Broken Jade - Chapter 106

Chapter 106

The haze in the gaunt County Magistrate’s eyes slowly dispersed, and light returned to them once more.

He gazed at the Crown Prince, whose virtuous reputation was known throughout the realm. Never had he imagined that someone as insignificant as himself would be worth a personal journey to Pinghe County-much less that the Crown Prince would nearly lose his life there.

At last, Shen Tongshu no longer had to walk alone through endless darkness, bearing the condemnation of the entire realm.

Now, someone had overcome every obstacle for him, risking his own life to clear Shen Tongshu’s name.

Shen Tongshu’s gaze fell upon Wei Heng’s legs and Sheng Zhaoning’s arm. His eyes brimmed with emotion, a sheen of tears barely held within their rims, liable to spill at any moment.

Finally reassured, he recounted every grievance he had suffered and every injustice done to him.

The officials from the Censorate recorded everything at his side, leaving out neither a word nor a detail.

By the time Shen Tongshu had revealed the truth in an extraordinarily calm voice, everyone present stood frozen in place, unable to speak for a long while.

Hearing him finally agree to tell the truth, the Prefect released the breath he had been holding in a long, heavy exhale.

Only after Shen Tongshu had laid bare everything, both known and hidden, did Sheng Zhaoning turn her gaze upon the Prefect.

“Did Lord Prefect already know the truth behind this matter?”

Sheng Zhaoning’s gaze was piercing, as if it could see straight through a person’s heart.

During Shen Tongshu’s first interrogation, the Prefect’s expression had been tense and subtly uneasy, as though he were deliberately concealing something.

It was not until just now, when he had urgently urged Shen Tongshu to reveal the facts, that Sheng Zhaoning became certain he had known the secret behind the case all along.

At her question, the Prefect’s expression tightened, and the muscles in his face twitched faintly.

He had indeed known about it for quite some time.

When Shen Tongshu was first imprisoned, news of the disaster in Jizhou had already spread throughout the realm.

At the time, Shen Tongshu had not yet given up hope of clearing his name and had recounted every injustice he had suffered.

But immediately afterward, pressure had come from every faction in the imperial court.

Everyone feared that if Shen Tongshu were proven innocent, their own lives would be forfeit. Thus, no one dared allow such a truth to become public.

Faced with those powerful figures from the Imperial City and the Capital, the Prefect had hesitated.

It was not that he had never considered seeking justice for Shen Tongshu. He had secretly contacted a visiting Censor and told them the truth, but the very next day, his wife and children were abducted to force him into silence.

The Prefect had been afraid.

He had never imagined that their people had infiltrated even the Censorate.

Caught beneath layer upon layer of political power and maneuvering, both Shen Tongshu and the Prefect were nothing more than ants.

And so, he could only pretend to see and hear nothing, feigning ignorance like everyone else.

Together, they crushed Shen Tongshu’s upright spirit and unbending pride to pave the road to their own glorious futures.

“Your Highness, this humble official acknowledges his guilt.”

The Prefect dropped to his knees and bowed his head to the floor.

Shen Tongshu turned around, his lingering gaze settling upon the man’s slumped shoulders and back.

“Lord Prefect, if you had not taken this humble official out of prison and hidden me away, I, Shen Tongshu, would likely have died an unexplained death long ago.”

After he was imprisoned, more than one attempt had been made on his life. It was only because the Prefect had protected him single-handedly that he had survived until now.

Shen Tongshu had never resented him. He felt only gratitude.

Sheng Zhaoning looked toward the man seated in the place of honor at the head of the hall, and her gaze entwined with Wei Heng’s.

At that moment, even she did not know what she was thinking. She had merely searched for Wei Heng instinctively.

So it turned out that when you were a good person, the whole world would love you in return.

When Shen Tongshu served in Pinghe County, he had loved the people as his own children and treated every commoner with sincerity.

That was why, after calamity befell him, the people of Pinghe County had been willing to risk the destruction of their families and clans to create the second Petition of the Myriad Citizens, staking everything on placing it in their hands.

The Prefect had risked his own life, withstood pressure from every side, and kept Shen Tongshu hidden until Wei Heng appeared.

Old Woman Meng cried out for justice day after day. County Deputy Li remained alone in Pinghe County, while the villagers took it upon themselves to guard the Shen Family Ancestral Cemetery, refusing to let anyone ignorant of the truth disturb the peace of the Shen family’s forebears.

Every one of them had done everything in their power to protect him.

And Shen Tongshu had met someone every bit as good in Wei Heng.

His back, nearly crushed beneath the weight of unchecked power, finally had someone to help him stand straight again.

Wei Heng ordered all the evidence sealed and preserved, ready to be presented before the throne upon their return to the Capital.

Once the disaster was fully under control, the party finally set out again for the Capital.

On the day of their departure, the northern wind howled.

The people of Jizhou gathered outside the city gates of their own accord. For a hundred li along the road, they knelt to see the procession off.

Beneath the bitter northern wind, the line stretched so far that no end could be seen.

No one could judge those in power more clearly than the common people. Whoever treated them well would earn their deepest and most heartfelt respect.

Filled with reluctance to see him go, they watched the Crown Prince’s procession recede into the distance until it vanished from sight.

One month later, in Capital City.

When the Crown Prince’s procession arrived at the Capital, the Emperor of Wei came out to welcome him in person.

The journey back had been remarkably smooth.

Once the disaster subsided, the roving bandits across the region gradually dispersed as well. They no longer needed to risk their lives at the edge of a blade simply to fill their stomachs.

The accompanying officials were rewarded according to their merits, and the Emperor of Wei gave Sheng Zhaoning a long, meaningful look.

Word had already spread throughout the Capital that Sheng Zhaoning had risked her life to protect the Crown Prince when he was in danger.

Beyond his relief, the Emperor of Wei felt an even deeper gratitude toward her.

The Crown Prince was not merely the Heir Apparent of Great Wei. He was also his son.

When his son had been in mortal peril, she had been willing to throw her life away and leap into the river to protect him. How could the Emperor of Wei not be grateful to her?

Of course, he could not openly state such personal feelings. Instead, he made her rewards especially generous.

Wei Heng then made the truth of Shen Tongshu’s case known throughout the realm, shocking both the imperial court and the public.

The Emperor flew into a rage and sternly ordered the Three Judicial Offices to investigate the matter with all their strength. No mistakes would be tolerated.

Seeing the opportunity, Tao Song, the Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, proposed during morning court that Sheng Zhaoning be transferred to the Court of Judicial Review.

“Your Majesty, Hanlin Academy Compiler Sheng Zhaoning worked tirelessly to uncover the hidden circumstances of Shen Tongshu’s case and trace the matter back to the truth. She is also thoroughly familiar with the details. I humbly ask Your Majesty to grant permission for Sheng Zhaoning to be transferred to the Court of Judicial Review and assist in the investigation of Shen Tongshu’s case.”

The moment he finished speaking, everyone’s gaze fell upon Sheng Zhaoning.

After entering the Hanlin Academy, a Zhuangyuan ordinarily had to serve for three years before being promoted.

Everyone knew that Sheng Zhaoning enjoyed the favor of both His Majesty and the Crown Prince, but she had not even served at court for a full year. Was it not too soon to speak of transferring her now?

The Emperor of Wei had long known that Tao Song wanted Sheng Zhaoning in his department. Given her particular talents, she was indeed better suited to the Court of Judicial Review.

Moreover, the Emperor of Wei had already intended to reward her handsomely. Besides granting her gold and silver, a promotion in office would be even better.

Thus, following Tao Song’s proposal, he proclaimed, “Hanlin Academy Compiler Sheng Zhaoning has distinguished herself in matters of law and governance. She has now also participated in Shen Tongshu’s case and possesses a thorough understanding of its circumstances. Effective immediately, she is appointed Director of the Court of Judicial Review while concurrently retaining her position as Hanlin Academy Compiler.”

Once the decree was issued, everyone gained a new appreciation of just how greatly Sheng Zhaoning enjoyed imperial favor.

The Director of the Court of Judicial Review was an official of the principal sixth rank. Above it were the Assistant Director of the Court of Judicial Review and the Deputy Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

Above them stood the Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

The post itself was not particularly high, but compared to the secondary sixth-rank position of Hanlin Academy Compiler, it was still a promotion of half a rank.

More importantly, His Majesty had specifically allowed her to retain her post at the Hanlin Academy. That meant that after three years, Sheng Zhaoning could still pursue advancement through the Hanlin Academy. Her prospects could only be described as brilliant.