When I returned to the Ministry of Justice, Luo Jin was just about to head out. He caught my eye and gave me a knowing, pointed smile. "So... is your 'illness' cured?"
Judging by his expression, he had already guessed that my trip wasn't as simple as seeking a physician. I pulled him aside and whispered, "I need to find out about the influential patrons of a certain courtesan from over a decade ago. How should I go about investigating that?"
Luo Jin looked at me warily, glanced around at our surroundings, and lowered his voice. "Are you referring to the lady at Sishui Manor?"
I nodded, looking at him expectantly. He furrowed his brows in deep thought. "It’s not impossible. Leave this matter to me."
I breathed a sigh of relief. I only knew that Lady Changping had been the toast of the capital back in her day; Luo Jin, a native of the city, was far better positioned to dig into such history than I was. Seeing him turn to leave, I quickly grabbed his sleeve again. "Master Luo, I’m not finished. What about those two eunuchs?"
Luo Jin immediately made a shushing gesture and led me at a brisk trot into his office. After closing the door, he even went to the window to scout outside before whispering, "One was Zhong Dafu, the Head Eunuch of Yuhua Palace. He was forty-six, a native of Rongtong Prefecture. He entered the palace at twelve and served the Empress Dowager for decades; they say he was her most trusted confidant. I met him a few times—he was kind and well-liked among the servants. The other was Chen Ping, the eunuch in charge of the Empress Dowager’s personal effects. He was thirty-five, from Qi Province, and entered the palace ten years ago. He was known for being loyal, honest, and taciturn. The Empress Dowager often said she felt most at ease with her belongings in his care."
Two more seemingly irreproachable men. I muttered to myself, *How could people like that be bought?*
Luo Jin pulled several files from a cabinet and handed them to me. "Read these yourself. I have to go to the palace." Without waiting for a response, he hurried out.
It was strange. The sun was nearly setting; what was he doing going to the palace now? Given his temperament, he should have been avoiding the palace like the plague these past few days.
I shook my head and skimmed the documents. They didn't differ much from what he had just told me.
The Empress Dowager’s Yuhua Palace saw visitors almost daily—mostly princes, grandsons, and imperial concubines. Outside officials were rare, but not impossible. Trying to find a lead there was nearly hopeless. Not only did we lack the authority to search their quarters for clues, but if the Empress Dowager ever heard we were suspecting her inner circle, we’d likely be sent home to farm sweet potatoes.
I let out a long sigh. My only hope now was to find out who Lady Changping’s high-ranking patrons were. Perhaps a name on that list would provide a trail.
Lady Changping was still counting on her mysterious mastermind to rescue her, so she naturally wouldn't betray him. Furthermore, she was currently under the protection of the Imperial Family, so the Ministry couldn't exactly haul her in for a blatant interrogation. Luo Jin had sent men to investigate her past, but results were slow to materialize.
I returned to my routine: patrolling the streets on "Love You Ten Thousand Years" with Chen Zhan or the other brothers, or staying at the office to organize dusty old case files. Life was dull and quiet. Though I knew a constable’s work involved a mountain of mundane trifles, this stagnation made me restless. Every night upon returning home, I practiced martial arts with Big Black and Little Black until late, only able to sleep once I had exhausted every ounce of energy. I felt like I had a world of strength but nowhere to exert it.
It was... truly frustrating.
When Minzhi was home, we siblings huddled together to secretly prepare a birthday gift for our father. In the summer imperial examinations, Minzhi had placed seventeenth on the top list and was appointed by the Emperor as a Scribe of the Hanlin Academy. Now a civil official of the junior fifth rank, his daily work involved assisting elderly scholars in compiling historical records. Since taking the job, I noticed his temperament had become significantly more stable.
After the traditional Autumn Festival of the Yantian Kingdom, Father’s birthday arrived.
Per Father’s request, a simple banquet was set in the Rong Pavilion. Aside from the family and the servants Baofu and Sister Fu, the only outside guest was Luo Jin.
Since I had resolved to give Father a proper celebration, I wore a formal long skirt, braided my hair into two plaits, and even donned some jewelry.
When I appeared before everyone, even my eldest aunt—usually my harshest critic—wore a smile of relief. We took turns toasted Father, and then Minzhi said with a grin, "We have a special gift for Father."
As everyone listened intently, Minzhi added, "It’s a beautiful piece of music, one that no one in this world has ever heard before."
Minyan chimed in, "Third Sister has been leading our rehearsals for a long time. It’s truly wonderful."
Their words piqued everyone's curiosity.
The maids had already set up our instruments on the terrace outside the pavilion. Minzhi and Wuxiu played instruments similar to the xiao flute, known here as the *zihou*. Minyan had never cared for instruments, so after much thought, I had him play the bamboo clappers. According to our rehearsed cues, whenever I glanced at him, he would strike the clappers once.
Adjusting my plectrums, I took a deep breath and looked at my siblings. For some reason, they all seemed nervous. But the Ji children shared a common trait: once something began, they relaxed completely.
As the first notes of *A Moonlit Night on the Spring River* rang out, my mind immediately filled with the enchanting night scenery of the Yuyang River. Dusk falling, the tall hibiscus grass swaying in the night breeze, a bright moon hanging silently in the clear sky... Moonlight like water, water like moonlight, a silent rhythm flowing between heaven and earth.
When the piece ended, I remained immersed in the feeling. My eyes began to sting. My father in my previous life had always wanted me to become a refined lady who could play *A Moonlit Night on the Spring River* for him. Today, I had finally done it, but tragically, we were separated not just by death, but by different dimensions of time and space.
The only consolation was that the master of fate had compensated me with another wonderful father.
I looked up to see Father’s eyes shimmering, his face glowing with a strange radiance. He looked at each of us in turn, unable to find the words to speak.
The silence was broken by a sudden burst of applause from behind us.
I had heard footsteps stopping on the path outside the pavilion before we played, but I had assumed it was just the servants. I turned around to see Prince Jing, followed by his Consort, and then... naturally, Ming Shao. He was carrying several elegantly wrapped boxes.
Father and Master Luo, snapping out of their reverie, hurried forward to greet them. They were about to perform a formal bow when Prince Jing stopped them. He took Father’s arm and said with a hearty laugh, "We came specifically to beg a cup of wine from the birthday boy, but we didn't expect such a feast for the ears. Ziyu, you are truly blessed to have such children."
A gratified smile touched Father’s face. He seemed about to offer a humble deflection, but in the end, he said nothing and simply ushered the guests to the table.
Ming Shao performed a respectful bow as a junior. Father tried to stop him but failed. Although Ming Shao held no official post, he was the hereditary Prince of the Jing Manor; ordinary officials wouldn't dare receive such a grand gesture from him. No wonder Father looked a bit overwhelmed.
"Coming for the wine was secondary," Prince Jing said, stroking his short beard with a smile. "Primarily, we are here to bring congratulations to your house." He looked from one person to another, as if enjoying the suspense.
The Consort of Prince Jing couldn't help but smile as well. "Congratulations to the Second Miss of the Ji family. We have been sent by the Empress Dowager to deliver the betrothal gifts from the Eastern Palace."
My heart skipped a beat, but I quickly felt a surge of happiness for Wuxiu. After all, this was the life she yearned for, even if it was only as a secondary consort to her beloved. According to imperial tradition, a Crown Prince could only have two formal consorts before ascending the throne. Thus, a secondary consort was a position of great prestige—especially for the daughter of a fourth-rank official like Father, who lacked a political power base.
My eldest aunt looked ecstatic.
Wuxiu, however, merely lowered her head. Her bangs obscured her face, and I couldn't see her expression, but I had a nagging feeling she wasn't as happy as I had expected.
Listening to their conversation, I learned that the primary consort chosen for Crown Prince Mingde was Han Xue, the eldest daughter of the Left Prime Minister, Han Gao, who was also the Empress’s elder brother. I wondered if I should investigate what kind of person this future Crown Princess was. Given Wuxiu’s temperament, if the woman decided to bully her, Wuxiu would likely endure it in silence.
Minzhi, sitting beside me, suddenly kicked me under the table. I looked up to see Ming Shao gesturing to me with his eyes. I followed his gaze and met Prince Jing’s inquiring look; he seemed to be waiting for me to answer a question. Seeing my blank expression, he smiled dismissively. "You likely don't know yet—the Emperor has already issued a decree for Lady Changping to take her own life."
I bolted upright, my sleeve catching my wine cup and knocking it over. Minzhi, caught off guard, was drenched. He was about to scold me, but when he saw my expression, he went silent.
My mind was a chaotic whirl. Countless thoughts spun around—how could the Emperor order her death now? He clearly knew there was someone behind her. I looked at Luo Jin; he was frowning slightly, looking equally helpless.
Prince Jing continued, "General Liu has been posthumously honored as the First-Rank Duke of State. There are also rewards for Master Luo and the Third Miss, though I don't know the specifics. I imagine the decree will reach the Ministry of Justice tomorrow morning."
Luo Jin stood and bowed respectfully to Prince Jing. "To serve the Emperor to the best of one's ability is the duty of a subject. I thank the Emperor for his grace and the Prince for his guidance."
As his subordinate, I naturally followed suit and thanked the Prince. But the words of loyalty to the Emperor simply wouldn't come out.
My heart felt heavy, filled with an unprecedented sense of loss.
The next morning, the decree indeed arrived at the Ministry. Luo Jin’s rank remained the same—Junior Fourth Rank Vice Minister of Justice—but the Emperor granted him double salary for life, and his wife was titled Lady Ninghua. The Empress Dowager also gifted her a jade ruyi scepter.
My rank was raised from Junior Seventh to Junior Sixth, and my annual salary increased from forty taels to seventy. Additionally, the Empress Dowager rewarded me with two pairs of gold ingots for my "merit in solving the case."
While gold ingots were practical, I sensed something off. Compared to gifting a ruyi or jewelry, giving gold ingots suggested the Empress Dowager hadn't put much thought into the reward. It occurred to me that because of me, her favorite, Lady Changping, had lost her life. She... likely held a grudge against me. The gold was merely a formality to save face.
I couldn't help but recall my master’s parting words...
I had barely become a "sesame official" and I had already offended the highest leaders. Worst of all, the case hadn't even been fully unraveled.
Sighing, I tucked two ingots into my robe and pushed the other two toward Luo Jin. "I'll keep these. I'm entrusting these two to you for two things: first, buy a few more fast horses for the Ministry; second, exchange the rest for small silver bits to give the brothers for wine."
Luo Jin looked at me in shock, then at the gold. "Xixia, what are you..."
I sighed. "It’s a windfall; let’s share it. Tell me, is this 'hush money' to make us stop talking?"
Luo Jin remained silent.
"Is the investigation continuing?" I asked.
Luo Jin rolled his eyes at me. "You have such a clever face, yet you ask that? Even if the Emperor suppresses the final truth, you must still do what needs to be done. Otherwise, why are you drawing a salary?"
Fair point.
Returning from patrol at dusk, I heard someone call my name before I even entered the Ministry courtyard. I turned to see Ming Shao poking his head out of a carriage. He wore a light-colored robe, and his tanned skin seemed to have absorbed enough sunlight to glow faintly in the dimming light.
"What are you doing here?" Seeing him, my stifled mood improved slightly.
Ming Shao said with a smile, "I just passed the Ji residence and told your family you were out drinking with us." He pulled the curtain wider, revealing a shadowy figure sitting beside him. The person looked vaguely familiar...
As I was wondering, the person poked their head out of the dark carriage. "It’s me. Surprised?"
It was Qingrong!
She quickly waved at me. "Don't shout! I snuck out."
I turned to Ming Shao, who looked helpless. "She forced me. I had no choice. Before I even recognized her, she had already scrambled into my carriage."
Qingrong saw I was about to lecture her and grabbed my wrist. "I just came to say a few words to you. Brother Shao, go outside and keep watch for us."
Ming Shao climbed out of the carriage with a sigh. Qingrong pulled me inside and quickly lowered the curtain, looking incredibly secretive.
"You just came out like this, so recklessly?" I pinched her cheek. "Does anyone in the palace know?"
Qingrong shook her head. The light filtering through the bamboo curtain was weak; I could only see her large eyes blinking, filled with anxiety.
"What’s wrong?" Her mood was infectious, and I found myself growing tense.
Qingrong gripped my hand. Her palm was clammy with cold sweat. "Wuchao... they are going to marry me off to the Great Chu State."
I was startled. Wasn't the Great Chu State currently mobilizing its forces to go to war with us?
"I overheard it," Qingrong said, her voice trembling like a frightened child. "Imperial Father and Imperial Grandmother were discussing it. It seems Great Chu made several demands, and a marriage alliance was one of them. My two elder sisters are already married, and my younger sisters are too small. If there’s to be a marriage alliance, it can only be me." She leaned against my shoulder and began to sob quietly.
I held her, my mind in a muddle.
"If the Emperor agrees to all their demands, where is the dignity of the Yantian Kingdom?" I racked my brain to comfort her. "The Emperor loves you most; he surely won't send you so far away. Besides, this is just your guess. Don't scare yourself."
Qingrong looked up with tearful eyes. "What if it’s true?"
I wiped her tears. "If it’s true, I’ll escort you there myself. I’ll stay until you’re safe and settled in your new life before I come back."
"Really?" she asked earnestly. "You’re not lying?"
"I promise," I said seriously. "If I break my word, let me lose every time we spar."
Qingrong laughed through her tears, but then a look of worry returned. "Wuchao... you must be careful yourself."
Her cryptic words gave me pause. "Careful of what? You have to be specific."
Qingrong hesitated. "I can't say for sure, but... just... when you're being a constable, don't keep offending my Imperial Grandmother."
I didn't speak, but my fists clenched in the darkness. I had already guessed what she was saying, but hearing it still felt like a cold wind slowly surrounding me.
Seeing my silence, Qingrong shook my shoulder nervously. "Don't be like that. I’m just reminding you."
I sighed and put my arm around her. "I know. Come on, let’s get you back."
On the way back, I remembered something else. "Do you know Han Xue, the daughter of Chancellor Han?"
Qingrong nodded knowingly. "Her? She doesn't talk much. Very clever."
I chewed on those words but couldn't reach a concrete conclusion. It seemed that not just me, but Wuxiu would also have to tread carefully from now on.
As we neared the palace gates, Qingrong added, "I heard the Chancellor’s daughter was chosen by my Mother, the Empress, but your sister was chosen by my Imperial Brother himself. In his heart, he probably prefers your sister."
I patted her hand and said nothing.
If Wuxiu knew this, would it make her a little happier?
***
### Glossary
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
--- | --- | ---
毓华宫 | Yuhua Palace | The residence of the Empress Dowager.
钟大福 | Zhong Dafu | The Head Eunuch of Yuhua Palace.
陈平 | Chen Ping | The eunuch in charge of the Empress Dowager's personal effects.
融轩 | Rong Pavilion | A pavilion/hall within the Ji family residence.
紫篌 | Zihou | An ancient flute-like wind instrument.
韩高 | Han Gao | The Left Prime Minister and elder brother of the Empress.
韩雪 | Han Xue | Daughter of Han Gao, chosen as the Crown Prince's primary consort.
大楚国 | Great Chu State | A neighboring rival nation to the Yantian Kingdom.
和亲 | Marriage Alliance | A political marriage between states to maintain peace.
