True and False Princess
Before the news of Empress Dowager Wei's return to the court had spread for a few days, Liang Hongyu received news from Qiu Feng in Lin'an City that Princess Roufu had been escorted to the Dali Temple.
Liang Hongyu took out the hairpin given to her by Princess Roufu from the wooden box and hurried to Lin'an City. After all, she had met Princess Roufu once before and they got along quite well, so she couldn't just stand by and watch her die.
When I arrived in Lin'an City, I heard people in the streets and alleys talking about the fake princess.
Zhao Gou issued an edict ordering Imperial Eunuch Jiang Miao and Grand Court Justice Zhou Sanwei to examine the case of Princess Roufu. Empress Dowager Wei often ordered Yang to attend the hearing. The trial went smoothly. Roufu offered no objection to the accusations, even nodding in agreement that she was a fake princess. However, when questioned about her true identity, she refused to answer, saying wearily, "I'm too lazy to think. Whatever you say is acceptable."
Without uncovering the impostor's identity, the case would be difficult to resolve. Jiang Miao and Zhou Sanwei were at a loss when Yang pointed out, "In the past, there was a Ganming Temple in Bianjing. The palace maids who went there to pay their respects reported that there was a nun in the temple who looked very similar to Princess Roufu. Recently, the Empress Dowager was performing a ritual, and I heard that after the emperor's migration south, many nuns from Ganming Temple also came to Lin'an. You two gentlemen, why not find a few of them and see if they recognize this criminal woman?"
Jiang Miao and Zhou Sanwei sent people to search for her, and soon found an old nun from the Ganming Temple in Bianjing. Bringing her to the Dali Temple, the old nun was surprised when she saw Roufu and asked, "Jingshan, why are you here?"
After re-examining the nun, the truth was revealed, and Roufu confessed and quickly signed the agreement. Soon after, a memorial detailing the case was presented to Zhao Gou:
Jingshan, a native of Bianjing, whose surname was Li, became a nun at the Ganming Temple at a young age. During the Jingkang Incident, she was captured by the Jin army and met some of the other captured palace maids. They mistakenly called her Princess Roufu and, upon getting to know her, they shared many stories of their past. In the fourth year of the Jianyan reign, Jingshan narrowly escaped and met Zhang Xier, a maid who had previously served Princess Roufu. Zhang Xier also commented that she bore a strong resemblance to Roufu. The two conspired to defraud her of wealth and power. Zhang Xier taught Jingshan palace etiquette and detailed palace affairs. When they were ready to publicize their plan, they were separated by bandits. Jingshan was abducted by Liu Zhong. Upon her rescue, she was admitted to the palace as a Princess and married to Gao Shirong, the son-in-law of the imperial family. Zhang Xier continued her wanderings, eventually arriving in Lin'an and taking Gao Shirong into her household. Jingshan was afraid that Zhang Xier would reveal her secret, and she was jealous of Zhang Xier's favor from the prince consort, so she beat Zhang Xier to death with a stick to silence her and vent her anger.
Liang Hongyu came to the gate of Dali Temple and struck the drum outside the door. The sound of the drum pierced the sky and attracted a crowd of onlookers.
Seeing this, the guards stepped forward to stop them, shouting, "Who dares to beat the drum to report to the emperor? Get out of here immediately!"
Liang Hongyu, dressed in a formal outfit, looked dusty, but her gaze was piercing. She paused her drumstick and declared, "Your servant, Liang Hongyu, begs to see the presiding judge! There is injustice in the case of Princess Roufu, and I have the following to report!"
Her voice was clear and resonant, carrying the decisiveness forged on the battlefield, which momentarily intimidated the yamen runners. Liang Hongyu's name was well-known throughout Lin'an City. Though a woman, she was a distinguished general with distinguished achievements and held imperial decrees. The yamen runners didn't dare delay and hurried inside to pass on the message.
At that moment, inside the Dali Temple, Jiang Miao and Zhou Sanwei were feeling a sense of relief at the "smooth" resolution of the case when they suddenly heard Liang Hongyu beating the drum to protest her injustice. They were both startled and exchanged glances, each seeing the uneasiness and anxiety in the other's eyes. Yang, who had been standing by Empress Dowager Wei's side, had not yet left, and her expression darkened slightly upon hearing this.
"Please ask her to come in," Zhou Sanwei said after a moment's hesitation. He knew Liang Hongyu's personality. Although Han Shizhong was no longer employed, Liang Hongyu still had influence in the army and the government, so it was not appropriate to openly neglect her.
"General Liang," Jiang Miao spoke first, his tone thick with official rhetoric. "Roufu... oh no, Jingshan impersonating the imperial concubine has been proven to be irrefutable, and the woman has confessed to the crime. So, what's the source of your so-called injustice?"
Liang Hongyu looked directly at Jiang Miao, neither servile nor arrogant. "Sir, is the evidence conclusive? Do the witnesses' words stand up to scrutiny? Since Master Jingshan has already admitted to being an imposter, why did she remain silent when initially questioned about her true identity? It wasn't until that old nun from Ganming Temple showed up that the 'truth' suddenly came to light? Don't you think the connection between these events is too coincidental and smooth?"
She paused, her voice rising slightly. "Besides, the princess has been back south for many years. How many investigations have she undergone? How could none of the old palace officials have recognized her? Why did they bring up the old matter again and quickly finalize it when the empress dowager returned? I am ignorant and feel that this matter is full of doubts and may be a hidden secret! I implore you two gentlemen to investigate thoroughly and not let this pearl be buried in the dust or the royal family be wronged!"
Zhou Sanwei twirled his beard, his face hesitant. "General Liang, this case was personally tried by His Majesty. All evidence and witnesses are recorded, and the process was correct. The woman signed her name voluntarily. What Madam said is mostly speculation, without any concrete evidence."
Yang, standing by, suddenly chuckled softly and spoke in a sinister tone, "General Liang is truly kindhearted. However, this is a royal family affair, and His Majesty and the Queen Mother have already made their wise decisions. Madam, a mere outsider, interfering in palace affairs like this, sounding the alarm and stirring up public opinion, is probably... not in accordance with etiquette. Could it be General Han's intention?"
These words were extremely vicious. Not only did they point out that Liang Hongyu had crossed the line, but they also dragged Han Shizhong into the water, implying that the couple intended to interfere in the royal affairs.
Liang Hongyu suddenly looked at Yang, her eyes sharp as a knife. "Madam, you are too serious! I came here today not to represent anyone, but simply to show my unwillingness to see injustice! The affairs of the royal family are also related to the national system. If there is any doubt about the authenticity of the imperial princess, everyone in the world can ask! Although Hongyu's words may be of little influence, she also understands the word "fairness"! If you turn a blind eye to obvious doubts because you are afraid of "breaking etiquette", that would be a true dereliction of duty!"
She turned to Jiang Miao and Zhou Sanwei again, took out the hairpin that Princess Roufu had given her, and held it in her hands. "This was given to me by Princess Roufu in the past. Although I have only met the princess a few times, judging by her words and actions, her elegance and grace are definitely not something an ordinary nun can fake! This friendship is also proof! Please observe carefully!"
Zhou Sanwei picked up the hairpin presented by Liang Hongyu. The hairpin gleamed with a warm luster under the light of the court. Although the hairpin was made of wood, it was indeed made of an extremely rare golden nanmu. This wood needs to be buried deep underground or in water for more than a thousand years, and undergoes compression and carbonization before it can be formed. Its texture is harder than gold and stone, and it will not rot for thousands of years. Crystals like gold threads will be precipitated in the wood grain. It is a material used exclusively by the royal family in all dynasties to make ceremonial vessels and treasures. It is absolutely not available to the common people and is difficult to imitate.
Her gaze swept across the various expressions on the faces of the people in the hall, finally landing on a minute carving on the end of the hairpin. "Please look, my lords! The carving on the end of this hairpin isn't just any ordinary pattern, but the 'Auspicious Dragon and Phoenix' emblem, a symbol of good fortune, which can only be used by the Emperor, Empress, and legitimate princes and princesses. This craftsmanship is unique to the palace. The brushstrokes are as fine as a hair, yet they are incredibly dynamic and can never be imitated by artisans outside the palace! This is undoubtedly a royal artifact!"
Liang Hongyu continued, "Let me ask you, how could a nun, raised in a temple since childhood, acquire such a royal artifact, a symbol of unique craftsmanship and material? And how could she easily give it away? Isn't this scene, this object, and this heart enough to prove something about her status?"
There was a sudden silence in the courtroom.
Jiang Miao and Zhou Sanwei's expressions turned extremely grim, and they subconsciously looked at Yang. Yang's face was also tense, and she stared at the hairpin with a sinister look, obviously not expecting such evidence to appear.
Jiang Miao and Zhou Sanwei looked at the hairpin, then at the gloomy Yang, and cold sweat broke out on their foreheads. How could they not know the depth of this case? The Empress Dowager's wishes, His Majesty's anger, were not something they could easily defy? Liang Hongyu's appearance had brought her own prestige and the public's suspicions to the courtroom, plunging them into a dilemma.
"General Liang," Zhou Sanwei said with difficulty, "We understand what you mean. However, this case... has already been reported... After His Majesty has reviewed it, I'm afraid it will be difficult to change..."
Liang Hongyu's heart sank, knowing that relying on her own strength, it would be difficult to reverse the situation. However, she did not completely expect to overturn the verdict on the spot.
She swept her gaze over the people in the hall and spoke loudly, "Since this is the case, I earnestly request that you two gentlemen record my words and the evidence I have presented today, attach them to the file, and report them to Your Majesty! Hongyu believes that Your Majesty is wise and will not overlook any doubts! If the final ruling remains the same, Hongyu... has nothing to say!"
With that, she said no more, clasped her fists again, turned, and strode away. Leaving behind her in the courtroom were only her resonant words, the invisible pressure of the hairpin, and an even more eerie and unsettling silence.
After Liang Hongyu left, Zhou Sanwei hurried into the palace to meet Zhao Gou, holding the hairpin that symbolized his royal status.
Zhao Gou sat on the throne, carefully examining the hairpin. It was indeed a royal item. His eyes darkened, and he said to Zhou Sanwei in the hall, "You may leave first."
Zhou Sanwei was about to leave, but then he remembered that the case of the fake princess had not yet been concluded, so he turned around and asked, "Your Majesty, what about this case..."
"Back off!" There was anger in Zhao Gou's voice, his eyes became darker, and his entire figure was shrouded in a layer of gloom.
Zhou Sanwei was immediately startled and broke out in a cold sweat. He quickly said, "Yes... yes."
After leaving the hall, Zhou Sanwei finally breathed a sigh of relief. Liang Hongyu's words at the Dali Temple today implied that suspicions about the princess's identity had only begun after the empress dowager's return. Could this matter involve imperial secrets? He didn't dare to dwell on it any further. Once imperial secrets were involved, nine out of ten people who knew the inside story would suffer a disastrous end. The mysterious death of the imperial daughter a while ago was a warning from the royal family to those curious. If he wanted to save his life, the less he knew, the safer he would be. With this in mind, Zhou Sanwei no longer hesitated, lifted the corner of his official robe, and strode down the stone steps toward the palace's exit.
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