Chapter 17

Meng Jue’s face darkened with displeasure as he spoke coldly, “Madam, please calm yourself and sit properly.”

Yu Ying sat down with a scowl, thinking to herself, “I knew the Ministry of Justice was corrupt; it’s exactly as I feared.”

Meng Jue continued, “It benefits you to harm the little princess. Noble Consort Su was promoted because she gave birth to a princess. Without the princess, do you think Noble Consort Su’s glory would vanish as well?”

“I don’t think that!” Yu Ying snapped, nearly rising again in anger before settling back down. “I’m sure you didn’t become an official by passing the imperial examination. Your surname is Meng, from the Meng clan of Qizhou?”

After asking, she sized him up and remarked, “I’d say you probably got your position because of your looks, asking such foolish questions.”

The official recording the session glanced at Meng Jue discreetly before lowering his head, pretending not to be present.

Meng Jue was painfully aware that his overly delicate, almost feminine features led many to call him “Meng the Beauty,” a source of deep personal frustration.

Sure enough, his face flushed red and then pale, and through gritted teeth he said, “Madam, watch your words—I have a wife and children!”

Yu Ying retorted, “I only said you might have gotten in because of your looks; I didn’t say you were incompetent.”

“You...”

At that moment, someone pushed open the door and called to Meng Jue, “Lord Meng, please come here.”

Meng Jue stepped out and went next door.

Chen Qing from above approached and said, “Let it go. You’ve lost.”

Meng Jue bowed his head. “It is my failure.”

Chen Qing peeked through the door crack at the corner of the yellow silk skirt and realized he had underestimated her earlier.

He had thought Miss Yu, young and beautiful, was simple and shallow, planning to quickly question her with a handsome officer to get to the bottom of the Empress’s motive for killing the princess. Yet, as the Empress’s sister and a lady of the Yu family, she was unafraid before the interrogator, speaking only what was necessary and withholding everything else.

She admitted to disliking Noble Consort Su, but so did the entire capital, including the Emperor.

Chen Qing pondered for a moment before saying, “Let her go.”

Yu Ying swaggered out of the Ministry of Justice, and once in the carriage, anxiety overwhelmed her.

She knew all too well the fire had already reached her eldest sister. The questioning at the Ministry was clearly aimed at finding evidence to prove the Empress had a motive to kill the princess. But since she was the Empress’s sister and a Yu by name, she was spared harsh interrogation.

What was to be done?

If even she, outside the palace, was being questioned, what about her eldest sister inside?

Could it be that this matter truly involved her eldest sister?

But Yu Ying knew her eldest sister was not the type to harm children—she was neither cruel nor foolish.

As the carriage headed toward the Yu residence, Yu Ying’s heart was full of unease. She didn’t understand the exact implications of the Ministry’s questioning—was it a definite plan to target her eldest sister, or merely routine procedure?

Lost in worry, the sun slipped behind clouds and rain began to fall.

People hurried home, and soon the streets emptied, small streams forming in the muddy ground.

Looking out, Yu Ying suddenly said, “Go to Tongzheng Street.”

Outside, Yun Jin asked, “Miss, what’s the plan?”

“Zheng’s residence is there,” Yu Ying replied.

She couldn’t wait any longer; she needed to speak with Zheng Boru once more.

---

At Tongzheng Street, the sign for the Zheng residence came into view. Despite her urgency, Yu Ying knew decorum and didn’t brazenly ride the Yu family carriage to Zheng’s place. Instead, she got off early, holding an umbrella as she approached the Zheng door and knocked.

She had never been to the Zheng residence before, and the gatekeeper did not recognize her. But when she declared her identity and was seen dressed with grace, the gatekeeper was courteous and asked, “Second Master has gone out and isn’t back yet. Madam, would you like to wait inside?”

Yu Ying declined.

Since she and Zheng Boru were practically negotiating marriage, it was improper to intrude on his home unannounced. Today, she had been too anxious.

“When will he return?” she asked.

The gatekeeper replied, “I don’t know, but it’s raining heavily; perhaps soon.”

Yu Ying nodded and decided to wait outside.

If he came, she would speak to him; if not, she’d return, knowing her family would be worried.

Soon, a carriage approached. Inside sat Zheng Boru, his brow furrowed.

A servant outside asked, “Who is at the gate?”

As a fourth-rank official, Zheng Boru was often ambushed at his door. Usually, the gatekeeper would handle such visitors; today, strangely, no one was managing the situation.

From afar, it appeared to be two women, master and servant, which was odd enough to raise suspicions of a scandal within the household.

Zheng Boru drew back the carriage curtain and immediately recognized Yu Ying, standing in the rain outside.

The rain was so heavy, yet she had waited there in the downpour!

He quickly said, “That’s Miss Yu! Go to her!”

But his cousin suddenly stopped him. “Qi Zhou, don’t!”

Zheng Boru looked at him, and the cousin explained, “Have you forgotten the situation? The Ministry of Justice’s target is the Empress!”

“Chen Qing is skilled at fabricating charges. Just because his target is the Empress doesn’t mean she is involved or that he will succeed. But Chen Qing’s success depends on reading the Emperor’s mind. How can you be sure his goal isn’t the Emperor’s? Perhaps the Emperor assigned this case to the Ministry precisely to depose the Empress!”

Zheng Boru was stunned but understood all too well.

In fact, the Yu family had already sent someone to him. He had heard that Yu Ying was taken by the Ministry and, in a panic, he and his cousin had gone to see a judge at the Ministry who was once a schoolmate of the cousin.

That judge had only revealed that the Empress was the Ministry’s real target.

Indeed, who could say this was not the Emperor’s will?

If the Emperor was determined to depose the Empress, whether or not she was involved, she would be branded guilty—and the Yu family might not be spared either...

The cousin instructed the carriage driver, “Don’t return yet. Turn into the alley at the next intersection and wait.”

Zheng Boru wanted to say something but remained silent.

From the slit in the carriage curtain, he saw the heavy rain slanting down. Her umbrella barely shielded her, and she was soaked through...

She was proud and proud-hearted, rarely showing weakness. Now, standing in the rain, she must be deeply distressed.

Born to be cherished like a delicate flower, how could she endure such suffering and torment?

A fierce desire to protect her welled up inside him. He wanted to go out, hold the umbrella for her, bring her inside, and hold her close, telling her not to worry. But... he was not alone. He had family, clan obligations, and the future of the Zheng family resting on his shoulders. How could he risk everything for his own desires?

He sighed softly.

---

The carriage turned into the alley, and his cousin told the driver to stop. “If you see her today, it’s not good to promise anything; if you promise, that’s no good either. Just avoid her for now until the situation becomes clear. Yesterday’s court session was delayed over the little princess’s affair, and tomorrow the Deputy Prime Minister’s post will be announced. It’s almost certain you’ll get it. You can’t afford any mistakes now.”

Zheng Boru nodded.

He hoped the Emperor had no real intention to depose the Empress, that all this was just the Ministry’s posturing. Once the matter blew over, he would formally propose to the Yu family.

The carriage didn’t wait long in the alley. The servant saw the gatekeeper come out and speak, likely urging Yu Ying to leave because of the rain. Eventually, Yu Ying left. After some time, the carriage emerged from the alley and returned home.

Yu Ying had not met Zheng Boru and returned drenched.

Madam Yu questioned her anxiously. Upon learning Yu Ying had merely been questioned at the Ministry without mistreatment or torture, she was relieved but soon worried about her eldest daughter in the palace, tears welling in her eyes.

Yu Ying changed clothes and went to see her grandfather. He asked detailed questions, and she recalled every question and answer to inform him.

Grandfather Yu stood with folded arms, frowning deeply as he paced slowly in the room. His shoulders seemed more slumped than before, and Yu Ying noticed his hair had whitened significantly—whether suddenly in recent days or unnoticed before, she couldn’t tell.

Yu Ying told him she had gone directly to the Zheng residence but hadn’t seen Zheng Boru.

Grandfather Yu said, “As soon as you went to the Ministry, I sent someone there. They passed a message saying they would inquire further and that news would come later.”

Yu Ying asked, “What does the Ministry want? Why ask those questions?”

Grandfather Yu answered, “To put it bluntly, they want to slander the Empress. Or, to be optimistic, they haven’t found direct evidence inside the palace, so they’re striking outside.”

“They won’t find anything. They’re just defaming. How could my eldest sister harm the little princess?” Yu Ying said.

Even she knew harming a princess would bring nothing but disaster. Her eldest sister was smarter than that.

The Ministry was truly despicable!

Yu Ying’s hatred for the Ministry grew, while Grandfather Yu worried about the Emperor’s attitude.

His eldest granddaughter had grown up under his watch. Because she was calm and steady, he felt safe letting her marry the Prince.

Yet despite her many virtues, she was too composed and cold. The youngest granddaughter, though willful and often exasperating, sometimes showed weakness and charm that softened hearts. The eldest, however, was different—when reprimanded, she would quietly kneel but never flatter or ingratiate herself.

The Emperor was a deep thinker. When newly married, their relationship was decent, but since ascending the throne, he devoted himself to state affairs. Having no heir for years, he was anxious, surrounded by new consorts day after day. The Emperor and Empress grew distant, and since the little princess’s birth, he probably hadn’t even visited the Qingning Palace.

Had it truly come to the point of deposing the Empress?

Grandfather Yu sighed deeply, dismissed Yu Ying, lay back on his chair, and closed his eyes.

The rain continued into evening without cease. News arrived from the Zheng household informing Grandfather Yu that the Ministry had thoroughly investigated the Empress’s quarters, detaining palace maids for questioning. The Empress was unharmed, only suffering a slight cold and confined to bed.

The little princess’s affair had caused a great stir, and information was tightly controlled. The news Zheng Boru obtained was invaluable. Grandfather Yu wrote a letter in thanks for Zheng Boru’s efforts.

As night fell and the wind and rain battered the house, Grandfather Yu, unable to sleep, sat long by his desk.

After some time, the messenger who had delivered the letter returned, handing Grandfather Yu another letter. “I delivered the letter to the Zheng residence and was about to return when someone wearing a straw raincoat and bamboo hat, face obscured, slipped me this note. I thought he must know me, so I didn’t delay and brought it back.”

Grandfather Yu, puzzled, took the letter and saw only four characters on the envelope: “To Lord Yu, personally opened.”

Curious, he broke the seal and found it contained a single line: “Tonight, Room No. 2, Tianzi Inn, Cross Street.”

A mysterious letter with a mysterious message, yet Grandfather Yu immediately stood up. He recognized the handwriting—it was Cheng Xianzhang’s.