Chapter 26

At the start of the You hour (around 5–7 pm), Xie Xinglan left the Jinwu Guards Office. He crossed the Imperial Street to Xuanwu Gate, presented his waist token, and waited the time it would take to burn two sticks of incense. Soon, two young eunuchs under Huang Wanfu’s service greeted him.

Entering the palace gates, the young eunuchs led the way ahead, heading directly toward the Xuanzheng Hall. The Great Zhou Dynasty, established over a hundred years ago, had been strong and prosperous before the chaos in Fengzhou, with many nations paying tribute. Consequently, the imperial palace was built magnificently, imposing, and grand. The palace paths were long and winding, and the tall palace walls obstructed one’s view. When one looked up, only a palm-sized patch of twilight clouds could be seen, further emphasizing a sense of insignificance, like an ant.

At the front of Xuanzheng Hall, Huang Wanfu awaited them with a smile. “His Majesty has been busy all day and is now having his evening meal. I kindly ask the Envoy to wait a moment.”

Xie Xinglan naturally agreed.

Xuanzheng Hall was built atop a high platform. Below the crimson stairs was the spot where civil and military officials knelt to pay homage during grand court assemblies. From a distance, Xie Xinglan gazed at the hall, imagining the emperor standing at the front, receiving the worship of tens of thousands. As the sovereign granted power by Heaven, their aspiration was simply to get closer to the crimson stairs—closer, ever closer.

The noisy autumn wind howled past, whipping the gold-threaded Xiezhi pattern on the hem of Xie Xinglan’s robe, making it flutter wildly. A flicker of emotion crossed his gaze, but he soon averted his eyes with a calm and indifferent expression.

After the time it took to burn a stick of incense, footsteps were finally heard inside. A few young eunuchs emerged in single file, carrying food containers. As they passed by Xie Xinglan, he caught a faint, spicy aroma. The royal nobility of the capital usually favored fresh and aromatic dishes. However, seventeen years ago, during the chaos in Fengzhou, Emperor Zhenyuan led the court officials to flee to Fengzhou, where he became influenced by the local customs. In over a year, Emperor Zhenyuan had developed a fondness for the bold and spicy flavors of Fengzhou cuisine. Even after returning to the capital for many years, his preference remained unchanged.

“Envoy Xie, His Majesty invites you inside.”

Xie Xinglan adjusted his robe and stepped into the hall at a measured pace. As he lifted his gaze, he saw Emperor Zhenyuan dressed in a plain white Daoist robe, seated by the window at a low tea table, savoring tea. Xie Xinglan lowered his eyes, approached to pay his respects, and pulled out the memorial for the Cui-Xue case from his sleeve, handing it to Huang Wanfu.

Emperor Zhenyuan, Li Su, had ascended the throne at sixteen and was still not yet forty. With his deep eyebrows and sharp eyes, he was both regal and strikingly handsome. Coupled with the aura of imperial authority, even without ceremonial robes, his presence was imposing and commanding.

Taking the memorial, Emperor Zhenyuan glanced at Xie Xinglan. Seeing him standing upright with his head lowered, the emperor let out a faint chuckle and said, “Kun’er has already reported to me, saying that this case was handled beautifully. Tell me, what reward do you want?”

Xie Xinglan hurriedly responded, “It is all part of my duty as a humble servant. Moreover, much credit goes to County Princess Yunyang for solving the case. I dare not seek a reward.”

Emperor Zhenyuan said nothing in reply, focusing instead on the memorial Xie Xinglan had presented. Xie Xinglan’s gaze briefly rested on the emperor before he quickly lowered his eyes and held his breath.

Emperor Zhenyuan ascended the throne at sixteen. He had promoted scholars from humble backgrounds, advocated for simplicity, and prioritized rooting out corruption through the Jinwu and Longyi Guards, which quickly eradicated deep-seated issues in the court. Within three years, he had earned the obedience of officials and widespread acclaim from the common people as a wise ruler. The young emperor, achieving such feats, was naturally ambitious and proud.

His aspirations and grand plans knew no bounds, and that year, he carried out bold reforms to weaken the power of the feudal lords. Yet, little did he anticipate that this very move would almost bring the Great Zhou to its knees. The chaos in Fengzhou lasted a year and a half, draining the nation’s resources and fracturing its armies. Seventeen years had passed since then, and while Emperor Zhenyuan had worked tirelessly to govern, the Great Zhou remained in decline.

What puzzled Xie Xinglan the most was that Emperor Zhenyuan, who clearly favored the second prince, Li Kun, born of Empress Zheng, ultimately chose the mediocre fifth prince, Li Yue, as the heir in his previous life.

The emperor read the memorial swiftly. “Is the whole case fully resolved?”

Xie Xinglan hurriedly replied, “There are still some minor details that require a few more days of investigation. Additionally, there is one matter regarding the Earl Zhongyuan’s household that I did not include in the memorial—”

The emperor glanced at him, and Xie Xinglan lowered his eyes, saying, “After Cui Wan and Xue Ming engaged in an illicit relationship, Cui Wan secretly gave birth to a child, who was raised outside by Madam Lin, the Earl’s wife. Later, when a concubine of Earl Zhongyuan gave birth prematurely to a son who soon passed away, Madam Lin replaced the deceased child with Cui Wan’s child. The boy currently raised as the Earl’s concubine-born son, Cui Han, is actually the son of Cui Wan and Xue Ming.”

Emperor Zhenyuan frowned deeply, and beside him, Huang Wanfu gasped audibly. Seeing the emperor’s displeased expression, Huang Wanfu sighed, “I’ve never heard of such filth. If I recall correctly, this concubine-born son is the only son of Earl Zhongyuan. Does the Earl’s wife truly intend to use this child to inherit the title?”

Emperor Zhenyuan placed the memorial on the table, his expression unreadable, and asked, “Why didn’t you include this in the memorial?”

Xie Xinglan replied, “The matter of swapping the children was unknown to the Fu sisters. On the day Cui Wan and Xue Ming framed Fu Zhen, it wasn’t because Fu Zhen knew about this matter. Therefore, regardless of the motive for murder or the evidence related to the case, this child is unrelated to the murder case. That’s why I did not include it in the memorial. However, this matter is exceedingly shocking and pertains to the inheritance of the Earl’s title, so I felt obligated to report it directly to Your Majesty.”

Emperor Zhenyuan narrowed his eyes slightly. “You’ve handled this matter with more caution than usual. If you had approached this with the same fervor as when you impeached the Cui family in March, you would’ve written this directly into the memorial, creating an uproar in the court.”

Xie Xinglan apologized, “The matter in March concerned military affairs, which made this servant act more urgently.”

Emperor Zhenyuan’s gaze fell back on the memorial, his expression turning to mild irritation. “This Earl Zhongyuan’s household, though related to Consort De from the Cui family, is utterly incompetent. They even intended to use their grandson to deceive everyone. The principles of propriety truly seem to mean nothing to them.”

For a moment, Emperor Zhenyuan was silent before his tone shifted slightly, “However, such disgraceful matters are indeed not suitable for widespread publicity, lest the innocent be implicated. You, Longyi Guards, resolve your homicide case, and as for the Earl’s household, I will send someone to subtly remind them.”

Xie Xinglan acknowledged the order, refraining from saying more.

Emperor Zhenyuan gave him a couple of assessing glances before commenting, “You’ve changed a lot over the past six months. I used to think you resembled your father quite a bit, but now it seems you’ve lost your spirit. What’s the matter? Have the appointments of Duan Zhe and Zheng Qin made you lose your ambition?”

“Your humble servant would never dare,” Xie Xinglan replied, full of fear. “Within the Jinwu Guards, everyone performs their designated duties. This servant knows he is not as accomplished as those two and would never dream of comparing himself. Nonetheless, this servant’s loyalty to Your Majesty and the court remains unwavering. I plead Your Majesty to see my sincerity.”

Emperor Zhenyuan sighed lightly. “Enough. At least this case has not disappointed me. Xinglan, you are still young; there will be many opportunities in the future. Your father once held the rank of Senior General in the Jinwu Guards. You must not lose his dignity and fortitude.”

Xie Xinglan lowered his eyes even further. “Yes, Your Majesty. This servant will heed Your teachings.”

Night had fallen outside the window. Emperor Zhenyuan waved his hand dismissively. “It’s late. Withdraw for now. Return when the case is finalized.”

Xie Xinglan bowed respectfully and left. The palace door opened and closed behind him. Emperor Zhenyuan gazed at it, murmuring softly, “A man who once traded his life for fame and glory now seems like a soul drained of purpose.”

Huang Wanfu said, “The Xie family’s reputation in the court has never been good, and adversaries often surround Xie Xinglan. His resolve is likely already worn down. Moreover, since His Majesty currently values the Duan family, it’s not necessary for Xie Xinglan to serve Your Majesty exclusively.”

Emperor Zhenyuan snorted coldly, “How could the Duan family alone possibly contend with the Zheng family? Besides, haven’t you seen how dogs are trained outside? Only when a pack of dogs fights over a piece of fresh meat does it get interesting. Otherwise, over time, their claws and teeth lose their sharpness.”

Huang Wanfu hesitantly agreed. As Emperor Zhenyuan withdrew his gaze and glanced at the memorial again, his eyes filled with disdain. “These noble families, all these families, not a single one is clean…”

…

Xie Xinglan rode swiftly back to his residence. As soon as he entered, the first thing he asked Xie Yong was, “Any news from Xie Jian?”

Xie Yong said, “No news has been delivered yet. Now that the case is tentatively resolved, will there still be messages coming from the County Princess? Why did you instruct Xie Jian to stay there all night?”

Xie Xinglan did not reply and quickly headed toward the study courtyard. After a few steps, he glanced toward the dark east side of the residence and asked, “Has Mother been well over the past two days?”

Xie Yong responded, “You can rest assured—there has been no activity.”

Xie Xinglan nodded and, upon returning to the study, could not resist opening the drawer. He pulled out a document from the top and carefully read it through. After finishing, he closed the document and rubbed his temples. He looked silently out the window and murmured, “It’s almost Zi hour (11 pm–1 am), isn’t it?”

Xie Yong confirmed, and Xie Xinglan tapped his fingers lightly on the desk. The “tap-tap” sound accompanied his increasingly grave expression. After a moment, he decisively stood up, saying, “Prepare the horse—”

Xie Yong was stunned. “Where are you planning to go?”

The words “Linchuan Marquis’ residence” were about to escape Xie Xinglan’s lips, but he abruptly held back, his expression darkening as he sat down, seemingly exerting great self-restraint. “Forget it—go rest. If Xie Jian has any news, report it immediately.”

Xie Yong, puzzled, didn’t dare truly retire, choosing instead to stand guard outside the room.

Xie Xinglan’s nerves were taut, and based on past experiences, he knew that the more anxious he became, the less likely things would unfold as he intended. The date of July 17 had arrived, and while other matters could be forgiven, this day had to be executed perfectly without any errors.

Unable to settle his uneasy mind, Xie Xinglan glanced toward the southwest corner of the room at the Buddha shrine. Without hesitation, he walked over, lit an incense stick, and bowed three times before noticing a copy of the Diamond Sutra beside the shrine. He pondered briefly before returning the sutra to his desk, selecting a fine brush, and solemnly copying the text.

The Buddha’s verse was silent, yet amidst the flow of ink and brush, Xie Xinglan’s restless heart finally calmed.

At the end of the Chou hour (around 1–3 am), Xie Xinglan finally went to bed. He dreamed vividly of his tumultuous previous life. Born into the Xie family in Jiangzhou, he was a prodigy in his youth, exceptionally gifted. However, at the age of eight, his parents passed away, plunging his status to the lowest depths. In Jiangzhou, his clan treated him with cold disdain, and his parents’ inheritance was seized entirely. In despair, Xie Zhengze adopted him.

At twelve, his adoptive father died suddenly. At fifteen, he joined the Jinwu Guard, rising to Langjiang (*) at seventeen, Zhonglangjiang (*) at eighteen, and by twenty, was appointed Envoy for his merits in saving the emperor. At twenty-three, he became the Deputy General of the Jinwu Guards, and at twenty-six, he rose to Senior General of the Jinwu Guards. Within two short years, Emperor Zhenyuan intended to bestow a marquisate upon the Xie family—

T/N: ranks in the imperial guards.

However, before the title and rank could be finalized, Emperor Zhenyuan fell gravely ill. On the night of January 15, in the twenty-eighth year of Zhenyuan’s reign, Li Kun and Li Yue simultaneously launched palace coups. In the end, Li Kun’s faction suffered a devastating defeat, and Emperor Zhenyuan’s edict, written long before, declared Li Yue the crown prince. Li Yue thus became the rightful heir to the throne, and Xie Xinglan’s life was sealed forever on that bleak, snowy night.

Xie Xinglan woke up drenched in cold sweat. He turned toward the window and saw the blue morning light filtering through the lattice. Alarmed, he immediately threw off his covers, opened the door, and demanded, “How are things at the Marquis’ residence?”

Xie Yong, waiting outside, hurriedly responded, “No news yet.”

Xie Xinglan let out a deep breath, relieved. “No news is good news.”

As it was already late in the morning, Xie Xinglan went to the bathhouse to rinse off with cold water. After changing his clothes, he prepared his horse and promptly headed to the Linchuan Marquis’ residence. By the time his group arrived outside the residence, dawn had just broken.

Seeing him arrive, Xie Jian was shocked. “Lord, it’s only halfway through Mao hour (around 5:30–6:30 am). The County Princess is likely not up yet. Why have you come so early?”

Xie Xinglan’s gaze was sharp. “No matter, I’ll wait.”

Xie Jian, confused, leaned closer to Xie Yong, who whispered softly, “Lord only went to bed in the middle of the night. He repeatedly asked whether there was any news from your side and seemed overly worried. Upon waking just now, he insisted on coming here immediately. I don’t understand it either.”

Xie Jian’s eyes shifted, and a seemingly incredulous thought crossed his mind. “I’ve never seen him so concerned about anyone—let alone a young lady like the County Princess. Could it be that—”

Xie Yong’s eyes widened slightly, and the two stared at Xie Xinglan’s back in unison. After a moment, Xie Yong murmured, “Lord is past twenty. He should be getting married and starting a family by now. Why is he acting so odd…”

Xie Jian recalled Xie Xinglan’s previous actions and hesitated, saying, “But looking at his expression now, it doesn’t seem like he’s expecting a rendezvous with a lady, but rather… rather like the time before he impeached the Cui family, waiting for news from the military.”

Xie Yong nodded in agreement but was even more puzzled.

Xie Xinglan ignored their mutterings. He had considered many options, but after deliberation, he concluded that going to the Jinwu Guard Office was the safest choice. Firstly, with Fu Ling’s case as an excuse, Qin Ying wouldn’t suspect anything. Secondly, the Jinwu Guards Office was heavily fortified, making it nearly impossible for anyone to harm Qin Ying.

…

Last night, upon returning home, Qin Ying faced Qin Zhang, who had been waiting for her. Naturally, she dared not hide what had transpired at the Earl’s residence. When Qin Zhang heard that Cui Han was actually the child of Cui Wan and Xue Ming, he was so shocked that he fell backward. Qin Ying then spent a long time comforting him. When she went to rest, she nearly forgot about her plan to visit the Jinwu Guards Office early the next morning.

When she woke up, sunlight already flooded the room. Stretching lazily, her routine was interrupted as Bai Yuan entered and lifted the curtain, announcing, “County Princess, are you aware that Envoy Xie has been waiting outside for you for an hour and a half?”

Qin Ying sat up abruptly. “He really came?”

Bai Yuan nodded. “He arrived before dawn. The sun has just risen, and judging by Envoy Xie’s current expression, I suspect his mood is anything but pleasant.”

Qin Ying was startled. She quickly got out of bed and began dressing, muttering, “He wouldn’t go back on his word, would he?”

After finishing her grooming, Qin Ying hurriedly had a couple of spoonfuls of porridge in the front hall. She briefly spoke to Qin Zhang before rushing to the mansion gates. Before stepping out, she saw Xie Xinglan and his men standing tall on horseback. The autumn morning sunlight was gentle, but even the horses were impatiently snorting on the spot, not to mention Xie Xinglan, whose expression was as dark as the bottom of a pot.

With a quickened pace, Qin Ying curved her lips and stepped forward, cheerfully saying, “Good morning, Envoy Xie. You are truly diligent to have arrived so early.”

Xie Xinglan remained silent, his face cold. Just then, Qin Ying stumbled, almost falling due to her dress catching on her stride. Xie Xinglan’s heartstrings tightened; he was nearly ready to leap forward to help, but to his surprise, Qin Ying swiftly stabilized herself after just a small stagger. Glancing at her dress, she helplessly said to Bai Yuan, “I told you this dress is troublesome to wear…”

Bai Yuan was startled but then laughed. “You’ve been dressing too plainly these past few days. This dress was newly tailored for summer, and the most beautiful part is the intricate butterfly embroidery and layered skirt, which is full of elegance and charm. Especially with your figure; you’ve seemed to slim down recently, making you look as graceful as a swaying willow.”

Qin Ying shook her head as she climbed onto the carriage. Xie Xinglan, who had been slightly leaning forward, slowly straightened up. He glanced again at the bluestone steps in front of the marquis’ residence, thinking with lingering fear—if Qin Ying had fallen on the steps, would she have cracked her head open?

The answer seemed to be yes, and this thought made Xie Xinglan’s heart hang high with worry.

As the carriage moved with a rattling sound, Xie Xinglan urged his horse closer, riding tightly beside Qin Ying’s carriage. His sharp gaze vigilantly scanned everything around them—the passing carriages, oncoming pedestrians, and street vendors calling out their wares. Nothing escaped Xie Xinglan’s blade-like sharp eyes.

The Jinwu Guards’ office was located just outside the imperial city. With dozens of subordinate offices, it occupied an enormous area and was intricately constructed. Given that it housed prisons and frequently interrogated serious offenders, it was built even more solidly than the average governmental office. The carriage continued north, passing through the imperial street, and eventually stopped outside an imposing and heavily fortified building.

Xie Xinglan dismounted from his horse and stood in front of Qin Ying’s carriage. Watching her step steadily to the ground, he said, “Follow me,” before heading into the office. Qin Ying followed behind him. Xie Xinglan would walk a few steps and then pause, always maintaining a three-step distance from her.

At first, everything seemed normal. However, as they passed the training grounds, Xie Xinglan started acting strangely. When a row of red-tassel spears appeared to Qin Ying’s front left, he quickly moved to stand there. When two war drums stood to Qin Ying’s front right, he rushed to that position. Later, when they reached a gathering area for the Jinwu Guards, he hurriedly moved to Qin Ying’s side, blocking the guards’ line of sight.

Seeing him pacing back and forth several times, Qin Ying finally couldn’t hold back and said, “You’re making my eyes dizzy. Which side are you planning to walk on?”

Xie Xinglan replied in a deep voice, “There are many places here where you must not wander. Don’t go the wrong way.”

Qin Ying looked at his evasive response, utterly puzzled. Yet, as they continued on their way, Xie Xinglan’s behavior only intensified, resembling a large black crab that could only walk sideways.

Just as Qin Ying was about to lose her patience, they arrived at the Jinwu Guards’ prison. Xie Xinglan finally acted normal and said, “Fu Ling is inside.”

Qin Ying, annoyed, retorted, “Do you think I don’t know?”

Xie Xinglan wasn’t offended by her sharp tone. He took the lead, guiding her forward. However, the passageway deep inside the prison was too dimly lit. Xie Xinglan carried a lantern and walked extremely slowly. Qin Ying, exasperated, asked, “May I ask what’s taking you so long?”

Xie Xinglan didn’t argue back, only quickened his pace slightly. When they reached the interrogation room, Xie Xinglan immediately noticed that the chair was placed too close to the torture instruments. He set down the lantern and personally moved the chair to a far corner of the room.

Seeing him staring at the wall, as if still dissatisfied with the distance, Qin Ying raised her eyebrows and said, “Why don’t you just let me listen from the next cell?”

Xie Xinglan pursed his lips without rebutting and simply ordered someone to bring Fu Ling in.

Qin Ying, frustrated, sat in a remote corner. Before long, she saw Fu Ling enter, shackled. Her luxurious attire remained unchanged, but after a night, her embroidered silks were stained with dirt, and her once-elegant hairstyle had become disheveled. Yet, she seemed indifferent to her appearance, her dim eyes lighting up slightly upon seeing Qin Ying.

The interrogation that day was merely a review, as many details had already been questioned. Qin Ying listened silently, watching Fu Ling’s expression of utter despair. Qin Ying herself felt a heavy weight in her heart. This case, apart from Xue Ming, involved only female victims. It was a microcosm of the times: women’s marriages were controlled by their fathers, and their reputations were valued above all else. From birth, they were thoroughly conditioned, bearing heavy moral shackles and even using them to attack one another.

Meanwhile, their fathers and husbands, wielding supreme authority, often bore minimal blame. Even someone like Cui Jin would always believe that Cui Wan’s fate was solely due to Madam Lin’s failure to discipline her properly.

The interrogation lasted over an hour. Xie Xinglan was meticulous and methodical, repeatedly examining and verifying many points that Fu Ling was unsure of. Watching him, Qin Ying momentarily thought of her former self.

When the questioning was over, Fu Ling couldn’t help but ask, “What will happen to Mo’er and Huan’er? How will they be punished?”

Qin Ying was also very concerned. Xie Xinglan replied, “After questioning, it’s clear that they were unaware of your intentions. However, they were still participants in the chain of events. While they can avoid serious punishment, they won’t escape minor penalties.”

Fu Ling glanced at Qin Ying and said hoarsely, “When I was leaving that day, Madam Lin threatened me. Even if the court is fair in its ruling, the Earl’s residence will find ways to torment them. My death doesn’t matter, but I don’t want to implicate too many innocent people.”

Xie Xinglan, with surprising benevolence, revealed the truth: “Madam Lin has gone mad. She probably doesn’t have the energy to deal with the Fu family. You can rest assured.”

Fu Ling was momentarily stunned. “Gone mad? She actually went mad?”

Xie Xinglan didn’t answer. Fu Ling let out a soft breath and smiled faintly. “Good. Then I can rest easy. After my death, I don’t know if anyone will collect my body. If I can be buried alongside my sister and mother, I would have no regrets…”

The jailer led Fu Ling away, and Qin Ying stood to follow. The dim passage was long, but Fu Ling never looked back. Her slender figure remained upright as she eventually disappeared into the depths of the prison.

Qin Ying sighed and asked, “What will be the verdict in this case?”

Xie Xinglan said, “Fu Ling is the daughter of an official, but her crimes involve plotting against the daughter of the Earl’s residence and the son of the Xue family. Naturally, she will be heavily sentenced. As for Fu Zhongming, his failure in teaching her means his position as the minister is out of reach. Regarding the two maids, they are likely to be exiled.”

Qin Ying exclaimed in shock, “Exiled? They were unaware of the plan, and yet they’ll be exiled?”

Xie Xinglan looked at her and said, “They were critical links in the plan. Without them, Fu Ling couldn’t have committed murder so silently. Moreover, they are of servant status; any wrongdoing for them is subject to heavier punishment. You weren’t even aware of that?”

Qin Ying’s breathing quickened, and at that moment, she truly realized that this was an era of rigid class divisions and governance under imperial authority. The legal principles she held dear and viewed as universal were irrelevant here, and even as a county princess, she couldn’t change the reality of the times. Her heart turned cold—it seemed as though there was a millennial gap between barbarism and civilization. Was she really supposed to accept things as they were?

She quickly regained her composure and asked, “The office must have official records of the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty, right? I don’t understand them well. Could I have a look?”

Xie Xinglan, worried she might return to her residence, was surprised by her request. He immediately said, “Yes, follow me.”

Outside the prison, the autumn sun had long climbed to its zenith, its golden rays blazing down. Yet Qin Ying felt no warmth. They walked along the path heading southwest, encountering several Jinwu Guards along the way, all casting curious glances at Qin Ying.

Before long, Xie Xinglan led her to a shaded hall. “This is where the clerks of the Longyi Guards’ registrar work. Case records are reviewed here regularly, and the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty are kept here.”

Qin Ying followed Xie Xinglan into the room, but before she could stand still, she heard a voice dripping with sarcasm say, “Well, isn’t this something—Envoy Xie has managed to climb the high branch of the Marquis of Linchuan’s family!”