My father ordered me to kill the emperor, but His Majesty bestowed a princess upon me instead.

The next morning at court, I went to the Xuanzheng Hall with the Imperial Censor's Seal.

I didn't bring the sheath back with me.

It's not that I suddenly became bold.

It was Xiao Lingyi who said that today all the civil and military officials are waiting to see if I look like a knife.

If one were to truly conceal a weapon in their sleeve, it would be somewhat in line with their wishes.

I think that makes sense.

He then left the knife at the princess's residence.

With Ah Liu not around, there's no one to check my cuffs, and I'm still not used to it.

Once a person gets used to having someone around to be afraid of dying, it can be quite lonely to suddenly be afraid all by themselves.

There were even more people in the Xuanzheng Hall than yesterday.

Cao Heng, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, was arrested, Liang Wenxiu, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, was detained, the old storehouse of the Secretariat was sealed, and Lady Wang escaped through the palace gate.

In just two days, the Six Ministries and the Inner Court were like a piece of paper that had been suddenly torn in half.

Everyone fears that the next crack will fall beneath their feet.

In terms of seniority, I should address Xiao Lingyi as my clan uncle.

"Your Majesty, I have heard that Shen An will be leaving the capital today by imperial decree to review the grain transport route north of the Yangtze River."

"Exactly."

The emperor's voice was somewhat hoarse.

His complexion didn't improve much after taking the medicine yesterday.

The physician Song stood at the entrance of the side hall, his eyes fixed on the time tablet in Wei Zhi's hand.

If the emperor were to say another word today, he would be prepared to have the person dragged back right there in the palace.

The Minister of the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs continued, "Shen An, as the son of Shen Lie, will be heading towards Jiangbei and then closer to the southwest."

"Without constraints, unforeseen circumstances may arise."

Ideally, one end should be tied around my neck and the other end around Xiao Lingyi's body.

The emperor asked, "What kind of restrictions do you require?"

"Please ask Princess Zhaoning to stay in the capital."

"The Imperial Clan Court will also retrieve the register of the Imperial Son-in-Law's family members."

To put it bluntly, it meant that I was to leave the capital, while Xiao Lingyi would remain as a hostage.

It seems that as long as you replace "hostage" with "hostage book," it doesn't sound so bad.

Xiao Lingyi stood before the imperial relatives, her expression unchanged.

"Does my uncle intend to use me to control the驸马 (the驸马)?"

"I am acting for Your Highness's safety."

"Would it be safe for me to remain in the capital?"

"At least we don't have to go into the dangerous southwest."

"What should I do if my husband colludes with the enemy abroad?"

"Your Highness may sever ties with him."

Xiao Lingyi looked at him.

"Yesterday someone forged Shen Lie's letter, saying that if the prince consort does not obey his father's orders, he will kill me."

"Today, my uncle again asked me to stay in the capital, waiting to sever ties with him."

"You've arranged the path very clearly for me."

"I had absolutely no such intention."

"So what do you mean?"

"It's just according to the patriarchal clan system..."

"Which patriarchal law stipulates that if a husband goes out to investigate a case in the capital, his wife must be detained in the capital?"

The only thing missing was how to take the princess hostage.

The Minister of the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs could only say, "Shen An's status is special."

"My identity is indeed special."

"Therefore, Your Majesty, I request that you add another constraint."

"Is Imperial Censor Shen willing to be detained as a hostage?"

"I have no other relatives to leave behind."

"We can't exactly bring my dad all the way from the southwest."

The emperor's lips seemed to twitch slightly.

I continued, "I request that after I leave the capital, I make three copies of the accounts I check each day, the people I meet, and the orders I issue."

"Send one copy to the Censorate."

"One copy for the Inner Guard."

"One copy will be sent to the Princess's residence."

"If there is no report within three days, then consider me out of contact."

"If there is no report within five days, His Majesty may appoint another person to take over the case."

"If I were to privately meet with someone from the southwest, at least one of the princess's residence, the Imperial Guard, or a local official must be present."

"If there are no witnesses, I will return to the capital to confess my guilt."

The Minister of the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs asked, "What if you don't return?"

"Then please have the court arrest me as a traitor."

"But I have one condition."

The emperor asked, "Speak."

"All impeachment memorials accusing officials of treason must not only state their background."

"Supporting evidence is required."

"Whoever said that I was delivering grain to the southwest would attach grain deeds, cart deeds, and granary seals."

"Whoever says I met with Shen Lie in private, I have provided witnesses, travel documents, and the time."

"Whoever says Princess Zhaoning conspired in a rebellion, here is her own handwriting and seal."

"If no supporting evidence is provided, it is not an impeachment."

"It's a rumor."

"Spreading rumors about the prince consort is not a serious crime."

"The Minister of the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs should know better than me what the law stipulates regarding the spread of rumors that the princess is plotting a rebellion."

Those who framed members of the imperial family for treason were punished ranging from exile to being held equally guilty.

Yesterday, they dared to throw dirty water on Xiao Lingyi with fake letters because they thought the emperor was sick and weak, and although Wang Song had fallen, the old officials were still around, so the court would not really pursue the matter.

I'm bringing this matter up in advance today.

Anyone who tries to do so again should first consider whether they have the life to gather all the evidence.

"Your Majesty, there are already fake military reports and false orders in Jiangbei."

"If Shen An only brings the Censorate's personnel with him on this trip, I'm afraid it will be difficult for him to suppress the local areas."

"I request that troops be sent to escort them."

But the Ministry of War had just found nineteen sets of Southwest Army uniforms in the military vehicle.

I'm hesitant to wear anything casually because of the soldiers they sent.

The emperor asked me, "How many people do you need?"

"No army."

"The Jiangbei grain route involves local powerful figures and anti-military agents; how can the dozen or so guards investigate?"

"Once the army arrives, the granaries will be full."

"The disaster victims will be driven away."

"The county magistrate will recover from his illness."

"All accounts will be cleaned up ahead of schedule."

I said, "I only need twelve Imperial Guards, eight guards for the Princess's residence, and six constables from the Censorate."

"Please also request the Ministry of War to issue a transfer order for the post station."

The Minister of War asked, "Without soldiers, how will we deal with chaos?"

"Relocate the local garrison."

What if the local garrison has been infiltrated?

"Then let's first find out who is disobedient."

If you really encounter a large army, there's not much difference between leading twenty-odd people and leading a hundred.

The emperor granted permission.

Censor Shen An was ordered to review the register of disaster victims in the three prefectures north of the Yangtze River, the false urgent report from Yong'an, the grain deeds of the Wang family, and the charitable granaries along the way.

Princess Zhaoning assisted in the investigation in her capacity as the disaster relief supervisor.

No post stations, prefectures, counties, or granaries along the way may obstruct the journey.

Anyone who refuses to open their tent on the grounds of epidemic, military affairs, or clan shall first have their tent sealed, and then be punished.

The last sentence was clearly added by the emperor himself.

Military aircraft.

Take the seal first.

The emperor was waiting to ask about the letter from Shen Lie.

I'll also wait for a public statement on whether or not I acknowledge my father.

The emperor indeed said, "Shen An."

"Your subject is here."

"A letter arrived from the southwest yesterday, and the whole city knows about it today."

"Explain yourself in court."

"The letter is fake."

"Shen Lie's personal seal, old characters, and Qingxia black sand sealing wax are all complete. It is too lenient for Imperial Censor Shen to only say one sentence is false."

"I did not say that the seal was fake."

"Yinzhen".

"Wax is real."

"The old letter paper is authentic."

"The characters were traced from Shen Lie's old book using rubbings on silk."

"The letter writer, Chen Ping, sneaked into the Ministry of Rites' entourage on the day of my wedding, attempting to pull out a dagger hidden in my sleeve."

"Later, during an internal medical examination, it was written that he died of illness."

"It has now been confirmed that he is not dead."

The official said, "Even if the letter was forged by someone else, it could be at Shen Lie's behest."

"possible."

"Therefore, after I left the capital, I also investigated this matter."

"If Shen Lie gives the order, I will keep track of his account."

"If the Wang family forged documents, I will record the Wang family's accounts."

"If the two are related, record them together."

"Then how can you prove you won't show favoritism?"

I said, "It can't be proven."

Kexin is a creature that dies as soon as it's cut open.

Whether someone is loyal after death is something only others can decide.

I looked up at the emperor.

"I have no choice but to send the evidence back."

"As for the fact that I am Shen Lie's son, that cannot be changed."

"I once went to the capital to assassinate the emperor on my father's orders, and I cannot change that."

"I am now on Your Majesty's orders to go out of the capital to inspect the grain, and there is no way to change that."

"If you gentlemen insist that I choose loyalty over my father's command and the emperor's command, I cannot choose."

The Minister of the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs said, "Loyalty and filial piety cannot be fulfilled at the same time; one should prioritize loyalty to the emperor."

What is loyalty?

"Is concealing the fact that disaster-stricken grain from Jiangbei was transferred to the southwest a sign of loyalty?"

"Is sealing off the imperial tent for the emperor an act of loyalty?"

"To dress seventy-three living people in anti-military uniforms and stage a grain robbery—is that loyalty?"

"Don't confuse right with wrong."

"Your subject is here precisely to distinguish right from wrong."

I said, "If Shen Lie has taken the disaster victims' grain, I will not cover for him."

"If the court uses the lives of disaster victims to stabilize the morale of the army, I will not cover for the court."

"I am not leaving the capital on behalf of my father."

"Not replacing the old ministers."

"Not even for his own reputation."

"I only speak for those who are still alive in the camp."

Such words usually only make sense when someone is about to die.

Now that it's my turn to speak, it means I might not be far from dying either.

The emperor looked at me for a while.

"very good."

There was no gold medal in the box.

This is the Ministry of War's dispatch order that I requested yesterday.

There is also a new sealing seal.

The seal has four characters:

The tents were opened by imperial decree.

The emperor said, "Whoever refuses to open the gate along the way, I will seal their seal."

"Whoever dares to break the agreement, arrest them first."

"Who said you're the son of a traitor and unworthy of investigation—"

The emperor's voice was not loud, but it was very steady.

"Let him ask me."

The emperor then said, "Court is adjourned."

Physician Song visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

When I walked out of Xuanzheng Hall, Xiao Lingyi was waiting for me at the foot of the long steps.

She wasn't wearing a princess gown.

He wore only a dark red, narrow-sleeved robe, covered with light armor.

She doesn't look like a princess on a tour.

I asked, "Has Your Highness packed your things?"

"It was fine last night."

"So fast?"

"I am not like you."

"I only remembered where I put the knife right before I left the house."

The princess's entourage was already waiting inside Zhengyang Gate.

Bai Zhi sat in the first car, holding the tent.

The Song Dynasty physician was forcibly shoved into the second carriage by the emperor.

He stood by the car, his face as dark as if he had been exiled.

"His Majesty ordered me to accompany him."

"I am very touched."

I am not moved.

Physician Song said, "You two, one loves to delve into poison, and the other loves to walk on knives."

"If I don't go, I'll only be able to collect your corpses when I return."

Xiao Lingyi said, "No."

Doctor Song sneered.

"His Highness also said on the day of his wedding that Shen An would not draw his sword."

"The knife wasn't drawn."

"I almost pulled the cable out for him."

I feel that Physician Song's temper has been getting worse lately.

The emperor's illness may have been keeping him from sleeping well.

It's also possible that her life lost its peace after she met me.

When the convoy arrived at Zhengyangmen, the area outside the city gate was packed with people.

Someone came to deliver the disaster victims who had their household registration changed yesterday.

"Lord Shen."

"This commoner doesn't understand the imperial court."

"I don't know about the southwest either."

"All I know is that someone said I died yesterday."

"You're the one who made me stand back."

"Please make those people from Yong'an stand up again."

It was simply to let all the onlookers see that they were not seeing off the rebels.

It was about sending an official who changed the registration of a dead person to be alive.

I suddenly realized that the imperial edicts, the seals for sealing granaries, and the postal dispatch tokens issued by the emperor were not as weighty as these pieces of paper.

Xiao Lingyi mounted her horse first.

I'm just going out of Beijing to check the accounts.

The city gate slowly opened.

The official road outside the gate runs straight south.

The garrison commander of Zhengyang Gate, having verified the imperial edict, announced loudly:

"Open the door!"

"Send Princess Zhaoning and the Censor-in-Chief out of the capital!"

As the wheels crossed the threshold, I glanced back at the capital city.

Wang Song is inside.

Pei Shen is inside.

The emperor was also inside.

Everyone is waiting for us to bring back a settlement from Qingxia that can change the course of the old case.

Beside the first post station ahead stood a young, dusty-looking constable.

Upon seeing the convoy, he immediately rushed to the middle of the road and knelt down.

"Lord Shen!"

"Urgent report from Yong'an!"

The bag contained half a county seal.

Seal of Yong'an County.

"Guard Yan sent me to deliver this."

"The secret passage to the old Yong'an mortuary has been found."

"The people underground are still alive."

I just breathed a sigh of relief.

The constable continued:

"But not seventy-three."

"How much?"

"Seventy-two."

"Who's missing?"

The constable looked up.

"Tian Cheng".

Sun Jing led him to the granary platform.

"I told him that in three days, he should publicly acknowledge you as the young master of the Southwest."