Princess Tijia's residence.
The case had landed in the hands of the Kaifeng Prefecture, and Princess Tijia dared not delay. She urgently summoned Cen Xu, a Director of the Ministry of Justice.
Cen Xu was in charge of criminal cases and was extremely familiar with the law. As soon as he heard the gist of the matter, he knew it was bad.
Princess Tijia sat in the seat of honor, while Chen Sizhen stood nearby, his face pale as paper, his whole body trembling like a frightened quail.
Cen Xu stood solemnly in the center of the hall and analyzed in a deep voice: "The Kaifeng Prefecture was originally known for the saying that officials there outrank even those of higher rank by one level. Even though the previous acting magistrate, Yu Ping, has been timid and indecisive since taking office, causing the Kaifeng Prefecture to lose its former glory, the backbone of the Prefecture remains.
The Prefecture currently has two vice-magistrates. One is Li Fulin, who has cultivated his career for many years, smooth and seasoned, versed in the ways of the world. The other is Zhang Jiu, who appears easygoing on the surface but is in fact upright, rigid, and strict. But the biggest problem is the current acting magistrate of the Prefecture: Yan Tongshu."
Princess Tijia pursed her lips and said nothing. Chen Sizhen asked urgently: "What about Yan Tongshu? Would she dare to oppose the Princess?"
Cen Xu lowered his eyes and smiled slightly: "Why wouldn't she dare? Yan Tongshu is notoriously known throughout the court and the realm as a tough nut to crack. Even back when the late emperor was still on the throne, she was famous for her integrity, impeaching officials across the board without exception. Now that His Majesty has ascended the throne, she left the Xianlin Academy less than a month ago, and already her policy of 'all appointments through examination, one exam per year' has irritated the entire court into daily impeachments against her. She neither bends to soft approaches nor breaks under hard pressure. She is absolutely not easy to deal with."
Chen Sizhen's mind conjured up the image of Yan Tongshu at General Meng's birthday banquet, head lowered, concentrating entirely on eating.
Surely not?
Wasn't she just a dazed fool who only knew how to eat?
Princess Tijia asked: "What should we do in this situation?"
Cen Xu said decisively: "One word: stall."
Princess Tijia: "Stall?"
Cen Xu said: "Given Yan Tongshu's excessively upright nature, now that Li Fulin and Zhang Jiu of the Kaifeng Prefecture were beaten out of the Princess's residence today, she will definitely personally lead her men to arrest Consort Chen..."
Hearing this, all the color drained from Chen Sizhen's face in an instant.
Cen Xu glanced sidelong at Chen Sizhen, then finally fixed his gaze on Princess Tijia's face: "Consort Chen must not be taken away today. Once taken, Magistrate Yan will certainly act with lightning speed and settle this case by the end of the day. At that point, the case becomes an ironclad verdict with no room for reversal. Only by stalling—by buying one or two days—can we scheme in between and overturn the case for the Consort..."
Bang bang bang.
Before he finished speaking, urgent knocking came at the study door, and Aunt Cuisheng's voice sounded from outside: "Princess, something terrible has happened. The magistrate of Kaifeng Prefecture has personally led troops to surround the residence. Every constable carries double swords, and they all look fierce."
Chen Sizhen trembled all over from fear: "How—how dare she? Yan Tongshu?"
Cen Xu lowered his eyes and smiled: "Of course she dares. She dared even at fourteen."
Back then, his elder brother, drunk, had stripped the clothes off a servant of the household in the middle of the street, tied him with rope, and dragged him along the ground, gravely injuring the servant. Yan Tongshu, then only a sixth-rank official, submitted thirty-two memorials in a row in a death-defying remonstrance, forcing the late emperor to punish his brother with maximum severity—stripping him of office and banishing him—and even his father was implicated, such that to this day, he has seen no advancement or promotion.
Had his brother not been exiled and died along the way, how would all of the Cen family's resources have been poured unreservedly onto him instead, lifting him up to his current position?
Cen Xu bowed: "Please, Princess, go ahead. Delay them as long as you can."
Princess Tijia looked at Cen Xu: "You have a plan?"
Cen Xu looked at Chen Sizhen's right leg and curved his lips into a smile: "Princess, please rest assured. Today, Yan Tongshu will not be taking Consort Chen away."
Princess Tijia gave Cen Xu a look that said "I leave this to you," rose, and walked out of the study, leading troops to the front of the residence.
Princess Tijia's voice arrived before she did: "Magistrate Yan, what an impressive show of authority."
Yan Tongshu ignored her words and marched straight in with her men. The Princess's guards, constrained by her official status, dared not act rashly and could only let them pass—so much so that when Princess Tijia came over, she nearly collided head-on with Yan Tongshu.
Princess Tijia was so angry her face twitched: "You—"
In her entire life, she had never met such a stubborn fool, actually barging straight into the Princess's residence.
And when the two collided, Yan Tongshu didn't budge an inch—not even half a step back—while she herself stumbled back several paces.
Had Aunt Cuisheng not caught her in time, she would have fallen.
Yan Tongshu stood with a perfectly straight back and gave a salute that was anything but respectful: "Princess, someone from the Kaifeng Prefecture has filed a complaint against the Consort. I have come to invite the Consort to the Prefecture for questioning."
Princess Tijia's face turned ashen. The finger she pointed at Yan Tongshu trembled: "You call this an invitation? I say you are committing rebellion!"
"Rebellion?" At this, Yan Tongshu bristled: "Princess, I am a court official acting according to law. Where is my error? On the contrary, you have allowed your guards to beat the officials and constables of the Kaifeng Prefecture. It is I who should charge you with rebellion!"
Princess Tijia's heart clenched with pain: "You—you actually dare to charge me with a crime?"
Yan Tongshu let out a cold sneer: "I am currently the acting magistrate of the Kaifeng Prefecture. Charging you according to law is entirely proper. If Your Highness is dissatisfied with my conduct and wishes to have me charged, then you may do so—after I am dismissed from office. Search!"
At her command, the constables behind her sprang into action.
Princess Tijia shouted: "Who dares!"
The Princess's guards drew their blades, and the Kaifeng Prefecture constables refused to back down, long swords leaving their sheaths in unison.
Swords were drawn, tensions skyrocketing—a spark away from war.
Princess Tijia glared at Yan Tongshu: "Yan Tongshu, you dare draw weapons inside the Princess's residence?"
Yan Tongshu's face was cold as frost: "Are we of the Kaifeng Prefecture supposed to be target practice—only allowed to be beaten and not to fight back?"
"You—" Princess Tijia pointed at Yan Tongshu, her whole body shaking: "Do you believe I will petition the Empress Dowager to charge you with the crime of great disrespect?"
Yan Tongshu grew impatient: "Be my guest."
With absolutely no reverence whatsoever. In fact, highly provocative.
Princess Tijia was choked with fury, her chest heaving violently, almost unable to breathe.
The two sides clashed in a standoff, neither gaining the upper hand.
But the constables of the Kaifeng Prefecture were only constables, whereas the Princess's guards had been trained in the military camps.
If it truly came to battle, Princess Tijia had absolute confidence in beating back the Kaifeng Prefecture constables.
Just then, the thunderous sound of hooves rang out.
The iron cavalry of the Divine Guards Regiment arrived at full gallop, an awe-inspiring sight.
Meng Zheng was the first to dismount.
Immediately after, twenty Divine Guards soldiers landed in perfect unison, their movements flawlessly synchronized.
Meng Zheng strode rapidly toward Yan Tongshu, his cold, hard armor clattering with each step.
Meng Zheng came to Yan Tongshu's side, swept a cold glance over Princess Tijia, then turned to Yan Tongshu and said with steel in his voice: "Magistrate Yan, twenty Divine Guards soldiers are in position, awaiting your orders."
Yan Tongshu felt three parts surprise and seven parts "just as expected" at how promptly and obediently Meng Zheng had arrived, but showed no great agitation over it.
She said coldly: "Commander Meng, please disarm the Princess's guards."
Meng Zheng: "Yes."
Meng Zheng drew his sword.
Twenty long blades left their sheaths in unison, all pointed straight at the Princess's guards.
The Divine Guards were not mere constables; they were genuine elite soldiers of the army.
At this moment, they held their sharpened blades, cold light flashing, murderous intent radiating in every direction.
Princess Tijia had been pampered her entire life by the late emperor and the empress dowager, and had never encountered such a tough adversary. She gritted her teeth, feeling fear for the first time in her heart.
At the critical moment, a servant girl suddenly ran over shouting, "Terrible! Terrible!"
She threw herself at Princess Tijia's feet: "The consort was playing with the young lady when he fell from the rockery and broke his leg."
What?
Princess Tijia turned around in shock, her eyes lowered. She guessed this was Cen Xu's scheme and immediately said, "Take me there at once."
Yan Tongshu's mouth twitched sharply, and she followed.
Meng Zheng thought for a moment, sheathed his sword, and followed as well.
The three of them quickly arrived at Chen Sizhen's sleeping quarters.
Chen Sizhen lay on the bed, clutching his leg, crying and wailing.
Blood seeped through his trousers, staining the sheets and quilt.
Princess Tijia frowned coldly and asked, "Where's the physician?"
The servant girl knelt: "Lülu has already gone to fetch one."
Yan Tongshu stepped forward, grabbed Chen Sizhen's pulse, and her face went stiff.
Chen Sizhen's leg was indeed broken.
After a moment, the princess's mansion physician also arrived. After a careful examination, he had everyone cleared out and began treating Chen Sizhen.
Princess Tijia's expression remained unchanged: "Master Yan, the consort's leg is injured and cannot be easily moved. I'm afraid he won't be able to appear at the Kaifeng court for trial in the short term."
The case had not yet been decided, and since Chen Sizhen had not been convicted, he was not a criminal. By law, the defendant's health took precedence.
Moreover, Chen Sizhen was still the consort.
But who said they'd let him off so easily?
Yan Tongshu raised her eyes to Princess Tijia, her gaze steady: "Princess, I just took Consort Chen's pulse. He only broke his leg—a mere external injury, not a life-threatening illness. Once the bone is set, medicated and fixed, he can be on his feet within two days. If truly necessary, I can kindly gift Consort Chen a wheelchair."
Princess Tijia's gaze turned icy: "Master Yan, the consort's leg is broken, and I am greatly distressed. I ask you to grant the consort more time to recuperate."
Yan Tongshu: "The case cannot wait. The Kaifeng court is swamped with business and has no time to spare. The consort will appear at the Kaifeng court in two days to face the plaintiff in court. Otherwise, I will personally come to fetch him."
Princess Tijia: "Master Yan truly shows no courtesy at all?"
Yan Tongshu: "The law shows no mercy."
Princess Tijia's chest heaved violently. She stepped close to Yan Tongshu and threatened in a low voice: "Master Yan spent eight years in the dark and dreary Xianlin Hall, and barely managed to rise again. Aren't you afraid I'll send you back there?"
Hearing this, Yan Tongshu laughed: "If that is so, then the princess's great kindness, Tongshu will never forget."
With that, Yan Tongshu turned and walked away, leaving Princess Tijia with a dashing silhouette.
Meng Zheng saw Princess Tijia's face shift through various shades of emotion, suppressed the smile at his lips, and bowed in farewell.
Yan Tongshu walked out of the princess's mansion, dropping her composed demeanor at once, and grumbled angrily: "Why didn't they just break both of Chen Sizhen's legs!"
That leg of Chen Sizhen's—it clearly wasn't from a fall, it was deliberately broken by someone.
It infuriated her.
A wasted trip, a waste of time.
Zhang Jiu, who had been standing at attention since following the Shenwei Army there, stepped forward: "Master Yan?"
"That bastard broke his leg and needs treatment." Yan Tongshu waved at the bailiffs: "Back to the Kaifeng court."
The bailiffs withdrew their weapons and began adjusting their ranks.
Meng Zheng walked out of the princess's mansion, his right hand gripping the hilt of the saber at his waist, standing as tall and straight as a pine.
He looked at Yan Tongshu.
The sunlight fell on Yan Tongshu's face and body.
The golden dusk set a golden trim on the red official robe, strikingly vivid amid the bleak autumn.
Yan Tongshu grabbed the saddle and hoisted herself up with effort.
The movement was not smooth, the posture not neat, and even somewhat laborious, but once mounted, she took the reins and rode with great skill.
Just like her performance earlier.
Clumsy yet upright.
Witty yet unpretentious.
A newborn calf fearless of tigers, and a moment of righteous spirit—these were nothing special.
What was rare was that after eight years in Xianlin Hall, her original heart remained steadfast.
His heart stirred slightly as Meng Zheng vaulted onto his horse, squeezed the horse's belly with his legs, and caught up with Yan Tongshu: "Master Yan."
His voice was clear and bright, like an open clearing beyond a small path.
Yan Tongshu pulled the reins to stop her horse and turned her head: "Commander Meng, is something the matter?"
Meng Zheng said: "Master Yan, getting a hand order through the official process is very slow. So..."
Yan Tongshu blinked in confusion, and he smiled: "In the future, if there's an urgent matter, feel free to send word at any time. The Shenwei Army and the Kaifeng court share the duty of guarding Bianjing."
With that, Meng Zheng pulled the reins and returned to the Shenwei Army ranks.
Yan Tongshu tilted her head. Odd, what did he mean?
Never mind.
Yan Tongshu shook her head. These people who had been officials for years all spoke in circles, with several hidden meanings packed into every sentence. If she couldn't figure it out, she wouldn't bother.
Back at the Kaifeng court, Yan Tongshu dismissed the bailiffs, and Pearl quickly offered her hot tea.
Zhang Jiu stepped forward, cupping his hands: "Master Yan."
Yan Tongshu took a sip of tea and asked, "Is there something else?"
Zhang Jiu looked at Yan Tongshu. Those jade-like eyes seemed to have been washed in cold water. He pressed his lips together, his lips squeezing tightly, many words churning in his throat.
When Zhang Jiu still did not speak after a long while, Yan Tongshu asked again: "Vice Governor Zhang?"
Zhang Jiu lowered his head, the clear light in his eyes dimming: "Master Yan, shall we still try the case of Consort Chen?"
Yan Tongshu was utterly baffled. She countered: "Didn't we just say Consort Chen's leg is broken, and the trial will be in two days?"
Zhang Jiu: "Is Consort Chen's leg really broken?"
Yan Tongshu nodded: "Really, broken by someone deliberately. The leg's broken and needs treatment. They're exploiting a loophole, and there's no way around it."
Zhang Jiu raised his head, his gaze complex—surprise, doubt, and distrust of Yan Tongshu: "But if we delay two days, the princess's mansion has enough influence to tamper with the case."
Yan Tongshu rubbed her chin thoughtfully: "I'm also puzzled. What's the point of dragging this out for two days? Can the princess's mansion make Chen Sizhen into a fake person? And the evidence is all sealed at the Kaifeng court—could the princess's mansion bribe someone in the court to destroy it?"
This case was nothing like a modern civil lawsuit where one could drop charges; once a case was filed, it had to be pursued to the end.
And Chen Sizhen was the consort. If this case didn't go through the Kaifeng court, impeachment could still be submitted.
Zhang Jiu shook his head.
He didn't know either.
Zhang Jiu spoke up: "However, Master Yan, should we find a legal representative for Lady Qing and the others?"
Yan Tongshu: "We can look, but I'm afraid..."
Zhang Jiu: "Is Master Yan afraid no one will dare to take it?"
Yan Tongshu nodded. "In any case, do your best to find someone. It's best if you do. If not, we'll play it by ear."
Zhang Jiu: "Understood, I'll handle it."
After finishing with Zhang Jiu, Yan Tongshu went to the inner hall of the Kaifeng court.
The inner hall was the office area, very large, with more than twenty departments and a sizeable number of staff.
In the northeast corner were two small rest rooms, where Lady Qing and the others were staying.
Pearl and Jinbao were helping them clean up.
Yan Tongshu walked in: "Is the stay comfortable?"
Lady Qing put down her rag, pulled a chair over for Yan Tongshu: "Master Yan, please have a seat."
While Jinbao was moving things outside, Pearl walked over to Yan Tongshu with a smile: "Young Master, Yingge and Jiang Ge are so clever. I taught them a song and they picked it up right away."
Yan Tongshu asked, "What song was it?"
Pearl hummed a tune, a nursery rhyme from her childhood hometown, full of joyful playfulness.
There was no tea in the house, and Lady Qing couldn't afford tea leaves either, so she poured a cup of hot water and brought it over. Yan Tongshu took it and asked, "Yingge, Jiang Ge—those are interesting names. How did you come up with them?"
Granny Chen, sitting at the edge of the bed folding the quilt, chimed in: "It's a custom in our Jiangzhou. When boys are little, they all have 'Ge' added to the end of their names. After Jiang Ge's name was settled, we all just called him that."
Lady Qing also said, "My husband said that great rivers and long streams—'Jiang' is a particularly fine character. So he gave Jiang Ge the single character, Jiang. As for Yingge, it's a song from our area. The village elders say it's about a deity who once passed through the village—beautiful, gentle, and incredibly powerful. I also hope that when Yingge grows up, she'll become someone as remarkable as an immortal, so I named her Yingge."
Yan Tongshu took a sip of hot water, set the cup down on the table, and praised, "Both are thoughtful, well-chosen names."
Yan Tongshu chatted with them for a while longer. As Lady Qing spoke of these past seven years, tears streamed down her face.
Especially five years ago, during that great cold spell. The village was hit by disaster, every household was utterly depleted, and there wasn't a single grain of rice to be found in their home.
For a bit of food, Yingge had secretly run to the streets to sell herself, and she'd almost fallen into the hands of human traffickers who would have sold her to a brothel.
Fortunately, her uncle had discovered her, rescued Yingge, and shared some grain with them. Otherwise, they would have starved to death.
Lady Qing sobbed uncontrollably.
Yingge silently held her.
Granny Chen, embracing Chen Jiang Ge, had red-rimmed eyes: "These years, I owe everything to Qingniang's hard work. Without her, this old woman would have died countless times. I used to say that having a son is something to lean on—that was all nonsense. From now on, I have only one daughter, and that's Qingniang, and only two grandchildren—Yingge and Jiang Ge."
Granny Chen spoke firmly, clearly cutting all ties with Chen Sizhen.
Yan Tongshu sighed, "Adversity reveals the truest feelings. In a person's life, sharing hardship together is the most precious thing. If one forgets the bond forged through hardship, forgets gratitude and righteousness, and loses one's conscience—how is that any different from a beast?"
Yan Tongshu finished speaking and looked at Granny Chen.
Lady Qing assumed Yan Tongshu was referring to Chen Sizhen, spat on the ground, and cursed through gritted teeth, "Exactly. That heartless thing doesn't deserve to live in this world."
Yan Tongshu thought for a moment, then said, "By the way, you mentioned that your younger brother also came to the capital a year ago?"
Lady Qing nodded.
Yan Tongshu: "He never met Chen Sizhen?"
"Artisan... no..." Lady Qing bit her tongue, correcting her address of Chen Sizhen, "Consort Chen said he never met my brother. I haven't found him either. Oh, Magistrate Yan, when I left our hometown, the clan elder said that if I couldn't find him, I could ask the government office to post a search notice..."
Lady Qing still harbored a primal fear of the authorities and didn't dare state her request outright. Yan Tongshu smiled: "That's no trouble. In a bit, I'll have a clerk come by. You describe his appearance to him, he'll draw a likeness, and we'll distribute copies to post around town for the search."
Lady Qing immediately beamed and bowed deeply to Yan Tongshu: "Thank you so much, Magistrate Yan."
After chatting a while longer and the room being mostly tidied up, Yan Tongshu left with Pearl and Jinbao.
She looked up at the sky.
The daylight was fading, overcast and grey.
In this world, only the human heart and the sun cannot be stared at directly.
The evidence at Kaifeng Prefecture was securely sealed and archived with the authorities. She wasn't worried that people from the Princess's mansion had the power to destroy it. What worried her was the possibility of someone on Lady Qing's side turning traitor.
That evening, after finishing official duties, Yan Tongshu walked out of Kaifeng Prefecture.
The cold, clear moonlight splashed onto her face, eerily pale and unsettling.
By the time Yan Tongshu got home, she was utterly exhausted.
"Brother, how did you end up so haggard?"
It was frightening.
Yan Liangyu hurried over to support Yan Tongshu. Worried about alarming her sister, Yan Tongshu immediately perked up and straightened her back: "It's fine, I'm just slacking off."
Huh?
Yan Liangyu blinked in confusion.
Pearl couldn't help but laugh quietly and explained in a low voice: "Second Miss, the Young Master just finished a meeting with the Divine Guards. The East and West battalions of the Divine Guards started arguing over the joint patrol schedule with Kaifeng Prefecture, and they almost came to blows right there in the prefecture. The Young Master spent over half an hour just mediating."
Yan Liangyu didn't understand government affairs, but she'd heard of the Divine Guards.
A pack of ruffians, thorn-heads, who'd submit to no one and were impossible to tame.
Curious, Yan Liangyu asked, "And then?"
Pearl shrugged: "Then the Young Master shut the door and made his own schedule. Originally, only a few points were contested by both sides. Now? Nobody's satisfied—every single point rubs them the wrong way. I'd wager both battalions are off filing complaints about the Young Master right about now."
Yan Liangyu paused for a moment, then a corner of her lips curled up.
That was her brother's way, through and through. You don't let me have peace, so I make sure all of you have none.
After a brief silence, Yan Liangyu lifted her head, beaming brightly: "Brother, you did wonderfully. Your little sister supports you."
Yan Tongshu brightened at once. She took Yan Liangyu's arm: "Now that's what I call a good sister. Come, let's walk and talk. Let me tell you, those military ruffians—one hotter temper than the next, like firecrackers waiting to go off. They nearly drove me mad..."
Yan Tongshu went on grumbling to Yan Liangyu until they reached the dining hall, only to find that Lady Yan and Yan Liangrong were both there as well.
Yan Tongshu was a bit puzzled. What's going on? Everyone's here? Is the Zhou family making trouble again?
Yan Liangrong smiled: "We heard you had a rough day today, so Liangyu and I each made two dishes. Quick, try them. They're all your favorites."
"Mm." Yan Tongshu nodded and sat down.
The four dishes were: shrimp stir-fried with cantaloupe, crisp milk rolls, braised yellow croaker, and clear-braised tender pork.
The porridge was mung bean and barley.
Yan Tongshu savored each dish. The crisp milk rolls and clear-braised tender pork were definitely Yan Liangyu's doing. She'd fallen in love with them the first time they were served, and since then, Yan Liangyu made them for her whenever she had the chance.
The braised yellow croaker and the shrimp with cantaloupe were Yan Liangrong's signature dishes—absolutely divine. Unfortunately, after Yan Liangrong married, she rarely came home, so Yan Tongshu rarely got to enjoy them.
After eating for a bit, Yan Liangrong took away Yan Tongshu's chopsticks: "You never stop when you're eating something you love. This is a late-night snack, not a full meal. You shouldn't have too much—watch out for indigestion before bed."
Though reluctant to part with the feast, Yan Tongshu relented.
Yan Liangrong nodded contentedly: "There, that's right. Who eats this much at night?"
She took Yan Tongshu by the hand, helped her stand, and gently smoothed the lapels and sleeves of her red official robes, gazing at her with full satisfaction: "Our Tongshu looks wonderful in this official uniform."
Yan Liangyu chimed in eagerly: "Brother looks super handsome."
Yan Tongshu tilted her head, puzzled: "What exactly is going on with you two?"
