Slow-Setting Fishnet (4)

Bypassing the main hall that spanned seven bays, she walked along a cobblestone garden path to its very end, turned left into a square courtyard, and found an ordinary small cottage. A bare, withered pomegranate tree stood stiffly in front of the door.

Military Commandant Sun raised a hand to invite her in. Xia Yunhe nodded in gratitude and stepped into the room.

A lamp was burning inside, casting a dim, flickering candlelight that alternated between light and shadow, creating an atmosphere of solemnity.

A landscape painting hung on the wall, depicting rolling mountain peaks and gurgling river waters. Beneath the painting stood a huanghuali daybed with a constricted waist, upon which a young woman of refined appearance leaned sideways. Her fingertips toyed with a white magnolia flower, and her expression was languid.

Xue Wang was kneeling on the ground, shivering uncontrollably. Wei Sizhao was kneeling beside him with his spine held rigidly straight.

The person on the daybed must be Princess Lanjia, Xia Yunhe thought to herself.

She only wondered what Princess Lanjia had asked the two men, and how Xue Wang and Wei Sizhao had answered.

"You must be Official Xia?" Princess Lanjia's voice carried a hint of surprise. Her gaze lingered on Xia Yunhe, sizing her up continuously.

Xia Yunhe bypassed the two men and bowed to Princess Lanjia. "Your humble subject Xia Yunhe pays respects to Your Highness."

"You really do look sickly." The princess laughed, lifting her chin slightly to gesture toward the kneeling Wei Sizhao. "Is he truly your servant?"

Princess Lanjia did not immediately ask about Chen Haizhou's treason, but instead inquired about Wei Sizhao's identity. This made Xia Yunhe inevitably nervous.

After weighing her words carefully, she replied, "Yes... and no."

"What does that mean?"

"He was originally a jianghu wanderer, and later enlisted in the army to become the Prince of Qin's... personal guard. He is protecting your humble subject under the Prince of Qin's orders."

Princess Lanjia grew interested, asking with a smile, "Number Seven's man?"

"Yes. Normally, your humble subject rarely gets to see him. It is only because... today's snowy roads are slippery, so he helped your humble subject drive the carriage."

"Number Seven ordered someone to protect Official Xia?" Princess Lanjia pondered for a moment, lifting her eyelids. "I have also heard some gossip in the capital, it seems Official Xia was beaten by Chen Haizhou. Could it be that because of such a small matter... you wish to impeach Censor Chen?"

Xia Yunhe hurriedly dropped to her knees. "Your Highness, fabricating charges and framing members of the imperial clan is Chen Haizhou's habitual tactic. Tonight, as your humble subject passed by the Chen residence, I happened to overhear Xue Wang speaking of Chen Haizhou's treason. Whether it is true or false, your humble subject cannot easily judge, which is why I came to inform the Princess. The Princess is naturally wise and discerning, far better equipped than your humble subject to ascertain the truth."

"Xia Yunhe, I brought you in not to listen to flattery." Princess Lanjia's expression changed, her gaze sweeping across the three people below one by one. Leaving aside Xue Wang, who was trembling like a leaf, she raised the magnolia in her hand and compared it back and forth between Xia Yunhe and Wei Sizhao. Suddenly, she let out a couple of laughs, utterly indifferent. "I have never believed in coincidences. There are too many artificial events in this world; true coincidences are a genuine rarity. Could it be that Lord Xia deliberately waited outside the Chen residence to intercept this man?"

With that, Princess Lanjia tossed the magnolia toward Xue Wang. Xue Wang let out a frightened scream and fainted on the spot.

The princess said without changing her expression, "Reward him with a hundred liang of gold, drag him out, and keep him under guard."

Military Commandant Sun received the order and personally led men to drag Xue Wang away.

Xia Yunhe was choked by Princess Lanjia's words and dared not answer rashly. After hesitating for a moment, she took a deep breath and bowed deeply. "Your Highness, this matter truly was a coincidence."

The candlelight in the room crackled softly, and the shadows of the people present were stretched infinitely by the light.

"A coincidence?" Princess Lanjia chuckled. "I shall tentatively consider it a coincidence. You went to the trouble of telling me this today—do you hope I will seek an audience with His Majesty to clarify Chen Haizhou's treasonous plot?"

Overjoyed, Xia Yunhe bowed to the princess. "Your Highness, Chen Haizhou has filled the prisons with the innocent, executed branches of the imperial clan, and driven loyal and righteous men to bare their necks for the executioner in countless numbers. Ruthless officials linger at court, holding the life and death of ministers in their hands, while the common people live in constant terror, fearing disaster will strike their households. Such a venomous and extravagant person ought to be executed by heaven, and eradicated by men as well."

She prided herself on this speech being flawless, but upon hearing it, Princess Lanjia knitted her delicate brows, covered her mouth, and gave a slight yawn. "Lord Xia has a silver tongue. Let me ask you this: to catch a thief, one must capture the stolen goods. Relying solely on your word to convict Censor Chen is something I will not believe, and His Majesty will believe even less."

"Besides—" Princess Lanjia deliberately drew out her tone, pretending to be deep in thought, "The Fifth Prince is currently locked in a fierce court struggle with Chen Haizhou. Taking this action to help the Wan family might disrupt His Majesty's grand plans. Although I was born of Noble Consort Wan, my relationship with her is actually quite distant. His Majesty intends to use Chen Haizhou's hands to eliminate the Wan family; I cannot cause trouble for His Majesty at a time like this."

"Your Highness, Chen Haizhou is planning to falsely accuse you of treason! Aren't you afraid, Your Highness?"

Princess Lanjia replied, "I grew up by His Majesty's side since childhood. What kind of person I am, His Majesty knows clearly. No matter how Chen Haizhou fabricates accusations, he cannot drive a wedge between His Majesty and me."

Things having reached this point, Xia Yunhe finally understood: Princess Lanjia simply did not care who might frame her. She was a grand princess whose wealth matched nations, and her wealth and power derived from Emperor Hehui, who sat high upon the imperial throne. If there were no trust, how could the emperor have bestowed the salt marshes upon Princess Lanjia? And if there were no trust, how could Princess Lanjia sit here so secure and carefree?

Xia Yunhe sighed softly and bowed. "Your humble subject was brash, disturbing the Princess's rest. I shall take my leave now."

Seeing this, Wei Sizhao also saluted the princess, stood up, and followed Xia Yunhe outward.

"Stay a while!"

Princess Lanjia smiled faintly, her tone carrying a hint of playful amusement. "Official Xia, if you leave just like this, won't you regret it?"

Xia Yunhe paused in her steps and looked back at Princess Lanjia to see the princess rising leisurely, walking with her hands behind her back to stop right in front of her and Wei Sizhao. "Words alone carry no weight. Chen Haizhou is, after all, a fourth-rank censor. Just because Xue Wang heard him discussing treason, you rush before His Majesty with an impeachment memorial without distinguishing right from wrong—His Majesty will not believe it."

Princess Lanjia smiled brightly. "Lord Xia, how should we make His Majesty believe this matter?"

The autumn wind blew bleakly, making Xia Yunhe shiver. For some inexplicable reason, she sensed that Princess Lanjia had other matters on her mind.

Daring not to slacken, her attitude grew even more respectful. Turning her thoughts over in her mind several times, she said word by word, "Even if it is not the charge of treason, framing the loyal and virtuous, accepting bribes, and forming cliques for private gain—any of these various behaviors are sufficient to convict him. Chen Haizhou has long falsely accused members of the imperial clan and made numerous enemies. Your Highness could contact the various imperial princes to jointly gather evidence of Chen Haizhou's crimes, which might bring him to justice."

"Such meticulous planning. It is truly a waste of talent for Lord Xia to merely serve as a Hanlin academician." Princess Lanjia applauded, but her tone abruptly shifted. "However, why should I help you? Xia Yunhe, I am a person who holds grudges. Although I have a rift with Noble Consort Wan, she is, after all, my birth mother. You used the excuse of poor health to decline Noble Consort Wan's marriage proposal, making me a laughingstock to the world."

Xia Yunhe froze, unable to fathom what Princess Lanjia meant. She could only fold her robes, kneel and prostrate herself on the ground, fighting back a cough. "Your Highness, this official did not intentionally slight the Princess's face. What was said that day came entirely from the depths of my heart; it is truly, truly because your humble subject is frail and sickly..."

Princess Lanjia interrupted her, letting go of her smile. "There is no need for superfluous words. I have no use for someone looking like you." With that, she turned her gaze toward Wei Sizhao beside them, her eyes taking on a trace of delight. "If you give this person to me, I will help you with your matter."

The princess's words completely stunned Xia Yunhe. She stiffly turned her head and stole a glance at Wei Sizhao; that man's jaw was also tightly clenched, wearing an expression of utter shock...

"What? Reluctant to part with him?"

Xia Yunhe bowed. "Your Highness, please forgive your subject's offense. He is the Prince of Qin's man, and furthermore holds a military registry. He is not... someone your humble subject can casually dispose of."

"Oh?" Princess Lanjia looked between the two of them. "First gift him to me, and as for Number Seven, you can write him another letter later to inform him of this."

"This, this..." Xia Yunhe was at a loss. She had never imagined that Princess Lanjia would take a fancy to Wei Sizhao. Stuttering for a long time, she found herself—usually so adept at conversation—completely struck dumb.

Wei Sizhao had also been startled, but he quickly steadied his mind and pondered privately: with Princess Lanjia's assistance, why worry that his deep enmity would go unavenged? Furthermore, if he wished to leave, he could do so at any moment; no one could stop him.

The few people in the room harbored their own thoughts, and the atmosphere instantly plunged into a strange silence.

Amidst the stalemate, Princess Lanjia smiled. "Number Seven's personal guard does not look like a regular guard at all; rather, he looks as though he were born of an illustrious noble lineage."

Xia Yunhe felt a buzzing in her head, thinking to herself: it's not that he looks like one—Wei Sizhao clearly was a descendant of the Jiangdong Wei family, a bona fide member of a prestigious aristocratic clan.

As she was pondering this, Wei Sizhao kowtowed solidly to Princess Lanjia and said, "To be favored by Your Highness is this humble person's fortune. This humble person is willing to serve Her Royal Highness the Princess; however, I still need to personally report this to the Prince of Qin and arrange for someone else to protect Lord Xia."

"That is indeed very sensible." Princess Lanjia looked at Wei Sizhao. "If you dare to deceive me, I will dig three feet into the earth to unearth you."

The princess shifted back to a cheerful tone and said to Xia Yunhe, "Official Xia, regarding Chen Haizhou's treasonous plot, I will discuss it in detail with His Majesty."

Xia Yunhe wiped the cold sweat from her forehead, her mind churning endlessly. This Princess Lanjia, favored by Emperor Hehui, had a temper that was truly impossible to predict. In terms of strategy and methods, she had been personally taught by the emperor; yet in terms of temperament, she was still just a young girl who could not conceal her thoughts.

"Your Highness possesses profound righteousness and broad vision. You are truly the fortune of the state and the fortune of the realm..." Xia Yunhe caught her breath and bowed deeply.

People often said that tyrannical bullies ran rampant, little realizing that before absolute power, the lowly are forever subjected to humiliation.

Under imperial power, no one is spared.

By then, the moon had risen to the center of the sky, and Xia Yunhe returned along the same path.

Upon reaching the duty room, she met Zhen Niang and the night-duty guards from earlier. Zhen Niang was guarding Wei Sizhao's hidden daggers and weapons. Seeing Xia Yunhe return, she asked, "Young Master, did everything go smoothly?"

Xia Yunhe nodded slightly, and the night-duty guard asked curiously, "Oh, Lord Xia, all the streets and alleys are under curfew now. How do you plan to get back?"

She straightened the hidden weapons and daggers, unsure how to answer the guard's question, and then saw Wei Sizhao also step into the duty room.

The young man cupped his fists in salute to her: "Lord Xia, the Princess has ordered me to escort you back."

Wei Sizhao opened his palm, and a token of the princess's estate materialized in his hand.

Xia Yunhe returned the salute, handed back the hidden weapons and daggers, and then the group finally departed the princess's estate.

Along the way, they encountered night patrols; the moment the token was shown, they were waved through.

The journey passed in silence.

After alighting from the carriage, Xia Yunhe dismissed Zhen Niang and looked at Wei Sizhao. "Are you truly determined to follow the princess? Your identity..."

Wei Sizhao raised his eyes to look at her, smiled, and said, "Lord Xia, isn't this the optimal solution? With the princess's assistance, how much longer can Chen Haizhou swagger? As long as I can exact my revenge, I am willing to do anything."

"I know the Wei family suffered a great injustice, but I still wish to remind you: the princess's estate is heavily guarded, and background checks are exceptionally rigorous. You... must exercise the utmost caution."

After the destruction of the Wei clan, former acquaintances had avoided him like the plague; naturally, no one would ever speak such words to him. Whether Xia Yunhe meant them sincerely or out of mere politeness, Wei Sizhao was truly grateful to her from the bottom of his heart. He solemnly cupped his fists in farewell, leaped onto the rooftop in a few bounds, and vanished into the night.

...

From this night onward, the winds and clouds in Shangdu changed abruptly, and a heavy, oppressive storm shrouded the imperial court. All spears pointed directly at the Left Assistant Censor of the Censorate, Chen Haizhou.

Princess Lanjia joined hands with the various imperial princes to gather evidence of his crimes. Before long, chests filled with evidence were carried into the imperial palace, all accusing Chen Haizhou of tyrannical atrocities.

The imperial clan spoke with one voice. Emperor Hehui sighed, "I merely felt pity for him," only to be refuted by the imperial clan: "The wicked villain has wreaked havoc upon the state; why should Your Majesty pity him?"

Just as the saying goes, when a wall is about to collapse everyone pushes it down; matters of this world are mostly thus.

At this point, the hunting net was fully cast.