Doctor Chen Shiyu, “master hand of surgery,” came home in the deep of night, full of amazement and doubt, and reeking of corpses, only to be scolded fiercely by his wife for a good long while.
The emperor, disguised, had in the end not gone to the Su Residence. Instead, he returned by carriage to the palace, summoned a few of his most capable brocade-clad guards, and ordered them to investigate separately the Su household guard named Jinghong Zhui, as well as how the Wei clan had come to know of his true identity.
Before retiring, a eunuch from Yongning Palace came to report: the Noble Consort wished to go to Yanfu Temple tomorrow to pray for her ailing mother and begged the emperor’s permission.
After Lan Xi delivered the message, the emperor frowned slightly: “Noble Consort Wei has been leaving the palace frequently of late. Just how ill is Madam Qin?”
Lan Xi replied: “I heard her condition is not very good. The Empress Dowager has also sent people several times and bestowed many medicinal materials. Madam Qin has but this one daughter, and the Noble Consort cares deeply for her mother’s illness. Wishing to pray for her recovery is only natural.”
The emperor nodded. “She is thoughtful enough. Let her be.”
Lan Xi’s eyes rolled, then he added, “Your Majesty already has a few dragon sons and phoenix daughters who are filial to the utmost. Perhaps Noble Consort Wei was moved by their example. As the saying goes, people who aren’t family don’t enter the same household.”
As he helped the emperor take off his outer robe, the emperor looked half-smiling. “Which son or daughter of mine slipped you some benefit to make you speak on their behalf?”
Lan Xi quickly said, “Absolutely not. This servant would never dare, nor has that kind of standing. Your Majesty jests.”
“—What has the Crown Prince been busy with these days?” The emperor, changing into his night robe, asked as though casually.
Lan Xi answered, “This servant stays inside the palace and does not know much of outside affairs. But His Highness the Crown Prince comes to Yangxin Hall to pay respects around the hour of You every day. Only, Your Majesty is always occupied with state business, so it never quite works out.”
The emperor sighed faintly. He had indeed been busy of late. Matters within and without the court were all tangled and deep-rooted; if they could not be smoothly resolved, they were bound to become hidden dangers—if not now, then surely in the future.
“Since you receive him, you cannot know nothing. Speak.”
“Yes. This servant heard from the Crown Prince’s attendants that His Highness is, on one hand, investigating the matter of the relief grain being switched by the Disaster Relief Bureau, suffering quite a bit of wear and tear from the veteran ministers of the Ministry of Revenue. On the other hand, he is working to suppress the slander carved on the stone pillar from spreading in the capital, and has arrested quite a number of charlatans and hooligans who took the chance to stir up trouble. He’s been so busy that he’s grown noticeably thinner. Yet he looks more spirited than before. That air of boyhood has fallen away, and—ah—he really does have a touch of Your Majesty’s bearing back when you were Crown Prince…”
Emperor Jinglong gave a faint snort. “Enough, spare me the flattery. Tomorrow, go and deliver a message from me to the Crown Prince—do your work well, and do not neglect your studies. As for daily greetings, if they can be excused, then excuse them. I don’t need that token display of filial piety.”
Lan Xi’s heart gave a jolt. He answered aloud but in his mind instinctively began weighing the imperial tone: listening to the first half, it seemed like a strict father’s concern; looking at the second half, it carried a touch of mockery… The emperor’s attitude toward the Eastern Palace was now ambiguous. Was it favor, or disfavour? Even this senior eunuch who had long served by the emperor’s side could not be sure.
One thing he could be certain of: if even he could not guess, then the great lords of court would be all the more divided in their interpretations.
—Should he remind his nephew Su not to tie himself dead-fast to the Crown Prince’s ship? Leave himself another option, so that in the future there would be a way out. With such thoughts, Lan Xi withdrew.
Just as he stepped out of Yangxin Hall, he saw Noble Consort Wei alighting from her palanquin with several palace maids and a female companion, moving up the steps. Lan Xi hurried forward with a smile. “This servant greets Noble Consort.”
Noble Consort Wei was always courteous to this senior eunuch by the emperor’s side. She replied, “Since I see you just coming out, the emperor must not yet be resting? Could you announce me? Say that this consort has a matter to present before His Majesty.”
Lan Xi seized the chance to ingratiate himself. “Is Noble Consort here about tomorrow’s visit to Yanfu Temple for prayer? This servant has already reported it to His Majesty, and His Majesty has given his consent. I was just on my way to Yongning Palace to deliver the message to Niang Niang.”
Noble Consort Wei thanked him, then said, “Besides that, there are other things I wish to say. I’ll trouble you.”
So Lan Xi had no choice but to turn back. Entering, he found Emperor Jinglong not yet asleep, propped against the headboard with a quilt around him, reading a thin booklet. From the corner of his eye, Lan Xi saw it was neither a book nor a memorial, but seemed to be a draft on administrative reform, the handwriting looking like Su Yan’s. He dared not look closer, and reported Noble Consort Wei’s request for audience.
The emperor turned a page and said lightly, “Tell her I’ve gone to bed. Have her return to her palace and rest early.”
Lan Xi was inwardly turning this over. Recently the emperor had spent night after night in Yongning Palace—though without visiting her bed, it still gave Noble Consort Wei enormous honor. But ever since the carved-stone-pillar incident, when the emperor had reprimanded the Crown Prince in front of the whole court, then summoned Su Yan into the imperial study for a secret talk, and when the Empress Dowager suddenly appeared, Su Yan somehow ended up hiding under the desk… Recalling that scene, Lan Xi almost laughed. From that day on, the emperor had scarcely gone to Yongning Palace again. Could it be related to that little nephew Su?
With this thought, he bowed and replied, “Yes. This servant will deliver the message.”
Outside in the corridor, Noble Consort Wei waited anxiously, twisting her embroidered handkerchief. Attendant Ruan Hongjiao soothed her. “Don’t worry, Niang Niang. He’ll be out in a moment.” Noble Consort Wei touched the phoenix hairpin at her temple and asked, “The palanquin jolted just now. Do you see if my headdress is crooked?”
Ruan Hongjiao smiled. “Not at all. Everything is perfect, and your makeup is exquisite. When His Majesty sees you, his eyes will surely light up.”
As they spoke, Lan Xi came out. Noble Consort Wei quickly composed herself into a poised bearing. But the eunuch said naturally, “Niang Niang, His Majesty has already retired. Though disturbed, he did not show anger, only said that his mood was not very good. Still, he was mindful of Niang Niang, and instructed that you should go back and rest early.”
Noble Consort Wei was disappointed and could not help asking again, “His Majesty truly will not see me?”
Lan Xi smiled obsequiously. “Perhaps the timing is not right. Why not try again tomorrow afternoon?”
“Timing not right? Of twelve hours in a day, is there not a single one that is right…”
Ruan Hongjiao tugged discreetly at her sleeve. Realizing her slip, Noble Consort Wei quickly forced a smile to Lan Xi. “Then I will go back first. After returning from the temple prayers, I shall seek audience again.”
She forced herself to walk gracefully down the steps, but once inside the palanquin her face collapsed, and she almost immediately burst into tears.
Ruan Hongjiao dabbed her tears carefully, avoiding the makeup, while softly comforting her. Noble Consort Wei sobbed, “Now you see—before him, I am nothing but a joke… All that talk of imperial favor and family glory, all false! In his eyes, I don’t even compare to a stack of memorials! This time I am truly disillusioned… Tell me, are the marriages of common folk also like this?”
Ruan Hongjiao comforted her, “The bond between emperor and consort cannot be compared to that of common husband and wife. There are far more rules to keep. Perhaps Niang Niang could look at it differently—His Majesty devotes himself to diligent governance and cares for the people, which is the blessing of all under heaven. By attending to His Majesty’s well-being as a consort, is that not also a great merit toward the realm?”
Noble Consort Wei, with tears in her eyes, let out a cold laugh: “They say the inner palace must not meddle in politics—then what does the state have to do with me? I am a woman. What I seek is a bond of deep affection between husband and wife. I only want a husband who loves me and stays by my side.”
If you truly only sought that, why did you ever enter the palace? You should have found a man of equal status and married him, to live the ordinary life of a small household. Knowing full well that the harem is full of consorts, that the emperor could not possibly dote on one alone, you entered with the hope of securing favor for your family’s glory. Now, having lost favor, you complain that you cannot have it both ways—why put yourself through this? Ruan Hongjiao thought this inwardly, but on her face showed sympathy and understanding.
Noble Consort Wei, sharp and sensitive, demanded, “What look is that? Pitying me? I am the mother of the realm—do I need the pity of a woman who once belonged to the pleasure quarters?!”
Ruan Hongjiao knew that anything she said now would be wrong—for Noble Consort Wei had just been given the cold shoulder, could not bear the loss of face, and needed someone to vent on.
She reacted quickly, shifting to a matter her mistress cared about to divert her attention: “As for tomorrow’s trip to Yanfu Temple, everything has been arranged exactly as Niang Niang instructed.”
Sure enough, Noble Consort Wei’s eyes lit up. She wiped her tears and asked, “He is willing to see me?”
Ruan Hongjiao replied, “More than willing. The beads and scripture Niang Niang sent last time—he accepted them. It seems Xiang Wang does have some intention.”
In truth, when she had gone to the Marquis’s residence to deliver Noble Consort Wei’s invitation, Mister He had not shown eagerness. Rather, a trace of amusement played at his lips. He asked no questions, only pressed his palms together calmly and said: “I shall follow Niang Niang’s will.”
Having long been immersed in the pleasure quarters, Ruan Hongjiao could easily distinguish whether a man’s attitude toward a woman was true affection or mere playacting. Mister He’s response left her unsettled, as though a storm was looming on the horizon. But she did not share this feeling with Noble Consort Wei—not only because their positions were opposed, but even if she did warn her, the consort would never listen.
Noble Consort Wei took a deep breath, her radiant charm returning to her face. “If you can do the first day of the month, then I can do the fifteenth!” She reached up, pulled out the imperial phoenix hairpin at her temple, and tossed it onto her skirt—she no longer cared whether it was crooked or not.
Ruan Hongjiao, a little fearful, said: “This humble woman’s lowly life will from now on depend entirely on Niang Niang’s protection.”
Noble Consort Wei answered, “What is there to fear? Such things have happened throughout history. As long as we are careful and secretive, and you keep your mouth tightly shut, it will not cost you your life.”
Ruan Hongjiao thanked her for the grace, while inwardly weighing whether or not she should tell Lord Su about this secret meeting.
—
Su Yan, after a heavy bout of drunkenness, awoke with a throbbing headache to find the sky outside completely dark.
The quilt carried the scent of Jinghong Zhui, like freshly cut grass in summer. He could not help inhaling deeply, then suddenly kicked the quilt aside.
Slipping into his shoes, without even putting on an outer robe, he stumbled dizzily to the door, opening it as he called out: “Xiaobei! Xiaojing!”
Just then, Su Xiaojing walked by carrying a copper basin full of hot water. Seeing him, he said, “My lord, you’re awake. Perfect timing—wash your face, then eat. You haven’t had a bite all day.”
Freshly sobered from drink, Su Yan had no appetite at all. Looking around, he asked, “Where are the two of them?”
Xiaojing held back a laugh and countered, “Which two?”
Su Yan glared at him. “Trying to toy with me? Don’t think I’ve forgotten everything just because I was drunk. Where are they?”
But Xiaojing, as if possessed, kept circling him with nonsense: “What people?”
Su Yan, furious, flung the damp face cloth back into the basin. “Who else but Shen Qi and Yu Wang!”
Xiaojing clapped his hands, laughing. “Haha! Lord Shen won!”
Su Yan froze. “Won what?”
Xiaojing explained, “The two of them made a bet—when you woke, whose name would you mention first. Lord Shen bet on himself.” He didn’t dare add that he too had joined in, collecting red packets from both sides.
Su Yan: “…”
Su Yan: “How childish! Huh? Are they out of their minds? The two of them are even crazier than a drunk! Tell them both to get lost!”
But instead of leaving, the two childish men hurried in at the noise, and not only refused to go but held him down and made him eat a bowl of millet porridge to settle his stomach.
After supper, Su Yan slumped into a round-backed chair, rubbing his temples. “What was the wager? I’ll confiscate it.”
Shen Qi stretched out his hand toward Yu Wang. Yu Wang ignored him, pulling a deed from his breast and handing it directly to Su Yan. It was the title deed to a neighboring courtyard he had purchased in order to guard against the Zhenkong Sect’s plots and protect Su Yan at close range.
Su Yan, startled that the stakes were so high, quickly said, “I was only joking. Don’t make trouble. Whoever owns it, let it remain so.”
Yu Wang sneered, stuffing the deed into his arms. “Take it. When this matter is over, knock down the walls between the two courtyards and expand your estate. Nowhere in the capital is there a fourth-rank official who lives in such cramped quarters. If you don’t expand, how will those lower-ranked officials with larger mansions feel?”
Su Yan knew well that standing out in officialdom was no good. Those who knew him called him incorruptible; those who didn’t accused him of chasing fame.
He said somewhat awkwardly, “Then consider it that I’ve bought it on credit. I’ll repay Your Highness in installments at market price.”
Yu Wang shook his head with a laugh. “A bet is a bet. Qinghe wants to tarnish my reputation as a gambler? Impossible.”
Shen Qi added, “He lost it to me. It’s no longer his. If you want to borrow it, you should borrow it from me.”
Su Yan couldn’t help but laugh. “I never knew—so Qilang is this shameless. Fine then, I’ll pay half to each of you. That should work, yes?”
So long as it drove Yu Wang—the uninvited neighbor—away from Su Mansion, keeping him from using his proximity to constantly think of Su Yan, Shen Qi would shamelessly go along with it.
As for whether Yu Wang was using this to gain favor and goodwill—such schemes only worked if Qinghe himself accepted them. Given Yu Wang’s long record of misdeeds, Shen Qi believed that even if Su Yan’s relationship with him had warmed somewhat, he could never be entirely free of suspicion in his heart.
Outside, the clappers struck the fourth watch. Su Yan rose and said, “I must attend morning court.”
Yu Wang said, “I too must go to morning court today.”
Shen Qi, thinking the Wei family must still have moves left, also wanted to go. But Su Yan laughed. “Don’t worry. Stay home and tend your wounds. If His Majesty sees you running about after barely half a month of recovery, he might think your grave injury was faked. What if he strips you of your merit then?”
Shen Qi didn’t care about merit. But in the end, Su Yan still persuaded him with the reason of “keeping you as backup support at the rear.”
Yu Wang left first to return to his manor and change into court dress. Su Yan walked to the hall entrance, then turned back and stretched out his hand toward Shen Qi: “Give me the sword.”
Shen Qi raised his brows, unbuckled the Xiuchun blade from his waist, and handed it over.
“Don’t play dumb. I meant Ah Zhui’s sword, not your saber,” Su Yan said.
Keep it so you can moon over him by looking at it? Shen Qi was clearly displeased, but Su Yan insisted. He had no choice but to take out the longsword he’d hidden away and said sourly, “You don’t even know how to use a sword. What are you taking it back for, to cuddle while you sleep?”
Su Yan’s face was dark as he tapped the scabbard: “At the very least, I spent three hundred gold on it. I’ll keep it as household reserves. If one day silver runs short, I’ll just resell it.”
Shen Qi’s face brightened: “I know plenty of brokers. I’ll go have it recorded with them. If any suitable buyers ask, they can contact you directly.”
“…I said ‘if one day’!” Hugging the sword to his chest, Su Yan left with a cold face, no one knowing who he was really angry with.
Back in his bedroom, he dragged out a wooden chest from under the bed. Opening the lid, he placed the longsword “Oath” inside. He stared at the lid for a while in a daze, then braced himself and patted his face: If fate decrees, it will be; if not, don’t force it. What’s more, there were still so many serious and urgent matters at hand—personal feelings must be put aside for now.
Pushing the chest back, Su Yan changed into his court uniform and left the room without looking back.
–
That morning at Fengtian Gate court assembly, the atmosphere seemed unusually stern. Even the few officials who normally whispered and gossiped held their tongues. Almost half the court’s attention was fixed on Dali Temple Shaoqing, Su Yan, who had turned impeachments into a running drama.
Still in his censor’s robes, holding his ivory tablet, Su Yan stood calmly in the ranks of the Censorate, waiting for the assembly to begin.
He ignored all the glances cast his way—including the resentful, venomous looks from Wei Yan and Wei Que.
Today the Grand Secretaries all came in full. Even Grand Chancellor Li Chengfeng, though ill, attended and was given a seat by the emperor. From time to time he covered his mouth with a handkerchief to cough.
Su Yan knew well: the many ministers present, and the even greater number of officials without rank high enough to attend, were not just spectators to this play. They were also allies or betrayers of certain people or factions, driven either by greed or by ideals. At any moment they could step onto the stage themselves, whether openly or in secret.
Though the lights seemed to shine on him at center stage, in truth the entire bureaucratic machine and its tangled officials—and above all, the emperor who steered the will of the state—were the true protagonists of this drama.
Emperor Jinglong ascended the throne. After all officials performed the three kneelings and nine prostrations, the assembly began.
By convention, matters should first be presented by the cabinet ministers and the heads of the Six Ministries. But today, from ruler to subject, everyone knew the impeachment battle between Su Yan and the Wei clan was far from over. Thus, right at the start, someone petitioned the emperor to limit the time allowed for each official’s speech.
“State affairs are vast and complex, countless matters require deliberation and decision. If certain officials are allowed to ramble endlessly, with only their voice from start to finish, when will other business be handled? Besides, who can’t speak at length? If everyone follows this fashion, what will court assemblies become?”
The argument was sound, and many ministers voiced support. Since the petitioner was a Geishizhong whose duty included maintaining order in court, the emperor could only nod assent, decreeing that henceforth all submissions and replies must be concise.
“They’re aiming at you, Lord Su,” a fellow censor whispered a reminder.
Su Yan only smiled and said nothing.
Another censor leaned over and said, “No matter. Lord Su, speak as you please. I had four big steamed buns before coming, enough to hold me for quite a while.”
Looking at the belly he could barely restrain, Su Yan blinked sheepishly. “Don’t worry. Today’s court won’t run too long.”
No sooner had he spoken than Marquis Changning, Wei Que, stepped forward ahead of all others. Bowing toward the throne, he said: “Your Majesty’s decree is most wise, restraining those who waste words and deliberately delay. Yesterday this minister suffered from just that—what I had to say, I never got the chance, and the assembly was dismissed. May Your Majesty allow me to speak first today, as a sign of fairness and justice.”
Seeing Su Yan remain calm, Emperor Jinglong said, “Granted.”
From his opening lines, Su Yan knew it—Wei Que was once again impeaching him for harboring a criminal, keeping private soldiers, colluding with heretical cults, and fabricating merit. He even claimed that yesterday near the Shuntian Prefecture yamen, remnants of that sect had fought among themselves and escaped in the end from the Imperial Guard’s encirclement—seen with their own eyes by yamen runners and common folk.
Su Yan countered: “What yamen runners and commoners saw was only troops surrounding bandits. As for who was who, how could they tell? Besides, who is foe and who is ally—the commander of the Imperial Guard leading the raid knows best. For the marquis to speak so categorically, do you perhaps have Shen Tongzhi’s testimony as your basis?”
Everyone knew of Su Yan’s close ties with Shen Qi. To seek Shen Qi as witness? Wei Que wouldn’t even dare set foot in the Northern Surveillance Bureau, let alone fetch his testimony.
Because Jinghong Zhui had escaped, the original plan to convict Su Yan by accusing him of harboring a demonic renegade had collapsed. The Wei clan had been forced to hastily revise their impeachment overnight, weakening the evidence, leaving them stuck in this awkward position.
“Lord Su harboring a criminal is an undeniable fact,” Wei Que still clung to Jinghong Zhui’s identity.
Since the man had already fled, Su Yan shifted his strategy. He wouldn’t waste effort exonerating Jinghong Zhui now, lest he fall into their tempo. Instead, he simply stated that when he had hired Jinghong Zhui, he hadn’t known the man’s true identity—that was the truth.
And in this past year, the man had shown no misconduct, and had even contributed to solving many cases for the authorities. As to whether he was loyal or treacherous, only once he was captured could judgment be made. To throw dirty water on him, Su Qinghe, in ignorance of the facts—wasn’t that framing him?
“That Hidden Sword Sect remnant is your personal guard. To say you knew nothing of his identity—who would believe it?” Marquis Xianan, Wei Yan, couldn’t hold back from rebuking. “To quibble before His Majesty himself, Su Yan—that is the crime of deceiving the emperor!”
Su Yan instinctively glanced at Emperor Jinglong on the throne. Clearly, he’d had opportunities before to truthfully report Jinghong Zhui’s identity, yet out of various considerations, he had concealed it from His Majesty. On that point, he did feel a little guilty.
Emperor Jinglong’s expression was calm and unruffled, just as he had once said: “neither storm nor fair weather.”
Only then did Su Yan quietly exhale and turn his gaze toward Yu Wang, who stood among the imperial clan. Since he was the only adult prince remaining in the capital, his place was at the front of that cluster of dukes and marquises, normally with arms folded, acting like some honorary elder who meddled in nothing.
But now that “honorary elder” had been innocently dragged into the water. Su Yan cupped his hands toward him and said: “Your Highness Yu Wang, Marquis Xianan has implied that you too are guilty of deceiving the emperor. Do you have anything to say to that?”
“Me? Deceiving the emperor?” Yu Wang gave a mocking laugh, pointing at himself before turning his gaze on Wei Yan. “Marquis Xianan, is that what you mean?”
Wei Yan flew into a rage. “Su Twelve, are you a scholar or a street thug! To twist my words and bite at random under my name—this is plainly making sport of His Majesty, making sport of the entire court!”
Su Yan said sternly: “What did I say wrong? It was Marquis himself who declared that taking in a wanted criminal of unknown identity as one’s guard is collusion with bandits and deceiving the emperor. Isn’t that precisely implying that His Highness Yu Wang, in employing the Hidden Sword Sect remnant Fuyin as his palace guard, is guilty of the very same crimes?”
Wei Yan was stunned. He hadn’t thought at all of Yu Wang, and stammered: “That’s different, His Highness… His Highness did not know the man’s identity…”
“Why is it that what His Highness does not know, I must know? Are you saying I, Su Qinghe, am sharper-eyed and more discerning than His Highness Yu Wang—or that His Highness is more foolish and blind than I am?” Su Yan pressed.
Wei Yan: “…” Those two options are the same, aren’t they? Yu Wang is His Majesty’s own brother, the very definition of a h*ll-raising prince—this man is deliberately pushing me into enmity!
Su Yan bore down relentlessly: “Marquis Wei, one should not live by such double standards. Unless you impeach both me and His Highness Yu Wang today, only then will I believe you act purely out of public duty. Otherwise, this is nothing but trumped-up charges, deliberate framing, revenge for my exposing the Wei clan’s crimes!”
Yu Wang cooperated fully, giving Wei Yan a cold sneer: “If Marquis Xianan feels this Wangye has done wrong, then by all means, openly submit a memorial of impeachment. Why bother with these sly insinuations?”
Wei Yan hastened to bow: “This old minister would never dare, Your Highness, may you see clearly!”
Su Yan went on: “I have heard that the Wei household is crowded with retainers, some of whom came over from Qingzhou. Qingzhou fell years ago and is now under Tatar occupation. Can the Marquis guarantee that not a single one of those retainers is a Tatar spy? I have heard that spies have indeed infiltrated the Marquis’s retainers. Why not do this: submit a list of all Qingzhou-born retainers to the Dali Temple, so they can investigate each one. That way, your words are verified, and it also ensures your own safety. What does Marquis think?”
Censors have the right to submit memorials based on reports. For him, as a censor, to make such a request was not entirely unreasonable.
Wei Yan’s face changed. Indeed, many of his advisers had come from Qingzhou—Mr. He was the one he valued most. For Su Yan to pierce so directly—had he already discovered something?
“Marquis’s expression seems to say he does not trust the Dali Temple!” Su Yan turned and cupped his hands toward Dali Temple Chief Officer Guan Pan. “Under Lord Guan’s management, the court is strict with the law and has solved many major cases. Could it be Marquis holds another opinion?”
Guan Pan, always careful to keep himself apart, dreaded nothing more than being dragged into court battles. At that moment, he simply stared at his nose, his nose at his heart, like a wooden puppet.
Su Yan hadn’t expected his cooperation anyway. He turned instead to the Minister of Justice, Wang Tihui: “Perhaps Marquis trusts the Ministry of Justice more. What does the Minister think?”
Wang Tihui did not appreciate Su Yan’s attempt to fish in troubled waters, but out of public duty still said: “It depends on His Majesty’s will. The Ministry of Justice has a duty it cannot shirk.”
Normally, in major cases, all three judicial offices would conduct a joint trial, and the Censorate also had authority to participate in judgment. The Left and Right Censors were both formidable debaters, though until now Jia Gongji had overshadowed them. With Jia dismissed, their presence suddenly loomed larger—one eager to join the fray, the other having taken favors from the Wei clan and trying hard to soften things.
Thus the censors split more openly into two factions: one led by the Right Chief Censor, intent on inspection and discipline—the same man who had befriended Su Yan, Censor Chu Qiu, veteran of the public trial, as his strong arm.
The other faction was led by the Left Chief Censor, secretly aligned with the Wei clan. Though his supporters were fewer, his rank was slightly higher, and in court, a higher rank could crush a lower one.
The censors then turned on each other—petitioning, refuting—once again throwing the assembly into chaos. The Imperial Guards had to bang their golden-mace shafts against the floor to suppress the roar.
Su Yan spread his hands innocently toward Emperor Jinglong, signaling that it wasn’t his doing—they were quarreling on their own.
The emperor shot him a warning look, but his eyes carried a trace of amusement. He gave a soft cough, and the hall instantly fell silent.
“Su Yan and Yu Wang, in employing a wanted criminal as a guard, did so unknowingly—there is no guilt in ignorance. As for Marquis Xianan and Marquis Fengan, as pillars of the state, their households are not to be searched without conclusive proof. This matter need not be brought up again on either side.”
The emperor’s words seemed even-handed, but Su Yan knew full well—the balance tilted toward him. After all, he had lived with Jinghong Zhui for a year; if the Wei clan truly wished, they could dig up plenty of evidence. Whereas his accusation of spies among the Wei retainers was not really a “report,” more a conjecture.
He suspected that key figures of the Seven Kill Camp and the Void Sect were hiding among those retainers, but he still had no hard evidence.
In effect, the emperor had traded his “conjecture memorial” for the Wei clan’s substantive accusation. And he had even used the opportunity to drag Yu Wang in for cover, providing him with protection.
Su Yan felt a surge of gratitude and bowed: “This minister obeys.”
Wei Yan and Wei Que—what else could they do? They too could only echo: “This minister obeys.”
But Su Yan then picked up the thread again: “However, Your Majesty, this minister’s report from yesterday remains unfinished. I had just reached the tenth crime of the Wei clan. To do a thing, one must see it through. Why not allow this minister to finish the remaining two charges?”
——Impeach again?! Wei Yan and Wei Que only wished they could rush over and tear him apart.
Facing the unfriendly stares of the entire hall (full of courtiers who had once gone hungry because of him), Su Yan gave a dry laugh: “Very quickly! Today it will be very quick. I guarantee within two ke I’ll finish, I won’t go against His Majesty’s newly given decree.”
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