Chapter Twenty-Two: Three Days’ Deadline

Empress Guo was utterly unfazed by all this. She glanced at Spring Peach, signaling her to bring over the piece of charcoal. In that moment, the Empress had already resolved that, regardless of whether the charcoal bore any other scent, she would insist there was none. She wanted to see what these people would do then.

With determination, Empress Guo took the charcoal from Spring Peach, held it beneath her nose, and inhaled gently. In the next instant, a scene unfolded that left everyone present dumbstruck: the Empress clutched the chair, bent over, and retched violently, exclaiming, "Why does it reek so strongly of kerosene?" After a while, she recovered, glaring furiously at Gongsun Ce. "How dare you play tricks on me?"

Gongsun Ce bowed slightly to the Empress and replied, "Your Majesty was correct—there is indeed a strong smell of kerosene. I have not played any tricks! May I ask why, on the remains of the palace destroyed by the fire, there is such a strong kerosene odor?"

Empress Guo cursed inwardly, realizing she'd been duped. No wonder that heartless man had handed her the charcoal; though he no longer cared for her, after so many years together he surely remembered her sensitivity to kerosene! She knew the situation was already exposed, but stubbornly retorted, "How should I know why there's such a strong kerosene smell?"

Seeing her defiance, Gongsun Ce pressed on. "Since Your Majesty does not wish to explain, allow me to speak in your stead. I consulted His Majesty on this matter; he informed me that all kerosene in the palace is strictly allocated for lighting, with each palace having a fixed quota. His Majesty granted me special permission to inspect the records at the Treasury. I discovered something peculiar: just before the fire, Kunning Palace had withdrawn its monthly kerosene allocation. Yet, the day after the fire, someone again withdrew an equal amount of kerosene under your directive. What explanation can Your Majesty offer for this?"

Empress Guo's expression darkened. "Even if I withdrew kerosene twice, I need not explain myself to a mere minor official! Must I report every action to you?"

Gongsun Ce, now wholly confident, did not let the Empress's unreasonable words anger him. Instead, he smiled calmly. "Naturally, Your Majesty need not report anything to me. However, as I am charged by His Majesty with investigating the palace fire, if you used kerosene to start the blaze, it is indeed my concern. In that case, you must explain yourself to me—and to His Majesty."

Empress Guo snorted, furious. "Nonsense! What proof do you have that the kerosene was used to start the fire?"

Gongsun Ce saw that her psychological defenses were nearly shattered. A little more pressure, and she would surely break. He laughed dryly. "Your Majesty is correct—I have no evidence that the excess kerosene was used to start the fire. However, since Kunning Palace’s kerosene for lighting is strictly allocated, we can audit the remaining kerosene and add the amount used these past days. If the total matches the withdrawn quantity, then my deduction was wrong. If not, Your Majesty must tell me where the missing kerosene went. Do you dare allow me to count the kerosene in Kunning Palace?"

The furious outburst Gongsun Ce anticipated did not occur. Instead, Empress Guo replied with an even, calm face. "You wish to search my storeroom? I am the Empress, the mother of the realm. How can I allow you to search as you please?"

Zhu Changluo, observing the Empress pressuring Gongsun Ce, came to his aid. "If I, the Emperor, wish to search the Empress's chambers, surely that is permitted?"

Empress Guo replied serenely, "You are the ruler of all under heaven; if you wish to search my chambers, so be it. But if you doubt me like this, how can I maintain my dignity as the Empress and govern the six palaces? Search if you must, but if you find I am unjustly accused, you must give me an explanation."

---

Zhu Hao noticed the unusual calm on the Empress's face, so unlike her earlier agitation. He felt an uneasy suspicion that they had been tricked. Zhu Hao knew this old witch was a consummate actress, her talent equal to his own, and now he wondered whether she was truly unafraid or just bluffing.

As Zhu Hao hesitated, his father Zhu Changluo spoke. "Very well! As the Empress wishes." He turned to the guards behind him. "You, accompany Gongsun Ce to search the Empress's storeroom. Count the kerosene carefully, and leave nothing unchecked!"

The guards obeyed, following Gongsun Ce to Kunning Palace’s storeroom, while Zhu Hao, Zhu Changluo, and Empress Guo waited in the main hall for the results.

Once Gongsun Ce left with the guards, Zhu Hao noticed a faint smile appear on the Empress's face. Though he could not pinpoint the issue, Zhu Hao sensed clearly that their group had been outwitted.

Sure enough, half an hour later, Gongsun Ce and several guards returned, their faces smudged and dejected. The guards hung their heads as if ashamed, and Gongsun Ce himself no longer looked confident—his earlier assured smile vanished, replaced by gloom.

Zhu Changluo, perhaps too eager to depose the Empress, failed to notice these signs and asked excitedly, "Well? Gongsun Ce, is there kerosene missing from the Empress's storeroom?"

Gongsun Ce looked awkwardly at Zhu Changluo. "Your Majesty, the Empress’s kerosene... not a drop is missing!"

"What? What did you say?" Zhu Changluo was unable to accept this, staring incredulously at Gongsun Ce. "Are you sure? Did you count correctly—perhaps you confused empty barrels?"

Gongsun Ce’s face became grimmer. He shook his head. "We counted three times. Every barrel was checked. There is not a drop missing!"

Unable to bear this sudden reversal, Zhu Changluo shouted angrily at Gongsun Ce. "You assured me this was foolproof! Is this your foolproof plan? You owe me an explanation!"

Gongsun Ce immediately knelt. "I am guilty, Your Majesty. I failed to anticipate this, and I have disappointed you. Please punish me!"

Zhu Changluo snorted, flinging his sleeve. "Punishment? Will that solve anything? You’ve made me lose face!"

Zhu Hao, watching his father berate his subordinate, felt uncomfortable and feared his father might, in anger, execute Gongsun Ce. Forgetting his usual act as a withdrawn youth, he quickly interceded. "Father, truly Gongsun Ce did not foresee this. Please grant him another chance to redeem himself—let him resolve the mystery of this fire for you!"

---

Zhu Changluo looked at Zhu Hao pleading for Gongsun Ce, and reluctantly nodded in agreement. He addressed the kneeling Gongsun Ce. "Rise. Since my son intercedes for you, I’ll allow you to redeem yourself. I will not punish you for now. Investigate thoroughly and get to the bottom of this fire! I do not want today’s events to repeat. If it happens again, no one can save you. Do you understand?"

Gongsun Ce bowed deeply, knocking his head to the floor. "Thank you for Your Majesty’s mercy. Please rest assured—I will uncover the truth. If I fail again, I need not await your punishment, I shall end my own life in apology!"

Zhu Changluo nodded. "Rise. Since this matter does not concern the Empress, let us depart."

He turned to leave with Zhu Hao and Gongsun Ce. At that moment, Empress Guo called out, "Your Majesty, wait!"

Zhu Changluo turned, annoyed. "What is it, Empress?"

Empress Guo’s lips curled in a victor’s smile. "Before you searched my storeroom, you promised me that if I was proved innocent, you would give me an explanation!"

Zhu Changluo had all but forgotten that promise, but now the Empress reminded him. Knowing he could not escape, he asked, "What kind of explanation do you want?"

The Empress, still wearing her triumphant smile, replied, "Your words are golden, Your Majesty—you cannot go back on them. Since you have ordered Gongsun Ce to redeem himself, I do not wish to make things difficult for you. I agree to let Gongsun Ce investigate further, but this cannot go on endlessly. After all, the fire site is in my palace, and I do not wish to be disturbed every day. I ask Your Majesty to be considerate."

Zhu Changluo understood: the Empress wanted to set a time limit on the investigation. If it exceeded that, the case could not be pursued further. He knew he was at fault, so he asked, "What time limit does the Empress suggest?"

Empress Guo rose, took a few steps, and bowed to Zhu Changluo. "I suggest a limit of three days. If Gongsun Ce cannot uncover the truth within three days, I ask Your Majesty to punish him for offending me today. Will Your Majesty grant this?"

Zhu Changluo realized the fire case was truly complicated, and three days was a tight deadline. He wanted to refuse, but before he could speak, Gongsun Ce himself replied, "Three days it is. I accept the Empress’s terms. In three days, I will uncover the whole truth of the fire!"