The monthly selection was Great Sui’s system of selecting and promoting officials at the beginning of each month.

The position of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, a third-rank official and one of the chief officials of the Three Judicial Offices, could by regulation only be nominated by the Minister of Personnel, the Minister of Justice, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and the Left Chief Censor.

Hearing that Su Jin wanted to go to the Ministry of Justice, Zhang Shishan frowned slightly.

Su Jin currently held the fourth-rank position of censor. Going to the Ministry of Justice as Vice Minister appeared to be a promotion, but with the current chaos in court, where could be safer than the Imperial Censorate?

Moreover, Zhu Zhaowei had wanted to deal with Su Jin for more than just a day or two. If she went to the Ministry of Justice without a minister above to restrain her, wouldn’t she have to shoulder the burden alone and face criticism from all sides, actually giving Zhu Zhaowei a better opportunity to strike?

Though Zhang Shishan thought this, he also knew that Su Jin always had her own reasons for her actions. He didn’t try to dissuade her much, merely saying, “Including you on the candidate roster for Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice is not impossible, but you must think it through—once you leave the Imperial Censorate, the road ahead won’t be so easy to walk.”

Hearing these words, Su Jin lifted her robe and knelt, kowtowing with a resounding thud: “This student thanks my mentor.”

Two years ago, for the sake of Chao Qing’s case, Su Jin had also sought help from Zhang Shishan. At that time, she felt that a scholar’s knees were worth their weight in gold, and kneeling to beg someone felt like ten thousand hands clutching at her heart. Now, having attained the position of Vice Censor-in-Chief, this kowtow was much easier than it had been back then.

It seemed people were changeable—two years of tempering had actually made all her sharp edges recede, and even her knee bones could now bend and flex.

Zhang Shishan continued, “Though I can include you on the monthly selection roster, you also know that the promotion to Vice Minister of Justice isn’t up to me alone—there’s also a vote. Though I favor you, the Ministry of Personnel will certainly favor someone else. In the end, it comes down to Liu Yun’s opinion alone. Have you discussed this matter with him?”

Su Jin was silent for a moment: “Not yet.” However, she said, “But please rest assured, mentor—this student has her own plans.”

Before Zhang Shishan could ask what kind of plans she had, the chief justice who had earlier led Su Jin into the Court of Judicial Review knocked on the door and bowed apologetically outside the hall: “This humble official knows it’s improper to interrupt the two lords’ conversation, but—” He paused, his expression seeming anxious. “Lord Su, something seems wrong outside. Two officials from the Court of the Imperial Stud have blocked Minister Liu’s sedan, and from what this humble official overheard, they appear to be lodging a complaint against you.”

Two officials from the Court of the Imperial Stud—who else could they be but the thin man and the goateed man she had just encountered?

Su Jin was stunned for a moment, sensing trouble. She took her leave from Zhang Shishan: “This student will go out to see.”

The spring rain fell in alternating heavy and light waves. Those two officials from the Court of the Imperial Stud were kneeling before the sedan, speaking volubly, when they suddenly felt the surroundings grow quieter. Turning their heads, they saw Su Jin standing not far away holding an umbrella, and immediately fell silent with looks of alarm on their faces.

Su Jin walked over and first bowed to Liu Chaoming, then asked the two men, “Is what you two are accusing me of the unjust case regarding the lost horses that you just told me about?”

The thin man didn’t dare answer for a moment. It was the goateed man who mustered his courage and said, “Re-replying to Lord Su, that’s correct.”

Su Jin originally hadn’t connected this case to herself, because she actually had no younger sister. Having listened for a while, she only then recalled that last winter, when Old Master Su passed away, she had written a letter home and entrusted it to Zhu Nanxian, asking him to deliver it to the Su household that had once taken her in.

On the seventh day of the first month, before Zhu Nanxian rushed to rescue Zhu Minda, he had given this letter to one of his personal guards, instructing him to deliver it to Jizhou and not to delay Su Jin’s family matters under any circumstances.

But then came the incident at Zhaojue Temple, and Su Jin had completely forgotten about the Su household’s affairs.

Thinking of this, Su Jin said, “The woman you two just mentioned—is her surname Su and given name Wan?”

The goateed man replied, “Replying to Lord Su, this humble one doesn’t know her given name, but she is indeed surnamed Su.” After a pause, he added timidly, “And the older brother she spoke of is indeed you, Lord Su.”

For a moment, Su Jin didn’t know what to say.

To say this matter wasn’t her fault wouldn’t be right, because it was indeed Su Wan who had used her official rank to pressure people. But to place all the blame on her would also be unjust—after the Ningjiao Pavilion case, Su Jin, fearing something else might happen to the Eastern Palace, had spent this past month or so in the palace except for visits to see Shen Xi at the Zhao estate, completely unaware that the young lady of the Su family had come to the capital to find her.

Thinking of this, Su Jin said to Liu Chaoming, “Reporting to my lord, this subordinate bears fault in this case. This subordinate humbly requests that my lord grant one day to investigate the cause and effect. If it proves true, this subordinate willingly accepts punishment.”

Liu Chaoming stood in the wind and rain, letting someone beside him hold an umbrella, but didn’t answer her. Instead, he asked the two men from the Court of the Imperial Stud indifferently, “Where is that Assistant Director Qiu now?”

“Replying to my lord, he’s still on his way back to the capital.” The thin man said, “But his letter of apology for losing the horses, along with the Su family name card from Jizhou attached by the woman surnamed Su and her seal to prove her identity, have already been delivered through the Office of Transmission to Minister She of the Court of the Imperial Stud.”

Hearing this, Liu Chaoming’s gaze turned cold. A clerk from the Imperial Censorate, seeing his expression, immediately reprimanded, “If that’s the case, this case hasn’t yet reached a conclusion. For you two to dare block the Left Chief Censor’s sedan—you truly don’t understand propriety. You should return to the Court of the Imperial Stud first. Once Assistant Director Qiu and Lord Su’s younger sister arrive in the capital and this case has concrete facts, it won’t be too late to appeal for justice.” As he spoke, he lifted the sedan curtain for Liu Chaoming and instructed the bearers to depart.

The color drained from the faces of the two men from the Court of the Imperial Stud. Kneeling beside the sedan, they kowtowed repeatedly: “Reporting to Minister Liu, it’s not that we don’t understand propriety, but if this case is delayed even one more day, it will be too late.”

Hearing this, Su Jin felt something was suspicious and was just about to ask when Liu Chaoming suddenly called out, “Censor Su.”

Su Jin cupped her hands: “This subordinate is here.”

Liu Chaoming said, “Go to the Court of State Ceremonial yourself and conclude the case regarding the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial allowing his servants to cause trouble the other day.” With that, he glanced at the clerk, who immediately presented a case file. “This is the case record from the Court of Judicial Review. You already know the details—just close the case at the Court of State Ceremonial. No need to bring anyone back to the Imperial Censorate for interrogation.”

Su Jin accepted the case file and hesitated for a moment. Before she could say anything, the sound of hoofbeats suddenly came from one end of the long street—several high officials from the Ministry of Justice had arrived with the Yulin Guards.

The officials dismounted and, after paying their respects to Liu Chaoming and Su Jin, the senior official in the lead said, “Reporting to Minister Liu, reporting to Lord Su, someone from the Ministry of War has submitted a memorial saying that Lord Su of the Imperial Censorate is suspected of abusing her official authority to cover up the dereliction of duty by Qiu Ajiu, Assistant Director of the Court of the Imperial Stud, who was her sister’s savior, and moreover framed and falsely accused others, ordering the Minister of the Court of the Imperial Stud to send a supervisor and a registrar out of the capital under the pretext of exile. After receiving the memorial, the Seventh Prince was furious beyond measure and ordered us subordinates to immediately request Lord Su’s return to the palace—His Highness wishes to personally examine this matter in detail.”