The Cold Minister and the Substitute Bride novel · Chapter 13 of 24
Chapter 13: The Real Bride
Nobody in the courtyard spoke.
The torches hissed.
A dozen guards stood in a half ring behind the Chief Censor, and two clerks in black held writing boards against their chests.
At the gate, a pair of Gao's matrons waited with folded hands.
They were witnesses, Zhiruo understood.
Gao had brought a crowd to watch.
Biyan came down the stairs slowly, one hand on the rail, her robe tied and her face like cold water.
Zhiruo went down beside her.
Her legs were shaking, and she made them stop.
"Censor Gao," Biyan said. "It is the third watch."
"I know, Minister. I would not trouble you for a small matter." Gao's voice was as soft as ever. "The decree of the Emperor promised you the daughter of the Grand Secretary Lu. I have found her wandering a river road, with her hair down and a stranger's coat on her back."
He turned his head.
"Lady Lu, come forward."
The tall woman in the green coat walked three steps and stopped.
Up close, her face was white as paper.
She looked at Biyan.
Then she looked at Zhiruo, and for one breath her mouth opened.
Gao touched her elbow lightly, and she shut it again.
Zhiruo knew that look.
She had seen it across the Lu kitchen when Xiuwen was caught with a stolen sweet.
It meant, I am sorry, I am so sorry, I cannot help it.
"Now," said Gao, and spread his sleeves. "There is a woman in this house who has been called the Prime Minister's wife since the wedding. By the law of the decree she is a fraud, and so is every person who helped her. I ask the Minister to hand her over to the censorate for questioning."
The courtyard waited.
Biyan did not look at Zhiruo.
She looked at Gao for a long time.
"Is that all?" she said.
"Is it not enough?"
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