Zhou Ping found Zhu Nanxian somewhat familiar but couldn’t recall where he’d seen him for a moment. Upon asking, Zhu Nanxian claimed to be a captain of the Imperial Guard named Nan Ai, who was off duty today and wanted to go out of the palace with Magistrate Su for a stroll.
Zhou Ping breathed a long sigh of relief and climbed up from the ground, quite embarrassed: “That’s good then. Captain Nan, you don’t know this, but as soon as I entered the palace, I developed the habit of kneeling before everyone I meet.”
Zhu Nanxian wasn’t used to someone speaking to him so casually. He pondered his captain identity in his mind for a while before saying: “Oh, Brother Zhou, why is that?”
Su Jin glanced at Zhou Ping and reminded him: “Speak cautiously and act carefully. Too many words will inevitably lead to mistakes.”
Zhou Ping failed to grasp the deeper meaning and replied: “It’s nothing really. Earlier I encountered Vice Minister Shen from the Ministry of Revenue. He wore casual clothes and told me he was a menial servant at the Imperial Censorate, causing me to violate protocol and nearly commit the crime of disrespect. Fortunately, the Left Chief Censor has a discerning eye, distinguishes right from wrong clearly, and didn’t hold it against me.”
Then, he looked Zhu Nanxian over once more and continued: “Just now when I first saw Captain Nan, seeing your dignified bearing and handsome appearance, you seemed like an imperial relative of some kind. I thought you palace people all had this bad habit of wearing casual clothes to deceive people. Turns out you’re actually a captain—truly my apologies, my apologies.”
Zhu Nanxian said: “Brother Zhou, no need to be so polite.”
Su Jin glanced at Zhou Ping again and said: “Others learn wisdom from one setback, but you lose wisdom with each setback.”
Zhou Ping still failed to grasp the deeper meaning of this and reproached her: “And you’re talking about me—I actually need to talk about you. When making friends, you should be more careful. Someone like Captain Nan here is very good, but someone like Vice Minister Shen—you absolutely must not associate with him. Not to mention the Thirteenth Prince from the other day. When he came, everyone in our magistracy from top to bottom kowtowed until their heads broke, and we could only see the prince’s boot tips. Magistrate Yang had knees so sore the next day he couldn’t walk, and he said when you return he needs to remind you—you absolutely cannot invite the Thirteenth Prince to the magistracy anymore. Our magistracy is small and cannot afford to host this golden Buddha. Have you remembered this?”
Su Jin gave Zhou Ping one last glance, felt he was beyond saving, and decided not to bother with him anymore.
Instead, Zhu Nanxian was made quite uncomfortable by these words and could only solemnly answer on her behalf: “Yes, I’ve remembered.”
The three walked together out of the palace, arranged for a carriage, and headed toward the Capital Magistracy.
Liu Yichu was already waiting at the magistracy entrance. Seeing three people return, one of whom he didn’t recognize but looked somewhat familiar, he came forward with tea to greet them: “And this is?”
Zhou Ping said: “This is Brother Nan Ai, a captain in the Imperial Guard, a very amiable person.”
Liu Yichu nodded once, and while leading Zhu Nanxian into the office, asked Su Jin: “While you were in the palace, did you learn any news about Yuanzhe?”
Su Jin’s steps paused as she lowered her eyes: “He was sent to the imperial prison and couldn’t endure it.”
The three people beside her all froze. Liu Yichu asked: “How did he die?”
Su Jin hesitated slightly, then said: “Suicide.” She added another line: “He bit off his own tongue.”
Under the corridor eaves, a shadow fell outside the side hall. Liu Yichu stood beneath the eaves and looked into the hall. Su Jin followed his gaze and saw an elderly woman with white hair sitting inside, hunched over, her face full of wrinkles—probably past sixty years of age. Seeing the several of them approach, she immediately stood up from her seat and looked at them with both joy and fear.
Zhou Ping said: “This… how can we possibly tell her?”
Su Jin bit her lip and said decisively: “Don’t mention it for now.” She stepped into the side hall.
Zhou Ping was startled and couldn’t stop her in time, so he could only turn to ask Zhu Nanxian: “Captain Nan, you’re from the palace—have you heard about this? How did Yuanzhe commit suicide?”
Zhu Nanxian stared blankly at Su Jin’s back.
He knew Xu Yuanzhe—the third-place scholar whom Su Jin had desperately rescued from the surging crowd that day.
Yes, rescued with such difficulty—how had he died?
He thought briefly but didn’t answer Zhou Ping’s question, and instead followed Su Jin into the side hall.
When the old woman saw Su Jin, she walked forward trembling a few steps and asked: “Are you Magistrate Su?” She was about to kneel and pay her respects.
Su Jin quickly supported her and said: “Grandmother, there’s no need for such formality.” She thought for a moment, then lowered her eyes: “Grandmother, Yuanzhe has always regarded me as an elder brother. His grandmother is my grandmother. You should just call me by my courtesy name—call me Shiyu.”
The old woman said: “That won’t do. A magistrate is a magistrate, a heavenly official—we can’t lose our sense of propriety.” But she paused, then looked at Su Jin with eyes full of hope and said earnestly: “Magistrate Su, this common woman heard from Magistrate Zhou that Yuanzhe was summoned to the palace, and it’s said that His Majesty wants to make him a high official. Do you know when he can come out?”
Su Jin avoided her gaze and said in a low voice: “His Majesty has entrusted him with important responsibilities. Probably a few more days.” In her peripheral vision she saw the old woman still holding a bundle, so she asked: “Has Grandmother found lodging yet?”
The old woman said awkwardly: “This common woman only arrived in Yingtian Prefecture yesterday. I originally wanted to go to the examination hall to inquire, but who knew that place was surrounded inside and out by soldiers. This common woman didn’t dare go, so I came to trouble Magistrate Su to ask about Yuanzhe’s whereabouts.” She thought for a moment and quickly added: “Magistrate Su needn’t worry. Since Yuanzhe will return in a few days, this common woman will just rest somewhere near the palace gates. It doesn’t matter when he comes out—I just hope to see him as soon as possible.”
Su Jin’s heart felt blocked by a huge stone, but a faint smile appeared at the corners of her lips: “How could that be proper? When Yuanzhe comes out, he would blame me as his elder brother for being an inadequate host.” She took the bundle from the old woman’s hands: “Grandmother should rest at my quarters in the magistracy. I happen to be busy with affairs these next few days, and if I can enter the palace, perhaps I can even help urge Yuanzhe along.”
As she spoke, she helped the old woman up and walked toward the quarters behind the side hall, pushing open the door to her own room. She smiled again: “Grandmother, please don’t feel you’re imposing on me. I heard from Yuanzhe that you know how to make shoe insoles. The pair I’m wearing isn’t comfortable. You must have made many for Yuanzhe—if you could make me a pair as well, that would be wonderful.”
The old woman’s face lit up with joy: “Of course, of course. Magistrate Su, you’re truly a good person.” She looked carefully at Su Jin’s feet and said: “Your feet are a bit smaller than Yuanzhe’s. His probably won’t fit you. This common woman will make you a new good pair.”
Su Jin nodded slightly, closed the door, and stepped out, running straight into Zhu Nanxian who had been following behind her all along.
Zhu Nanxian glanced at her clenched fists, not knowing what to say for a moment, and only asked: “Su Jin, was it my imperial father who…”
Su Jin suddenly raised her head to look at him, her eyes burning like fire.
But this firelight extinguished in just an instant. Su Jin looked away and shook her head: “It has nothing to do with Your Highness. Your Highness need not take it to heart.”
Zhu Nanxian fell silent for a moment, then asked: “You’re not telling her because you want to clear Xu Yuanzhe’s name first, aren’t you?”
Su Jin didn’t speak.
Zhu Nanxian looked at her, then suddenly grasped her hand and placed a cold object in her palm.
Su Jin looked down—it was actually a piece of flawless white jade.
Zhu Nanxian said: “This is the jade Zhang Kui hid in the crack of the Ministry of Justice prison wall. I went to find it myself.” Then he paused and said: “Su Shiyu, you needn’t worry. I’ve thought it over these past couple of days. The reason you entered officialdom—if you don’t want to say, this prince won’t ask. Whatever you want to do from now on, you go do it, and this prince will help you. This prince only hopes you can understand… you are not alone.”
While flipping through case files, Liu Chaoming listened to Qian San’er report the results of investigating Su Jin’s poisoning that day. He said expressionlessly: “So you’re saying, aside from a few traces, you’ve found nothing in these two days?”
Qian San’er said: “My lord wrongs me. Besides these traces, I’ve actually discovered something strange.”
Liu Chaoming raised his eyes from the case files.
“Lord Liu, since the Thirteenth Prince was willing to jump into Yunji River to save Magistrate Su that day, logically he should also care greatly about this case and ought to investigate as well, shouldn’t he? But guess what—not only did he not urgently pursue this matter, he actually dismissed two Chengtian Gate guards. When I went to ask, it turned out they were precisely the two who jumped into the river with him that day. Don’t you find that strange?”
Liu Chaoming said: “Where did he send them?”
Qian San’er said: “He actually sent them directly to the northwest garrison.” He paused, then said: “Lord Liu, what do you make of this? I feel like there’s something wrapped up inside this matter.”
Liu Chaoming’s brow furrowed slightly. He suddenly recalled Shen Xi’s words—”You usually use your mind to understand affairs, but you still understand people too little”—and immediately said: “Go ask the palace attendants and maids of the Palace Front Hall what exactly happened after the Thirteenth Prince brought Su Jin there that day.”