Chapter Forty-Five: Extortion and the Private Treasury

The old emperor said, “…Are you insinuating something?” Was this an accusation that she favored the Wu family? Was it, was it?

Di Ying lifted her eyelids and glanced at the old emperor, then lowered her gaze and muttered, “I dare not.”

“Not that you wouldn’t, but that you don’t dare. Hmph.”

The old emperor retorted, and his expression became subtly complex.

She picked up the tea cup the young eunuch had just brought, lifted the lid, and blew away the foam on top.

Then she spoke slowly, “Di Ying, I know you well. When Yan Qing recommended you, he praised your intelligence, decisiveness, and uprightness. After your uproar in Bingzhou, I reviewed the case files you handled while you served there.

Indeed, you demonstrated sufficient wisdom, strategy, and courage throughout your cases. You upheld the law, yet were not rigid, lending the law a touch of humanity.

Whether cold or warm, you handled matters flexibly and cautiously, ensuring the aggrieved found solace and the guilty received punishment.

So, even before meeting you, I had a fine impression of you.

But aren’t you perhaps a bit too flexible?

Do you believe that someone skilled in deduction and solving cases would recklessly sample poisonous herbs without any preparation?

Do you recall that when you first met Lord Yan, you personally admitted your knowledge of medicine?

If you don’t remember, let me tell you now: Lord Yan recorded this in the files.

Because that was the basis of your self-defense.

And now…

You keep insisting on evidence. Yes, evidence is necessary in investigations. So how could you taste poisonous herbs without leaving behind any proof?

Speak, what is the true purpose behind your actions?”

Upon hearing this, Di Ying swept away her weakness and sat up straight.

She answered earnestly and solemnly, “It was for Your Majesty. From a certain case, I learned that a batch of rouge and powder contained poison.

But I lacked evidence. While I pondered, Lord Zuo reported to you that something was missing from his villa.

I took the opportunity to examine his conservatory.

Fortunately, I found that poisonous herb. But if I simply uprooted it, what if Lord Zuo later denied everything?

Your Majesty, wise and perceptive as always, guessed I brought a witness—the capital magistrate, Song Wen. After I collapsed, he should have ensured someone guarded the scene.”

As she spoke, Di Ying rose, bowed deeply to the emperor, and continued, “Your Majesty’s safety is the safety of the realm. Even if it’s something applied to the face, I must be exceedingly cautious, thus I resorted to such a desperate measure…”

“All right, everyone is always flattering me; I don’t need you to add to it, Di Ying.”

The old emperor set down his tea cup, half amused, half exasperated, and interrupted her, reminding, “If you don’t explain your motives clearly, I won’t bother with it.”

Di Ying replied, “…Is it really wise for you to be so clever?”

The old emperor: “Are you going to speak or not?”

“I will!”

Di Ying wiped her face and spoke decisively, “At the start of my post, I discovered this case of poisoned rouge. The victim’s only daughter was disfigured, and out of anger, demanded ten thousand taels from the shopkeeper as compensation.

The shopkeeper refused and countered by accusing the victim of extortion, leading to his imprisonment. It has been three years now, and because he protested and appealed repeatedly, his sentence has been extended to twenty years.

In these three years, his wife absconded with their assets, their livelihood ceased, and the trembling old steward sold off their possessions, striving everywhere to save his master.

Sadly, all efforts were in vain. Everyone believed that demanding so much silver for mere disfigurement was unreasonable, and that the victim was just making trouble.

But I thought: how crucial is appearance to a woman? Especially a sheltered maiden? And they weren’t short on money; asking for ten thousand taels was only to vent her anger.

Your Majesty, you haven’t seen that girl—these three years, she has lived only slightly more than a corpse.

Yet the sentence, viewed from the angle of extortion, seems justified.

But I feel the case shouldn’t be judged solely by law; that would be too harsh.

Yet I couldn’t release him, for after the incident, all physical evidence was destroyed.

So I sought out the victim’s daughter, and from the residual poison on her… face, I identified it as a rare toxic herb.

That herb could only survive in the southern suburbs of the capital.”

“I understand your intent now.”

The old emperor’s expression grew serious as he continued, “The victim accused the shopkeeper but failed; the shopkeeper in turn accused him of extortion. The victim was imprisoned, and the case of poisoned rouge faded away. The focus shifted to the ten thousand taels compensation.

With each appeal, officials focused only on the extortion charge, ignoring that it all stemmed from the shopkeeper’s shoddy goods.

Because there was no evidence, right? So even if officials took bribes or whatever, they could claim there was no proof and wash their hands of it.

But you… you risked your own life, tasted the poisonous herb, and escalated the case right under my nose.”

At this, the old emperor rose and paced the hall, a bitter smile on his lips. “Now you have both witness and evidence, Di Ying. You’re forcing me to deal with Wu Jianhui.”

Di Ying lowered her head in silence.

Just then, Eunuch Su entered at the proper moment.

He reported, “Your Majesty, in recent years, all rouge and powder in your private stores have been inspected personally by the Imperial Hospital director.

Apart from some that have deteriorated with age, no other issues were found. However…

Because each year and month’s supply is stored separately, the director discovered that the batch from May three years ago had its rouge swapped.

Though the rouge and powder have now spoiled, the director confirms that the rouge from that batch was produced significantly later than the powder.

I clearly recall that every month’s rouge and powder were delivered to the palace together.”

“Hmph!”

The emperor snorted heavily upon hearing the report.

“That’s too much! Their hand even reached into my private stores! Investigate—search every corner of my private stores and see what else is missing!”

After speaking, the emperor turned his back to Di Ying and waved her away. “Di Ying, you may go. I don’t want to see you right now. The outcome you seek—I… will give it to you.”

“Your servant takes leave.”

Di Ying answered briskly, lifted her feet, and departed.

Before leaving, she quietly clasped her hands in salute to Eunuch Su.

Eunuch Su kept his head down, pretending not to notice, though the corners of his mouth curled ever so slightly.