Transmigrated Female Official

214 Private Affairs

After Chu Qingluo and Shaoyao were imprisoned together, Guangrentang was leaderless. Longkui, citing the need to facilitate the investigation, requested temporary jurisdiction over Guangrentang from the Empress.

Meanwhile, in the Chu residence, Madam Chu was so anxious that she cried every day, wanting to go to her grandmother to beg her to intercede for Chu Qingluo. However, her grandmother had already retired during the reign of the late emperor, so how could she possibly speak to the current empress?

Fortunately, Luo Lifei took Chu Yilin to the Chu family and said that Chu Qingluo was only being temporarily detained for questioning as a routine matter, which was not a big deal. At least they managed to appease Chu's mother.

Chu's mother believed that Chu Qingluo's recent series of misfortunes must be due to offending some kind of Tai Sui (a deity associated with bad luck), so she changed her routine and spent her days burning incense and praying to Buddha at home. She also invited a priest to perform rituals at home, hoping that Chu Qingluo could return safely as soon as possible.

……

Longkui led a group of people to investigate Guangrentang for two days in a serious manner, and then reported the situation to the Empress on the third day when she went to court.

"Does Minister Long mean there has been a major breakthrough in the case?" the Empress asked.

“Exactly,” Longkui replied. “If Your Majesty permits, I would like to subject the suspect to some severe torture. I believe the truth will be revealed within a day.”

"Suspect?" the Empress asked uncertainly, "Who are you referring to?"

"The suspect is none other than Lord Chu. I received a report that... Lord Chu and Lord Ziyan are having an affair. I suspect this is a crime of passion." Long Kui paused here to observe the Empress's expression.

"That's utter nonsense!" The Empress's reaction was indeed not very pleasant.

“Without solid evidence, I would not dare to speak rashly.” Long Kui continued, “My subordinate, Li Yan, was once an executive officer in Guangrentang. She personally witnessed Lord Ziyan sending his attendants to deliver gifts to Lord Chu.”

"A gift?" The Empress narrowed her phoenix eyes slightly and asked, "What kind of gift?"

“Li Yan said she saw a very exquisite little brocade box,” Long Kui said. “I have already interrogated the attendant who delivered the gift on behalf of Lord Ziyan, and he said with certainty that there was a piece of Xiuyan jade in the brocade box.”

"puff--!"

As soon as Longkui finished speaking, someone in a corner of the hall chuckled.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I was truly rude." The one who laughed was Jiang Hua.

Jiang Hua was in charge of the Imperial Kitchen, and was the lowest-ranking female official among the ten ranks. Although she had a straightforward and forthright personality and a particularly loud voice, her voice was rarely heard during the morning court sessions in the Qingming Hall.

Those in lower positions, if they wish to maintain their positions long-term, should be far more adept than those in higher positions at understanding when to be humble and taciturn and when to retreat strategically. They must be constantly on edge, walking on thin ice.

But today, Jiang Hua actually laughed in the palace, which made others find it unbelievable.

"Why is Lord Jiang laughing?" The Empress's face darkened even more as they were discussing such a serious matter.

"Your Majesty, when I heard Lord Long mention gift-giving, I suddenly remembered something, which is why I couldn't help myself."

"Go ahead and say it." The Empress saw that Jiang Hua wasn't usually such an unruly person, so she didn't hold it against her.

"Does Your Majesty still remember the matter of Lord Chu making down comforters?" After the Empress nodded, Jiang Hua continued, "At that time, I assisted Lord Chu in making the down comforters, which was also done under imperial decree. However, Lord Chu is a kind-hearted person and insisted on getting one for me as well, even though it was one of the few down comforters available. If Lord Long concludes that Lord Chu and Lord Ziyan have an affair based solely on a small piece of jade, then is Lord Chu's request for a comforter for me also a case of collusion between officials?"

After Jiang Hua finished speaking, someone in the hall immediately echoed in a low voice, "That's right—" "This doesn't necessarily mean that Lord Chu and Lord Ziyan have a secret affair."

“That’s certainly not enough.” Longkui said with a stern face, raising her voice, “There are also witnesses who can testify to this.” After saying that, she gestured to the attendant at the door.

A man was then summoned into the palace and bowed to the Empress, saying, "May Your Majesty be well."

Upon seeing the newcomer, a hint of displeasure flashed across Li Ziyou's face.

"No need for formalities. Who are you?" the Empress asked.

The man replied, "I am a servant of the Clothing Pavilion, and my name is Li Yu."

Long Kui added from the side, "He and Lord Ziyan are old acquaintances, and he knows quite a bit about Lord Ziyan's situation in the Clothing Pavilion. His Majesty will know as soon as he asks." After saying that, she turned to Li Yu and instructed, "When His Majesty asks you questions later, you must answer truthfully. If you conceal even the slightest thing, it will be a crime of deceiving the emperor. Do you understand?"

Li Yu nodded sheepishly and said, "I understand."

The Empress glanced at Li Yu from head to toe before asking, "I ask you, Ziyan and you were old acquaintances, what is the relationship between you two?"

Li Yu bowed his head and replied, "I have worked with Lord Ziyan in the Clothing Pavilion for many years and we have always had a good relationship. The other attendants also know this."

"Very well." The Empress asked, "When Lord Chu was serving as the executive officer of the Clothing Pavilion, was his relationship with Zi Yan too close... or even involved in a secret affair?"

When Li Yu heard the Empress ask this question, although he had already prepared himself, he still couldn't help but gasp. "Your Majesty, the relationship between Lord Chu and Lord Ziyan... is indeed better than that of others..."

Seeing his evasive words, the Empress said sternly, "I'm asking you, is there an affair between them?! How can you prove it?!"

Li Yu was startled and quickly replied, "I only know that they are very close. Unlike other attendants, Lord Ziyan always addressed Lord Chu by her maiden name and never called her Lord Chu. They spent almost every day together. In addition, when it came to the gifts for the Summer Festival, Lord Chu paid special attention to Lord Ziyan's clothing and even personally took him out of the palace to select fabrics... He was very devoted to him. These are treatments that other attendants did not receive."

While anxiously explaining, Li Yu reassured herself that he was telling the truth and hadn't deliberately fabricated anything. Chu Qingluo's relationship with Ziyan was already much better than with others.

"..." The Empress gave him a deep look, lost in thought without speaking.

At this moment, Longkui added insult to injury. "If Your Majesty thinks back carefully, you will find that the relationship between Lord Chu and Lord Ziyan is truly extraordinary."

Without Longkui's prompting, the Empress was already recalling. She remembered that her cotton headrest was obtained by Ziyan from Chu Qingluo, and she also remembered that Ziyan had subtly pleaded for Chu Qingluo's behalf more than once... and how the two of them, when they were together, were indeed perfectly in sync, singing in unison.

Seeing that the Empress's expression was becoming increasingly strange, the Sixth Princess quickly stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, these are all just rumors and should not be taken seriously."

Longkui said, "Evidence is often dug out little by little from these clues!"