Proud Feather

Chapter 25 Interrogation
Gao Mian had never found it so difficult to sit in court.

He sat at the top, with a screen on the side. Shadowy figures of people were sitting inside, and from time to time there was the sound of soft knocking and whispers.

"Qiuniang, I don't want to eat this, it's too bitter!"

"No, the imperial physician said that you've been so sad and exhausted this time that you've lost a lot of energy. If you don't replenish it, you'll suffer in the future!"

“But it tastes terrible!”

"Princess, what do you think this is?"

"Delicious Crispy Abalone Snails!"

"After you swallow the pill, take this and the bitter taste will go away immediately."

"Is this all mine?"

"Of course!"

"Okay, give me the pill."

This conversation, while perfectly normal in the boudoir, was bizarre in court, leaving him a bit bewildered. How could a pampered daughter, clearly a spoiled child of the harem, wield the sword of power and kill without bloodshed? Was this what it meant to be a phoenix son, a dragon grandson, a princess?

It wasn't that he wasn't dedicated to the Tian family's affairs, but since it involved the Second Prince, he had to be careful. After all, he came from a humble family and had no foundation, so it wasn't easy for him to climb to this position.

I was in a daze when someone outside reported: "Sir, the relevant personnel have been brought in."

Gao Mian glanced at the screen, perked up, and ordered, "Bring it in."

"Yes."

The summoned officers were brought in one by one, three in total, one man and two women. They were between thirty and fifty years old, well-dressed, but obviously servants.

The women of officials' families would not appear in court in person; servants would usually respond on their behalf.

So he glanced around, and the yamen runner on duty shouted: "Open the court—"

The water and fire sticks on both sides immediately moved, accompanied by Tang Wei: "Mighty--"

The three people who came to respond to the lawsuit were shocked. They had thought it was just a routine questioning, but they didn't expect it to go straight to court.

Is it really that serious? Didn't the host just go to burn incense and gossip a little? The Dali Temple handles major cases, so how could it have reached the point of going to court?

What Jiang Shijun said was absolutely correct. As soon as Tang Wei shouted and moved the water and fire sticks, a majestic atmosphere came over them. Looking at the high-ranking officials in the hall, the yamen runners on both sides, and the three servants, their knees went weak and they all bowed down.

"I pay my respects to the Lord Temple Minister."

Gao Mian straightened his face and shouted, "Who is kneeling in the hall? Tell me your name!"

The man was the first to answer: "My name is Tian Fu, and I am the steward of the Chengyilang Tian family."

The other two women immediately replied, "My name is Lin, and we are the maids of Mr. Cao, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Works."

"My humble family, Yao, is from the Yan family, the chief clerk of the Imperial Household Department. I serve as a director beside my wife."

Gao Mian asked again: "Do you three know why you are here today?"

It was Tian Fu who answered first. He felt a little annoyed. Although the Tian family's official position was not prominent, they had the support of the Second Prince and Consort Shu, so even the most prominent families in the capital had to give them some respect. A Dali Temple official should have been polite, so why was he so frightened that he knelt? Now that he had realized what was happening, he raised his head.

"Your Excellency, I heard from the officer that you want to ask about my old lady's incense burning."

The other two maids agreed. Their mistress was only accompanying them, and they were also accompanying them when they were questioned.

"It's good that you know. Then tell me, why did the old lady..." Gao Mian opened his mouth to ask, but a voice came from behind the screen.

"Master Gao, there's more than that, right? Mr. Jiang just mentioned a few things? Three, right?" Jiang Shijun smiled and agreed, "Yes, Princess."

Princess? Tian Fu and the two maids were startled, and then they noticed a screen on the side, with a shadowy figure sitting behind it.

Oh yes, it is said that the princess is going to supervise the three judicial departments in handling cases. Today is her first time to come out for inspection, and the news has spread quite a lot outside.

Tian Fu felt even more relaxed. It turned out to be the princess. He had seen her several times before, often with the Second Young Miss. It seemed that the princess was just a child, wanting to see the court. He would answer as usual and let her have her fun.

Gao Mian, who was sitting in the hall, had no choice but to start from the beginning: "Okay, let's talk about the first thing first. Tian Fu, on September 21st, Miss Tian Er invited the princess to the Dahuai Temple to listen to the sutras. Do you know the reason?"

This was an old question, and Tian Fu answered it smoothly: "Your Excellency, my Second Miss is familiar with the Princess and often plays together. Inviting each other is a common thing. Because the Crown Prince recently died, Second Miss followed the etiquette and did not go elsewhere to play, so she went to the Dahuai Temple."

Gao Mian then asked, "Why choose the 21st?"

"This... is nothing special." Tian Fu pondered. "The second young lady wrote a letter when she learned that the princess was in the Anguo Mansion. I guess the eldest young lady happened to be going to the Dahuai Temple that day!"

"So, the first and second items should be combined." Gao Mian glanced at the screen. Seeing that the princess didn't say anything, he continued to ask, "Then why did Miss Tian go to Dahuai Temple?"

Tian Fu answered smoothly as usual: "Since becoming a widow, the eldest lady has often gone to the Dahuai Temple to listen to sutras, two or three times a month."

"When was the last time Miss Tian went to the Dahuai Temple?"

Tian Fu thought about it carefully: "The first day of the new year, the eldest lady said the first day of the new year is good."

"What about fifteen?"

Tian Fu replied, "Fifteen also went often, but at that time the Crown Prince had just had an accident, and our family had often been under his care. The whole family was in grief, so the eldest daughter did not go."

“Why twenty-one?”

"The Crown Prince's funeral is over, and everyone is feeling better, so the young lady is in the mood to go."

"Why not the 20th, nor the 22nd? The prince's funeral should have ended a few days ago, right?" Gao Mian asked faster and faster.

"This..." Tian Fu was stuck.

He thought for a long time, and then a clear cough came from behind the screen. Gao Mian immediately pressed him, "Don't think too much, answer quickly!"

"...I don't know." Tian Fu couldn't think of a solution and was forced to answer, "Isn't it probably a random choice?"

"Really? Doesn't Miss Tian need to notify Dahuai Temple before attending the sutra? The abbot is waiting there to receive her?"

This is obviously wrong. It is not easy to make an appointment with the abbot of Dahuai Temple. If it were not for the special status of the Tian family, they would not be able to make an appointment with him even with their official positions.

Tian Fu felt sweat on his forehead and replied, "Of course I have to make an appointment. I asked someone to make the appointment."

"Then why choose twenty-one?" Gao Mian asked the question again, "Answer immediately, no delay!"

The Dali Temple Minister was still the Dali Temple Minister after all. Under his coercive interrogation, Tian Fu was overwhelmed by his momentum and blurted out: "I remembered it now, because that day was a good day! The eldest lady wanted to pray for her late husband!"

"I see." Gao Mian nodded and was about to continue asking when a voice came from behind the screen.

"and many more."

Gao Mian unexpectedly realized that he was used to being interrupted, so he turned around and asked, "Princess, what do you want?"

But then Chu Ling asked, "Mr. Jiang, is the 21st a good day?"

"Princess, please wait a moment." Jiang Shijun turned around and said to someone, and soon, a almanac was brought in.

Just as Tian Fu was feeling uneasy, Jiang Shijun's voice came softly: "Princess, the almanac says that on September 21st, it's a good time to bathe and clean, but not to pray or offer sacrifices!"

(End of this chapter)