Оn the first daу оf thе tеnth mоnth, Li Rong rose еаrly in the mоrning. After саrеfullу drеssing аnd grooming hеrself, she set off for the раlaсe.
Whеn shе stерpеd оut, thе skу wаs still a dull grаy, and a соld wind sweрt through the entirе city оf Huajing, rushing аgаinst hеr fасе аs she lifted thе сarriаgе сurtain.
Li Rоng raisеd hеr head, gаzing аt the tоwering palаce gatеs. Неr eуes lingered briеflу оn the high rооftорs bеfоre shе hеard Jing Lаn’s soft vоice bеside hеr: “Yоur Нighness, it is timе tо еntеr the palаce.”
Li Rong withdrew her gаze and smiled fаintly, plаcing hеr hаnd on Jing Lаn’s as she stepped down from the carriage using the footstool.
As she made her way toward the main hall, the Morning Court Assembly had just begun, and Consort Rou’s supporters had already submitted a memorial requesting confirmation of the specific execution dates for the year.
To align with the natural order, Great Xia only carried out executions during the winter. Last year, Li Rong had executed so many people precisely because she had resolved all disputes during the winter season. Now, however, Consort Rou had imprisoned some, exiled others, and demoted officials, yet she had not executed a single person, postponing all executions until winter.
Now that the tenth month had just begun, Consort Rou’s supporters eagerly proposed setting specific execution dates. Everyone understood that Consort Rou’s intention was not to execute people but to issue a warning.
“Execution dates have always been determined by the Imperial Astronomical Bureau,” Shangguan Xu, unable to tolerate Consort Rou’s arrogance, spoke up directly, rebuking the official who had submitted the memorial. “Since when has this ever been a matter for court discussion? Having served in the court for so many years, how can you be so ignorant of protocol?”
As the Left Minister, Shangguan Xu’s words naturally silenced the officials below. Seeing this, Consort Rou glared at the kneeling official and said with a smile, “Minister Shangguan, your words are mistaken. After all, times are different now. With so many people to be dealt with this year, if a specific date is not set, it may be delayed again and again until, in the end,” Consort Rou sneered, “who knows if the executions will even take place?”
Consort Rou was implying that the noble families were secretly scheming to rescue their people. Censor-in-Chief Shangguan Minzhi coldly remarked, “Why would the executions not take place? What do you mean by ‘times are different now’? The court has always been the court, and His Majesty has always been His Majesty. The only difference now is that a woman from the inner palace is interfering in governance—a hen crowing at dawn, sowing chaos in the court.”
“Shangguan Minzhi!” Consort Rou immediately shouted sharply upon hearing this. “What do you mean by that?!”
Shangguan Minzhi looked at her coldly. “Your Ladyship, I am merely fulfilling my duty as a censor.”
“You accuse me of being a hen crowing at dawn?”
Consort Rou was so angered by Shangguan Minzhi that she laughed. “Then why didn’t you say anything when Princess Ping Le was in the court? It’s only because she is a princess of the Shangguan family!”
“The princess is a princess of the royal family,” Shangguan Minzhi replied without glancing aside. “The Shangguan family does not have princesses. I advise the Xiao Clan to understand the distinction between the royal family and noble families, and not overstep due to ignorance.”
Consort Rou instinctively wanted to retort, but upon seeing the officials from the Censorate standing behind Shangguan Minzhi, she forcibly held back her words.
Why would she want to argue with the Censorate?
These people had stirred up storms and engaged in verbal battles in the court for decades. Any one of them was a formidable opponent. In his time, Shangguan Minzhi had argued his way to the position of Censor-in-Chief. Though he had spoken little in recent years, maintaining his dignity, it did not mean his words lacked bite.
Consort Rou restrained herself and smiled, softening her tone. “Minister Shangguan can only pick on such trivial matters. Both are women—Princess Ping Le serves as the head of the Supervisory Department. Why can’t I do the same?”"At least Elder Sister hasn't produced so many wrongful cases," Li Chuan said calmly. "Why are the officials dissatisfied? Shouldn't Consort Rou reflect on herself?"
"She's in cahoots with all of you, so of course you wouldn't speak ill of her," Consort Rou's tone turned cold. "Your Highness the Crown Prince accuses me of handling wrongful cases—do you have evidence? If not, then you—"
"I do!"
Before Consort Rou could finish, a clear, bright female voice came from the entrance. Pei Wenxuan was the first to turn and saw a woman silhouetted against the light at the palace doors, stepping into the main hall.
Li Ming frowned as he watched Li Rong, holding a scroll, stride into the hall.
All eyes were fixed on her as she walked steadily through the crowd, stopping gracefully before Li Ming. She performed a deep bow and said respectfully, "Your daughter pays respects to Father Emperor. May Your Majesty live ten thousand years."
"What are you doing here?"
The words slipped out of Li*Ming's mouth, but as soon as he spoke, he knew it was the wrong thing to say.
Whatever Li Rong's reason for coming, her appearance in the main hall meant she was now beyond his control.
He shouldn't have allowed her to be here, so he immediately added, "Without being summoned, you—"
"I have come to seek justice for myself, for the court officials, and for the impoverished scholars of this realm—against the current head of the Supervisory Department, Noble Consort Xiao Rou!"
Li Rong cut him off, her voice rising sharply. Each word was forceful and resonant, striking the ground like a hammer.
As she spoke, Li Rong raised the scroll in her hand. "I beseech Your Majesty to uphold justice for us."
Consort Rou watched Li Rong and felt a sudden panic, though she showed none of it on her face. She feigned calm, her eyes fixed intently on Li Rong.
Li Rong's interruption left Li Ming unable to continue ordering her away. He stared coldly at her for a long moment before finally speaking, reminding her, "Ping Le, you should be resting at your residence."
"Father Emperor," Li Rong faced Li Ming's near-warning without fear, replying calmly, "I request that Your Majesty summon the accusers into the hall."
"You know I am your father, yet you dare to instruct me on how to act?"
"Your Majesty," Shangguan Xu spoke calmly, "Since Her Highness has accused Consort Rou, as a wise ruler, Your Majesty should first concern yourself with this wrongful case."
"Your Majesty, please summon those involved in Consort Rou's case into the hall."
A majority of the court officials spoke in unison. Li Ming glared at these ministers who were pressuring him, clenched his fist, and finally could only reply, "Summon them."
After his command, the officials related to the Shangguan Clan who had been imprisoned by Consort Rou entered the hall one by one. At the same time, some members of the Supervisory Department, led by Shangguan Ya, also came in.
Once they had all settled, Consort Rou laughed. "So these are the accusers—people already convicted of crimes?"
Her gaze slowly swept over the members of the Shangguan Clan. "Ping Le, the Shangguan Clan has quite the audacity, framing and bending the law to save their own people."
"Your Ladyship believes someone is framing you?" Li Rong smiled at this. "Then," she shifted aside, revealing the person kneeling behind her, "what about this one?"
After Li Rong moved, a young man raised his head. He had a square, honest face, and his gaze fell on Consort Rou's face, carrying a hint of indignation.
Consort Rou looked at the young man, somewhat bewildered. "Who is this?"
"This humble commoner is Chen Hozhao," the young man prostrated himself on the ground, declaring loudly, "a candidate from Qingcheng, Yuzhou, last year."Upon hearing Chen Hozhao's name, Consort Rou's expression instantly changed. After a moment, she hurriedly said, "So it's you? I've been searching everywhere for you but couldn't find you. Are you here today because someone is forcing you?"
Consort Rou took the initiative, attempting to shift all of Chen Hozhao's accusations onto Li Rong as coercion.
As soon as Chen Hozhao heard her words, he laughed mockingly, "Your Highness, what could this humble commoner possibly be coerced into? Even if someone could force me to be here, could they also force your cousin, Xiao Shunwen, to steal my Spring Imperial Examination spot?"
Li Ming's expression shifted slightly. He glanced discreetly at Consort Rou, who feigned composure, "When handling the imperial examination case earlier, I couldn't find any trace of you. If you had grievances, why didn't you come forward earlier to lodge a complaint? Instead, you wait until today to bring up these baseless accusations?"
"Baseless?" Chen Hozhao's emotions surged with agitation, "Do you know how I've spent these over twenty years studying by the cold window? Do you know how many clothes my mother washed to support my studies, how her eyes were ruined from embroidery? All my family's hopes rested on me! That scoundrel Xiao Shunwen, Xiao Pingzhang, stole my identity, my examination paper, my twenty years! And today you dare tell me it's baseless?!"
"Master Chen, there's no need to be so agitated," Consort Rou, seeing Chen Hozhao's fury barely contained, quickly tried to soothe him, "I merely wish to verify the facts. You need not overthink it. If there truly is injustice, why must you make such a commotion? Simply speak plainly, and I will never show favoritism. I will surely restore justice for you!"
"Justice?" Chen Hozhao sneered coldly, "The justice you want to give me is to have people search everywhere for me, trying to hunt me down, hoping I'd never resurface, so this case would never come to light, isn't it?"
"What nonsense are you spouting?!"
"Don't you know what you've done?! You falsely claimed I died of illness in Huajing, threatened my mother with my younger brother's future, telling her not to come to Huajing to continue investigating my case. The letter promising to recommend my brother as someone's advisor is still here," Chen Hozhao pulled a letter from his sleeve, "Still trying to deny it?"
"I understand now," Consort Rou, hearing this, hastily turned to Li Ming, "Your Majesty, they want to frame me! All their evidence today is fabricated, deliberately plotted to harm me! Chen Hozhao disappeared after lodging a complaint with Ping Le. If I wanted to harm him, why would I investigate his whereabouts and clash with Ping Le over it?"
"Your Majesty," Pei Wenxuan spoke slowly. Everyone looked at him as he stepped forward from the ranks of officials and respectfully said, "This humble official believes Consort Rou is wronged."
Hearing Pei Wenxuan speak in her defense, Consort Rou immediately looked at him with hope. Pei Wenxuan analyzed, "Since Prince Su took over the Supervisory Department to investigate the imperial examination case, assisted by Consort Rou, they have sought justice for hundreds of scholars, enforcing the law impartially, praised throughout the land. How could they possibly bend the law for personal gain, shielding blood relatives? This humble official believes this case requires further investigation to avoid wronging the innocent."
"Yes," Consort Rou followed Pei Wenxuan's words, looking earnestly at Li Ming, "Your Majesty, how much effort have I devoted to the imperial examination case? How could I betray Your Majesty's trust just to protect a few distant relatives?"
Li Ming remained silent. He lifted his gaze and looked at Li Rong.Li Rong knelt on the ground. Though she was kneeling, her posture remained ramrod straight, her clear eyes fixed on him without a trace of the humility expected from someone in her position.
"Then, I shall show Your Majesty the third group of petitioners."
As she spoke, Li Rong placed the scroll on the ground, giving it a gentle push to unroll it sideways. The lengthy scroll unfurled, revealing a series of names both familiar and strange.
"The third group of petitioners consists of the victims from the imperial examination case investigated by Consort Rou. Consort Rou claims to have devoted great effort to this case and handled it impartially. Then I would like to ask Consort Rou,"—the scroll finally came to a halt, spanning half the width of the hall's central aisle—Li Rong raised her eyes to meet Consort Rou's gaze—"if you truly acted with impartiality, why did you threaten these students with disqualification from the Spring Imperial Examination to persuade them to abandon their petitions?"
"Allowing the impostors to roam free, merely granting these students the examination quotas they rightfully deserved," Li Rong's smile carried a hint of mockery, "is this what Your Ladyship calls impartial enforcement of the law?"
Consort Rou was momentarily speechless, staring in shock at the names on the scroll. Li Ming clenched his fists, his gaze fixed intently on the same list.
Li Rong looked at the two figures in the hall and slowly bowed her head to the ground. "Your Majesty, Consort Rou is guilty of corruption, bribery, abuse of power for personal gain, premeditated murder, and framing loyal subjects. I implore Your Majesty to detain Consort Rou for thorough investigation and punish her according to the law!"
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