Surviving in the cracks is never easy. Sometimes, when events take a turn against your will, you no longer have the luxury of choice. All you can do is go with the flow and plan your retreat later.
The Crown Prince was never someone extreme by nature. Perhaps it was due to years of training tailored for the heir to the throne, he had learned to win with cunning, not force. Unless absolutely necessary, he would never willingly disrupt the existing balance.
But now, the time had come when he could no longer avoid it. Perhaps his patience had reached its limit. After all, he was still the most exalted man in this empire. Endless humility and excessive moderation could only lead to one outcome: a dangerously unstable position, and a dignity that was trampled, again and again.
Zuo Zhaoyi’s eagerness gave him the perfect excuse. The Emperor remained ever clear-headed. When it came to a choice between the state and a woman, he would always choose the former.
So, once the Crown Prince weathered this storm unscathed, every action he took to clear the path ahead would be met with support. As for that clever consort who ended up outsmarting herself, her time on the stage was, at last, truly over.
Su Xinghe sat quietly in the duty room. From the very first day she set foot in the Ministry of Military Control, the place had been all gray bricks and gray tiles, the interior dim and shadowed. But perhaps that was for the best, when you looked out at the daylight from the darkness, it gave a sense of detachment and clarity.
The Crown Prince’s order kept circling in her mind. He was a masterful politician, and by asking her to deal with Zuo Zhaoyi and her daughter, he was clearly trying to use one force to suppress another. The Su family and Prince Jianping’s household were far too entangled; at this point, she wanted to silence Zuo Zhaoyi even more than he did.
But then what?
Prince Jianping, stationed far at the front lines, was most certainly finished, unless he was bold enough to attempt something like the Xuande Gate. For the families that had once rallied under his banner, especially the Su family, being implicated in the Zuo Zhaoyi incident would leave them in a precarious and humiliating position.
If they handled it poorly, the Crown Prince would settle scores later. If they handled it too well, Prince Jianping would never forgive them once he returned. When the flames of war broke out, there might be no way out.
The best path forward… was to eliminate Prince Jianping altogether. Only then would the Su family have any hope of surviving.
She had previously thought that the Ministry of Military Control needed a male commander as its figurehead, leaving Commander Nan Yushu in the post so the court wouldn’t assign a new, unfamiliar official. But judging by the current situation, keeping a low profile was no longer an option. She had to seize full control of the office.
With her commanding the palace guards inside the city, and Su Xinghai overseeing the outer garrisons, they would have a balance of power. That way, when the Crown Prince eventually decided to wipe out the Su family completely, at least they would still have some means to resist.
She let out a quiet sigh and called for Jinyi to come in.
Jinyi stepped forward, hand on his blade, cupped his fist, and said, “At your command, my lord.”
Her lightly clenched fist rested on the closed dossier. She narrowed her eyes, gazing outside.
“Send someone unfamiliar, in disguise,” she ordered. “Say they’re acting on behalf of the Deputy Privy Council, delivering a message to the Princess’s residence. Tell them the Eastern Palace is planning a thorough investigation into her audience with the Emperor on the second of the month. If anything suspicious turns up, they’ll charge her with secretly poisoning the Emperor.”
Jinyi was completely baffled. “My lord, what does that mean? You’re sending a message to Princess Xialing?”
She didn’t explain further. She simply said, “Go, you’ll understand soon enough.”
Jinyi had always been reliable. Before long, a man dressed in a commoner’s clothes, carrying a basket on his back, knocked at a side door of the Princess’s residence. A head poked out impatiently, voice rough and unfriendly:
“Who are you looking for?”
The messenger responded with a fawning smile, “I serve under Lord Su of the Ministry of Military Control. I bring news of life and death for Her Highness, Princess Xialing.”
The moment they heard it was someone sent by Su Xinghai, the doorman dared not delay. He passed the message along, and shortly afterward, the man was led inside.
Princess Xialing listened as he conveyed the message in a mix of coded hints and urgency. She was already upset, wrongfully implicated, and panicked. Now, hearing that things had taken an even worse turn, she instantly flew into a rage, her anxiety boiling over into fury.
“I harmed the Emperor… I poisoned him in secret? What an outrageous joke! This is clear, Huo Qingzhu is trying to pin the blame on us and drag us down with him!”
Her beautiful face twisted in fury, becoming almost grotesque. She paced restlessly inside the room, then suddenly spun around.
“I’m going to see the Emperor right now.”
The envoy quickly stepped in to stop her.
“Please, Your Highness, hear me out. His Majesty is gravely ill at the moment; he can barely speak. Prince Xin hasn’t left his side. Even if you enter the palace, there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to see the Emperor.
“If I may offer some humble advice, now’s the time to move quietly; reach out where you can. Our lord holds deep regard for Your Highness. The moment, he heard the news, he sent me here to warn you.
“This case is under the jurisdiction of the Control Division, a major investigation. Commander Nan Yushu is leading it, with the Jinyi Guard assisting… Do you understand what our lord is implying? The verdict hasn’t been decided yet. They’re only investigating whether there’s suspicion of wrongdoing.
“If they say you’re guilty, not even the Emperor can protect you. But if they say you’re innocent… then everything goes back to normal, doesn’t it?”
The messenger spoke the truth. The Crown Prince’s real intention to frame Zuo Zhaoyi and her daughter was known only to Su Xinghe, and even Commander Nan Yushu was unaware. To everyone at the Control Division, it seemed like just another ordinary, run-of-the-mill power struggle within the imperial family. Once the storm passed and the Emperor’s lingering anger subsided, everything would return to normal, and everyone would go back to living their lives in peace.
So, it was better to just play along. After all, avoiding trouble was better than inviting it. The messenger thought that the purpose of his mission was nothing more than this. Princess Xialing slowly calmed down, signaling for him to come closer to her, and said, “Please thank your lord on my behalf. Where is he now? Is it convenient for me to see him?”
The messenger had originally come under the guise of being the Deputy Privy Council, worried that meeting her in person might expose him. He hurriedly replied, “The Deputy Envoy is unavailable right now; he’s overseeing military affairs outside. There isn’t much time left for you. Please, make your decision quickly.” With that, he excused himself and left to report back to the office.
Princess Xialing sat in the light streaming through the window, her eyes fixed on the dust particles floating aimlessly in the air. Her mind was blank. The old servant entered and called to her, asking, “Lord Su sent someone to deliver a message? What did he say?”
She relayed everything the messenger had said to her, then gritted her teeth and muttered, “The Crown Prince wants to completely take us down this time, he’s planning to strike hard.”
The old servant panicked, “Amitabha! Thankfully, Lord Su isn’t heartless. This news must have come from his sister, it’s likely reliable. You must think of a way to extricate yourself, or the Crown Prince will catch hold of something and make a big fuss out of it.”
Princess Xialing, having been spoiled all her life, did not believe that her father, the Emperor, would buy into the Crown Prince’s lies. Although the Control Division was under Huo Qingzhu’s control, it was ultimately directly under the Emperor’s command. Even though Su Xinghe wavered, he was still a subordinate of Qingluan. The past, with Su Yujin’s involvement in framing the Governor of Liangjiang and filling key positions with his own students, had left a trail of old scandals. There were plenty of cases of corruption and abuse of power to consider. At this point, although the Crown Prince had spoken out, Su Xinghe was unlikely to act rashly.
As for Commander Nan Yushu… it might be too late to try to win his favor now. But with money, anything was possible. If he merely downplayed the issue when reporting to the Cabinet, the Emperor would likely only hear the echo, since capturing the true culprit was what truly mattered.
“The Emperor is poisoned, the Crown Prince is poisoned, what a coincidence. They’re saying I poisoned him, but on the second day of the new year, I did go to the Court of State Affairs, but I didn’t go to the Eastern Palace. Does that mean I poisoned the Crown Prince, too? If Huo Qingzhu really died, then I’d believe he wasn’t trying to harm the Emperor to usurp the throne. But he didn’t die, did he? Who knows if it’s just a ploy, a thief calling out to catch a thief!”
Princess Xialing analyzed the situation with great clarity, then sent her Chief Clerk to visit Commander Nan Yushu’s residence. Commander Nan Yushu was at the office, so only his wife was at home. The Chief Clerk introduced himself, “I am a servant of Princess Xialing’s residence, sent on my mistress’s orders to visit Madam Nan.” He turned his head, and the servant placed a food box in front of him. The Chief Clerk tucked his hands behind his back, standing with his hands on his hips, saying, “A little food, please, don’t mind, Madam. When Commander Nan Yushu returns, please convey my mistress’s regards. The plans for a proper visit always seem to be delayed by his work…”
Madam Nan, confused, sent the Chief Clerk on his way. She then opened the food box, and the dazzling layers of expensive jewelry made her eyes go wide. Not to mention the South Pearl, each one as big as a pigeon egg.
She closed the box and patted her chest. In a daze, she sat beside the food box, lost in thought, sitting there from midday until nightfall when the lamps were lit.
When Commander Nan Yushu returned, he took off his outer garment and ordered hot water. Turning around, he saw his wife staring blankly, as though startled. Not knowing what had happened, he walked over and asked, “Who brought food?”
His wife looked up and mumbled, “My mother.”
Commander Nan Yushu froze for a moment. “What kind of hysteria is this? I’m not your mother.”
Madam Nan opened the food box and showed him. Inside, the cat ‘s-eye and emerald stones caught the light of the candle, casting mottled reflections on their faces. Indeed, the “mother” remark was not without reason.
Commander Nan Yushu asked, “Who exactly sent this? Stop being so angry and speak!”
His wife took a moment to collect herself and said, “It was Princess Xialing.”
At this, Commander Nan Yushu understood. “This person doesn’t have any time to spare, but still comes to us with something to ask. What does she mean by this? Is she trying to clear herself by pretending to be innocent while the palace matters are under investigation?”
His wife, now fully supporting Princess Xialing, replied, “There’s no daughter in the world who would poison her own father. How evil would someone have to be to do that? I believe she’s not that kind of person.”
Commander Nan Yushu glanced at the layers of fine treasures in the food box, thinking for a moment. “If she didn’t do it, why is she trying to bribe us?”
His wife asked, “Did the Crown Prince order her to have her framed?”
“Not exactly…”
“Well, then it’s settled!” His wife clapped her hands, reaching into the box to pick up a string of precious jewels. She stretched them out and held them in front of her chest. “With this, you could open a shop on Main Street.”
Sometimes, bribery can’t shake a person’s resolve, not because they are upright, but because the bribe isn’t big enough. Once someone is satisfied, once their eyes can’t look away, then your business is done. For years, Commander Nan Yushu had been the head of the Control Military Division, leading raids on corrupt officials’ homes, casually omitting a few entries in the records, and returning every time with his pockets full. How black must such a corrupt official’s heart be? To bribe him, you’d have to empty your entire fortune. Fortunately, when Princess Xialing was sent out of the palace, the dowry she brought was substantial. To her, it was a drop in the ocean, but for Nan Yushu, it was a way of doing the emperor’s bidding; he wouldn’t pass up the opportunity.
There’s an insider sequence to this, and Su Xinghe, with that small bit of leverage, was able to trap both Princess Xialing and Commander Nan Yushu in one go.
What a big deal this is! The Princess, in an attempt to clear her name, bribed the officials involved in the case. The news reached the emperor, who, still not fully recovered and with his legs stiff, became furious. “If you didn’t do it, why go to such lengths? A guilty conscience means there’s something to hide. Who would have thought that my beloved daughter, whom I cherished, would end up wanting to take my life just because I didn’t meet her expectations once?”
Twenty years of raising a tiger only to suffer its bite, thinking about it makes one ashamed. And then there’s Commander Nan Yushu, whose insatiable greed only adds to the emperor’s shame. Such a person can they still serve in the court? The next place to be raided will be Commander Nan Yushu’s residence.
Amidst the flames, Su Xinghe listened to the cries of children and wailing from the Nan family residence, her expression as calm as still water. Jinyi stood beside her, stealing glances at her from time to time, likely thinking to himself that the most poisonous thing is a woman’s heart.
She turned her head to look at him, lazily smiling. “Qian Hu, you’re one step closer to the position of General of the Control Military Division.”
Indeed, the coveted position of guarding the palace gates was now within reach. With Commander Nan Yushu out of the picture, the Jinyi Shi would be in charge of the Control Military Division. In the future, if she wanted to assign someone to guard the palace gates, she could do so at will.
Those who had followed her were, of course, elated. Commander Nan Yushu’s former subordinates were now in the awkward position of being transferred back to the faction loyal to Lan Jing, the former commander’s trusted confidants. With their superior falling from grace in a single night, these people were no longer trusted and would likely only be used for menial tasks, perhaps helping out in the kitchen or running minor errands.
As shadows passed back and forth, they were unable to offer any assistance. Su Xinghe observed this with a smile. “You’ve followed Madam Nan for a while now, so it’s understandable that it’s a bit awkward for you to personally handle the detainees. Leave this matter to Xu Qianhu and his men.”
The men from Madam Nan’s faction stood hunched in the corner, heads lowered, responding with a meek “Yes.”
The time to capture him was set for the night. When Xu Tu arrived and kicked open the second gate, Commander Nan Yushu was soundly asleep, holding his young concubine. He likely hadn’t anticipated the sudden calamity. After being kicked out of the bedchamber, he appeared dazed, wearing nothing but a pair of silk trousers, his chest hair swaying in the night breeze. In a panic, he asked Su Xinghe, “Lord Su, what is this all about?”
Su Xinghe rubbed her nose. “I’m carrying out orders. It has come to the Emperor’s attention that Madam Nan accepted bribes, and the Emperor has given the order for your arrest. I’ve been instructed to interrogate you thoroughly.”
Commander Nan Yushu finally understood, and he sneered at her. “So, Lord Su, you’re finally getting what you wanted.”
She clicked her tongue. “You’re mistaken, Lord. I didn’t instruct you to accept the bribes from Princess Xialing. And speaking of your appetite, you’re really shameless, aren’t you? The Emperor was poisoned, and Princess Xialing is a prime suspect. You had the nerve to accept her gifts? What were you thinking? If I were to accuse you of collusion with her right now, what do you think would happen? Do you think your head would still be safe?”
Nan Yushu, realizing that the situation was hopeless, sighed deeply, resigned to his fate. He had walked many dark paths, but this time, he had truly met his end. Xing He, still mindful of his status as a court official, ordered Jiang Chengzi, “Don’t rush. Let Lord Nan put on some clothes first. The weather hasn’t warmed up yet, and we wouldn’t want him to catch a cold.”
This case was not simple it involved both the arrest of the commander and the detention of a princess. A single department like the Control of Troops couldn’t hold such power; it required cooperation with the Privy Council. After leaving the Nan residence, Su Xinghe saw Huo Yan sitting on horseback. Though he couldn’t directly intervene in the internal affairs of the Control of Troops, as a member of the royal family, he had to be present for the arrest of a royal princess.
Su Xinghe looked up at him. Behind him, the firelight flickered in waves. Such a person was always elevated, no matter the time or place. She forced a smile, “Lord Huo, let’s head to the Princess’s residence.”
He noticed her weary expression and asked, “Has your palanquin arrived?”
She shook her head. “I’ve been busy with the task, who has time for a palanquin? I’m afraid I’ve troubled you, Lord Huo, to go out in the middle of the night, and now you’re busy too.”
He waved it off. “It’s no trouble. It’s all in service to the Emperor. That night I was also summoned to the palace. You were in a hurry, so you didn’t see me.”
Su Xinghe replied with an “Ah,” “I must have been too busy to notice.” She then instructed people to surround the Princess’s residence while she slowly mounted her horse and turned the reins to ride alongside him.
Huo Yan asked about the Crown Prince’s condition. She seemed somewhat distracted and only said, “He’s fine for the most part. It’s just that sometimes he has trouble breathing. He’s always particular about his scents, but this time, the two spices nearly cost him his life.”
General Huo Yan nodded. “Matters of the imperial family are always hard to explain. After this storm passes, the inner palace should remain calm for a while.”
She turned her head to look at him. “Aren’t you also from the Huo family? Hearing you speak, it seems like you’re observing coldly from the sidelines.”
He smiled gently. “I am from the royal family, but not of the main branch. The imperial family’s ways are long gone. I opened a manor and live like an ordinary person, that’s all.”
This wasn’t the first time Su Xinghe had seen him smile, but every time he did, it gave her the sense that nothing was really a big deal. Sometimes, she felt tired. The constant scheming and infighting had worn her out, and she longed for a place to rest. For some reason, this man, whom she didn’t know all that well, made her feel at ease. Perhaps it was because he was older, giving her the illusion that, no matter what, she had messed up, if she asked him for help, he would easily find a way to resolve it.
The evening breeze was gentle, and the once chaotic thoughts gradually cooled down. She stretched her shoulders and yawned. She thought about General Cao Zhan’s son and wondered how he was doing now, if he was alright without his mother by his side, and whether he was still noisy.
Huo Yan grunted. “A child not yet a year old starts by recognizing people. After a while, as long as they are fed and clothed, they don’t have many other needs. When you have time, you can go visit and check on the child. It’s also your duty as part of the Privy Council to inspect prisoners at any time.”
Su Xinghe smiled. “I did say I’d visit your residence last time, but the Crown Prince was there, so I ended up not going.”
Huo Yan’s expression became clear, as if he understood. “I heard the Crown Prince visited the Su residence for the festival…”
Good news never leaves the house, but the Crown Prince’s incident of breaking the bed was spreading like wildfire, and by now, it was probably known by everyone.
Su Xinghe felt quite embarrassed. “I know what you mean about the Crown Prince breaking my bed… it really wasn’t what you think.”
Huo Yan raised an eyebrow slightly, the mature military general seeming quite interested in this little piece of gossip.
Su Xinghe wanted to explain, but realized she couldn’t quite put it into words. In the end, she irritably wiped her face and said, “Anyway, it’s not like you think. Nothing happened between him and me.”
Such direct words initially surprised Huo Yan, but soon he understood. After all, there was nothing inappropriate between them; it was merely the bond of childhood friends.
Su Xinghe had never felt so clumsy with her words as she did now. When it came to handling affairs, she was the type to cut ties with everything and everyone, yet when faced with Huo Yan, she didn’t want to take the blame anymore and was eager to clarify. Perhaps she had developed some feelings for him, a kind of liking that was different from her feelings for the Crown Prince. It was mixed with respect and a desire to please, caring deeply about his opinion, afraid that she wasn’t good enough, or that he would look down on her. She had secretly thought about the possibility that she and the Crown Prince might not end up together. Her once-fantasized dreams of a future with General Lou Yueting had been ruthlessly crushed by the Crown Prince in their infancy. But if there were hope… She felt that Huo Yan seemed to be a good candidate. She liked this type of man rational, calm, decisive, and in control of power.
Su Xinghe lowered her head, feeling ashamed of her feelings of infatuation. She gripped the reins tightly. At a time when the survival of the Su family was at stake, she actually still had the leisure to think about such things.
Huo Yan noticed the change in her expression and slightly turned his body to observe her. “What’s wrong?”
She hurriedly responded, “I was thinking about how this case should be handled. After all, Princess Xialing’s status is noble.”
Huo Yan’s expression remained indifferent as he turned his head to look ahead, speaking slowly, “A prisoner’s status is never considered noble. The cases handled by the Control Army over the years have always involved royal family members and nobles. Lord Su should be accustomed to this. No matter how impressive a princess might be, when it comes to trial, she still has to answer your questions honestly. If her answers are unsatisfactory, you can note it down in the record. If she’s arrogant, you can make her understand her current situation. The Control Army has many ways to handle it. Do you think we can’t subdue a delicate princess?”
Su Xinghe suddenly felt more confident, silently relieved that he wasn’t the head of the Control Army. If he were in South Yu’s position, she knew that trying to take him down would be nearly impossible.
She took a deep breath, pressing her chest as she exhaled, “Thank you for your guidance, Huo.YanTo be honest, I’ve encountered a difficult problem this time and don’t know what to do next.”
He was a smart man, and with just a slight mention from her, he already understood.
Factional struggles were something that everyone avoided talking about openly, but those with keen eyes could see it clearly. The political landscape was divided into black and white, and today it’s one person, tomorrow it’s another. This was not the way to establish oneself. The Su family and Prince Jianping had a complex and tangled relationship. Now, the Crown Prince wanted to use the Su family’s hand to sever the political path of the old master, which was a very dangerous move. The Crown Prince’s intentions were not yet clear, whether he wanted to push the Su family to the forefront of the storm or use this opportunity to bring them over to his side. If they truly surrendered, would the past be forgotten, or would even greater storms follow? Who could say?
He shook the reins slightly, “Let’s not talk about the future for now. We must first complete the Crown Prince’s orders. Prince Jianping is far away in the military, beyond our reach. By the time we return to the capital, the situation will likely have already changed, and no major disturbances will arise. What you need to focus on now is the Crown Prince. Watch his actions once he returns to the capital whether he chooses to lie low for a while or take drastic action to clear out his political enemies.”
Star River was taken aback. She had always thought that Huo Yan strongly disliked the Su family’s stance, but she never expected him to be willing to offer her guidance. She felt deeply grateful and was about to thank him, but just as she opened her mouth, he raised his chin slightly. “We’ve arrived.”
Hearing this, Star River turned her head to look. A grand mansion stood at the end of the long street, its distinguished façade clearly visible. Under the silver moonlight, it appeared particularly desolate.
