“Thank you,” Dongfang Rui said with a nod.
Dongfang Rui and Wu Wei entered the east room one after the other, while the Embroider Maiden went alone to the west room. She sat down on the kang and got to work.
Dongfang Rui waited a moment but saw no sign of the Embroider Maiden coming in. Glancing across at Wu Wei, who sat with a calm, knowing expression, Dongfang Rui’s lips curved slightly. She lifted her teacup and took a sip.
“Do you have a lot of questions?” Dongfang Rui set down her teacup and asked.
Wu Wei also lifted her teacup for a sip. She didn’t rush to ask anything but paused in silence for a moment before saying, “How has the County Princess been lately?”
Though Wu Wei was full of questions about the Auspicious Omen Theft Case, she knew her position was too lowly to bluntly point fingers at an imperial matter. Gao Ningxue had escorted the auspicious omen to the capital as an imperial envoy and was someone Wu Wei knew. Starting from her might be a good angle.
To her surprise, Dongfang Rui’s expression turned peculiar for an instant—fleeting, but Wu Wei caught it.
Dongfang Rui fell silent for a moment before replying, “The County Princess is on the verge of great fortune. His Majesty has issued a decree betrothing her to Vice Minister Xiao. Once Prince Yan enters the capital, the Heaven-Viewing Division will select an auspicious date, and the wedding can proceed.”
Wu Wei blinked, recalling the traditional marriage rites of this era. “So quickly to setting the date? They’ve skipped the betrothal gifts, the exchange of names, the divination, and the dowry?”
The “setting of the date” was among the final steps of the betrothal process. Once the earlier rites were complete and the bride’s family agreed, both sides would choose an auspicious wedding day together, and the marriage was essentially sealed.
“The County Princess holds a noble position; not a single step can be sloppy. But she was raised in the palace from childhood, and the Yan Prince’s Residence has no female master. The Empress handled all the prior steps. Besides…” Dongfang Rui drew out her words before continuing, “the County Princess and that Vice Minister Xiao have known each other since they were children. The exchange of names was just a formality.”
…
Without Wu Wei needing to ask more, Dongfang Rui launched into an introduction of this “Vice Minister Xiao.” His family name was Xiao, given name Sheng, courtesy name Borang. At only twenty-five, he was the legitimate eldest grandson of the Grand Duke, the top scholar of both the imperial and palace exams in the previous round. Born to privilege, excelling in both civil and military arts, he had been favored by the imperial family since childhood and appointed as a companion to the imperial grandsons—a child raised under the eyes of the Emperor and Empress.
After Xiao Borang claimed top honors in both exams, the Emperor personally appointed him as a Ministry of War Staff Officer and bestowed the honorary title of Jinwu Guard Colonel. In just three years at the ministry—before even finishing his term—he rocketed up the ranks. Not long ago, he had been promoted to Vice Minister of Justice, making him the hottest thing in the capital, red-hot and glowing.
Wu Wei watched Dongfang Rui’s expression carefully before venturing, “In that case, it does seem… a perfect match.”
Dongfang Rui lifted her teacup for another sip. “Yes, a perfect match.”
Wu Wei pressed her lips together and, steeling herself, asked, “The County Princess hasn’t been implicated, has she?”
“Prince Yan’s line has only this one County Princess left. His Majesty and the Empress won’t make trouble for her.”
“That’s good,” Wu Wei said, though embarrassment flooded her heart. Dongfang Rui’s reply was proper and calm, but Wu Wei still felt like she was rubbing salt in the wound.
“Um…” Wu Wei hesitated, but Dongfang Rui cut in. “His Majesty has issued an internal decree for the Ministry of Justice and the Bright Mirror Division to investigate the Auspicious Omen Theft Case together. The Minister of Justice is advanced in years; he submitted his request to retire at the start of the year, and it has been approved. Once he wraps up the ministry’s key duties, the old minister can retire. Thus, the ‘Auspicious Omen Case’ has naturally fallen to Vice Minister Xiao’s shoulders. Magistrate Chang… was a former pupil of the Grand Duke.”
Dongfang Rui stopped there, but Wu Wei grasped most of it. Dongfang Rui might have no personal ties to Magistrate Chang, but stationing him here was a deliberate move—planting half a Ministry of Justice man to ensure fairness.
Yet thinking of Magistrate Chang’s actions over the past few days and the backer behind him made Wu Wei’s heart grow colder. “My lady, during the trial, I kept feeling like Magistrate Chang’s questions to Zhang Kuan carried hidden meaning. Did you notice?”
Dongfang Rui smiled but didn’t answer directly. Instead, she praised, “You handled it well—protected yourself without giving Magistrate Chang the testimony he wanted.”
“You’re too kind, my lady. It was just a lucky guess,” Wu Wei said modestly.
Dongfang Rui said, “Tell me your thoughts. What do you make of all this?”
Wu Wei had pondered this for days, but she answered cautiously, “It’s such a grave matter; I dare not form any opinions. I just have a few things I don’t understand. Might I ask you to clarify?”
“Go ahead.”
“Since His Majesty has decreed a full investigation into the auspicious omen’s whereabouts, why did everyone involved in that public trial deliberately avoid mentioning the theft? I’ve heard no rumors in the streets, nor seen any arrest warrants, court notices, or yamen proclamations. Second, have you lingered here because you’re pursuing leads on the auspicious omen? Finally, if I may be bold— what is Magistrate Chang’s aim?”
Dongfang Rui thought for a moment. “I can answer your first two questions. As for the last… you’ll understand when the time is right. First: The convoy escorting the auspicious omen met with disaster within Clear River County borders. The Clear River County Magistrate covered it up by killing to silence witnesses—a feat requiring immense power. I faced layer upon layer of obstruction investigating it myself. Everyone involved knows the truth; a single death isn’t frightening to them, so they all keep their mouths shut. As for Qinglu County…” Dongfang Rui continued, “Combining your original Coroner’s Handbook notes, I calculated the victims’ time and date of death. Considering the Clear River County Magistrate’s actions, reviewing the dossier on that father and son, and conducting interviews, I deduced: The father and son likely stumbled upon the Forbidden Army’s remains on their way to a banquet. They rushed to the county yamen to report it and were silenced. The Forbidden Army corpses and carriages were secretly moved by Clear River County men into Qinglu County territory. When the Qinglu County Magistrate discovered this, he planned to send the bodies back, but Clear River was on guard. Unable to shift them, Qinglu County turned the tables and played along. I suspect Magistrate Chang knows all this too. He understands the Qinglu County Magistrate was saddled with the blame and, out of regard for his special status, let it slide.”
Wu Wei pressed, “What makes the Qinglu County Magistrate so special?”
Dongfang Rui replied, “By imperial law, county magistrates, prefectural magistrates, and prefects serve four-year terms, with at most one renewal before rotation. Yet Zhang Kuan of Qinglu County hasn’t rotated in years. Qinglu borders Taizhou Prefecture; any exit from Taizhou requires passing through it. Taizhou is Prince Yan’s fiefdom. Reviewing the Ministry of Personnel’s records, I found that county magistrates and prefectural magistrates neighboring a prince’s fief rarely rotate—and when they do, it’s by His Majesty’s personal appointment. So Zhang Kuan’s long tenure isn’t unlawful. That said… I occasionally escort the County Princess back to Taizhou Prefecture and have dealt with this Qinglu County Magistrate. From his past conversations, I’m certain he knows Your Highness Prince Yan—and quite well.”
Wu Wei’s mind raced with Dongfang Rui’s account, her fear and worry mounting.
Suddenly!
Wu Wei caught a sharp glint flash in Dongfang Rui’s eyes. Then came Dongfang Rui’s low murmur, as if puzzling aloud to herself: “The Forbidden Army escorting the auspicious omen all perished without survivors. How could the County Princess emerge unscathed from a coffin in Qinglu County’s Charity Mortuary, of all places?”
Wu Wei’s heart pounded. She finally understood why this wheat-skinned Dongfang Rui was called “Jade Face”!
Jade was cold.
Beneath this woman’s gentle speech lay absolute composure!
She held no bias for Gao Ningxue as her disciple. Because Gao Ningxue was entangled in the case—and bizarrely the sole survivor—Dongfang Rui unhesitatingly viewed her as a piece of the puzzle. Even though she’d trained Gao Ningxue herself. Even though… she knew her so well.
A chill gripped Wu Wei’s heart. It made sense—if Dongfang Rui lacked such qualities, how could she have disguised herself as a beggar for years to gather clues on the Snake Demon Case? How could she have earned the Emperor’s favor as the dynasty’s sole female official?
Unaware of the storm in Wu Wei’s mind, Dongfang Rui continued calmly, “The auspicious omen concerns national fortune and the imperial family’s honor. Though His Majesty ordered a thorough investigation, he also hinted we should keep a low profile. Magistrate Chang, from the Grand Duke’s household, grasps the imperial intent. I bear an open edict and won’t force the issue. Zhang Kuan bears the interests of Clear River’s officials and gentry; having extricated himself from the case with such effort, why jump back in? As for Zhang Kuan himself…”
Dongfang Rui met Wu Wei’s eyes and countered, “Zhang Kuan isn’t from a scholarly family. His father and grandfathers were farmers. You’ve dealt with him—his meticulousness and smoothness don’t match his background. Who do you think is guiding him?”
Wu Wei’s hands tightened on her lap. She shook her head. “I can’t imagine.”
…
Dongfang Rui departed, declining the Embroider Maiden’s invitation to stay for a meal. She gave Wu Wei no specific tasks, only saying as she left: “When you have time, drop by Chengji Blacksmith Shop.”
Wu Wei nodded in agreement.
Chengji Blacksmith Shop was in the market near the Charity Mortuary where Wu Wei and the Embroider Maiden had once stayed. It was the Bright Mirror Division’s outpost in Qinglu County; with a Bright Mirror Division Token, one could communicate with higher units.
From Dongfang Rui’s words, it seemed some mission awaited Wu Wei there.
Wu Wei had gleaned some answers from Dongfang Rui’s words, yet her thoughts grew even more tangled.
Today, Dongfang Rui had rattled off a dizzying list of names in one go: the Emperor, the Empress, her brother the Imperial Uncle, Xiao Borang, Prince Yan, the Pingjia County Princess, Magistrate Chang, Zhang Kuan…
There were members of the imperial family, officials of the Imperial Court, imperial relatives by marriage, and those shadowy intermediaries who operated between the court and the vassal kings.
Wu Wei felt utterly out of sorts. Lord Dongfang was like two entirely different people in her official duties and private life. When working, she radiated a maniacal ruthlessness that brooked no mercy even for kin.
