Chapter 4 The Hongmen Sedan Chair "Feng Tan, if you don't want your tongue either..."
If you walk three miles east from Fangchun Garden and then turn a corner, you will reach Lingdong Street, where the residence of Gao Yu, the Minister of Justice, is located.
Gao Yu came from the Gao family of Huaixi. Among the prominent families of officials in the provinces of Dahuang, the Gao family was not ranked. Gao Yu himself had never passed the imperial examination. However, he was lucky. Not long after entering the scholarly world, he encountered the most lucrative position in the court, the Salt Commissioner of Lianghuai. After completing his term, he was promoted to Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice. He rose through the ranks again because of solving a shocking case of a woman causing disaster, and became Minister of Justice.
In the infamous "Women's Calamity" case that shocked the court and the public, Gao Yu beheaded over a hundred women involved in the rebellion overnight, hanging their heads on the execution ground to dry for three days, and forbidding their families from collecting their bodies after their deaths. With this major threat eliminated from Emperor Chongming's grasp, Gao Yu was promoted from a third-rank official to a second-rank official. To this day, Gao Yu has served as Minister of Justice for five years, during which time his methods have been ruthless and merciless, earning him a reputation for lust and malice. The people of the capital fear him second only to Xiao Yinshi.
The Gao family mansion had high walls and vermilion gates. Although the flowers, trees, bamboo and rocks in the courtyard were not as charming as those in the Fangchun Garden, they were still elegant. The main hall was five bays in size, with painted beams and pillars that were extremely ornate. Inside the room was a cherry wood carved octagonal table covered with felt, with writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstones all laid out.
Hearing footsteps, Gao Yu looked up from his book and smiled, "Lord Feng is here."
Feng Tan curtsied and said, "Greetings, Lord Gao."
The boy lowered his head, revealing a section of his smooth, white neck, the soft texture of which gleamed faintly in the dimly lit study.
Gao Yu's cloudy eyes brightened slightly, his voice was dry and hoarse, sounding old and weak, "Lord Feng, a rising star in the Ministry of Justice, may I ask what business you have with this old man?"
Feng Tan raised his head and said, "The Ministry of Justice is ordered to investigate all matters of the Ministry of Justice. Yesterday, I learned that Your Excellency sent Lin Wanzhou of the Red Sleeve Pavilion to Lord Xiao's residence without imperial decree. Forgive my bluntness, but Your Excellency's actions are illegal."
Before heading to Xiao Yinshi's residence, Feng Tan wanted to investigate Gao Yu's true intentions. She had a feeling that this matter was not as simple as it seemed on the surface.
When Gao Yu saw the young man's face, his aged face seemed to come alive again, like a withered tree in spring. He swallowed and said, "I naturally understand what Lord Feng is saying, but Lord Feng, you do not know my difficulties. His Majesty has ordered me to find the real culprit within the month, or else the Censorate will convict me! This case is difficult to handle. I sent Xiao Yinshi's woman only to get a few more days to finish my task."
Gao Yu abruptly changed the subject, his tone turning sinister, "Lord Feng, the Ministry of Justice and the Criminal Investigation Department are essentially one entity. Why are you so eager to destroy me?"
Another threat.
Feng Tan had already learned her lesson from Xiao Yinshi, so Gao Yu's words had no effect on her. "Lord Gao, the laws of Dahuang are strict, and the Ministry of Justice should set an example. If His Majesty finds out that you are secretly abusing your power for personal gain..."
This is counter-threat.
Instead of being angry, Gao Yu laughed, his eyes fixed on Feng Tan's face. "His Majesty has the Embroidered Uniform Guard by his side. How could His Majesty not know that I gave Lin Wanzhou to Xiao Yin? His Majesty has only turned a blind eye. If you were to expose this matter to His Majesty... guess what your fate would be?"
"Furthermore, Lord Feng, there's a vulgar saying: 'If a female dog doesn't wag her tail, a male dog won't mount her.' If she didn't want to, and threatened to kill herself, how could I dare send her to Lord Xiao? She's nothing but a lowly prostitute, yet she dares to call herself the top courtesan. In my opinion, her beauty is far inferior to even one ten-thousandth of Lord Feng's..."
Having achieved her goal, Feng Tan interrupted Gao Yu's increasingly explicit words, "Lord Gao, I have troubled you today. I shall take my leave."
Watching the boy's departing figure, Gao Yu laughed sinisterly, "A mere seventh-rank official, still wet behind the ears, dares to challenge me. However, his looks are the best here. Given time... I'll make you beg me to fuck you."
The maid who came to clear the teacups didn't dare to look up, but upon hearing the laughter, she still accidentally knocked over the porcelain saucer in her hand. Gao Yu glanced at her and said, "Demoted to a beauty's bowl."
***
The capital city experiences frequent rain and snow in winter. Yesterday the weather cleared up, but today it's sleeting again.
When Feng Tanxia came out of the Six Departments Corridor, the sky was already dusky. A vermilion lacquered carriage stood quietly at the entrance. The red horse was strong and its coat was shiny. The carriage was covered with waterproof bright yellow silk. Scarlet silk ribbons hung from the four eaves of the carriage. The surrounding curtains were made of white fox fur, and the latticed windows were covered with them to ensure that no heat would escape in the cold winter.
The coachman, dressed in a blue robe and straw hat, stood silently to one side, motionless in the cool rain and snow. If it weren't for the warm breath he exhaled from his nose, Feng Tan would almost have thought he was a lifelike sculpture.
Looking at the luxurious and extravagant car, Feng Tan silently calculated in his mind that he would need to work hard for another five years with his salary to afford one.
Promotion brings wealth, promotion brings wealth, no wonder everyone says that you can only get rich after you get promoted!
She sighed inwardly, lifted the sedan curtain and boarded the carriage. The warm bamboo charcoal steam wafted over her, but before she could even feel the warmth, she looked up and saw Xiao Yinshi.
Xiao Yinshi was still not wearing his official robes. A dark brocade robe with silver patterns outlined his strong waist and long legs. He held a book called "The Strange Tales of the Great Huang Geography" between his slender fingers, and sat in a lazy and relaxed posture. The shimmering candlelight shone on his delicate eyebrows, and his long eyelashes cast pale shadows, making him look as handsome as a painting.
Feng Tan was so frightened that she almost stumbled.
She never expected Xiao Yinshi to go with her. Was he afraid that she would use tricks to successfully take Lin Wanzhou away, or did he have some other concerns?
Her eyelashes trembled slightly as she steadied herself and bowed in the small, enclosed space, saying, "Greetings, Lord Xiao."
Xiao Yinshi's deep, cold eyes looked down at him without any emotion, a chilling meaning settling between his brows. "Close the sedan door."
"Yes." Before Feng Tan could react, the coachman swiftly closed the sedan door.
As the warmth enveloped her, Feng Tan sat down on the soft cushion near the charcoal fire, straightening her posture to minimize her presence.
Xiao Yinshi suddenly put down the book in his hand and called out in a deep voice, "Feng Tan."
In official circles, Feng Tan rarely heard anyone address her by her real name; most people respectfully addressed each other as "Sir." Now that Xiao Yinshi had said it, Feng Tan's heart tightened, and she listened silently to what he would say next.
The man's dark eyes fixed on Feng Tan, and his voice was clear in the silent, snowy night, "At seventeen, he passed the imperial examination and served as the chief clerk of the Qingli Division in Fuzhou. Later, he solved the case of the fallen dragon on his own and was demoted to the Six Ministries in the capital as the chief clerk of the Ministry of Justice."
He paused for a moment, his eyes darkening slightly, like a sharp blade hanging before Feng Tan, and said, "After years of hard work and passing the imperial examinations, you've become complacent after being promoted to a high-ranking official in the capital, focusing instead on a case involving brothels that has nothing to do with you. What is your purpose?"
Just as there was the Feast at Hongmen in ancient times, there is now the Sedan Chair at Hongmen.
Xiao Yinshi investigated Feng Tan's background and began to suspect her.
Feng Tan was well aware that rescuing Lin Wanzhou and Wan Niang would arouse suspicion from others, but she had no other choice; it was something she had to do.
She pursed her lips and said, "The world is bustling, all for profit; the world is bustling, all for gain. I am no exception."
A crackling sound came from the glass lamp, followed by Feng Tan's voice, "I came here only for fame and fortune."
Xiao Yinshi leaned closer, his chuckle carrying an ambiguous mockery, "Feng Tan, if you don't want your tongue anymore, just say so."
The light and shadow in front of Feng Tan dimmed, and an extremely dangerous aura wafted over. She raised her eyes to meet the man's deep-colored eyes, and smiled with her eyebrows curving upwards: "My lord, you are testing me."
The verbal exchanges were all bloodless, yet each move was aimed at taking a life.
She neither retreated nor flinched, her courage, forged through the trials of life, was evident in her eyes, her spirit unyielding. "My lord," she said, "I still stand by what I said: there will always be someone willing to risk everything, even broken bones, to save those they want to protect."
"Lin Wanzhou is someone I want to protect, and also someone I... love."
A sliver of light swept across Xiao Yinshi's eyes as he scrutinized Feng Tan with interest. "Admiration? Feng Tan, you've only been in the capital for half a month, and you haven't had any interaction with Lin Wanzhou during that time. Or perhaps, Lord Feng, you've fallen deeply in love with her simply from hearing her beauty?"
Feng Tan said, “My lord, you may not know, but I once visited the capital when I was young. It was springtime in March, and I had a brief encounter with Lady Lin in Baihua Street. I have cherished her in my heart ever since, and I never forget her. With such a beauty in the capital, I long to redeem her from Hongxiu Pavilion, but I regret that I am of low rank and powerless to do so. Now that Lady Lin is in trouble, I am extremely anxious. I hope you will forgive me if I have offended you.”
After she finished her rambling nonsense, she paused and then said, "The lord has been testing me again and again, simply to find out why I am so obsessed with Lin Wanzhou. Lin Wanzhou is related to the case the lord is investigating. The lord is wondering if my appearance in the capital at this time is also related to the case the lord is handling?"
Their eyes met, and sparks seemed to suddenly explode inside the carriage.
Even through the thin layer of incense smoke, the oppressive aura in Xiao Yinshi's eyes felt tangible, his scrutiny filled with unbridled killing intent. "Feng Tan, how do you know things that even the Ministry of Justice doesn't?"
"My lord, since I was able to solve the Dragon Fall case single-handedly, I naturally possess some skill. As for the matter you are currently investigating... it's just my guess." Feng Tan answered methodically amidst Xiao Yinshi's gaze, which seemed capable of splitting her in two. "First, the day before yesterday, I was led to the Prison Pagoda by Vice Minister Zhen Yongming of the Ministry of Justice. Along the way, I learned that you are not fond of women, so I deduce that you must have other intentions in taking Lin Wanzhou in; second, yesterday I visited Minister Gao Yu of the Ministry of Justice at the Ministry of Justice's residence, and Minister Gao revealed that Lin Wanzhou's admission to your residence was with His Majesty's tacit approval; in addition, yesterday I inadvertently saw you and Minister Weisheng conducting a trial in the Fangchun Garden. Considering these three points, it's not hard to see that you must have other uses for Lin Wanzhou."
Xiao Yinshi's Adam's apple bobbed, and his cold voice rang out, "Knowing that I have a use for her, why do you still insist on taking her away?"
Feng Tan's pupils contracted upon hearing this, and he said, "Does Your Excellency intend to renege on the twelve-hour agreement?!"
Seeing that the boy's anxious expression seemed genuine, Xiao Yinshi was beginning to believe his claim of being in love with Lin Wanzhou. He smiled faintly and said, "I've said it before, whether you can take her away depends on your ability."
The carriage wheels creaked and groaned as they turned over the ice and snow, and after half an hour, they stopped outside a temple on the outskirts of Beijing.
Standing here, Feng Tan felt as if she had stepped into another world.
Thirty-two palace lanterns, arranged in four sections, were hung high in front of the temple gate, illuminating the three large characters on the plaque.
Yongle Temple.
The swirling white snow reflected in front of the red palace lanterns, and yellowed memories suddenly surged into my mind. Feng Tan's steps faltered, her Dharma form was bound, and her body was like a dam breaking, surging into the past.
A note from the author:
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
