The ones truly suffering today were the court officials. They could clearly sense that something was off with this morning's court session, but none could grasp the true reason behind it.
Each of them was filled with restless suspicion, quietly indulging in conspiratorial theories. They suspected His Majesty had some grand plan in motion and was deliberately stalling for time.
Thus, everyone cooperated.
Simple matters that could be explained in a sentence were dissected into seven or eight parts. Every single word was scrutinized and drawn out, as if each syllable carried hidden meaning that demanded individual discussion.
Seeing that his officials were so cooperative and perceptive, Emperor Xuanwu became even more engrossed in speaking. He even pulled in topics that had no rightful place in today's court session.
Those below, trying to gauge the Imperial will, saw His Majesty's behavior and grew ever more certain that he was delaying on purpose. One after another, they stepped up their cooperation, citing all manner of tangential references. Anything even remotely relevant was dragged into the discussion.
The end result was an exhausting overtime session. Their minds overloaded with political affairs, the officials' earlier enthusiasm gradually gave way to dizziness.
Among them, Yun Shu rubbed her empty stomach, which had begun to growl pitifully, and started doubting whether her ambition to participate in the fight for succession was even wise.
She hesitantly raised her hand. "Father Emperor, may your daughter interrupt for a moment?"
"Hmm?"
Emperor Xuanwu turned to her with an encouraging look.
"Does Princess Sheng An have something to say?"
"…This daughter merely hopes that Father Emperor takes care of the Imperial body."
Yun Shu spoke slowly and deliberately, emphasizing each word.
"It is unwise to neglect mealtime for the sake of court affairs."
Emperor Xuanwu paused.
He had been so engrossed in speaking that, had she not reminded him, he truly would not have noticed. It was already noon.
And yes, he was beginning to feel hungry.
Clearing his throat to mask the moment of awkwardness, Emperor Xuanwu nodded slightly.
"It is indeed late. Someone, bring in the meal."
Yun Shu: …
So we still have to continue after eating, don't we?
Well, she supposed it made sense. The matter of the drum had yet to be mentioned.
All this for one court session—did they truly have that many issues to discuss?
Grumbling inwardly, Yun Shu resigned herself to eating lunch. She had already braced herself to muddle through another afternoon of endless political discourse.
But perhaps Emperor Xuanwu sensed that Yun Shu would not absorb a single word more this afternoon, or perhaps he himself was feeling the post-meal drowsiness.
In any case, the Emperor who had been endlessly verbose that morning suddenly returned to his usual concise self. Efficiency surged. Within a few sentences, he concluded all pending affairs from before the midday meal.
Then his tone shifted.
At last, he brought up the matter of the drum.
"Summon the following," he said. "From Xuzhou, examinee Dou Jifei; from Suzhou, examinee Chu Zimian; from Yuzhou, examinee Fei Shunhong…"
He listed all fourteen names in one breath. Li Dehai drew out the final syllables ceremoniously.
"Enter the hall and present yourselves before His Majesty."
"All examinees?" someone whispered.
Was the matter between the Crown Prince and Princess Sheng An still unresolved, even now?
The moment they heard it was examinees who had struck the Drum of Petitions, many ministers turned to quietly glance between Yun Shu and the Crown Prince.
Yun Shu pretended not to notice.
With hands tucked into her sleeves, she stood calmly at the front, eyes fixed forward, her demeanor unruffled.
Beside her, the Crown Prince's lips were pressed into a thin line. His face was expressionless, revealing nothing of his thoughts.
Soon, Dou Jifei led the group into the main hall, stumbling as they walked.
This was the place they had once dreamed of. In countless sleepless nights, they had imagined themselves standing here in crimson or purple official robes, speaking with the one in yellow seated atop the dragon throne.
With a single command, they would shape the fate of the people.
But reality was cruel.
They had finally entered the Xuan Zheng Hall, only to arrive in the most humiliating of manners.
Just the day before, Dou Jifei had been given thirty strokes. Now he was being dragged in by the arm.
The moment the guards released him, he collapsed onto the floor with a loud thud.
"Cr-criminal subject Dou Jifei… pays… pays respects to His Majesty!"
"Dou Jifei."
Emperor Xuanwu narrowed his eyes, gazing down at the trembling man before him.
"It was you who struck the Drum of Petitions yesterday?"
"Yes… yes, this criminal subject wished to report a grievance…"
Cold sweat trickled from Dou Jifei's forehead, falling onto the tiles of the grand hall. It took great effort for him to complete a single sentence.
"This criminal subject accuses Princess Sheng An of secretly selling the spring examination questions."
The hall erupted.
Secretly selling the exam? That was a capital offense.
Instantly, the chamber buzzed with alarmed murmurs.
Some from the Crown Prince's faction, unsure of what was unfolding, assumed it to be part of the Prince's arrangement. They stepped forward to take a stand.
"Your Majesty, this is a grave matter. It must be thoroughly investigated."
"I second the motion. The spring examination is a vital mechanism for selecting talents for the nation. Any cheating or leaks must not be tolerated."
"We stand in agreement."
"Your Majesty, permit this subject to speak."
Seeing so many stepping forward as though Yun Shu's guilt were already proven, Tang Yuanlin hurriedly took a step as well.
"Princess Sheng An is by nature upright and pure. With her wealth from the Tian Waitian Restaurant, she has no reason to crave silver. The notion that she would sell exam questions for money is utterly absurd."
"I second this." came a slow voice.
Even Marquis Wu'an, who usually spent his days in court half-asleep and rarely uttered a word, took a leisurely step forward.
"Princess Sheng An is certainly not short of silver."
"Enough."
Dou Jifei had barely spoken, and already the court was in chaos.
Emperor Xuanwu frowned and gestured for silence.
"Let him finish. Dou Jifei, you said Princess Sheng An sold the spring examination questions. What proof do you have?"
"Replying to Your Majesty…"
Still kneeling on the floor, Dou Jifei dared not lift his head. With a trembling voice, he recounted everything, starting from when a servant of the Cao family approached him.
Only after recounting it all did he knock his head three times against the floor. His voice cracked as he choked back tears.
"Thirty taels of silver may mean little to Princess Sheng An, but to this criminal subject, it was everything. Now the silver is gone, my future is ruined, and all hope has vanished. I do not know how I can face my parents and kin when I return home.
By revealing the truth, this subject only hopes that the true culprit will pay the price.
I beseech Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly."
Emperor Xuanwu was silent.
===
The word "beseech" is a formal and somewhat old-fashioned verb meaning to beg or implore someone very earnestly or desperately. It carries a strong tone of urgency, humility, and supplication, often used when someone is in a lower position (socially or politically) and is pleading to someone in power.