Chapter 11

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Chapter 11

Once the Princess Royal departed, half of the Imperial Guards stationed at Qionglin Garden withdrew, and the officials who had come to witness the event gradually dispersed. The successful candidates resumed their seats, and after some discussion, the atmosphere at the banquet returned to a peaceful harmony. The gentle melodies of zithers and qins floated delicately through the air, still pleasant to the ear even several streets away.

Cheng Muning sat inside the carriage, picking at the candied fruits on a plate to stave off hunger.

Hongjin sighed with worry, “The Princess left so hastily this morning she didn’t even have a drop of water. At the feast just now, she hardly ate anything either—only drank wine most of the day. How can her stomach endure such strain? It’s bound to ache again tonight. And that little eunuch attending her earlier was truly thoughtless, pouring wine straight into the jug instead of replacing it with warm water. When I return to the palace, I must find out his name and discipline him properly!”

Cheng Muning responded with a short “Hmm,” then, seeing the journey back to the palace was still far, took out a book to read.

Hongjin frowned again. “The Princess never seems to care for herself. If only you had eaten those grapes yourself earlier instead of giving them to the Marshal—it was such a waste!”

"Yinzhu," Cheng Muning put down her book and turned to ask, "Is there paper and brush in the carriage? Let’s first figure out the expenses for purchasing horses and swords. The Ministry of War may be blunt, but this money must be paid to them in advance. Warhorses and weapons need to be prepared ahead of time."

Yinzhu, knowing the Princess was tired of Hongjin’s nagging, pulled out a drawer by the footrest and handed over paper and brush. “On the way here, I saw Minister Zhang sneaking a smile. I suppose we don’t need to calculate it ourselves; by tomorrow the accounts will be reported anyway.”

Hongjin was indeed distracted by this, saying, “It wasn’t sneaky smiling—I overheard everything as I passed by. He was so stifled he even choked himself.”

Then Hongjin burst out laughing, and Yinzhu couldn’t help but join in. Zhang Ji was a clever man; after such a long time, he must have figured it out. Cheng Muning thought of his excitedly gesturing mustache and couldn’t help but curve her lips slightly.

After laughing, Yinzhu added, “By the way, Princess, you wanted to keep that young Master Du at the mansion—do you intend to use him? I find him impulsive and reckless, daring to openly criticize the court and His Majesty in public. Such a temperament is sure to stir up trouble.”

“He is impulsive, but straightforwardness can be a virtue too, quite rare,” Cheng Muning said. “Moreover, if Chief Jiang appreciates him, it proves he has genuine talent. The court currently lacks such capable people.”

Yinzhu nodded slowly. “In terms of blunt honesty, he reminds me somewhat of Lord Shen.”

Cheng Muning didn’t intend to do the calculations really. She doodled on the paper and said, “I imagine Shen Wengai and him would get along well.”

Unable to focus on two things at once, Cheng Muning fell silent. When the carriage stopped, a figure had already come alive on the paper—those few strokes vividly sketched Pei Shao. He had a sword resting on the table, one hand on the scabbard, the other holding a wine cup—this was Pei Shao at the feast.

The index finger resting on the sword was slightly bent, with long, elegant knuckles. Cheng Muning added a few fine details, even dotting the small red mole on the back of his finger.

Seeing the Princess so absorbed, Hongjin and Yinzhu exchanged a glance but dared not interrupt. They waited quietly until Cheng Muning finished the drawing. Yet she remained still, the brush held to her lips, staring intently at the portrait. Outside, Ji Fang was nearly hoarse from coughing. Yinzhu sighed inside and called softly, “Princess.”

“Hm?” Cheng Muning shifted her gaze, set down the brush, and said, “Are we there?”

Cheng Muning rose with a composed expression and stepped out of the carriage. Hongjin looked at the small portrait left aside and was momentarily at a loss. “What about this?”

Yinzhu hurried to catch up, saying quickly, “Keep it safe.”

“Oh…”

The light gradually dimmed.

The wisteria vines in the backyard of the Pei Residence had climbed over the walls, their fragrance intoxicating. The scent was so strong it made Zhou Min sneeze repeatedly. Having just finished his duties for the day and removed his armor, he returned home, pushed open the small courtyard gate, and said, “These flowers grow too fast. There seem to be more blossoms than last year. It’s almost suffocating. Won’t it overwhelm the master? Tomorrow I’ll have some trimmed!”

A brindle tiger-striped dog lay in the corner. Hearing the noise, it barked wildly at the newcomer. Old Liu tossed it two pieces of meat and said leisurely, “If you dare, see if you can have them cut back.”

Zhou Min snorted, “What’s there to be afraid of? The master is busy and seldom has time to mind such trifles. Liu, you’re overthinking it.”

He looked at the drooped dog and was surprised. “Why does it look so listless? Usually, it barks fiercely at anyone who comes by. Today it’s so sluggish it won’t even open its mouth to eat the meat. Seems like it’s been scolded.”

Liu patted its head. “Just like you, no sense of the situation.”

A maid brought in calming tea, and Liu took it, heading indoors. He had once injured a leg and walked with a slight limp. Zhou Min slowed his pace to follow behind. Liu kindly warned, “He’s upset now. Don’t say anything to rile him further. At this hour, if you’re not careful, you might be sent to guard the city gates.”

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“I know, I have serious matters to discuss.” Zhou Min said irritably, “The master is annoyed with the Princess. Ever since hearing she was returning to the capital, he’s been sulking and his temper’s gotten worse, especially today. He barely spoke. But it’s no big deal—as soon as this military funding is settled, he’ll be sent back to Dengzhou. Out of sight, out of mind!”

Liu looked at him meaningfully, wanting to say something but only smiled.

Zhou Min found his smile forced and was about to ask when they reached the corridor. Following custom, Zhou Min waited outside while Liu entered first.

Inside, the room was dark except for the fading glow of dusk. Pei Shao sat before his desk with documents spread out but untouched. Liu stepped lightly closer. Pei Shao remained in the same crossed-legs posture from half an hour ago. The bowl of grapes on the table remained untouched, juice oozing out. The white flower in his hand was wilting pitifully.

Liu put down the calming tea. “Drink this and rest early.”

Pei Shao gave a perfunctory “Hmm.” Liu glanced at him again. “Don’t waste those grapes if you’re not eating them. Tiger Three is still hungry.”

He reached to take the bowl.

Pei Shao’s large hand immediately covered it, sliding it aside, and glanced out the window. “Is Zhou Min outside? Let him come in.”

Seeing the gesture, Liu suppressed a laugh and prolonged his tone, “All right, I’ll let him in.”

Zhou Min entered, parting the curtain, then suddenly paused.

Why were the grapes still there?

He momentarily lost focus. “And also… he wants to accuse the Palace Guards of unauthorized torture!”

Pei Shao asked, “What did Jiang Lanyun say?”

“He ignored it, leaving the man aside.” Zhou Min regained his composure. “Smart of him, knowing Zhao Zongzheng was just a ruse to catch the Marquis of Wude. Now that the man’s caught, Zhao’s useless. But the Marquis is slippery. The interrogators at the Court of Justice were so confused by his evasive answers they couldn’t get any useful information. I was beside myself. Can’t we just take him out and interrogate ourselves?”

Pei Shao wiped some juice off his finger with a handkerchief, stood up, and said, “I’ll go check.”

Zhou Min glanced at the sky, thinking it wasn’t that urgent. Before he could speak, Pei Shao strode out.

A gust of wind blew, chilling to the bone.

…

Beside the Court of Justice’s prison was an abandoned temple. The bell tower tolled once every hour. When Pei Shao dismounted at the hour of the Dog, the bell’s thunderous clang echoed. The jailers on duty rubbed their ears without opening their eyes, yawning. Then there were two sharp knocks on the table. Zhou Min said, “Hey, awake!”

The jailer blinked, startled to see two men standing before him. He quickly stood up, fully awake.

“Marshal, what brings you here?”

Realizing two prisoners from the Palace Guards were held inside, the jailer quickly smiled nervously. “They’re all well guarded. Marshal, are you here to interrogate? But… Chief Jiang is handling the case closely. Without his order, we dare not move them.”

“Still need orders?” Zhou Min harrumphed, stepping forward with anger. “Open your eyes! That man was personally delivered by our Palace Guards. The Princess decreed the Court of Justice as the main interrogator but also said the Palace Guards should assist. Need orders? Go ask the Princess!”

“Uh, well…”

Pei Shao glanced lazily at Zhou Min. “Zhou Min.”

Zhou Min held back and stepped back.

Pei Shao placed a command token on the table, tapping the imperial seal character with his finger. “An imperial edict. Still need Chief Jiang’s orders?”

“N-no, no need.” The jailer had been dozing and forgot this man was the Emperor’s representative. Whatever he did was on the Emperor’s behalf. Besides, all city patrols were under his command. There was no place in the imperial city he couldn’t enter. Filled with regret, the jailer said, “I was negligent. Please come with me, Marshal.”

He then led them inside.

This was the place for holding major state criminals, unlike ordinary filthy cells. Before today, it was quite quiet. The Marquis of Wude’s voice echoed loudly due to the emptiness, full of vigor—

“This thin gruel can’t fill my stomach! How dare you neglect me like this? I tell you, without evidence, you have no right to detain me! I’m only cooperating with the investigation. In three days, once I leave this cell, you’ll regret this!”

“Did you hear? Everyone outside is dead! I want to see Jiang Lanyun, I want to petition to see His Majesty!”

He had felt uneasy on the way here, but upon hearing Zhao Zongzheng’s betrayal, he gained confidence. He had been shouting for two hours straight, his voice hoarse but unwilling to quiet. Zhao Zongzheng, lying weak on the floor in the opposite cell, felt like passing out several times but was roused by the noise.

“At this hour, no one comes. Rest, rest…”

The Marquis slammed the table. “If you hadn’t lied, why would I be here? You’re a Court of Justice minister—you’ve seen it all. Yet you cracked under a little torture and confessed everything. How shameful—”

Before he finished, footsteps approached. The sound of deer leather boots striking the ground grew near. The Marquis stood, gripping the iron bars.

“Jiang—Pei Shao? Where’s Jiang Lanyun?”

“Disappointed it’s me?” A tall shadow loomed over the Marquis. Pei Shao lowered his eyes, lips curved, but no smile in his gaze. “No need for formalities. You and Chief Jiang can’t share anything I can’t hear.”

“I have nothing to say.”

Possibly because Xu Jingqing had gained the upper hand over him before, the Marquis instinctively feared Pei Shao. Seeing Zhao Zongzheng battered like this, he grew even colder, fell silent, sat in the corner, legs crossed. “If you have evidence, I will accept the law. If not, I have nothing to say!”

He closed his eyes.

Clearly playing the rogue.

“Bah! Do you think playing mute will save you?” The jailer unlocked the cell. Zhou Min ignored the Marquis’s struggles, forcibly pulling him out. “We have ways to pry your mouth open!”

“You—how dare you!” The Marquis struggled, but Zhou Min’s slap nearly knocked him out. He felt himself dragged on the ground, and when the dizziness faded, his limbs were chained, surrounded by bloodstained torture instruments.

Pei Shao selected tools nearby. The clinking and scraping of rusty iron sent chills down the spine.

“What—what are you doing!?” The Marquis trembled. “This is the Court of Justice’s case! You Palace Guards have no right to interrogate me!”

He shouted at the temple clerk who had just arrived, “Are you all dead? This is overstepping! Report to Chief Jiang at once!”

The temple clerk, on duty tonight, rushed over upon hearing the noise. After catching his breath, he said, “Marshal, Chief Jiang has yet to find conclusive evidence from the Marquis’s residence. Torture now may be unwise. Perhaps wait for Chief Jiang—”

“Stop dawdling! By the time you find evidence, will this case still be pursued?” Zhou Min sneered. “Not allowed to torture? How interesting. No wonder His Majesty often asks the Palace Guards for help. The Court of Justice’s efficiency is terrible.”

“You—”

The Palace Guards had overreached before, interfering in Court of Justice cases. The two offices often clashed and disliked each other, but out of respect for Pei Shao, the Court of Justice had always swallowed their pride.

The temple clerk finally shrugged off his sleeves, turned his back, and sighed heavily.

Zhou Min was a battle-hardened soldier. Though he wore armor and sword in the capital, he seldom had chance to wield strength. Watching the Court of Justice interrogate during the day made his hands itch. Now, rubbing his fists and excited, he eagerly awaited Pei Shao’s questions to begin applying torture.

He had long disliked this old man.

Just as he lifted the finger clamp, the Marquis began howling like a ghost, “I’ll talk! Ask what you want, I’ll say it!”

But Pei Shao said nothing, only coldly ordered, “Pierce out one of his eyes first.”