Chapter 60: Fidelity
Fang Jian was dejected for a few days, but she eventually took Cui Miao's words to heart. She pulled herself together and focused all her thoughts on official business. Growing weary of the smug faces of certain successful upstarts, she declined all invitations to the Reformist Faction's gatherings.
Early this morning, a subordinate reported to her that the Imperial City Guard had brought in two officials. They were said to have been brawling on the streets last night during the curfew. Since they both held official ranks, the Imperial City Guard found the matter difficult to handle and sent them to the Jingzhao Prefecture first thing in the morning.
Fang Jian thought she had misheard and asked again. The subordinate slowed down and repeated the report.
Fang Jian was speechless. After a moment of silence, she asked, "Which two lords are they?"
"Shen Yue, Assistant at the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and Ji Yuanshi, Vice Director of the Ministry of Revenue." Both were fifth-rank officials; the former was a key member of the Conservative Faction, while the latter was a rising star in the Reformist Faction.
As soon as Fang Jian heard this, she knew it was likely related to factional strife again, but she still found it somewhat amusing. After she met the two men, however, she no longer felt like laughing.
Both were officials, so even though they were imprisoned, the jailers dared not treat them poorly. They were placed in two separate, clean cells, and were still cursing at each other through the bars. Fang Jian listened from outside for a while; it was nothing more than some unpleasantness arising from their different political views. When she entered, before she could even ask a few questions, they both berated her and demanded to be released.
Fang Jian frowned. "My lords, you have broken the law. Do you not feel the slightest remorse?"
"Little lady, don't make such a big deal of it," Shen Yue said dismissively. "The two of us just lost track of time while arguing and were only just past the curfew. How could it be so serious?"
"Indeed, young Judge Fang," Ji Yuanshi added. "It was this scoundrel who insisted on holding me back and wouldn't let me leave, that's why I broke the curfew. Besides, the curfew has become more relaxed in recent years. It's hardly a major offense, is it?"
"I am a judge of the Jingzhao Prefecture. The law for officials only teaches me to judge cases according to the statutes. If you two lords are dissatisfied, why not petition to have this curfew law amended?"
"You! You insolent child, what good will offending us do you?"
"Young Judge Fang, you and I are on the same side..."
Fang Jian left the prison, leaving the two men's curses behind her, feeling irritated. She had only taken a few steps when she received calling cards from outside. A quick glance told her they were all pleas for leniency, and she pretended not to have seen them. Before she could return to her duty office, she was summoned by the Prefect and Vice Prefect. Her two superiors also wanted to downplay the matter; if it blew up, no one would look good. Upon hearing this, Fang Jian's face darkened, and she refused with righteous conviction. Her two superiors looked displeased. It wasn't that they didn't know right from wrong, but they each had their own positions to consider. Sometimes in officialdom, one's position was far more important than right and wrong, but this was not something they could use to argue with Fang Jian openly. Even if the law was just a useless signboard, it still hung over everyone's head. Fang Jian held the moral high ground and had the favor of those higher up. All the two of them could do was stall for time.
The case wasn't major, so Fang Jian set it aside for the time being and busied herself with other matters. Throughout the day, calling cards arrived from all sides, but Fang Jian refused to see anyone. That night, Fan Tingrong came to see her in person. She was merely a nodding acquaintance with Ji Yuanshi, but complex entanglements behind the scenes compelled her to come and plead his case. However, she hadn't expected Fang Jian to be so stubborn; no matter what she said, Fang Jian wouldn't yield. By the end, Fan Tingrong's face was grim, and they parted on bad terms. Fang Jian hadn't imagined that such a clear-cut case of wrongdoing would drag in so many people.
The next night, Cui Miao came.
"Are you here to persuade me too?" Fang Jian raised an eyebrow.
"I know I can't persuade you. I'm just going through the motions, showing where I stand," Cui Miao said with a smile.
"Excellent. Saves me the trouble of cursing you out," Fang Jian sneered.
Hearing this, Cui Miao raised an eyebrow. "You cursed out Fan Wensong?"
Fang Jian said expressionlessly, "I told her to go back and ask Chancellor Fan if he also wanted me to release them."
"Hahaha." Cui Miao laughed loudly. "Would she dare? Would they dare? They're probably still keeping this under wraps, afraid to let the senior officials know, right?"
"Hah. Well-fed and idle all day, bearing the Emperor's grace yet seeing only their own petty interests. Are they even fit to be officials?" Overcome with indignation, Fang Jian slammed her palm on the table.
"Sigh. Whether it's the Reformist Faction or the Conservative Faction, they're all filled with people like this. It's truly disheartening," Cui Miao also said. "But by doing this, you've offended both sides..."
"If I offend people like that, then so be it. It's not like I rely on them to be an official anyway." Fang Jian sighed and trimmed the lamp's wick to brighten the light. When she turned back to look at Cui Miao, she sensed something was wrong. She suddenly reached out, grabbed Cui Miao's wrist, and, catching her off guard, pulled her around to face the light. Then she saw the red swelling on her face.
"Who dared to hit you?" Fang Jian was startled.
Cui Miao pulled her hand free and said with a bitter smile, "Is it that obvious?"
"A little," Fang Jian said urgently. "Who would dare strike an official of the imperial court?"
Cui Miao gave up all pretense. No longer trying to hide it, she sat down casually in a chair and replied, "It was my mother."
...
"Did you think I came here just for you? I've come to ask you to take me in." Cui Miao put on a pitiful expression.
"What did you do?" Fang Jian was perplexed.
Cui Miao let out a heavy sigh. "My mother found out about Her Highness and me. I told her I want to spend the rest of my life with Her Highness, and my mother went mad with anger."
Jiang Shu had established a connection with Her Majesty during the Petition Drum case a few years ago. Her numerous businesses served as excellent cover. She provided conveniences for Her Majesty, and Her Majesty remembered her kindness. Although she held no official position, they had a perfectly suited understanding. Wei Qi's tendency to turn a blind eye to Cui Yicheng over the years was partly out of consideration for Jiang Shu.
The Cui Family was sensible, which pleased Wei Qi, and she came to trust and value Jiang Shu even more. She secretly provided money and support, having Jiang Shu manage some of the royal family's clandestine businesses. Jiang Shu was skilled at management and expanded the businesses across the entire country, which in turn allowed Her Majesty's secret guards to extend their reach even further.
Jiang Shu grew busier by the day and was soon to travel far to manage businesses elsewhere. She specifically set aside time to speak with Cui Miao, explaining family matters one by one. Only after much hesitation did she bring up the matter of Cui Miao and Wei Zhi. She had long suspected something, and Cui Miao was now twenty-six—an age considered quite old for an unmarried woman in any family. But when she finally received a direct confirmation from Cui Miao, she still couldn't suppress her anger and slapped her across the face.
"Are you mad? That's the Eldest Princess! How could Her Majesty tolerate the Eldest Princess going down the wrong path? She is Her Majesty's sister, so nothing will happen to her, but what about you? You are gambling with your life!
"Even if the other person weren't of imperial blood, have you never considered that you are the heir to both the Cui and Jiang families? Do you not have responsibilities?
"Cui Miao, you have disappointed me beyond measure!"
Cui Miao also felt she had no face to show her mother. Her mother was the strongest woman in the world; the ups and downs of life could never make her bow. She was the pine in winter, the wind in summer. She had walked out of hardship, forging a resolute, proud spirit and an unyielding fire in her heart. And they—Cui Miao, her younger sisters, and the Cui family's concubines—had all grown up watching her back. The first two strove to become like her, while the latter, under her protection, learned to straighten their spines. She stood behind them, supporting them, pushing them to become upright and dignified people once more.
Such a person had, because of her, lost her elegance and her pride, and collapsed in tears. Cui Miao knelt, trembling, and pressed her forehead heavily to the floor. She bit down, held back her tears, and neither made a sound nor admitted she was wrong. Her mother had taught her to be upright and centered, and she had always lived that way, becoming a proud and steadfast person. She now had someone she could not fail and principles she would not compromise. She had to be faithful to herself, and so she could not surrender her proud spirit for anyone or anything—not even for the mother she revered.
She was a timid and greedy person. She wanted to be with Wei Zhi forever, yet she didn't dare face her mother, procrastinating day after day. For countless nights, she had tossed and turned, wondering how she would choose when that day finally came. And when it did, she felt a sense of relief. The blade hanging over her head had finally fallen. But how painful it was when that blade struck. The pain tore at her heart, making her convulse, making her suffocate.
But if this was fate, she accepted it. In the face of fate's blows, her mother had chosen to straighten her spine and face them head-on. She, however, chose to be a bedrock, as immovable as a mountain—steadfast in her beliefs, faithful to her soul. Even if she had to bear the condemnation of her closest kin for the rest of her life, even if she didn't get the outcome she desired, she would choose to be true to herself.
Author's Notes
Fidelity—loyal and steadfast. Not loyalty to a certain person, not loyalty to a superior, but loyalty to oneself, loyalty to one's beliefs. It should be a source of light radiating from within, not a restraint imposed from without.
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