Chapter 131: Sun Jinhu's Meal Delivery |
After Xinyue left the Court of Judicial Review, she found herself with nowhere to go.
She could enter and exit the palace because Wei Wusheng had arranged for her to have palace maid credentials—and not just any credentials, but those of a high-ranking palace maid with duties that included external procurement.
However, Wei Wusheng had definitely entered the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs by now, so returning would be meaningless.
Moreover, given her involvement in the Langya case, the moment she entered the palace, she might be arrested on the spot.
Rather than have her freedom restricted, it was better to remain outside where she could at least accomplish something.
Whether in the Palace City or the outer city, the Sixth Prince owned various properties, so she wouldn't lack for a place to stay.
As for the prince himself, there was nothing she could do for him.
But for Song Shi'an, perhaps she could do something...
With this thought, Xinyue had a direction.
The curtain on the side of the carriage lifted, revealing an exceptionally beautiful, gentle face.
"Are you Miss Xinyue?" she asked.
"Yes."
Xinyue made no attempt to hide it.
She feared no one, and besides, she had a sword at her waist. If someone had come to kill her, she would fight to the death.
Though looking at this woman's lamb-like physique, she didn't seem threatening.
"Wait a moment." Getting down from the back of the carriage, the young woman walked to Xinyue's side, placing her hand on Xinyue's arm and saying softly, "Could we speak privately for a moment?"
"Who are you?" Xinyue asked.
After a moment's hesitation, the other party replied with a serious expression: "Sun Jinhu, daughter of Minister Sun."
………
The "private moment" they chose was beneath a banyan tree in a deep alley of the Palace City.
They sized each other up.
Sun Jinhu knew about her—she was the Sixth Prince's guard, and together with the Sixth Prince and Song Shi'an, she had accomplished many remarkable things, such as taking the Langya garrison commander hostage to incite a mutiny.
On the return to the city, she had also led the shackled Song Shi'an forward without fear or hesitation.
Xinyue also knew about her—the most beautiful woman in Jiangnan.
That day when Minister Sun had invited the jieyuan, sub-yuan scholars, and talents to his estate, it was to find a match for this daughter.
Unfortunately, Song Shi'an had disrupted everything, and the matter had fallen through.
And she seemed to have some special connection with Song Shi'an.
"Miss Xinyue." Sun Jinhu looked at her, asking very earnestly, "Young Master Song in the Court of Judicial Review—how is he?"
Faced with this question, Xinyue responded quite calmly with her own question: "You're Minister Sun's daughter, and now you're asking about Song Shi'an's situation. Do you think I would tell you?"
"..." Seeing the other party's hostility, Sun Jinhu hastily explained, "Please rest assured, I absolutely won't tell my father."
This statement made the usually cold-faced Xinyue feel somewhat speechless. She said, "You know, even the oath that Song Shi'an made the Sixth Prince swear by the Chishui River might not be reliable."
You think with this light, casual sentence you can extract intelligence from me, then have your father use it to attack Song Shi'an?
"I..."
Sun Jinhu fell silent after being confronted, then simply confessed frankly: "I greatly admire Young Master Song, and I sincerely respect what you and he did in Liang Prefecture. While there may indeed be political disagreements between the elders, I've never harbored any hostility. I... want to help him."
"Then tell me, how do you want to help him?"
Xinyue looked at her with interest.
"My elder brother is the Left Monitor of the Court of Judicial Review, and many of the officials there are disciples of our Sun clan. I'm willing to privately bribe those jailers to have them clean and arrange his cell properly." Seeing the other party's unchanging expression, Sun Jinhu added, "I can also personally deliver hot meals to Young Master Song... I'll just say that Miss Xinyue sent me."
As soon as these words left her mouth, Xinyue immediately showed disgust toward this woman.
"Do I need to compete with you for his affection?"
"That's not what I meant." Sun Jinhu waved her hands, explaining, "It's just that the prison only serves cold meals, which is bad for one's health. We don't know when Young Master Song will be released, so I want to try to improve his conditions as much as possible."
"Is he the kind of man who can't handle eating a few cold meals?"
"But this is the only thing I can do..."
"Then don't do it."
Coldly, Xinyue cut off Sun Jinhu.
She finally understood what Song Shi'an had meant by those words.
What about feelings, then?
He and the Sixth Prince had been through life and death together, yet the Prince of Wu only needed to say a few pretty words to replace the Sixth Prince's position?
Sun Jinhu was just another such arrogant young lady. Her father and Song Shi'an were locked in mortal combat, yet because she had favorable feelings toward her father's sworn enemy, she thought she could dissolve this enmity with a few hot meals and become the understanding, gentle woman by Song Shi'an's side?
Where was there such cheap affection?
"Miss Xinyue, do you hate me?"
Having been continuously rebuffed, Sun Jinhu looked at her, asking with some confusion.
"No, I think you're very adorable, very kind."
Gazing at this young woman, Xinyue rarely smiled: "Song Shi'an survived even malaria—he won't die from eating a few cold meals. If you truly want to help him, persuade your father the Minister not to target him anymore."
"But my father definitely won't agree..."
"See? You haven't even tried, and you're already saying it's impossible."
Instantly changing her expression, Xinyue said contemptuously: "You only know how to choose the easiest things to do."
"That's not true, I can..."
"The meals you'd send—you wouldn't even make them yourself, would you?"
"..."
Sun Jinhu's face immediately flushed red.
And Xinyue, her hand resting on her sword hilt, turned and walked away without hesitation.
She left Sun Jinhu standing in place, fists clenched, staring at that woman's back. Even her good temper had been pushed to produce a belly full of fire, yet she had no way to vent it.
It wasn't until much later that she suddenly reacted: "Wait, what did I do wrong?"
………
Sun Jinhu truly hadn't done anything wrong.
In her position, she couldn't decide anything.
If she dared to suggest to Minister Sun that he stop targeting Song Shi'an, not only would she be scolded, but Minister Sun would also remember: there's still a daughter who hasn't been married off yet.
On the contrary, she was somewhat kind.
Among aristocratic families, young ladies with such simple values were relatively rare.
Though not extremely rare—once the base number increased, they became more common.
Of course, for Xinyue, the reason for refusing was only one—boring.
After leaving Sun Jinhu, she went directly to her destination.
The Cui estate.
The home of Cui Ting, Right Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Manufactories.
This Cui clan was one of the Five Prestigious Families of the Capital, with great wealth and prominence, even more distinguished than the Song clan of Huai Commandery. Song Jing's legal wife was the legitimate eldest daughter of this family.
She was also the maternal grandfather of Song Shi'an's younger brother, Song Ce.
The position of Court of Imperial Manufactories was among the Nine Ministers and had considerable power, ranking above the officials in charge of rites and foreign guests, though this didn't mean the Right Vice Minister also wielded much real authority.
Great Yu's ranking system was inflated—many officials with the rank of Senior Second Grade were essentially holding honorary titles granted to elders of great aristocratic families.
Conversely, Song Jing's former position as Sheng'an Magistrate at Senior Third Rank—faced with many officials of Senior Second or even Second Rank, he wouldn't want to trade.
But lacking real power didn't mean lacking a voice.
Aristocratic family background was the greatest foundation.
"Who are you?" The gatekeeper saw her standing at the entrance and asked.
"I'm from the Sixth Prince." Xinyue said, "I request to see Vice Minister Cui."
Hearing this, his body tensed, looking somewhat uneasy: "I can go report for you, but could you... be a bit less conspicuous?"
"Alright, I'll wait at the side entrance."
Xinyue didn't confront everyone with hostility, nor was she someone who bullied the weak while fearing the strong.
Following Song Shi'an, she had learned something about 'playing politics.'
If you wanted to get things done, you had to be practical.
Being practical meant making solving the problem your top priority.
Just like when she and Song Shi'an went to Wang's fortress at Wulei—they used both honey traps and acted like grandsons.
No one would care whether this 'respect' was genuine.
So she stood by the side entrance, quietly waiting.
After a while, the gatekeeper returned and extended his hand: "Please."
The fact that upon hearing she was from the Sixth Prince, he let her in without much hesitation already showed Vice Minister Cui's attitude.
After all, all the officials in the capital were quite sensitive right now.
Even if they didn't support Song Shi'an, it wasn't good to obviously show support.
Otherwise, they'd be hated by their colleagues.
Though his daughter was currently under house arrest... perhaps he couldn't distance himself too clearly.
Xinyue was led by someone to the main hall of the Cui estate.
Above, sat an old man with a cane who looked quite amiable.
"This humble one greets Vice Minister Cui."
Xinyue took the initiative to bow.
"No need for formalities." Vice Minister Cui smiled, pressing down with his hand. "Please sit."
"Thank you."
Xinyue sat down in her seat, and soon someone poured tea in front of her.
"Leave. Don't let anyone approach."
After Vice Minister Cui instructed the servants to leave only the two of them, he directly asked: "The mutiny in Langya where you held Luo Ting hostage—were you involved?"
"Yes, Vice Minister."
"Did you also go into the fortified strongholds with Song Shi'an and kill that Wang clan bandit?" he asked again.
"Reporting to the Vice Minister, that was also me."
"Ha ha ha." Cui Ting was amused. "You young lady, how are you so formidable?"
"I merely follow the Sixth Prince's orders."
"What about Song Shi'an's orders?" Cui Ting asked probingly.
After thinking briefly, Xinyue raised her head and laid her cards on the table directly: "The Sixth Prince is in the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs, taking responsibility for all the crimes. But he doesn't know that Song Shi'an is in the Court of Judicial Review, also taking responsibility for all the crimes."
This was top-secret information.
Originally she hadn't known either, but on the journey back to Sheng'an after the Sixth Prince had already returned, while she accompanied Song Shi'an, Song Shi'an had confessed to her.
As for whom she could tell to gain external support, Song Shi'an left that entirely to Xinyue's judgment.
After consideration, Xinyue decided to come find this official.
"Did Song Shi'an tell you to inform me of this?" Cui Ting asked, growing increasingly serious.
"No, no." Xinyue stood up, saying apologetically, "Vice Minister, it's not at Song Shi'an's request, but currently, I believe you can help him. I've taken it upon myself to involve you in this—please forgive me."
"It's Song Shi'an who involved me, and you're apologizing to me on his behalf."
"Yes."
"Why would you do this for him?" Cui Ting pressed, "Are you the Sixth Prince's person, or Song Shi'an's person?"
"I am the Sixth Prince's person."
After this definitive answer, she lowered her head and slowly said, "Song Shi'an is my close friend."
"Good."
Cui Ting accepted this answer quickly and asked, "What do you want me to do?"
"The metropolitan examination is starting soon, and both Song Ce and Song Shi'an are involved in prison cases and are not free." Xinyue requested, "I hope the Vice Minister can register them for the examination."
In principle, it couldn't be done.
How could criminals and suspects register for the national examination?
But where were there so many principles?
"I can."
His answer was so straightforward that even Xinyue was momentarily stunned. Looking at him, she asked in confusion, "I'd like to presume to ask—aren't you afraid of offending all the officials by doing this?"
Leaning on his cane, Cui Ting gazed forward calmly: "By arresting my son-in-law, they've already offended me."