Chaрtеr 354: The Вronze Sраrrоw оf Сhаng'an Sings 8
Aftеr finishing her duty and returning home, Zhu Yаn still hаd this mattеr on hеr mind. Shе аlsо wantеd tо disсuss with Shеn Du thе arrаngements for hеr hоmeсoming visit. Theу had beеn back in thе сарitаl fоr sеveral dауs, but with the соnstаnt turmoil, thеy hаd сomplеtеly fоrgotten abоut returning to her раrеnts’ homе, which was cеrtаinlу imprореr.
Ноwеver, аftеr inquiring with the hоusekеepеr, she lеаrnеd that Shеn Du hаd bееn extremеly busy these pаst few days—lеaving eаrly аnd rеturning latе, sometimes not even coming home for the night. It was impossible to catch a glimpse of him.
“So busy?” She hadn’t heard Shen Du mention any new assignments, so why was he so occupied?
Feeling restless, Zhu Yan hurriedly washed up and went to bed. The housekeeper had thoughtfully lit the underfloor heating, making the room as warm as spring. Outside, the cold wind howled, while inside, Zhu Yan lay wrapped in a brocade quilt, enveloped in warmth. Before long, she drifted into a deep sleep.
Since returning from Yingzhou, she hadn’t had a proper rest. After just breaking off her engagement, she had to report to the Ministry of Justice. Exhausted, Zhu Yan should have slept soundly, but her sleep was far from peaceful. In her dreams, she saw those whose ears had been cut off and faces mutilated, one after another running up to her to plead their grievances. Surrounded and suffocated, she stumbled and fell to the ground. Then, those people began bleeding from all seven orifices, their eyes like bloody hollows, closing in on her.
Just as she raised her hands to cover her face in despair, a noise startled her awake.
Drenched in cold sweat, Zhu Yan rubbed her head and got up, pushing open a crack in the window. The cold air rushed in, and she saw a layer of white frost covering the holly leaves in the courtyard. The sky was bright, casting a dazzling silver light.
Shen Du stood before the crowd, draped in a fox-fur cloak, tall and imposing. He exuded an awe-inspiring presence, like a mountain bearing down, starkly contrasting with the frost-covered courtyard and accentuating his dignified, aloof, and untamed demeanor.
Zhu Yan didn’t know whether he had just returned and was about to leave or had rested for the night and was heading out. Uncertain whether to greet him, she suddenly noticed Shen Du, as if sensing her gaze, turn toward her. Their eyes met briefly.
Zhu Yan’s heart raced, but Shen Du’s dark eyes were cold. After a fleeting glance, he withdrew his gaze and strode out of the courtyard.
Rubbing her nose, Zhu Yan felt inexplicably puzzled by Shen Du’s demeanor. She pitied him for the numerous difficulties he faced at court, likely encountering some insurmountable trouble. Thus, she didn’t dwell on it, only regretting that she would probably have to find an opportunity to return to her parents’ home on her own. When the time came, she would inevitably have to explain Shen Du’s absence.
Her third sister was fortunate. Not only did she have Han Shiyuan marry into the family, allowing her to stay home, but Han Shiyuan now worked at the Hongwen Academy and could return home frequently. The couple was harmonious and deeply in love, the envy of others.
With this in mind, Zhu Yan’s drowsiness vanished. She got up, wrote a letter, and instructed the housekeeper to have it delivered to the Zhu residence. Then, she tied up her hair, changed into her official uniform, and headed to the Ministry of Justice to report for duty.
She would return to her parents’ home on the next scheduled day off.
She tried her best to restrain herself from meddling in unrelated matters, but Lu Chuichui came to find her, saying she needed to go to the Ministry of Justice prison to record the case of General Kanagiseruo into the archives.
This was the duty of a scribe, but Lu Chuichui admitted that after witnessing the gruesome scene the day before, she was too frightened to go alone and begged Zhu Yan to accompany her.
“You’ve always been brave, even performing autopsies without flinching. Please come with me.”
Unable to resist Lu Chuichui’s earnest pleas, Zhu Yan had no choice but to accompany her. Familiar with the route, they entered the deepest dungeon of the Ministry of Justice prison.
The cases handled by the Dali Temple mostly involved imperial relatives and nobles, and its prison procedures differed from those of the Ministry of Justice. This was also why Tang Zheng, the Chief Minister of the Dali Temple, dared to transfer General Kanagiseruo’s case directly to the Ministry of Justice without conducting a trial.Originally, Lai Luozhi's intention was to conduct a secret trial at the Dali Temple, quietly eliminating the target without anyone knowing. But now, the common people had learned of it in advance.
However, Lai Luozhi dared not move against Dali Temple Minister Tang Zheng for the time being, as Tang Zheng was related to Princess Chaoyang's family and was not someone he could casually touch.
Princess Chaoyang was widely known to be more likely to succeed to the throne than Crown Prince Li Chong.
Standing before the prison cell door, Zhu Yan couldn't help but frown.
Inside the dungeon, it was dark and damp, with no sunlight year-round. Built underground, not even an insect could fly in. Usually, there was no one guarding it, and an eerie silence prevailed. Prisoners could endure it at first, but after days of nothing but darkness, unable to tell the passage of time, they would soon break and confess.
Currently held in the innermost cell was General Kanakiseruo. Zhu Yan had never met him before. The jailer lit the oil lamp on the wall, revealing his face.
General Kanakiseruo had a dark complexion, curly hair, deep-set eyes, and yellowish-brown pupils that gleamed sharply as he looked at the newcomers. He wore ordinary clothes, his body and face covered in dense whip marks. Where the lashes had struck, the flesh was torn open, revealing raw wounds, some even deep enough to expose bone—a clear sign of the determination to kill him.
His clothes hung in tatters, yet it was still evident that, though not particularly tall, he was robust and strong, with an imposing presence that faintly retained the bearing of a military commander who had fought on the battlefield.
Exhaling a slow, heavy breath, Zhu Yan ordered, "Open the cell door."
The jailer hesitated, advising kindly, "Officer Zhu, you may not know, but when this prisoner was brought in, he went mad and nearly injured several jailers. We barely managed to subdue him. It would be best if you questioned him from outside the cell."
Zhu Yan could see this. General Kanakiseruo was shackled all over. Perhaps after enduring such great suffering, he sat resignedly on a tattered straw mat, not even caring as rats gnawed at the back of his feet.
Zhu Yan couldn't help but sigh. General Kanakiseruo was originally the chieftain of a southwestern tribe. Brave and skilled in battle, he admired the culture of the Great Zhou and voluntarily pledged allegiance, vowing to serve the Great Zhou forever. Later, the Empress enfeoffed him as the Valiant General, sending him to the battlefield to conquer the southwestern tribes, establish prefectures and counties, and accumulate countless merits.
But now, because of a few Siamese servant girls, he had been framed by Lai Luozhi and imprisoned, with the Empress turning a blind eye. Even if it were Zhu Yan herself, she would find it hard to remain indifferent.
"Open it!"
The jailer had no choice but to comply. Lu Chuichui followed closely behind Zhu Yan into the cell, keeping a wide distance from General Kanakiseruo.
Noticing Lu Chuichui's trembling hands, Zhu Yan took the thin ledger and proceeded with the formalities:
"Kanakiseruo, you are accused of embezzling official silver, privately operating mines, and plotting rebellion. Do you plead guilty?"
There was no response for a long while. Just as Zhu Yan was about to step forward, she heard the clanking of shackles and couldn't help but startle. The hem of her robe was tightly gripped by Lu Chuichui.
Kanakiseruo raised his head to look at Zhu Yan, his voice sounding like it was dragged from a broken bellows, fragmented and hoarse:
"Are you that female official wife of Shen Du?"
Zhu Yan was puzzled. "How could you tell?"
Kanakiseruo pursed his lips, his yellowish-brown pupils narrowing slightly. "There are only two female officials in the Ministry of Justice. Among them, Lady Shen is known to have some skill—she can solve cases and conduct autopsies, remaining unfazed even when faced with decomposed corpses showing white bones. As for the other one..."
Kanakiseruo didn't need to finish; it was clear enough.Lu Chuichui pouted and whispered, "Hurry up and ask, then let's get out of here quickly."
Zhu Yan nodded, took a step forward, crouched down, and gently persuaded:
"You should just confess your crime. That way, you can die more quickly and with less pain. You must know that once you enter this death row, it’s as good as a death sentence. You won’t survive, but you should still think about your children."
Upon hearing mention of his family, Kanakiseruo suddenly raised his head and stared fixedly at Zhu Yan...
After leaving the dungeon, Zhu Yan handed the loaded ledger to Lu Chuichui: "Quickly deliver this to Vice Minister Gao to settle the matter. I’m going out for a bit."
"Where are you going?"
Zhu Yan was distracted and replied casually, "I’m going to buy some things to bring back to my parents’ home. It wouldn’t be good to go empty-handed."
Lu Chuichui understood: "Do you want me to go with you?"
"No, official matters are more important. You should hurry."
Zhu Yan calmly told a lie, and the two parted ways at the entrance of the Ministry of Justice, each heading in their own direction.
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