Su Jin had a hundred ways to avoid disaster at the Imperial Censorate.

But that morning, when she passed by Chengtian Gate, she carefully examined the portrait of the poisoned woman posted outside the city gate. She suddenly felt the appearance of the poisoned woman who had fallen into the water looked very familiar, though she couldn’t recall where she had seen her.

It wasn’t until today’s morning court session, when the Third Prince and the Ministry of Rites quarreled over the matter of keeping concubines in his residence, that she remembered—didn’t the woman in the portrait bear a striking resemblance to the dancing girls and concubines in Zhu Jiyou’s residence?

Su Jin found this matter somewhat suspicious and originally wanted to follow this lead to investigate. However, she had just offended Zhu Jiyou yesterday, so if she went to his residence today to question people about the case, wouldn’t that be seeking death?

Left with no choice, after the morning court session, Su Jin took up brush and ink and copied the portrait of the poisoned woman. She originally planned to take her time with this matter, but by chance on her way back to the Imperial Censorate, she encountered Secretary Jiang from the Ministry of Rites crying and complaining everywhere.

All officials with rank who saw this scene avoided him from afar. Song Jue had also tried to pull Su Jin away, but she suddenly had an idea and instructed: “Go back to the Imperial Censorate and find Lord Liu or Lord Zhao. Tell them that Secretary Jiang has intercepted me and that I want to die, and ask them to quickly come rescue me.”

She was merely a fourth-rank censor. Even if the Ministry of Rites asked her to meddle in their affairs, they might not necessarily follow her instructions. But if Liu Chaoming or Zhao Yan came, it would be different.

After speaking, Su Jin resolutely walked toward Secretary Jiang.

Secretary Jiang was also straightforward—he glanced at the wild goose insignia on Su Jin’s robe, grabbed the corner of her official robe, and began crying. The louder he cried, the bigger the commotion became.

Song Jue couldn’t figure out what was happening for a moment and could only do as Su Jin instructed. Who would have expected that not only did he summon Liu Chaoming, but Shen Xi also came along.

The Ministry of Rites was in complete chaos—some were setting up a stage, others performing a show. The leads were none other than Minister of Personnel Luo Songtang and Vice Minister of Rites Zou Liren.

When Su Jin arrived at the Ministry of Rites, Luo Songtang had already been taken down from the beam.

She approached for a closer look and was startled. This time, Luo Songtang had truly been ruthless with himself—there was a circle of bloody marks around his neck, and he lay on the couch barely breathing. He had apparently actually kicked away the stool. If they had taken him down a moment later, his windpipe would likely have been crushed.

Vice Minister Zou Liren sat to one side, crying uncontrollably, clearly looking like someone who had lost their backbone.

Therefore, when the officials of the Ministry of Rites saw that Secretary Jiang had actually invited the Assistant Censor-in-Chief, they all turned to ask Su Jin for her opinion.

After paying respects to the two hall officials, Su Jin asked: “Have you sent for a physician?”

A somewhat younger official with fifth-rank insignia on the side replied: “In response to Lord Su, the physician is already on his way.”

In earlier years, the Ministry of Rites had a young marquis, Ren Xuan, who could still maintain order. Last year, after Personnel Department Director Zeng Ping passed away, Emperor Jingyuan transferred Ren Xuan to the Ministry of Personnel.

Su Jin looked around—the current Ministry of Rites had only old foxes and inexperienced people, not a single one with proper form.

She thought to herself that since she was here, she might as well make the best of it, so she instructed the clerk nearby: “First take down all the hemp ropes from the beams.”

The clerk acknowledged and led the guards who had arrived to climb up high and do as Su Jin instructed.

Su Jin then looked at the low stools on the ground that had been used for hanging and asked: “How many more stools like these does your Ministry of Rites have? Find them all.”

Once all the low stools and hemp ropes were gathered in one place, Su Jin said to the guards nearby: “Carry them all out and burn them.”

At these words, everyone was stunned.

Vice Minister Zou stopped crying halfway through and hiccupped, asking: “What does Censor Su mean by this?”

Su Jin bowed and said: “Since Minister Luo and Vice Minister Zou have entrusted the overall situation to this official, then this official should first ensure that no more lives are lost at the Ministry of Rites today.”

Luo Songtang had been barely alive, but hearing Su Jin say this, he struggled to glance at Zou Liren.

Zou Liren understood and wailed: “What meaning does it have for Censor Su to burn these things? If the Third Prince truly comes to trouble our Ministry of Rites, even if we don’t hang ourselves, we can still bash our heads, drown ourselves, or slash our throats with knives. We’re all going to die anyway—do we really need to carefully choose a method of death?”

As his words fell, before Su Jin could answer, someone outside the hall suddenly said: “Vice Minister Zou’s words are mistaken. Your Ministry of Rites—isn’t it most particular about the method of death?”

With this voice, the two people who walked in one after another were actually Shen Xi and Liu Chaoming.

Shen Xi bent down, hooked his hand to pick up a hemp rope, and said with a smile: “Drowning requires choosing a place with water. Slashing one’s throat is straightforward, but with one cut the person transcends, unable to even leave any words. Bashing one’s head is also over in the blink of an eye, but if one doesn’t die and becomes an idiot instead, wouldn’t that waste the rest of one’s life? Only hanging—with all its preparations back and forth, arranging stools and tying ropes—provides the most fuss. If someone intercedes, one can cry and make a scene for three days and three nights without dying. Perhaps one might even wait for someone with a compassionate heart to save them from the sea of suffering. Vice Minister Zou, if I were someone from the Ministry of Rites, I would also choose hanging.”

Zou Liren was left speechless by Shen Xi’s rebuttal.

Liu Chaoming glanced at the hemp ropes and low stools on the ground and gave a concise order: “Burn them.”

Before long, the physician from the Imperial Medical Bureau arrived. He first took Luo Songtang’s pulse and, seeing no serious harm, prescribed a tonic to nourish his qi. He had someone brew the medicine and bring it, saying: “Though Minister Luo has no serious injury, he is advanced in years. Hanging once like this truly harms his foundation.”

He also took Zou Liren’s pulse and said: “Vice Minister Zou is excessively grieved and should not overwork himself. It would be best if he could return to his residence to recuperate for several days.”

The two hall officials agreed and had someone see the physician off.

After Luo Songtang took his medicine, he seemed somewhat more spirited. His eyes bloodshot, he first looked at Liu Chaoming, then at Shen Xi. Probably feeling he couldn’t afford to offend these two, he finally looked at Su Jin and said: “Censor Su, you heard it too—Vice Minister Zou and I are unwell. So regarding this matter at our Ministry of Rites, won’t you offer some advice?”

Su Jin had come precisely for this reason. Hearing him say this, she didn’t demur and said directly: “If this official were to look at this matter, I hope Minister Luo and Vice Minister Zou can take a step back to find peace and personally apologize to His Majesty.”

At these words, Luo Songtang was stunned and seemed about to cry.

Zou Liren said: “Censor Su, aren’t you pushing our Ministry of Rites into a pit of fire? We’ve never even seen the concubines in the Third Prince’s residence—how can we apologize?” He then bowed to Liu Chaoming and the others: “Lord Liu, Lord Shen, you two be the judges.”

Liu Chaoming ignored this and only asked Su Jin: “How should they apologize?”

Su Jin bowed to him, turned to the desk, ground ink, and took up a brush. In a moment she had drafted a letter of apology and presented it for Liu Chaoming and the others to see.

The letter of apology contained three points: first, the Ministry of Rites truly had no knowledge of the matter of keeping concubines at the Third Prince’s residence; second, the Ministry of Rites was responsible for protocol and reception, so such an incident at the Third Prince’s residence was indeed the Ministry of Rites’ oversight; third, the Ministry of Rites was willing to make amends by sending people to remove the concubines from the Third Prince’s residence.

Su Jin said: “Minister Luo, you can have someone copy this letter of apology and present it to His Majesty. If His Majesty orders you to send people to the Third Prince’s residence to apprehend people, you need only show your face and maintain order. The rest of the personnel will be provided by our Imperial Censorate. The apprehension and negotiations will all be conducted by censors from our Imperial Censorate.”

Retreating to advance—this was indeed a good method.

However, Luo Songtang was still uneasy and said: “The Third Prince’s residence keeps many concubines. If we remove them all, won’t that displease him?”

Su Jin said: “There’s no need to remove them all. Taking two or three people to put on a show will suffice.”

Su Jin didn’t know how Zhu Jiyou had found so many concubines with similar appearances, but if she could take this opportunity to have people compare them against the portrait of the deceased woman and find one or two most similar ones in the Third Prince’s residence to question, the answer might become immediately clear.

She had originally been troubled about how to apprehend people from the Third Prince’s residence. Having worn out iron shoes searching everywhere, the commotion at the Ministry of Rites had given her exactly this opportunity.

Thinking again, Luo Songtang realized that their Ministry of Rites would admit fault, the Third Prince would lose two concubines, and both sides would each take a step back—why not? So he agreed.

With the major matter settled, Su Jin took leave of the two hall officials, Luo Songtang and Zou Liren, and left the Ministry of Rites together with Liu Chaoming and Shen Xi.

Walking to Xuanyuan Terrace, Su Jin remembered something and called out: “Lord Shen.”

She walked a few steps closer, cupped her hands and asked: “May I ask, my lord—each princely residence reports their annual expenditures to the Ministry of Revenue every year. Have there been any discrepancies in recent years from the Datong Prefecture in Shanxi?”

Shen Xi was startled and couldn’t help but smile: “Why are you asking about this?”

Su Jin said: “To be frank, this official inadvertently heard someone mention that the Third Prince seems to be constructing a traveling palace in Datong Prefecture, Shanxi. Furthermore, constructing a traveling palace requires enormous amounts of silver. His Majesty advocates frugality and has expressly forbidden it. As a censor, this official should inquire into this matter.”

Having said this much, she knew that Shen Xi was extremely perceptive and nothing could be hidden from him, so she added: “The Ninth Prince said it. Although he claimed to have heard it inadvertently, it seemed like a deliberate disclosure. That’s why this official took it somewhat to heart.”

Shen Xi thought for a moment and said: “Since you’ve brought it up this way, I’ll help you investigate. But you should know that the official account records of each princely residence over the years have had no discrepancies. However, each residence has its own private accounts. If anyone truly wanted to amass wealth, there are countless methods—they certainly wouldn’t put it on the surface.”

Su Jin nodded: “This official understands.” She then asked Liu Chaoming: “My lord, has the Regional Inspector for Shanxi sent any correspondence regarding this matter?”

Liu Chaoming said lightly: “It was mentioned, but not in great detail. If you wish to investigate, you can send another urgent dispatch.”

Su Jin said: “Very well, then this official will have someone go to the Office of Transmission immediately to send word.”

Seeing that the two had stopped in their tracks as if they had something to say, she bowed and turned to leave.

Once Su Jin had gone far away, the smile on Shen Xi’s face disappeared. He said lightly: “Liu Yun, you really are a piece of work.”

Liu Chaoming chuckled softly: “The feeling is mutual. Vice Minister Shen has done no fewer despicable things than I have.”

Shen Xi tapped his fan against his hand: “You’ve known perfectly well for three years that Zhu Jiyou was building a traveling palace in Shanxi. Confidential letters locked in your cabinet number in the hundreds if not thousands. If you wanted to memorialize the throne, you could already overturn Zhu Jiyou along with the entire Ministry of Works. What’s this—holding it as leverage? Waiting for a buyer to barter?”

Liu Chaoming glanced at him and said casually: “Vice Minister Shen—besides the official accounts of the Ministry of Revenue, don’t you also possess the private accounts of each princely residence? How Zhu Jiyou and the Ministry of Works amassed wealth, when he built the traveling palace, how many people he bribed—doesn’t the Vice Minister already possess evidence long ago? Concealing and not reporting, waiting for the right moment, keeping a way out—that’s always been your style.”

The two found no common ground and each walked toward their respective offices.

Halfway there, they stopped again. Shen Xi turned back and suddenly smiled: “Liu Yun, the elephant moves through fields, the horse moves in L-shapes, the chariot travels straight and the cannon leaps over mountains. You treat people and matters like chess pieces in your hand, placing them in separate squares without mercy, the Chu River and Han border clearly demarcated. But aren’t you afraid that one day, someone will deliberately not follow your rules and go straight for checkmate?”

Liu Chaoming also smiled: “Indeed. Vice Minister Shen avoids being greedy for victory, enters slowly across the boundary, abandons pieces to争先, forsakes the small for the large, protects himself when the opponent is strong. Aren’t you afraid that one day, someone will overturn the black and white pieces on your board, causing all your hiding places to vanish without trace, leaving you nowhere to hide and forcing you to start over from the beginning?”