A Mirror That Longs To Return - Chapter 10

The cries of cicadas and roosting crows passed in the blink of an eye, and soon it was once again the season when rose-of-Sharon blossoms bloomed in reckless splendor, luxuriant and dazzling.

A gentle breeze swept past. A flower drifted from a branch through the open window and landed on the desk.

Yan Changjun sat upright and reached out to pick it up.

Then she crushed it between her fingers.

The torn petals scattered over a confidential letter.

It contained the results of the investigation into the palace coup. Xuanji had yet to return, but she had sent a letter ahead.

Just as Yan Changjun had expected, Prince Heng had been dissatisfied with the emperor and had seized the opportunity to make his move.

However, word had leaked in advance, and the incident had been suppressed almost before it could begin.

The emperor had swallowed his anger and refrained from acting. First, he ordered an investigation. In the end, he hastily found several scapegoats to bear the blame, and the matter was never connected to Prince Heng.

But both Yan Changjun and the emperor knew the truth perfectly well.

Still, Yan Changjun was not sitting there waiting today solely to pursue the matter of the palace coup.

She heard the wind stir outside the window.

A moment later, a woman dressed in fitted martial attire suddenly landed inside.

She had sword-like brows, bright, spirited eyes, and a piece of jade hanging beside the saber at her waist.

“Your Highness, this is the matter you previously ordered this subordinate to investigate.”

Xuanji bowed and presented a stack of sealed letters.

Yan Changjun accepted them and began opening the envelopes one by one.

“Have you finished investigating?”

“Yes. These contain He Jingling’s family background, as well as…” Xuanji suddenly paused. “The trouble she has recently become involved in.”

Yan Changjun asked casually, “Trouble? What sort of trouble has she gotten herself into recently? Could it be because of that night?”

At that, Yan Changjun laughed softly to herself.

Who had gone looking for trouble with He Jingling this time?

Xuanji shook her head.

“These matters are all connected. Someone reported that the Jinyiwei had enforced the law unfairly, harassed commoners under the pretense of performing official duties, accepted bribes, and embezzled funds…”

By then, Yan Changjun had already opened the first letter.

It was densely filled with all kinds of information concerning He Jingling.

Naturally, it also included the year, date, and hour of her birth.

Yan Changjun’s fingertip brushed over the dried ink and pressed down slightly.

“Is everything recorded here true?”

Her voice was like a blade soaked in autumn wind, unconsciously making one’s heart tremble with fear.

Xuanji nodded.

“Yes. However, very little information exists about He Jingling’s past. This is everything this subordinate was able to uncover.”

He Jingling was now twenty-one years old.

The reason for her exceptional promotion was that the emperor’s Consort Yi, He Huiyi, was supposedly her elder sister.

The evidence in the letter showed that this relationship had been forcibly manufactured by the emperor.

But that was unimportant.

If the emperor wished to promote someone, he only needed a plausible excuse.

There was also information about her family: her mother and younger sister.

What He Jingling had said that night was true, although she had not elaborated on her younger sister.

She was still preparing for the female officials’ examination?

Yan Changjun pondered for a moment.

Should the girl prove capable, perhaps they would one day have the chance to meet at the examination compound.

Beyond that, the letter also recorded He Jingling’s activities over the past year.

But everything before the age of twenty was as blank as a sheet of white paper.

“He Jingling’s past is remarkably clean,” Xuanji added.

Not clean.

At least not where Yan Changjun was concerned.

Yan Changjun offered no comment. She gently closed her eyes and returned to the earlier subject.

“She embezzled funds. Then what happened?”

“These reports were submitted by agents working under the eunuchs of the Eastern Depot. Over the past ten days or so, many people have reported He Jingling. They claim Chiliarch He wandered around and oppressed commoners under the excuse of carrying out assignments. They also say she accepted bribes and forcibly seized farmland…”

The Great Yan Dynasty had many idle officials.

The Jinyiwei had been indulged for too long, and their reputation was now poor.

“She seized farmland? And why did all of this suddenly arise within the past ten days?”

The Eastern Depot’s agents merely listened to tips from loafers, local thugs, and petty criminals in the city, then used those claims as evidence to threaten people.

If the accused understood the situation and paid generously, the matter would end there.

But if the agents were dissatisfied with the amount offered, they could immediately turn hostile.

“Whose farmland did she seize?”

Yan Changjun extended her hand toward the window. Her short nails, painted red with balsam dye, gleamed with golden reflections beneath the clear sunlight.

“She seized…” Xuanji deliberated repeatedly before slowly answering, “Your farmland.”

Yan Changjun froze.

Her pale, slender hand remained suspended in the air as her gaze grew increasingly cold and profound.

Only after a long while did she slowly part her lips.

“Number Three Hundred and Twenty-Eight, what extraordinary courage you have.”

“Even if someone gave me ten lives’ worth of courage, I still wouldn’t dare seize farmland or accept bribes!”

He Jingling sat in her chair, full of complaints, fuming over the information Wang Rong had just brought her.

Damn it.

Being dragged into the battle of male rivalry was already troublesome enough.

Why would she dare harm innocent commoners on top of that?

As expected, if she did not harm others, others would inevitably harm her.

Wang Rong was a junior banner officer under her command.

When He Jingling arrived today, Wang Rong secretly warned her that Lord Pei intended to come looking for trouble.

Wang Rong herself was also quite an unusual woman.

Her family possessed a hereditary vacancy in the Jinyiwei. However, her elder brother had been struck by a speeding carriage while traveling at night and had broken his leg just as the appointment was due to be granted.

The Wang family therefore simply allowed his younger sister, Wang Rong, to take his place.

Female Jinyiwei officers were not entirely without precedent in the Great Yan Dynasty.

Moreover, the Wang family did not trust their paternal or maternal cousins. They always suspected those relatives of wanting to harm the main branch of the family, so they refused to surrender the position.

Although precedents existed, Wang Rong was still the “only” woman in the Southern Pacification Office.

Even after receiving her badge and assuming her post, she remained extremely cautious. She avoided forming close relationships with others, afraid someone would find fault with her and strip her of her position.

He Jingling had expended considerable effort before finally building a good relationship with her.

After listening to Wang Rong, He Jingling was utterly confused.

“What offense is this official supposed to have committed?”

“They claim it concerns your failure to capture that thief ten days ago. Although you said you were unable to catch him, they insist you actually accepted a bribe and deliberately allowed him to escape…”

Wang Rong pursed her lips.

“Not only that, someone also claims you passed by his fields, took a liking to them, and seized the land.”

He Jingling felt even more dizzy.

“This official has left the capital only twice in the past month. Whose farmland did I even pass?”

In her memory, she could only recall passing a single estate.

It had been dilapidated and rundown, seemingly without anyone maintaining it.

It was so wretched that she had not even felt the desire to enter.

What, did merely glancing at it count as seizing it?

Wang Rong said she did not know and advised He Jingling to pray for good fortune.

Lord Pei would soon arrive to cause trouble.

“However, this subordinate believes Lord He is still quite fortunate,” Wang Rong added solemnly before leaving.

He Jingling was surprised.

“What good fortune?”

She had been falsely accused and framed.

How could that possibly be called fortunate?

Wang Rong held up her fingers and counted with complete sincerity.

“Fourteen days have already passed.”

He Jingling’s vision went black.

She remembered the diary entry her younger sister had written yesterday:

“For the sake of our little family, my elder sister, who disguises herself as a man to serve in the Jinyiwei, is still seriously trying to stay alive after leaving the Princess Manor.”

There was nothing she could do.

He Jingling sat back in the round-backed chair.

She had already been irritated by the reports she was reading. Now that she knew the first hidden arrow of the battle of male rivalry was about to strike her, she felt an even deeper chill.

Commander Pei, what exactly are you trying to do?

Pei Jin was usually fairly sharp-minded, but whenever Yan Changjun was involved, he became considerably less rational.

He Jingling closed her eyes and remembered Pei Jin’s methods in the original novel.

The most memorable instance was when, during the princess’s birthday banquet, he framed and arrested an entire wealthy family, forcing the wealthy man to withdraw from the competition.

Yet even after the man withdrew, Pei Jin still refused to release them, driving him to risk mutual destruction.

But how could a wealthy merchant possibly defeat the Jinyiwei?

Before long, a shout rang through the courtyard.

A junior banner officer yelled for everyone to come outside, regardless of rank.

He Jingling knew Pei Jin had to be behind it.

Sure enough, the situation in the courtyard looked grim.

At first, Pei Jin still maintained an air of authority. But the instant he saw He Jingling emerge, he raised his voice with murderous intensity.

“The Jinyiwei’s reputation has recently become rather poor, and every one of you bears some responsibility.”

Pei Jin spoke while staring directly at He Jingling.

“Especially certain people who already occupy high positions. Some have even become chiliarchs or pacification commissioners, yet they still covet such petty gains.”

“This places this commander in a very difficult position.”

He Jingling pretended to be deaf and walked to the rear of the crowd.

Pei Jin’s gaze never left her.

“Lord He, what do you think?”

Recently, he had also sent people to watch He Jingling.

The results had disappointed him.

He Jingling had stopped arriving late for duty.

It seemed he could no longer find any fault with her.

Only when Pei Jin called her name did He Jingling appear to awaken from a dream.

“Lord Pei is correct! The Jinyiwei’s reputation is poor, and as commander, you must also suffer a loss of face.”

The corner of Pei Jin’s mouth twitched.

He had always suspected there was something wrong with He Jingling’s mind.

She was nothing more than a spoiled wastrel promoted because of her elder sister.

The moment she obtained a position, her true nature had revealed itself.

Pei Jin had no desire to trade barbs with He Jingling today, so he spoke directly.

“Lord He, do you know what this is?”

As he spoke, he raised a square brown box with a firmly secured clasp.

“What is it?” He Jingling asked.

Pei Jin smiled.

“Lord He, this box is filled entirely with the ‘accomplishments’ concerning you that the Eastern Depot’s agents have submitted. Shall I open it and read them aloud to the brothers?”

As expected, Pei Jin had played a part in this.

He Jingling said sincerely, “Then please open it and read them, Lord Pei. This subordinate is genuinely frightened and knows nothing about them.”

The corner of Pei Jin’s mouth twitched again.

Seeing the expectant gazes of the others, he suddenly felt heat rise to his face and shouted angrily,

“He Jingling! Everything this commander has just said was directed at you!”

He Jingling’s entire body jolted.

She lowered her head.

“This subordinate accepts whatever punishment Lord Pei sees fit.”

In the original novel, the more someone provoked Pei Jin, the more worked up he became.

Since He Jingling did not yet know what scheme he had prepared, it was better to bow her head first.

Judging by his reaction, the strategy seemed fairly effective.

“Hmph.”

Pei Jin gave a cold snort and waved his hand, dismissing everyone.

“You may all leave. Allow this commander to have a proper discussion with Lord He.”

Everyone nodded and dispersed.

However, they all hid nearby to secretly observe what was happening in the courtyard.

Pei Jin slowly approached He Jingling.

“Lord He, this commander truly never expected to receive so much evidence of your crimes. An entire boxful!”

“This subordinate has committed no offense.”

“No offense?”

Pei Jin opened the clasp.

Numerous objects lay inside. Apart from letters, there was also a small scrap of blue-green fabric.

“The agents said this was torn from your robe when it caught on a fence.”

He Jingling: “…”

Had she not supposedly seized farmland?

Why did this sound more like she had committed burglary?

After thinking for a moment, He Jingling asked the crucial question.

“This subordinate ventures to ask: who exactly owns the land I supposedly ‘seized’?”

“What? Is Lord He in a hurry to destroy the evidence?”

Pei Jin smiled ominously again.

“These people have already brought the matter before this commander. For the next few days, you need not report for duty. Go home and rest!”

He Jingling felt as though she were surrounded by clouds and fog, unable to make sense of anything.

But when she heard she had been granted leave, her mood immediately improved, and she cheerfully agreed.

That gentle and amiable smile only reinforced Pei Jin’s belief that something was wrong with He Jingling’s mind.

“In that case, this subordinate will take her leave.”

Pei Jin felt as though his lungs were about to explode.

As He Jingling brushed past him, he warned,

“He Jingling, you haven’t even finished ascending to the heavens, yet you are already about to fall back down.”

“That’s all right. At least I ascended once.”

He Jingling tossed the words lightly over her shoulder.

Pei Jin’s grip on the box tightened even further.