A heavy rain failed to sweep away the capital's sweltering heat, leaving officials restless in their duty rooms, though some places offered more relief than others.
The entrance to the Ministry of Justice Prison had gathered more people than usual.
There were officials, clerks, and guards—the eerie chill from the dungeons provided some respite from the heat. If not for the pungent odor of the cells, everyone would have sought refuge inside to escape the scorching weather.
With the crowd growing, lively chatter and laughter filled the air, and the hottest topic of discussion was the Empress presiding over court and handling state affairs.
"For the Empress to even attend court is already a concession from the Grand Tutor, out of consideration for the young Emperor's age. Yet she oversteps, meddling in governance."
"What do you call this? 'A hen heralding the dawn'!"
"Oh, you dare insult the Empress!"
"That's not my insult—it's from the history books."
"I'd say it to the Empress's face if I could, but alas, I'm not qualified to attend court."
"Have you heard? There's a Hanlin compiler who curried favor with the Empress, shouting 'Long live the wise Empress' in court."
"Who? So shameless? Has he wasted all his education?"
"I know the story—it's about the scholar's suicide case in Jingzhou—"
As the crowd joked and bantered, they glanced toward the entrance and saw over a dozen figures approaching in imperial guard uniforms.
"Look, even the imperial guards are here to cool off," one guard chuckled.
The Ministry of Justice Prison was a heavily guarded site, and imperial guards were often rotated here for duty. But today's arrivals—a guard who stepped forward to greet them narrowed his eyes slightly. "They look unfamiliar. Which unit—"
His words were cut short as someone tugged him from behind.
"No," the person said, staring at the approaching guards, his gaze fixed on their chests. "They're Dragon Cloak Guards."
The speaking guard then noticed the python patterns shimmering on the uniforms of the approaching guards as they moved.
The Dragon Cloak Guards were imperial guards, yet not quite the same—and they never came here for duty.
Their sudden appearance today—
Whether it was the glint of their python patterns, their grim and rugged faces, or their perpetually probing gazes, the crowd outside the prison fell silent in an instant.
The dozen or so Dragon Cloak Guards halted before them, and the leader scanned the group.
"Ding Chui, Captain of the Outer Camp of the Dragon Guard Army, here on official business," he announced, presenting his waist token as introduction.
As the token was held up, everyone instinctively glanced at it. Someone couldn't help but gasp—the token bore three characters:
Ding Dachui cleared his throat. "I've just changed my name and haven't updated the token yet. But I'm still the same person."
He had indeed recently altered his name—or rather, adjusted how he was addressed. It was on Yin Canshi's suggestion, who said "Ding Chui" sounded more formal and authoritative, especially since he served the Empress. "Dachui" could remain as a childhood nickname, for private use.
Ding Dachui pondered this and agreed it made sense.
What did he mean by "the name changed, but I'm still me"? Were the Dragon Cloak Guards so casual? Still, the interlude snapped everyone back to attention.
An official from the Ministry of Justice stepped forward. "Cai Yi, Secretary of the Ministry of Justice. May I ask what business brings Captain Ding here?"
Ding Dachui replied, "The Empress believes there are issues with the Jingzhou Grading Fraud case, so we're here to take the suspect, Jingzhou Zhongzheng Fangwen Zheng Xia, into our custody."
Secretary Cai was taken aback. Most inmates in the Ministry of Justice Prison were either on death row or never to be released. Zheng Xia was such a minor figure he'd nearly forgotten him—only recalling him now because of the earlier chatter.
"This—this—is the Empress serious?" he blurted out without thinking.Before he could finish speaking, the Dragon Cloak Guard—whose name had only just been settled—frowned with a fierce glare. The clerk stiffened, inexplicably feeling like prey before a hunter, and instinctively stepped back.
"What I mean is, this matter belongs to the Ministry of Justice," the clerk hurriedly clarified. "We haven't received orders for a retrial."
Another official, thinking the clerk too timid, coughed lightly and looked at Ding Dachui. "Captain Ding, you may not be aware, but transferring prisoners from the Ministry of Justice Prison requires extensive procedures. Setting aside other formalities, the first requirement is an edict from the Grand Tutor—"
Before he could finish, Ding Dachui stepped forward, and with his movement, the soldiers behind him advanced in unison.
"I act under the Empress's command," Ding Dachui declared, each word deliberate. "Moreover, I am not here to seek your permission—only to inform you."
With that, he waved his hand.
"Take the prisoner."
The soldiers surged forward: one group surrounded the officials and guards, while another headed straight for the prison.
The officials and guards quickly regained their composure. As Ministry of Justice personnel, they typically dealt with high-ranking offenders who had to humble themselves before them. The ministry's staff had always carried an air of authority. They immediately shouted, "How dare you!" "Is there no law anymore?" "Guards, someone is breaking into the prison!" "Surrender now, or else—"
But before they could finish, as they stepped forward to block the way, the Dragon Cloak Guards struck them down.
They fought in earnest, even drawing their weapons.
"The Dragon Guard Army acts on the Emperor's orders. Those who obstruct us will be treated as rebels," Ding Dachui stood firm, one hand resting on his blade, watching the approaching guards. "Show no mercy."
"Show no mercy." The officials, clerks, and guards froze in place.
These Dragon Cloak Guards had a savage glint in their eyes, watching them like predators—excited, bloodthirsty.
...
...
"The Empress's Dragon Guard Army raided the Ministry of Justice Prison?"
Xie Yanfang sat at his desk, smiling as he asked.
Seventh Master Xie nodded. "I rushed over upon hearing the news and saw the Ministry of Justice guards lying all over the ground. Those Dragon Cloak Guards swaggered off with the death row prisoner Zheng Xia."
Xie Yanfang laughed heartily, setting down a letter in his hand. "Excellent, excellent. A fine raid."
"What can she achieve by seizing him?" Seventh Master Xie frowned.
Xie Yanfang smiled. "Investigate the case." He picked up another letter and began reading it.
Seventh Master Xie scoffed. "How will she investigate?"
Xie Yanfang multitasked, reading the letter as he spoke.
"There's nothing to investigate in this case. It's just that no one has looked into it, and there was no need to. Using Zheng Xia to close the case was the best outcome."
"This 'no need' includes the Grand Tutor and us—favors layered upon favors, one after another."
"Now, we have the Empress, who is outside it all and holds no such favors, to investigate."
"This clumsy, unconcealed case—even a fool could uncover the truth."
He chuckled again.
"Besides, the Empress is no fool. She's quite clever."
The last remark was unnecessary, and Seventh Master Xie curled his lip. "This isn't just a hen crowing like a rooster—it's outright misconduct."
...
...
The Empress's misconduct did not stop with raiding the Ministry of Justice Prison.
A few days later, Dragon Cloak Guards stormed into the residence of the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, Jiang Zhen, arresting him in the midst of a family banquet. The Jiang clan was thrown into turmoil. The Capital Garrison, upon hearing the news, confronted the Dragon Cloak Guards in a tense standoff on the streets."How dare you make an arrest without an order!" The Capital Garrison Commander's face flushed crimson with rage.
Ding Dachui remained impassive. "We are investigating under orders. Chancellor Jiang is a suspect and must be taken for questioning."
The Commander gritted his teeth, at a loss for words. "That's the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy! The Imperial Chancellor!"
For an official of such rank, only the Grand Tutor's authorization and the Ministry of Justice's warrant could justify an arrest. Even then, unless for treason or other grave crimes, the approach would be courteous—not this savage raid by soldiers as if conducting a family extermination.
The Jiang clan, a scholarly family with three generations of high officials enjoying imperial favor, had been treated with respect even by the late Emperor.
Ding Dachui stared blankly. "I only see a suspect. His status means nothing to me."
To this hunter from the wilderness, high-ranking officials and noble clans were unknown concepts—and what one doesn't know, one doesn't fear.
He recognized this Commander, having dealt with him several times as fellow soldiers, but that was all. Before the other could speak again, Ding Dachui waved his hand.
"Commander Yuan, step aside quickly. Don't delay our duty," he said. "You're causing a crowd to gather and creating chaos."
Who was really causing chaos? The Commander watched the gathering crowd on the street—the Jiang family's men, women, young and old, servants all—bubbling like boiling water about to erupt.
"Captain Ding," the Commander said, "hand Chancellor Jiang over to us. Go request proper authorization. Even if an investigation is necessary, it should be conducted by the Ministry of Justice."
Ding Dachui gripped his waist saber. "This is a Ministry of Justice suspected case, now assigned to us. Move aside immediately, or don't blame us for showing no mercy."
The Commander clenched his jaw. "Would you dare arrest me?"
Ding Dachui shook his head. "No." A faint smile appeared. "I'd just beat you."
These people were utter savages. As the Commander prepared to retort, he suddenly felt vibrations underfoot, accompanied by shouts from the crowd.
"The Capital Garrison is coming—"
The street echoed with the clatter of hooves as columns of armored soldiers marched in formation—the Capital Garrison troops.
The bubbling crowd instantly erupted into full boil.
Troops were being deployed!
This was serious!
"By order of the Grand Tutor!" the soldiers shouted in unison. "The Dragon Guard Army has acted lawlessly under false orders. Lay down your arms and surrender immediately."
The Commander's face turned grim. He glanced at the approaching troops, then back at Ding Dachui.
With the Grand Tutor overseeing state affairs, he held both the imperial seal and the tiger tally, commanding the capital's forces.
The Empress making arrests without the Grand Tutor's approval gave him grounds to deploy troops to intervene.
"Captain Ding," the Commander urged urgently, "release him now. This is between the Grand Tutor and the Empress. You're powerless here."
Ding Dachui watched the approaching Capital Garrison soldiers.
"What happens between the Grand Tutor and the Empress is their affair. Following orders is ours," he said, drawing his waist saber. "I follow the Empress. When ambushed on the road, we fought in the Border Commandery against Western Liang. When Zhongshan Commandery besieged Prince Zhongshan, we stood our ground—victory or death, never surrender."
"Today, there will only be Dragon Guard soldiers dead on this spot, never Dragon Guard soldiers surrendering."
Gripping his saber, he urged his horse forward and declared loudly:
"The Dragon Guard Army acts by the late Emperor's decree to protect the dynasty's stability. Today we investigate by imperial order. All bystanders withdraw immediately, or be deemed rebels and executed without mercy."
Following his lead, a dozen Dragon Guard soldiers drew their sabers. From another direction came the thunder of hooves as dozens more Dragon Guard reinforcements arrived."By imperial decree to investigate a case, step aside immediately, or be deemed treasonous."
"Kill without mercy!"
"Kill without mercy!"
Amidst the shouts, Ding Dachui took the lead, with the few dozen Dragon Guard Army soldiers behind him showing no fear as they charged toward the hundreds of Capital Garrison troops.
The street instantly erupted into chaos.
"They're fighting—"
Witnessing this scene, the officials observing from a distance could no longer restrain themselves—these madmen! They're simply not human!
"Everyone, stop—"
...
...
Deng Yi stepped into the Emperor's study in the inner palace and saw Chu Zhao sitting with Xiao Yu, practicing calligraphy together.
Chu Zhao smiled and said, "Grand Tutor, what brings you here today with free time?"
Deng Yi ignored her lighthearted tone.
"Empress, what do you intend to do?" he asked directly.
Chu Zhao set down her brush, her smile fading. "This Consort is merely investigating a case."
Deng Yi retorted, "Is this what you call investigating a case? You are disregarding laws and regulations, flouting decrees, indulging the Dragon Guard Army in seeking merit and rewards, acting recklessly."
"Grand Tutor, this Consort is not disregarding laws," Chu Zhao said. "Rather, the laws disregard this Consort. It is you who ignore the doubts in this case, overlook the lack of evidence, and dismiss the suspect's claims of innocence. Otherwise, this Consort would not need to intervene in the investigation."
Deng Yi stared coldly at her.
"Moreover," Chu Zhao met his gaze unflinchingly, "Grand Tutor, you are overseeing state affairs by the late Emperor's decree, and so is this Consort. It was this Consort who saved His Majesty, and it was the late Emperor himself who decreed, for the eternal stability of the dynasty, to appoint this Consort as Empress."
Deng Yi said, "So?"
Chu Zhao replied, "Therefore, this Consort has the authority to intervene in any matter that threatens the clarity and integrity of the Great Xia dynasty."
Deng Yi gave her an impassive glance, then turned and strode away.
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