"Those Jiang family members should have brought Ruan'er and Xinzhi back even if it meant death back then," Su Shi lamented with deep regret. "They're nothing but a pack of wolves. No, I can't rest easy knowing Ruan'er is being raised in that household."
Zhao Yulong muttered under his breath, "She'd have to be willing to come back first."
"Yulong," Zhao Yuanping shot his son a warning look, silencing him immediately. Regarding his cousin, Zhao Yulong only retained the impression that she held rather indifferent feelings toward the Zhao family. Yet his grandparents and the entire household doted on her excessively. Zhao Yulong curled his lip disdainfully.
Zhao Feizhou turned to Zhao Yuanping. "Second Uncle, when will Ruan Meimei be released?"
Zhao Guang also fixed his gaze on Zhao Yuanping, who sighed helplessly. "We must first clarify what exactly happened. With Third Brother's connections, we can arrange things in the prison. However, the Imperial Censor's unusually swift official notice is rather peculiar." Stroking his chin thoughtfully, he continued, "Father, you should visit the palace and seek an audience with His Majesty. Given our family's standing, the Emperor won't act against Ruan'er for now. Eldest Brother and I will meet with that Imperial Censor. Nephew, dispatch some guards to gather information outside the Jiang residence. Ruan'er wouldn't have been implicated without reason—she must have offended someone. Mother and the ladies should remain at home to await news and prepare countermeasures if needed."
With these arrangements made, the General's Residence gradually settled back into calm.
...
Xiao Shao had just exited the prison, leaving several shadow guards to handle the corpses inside. As he descended the steps, his footsteps suddenly halted, his eyes glinting with cold intensity.
Footsteps approached from the left as Zhao Yuanfeng walked over, scrutinizing Xiao Shao with a mocking tone. "Prince Xiao moves remarkably fast."
Xiao Shao glanced at him indifferently and continued walking. Zhao Yuanfeng blocked his path. Though older than Xiao Shao, Zhao Yuanfeng still felt a trace of wariness before this young man who commanded a hundred thousand Brocade-clad Guards. Annoyed by Xiao Shao's dismissive attitude and never one to back down, Zhao Yuanfeng said bluntly, "Prince Xiao, you seem rather close to that Ruan girl."
Xiao Shao stopped. "What can you do about it?"
Zhao Yuanfeng choked on his words, nearly fuming at Xiao Shao's blunt retort. As the third young master of the Zhao family and a renowned dashing general, being treated as utterly incompetent rankled him.
Xiao Shao pulled a letter from his robe and tossed it to him. Zhao Yuanfeng caught it, momentarily setting aside his indignation to scan the contents. His expression shifted several times before he asked, "You intend to deliver this letter..."
"To the Imperial Censorate," Xiao Shao said coldly. "Hu Qianqiu has been embezzling. The head censor need not remain in his position."
"Prince Xiao, this will reshuffle the entire Imperial Censorate," Zhao Yuanfeng probed cautiously. "It won't... be so easily accomplished."
"Perfect for a purge." Xiao Shao's calm words sent an involuntary shiver down Zhao Yuanfeng's spine, leaving him chilled to the core.
...
Old Madam Jiang's death sent shockwaves through the Jiang residence—though less for the death itself and more for Jiang Ruan's subsequent arrest. Jiang Quan was naturally furious upon learning of it. That day in Guilan Courtyard, only Cai Que had remained by Old Madam Jiang's side. Having served the old lady for years, her testimony carried weight. As for Old Madam Jiang's tea—it was discovered to have been laced with arsenic.Rumors spread through the streets and alleys claimed that Jiang Ruan harbored deep resentment toward Old Madam Jiang and had poisoned her with arsenic. Though these rumors spread far and wide, discerning listeners could easily spot the flaws—if one truly wished to murder someone, poisoning them outright with arsenic seemed far too foolish a method. The Princess of Great Peace was no fool; why would she seek her own demise?
Yet speculation aside, this was ultimately the Jiang family's internal affair. While the public reveled in the gossip, they also eagerly awaited the spectacle—how would this younger sister of Da Jin Dynasty's God of War, the favored princess by Empress Dowager Yide's side, turn the tables now?
Perhaps because the rumors had grown too rampant, Jiang Quan issued a confinement order, forbidding anyone in the residence from leaving except for essential errands. In Second Madam's courtyard, Yang Liu carefully served her medicine.
"Take it away!" Second Madam waved her hand, knocking the bowl aside, her face etched with irritation. With Jiang Quan forbidding anyone from leaving or entering the residence, even messengers couldn't get through, leaving her clueless about the situation outside. Thinking of the thousand taels of silver she had sent out, she gritted her teeth. She had staked her entire fortune on this—there was no way Jiang Ruan could escape now.
Though Hu Qianqiu still held some affection for her, many years had passed. On the surface, he helped her out of lingering sentiment, but in truth, he was merely trying to covertly align himself with the Jiang family. With the conflict between Ye Hua and Ye Li intensifying, even Hu Qianqiu, who stood with Ye Hua, couldn't help but waver. Securing ties with the Jiang residence would provide a safety net should the worst come to pass.
Li Qiang, her nephew, was a notorious gambler drowning in debt. Had she not seen through this, she wouldn't have enlisted his help. Her goal wasn't to bring Jiang Ruan down through mere framing—she intended for Li Qiang to employ certain methods while Jiang Ruan was imprisoned. Any woman subjected to such treatment would either take her own life or, failing that, Li Qiang would ensure it appeared so. Jiang Li's suffering—her body defiled by that lecherous prince and her reputation ruined—had all been Jiang Ruan's doing. Now, she wanted Jiang Ruan to taste that same bitterness: her body violated, her name disgraced.
Only in prison, where Jiang Ruan would be isolated, would it be easiest to act. It should have been foolproof, yet with no news forthcoming, a sliver of unease crept into Second Madam's heart—an unease tinged with an ominous premonition that left her inexplicably unsettled.
After a pause, she rose. "I'll go see Jiang Dan."
...
Jiang Dan's courtyard, located near Ruan Residence, was equally quiet. White mourning silks already adorned every corner. Dressed in plain white robes, Jiang Dan sat by the window, idly toying with a small white flower on the table. Her long hair cascaded loosely over her shoulders, accentuating their delicate frailty. Like the fragile blossom in her hand, she appeared vulnerable and pitiable.
"Young Miss," a maid approached. "Second Madam is outside."
"I'm unwell today. I won't see her." Jiang Dan brushed a strand of hair aside and moved toward the bed.The maid was somewhat hesitant but dared not refuse, so she steeled herself and went out. Jiang Dan walked to the bedside and sat down, pulling down the soft gauze curtains with a backhand motion. The newly made autumn-colored tianxiang silk curtains emitted a faint fragrance, their vibrant hues dazzling to the eye—each bolt was worth a small fortune. Although Hong Ying, as the household manager, didn’t dare to openly tamper with the allowances of the young mistresses, as a concubine-born daughter, Jiang Dan naturally couldn’t afford such luxuries.
These had been gifted to her anonymously, but it wasn’t hard to guess who the sender was. Zuo Jiang’s attitude was far too enthusiastic. A trace of disdain flickered across Jiang Dan’s face. In the past, the position of a minister’s wife would have been a decent match, but now, the minister’s household was in a precarious state, with no room for advancement in officialdom. She wasn’t a fool—why would she throw herself into such a situation? Zuo Jiang merely thought too highly of himself, assuming she was desperate to marry into his family.
Still, keeping these things might prove useful someday. Jiang Dan toyed with the curtain’s fastenings, her mood quite pleasant. That fool Second Madam had likely made her move yesterday. A few subtle provocations had been enough to send the foolish woman scrambling to find someone to act. It would be ideal if Jiang Ruan could be toppled, but Jiang Dan knew full well that given Jiang Ruan’s cunning, Second Madam would never be her match. In the end, the loser would still be Second Madam.
So what? A flash of hatred passed through Jiang Dan’s eyes. Back then, Second Madam had encouraged Jiang Li to steal the marriage arrangement she had fought so hard to secure—did they really think she was some pushover? Jiang Li was dead, but Second Madam was still alive and well. That wouldn’t do. Those who crossed her never fared well—first Jiang Li, now Second Madam, and in the future… She smiled faintly, extending her porcelain-white hand to delicately pick up an embroidered cushion. The embroidery depicted a young phoenix stretching its neck as if about to cry out, as if waiting for a gust of wind to carry its call to the heavens.
In the imperial study, Zhao Guang wiped the sweat from his brow, his expression finally easing somewhat. After much persuasion, the Emperor had at last hinted that this matter wouldn’t be hastily concluded. After all, Jiang Ruan was now a princess ennobled by the imperial family—if anything were to happen to her, wouldn’t it be a slap in the Emperor’s face?
The thought of Imperial Censor Hu Qianqiu from the Censorate filled Zhao Guang with fury. As a founding elder of the dynasty and a Grand General of the State Protectorate, Zhao Guang was accustomed to receiving deference from his colleagues in court. Hu Qianqiu’s ability to hold his position as a Censorate inspector was largely due to his shrewd and adaptable nature. Zhao Guang had always harbored reservations about civil officials and had little interaction with Hu Qianqiu. Yet, to his surprise, this seemingly respectful inspector had now thrown Jiang Ruan into prison. On the surface, it appeared unremarkable, but Zhao Guang’s instincts told him this turtle’s spawn must have had a hand in it.
The Emperor tossed aside the memorial in his hand and rubbed his temples. Eunuch Gao stood silently to the side, eyes downcast. Empress Dowager Yide had just visited, also to discuss Jiang Ruan’s situation. In recent years, the Empress Dowager had rarely involved herself in such trivial matters, yet now she had taken an interest for the sake of the Princess of Great Peace. Eunuch Gao mused inwardly—the Princess had won the Empress Dowager’s genuine favor, had the backing of the Zhao family, and Jiang Xin Zhi’s military achievements to boot. The Emperor had previously paid little attention to her, but now he would likely have to reassess this eldest daughter of the Jiang family.At that moment, a young eunuch outside announced the arrival of Jinying Wang seeking an audience. As soon as Xiao Shao entered, the Emperor looked at him and said, "What now? Don’t tell me you’re also here about the Princess of Great Peace?"
Xiao Shao remained silent.
The Emperor had spoken casually, but upon seeing Xiao Shao’s expression, he paused in surprise. After a brief contemplation, he frowned and asked, "What is your relationship with the Princess of Great Peace?"
Xiao Shao replied calmly, "Hu Qianqiu, as the chief official of the Censorate, has failed in his duties, been deceived by villains, and repeatedly promoted undeservedly. I request Your Majesty to punish him severely."
"Speaking to me like this means you’ve already taken action. Why bother asking?" The Emperor snorted coldly. "The Princess of Great Peace certainly has her ways. In such a short time, the number of people pleading for her has been eye-opening. I never knew my ministers had such close ties with her."
Xiao Shao couldn’t help but frown at the Emperor’s words. The Emperor didn’t seem to be referring to Zhao Guang or Empress Dowager Yide—their intercession for Jiang Ruan was understandable, and the Emperor wouldn’t react this way. Could there be others? He looked at the Emperor in confusion. The Emperor slapped a memorial onto the table and said, "No need to wonder. Grand Tutor Liu has also been here."
Liu Min had also pleaded for Jiang Ruan? Xiao Shao was taken aback.
The Emperor, however, was visibly irritated. Such a trivial matter shouldn’t have been brought to the imperial study. Yet today, one after another, all he heard were matters concerning Jiang Ruan. How could he not ponder over it? Since entering court service, Liu Min had always been aloof and principled, never particularly close to any courtier. Today, he had unexpectedly pleaded for Jiang Ruan. The Emperor glanced at Xiao Shao, recalling Jiang Ruan’s striking and enchanting appearance. Was it truly infatuation with beauty?
"Ah Shao, your marriage—" Before the Emperor could finish, Xiao Shao interjected, "Since there is nothing else, this humble official takes his leave."
The Emperor choked on his words and, after a long pause, waved his hand. "Dismissed."
Outside, the young eunuch watched as Xiao Shao entered and left swiftly, noting the Emperor’s displeased expression. He thought to himself that Jinying Wang was indeed a traitorous subject—even the Emperor could do nothing about him. Inside, Chief Eunuch Gao sighed inwardly and shook his head.
Xiao Shao’s visit to the imperial study today was merely to inform the Emperor; he didn’t even need permission. After leaving, he headed straight for the Censorate.
The officials of the Censorate were busy handling documents—a job that could be both demanding and leisurely. Only cases involving the imperial family or high-ranking ministers fell under the Censorate’s jurisdiction. Mostly, those in higher positions enjoyed leisure while those below toiled. Moreover, with unspoken understandings in officialdom, no major blunders had occurred. Hu Qianqiu’s abrupt arrest of Jiang Ruan had already caused discontent among the Censorate officials.
Currently, the Censorate had two chief officials: Hu Qianqiu, the chief censor, and Ke Xiuran, the deputy censor. Ke Xiuran had long been subordinate to Hu Qianqiu, who firmly held his position, leaving Ke Xiuran no opportunity to advance.
The Censorate officials were largely divided into two factions: one supporting Hu Qianqiu and the other supporting Ke Xiuran, with the former being more numerous. Regarding the imprisonment of the Princess of Great Peace, Ke Xiuran had opposed it.
The sudden appearance of Xiao Shao startled the Censorate officials. Seated in the hall was a middle-aged man in a dark blue official robe—lean, with a slightly dark complexion and a somber gaze. This was Ke Xiuran.Ke Xiuran stood up and bowed to Xiao Shao, saying, "Prince Xiao."
Xiao Shao gave him a cold glance and tossed something to Ke Xiuran. Ke Xiuran was momentarily stunned before realizing it was a letter. He stepped aside to read it, his expression quickly becoming one of uncontrollable excitement. He looked at Xiao Shao with fervent eyes and stammered, "This..."
"If Hu Qianqiu doesn't want to serve as the Investigating Censor anymore, then he need not continue," Xiao Shao said before turning and leaving the Imperial Censorate.
Left alone, Ke Xiuran clutched the letter in his hands. Its contents were enough to trigger a thorough purge within the Imperial Censorate. While it wouldn’t affect him personally, Hu Qianqiu’s official position was certainly doomed. By delivering this letter, Xiao Shao had tacitly given his approval—whatever Ke Xiuran did next would face no opposition. But why would Jinying Wang, who had always stayed aloof from court affairs, suddenly target Hu Qianqiu?
After a moment’s thought, Ke Xiuran suddenly recalled Jiang Ruan, who was still imprisoned. Realization dawned on him—so that was it. Hu Qianqiu had brought this upon himself. He should have known the Princess of Great Peace was not someone to be trifled with. Even if only for Jiang Xin Zhi’s reputation, the Emperor would protect her. Yet Hu Qianqiu, for some inexplicable reason, had locked her up. Had he not considered that if anything happened to provoke the wrath of Jiang Xin Zhi, the God of War, his career would be over?
(End of Chapter)
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