Hot flashes

Did Zheng Mingyi investigate salt merchants and smugglers before his death? Is that true or false? If it is true, then Zhou Heng killing him would be killing someone who worked for the court; if it is false, then Shen Yu would be throwing dirty water on Zhou Heng in the main hall in front of all the civil and military officials.

Xiao Jue stared at him for a long time.

Then he spoke: "Shen Qing, did Zheng Mingyi report this matter to you before his death?"

Shen Yu shook his head: "No. I only learned about it by chance while browsing through old files recently."

Xiao Jue nodded.

"Then continue the investigation," he said. "Since Zheng Mingyi has investigated, there must be case files. Have the Ministry of Justice send people to Jiangling to review all the case files and clarify this matter."

Shen Yu bowed: "Your subject obeys the decree."

He returned to the queue.

Zhou Heng stood still, his fingers slightly clenched.

Ministry of Justice. Shen Yu's men.

Let them investigate, what will they find out?

After the court session, Zhou Heng and others waited in the corridor.

Chen Shen came over from the side and whispered, "Young Master, what about the Ministry of Justice—"

"I know," Zhou Heng interrupted him.

He turned around and walked towards the Qianqing Palace.

He brought up the matter of salt administration himself, putting himself in the open. He mentioned Zheng Mingyi's matter casually, but it reminded everyone that Zhou Heng had killed a high-ranking official.

What could the Ministry of Justice possibly find out if they investigated? They might find out that Zheng Mingyi really did investigate salt merchants smuggling. Even if they didn't find anything, Shen Yu had plenty of ways to "discover" something. In that case, Zhou Heng would be accused of "killing innocent people and claiming credit for their crimes," of "obstructing the court's investigation of the salt administration," and—a person who deserved to die.

Xiao Jue was sitting in the East Warm Pavilion, looking at a document.

When Zhou Heng came in, he looked up at him.

Xiao Jue put down the folding book and extended his hand.

Zhou Heng walked over and was pulled into his arms.

Xiao Jue said, "Shen Yu ordered the Ministry of Justice to investigate Zheng Mingyi. But who has Zheng Mingyi's case file?"

Zhou Heng was stunned.

Xiao Jue's lips curved slightly.

"It's in your hands," he said. "When Chen Shen returned from Jiangling, he brought back all of Zheng Mingyi's case files. Shen Yu doesn't know that."

Zhou Heng opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but couldn't say anything.

Xiao Jue lowered his head and pressed his forehead against his.

"Aheng," he said, "I ordered the Ministry of Justice to investigate a person who is already dead. But what they find can only be what I ordered them to find."

Zhou Heng's heart suddenly started beating faster.

Zhou Heng looked at him, at those unfathomable eyes, and suddenly felt a sense of unfamiliarity.

"Xiao Jue." He called his name.

Xiao Jue looked down at him.

"Um?"

Zhou Heng didn't say anything. He just reached out, hugged his neck, and buried himself in his arms.

Xiao Jue's hand landed on his back, stroking it gently.

On June 25th, news came back from the Ministry of Justice.

The men sent to Jiangling returned empty-handed. They found none of the case files on salt merchants smuggling that Zheng Mingyi had investigated before his death. According to officials in Jiangling, those files had already been taken before Zheng Mingyi was executed.

Who took it? I don't know.

When was it taken away? I don't know.

Why take it? I don't know.

Shen Yu stood in the imperial court, listening to the report from the Ministry of Justice, his expression remaining completely unchanged.

Xiao Jue sat on the throne and waited for the people from the Ministry of Justice to finish speaking before he spoke.

"Shen Qing."

Shen Yu stepped forward and said, "Your subject is here."

Xiao Jue looked at him, his gaze calm.

"The matter of Zheng Mingyi ends here."

Shen Yu's expression changed for a moment.

Xiao Jue didn't wait for his answer. He stood up, walked down the steps, and walked step by step to Shen Yu.

"Minister Shen," he said, "you are my trusted advisor. Since I ascended the throne, I have listened to everything you say. But there are some things—"

He paused.

"There are some things I am aware of."

Shen Yu knelt down, his forehead touching the ground.

"Your subject understands."

Xiao Jue glanced at him, then turned and walked back to the throne.

"Dismiss the court."

That night, the lights in Shen Yu's residence stayed on all night.

---

When Zhou Heng finished washing up and came out, Xiao Jue was already sitting on the couch.

He changed into his nightgown, a dark one, the collar slightly open, revealing a glimpse of his collarbone. He was holding a book, reading by candlelight, when he heard the noise and looked up.

"come over."

Zhou Heng walked over and sat down beside him. He had just finished showering, and his hair was still wet, with water droplets dripping down the ends of his hair and soaking the back of his nightgown.

Xiao Jue glanced at it and put the book down.

"You didn't dry it."

His voice carried a hint of helplessness, as if he were talking about a child who never learns his lesson. He reached for the dry cloth draped over the rack and pulled Zhou Heng closer.

"Turn around."

Zhou Heng obediently turned around, his back to him.

The cloth fell on Zhou Heng's head, carrying the warmth of the man's palm. Xiao Jue's movements weren't gentle—he did everything with an innate efficiency, but when it landed on Zhou Heng's head, the force automatically lessened.

Gently rub from the roots to the ends of your hair, absorbing the moisture little by little.

The room was quiet. The only sounds were the rustling of a towel against hair and the faint chirping of insects outside the window.

Zhou Heng was getting drowsy from being wiped so much, and his head was slowly drooping. Xiao Jue's hand supported the back of his neck and straightened him up.

"Don't sleep, it's not dry yet."

Zhou Heng gave a mumbled "hmm," but his eyelids remained droopy.

Xiao Jue didn't speak again. He put down the cloth, replaced it with a dry one, and continued wiping. His movements were lighter than before, his fingertips occasionally brushing against his earlobe, causing a slight itch.

The candlelight flickered, casting their shadows on the wall. Zhou Heng's shadow was nestled within the one in front of him, completely enveloped and motionless.