Kong Shishu quickly steadied his emotions, maintaining his aura of authority.
He bellowed angrily, “Outrageous! Princess Consort Xiang, what are you trying to do? Pointing arrows at a court official—are you planning to rebel?”
Gao Yuexing found it amusing. “Rebel? With the Imperial Guard Commander Zhao Tongsheng here, I’d like to see who dares to rebel.”
Kong Shishu looked closely and realized the man standing guard beside Gao Yuexing was none other than Emperor’s trusted aide, Zhao Tongsheng.
Narrowing his eyes, he said, “You? Weren’t you tasked with escorting disaster relief grain?”
Zhao Tongsheng grinned, baring his teeth. “Where the grain is, I am. But since the grain was switched out, Minister Kong, what exactly am I supposed to escort?”
Gao Yuexing knew that arguing at this point would lead to endless back-and-forth. She firmly fixed her gaze on Kong Shishu and the Prefect of Jingzhao blocking the door. The exhaustion from days of travel painted a faint red hue in her eyes, lending her a menacing aura.
Gao Yuexing commanded, “Harness the carts and take the disaster relief grain away.”
Zhao Tongsheng and his Imperial Guard soldiers immediately prepared to act.
The cunning Kong Shishu turned the matter over in his mind and spoke up, “Your arrival is timely, Princess Consort. Isn’t this manor yours? And that maidservant is also yours, isn’t she? I was just about to ask: why is the disaster relief grain meant for Jiangnan’s six cities showing up in your manor’s estate?”
He flipped the accusation: “Princess Consort, do explain. If you can’t provide a satisfactory explanation today, forgive me, but this grain cannot leave with you. Moreover, you must return to the capital with me to report to His Majesty.”
Gao Yuexing looked toward the Prefect of Jingzhao.
In this place, Kong Shishu’s family’s private soldiers weren’t a real threat. The one who could truly make the final decision was still the Prefect of Jingzhao.
The Prefect of Jingzhao stared at her intently and said, “Minister Kong’s words are not unreasonable, Princess Consort. This is your estate, and the disaster relief grain mysteriously appeared here. You must provide an explanation. This grain cannot leave.”
Gao Yuexing remained polite when addressing the Prefect of Jingzhao, taking a step back. “I will stay and accompany you to the palace to see His Majesty, but the grain must not be delayed for even a moment. It must immediately be handed over to the Imperial Guards and sent to Jiangnan.”
The Prefect of Jingzhao frowned in contemplation.
Kong Shishu interjected, “No. The grain is now in the capital and under our control. Once it leaves the city, who knows where you’ll take it?”
In the end, she was painted as the one with ulterior motives.
Gao Yuexing’s tone turned sharp. “The six cities of Jiangnan have tens of thousands of disaster victims waiting for grain to save their lives. Commander Zhao Tongsheng is personally appointed by His Majesty to oversee the transport of this grain. You two are both court officials, receiving the Emperor’s favor. If you insist on using the lives of the common people as leverage to earn a reputation for sharp-eyed diligence before His Majesty, then there’s no need for us to meet with the Emperor today. I, the Princess Consort, will clean up the muddle-headedness in court on behalf of His Majesty!”
Gao Yuexing raised her hand, and everyone standing in front of her stepped forward, raising their crossbows.
Kong Shishu flicked his sleeve and pointed at her. “You? Clean up the muddle-headedness in court on behalf of His Majesty? Hah, what a joke! What arrogance! The Prince of Xiang isn’t even the Crown Prince yet, and you’re already acting like the future Empress because of an offhand remark from the Emperor? You—you really intend to rebel, don’t you!”
At last, Gao Yuexing understood what it meant to wield power through the military.
Kong Shishu’s furious tantrum now seemed, in her eyes, like the antics of a clown.
Zhao Tongsheng stood firmly by her side and raised his voice: “I, as the commander, have been entrusted by the Emperor with an edict to escort the disaster relief grain without fail. His Majesty has granted me full authority to act as needed. Anyone who obstructs disaster relief efforts may be executed first and reported later.”
He lifted the jade thumb ring in his hand high—a token bestowed upon him by the Emperor before he departed the capital, proof that his words were not empty claims.
For a moment, the Prefect of Jingzhao was at a loss for words.
Kong Shishu, however, still had something to say: “The lives of the people in Jiangnan’s six cities are important, but does that mean the treasonous rebels aren’t? The grain has already been delayed for years. A couple more days won’t kill anyone. Today, even if I must die, I will not let you traitors have your way.”
It seemed he was determined to stop the grain from being sent out, no matter what.
At this critical moment, although Gao Yuexing sensed something was amiss, there was no time to think it through carefully.
Zhao Tongsheng continued his verbal assault without backing down. But in reality, taking action wasn’t so simple—after all, the opponents were high-ranking fourth-grade officials of the court. Killing them might bring temporary satisfaction, but the ensuing troubles would be endless.
Gao Yuexing glanced at the two men who were acting so brazenly and said, “Not long ago, when His Highness the Prince of Xiang was evacuating disaster victims in Jiangluo Town, he mobilized the Embroidered Guard, broke into houses, and forcibly took people away. Word of this should have reached the capital by now, correct?”
Indeed, it had. At the time, some officials had even submitted reports criticizing him in court.
Gao Yuexing continued, “Reputation, public opinion—none of it matters to us as a couple. If you two think I wouldn’t dare, feel free to try and stop me.”
As she spoke, Zhao Tongsheng’s Imperial Guards had already harnessed the carts in the courtyard. After a thorough inspection to confirm the grain was intact and accounted for, they formed ranks, drew their swords, and cleared a path, their demeanor exuding an air of invincibility.
Gao Yuexing added, “Furthermore, the Imperial Guards responsible for escorting the disaster relief grain today answer only to the Emperor. Anyone who dares to lay a hand on them would truly be committing treason. At that point, Minister Kong, it wouldn’t just be a matter of you shouting accusations. The consequences would be far graver.”
With the Imperial Guards escorting her, Gao Yuexing walked toward the gate. The constables brought by the Prefect of Jingzhao silently stepped aside to let them pass.
The Prefect of Jingzhao said nothing.
No matter how much Kong Shishu raged, he simply closed his eyes, pretending not to see.
As Gao Yuexing passed Kong Shishu, she suddenly turned her head and said, “Minister Kong, your son is still in Jiangnan, isn’t he?”
Kong Shishu’s expression froze, but he quickly sneered: “What are you trying to say?”
Gao Yuexing replied, “Do you know who he is now? Do you know what he’s doing? Do you know what kind of life he’s leading there?”
She spoke one sentence at a time, deliberately: “He is now the Assistant Magistrate of Jiangnan’s six cities, overseeing water management, with the lives of tens of thousands of people depending on him. In Jiangluo Town, he personally led a team to breach a weakened river embankment to divert floodwaters. Do you know how dangerous that is? A slight miscalculation, and they would have been swept away, their bodies lost to the currents. He even left a farewell letter with me in case something happened, so I could deliver it to his parents and siblings. ”
“He spends every day waist-deep in water, often for days and nights on end. Only when he’s utterly exhausted does he return to the inn to rest. The fish-skin clothing he wears has rubbed his legs raw and festering. I’ve applied the best medicinal powders I have on him, but I can only watch as his injuries worsen day by day.”
After finishing her words softly into his ear, Gao Yuexing stepped back and said, “Minister Kong, in this world, beyond money and power, there should be something else you care about. If you have a conscience, let me take the grain away safely. Don’t tell me it’s difficult—I know you can make it happen.”
Gao Yuexing didn’t spare a glance at Kong Shishu’s expression again.
This time, no one dared to stop them as they left.
The Haitang Estate was left in utter disarray.
The men of Prince Xin were detained outside the gates. Though they couldn’t see what was happening inside, they heard every word clearly.
Fu Yun remained in the same position as before, slumped in the center of the courtyard.
Just now, Gao Yuexing had seen her.
Someone as astute and perceptive as the Princess Consort must have figured everything out in an instant.
Yet Gao Yuexing ignored her, finding it unnecessary even to spare her a glance.
Fu Yun felt an indescribable heaviness in her heart, unable to utter a word.
The Prefect of Jingzhao ordered his men to drag her away.
Fu Yun followed in a daze, like a puppet.
Gao Yuexing, riding alongside Zhao Tongsheng, suddenly pulled the reins to halt her horse. She turned to Zhao Tongsheng and said, “You go ahead and deliver the disaster relief grain first. I’ll arrive a few days later. If you have the strength to spare, please also help comfort the officials and citizens staying behind.”
Zhao Tongsheng asked, “Princess Consort, where are you going?”
Gao Yuexing replied, “I can’t shake the feeling that something’s wrong in the capital. I won’t feel at ease unless I return to check.”
Zhao Tongsheng nodded. “Indeed. Seeing how arrogant Kong Shishu was, who knows what tricks he’s playing behind the scenes. Rest assured, Princess Consort. I’ll be vigilant on the road and make sure nothing happens to the grain convoy.”
He pointed to two men, assigning them to escort Gao Yuexing back to the capital.
On the journey, Gao Yuexing’s thoughts churned. In such a short amount of time, she had managed to piece together some clarity.
Fu Yun was someone from Noble Consort Hui’s side. In both her previous and current lives, she had made the grave mistake of trusting her.
But Noble Consort Hui was already dead.
The only allies remaining were Meng Zhaoyi and Jiang Qi from Prince Xin’s household.
Three women.
Meng Zhaoyi was trapped in the palace. The Emperor, having learned his lesson long ago, had tightened his surveillance over the concubines since Noble Consort Hui’s death. As long as the Emperor remained alert, Meng Zhaoyi would have no chance to stir trouble under his watchful eye.
Fu Yun, stationed in the Prince of Xiang’s household, had long been under Gao Yuexing’s suspicion and strict watch.
She couldn’t achieve much. Sneaking the disaster relief grain into the Haitang Estate this time must have been the limit of her capabilities.
Jiang Qi, a concubine of Prince Xin.
She was beyond Gao Yuexing’s immediate control and lived a carefree life.
However, Prince Xin himself held limited power. He had no army, no faction, and even lacked sufficient favor from the Emperor. While Jiang Qi might live comfortably by his side, she lacked the conditions to cause significant upheaval.
Yet one thing was certain—if she wanted to destroy Prince Xin, it would be all too easy.
After all, Prince Xin was the biological son of Meng Zhaoyi.
Would Meng Zhaoyi truly want her own son dead?
Those women weren’t capable of anything major.
There were others behind them.
Who could it be?
Kong Shishu had thought that after sending Gao Yuexing away, he could join forces with the Prefect of Jingzhao and speak whatever he wished before the Emperor, shaping wind as wind and rain as rain. Yet, unexpectedly, Gao Yuexing had made a surprise return.
Before he even had a chance to speak in front of the Emperor, Xu Xiude, with a grave expression, whispered a few words into the Emperor’s ear. Immediately, the Emperor ordered both him and the Prefect of Jingzhao to wait outside.
Gao Yuexing walked past them without so much as a glance.
A sense of unease rose in Kong Shishu’s heart. He tapped his fingers rhythmically against his leg, then suddenly nudged the Prefect of Jingzhao’s sleeve and said, “What do you think? Why has she suddenly returned?”
The Prefect of Jingzhao ignored him.
As a straightforward but not foolish official, the Prefect of Jingzhao had responded to the urgent report of a concubine from the Prince of Xiang’s household. The woman had accused the Prince of harboring greedy intentions toward the disaster relief grain. Taking the matter seriously, he immediately led his men to investigate. Unexpectedly, on the way, he encountered Kong Shishu with his private soldiers, also heading toward Lushu Mountain. To this day, he still found it baffling how the two of them ended up as traveling companions.
When Kong Shishu saw that the Prefect of Jingzhao remained silent, he nudged him again. “Hey, have you ascended to immortality?”
The Prefect of Jingzhao, feeling a mix of emotions, cast him a cold glance and replied, “Minister Kong, there’s something I don’t understand.”
Kong Shishu said, “Please, go ahead.”
The Prefect of Jingzhao said, “It was Lady Jiang who came to me, accusing the Prince of Xiang of suspicious motives. Knowing the gravity of the situation, I took care to hide her properly, ensuring not even the slightest bit of news would leak out. Yet, Minister Kong, your sources seem remarkably well-informed, as though everything has been under your control from the start.”
As the Prefect of Jingzhao’s suspicions grew, he couldn’t help but recall Kong Shishu’s long history of misconduct.
Could a corrupt official who had long exploited the people and played with political schemes truly reform so easily?