The attendant eunuch came running back, drenched in sweat, and announced loudly, "His Majesty summons Officer Xi into the palace!"
Ever since I began calling myself Xi Xia, those who didn't know the truth assumed Xi was my surname and Xia was my given name. At first, it felt strange to hear, but I had gradually grown accustomed to it. I cupped my hands in a brief salute toward the hostile military officers and followed the eunuch through the South Hua Gate.
In the sweltering heat, he had run back and forth several times, and beads of sweat stood out on his forehead. Feeling a bit apologetic, I lowered my voice and said, "I have truly troubled you, Eunuch."
The eunuch sighed. "By the rules of the dynasties, someone of my station shouldn't gossip about court affairs. However, even if it costs me my head, I’ll say this: those soldier lords don't know the bitterness of having their own daughters sold into brothels. Before I entered the palace, a cousin of mine took his son and daughter to a fair. The crowds were thick, he lost his grip on the girl’s hand, and she vanished. The family searched for three years before finally finding her in a brothel in another province. A perfectly good child, ruined beyond recognition..." He trailed off, sighing with heavy emotion.
I had heard of such tragedies before, and my heart sank. In the eyes of the law, Lady Changping’s illegal gold mining was the more serious crime, but for the common people, the human trafficking was what truly cut to the bone.
The eunuch sighed once more before speaking again. "I cannot help you much, Officer Xi, but let me offer a word of caution: His Majesty is in a foul mood today. You must be careful with your words."
I nodded.
This was my first time entering the Imperial Study. I suspected the Imperial Study was also hosting a seventh-rank official for the first time. The thought filled me with a sense of trepidation. Thus, I kept my head low and knelt respectfully to perform the formal salutations.
The atmosphere was stifling. I knelt for a long time before I finally heard the Emperor’s somber voice: "Rise."
Aside from the Emperor, several others were in the room: Crown Prince Ming De, Grand Tutor Xu Liufeng, and Right Chancellor Shen Qian. There were also two middle-aged men I didn't recognize; they had fierce countenances and wore the robes of third-rank officials.
"I heard you were heavily injured?" The Emperor looked up and gave me a fleeting glance. "How are you faring?"
I replied respectfully, "Reporting to Your Majesty, they are merely superficial wounds. It is no matter."
The Emperor gave a noncommittal grunt and said nothing more. When he was silent, the tension in the room became even more oppressive. I stole a glance at Grand Tutor Xu Liufeng; he looked preoccupied, as if he hadn't even noticed my entrance. I had heard that this old man, who looked like a transcendent immortal, was deeply trusted by the Emperor. If I could win him over...
Just as I was weighing how to speak, the Emperor said, "I have reviewed Officer Luo’s memorial. You truly are my Silver Blade Catchers—bold, meticulous, and brave. I have decided to reward you—"
I froze, a surge of anger rising within me. This old man—did he actually think I came here to claim credit?
The Emperor seemed taken aback by my expression, and the rest of his sentence died in his throat. The strange shift in the atmosphere seemed to rouse Xu Liufeng from his thoughts. He looked up at me, a glimmer of intrigue appearing in his eyes.
"I have already made my decision regarding Lady Changping’s case." The Emperor was clearly displeased by my stare, and his tone turned cold. "Did Luo Jin not explain it clearly to you?"
"Your Majesty," I took a deep breath, then another. "The evidence of Lady Changping’s human trafficking is mountain-high. For that crime alone, the law demands death by hanging. Furthermore, there seems to be a mastermind behind the illegal gold mining. I implore Your Majesty to order a thorough investigation. If we do not act now, I fear—"
The Emperor snorted. Beside him, Xu Liufeng lightly stroked his long beard, exchanging an unreadable look with Crown Prince Ming De.
I paused for a moment, then continued, "The public is paying close attention to this case. For years, she used the guise of buying maidservants to sell hundreds of young women into brothels across the western regions. Her methods were exceptionally cruel. If she is not severely punished, it will be impossible to appease the people's grievances. Moreover, if word spreads, it will tarnish Your Majesty’s reputation as a benevolent father to his people."
It seemed my flattery skills were lacking. The Emperor’s face remained as dark as a gathering storm, not softening in the slightest at being called a "benevolent father." Xu Liufeng had a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth, as if he had found something amusing. Seeing his expression made me feel a sudden spark of irritation. Crown Prince Ming De maintained his calm, composed royal bearing, though his gaze held a hint of hidden worry. The other two ministers, seeing the Emperor’s anger, kept their heads low in fear.
"It is not that Lady Changping’s case will not be handled, but the timing is wrong. The situation on the eastern front is currently very delicate. More than half of the soldiers stationed at the Qizhou border were once General Liu’s subordinates," the Emperor said darkly. "I can barely provide them enough compensation and comfort as it is; how can I allow a woman like Changping to disrupt the army’s morale?"
His words were much the same as those spoken by the military officers outside the South Hua Gate.
Catching another glimpse of Xu Liufeng’s half-smile, my temper flared. My tone toward the Emperor inadvertently became sharp. "I believe the soldiers of the Flame Heaven Kingdom are not people who cannot distinguish right from wrong."
The Emperor flew into a rage. "Are you implying that I am the one who cannot distinguish right from wrong?"
I lowered my head and said, "I would not dare."
I could only see the Emperor’s feet pacing back and forth in front of me, like a furious lion trapped in a cage. He was clearly livid.
But I wasn't the only reason for his anger, was I? I thought innocently: *He was already unhappy when I walked in...*
"You wouldn't dare?" He gave a heavy snort. "A mere seventh-rank official dares to come before me and point fingers? Do you truly think I cannot have you executed?!"
I was startled. Suddenly, the murderous aura I had felt when I first met the Emperor in the Qingrong Palace resurfaced—he actually wanted to kill me? But why?
I raised my head boldly, looking directly into his enraged face, and chose my words carefully. "May I ask on what charges Your Majesty would execute me?"
"Presumptuous!" This roar came from Right Chancellor Shen Qian, who had turned pale with shock at my words.
The Emperor laughed out of sheer rage. He slowly paced toward me. "What charges? You are well-versed in the law, yet you ask me what charges? Is this how a subject speaks to his sovereign?!"
With my skills, even if he truly wanted to kill me, he might not succeed. At worst, I would simply stop being a seventh-rank official. Anger surged in my heart, and unable to restrain myself, I blurted out, "May I ask Your Majesty—if even a crime as grave as illegal gold mining can be suppressed and ignored, what becomes of the word 'Law'?"
With a loud *crash*, the Emperor smashed something. He pointed at me, his hand and body trembling, unable to speak for a long time. Ming De rushed forward to support him.
"Drag this wretch out..." The Emperor finally caught his breath. "Give her a heavy..."
Before he could finish, Crown Prince Ming De dropped to his knees before him, saying with a hint of panic, "Father, please calm your anger. Though Xi Xia’s words were reckless, I beg you to see her sincerity and spare her this once."
The Right Chancellor and the other third-rank officials, whether out of a genuine desire to help or simply because they were terrified of the Emperor, all knelt alongside the Crown Prince. Only Xu Liufeng remained as calm as a light breeze.
The Emperor gave a heavy sigh and closed his eyes. As if afraid of accidentally seeing me again, he waved his hand. Ming De kept shooting me looks. At first, I thought he was signaling me to leave, but without the Emperor’s permission, how could I dare? Then I realized he wanted me to say a few words to beg for mercy.
I turned my head away, pretending not to understand his meaning.
The Emperor waved his hand wearily. "All of you, leave."
The officials present hurried to perform their salutations and then retreated with their heads bowed, not daring to breathe loudly. When Right Chancellor Shen Qian passed me and saw me still kneeling motionless, he reached out and gave my shoulder a hard tug.
He was a veteran of two reigns and had a reputation for integrity; I had to give him face. Besides, given the current situation, if I didn't leave now, I likely wouldn't escape a flogging. I reluctantly stood up and followed Shen Qian out.
Ming De seemed to breathe a sigh of relief when he saw me rise. Xu Liufeng, however, was smiling broadly, as if he had just watched a wonderful play. I shot him a fierce glare. I had hoped he would say something just before the Emperor, but instead, he had sat idly by, enjoying the show. Seeing me glare at him, Xu Liufeng only laughed harder.
Shen Qian gave me another secret tug from behind. As soon as we exited the Imperial Study, he immediately wiped the sweat from his forehead and let out a long breath. "I have never seen His Majesty in such a temper. Officer Xi, what am I to say to you?"
I hung my head and remained silent. The two third-rank officials also had complex expressions. One of them, a man with a purple-tinged face, said—though I couldn't tell if it was praise or mockery—as he cupped his hands, "Officer Xi has quite the courage."
I gave a bitter smile. Honestly, I didn't understand it myself—why could I never fix this impulsive streak of mine?
Seeing that I didn't speak, he asked another question: "What are your plans now, Officer Xi?"
I looked up at the evening clouds, as vibrant as colorful silk, and let out a long sigh. "What plans can I have? I'll go home and farm sweet potatoes."
"Sweet potatoes?" They were all taken aback. Then, they all lowered their heads in silence.
As I walked out of the South Hua Gate, a eunuch brought over my waist token and silver blade. I waved them away, feeling disheartened. "I'll trouble you to give them to Crown Prince Ming De. Tell him that from now on, Xi Xia is a person of the martial world and cannot accept imperial gifts. As for this blade, please ask the Emperor to keep it himself." I had originally wanted to tell him to return it to the Emperor directly, but then I realized that would be putting the little eunuch in a difficult position. It was better to let the Crown Prince handle it.
The purple-faced third-rank official walked over and said sincerely, "I am Weng He, the Governor of Rongtong Prefecture. If Miss Xi Xia ever needs assistance in the future, Weng He is willing to serve you." Without waiting for me to recover from my surprise, he bowed and climbed into a nearby carriage.
Weng He? I had heard my father mention him; he was said to be an official with an excellent reputation...
While I was staring blankly at Weng He’s carriage, Shen Qian and the others had already vanished. Though the sunset still lingered in the sky, the light around me had dimmed. I walked aimlessly down the street.
What should I do next? Take the purple jade pendant my master left me, go to Heavenly Dark Peak, and become the Sect Leader of the Dark Sect?
And then use that position to kill Lady Changping?
But wasn't that kind of "violence for violence" exactly what I resisted in my heart?
I let out a long sigh, feeling a sense of unresolved bitterness.
"Xi Xia?" someone called my name.
I looked toward the voice and saw a shadowy figure walking toward me. Before I could see who it was, a familiar feeling surged in my heart. Why was he here?
In the twilight, I couldn't see his expression, but his eyes were as bright as the morning stars.
"I went to the Ministry of Justice to find you. They said you had gone to the palace. I heard you didn't eat lunch? Are you hungry?" he asked nonchalantly. I suddenly realized that since I’d known him, this was probably the thing he said to me most often. How unromantic. But at his reminder, I really was hungry.
"Starving. You’re buying," I said bluntly. "You’re a Prince; you’re richer than me."
Ming Shao gave a light laugh, took my hand, and started walking. I tried to pull away, but he only held on tighter. His hand was warm, with slight calluses from holding a sword. Although I often pulled Minzhi along in the streets, and Ming Shao had held my hand before, this time felt different...
"Fuyan Tower or Yixiang Residence?" he turned and asked. His gentle breath brushed against my temple, making me feel a slight, involuntary dizziness.
"Fuyan Tower, then," he decided when I didn't speak. "You might not know, but the proprietress's stews are very famous in the capital."
I lowered my head, my face feeling hot again from that momentary lapse in composure. Fortunately, it was night, and no one could see...
"Xi Xia," Ming Shao’s voice seemed to carry a slight, trembling resonance in the night air. Perhaps misinterpreting my silence, he suddenly stopped and said seriously, "Your temperament is not suited for the world of officials. Why don't we... go to the grasslands?"
Go to the grasslands?
Immediately, my mind filled with images of that endless green earth and white clouds that felt close enough to touch...
I stared at him blankly. "Can you? You are from the Prince Jing’s Manor..."
He didn't speak, seemingly calculating something in his heart. I didn't say anything more. Perhaps everyone has an ideal way of life in their heart, but not everyone’s ideal can become reality.
In this regard, Ming Shao was just like any other ordinary person his age.
I had originally thought to go home and sleep after filling my stomach, but as I walked out of Fuyan Tower, I changed my mind. Since I was no longer an official, there was no point in delaying. I should handle the handover tonight; Luo Jin wouldn't be able to sleep tonight anyway.
When Ming Shao accompanied me back to the Ministry of Justice, the light was still on in Luo Jin’s office. A silhouette paced back and forth in the candlelight, looking extremely agitated.
I heard a faint voice from inside the room: "Why isn't Xi Xia back yet?"
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 明德 | Ming De | The Crown Prince of the Flame Heaven Kingdom. |
| 许流风 | Xu Liufeng | The Grand Tutor (Taifu), a highly trusted advisor to the Emperor. |
| 沈乾 | Shen Qian | The Right Chancellor (You Chengxiang), a senior veteran official. |
| 焰天国 | Flame Heaven Kingdom | The name of the country (Yan Tian Guo). |
| 歧州 | Qizhou | A border region/prefecture. |
| 容桐郡 | Rongtong Prefecture | A specific administrative region. |
| 翁禾 | Weng He | The Governor (Xunfu) of Rongtong Prefecture. |
| 福烟楼 | Fuyan Tower | A famous restaurant in the capital. |
| 颐香居 | Yixiang Residence | Another restaurant in the capital. |
| 天冥峰 | Heavenly Dark Peak | The location of the Dark Sect (Ming Zong). |
| 冥宗 | Dark Sect | The martial arts sect the protagonist is associated with. |
