Chapter 35: Crows Cry at Night (Part 4)
The winter examination case had been solved, but the censors and Hanlin Academy scholars spent an entire month debating Wu Ji Kang’s punishment. Initially, they merely disagreed on the severity of the punishment. But their arguments escalated, becoming increasingly heated.
As the Mid-Autumn Festival approached, their disagreements turned into a physical altercation in the Qing He Palace, right before the Emperor.
The fight triggered the Emperor’s chronic headaches, causing chaos as the imperial physicians rushed to attend to both the Emperor and the injured officials.
“Scholar He, you shouldn’t have gotten involved. You should have stayed away,” Assistant Minister Pei Zhi Yuan said, seeing Scholar He Tong kneeling outside the Hall of State Affairs. He playfully lifted He Tong’s official hat, revealing a bandage beneath. “Look at your head. Tsk tsk…”
“Who wanted to fight? Those old fools from the Censorate are a disgrace to scholars!” He Tong said angrily, snatching back his hat. “Except for Chief Censor Jiang, they were all spouting nonsense before the Emperor! When they ran out of arguments, they resorted to violence! If I hadn’t defended myself, wouldn’t that have emboldened them?”
Seeing He Tong’s temper flare again, Pei Zhi Yuan murmured in agreement, then a voice from inside the hall boomed, “He Tong! Kneel properly!”
Hearing his teacher, Zhang Jing’s, angry voice, He Tong immediately lowered his head, subdued.
“Scholar He, your hat is crooked,” Pei Zhi Yuan said, then added, “Minister Zhang is angry. Stay outside for a while. I’ll go in and see what’s going on.”
He Tong straightened his hat, recognizing Pei Zhi Yuan’s sarcasm, and ignored him.
“Chong Zhi, he’s from the Hanlin Academy, after all,” Meng Yun Xian said, placing a memorial on his lap and lowering his voice, seeing Zhang Jing’s dark expression. The officials hadn’t all arrived yet. “Although you’re his teacher, you can’t control his actions.”
Zhang Jing turned to him. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking. Isn’t this exactly what you wanted?”
“The conflict between the Censorate and the Hanlin Academy has escalated to this point. You’re even less concerned than Jiang Xian Ming. Ni Qinglan’s case is no longer just about Ni Qinglan. They’re not fighting for him anymore.”
Zhang Jing coughed, refusing the tea Meng Yun Xian offered and asking an attendant for a fresh cup. After a few sips, he continued, “I want to ask you, is this enough?”
Meng Yun Xian’s smile faded slightly. “No.”
“Chong Zhi, although Grand Mentor Wu hasn’t seen the Emperor, with the Emperor’s illness today, Imperial Concubine Wu immediately went to attend to him.”
“Concubine Wu has been by the Emperor’s side for many years. She’s his favorite. Wu Ji Kang is her only brother, and they’re quite far apart in age. She has no children of her own and dotes on him. And the Emperor practically watched Wu Ji Kang grow up. Do you think his refusal to see Grand Mentor Wu reflects his true intentions?”
Meng Yun Xian looked at the bright sunlight outside, his tone meaningful. “I don’t think the Emperor truly wants to punish Wu Ji Kang.”
On the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Emperor was still bedridden. The struggle between the Censorate and the Hanlin Academy intensified, but they still hadn’t reached a consensus on Wu Ji Kang’s punishment.
“I heard he has asthma and suffered an attack at the Yin Ye Si. His sister, the Imperial Concubine, pleaded with the Emperor…”
“The Emperor issued a decree this morning, allowing him to return to the Wu residence to recuperate…”
The afternoon sun was bright, but Ni Su felt a chill as she listened to the discussions around her. Suddenly, someone shouted, “He’s coming out!” and she looked up.
The heavy doors of the Yin Ye Si slowly opened, and a richly dressed young man was carried out on a palanquin, his face pale, his breathing shallow, his eyes half-closed.
“Han Qing, you’ve barely been at the palace since taking on this winter examination case. If I hadn’t been summoned here today, I wouldn’t have seen you,” Liang Shen Fu, the Chief Eunuch, said with a smile, after instructing the palanquin bearers to be careful.
“Godfather, I’ll return to the palace tonight. It’s the Mid-Autumn Festival. I should be by your side,” Han Qing said with a smile.
“We don’t have holidays. The Emperor is suffering from headaches. Even if you came, I wouldn’t have time for you,” Liang Shen Fu said, patting his shoulder. “I appreciate your thoughtfulness. But let me give you some advice: don’t be too zealous. You might displease the Emperor.”
Liang Shen Fu’s words were carefully chosen, his voice low, meant only for Han Qing’s ears.
“I understand, Godfather,” Han Qing said, bowing his head.
As they were speaking, Zhou Ting noticed Ni Su in the crowd, dressed in mourning clothes, a white band around her forehead, her hair devoid of ornaments.
“Director, Miss Ni is here,” he said.
Both Han Qing and Liang Shen Fu followed his gaze. The young woman in white stood out in the bright sunlight.
“Don’t let her cause trouble,” Han Qing said to Zhou Ting, frowning.
Zhou Ting immediately went down the steps. At the same moment, Wu Ji Kang’s palanquin was about to pass through the crowd. The Wu residence servants cleared a path, one of them shouting, “Make way!” He paused, his eyes widening as he saw Ni Su.
All eyes turned to her.
“Miss Ni, you shouldn’t be here,” Zhou Ting said, approaching her quickly.
“I just wanted to see. Is that not allowed?” she asked, her gaze fixed on the palanquin.
“See what?” Zhou Ting asked. It wasn’t appropriate to discuss the case details in public.
“To see what the murderer who killed my brother looks like,” Ni Su said, her voice loud enough for Wu Ji Kang to hear.
The young man on the palanquin, looking weak and ill, met her gaze and suddenly began to cough violently.
Liang Shen Fu, seeing his struggling breaths, said quickly, “Hurry! Take Young Master back to the residence! The imperial physicians are waiting! Don’t delay any longer!”
The crowd parted as the palanquin bearers hurried away. Ni Su watched coldly as Wu Ji Kang, from his elevated position, looked down at her.
He was smiling.
Ni Su’s mind went blank.
The crowd dispersed, carrying Wu Ji Kang away. Zhou Ting whispered something to her, but she didn’t hear, her mind filled with the image of Wu Ji Kang’s smile.
Like needles piercing her heart, tearing at her sanity.
She turned, her gaze fixed on his retreating figure.
He was carried away, surrounded by people, high above the crowd.
“Miss Ni,” Zhou Ting said, stopping her from following.
The crowd had dispersed, leaving only Ni Su and Zhou Ting before the Yin Ye Si gate. Ni Su looked up at his hand gripping her wrist.
He immediately released her, his eyes widening slightly as he saw her red-rimmed eyes. “Don’t be impulsive. He’s returning home under the Emperor’s decree. Interfering would be defying the imperial edict.”
“Then what can I do?” Ni Su asked, her voice trembling. “Commander Zhou, why can he kill someone and be allowed to return home? Why is it so difficult for me to get justice?!”
Why?
Because Wu Ji Kang claimed it was manslaughter, because the Emperor favored him, and because the Wu family was powerful, while she was alone.
She couldn’t voice these thoughts. It would be disrespectful to the Emperor.
Zhou Ting was silent for a moment. “Miss Ni, I also want justice for you. The Yin Ye Si hasn’t given up on this case. Please take care of yourself.”
Ni Su, no longer listening, turned and walked away.
“Commander Zhou, I heard the Hanlin Academy officials tried to convict that Young Master Wu, but the Emperor, feigning illness, ignored them… The Emperor is biased. Where’s the justice? What if, in the end, Wu Ji Kang isn’t punished? I don’t think the Director can do anything. He wouldn’t defy the Emperor…” Chao Yi Song sighed.
Zhou Ting, a veteran of the court, understood how unfavorable this situation was for Ni Su. A complex expression crossed his face.
On the Mid-Autumn Festival, a large lantern tower had been erected in the street. Even in daylight, people were climbing ladders to light the lanterns. The light wasn’t particularly beautiful.
Ni Su watched, feeling dizzy, the towering lantern tower seeming to sway precariously, threatening to collapse and crush her.
She heard a creaking sound, but she didn’t move, only raising her hand to shield her face.
The world spun.
She couldn’t see the tower or the people around her clearly, until an arm wrapped around her waist. She looked up at his pale, beautiful face in the bright sunlight, then at the lantern tower.
It stood firm, not collapsing.
Tears welled up in Ni Su’s eyes, and she clung to Xu He Xue like a lifeline.
To avoid attracting attention, Xu He Xue, his lips pressed together, materialized, letting her hold him.
He looked at the towering lantern tower, its light reflecting in his eyes.
No one noticed his sudden appearance. He listened to her sobs and looked up at the tower. “Ni Su, don’t cry. We’re not at a dead end yet.”
Ni Su looked up at him through her tears.
Xu He Xue lowered his gaze. “Even if the Emperor wants to protect him, he can’t change the fact that Wu Ji Kang committed murder. And you can force his hand.”
How?
Ni Su’s eyelids flickered. “The Dengwen Drum Court…” she murmured.
“The Emperor cares about public opinion. Use that. Make your brother’s case known throughout Yun Jing. Let the people be your petition.” He paused. “But Ni Su, you know the consequences of appealing to the Dengwen Drum Court.”
This wouldn’t just be an accusation; it would be a public challenge to the Emperor’s authority. The punishment would be severe.
“I’ll do it,” Ni Su said, her voice choking with tears.
He knew she would. If there were a better way, he wouldn’t have suggested this. The Emperor’s favoritism towards Wu Ji Kang was obvious. He could guess what Meng Yun Xian was waiting for.
This was the best way, the best way to align with Meng Yun Xian’s plan.
But Xu He Xue couldn’t help but think how cruel these political games were to Ni Su.
The lantern tower grew brighter, almost blinding.
The noise around them intensified.
Xu He Xue, in the mingled sunlight and lantern light, gently touched her hair. “Ni Su, do you want mooncakes?”
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