Chapter 99: Rewards and Punishments – Killing to Silence

The mother and daughter pair stared at each other in silence, the atmosphere in the room heavy enough to suffocate.

It felt like some kind of standoff.

Whoever spoke first would lose this game.

Mama Zhang stole a glance at her mistress’s expression, her eye wrinkles twitching as she tried to smooth things over. “The Heir Apparent has finally returned. During the days she was away from home, Madam worried night after night and didn’t get a single full night’s sleep!”

“Who told you to speak out of turn?”

Didn’t get a single full night’s sleep.

Not because of her, but because the mourning period was nearing its end.

Zhao Huairen lowered her eyes and curled her fingertips slightly. “It’s unfilial of me to cause Mother such worry.”

“Prince Gong entered the palace to plead guilty and was reprimanded by His Majesty,” Wang Jinlan said, her face no longer cold now that Zhao Huairen had softened. She regained her usual dignified composure. “Your uncle sent word that Minister Meng praised you highly. This time, you’ve turned disaster into fortune.”

“Mother and Uncle are on such good terms.”

Wang Jinlan detected something off in her tone and furrowed her brows as she looked at her. “Without the Wang Family’s protection, do you think you could have sat steadily in the position of Heir Apparent on your own?”

“Of course not.”

If the Wang Family hadn’t been involved in that old case from back then.

The current situation would be completely different, and she wouldn’t have needed to take on her brother’s identity.

“What exactly are you trying to say?” Wang Jinlan set down her prayer beads, took a deep breath, and her tone already carried impatience.

“I have a grave disrespectful question I’d like to ask Mother.” Before Wang Jinlan could respond, Zhao Huairen lifted her head, her gaze sharp. “Between the Zhao Family and the Wang Family, if you had to choose one, which side would Mother stand on?”

The atmosphere, which had just thawed a little.

Froze solid once more after these words.

Though Mama Zhang and Yu Qiu had both been brought by Wang Jinlan from the Wang Family, after so many years, they had actually spent more time in the Zhao Family. The two of them kept their eyes on their noses and noses on their hearts—this question from the Heir Apparent was not something they could casually interject on.

Zhao Huairen hadn’t expected Wang Jinlan to answer her question anyway. She had only asked to see her reaction. “I spoke out of turn; it was improper of me.”

“I can tell you.”

Wang Jinlan picked up the teacup from the corner of the table, skimmed off the foam with the lid, and took two light sips. “The Wang Family.”

The answer was just as Zhao Huairen had anticipated.

But she hadn’t expected her mother to say it so candidly.

“Your father… has already passed, and the Zhao Family is merely a shelter. What truly protects us is the Wang Family.” Wang Jinlan set the teacup back on the table, paused, and continued, “Don’t be an ungrateful person. Your grandmother and uncle have been so good to you. Mother hopes you won’t forget that.”

Don’t be an ungrateful person.

But if hatred outweighed kindness, how should one respond?

As the two closest people in the world, Zhao Huairen knew her mother’s temperament inside and out. Without the double blow of losing her husband and child, her mother’s life would have been the envy of many ladies in Yanjing.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Wang Jinlan frowned.

Time had left its marks on her face. Perhaps from excessive worry, a few silver strands could already be spotted in her hair.

“It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other, and I wanted to look at Mother clearly.” Zhao Huairen withdrew her gaze impassively, lowered her eyes, bowed, and said, “I won’t delay my time to enter the palace. I’ll come pay respects to Mother again later.”

“No need to come pay respects again today.”

“Yes.” Zhao Huairen nodded, turned, and walked out of the main room.

After the steady sound of footsteps faded away, the room fell briefly silent before voices resumed.

“Madam, the Heir Apparent has become even more steady and composed these days.”

Gazing in the direction her daughter had left, Wang Jinlan murmured, “The way she looked at me was… even more than before…”

Thinking her mistress was about to pick fault with the Heir Apparent again, Mama Zhang picked up the teacup from the corner of the table and handed it to Wang Jinlan. “Madam, please don’t overthink it. This old servant thinks the Heir Apparent looked at you with full filial piety.”

That wasn’t filial piety.

It was pity, even more like sympathy.

The first time she had vented her emotions on Zhao Huairen, she saw not fear, but pity. Time had worn down the sharp edges, turning the piercing pain into a dull ache. They had once shared peaceful days.

But she didn’t know when it had started.

Her silent daughter suddenly developed her own ideas.

She hoped she would enter the Hanlin Academy, but she insisted on going to the Dali Temple; she hoped she would stay distant from the Emperor, but she insisted on scheming with the tiger…

She never rebelled outright.

But she never took her words to heart.

–

The heat intensified, the morning light no longer soft. Sunlight pierced through thin clouds like golden needles, shooting straight down to the earth.

The crimson official carriage proceeded slowly along the imperial road.

Cicadas buzzed noisily, shadows shrinking into thick ink blots at their feet.

The little eunuch responsible for leading the way had long been waiting outside Xuanzheng Hall. When he saw Zhao Huairen, a smile immediately spread across his face, and he hurried forward. “Lord Zhao, His Majesty is waiting inside. He was just asking about you with Prime Minister Meng…”

Zhao Huairen said casually, “Prime Minister Meng is here too?”

“Yes.” The little eunuch stepped aside to lead the way. “With the disaster quelled, His Majesty is greatly pleased, and he’s in high spirits today.”

…

Stepping into Xuanzheng Hall, the light suddenly dimmed.

“Speak of the devil,” Liu Zhengkang said, lounging against the wide dragon throne. Piles of memorials covered the imperial desk beside him. He looked at Meng Cheng with a half-smile. “Speaking of which, Prime Minister Meng’s grandson was saved by Lord Zhao.”

“Your grandson is safe and sound, but Lord Zhao had to make the trip for him.”

As the Chancellor of the current dynasty, Meng Cheng remained composed even in the face of the Emperor’s teasing. He chuckled, cupped his hands, and replied, “Lord Zhao was carrying out His Majesty’s orders to provide disaster relief for the sake of the realm. How could it have been for this old man’s grandson?”

Aside from the attending palace maids and eunuchs.

Only these two spoke in the hall, but Zhao Huairen didn’t dare let her guard down.

She walked respectfully to the center of the hall, lifted her robe, and knelt. Her voice rang clear and steady. “Your subject, Dali Temple Vice Minister Zhao Huairen, has returned from providing disaster relief in Yumu County by imperial decree. I pay my respects to Your Majesty. Long live My Emperor, long live, long long live!”

“Rise.” After a few breaths, Liu Zhengkang finally spoke slowly.

Zhao Huairen rose as ordered, standing with her head bowed, her gaze fixed on the golden bricks before her. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“I heard you acted swiftly this time, with extraordinary methods—beheading two county magistrates who embezzled relief grain and bullied the people?” Liu Zhengkang, seated high on the imperial dais, spoke in a moderate tone, his fingertip tapping the armrest with the ease of one in complete control.

“In response to Your Majesty, the disaster in Yumu County was urgent, with corpses littering the fields from starvation. The two I executed were Qiu Mingsong of Yumu County, who embezzled five thousand shi of official grain and mixed sand into the porridge for the disaster victims; and Luo Xiutong of Changlin County, who forcibly conscripted laborers under the guise of disaster relief, causing over a dozen deaths.” Zhao Huairen spoke at an even pace, keeping her posture extremely humble, yet her spine remained straight without the slightest bend. “The evidence of their crimes was irrefutable. To deter the petty villains, your subject acted decisively without first reporting. This was overstepping my authority—please punish me, Your Majesty.”

“Overstepping?” Liu Zhengkang mulled over the two words, pausing without continuing.

The air turned instantly cold.

She remained calm, her expression unchanged.

“I granted you the authority to act at your discretion precisely to allow such decisive judgment. Well killed!” The last three words rang out sharply, like the clash of metal and stone, startling even the nearby Li Dequan into shrinking back.

Meng Cheng, with his cloudy eyes, sized up Zhao Huairen beside him, taking in her reaction like a customer in a smithy inspecting a blade—wondering if this knife could bring him more benefits.

The reports from the Ministry of Rites hadn’t exaggerated.

She was young, yet already possessed the bearing to accomplish great things.

“I recall… you mentioned something in your urgent memorial about a stone quarry?” Liu Zhengkang leaned forward slightly, paused, and added, “I also heard someone tried to assassinate you?”

Zhao Huairen’s breath hitched for an instant, but her face remained impassive as she replied fluidly, “Luo Xiutong’s forced conscription was for the stone quarry. With over a hundred household guards, after your subject discovered his scheme, he tried to kill me to silence me.”

“Utterly unforgivable!” Liu Zhengkang furrowed his brows and asked, “You are a pillar of the state—no injuries anywhere, I hope?”

His gaze searched her body.

Surface concern, but laced with suspicion.

“In response to Your Majesty, your subject was unharmed. Vice Minister Yan arrived in time and blocked the assassin’s blade for me.”

Liu Zhengkang said, “Where is Vice Minister Yan?”

“Vice Minister Yan is escorting important documents and thus traveling more slowly. Your subject was eager to return to the capital and rode ahead on horseback.”

“Lord Zhao is quite affectionate toward her wife,” Meng Cheng suddenly interjected after his long silence, half-teasing, half-probing. “Injured and slowing down, yet it’s called escorting documents.”

Hearing this, Liu Zhengkang teased as well, “Huairen, does Prime Minister Meng speak truly?”

“Vice Minister Yan was injured saving me,” Zhao Huairen’s long lashes trembled almost imperceptibly as she cupped her hands in salute. “Your subject was overly concerned and confused—please forgive me, Your Majesty.”

“Rise. I forgive your offense.”

Liu Zhengkang waved his hand and leaned back in his chair. “Tell me, what happened afterward? Are the disaster victims settled?”

A flicker of imperceptible darkness passed through her eyes. Zhao Huairen steadied her heart, knowing she had passed this hurdle for now, and spoke evenly. “Your subject ordered the stone quarry sealed. Once the disaster is fully quelled, it can be converted into an official workshop.”

“The seized dirty silver will be escorted back to the capital by the Jinwu Guards.”

“The dikes in Yumu County have already been ordered repaired. The disaster victims now…” As Zhao Huairen began to speak of the victims’ situation, Liu Zhengkang cut her off with a look and said gravely, “Dirty silver? Interesting. Lord Zhao went to provide relief and came back with silver?”

Knowing his greater interest lay in the silver, Zhao Huairen lowered her eyes and replied flatly, “By your subject’s rough count, the dirty silver amounts to… a little over thirty thousand taels.”

The nonchalant Liu Zhengkang.

Perked up at the mention of thirty thousand taels, interest gleaming in his eyes.

“Lord Zhao’s merit is no small thing.” He withdrew his gaze from her and turned to Meng Cheng. “In Prime Minister Meng’s view, how should I reward him appropriately?”

“This is merely your subject’s duty; I dare not claim merit.” Zhao Huairen regulated her breathing, her voice steady with just the right touch of loyal straightforwardness.

She wanted the position of Minister of Punishments.

But now was not the time to speak up.

“It’s not modesty. Relieving Your Majesty’s worries is your subject’s fortune; I truly dare not claim merit.” Zhao Huairen paused and said, “My father’s death anniversary approaches. If Your Majesty permits… your subject requests two days’ leave.”

At these words, the interest in Liu Zhengkang’s eyes deepened further. Even the top scholar of his year was no more than this. He remembered Zhao Guishan as arrogant back then, but now his daughter had become the sharpest blade in his hand.

“Of all virtues, filial piety comes first. Granted.”

Zhao Huairen kowtowed in thanks. “Your subject thanks Your Majesty for this great grace.”

“Li Dequan, is the item I had you prepare ready?” Liu Zhengkang didn’t immediately allow her to rise but spoke to the side.

“This old servant prepared it long ago.” Li Dequan smiled, his wrinkles bunching up. He took a tray from a young eunuch and walked slowly to Zhao Huairen. “Jade Breath Pills—Lord Zhao, take them quickly.”

The translucent porcelain bottle was carved with floral patterns.

An imperial gift that even drew Meng Cheng’s sidelong glance.

Kneeling on the ground, Zhao Huairen took it in stride, a faint curve tugging at her thin lips as she took the bottle from the tray. “Thank you for the trouble, Chief Eunuch.”

“Lord Zhao is too polite.” Li Dequan took back the tray and turned toward the throne, drawing out his voice. “Your Majesty, Your Majesty seems to have forgotten something.”

Liu Zhengkang paused for a moment before realizing. “Why is Lord Zhao still kneeling? Rise quickly.”

The habitual torment.

Could no longer harm her.

But for some reason, in this place of pretense and scheming, that person’s voice suddenly echoed in her mind.

“You hate kneeling.”

“I can make it so you never kneel again in this lifetime.”

“I mean to no one—not even the Emperor.”

Fortunately, Qingqing wasn’t here.

She didn’t want Qingqing to see her like this.

The chill of the hard floor pulled her thoughts back. Zhao Huairen pocketed the Jade Breath Pill and rose with an unchanged expression. “Thank you, Your Majesty. Your subject takes her leave.”

She turned to leave, her crimson robes brushing lightly past the hall doors. Xuanzheng Hall was left with a slightly stunned Meng Cheng and the smiling yet silent Emperor.

“Jade Breath Pills, Your Majesty—”

Liu Zhengkang leaned against the throne. “Only like this can I use her with peace of mind.”