Wind and Snow

The Yongzhao Emperor happened to pass by the Hall of Literary Glory one day and was deeply surprised to see how seriously his daughter was studying.

But when he heard that the princess attended only Rong An's lessons, he was left speechless and could not help complaining to Seal-Bearer Duan.

"No wonder she stopped me from punishing Rong An last time. Look at Jianjian. If she really takes Rong An as her prince consort someday, won't she have him completely wrapped around her finger?"

"Look at her!"

Seal-Bearer Duan glanced into the Hall of Literary Glory and replied with a smile, "Her Highness is clever. I imagine she won't let anyone bully her."

Out of the corner of her eye, Zhao Huiluan saw her imperial father and the seal-bearer walk away, and the corners of her lips curved lazily.

See? He couldn't rest easy and came to see what was really going on.

If she attended everyone's lectures and listened attentively, her imperial father would probably drag her back to the Jade Balance Palace within days.

"Has the wound on Your Highness's hand not healed yet?"

Zhao Huiluan was practicing her calligraphy. At his question, she glanced at the handkerchief tied around her palm.

"This reminds me at all times to remember your instruction that day, teacher."

With that, she set down her brush, looked up at Rong An, and shook her wrist. "My hand is so sore from writing. Will you rub it for me, Rong An?"

At those words, the little crown prince, who had been absorbed in his calligraphy, stealthily craned his neck to look her way.

Zhang Yunchi propped up his forehead with one hand and shook his head wordlessly, while continuing to write with the other.

Shen Zhiyun could not hold back a laugh, though she immediately stifled it.

The other young masters and ladies all kept their heads down, not daring to listen.

Zhao Huiluan looked at Rong An in amusement. He held her gaze for a while, then turned and walked away.

The days passed at an unhurried pace, and late autumn arrived in the blink of an eye.

A yellow leaf drifted into the hall and landed beside Zhao Huiluan's brush tip.

She picked up the withered leaf and turned to look out the window, where autumn scenery filled her eyes.

Fallen leaves covered the ground outside the Hall of Literary Glory. The attendants swept them away again and again, but never seemed able to clear them all.

Xichun waited anxiously beneath a tree.

When lessons ended, Zhao Huiluan came out of the Hall of Literary Glory, and Xichun whispered a few words in her ear. Her eyes widened when she heard them. Then she hurried back to the Jade Balance Palace.

Rong An watched the mistress and servant walk away, but when he left the Hall of Literary Glory and turned a corner, he saw that Zhao Huiluan had doubled back and was waiting for him on the palace path.

For some reason, her expression was grave.

"Your Highness."

Zhao Huiluan lowered her voice. "A supervising secretary of the Office of Scrutiny for Justice, a director of the Ministry of Justice, and an assistant censor-in-chief submitted memorials impeaching Grand Secretary Wen today. They've already been imprisoned."

Chapter 20: Wind and Snow

Rong An's calm eyes suddenly darkened.

Zhao Huiluan went on, "One of them is your honored teacher's fellow townsman, and the other two are his students. The Grand Secretariat will surely seize on this and refuse to let it go, dragging your teacher into it."

Zhao Huiluan could not tell him outright.

In her previous life, the impeachment had implicated a great many people. Those involved had either died or been exiled on charges of factionalism or framing others. His honored teacher, Xie Shangxiu, had suffered the worst fate: the entire Xie household had been sentenced to confiscation of its property and execution.

"Do you have a way to handle this?"

"Your Highness, I have no way."

Rong An cupped his hands in farewell and walked away.

Zhao Huiluan's brows drew tightly together as she watched his dark-blue figure recede.

She lowered her head, stared at the fallen leaves by her toes, and shook her head with a soft laugh.

Rong An was now only a minor compiler of the lower sixth rank at the Hanlin Academy. How could he have the strength of an ant trying to shake a tree?

Even she, after six years of relentless striving, was no match for the Wen Faction.

"Xichun, I want to see Xiao Qinglan."

She could not understand why Xie Shangxiu and the others had done this.

They had served as officials for many years and seen so many former colleagues meet miserable ends after impeaching Wen Hong. They could not possibly have been unaware that this was a contest they were certain to lose.

Was it worth staking their fortunes and lives on?

"Though I think Censor Xie and the others have acted very foolishly, they are still officials of upright character. Jingzhi, do what you can to protect their families."

Xiao Qinglan accepted the order and left.

The Wen Faction had always moved swiftly, precisely, and ruthlessly. That very night, the Brocade Guard surrounded the Xie residence and took Xie Shangxiu away.

"When I arrived, a great fire had broken out in the Xie family's rear courtyard. Madam Xie perished in the flames, and the Xies' youngest daughter, Xie Zhiyao, was nowhere to be found. From what I observed, someone must have rescued her before I arrived."

Zhao Huiluan picked at her fingers thoughtfully, while Xiao Qinglan knelt to beg punishment.

"I have failed to carry out Your Highness's orders."

Zhao Huiluan was still lost in thought. After a long while, she suddenly asked Xiao Qinglan:

"Jingzhi, I want to go to the Imperial Prison. Is there a way?"

Xiao Qinglan considered briefly, then nodded. "There is."

The Imperial Prison was no unfamiliar place to Zhao Huiluan.

In her previous life, she had spent two months there.

She came under cover of night. The jailer guarding the Imperial Prison nodded to Xiao Qinglan and opened the gates without asking a single question about her as she followed behind him.

The moment she entered, a foul stench hit her in the face.

Xiao Qinglan offered her a scented handkerchief, but Zhao Huiluan did not take it. Once she had recovered, she walked straight inside.

The ease with which she found her way surprised Xiao Qinglan, who was following behind her.

"Your Highness, you have only the time it takes to drink a cup of tea."

Xiao Qinglan went no farther, standing guard at the entrance to the passage.

A single oil lamp burned in the cramped cell.

In just a few days, Xie Shangxiu seemed to have aged ten years. His hair was a mess as he bent over a small table, intent on writing something.

Zhao Huiluan's gaze fell on the memorial, written from beginning to end in crimson blood.

That was right. It was this very memorial, listing Wen Hong's ten great crimes, including forming factions for personal gain, selling official posts and titles, and framing loyal, worthy men, that became Xie Shangxiu's death warrant.

"Censor Xie, you must not submit this memorial."

The young woman's voice became cold and solemn as it rang through the chill Imperial Prison.

Xie Shangxiu kept writing without looking up, biting his finger again when there was not enough blood.

"Censor Xie, our emperor is obstinate and self-willed. When you denounce Wen Hong, he sees it as denouncing him for failing to judge a man's character and for being foolish and incapable. His Majesty will not spare you."

"How dare you!"