Volume One, Chapter Six: A Visitor from the Palace—She Has Quite the Nerve

“Prefect, someone from the palace is coming.” Lin Sheng had just dispersed the crowd at the intersection when he saw a horse galloping swiftly from afar. The rider was dressed in the eunuch attire of the palace! He quickly turned, circled around, and whispered into Zhou Xunli’s ear.

Before Zhou Xunli could turn to look, a sharp voice rang out behind him, issuing an imperial decree.

“By imperial command!”

Everyone immediately knelt, not daring to show the slightest disrespect.

“Summon General Zhenyuan’s daughter, Xie Shu, along with the Marchioness of Cheng’en and the Marchioness’s heir, to enter the palace and pay homage to His Majesty!” The eunuch delivering the decree clicked his heels, vaulted off the horse, and cast a glance at those kneeling before him. Then, he slowly approached Xie Shu, bent down, and whispered, “Third Miss Xie, once you stand before His Majesty, be sure to choose your words carefully.”

Xie Shu pressed her hands to her forehead and bowed low, face to the ground. In her previous life, the emperor had summoned her as well. That same eunuch had given her the same warning. Though she never knew who he was, back then, Xie Shu had ignored the advice completely. When she faced the emperor, she had only wept and pleaded her innocence.

But what good is innocence? Once the emperor’s heart is set on death, even the blameless must perish.

Only now did Xie Shu understand that whether she spoke or remained silent, it would change nothing.

“Thank you for delivering the decree, sir,” Xie Shu said, bowing deeply in gratitude.

Nearby, Ning Rongsheng and the Marchioness of Cheng’en were stunned. Why would His Majesty suddenly summon them? And why enter the palace alongside Xie Shu?

“Sheng’er, your father is still on duty outside. Should we inform him?” Lady Li’s face was filled with worry. At this critical moment, she dreaded incurring the emperor’s displeasure. Though the Marchioness’s household had fallen on hard times, they still had the support of the Empress Dowager; surely the emperor would grant them some leniency.

Ning Rongsheng cast a glance at Xiao Jiu’er, the young attendant beside the marquis, who immediately understood and turned to order someone in the household to find the Marchioness’s husband.

Lady Li watched Xiao Jiu’er’s movement and let out a faint sigh of relief.

Once inside the palace, she vowed she would lodge a fierce complaint! Let that little wretch see what she’s up against!

“Eunuch Liu, since Third Miss Xie has already reported the case to the Jingzhao Prefecture, naturally there must be a proper investigation. Why not have me accompany them to pay homage to His Majesty today? It would be a good opportunity to submit a memorial to the emperor,” Ning Rongsheng said with a sideways glance at the Marchioness’s household’s actions. He stepped aside toward Eunuch Liu and spoke quietly but firmly.

His tone brooked no refusal.

Eunuch Liu chuckled awkwardly. He truly was unlucky to cross paths with this stubborn Lord Zhou. When was there ever a good time to investigate a case? And why choose this moment?

The emperor had never mentioned that Lord Zhou should enter the palace!

“Lord Zhou, today is rather sudden. Perhaps it would be better to wait until the investigation is complete before reporting to His Majesty,” Eunuch Liu suggested, hoping to avoid bringing Zhou Xunli into the palace and thus incurring the emperor’s displeasure.

But some people simply could not be offended.

Zhou Xunli seemed to ignore Eunuch Liu’s words and ordered a constable behind him, “Bring the horse.”

The constable hurried to lead the horse over.

“Here.” Zhou Xunli took the reins and handed them to Xie Shu. Seeing she did not reach out, he added, “Chasing Wind is usually very obedient.”

Lin Sheng could hardly believe what he was seeing! His lord was actually giving Chasing Wind to a girl!

That was Chasing Wind! Normally, if anyone else so much as touched the horse, Zhou Xunli’s face would darken with resentment!

Had his lord been bewitched? Cursed?

There was still some distance to the palace gates. If they walked, they might be late.

After a moment’s thought, Xie Shu nodded respectfully and said, “Thank you.”

“Let’s go. I’ll follow behind you.” Zhou Xunli whistled to Lin Sheng’s horse and mounted his own.

Eunuch Liu saw the situation and knew he could no longer avoid it.

Today, Zhou Xunli was determined to enter the palace.

Well then, what could he do?

After all, this man was a favorite of the emperor.

“Noble heir Ning, Marchioness, please hurry,” Eunuch Liu called, leading the way and urging the two behind him to mount quickly.

When Xie Shu was young, she had learned horsemanship from her eldest sister. She had once dreamed of one day riding freely through the rivers and lakes, wild and unrestrained. But in this vast capital city, there was nowhere for her to ride.

Her previous life’s isolation had only dulled her riding skills further.

Her hands trembled slightly as she tightened the reins. Zhou Xunli flicked his whip and rode up beside her, quietly reassuring, “Just don’t let go.”

With Zhou Xunli there, Chasing Wind, which had been somewhat unaccustomed to Xie Shu, immediately adjusted its posture and allowed the girl on its back to become its temporary master.

Xie Shu glanced at Zhou Xunli—it was an interesting character.

At least he was better at pretending than Ning Rongsheng.

Trying to use her to make the Zhenyuan General’s household a pawn in the struggle between the princes?

Tsk. This time, she would not fall into any trap of love or affection.

With that thought, a faint smile curved Xie Shu’s lips. She flicked her whip and caught up with Eunuch Liu at the front. A spirited horse like this, she could tame it herself.

Zhou Xunli watched her figure and couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

She was as stubborn as her sister.

Meanwhile, the Marchioness’s household was in chaos. Ning Rongsheng saw Eunuch Liu mount and leave hurriedly and ordered Xiao Jiu’er to fetch a carriage. His mother, Lady Li, could not ride a horse, so this was the only option.

By the time they hurriedly boarded the carriage, the others were already far ahead. Ning Rongsheng urged the coachman, “Faster, faster, hurry!”

The carriage swayed from side to side. Lady Li clutched the sideboard with one hand and pressed a handkerchief to her mouth with the other, feeling so nauseous she might vomit. “Slow down, slow down… ugh—”

Finally catching up, Lady Li settled herself and adjusted her dress, frowning. “Not even allowed to change clothes. How can I face His Majesty like this?”

Ning Rongsheng ignored his mother’s concern for appearances but, out of filial piety, patiently advised, “Mother, don’t worry about that now. When we stand before the emperor, you must know what to say and what not to say. If you don’t know what to say, then say nothing, understood?”

Recalling how Lady Li had offended Zhou Xunli earlier, Ning Rongsheng feared she might say the wrong thing at the crucial moment. His father was a dissolute man known throughout the capital, and no respectable family wanted to marry their daughters into the Marchioness’s household. Ultimately, his father had to marry a daughter of a recently arrived sixth-rank official in the capital.

A daughter from a scholarly farming family, whose reputation was pure and respectable but who lacked worldly experience and carried an air of vulgarity.

There is a saying: a son does not disdain his mother’s shortcomings. But Ning Rongsheng often felt that it was his mother who held him back. If his mother had been from a noble family, surely he would be living a better life now.

They arrived at the palace gates and all dismounted to proceed on foot.

The young eunuch leading the way walked ahead. Red bricks, green tiles, and falling snow—footprints quickly sank beneath fresh drifts.

Xie Shu lowered her gaze the entire way, her fingertips chilled, and memories of her previous palace visit flashed through her mind. This time, she must not miss the opportunity.

Inside the Hall of Diligent Governance, all was silent.

A wisp of smoke rose from the brazier. As soon as Xie Shu stepped into the great hall, warmth enveloped her. The fox fur cloak she had worn against the cold now felt too hot.

On the jade steps sat the emperor, his imperial presence undeniable. Though well past sixty, he sat on the dragon throne casually flipping through memorials. Even when the soft footsteps echoed in the hall, he did not look up but continued writing with a red-tipped wolf hair brush on the documents.

Several people knelt in the center of the hall, no one daring to speak.

Only when half an incense stick had burned and the attendant eunuch came forward to replace it did the crisp sound of brush touching jade rest finally break the silence.

Then came a sharp rebuke: “Xie Shu, you have quite a bold spirit!”