The New Year passed in a veneer of peace. Murong Jin's wounds healed. Xue Liulan resigned his temporary residence in the palace and took her back to his own estate.
As her due date approached, he spent every day by her side. The court officials, sensing the shift, knew better than to disturb him with trivial matters.
"My lord." Little Dingzi jogged into the inner courtyard.
It was early spring. Green shoots were already pushing through the thawing earth.
"What's the rush?" Xue Liulan asked, looking up.
Little Dingzi knelt on one knee and pulled a letter from his sleeve. The envelope was snow-white, sealed with red wax. Confidential.
Xue Liulan broke the seal and scanned the letter. A slow smile spread across his face, blossoming into a laugh.
"That old fox. He handled it beautifully." He put the letter back and handed it to the eunuch.
"My lord? What shall I do with this?"
"Come with me to the study." Xue Liulan strode ahead, the spring wind unable to slow his steps.
The pieces are in place. It's time to show my hand.
In the grand hall of the palace, three cracks of the whip signaled the start of the court session. Guo Shangzhong stepped forward. "If there is business, present it. If not, the curtain falls."
The officials were silent. For ten years, this had been the rule. Minor matters were handled by the ministries; major ones went to Guo Shangzhong for approval.
"Your son has a matter to report to the Imperial Father."
The princes stood apart from the officials, lined up to the right of the dais. Xue Liulan stepped forward, bowing before the drowsy Emperor.
"Liulan? What is it?" The Emperor forced himself to sit up.
"I have received information that requires your decision." He presented a memorial with both hands.
The Emperor glanced at Guo Shangzhong. The eunuch hurried down, took the memorial, and presented it.
"Leave it." The Emperor waved a hand dismissively, signaling Guo Shangzhong to take it to the study later. "If there is nothing else, you may all withdraw." He made to rise.
"Father." Xue Liulan raised his voice.
The Emperor paused, then sat back down, annoyed. "What else?"
"The matter is urgent. I ask Father to give me instructions now, in front of the court." Xue Liulan bowed his head, but his voice was firm.
The Emperor's eyes narrowed. This son was becoming a threat. He had always been dissolute, lazy. Yet now, there was a sharpness about him.
Like me, when I was young. But wiser.
Deng Qinyao, standing at the head of the civil officials, frowned. His spies had reported that the Fifth Prince had done nothing for two months but tend to his pregnant wife. What could be so urgent?
He exchanged a look with Xue Feiyan. The Seventh Prince thought for a moment, then stepped forward.
"Since Father is tired today, why the rush, Fifth Brother? The Emperor's health is paramount."
Xue Liulan glanced at him, smiling. "Father's health is paramount, of course. But if the people are suffering in fire and water, I fear the sacred heart will not be at peace."
"The Fifth Prince is mistaken," Deng Qinyao said, his voice trembling with age. "Under His Majesty's wise rule, the dynasty is prosperous, the four seas are calm. How can you say the people suffer?"
Xue Liulan turned to him, leaning close. "Lord Deng, when the forest is big, there are all kinds of birds. You are clean and noble, unwilling to wallow in the mire. But can you guarantee that everyone in this court is like you?"
Deng Qinyao shivered. A bad feeling rose in his chest. He looked up to see the Emperor, now wide awake, reading the memorial Guo Shangzhong had opened.
The court went silent. Officials bowed their heads or stole glances at the Emperor, trying to gauge the coming storm.
The Emperor's expression shifted from boredom to a deep frown. Then, slap. He threw the memorial to the floor.
The officials fell to their knees, terrified.
"Liulan, is what you say in this memorial true?" the Emperor demanded, his voice cold.
Xue Liulan, kneeling, smiled in the shadow of his bowed head. "Every word is true, Father. And every word is supported by evidence. A simple investigation will prove it."
"And the evidence?"
"Since they dared to commit such heinous crimes, they must have powerful backers in the court. I have hidden the evidence, lest someone with a guilty conscience tries to destroy it." He glanced sideways at Deng Qinyao.
Deng Qinyao's heart skipped a beat. "This old minister is willing to share the Emperor's burden," he stammered.
"Your son is also willing," Xue Feiyan added quickly.
"Share my burden? Hmph." The Emperor glared at Deng Qinyao. He pointed to the memorial. "Show him."
"Yes." Guo Shangzhong picked up the document and brought it to the Prime Minister. "Lord Deng, please look."
Deng Qinyao glanced at the eunuch's impassive face, then looked down.
Every stroke detailed embezzled funds, from five years ago to the present. Every case was documented as if the writer had been there. And the names… the majority were his protégés, men he had personally promoted.
"Do you understand, Minister Deng?" the Emperor asked slowly.
Deng Qinyao knocked his head on the floor. "I understand."
"If I recall correctly, most of these men are your students."
"Yes, Your Majesty. But I knew nothing of this! This is only the Fifth Prince's side of the story. I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly." He kowtowed again. But he knew. If Xue Liulan dared to present this, the evidence was real.
"We will investigate," the Emperor said. His gaze swept the hall, finally resting on Xue Liulan. "Liulan, since you brought this to light, you will handle the investigation."
"Your Majesty, this…" Deng Qinyao looked up, but the Emperor's cold stare silenced him. To question him now would be adding oil to the fire.
Xue Feiyan bowed. "Your son is willing to assist Fifth Brother."
"No need to trouble Seventh Brother. If I cannot even handle this small matter for Father, I would be unfilial." Xue Liulan turned to him, smiling.
"With Sister-in-law due any day now, Fifth Brother should spend more time with her." Xue Feiyan's smile remained, but his eyes were dead.
The Emperor watched his sons, hesitating.
Just then, a young eunuch scurried into the hall, whispering urgently to Guo Shangzhong.
Guo Shangzhong's eyes lit up. Heaven's will.
He hurried to the Emperor's side. "Your Majesty. News from the Fifth Prince's residence. The Princess Consort is in labor."
"What?" The Emperor stood. "Have the physicians been summoned?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. They are all there."
The Emperor's face broke into a radiant smile. "Liulan! My grandson is coming!" He strode down the steps and grabbed Xue Liulan's arm. "Come! We must go!"
Xue Liulan was stunned. It was too early.
"Father, is she safe?" he asked, his voice tight.
"What kind of question is that?" The Emperor stopped, frowning.
"The physicians said it would be later. Is something wrong?" Xue Liulan looked lost, a first-time father's panic plain on his face.
"Hahaha! No, no!" The Emperor laughed.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty!" the court chanted.
"Congratulations, Father. Congratulations, Fifth Brother." Xue Feiyan bowed. Whatever their rivalry, the child was of Xue blood. His congratulations were sincere.
"Thank you." Xue Liulan bowed, then hesitated. "Father, state affairs are paramount. I dare not abandon my duty for private matters."
The Emperor blinked, remembering the investigation. He thought for a moment. "We will go see the child born safely first. Then you can handle the case."
"Thank you, Father." Xue Liulan bowed, his heart already racing ahead to the woman suffering in his home.