It was time to showcase the true skills of a working professional.
Let them witness what true buck-passing really looked like.
Su Fengyi smiled and said:
“Today, there were bandits who attempted to rescue a prisoner from the execution ground. Commander Zhu, are you aware of this?”
Commander Zhu was left bewildered by these words. What did the Grand Princess mean? Wasn’t she the one who had rescued the prisoner?
He dared not say it aloud, only stammering in reply:
“Yes, yes, I have heard of it. I came here precisely for this matter.”
Su Fengyi suddenly changed her expression, her voice filled with indignation:
“When someone attempted to rescue the prisoner, I, as a bystander, intervened to uphold justice, helping to capture the bandits.
Eunuch Gao, as the supervising execution official, showed no gratitude. Instead, he came to assassinate me.
I originally thought he was merely incompetent, but upon further reflection, he must have been in league with those bandits who tried to rescue the prisoner. Otherwise, why would he pursue me all the way to my doorstep?
Indeed, he must have come to my residence to silence witnesses!
This man is truly despicable. I am now on my way to the palace to report this matter to the Emperor. Commander Zhu, would you be willing to accompany me and serve as a witness?”
Commander Zhu hesitated. If he went along as a witness, it would be equivalent to pledging his allegiance to the Grand Princess. From then on, he would be considered her person. How would the Nine Thousand-Year-Old Lord view this?
Seeing Commander Zhu’s hesitation, Su Fengyi smiled again:
“Commander Zhu, you need not worry. Although it was you who led the troops here today, you who shouted for bloodshed, and you who clashed with my personal guards.
I trust you. Even if you do not accompany me, I will certainly not tell the Emperor that it was Commander Zhu who came to silence witnesses…”
Commander Zhu was on the verge of tears. The Grand Princess’s meaning was clear: someone had to take the blame. If it wasn’t Eunuch Gao, then it would be him, Commander Zhu.
After all, Eunuch Gao was already dead. If the Nine Thousand-Year-Old Lord investigated, he would not survive either. It would be better to pledge allegiance to the Grand Princess—perhaps there was still a glimmer of hope.
If he was going to pledge allegiance, he had to do it thoroughly. Commander Zhu made up his mind and replied:
“Words alone may not be enough to convince the Emperor. I am willing to assist Your Highness by searching Eunuch Gao’s residence to find evidence for you. Please advise, what kind of evidence would be most suitable for His Majesty’s judgment?”
The Eastern Depot was most adept at fabricating evidence out of thin air. It all depended on what kind of evidence the Grand Princess wanted.
Whatever evidence the Grand Princess desired, Commander Zhu would surely be able to produce it.
Su Fengyi’s current strength was insufficient, and it was not yet the time to confront the Factory Overseer. The best course of action was to avoid offending the Factory Overseer while also clearing General Shen’s name.
Having passed the buck, Su Fengyi now employed the advanced skill of a working professional: painting a rosy picture.
Su Fengyi guided him patiently:
“I am deeply concerned. Eunuch Gao enjoyed the Factory Overseer’s trust, yet he remained unsatisfied. What was he trying to achieve? Could it be that he sought to replace the Factory Overseer?
Commander Zhu, you are a trusted subordinate of the Factory Overseer. You must investigate this matter thoroughly for him. Your loyalty to the Factory Overseer will surely be recognized.
If you accomplish this, with such a great achievement, wouldn’t it be the perfect opportunity for a promotion and wealth?
As for the prisoner Shen Hongxian, I will hand him over to the Emperor for judgment. Commander Zhu, you need not worry about him any longer.”
The Grand Princess’s words were filled with twists and turns, and Commander Zhu’s emotions rose and fell with them, his heart nearly racing from the tension.
However, one very important thing became clear to him.
That was, the Grand Princess did not intend to confront the Factory Overseer!
This was truly excellent news!
The Grand Princess was right. If Eunuch Gao was guilty, then his death turned from a great misfortune into a great blessing.
With evidence of Eunuch Gao’s crimes, Commander Zhu could both claim credit before the Factory Overseer and avoid offending the Grand Princess. Wasn’t that the best of both worlds?
Commander Zhu was completely reassured. He immediately stopped his tearful pleading and joyfully accepted the task:
“Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness. This humble officer will handle this matter properly. Please rest assured.”
Commander Zhu bowed in farewell, collected Eunuch Gao’s body, and led the Eastern Depot’s Foreign Agents away in a grand procession.
Finally, she had coaxed them away. Indeed, fence-sitters were easy to handle—just lure them with benefits to get things done.
But this was only a temporary measure. Whether General Shen could be saved ultimately depended on persuading the Emperor.
The entire realm belonged to the Emperor. What benefit could possibly be used to persuade him?
Watching the departing crowd, Su Fengyi pondered for a moment before instructing Xie Xuan:
“Go interrogate those thieves, and secretly assist Commander Zhu. Make sure the evidence is solid.”
Xie Xuan accepted the order and left. Su Fengyi then instructed Wutong:
“Guard General Shen well, and guard the Princess’s residence well. I will return soon.”
Leaving Wutong to watch over the residence, Su Fengyi rode alone on horseback, galloping toward the imperial palace.
…
At the main gate of the imperial palace, the on-duty Imperial Guards were inspecting the waist tokens of those entering. Suddenly, a fast horse approached from the distance. As it drew near, it neither slowed nor dismounted, as if intending to force its way through.
A young guard at the gate was horrified and was about to block the entrance with his spear when several older guards beside him shouted:
“Disaster! You must not!”
The older guards grabbed his hands, wrapped their arms around his waist, and pressed down on his legs, holding the young guard firmly in place. In the confusion and delay, the fast horse smoothly passed through the palace gate and sped away.
Seeing the retreating figure on the white horse dressed in red, the young guard struggled and shouted:
“What are you doing! How could you let someone ride a horse in the palace? And she was carrying a bow and arrows—how could you let her bring weapons into the palace!”
The older guards each punched him once before releasing him, wiping their sweat as they said:
“What are you doing! Didn’t your fellow guardsmen tell you the rules?
That was the Grand Princess!
The Grand Princess can bring whatever she wants into the palace and ride whatever she wants into the palace. You dare to stop her? If you want to die, don’t drag us down with you.”
The young guard had only recently secured his position by bribing the Factory Overseer and was unaware of this rule. Hearing this, he hurriedly apologized and thanked the older guards:
“I had no idea. Thank you, brothers, for the guidance. I apologize to all of you. After our shift ends today, it’s my treat. Please honor me by joining me for drinks. And please, brothers, teach me more about the palace rules.”
They were all colleagues who would see each other often. Seeing that he knew his place, the older guards were willing to teach him and explain the background:
“You’re new here, and the Grand Princess has been living outside the palace in her own residence these years, so she’s not often in the palace. It’s no surprise you didn’t know.
Back then, the Grand Ancestor doted on the Grand Princess and established a rule: no matter where in the palace—whether the front court or the rear palace—the Grand Princess could go wherever she pleased. No matter what she wanted to do, she was free to do as she pleased.
Riding horses and shooting arrows in the palace is nothing. Back then, the Grand Princess once caused a scene in the Golden Hall, threatening to publicly execute a censor. Not only that, she even sat on the Grand Ancestor’s dragon throne in front of all the civil and military officials.”
The young guard felt a chill run down his back and said with relief:
“The Grand Princess is truly ruthless! If not for you brothers saving me, I would surely have died today.”