Shen Xi didn’t reply for a moment.

Su Jin continued: “Right now the Emperor is gravely ill and unable to rise, the court situation is chaotic. After several major cases, various ministries and offices have important positions vacant. Although the third month’s monthly selection won’t promote ministers, the Ministry of Works and Ministry of Justice should at least have vice ministers take office.

“Zhang Meng, the administrator of the Ministry of Personnel’s Bureau of Appointments and Promotions, is one of your hidden agents. I already asked him two days ago. He said the third month’s appointment of the Ministry of Justice’s vice minister will be decided jointly by the Ministry of Personnel, the Grand Secretariat, and the Three Judicial Offices. But there are very few officials in the court who can assume the position of third-rank vice minister. Therefore, on the alternative candidate list for Ministry of Justice vice minister that Zeng Youliang drafted, there’s only one person. Guess who?”

Shen Xi’s eyes didn’t move: “Young Marquis Changping, Ren Xuan.”

Su Jin said: “Correct. It’s precisely him.”

Ren Xuan originally served as Director in the Ministry of Rites. Two years ago, he requested transfer to the Ministry of Personnel. Last year when Emperor Zhu Jingyuan promoted court officials, he rose from Director of the Ministry of Personnel to Vice Minister of Personnel.

Speaking of it, Ren Xuan’s move from the Ministry of Rites to the Ministry of Personnel had some connection with Su Jin.

Years ago when Su Jin served as Administrator at a capital yamen, Ren Xuan had sought her out to ghostwrite policy essays for Prince Seventeen. Later, when the ghostwriting matter was exposed by Zhu Minda, Ren Xuan, fearing implication, submitted Su Jin’s original essay to the Ministry of Justice to clear his own involvement.

Ren Xuan had originally thought that given Zhu Minda’s harshness, Su Jin would be doomed having offended the Eastern Palace. Who knew that later not only was she unharmed, but she was promoted to censor. After this incident, people in court gradually learned that Su Jin had deep connections with Shen Xi and Zhu Nanxian. Ren Xuan could afford to offend Su Jin but couldn’t afford to offend the Vice Minister of Revenue and the Thirteenth Prince. With no other choice, he could only turn to rely on Zhu Zhaowei, who opposed the Eastern Palace, and went to the Ministry of Personnel.

Su Jin said: “After my ghostwriting matter came to light that year, the Thirteenth Prince feared the Crown Prince would still punish me for this matter, so he went to Seventeen’s place to search for evidence. He actually found purple bauhinia cards that Ren Xuan had once used to broker connections for various princes, with Ren Xuan’s own handwriting on them. Later when His Highness investigated Prince Fourteen, he also found similar secret cards from Fourteen’s place. These secret cards all contained policy essays hidden within. They had caused the deaths of many ghostwriters back then. After the Thirteenth Prince organized them all, he gave them all to me.”

Naturally, Zhu Nanxian’s meaning at the time was: since this Ren Xuan has offended you, then his leverage is given to you—if he provokes or bothers you again, just deal with him.

But Shen Xi said: “Since Zhu Zhaowei favors Ren Xuan as Ministry of Justice vice minister, even if these secret cards are submitted, he can simply refuse to acknowledge them.” He paused: “What’s important is who puts you on the monthly selection roster.”

Su Jin said: “When I first entered the Hanlin Academy years ago, I spent half a year working with the current Minister of the Court of Judicial Review Zhang Shishan, Lord Zhang, on the ‘Biographies of Liezi.’ I count as half his student. I plan to ask him for help.”

Shen Xi nodded slightly. He still had that spiritless appearance, but at least he was somewhat calmer than in the morning: “Although the appointment of the Ministry of Justice’s Left Vice Minister is decided by the Three Judicial Offices, with no one at the Ministry of Justice, the decision-making power actually lies in the hands of the Grand Secretariat, the Imperial Censorate, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Ministry of Personnel. In reality, it depends on Liu Yun’s intentions.”

The Ministry of Personnel naturally favored Ren Xuan, while the Court of Judicial Review would nominate Su Jin. With both sides at an impasse, the decision fell to the Grand Secretariat and the Imperial Censorate. Since Liu Chaoming led both the Grand Secretariat and was Chief of the Imperial Censorate, ultimately it depended on his disposition.

Shen Xi said softly: “Are you going to negotiate with Liu Yun?”

The cup of tea had long grown cold in Su Jin’s hand. She looked at the slightly rippling tea water. In a moment, she set it down: “He and I already follow different Ways. I won’t seek his help again.”

Shen Xi lowered his eyes, the teardrop mole dark with light. In a moment, he said: “Nor should you at this time.”

He said this without context, but Su Jin heard it clearly and understood completely.

Regardless of what Liu Chaoming was ultimately plotting, after all, he was at odds with Zhu Zhaowei. Right now, those who wanted to kill Zhu Nanxian, wanted to kill Shen Xi, and also wanted to kill Su Jin were all Zhu Zhaowei. The enemy of one’s enemy is an ally. For Su Jin to leave the Imperial Censorate was already risky—she absolutely shouldn’t choose this time to part ways with Liu Chaoming.

However, just as Su Jin had said earlier, everyone understood the principles. If positions were reversed, upon learning that the Shen family’s disaster was caused by the Imperial Censorate one trusted, it would be hard to guarantee one wouldn’t feel disappointed and disheartened.

Going separate ways was only natural. Everyone was mortal—who could cultivate a boundless heart without sorrow or joy?

Su Jin said: “You needn’t worry. Although Zhu Zhaowei appears to have great power in his grasp, he’s neither legitimate nor the eldest. Although the Feathered Forest Guard obeys his commands, his position ultimately lacks proper justification. Moreover, with Liu Yun using the Grand Secretariat to balance him, his actions face too many constraints. His thoughts are entirely focused on seizing the heir designation, so he has no time to attend to me for now. I plan to take advantage of this opportunity to visit the several Grand Secretaries of the Grand Secretariat, the Hanlin Academy, the Household Administration of the Heir Apparent, and key officials of the Ministry of War and Ministry of Rites, household by household.”

Hearing these words, the teardrop mole beneath Shen Xi’s right eye flashed. He turned his head, looking at Su Jin with some surprise and some understanding: “In Thirteen’s name?”

“Yes. In the name that the Thirteenth Prince is of the imperial family’s legitimate line, the rightful orthodox of Great Sui, to petition them to memorialize for the Thirteenth Prince to preside over the overall situation.” Su Jin said. “I know that to preserve peace in this chaotic situation, they will certainly evade responsibility in every way. But in doing so, Zhu Zhaowei will think I’m only rushing about for the Thirteenth Prince—that I only want to save His Highness.”

Knocking came from outside. Zhao Wan entered carrying a tray and performed a bow, saying softly: “Lord Su, Lord Shen, A Wan knows it’s improper to disturb the two lords’ conversation, but the hour of Chen has already passed. Lord Shen really must take his medicine.”

Su Jin rose from the desk: “It’s Su’s oversight.”

Zhao Wan shook her head, entered with lowered head, and placed the medicinal decoction beside Shen Xi’s bed. Seeing him raise his head and drain it, she then set down a cup of clear water, a small plate of pastries, and a cloth handkerchief. Then she collected the empty medicine bowl and said to Shen Xi: “Once Lord Shen and Lord Su have finished talking, A Wan will bring the meal.”

Her tone was very soft, as if she hadn’t yet recovered from the shock of him insisting on leaving with his crutch in the early morning.

Inexplicably, Shen Xi recalled Su Jin’s words, “Don’t let down those who treat you with genuine sincerity when you fall into misfortune.” His pair of peach blossom eyes still hung spiritlessly, yet he opened his mouth to say: “Thank you.”

Zhao Wan seemed stunned, suddenly raising her eyes to look at him. The roots of her ears immediately reddened. She lightly bit her lip, didn’t say much more, curtsied gracefully to him, then turned to bow to Su Jin before withdrawing.

Su Jin said: “You have injuries. By rights, I shouldn’t disturb you further, but I still have an extremely urgent matter to discuss with you.”

She contemplated briefly, then carefully recounted how Zhu Zhaowei had released snakes in the Eastern Palace and poisoned Zhu Nanxian with congealed burnt essence a few days ago. Seeing Shen Xi also had a doubtful expression between his brows, she said: “You must have also heard—the most suspicious point in this matter is that the congealed burnt essence was brought into the Eastern Palace by Consort Qi.” She paused, then continued: “I also found it hard to believe at first. Vaguely, I felt I’d grasped some clue. However, after all, Consort Qi is pregnant. Zhu Qiyue and Consort Qi were both unwilling to investigate deeply. But afterward, I asked Administrator Hu of the Court of Imperial Clan. On the eighth day during the condolence visit, he happened to also be at the Eastern Palace handling funeral arrangements. Among the consorts who came to pay condolences that day, only Consort Qi had indeed left.”

Su Jin looked at Shen Xi and said: “The congealed burnt essence poison was truly brought into the Eastern Palace by Consort Qi to help Zhu Zhaowei. But how could Consort Qi be Zhu Zhaowei’s person?”

Su Jin’s doubts weren’t groundless—in the past, Beauty Li died miserably at the palace’s front hall. Qian Yu was falsely accused of violating Beauty Li. Because of this, Qian Zhihuan became disheartened with Zhu Zhaowei, causing Zhu Zhaowei to nearly lose the Ministry of Revenue, this money tree, and fall into difficulty. Tracing to the root, the cause of Zhu Zhaowei’s predicament all arose from Consort Qi luring Beauty Li to the palace’s front hall.

Although later no solid evidence was found linking Consort Qi to this matter, no matter how one looked at it, even if Consort Qi wasn’t in opposition to Zhu Zhaowei, the two of them were unrelated. How could she now stand on Zhu Zhaowei’s side, helping him plot against Zhu Nanxian?

Shen Xi appeared thoughtful. After a moment, he actually opened his mouth and murmured: “Everything is false.” These were the words his wet nurse left when dying. He turned his face to look at Su Jin: “How long have they been setting up this game?”

Su Jin shook her head: “I originally thought only one or two years. After the Feathered Forest Guard incident, I then thought about three to five years. Right now, I can’t see through it either. I only feel that what we penetrated before was merely a surface layer. There’s something calculated even more deeply within.” After brief reflection, she continued: “Fortunately, we can use the congealed burnt essence matter to follow the vine and find Consort Qi’s trail. I have no one in the rear palace and don’t know how to investigate. Moreover, I have no more energy right now. In any case, while you’re recuperating from injuries with nothing to do, rather than indulging in the past, you might as well think carefully about what else is false.”