Chapter 28 (None)
Huang Liang and Song Gong were talking under the eaves when a group of people walked in from outside the courtyard. The person in the lead wore a scarlet silk robe, a leather belt around his waist, and black boots. His fair face, under the lamplight, resembled a gardenia on a summer night.
The man raised his hand, and the people behind him stopped and stood at a distance. He walked to the eaves, where Song Gongzheng nodded in greeting. He nodded back and said to Huang Liang, "Old Huang, working on another case?"
Yuan Changsheng, the Prefect of the Capital, was in charge of the Imperial City Guard, patrolling the palace day and night. When he patrolled to this spot, Huang Liang didn't avoid him. He couldn't help but glance at Song Gongzheng, and seeing her stern face soften, he muttered to himself, "No matter how beautiful she is, she's still a eunuch. These women are truly ignorant; all they see is beauty!"
"Have all the people at Xiefang Pavilion been arranged?" Huang Liang nodded, but his eyes involuntarily scanned back and forth between his face and waist. He subconsciously adjusted the leather belt around his waist and sucked in his protruding belly.
"If you give the word, I'm just about to go myself. I guarantee everything will be foolproof." The man smiled, raising an eyebrow and his eyes sparkling.
Huang Liang rolled his eyes and said, "This is the Emperor's decree. I can't order you around."
"Look at you. You're just saying things out of anger. We both serve the Emperor; how could we not be ordered around?"
Yuan Changsheng smiled again and gestured with his chin toward Huang Liang, "You're busy, I'll go take a look over there first."
Huang Liang raised his hand dismissively, "Go away, don't delay my important business here."
Yuan Changsheng gave a sharp rebuke, then turned and left with a flourish. Huang Liang stared at his tall, slender back, clicking his tongue in envy. Hearing that the commotion inside had subsided, he and Song Gongzheng entered the house together.
Inside the dark and cold room, the small lamp cast a hazy glow, and the stench of blood was so thick it was almost unbearable. Two motionless palace maids lay sprawled on a long bench, their light green dresses stained with blood.
"Are you willing to tell the truth?" Huang Liang asked, his hands tucked into his sleeves.
The eunuch holding a cane stepped forward and said, "It's the same story as before. It's said that Consort Gao was indeed pregnant with the emperor's child, but she miscarried a few days ago. Consort Gao was overwhelmed with grief and suffered a great shock. Thinking that the beeswax had been withheld, she sent them to find pig's blood and go to the storeroom to find Consort Jiang, blaming Consort Jiang for the miscarriage."
Song Gongzheng reached out and checked the two men's breaths under their noses. They were barely breathing and their brows were slightly furrowed. He gestured to Huang Liang, and the two men went outside again.
“Hongye and Lüzhi are cowards. They haven’t been serving Gao Cairen for long. They were frightened and confessed everything. They’re barely breathing right now and I’m afraid they’re half dead. I reckon what they said is true.”
Hearing Song Gongzheng's words, Huang Liang frowned and said, "What you say makes some sense. Both Imperial Physician Zheng and Imperial Physician Wu have diagnosed her and said that Consort Gao is suffering from both qi and blood deficiency, which must be due to a miscarriage. However, this matter is no small thing. With Fang Shi's death at the Lantern and Candle Office, the clues to what happened at Lan Yue Palace have been completely cut off. I'm afraid that these two things are related. If the Emperor entrusts this task to you and me, we might misjudge the situation and end up with a failed mission."
Song Gongzheng hesitated, but Huang Liang, seeing this, said unhappily, "Why are you stammering? Speak your mind!"
"I think this matter is of utmost importance. They've been focusing on the candles and lamps, and the Imperial Treasury is not to be trifled with," Song Gongzheng said with deep concern.
"Even if the Imperial Treasury is not to be trifled with, can it bypass the Emperor?" Huang Liang sneered and said, "Anyway, whatever the Emperor tells us to investigate, we will investigate truthfully."
Song Gongzheng didn't mention it again. Huang Liang and the Inner Treasury both knew that Cai Wanfeng was all talk and no action, and that he was hoping something would happen to the Inner Treasury.
"Jiang Meiren is truly blessed; she escaped this time as well," Song Gongzheng said with a smile, changing the subject.
Huang Liang sighed and said, "A person's fate is truly unpredictable. That Jiang Meiren may be considered dull, but she is quite shrewd. She is usually silent, but the things she said at Xiefang Pavilion were comparable to those of officials from the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review."
Song Gongzheng was not present at the time, and asked curiously, "Is it really that powerful?"
"It's not so much that she's remarkable; Consort Jiang isn't a remarkable person at all. The key thing is that His Majesty listened to her words."
Huang Liang tucked his hands into his sleeves, chuckled twice, and said, "I must first report to the Emperor about Consort Gao's pregnancy. I'll leave this to you."
Song Gongzheng responded, turned around and walked to the door, glanced into the room, and said coldly, "Send it to Willow Lane."
Willow Lane was a place where palace maids and eunuchs who fell ill were placed. If they survived, they would return to the palace to continue their duties; if they did not, they would be wrapped in tattered reed mats and buried.
When Yuan Changsheng arrived at Xiefang Pavilion, the eunuchs guarding the door came forward from afar and respectfully said, "The Grand Master has arrived."
"Have you looked at everything?" Yuan Changsheng asked casually as he walked inside.
The eunuch hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Don't worry, Master, we're keeping a close eye on everything."
The courtyard was dimly lit. Yuan Changsheng said, "Let's light the lanterns. Everyone here is a talented person, and we must ensure they have enough to eat."
The eunuch hurriedly ordered someone to light lamps and fetch food and hot water. Yuan Changsheng walked around for a while, then left with his men.
Huang Liang returned to the Chuigong Hall and reported the truth to Emperor Yuanming. After a long while, he heard Emperor Yuanming say, "Have someone take good care of her, and send her to the Imperial Temple in a couple of days."
"Yes, this servant will go immediately." Huang Liang bowed and retreated, thinking to himself that Consort Gao was fortunate to have had an imperial heir. Otherwise, her life would truly be in danger.
Once he left, he would never return, and he would spend the rest of his life in seclusion, surrounded by the ancient Buddha and the dim lamp.
Emperor Yuanming suddenly said, "Wait here, over there at the lamp and candle station... bring me the memorials from the Imperial Treasury and the Market Exchange Bureau."
Huang Liang was startled, then secretly delighted. Emperor Yuanming was going to investigate the Imperial Treasury; Cai Wanfeng was definitely in big trouble!
*
Chonghua Palace.
"Your Highness," Xiuyun hurriedly entered the room and whispered, "Yesterday, Hongye, who serves Consort Gao, spent fifty copper coins to have the purchasing agent buy a jar of pig's blood. This morning, the purchasing agent gave the pig's blood to Hongye."
Consort Lin looked grave and said, “Gao Cairen wasn’t particularly outstanding before; she must have something to gain. When the beeswax incident happened, I immediately handed over the Lin family’s business. Fuqing Palace also followed the Emperor’s lead in not wanting to make a big fuss and withdrew from the Bureau of Ceremonial Affairs. The Emperor didn’t want to cause too much of a scene, and after his anger subsided, the matter was dropped. But Fang Shi, the candle maker, is dead, and Gao Cairen has made such a big fuss; I’m afraid this matter won’t end well.”
Xiuyun glanced at Consort Lin's expression and asked worriedly, "Does Your Highness mean that Your Highness will be in trouble?"
Consort Lin lowered her eyes and fell into deep thought.
If we were to investigate the inner treasury, we would have to search it thoroughly, from top to bottom, inside and out.
The next day, Jiang Ling got up, had breakfast, and picked up the accounts from the lamp and candle department to look at them.
When Wenjuan returned after delivering the food box, she whispered, "My lady, I heard that Green Branch and Red Leaf were beaten to the point of near death and were sent to Willow Lane overnight. Consort Gao is alright for now and is still staying at Xiefang Pavilion. They say she miscarried and will be sent to the Imperial Temple after she recovers."
Jiang Ling had heard of Willow Lane. She paused for a moment, sighed, and said, "The Imperial Temple is at least better than Willow Lane. At least people can live there. Alas, in such a short time, Xie Fang Pavilion has sent two people to the Imperial Temple. It's really bad luck."
Wenjuan quickly smiled and said, "The beauty also came from Xiefang Pavilion, so how is that unlucky?"
Jiang Ling thought to herself that she hadn't had a peaceful time when she was at Xiefang Pavilion either. Since coming to Fanying Pavilion, things had been happening one after another.
"Have you found anything else about Gao Cairen?"
Wenjuan shook her head, "This servant does not know."
Jiang Ling already had a plan, and with a host of other things to worry about, she didn't have time to think about much else. She asked, "Wenjuan, are you familiar with the palace maids in the Lamp and Candle Department?"
Wenjuan said, "When I started working for the beauty, I went to collect the candles twice and had several interactions with them. The beauty is favored by the emperor, so the candles were not withheld, and they were very polite to me."
“I’ve never seen beeswax before when I was at Xiefang Pavilion.” Jiang Ling shook the ledger and said with a wry smile, “When Consort Gao came to make a fuss, she wasn’t lying.”
"The beauty is unaware of this, so this cannot be attributed to her," Wenjuan quickly comforted her, touching the teacup to find it had cooled down, and then refilled it with hot tea.
Jiang Ling frowned and said, "I haven't been in charge these past few days, but the people at the lamp and candle department are still embezzling. I haven't touched any of the embezzled items, so who has put them in their pockets?"
"My lady, shall I call Qiaoxin and Lanyun here to ask them?" Wenjuan hesitated, unable to answer.
“Okay, go ahead,” Jiang Ling said.
Wenjuan then went to call Qiaoxin and Lanyun over. The two entered the room and greeted each other. Jiang Ling pointed to the brocade stools and asked them to sit down. She didn't beat around the bush and asked directly, "Who took the candles that have been withheld these past few days?"
Qiaoxin and Lanyun had just settled down on the brocade stool when they heard this, they swayed, looked at each other, and their faces turned pale.
"This servant dares not, please, Your Excellency, investigate thoroughly," Qiaoxin replied, bowing her head.
Lan Yun followed up, saying, "My lady, you only know about the accounts; you know nothing else."
"The red leaves and green branches beside Gao Cairen were beaten half to death and sent to Willow Lane."
Jiang Ling threatened them, observing their reactions without showing any emotion. Seeing their panicked expressions, he slowly said, "I won't pursue the previous accounts. However, you must tell the truth. Don't try to hide who got the embezzled items. After all, there are so many people in the Lantern and Candle Bureau, the truth will eventually come out."
Having said that, Jiang Ling was secretly pleased with herself. Look at her, she's really improved a lot, and now she knows how to use both kindness and severity.
Qiaoxin and Lanyun buried their heads almost in the ground, but they didn't utter a sound.
Jiang Ling's earlier smugness vanished instantly. After a moment's hesitation, she tentatively asked, "Is it someone you dare not mention?"
Qiaoxin blushed and said in a tearful voice, "My beauty, please understand, I really didn't take it."
Lan Yun bit her lip, but remained silent.
Jiang Ling was deflated. She couldn't bring herself to force them into Willow Lane. She sighed and said, "Fine, I won't force you anymore. I'll just replace all the people in the Lantern and Candle Office. You can go work elsewhere."
Qiaoxin and Lanyun were shocked. If Jiang Ling really replaced them, they, as female historians, might be assigned to be lowly palace maids.
"Jiang Meiren, this servant truly did not take it." Qiaoxin stood up and knelt on the ground, and Lanyun also stood up and knelt down.
Qiaoyun pleaded, "Please, Lady Jiang, spare me. I... I..." She gritted her teeth and whispered, "I gave everything to Zhong Shanggong, and Zhong Shanggong gave it to Granny Huang."
Lan Yun hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "Qiao Xin is right. These days, Consort Jiang has not been in charge of affairs, so Palace Attendant Zhong instructed me and Qiao Xin to deliver the remaining candles to her. I will keep them for Consort Jiang and will not give them to Palace Attendant Zhong."
Jiang Ling thought to herself that it really was Consort Zhao, but she didn't think Consort Zhao would be so stupid. She was afraid that someone would take it by using her name.
She smiled and said, "The number of lamps and candles in each place should be the same as the allotted amount, and no one may withhold anything. If you continue to work in the lamp and candle department, there will be no more extra income."
Both of them blushed instantly. Qiaoxin quickly glanced at Jiang Ling and saw that she was looking at her. She lowered her head in a panic and could no longer say any of her explanations.
Lan Yun understood the implication in Jiang Ling's words and knew that they had also benefited, so she wisely kept quiet.
After saying only a few words, Jiang Ling felt tired and didn't want to say any more. He said, "You should go back and think it over carefully about what to do next."
The two women quickly bowed and took their leave. Wenjuan said, "Since they are unreliable, why don't you replace them all, my lady?"
"Who should we replace them with?" Jiang Ling shrugged and said helplessly, "People from other places may not be reliable. Besides, the Candle and Lamp Office is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Personnel, so replacing them would be a big undertaking and would require the Emperor's approval."
Wen Juan thought about it and agreed, saying, "My beauty, why don't I let you keep an eye on things for a few days?"
Jiang Ling's heart skipped a beat, and he said, "Don't go, let Qingwen go. Besides distributing the supplies in full, someone also needs to watch over the materials that are sent in."
In Jiang Ling's mind, Qingwen was far less reliable than Wenjuan, but she was clever. If she could spot a mistake, then she would truly be guilty.
Wenjuan could easily control fools like A'ruo Fanghe. But keeping clever but disloyal people around is like keeping a powder keg.
Wen Juan paused for a moment, then asked, "Is Your Excellency worried about Qingwen?"
"You and Qingwen are very close. Do you trust her?" Jiang Ling asked curiously.
Wenjuan hesitated to answer. Although she and Qingwen served in the same palace, they did not work together. Wenjuan could not guarantee Qingwen's character.
Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door. Jiang Ling turned her head to look, and Qingwen lifted the curtain, curtsied, and said, "Beauty Jiang, Consort Lin has arrived."
Jiang Ling was stunned for a moment, then immediately became very nervous.
No one visits the Three Treasures Hall without a reason, let alone the unassuming Consort Lin!
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