Perhaps it was because Fan Changyu's question was too blunt, or perhaps the matter itself was too heavy.
An Taifei's smile gradually faded. She was silent for a long moment before shaking her head and saying, "This old one does not know."
The answer took Fan Changyu by surprise, but then An Taifei continued, "In the early winter of the sixteenth year of Qishun, the war in Jinzhou was critical, and the Sixteenth Prince—who had always sought to contend for the throne against the Crown Prince—caused trouble in Luocheng. Though Jia Guitaifei kept it tightly under wraps, there are no walls in the world that don’t leak. This old one still heard some rumors."
She looked at Fan Changyu. "Do you know what trouble the Sixteenth Prince caused?"
Fan Changyu nodded.
If not for the Sixteenth Prince's reckless ambition, which led to him being trapped in Luocheng, her grandfather would not have been caught in that impossible dilemma back then.
An Taifei murmured, "How the Late Emperor handled matters in court, this old one, confined to the inner palace, could not know. But one would think he would not have abandoned the Sixteenth Prince. During that time, Jia Guitaifei also quieted down considerably. The Late Emperor seemed intent on slighting her and stopped visiting her palace, often going to Rong Yin’s instead."
"At the time, this old one also thought that after this incident, Jia Guitaifei and the Sixteenth Prince would both lose favor. Once the Crown Prince returned victorious from Jinzhou, what could the Sixteenth Prince possibly use to challenge him for the throne?"
"But then Rong Yin was suddenly found to be with child." An Taifei paused here, whether because she found the events of that year absurd or for some other reason. The hand holding her prayer beads slowed for a beat. "Every imperial physician in the palace was summoned to examine her, but the estimated month of conception still did not match the records in the Chamber of Palace Affairs."
Fan Changyu's head snapped up.
A shadow of sorrow crossed An Taifei's eyes. "Rong Yin was three months pregnant. Counting backward, the conception would have had to occur around the Mid-Autumn Festival. That year, during the Mid-Autumn banquet, something did happen. Wei Yan drank too much at the palace feast and, in a drunken stupor, violated a palace maid in the waterside pavilion of Taiye Pond. Unfortunately, the Late Emperor and his ministers, who had gone to admire the moon, stumbled upon them. It was said the Late Emperor’s expression turned extremely grim, but since it was only a palace maid, he could not make a scene. So, he bestowed the maid upon Wei Yan."
Fan Changyu immediately thought of how Xie Zheng had been framed by the young emperor on New Year's Eve.
Her brows furrowed. "Was Wei Yan set up?"
Otherwise, how could it have been such a coincidence that the Late Emperor and his ministers just happened to pass by?
Moreover, if the child in Shu Fei's womb was not the right age, then the one Wei Yan had violated in his drunken state was not a palace maid at all—it was most likely Shu Fei herself.
An Taifei only sighed. "How could this old one know? But Rong Yin undoubtedly incurred the Emperor’s wrath. Every servant in Qingyuan Palace was beaten to death, yet nothing was extracted from them. Rong Yin was imprisoned in Qingyuan Palace, and every day, matrons went to interrogate her... demanding to know with whom she had been intimate. On the night of Laba, a fire suddenly broke out in Qingyuan Palace. When the Golden Guard on patrol rushed to extinguish it, they found Wei Yan nearby."
Fan Changyu was stunned. "Did Wei Yan really set the fire that killed Shu Fei?"
An Taifei said, "That was the rumor in the palace at the time. This old one had been close to Rong Yin, and by the time I heard the news and rushed to Qingyuan Palace, the flames were too fierce to enter."
Fan Changyu noticed An Taifei's voice growing hoarse and looked up to see a single tear glistening at the corner of her eye.
Her voice trembled slightly. "Have you ever seen water thrown onto a fire, only for the flames to leap higher?"
She said, "This old one has. That fire reeked of tung oil."
Fan Changyu frowned. "Was it the Late Emperor who burned Shu Fei to death?"Imperial Consort An picked up a handkerchief to wipe her tears, barely maintaining a semblance of calm in her voice: "This old one was unable to see Shu Fei one last time. How she passed, I cannot give the general a definitive answer. But her Qingyuan Palace... it was indeed the Golden Guard who doused it with tung oil while fighting the fire."
"At dawn, the palace was surrounded, the sounds of slaughter shaking the heavens. I only survived by tightly shutting the gates of Shouyang Palace. That day, the waters of the moat ran red, and the white marble steps before Taihe Gate could not be cleansed of the stench of blood for a full month afterward. Everyone in the palace was replaced. The Late Emperor and Imperial Consort Jia both succumbed to overwhelming grief. The slaughter in the palace before dawn that day seems to exist only in this old one's memory now, truly like a dream..."
The incense in the burner curled upward in the Buddha hall, and the white jade Guanyin on the altar seemed to exude even greater compassion.
Fan Changyu rose with complex emotions and clasped her hands in salute: "Thank you, Your Highness, for sharing this past."
Stepping out of the small Buddha hall, Fan Changyu took a deep breath of the crisp, cold air filled with snowflakes, gazing absently at the sparrows perched atop the palace walls.
The mysteries surrounding Wei Yan grew ever more tangled.
He had been ordered to mobilize troops but had handed the responsibility to her father midway, returning to the capital himself.
Had he already conspired with Prince Changxin by then, preparing for the fall of Jinzhou, and returned early to control the capital's situation?
If so, given his cunning, he shouldn't have lost composure and sneaked into Shu Fei's Qingyuan Palace at night.
Even stranger—if he had gone to kill Shu Fei to silence her, why did the Late Emperor order the Golden Guard to douse her palace with tung oil?
Fan Changyu frowned deeply. Recalling Shu Fei's words about Wei Yan getting drunk at the Mid-Autumn banquet and assaulting a palace maid—witnessed by the Late Emperor and his ministers—she became increasingly convinced that incident too had been the Late Emperor's scheme.
Had Wei Yan's nighttime visit to Qingyuan Palace been another trap by the Late Emperor? When Wei Yan escaped due to his martial skills, did the enraged emperor burn Shu Fei in retaliation, then frame Wei Yan?
And did Wei Yan launch the palace coup to save himself?
Pondering these questions, Fan Changyu headed to Wenyuan Pavilion to find Xie Zheng. Before leaving Shouyang Palace, she heard someone call from behind: "General Fan, please wait!"
Turning, she saw a magnificently dressed palace beauty approaching. The intricate gold-woven embroidered brocade of her robes bloomed with flowers, her hairpins were floral, and she herself resembled a peony in full splendor. Though her steps were quick, the tassels on her hair ornaments swayed only slightly, exuding natural elegance and nobility.
Assuming this must be the princess, Fan Changyu saluted: "Greetings, Your Highness."
Qi Zhu hurriedly said, "No need for formalities, General."
She handed Fan Changyu an embroidered box: "I stopped you to ask a favor—please deliver this to Gongsun."
Accepting the surprisingly light box, Fan Changyu wondered at its contents but assumed palace restrictions made outside communication difficult. "This general will ensure it reaches Gongsun," she promised.
"Thank you, General." Qi Zhu gave a slight curtsey. As she turned away, her eyes lingered on the box with a trace of melancholy.Fan Changyu found it somewhat strange. After another glance at the brocade box in her hand, she tucked it into her robe and headed towards the Wenyuan Pavilion.
Xie Zheng had postponed the morning court sessions for several days, citing the young emperor's illness from fright. However, after Gongsun Yin screened the memorials submitted by court officials, the crucial ones still needed Xie Zheng's final decisions.
Before Changyu even entered the hall, she heard Gongsun Yin's complaints: "The Three Departments and Six Ministries are all urging to conclude Wei Yan's case. Look at this old traitor's confession—does he think this is a game?"
Growing increasingly indignant, he slammed a confession document before Xie Zheng, fanning himself furiously despite the cold weather: "Delaying military orders leading to the fall of Jinzhou—he claims he feared punishment, so he massacred the imperial palace instead. After seizing power, he altered edicts to shift all blame onto Old General Meng. Tell me, who would believe this confession if released? If he delayed military operations, shouldn't he have been on his way to Jinzhou? How did he end up in the capital instead?"
Xie Zheng continued writing calmly at the desk, unmoved.
Gongsun Yin produced a second document from his robe and slapped it onto the desk: "Here! This is his revised confession after I questioned why he returned to the capital early. Now he changes his tune, admitting he orchestrated the Jinzhou massacre himself, claiming it was because he disagreed with Crown Prince Chengde politically. To monopolize power and achieve his grand ambitions, he deliberately gave Wei Qilin a fake Chongzhou Tiger Tally..."
Changyu knew this was likely another false confession forced from Wei Yan. The Tiger Tally her father had carried was genuine.
She stepped inside: "Did Wei Yan confess to defiling the imperial harem?"
"General Fan has returned?" Gongsun Yin glanced toward the entrance, greeting Changyu with a smile before answering: "No, he hasn't. He won't even mention it..."
Only when Changyu entered did the man bent over documents finally look up, pulling out a chair for her. Changyu naturally took her seat beside him.
Gongsun Yin pretended not to notice and continued: "Strangely enough, he's confessed without blinking to countless heinous crimes—both those he committed and those he didn't—yet he persistently avoids this particular charge of debauchery..."
The soft clink of a teacup sounded as Xie Zheng poured tea and handed it over. "The snowstorm outside is heavy. Warm yourself with some tea."
Changyu was indeed thirsty and began gulping it down immediately.
Gongsun Yin's mouth twitched. After all these years of acquaintance, he'd never seen this man voluntarily serve tea to anyone.
Suppressing his reaction, he continued analyzing: "Since the Cold Palace maid who fell into Qi Sheng's hands was also killed by Wei Yan, I suspect his affair with Shu Fei might be true—he's just been covering it up..."
"Dinner is still some time away. If you're hungry, there are some pastries here to tide you over." The cool, clear voice opposite spoke again quietly.
Gongsun Yin watched incredulously as the normally stern man produced a food box from behind him, taking out a plate of pastries for Changyu. He finally couldn't take it anymore.
Just as Changyu accepted the plate, a loud bang sounded.
Turning, she saw Gongsun Yin standing with both hands on the desk, veins throbbing at his temples. "Xie Jiuhang, that's enough!"
Changyu paused, took one pastry for herself, then pushed the entire plate toward Gongsun Yin with innocent almond eyes.
The message was clear: Here, you have some too.
Gongsun Yin nearly fainted from frustration.
To make matters worse, Xie Zheng chose that moment to remark coolly: "Don't mind him."Gongsun Yin couldn't help but roar: "Xie Jiuhang, there will come a day when you beg me! After all I've said..."
Xie Zheng interrupted him: "Shu Fei was a descendant of the Qi family. Wei Yan once received instruction from Old General Qi."
Gongsun Yin's anger faltered as the broken thread of thought in his mind suddenly connected: "So Wei Yan concealed this matter to protect the Qi family's reputation?"
After all, Old General Qi and all his sons had died in battle. The Qi family truly deserved the title of "a family of loyal martyrs." Even Chengde Crown Prince bore the same steadfast character as the Qi family, earning him immense public support.
For such a loyal and heroic family, having a promiscuous imperial consort would indeed tarnish their name.
Fan Changyu thought for a moment and said: "I actually think Wei Yan did it for Shu Fei's reputation. He had a past with her, and the crimes he committed would leave him infamous for eternity. Admitting an affair with Shu Fei would only drag her name through the mud alongside his for generations to come."
Throughout history, imperial consorts entangled between rulers and ministers have gained notorious reputations, with unofficial records describing them in increasingly vulgar terms, often becoming fodder for idle gossip among ruffians.
Any ordinary woman associated with such scandalous notoriety would have no choice but to drown herself to preserve her virtue.
Gongsun Yin sat back down and said: "If that's truly the case, it's rather strange. For a heartless man like Wei Yan to go this far for a woman?"
Fan Changyu then shared what she had learned from An Taifei with the two men.
Both Xie Zheng and Gongsun Yin fell silent after hearing it.
Fan Changyu said: "If the Late Emperor had indeed set up Wei Yan, then Shu Fei's death and that forced palace coup might also be suspicious. But there's one thing I still don't understand—if Wei Yan cared so much about protecting Shu Fei's reputation even after her death, why did he abandon her and flee alone when he was discovered by the imperial guards during his nighttime visit to Qingyuan Palace?"
Xie Zheng remained silent.
Gongsun Yin rubbed his temples: "Could it be that Wei Yan knew back then that he couldn't save Shu Fei, yet didn't want to die with her either? After tasting power all these years, he felt guilty and wanted to make amends?"
Fan Changyu didn't respond either.
If it really was as Gongsun Yin said, then Wei Yan's current refusal to let Shu Fei's name be tarnished would seem rather laughable.
"In my opinion, we should just close this case," Gongsun Yin suddenly declared.
Fan Changyu and Xie Zheng remained silent.
Gongsun Yin tapped the table with his fan handle: "The masterminds behind the Jinzhou Massacre were undoubtedly Wei Yan and Sui Tuo. The Sui family is extinct, Wei Yan has been executed, and the slander he pinned on Old General Meng has been cleared. With his death, the lives he owed have been repaid. Isn't this a proper resolution for the wronged soldiers of Jinzhou and the people of this land?"
When Fan Changyu and Xie Zheng still didn't speak, Gongsun Yin added: "If we can't pry open Wei Yan's mouth, we can't just drag this on forever. The new ruler... must prepare for his ascension, no?"
After another stretch of silence, a firm and steady voice finally spoke: "We cannot close the case."
Gongsun Yin looked up, and Xie Zheng also turned his gaze.
Sunlight streamed through the half-open window into the hall, clear and bright. The young female general sat upright on a cushion in her soft armor, her long lashes slightly lowered, her features resolute and heroic.
Gongsun Yin asked: "Why?"Fan Changyu raised her head, her eyes reflecting the morning light like a vast, shimmering sea: "Having reached our current positions, we shouldn't settle for such a muddled conclusion. Even the courtroom of a seventh-rank county magistrate bears the plaque 'Impartial Justice Above All,' demanding fairness and righteousness. Wei Yan killed my parents and tarnished my grandfather's reputation—I hate him to the bone. He committed countless atrocities and deserves death, but not this kind of senseless end."
Her gaze was resolute: "The Bloody Case of Jinzhou needs the truth—the real truth."
Not some hazy notion that with Wei Yan's death, the past grievances would be settled.
Wei Yan's death would only bury the truth forever.
The last trace of casualness vanished from Gongsun Yin's eyes as he regarded Fan Changyu with unprecedented seriousness.
The young woman before him remained as courageous and sincere as ever, yet now her sincerity and bravery carried an added depth—not like towering mountains, but broader, akin to the vast, unending earth beneath their feet.
Only such fertile ground could nurture peaks that rise abruptly from the plains.
This realization left Gongsun Yin momentarily stunned, until Xie Zheng's voice brought him back.
"Continue investigating the Jinzhou case. As for the new emperor's ascension, begin preparations now." The first statement was directed at Fan Changyu, the second at Gongsun Yin.
Gongsun Yin assented. As he stood, he bowed solemnly to Fan Changyu: "I am ashamed of my earlier words."
His gesture flustered Fan Changyu, who replied, "Gongsun was considering the broader situation."
She handed him the brocade box Qi Zhu had entrusted to her: "I nearly forgot—the Eldest Princess asked me to deliver this to you."
When Gongsun Yin took the box, his eyes darkened slightly. "Did Her Highness have any other message for me?"
Fan Changyu answered truthfully: "No."
"I see. Thank you, General Fan." Gongsun Yin smiled, but his usual carefree demeanor seemed absent.
After Gongsun Yin left, Fan Changyu remarked to Xie Zheng, "Did you notice how strange Gongsun acted after receiving that box?"
Xie Zheng embraced her from behind: "He's avoided the Eldest Princess for years, but time won't wait for her any longer."
Before Fan Changyu could fully grasp his cryptic words, she felt the weight of Xie Zheng's chin resting on her shoulder.
"Thank you," he murmured hoarsely.
With Wei Yan dead, he might never learn the truth about his father's death.
How could she not hate Wei Yan for her parents' deaths and the Meng family's wrongful accusations? His death would have meant true vengeance.
Yet she had rejected Gongsun Yin's proposal.
Fan Changyu turned her head to smile at him: "General Xie and Crown Prince Chengde's wrongful deaths need answers, as do the thousands of soldiers who died in Jinzhou."
She placed her hand over his at her waist, her eyes as pure and sincere as ever: "We'll find the truth together. We always will."
The turning point came after Yu Qianqian arrived in the capital.
Fan Changyu had never mentioned Qi Min to Yu Qianqian, but her and Xie Zheng's extensive investigations into Wei Yan and the Sui family eventually reached Yu Qianqian's ears.A nation cannot be without a ruler for even a day. When Xie Zheng discussed with Tang Peiyi and others the matter of elevating Yu Bao'er to the throne, they inevitably faced another issue: Qi Min was still clinging to life by a thread.
The question was how to execute this imperial grandson.
Although Yu Bao'er was still young and shared no fatherly bond with Qi Min, Tang Peiyi and the others did not approve of Xie Zheng directly killing Qi Min. They argued that the natural bond between father and son might cause trouble in the future, fearing that Yu Bao'er could be manipulated into resentment.
Fan Changyu was unafraid of this. She stated plainly, "I'll kill him. That child is sensible and knows his birth father was no good man. Even if, in the worst case, he grows to resent me—I was the one who saved him from Qi Min’s blade when his own father tried to kill him. I’m not afraid of his hatred."
Xie Zheng silently grasped her wrist, signaling her to stop arguing.
"I'll go," he repeated in a low, firm tone—not seeking opinions, but declaring his decision.
Just as Tang Peiyi was about to protest again, a voice suddenly came from the doorway: "Marquis, esteemed generals, this humble wife can go."
Everyone turned to see a graceful woman push the door open and enter.
Fan Changyu was startled. "Qianqian, why are you here?"
The other generals and advisors were not familiar with Yu Qianqian, but as the prospective Empress Dowager, they regarded her with deference.
Yu Qianqian looked at Fan Changyu and said, "I know you mean well for me. Bao'er and I already owe you and the Marquis too much. Let me be the one to kill Qi Min. It will not only eliminate him but also allow us to extract information about the Sui family’s collusion with Wei Yan. There’s no downside."
Fan Changyu’s remaining objections were silenced by Yu Qianqian’s words.
In the end, she could only say, "Then I’ll go with you."
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