Chapter 145: The criminal Yue Yining was apprehended and imprisoned in the Tai prison to await his fate...
That evening, Yue Yining and Zhou Congyi discussed things for a long time. After seeing Zhou Congyi off, Yue Yining stayed at the table for a long time, and the candles were not extinguished until late at night.
The next day, as dawn broke through the clouds, Fu Yao went out for morning exercise with her team. On the way, she took the letter that Yue Yining had written the night before and had the chief eunuch deliver it to Wei Yihua in the palace.
At Chenshi (7-9 AM), Yue Yining finished washing and dressing and went to the Imperial City to take up her post.
A few thin curtains hung down from the high window, the ground was covered in a crisp, cold white snow. The beams of light were first stretched long, then slowly shortened. The afternoon vapor from the melting snow was cool and refreshing, cleansing the mind and spirit when inhaled.
The air in the duty room was filled with the fresh scent of fresh ink and straw paper. A female official in a blue dress sat behind her desk, reviewing files and issuing replies to reports.
There was a gentle knock on the door of the duty room, with a hint of hesitation.
"Please come in." Yue Yining raised her head.
The door was slowly pushed open, revealing a cold and aloof face.
It was Zuo Xulin. His official robe accentuated his tall and slender figure. His brows were as upright and composed as ever, but the layer of bluish-gray shadow covering his eyes revealed a slight difference from his usual appearance.
“It’s the Left Attendant,” Yue Yining said, somewhat surprised. She stood up and put down her pen. “Please have a seat.”
Zuo Xulin nodded. Yue Yining handed him a cup of tea, her gaze lingering for a moment on the dark circles under his eyes, and asked, "Zuo Sheren doesn't look well. Did you get too tired from visiting the lantern festival last night and didn't get enough rest?"
Upon hearing this, Zuo Xulin's eyelids twitched violently, as if he had been exposed to some secret, and he lowered his head.
He felt a moment of panic.
Last night, when he went to bed, he closed his eyes tightly, and the night view of the Lantern Festival was still vivid in his mind.
The figures walking side by side under the dazzling lights, the strands of hair falling from Yue Yining's temples when she occasionally turned her head, the instant brilliance in her eyes when she guessed the riddle correctly, the look in her eyes when she looked at him with a gentle smile, the faint, almost imperceptible sorrow on her face as she leaned against the railing and looked into the distance after releasing the water lanterns...
Scenes flashed back, like sparks that ignited a wildfire in the silent night.
The lamp burned all night, and the fire also burned all night, but he tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
At this moment, her words almost revealed his thoughts, and a strange heat immediately rose to his ears.
“…Lord Xie Yue is so concerned,” he said, somewhat awkwardly avoiding her gaze. “It’s just that the cold winter nights have made me feel a little unwell, and I often wake up in a light sleep, but it’s nothing serious.”
Zuo Xulin composed himself and placed a file on the corner of her desk: "This is the first draft of the expenditure review sent by the Ministry of Revenue yesterday, which is related to the performance evaluation of the Ministry of Personnel. The people from the Ministry of Revenue have asked the Ministry of Justice to review and approve it as soon as possible, and this will be the standard for subsequent procedures."
He used official business as an excuse to try to cover up his inexplicable emotions and the real reason he had come so early in the morning.
He just wanted to see her.
He couldn't explain the vague sense of panic and embarrassment he felt.
He vaguely realized that he wanted to confirm that the hustle and bustle and dazzling lights he had shared at the Lantern Festival last night were not just a faded old dream.
"I see. Thank you for bringing it personally, Lord Zuo." Yue Yining thanked him, took the scroll from Zuo Xulin, pressed her wrist against the Xuan paper, and did not immediately look at the scroll, but kept looking at him.
Her slightly arched eyebrows and pursed lips were very gentle, but her jet-black eyes were like a deep pool, calm and profound, giving people a sense of scrutiny.
Zuo Xulin appeared calm on the surface, but in reality, he was extremely uncomfortable.
Fortunately, Yue Yining quickly stopped looking at him. Feeling the gaze shift away, Zuo Xulin's stiff body relaxed a little. He slowly raised his eyes, and Yue Yining was browsing through the files.
As he watched, he became lost in thought, his throat tightening unconsciously. He almost wanted to leave immediately, but he couldn't move his feet.
His gaze drifted to the pile of documents on her desk. Before he could even process what was going on, Zuo Xulin blurted out, "The subsequent review of officials' performance evaluations is a complicated matter. Thank you for your hard work."
"It's my duty," Yue Yining replied.
Zuo Xulin belatedly sensed something unusual. Yue Yining also seemed much quieter and more reserved than usual, no longer smiling at people or taking the initiative to exchange pleasantries.
This tranquility formed a strange contrast to the subtle ripples that had not yet subsided last night. The ripples that had stirred in my heart were also pushed to the bottom of deeper waters, leaving me feeling somewhat suffocated.
She was silent for a moment, her hands slowing down as she turned the pages of the document. Suddenly, she looked up and stared straight at him.
"Left Attendant," her voice was still clear and gentle, yet it stirred ripples in Zuo Xulin's heart like a pebble thrown into a deep pool, "I have been working with you for two months now since I was promoted to the position of Chief Clerk of the Ministry of Personnel. In terms of official duties, does the Left Attendant feel that I am still lacking in any way?"
The question came so suddenly that Zuo Xulin was caught off guard and was slightly stunned.
Why would he ask that? Was it unease? Or self-doubt? In his memory, Yue Yining was always calm, composed, and confident, rarely showing any hesitation or wavering.
The slightly somber question made his heart tighten inexplicably.
No...no.
Yue Yining gazed at him. In the depths of her clear eyes, it seemed as if there were a thousand words, yet they were shrouded in an invisible mist, making them difficult to see clearly.
A strange emotion, a mixture of excitement and confusion, instantly seized him.
"...Your Excellency is overthinking things." Zuo Xulin spoke, only then realizing that his throat was dry. "In political affairs, you have always done very well, without any shortcomings, without any delays or mistakes, with clear thinking and thoroughness. Everyone has seen these things."
That includes him.
Yue Yining smiled and said, "I see."
"But I asked this because I wanted to hear what Zuo Sheren really thought about me. By asking this, I meant I was prepared to hear criticism, and Zuo Sheren can speak frankly without hesitation."
As soon as she finished speaking, Zuo Xulin immediately said in a deep voice, "This is my true thought."
Yue Yining was taken aback. Zuo Xulin also realized that his tone had been too eager. He paused, looked embarrassed, and coughed lightly.
When he spoke again, his tone was somewhat rigid and earnest: “I’m not being polite or flattering; this is what I truly believe. The officials of Yue are sincere and genuine, and their loyalty and dedication to the country are evident to all.”
In his eyes, Yue Yining was an impeccable official. At the end of last year, after the disaster relief in Qinghuai ended, the issue of resettling displaced people arose again. Yue Yining proposed to adopt the policy of transferring old grain and providing work relief, which solved the urgent needs of the people. He was pragmatic in his administration, cared about the common people, and valued rules and laws, but he was not rigid in his thinking.
She was upright and honest, and handled countless documents and money matters in the Ministry of Personnel. People from all walks of life, from aristocratic families to commoners, sometimes tried to curry favor and sometimes tested her, but she treated them all equally.
He had once inadvertently glimpsed a collateral branch of a prominent family attempting to bribe her under the guise of "seeking advice" on rare and precious books, only to be gently but firmly rejected. He had also heard of a newly rich man from a humble background trying to use her to manipulate documents, which she had clearly refuted with legal arguments. She never spoke of these matters aloud, yet rumors of them somehow reached his ears.
He has always been diligent in his duties, never delaying or slacking off, never neglecting public duty for personal reasons, and never wavering in his stance due to personal connections or factionalism. He is meticulous in investigating matters that require verification; he argues forcefully for rejections where necessary. Every penny he handles is accounted for; every word in his official documents is clear and distinct.
Officials like Yue Yining are extremely rare in today's officialdom.
His loyalty to the country and his dedication to public service are not empty words.
His thoughts churned within him, yet felt as if blocked by an invisible boulder. The more eager he was to make her understand his true feelings, the more clumsy and inarticulate he became.
Although a thousand words had flashed through his mind, only a few dry words came out of Zuo Xulin's mouth: "...The people of Yue deserve such praise, there is no need to belittle themselves."
In response to him was Yue Yining's smiling face.
She looked at him, her eyes full of smiles, and said gently, "Hearing you say that, I can rest assured."
"Since arriving here, I seem to have been constantly taken care of by the Left Attendant. Although it may only be some trivial matters, such as changing the servants and tea, I remember them all and am very grateful..."
As Yue Yining spoke, she looked up and saw that Zuo Xulin looked bewildered.
"Switching servants and tea?" Zuo Xulin frowned slightly, somewhat puzzled. "How did Lord Yue find out about this? If it's something like this, I haven't done it."
"Could there be some misunderstanding?"
Yue Yining paused, her hand on the document momentarily stunned: "...Wasn't it Zuo Sheren who made it?"
“When I first arrived at the Ministry of Works, the servants in charge of this area deliberately treated me poorly. They were perfunctory in bringing me water and tea, and the teacups were filled with old tea leaves and rotten leaves instead of hot water.”
"But not long after, this servant was transferred away. The new handyman told me that the previous servant had been severely punished by his superiors and transferred to the North Garden warehouse to do hard labor." Yue Yining said slowly, "...It's too coincidental. Just before, Zang Lingshi came to my rescue, and I thought it was Zuo Sheren looking after me."
Zuo Xulin fell silent, and under Yue Yining's gaze, he gently shook his head.
“I did summon Zang Lingshi, but I did not authorize the replacement of the servants and tea. I was unaware of it,” Zuo Xulin said. “Perhaps it was all just a coincidence.”
"It seems I have undeservedly accepted your gratitude, and I feel truly indebted to you."
“…No, how could that be? I must have made a mistake,” Yue Yining replied.
She lowered her eyes, somewhat lost in thought.
Is it just a coincidence? So, it just so happened that he solved her problem. Is it really just a coincidence?
While Yue Yining lowered her head, Zuo Xulin looked at her with pursed lips. Just as he was about to say something, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the corridor. The sound of metal armor plates colliding violently with the scabbard and waist token during the rapid movement broke the tranquility of the courtroom.
Zuo Xulin was startled by the sound, and Yue Yining also looked up.
All the officials in the hall, who were engrossed in their documents, seemed to be frozen in place, staring in astonishment at the doorway. Then, several tall figures burst into the hall.
The leader was a captain of the Imperial Guard, with a cold and hard face and a burly build. His gleaming breastplate reflected a blinding light in the light coming through the porch. He exuded a murderous aura and held a scroll of official documents aloft in his hand.
Behind him were four Jinwu Guard soldiers, equally gleaming in armor, their hands on their sword hilts, their eyes like lightning, blocking the doorway completely. The soft rustling of metal blades against metal sounded like muffled thunder, weighing heavily on everyone's hearts.
The Imperial Guard Captain strode up to Yue Yining's desk and said in a deep voice:
"By imperial decree, the censor's document is here!"
"Yue Yining, the Chief Clerk of the Ministry of Personnel, has committed the grave crime of treason and collusion with the enemy! The evidence is conclusive. By imperial decree, he shall be arrested and interrogated immediately!"
These words elicited gasps and gasps of astonishment from the officials. Countless shocked, fearful, and incredulous gazes swept over the slender female official in blue robes in the hall.
“You are in charge of the capital affairs,” the Jinwu Guard captain said in a flat, icy voice, “The evidence is conclusive. We are acting on orders to arrest him. Hand over your official seal and come with us immediately to the prison to await trial!”
Soldiers immediately stepped forward, one carrying a wooden tray, clearly preparing to receive her official seal and tokens, while the other held a cold iron chain.
All eyes were on the female official who was at the center of the storm.
To everyone's surprise, Yue Yining showed no panic or fear, not even surprise, her face as calm as still water.
Those clear, bright eyes lifted to meet the captain's cold, scrutinizing gaze.
Yue Yining did not argue or struggle. She said nothing, but simply raised her hand and calmly untied the blue fish-shaped pouch at her waist, which represented her seventh-rank official position, and reached into her bosom to take out a small bronze seal—her official seal as the Chief Clerk of the Ministry of Personnel.
She placed them steadily into the wooden tray held by the Imperial Guards, making a crisp, light clinking sound.
"Thank you all for your help."
Yue Yining's eyes were clear, and her voice was gentle, neither too loud nor too soft, making it exceptionally clear in the deathly silence.
Yue Yining raised her hand to straighten the front of her official robe, as if she were not going to the gloomy and terrifying prison, but to a poetry gathering.
His back was ramrod straight, his integrity unyielding and unyielding.
"Wait! Please stop!"
Zuo Xulin suddenly came to his senses, his voice filled with undisguised horror.
Just moments ago, he was still immersed in some subtle emotions, but this sudden change was like a thunderbolt from the sky, waking him up.
He instinctively wanted to step forward, but met the warning look in the eyes of the Imperial Guard Captain. Then, the silver blade was drawn, the metal clanged, and a loud shout completely dispelled his confusion.
"The Imperial Guards are on duty; all others shall step aside!"
The color drained from Zuo Xulin's face, leaving only immense shock and disbelief trembling violently in his pupils.
He watched Yue Yining's profile, as calm and gentle as ever, as she was chained by the soldiers without resistance, and as she turned and walked away surrounded by the Imperial Guards...
Yue Yining didn't turn around to look at him.
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Author's Note: It's here! I'm finally going to be able to write what I've been wanting to write for so long! [Let me see!]
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