Chapter 76: Feathers Scattered All Over the Ground (Part Two)

“Quan Ce, are you aware of your crimes?”

With a question that swept in from the west, Empress Wu’s voice, cold as shards of ice, crashed overhead, shattering into fine powder that echoed through the hall.

Quan Ce swiftly shifted from a respectful bow to kneeling, and kowtowed, saying, “I am aware of my guilt.”

His response startled those within the palace, their expressions varied—some worried, some pleased. Only Empress Wu seemed unsurprised; she gave a cold laugh, smoothed her outer robe, and said with leisure, “Tell me, of what crime do you believe yourself guilty?”

“I have failed in my duties and neglected my office. The matter of the Western Turks’ tribute remains unsettled. I beg Your Majesty to mete out punishment,” Quan Ce confessed, his face full of shame, his contrition grave and earnest.

Upon hearing this, Wu Sansi stole a glance at the Empress’s countenance, noting her lack of anger, and forced a smile. Shangguan Wan’er rolled her eyes, while Wu Chengsi’s face darkened, his expression stern as he rebuked, “Vice Minister Quan, this is the Empress’s audience, the affairs of state—such levity is not permitted.”

Quan Ce remained kneeling, pleading guilty before the Empress, and at Wu Chengsi’s reprimand, simply bowed his head a little lower, offering no reply.

“That’s enough,” Empress Wu waved her hand, signaling Quan Ce to rise. “You, Youxu, claim he has invented some new technique. Is this true?”

“Your servant is ashamed—it is but a modest skill, unworthy of the name of invention.” Quan Ce then explained again the method of firing porcelain with cosmetic clay, and, out of caution, added, “This is merely theory on paper; whether it is workable, I cannot be certain.”

Empress Wu responded with a neutral hum. “You’ve caused quite a stir at the Office of Diplomatic Rites, and still find time to dabble in these matters. It seems your burdens are too light. And the missing servants from your household—have you found any trace of them?”

“I have neglected my duties. Forgive me, Your Majesty. The servants from my residence remain missing without a trace.” Quan Ce dutifully performed the ritual gestures and volunteered their origins: “The Zhu couple entered my household a year ago. At that time, they had been wounded by bandits and had a small child to care for, lying destitute on the road between the two capitals. Out of compassion, I took them in. Who would have thought that even in my home, they could not escape misfortune? I am often troubled by guilt.”

“Vice Minister Quan, your heart is kind; it is only that their fate is ill,” Wu Chengsi interjected to ease the situation, then shifted the topic. “However, this matter is full of oddities. Such elaborate means to abduct your household’s servants—what could be the purpose? And why commit the act at Youxu’s residence?”

“I do not know,” Quan Ce replied, brow furrowed, innocence written over his face, making no effort to help Wu Chengsi unravel the mystery.

Wu Chengsi’s frown deepened, his hawk-like eyes pinned Quan Ce as he gave a cold snort. “I have heard that this very servant of yours was seen lurking around Youxu’s residence. Are you unaware of this, Vice Minister Quan?”

“My acquaintance with Attendant Wu began at Her Highness Taiping’s wedding banquet. All our interactions have been in broad daylight,” Quan Ce replied calmly, neither servile nor arrogant.

“Hmph, I doubt it’s so simple…” Wu Chengsi pressed on.

“Your Majesty,” Wu Youxu cried out, prostrating himself. “I am but a useless man, repeatedly harassed. My household suffered three terrors in one night; I am filled with dread and can bear it no longer. I beg to resign my post and retreat to the mountains… I am by nature tranquil, indifferent to power and wealth, my friendships pure and uncalculating. Quan Ce visits me only out of interest—what schemes could there possibly be? I implore Your Majesty to see the truth.”

“Wailing and weeping—how improper!” Empress Wu flew into a rage. “Guards, drag him out!”

A group of green-robed palace guards rushed forward and dragged Wu Youxu out of the hall.

“Your Majesty, calm yourself, lest you injure your noble health,” Wu Sansi hurried to soothe her. “Youxu is overly emotional, his house being spied upon, his friend’s servants abducted—these are trivial matters. My own household was splattered with blood for no reason, yet it is nothing serious. Just order the authorities to investigate; if they find anything, good, if not, let it go. We are all kin, there’s no need for discord.”

Wu Sansi spoke gently, full of apparent loyalty, yet his words confirmed Wu Youxu’s persecution and subtly aired his own grievances, all the while pointing the blame at Wu Chengsi.

“Nonsense!” Wu Chengsi roared in anger. “Are you the only ones wronged? My household lost a retainer the day before yesterday and a steward just yesterday—who should I demand justice from?”

Wu Sansi’s smile never faltered, but a sharp glint flashed in his eyes. “You are quite right, brother. There have been many casualties at your residence. The one who died at Youxu’s house must have been yours as well. Mourn as you must, but perhaps less coming and going would bring more safety. If we all serve Her Majesty peacefully, that is best for all.”

His words, both veiled and overt, mixed truth and falsehood. Quan Ce listened in bafflement and surprise. Though not a timid man, he had never even considered killing anyone at Wu Chengsi’s household—let alone that two would die in succession. What was happening?

Anger flickered across Wu Chengsi’s face; he glared at the magistrate and the heads of the three judicial offices. Among them, someone must have secretly reported to Wu Sansi about his men spying on Wu Youxu’s residence, but he forced himself to remain calm. “Stop your posturing. Must I be the one to expose every sordid deed of yours?”

This cast a net over everyone, making Wu Sansi and his allies uneasy. The Deputy Censor-in-Chief, Lai Juncheng, was the first to lose composure. “Your Majesty, Chancellor, gentlemen, I believe we must get to the bottom of this. The matter began at Attendant Wu’s residence, with many suspicious circumstances. Unless we investigate thoroughly, Attendant Wu cannot clear his name. I request permission to search Attendant Wu’s residence to get to the truth.”

“We concur,” Yang Shouyu and others quickly agreed, and the Chief Justice added, “The Princess Yiyang’s residence is also not entirely above suspicion. If we search both, we can also clear Vice Minister Quan’s name.”

Quan Ce kept his head bowed, face expressionless. These jackals were despicable, and he could not afford to offend the powerful. So, disregarding the truth, they used the weak as scapegoats. Wu Youxu and himself were perfect candidates. But now that Ping’an Lang was eliminated as a threat, he had nothing to fear. “If the lords deem it necessary, I have no objection to a search. Attendant Wu is upright and surely will not object either.”

Empress Wu, seated high upon the crimson dais, watched their machinations with amusement and murmured, “Very well. Yang Shouyu, the capital prefecture is to send men at once to conduct the search. Since you are all so interested, you may supervise personally.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Wu Chengsi led the chorus as all present bowed in acknowledgment.

Yang Shouyu cast down a fire-inscribed warrant. Over a hundred officers swept out in force, first to Wu Youxu’s residence, searching every inch. The soil from the storeroom became a focal point—they sifted it in baskets, then baked it with fierce flames, laboring for over two hours, but it remained nothing but earth.

Next, they turned to the Princess Yiyang’s residence, overturning every corner. Every sheet of paper in Quan Ce’s study was inspected; poetry, essays, and paintings abounded, but no trace of any secret evidence was found. The chief clerk, burdened with a stack of papers, pondered them for a long while before sighing and driving his subordinates, who had been rough in their search, from the room. “This place is blessed with the spirit of the arts; how dare you defile it?”

Both residences thoroughly searched, nothing out of the ordinary was found—save for a rather large sum of money and valuables at Quan Ce’s home.

Wu Chengsi, frustrated, turned and left, returning to the palace to report in detail to Empress Wu.

“Absurd,” she rebuked in a chilling tone.

“Wu Chengsi is demoted two grades and fined two hundred thousand coins. Wu Sansi is demoted one grade and fined one hundred thousand coins,” she decreed, eyes never leaving the memorials she was reviewing. “Yang Shouyu, Lai Juncheng, and the others have failed in their duties. Their salaries are suspended for six months, and their confiscated property is to be transferred to the state treasury for disaster relief for those suffering from the snowstorm.”

After a pause, she added, “Quan Ce has served with diligence and made many contributions. Grant him the right to ride and bear a sword within the palace.”

“Wu Youxu is promoted to Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Rites.”

Some rejoiced, others mourned, as they all knelt to receive her decree.

Quan Ce, kneeling at the back, was quite satisfied with the outcome. Though his home had been ransacked, surviving this ordeal was enough. The privilege of riding and bearing a sword in the palace, like the purple gold fish pouch, was best left on the shelf.

His survival owed much to Wu Youxu, who served as his stepping stone. Yet Wu Youxu also benefited—advancing two ranks from Fifth Rank Attendant to Third Rank Deputy Minister. Such a reward was more than sufficient.