The Prince Consort Is Also Pretending To Be Affectionate Today - Chapter 7

7: Pleading to Your Highness

The day her wound was confirmed to have healed, Ji Rongjin’s paid leave came to an end.

She had to attend court, and the entire Princess Mansion breathed a sigh of relief, especially the kitchen staff, who were so overjoyed they were practically ready to set off firecrackers in celebration.

Yet Ji Rongjin was rather reluctant to leave. She went to the kitchen, sighing, “What a pity. I didn’t get the chance to apprentice and learn your craft.”

The kitchen staff expressed regret on the surface, but deep down, they were thrilled.

Unexpectedly, Ji Rongjin’s tone shifted, her dark eyes gleaming with mischief. “But there’s plenty of time in the future. Now that my wound has healed, I can finally start cooking.”

The kitchen staff’s barely concealed joy froze, their faces turning ashen. “Haha.”

Ji Rongjin patted one of them on the shoulder and floated away gracefully.

Today was her first official day stepping into the court.

Dressed in a deep red official robe, her slender waist cinched with a black-and-silver belt, her feet clad in silver-threaded cloud boots, and a high official’s cap perched on her head, Ji Rongjin’s attire billowed as the breeze caught it, the long robe fluttering. Despite the stern and formal attire, the youthful figure with red lips and white teeth exuded an air of refined elegance and charm.

She and Shen Zhuwan rode in separate sedans, with Shen Zhuwan in front and Ji Rongjin following behind.

By the time she arrived, a crowd of people was already waiting outside the resplendent Golden Throne Hall.

The grand palace, with its green-tiled walls and deep red and black bricks, exuded a heavy, imposing aura. Only the golden plaque inscribed with the words “Golden Throne Hall” gleamed brightly, adding a touch of vitality to the scene.

Ji Rongjin stood among the other ministers, waiting to enter the court. During this time, she noticed subtle, scrutinizing glances cast her way, but few approached to greet her.

She remained calm and composed, standing steadily with her gaze fixed forward. To others, she appeared unruffled, but only Ji Rongjin knew the truth—she wasn’t calm; she was simply overwhelmed by social anxiety in the crowd.

A eunuch’s shrill voice echoed across the vast courtyard, and Ji Rongjin followed the group, leisurely making her way toward the palace. At one point, someone quietly pointed out that she was standing in the wrong position, and she adjusted according to their guidance.

Inside the Golden Throne Hall, Ji Rongjin waited alongside the other ministers.

She looked up at the towering staircase leading to the throne, so high she had to crane her neck to see its top, and let out a sigh.

So high. Climbing it would be exhausting.

Someone behind her softly asked, “Is the wound on the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review’s head feeling better?”

The voice sounded familiar. Turning, Ji Rongjin saw a refined, fair-skinned young man smiling warmly at her.

It was the same person who had corrected her position earlier.

Vaguely recalling his portrait from earlier that morning, Ji Rongjin replied, “It’s healed. Thank you for your concern.”

The young man nodded with a smile. “That’s good to hear. Otherwise, Her Highness the Princess would be worried.”

Ji Rongjin raised an eyebrow, about to respond, when the eunuch’s sharp cry of “Court is in session!” resounded through the hall.

The lively discussions and quiet conversations were snuffed out like a flame doused by water, leaving the hall in silence.

Ji Rongjin lowered her head, but her peripheral vision scanned the surroundings.

Everyone kept their heads bowed, not daring to show the slightest disrespect to the figure seated above. Their expressions were solemn, and the hall was so quiet that a pin could be heard dropping.

Amid the silence, all she could hear were the faint rustles of clothing and the resounding chant of “Long live our Emperor, ten thousand years and more!” echoing through the hall.

She followed the others in kneeling, her forehead touching the ground, hands folded before her.

“All rise, my beloved subjects.”

A childish voice rang out. Before Ji Rongjin could think too much, she was pulled to her feet by those around her, joining in the collective chant of “Thanks to Your Majesty.”

Oh, that childish yet deliberately solemn voice must belong to Shen Zhuwan’s younger brother, Shen Chi.

As the court session began, the ministers’ reports came one after another, but the voice responding wasn’t the childish one. Instead, it was a clear, cold female voice, like a mountain spring.

It was Shen Zhuwan’s voice.

Through the crowd, Ji Rongjin stole a glance upward. On the throne, symbolizing supreme authority, sat a child barely taller than the dragon chair itself. Beside him stood a screen embroidered with golden phoenixes.

Behind the screen, a shadowy figure could be seen. Even with just a fleeting glance, Ji Rongjin felt an overwhelming sense of authority emanating from it—a commanding presence honed by years of holding power, one that made others dare not look twice.

Even though Ji Rongjin knew it was Shen Zhuwan behind the screen and was aware of her immense power, feeling her aura for the first time from across the long staircase still sent a shiver through her.

A single staircase separated two worlds. Shen Zhuwan was a god seated above the heavens, her words capable of determining life and death, while Ji Rongjin was merely an ordinary person among the masses, unable to cross that chasm in her lifetime.

Ji Rongjin was quietly awestruck, then began to wonder whether the gold on the staircase was real or merely gilded.

She was so lost in thought that she didn’t notice someone poking her lower back until she snapped back to reality.

The court was silent, and all eyes were on her. Whispers of discussion could be faintly heard.

Ji Rongjin sucked in a breath. “Your subject is present.”

As soon as she spoke, the hall grew even quieter, and strange looks fell upon her, making her squirm.

The young man behind her whispered, “The Princess has asked you to investigate the case of the Minister of Revenue’s family being silenced.”

Ji Rongjin cleared her throat, lowering her head to minimize her presence. “Your subject means to say, I will thoroughly investigate this case.”

From behind the screen, Shen Zhuwan noticed Ji Rongjin’s distracted demeanor and furrowed her brow slightly. Still, she didn’t call her out, saying only, “This case is of grave importance. I expect the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review to provide an explanation within ten days.”

Ji Rongjin: “…Understood.”

The young man poked her again. Snapping back, she quickly corrected herself, “Your subject obeys.”

Shen Zhuwan’s voice remained calm but grew colder. “Is the Minister’s wound not yet healed? Does this palace need to grant you a few more days of leave?”

Her tone carried an unmistakable trace of anger.

Ji Rongjin’s legs trembled, and she stepped forward, dropping to her knees with a thud. “Your subject dares not. My wound has healed, and I am ready to serve Your Highness. I beg Your Highness not to spare me.”

Her words caused an eerie silence to descend upon the Golden Throne Hall. On the surface, there was nothing wrong with her statement, but given the phrasing—and the relationship between the two—it was hard not to read more into it.

The figure behind the screen fell silent for a long moment before responding in a tone teetering on the edge of embarrassed indignation. “Five days. If the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review cannot solve the case within five days, you will be stripped of your position and sent home.”

Ji Rongjin’s vision darkened. Five days?! She didn’t even know the details of the case yet. Solving it in five days? She might as well pack up and return to her mansion now.

But in the court, no matter how much bitterness she felt, she had to swallow it. With a heavy heart, she said, “Your subject… accepts the decree.”

The matter should have ended with Ji Rongjin’s acceptance of the order, but at that moment, an untimely voice rang out in the court.

“Your Highness, this matter is of great importance. The murder of a court official in their own home is already shocking, but now, not only the Minister of Revenue but his entire family of 145 people were killed silently in a single night. This shows that the perpetrator not only disregards the law but possesses extraordinary means and influence. If we cannot catch the mastermind, how can the officials of our Daqian dynasty feel at ease?”

The speaker was an old man with a sorrowful and solemn expression, his cheeks sagging with layers of flesh, giving him a somewhat repulsive appearance.

As soon as he finished, another voice chimed in, “Lord He speaks the truth. This matter concerns the safety of all court officials. If the culprit isn’t caught, we will live in fear day and night.”

“Exactly, exactly.”

Ji Rongjin had studied the portraits of officials beforehand and recognized the speaker as He Li, the Right Chancellor of Daqian, a highly respected figure in the court.

A veteran of two reigns, he was an old fox through and through.

Shen Zhuwan’s voice came unhurriedly from behind the screen. “And what does the Right Chancellor propose?”

“Your subject believes that the mastermind, capable of pulling this off without a trace, must not only have extraordinary means but also considerable power. Finding the culprit within five days is quite challenging for the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. If there’s someone colluding from within, the investigation will face countless obstacles.” He Li said, casting a sympathetic glance at Ji Rongjin before continuing, “Your subject suggests assigning someone to assist the Minister in the investigation, both to provide support and to guard against any underhanded interference.”

“Moreover, the audacity of the mastermind, who shows no regard for Daqian’s laws, fills us with righteous indignation. We wish to personally investigate and drag this vile culprit into the light to face justice.” He Li’s eyes burned with anger as he spoke. “I beseech Your Highness to grant us this opportunity.”

Behind the screen, Shen Zhuwan’s expression grew colder. Who couldn’t see that He Li’s words were subtly accusing Ji Rongjin of being the “colluder”? By extension, they even hinted at suspicions toward the Princess as the powerful figure behind it all. Not only that, but He Li had also taken the chance to curse the supposed mastermind.

His words seemed to express concern for the safety of court officials, but every sentence challenged the royal authority. He was meddling in a decision already made and indirectly criticizing the Princess.

Yet he was clever, using the safety of all officials as a shield, giving himself a perfect excuse. If his words were deemed too provocative and Shen Zhuwan punished him, it would seem as though she didn’t care about her officials’ safety. If she let it slide, she would have endured his veiled insults for nothing.

Shen Zhuwan’s expression darkened, her chest rising and falling slightly. No one could remain unmoved after such an affront.

Just as she was about to speak, a voice suddenly rose from the court below: “What does the Chancellor mean by this? Our Court of Judicial Review has always handled cases with diligence and impartiality. For the Chancellor to baselessly claim that members of our Court of Judicial Review are colluding with outsiders—if the Chancellor truly allows external assistance today, wouldn’t that, in the eyes of others, confirm this so-called collusion?”

“Yet every single person in our Court of Judicial Review is wholeheartedly devoted to serving the country, without a shred of selfish intent. Today, if only I, Ji Rongjin, were to be humiliated, so be it. But the Chancellor’s words—where do they place the rest of the Court of Judicial Review? Where do they place their loyalty?” Ji Rongjin spoke and performed with fervor, growing increasingly impassioned. Whether justified or not, she directly pinned a heavy accusation on He Li: “I know the Chancellor has the welfare of our Daqian’s high officials in mind, but you must not, in doing so, wound the hearts of us lesser officials!”

“Your Highness, I oppose the Right Chancellor’s view!” Ji Rongjin took a deep breath, knelt heavily to the ground with such force that her tall hat rolled off, coming to a stop at the Right Chancellor’s feet.

Ji Rongjin bowed her head, feeling a slight chill at the back of her scalp.

She gasped, her vision darkening. Oh no, I got too carried away with the performance and forgot I’m bald.