Chapter 85: Ink of the Cuttlefish

This question in Zhu Hao's mind was quickly answered by his own reasoning. Even if Empress Guo claimed that the imperial edict was a forgery, Consort Dowager Zheng would surely deny it, for both women were beneficiaries in the struggle for succession. Each would insist on her own version, and the officials would be at a loss as to whom they should believe. The situation would likely devolve into another deadlock, with no way to confirm whether the edict in Consort Zheng's hands was genuine or false.

Zhu Hao thought to himself, “Empress Guo must have realized this, which is why she asked me to go seek evidence that would prove Consort Dowager Zheng’s edict a forgery!” At this, he couldn’t help but curse inwardly, “Damn this imperial family—everything is a mess, nothing is straightforward. Even with a witness, you can't convict anyone; it has to be two people of equal standing testifying against another, only then will the verdict be accepted. This isn’t an investigation—it’s a contest of power, and in the end, whoever holds more sway determines the truth!” His indignation blinded him to the fact that he, too, was a member of the royal house, and thus included himself in his own tirade.

Yet Zhu Hao’s resentment did nothing to solve the problem at hand. He wore a troubled expression, at a loss as to how to break the impasse. Observing his distress, Gongsun Ce finally spoke his mind: “Your Highness, in fact, it is not impossible to prove that Consort Dowager Zheng’s edict is a forgery—we simply need to take a more circuitous route!”

Hearing this, Zhu Hao felt as if he were living the verse: “After mountain and river’s twists, the shade of willows reveals a village anew.” He leapt to his feet, grasped Gongsun Ce’s sleeve, and exclaimed, “Gongsun, what plan do you have? Speak quickly!” He paused a moment, then added with a hint of reproach, “Why didn’t you say so earlier? You kept me guessing, going on about difficulties! Gongsun, that’s not quite fair of you.”

Gongsun Ce, hearing the trace of complaint in Zhu Hao’s voice, hastily knelt and pleaded, “Forgive me, Your Highness! It isn’t that I didn’t wish to speak, but Your Highness did not ask me just now, and I dared not speak out of turn. Only seeing your deep concern now did I venture to offer my thoughts.”

Zhu Hao, hearing Gongsun Ce’s careful words, shook his head gently and helped him to his feet. “Gongsun, you and I have been close for years. You should know the sort of person I am. There’s no need for such caution before me—if you have good ideas or suggestions, speak them plainly. The Taizu Emperor, with his unprecedented wisdom and martial prowess, was always open to counsel. I wouldn’t dare compare myself to him, but neither am I a ruler deaf to advice. I hope you will never again hesitate to speak as you did today! Now, tell me quickly—what method do you have to prove that Consort Dowager Zheng’s edict is a forgery?”

Gongsun Ce was deeply moved by Zhu Hao’s sincerity, and said, somewhat excitedly, “Your Highness, I acknowledge my error. In my estimation, your magnanimity and talent are on par with the Taizu Emperor. It is my good fortune to serve at your side!” After this heartfelt declaration, he took a deep breath and continued, “I have heard that Your Highness holds a confession from Grand Secretary Fang, in which he admits to conspiring with Consort Dowager Zheng to poison the late emperor. Is this true?”

Zhu Hao was not surprised that Gongsun Ce knew of this, for he had produced the confession before the ministers at the Gate of Supreme Harmony. It was no secret and would certainly not escape the eyes of Gongsun Ce, the current acting head of the Central Intelligence Office.

Zhu Hao understood Gongsun Ce’s intent. At that time he had indeed produced a confession, but it had been a blank sheet of paper. Gongsun Ce was probing the authenticity of the matter, perhaps suspecting, as the ministers had, that Zhu Hao had merely been bluffing to intimidate Fang Congzhe and Consort Dowager Zheng, and that no real confession existed.

With this in mind, Zhu Hao’s face grew displeased. “Gongsun, is that how you regard me? When have I ever stooped to trickery and deceit? Do you suspect I acted thus at the Gate of Supreme Harmony to frame Fang Congzhe and Consort Dowager Zheng?”

Understanding he was misunderstood, Gongsun Ce hurried to explain, “Your Highness, you mistake my meaning. I would never doubt you, no matter what others say. I know what you said at the time was true, and only wished to confirm it. In fact, I would like to examine the paper on which the confession was written.”

With Gongsun Ce’s explanation, Zhu Hao’s expression softened. He took the paper from his robe and handed it to Gongsun Ce, saying dejectedly, “There’s no harm in showing you the confession, but it’s useless now. There isn’t a single word on it! The whole world will probably think I was lying at the Gate of Supreme Harmony.”

Gongsun Ce took the paper with care, examining it closely for some time before asking, “Your Highness, did you truly see writing on this confession at the time?”

His words only made Zhu Hao, already frustrated, even more dissatisfied. He could not bear the implied doubt and glared coldly at Gongsun Ce, huffing, “What do you mean by that, Gongsun? I’m hardly so old as to be blind! Even if I was rushed, I could still see if there was writing or not. Besides, I checked it three times before putting it away!”

Sensing Zhu Hao’s irritation, Gongsun Ce quickly bowed. “You mistake me again, Your Highness. The reason I ask is that I have thought of a possibility and wish to confirm it. If my guess is correct, I may be able to make the vanished writing on this paper reappear!”

Zhu Hao’s mind buzzed at Gongsun Ce’s words. If what Gongsun Ce said was true, it would solve his greatest dilemma. If the confession’s writing could be restored, there would be no need to seek further proof of Consort Zheng’s forgery; the confession, written by Fang himself, admitting to the plot with Consort Zheng, supported by Empress Guo’s testimony, would outweigh any spurious edict. Whether or not Consort Zheng was ultimately punished, no one would believe her lies any longer.

Overwhelmed, Zhu Hao gripped Gongsun Ce’s arm tightly, exclaiming, “What? Gongsun, are you serious?”

The pain made Gongsun Ce cry out, “Your Highness, please, not so hard! You’re hurting me!”

Realizing he had lost composure and that Gongsun Ce’s face had turned purple from the grasp, Zhu Hao quickly let go, embarrassed. “I was just excited. Tell me, Gongsun—what method do you have to make the writing reappear? Don’t tell me you know magic?”

Though a firm disbeliever in the supernatural, Zhu Hao found himself thinking of magic—such was the shock of the vanished words and Gongsun Ce’s claim to restore them.

Gongsun Ce, hearing Zhu Hao’s flustered question, understood his urgency and did not delay. “I once heard of a case during the Northern Song dynasty involving cheating in the imperial examinations, in which the disappearing writing on paper played a crucial role.

This happened in a Jiangnan examination hall, where a candidate used ink made from cuttlefish to write the answers on the inside of his clothing. Once the ink dried, the writing would dissolve and disappear, so no one could discover the cheating. The secret was only exposed when another matter brought the examiner’s arrest, and he confessed to the plot—only then did people learn of it.”

Zhu Hao, having never heard of such ink, interrupted, “What is cuttlefish ink? Why does the writing vanish when it dries, and if it disappears, how could the candidate cheat?”

Gongsun Ce replied, “Your Highness, let me explain. Cuttlefish ink is made by combining the bile of sea cuttlefish with fish bones to form ink. As for why the writing vanishes when dried, I cannot say—perhaps it is the marvel of nature. The trick lies in the ink’s other property: once the writing disappears, if you soak the area in water and sprinkle some dust on it, the characters will reappear. When it dries and the dust is brushed away, the writing vanishes again.

In that case, the candidate’s clothing, dampened with sweat during the exam, would reveal the hidden notes when dusted with ash. I found this method almost unbelievable when I first heard of it, but having seen this, it must truly exist!”