Chapter 51: Trouble Has Come

Li Rong waited listlessly in the princess’s residence for ten days, since Li Ming secretly established the Inspectorate. However, she didn’t idle away these ten days. She investigated manpower everywhere and pondered whom to appoint once the Inspectorate was established. At the same time, she secretly trained a group of actors and staged a palace drama about the Qin family’s secret case.

Most of these matters were handled by others on her behalf; she only oversaw the general direction. She wandered around when free, occasionally playing “Leaf Cards” with Shangguan Ya. The days passed quite interestingly.

Ten days later, the Qin family’s verdict came down, the evidence was conclusive, and it confirmed autumn execution. The news of the Qin family’s case quickly spread throughout Hua Jing. Li Rong quickly had the prepared troupe set up a stage and started performing on the day the Qin family’s case was settled.

Just after the Qin family’s case was settled, they performed such a drama accusing the Qin family of being framed, causing rumors to abound.

The next day, Li Rong arranged for Qin Zhenzhen to kneel at the doorstep of the princess’s residence.

In the bustling morning, everyone saw a girl kneeling motionless at the princess’s residence gate.

More and more onlookers gathered, and inside the house, Li Rong finished her makeup and heard Jinglan come in saying, “Your Highness, it’s about time.”

Li Rong stood up with joy and said, “Let’s go.”

As she spoke, Li Rong led the way out. As soon as she opened the door, she saw Qin Zhenzhen kneeling at the door and shouted, “Your Highness!”

Li Rong, upon seeing Qin Zhenzhen, showed a surprised expression, “You are…”

“Miss Qin from the main branch of the Qin family, Qin Zhenzhen.”

Qin Zhenzhen reported her name as previously agreed, and Li Rong feigned surprise, saying, “Oh, why are you here?”

She quickly asked someone to help Qin Zhenzhen up, saying anxiously, “Please get up first. Why are you kneeling at my door?”

“Our family has been wronged,” Qin Zhenzhen raised a blood-written letter and knocked her head to the ground, loudly pleading, “Your Highness, please help me seek justice!”

Li Rong stepped back, unsure, “What can I do for you?”

“Your Highness, you are of the Li bloodline, born of the main consort,” Qin Zhenzhen interrupted, tears in her eyes. “Our family has been falsely accused of treason. Only you can help us. If you don’t accept this blood-written plea today, I will end it all right here!”

Li Rong hesitated, “But why come to me? I’m just a princess…”

“Your Highness, the officials and the court have conspired against my family,” Qin Zhenzhen continued passionately. “No one dares to accept this plea except you. Please help me!”

Before Li Rong could respond, Qin Zhenzhen suddenly stood up and rushed towards a stone lion at the gate. She had a blood bag ready in her sleeve, which she burst open upon impact, pretending to hit her head. Li Rong quickly covered the scene from public view. After Qin Zhenzhen fell, Li Rong turned her over, shaken.

“Miss Qin!” Li Rong exclaimed.

“Your Highness,” Qin Zhenzhen gasped, trembling as she handed the blood-written letter to Li Rong. “Please… help me…”

With that, Qin Zhenzhen closed her eyes and fell unconscious.

Li Rong checked her pulse and paled. The crowd whispered among themselves.

“Is she dead?”

“Looks like it.”

“Poor Qin family. If not for the injustice, would she have really done this?”

“Why didn’t she seek the Crown Prince?”

“He’s aligned with the noble families in court. He wouldn’t intervene.”

“What about Prince Rong?”

“Who knows?”

After a long pause, Li Rong took the blood-written letter from Qin Zhenzhen’s hand and stood up slowly.

“Take Miss Qin inside. Prepare a proper burial,” Li Rong ordered shakily. Then she declared, “Prepare my carriage. I’m going to the palace!”

Upon hearing Li Rong’s command, the crowd erupted.

“People are very happy. The Princess accepted the plea! She’s going to handle this!”

For the common people, Li Rong accepting the blood-written plea symbolized a beacon of hope in the heavily stratified capital.

No one had expected Li Rong to actually take the plea. As Li Rong boarded her carriage, more and more people followed, shouting, “Your Highness, we support you!”

Li Rong held the blood-written letter silently, sitting dignified in her carriage. The people following her could not see inside the tightly closed carriage, but whenever the curtain fluttered, they caught glimpses of her solemn and awe-inspiring presence.

Li Rong’s carriage proceeded straight into the palace gates. Before court had convened, she sent word ahead for an audience.

The eunuch rushed into the grand hall and conveyed Li Rong’s arrival message directly to Emperor Li Ming, who was already anticipating her. He raised his hand and declared, “Announce her.”

Li Rong, holding the blood-written letter, stood at the entrance of the hall, listening to the eunuch’s resonant call from within, “Announce, Princess Rong enters the hall—”

Upon hearing this announcement, Li Rong walked into the grand hall, knelt in the center, and proclaimed, “Your Majesty, your humble daughter pays respects. Long live, long live, long live.”

“Now at the morning court,” Emperor Li Ming sat on the throne, knowingly asked, “Why have you come?”

“To report to Your Majesty, I have come to seek justice.”

“For whom do you seek justice?”

“The Qin family of Liangzhou.”

“What injustice have they suffered?”

“The Qin family has been falsely accused of colluding with the Yang family in treason. The officials from the Imperial Censorate and Ministry of Punishments have unjustly tortured and coerced confessions, mishandling the case. Today, a member of the Qin family died seeking justice before my palace gates. Unable to bear it, I have come, even knowing the risks, to seek justice for the Qin family!”

Upon hearing this, the court fell silent. Shangguan Xu looked over and smiled, “Princess, this case has been thoroughly investigated by the Ministry of Justice. There should be no mistake. Perhaps you’ve been misled.”

“Minister Shangguan,” Li Rong looked up at him, “would anyone risk their life to mislead me?”

Shangguan Xu remained silent.

The death of Qin Zhenzhen made it the hardest fact to refute. Naturally, the Qin family now held a moral advantage in this matter.

Seeing Shangguan Xu’s silence, Li Rong turned to Emperor Li Ming, lifting the blood-written letter respectfully. “Your Majesty, this is the plea for justice handed to me by Qin Zhenzhen. If this case indeed involves false accusations, it would be a grievous injustice for the ages. Your Majesty’s reputation cannot be tarnished by such trivial matters.”

As Li Rong spoke, she presented the blood-written letter to Emperor Li Ming. After examining it for a while, Emperor Li Ming slammed his hand on the table in anger. “This is outrageous!”

He then turned to Shangguan Xu, “Minister Shangguan, you must investigate this matter thoroughly. Re-examine the Qin family’s case, and investigate the officials who handled it previously. We must determine if there was deliberate framing.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Shangguan Xu replied evenly, but Li Rong interjected loudly, “No!”

The entire court turned to look at Li Rong, who continued earnestly, “Your Majesty, this case involves many individuals, many of whom are from noble families with close ties. I do not trust Minister Shangguan to handle this impartially.”

“Your Majesty, the humble minister…”

Su Rongqing suddenly spoke up, and Li Rong coldly eyed her, immediately interjecting, “I also cannot trust that!”

“What can you trust then?” Li Ming sounded irritated. “What do you propose?”

“Father Emperor, Qin’s daughter died in my arms. I promised her to uncover the truth of this case. I request Father Emperor’s permission to personally investigate!” 

“How can this be?” Shangguan Xu immediately protested, “The princess is a woman of the harem, and court matters…”

“Have I not intervened before?” Li Rong glanced at him seriously. “In Daxia, there’s never been a rule that princesses cannot participate in politics. The Yang case was uncovered by me. Now, Qin’s case is related to the Yang case. Why can’t I investigate?”

Li Rong’s firm words stunned Shangguan Xu. He turned pale with anger, but before he could retort, Pei Wenxuan, standing nearby, spoke up coldly, “Your Excellency, by seniority, Princess Rong is your superior. You should heed her advice…”

“By rank, Princess is Your Majesty’s eldest daughter. Even Lord Shangguan should show respect and listen to her advice.”

Pei Wenxuan’s words silenced Shangguan Xu. Though he outranked Pei as a minister, a censor’s duty included overseeing all officials, even the emperor’s. Despite Pei Wenxuan’s lower rank, criticizing Shangguan Xu was acceptable.

Shangguan Xu remained silent, glaring at Pei Wenxuan, who disregarded his presence. Bowing respectfully, Pei Wenxuan continued, “Your Majesty, if this case is indeed as Princess Rong says, it implicates all inspection agencies. A third party should supervise.”

“You’re right,” Li Ming nodded slowly, tapping the table. “Rong, you handle this case. Reopen Qin’s case for review, and re-examine all officials involved in the previous investigation. You handled the Yang case before, and I trust your abilities. If you succeed again, you’ll oversee the inspectors as usual.”

Li Ming chuckled, addressing Rong, “You can see me anytime, being my daughter. You have more freedom in your actions, and reporting any issues will be easier. The Office of Censors oversees officials, so someone should oversee the Office of Censors,” he teased, glancing at Shangguan Minzhi, the Chief Censor.

Shangguan Xu bowed silently, implying his consent.

Externally composed, the attendees were in turmoil. Li Ming’s intentions were clear—a princess overseeing officials directly, reporting to the emperor without involving ministries. It was a formidable concept.

“Your Highness,” Prime Minister Su Minzhi hesitated, “The Office of Censors already handles oversight. Allowing a princess to oversee…”

“Why not?” Li Rong turned to Su Minzhi. “Does Prime Minister Su think it unnecessary, or doubts my capability?”

Su Minzhi hesitated, carefully choosing his words. Li Rong continued, “If the Office of Censors could handle this alone, it would be ideal. But now, they are implicated. Establishing a temporary body is reasonable.”

“As for whether I’m capable,” Li Rong smiled, “Isn’t it worth a try? Does Prime Minister Su know of anyone with higher rank than me, outside the Three Departments, who has handled cases?”

“I… indeed do not,” Su Minzhi admitted reluctantly.

Li Ming intervened cheerfully, “So be it. If Rong has grown up and wishes to share my burdens, she shall have this opportunity.”

Li Ming grinned, “You’re stationed in the city’s military camp. Choose five hundred men to assist you. Succeed in this case, and there will be rewards. Do well.”

“Thank you, Father Emperor.”

Li Rong responded quickly, while Li Ming straightened up with some fatigue, saying, “That’s enough for today, let’s adjourn.”

With the respectful farewells from everyone, Li Ming walked out.

Pei Wenxuan walked through the crowd to Li Rong’s side, pursed his lips and said, “Shall we go back together?”

“Sure.” 

Li Rong walked out with him, lowering her voice, she asked, “Did I perform well today?”

“Excellent,” Pei Wenxuan gave her a thumbs-up.

As they were happily chatting, they heard the voice of Shangguan Xu from behind, “Your Highness, please wait!”

Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan stopped. Pei Wenxuan subtly moved closer to Li Rong and whispered, “Trouble is coming.”

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