Love in Red Dust - Chapter 80
Chapter 80
This New Year did not end well. Thinking about it, this was the second time a crisis had erupted on New Year’s Eve; she feared she would have a lifelong phobia of the holiday.
She cried inconsolably, and Sha Tong was also anxious. Holding an umbrella, he said, "Please, don't be like this. This was bound to happen sooner or later, so try to look on the bright side! Listen to me—it’s cold outside, let's go indoors. The Twelfth Prince should be eating his bo-bo [steamed buns] by now; once the banquet at Changchun Garden concludes, he will be back. I have already sent someone to wait outside the Great Palace Gate; once he gets the news, he will surely come straight here. When he arrives, we will have our backbone again, alright?"
Dingyi was still in a daze, her heart clawing at her from the inside. She didn't even feel the pain as the northwest wind sliced at her face like a blade. After standing for a long time until her brain felt frozen and numb, she turned around and asked, "Did the Seventh Prince also go into the Garden?"
Sha Tong answered in the affirmative. "That prince, no matter how unconventional he is, is still the Retired Emperor's biological son; he has to fulfill his filial duties before the old master."
"Then who can I turn to?" She paced anxiously. "Let's find Yi Mian—isn't he in the Ministry of Justice? Since the Gendarmerie is supposed to transfer him to the Ministry of Justice, he should have received word." Having made up her mind, she ordered the gatekeeper, "Saddle a horse for me."
Daiqin looked at Sha Tong with difficulty. Sha Tong hurriedly said, "At a time like this, you must keep your composure. Even if you go find someone, do you know what’s in their hearts? In officialdom, people act one way to your face and another behind your back. You'll only be given the runaround, so please restrain your impatience and wait for the Master to return! If you go out now and the Master comes back to find you gone, he’ll have to run in circles in the middle of the night. My dear Princess, I know you are anxious that the Third Brother-in-law has been taken away, but worrying won't bring him back—we must plan this out long-term. He was taken away by the Gendarmerie Commander, a man who is the father of the Leopard Tail Squad’s Captain Lou. Captain Lou is close with our Princess Gulun, and Princess Gulun is close with the Twelfth Prince... there is at least some human connection there; they won’t do anything to him, so please set your heart at ease."
That was easy to say, but how could she be at ease? Her own father had been murdered in prison. If they resorted to the same old tricks, Rujian would be finished. He was the only family she had left; if any further harm came to him, she would never be able to face her deceased parents and brothers.
"Then I will wait here until the Twelfth Prince returns." She waved her hand. "You all go inside; let me stay here by myself for a while."
Everyone knew her stubborn temper, so they retreated helplessly, though they did not stray far, keeping a watchful eye on her nearby.
The snow had lessened, but the wind had grown stronger, blowing the lanterns on the gate until they swayed and danced. She stared blankly at the alley entrance. He still hadn't returned, and every moment felt agonizingly long. Earlier, she had heard the Commander say he was acting under orders. For an official of the first rank, such orders could only come from the Emperor. If the Ministry of Justice dealt with each crime separately, and Rujian wasn't given the chance to beat the drum for justice but was instead processed as a fugitive, the legal implications would be dire.
The fireworks welcoming the New Year passed, and the city within the walls grew quiet. The air was filled with the smell of sulfur, with only a stray bang echoing every so often—not like a fierce struggle, but more like a festive garnish, distant and sparse.
Vaguely, she heard the sound of hoofbeats. Her stiff brain sprang to life in an instant. She waited, eyes wide, until the sound drew nearer and nearer. The hazy lamplight revealed a figure galloping toward her, the red velvet on his hat gleaming like a cluster of fire in the dark night. She covered her mouth and wept; seeing him, she could no longer hide all her fear and grievances. He dismounted to embrace her, and she sobbed, "Rujian has been taken away—hurry and find a way to get him out!"
Hongce had envisioned that Hongzan might hijack the siblings or kill them to silence them, but he had not expected him to do the opposite and strike first by getting Rujian in his grasp. Once he got the news, he had inquired everywhere. Hongzan had presented Rujian’s flight as a fugitive to the Emperor. To the Emperor, capturing someone or punishing someone had no personal bearing on him. As long as he could curb corruption and rectify the administration, the power struggles of those below him were of no concern—victory or defeat was a matter of fate. In other words, Rujian’s arrest had the Emperor’s tacit approval, which meant he couldn't simply save him for the time being.
"Don't worry. Let's discuss this inside." He touched her hand, which was cold as ice, and turned to scold his servants. "Where the hell have you all gone? You just let the Princess stand outside?"
Sha Tong said with a bitter face, "We tried to persuade her, but the Princess was too anxious and insisted on waiting for your return..."
He ignored him, unclasped his heavy cloak to wrap her up, and carried her inside to the main room.
Dingyi sat on the kang [heated brick bed] sobbing uncontrollably. She had weathered many storms and thought she was strong enough, but now, there was nothing she could do but shed tears. The only person who could save Rujian was the Twelfth Prince. She scooted forward and shook him pleadingly. "The Gendarmerie Commander said he would be transferred to the Ministry of Justice. You oversee the Ministry of Justice—you must find a way for me."
Her panicked appearance pained his heart. He hurriedly comforted her. "I have already sent word to the Ministry of Justice. Don't cry, or you'll ruin your eyes. The Gendarmerie came to make the arrest, so they must have had an imperial decree; otherwise, no one could command them. The stakes are high this time, and with so many eyes watching, no one dares to act rashly. I suspect that once Rujian is inside, your father’s case will surely be brought up. When that happens, the two cases will be consolidated, and sooner or later, it will fall into my hands."
Hearing this, she became even more frantic. "So, you aren't the one interrogating him right now?"
He frowned. "The Ministry of Justice is presiding over the trial, with Prince Zhuang supervising."
Dingyi was horrified. "Why Prince Zhuang? It is clear that the Ministry of Justice and the Censorate are overseen by you."
She was unfamiliar with the ways of officialdom. Each official had their own responsibilities. Although the supervisor stood above the two departments, it was merely to supervise the progress of cases. The Ministry of Justice had its own regulations; the Ministers and Vice-Ministers would try the cases and then submit them to him for review. Unless it was a case specifically assigned like the Wen Lu case, he had no right to sit in judgment himself.
"Hongzan holds significant power. Since the Emperor’s accession, he has led the Grand Council. Since he was the one who reported this case to the Emperor, it is only natural he took charge of it."
If that were the case, were they just sitting ducks waiting for death? She leaned against the kang table and wept silently. "It’s my fault. I shouldn't have been against him beating the drum for justice at the Ministry of Justice. If he had gone as soon as he returned to the capital, the case would be in your hands now, and there wouldn't be a need to worry about him being framed."
She also couldn't bear the thought of Rujian suffering fifty lashes, so she had wanted to wait until Jilantai confessed before letting him step forward. Who knew that by delaying, she had allowed Hongzan to seize the opening? He could only continue to soothe her. "Alright, my dear, I won't sit idly by. As soon as dawn breaks, I will go out and inquire. I don't care about saving face this time; as long as Rujian testifies against Hongzan, I will gather the case materials. You just have to trust me."
She looked at him through tear-filled eyes, her face red and swollen from crying. "Really? You will do your best to support Rujian and not let him come to harm, right?"
He wiped away her tears and nodded. "You have only one brother, and I have only this one brother-in-law; my heart is the same as yours. Since you’re with me, you should be happy every day. Seeing you like this, do you think I feel any better? It is true that your sibling bond is deep, but you must take care of your health. I expect it won't be easy to close this case in the short term; there is going to be a long tug-of-war."
She understood everything he said. In a case like this, haste was not an option; they could only wait and take it one step at a time.
The night passed restlessly. She lay down in her clothes until the fifth watch. When the sky began to brighten, he rose to wash and groom, leaving behind a few hurried instructions before heading out.
It was the first day of the New Year, and many government offices were closed. She didn't know if the case would be heard today. Dingyi was on pins and needles at home. It was difficult for her to show her face in public now; in the past, she could have gone out to investigate, but now she could only wait for news from him.
Stretching her neck in anticipation, the person who arrived was not a scout, but Hai Lan.
She entered the door, curtsied, and began wiping away tears before even speaking, clearly having already received the news. Dingyi hurriedly helped her to the kang to sit down, suddenly feeling a deep sense of guilt toward her. Rujian owed her so much and hadn't even had the chance to compensate her, yet now he had dragged her into his worries. She tucked away Hai Lan’s tears and forced herself to ask, "Sister-in-law, why have you come?"
Hai Lan sobbed, "Someone came to pay a New Year’s call to my home this morning who happens to work at the Gendarmerie Office. He mentioned the arrest at Jiuciju Alley on New Year’s Eve, and I knew something was wrong. I sent my servants to inquire, and it was indeed him, so I rushed over here in a panic. Coming to the door on the first day of the New Year empty-handed, I am truly..." As she spoke, she stepped off the kang and curtsied again. "Let me offer you a Happy New Year's greeting, Princess!"
Dingyi hurriedly helped her up. "That is absolutely unnecessary. Not to mention I haven't been officially married yet, even if I were, you are my sister-in-law. According to family protocol, there is no reason for a sister-in-law to bow to her younger sister-in-law. Please, sit down, and we can talk properly."
Hai Lan gave a soft sigh and forced a smile. "Aren't we in the same boat right now? Both of us have one foot inside the door and one foot outside. Calling you ‘sister-in-law’—I am ashamed to accept it."
A maid brought tea and snacks, and Dingyi respectfully offered them to her. "You and my Third Brother are officially engaged; you are my legitimate sister-in-law, so why talk about shame? Please don't call me Princess anymore—the servants only say that for fun. If you follow suit, I feel truly embarrassed. You can call me Dingyi, or Little Jujube—we are our own people, let’s not be bound by these rituals."
Hai Lan gave a hesitant nod and asked through her tears, "Where is Rujian now? I heard he is not at the Gendarmerie Office; has he been sent to the Ministry of Justice prison?"
Dingyi nodded. "Please don't worry. Our Master has gone out to inquire; as long as it is within his power, Third Brother will not be in any danger."
Hai Lan gradually stopped crying, her expression stabilizing as she whispered, "The Twelfth Prince is a Prince, such a noble person who also holds a court appointment; as long as he steps in, I can feel a bit more at ease. I am just so anxious—in a place like that, the first thing they do is break one's spirit. He has endured so many hardships outside, and now, even after returning, he still cannot escape this catastrophe. How can one not feel pained? You and the Prince are also at the stage of discussing marriage, so please mention it to him whenever you can. I am helpless; as a woman, I don't even have a way to petition the court. I laid it all out to my father this morning and told him about me and Rujian. Since it has reached this stage, there is no point in covering it up. The more people who can pull strings, the more hope there is."
Her determination filled Dingyi with admiration. "True feelings are revealed in times of crisis. I am grateful to you for your heart toward my Third Brother. What was Master Suo’s opinion?"
Hai Lan felt a bit embarrassed. "He couldn't help but curse me severely and wanted to lock me up, forbidding me from getting involved. I threw away all shame and told him I belonged to him. I am my father’s only daughter, so he had no choice but to accept it. He has gone out now to pull strings and ask around to find out where he is being held so he can exert some effort."
Dingyi felt a sense of bitterness and stammered, "On such a major holiday, we have made Master Suo restless..."
"You and the Prince are also suffering; one is worried, the other is running back and forth... I believe that once we get past this hurdle, things will get better." Hai Lan wiped her tears as she spoke. "I have just reunited with him; I don't want any more twists and turns. I hope we can live a few days of peace and grow old together. When I saw him that day, thinking of all those years of humiliation outside, and that he wasn't crushed—it hasn't been easy for him. I ache for him from the bottom of my heart. Hearing about his accident this morning, I was frantic. Even though he told me long ago he wanted to overturn the case for his father, I never expected him to be caught so suddenly."
Dingyi lowered her head and sighed. "I didn't expect them to strike at this time either. And at that moment, the Twelfth Prince was away; I just watched as they dragged him out, and the pain in my heart was indescribable. Now that things have reached this point, Sister-in-law, stop crying and calm down. If there is any news, the Prince will send someone to tell us."
Hai Lan nodded, and the two sisters-in-law sat there blankly waiting for word. Not long after, Sha Tong came running in hurriedly, bowing and saying, "Reporting to the Princess, the Master is currently in the Great Hall of the Ministry of Justice, where they are about to convene a trial for the Third Brother-in-law. The Master asks the Princess to be at ease; he is observing the trial and will surely argue based on reason, ensuring they do not harm the Third Brother-in-law. The Master also instructed you to eat on time, so you don't go hungry. If you just wait blindly, he won't be able to send you news."
Dingyi looked at Hai Lan sheepishly. "This man is really..."
Hai Lan smiled. "The Prince’s sincerity toward you is a blessing."
Dingyi turned and said, "Tong, keep a close watch for me. Good news or bad, you are not to hide anything from me."
Sha Tong answered "Yes," and headed out quickly.
It was another long wait, and Hongce did not return until near the hour of the Rooster [5-7 PM]. He entered with no look of worry on his face. Dingyi and Hai Lan exchanged a glance, and their hearts settled, figuring there was currently no major danger.
He swept his gaze over them and said, "Oh, this must be the Third Sister-in-law?"
Hai Lan hurriedly curtsied and offered greetings. "Happy New Year, Your Highness. You must be exhausted."
He spoke warmly. "We are our own people, let’s not be so distant. Please sit, Third Sister-in-law, Dingyi, you sit too. The Ministry of Justice has adjourned. I went to the palace, and they will try Jilantai’s case tomorrow. Third Brother was tried today; neither human evidence nor material evidence was sufficient. As the son of a second-rank official, he became a guard after falling from grace; he spent his childhood reading as a companion in the Imperial Study and practicing buku [wrestling] with the princes, so he is too familiar with them to be denied. In court, he was to be judged for the crime of military desertion, which is a capital offense. It was nearly decided. Hongzan was in a rush to have him killed, while I insisted on keeping him alive. Fortunately, the Thirteenth Prince intervened and brought the case to the palace for the Emperor’s decision, so he is safe for now. He has been sent back to the Ministry of Justice prison, and I have ordered them to keep a close watch and added more men inside and out. His life is definitely secure."
The two women listened with held breath, and only after hearing this did they let out a long sigh of relief. As long as he was alive, a little suffering didn't matter. Seeing that it was getting late, Hai Lan rose to take her leave. When the servants brought the meal, Hongce looked troubled at the table. Dingyi asked cautiously, "Is something not going well?"
He knit his brows and gritted his teeth, saying, "Jilantai’s lips are tight; he still refuses to implicate Hongzan. Today, I had his family detained to tighten the screws, to let him know that even if Hongzan lets his family go, I will not be so lenient. Dealing with people like this requires playing dirty, but whether it will be effective... we shall see tomorrow!"
Hearing this, her expression dimmed; she set down her chopsticks and lost her appetite completely.