Blossom in Adversity

C165. Three Strikes.

Chapter 165: Three Strikes

Liu Juan stumbled off the carriage, her body swaying uncontrollably. She took a step and fell to the ground. Hearing the commotion, Dongzi hurried over to help her up, asking, "Miss Liu Juan, what happened? Are you okay?"

Liu Juan shook her head, too preoccupied to worry about losing face. "Help me up, I have something to report to the Miss."

"Of course." Dongzi helped her inside, leading her to the inner courtyard where she was then assisted by the maidservant to Hua Zhi.

Hua Zhi was surprised to see Liu Juan in such a state. She knew the background of everyone around her, and although Liu Juan had only recently joined her, there was no reason for her to be so terrified over a small matter.

Fu Dong helped her sit down, and a maidservant brought her some hot tea. Liu Juan shivered as she took a sip, and then began to speak.

"Miss, there is a curfew in the city. I saw many fully armed soldiers patrolling. After entering the city, I was taken directly to a masked man, just as you described. He wore a mask, as did his men, and there were many people bound nearby."

Hua Zhi nodded slightly. She knew that the masked man who had saved her that night was Mr. Lu, the leader of the mysterious Seven Stars in the Great Daqing Dynasty.

"After I handed him the items, he asked if you had any message for him. When I said no, he let me go. I carefully observed the situation in the city as you instructed and found it to be much more serious than what the others had mentioned. I heard that... that someone is planning something against the Emperor."

Liu Juan swallowed nervously, her eyes filled with fear. Having grown up in a village, the Emperor seemed distant and untouchable to her. The thought of someone plotting against him was as if the sky were falling.

Hua Zhi had obtained the information she needed and did not press the young maid further. She instructed Fu Dong to take her to rest.

The news also alarmed Bao Xia, but she quickly shifted her focus elsewhere. "Although Liu Juan has not been in the estate for long, her performance has been commendable. She is bold and attentive, with no major mishaps. She can be promoted to a second-rank maid."

"Why bother asking me about this?" Hua Zhi laughed. She knew she was bold, but she hadn't displayed it so blatantly. She wondered why all the maids around her seemed so courageous.

Bao Xia chuckled and turned to discuss with Ying Chun, who was initially caught off guard but soon joined the conversation earnestly. "Not only Liu Juan, but Chun Xiang can also be considered for promotion. Oh, and Liu Xiang too."

Liu Xiang, who had been busy, looked over.

Ying Chun smiled at her. "We've mentioned your promotion before, and although your monthly responsibilities have increased, we haven't officially confirmed it yet. It will be announced soon."

Liu Xiang thanked Ying Chun and performed a deep bow to Hua Zhi. "Thank you, Miss."

"You deserve it." Hua Zhi remembered how Liu Xiang had chosen to sacrifice herself to save her, and since then, this maid had become more solemn, as if she had grown up overnight. It was something she needed to repay.

Nian Qiu tugged at Ying Chun's sleeve, gesturing towards the Miss.

Ying Chun nodded, signaling for everyone else to leave. She then brought in hot water to warm the Miss's hands, before kneeling down to carefully apply hand oil and massage her hands. She whispered softly, “Miss, I don't quite understand...”

"Why did I ask Liu Juan to deliver food to Mr. Lu?"

"Indeed." Mr. Lu's intentions towards the Miss were unknown to others, but those who followed the Miss closely every day could see clearly. They were genuinely happy for their Miss.

They were willing to accompany their Miss for a lifetime, but if possible, they still hoped that their Miss could find someone who would cherish and love her. Their Miss was so good, deserving of the best treatment in the world.

But the Miss's previous behavior clearly showed no indication of such thoughts, hence they couldn't understand why the Miss had acted in this way.

"Because if I don't go, I won't know the extent of what's happening in the capital." Seeing the surprised looks of her maidens, Hua Zhi laughed. "Otherwise, it might seem like I suddenly have a crush on Mr. Lu."

Even including Shao Yao, if the Emperor's side is not plotting, it might already have succeeded.

She had known she was being followed, which was why she dared to let Liu Juan go into the city alone. She also knew that once she entered the city, someone would bring her to Mr. Lu.

Sure enough, Liu Juan encountered no obstacles on her way there.

Has the leader of the Seven Stars boldly started arresting people?

Hua Zhi pondered. This matter was not insignificant, and she knew it wouldn't be brushed aside quietly. It didn't concern the Hua family, and as long as the Zhu family remained uninvolved, she had no connection to it. In fact, she even faintly looked forward to a bigger commotion.

When the Hua family was in trouble, weren't you all happy about it?

Now she was happy too.

*

The Seven Stars had always been shrouded in secrecy, with very few people aware that their tribunal was located in a corner of the imperial palace.

Now, as the Seven Stars held a public trial in their execution hall, even those who had initially intended to avoid the proceedings had changed their minds. They doubted the leader's true intentions but knew this might be their only chance to see the true face of the Seven Stars.

So when Gu Yanxi arrived, many others also followed suit.

"Leader."

Gu Yanxi took his seat at the head and scanned the room. "Let's begin."

One by one, those who once held high status were brought in disgracefully. As the numbers grew, the onlookers began to pale. What was the leader of the Seven Stars planning?

If all these people were found guilty, how would the court function tomorrow?

Just as everyone thought the interrogation was about to begin, Chen Qing stepped forward, opened a memorial, and said, "Chen Anjun, Tong Yang... colluded with a charlatan to present an elixir to the Emperor, verdict: fifty lashes, execution by beheading, execution in three days."

First strike, seven people.

"Yu Fengchu, Shan Zhen... aided a tyrant, verdict: fifty lashes, execution by beheading, execution in three days."

Second strike, eleven people.

"Xie Shipeng, Feng Zheng... involved in the harem, verdict: fifty lashes, execution by beheading, execution in three days."

The third execution, fourteen souls. Chen Qing set down the final petition and stepped back. A collective gasp rippled through the hall.

Fourteen lives, forfeit without a shred of tangible evidence?

The accusations were so flimsy, so casually levied. How could the Seven Stars Bureau wield such power with such impunity?

And those whips... the executioners, armed with barbed instruments of torture, stood ready to carry out the decree.