This mortal world is truly so troublesome.
The thick smoke caught in her throat. Covering her nose and mouth, she coughed several times before chasing after him and calling out, “You’re just upset. You don’t want a scene to break out at tomorrow’s court session. The Imperial Observatory won’t be able to speak in accordance with His Majesty’s intentions, and once you draw your blade, you’ll end up killing people on the streets again.”
What a powerful word—troublesome.
That single word nearly pierced Zhang Yao straight through.
This mortal world was truly so troublesome.
Ever since childhood, Zhang Min had raised him according to the principles of benevolence and righteousness. Even after he became a blade made for killing, he had never thought of destroying heaven and earth. At his core, he was still a dull and uninteresting man. Since he couldn’t die even if he wanted to, he could only remain where he was, carrying out his duties—killing one day at a time for as long as he lived.
At this moment, he actually felt a little envious of Yu Lin in her plain robes.
She stood before him so clean and unburdened, possessing nothing and free as the wind. If she wanted to help the female prisoner, she helped the female prisoner. If she wanted to kill Wang Shaolian, she killed Wang Shaolian.
How satisfying.
Yu Lin had no idea that a thousand thoughts had already passed through Zhang Yao’s mind.
But at this moment, her purpose was the same as his.
When ruler and minister played their games, it was the common people who died. The meaningless and petty hatred of those in power always brought disaster and slaughter upon those below.
She herself had once been nearly killed by such hatred. Begging for her life beneath a blade, Zhang Yao had appeared out of nowhere and become the benefactor who gave her a chance to live.
Now she looked at the bewildered and soot-covered fire brigade soldiers, then glanced back at the gloomy-faced Zhang Yao behind her. She suddenly felt that fate had arranged all of this.
A living person dressed in burial clothes, neither human nor ghost.
More like a demigod wandering this world.
She grabbed Zhang Yao’s wrist.
“Come with me.”
Then she turned to the fire brigade soldiers standing before the mountain gate.
“You all come too!”
The soldiers had already fallen into complete despair because the main hall could no longer be saved. One after another, they remained kneeling on the ground, unwilling to move.
Yu Lin stepped forward several paces and raised her voice with all her strength.
“I know you all think the main hall is beyond saving, and that punishment is inevitable with no hope left. But if this fire was deliberately set, your sentences can all be reduced.”
After speaking, she looked up and checked the wind direction once more.
“The wind hasn’t changed yet. The fire still hasn’t spread behind Guanyin Hall. Help Commander Zhang and me. Let us do our best to investigate inside.”
One of the soldiers said, “Miss, what do you know? The flames have already reached the roof. Even if you make it through the doors, you’ll just die in there.”
“We’re not going through the main hall. I have another route. Come with me and help me!”
“Everyone, follow her.”
This command came from Zhang Yao.
Yu Lin turned around and only then realized that in her panic she had already grabbed his hand. He had been letting her pull him along for several steps, one arm still raised awkwardly.
One of the soldiers hesitated.
“She…”
“She can be trusted.”
Looking at Yu Lin, Zhang Yao continued,
“She is an Vice Minister of Justice.”
The soldiers exchanged glances.
The same soldier who had spoken earlier slapped his thigh and struggled to his feet.
“This young lady is right! Sitting here crying is death either way. Come on, everyone, stop kneeling! Get up and follow her!”
Zhang Yao still held one arm half-raised, his expression cold and impassive.
“Where are we going?”
Yu Lin looked toward the stone pagoda behind the mountain gate.
“The Bodhi Pagoda.”
Following her gaze, Zhang Yao looked over.
“And what is a pagoda supposed to do? Don’t tell me you want me to jump from the top of it.”
“There is a cellar beneath it.”
Zhang Yao raised an eyebrow.
“How do you know that?”
A flicker passed through Yu Lin’s eyes.
“Madam Liu’s husband, Minister of Revenue He Liru, died inside it.”
…
Deep into the night, Liangjing blazed beneath the firelit sky.
Few people in the city had gone to sleep. They stood beside the high windows of their homes, gazing toward the crimson glow in the south. Yet they only dared to sigh and speculate in silence.
At the residence of Grand Secretary Zhao Hanyuan, Zhao Heming personally tended a pot of medicinal soup simmering over a brazier beneath the corridor. Beside him sat his wife, Jiang Huiyun, working quietly with needle and thread.
Several days earlier, Zhao Hanyuan had exhausted himself with affairs of the Grand Secretariat, causing an old illness to relapse. He had therefore summoned his four sons and their wives to take turns keeping watch at night and attending to him.
As the eldest son, Zhao Heming had already been on duty for three days.
The medicine in the pot trembled on the verge of boiling.
Jiang Huiyun put down her sewing, walked into the courtyard, and looked up at the red sky to the south.
She sighed.
Zhao Heming immediately called out,
“Someone, bring my cloak for Madam.”
Jiang Huiyun shook her head.
“I’m fine. I’m just worried tomorrow will be difficult for you.”
Turning around, she sighed again.
“We already heard about the Tianji Temple fire before seven in the evening. Look at the sky now. Forget extinguishing the fire—I doubt even the ceremonial archway outside the mountain gate can still be saved.”
Zhao Heming remained silent for a long moment before speaking softly.
“You should get some rest.”
Walking back beneath the corridor, Jiang Huiyun replied,
“How could I possibly sleep? A temple honored with the Grand Sacrificial Rites has burned down. Not only will His Majesty be furious—even I feel it’s an ill omen. This matter will definitely be investigated…”
She looked at him carefully.
“Just by looking at you, I can tell you’re troubled. Ah…”
She sighed once more.
“In the past, Xiao Fu was still working under you. She was genuinely capable—quick-witted and dedicated. With her helping you from the side, the rest of us felt reassured. But now you’ve all reduced her to this state.”
She shook her head.
“You deserve this. Now all you can do is sit here and torment yourself.”
Zhao Heming straightened and looked at her.
“Is Yu Lin the only official in the Ministry of Justice?”
“No, she isn’t. But ever since she was imprisoned, who have you talked to? I think even you want to ask the court something.”
She looked him straight in the eye.
“If a woman serves as an official and commits no crime, why must she be killed?”
Zhao Heming’s voice lowered.
“Watch your words.”
Jiang Huiyun shook her head.
“What am I afraid of? The Jiang family has produced military generals for generations. My elder brother is still suppressing rebels in Shandong even now. Before I married you, Zhao Heming, I could handle an embroidery needle—and I could kill people too.”
Zhao Heming did not answer.
Jiang Huiyun didn’t mind. She sat beside him and continued:
“Our family relies on military achievements to maintain dignity in Liangjing. That’s different from how you officials survive in government offices. We don’t care about the Eastern Forest Faction or the Western Forest Faction. We simply risk our lives to demand funding from the court and earn merit for our descendants. We think about nothing else.”
She leaned back.
“But what about you? Every step you Zhao men take is restrained by three more. You want benefits, yet you also want a spotless reputation. How can things be that easy? I’ve watched you all these years. You’ve done your best to fulfill your duties, yes. But the law? Justice? Which of them have you ever truly been able to uphold?”
Her words struck directly at the heart of the matter.
Zhao Heming had no rebuttal.
He could only pat her shoulder and urge her once more to go rest.
Just then, a servant from the outer gate suddenly entered the inner courtyard.
Jiang Huiyun frowned.
“What kind of behavior is this? At this hour, instead of watching the front gate, you’ve come inside?”
The servant hurriedly bowed.
“Something has happened outside. I must report it to the Master.”
Zhao Heming asked,
“The city is under curfew. What could possibly have happened?”
The servant produced a note.
“A report from the Military Patrol Office has been delivered for the Master.”
Zhao Heming said nothing further. He waved for the servant to proceed inside.
His gaze remained lowered toward the fire, but his expression had visibly changed.
Seeing this, Jiang Huiyun set aside her sewing and took the fan from his hand.
“You should go inside and see. Otherwise they’ll summon you soon anyway. I’ll watch the medicine—it’ll be ready before long.”
“Very well. Thank you.”
Rising to his feet, Zhao Heming headed directly toward the warm pavilion where Zhao Hanyuan was staying.
Though no charcoal fire burned inside, the pavilion was still much warmer than outdoors.
A servant opened the door for him, and warm light spilled across his feet.
Zhao Hanyuan had not gone to bed. He had not even removed his outer robe.
Seated alone beneath the lamp, with several official documents beside him, he beckoned Zhao Heming forward.
As Zhao Heming entered, the door closed behind him.
Zhao Hanyuan handed over the report and spoke in a low, heavy voice after coughing once.
“A message from Wang Chong. Someone has entered the Tianji Temple fire site.”
Taking the report, Zhao Heming asked,
“Who?”
“Your student. And the Commander of the Northern Surveillance Division.”
Zhao Heming froze.
Zhao Hanyuan shook his head.
“I know how much effort you invested in Yu Lin. You didn’t want her to die. In my view, sparing her would have both fulfilled your wishes and earned a favor from Xu Songnian. That’s why I said nothing about the Spring Case in the Ministry of Justice prison and allowed Chief Censor Wu and you to handle it yourselves.”
His voice hardened.
“But now it seems that was the source of today’s trouble.”
Zhao Heming quickly scanned the report.
When he saw the words Bodhi Pagoda, his fingers tightened immediately.
Zhao Hanyuan continued,
“The records of Madam Liu’s husband-murder case clearly state that He Liru was stabbed to death in his own home. As for the ice cellar beneath Tianji Temple’s Bodhi Pagoda, I already had it sealed and buried. It should never have seen daylight again.”
He stared at Zhao Heming.
“Zhang Yao of the Northern Surveillance Division could not possibly know that cellar exists. Tell me—how deeply was Yu Lin involved in Madam Liu’s case?”
Zhao Heming looked up.
“She never investigated Madam Liu’s case. She—”
Zhao Hanyuan raised his voice.
“Are you truly foolish, or only pretending to be? When she was willing to throw away her position and even her life to defend Madam Liu in court, I already told you to discover the reason.”
Zhao Heming replied more urgently,
“I know her character. She couldn’t bear to watch a woman subjected to the stripping punishment and torture—”
“And you believed that?”
Zhao Heming lowered his gaze to the report and said nothing.
At that moment, he suddenly understood why, after her imprisonment, Yu Lin had never again called him Teacher.
“Heming.”
Zhao Hanyuan called his name again.
Zhao Heming lifted his robe and knelt.
“Even if she read the original case records in the Ministry of Justice and knew that He Liru actually died in the cellar beneath Tianji Temple, she never uncovered anything afterward. Madam Liu is dead. The case is closed.”
He lowered his head.
“And now Yu Lin is merely an official servant. She no longer has the qualifications to continue investigating. Father, for my sake, please spare her.”
Zhao Hanyuan walked over and stood before him.
“But whose servant has she become now?”
“Father…”
Zhao Hanyuan raised a hand, signaling him to stop speaking.
In a heavy voice, he said:
“Madam Liu’s husband-murder case must remain an ironclad verdict. Otherwise, tonight’s fire will have burned for nothing.”
…
Beneath the Bodhi Pagoda, Yu Lin had already directed the fire brigade soldiers to dig away the soil.
Soon, a wooden door secured by a lock appeared before them.
“Break—”
Before she could finish speaking, Zhang Yao had already stepped forward.
Reversing his blade and using the hilt as a hammer, he smashed it directly into the lock.
He had spent much of his life dealing with wood.
The lock remained intact.
The door, however, shattered.
Zhang Yao kicked the broken opening several more times. A large hole soon appeared in the planks.
The nearby soldiers rushed forward together and quickly tore away enough of the door for a person to pass through.
“Miss, Commander Zhang, let us go down first and take a look—”
“Wait.”
Yu Lin knelt beside the opening and looked up at Zhang Yao, who stood with folded arms.
“You go down first.”
She was clearly using him as a weapon.
Zhang Yao understood perfectly.
Yet he said nothing. Without the slightest hesitation, he simply answered:
“Fine.”
And prepared to jump down.
But the moment he lifted a foot, Yu Lin grabbed him again.
The torture wounds on her hands had never healed. The instant she exerted force, pain shot through her body and she cried out involuntarily.
Zhang Yao stopped immediately.
Turning around and seeing her biting her lip, he suddenly wished he could slap himself.
Yet what came out of his mouth was a scolding.
“Can you finish what you’re saying first?”
She snapped back without any politeness.
“Did you let me finish?”
“You—”
“Oh, forget it. Forget it. Sorry.”
Being unexpectedly reasonable, she apologized first.
Then she tugged at his sleeve.
“Lie down.”
She still hadn’t released him.
Zhang Yao didn’t dare move recklessly anymore.
He could only do whatever she told him.
If she wanted him to lie down, then he lay down.
Yu Lin lit a fire starter and lowered it into the opening.
The flame went out almost immediately.
Seeing the flame extinguish, everyone grew discouraged.
Yu Lin handed the fire starter to Zhang Yao.
“There’s an ice cellar below, but it’s been sealed for a very long time. The air inside is probably unsafe to breathe. After you go down, don’t breathe.”
She pointed toward the direction of the main hall.
“Keep moving straight that way until you reach the end. There should be a hanging ladder there. Climb it and smash open the hatch above. Guanyin Hall is directly overhead.”
Zhang Yao grunted.
“Mm.”
Yu Lin continued:
“Once you’re up there, absolutely do not close the hatch. Leave an opening for light and indicate the direction for me.”
Zhang Yao replied coldly,
“You’ve already done enough. There’s no need for you to go.”
Yu Lin looked at him from the side.
“I won’t hold you back. My foot is injured, and my eyesight is poor. Without a light opening to guide me, I won’t be able to feel my way through alone.”
Then she urged him impatiently:
“Enough talking. Hurry up already.”