Chapter 27: Taking the Blame

To be precise, it was not simply being pushed aside—the door was kicked open outright.

A man dressed in lavish attire stood at the entrance, exuding an air of arrogance and debauchery, with four young attendants following behind.

“How dare you lay hands on my woman? Do you even know who I am?”

“Oh, Young Master Lin, I must have lost my mind. These men forced their way in, and there was nothing I could do. If you don’t believe me, ask Xueyi—Xueyi, isn’t that so?”

Xueyi dabbed at the corners of her eyes with her handkerchief and said, “I was coerced as well. I already told them I belonged to Young Master, but they simply refused to believe me.”

“You…” Jiang Yun was so incensed he could not find words.

“If the young lady claims she was forced, is there any evidence of coercion here? Was the door kicked in, or did we forcibly mistreat you? To say such things after taking the silver is truly inappropriate!” It was Jiang Xuan who spoke, and though young in years, he spoke with the bearing of an adult, possessing an imposing presence.

“If I say it’s appropriate, it is; if I say it’s not, it’s not. Even if it wasn’t by force, who in the capital doesn’t know Xueyi is the woman I’ve kept? She serves me alone. You three must be audacious indeed to touch what is mine. Men, teach them a lesson.”

The small room was instantly thrown into chaos. Though Jiang Yun had trained in martial arts, he had no real combat experience—he looked more like a genteel scholar than a fighter. As for Jiang Xuan, I wasn’t sure of his abilities, but at sixteen, it was unlikely he could take on these men.

Thus, Jiang Yun and Jiang Xuan were both beaten black and blue, and I dared not report to the authorities. If the incident became public, both would surely suffer.

Yet, the matter still drew the attention of the officials. Upon learning Young Master Lin was involved, the Magistrate of the Capital himself came in person.

As soon as the official saw Young Master Lin, he bowed and scraped; but when he looked at Jiang Yun and Jiang Xuan, his tone turned harsh and severe. “How bold you are to cause trouble at the very foot of the Son of Heaven! Come with me to the yamen at once!”

Jiang Yun, clutching his face—never before having suffered such humiliation—protested, “You, as an official, can’t even distinguish right from wrong. He’s the one who assaulted us. Why are you hauling us off to the yamen?”

“Who saw Young Master Lin lay hands on anyone? What I saw were you stirring up trouble. Men, take them away!”

“Who is this official?” Jiang Xuan asked, his eyes ringed like a panda’s.

“I am the Magistrate of the Capital.”

“May I have a word with you in private, sir?”

“Ninth Brother, what could you possibly have to say to him? Such a muddle-headed official—when we return, I will certainly—”

“Third Brother.” Jiang Xuan merely glanced back at Jiang Yun, and the depth of his gaze silenced him. Perhaps even Jiang Yun did not understand why, though he was the Crown Prince, a single word from Jiang Xuan could quiet him so easily.

“What do you wish to say to me?”

“Something that will benefit you, sir.”

“Very well.”

The two stepped aside for only a moment. When they returned, the Magistrate’s legs were trembling, his lips quivering. “Th-This was all a misunderstanding. Disperse, all of you, disperse.”

Upon hearing this, Young Master Lin protested, “Magistrate Dong, what’s the meaning of this? You owe me an explanation.”

The Magistrate, suddenly emboldened, shouted, “Explanation? What explanation? Young Master Lin, if your father hears you’ve been frequenting such places, I fear—”

“Are you threatening me?”

“I would not dare. So let’s end it here—it was all a misunderstanding. Take my advice, Young Master Lin, if this matter grows, it will do you no good.”

“What is wrong with you, how dare you—”

“Young Master Lin, let’s go!” And with that, the Magistrate pulled him away, turning back to cast Jiang Xuan a final glance before departing.

On the way back, Jiang Yun asked Jiang Xuan, “Ninth Brother, did you tell that foolish official who we are?”

Jiang Xuan nodded. “I did.”

“How could you? If this reaches Father…”

Jiang Xuan replied calmly, “This will inevitably reach Father.”

“What?” Jiang Yun’s face turned ashen. “What now? If Father hears, we’ll surely be punished. If Mother hears, she’ll scold us too. This is a disaster.”

The more Jiang Yun spoke, the more anxious he became. Suddenly, he turned to Jiang Xuan. “Ninth Brother, could I ask a favor of you?”

“Whatever you wish, Third Brother.”

“Could you take the blame for this? Say it was your idea, and you’re the one who argued with them.”

I hadn’t expected Jiang Yun to say this—willing to sacrifice his own brother to save himself. I looked at Jiang Xuan, whose expression betrayed nothing, as if all had been foreseen, or as if none of it concerned him.

“Very well,” Jiang Xuan replied softly. “I only revealed my own identity, not yours as Crown Prince. As heir, such matters must never come to light.”

Joy appeared on Jiang Yun’s face. “Ninth Brother, you are truly clever.” Then, with a hint of guilt, he added, “But to let you take the blame—I really can’t forgive myself. I owe you. In the future, if you ever need me, I’ll help you however I can.”

“Agreed.”

Only then did Jiang Yun breathe easy. Suddenly, he looked at me and said, “Little Xiao, about today’s events, you are to do as the Ninth Prince says. Do not spread rumors.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” I replied.

On the way back to the palace, I caught a glimpse of someone on the street—a man who seemed very familiar, though I couldn’t place where I had seen him. Dressed in white, with ink-brushed bamboo adorning his robes, he looked refined and scholarly. I must have seen him in the palace before, but not in this attire. For a moment, I could not recall, so I let it go.

Upon returning to the palace, Jiang Xuan hurried off to his own Eastern Palace, and I followed him back to Cuiwei Palace.

“You have something to say?” Jiang Xuan asked me suddenly on the way.

“I only wondered whether Young Master Lin has some special status?”

“He is the son of Prime Minister Lin Zhishu.”

“No wonder. But why would the Ninth Prince take the blame for the Crown Prince? Clearly—”

“Because he is my third brother.”

Jiang Xuan’s words were calm but resolute. Looking at his still-slight shoulders, I could not help but worry. Jiang Yun was not someone fit to entrust a nation to in the future.

But this was Jiang Xuan’s own choice; I could say nothing more. So I asked, “What sort of place is that Yihong Courtyard? It didn’t seem like any ordinary tavern. Ninth Prince, forgive my ignorance.”

Seeing my seriousness, Jiang Xuan’s lips quirked up. “A place for men and women—do you truly not know?”

I shook my head. “I do not.”

“A brothel.”

…So the three of us had brazenly visited a brothel?

No wonder Jiang Yun was so afraid of the Emperor finding out. For the Crown Prince to visit a brothel, and even fight over a courtesan—this was no trivial matter.

But if Jiang Xuan took the blame, what would become of him?

My worries lasted less than half an incense stick’s time, for before we even reached Cuiwei Palace, Qiu Ronghai intercepted us. Jiang Xuan was called away at once, and I had barely returned when news reached Zhang Bitong.

The Emperor was furious when he heard, and immediately punished Jiang Xuan: three days kneeling in the Ancestral Temple, reflecting on his misdeeds without food, only water allowed. Lady Zhang was blamed for failing in her duties as a mother and placed under house arrest for a month.

When Zhang Bitong heard, she nearly fainted. Her confinement was nearly over, but now this had happened.

“Little Xiao!” she shouted, and I hurriedly knelt.

“The Ninth Prince went to such a place—why didn’t you stop him? As a servant, you failed to look after your master and let my Xuan get into this mess. I thought you were clever, so I let you serve him, but instead you let him come to harm.”

“Please, Your Grace, calm yourself.” Yun Qing offered her a cup of tea, but Lady Zhang hurled it at me.

Yun Qing and I both jumped in fright. But I could not dodge—the cup struck my brow, and I felt warm liquid trickle down.

“Twenty strokes. From now on, you are not to set foot inside. You will sweep the grounds and do rough labor. Tonight, while Xuan kneels at the temple, you will kneel at the door and not rise. Get out—I don’t want to see you.”

I was dragged out by Xiao Luzi and beaten soundly with twenty strokes. He certainly did not hold back—ever since I’d taken some of his glory in Cuiwei Palace, he’d borne a grudge. Lan Yan simply watched with some sympathy, saying nothing, while Hong Xiu cast me a scornful glance and left.

Old wounds unhealed, new ones added.

No sooner had the beating ended than Xiao Luzi set me to sweeping. Cradling my aching waist, I dragged myself along, broom in hand.

At night, all was silent. I knelt at the door as ordered, pain wracking my body, exhaustion weighing me down, shivering in the cold. My head drooped and struck the pillar beside me, jolting me awake again and again. Such suffering—it would be better to faint outright.

In the middle of the night, the door beside me opened. Yun Qing, wrapped in a cloak, stepped out.

“Little Xiao!”

“Miss Yun Qing!”

“You’ve suffered, but you did err. Accept your punishment, and all will be well.”

“I understand. I accept it willingly.”

“I have an opportunity for you to redeem yourself.”

“Please, tell me.”

“Her Grace is worried about the Ninth Prince but dares not show it. Though you erred, I have always valued you. I’ve had Hong Xiu prepare some food and a fox-fur cloak for the Ninth Prince. Deliver them to him quietly. If you do this well, Her Grace will surely lift your punishment.”

“I’ll go at once!”