The Cold Minister and the Substitute Bride novel · Chapter 15 of 24
Chapter 15: The Search
Steward Qin met them at the top of the stairs, dressed in his best grey gown, with the ring of keys at his belt.
He looked at the two of them, at Biyan's loose hair and Zhiruo's crooked jacket, and his face did not move.
"Minister," he said. "The Censor's men are in the outer court. The warrant allows them to search the house. It does not allow them to question the Prime Minister before he has dressed and eaten."
"They will ask for me."
"They will be told you are at your morning rites, which may not be interrupted. It is in the red book." He bowed. "I beg you to wait behind the carved screen in the main hall. You will hear everything. You need not say anything."
"Qin, I will not hide while my house is turned over."
"Please, Minister."
It was the first time Zhiruo had ever heard him say the word as if it were a request.
Biyan stared at him.
Then she let Zhiruo take her hand and lead her down.
The carved screen stood at the back of the main hall, a wall of fretted camphor wood with a gap between the leaves just wide enough for an eye.
They stood close in the dust and the dark, shoulder to shoulder.
Biyan's hand was cold in hers.
Boots came in through the door.
Gao walked at the front with his sleeves tucked, unhurried, and behind him came an officer with a square jaw and eight guards.
The household was already waiting in a line along the wall.
All twenty-three of them.
Granny Mo with her ladle, the laundry maid with red hands, the gate men, the boys from the stable, the sweeping woman with her bad knee.
They stood in order of rank, and none of them looked at the screen.
"Steward Qin," Gao said pleasantly. "Where is your master?"
"At the morning rites, my lord. He cannot be disturbed until the hour of the snake."
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