Chapter 109

Chapter 109

Unaware of the private agreement between Luo Mingpu and He Mingzhen, Xue Chongnian continued feigning frustration after yet another inconclusive joint trial. The other two, however, left him behind and rushed straight to the palace to lodge their complaint.

During the severe cold season, Emperor Shunyuan attended court less and less frequently. Most days, he rested in his bedchamber, tended to by Consort Zhen as he recuperated.

He could keenly feel his energy draining day by day, and the power in his hands felt increasingly tenuous, slipping away.

Thus, when Shen Zheng promoted maritime trade, he had no choice but to confine his other two sons to their quarters, hoping they would remain docile and not stir up further trouble.

The court was in a state of unrest. Two days earlier, the Office of Transmission submitted a memorial reporting that a mob had gathered among the people, causing disturbances and chanting vulgar, crude rhymes. They openly accused the court of intending to leniently pardon Wen Zuo for his crime of homosexual inclinations, mocking the court’s unfairness in punishment.

The Transmission Commissioner, fully aware of the gravity of the matter, dared not delay and promptly reported it to the Emperor.

Emperor Shunyuan wrestled internally with this matter for two days, issuing no response—and even his sleep grew restless.

Inside the bedchamber, warm charcoal braziers occasionally spat sparks. Consort Zhen held a silver spoon, stirring a bowl of warm matsutake and clam soup, blowing on it until it cooled before bringing it to Emperor Shunyuan’s lips.

Before the Emperor could speak, a low voice came from outside the hall doors: “Your Majesty, Lords He Mingzhen and Luo Mingpu request an urgent audience.”

Emperor Shunyuan abruptly opened his eyes, pushed aside Consort Zhen’s spoon, and struggled halfway upright. “Has Wen Wanshan’s case reached a verdict?”

In that moment, even he himself could not say which outcome he truly desired.

Liu Quan hurried forward, knelt on both knees, and carefully helped Emperor Shunyuan into his soft-soled dragon boots.

Emperor Shunyuan said, “Have them wait in the Qingliang Hall.”

Once dressed and wrapped in a thick sable-fur hat, Emperor Shunyuan, supported by Liu Quan, slowly made his way to the Qingliang Hall. Before leaving, he said to Consort Zhen, “You may return to your palace first.”

Consort Zhen longed to learn the truth of the matter but dared not pester Emperor Shunyuan when his expression was so stern. She could only withdraw regretfully.

Upon entering the Qingliang Hall, before Emperor Shunyuan had even taken his seat, Luo Mingpu threw himself to his knees with a *thud*, his voice filled with anguish and remorse: “Your Majesty, your servant is incompetent! I summoned the proprietor of Wang Liuji and the great scholar Liao Zongqing to verify the ‘Evening Mountain Rhapsody’ in court, and also brought in the former innkeeper to testify. His testimony aligns perfectly with Minister Xie’s confession! Yet, despite the ironclad evidence before him, Wen Zuo persists in denial, refusing to admit guilt. Xue Chongnian further obstructs the proceedings in multiple ways, showing undue favoritism and protection, causing this case to drag on for over twenty days, locked in a stalemate, unable to reach a verdict! I have failed to resolve this case and bring the guilty to justice, deeply failing Your Majesty’s profound grace and trust!”

With that, he raised a stack of confessions high with both hands, presenting them to Emperor Shunyuan.

Emperor Shunyuan’s brow furrowed tightly.

He Mingzhen also knelt and declared solemnly: “Your Majesty, I wish to impeach the chief judge of this case, Xue Chongnian! Since taking charge, he has repeatedly been perfunctory in conducting the trial and evasive in his responsibilities, often using the pretext of numerous doubtful points in the case to delay joint trial dates. He has also claimed illness several times, showing disrespect to his colleagues, and has clearly shown signs of favoritism by protecting Wen Zuo! As a Censor, I have verified that Lord Luo’s adjudication process was proper and without fault. This case has ironclad evidence; according to law, the chief judge should submit a request for judicial torture. Yet Xue Chongnian stubbornly refuses to apply it, causing this case to be dragged on without resolution! I receive the Emperor’s stipend and should share the Son of Heaven’s burdens, upholding fairness for the realm. I now humbly request Your Majesty’s sage judgment: replace the chief judge of this case and grant permission for judicial torture according to law, to demonstrate the court’s fairness!”

Emperor Shunyuan ordered Liu Quan to take the stack of confessions. With effort, he put on his spectacles, gave them a cursory glance, then closed his eyes. The hall fell into dead silence.

Seeing the Emperor’s conflicted expression, Luo Mingpu quickly shuffled forward on his knees two steps and added: “I dare to speak boldly. I have heard that baseless rumors have already spread among the people, wildly discussing the court’s fairness. Elders and scholars are all indignant, denouncing the scourge of homosexuality, sullying our pure regulations! Public sentiment is now fervent. Such individuals who use their beauty to mislead the masses and defile officialdom are no different from evil spirits—”

“Enough!” Emperor Shunyuan suddenly darkened his face, sharply cutting off Luo Mingpu’s slanderous words.

Luo Mingpu instantly fell silent, his eyes wide, his heart leaping into his throat as he held his breath, observing the Emperor’s expression.

He did not understand why the Emperor was angry; he had merely disparaged Wen Zuo’s appearance a few times.

Emperor Shunyuan’s arm trembled slightly as he gripped the armrest of the throne with white-knuckled hands, veins bulging on the slack skin of his neck.

Luo Mingpu’s words acted like a final, unbearable provocation.

He had once thrown himself at Emperor Kangzhen’s feet, trembling in terror, weeping bitterly: “Father, it wasn’t him who seduced me! He didn’t seduce me! He understood nothing—he didn’t even know the difference between yin and yang. I taught him everything; it was my momentary negligence! He is a pure vessel and jade ruler, clear and flawless, the person I trust most. I beg you—”

But Emperor Kangzhen still coldly ordered people to pull him away, his face showing not a trace of emotion, only admonished: “Your eyes are clouded; you cannot recognize an evil seducer.”

Liu Zhangbai looked down from above at him lying on the ground like a pile of mud, said with the frustration of seeing iron fail to become steel: “Your Highness, rise. Do not cause your royal father distress. Strictly governing the vice of male favoritism is meant to awe the populace. Even if sometimes the handling is not entirely reasonable—and may even wrong the innocent—to protect the majesty and weight of imperial authority, dissenting voices must also be purged. The previous dynasty already shed rivers of blood and countless wrongful deaths for this. How can Your Highness now, due to personal desire, fantasize about overturning ironclad laws and diminishing the ancestors’ dignity? Using the blood of a few to extinguish all thoughts of transgression in the realm, making imperial authority unquestionable—this is the heavy responsibility Your Highness must bear. I urge Your Highness to understand reason soon, shoulder the great responsibility for the state, comfort your elder brother’s spirit in heaven, and not betray the hopes of our forebears.”

That night, he could no longer control himself. He rushed out of the Prince of Jing’s mansion, burst into the detached lodge, embraced Ying Xingluo, and wailed in despair: “I can’t protect you anymore! I can’t protect you anymore!”

Ying Xingluo merely blinked his bewildered eyes and gently wiped away his tears.

Those eyes were the last imprint left behind—something he could never forget in this lifetime.

Ever regretful that this body is not my own… Ever regretful that this body is not my own…

Emperor Shunyuan seemed to have all his strength drained from him in an instant, utterly exhausted.

After a long silence, he raised a hand to shield his eyes and asked hoarsely, “Who do you believe should replace the chief judge to conclude this case swiftly and appease public resentment?”

Luo Mingpu’s eyes lit up. He quickly straightened up and said, “I believe the Chief Grand Secretary, Gong Zhiyuan, is of virtuous character and high prestige and handles matters impartially. He should take on this heavy responsibility!”

Emperor Shunyuan slightly tightened his grip, the dark fox-fur robe crumpling deeply under his fingers.

“Approved,” he uttered heavily, spitting out the single word.

When Xue Chongnian received the news, he was dining at his residence. For a moment, he was stunned; his bowl and chopsticks slipped from his hands, shattering with a *clang*, splashing broth all over his shoes.

Coming to his senses, he abruptly stood up, his voice carrying a barely perceptible tremor: “Quickly! Fetch my official robes! I must enter the palace to see His Majesty!”

Xue Chongnian could not wait for a carriage. He mounted a horse and galloped toward the palace gates. After much difficulty getting someone to relay his request, the reply he received was: “His Majesty has already retired for the night and is receiving no guests.”

Eunuch Liu Qian personally came out to deliver the message. His gaze fell on Xue Chongnian’s ashen face, his tone as placid as the winter waters of the Long River: “Minister Xue, this case has dragged on for too long. Public sentiment is now turbulent, and His Majesty has made his decision. There is no need for you to plead bitterly here. It would be better to return to the Dali Temple earlier, prepare the verification seals and trial edict, and do not… delay the handover proceedings.”

Xue Chongnian stood dumbfounded, looking up at Eunuch Liu Qian on the steps. He wanted to say something, but saw Eunuch Liu Qian give a slight nod before turning and retreating back into the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Not daring to delay, he spurred his horse straight to the Dali Temple, not bothering to straighten his disheveled attire. As soon as he entered the prison gates, he strode toward Wen Zuo’s cell.

“Master Wen! Listen to me!” He grabbed the cell bars, his expression frantic. “The Emperor has changed the chief judge. Gong Zhiyuan is taking over now. I can only try to delay the handover, but by tomorrow at the latest, they will certainly interrogate you again! This time, I truly cannot protect you. You must be prepared!”

Wen Zuo had been warming himself by the candle flame. Upon hearing this, he sharply looked up, his pale fingertips hovering just above the flame, nearly licked by the fire.

“Gong Zhiyuan?!”

Xue Chongnian was furious and exasperated: “Eunuch Liu Qian said it was turbulent public sentiment. What damned public sentiment? I haven’t heard a whisper of it! Clearly, someone is making trouble behind the scenes!”

Wen Zuo’s eyelashes fluttered rapidly several times. His heartbeat became uncontrollably erratic, making it somewhat difficult to breathe.

Gong Zhiyuan, Luo Mingpu, He Mingzhen—this combination was all too familiar to him. No doubt Xie Langyang had pulled strings behind the scenes, forcing him to break down during the joint trial and admit his guilt.

“Public sentiment…” Wen Zuo murmured, repeating the phrase.

It seemed they had gone to considerable trouble to ensure this ‘public sentiment’ reached the Emperor’s ears.

Fortunately, the two court secrets he had previously disseminated should have fermented sufficiently by now. This ‘public sentiment’ might actually work in his favor.

But before that, he would inevitably have to endure some hardship.

Even for him, not everything could be calculated without oversight. He had never imagined that, with the precedent of Imperial Consort Chen, Emperor Shunyuan would still subject him to judicial torture.

He had thought Imperial Consort Chen was the last vestige of mercy in the Emperor’s heart. But now it seemed this mercy ultimately could not withstand imperial authority and ancestral precepts.

The faint candlelight reflected in Wen Zuo’s eyes, concealing the rising panic. He lowered his gaze. “Has the rest of the court learned of this?”

“The Emperor summoned Luo Mingpu and He Mingzhen privately. I also just received the news. The other court officials likely do not know yet.”

Wen Zuo nodded. “Good. Please take a message to Gu Weizhi for me. Tell them they must not act rashly. Also, be sure to keep it from the people in my residence. I fear they might act rashly in their anxiety.”

"Gu—?" Xue Chongnian was momentarily stunned, then suddenly remembered Gu Weizhi's silence in court. So he had received Wen Zuo's hint—Xue Chongnian had wrongly blamed him. "You have my word, Director. I will deliver the message!"

"Thank you, Minister Xue." Wen Zuo's voice was so faint it was almost inaudible.

After Xue Chongnian left, the cell door closed once more. Wen Zuo slowly buried his face in his arms, his shoulders trembling uncontrollably, fine shivers running down his spine.

Compared to this fear, the torment of his cold ailment seemed insignificant. He finally began to feel anguish, even a flicker of regret—why had he devised such a risky plan? Why had he deliberately provoked Gong Yuwen, triggering this fuse just as Shen Zheng had departed for Jinhai?

Only now did he allow himself to show vulnerability, weeping softly.

Xue Chongnian indeed exhausted every effort, stubbornly delaying the handover until the next day.

As soon as Gong Zhiyuan received the verification seal and the imperial edict for the trial, he immediately summoned Luo Mingpu and He Mingzhen. The three of them headed straight to the Dali Temple to interrogate Wen Zuo.

This time, Xue Chongnian was even stripped of the right to observe from the side. With the emperor's edict in hand, the previous leniencies of "no removal of clothing, no cangue" were all revoked. Wen Zuo was forcibly fitted with the square shackles reserved for serious criminals.

His skin was already delicate, and the burns on the inner sides of his wrists had not yet healed. The iron shackles pressed tightly against his flesh, and in the short journey from the cell to the courtroom, they chafed his skin raw, a faint, persistent pain.

In the courtroom, Gong Zhiyuan sat upright in the center, lightly stroking his beard, his gaze fixed on Wen Zuo with undisguised contempt.

He had long disliked Wen Zuo—such beauty on a man was nothing but a curse.

Wen Zuo slowly raised his eyes, sweeping over the three men in the hall. His gaze was as cold and deep as a frozen ravine.

He remained impeccably clean, his long sleeves hanging lightly, just barely concealing the cold shackles on his wrists. His hair was neatly tied up, a few stray strands falling beside his cheeks, revealing his slender, pale neck and a spine as straight and proud as a pine tree.

The picture of a noble scholar, his spirit unbroken and defiant—even in prison, he carried an air of disdain for all.

Xie Langyang stood to the side. As the one who brought the accusation, he no longer had to remain outside the door but was now truly embroiled in the situation.

Yet his expression remained as lifeless as in his past life, stiff as wood, as if his soul had long since departed.

A wild, absurd impulse seized him—he wanted to turn and look at Wen Zuo. But at the thought of the suffering that person was about to endure, he pinned his gaze to the ground, lacking the courage to lift his head.

If given a choice, he never wanted to betray. But fate had pushed him forward, forcing him to this point. Only through another's death could he secure his own survival.

It was Wen Zuo who first abandoned the past. It was Wen Zuo who insisted on revenge. It was Wen Zuo who wanted him dead!

He was merely... forced to retaliate.

"The case of the 'Evening Mountain Rhapsody' is already solidly proven. The former presiding judge, Xue Chongnian, repeatedly delayed the case due to illness, causing it to drag on. Now, as the Chief Grand Secretary presiding over the trial, I will see this case resolved. Today, we shall deliver the verdict and conclude it," Gong Zhiyuan said slowly.

Luo Mingpu echoed, "The Chief Grand Secretary is correct."

He Mingzhen also nodded politely in agreement.

Unexpectedly, Gong Zhiyuan suddenly raised his hand and slammed the gavel, his eyes gleaming with undisguised malice. "Wen Zuo! The testimonies, material evidence, and handwriting verification are all complete. Yet you remain obstinate. I will not waste time with you. Under the rod, I do not believe we cannot pry open your mouth! Guards—!"

All the witnesses were still standing in the hall. He had neither unsealed the inventory of stolen evidence nor reiterated the testimonies or announced them to the public. After just two sentences, he was ready to administer punishment—his malicious intent was now laid bare.

He Mingzhen was first stunned, then frowned. "Chief Grand Secretary, this is highly irregular..."

Before he could finish, Gong Zhiyuan sharply interrupted, "Minister He, His Majesty is pressing for a swift resolution of the case. We are all serving the state! You know the trial procedures are tedious and unoriginal. It is better to expedite the process, resolve it quickly, and calm public sentiment!"

He Mingzhen had been simmering with frustration after being worn down by Xue Chongnian in recent days, and he was somewhat emotional. Now, thinking of giving Gong Zhiyuan face, he let the matter drop, falling silent.

Wen Zuo coughed a few times, silently clenching his fingers. His palms were instantly damp with cold sweat.

Before entering the courtroom, Xue Chongnian had just sent someone with hot water and clean robes. Wen Zuo had tried his best to make himself presentable and clean, devoid of a prisoner's wretchedness.

But now, sweat still trickled down his temples, sliding along his neck and disappearing into his collar. The warm robe, soaked in cold sweat, now felt chilled, as if the wind cut right through it.

An intensely selfish thought suddenly arose in him—he wanted Shen Zheng to appear before him.

He did not want to lose all dignity. He did not want to endure humiliation. He longed for protection, for reliance, even if it would implicate Shen Zheng...

That was how flawed he was—a strategist unwilling to sacrifice, a lover clinging to comfort. To ease his own suffering, he could even disregard His Highness.

But he truly did not want to appear cowardly and wretched before these people, screaming hoarsely.

Gong Zhiyuan was savage, as if deliberately carving away every last shred of Wen Zuo's dignity. He spoke word by word, each syllable clear: "Strip Wen Zuo and sentence him to twenty strokes of the rod. After the beating, I will question him again."

With that, he turned and glanced at Xie Langyang, his aged face shadowed, the corners of his lips curling in a faint, mocking smile. "Does Minister Xie approve of this approach? No doubt, once he's been punished, he will confess to deliberately seducing you back then."

Xie Langyang deeply bowed his head, his back bent as if about to break, squeezing out two dry, nearly shattered words from his throat: "...Appropriate."

Liao Zongqing, Shopkeeper Wang, and even the trembling courtesans were dumbstruck, staring blankly at Gong Zhiyuan.

They could not believe their ears, unable to believe Gong Zhiyuan would have Wen Zuo stripped and punished in public. For a man of honor and reputation, this was a humiliation far worse than physical pain.

Wen Zuo felt blood rushing to his head, his teeth accidentally biting the side of his tongue. The thick, metallic taste of blood instantly filled his mouth.

"Proceed!" Gong Zhiyuan commanded.

The bailiffs on both sides, as if waking from a dream, strode forward, seized Wen Zuo's arms, and forcefully wrenched them behind his back. Then they pressed down on his slender spine, slammed him down onto the brick floor.

The shackles on his wrists clashed violently, their iron edges cruelly cutting into his flesh. His already chafed wrists immediately oozed streaks of blood, blooming into red stains on his sleeves.

Memories from his past life surged like a sudden downpour, engulfing him in an instant.

He was uncontrollably dragged back into that abyss, returning to his dying moment.

He clutched desperately at his trousers, as if they were his last shred of dignity and propriety. But his arms were twisted nearly out of their sockets, the intense pain seeping into his bones, slowly breaking his spirit.

He gasped for breath, cold sweat thoroughly soaking his undergarments. His throat felt as if gripped by an invisible hand, making even breathing difficult.

The nightmare clung to him like a shadow. He struggled to remember the method Shen Zheng had taught him to break free, desperately fixing his eyes on the brick floor, the plaque in the hall, the fearful faces around him, the interrogation tokens scattered on the ground.

But each glance only made those painful memories clearer.

He had utterly failed.

He could only draw ragged breaths, letting his body tremble violently like duckweed in the wind, his lower lip bitten until a deep, bloodied mark appeared.

The bailiffs tore ruthlessly at his outer robe. The rip of fine brocade was especially piercing in the silent courtroom. His hair came loose, jet-black strands spilling down, tangled around his neck, clinging to his pale skin.

Anyone!

Save him! Save him!

He did not want to be treated like this! He did not want to be trampled upon without dignity! He was not as unbreakable as he had thought!

Shen Zheng! Shen Zheng!

Your Highness! Your Highness!

He did not know if he had cried out loud. His consciousness was already muddled, everything before him fragmented and broken.

Just then—

Everything stopped dead. The tearing force vanished, and the stinging pain in his wrists was cut off.

Wen Zuo lost his support and collapsed to his knees. His chest hitched uncontrollably, yet the sound of his own heartbeat thundered in his ears, startlingly clear.

Along with it came the perfectly calm, flat voice of Liu Quan.

"Chief Minister Gong, His Majesty commands you to proceed to the Cool Hall for an audience immediately."

A column of Imperial Guards filed in, taking positions on either side of the courtroom. Their armor clinked with a cold, metallic sound as they glared menacingly at Gong Zhiyuan.

For Imperial Guards to march into the Three Judicial Offices and drag away the presiding judge—such a thing was unprecedented!

Gong Zhiyuan rose from the presiding seat, momentarily at a loss for how to react.

After a moment, he suddenly pointed at Wen Zuo below the dais and asked urgently, "Eunuch Liu, and Wen Zuo—?"

Liu Quan's eyes were as still as deep water. "This case, I'm afraid, is no longer for the Chief Grand Secretary to try."

Gong Zhiyuan stood there, dumbstruck. Two Imperial Guards stepped forward, took him by the arms, and hauled him away.

Luo Mingpu hurried forward a few steps. "Wait! Eunuch! Could you please give us some indication! Why has His Majesty summoned him so suddenly?"

Liu Quan paid him no mind at all. As he turned, he walked slowly over to Wen Zuo, bent down, and gently helped him to his feet. His voice was for Wen Zuo's ears alone: "The Fifth Prince is in the Cool Hall."

Xie Langyang stared in astonishment at the scene before him, utterly unable to believe that at this critical juncture, such a sudden turn of events could occur!

He stiffly shifted his gaze to the side.

Wen Zuo was being helped up, his spine still stubbornly straight. Strands of his dark hair, damp with cold sweat, clung to the corner of his eye. His eyes were like shattered jade—clear, cold, and sharp, shrouded in a faint, un-dissipated mist.

A familiar terror abruptly sprouted from the depths of Xie Langyang's heart, gripping his insides with icy fingers.

Where exactly had things gone wrong?!