As soon as Ren Xuan returned to the Ministry of Rites, he saw Director Jiang sitting on the threshold, crying his heart out with tears streaming down his face. When asked why, Director Jiang sobbed out the whole story between sobs, then continued, “This subordinate official thought Su Jin and I were grasshoppers tied to the same string, so I kindly helped him fabricate a lie. Who knew he and Lord Liu were old acquaintances? Now look what’s happened—he’s escaped without a trace while this subordinate official alone is trapped in a dead-end alley. This subordinate official has offended two high officials of the Imperial Censorate for no reason. I might as well bash my head in and die.”
Returning to the Ministry of Rites with Ren Xuan was also Minister Luo. He bent down and listened to Director Jiang’s tearful complaint for a while, finding him extremely long-winded. He scolded, “You deserve it. I’ve taught you all long ago—kowtow more, talk less. Look what trouble your loose tongue has caused.”
Ren Xuan detected a point of doubt and asked, “Lord Liu and Su Jin are old acquaintances? That can’t be right?”
Director Jiang wiped away his tears: “Why can’t it be? This subordinate official heard with his own ears Lord Liu, that venerable elder, helping Su Jin investigate the case, asking about the disappearance date and even gossiping about Administrator Yan. Everyone knows the Left Censor-in-Chief is an iron-faced Buddha. To get him to help, wouldn’t it require solid connections?”
Ren Xuan was momentarily stunned. Meanwhile, Vice Minister of Revenue Shen Xi, who had arrived earlier to visit and had been eavesdropping for quite some time, said with a grin, “Director Jiang, I recall you have a grandson about the same age as Lord Liu. Calling Lord Liu ‘venerable elder’ doesn’t seem quite appropriate, does it?”
Director Jiang had given up all hope: “What’s inappropriate about it? Anyone who can take my life is my dear grandfather.”
Shen Xi tugged at the peacock embroidery on his third-rank official robe and asked, “Director Jiang, what about me?”
“You?” Director Jiang looked up at him through tearful eyes. “You control the silver. You’re my ancestor!”
Shen Xi burst into laughter while Ren Xuan sat down on the threshold beside Director Jiang, utterly perplexed.
The Imperial Censorate held the power to impeach all officials. Having them investigate Chao Qing’s case would be ideal. If Su Jin knew Liu Chaoming, why would she come to him with the secret missive? Never mind going out of her way—she’d also left herself vulnerable.
He had just gone to the Court of the Imperial Clan to gather information and happened to encounter the Thirteenth Prince. Only then did he learn that Zhu Nanxian had returned to the capital from the northwest. The Emperor valued him highly and had even granted him command authority over the Jinwu Guard.
Ren Xuan didn’t know if Su Jin remembered Zhu Nanxian, but back then, the Thirteenth Prince making a scene at the Ministry of Personnel over a Hanlin Academy member had been quite the talk of the town.
If Chao Qing’s case reached a dead end, the Thirteenth Prince might be willing to meddle in this affair.
Ren Xuan had returned in high spirits, originally intending to tell Su Jin the good news of Zhu Shisan’s return to the capital. Who knew Liu Chaoming would suddenly insert himself into the matter like a bucket of cold water, making his goodwill seem superfluous?
A’Li had the palanquin ready and came in to ask, “Young Marquis, shall we go to the Yingtian Prefecture Office to find Master Su now?”
Ren Xuan waved his hand: “No need. Let’s return to the residence first.”
When Su Jin returned to the prefecture office, the sky had already darkened. As soon as she got back to her quarters, Zhou Ping emerged from the main hall and grabbed her to ask, “Haven’t seen you for two whole days—where did you go?”
Su Jin noticed he was covered in sweat with his robe dirty and disheveled. She said, “Don’t ask me—what happened to you?”
Zhou Ping sighed deeply, “Don’t even mention it. Those failed scholar candidates caused trouble at the Confucian Temple again today. I led the office guards to disperse them, and a conflict broke out. A few of them took advantage of the chaos to knock me to the ground. Fortunately, people from the Five Cities Military Commission arrived and chased away the troublemakers. I just got back.”
Su Jin walked to the desk, poured a cup of tea, and handed it to him: “Everyone in this office knows you’re honest. Usually they just dump difficult cases on you. Now it’s even better—when there’s trouble outside, they send you too. You’re a scholar—did they send you to lecture the troublemakers?”
Zhou Ping accepted the tea and consoled her, “The troublemakers this time are also scholars. It’s appropriate for me to lecture them.”
Thinking of the tribute scholars’ roster she had seen that morning, Su Jin couldn’t help saying, “If there are more scholar riots, you cannot go. If you really can’t refuse, just claim illness.”
Zhou Ping repeatedly agreed, then asked, “Regarding Chao Qing’s disappearance—do you have any leads?”
Su Jin poured herself a cup of tea: “A little.”
Zhou Ping looked around, then pulled her to the corridor and said in a low voice, “After you left yesterday, I went back to the tribute scholars’ lodgings to inquire. I happened to run into a maid from Young Master Yan the Third’s household. She said her young master had left a jade seal there and she had come specifically to retrieve it.”
“Yesterday?”
Based on the current leads, Yan Ziyan had only learned this morning that a Yan family jade seal had been left at the tribute scholars’ lodgings. Where did this maid come from with such prophetic abilities?
Zhou Ping continued, “Since you took that jade seal, I told her that Chao Qing had disappeared, the office needed to investigate the case, and they’d confiscated the evidence. If she wanted the jade seal, she could only come to the Capital District Office in two days.”
Su Jin asked, “Did she agree to come?”
Zhou Ping replied, “She said she couldn’t get away tomorrow, but the day after, she would come before dawn.”
Seeing Su Jin remain silent, Zhou Ping added, “I found this maid’s behavior suspicious, so I memorized her appearance. When Lord Yang returns to the residence, I can ask him about this person.”
Su Jin shook her head: “No need. I already know who she is.”
Grand Tutor Yan had only one wife and four sons. The eldest and second sons were not in the capital. Besides the third son Yan Ziyan, the only other person usually at the residence was a young lady who had been rejected in marriage proposals three times and was still awaiting marriage.
The Yan family jade seal was only passed down through the direct line. Since all three young masters couldn’t spare the time, the person who left the jade seal at the tribute scholars’ lodgings that day could only be this notorious eldest Miss Yan, Yan Ziqi.
The next day when she went on duty, everyone at the office was discussing the scholar riots. Seeing Zhou Ping arrive, they eagerly grabbed him to ask for details.
Zhou Ping answered each question. Finally he said, “The chief examiner for the spring examinations was Elder Qiu, whose fairness and integrity are known throughout the realm. Failing feels terrible. Let these scholars make a fuss. Once their hearts calm and their anger subsides, they’ll disperse. It’s not a big deal.”
Judge Liu sneered, “Only Magistrate Zhou has such a generous heart. Don’t you know that last night, people from the Imperial Censorate invited Lord Yang for tea specifically about this matter? They’ve been deliberating all night and he hasn’t returned yet.”
Zhou Ping was alarmed: “The Imperial Censorate is also getting involved with these rioting scholars?”
Judge Liu said, “You think failing the examination is a trivial matter? The year before last, Lord Gao from Quzhou was transferred to the inner court, but because he came from the second-class examinations, people there wouldn’t give him a proper look. A while ago, unable to bear it, he simply retired.”
Speaking, he glanced at Su Jin copying documents in the corner. “If you don’t believe me, ask him. He’s from the first-class examinations, was even the provincial graduate of Qizhou, a presented scholar who placed in the second tier. Now he’s subordinate to you and me—he’ll probably be unwilling his entire life.”
Zhou Ping’s face became stern: “Brother Yichu, your words are mistaken. Bailixi became prime minister at seventy; Huang Zhong joined Shu at sixty and defeated enemies. Shiyu is still young—what he might achieve in the future remains unknown.”
Liu Yichu replied, “You just love to lecture. He offended the Ministry of Personnel. That he won’t be further demoted is already his good fortune. You still expect him to be promoted?”
Zhou Ping wanted to argue further, but Su Jin had already finished copying the documents. She presented them to Liu Yichu and said earnestly, “My lord jests. This subordinate official has no grand ambitions, only wishes to get by. Wherever my heart finds peace is my homeland. This subordinate official is quite content at the office. I only ask that Lord Liu be accommodating and allow this subordinate official to occasionally step out for a break.”
Liu Yichu looked at her askance: “What’s this? Two days of running wild outside wasn’t enough—you want to go out again?”
Su Jin replied, “Yes, I have some private matters. I’ll return before the hour of the Monkey.”
Though Judge Liu had a loose tongue, he was quite lenient with his subordinates and deeply understood the art of turning a blind eye. Thus he said, “Go ahead. If that old thief Sun catches you red-handed, don’t come begging me for mercy. I won’t care whether you live or die.”
As soon as Su Jin left the office, she heard Zhou Ping calling from behind, “Shiyu, wait for me.”
Su Jin asked in surprise, “You came out too?”
Zhou Ping glanced back at the prefecture office and sighed, “Liu Yichu speaks without thinking. I didn’t want to stay in his presence.” After a pause, he asked, “You’re going to the tribute scholars’ lodgings, right? Perfect—I need to go there too.”
Zhou Gaoyan had a principle: when conversing with Liu Yichu, only say things that were safe.
When the failed scholars were mentioned this morning, he appeared nonchalant on the surface but inwardly felt uncertain. Recalling that when the troublemakers were dispersing, they had told him menacingly to “wait and see,” his belly full of worries could hardly be contained. All along the way, he poured out his troubles to Su Jin.
Su Jin said, “You’re worrying about things that don’t concern you. The spring examinations weren’t organized by the Capital District Office. Even if the situation escalates and the Emperor demands accountability, the Cabinet and Ministry of Rites are above to bear the brunt.”
Zhou Ping said gloomily, “Though that’s the logic, I still need to take a look at the tribute scholars’ lodgings. As long as the Ministry of Rites can safely escort the gentlemen on the apricot roll into the palace today, and tomorrow the imperial ranking is announced and positions are bestowed, this heart of mine can return to my belly.”
While speaking, they reached the tribute scholars’ lodgings. The martial guards checked their credentials and went inside to announce them. In mere moments, Xu Yuanzhe hurried out, anxiously asking as he walked, “Master Su, is there news of Brother Yunsheng?”
He was Chao Qing’s fellow tribute scholar, with delicate features and clear eyes. Unfortunately, no one is perfect—he’d been born with legs of unequal length.
Su Jin neither confirmed nor denied, only saying, “Find a quiet place to talk.” She led Xu Yuanzhe around to the back alley before asking, “Yuanzhe, think carefully—from before the spring examinations until now, has Yunsheng socialized with anyone from outside?”
Xu Yuanzhe replied, “Master, you already asked this last time. Since Brother Yunsheng came to the capital, aside from you, master, he’s only associated with fellow tribute scholars.”
Su Jin fell silent for a moment, then said, “The outsiders I’m referring to are women. Has he associated with any?”
Xu Yuanzhe’s face paled: “This… master, why do you say such things?”
Chao Qing had never been close to women—Su Jin knew this.
Precisely because of this, the case tracing from Yan Ziyan to Yan Ziqi left her deeply perplexed.
Seeing Xu Yuanzhe hesitating, Su Jin guessed seventy to eighty percent of the reason: “What’s this? Is it something you cannot tell me?”
Xu Yuanzhe was in great difficulty, looking down as he said, “Master, please don’t ask. Brother Yunsheng said that even if he died, he absolutely could not mention this matter to you even slightly.”
Su Jin looked at him calmly: “Then what if he’s truly dead? Would you still refuse to speak?”
Xu Yuanzhe continued looking down, his face alternating between light and shadow.
“She’s not even from a respectable family.”
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**Author’s Note:**
1. First-class examinations: presented scholar status
2. Second-class examinations: recommended candidate status
3. Recommended candidates who became officials were usually discriminated against and had difficult career paths
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Additionally, those interested in the official system setting can learn about the following:
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Jinwu Guard: Belongs to the Upper Twelve Guards, directly under the Emperor, equivalent to personal troops/imperial guards.
(This follows Ming Dynasty official and military systems. Those familiar with Ming history may know that among the so-called early Ming Upper Twelve Guards was the famous Embroidered Uniform Guard)
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Five Cities Military Commission: Simply put, equivalent to the capital’s public security bureau and urban management brigade.
However, the capital in the text is Yingtian Prefecture, which is Nanjing City!
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Though borrowing from Ming systems, this text is set in a fictional world to allow me creative freedom to write as I please. The dynasty is called the Sui Dynasty, which also means “random/casual.”