Chapter 208: Hello Chang’an
Chapter 208: Revelation
2023-06-03
Ming Luo's uneasy premonition grew stronger.
Seeing her quickly heading out, a nearby attendant hurriedly reminded her, "Lady... the ritual has not yet ended!"
Ming Luo didn't even look back. "I'm going to retrieve the ritual text!"
At this moment, something far more urgent than the ritual was likely to occur somewhere she couldn't see!
"Head Master Qiao..." The attendant could only look at Qiao Yang.
However, Head Master Qiao was not inclined to take charge of the situation. He even grabbed the sleeve of Grand Tutor Zhu in haste, "…Tutor, quickly, let us follow the crane!"
Grand Tutor Zhu coldly shook off his hand. "If you want to go, go on your own."
He had been particularly displeased with Head Master Qiao lately. Before the ritual had started, he had scolded him harshly: "Your students have gone missing, and yet you still have the mind to host the Confucian ceremony!"
"If that were my student, I would rather quit my post, take off this official robe, and go personally search for them!"
At that time, Head Master Qiao had only lowered his head in shame and said nothing.
The more Grand Tutor Zhu thought about it, the angrier he became, and throughout the entire ritual, he hadn’t exchanged a single word with Head Master Qiao.
Now, seeing him so eagerly drag him along to watch the crane, Grand Tutor Zhu sneered. Why bother following the crane? With the way things were going, it wouldn’t be long before the crane would come to take him away—he was likely to be so enraged by these heartless people that he would end up "riding the crane west"!
"Tutor..." Head Master Qiao, having been brushed off, grabbed him again, lowering his voice, "This crane has spirit. If we follow it, we might be able to find my student!"
Grand Tutor Zhu was momentarily stunned, staring at Qiao Yang in confusion.
—What did that mean?
Without waiting for a response, Head Master Qiao impatiently dragged him forward, "If you don’t go, how can the scholars follow?"
Indeed, the scholars who had remained indifferent before now began to follow, seeing the great Tutor, the head of the scholars, also chasing after the crane. Many of them hastened to keep up.
"Brother Song, this is an auspicious sign. We should go and see too!" Tan Li, full of enthusiasm, not only studied diligently but also had a penchant for getting involved with all sorts of auspicious events, hoping to bring good luck for a successful exam the following year.
The crane circled in place, waiting for the crowd to catch up, before flying ahead again. To the onlookers, it seemed even more mystical.
The Confucian temple was in an uproar because of the white crane, with people gathering in a frenzy and the atmosphere growing increasingly heated.
Meanwhile, in the imperial palace in the city, the Ganlu Hall, where the emperor resided, was eerily quiet.
Not long ago, the commander of the Imperial Guard, who had been sent out to search for someone, returned to report that the person had not been found.
The Empress’s brows furrowed tightly.
Since early dawn, every corner had been searched, both inside and outside the city. All the places that should have been searched had been thoroughly examined...
At this point, she was almost certain that Ming Jin's disappearance was somehow connected to Chang Suining.
Two days ago, Chang Suining had gone missing, along with the Chang family... At first, she had believed that the girl was a victim. But as the search continued with no results, she began to realize that the girl, who seemed doomed in everyone’s eyes, had likely hidden herself away and become the real hunter.
But where could she be hiding?
If this was an act of impulsive revenge, then Chang Suining and Ming Jin’s bodies would have been found by now.
If she was using Ming Jin to threaten the Empress in exchange for Chang Suining’s life, now that she had succeeded, why would she continue to hide?
To understand her intentions, the Empress needed to reflect on the girl's past actions.
The Empress replayed every impression she had of this girl in her mind—at Dayun Temple, the strategic battle, the Imperial Academy's archery, her gathering of scholars at the Tai Tower to celebrate her teacher... refusing Li Lu and Cui Jing's offers in the Hibiscus Garden, and even rejecting the proposal to appoint her as a female officer...
Pei, Chang, Xie, Ming... In the face of danger and injustice towards herself and those close to her, the girl never backed down in front of others.
Never backed down...
The Empress suddenly raised her gaze from her dragon throne, looking toward the outside of the hall, seemingly able to hear and see the sounds of drums and music from the Confucian temple, with thousands of scholars gathered.
"Has anyone searched the Confucian temple?" she suddenly asked.
The commander of the Imperial Guard froze. "Today is the Confucian ceremony, and I did not dare to enter the temple and disturb it."
Moreover, the Confucian temple was the most crowded and prominent place in the city today. Why would she choose such a place to hide?
"I'm afraid she didn’t intend to hide there at all. Two days of absence was merely a tactic to confuse us, waiting for the right moment..." The Empress stood up from her dragon throne, her expression stern. "Quickly, take people to the Confucian temple, seal off every entrance, and ensure that no further disturbances occur!"
"Yes!"
The commander of the Imperial Guard didn't hesitate for a moment and immediately left to carry out the orders.
The Confucian temple was located between the palace city and the Imperial Academy, only a short two-minute walk west from the Ministry of Rites.
In no time, several teams of Imperial Guards moved through the palace paths, heading toward the Confucian temple.
After a brief departure, the high-pitched voice of an inner servant echoed from Ganlu Hall—
"Prepare the royal carriage for the Confucian temple!"
The royal carriage was quickly readied, and the Empress, supported by her attendants, ascended the palanquin, gazing fixedly toward the Confucian temple.
...
Inside the Confucian temple, the crane holding the ritual text landed atop a three-story pavilion, followed by the crowd.
This pavilion was located at the northwest corner of the temple, originally used as a library but abandoned after a new library was built.
Not far away, the musicians in front of the Great Success Hall dared not stop playing, and the peaceful music of the Ningsheng chapter could still be faintly heard.
Amidst the distant music, the white crane, standing atop the pavilion, let out a loud call.
The crowd turned their necks to look, puzzled as to why the crane had landed there.
Until, with a loud crash, the second-floor balcony of the pavilion suddenly shattered.
Inside, Chang Suining, who had been in a standoff with Ming Jin for some time, heard the crane's call and knew the moment had arrived.
She seemed to stagger back and, with a heavy crash, broke through the tightly closed wooden door of the pavilion.
"Bang!"
The door, which had not been fully locked, was smashed open, and light flooded into the previously dim and shuttered pavilion, causing Ming Jin to squint his eyes in sudden discomfort. He instinctively closed his eyes for a moment.
When he opened them again, everything in front of him seemed blurry, his ears ringing, and his mind clouded.
He had drunk tea laced with sedatives upon his arrival. After days of heavy drinking and medication, coupled with the incense in the pavilion that dulled his senses, he had inhaled it for quite some time.
These compounded effects had pushed him to the brink of madness, and his already volatile moods were now heightened, amplifying his anger and excitement, distorting his perception of reality.
He chased Chang Suining out of the pavilion, reaching the second-floor railing, where he gripped her shoulder with one hand and forcefully restrained her injured and bleeding arm with the other.
He could barely focus on anything other than the person before him, letting out a malicious laugh. "Chang Suining, why did you stop running? Did you really think you could escape?"
Hearing the startled cries from below, Chang Suining allowed him to hold her in a wild, frenzy-like grip.
"Look! That's..."
"Ming Shi Zi?!"
"And Miss Chang!"
"How could Miss Chang be here?" The fastest runner, Tan Li, was horrified. "Quick, someone go up and save them!"
He rushed forward to open the pavilion door, but found it locked from the inside.
"Tang Juren..." Qiao Yubai, who appeared at some point, grabbed Tan Li’s arm and silently shook his head.
Tan Li was puzzled, and Song Xian, who had followed closely behind, looked just as shocked.
Grand Tutor Zhu soon arrived, seeing the girl, covered in blood, facing away from the crowd, her hair disheveled and her body pinned by Ming Jin against the railing. His three souls and seven spirits nearly left his body in shock. "This..."
Grand Tutor Zhu's anger mixed with surprise. "Quick, get the girl down!"
Saying this, he couldn’t care less about his frail old body and rushed toward the pavilion.
"Tutor!" Head Master Qiao tightly gripped Grand Tutor Zhu's wrist, his voice unusually serious, full of concern for the elderly man. "You need not be so eager. Please listen."
Grand Tutor Zhu’s pupils trembled, and a moment of realization dawned on him.
So, this was...
Head Master Qiao nodded at him.
Since he learned of the child's plan, he had not seen her. Though he knew of the plan and had secretly cooperated in its execution, he did not realize the extent to which she had gone for it, nor did he know her condition at this moment.
As a father and a teacher, he felt conflicted. But with the plan in motion, the show had to go on.
When one’s senses were dulled, they unconsciously raised their voice. Thus, Ming Jin’s words were clearly heard by everyone standing outside the pavilion.
"You’ve fallen into my hands now. Even if you want to die, it won’t be that easy... You want me to kill you, but I’m going to keep you alive! You say I don’t deserve for Chang Sui'an to take the blame for me? Then let’s see who gets to decide!"
Everyone was struck with fear.
—Take the blame?!
"Heard that?" Cui Lang gasped in shock. "It turns out Seventh Lady Chang was harmed by Ming Shi Zi!"
The crowd reacted as if a massive wave had surged, the information quickly spreading through them.
"Absurd!"
Ming Luo hurried toward the scene and spoke in a deep voice. "He is drunk. His words cannot be taken seriously!"
She immediately ordered the attendants beside her, "The heir is drunk and has acted improperly. Take him down at once to prevent him from hurting Miss Chang!"
"Yes!"
A group of inner servants quickly moved forward, preparing to break down the door of the pavilion.
At this moment, a white crane suddenly appeared from an unknown direction and flapped forward, pecking at the inner servants, forcing them back.
Ming Luo turned to instruct her attendant: "Quick, send for the Imperial Guards!"
On the day of the ceremony, the Imperial Guards were already on patrol, and a team soon arrived.
"Even flying birds have spirit, let alone humans!" The elderly Grand Tutor Zhu shook off Head Master Qiao's hand once again and stepped forward, standing in front of the pavilion door. "I am here. Let’s see who dares to break down this door!"
Ming Luo was stunned and confused. "Why is the Tutor doing this?"
"That question should be asked of you, Miss Ming!" Grand Tutor Zhu raised his brow and scolded. "You are a female official in the palace, representing the holy Emperor to oversee the affairs of scholars. You should set an example for all the literati of the world. Ming Shi Zi’s words have reached the ears of many. Without clarifying the truth, you simply dismiss them as drunken ramblings, trying to cover up the matter. How can such actions be justified when representing the holy Emperor?"
His high status and prestige allowed him to scold Ming Luo in front of everyone, leaving her face flushed with shame and embarrassment.
Could it be that even Grand Tutor Zhu was a co-conspirator in Chang Suining’s plan today? This was impossible!
Song Xian clenched his fists.
He finally understood. The reason their joint letter was withheld by Chang Suining was that the true culprit was Ming Family's heir!
She did not want to involve them in the matter, nor have it affect their future careers...
But now—
Song Xian slightly raised his head, looking at the blood-stained side of the young woman's face. He then glanced at his companions and the numerous scholars who had followed.
"Indeed, right and wrong must not be covered up with a single word!" Song Xian stepped forward and stood in front of the Imperial Guards.
Although he was not yet a government official, he felt it was his duty to speak justly and oppose injustice. If they could not act with courage now, how would they speak of supporting the state and benefiting the people in the future?
Furthermore, "The law does not punish the crowd. There are countless witnesses here today, over a thousand scholars, and if more people stand up, no one can break this door!"
Tan Li and the others stepped forward as well.
Members from the Wu Er Society, the Xun Mei Society, and many students from the Imperial Academy all stood in opposition to the Imperial Guards.
They had been following the case of Chang Sui'an for a long time and now understood the full situation. There was no hesitation.
Though they did not know why Ming Shi Zi was acting so wildly, or if his words were merely drunken ramblings, it was crucial for the truth to be heard!
Ming Luo’s heart sank. Could all these people be co-conspirators with Chang Suining?
"Quick... send a message back to my family!" Among the crowd, Changsun Ji ordered his attendants in a low voice. "This is the very opportunity my grandfather mentioned!"
If the timing was right, this was the moment.
If they took Feng Min to the Minister of Justice now, her confession, along with Ming Jin’s, would leave no room for excuses to clear his name!
After giving orders to his attendants, Changsun Ji quickly stepped forward, his face filled with fury. "I must hear it with my own ears. Until the truth is clear, no one will take him away. Anyone who tries to stop us will be seen as an accomplice!"
As the victim of this case, he was the one most qualified to stand in the way now!
Above them, Ming Jin’s crazed laughter and insults rang out. The Imperial Guards looked troubled, unsure of how to handle the situation. They turned to Ming Luo.
Seeing the figures blocking the pavilion outside, Ming Luo's emotions were tightly wound with anxiety, but she also knew clearly that she could not confront these scholars forcefully in front of everyone.
These were not ordinary commoners or insignificant beggars; they could not be killed or chased away, and their ears and mouths could not be silenced!
So, this was Chang Suining's purpose in choosing today and this place to act!
Hearing Ming Jin's increasingly manic ramblings, Ming Luo's heart sank. She gave her attendant a meaningful glance.
She could not let this madman continue speaking!
The attendant quietly withdrew.
Soon, an Imperial Guard left the crowd, moving to a spot out of sight from the others, quickly nocking an arrow.
Since the target was Ming Family’s heir, the arrow was not meant to kill, only to wound him so he could be dealt with later by the holy Emperor.
But before he could aim at Ming Jin, he suddenly felt a gust of wind coming from behind.
"Got you! You wretched assassin!"
Ah Dian slammed him to the ground, pinning him down with the weight of his massive frame. The Imperial Guard screamed in pain.
At this moment, seeing the confused Ming Jin not able to speak clearly, Chang Suining felt she needed to ask: "I never understood why you wanted to kill Seventh lady Changsun..."
As soon as she brought it up, Ming Jin seemed to boast of his actions, speaking arrogantly: "Changsun Xuan should have died long ago! She should have died the moment she dared to reject my Ming family’s proposal!"
Changsun Ji’s face darkened with grief and anger.
So, this bastard had held a grudge against his little aunt all this time!
"I only regret that I let her die too quickly that day. I didn’t get to hear her beg for mercy!"
"But it doesn’t matter. What I didn’t get to enjoy with her, you will have to suffer for her instead!"
Hearing the reactions of the crowd below the pavilion, Chang Suining, with her back to them, raised an eyebrow in satisfaction.
Good, this should be enough.
It’s time to end this.
She effortlessly grabbed hold of his arm, which had failed to control her, and whispered in his ear, "Don’t even think about it. I will make sure you pay for this."
Ming Jin laughed angrily, trying to break free from her control. "You filthy woman, daring to talk back when death is at your door!"
The only voice he could clearly hear, so close to his ear, asked: "Do you remember when you were eight or nine years old, publicly punished on Zhuque Street?"
Ming Jin’s struggles suddenly paused. As the effects of the drugs began to wear off, he vaguely saw shadows gathering outside the pavilion.
Good night!
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