Chapter 52: Probing
On the one hand, her fearlessness in the face of the powerful and noble had earned her the moniker "Iron-Faced Judge." Some aristocratic families who had suffered at her hands impeached her for abusing punishments and handling matters unfairly, comparing her to the cruel official Zhang Tang. Compared to major affairs of state, such matters were trivial, so Wei Qi naturally paid them no mind. Following convention, she sent the memorial back and ordered Fang Jian to defend herself. Fang Jian wrote a response that not only detailed the case from beginning to end but also argued her own viewpoint. At the end, she added a taunt: "I have heard it said of the houses of high ministers and nobles: decline in the third generation, ruin in the fifth. With Your Lordships indulging your children so, I wonder which generation you have reached now?" Her writing was excellent, and she held the moral high ground. The minor gentry and upright officials who supported her were also pleased to see the decorated nobles lose face, so they all spoke in her defense.
In court, Wei Qi appeared to favor neither side, but back in her palace chambers, she read Fang Jian's essay over and over, praising it repeatedly.
"A Triple First, through and through. This essay is simply brilliant—sharp and satirical. If I had such unworthy children in my family, I'm afraid my face would be burning with shame." Wei Qi casually tossed the memorial into the Head Eunuch's arms and laughed heartily.
"Young Lord Fang is certainly young and impetuous. She really isn't afraid of offending people," the Head Eunuch said with a smile.
"She has Gao Lushuang and the upright officials behind her; she's not entirely without backing." Wei Qi picked up another memorial. "Minister Gao wouldn't bear to see her prized student suffer a loss. Look, a memorial of impeachment from Dai Yanghui, accusing the Duke Who Assists the State, the Marquis of Songcheng, and the Earl of Gaoyang, among others, of failing to manage their households strictly."
This memorial was tossed into A'zheng's arms. A'zheng caught it, opened it for a look, and asked, "If I recall correctly, Lord Dai and Lord Gao are good friends?"
"Indeed." Wei Qi slowly circled her writing desk, the pros and cons of the situation turning over in her mind. "These military nobles all earned their current status through bloodshed on the battlefield. Now that they're older, their courage has waned. It's hard to say if they're genuinely spoiling their youngest children or deliberately tarnishing their own reputations to protect themselves."
A'zheng replied, "I fear it's a bit of both. They have truly underestimated Your Majesty's grand ambitions."
"Hmph, it's about time they were given a warning." Wei Qi beckoned to the Head Eunuch, who bowed and handed the memorial back.
Wei Qi took the memorial, spread it on her desk, and took up her brush to write a comment. Afterward, she said to the Head Eunuch, "Send it back just like this. Have the Office of Transmission make copies and let everyone see Minister Fang's brilliant and flowery prose."
On the memorial, two large, unrestrained characters were written with a vermilion brush: "Justified."
Once the imperial comment was issued, the entire court knew Her Majesty's intentions. Fang Jian's reputation soared as a result, and all the pampered sons and daughters of the capital's elite learned to steer clear of the Jingzhao Prefecture.
Fang Jian had finally established a firm foothold in the Jingzhao Prefecture. When she next went to Yuehe Hall, the scions of noble families she encountered would respectfully greet her. The youngest son of the General Who Assists the State, the second daughter of the Earl of Anyang, the eldest grandson of the Marquis of Tongcheng... Senior Fifth Rank, Senior Fourth Rank, Senior Third Rank... Were they bowing their heads to Fang Jian, or to the imperial power behind her?
Was this influence?
Was this power?
Holding a wine cup, Fang Jian stood on the second-floor gallery of Yuehe Hall, looking down at the singing, dancing, and clamor below. The scene felt incredibly distant, as if separated by a layer of window paper. The boisterous revelry on the other side seemed like flowers in a mirror or the moon's reflection in water—illusory and ready to scatter at a touch. But if she were to tear open that layer of window paper, what would she see?
Was it what she wanted?
Gao Yunqu was also settling in well at the Ministry of Works. Her division of labor with Minister Cheng Ji was clear, and with the initial plans for the Mao Canal project in Yingzhou finalized after nearly half a year of hard work, Gao Yunqu finally had some leisure to slowly sort through the ministry's daily affairs. She no longer restricted Fang Jian's visits, and Fang Jian, for her part, consciously avoided discussing official business with her. They only engaged in idle chatter and spoke of trivial, romantic matters, and in this, they developed a different kind of tacit understanding.
"Teacher."
When Fang Jian arrived, Gao Yunqu was taking a walk in the garden. It was already autumn, and a desolate air was settling over the grounds. A cool breeze blew past, stirring up a few fallen leaves.
"Since you're here, let's walk together." Gao Yunqu glanced back at her before turning to walk forward again.
"Mm." Fang Jian responded, falling into step half a pace behind her.
She seemed to have something on her mind, walking with her head down and not saying much. Gao Yunqu found this unusual. Glancing sideways, she saw Fang Jian's hesitant expression and asked, "Is there something you want to ask?"
Fang Jian frowned, and after a moment's hesitation, she said, "Lord Gao, I've received a letter from home."
"What is it?"
"My parents are asking when I plan to marry, if I have any intentions." Fang Jian steeled herself, closed her eyes, and said it all in one breath.
Gao Yunqu stopped walking, and Fang Jian halted behind her. They were standing on high ground, facing a lake whose surface was rippled by the cool wind.
Standing behind Gao Yunqu, Fang Jian's thoughts were in turmoil. She was already twenty-four; it was perfectly normal for her parents to be anxious. In fact, they had asked two years prior, but she had put them off with the excuse that her future was not yet settled. Now that the old matter was brought up again, she could have handled it herself, but after much hesitation, she still wanted to tell Gao Yunqu. She just wanted to know what Gao Yunqu would say.
Gao Yunqu remained silent for a long time, and Fang Jian's heart was in suspense for just as long.
"Mm... so you've reached the age for marriage..." Gao Yunqu sighed. Fang Jian stared intently at her profile, trying to detect some flicker of emotion, but there was none. Gao Yunqu spoke very slowly, every word clear, her tone no different from their earlier idle chatter. She watched as Gao Yunqu turned her head, her lips parting to ask, "Do you have anyone in mind?"
Fang Jian's heart felt as if it had been pierced by a sharp arrow, the pain leaving her speechless. Yet she had to maintain a calm expression. "No, I don't."
"Among your classmates or colleagues, are there any outstanding young men?" Gao Yunqu asked again.
"None," Fang Jian said through gritted teeth.
"Then... would you like me to look for a match for you, on your parents' behalf?"
Every word from Gao Yunqu was like a sharp knife stabbing into Fang Jian. She listened, clenching her jaw, her throat aching as she forced out the words: "Teacher, I want to ask, can I live my life alone, without marrying or having children? Just like you."
"If I recall correctly, you are an only daughter, are you not? Do you not have a duty to fulfill as a child to your parents?"
"And you, are you not also the only daughter of the Gao family?" Fang Jian looked up at Gao Yunqu, her eyes filled with fire.
Gao Yunqu turned her head back to the lake, her voice a little lower. "I am different from you."
What's so different? Is it that I haven't gone far enough, that I haven't climbed high enough?
Fang Jian suppressed her pain and said nonchalantly, "You've misremembered. A few years ago, my parents had another child. I have a younger sister."
"Then you should speak plainly with your parents. Tell them exactly what you think," Gao Yunqu replied.
"Alright."
Crestfallen, Fang Jian took her leave.
Gao Yunqu stood in the same spot for a long time before finally bending over and clutching her chest. How could she not understand what Fang Jian was doing, what she was thinking? She was still young, her desires written all over her face. But what she wanted, Gao Yunqu could not give.
She was the elder, the one in a superior position; she had the luxury of choice. But Fang Jian did not. Fang Jian should be an eagle soaring through the vast sky, not a sparrow in her palm.
The words that had left her mouth had stung not only Fang Jian, but herself as well. It was as if her soul had left her body, watching another version of herself speak such cold, heartless words, watching Fang Jian suffer in agony.
She had once thought she could control everything, but now she realized she could not control Fang Jian, nor could she control her own heart. The only thing she could do was to disguise herself so that Fang Jian would not notice.
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