Inside the Hall, the dragon-carved pillars glowed under candlelight.
“His Majesty arrives—” With the eunuch Zhao Deshun’s announcement, Emperor Yongming ascended the imperial steps.
Today, his face was especially grim, shadows under his eyes betraying a sleepless night. Seated upon the Dragon Throne, his gaze swept across the assembled ministers, pausing briefly upon the Crown Prince.
“Those with petitions, speak. Those without, court is dismissed,” Zhao Deshun intoned as usual.
“I have a memorial to present!” Right Censor Wang Shian strode forward, voice booming. “Last night, Princess Zhaohua unlawfully slew Prince Consort Ji Huai’an, set fire to his mansion, and caused all within to perish in the flames. Such atrocities are shocking. I beg Your Majesty to enforce the law strictly, to serve as a warning!”
General Chen, once a subordinate of Ji Huai’an, was red-eyed with grief.
“Lord Ji was loyal to the realm, yet met such a cruel fate. If Your Majesty does not punish the murderer, the soldiers’ hearts will surely grow cold!”
The accusation stirred uproar. Officials aligned with the consort’s faction voiced agreement, and even many civil ministers nodded.
The Crown Prince, standing below the throne, allowed the faintest smile to flicker at his lips before quickly suppressing it.
Emperor Yongming’s brows furrowed. His right hand tapped the armrest of the throne, each dull thud striking the ministers’ taut nerves. After a few breaths, he was about to speak when commotion erupted outside the hall.
Amid clashing weapons, guards cried out, “Your Highness, you cannot—”
“Stand aside.” The voice was not loud, but carried undeniable authority.
All turned to see Princess Zhaohua, clad in pale moon-white court robes, entering with a maid who dragged in a bound and bloodied Sun Yun’guang.
Sun Yun’guang’s face was smeared with blood, his armor torn to rags—no trace of a general’s dignity remained.
The Crown Prince’s ceremonial tablet snapped in two with a sharp crack. His eyes locked on Sun Yun’guang, then shifted to the memorial wrapped in yellow silk in Zhaohua’s hands. His face darkened like ink.
Baili Jun wore no powder, her long hair tied simply with a jade pin.
“Your daughter has a memorial to present.”
The ministers instinctively parted, stunned by the sight.
By protocol, a princess could not enter the Hall without summons, much less appear in such a manner before the court.
All eyes turned to the throne. Emperor Yongming’s brows knit tighter, displeasure plain upon his face.
Baili Jun’s back was straight, her steps steady as she approached.
“Forgive me, Father.” She knelt at the foot of the imperial steps, forehead pressed to the cold tiles. “Your daughter intrudes upon court only because the matter concerns the foundation of the realm. I dared not delay.”
Emperor Yongming narrowed his eyes, silently studying his daughter, withholding speech.
The deliberate silence weighed upon the hall like a stone.
Baili Jun remained bowed, calmly awaiting his response.
After several breaths, the Emperor finally spoke: “Speak.” His tone revealed neither favor nor anger.
Baili Jun straightened, raising the memorial and a stack of evidence.
“Ji Huai’an colluded with Deputy General Sun Yun’guang of the northern frontier, leaking defense secrets, forging treasonous evidence, and plotting to frame the loyal servants of the court!”
Her voice was not loud, but each word struck like a hammer upon the ministers’ hearts.
“Last night, I inadvertently discovered in the consort’s study a map of the northern frontier’s military defenses— marked in detail with garrisons, troop distributions, and rotation schedules. These secrets were leaked by Deputy General Sun Yun’guang.”
“When Ji Huai’an sought to silence me,” Baili Jun lifted her gaze, eyes flashing cold, “I had no choice but to strike him down.”
“This morning, at Desheng Gate, I intercepted Deputy General Sun Yun’guang carrying forged military reports. The evidence is here. I ask Father to examine it.”
The hall fell into dead silence. Even breathing could be heard.
Sun Yun’guang was forced to kneel at the foot of the imperial steps, shouting hoarsely: “Your Majesty, I have true proof of Xiao Yan’s treason! Princess Zhaohua seeks only to silence me!”
“Proof?” Baili Jun sneered, rising to unfurl the parchment. “Among the ministers, many are versed in northern affairs and the barbarian script. Why not step forward and see for yourselves?”
Lord Yan of the Court of State Ceremonials trembled as he approached. He took the parchment, but after only a few lines, his face changed. “This… this says the Left Wise King of the northern tribes invited General Xiao to conspire… but that king was slain two years ago…”
“On the eighth day of the twelfth month, two years past,” Baili Jun’s voice rang out, “General Xiao Yan led three thousand iron cavalry in a surprise attack at Heishui River, and cut down the Left Wise King himself.”
She turned to the ashen-faced Sun Yun’guang. “Deputy General Sun, you were one of General Xiao’s trusted aides. Did you not even bother to learn the state of the northern royal court before forging your evidence?”
The hall erupted in uproar.
The Crown Prince’s face changed instantly. He had never imagined such a fatal flaw would appear.
Sun Yun’guang collapsed, sweat dripping from his brow. He truly had not known the northern royal court had changed hands. That battle he had avoided, claiming other duties—while secretly diverting grain shipments to Quanzhou.
The Crown Prince stepped forward, sweat beading his forehead though he forced composure. “Father, upon reflection, this matter is indeed suspicious. The Left Wise King is dead. How could Deputy General Sun not know? Moreover, he has followed General Xiao for years. If he truly wished to frame his commander, why use such crude forgeries? Unless…”
He paused deliberately, sweeping his gaze across his brothers. “Unless someone deliberately spread false intelligence, forged evidence of treason, and lured Deputy General Sun into believing it—only to use the chance to destroy him.”
Sun Yun’guang’s body jolted. A spark of desperate hope lit his clouded eyes. “Your Majesty! This letter was delivered anonymously to my camp half a month ago! I only feared General Xiao might truly betray us…”
“Fool!” the Crown Prince barked, then turned to the Emperor with a bow.
“Father, I suspect a hidden hand is exploiting Deputy General Sun’s loyalty, deliberately ensnaring him.”
“Why so eager, Crown Prince?” Baili Jun’s lips curved in a cold smile, cutting off their duet.
She calmly drew out another letter, unfolding it before all. “I also found in the consort’s study correspondence between Ji Huai’an and Sun Yun’guang.”
As Sun Yun’guang’s own letter passed through the court, the Crown Prince felt bile rise in his throat.
It clearly described how to forge evidence against Xiao Yan—and ended with the words: ‘The Eastern Palace has arranged everything.’
The Crown Prince’s glare at Sun Yun’guang was murderous.
“Your Majesty!” Left Censor Xu Congyi suddenly stepped forward, voice trembling. “I impeach the Crown Prince for colluding with Sun Yun’guang to slander the loyal!”
“I am innocent!” The Crown Prince dropped to his knees, his tablet clattering against the tiles. “This is a frame-up! Zhaohua has slain a court official, and now she seeks to accuse me…”
“Frame-up?” Baili Jun laughed coldly, pulling a ledger from her sleeve. “This is the ‘Grain Dispatch’ record I found hidden in the consort’s study.”
She raised it with both hands, eyes locked on the throne. “It clearly records that in recent years, nearly half the grain allocated by the court never reached the frontier.”
“Please, Father, examine it.”