Chapter 10: Bamboo in the Western Garden (IV)

“Reading memorials made my head spin, and when I went out, I saw the moonlight like water tonight, which made me miss Sister,” Song Lan leaned against her as they walked out from the inner chamber. Smelling the crisp scent in the hall, he couldn’t help but laugh and ask, “Sister, is the incense you’re burning today the same one I smelled last time? It’s called...”

Luo Wei gently said: “It’s not an important name anyway.”

Song Lan replied: “Yes, I always forget.”

The palace attendants lowered the gauze curtains, and Song Lan leaned casually in front of her, playing with two glass dice from his sleeve.

Seeing the glass object spinning rapidly in his hand, Luo Wei knew he had something on his mind. However, she didn’t rush to ask. Instead, she pressed her fingers to his temple and massaged it carefully for a while.

Sure enough, after receiving her comfort, Song Lan’s furrowed brows relaxed significantly. He casually threw the glass dice and began, “Sister, I have a troublesome case—”

Luo Wei asked: “Is it about Fengying?”

Song Lan nodded: “Fengying did such a thing, and almost dragged you into it, which is truly hateful. But he has been loyal for many years. Today, when I visited him, he cried bitterly and claimed innocence, saying that although there was past affection, Lady Zhang committed suicide... I know he killed someone and still refuses to admit it, showing his bad intentions. But I feel some pity. Moreover, when Tingyan searched his residence, they found... old belongings of the Crown Prince. He was promoted by the Crown Prince, and remembering past favors makes me unsure what to do.”

Old belongings?

Luo Wei paused, understanding a bit, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of her lips.

Ye Tingyan had accidentally struck a fatal blow for Lu Heng—it turned out to be this.

In the afternoon, Ye Tingyan stayed with Song Lan for a private discussion. With a clever tongue and a touch of nostalgia, he stirred up the emperor’s suspicions to the extreme—Lu Heng killing someone wasn’t what concerned Song Lan. But knowing that Lu Heng, who was already a traitor to his former master, still cherished old memories, was crucial.

Regardless of truth or falsehood, it certainly caused unease. Once suspicion arose, he had to be abandoned.

A person who wavers between loyalties shouldn’t be trusted.

Although Song Lan had only just established the Zhuque Office, over the years, he hadn’t lacked other capable people in court. The Commander of the Palace Front Division, the Imperial Guard, and the Golden Sky Guard—if he couldn’t find replacements before, could he not find them now?

Thus, Luo Wei said: “Though there are personal ties, nothing surpasses the law. I know Your Majesty is kind-hearted, but don’t let one person damage your reputation.”

Song Lan readily agreed: “Sister speaks the truth.”

The next morning, after Song Lan left, a close attendant from the Medical Office came to inquire about her health. Upon entering, he again smelled the familiar fragrance. Carrying his medicine box, he shook his head repeatedly: “Your Majesty has been using this incense for a long time; isn’t it harmful to your health?”

The palace attendants were dismissed, and Luo Wei sneered: “I only burn it when he comes—I’d rather use incense than constantly drink medicine. Last year, I drank too much medicine in haste and fell ill. Now, I value my life the most. How could I harm myself? Physician Miao worries too much.”

•

Acting on Song Lan’s orders, the Zhuque Office swiftly investigated Lu Heng thoroughly before the Qingming Festival. Besides murdering a palace maid, they uncovered numerous crimes such as gambling, debauchery, and privately minting money.

Song Lan personally visited him once more. Not long after leaving, he issued an oral decree ordering the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review to re-examine the case, and after confirmation by the Censorate, transfer him to the main prison of the Ministry of Justice, to be executed according to the laws of the Great Yin Dynasty after autumn.

After Lu Heng’s departure, the Golden Sky Guard naturally passed to his deputy. This person was skilled, usually earnest and taciturn. Song Lan summoned him to the imperial presence for questioning and, after careful investigation, deemed him usable, so no new replacement was made—the Golden Sky Guard members were meticulously selected. If a new leader were appointed, short-term integration issues might arise, leading to many complications.

Perhaps this matter consumed much energy, and with the preparations for the Qingming sacrifices, for seven consecutive days, Song Lan did not enter the harem. Luo Wei was also busy with Qingming affairs and had not found a suitable opportunity to speak.

On the eighth day, Song Lan came to discuss the details of the Qingming sacrificial ceremony with Luo Wei. After finalizing the arrangements, she hesitated for a moment and cautiously opened her mouth: “I heard Zilan dealt with Fengying?”

Song Lan threw down the pen in his hand and answered without looking up: “Yes.”

“After he was transferred to the Ministry of Justice, I want to see Fengying once,” Luo Wei said. “He committed these acts, so naturally, there’s no past affection to consider. But Lady Zhang was my confidant, and I want to hear Fengying explain it himself.”

Song Lan was startled, his eyes flickering a few times. After pondering for a while, he spoke: “Sister, it’s not that I’m unwilling, but he endured many tortures in the Zhuque Office, bloodied and terrifying. If it startles you, what then? Since there’s no past affection, it’s better not to go. If you wish to know the details of Lady Zhang’s case, I’ll have Lord Ye come to report to you, alright?”

Luo Wei already knew Song Lan wouldn’t let her see Lu Heng. Her words were merely to openly summon Ye Tingyan for questioning. Now that her purpose was achieved, she had nothing else to say.

“That would be fine, thank you, Zilan.”

Song Lan, smelling the sweet fragrance in the hall, turned around with a smile: “Sister, there’s no need to refer to yourself as ‘this subject,’ nor is there any need to thank me.”

Luo Wei smiled charmingly and nodded slightly. Then, moved by a thought, she asked: “Is that third son of the Ye family reliable?”

“He is a man who knows how to handle things,” Song Lan didn’t hesitate to discuss politics with her, closing his eyes and saying, “But Sister knows, our surroundings are treacherous. Although I’ve had his background thoroughly investigated, human hearts are ultimately unpredictable. I called him here to have Sister take a look. Since you’re old acquaintances, if he’s usable, it would be best.”

Luo Wei gently responded: “Zilan can rest assured.”

•

The next morning, after the court session, Ye Tingyan followed Song Lan to Qionghua Palace.

Song Lan walked through the blooming and bustling crabapple trees in the Qionghua Palace garden. Before reaching the palace gate, Liu Xi hurriedly chased after them, saying that several officials had returned before leaving the palace and were waiting in the rear hall of Qianfang to discuss matters—it seemed there was an urgent report of drought in Jiangnan this spring.

Song Lan had no choice but to leave Liu Xi behind, giving a few instructions before departing.

Ye Tingyan followed Liu Xi under the lush crabapple trees.

He lowered his head, watching the scattered light and shadow and mottled fallen flowers on the ground. For some reason, every step felt surreal, as if walking on clouds.

It was as if nothing had happened—no assassination, betrayal, blood, tears, no intrigue, disguise, injury, or masks. He looked up at the crabapple trees he had planted himself, passing clusters of wisteria in varying shades of purple. They were intimately planted together in one garden, just like his inseparable childhood friendship with the girl under the corridor for over a decade.

Ye Tingyan slightly raised his eyes, seeing Luo Wei standing at the pavilion at the end of the corridor. She wore the empress’s formal attire, a deep, subdued satin color—in his distant memory, the young girl always favored bright colors and light gauze.

But preferences change, just as hearts do.

Today, the sun was too bright, the sunlight dazzling. He didn’t dare to raise his head or look too much, quickly moving to the shade, skillfully kneeling: “This humble servant pays respects to Your Majesty.”

Luo Wei sat leaning against the pillar, not commanding him to rise. She absentmindedly gazed at the clear sky beside her, reaching out to catch a few fluttering pink-white petals.

A gentle breeze blew, and the petals landed in her palm, quickly flying away again. She reached out again, grasping nothing, her palm empty, as if she had never possessed anything.

Yanluo dispersed all the palace attendants in the garden, then stood guard twenty steps away on the corridor with Liu Xi.

It was inappropriate for the empress to privately meet with external ministers. In the past, when Luo Wei handled state affairs, Song Lan was always by her side.

Today, with Song Lan absent, he specifically instructed Liu Xi before leaving that the empress wanted to discuss private matters of the inner court with Lord Ye, and it must not be overheard by others, yet appearances had to be maintained. Thus, their meeting was moved to the garden, with attendants standing guard far away, providing an explanation if questioned later.

Ye Tingyan waited for her command but, receiving none, straightened himself and knelt by her feet. Luo Wei lazily glanced at him, hearing Ye Tingyan say seriously: “I’ve long heard of Your Majesty’s virtuous reputation. When meeting with external ministers, shouldn’t Your Majesty adjust your attire and sit solemnly?”

Luo Wei was amused by him, glancing at Liu Xi and Yanluo from afar, covering her mouth and saying: “If Lord Ye were one of those Confucian scholars from the Censorate, I wouldn’t even meet with you.”

She pronounced the word “meet” with lingering affection. Ye Tingyan looked up and saw the beauty under the flowering tree like jade, wanting to make a sarcastic remark. His heart tightened slightly, but no words came out.

He lowered his head, seeing his hands trembling, and hid them in his wide robe.

Luo Wei didn’t notice this small movement. She brushed the fallen flowers off her shoulders, straightened up under the corridor, and properly folded her hands, solemnly instructing: “Lord Ye, speak.”

Ye Tingyan cupped his hands and said: “I’ve thoroughly examined it. There’s too much to say, so perhaps Your Majesty should ask.”

Luo Wei directly asked: “Why did Lu Fengying kill Lady Zhang? Did they have a past relationship?”

“Your Majesty is wise,” Ye Tingyan quickly interjected. “At the end of Changning era, Lady Zhang, favored by Your Majesty, coincidentally met Lord Lu Heng, who was then following the former crown prince. A year later, Lady Zhang was transferred to the palace, increasing their contact. After His Majesty ascended the throne, they privately became intimate. Lu Heng persuaded Lady Zhang to resign early and, once released to civilian life, he intended to request His Majesty’s permission to marry her.”

“So, Lady Zhang came to me, saying she wanted to leave the palace,” Luo Wei contemplated, saying, “According to Lord Ye, Lu Fengying already had thoughts of marriage. Why then did he kill and abandon the body?”