Chapter 15

In the dead of night, the Lingfeng Hall remained brightly lit. The imperial guards stood in full armor, solemnly assembled in the courtyard, awaiting the arrival of their commander.

Jiang Luan was so exhausted that she slumped drowsily over the desk, nodding off. Someone nearby tried to wake her, calling her name several times, but she utterly ignored them.

Just as she drifted in and out of sleep, a push on her shoulder startled her awake. Aunt Yuan, the palace attendant, anxiously said, “Princess, someone has arrived. Please wake up.” Suddenly alert, Jiang Luan noticed a tall figure standing before her.

Pei Xian stood sideways by the grand peony-engraved wooden desk in the main hall, holding a half-troy-ounce golden pellet lifted from an open carved wooden box, his gaze lowered as he examined it.

The bright lamp light cast half of his face in shadow, sharpening the contours beneath which the faint smile that usually graced his lips was absent, revealing a certain severity.

Hearing movement behind him, he turned around, and his previously guarded, sharp demeanor softened. The once difficult-to-approach edge vanished, replaced with his usual relaxed, easygoing expression.

“Did the princess rest well in her nap?” he asked with a natural nod.

Jiang Luan responded just as naturally, brushing the corner of her mouth with her fingertip, which was clean. Relieved, she said, “With visitors for several nights in a row, it’s natural to indulge in sleep. I had a decent nap just now.”

Pei Xian smirked slightly. “While the princess napped on the desk, I was enduring the Empress’s interrogation in the Two Instruments Hall—not a pleasant experience.”

What had to come, came.

Jiang Luan slowly crossed her legs and sat up on the Luohan bed. “The Empress is not easy to deal with; you have my gratitude for your hard work. No need for formalities tonight; please, sit beside me.”

Autumn Frost and White Dew together brought over a folding chair, placing it beside the long desk. As Pei Xian lifted his robe to sit, he still twirled the half-troy-ounce golden pellet in his palm, spinning it a few times.

“I searched the wooden box thoroughly earlier but didn’t find the ten two-troy-ounce golden pellets said to be capable of ‘striking horses and men,’” he asked politely. “These two-troy-ounce pellets are quite valuable. Did the princess count them carefully?”

Jiang Luan was prepared, producing a large golden pellet from her pouch and handing it to Aunt Yuan.

Aunt Yuan held it with both hands and passed it to Pei Xian for inspection.

Placed side by side in his palm were a large and a small golden pellet, the difference in weight and size starkly evident.

Pei Xian weighed them in his hand. “Indeed, this is the lethal weight.”

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, he openly pocketed the golden pellet, then spread out his palm again. “May I inspect the slingshot?”

Jiang Luan slowly untied the bindings on her footgear, retrieving the finely crafted iron slingshot from her ankle and placing it on the long desk.

Still warm from her touch, Pei Xian took the slingshot, loading the large two-troy-ounce pellet. Pressing his fingertip, the leather sling instantly stretched taut, aimed toward the half-open window.

Jiang Luan watched with a pang of regret. “During the late emperor’s reign, he personally taught me to shoot this slingshot. It’s a cherished relic of my mourning. It would not reflect well if it got damaged.”

Pei Xian smiled faintly. “I know it’s a relic of the late emperor. No need for the princess to remind me repeatedly.” Then he released his grip.

A dull thud followed as the large golden pellet traced a low arc and landed in the dense bushes outside the window.

Several guards quickly raised their torches and rushed over, searching around briefly. Wen Jing personally brought back the large pellet.

After the chaotic events outside the council hall that night, Wen Jing knew he had messed up. He dared not enter the hall but knelt at the entrance, his armored knee striking the floor with a loud thud audible inside.

He held up the pellet, avoiding eye contact.

Pei Xian approached the doorway, took the two-troy-ounce pellet, tossing it lightly in his hand. “Wen Jing, where did you go wrong?”

With his head bowed, Wen Jing replied, “I panicked and acted on my own, causing trouble for the commander…”

“No. In an urgent situation, as the commander of the imperial guards, you had the authority to decide accordingly. That is not your fault.”

Pei Xian tossed the slingshot into Wen Jing’s arms. “If you had checked the slingshot on the spot, you would have found the leather band thin and short, lacking proper resilience. This was originally a bird-hunting slingshot; if loaded with a two-troy-ounce pellet, the force is insufficient to shoot it out, and if forced, the band would snap. The princess’s claims about ‘golden pellets killing people’ are all lies, made to deceive you from start to finish.”

Wen Jing was stunned, looking up in disbelief toward Jiang Luan in the main hall.

Jiang Luan spread her hands innocently. “I really do have a two-troy-ounce golden pellet. General Wen saw it with his own eyes. That part isn’t a lie.”

Wen Jing hesitated and nodded.

As they walked over, Pei Xian pieced it together and asked bluntly, “If the late emperor granted ten two-troy-ounce golden pellets said to ‘strike horses and men,’ where are the other nine? Please have Aunt Yuan bring them.” He spread his palm toward Aunt Yuan.

Aunt Yuan was dumbfounded.

The only pellet was the one the princess herself forged by melting a golden hairpin; where could she find nine more?

This was a grave matter, and she dared not answer hastily but glanced at her young mistress.

Jiang Luan sat cross-legged on the Luohan bed, seemingly pondering her reply, blinking slowly without answering immediately.

A habitual smile played at Pei Xian’s lips, but his eyes were devoid of amusement. “Cannot produce them? Then I boldly request an explanation tonight.”

Jiang Luan stared at the wide, steady palm spread before her.

The fingers were long and strong, radiating an invisible pressure. The open palm was resolute and decisive, calmly waiting yet charged with an unyielding demand.

The scene felt familiar.

Just this afternoon, Wen Jing had tried to decline the golden pellet she had gifted, spreading his palm the same way, holding the pellet at her nose, determined not to relent until she took it back.

Did she relent then?

Of course not.

Jiang Luan tilted her head, scrutinizing the palm that silently pressed her for answers.

Pei Xian was very decisive. Once he made up his mind to get to the bottom of this, he could interrogate all night.

Silence filled the main hall.

Soft footsteps approached as Xia Zhi brought freshly brewed hot tea, and Chun Zhe presented a bowl of newly offered palace cherries. Both held their breath, placing the tea and fruit on the long desk. The faint clink of cups and plates briefly broke the silence, drawing everyone's gaze to the vividly colored cherries.

Jiang Luan’s eyes brightened as she sat up straight, her naturally gentle and charming features lifting in delight. She picked two washed, ripe cherries from the multicolored glass plate and placed them on Pei Xian’s outstretched palm.

“The spring and summer rains make people restless. Commander looks a bit fiery; eat some palace cherries to calm your temper. How many cherries would you like? One? Two?” She eagerly began to count. “Let me see how many cherries your hand can hold.”

Silence.

An overwhelming silence pervaded Lingfeng Hall.

All eyes widened, fixated on Pei Xian’s palm.

The hand of an adult man, hardened from lifelong martial and literary training, bore calloused fingertips, palms, and webbing, with distinct knuckles and slender fingers.

Even with five or six cherries resting in the broad, powerful palm, there was ample room left. Everyone stared, dumbfounded, as Jiang Luan picked up the glass fruit plate and began placing cherries one by one onto Pei Xian’s hand.

Pei Xian: “...”

He took a deep breath and moved his palm aside.

Jiang Luan finally stopped placing cherries, having counted about ten.

She took a handkerchief to wipe her hands, yawning as she replied with soft, innocent eyes, “General Wen probably misheard. The late emperor’s gift of golden pellets was to shoot birds, but there’s no way he gave ten two-troy-ounce pellets meant to ‘strike horses and men.’ I only have one two-troy-ounce pellet, which I forged myself from a golden hairpin. I just showed it to General Wen, and well, he misunderstood.”

She shook her round fan, fanning herself lightly, then asked casually,

“Do I really look like someone who would recklessly take lives?”

Outside the door, Wen Jing’s face flushed red, about to protest, but Pei Xian coldly chuckled, “He probably did mishear.”

He summoned Wen Jing inside, casually shoving the cherries into his palm.

“Eat the cherries. Without any evidence of ten two-troy-ounce pellets, the princess says you misheard. Can you still retract your statement? I’ll punish you according to military law. Any words?”

Wen Jing took a deep breath, bowed his head. “I misjudged and deserve punishment.”

His right palm was full of gifted cherries; he dared not move that hand and knelt on one knee, tearing off his wooden military tag and handing it along with the slingshot.

Pei Xian took the tag, his voice deepening. “Report to the barracks for twenty lashes. Next time, forty.”

Wen Jing lowered his head and left, clutching the cherries.

Jiang Luan watched him depart. “Commander punishing someone in my hall at midnight—is this strict discipline, or just a warning to me by example?”

Pei Xian remained silent, setting the slingshot back on the rosewood desk and pushing it toward Jiang Luan.

“The so-called noble daughters and sons of illustrious families in the capital, when cunning, can be even more mischievous than ordinary rascals. What do you think, princess?”

Jiang Luan took the slingshot, set it beside her, and tested the leather band’s string, confirming it was intact. She relaxed.

She picked up her fan, shaking it in displeasure. “Before, you insisted on treating me like your niece. Since you, the Pei clan, are related to the Empress Dowager’s side, I grudgingly accepted. But now you compare me to a mischievous brat? Commander Pei, your words are too arrogant.”

“Not arrogant,” Pei Xian replied evenly. “Since the princess’s condition improved, the commotion in Lingfeng Hall has been huge. First, outside the Two Instruments Hall, the princess nearly suffered imperial punishment; last night, when we met, you brandished a dagger and a hand crossbow; and now tonight, you switch to imperial golden pellets.”

He summarized calmly, “Ordinary rascals are no match for your mischief. I merely spoke the truth.”

Jiang Luan clicked her tongue, setting aside her fan. Most of her delicate face, previously hidden behind the fan, was now revealed.

“If life could be peaceful, who would want to cause such a ruckus from dawn to dusk? Open my residence and release me from the palace sooner. It would save you trouble and bring me peace.”

She leaned on the long desk, her slender fingers reaching into the glass fruit bowl again for a cherry.

Pei Xian’s expression remained unchanged as he raised his hand to push the bowl aside.

“There are palace rules to follow. I have done all I can. When you may leave the palace to establish your residence depends on those rules.”

Jiang Luan bypassed his obstruction and picked another cherry. Holding the plump, glistening fruit in her palm as if it were a golden pellet, she flicked it lightly, spinning it half a turn.

“Commander’s words are airtight, as if you’ve gone to great lengths on my behalf.”

“Actually, both you and I know, Commander, your mind is filled with state affairs. You disdain the palace’s fuss over cultivation, prayers, scripture copying, and petty rivalries. As long as no one dies, you turn a blind eye. These ‘palace rules’ are just a childish ruse.”

She tossed the cherry back into the glass bowl, unconcerned. “You do your work; I’ll do mine. So let’s keep causing a stir.”

Pei Xian: “...”

He raised the celadon tea cup, sipped the hot tea, and tried to calm himself.

Jiang Luan tilted her head, studying his impassive expression, then suddenly burst into a quiet laugh. “Commander, you’re just dying to punish me with family discipline.”

Pei Xian set down his cup, straightened his robe, brushing off a speck of dust casually.

“You jest, princess. Your surname is Jiang; mine is Pei. As a relative of the Empress Dowager, I have barely the right to advise you face to face, let alone punish you with family discipline.”