Chapter 14
Chapter 14
The Marquis of Wude had been enduring unbearable torment these past few days. Though Jiang Lanyun was not as ruthless as Pei Shao in his methods, he was adept at wearing down a person’s spirit. Each day, the Marquis was summoned for interrogations three or four times, each lasting two to three hours. Between sessions, there was barely time to catch a breath before the questioning resumed. The Marquis had not slept for days; his mind was in chaos, and his appearance visibly deteriorated. The weather grew warmer, and the wound on his right eye—blinded by Pei Shao—began to fester and ache unbearably. Suddenly, he broke down completely.
Hearing his continuous wailing, Zhao Zongzheng sighed, “Marquis, please take care of your health. Minister Xu may not be inclined to help me, but he surely will not neglect you. Just endure a little longer.”
“I won’t endure it, damn it!” The Marquis gasped, choking on his own saliva. He coughed violently before sobbing, “If he wanted to come, he would have by now. Xu Jingqing, that two-faced man—he only wants to keep everything to himself—”
Before he could finish, with a loud clang, the chains rattled again. The Marquis instinctively shrank back.
Two prison guards, skilled in their routine, hoisted him up, “Let’s go, Marquis.”
“Wait, wait!” The Marquis struggled, pleading humbly, “I’ve barely had any rest. Have mercy—I truly can’t hold on. Don’t drag me away, please don’t!”
The guards ignored his pleas and pulled him along.
Once inside the interrogation chamber, the Marquis lowered his head, resigned and quiet. However, instead of shackling him to the torture rack as usual, the guards roughly dropped him onto the floor. Unprepared, he fell face down. As he looked up, his eyes immediately caught sight of a pair of violet embroidered shoes, incongruously elegant amidst the filth of the dungeon. The shoe surface was patterned with wisteria flowers in golden thread, lifelike and exquisite. Raising his gaze further, he met a pair of eyes still warm and gentle as spring breezes.
Startled, the Marquis jerked upright, “You—”
Cheng Muning sat calmly in a chair, holding a cup of tea, smiling gently, “Marquis, why that expression? Didn’t you insist on seeing me?”
“Yes, yes,” the Marquis suddenly regained composure and prostrated himself on the ground, sobbing, “Princess, I am innocent! I am but a lowly man; it would be no great loss if I died unjustly alone. But with the nation in peril, if my delay causes harm to the military, I deserve a thousand deaths, even without guilt!”
“You flatter yourself, Marquis.” Cheng Muning smiled lightly, not pursuing his words but kindly said, “You have lost much weight these days. I should have instructed better to prevent your neglect. Today, I have specially ordered the imperial kitchen to prepare food as an apology.”
She tilted her head slightly, thoughtfully instructing, “Now, help the Marquis to his feet.”
The guards complied. Before he could react, the Marquis was pressed into a chair. Across the table laden with plain rice gruel and simple dishes, Cheng Muning’s subtle fragrance stood out starkly against the dankness of the dungeon. It was the same scent he had encountered days ago in the Qionglin Garden, yet now he dared not breathe it in deeply or appreciate the face before him.
He spoke wistfully, “Princess—”
Cheng Muning pushed the small dishes forward, “No rush. Eat first, Marquis. Whatever urgent matters there are can wait until after you’ve eaten.”
The Marquis hesitated but had no choice but to obey, picking up the wooden chopsticks. Though the imperial kitchen’s dishes were exquisite, even with his hunger so desperate it pressed his stomach, he had no appetite. His hand trembled as he slowly reached for the nearest plate of shredded cucumber. Just as his fingers were about to touch it, he abruptly dropped the chopsticks and knelt, weeping bitterly, “Princess, you only wish to replenish the Ministry of Revenue’s military funds. That is why I begged to see you! I have never refused—”
Cheng Muning glanced sideways and signaled. The guards, perceptive, immediately withdrew.
Yinzhu took the tea from Cheng Muning’s hand and handed her a cloth. Wiping her hands, Cheng Muning lowered her eyes to the Marquis—a man nearing fifty, kneeling and sobbing—and politely asked, “Since you know my predicament, Marquis, what solutions do you propose?”
The Marquis was not a refined man and could not master the veiled, double-edged politeness of the capital’s nobility. A tear slipped down as he spoke plainly, “The court is in trouble. If the Princess wants the private treasury of my household confiscated, I will hand it all over! But that treasury is in Yaozhou, hidden deep in the mountains. Without someone familiar with the route, it might take a month or more to find.”
Cheng Muning asked, “And you suggest?”
The Marquis hastened to explain, “I have an eldest illegitimate son who usually helps manage the family business. He knows the accounts inside out. If he guides the Princess, I’m sure the task would be much easier.”
“Oh?” Cheng Muning looked at him, “You don’t want to go yourself?”
The Marquis feigned tears again, “Though I claim innocence, I know the laws and rules of the court and dare not break them. As long as the case remains unresolved, I remain a suspect. But…”
Cheng Muning’s expression turned cold, “Speak plainly, Marquis.”
The Marquis sighed, “For security, those treasuries are guarded by hired gangs from the underworld. If outsiders break in, it could cause a bloodbath... The Princess should know my rise is thanks to Minister Xu’s support. That treasury is not mine alone. To open it requires not only the key, kept at my residence, but also a sealed letter bearing the golden seal, held by Minister Xu. If the Princess wants that money, she must get Minister Xu’s consent.”
No wonder. Cheng Muning’s hand clutching the cloth faltered briefly. It made sense—if Xu Jingqing allowed the Marquis sole control of the funds, that would not suit his cunning nature. So after all these days of silence, her crafty uncle had been waiting for her.
Seeing Cheng Muning silent, the Marquis added, “Princess need not worry. After all, you and Minister Xu are family by blood, and my eldest son is also Minister Xu’s third uncle-in-law. We are all one family and would not make things difficult for each other.”
His words carried a hidden meaning. Cheng Muning glanced at him, a faint smile touching her lips, but it was cold, “Indeed. Since that is so, Marquis, you must endure these days. I shall order them to treat you well.”
As she spoke, she rose. The Marquis shifted on his knees toward her, no longer panicked, “Princess, you are too kind. It is only right, only right.”
Cheng Muning stood by the door but did not leave immediately. She smoothed her sleeve and suddenly turned back, “There is one more thing I remembered.”
The Marquis, having relaxed slightly, shivered violently, nearly choking, “P-Princess, please speak.”
Cheng Muning said, “The court records list more than ten charges. One concerns the grain supplies allocated to Yanbei last year. You, Marquis, were the transport commissioner overseeing the entire shipment. Yet it is said half the grain that arrived in Yanbei was mixed with sand. Yanbei borders Shuodong. Were it not for Lord Pei secretly aiding with his own resources, many would have starved.”
The Marquis’ heart sank.
He had not expected Jiang Lanyun to be so capable, uncovering so much evidence in just a few days—all seemingly aimed at his death. Yet, despite the harsh interrogations, he had not confessed to a single charge. Now, seeing a possible turning point, he was even less inclined to admit guilt. He said, “This is unjust! The northern route is desert; mixing sand into grain is common. Yanbei requests funds from the Ministry of Revenue annually, but the allocations never meet expectations. They are simply picking on the weak, trying to ruin me!”
His cries were pitiful, as if truly wronged unto death.
“I see. Yanbei wants to destroy you, so does Shuodong. You are quite a figure, Marquis.” Cheng Muning’s tone was sardonic despite the apparent sympathy. “I am curious why an incident from last winter only now reached the court’s attention. Why was there no memorial from Yanbei before the emperor? Was the Yanbei prince magnanimous enough to suppress it, or did the memorial never reach the throne?”
“Th-That—” It was strange. Her questioning was less severe than the interrogators’, yet her calm and steady tone was chilling. The Marquis swallowed hard and forced himself to answer, “Yanbei is far away. Perhaps something went wrong along the way. Reports from the border pass through many hands before reaching the capital. Mistakes could happen, certainly. Besides…”
“The emperor sits high in the court, watching all directions. How does the Princess know the message never reached the throne? If the emperor knew and did not act, wouldn’t that prove my innocence? If the Princess doubts, why not… ask the emperor?”
The words “the emperor” were bitten out with weight and significance.
Cheng Muning said no more, only stared at him long and hard before smiling, “Just a casual question. Marquis, no need to be nervous. By the way—”
She spoke gently, “There is no poison in the food. Marquis, eat with peace of mind.”
...
Leaving the interrogation chamber, Cheng Muning’s expression was void of emotion.
She had kept this outing secret, accompanied only by a few on-duty imperial guards for convenience. After boarding the carriage, she noticed Yinzhu opening her mouth several times. Cheng Muning glanced sideways and said slowly, “You want to ask why it’s common for Minister Xu’s men to be present at court, yet Pei Shao also moves freely there. With Shuodong involved in Yanbei’s affairs, he cannot be unaware. Why then does he not report directly to the emperor?”
Yinzhu pondered, “If the palace commander reported it, perhaps…”
“Perhaps the emperor would have punished the Marquis of Wude earlier?” Cheng Muning turned her head, a hint of amusement in her voice. “In office, no one escapes enemies. Do you think all the Marquis’s secret dealings have gone unnoticed? Has no official ever submitted a memorial accusing him? Is the emperor truly unaware of the Marquis’s conduct?”
Yinzhu suddenly realized, “The emperor… does not want to offend Minister Xu.”
Cheng Muning did not respond directly. She opened the window to let in the breeze. “If the emperor does not wish to investigate thoroughly, even the Three Departments cannot act arbitrarily. Besides, the palace guards are not the court’s judicial authority. Since appealing to imperial judgment is useless, there is nothing more to say.”
Her tone was cold.
Yinzhu was silent for a moment, then sighed softly, “Later, the court allocated thirty percent more military funds to Shuodong than usual. In hindsight, the emperor was trying to make amends.”
“To cover things up even more.” Cheng Muning looked out the window.
The carriage had reached a street, and Yinzhu followed Cheng Muning’s gaze to the mansion bearing the Ge family’s plaque. She hesitated, “Princess, do you want to visit? You have been back in the capital all this time but have yet to pay respects to the Grand Tutor.”
Cheng Muning withdrew her gaze, casually picking up the folding fan on the small table. She said, burdened with worry, “No need. The teacher has worried enough over the years. Now that he finally has leisure, let him rest.”
The carriage pulled up outside the palace gates just as the imperial guards were changing shifts. From afar, Cheng Muning spotted Wei Lin. She paused briefly, waited, but when the person she sought did not appear, she entered the palace alone.
Returning to Fuluan Palace, Cheng Muning dismissed everyone except Ji Fang, who stayed by her side.
Ji Fang smiled brightly, “Does the Princess have instructions?”
Ji Fang was an attendant close to the emperor, placed near the Princess with clear intent. He had long feared the Princess might distrust him and refuse to use his help, but lately she had not neglected him, and seeing prospects for usefulness, he was delighted.
Cheng Muning handed him an account ledger, “Take a look.”
Ji Fang, having followed Cheng Muning reviewing accounts these days, took it without hesitation. As he flipped through, his expression stiffened momentarily before masking it, “These are the treasury’s accounts. Why did the Ministry of Revenue send these as well?”
“I have one question.” Cheng Muning was direct, no longer beating around the bush. “Why do the treasury’s accounts for the past three years not match the funds the emperor transferred to the Ministry of Revenue? Where did the emperor’s money come from?”
A few months ago, the Ministry of Revenue was truly desperate. The emperor had no choice but to appropriate treasury funds for the national coffers. Court expenses were cut accordingly. This was praised as the emperor’s virtue by officials. But those who did not audit the accounts would not know the palace’s expenses had grown enormous in recent years, leaving little in the treasury. The treasury’s financial officer was the eunuch department. If Ji Fang claimed ignorance, he was treating everyone as fools.
In a brief instant, Ji Fang’s breathing became erratic, but as a servant of the emperor, he regained composure and forced a smile, “Princess, monarchs have always had private treasuries. This is nothing unusual.”
“Yes, everyone has their private funds.” Cheng Muning’s eyes froze cold. “But the court is broke, and the emperor can still draw such a sum from his private treasury? Remarkable. Three years ago, I never saw this money. Seems after I left, the emperor’s fortune changed. Perhaps I was blocking his luck?”
Her final words were half a smile, voice icy to the core. Ji Fang collapsed to the ground with a thud. Being highly skilled at reading the situation, he whispered, “P-Princess…”
Cheng Muning stared at him, “I ask you again: where exactly did it come from?”
Crying, Ji Fang struck his head heavily on the floor. The impact was loud and heavy, like a hammer smashing the last shred of Cheng Muning’s hope to pieces. Her hands trembling beneath her sleeves, she turned away without blinking as tears fell silently to the ground.
“So, how much exactly did the Marquis of Wude send to the palace?”
Her voice was soft, almost devoid of emotion, as if the answer no longer mattered.