Broken Jade - Chapter 107

Chapter 107

He Wenbo glanced back at Sheng Zhaoning, who stood at the very end of the civil officials’ ranks.

No wonder his daughter was always sounding him out, both openly and subtly, and bringing up Sheng Zhaoning at every turn. She thought she had concealed her feelings so well that no one knew, when in truth, anyone could see through the young maiden’s little secret.

Still, He Wenbo himself thought very highly of Sheng Zhaoning.

She was handsome, exceptionally talented, and deeply valued by both the emperor and the Crown Prince. In the future, it would hardly be difficult for her to enter the Cabinet, be ennobled as a marquis, or even be appointed chancellor.

Under the watchful eyes of all the assembled officials, Sheng Zhaoning stepped out of the ranks. Her slender, upright figure knelt in the center of the great hall, and she bowed deeply until her black gauze official’s hat nearly touched the golden floor tiles of Taihe Hall.

“This humble subject, Sheng Zhaoning, offers her deepest gratitude for Your Majesty’s grace.”

With that, her transfer to the Court of Judicial Review was officially settled.

After she returned to her residence, many officials from the imperial court came to congratulate her on her promotion.

Quite a few held positions far above her own. They had merely seen which way the wind was blowing and wanted to establish ties with her.

Sheng Zhaoning, however, had no time to waste exchanging empty pleasantries and navigating political connections.

Shen Tongshu’s case implicated far too many people.

When the disaster relief funds were disbursed, the Ministry of Revenue had first skimmed off a portion. Once the funds were sent to the provinces, the imperial commissioner overseeing disaster relief and several other officials had all taken their shares as well. Even the Censorate and the Office of Transmission had long since been bought off.

After being stripped away layer by layer, scarcely anything remained by the time the funds reached Jizhou.

With so many powerful figures deceiving the throne and lining their own pockets, each growing fat on their ill-gotten gains, it was no wonder even the Prefect of Jizhou had been pressured into silence.

The Crown Prince presided over the investigation, the Court of Judicial Review conducted the inquiry, and the Ministry of Justice and Censorate provided assistance.

As they followed one lead after another, panic spread throughout both the court and the realm.

Countless people secretly reached out to plead for mercy, begging Sheng Zhaoning to spare them. Silver poured into Sheng Mansion like water.

Sheng Zhaoning refused to show favor to anyone and immediately turned over every tael exactly as it had been sent.

Whoever dared to bribe her became the first person she targeted.

After this, Sheng Zhaoning earned the epithet “Jade-Faced Yama.”

No one dared provoke her again.

A vast number of people were brought down in the course of the investigation, and the balance of power at court shifted dramatically.

By the time the case was fully concluded, New Year’s Eve was nearly upon them.

Shen Tongshu was completely exonerated. The emperor praised him highly, retained him in Capital City, and appointed him Registrar of the Office of Transmission.

The Sheng Family also rushed to relocate to Capital City before New Year’s Eve.

When Lady Lu saw Sheng Zhaoning again after a year apart, her eyes immediately reddened and her tears would not stop falling.

“Ning’er…”

Lady Lu pulled Sheng Zhaoning into a tight embrace. Her daughter’s body seemed even more slender than before, as though a single gust of wind could carry her away.

How much suffering had her daughter endured in places she could not see?

Tears also glimmered in Sheng Yuanzhong’s eyes as he gazed at Sheng Zhaoning for a long while.

Old Madam Sheng looked upon the eldest legitimate grandson of the Sheng Family’s Eldest Branch and nodded repeatedly in gratification, her heart filled with emotion.

The Sheng Family had languished in obscurity for so many years. Now, at long last, they had returned to Capital City.

And it was all thanks to Sheng Zhaoning.

Her grandson had truly made something of himself.

Old Madam Sheng was extremely pleased with the residence Sheng Zhaoning had purchased. She and Lady Lu personally organized everything the family had brought from Xuzhou and planned where it should all go. Everyone was so busy they barely had time to rest, and it would still take several days before they were fully settled.

Wei Heng had also been overwhelmed with work during this period.

Although Shen Tongshu’s case had been resolved, it had thrown the imperial court into turmoil. More time would be needed to purge the lingering corruption.

By the time the two met again, it was already New Year’s Eve.

Every year, the palace held a New Year’s Eve banquet, where the emperor and all his officials celebrated together and welcomed the coming year.

The mere thought of attending another palace banquet was already enough to make Sheng Zhaoning’s head ache.

Such lively occasions truly did not suit her.

The group noisily went through several pots of wine, yet some still refused to give up on trying to get her drunk.

Sheng Zhaoning still remembered how she had collapsed into Wei Heng’s arms in front of everyone the last time she got drunk. Nor had she forgotten the mortification she felt after sobering up. No matter what anyone said, she refused to drink too much again.

After several rounds left her pleasantly tipsy, Sheng Zhaoning set down her cup. However much the others urged her, she would not take another sip.

Wei Yi had not seen Sheng Zhaoning in a long time either.

Seated near the front of the hall, he watched from afar as she laughed and chatted amid a crowd of men, and an unbearable pressure built in his chest.

He was clearly furious, yet his eyes seemed bewitched, fixed on her without once looking away.

The more he watched, the angrier he became-and the angrier he became, the more he watched.

Just as he was about to rise and go over, a palace attendant hurried in from the rear of the hall and headed straight for her.

Wei Yi arched a brow. The attendant bent down and whispered a few words into Sheng Zhaoning’s ear, after which she rose and followed him out.

Their figures disappeared together beyond the hall.

Wei Yi tightened his grip on his wine cup, a dark gleam flashing through his eyes.

What was Sheng Zhaoning going to do?

Who could possibly have summoned her away?

He lowered his gaze and considered the matter for a moment. Then a realization suddenly flashed through his mind.

Wei Yi jerked his head up and looked toward the emperor.

The gilded seat beside him was empty. Wei Heng was nowhere to be seen.

The silver cup warped in Wei Yi’s hand. Turbulent darkness filled his eyes, and in the extremity of his rage, he laughed.

As expected, it was Wei Heng again!

Wei Yi’s face turned livid, the veins at his temples bulging as his expression grew terrifying.

He shot to his feet and strode after them, his sleeves whipping around him, his entire bearing radiating fury.

His figure likewise vanished through the entrance of Guangyang Hall.

No snow had fallen for most of the winter. The weather was bitterly dry, and a cold breeze stirred through the air.

Sheng Zhaoning followed the palace attendant along the palace paths, heading ever deeper into the complex. Before she knew it, they had arrived before an abandoned hall.

The hall stood in a remote corner, and its plaque had long since been removed, leaving its name unknown.

Its doors were dilapidated, their gilding almost entirely peeled away. It had plainly been deserted for years.

“Lord Sheng, please go inside. This servant will take his leave.”

With that, the palace attendant bowed to her, then withdrew with his head lowered.

Sheng Zhaoning frowned slightly and studied the battered doors. After a moment’s hesitation, she pushed them open and stepped inside.

A scene of desolation and disarray immediately greeted her.

A long path of bluestone slabs stretched ahead, flanked by red plum trees and overgrown with withered grass.

The palace was old and weathered, but its vermilion pillars, carved rafters, painted beams, and ornate architecture still hinted at its former splendor.

The pond in one corner of the courtyard had long since dried up. The fragrance of plum blossoms drifted through the air, and the cool moonlight cast the courtyard’s red blossoms in a shimmering glow.

Following that faint plum fragrance, Sheng Zhaoning ventured farther in. From a distance, she spotted a figure in crimson embroidered with gold seated on the steps, with a plump orange cat crouching quietly at his feet.

She walked over and looked at the man and cat beneath the moonlight, her expression softening.

“Your Highness.”

Wei Heng raised his head and curved his lips into a faint smile. He was holding a strip of dried fish and feeding it to the cat.

“Sit.” He patted the cushion beside him.

They had not seen each other for a long time, yet there was no awkwardness between them when they met again. Their ease and familiarity returned as naturally as ever.

Wei Heng’s gaze settled on her as he asked softly, “Has the wound on your arm completely healed?”

Sheng Zhaoning’s fingers twitched unconsciously. She nodded. “It’s healed.”

Then she glanced at Wei Heng’s leg and asked in turn, “How is Your Highness’s leg injury?”

Wei Heng lowered his gaze to his left leg. “It’s nearly recovered as well.”