Xuanzheng Hall stretched over twenty zhang from east to west, and more than ten zhang from north to south. Though it was not the most magnificent palace within the grand Daming Palace, it was the place where the emperor conducted affairs of state. Thus, whether it was the soaring eaves stretching outward or the imposing chiwen beasts perched atop the ridges, every architectural detail proclaimed the majesty of imperial authority.
Yet ever since the construction of the Daming Palace, this place had not only witnessed upright sovereigns and virtuous ministers, but also despicable vermin gnawing at the foundations of the state.
Ye Jiao's gaze landed unflinchingly on Baili Xi, the Deputy Censor-in-Chief. She could not fathom why he pursued the case with such ferocity, as though bearing a deep-seated grudge against the Duke of Anguo's household.
Why?
For years, her family had held neither office nor power, engaging only in modest business ventures in the capital. Most of the profits were taken by her father, and the remainder merely afforded them a life of comfort.
Moreover, both her brother and she were of military rank, posing no threat to the civil officials.
Unless… someone stood behind Baili Xi, and she and her brother had, knowingly or not, obstructed his path.
Baili Xi's questions came in rapid succession—sharp and cutting, yet logically sound—rendering Ye Changgen speechless and flustered. Finally, Baili Xi barked, "What else do you have to say for yourself?"
Ye Changgen stammered, his chest filled with grievance and rage, unable to utter a word, his face paling with strain and his breath chaotic.
It was then that Ye Jiao stepped forward and said calmly, "Since the Deputy Censor permits self-defense, may I be allowed to say a few words?"
She had long wished to speak.
Something about this trial was amiss. The emperor and over a hundred courtiers were present to observe, yet only Baili Xi from the Three Judicial Offices was conducting the interrogation. Her superior, Liu Yan, knelt to the side with his official hat held aloft, as if already implicated. His arms trembled from exhaustion.
She needed to speak—before the Ministry of Revenue discovered the inconsistencies in the ledgers, before the tide turned against them.
Baili Xi's expression darkened. "This official has yet to finish questioning Marquis Wu."
"But my lord, you are questioning my elder brother," Ye Jiao responded. "According to the Great Tang Code, treason is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations. As such, I too have the right to defend myself."
Baili Xi turned, intending to seek the emperor's judgment, but the emperor had already spoken: "Let her speak."
Ye Jiao kowtowed in gratitude, then rose and said with composure, "Since the Censorate has determined that the handwriting is indeed General Ye's, may I ask the esteemed officials of the Ministry of War: does this memorial contain the characters 'si' (four), 'shi' (time), or 'wei' (subtle)?"
The Minister and Deputy Minister of War exchanged glances.
"We dare not say for certain without closer inspection," one replied, "but the character 'shi' would almost certainly appear."
As it concerned military matters of the realm, it would naturally include analysis on the optimal timing for launching an attack on Tubo.
Ye Jiao nodded in thanks and turned to Baili Xi.
"My father's given name is Xi, styled 'Sishi,' and my mother's name includes the character 'Wei.' From a young age, my siblings and I were taught to omit the upper hook stroke when writing these characters, out of reverence. If these characters appear in the memorial, I ask the three judicial officials to determine whether they bear this unique omission."
To imitate another's handwriting is to mimic form, but few would replicate their habitual errors.
Baili Xi's brows lifted slightly in surprise, yet he could not refute her. He produced the memorial and handed it to Wang Chenming, Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.
Wang, advanced in years with weakening eyesight, squinted at the document. Eventually, he located the character 'shi' and, after careful scrutiny, nodded. "Indeed, the hook is present."
Ye Jiao exhaled quietly in relief.
Ye Changgen's breath finally steadied.
But Baili Xi pressed on coldly, "This proves nothing. Perhaps General Ye deliberately added the hook while copying the memorial."
Ye Jiao offered a faint smile, choosing not to argue further. With the emperor present, guilt or innocence rested in His Majesty's decree.
She continued, "May I inquire whether the Ministry of War allowed General Ye to read the memorial before delivering it?"
"No," the Deputy Minister responded without hesitation.
"Very well." Ye Jiao nodded. "According to my investigation, the memorial was handed to General Ye at three-quarters past the Shen hour. The Privy Council received and approved it one quarter later. In that brief interval, General Ye galloped from the Ministry of War to the Privy Council, not even pausing when hailed by an acquaintance.
So I ask: which among the esteemed officials could transcribe a full memorial on horseback in the span of a single quarter-hour?"
The timeframe was too narrow—narrow enough to exonerate Ye Changgen.
And yet, such a crucial detail had been entirely overlooked by the Three Judicial Offices.
Baili Xi's brows furrowed. His perpetually calm expression flickered with a trace of unease. He turned to Wang Chenming and asked, "Is the time record accurate?"
"It is," Wang replied. "Though we… never thought to verify the timeline."
The hall fell into heavy silence.
At last, the emperor let out a cold snort. "Ye Jiao, rise and speak."
Now standing, her voice grew more resolute.
Clad in a simple blue robe, Ye Jiao stood tall in the court like azure sky against a crimson cloud—calm, poised, and faintly proud.
She refuted Baili Xi's accusations one by one.
"As for General Ye's departure from his seat," she said, "surely even the dullest man would not personally deliver a treasonous letter."
Ye Changgen cracked a smile and gave a small nod—indeed, he was not so foolish.
Ye Jiao went on, "General Ye detoured through Ganzhou at my request. I had written to him of damaged roads and roaming refugees there, fearing it might disgrace our Great Tang's dignity."
The courtiers nodded. The Tang Empire's prestige had been hard-won; it could not be marred by vagrants in front of the Tubo delegation.
"As for whether he passed through any fortress," Ye Jiao's voice rose, "the Ministry of War sent three hundred men to escort the Tubo envoy. Are we to believe every one of them was bribed by General Ye? Simply compare the route map with the fortress checkpoints, and all shall be clear."
Her words lightened the somber atmosphere in the court. None wished to see a traitor among them.
Baili Xi was momentarily silenced but remained outwardly calm, casting a glance at the wooden coffer held by the Imperial Guards.
So long as the secret letter within was produced, the Duke of Anguo's household could not escape suspicion of colluding with Tubo and court officials.
And if the Ministry of Revenue could trace the money flow in the ledgers—
Just then, Yan Lian, Deputy Minister of Revenue, strode briskly into the hall.
"Your Majesty," he called, "this humble official has discovered an inexplicable entry in the Duke of Anguo's financial records."
Outside, Yan Congzheng, who had been standing guard, stiffened at the sound of his father's voice. He knew their family would never betray the nation—but what of the ledgers?
All eyes in the hall turned to the siblings of the Ye clan, who exchanged a fleeting, uneasy glance.
Yan Lian reported, "The Duke of Anguo's enterprises—freight, tea, Hangzhou silk—yield substantial profits annually, yet at certain times, vast sums are spent, leaving a temporary deficit."
"What was the purpose of this expenditure?" Baili Xi asked.
This was the crux of the mystery—something even the duke's steward could not explain, and which had eluded Baili Xi's own deductions.
The amount involved was enough to bribe officials or fund a private militia.
Yan Lian replied, "Only one word appears under the expenditure: 'relief.'"
A single, cryptic character—meaningless without context.
To stir the court's imagination further, Baili Xi opened the wooden coffer and withdrew a stack of letters.
"These were discovered alongside the ledger in Marquis Wu's chambers. Some contain obscure Tubo script. Others bear the seal of a royal prince."
Now the matter touched the imperial household—beyond the jurisdiction of the Three Judicial Offices.
Did this mean the Duke's household had bribed a prince every year?
Which one?
Was it Prince Jin, Li Zhang, the most likely heir?
Gentle Prince Zhao, Li Jing?
Or Prince Chu, Li Ce—whose entanglement with Ye Jiao might have been mere smoke and mirrors to conceal collusion?
The court was in turmoil.
Even the emperor's mind was clouded.
He looked to Baili Xi and thought: Say something, then.
But Baili Xi was determined to extract a confession from Ye Jiao through the ledgers first.
He thundered, "So, can you—"