at odds, and it was clear that they were trying to suppress the Xiahou family, so she felt no need to be overly polite to the empress.

After speaking, the empress merely narrowed her eyes and glanced at her. Her slender phoenix eyes slightly raised, and she looked meaningfully at Xia Tong. If it weren’t for that traitor, the crown princess should have been Xia Tong. Lin Qin lacked the stability to manage the Eastern Palace, while Consort Dong was too self-serving and cared little for the bigger picture. It was indeed somewhat lamentable, but since the dice had been cast, there was no point in mourning.

“Please, take a seat. We will soon know how this matter unfolds,” she said coolly.

A palace servant brought over a chair, and Xia Tong sat down. From her angle, she could only catch a glimpse of the main hall’s scene. She saw a frail old man slumped in the dragon chair, his dragon robe hanging loosely on him, creating a stark contrast.

To the left, a large golden seat held a lazily poised young man, who idly played with a black jade ring, seemingly indifferent to the disputes below.

Seeing him, Xia Tong involuntarily recalled yesterday’s scene in the bathhouse, her ears reddening as she focused on listening to the voices from the main hall.

Inside the main hall, the officials were each holding their opinions. The third prince spoke with conviction, “Father, the Xiahou family has abused its power to sell land privately and embezzled nearly thirty percent of the salt tax from the Jiangnan region. These are undeniable facts. Even though there are still doubts regarding the poisoning of the crown prince, these charges cannot be dismissed. Those who deliberately shield the culprits must have ulterior motives!”

As he spoke, his cold gaze inadvertently swept across Gu Qin, laden with implications.

Upon finishing, an elderly, gray-bearded censor stepped forward and respectfully addressed the emperor, “Your Majesty, the third prince speaks the truth. The corruption and abuse of power among officials have become widespread, and it will lead to ruin if allowed to continue. However, this matter stems only from a few individuals in the Xiahou family, we must not condemn the innocent. If we scrutinize the taxation and land sales in the court over the years, I believe we will uncover many irregularities. I have also heard that the trade taxes at the border have seen the Grand Tutor’s office pocketing a whole forty percent.”

“Lord Zhou, you should provide some evidence for your claims and not indiscriminately smear my Grand Tutor’s family with baseless accusations. If you wish to investigate, feel free, but if nothing is found, will my Grand Tutor’s family not be wrongfully sullied?”

A middle-aged man dressed in first-rank court robes spoke gloomily. The other officials gasped in surprise. Most had come only to investigate the crown prince’s poisoning, but if other issues were thoroughly examined, surely no one would emerge unscathed.

The old emperor had remained silent, his waning spirit evident, though his aged eyes sparkled with a discerning light.

“Let’s not discuss distant matters. Recently, everyone should recall the peasant riots outside the city that caused Minister Tang to have his leg broken by the mob. According to my information, the merchants seeking to build the estate have had close ties with the Grand Tutor’s family. The previous land transactions were all stamped by Minister Tang’s officials. Given how long it has been since the incident, why hasn’t any official taken action? Is it due to incompetence, or has someone deliberately turned a blind eye?”

The speaker was a young censor from a humble background, unafraid of offending others, as he had always acted without restraint in the court and was favored by the emperor, making it difficult for anyone to provoke him.

Once he finished speaking, the Grand Tutor’s man furrowed his brow, casting a menacing look at the censor. “That’s pure nonsense! Without evidence, how could the emperor possibly believe your wild fabrications?”

At this point, he suddenly shifted his gaze and respectfully addressed the emperor, “On this note, I have received evidence regarding the Regent’s corruption, assassination of officials, and his conspiracies. Initially, I was skeptical, but this matter must be left to the emperor to decide.”

With that, he produced two account books from his robe and handed them to the eunuch to present to the emperor.

Instantly, the hall erupted into chaos as people exchanged bewildered glances, murmuring among themselves. In recent years, no one had dared to openly accuse the Regent, and no one expected the usually peaceful Grand Tutor’s office to come into conflict with the Regent.

The old emperor remained calm, while Gu Qin appeared uninterested, listening to the ongoing disputes with lowered eyes, concealing his thoughts.

Xia Tong, hidden in the side hall, managed to grasp a general idea of what was happening. However, when she saw the eunuch present the evidence, her heart sank in shock. Wasn’t that the evidence that had gone missing from her possession? How could it be in the Grand Tutor’s hands?