Looking at the situation (Part 1)
In the dead of night, all was quiet, and the air was chilly.
The palace was decorated much more elaborately than her own residence, but somehow, whenever she closed her eyes, the silk, pearl, gauze, and sandalwood on her head would invade her dreams and chase after her.
She had no choice but to sit up and lean against a cushion for a while. She was all alone in the huge hall, and returning to her childhood home made her feel melancholy.
There were many people in the palace who loved her, but this could not dispel her inner fear and anxiety; in fact, it only grew stronger.
After these few court sessions, she suddenly realized that the emperor was not as weak as he claimed. None of the court officials, including Xiao Zhong, dared to speak without observing his expression. This deep-seated fear was something she had clearly discerned in the military camp when she was in the palace. But the emperor seemed unable to overcome this hurdle, mentioning it every time he encountered her.
Moreover, the emperor must be hiding something from her regarding her mother's case.
Was it because he didn't want her to keep asking him? But what could it be that made him not tell him at this crucial moment?
Even in the long, darkest night, she couldn't come up with a solution on her own.
The next morning, Chen Zhuangmu felt the blanket slip off her legs. She instinctively grabbed it and pulled it up, but the blanket slipped down again.
"Princess!" Li Chu squatted by the bed and called out loudly, "Princess! Get up!"
The voice pierced through Shen Zhuangmu's drowsy mind, startling her so much that she sat up abruptly, only to see Li Chu's enlarged face before her.
"You scared me to death." Chen Zhuangmu rubbed her head, hoping to clear her head, but her eyelids kept drooping.
"Princess, do you know what time it is now?" Li Chu asked her, blinking her eyes.
Seeing her rubbing her head, Li Chu answered herself: "Chen Zheng!"
Her movements froze, and she frantically got out of bed: "What time? It's morning! Oh my god! I overslept..."
"Oh dear." Li Chu waved her hand dismissively. "The princess often doesn't sleep well. Who would dare to wake you when you're sound asleep? Besides, Her Majesty the Empress has already arranged leave for you at the Dali Temple."
"Okay." Chen Zhuangmu said, then fell back onto the bed, but was pulled back halfway there.
"Princess, please read the letter. It's a letter from His Majesty." Li Chu held the letter envelope in front of her face.
This successfully piqued Chen Zhuangmu's curiosity. Why would she need to write a letter when they were so close? She quickly tore open the envelope and unfolded the letter.
“Ah Zhao, this is all the information I have that you care about. Go ahead and do it wholeheartedly. Your uncle believes you have the ability to handle things.”
The very first name made Chen Zhuangmu pause for a moment. According to her mother, her uncle had been angry with her mother for a long time because she decided to give her the surname Chen, so he insisted on choosing her nickname.
Since she entered the palace at the age of eight, her uncle had always called her A-Zhao, but he stopped calling her that after the incident.
That's about all the information we have. He's been busy with other things these past few years, so the information we receive is limited but accurate.
He also gave Xiao Zhongyou a list of people he was involved with, along with the time when they approached him. However, it seems the emperor included even those who had spoken to him.
Looking at the densely packed words on the screen, which resembled a swarm of ants, Chen Zhuangmu couldn't help but feel nervous.
None of the names on this list are particularly special. Those who are capable have known him for a short time, while those who are not capable have already reached the margins.
Suddenly, two names came into her view.
The first was Wang Kui, the Minister of Justice. This was the man who became acquainted with Xiao Zhong after her mother's murder.
Two months after her mother was murdered, Xiao Zhong took up a minor official post in the court—a judge. This was an official position specifically for overseeing officials who issued scathing criticisms, but it was abolished not long afterward.
During this period, the censors focused their impeachment on Wang Kui, accusing him of neglecting his duties by drinking, failing to properly educate his children, having many wives and concubines, and eating scallions first at lunchtime...
The censors used these words to impeach Wang Kui. Shen Zhuangmu suddenly felt that she understood the character of this Minister of Justice. Putting aside what happened between him and Xiao Zhong, just the scroll in the Ministry of Justice's warehouse that was completely blank made Shen Zhuangmu feel that something was amiss.
Having sorted out these clues, Chen Zhuangmu put the note back into the envelope.
Sleep a little longer.
Watching Chen Zhuangmu's smooth movements, Li Chu silently covered her with the blanket, slipped out of the palace gate, and went to do other things.
When the blazing sun shone into the palace, Chen Zhuangmu felt her eyes burning before she finally opened them.
She had slept for too long, and her mind was a little muddled. The events of yesterday slowly passed through her mind before she rubbed her head, pulled back the covers, and got out of bed.
She called out to Li Chu twice, but no one answered. So she had a palace maid guarding the door help her with her hair and makeup. She wasn't on duty today, and Chen Zhuangmu unusually chose a light pink dress, with a long white brocade jacket underneath and a long-sleeved blouse with a one-piece woven pattern on top, and a floral crown. She looked fresh, refined, and stunningly beautiful.
People of this age can never shake off their strong youthful spirit; the hope in their eyes and the unintentional carelessness in their every move are precious things in this world.
Just as she finished getting ready and was about to leave, the Empress walked in. She walked slowly, but there was a hint of urgency in her eyes. As soon as she entered the palace, she pulled down a heavy dressing table and sat down.
First, he complimented Chen Zhuangmu on her beauty, then looked her up and down many times before asking, "What do you plan to do in the future?"
Chen Zhuangmu was taken aback; her aunt was actually so worried.
The Empress held her hands tightly, her heart aching for her, and seemed to have something she couldn't say. She paused for a moment, then said, "Never mind, don't tell me. I don't know either. If you need any help, just tell me. I have plenty of money, as much as I can give you. Your maternal grandmother's family has plenty."
The Empress's maternal family was the wealthiest in the Qun Kingdom, with businesses all over the country. Before her marriage, she helped manage the family's businesses, and after her wedding, she stayed in the palace.
Chen Zhuangmu couldn't help but feel happy every time she met her aunt, because her aunt was so good to her. Her uncle also always focused his attention on her, which made her feel a little guilty when she looked at Hong Ning and her cousin, the Crown Prince.
As the Empress laid the groundwork for her step by step, she suddenly grasped the Empress's hand. "Aunt, thank you so much. I don't know what to say."
The worry between the Empress's brows faded away, as if it had never existed. "Silly child, we are family, how can we not think of you?"
The two talked for a while longer, then Chen Zhuangmu had lunch and left the palace. However, she couldn't wait for Li Chu, so she took another guard with her.
No one knew more about the blank roster in the Ministry of Justice's register than the Minister of Justice.
What exactly happened three years ago? How could these people act so recklessly and without any regard for their uncle's feelings?
Having just clashed with the Minister of Justice, how could she get information out of him? Just as she was getting anxious and frustrated, an idea flashed into Shen Zhuangmu's mind: Well, she might as well try anything.
She first went to the street and bought a lot of snacks. Carrying these things, she walked to the gate of the Ministry of Justice. The gatekeeper stared at the huge bag with envy. Chen Zhuangmu took out a box from it and said, "I have something to discuss with your Minister."
"For some reason, the Minister is furious. Who are you?" The guard, chewing on a biscuit crumb, squinted at her.
Her eyes darted around. "It's alright, it's alright if your Minister is angry. I'll go find your young master. Call him out."
So, the man looked at Chen Zhuangmu with suspicion, and actually went to look for the young master. Before long, the chubby boy came back, muttering, "Really? Someone is really looking for me?"
As she was talking, she saw a woman in a pink dress with heavy makeup.
"It's you! I remember you!"
"You have a good memory," Chen Zhuangmu said with a smile. "I promised you snacks." As she spoke, she weighed a large bag in her hand.
"Wow!" The chubby boy let go of his hand and plunged his head into the snack bag. The bag was so big that his whole head went in. Chen Zhuangmu felt inexplicably embarrassed and shook the bag, saying, "Hey, come out."
"You told me a few days ago that you wanted me to come and play with you. I was on time, wasn't I?" Chen Zhuangmu said, glancing inside the Ministry of Justice.
The child nodded repeatedly with an air of importance, "Yes, yes, yes, yes." Then he tugged at Chen Zhuangmu's sleeve, "Let's go in then."
And so, amidst the bewildered gazes of the four guards, a large and a small bag of snacks entered the Ministry of Justice.
"Do you think that girl has something wrong with her head?" he asked, pointing to his own head.
"I guess so." The person on the other end nodded repeatedly. "Such a grown man, playing with this silly kid."
The change in weather can catch people off guard. At noon, the sun shines brightly, and everything looks bright and sparkling. In an instant, dark clouds cover the sun, and everything looks gray and gloomy.
The Ministry of Justice, which already had a somewhat mysterious air about it, looked even more frightening. Shen Zhuangmu, who had originally intended to separate from Xiao Pang and go find the Minister of Justice on her own, was now on the verge of tears.
"Little Fatty, stay with me a little longer." She rubbed her shoulders.
Little Fatty pouted, already pursed lips, and said defiantly, "You're the one who's Little Fatty, I'm not."
"Okay, okay, I am."
Chen Zhuangmu couldn't stand it anymore. Everyone who passed by would turn around and look at them every few steps. If this were at the Dali Temple, no one would look at them, because they would be busy looking at cases while walking.
She shook the chubby boy's arm. "Feel your wrist, is it throbbing? We need to go find your father."
Little Fatty touched it and asked in confusion, "No, what's jumping?"
“You’re too young to feel it.” Chen Zhuangmu squatted down and pressed her fingers on Xiao Pang’s wrist, but she couldn’t feel Xiao Pang’s pulse no matter what she did.
Good heavens, he's too fat; with her mediocre skills, she can't possibly touch him.
She touched the soft ends of her hair and said, "I found it. Come on, let's go find your father, or else..."
Little Fatty: "………"
Are you kidding me?!
His mischievous side was rising, but the old woman in front of him was becoming more and more serious, and he was really a little scared.
"What else?" Before he could finish speaking, he grabbed Chen Zhuangmu and ran wildly through the Ministry of Justice with a look of terror on his face. Chen Zhuangmu almost stumbled from being dragged by him.
I thought the Minister of Justice would be in some secluded place, but to my surprise, the chubby guy didn't even turn a corner and soon arrived at an inconspicuous little house with no signboard.
Little Fatty shouted at the man guarding the door, "Where's my father? Where's my father?"
"The Minister is inside. Is there anything I can help you with, young master?"
"I need to see my father, or else I'll... or else I'll..."
He suddenly turned to Chen Zhuangmu and asked, "Otherwise, what should I do?"
The Minister of Justice had already been drawn out by the commotion. As he opened the door, he asked, "What's wrong? What's the matter now, Little Fatty?"
Hearing this, Chen Zhuangmu almost burst out laughing; even his father called him Little Fatty.
The moment the Minister of Justice opened the door and came out, Chen Zhuangmu immediately covered the little fat man's mouth and whispered, "Look, are there any snacks left? Don't let someone take them."
Little Fatty was stunned for a moment, then happily ran back.
So the Minister of Justice opened the door, but instead of seeing his son, he saw Chen Zhuangmu, who had been making him very upset these past few days.
His face instantly fell, and the single line between his eyebrows was clearly visible.
How did you get in?
"I have some questions to ask you," Chen Zhuangmu said solemnly.
"I have nothing to say to you."
“You’ve already brought trouble upon yourself, don’t you realize it?” Chen Zhuangmu continued, “I said those things on purpose yesterday morning, and you have unknowingly become an accomplice.”
What nonsense are you spouting?
Chen Zhuangmu pointed to the pavilion in the middle of the courtyard, "If you want to know, we can discuss it in detail."
These words were already extremely tempting, but the Minister of Justice had seen it all before. He glanced at Chen Zhuangmu with a cold smile, "Princess Rongshu, is this how you ask for favors?"
It was like ice water being poured over Chen Zhuangmu's head; her face instantly turned pale. Yes, the Minister of Justice—what tricks hadn't he seen?
Seeing that he snorted coldly and was about to turn into the house, Chen Zhuangmu hurriedly called out, "Your Excellency, this was a matter of overstepping my bounds, and I apologize to you."
She bowed respectfully, and the Minister turned slightly to the side, saying, "Even so, Princess Rongshu, do you think I would invite trouble upon myself?"
“I am not threatening you! My mother’s matter has far-reaching implications. Now that it has gone wrong with you, think about it. Even if I don’t say anything when it comes to making a decision, they will definitely drag you down with them!” Chen Zhuangmu straightened up and looked at the Minister’s expression.
In fact, his expression had already softened considerably when Shen Zhuangmu bowed to him. The fact that a first-rank princess had bowed to him brought him some comfort.
“Your Excellency, Minister.” Chen Zhuangmu stepped forward and said, “You have just entered officialdom and you dare to speak out about anything that is wrong. You once said that you are concerned about the people, the ruler, and the officials. This matter is not just my own. My mother has been a general for many years. Think about the ins and outs of this matter.”
Her words were earnest and thought-provoking, but the Minister was no young man just starting his official career. He had studied diligently for ten years, dreaming of governing the country, bringing peace and prosperity, and rising rapidly in rank. Back then, there was always an indomitable spirit on his face.
However, becoming an official was a cruel thing. After resisting several times, he lost his temper and became increasingly harsh, eventually clinging to his position as Minister of Justice.
But where did this young girl get the courage to speak out and overturn forbidden cases in the main hall? Is it because of her background? Is this the emperor's intention?
He lowered his head and pondered for a long time. With each passing moment, the anxiety in Chen Zhuangmu's heart increased.
“Princess Rongshu,” he looked directly into her face, “what gave you the audacity to announce this in the palace?”
In the grand hall where a single word travels ten thousand miles; in the hall where many avoid discussing this matter; in the hall where there is no turning back. This was a weighty and thought-provoking question, yet Chen Zhuangmu did not hesitate, she spoke each word clearly:
"Because I know that my mother is innocent and I am right."
Those few words were enough to motivate her to do such a thing.
She continued, "Your Excellency, I've only come to ask a few questions. I was very careful on my way here, and I assured my uncle repeatedly yesterday that nothing would happen..."
After a long silence, he said, "I was not involved in what happened back then. Princess, please ask whatever you wish."
"Thank you, Minister." Suppressing her inner joy, Chen Zhuangmu solemnly asked, "I want to ask why my mother's booklet is empty?"
The Minister of Justice thought for a moment and said, "Back then, it was Xiao Gou Dongxi that issued the imperial edict. It was only after I left the court that His Majesty secretly ordered a thorough investigation into this matter. The investigation should focus on whether there was any false accusation, how many people were involved, and most importantly, whether there was any leverage over the Su Kingdom. However, the very next day, the Ministry of Justice received many cases, and the old cases that Shen Fang had previously handled were also being urgently investigated."
The Minister of Justice frowned as he recalled the events of that time.
"As you know, the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review are at odds and are short-handed, which has caused this delay."
This caused a three-year delay.
Chen Zhuangmu chuckled lightly and said, "Minister, three years have passed since this incident. In these three years, has anyone come to you to discuss this matter?"
“No, never.” He shook his head.
Even though Chen Zhuangmu's face turned deathly pale, he still had to finish what he was saying, and he was waiting to see if the young girl could do it.
"Later, I realized that the people standing at the front during court sessions were avoiding the topic, and that no one found anything after the investigation." He paused here, his voice becoming much softer, "and they stopped investigating."
Chen Zhuangmu nodded and asked, "Do you know who went to the outskirts to greet my mother on the morning the imperial edict was announced?"
"I don't know, but they were all people who did good things and were at the forefront at the time." As he said this, a cold smile appeared on his face.
After thanking him, Chen Zhuangmu left through the back door of the Ministry of Justice. Today, she was not wearing a cap and took several small paths.
Suddenly remembering something, he looked up at the sky and said, "Since you are under my command, you must listen to me. You cannot speak to His Majesty without my permission."
A loud "Yes!" came from the horizon.
Not long after, she returned to the princess's mansion. As soon as she entered her courtyard, she saw Zhao Yi sitting on the steps, idly watching the leaves "spin around".
"What are you doing sitting here?" Chen Zhuangmu asked, amused.
Zhao Yi waved the slender branch in his hand. "Waiting for you." He then wiped the steps beside him with his sleeve, gesturing for her to sit down.
"Where have you been? I've been waiting for you for so long."
"I went out for a while." She sat down, rested her chin on her hand, and gazed into the distance, quietly watching the light clouds drift slowly.
Zhao Yi nudged her with his elbow, "Are you free the day after tomorrow? I found out where the people from the Ministry of Revenue who did the inspection are."
"I have time." Chen Zhuangmu turned her head. "I'm free. When shall we go?"
"Tonight. I'll come find you then."
"OK."
After the matter was discussed, an awkward atmosphere remained between the two.
Zhao Yi also looked at Qianyun in the distance, occasionally stealing a glance at her. After a while, he coughed and said, "Um, this is for you."
He handed her a smooth, white jade hairpin, its surface shimmering and sparkling. It was adorned with pearls and gold ornaments, elegant yet charming.
"Didn't I lose this one for you last time? Here, it's yours." After saying this, he felt his face burning and quickly said, "Um, I'll be going now."
Before Chen Zhuangmu could speak, he climbed over the courtyard gate, making Chen Zhuangmu laugh.
He should have just left her courtyard and climbed over the mansion wall, but judging from his expression, he probably forgot in his haste. Her gaze returned to the hairpin, and she suddenly fell into a tangle of thoughts, helplessly resting her head on her hands.
Time flies, and it's late at night. This is a solace for the scholar's soul, a time of deep immersion that many fear yet cannot escape, and a time when secrets are most likely to be kept.
The Imperial Palace, a private room in the Imperial Study.
"What are the princess's plans today?" the emperor asked the kneeling guards at his feet.
"The princess went to the Ministry of Justice to inquire about Wang Kui's past affairs, and then spoke with Zhao Yi at the princess's residence for a while."
The standing man remained silent for a long time, until the surrounding silence seemed to engulf them, before he finally spoke.
"Starting tomorrow, you don't need to follow her anymore." He walked away slowly.
The guard knelt down, shifted his position, and rested his head on the ground. "Yes."
The weather hasn't been good these past few days, especially in the mornings when the air is always damp and chilly, seeping silently into your bones until you're already shivering.
Another morning like this. Xiao Hanfeng was filled with helplessness. She sat up from her soft, warm bed with a droopy face, staring blankly into space.
"Knock knock, knock knock".
Suddenly, there was a soft knocking on the door.
Xiao Hanfeng hesitated for a moment, then said, "Go in."
The door was slowly pushed open, and Xiao Zhong walked in wearing gray cloth shoes. Despite the cold weather, he was only wearing a few layers of thin clothes, yet he didn't seem to mind the cold. He walked a few steps into Xiao Hanfeng's room and draped the brand-new padded jacket and cloak he was carrying at the foot of her bed.
"Father? You didn't go to court today?" Xiao Hanfeng asked, his eyes still blurry.
Xiao Zhong said unhurriedly, "Hmm, no. I have something to ask you."
Xiao Hanfeng recounted his actions over the past few days, and only after confirming that he hadn't done anything too outrageous did he gradually relax and say, "Yes, Father, please tell me."
Xiao Zhong always waited for her to agree before speaking, and this time was no exception. He still had that expressionless look on his face as he said, "I remember you and Chen Zhuangmu were quite close, right?"
"Of course!" Xiao Hanfeng perked up at this, "I'm also very close to Yu Hongning, and I even invited them to the mud chamber!"
As he said this, Xiao Zhong understood. He looked at the bird pattern on Xiao Hanfeng's pillow and asked, "Is she still interested in your pillow?"
She sensed something was wrong. Her father's attitude today was very suspicious. Xiao Hanfeng had a feeling that he would say something even more unbelievable to her in the end, so she stopped answering.
Seeing her glaring eyes, Xiao Zhong immediately understood. After a while, when he saw Xiao Hanfeng's face darken, he said, "Chen Zhuangmu announced in court that she would overturn the verdict against her mother."
"Reversal of the verdict?" Xiao Hanfeng paused for a moment before asking, "You mean the one who plotted a rebellion three years ago?"
Xiao Zhong nodded.
The one from three years ago? I heard from her father that she used her daughter's birthday as an excuse to break into the capital. Her mother already has conclusive evidence. Could it be that she was framed?
"Your friend's first suspicion is that our family harmed her," Xiao Zhong suddenly blurted out.
"Us?" Xiao Hanfeng's voice suddenly rose.
"Don't you think she's acting suspiciously? Hasn't she asked you about anything?" Xiao Zhong prompted her.
Seeing her frowning and remaining silent, he walked over to her and said, "It's nothing. Just be more careful about who you befriend in the future..."
“Father…she’s a good friend, she wouldn’t do that.” Xiao Hanfeng rejected Xiao Zhong’s suggestion.
"Your friend has already started investigating me. Her collaboration with Zhao Yi must be to find out about me," Xiao Zhong said, maintaining his lukewarm attitude.
"Let them investigate then. We're upright and have nothing to hide." Xiao Hanfeng persisted, but his voice was somewhat weak.
“You can’t keep someone who’s using you around. Think about it carefully. When she talks to you, is it really all just friendly stuff?” He pointed to the pattern on the pillowcase and asked, “Does she often ask you about this totem?”
Seeing that she remained silent, Xiao Zhong knew that she was right.
He then said, "This totem is indeed very important, but it has absolutely nothing to do with her. She's clearly just using you."
Seeing that Xiao Hanfeng was still unconvinced, he continued, "Why don't you find an opportunity to ask her properly, and see her expression and how she answers?"
From childhood to adulthood, everything Xiao Zhong said was correct, and everything he said was accurate. Normally, Xiao Hanfeng would just nod perfunctorily, but in this matter, she found it difficult even to be perfunctory.
How could Chen Zhuangmu not be a true friend to her? The three of them are so close, how could she have been tricked?
Xiao Zhong remained expressionless, like a stone outside the courtyard. Seeing her indecisive look, he couldn't stir his emotions. He patted Xiao Hanfeng's shoulder and said, "Why don't you go and ask her?"
After saying that, he walked out.
Xiao Zhong knew Xiao Hanfeng's personality well; whatever seed you planted in her heart would take root and sprout.
Xiao Hanfeng was in agony about having to face this matter in the morning. Exhausted, she collapsed onto the bed again, wondering if she could take a day off.
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