Lin Chong's Women's Cuju Team

When Ning Weizhi heard that he had been called upon by the Emperor again, he bit his lip slightly, feeling somewhat at a loss. After all, the harem's register was not under his jurisdiction, but now Emperor Huizong wanted to entrust him with the investigation. He didn't understand the rules and intricacies of the harem.

Just as Ning Weizhi was at a loss for words, Du Shiniang spoke up at the opportune moment, suggesting to Emperor Huizong, "Your Majesty, I once chatted with Consort Luo at Zixiang Pavilion about her selection of imperial concubines. She told me that the Grand Councilor Gao had participated in the selection process. Why don't we summon Grand Councilor Gao and ask him if he has any impression of Chen Jinyan, or if he knows where this woman is currently serving in the harem?"

Upon hearing Du Shiniang's words, Emperor Huizong was so delighted he almost danced for joy. He said to her approvingly, "I never imagined Du Shiniang would have such a sharp mind and excellent memory! I truly envy General Zhou for having such a confidante as Shiniang. Shiniang, today you not only presented the treasure map to the palace but also investigated the bribery case involving the imperial concubines for me. I will certainly reward you handsomely later!"

"Eunuch Liu, quickly summon Senior Advisor to see me, the sooner the better!"

Liu Guangyu hurriedly obeyed the order and rushed outside the palace to find Gao Can. Du Shiniang, seeing that Emperor Huizong was indeed gradually trusting her, felt a sense of clarity; everything that had happened today was within her expectations. However, she worried whether Gao Can would cooperate and reveal Chen Jinyan's true identity, but fortunately, she was prepared.

Zhou Chengquan glanced at Du Shiniang, thinking to himself, "No wonder this woman insisted on having him accompany her to the palace to meet the Emperor today. It turns out she had already planned to have Gao Can avenge Chen Jinhuan. But Gao Can is so cunning, would he really cooperate with Du Shiniang to reveal the identity of Chen Jinyan, this concubine in the palace?" He knew that Gao Can had warned Du Shiniang to stop her from presenting the treasure map to the palace, but Du Shiniang said she was confident that she could help Consort Luo avenge herself without angering Gao Can, so Zhou Chengquan believed her.

Just as Zhou Chengquan's thoughts were wandering, Gao Can was led into the imperial study by a young eunuch. Zhou Chengquan couldn't help but wonder if Gao Can had received news that Du Shiniang was coming to the palace today to present the treasure map. This fellow must have been waiting outside the palace gates long ago. He also expected that Du Shiniang would have the emperor summon him, otherwise he wouldn't have come so quickly. It seems that Gao Can is indeed a cunning old fox.

"Minister Gao, just now Du Shiniang told me that when Consort Luo was selecting concubines, you also participated in the selection process that year, is that right?" Emperor Huizong asked the advisor standing in front of his desk seriously.

"Your Majesty, I did indeed oversee the selection of imperial concubines that year, but I do not know why Consort Chen Jinhuan—no! Consort Luo—was not selected. Perhaps I was blind back then!" Gao Can said to Emperor Huizong with a tone of regret and self-reproach.

"What a blind man! Minister Gao, I have a question for you. Back when you and Consort Luo were selected as concubines, her older sister Chen Jinyan changed her fate and took her place in the palace. Did you really not know?" Emperor Huizong's face was as black as ink, and his eyes flashed with a fierce light as he questioned Minister Gao.

"Your Majesty, I truly had no idea that such a thing had happened back then! I beg Your Majesty to calm your anger!" The senior advisor immediately knelt on the ground, lowered his head and eyes, and spoke in an innocent tone.

Just as Emperor Huizong was about to continue interrogating Gao Can, Chen Jinhuan grabbed his sleeve and gently advised, "Your Majesty, I believe that Gao Can was unaware of the matter that my sister harmed me back then. Please don't be angry! I trust Gao Can."

"Your Majesty, I am grateful for Consort Luo's trust!" Gao Can said, bowing three times respectfully to Chen Jin Huan. Seeing Gao Can's respectful demeanor towards Consort Luo, Emperor Huizong's anger gradually subsided. He gently stroked Consort Luo's hand, then asked Gao Can, "Lord Gao, which palace was Chen Jin Yan sent to after she entered the palace? What has become of her all these years? Today, I must drag this woman out of the harem and bring her to justice."

Gao Can thought to himself, "Du Shiniang has really messed me up today." If he revealed that Consort Xian was actually Chen Jinyan, this woman might bring up how he helped her gain a foothold in the harem and taught her Cuju (an ancient Chinese football game) to win the Emperor's favor. She might even say that she actually knew about Chen Jinyan's secret bribery of Zhang Liang to alter the fates of the imperial concubines.

"Lord Gao, where is my sister in the harem now? Tell me quickly!" Chen Jinhuan urged Gao Can, seeing his hesitant expression, while glancing at Du Shiniang. Du Shiniang, waiting for Consort Luo's plea for help, said to Emperor Huizong, "Your Majesty, Lord Gao may be very busy and need time to recall what happened back then. I happen to have a few words I'd like to discuss privately with him to help him remember what happened back then as soon as possible. I wonder if Your Majesty would grant my request..."

"Du Shiniang, I grant you permission to discuss matters with Minister Gao outside the palace before returning to the Imperial Study to see me. However, you must promise to make Minister Gao recall what happened back then." Before Du Shiniang could finish speaking, Emperor Huizong granted her request to discuss matters privately with Minister Gao.

Emperor Huizong of Song had been emperor for more than ten years. Surely he could see through the shady dealings between Du Shiniang and Gao Can. The two were probably trying to make some kind of deal in private, but he didn't care. All he ever wanted was the result, regardless of the process or means. This was an essential skill for emperors.

Gao Can glanced at Du Shiniang, and the two said in unison to Emperor Huizong, "Your Majesty, we will do our best to share your burdens!" Emperor Huizong had no patience to listen to their nonsense any longer and waved for them to leave.

After leaving the imperial study, Gao Can pulled Du Shiniang behind a pillar in the corridor and angrily berated her: "Du Shiniang, I clearly warned you before not to present that 'Nine Heavens Star Picking' painting to the Emperor. Why didn't you listen to me? Aren't you afraid I'll kill Lin Chong?"

"Lord Gao, please calm down and listen to what I have to say. Right now, it's inconvenient for Consort Luo to reveal her sister's identity. Even if I did, His Majesty wouldn't believe me. Only if Lord Gao testifies that Consort Xian is Chen Jinyan will His Majesty believe it," Du Shiniang said gently to Gao Can, her eyes filled with expectation.

"Du Shiniang, do you know? This Consort Xian was originally a pawn that my adoptive father and I placed in the harem. But now she has developed ulterior motives and wants to side with the Left Prime Minister to become an enemy of my father and me. I also want to teach this woman a lesson, but I'm afraid she'll drag me down with her and falsely accuse me of participating in the alteration of the concubines' fates back then." Seeing that Du Shiniang's attitude was willing to cooperate with him, Gao softened his heart and explained his dilemma and his fear of Consort Xian to her.

"Lord Gao, so it turns out you were the one who promoted Consort Xian. No wonder you were reluctant to expose her. I understand your dilemma, but I still advise you to see the situation clearly. Consort Luo is deeply favored by the Emperor, and it will be easy for her to be promoted to the rank of Consort. If you help Consort Luo today, I believe the Emperor will trust you more in the future, and Consort Luo will also stand on your side."

“You’re worried that Consort Xian will drag you down with her? I can help you with that. Isn’t Zhang Liang a key witness? I have a way to control Zhang Liang. If he says you didn’t know anything, are you still afraid that Consort Xian will keep accusing you? But I’m not helping Master Gao for nothing. I want you to let Lin Chong go.” Du Shiniang explained her plan to Advisor Gao in a conciliatory tone.

Gao Can frowned and pondered for a moment. He knew Du Shiniang was right; he should choose to help Consort Luo and abandon Consort Xian, a pawn whose power had already shifted. However, he also knew that Du Shiniang's ultimate goal was to save Lin Chong. What did Lin Chong do to deserve such a clever and beautiful woman like Du Shiniang? Thinking of this, his jealousy and resentment towards Lin Chong intensified, and his hand unconsciously clenched into a fist inside his sleeve. Gao Can gritted his teeth and thought for another moment, then suddenly turned to look into Du Shiniang's eyes and stated his condition:

“Du Shiniang, I can help Consort Luo take revenge on Consort Xian, and I can also let Lin Chong go, but you must agree to one condition: let Zhang Ruowen go. He is the Wolf King’s adopted son, and I have a deal with the Wolf King. I must help him rescue Zhang Ruowen.”

Upon hearing the conditions, Du Shiniang frowned slightly, pursed her lips, and said to Gao Can, "That day, General Zhou and I arrested Zhang Ruowen at Zixiang Pavilion. Do you mean I have to contradict myself and say that I misunderstood Zhang Ruowen that day? This would cause me to lose the Emperor's trust. I need to discuss this with General Zhou."

Just then, a deep male voice rang out: "Shi Niang, there's no need to consult me ​​anymore. I promise to let Zhang Ruowen go." Du Shiniang turned around and saw that the person standing behind her and Gao Can, interrupting her, was Zhou Chengquan. She didn't know when Zhou Chengquan had arrived, or how much of her conversation with Gao Can had he overheard. But now that Zhou Chengquan was here, she felt more confident in her negotiations with Gao Can.