A Dream of Justice: The First Lady Constable | Chapter 67 | A Heartbreaking Truth | Novela.app

After staying in the capital for so long, one realizes there are precious few places left for diversion. Minzhi always says it is because I have grown lazy, too indolent to seek out anything new. He might be right. But after living in the same city for nearly twenty years, a sense of weariness inevitably sets in. No matter which corner I turn, nothing holds any novelty anymore. Regardless, whenever the idea of an outing arises, the choice is always Linshui Pavilion; whenever wine is mentioned, it is always Fuyan Tower. This remains true even as everyone shakes their heads and sighs, complaining that the wine there has soured and the food is no longer palatable. At times like these, I find myself in deep agreement with Minzhi regarding my laziness. Perhaps we are simply growing old. In my view, only those who have begun to wither become so set in their ways. I lifted the wine cup to my nose, forcing myself to frown and grumble as usual. "The wine at Fuyan Tower is becoming truly undrinkable." Minzhi did not move. Ever since we entered the private room, he had been sitting across from me, watching me. He looked as though he already knew something, like a condemned prisoner awaiting his final sentence. I speculated privately: he was a civil official and would never have gone to watch the commotion of the Ministry of Justice’s martial trials. Moreover, he had been on duty at the Hanlin Academy all day. Surely the news of the day’s events couldn't have reached his ears so quickly? Yet, how to tell him what had happened was a daunting task. I knew that among the Ji children, Minzhi and this younger sister had been exceptionally close since childhood. I kept my head down and drained the cup in one gulp. How should I say it? Where should I even begin? Xixia... the way she appeared today was truly extraordinary. At first, I only felt an indescribable strangeness, failing to notice exactly what was different. It wasn't until I crossed the inner courtyard of the Ministry of Justice, intending to catch up and question her, that I caught sight of a lock of hair Sun Xin had sliced off. At the time, seeing a woman’s hair lying on the ground felt merely desolate. I picked it up instinctively, only to realize upon holding it that her hair was actually gray. She is sixteen this year? Or perhaps seventeen? At such an age, how could she have such hair? What had happened to that spirited, mischievous woman? I had pursued her to the gates of the Ministry, where she had not yet departed. Looking at her again, I realized she truly was changed. She was no longer the playful girl who used to sneak into Linshui Pavilion behind her elder brother. That eye-catching, brilliant spark she once possessed had somehow vanished. In her eyes was a profound sorrow. Looking at it gave one a sense of heart-wrenching despair. I did not know her well; we were hardly even acquaintances. But when she rode past me on that black horse, wielding that strange blade with a look of absolute, bridge-burning resolve, I understood her gaze. When my personal guard returned, eyes shining, telling me in a tone somewhere between excitement and worship that she had "leaped across the Xunfang River and escaped," a surge of hot, bitter emotion rushed to my head. Were her words today all a preparation for this? But how was I to relay those resolute words—the ones where she severed all ties with the Ji family—to Minzhi? I picked up the freshly filled cup. I had intended only to sip, but when it reached my lips, I drained it once more. If things could be changed according to my will, I truly would not have wished for this woman to leave me with such a tragic final impression. It reminded me of a bird brought into the palace when I was a child. It was a "Blaze Bird," its feathers as red as fresh blood, with an exquisitely beautiful tail. They said such birds were extremely difficult to capture. From the moment we saw it, it refused to eat or drink. It spent its time throwing its body against the silver-wire cage, tearing at the bars and the small lock with its beak and talons until it was covered in wounds. We tried everything, but we could not make it stop. By the time the Empress Dowager took pity and ordered the cage opened, it had only a breath of life left. It dragged its broken body into the sky, and amidst our cries of alarm, it plunged exhausted into the Jasper Lake, never to surface again. Since then, I have never kept a living creature. I stared blankly at the wine cup in my hand. It seemed I really was growing old; my thoughts were drifting back to things from over a decade ago for no reason at all. "Today..." Minzhi spoke first. His voice sounded hollow, as if he were discussing something unrelated. "That... was my third sister, wasn't it?" I looked up, trying to read his face, but he only looked dazed. "They say a female bandit fled to avoid punishment... How could she be a bandit? Isn't she the Vice Commander of the Imperial Guard?" I wanted to say she *was*. But seeing Minzhi’s lost expression, the words wouldn't come out. I had likely seen through Mingde’s intentions long ago. It was simply a habit formed from childhood never to voice such things. He was the Emperor, and I was his only adult brother. Even if my mother had never reminded me, I instinctively knew that for someone in my position, every extra word spoken was an extra measure of peril. "She is certainly no bandit..." I trailed off, unable to continue. Judging by the Emperor's reaction—he had even trashed the Imperial Study—he was clearly determined to bring her back. Only by labeling Xixia a bandit could the Ministry of Justice issue an imperial arrest warrant and post her likeness across the country. I briefly recounted the events at the drill grounds, then added hesitantly, "She seemed very wrong today. Perhaps... she found out about Mingshao’s matter." In my view, if it were merely Mingshao’s marriage, it might not have come to this. Although his taking a concubine first was a slight to the Ji family’s honor, a concubine was, after all, just a concubine. In the noble families of the Yan Tian Kingdom, a concubine had no right to receive imperial titles, nor even the right to participate in the New Year’s ancestral rites. Besides, Xixia did not seem like the type of woman to be so petty. But it involved the Emperor... Speaking of him, I couldn't help but feel some doubt regarding Mingshao’s sudden marriage. Seeing how he and Xixia were together, I felt Mingshao wouldn't do something so insulting to her. Could it be related to that letter? I shook my head. Perhaps it wasn't such a coincidence, but a voice in my heart reminded me that things were not so simple. Because the matter of the letter happened just before Mingshao returned, I found it hard not to link them. Last year, the Emperor hosted a banquet for the old Imperial Uncle, Prince Rong Sheng, who lived in seclusion in Dai County. However, an assassin struck during the birthday feast, and Prince Xian was killed on the spot. Meanwhile, the Second Imperial Uncle, Prince Qing Jin, was placed under house arrest on charges of "dereliction of duty" and "great disrespect toward the Empress Dowager." Because both Imperial Uncles met with trouble at such a sensitive time, people naturally suspected they were involved in the illegal gold mining case. Because we were at war with the Great Chu Kingdom at the time, it didn't cause much public stir, but privately, many held suspicions toward the Second Imperial Uncle. I was no exception. Thus, I had managed to plant a few "nails" in that prison. So, when Eunuch Wang, who serves the Emperor, left the Second Imperial Uncle’s residence with a handwritten letter, the news of his visit reached my hands immediately. Strangely, the very next day, the Second Imperial Uncle contracted a sudden plague. Along with several of his confidants, a total of six people died in the residence. According to the news sent back by my "Shadows," there was quite a panic in the house. For fear of contagion, the bodies were sent to the crematorium that same day by Shen Pei’s soldiers. Furthermore, since the Second Imperial Uncle was a disgraced official and died so suddenly, the funeral was extremely simple. His two sons, who had been exiled to the southern naval defenses, didn't even have time to be recalled. However, those two cousins might have found a blessing in disguise; I heard the Empress Dowager has already petitioned the Retired Emperor to have them transferred back to the capital... I heard that on the day Mingshao returned, when the Emperor summoned him to the Imperial Study, he presented a pile of documents for him to review. Among them was that handwritten letter from the Second Imperial Uncle... After the second watch that night, Liu Xi, a eunuch on duty in the Imperial Study, sneaked out of the palace to meet my Shadow. He swore an oath, saying, "Young Prince Mingshao was looking at that very letter. Though I am illiterate, I recognize the seal on the envelope. When he saw it, his face turned as white as a dead man's, and his eyes looked as if they were about to catch fire. I don't know what happened after that; the Emperor dismissed us all..." My hand habitually began to turn the jade thumb ring on my left hand. I thought to myself that this Liu Xi had eaten quite a lot of my banknotes over the year, yet he couldn't even find out the contents of a single letter. Should I tell my Shadow to find me a more competent nail? With a loud *thud*, Minzhi slammed his wine cup onto the table. I started, wondering if he had realized Xixia’s situation was connected to the Emperor. Minzhi’s face was slightly pale. Without a word, he picked up his cup and drained it. "Her character is simply too unyielding," I sighed softly, trying to comfort him. "She would rather break than bend; she cannot stand being manipulated. And what Mingshao did truly wounded her pride." I thought for a moment and added, "Fearing she would implicate you all, she declared she was merely an adopted daughter of the Ji family, with no connection to you whatsoever." Minzhi’s eyes reddened, and he quickly used his sleeve to wipe his face haphazardly. "Minzhi," his appearance worried me, so I reminded him, "You are an official now. You must fulfill your duties as a subject in court. Do not harbor any thoughts you shouldn't. If something happens to you, not only will Lord Ji be implicated, but it might also affect Consort Chen." "I know," Minzhi said muffledly. "Come, let's drink." Minzhi had never drunk like this before. I suddenly felt a bit relieved for him—that he hadn't witnessed Xixia fighting her way out of the capital with his own eyes. Not seeing such a tragic scene was undoubtedly a mercy for him and the rest of the Ji family. There were two soft knocks at the door. I breathed a sigh of relief. "Come in." The door opened, and Yingluo’s graceful figure appeared. This woman, always exceptionally sharp, immediately began to scan Minzhi with her bright, clever eyes. It seemed she had already heard of the day's events, which wasn't surprising. Such legendary stories spread through the streets and alleys with ease. "You're putting on quite the airs lately," I said, waving off her bow. "Each time I send for you, you arrive later than the last." Yingluo smiled faintly. "The Seventh Prince is joking again." I looked at Minzhi. Usually, the moment he saw Yingluo, he would toss even the greatest troubles to the back of his mind. But right now, he sat like a wooden carving, staring blankly at his wine cup. Yingluo walked to the table and refilled our cups. Minzhi drained his without expression. Yingluo frowned slightly and placed her hand over the wine pot. Minzhi waited, and when she didn't pour, he impatiently reached for the pot himself. Yingluo quickly held his hand, advising softly, "I have heard about the Third Miss. Now that she is gone, you must take even better care of yourself..." I echoed her sentiment. "With Xixia’s personality, leaving this place of turmoil might not be a bad thing." Minzhi’s throat hitched. "Though her nature is wild, she is deeply attached to her home at heart. If her heart hadn't been completely broken, how could she..." Yingluo sighed. "She truly had a reason. She had a reason why she *had* to leave." My heart skipped a beat. There seemed to be a hidden meaning in her words... Minzhi also looked up sharply, glancing at her in disbelief. "How many times have you even met her? What could you possibly know?" Yingluo looked at me, then at him, saying hesitantly, "I am not well-acquainted with the Third Miss, but there is someone who knows her very well." I looked at Minzhi; he was just as confused as I was. Yingluo was usually straightforward; her hesitation made me impatient. Yingluo, being extremely clever, noticed this immediately. She sighed and said softly, "Fortress Master Feng of Fengyun Fortress. Last night, I accompanied him to the theater. On the way back, we ran into the Third Miss..." Minzhi grabbed her arm. "What did you say?" Yingluo endured the pain and said, "On Xi'an Street. The Third Miss was sitting by the roadside. Fortress Master Feng got out of the carriage to speak with her for a while. When he returned, he drank himself into a stupor. He said... he said..." At this point, she gave me a slightly apologetic smile, then leaned in and whispered a few words into Minzhi’s ear. I forced down my displeasure, turning my thumb ring faster and faster. A sudden, loud *bang* startled me. I looked up to see Minzhi had slammed his fist onto the table. Beneath his fist was a shattered wine cup, and bright red blood was beginning to seep along the wine stains on the table. His face had turned livid, his features contorted. I had never seen such a terrifying expression on Minzhi’s face; for a moment, I was stunned. Before I could recover, he had rushed out like a whirlwind. I grabbed Yingluo by the collar and pulled her close, shouting sternly, "What exactly did you tell him?!" The color drained from Yingluo’s face. Her lips trembled for a few moments before she urgently pressed her hand against the back of mine. "It concerns the Third Miss’s reputation; it is truly inconvenient to tell the Seventh Prince. If you truly care for Minzhi, go and stop him quickly. He... he is likely going to Prince Jing’s Manor to kill Young Prince Mingshao..." I ran downstairs in a frantic rush, only to find that Minzhi had snatched a horse at the tavern entrance and galloped away. I ordered my carriage prepared while stamping my feet in anxiety. He was drunk; if he went charging through the streets like that, there was no telling what trouble he would cause. If some meddling censor decided to submit a memorial against him... "Faster!" I shouted at the driver. "To Prince Jing’s Manor!" Sure enough, the front of Prince Jing’s Manor was in total chaos. Despite it being night, a large crowd of onlookers had gathered. Even from the street corner, I could hear the shouting coming from inside. I didn't bother with Yingluo; I jumped down before the carriage had even fully stopped and pushed through the crowd. Without a second thought, I grabbed a guard and barked, "Why haven't you cleared these people away? Such a commotion—where is the decorum?!" The guard was stunned by my scolding, but another, more clever one, hurried off to call others to disperse the crowd. As they ran off, I suddenly realized they looked familiar—they seemed to be Shen Pei’s men from the Imperial Guard. But what were Shen Pei’s men doing fully armed at Prince Jing’s Manor? With the onlookers cleared and the guards standing aside with lowered hands, I finally saw the two figures entangled in the center of the courtyard. I ran over and grabbed Minzhi’s fist. But Minzhi was like a maddened beast; he threw me off and swung a heavy punch into Mingshao’s face. Mingshao stumbled back a few steps but did not strike back. I knew Mingshao was skilled in martial arts, so I had been terrified he would hurt Minzhi. I never expected him to simply let Minzhi hit him. His collar and one sleeve had already been torn. Seeing Minzhi about to lung again, I leaped forward and threw my arms around him. Minzhi dragged me along as he crashed forward, using the hand I hadn't pinned to seize Mingshao by the throat. Mingshao’s head tilted slightly, and the red light from the lanterns on the manor gate fell upon his face. His expression was hollow, devoid of any feeling, as if Minzhi’s fists were falling on a complete stranger. Minzhi’s teeth ground together with a sickening sound; he looked as if he wanted to choke the life out of him then and there. "Minzhi! Calm down!" I was getting desperate; if he shook me off again, I wouldn't be able to hold him. "Mingshao had his reasons for the marriage!" "Reasons?!" Minzhi actually began to laugh—a howl like a wolf’s that made my skin crawl. Then he drove a fist into Mingshao’s jaw and began to sob with bitter, jagged heaves. "Then what about *her* reasons? She is already carrying this bastard’s child!" I was struck by a sudden, sharp shock. Across from me, a crack finally appeared on Mingshao’s deathly, mask-like face. I saw his shoulders tremble slightly. "What did you say?" He took a step toward Minzhi, asking as if he couldn't believe his own ears. "What did you just say?" Minzhi swung another punch, but I held him back with all my might. Mingshao stared at him with a piercing, agonizing gaze, his body shaking slightly as if a great upheaval were occurring within him. I couldn't help but tighten my grip on Minzhi and pull him back a few steps. "It’s all because of you..." Minzhi, unable to break free from my arms, began to curse furiously. "It’s all because of you, you bastard! You forced her into a corner with no way out..." Hearing these words, Mingshao seemed as if he had been struck by lightning. His entire being turned to stone. Only his eyes remained fixed on Minzhi, wide and bloodshot. Suddenly, a strange redness flooded his eyes, and then, two streaks of red liquid, like tears, welled out from the corners of his eyes and flowed slowly down his cheeks. I was shocked again and instinctively backed away another two steps. Minzhi seemed frightened as well, letting me pull him back like a child. Behind Mingshao, a group of people emerged from the open gates, led by the Consort of Prince Jing. She hurried down the steps and grabbed Mingshao’s arm. I heard her let out a low gasp of horror, then scream, losing all her usual poise, "The physician! Go fetch the Imperial Physician, quickly!" The scream struck my eardrums, snapping me back to my senses. I shoved Minzhi toward Yingluo and ran to Mingshao. I reached into my robe, pulled out the lock of hair I had found at the drill grounds, and pressed it into Mingshao’s hand. I knew my actions were ill-timed, but I didn't know what else I could do. I said, "I found this at the Ministry of Justice’s drill grounds today. It’s Xixia’s. It was cut by Sun Xin’s sword during the match." At the mention of Xixia’s name, Mingshao moved slightly. He lowered his head, his gaze wandering downward as if trying to see his own hand. As he bowed his head, several drops of red fell, landing on his light-colored sleeve and splashing into small, dark stains in the darkness. The Consort of Prince Jing gripped Mingshao’s arm in terror. Mingshao finally seemed to feel someone holding him and turned his head blankly to look. I followed his gaze unconsciously. The Consort stared at Mingshao without blinking, the terror on her face slowly turning into a look of utter desolation. I backed away a few more steps. The red lanterns cast a warm glow on the street, but the two figures of mother and son, one tall and one short, looked indescribably cold and lonely. The Consort said nothing; she simply supported Mingshao, leading him back step by step. I continued to back away until their figures disappeared behind those two great gates, and until the fully armed Imperial Guards took up their positions outside once more. Only then did I allow the driver to pull me into the carriage. In the dim interior, Minzhi leaned motionless against Yingluo’s shoulder. I couldn't tell if he was lost in thought or had already fallen asleep. I sat down across from them and leaned my head against the soft cushion behind me, suddenly feeling an overwhelming sense of exhaustion. *** **Glossary** Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation ---|---|--- 烈鸟 | Blaze Bird | A fictional bird described as having blood-red feathers and a fierce, unyielding spirit. 化人场 | Crematorium | Literally "place for transforming people," a term for where bodies are burned. 血泪 | Tears of blood | A literary trope indicating extreme emotional trauma or physical strain. 静王妃 | Consort of Prince Jing | The primary wife of Prince Jing, Mingshao's mother. 影子 | Shadow | Ming Yi's secret agents or informants. 钉子 | Nail | A metaphor for a spy or mole planted within an organization. 时疫 | Plague / Epidemic | A contagious disease.