Chapter 142 Removal from the Register If you're hoping to leave this place of pleasure, I have a way...

"The Jiang family, the lineage of Jiang Wende, has been stripped of its hereditary privileges, and its descendants for three generations are barred from holding official positions."

Xie Yuan finally stripped the Jiang family of their hereditary privileges; this was his way of giving Xie Wenjun his due.

Only one branch of the family was implicated; the entire Chiang family was not implicated.

Below the steps, Jiang Wende was escorted to the Ministry of Justice prison.

The officials filed out, each holding their official tablets, and soon some people noticed something was amiss.

At this hour, there would usually be only a few squads of imperial guards on both sides of the palace road. But today was different. There were guards every three steps and sentries every five steps, with their hands on the hilts of their swords, standing by the roadside.

"This is?"

Liao An, the Vice Minister of Agriculture, was about to pull Tan Jin aside to say something when he caught a glimpse of the Meridian Gate. It was usually a time when the Imperial Guards changed shifts, but now there were two rows of black-armored cavalrymen, their horses surging about.

These imperial guards were dressed as leopard riders from the Imperial Guard, who usually only guarded the deepest parts of the palace.

Liao An stopped abruptly, but was bumped by someone behind him and stumbled. When he looked up, he found that even at the foot of the Zhaode Gate palace wall, where there were usually only two sentry posts, there were two more squads of imperial guards carrying swords.

The wind blew through the palace, carrying a slight chill of early summer. Liao An touched the back of his neck and found it damp and sticky.

The sudden increase in palace guards was never without reason.

The ministers fell silent, pursed their lips, lowered their heads, and hurried out of the palace.

Xie Wenjun stepped through the Meridian Gate and saw Jiang Andong standing to the side of the gate. He stood outside the Meridian Gate with his hand on the sword at his waist, lacking the usual respectful demeanor of a greeter; it was clear that he had deliberately waited there for someone.

Seeing Xie Wenjun approach, Jiang Andong's expression subtly suggested he wanted to plead for her, but in the end he only cupped his hands in a military salute.

"The Eldest Princess."

His tone was calm, but the deep concentration in his eyes was unmistakable.

Xie Wenjun asked, "Is the Grand Commander waiting here to deliver an imperial decree for the Emperor, or is there something else?"

Neither.

"Your Highness, this humble general is on duty here."

After Xie Wenjun's carriage set off, the officials who had finished their court session passed through the Meridian Gate one after another and headed out of the palace. Han Song was walking at the back of the crowd, looking down and straightening the hem of his court robes that had been ruffled by the wind, when he heard a cold rustling sound of armor catching up with him.

Jiang Andong stared intently as he approached, and the surrounding Imperial Guards were forced back a few steps by his hostile aura.

"Han Sheren, please wait."

Han Song composed himself, cupped his hands in a respectful bow, and asked, "What instructions does the Commander-in-Chief have for me?"

Jiang Andong stepped forward, his shadow almost completely enveloping Han Song. "Just now before the Emperor, Han, the Imperial Secretary, petitioned to abolish the hereditary privileges of my Jiang family, his words were very assertive. I would like to ask, what exactly did my uncle's family do to offend you, Imperial Secretary, that you would be so ruthless as to exterminate them?"

The phrase "exterminate them all" was emphasized heavily.

Han Song spoke calmly and unhurriedly, saying, "You flatter me, Commander-in-Chief. What I have said is all in accordance with the laws and regulations of the court and has nothing to do with personal grudges."

Jiang Andong stared intently at him, as if trying to find some pretense in his seemingly innocent expression. But in the end, he only let out a heavy snort.

As soon as Chen Luan walked through the Meridian Gate passageway, he saw Jiang Andong, clearly still angry, turn and leave.

Han Song straightened his official hat, looked up and saw Chen Luan walking towards him, bowed, and said, "Lord Marquis."

Chen Luan said, "When did you become so reckless?"

He was referring to Han Song's memorial in the palace requesting the abolition of hereditary privilege by noble families.

Han Song looked up at the palace walls. “The abuses of family connections have been long-standing. Incompetent members of aristocratic families occupy high positions. As long as the family connections of aristocratic families continue, even talented students from poor families will only be subject to others and will never have a chance to rise above their circumstances.”

"Foolish," Chen Luan said, "What is a powerful family? Take the Jiang family for example. They are a large and deeply rooted family, with generations of connections. Half of the officials in the court have kinship or old friendships with them. How can you fight against them alone? If I had known you would act without thinking, I shouldn't have written to you to tell you that the court has opened the Sifang Pavilion!"

Chen Luan stepped forward, grabbed Han Song's court robes, and pulled him aside. "Take my advice. Submit your resignation now, and I might save your life."

Han Song raised his hand and dusted off the dust on his clothes with a calm and composed gesture, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

Chen Luan: "You can still laugh!"

"If I back down now, they'll think everyone in the world is afraid of me. I want them to know that there are plenty of people in this world who dare to risk their lives, and I'm going to fight them to the bitter end!"

Han Song pushed Chen Luan's hand away.

"It's just death. I should have been dead back in the year of the imperial examination cheating scandal."

Han Song's figure, walking against the light onto the Jinshui Bridge, appeared somewhat tired in Chen Luan's eyes. He paused at the highest point of the outer Jinshui Bridge, turned his face slightly to the side, but did not look back. He simply tightened his sleeves and continued walking forward.

Outside Chengtian Gate, the sound of horses' hooves neighed loudly. The horse swept past Han Song, and Yan Feng dismounted, carrying a booklet with a yellow silk cover, and ran quickly toward Chongzheng Hall.

As soon as the newly drafted lists of imperial concubines from various local government offices were sent to the palace, an identical list was already delivered to the desk of the Princess's residence.

The positions of the three imperial concubines are currently vacant. While it may seem like a matter of selecting a few women from the court to enter the palace, the imperial concubine positions have always been tied to the turmoil of the previous dynasty.

Among the civil officials and military generals, there were also the intricate web of connections among the imperial family, relatives of the empress, and local gentry. If one side was favored too much, that side would rise in power; if one side was neglected, it would inevitably invite accusations of favoritism. The selection of whom to choose or exclude was never based on appearance or talent, but rather on whether each move would bring about a greater balance of power on the board.

Xie Wenjun glanced through the list of concubines, already having a clear idea of ​​what to expect, so there was no need for her to look at it in detail.

Among the civil officials, the daughters of Right Chancellor Cheng Lingdian and the eligible daughters of the six ministers are included; among the military generals, the Heng family and the Yue family must be won over, as well as Feng Jiakun, a former subordinate of Xie Yuan when he took up his fief in Linxia, ​​who is now stationed east of the Tianqian River.

As expected, the Feng family's daughter was also on the list.

"Your Highness, Miss Qin's household registration certificate."

Rong Jun presented Li Yujing's household registration document, which he had obtained from Yong'an Prefecture, onto Xie Wenjun's desk. A sheet of Xuan paper and a yellow book, just two thin pages—the document drafted by the Prefect of Yong'an Prefecture for her removal from the household registration.

Xie Wenjun said, "Keep it for now."

Upon hearing this, the woman folded the document and put it into a brocade box.

Xie Wenjun planned that once the matter in the Southern Court was settled, he would hand over the deregistration document to Li Yujing and then change the household registration to that of an ordinary citizen, so that she could find a place to go, whether she got married and had children or found another way home. In the end, she would be free from this paper shackle and become a free person again.

She checked the duty roster of the Southern Office and found that Gao Guan was off duty today.

Yifeng Pavilion then arranged a dance hall for the courtesan.

As night fell, the bright lights of the multi-story pavilions of Yifeng Pavilion reflected on the silk curtains on the stage, like a dazzling and extravagant net that ensnared the frivolous guests.

Amidst the clinking of glasses and the rich aroma of cosmetics, the atmosphere was vibrant and lively.

Whispers and soft laughter mingled with the sounds of string and wind instruments, floating and colliding within the private rooms behind the carved wooden doors and windows, creating a dizzying atmosphere.

Gao Guan sat alone in a corner by the railing on the second floor. He had changed out of the armor of the Southern Commander and was only wearing ordinary civilian clothes, without even a sword.

The dance hall hadn't even opened yet, but half a jug of wine had already been drunk.

The clamor suddenly ceased. The sound of string and wind instruments abruptly rose, becoming passionate and soaring. In the center of the stage, a beam of light quickly converged, fixing its light on that pure white surface.

Li Yujing wore no heavy makeup, only a light touch of powder, and a plain white gauze dress that flowed to the ground. Her hair was adorned with only a solitary white jade hairpin. She was barefoot, with a string of small silver bells tied to her slender ankles, each step perfectly timed.

Amidst the dazzling lights, Gao Guan gazed at the beautiful figure on the stage.

She was a very dignified person, and this was the first time she had ever appeared barefoot and dressed in plain clothes in front of a room full of onlookers.

"When a woman grows old and loses her beauty, if she doesn't put on a good show on the dance floor, the top courtesan of Yifeng Pavilion will have to be replaced by a new one."

People were talking on the railing of the attic.

The music suddenly changed; it was "Breaking the Enemy's Formation Music".

Li Yujing spun, bent over, and raised her arms, her white gauze billowing like a cold blade piercing the air. It was no ordinary dance; it was as if a blood-soaked crane was spreading its wings for the last time in a desperate situation.

The guests were mesmerized, and Gao Guan felt a tightness in his throat and his knuckles unconsciously gripped the cup tightly.

He saw through her struggles and her forced smiles.

The dance is about to end, but its lingering charm remains.

A wealthy merchant, dressed in fine silks and reeking of alcohol, staggered to his feet, holding a wine glass, and with a lewd grin, pounced on Li Yujing, who was about to leave.

The greasy hand was about to touch Li Yujing's pale shoulder.

Gao Guan suddenly stood up, knocking over the chair behind him. His eyes flashed with murderous intent, and he stepped over the railing, about to leap straight down from the second floor.

"stop!"

The crowd parted, and Sheng Yu'an walked slowly, surrounded by his entourage.

The wealthy merchant's hand froze in mid-air. Upon seeing who it was, he sobered up considerably and forced a fawning smile onto his face: "Lord Sheng... Lord Sheng, I was blind to your greatness. Please, please!"

He hurriedly withdrew his hand and bowed as he stepped back.

Li Yujing swayed in surprise, then lowered her eyelashes and did not look at Sheng Yu'an. Instead, she gave him a standard curtsy and said, "Thank you for saving me, sir."

Her expression was indifferent, as if the person who had saved her from such a frivolous act was merely a complete stranger.

"Um."

He simply responded softly, then turned away from her and towards the wealthy merchant, saying, "A beautiful woman is best admired from afar; to touch her would be improper."

His words were polite and his demeanor was elegant.

Li Yujing's face showed only a pale, almost numb submission.

Gao Guan stood frozen in the shadows on the second floor.

Ten years of drinking ice, yet her blood still burns cold? Her blood must have long since cooled down amidst the rouge and powder of this Yifeng Pavilion.

Gao Guan walked straight to the center of the arena. "Lord Sheng."

"Commander Gao, do you also have the pleasure of watching a dance today?"

Gao Guan gave him a cold look, "Since you have wronged her, why didn't you help her get rid of her status? Why did you stand by and watch her be abused? Why didn't you give her a way to live?"

After being asked three questions in a row, the polite smile on Sheng Yu'an's face slowly froze and faded.

Gao Guan seemed to have a ball of fire stuck in his throat.

He didn't even blink when he broke off the engagement, yet he still frequented her dressing room late at night, as if visiting a valuable old object.

This was beneath her.

"Let me speak for you. You're worried that if Miss Qin is the descendant of a disgraced official, and you remove her from the official register, tomorrow's impeachment memorials will flood the Central Secretariat and hinder your Sheng family."

Sheng Yu'an was first surprised, then a hint of anger and displeasure rose in her eyes. "Commander Gao, please be careful with your words."

Do you admit it or not?

Sheng Yu'an said, "This is my fate, what can I do?"

Li Yujing raised her head, and something shattered completely in her eyes, which had been silent for many years.

Her eyes were empty and lifeless.

In that instant, all the blood in Gao Guan's body rushed to his head. He didn't care about official rank, consequences, or future prospects anymore, and punched Sheng Yu'an in the face.

A dull, teeth-grinding "plop" sound!

Before Sheng Yu'an could react, everything went black, and he was knocked to the ground, stunned by Gao Guan's attack.

The impact knocked over a low table laden with wine cups and fruit, breaking a thin, white jade wine cup.

The onlookers at Yifeng Pavilion were in an uproar.

Sheng Yu'an's attendants rushed forward to help him up, their movements chaotic and disorganized. The steward of Yifeng Pavilion turned ashen-faced, his lips trembling as he didn't know what to do.

"My lord! My lord, how are you?"

Gao Guan stood in the center of the arena, maintaining his fist-pumping posture, his chest heaving violently. Sheng Yu'an's right eye socket visibly darkened and turned bluish-black.

Sheng Yu'an covered her eyes: "You've rebelled! Gao Guan, I'm going to impeach you!"

"Go ahead and participate."

Amid the chaos, only Li Yujing remained motionless in place.

Sheng Yu'an was escorted to a private room to have her medicine applied, while Gao Guan remained standing in the middle. The onlookers exchanged bewildered glances, none daring to speak.

Then, Li Yujing slowly, very slowly, lowered her head.

Slowly, she bent down and picked up the broken pieces of the white jade wine cup, one by one.

With each piece she picked up, her shoulders trembled uncontrollably, as if she were piecing together her shattered past, a past that could never be pieced back together.

All eyes in the room, whether in shock, pity, or curiosity, were focused on her.

Gao Guan's heart clenched. He stepped forward, grabbed her hand, and tried to pull her away from the mess.

Li Yujing bowed to him.

Those eyes, once brimming with the misty rain of Yongdu, were now empty and unfathomable. There were no tears, no hatred, not even a trace of the tremor of relief after surviving a catastrophe.

Li Yujing's lips moved slightly, her voice very soft, "Why should Commander Gao offend the Sheng family for someone like me?"

Gao Guan sighed, "You're very good. He brought it on himself."

Li Yujing said, "I'm sorry to have startled you, sir. This is not the place to talk. Please come to the Hundred Flowers Room. I have some newly brewed Hundred Flowers Wine there to apologize to you."

He was initially delighted to receive her invitation, but then felt a pang of pain. He had the thought of sharing a drink with her, but not in this situation, much less in this place.

Li Yujing stopped looking at him, turned her back, and walked barefoot backstage step by step. The silver bell tied to her ankle was still jingling.

Gao Guan followed.

The familiar, cool fragrance of lotus blossoms permeated the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, mixed with a faint hint of the bitterness of herbs.

Gao Guan stood frozen outside the door, hesitant to step across the threshold. The servants of Yifeng Pavilion lit a few more lamps, making the room brighter, and he then awkwardly found a round stool to sit on.

Li Yujing picked up a plain porcelain wine pot and then took two wine cups of the same material.

The wine was poured into the glass, and Li Yujing handed the first glass to Gao Guan.

Gao Guan stood up and took the wine from her with both hands, "Miss Li."

Li Yujing's hand trembled, and some wine spilled from her glass. Having her identity exposed, she actually felt somewhat embarrassed.

She raised her glass and said, "Many thanks to Commander Gao for saving my dignity in front of everyone today." She then tilted her head back and drank it all in one gulp.

Gao Guan also drank.

After finishing his drink, he snatched the wine pot from Li Yujing's hand and poured it down his throat. The alcohol made him a little dizzy, and he asked, "Miss Li, have you thought about your future path? Do you wish to live an ordinary life?"

Li Yujing said, "Even if I wanted to, I couldn't."

Gao Guan scoffed, "A new emperor brings a new court. The events of the Xuan Yuan era are long gone. If you're willing to put your mind to it, what's so difficult about that?"

Li Yujing said, "Sheng Yu'an couldn't make the decision about removing me from the household registration, so I don't blame him."

Gao Guan choked on his drink; he had never considered this possibility.

Sheng Yu'an is a high-ranking official of the third rank in the current court. If he wanted to remove someone from their lowly status, even if there were obstacles, how could it have taken more than ten years to succeed? Unless there is another reason.

"My fate is in the hands of the eldest princess."

"I have given my life to ensure the safety of my mother and sisters. I ask for nothing more. So, don't blame him. With his protection, my life here will be better. Commander Gao doesn't need to do anything more for me."

Gao Guan suddenly stood up. "If you're hoping to leave this place of pleasure, I'll figure out a way."

Author's note: Thank you for reading this far!