In truth, Su Jin rarely fell asleep while sitting like this. That she did so today was because Zhu Nanxian had returned to the palace, and the days of sleeping with weapons at the ready over the past half year had finally come to an end.

But though the dangerous situation had passed, there were still numerous state affairs weighing on her mind.

Zhu Nanxian hadn’t even finished reading one memorial when Su Jin stirred awake.

The candlelight in the room flickered dimly. When she opened her eyes and saw the person before her, she initially thought it was a dream. It wasn’t until her gaze met his that she suddenly became fully alert and said, “Why didn’t Prince awaken me when you arrived?”

Zhu Nanxian smiled slightly. “It’s rare for you to rest for even a moment.”

Seeing that he still held a memorial in his hand, Su Jin picked up a wooden stick from the desk, adjusted the lamps on the desk and in the corner to make them brighter, and said, “Prince must take care of your eyes.” Then she lifted the teapot and asked, “Is Prince still reviewing memorials?”

Zhu Nanxian said, “Yes, I read slowly, so I must spend more effort on it.”

The water in the teapot had long since dried up. Su Jin set the pot down, and for a long moment couldn’t remember where she should go to refill it.

She usually presented such a perceptive and clever demeanor, but having just woken up, standing confused before a teapot—this was a rare moment of befuddlement.

Zhu Nanxian’s heart stirred at the sight. He closed the memorial in his hand and said with a smile, “Are you thirsty yourself, or are you adding water for me?”

Su Jin said, “Naturally for Prince.”

Zhu Nanxian said, “I’m not thirsty.” Then he stood up, came before her, first glanced at the sky outside, and only then said, “You’re too exhausted. Sleep for another hour, and I’ll wake you at the second mark of the Hour of the Tiger.”

His entire person was very close to her, and a faint dragon ambergris fragrance emanated from his five-clawed golden dragon robe.

But when Su Jin caught this dragon ambergris scent, she thought of his formerly carefree and bright manner, and thought of how he must now be confined by imperial power and state affairs, no longer able to be as free and unrestrained as before. Somehow her heart couldn’t bear it, and she said, “I won’t sleep. The sooner I organize the Ministry of Justice case files, the sooner I can share Prince’s burdens.”

Zhu Nanxian smiled again, then suddenly bent down to lift her horizontally in his arms, gently placing her on a small green bamboo daybed in the corner of the room. He hooked a chair with his foot and sat down beside the bed, saying warmly, “Sleep. I’ll watch over you.”

Su Jin’s eyelashes trembled slightly. She softly hummed in acknowledgment, then said, “Prince should also rest for a while. The memorials can wait until tomorrow.”

The corners of her eyes were extremely beautiful—clear and moving. Zhu Nanxian’s heart trembled at the sight. He couldn’t help but lean down and place a light kiss on her forehead, though he dared not kiss more deeply, afraid he wouldn’t be able to stop himself.

Zhu Nanxian fell asleep sitting in the chair. When the second mark of the Hour of the Tiger arrived, he woke.

This was a habit he had developed from his years leading troops—he could close his eyes and sleep, and wake at whatever time he said he would.

Today was the first time the new heir apparent would preside over morning court. Though the sky outside was still dark, the Six Ministries were already bustling with activity. When Zhu Nanxian pushed open the door and stepped out of the room, he saw Qin Sang approaching with a Ministry of Rites official surnamed Jiang.

The two paid their respects to Zhu Nanxian together. Qin Sang said, “Reporting to Crown Prince, this Official Jiang says he has an urgent matter to petition Prince about. This humble servant heard that Prince was at the Ministry of Justice discussing matters with Vice Minister Su, so I took the liberty of bringing him over.”

Zhu Nanxian glanced at Official Jiang, first closing the door behind him properly before walking to the courtyard and saying, “If it’s an urgent matter, why not wait for morning court?”

However, as soon as the words left his mouth, he felt he had asked unnecessarily. No doubt Luo Songtang had offended him yesterday by remonstrating about taking consorts, so even if there were matters to attend to, he wouldn’t speak up himself.

“Speak,” Zhu Nanxian said.

“Yes. Reporting to Crown Prince, the envoy from Annan…” Official Jiang swallowed, “After leaving the capital yesterday, he encountered bandits and has, has returned to the capital from halfway along the road.”

“What happened?!” Zhu Nanxian said angrily. “Was no military escort assigned to accompany the envoy on his return journey?”

Official Jiang was so frightened he knelt on the ground. “Replying to Prince, troops were assigned, but, but there were only four accompanying guards. When they encountered bandits in the wilderness at night, the protection was inadequate.”

Yet Zhu Nanxian had doubts in his heart. The Five Divisions Military Bureau patrolled the wilderness around the capital—how could they so coincidentally encounter bandits?

He asked, “Where is the Annan envoy now? Was he injured?”

“Replying to Prince, the envoy was not injured, only frightened. He is currently still staying at the post station twenty li from the capital. Minister Luo instructed this humble servant to come ask Prince whether we should reassign more troops to escort the envoy back to Annan, or invite him back to the capital to stay for a few more days?”

For an envoy to encounter bandits on his return journey was truly unbecoming of the great nation’s dignified bearing.

Zhu Nanxian thought for a moment and said, “Bring him back first.”

Not long after Official Jiang left, Eunuch You, the chief steward of the Eastern Palace, arrived at the Ministry of Justice with two palace attendants and two palace maids.

“Prince must attend morning court today. This old servant feared there wouldn’t be enough time, so I had people bring Prince’s robes and headwear. Will Prince make do with changing clothes at the Ministry of Justice, or go to Fengtian Hall first?”

Zhu Nanxian said, “I still need to wait for Qingyue to come.”

Wu Jizhi, the Ministry of Justice official waiting not far away, saw this and hurried forward, respectfully saying, “Crown Prince, please come this way,” and led him to a clean side room.

By the time Zhu Nanxian had changed clothes and finished washing, Su Jin had also risen.

She waited at the bottom of the steps, with an uninvited guest following behind her—Director Huang of the Court of Imperial Stud, who had previously accused Shen Xi of altering the transportation route map.

As soon as Director Huang saw Zhu Nanxian, he came forward and kowtowed, saying, “Reporting to Crown Prince, yesterday Prince summoned Lord Shen to the palace. This humble servant has already invited him here, but… Lord Shen cannot enter the Six Ministries offices without permission and is currently waiting at Xuanyuan Terrace. Does Prince wish to issue a verbal decree allowing him to come to the Ministry of Justice first?”

Zhu Nanxian was momentarily stunned. Ignoring Director Huang, he asked Su Jin, “There’s such a rule?”

Su Jin nodded slightly. “Except for censors, external officials of the seventh rank and below cannot enter the Six Ministries without being summoned.”

Director Huang, greatly fearing Zhu Nanxian’s anger, prostrated himself again. “Reporting to Crown Prince, this subject volunteers to go to Xuanyuan Terrace and escort Lord Shen to outside Fengtian Hall.”

Zhu Nanxian glanced at him and said, “No need.” Then he said to Su Jin, “Come with me to Xuanyuan Terrace.”

Dawn was approaching, and the wind on Xuanyuan Terrace was boundless.

Palace maids and attendants traveling at night saw the Crown Prince and Vice Minister Su coming here and all anxiously knelt down with their lanterns raised.

Shen Xi stood on Xuanyuan Terrace with his hands clasped behind his back, the tear mole at the corner of his eye dark and quiet. The wind brushed past his robes and headwear, making his garments billow and flutter. In this time between full dark and dawn, his entire person seemed like an immortal banished to the mortal realm.

Zhu Nanxian walked forward several steps and called out loudly, “How’s the injury? Can you drink?”

Shen Xi’s eyes curved into a smile. Remarkably, he did not bow to this illustrious new heir apparent, but instead said, “What’s this small injury?”

Zhu Nanxian laughed heartily. “Excellent!” Then he instructed the attendant nearby, “Bring wine!”

Shortly after, an attendant brought wine. Zhu Nanxian personally lifted the pot and filled three cups, then he, Shen Xi, and Su Jin each took a cup. Standing side by side, they raised their cups together toward the direction of Zhaojue Temple, then simultaneously stepped back one pace and poured the wine onto the ground.

Wine was poured again to fill three cups. The three of them faced the direction of the Eastern Palace, once more raised their cups together, stepped back one pace, and poured the wine on the ground.

Wine was poured a third time into three cups. This time, the three each held a cup and drank it down completely. After drinking, they simultaneously released their grip on the cups.

The porcelain cups fell to the ground and shattered. The crisp sound carried a sharp quality, as if it would pierce through the dawn. The palace attendants all around bowed down in a gesture of respect.

Zhu Nanxian stood with his hands clasped behind his back, looking toward Fengtian Hall. The Hour of the Rabbit was approaching—day was about to break.

“Court session.”

From Xuanyuan Terrace to Fengtian Hall, the route passed through Zhengwu Gate and Fengtian Gate.

The Golden Guard, wearing phoenix-winged helmets and clad in chain mail, lined both sides of the long path beginning from outside Zhengwu Gate, welcoming the new heir apparent of the Great Sui.

Wu Chang, the chief steward of Fengtian Hall, announced, “Crown Prince arrives—”

The assembled officials waiting on the terrace looked up to see that outside Fengtian Gate, Zhu Nanxian strode forward in his dark vermillion five-clawed golden dragon robe. One step behind him, to his left and right, followed Su Jin and Shen Xi.

The Golden Guard on both sides knelt on one knee as he passed along the path, then rose and fell in behind him in formation, calling out in unison, “We respectfully welcome Crown Prince—”

The court situation that had been in turmoil for the past half year finally had orthodox authority presiding over it.

The assembled officials, awed by this imposing presence, all bowed down together. “We respectfully welcome Crown Prince—”

Su Jin and Shen Xi followed Zhu Nanxian to outside the hall entrance, then withdrew to the side and joined the ranks of officials.

After Zhu Nanxian entered the hall, the assembled officials, led by Liu Chaoming, proceeded in sequence and order into the hall entrance, once again paying their respects to the heir apparent who stood with hands clasped behind his back beside the dragon throne.

After the rites were concluded, Zhu Nanxian finally spoke. “Before today’s court discussion, I will first inform all you ministers of a matter already decided yesterday with the Seven Ministers.” He paused. “Shu Huan, take notes.”

“Yes.”

“I restore the former Vice Minister of Finance, current Assistant Director of the Stable Bureau of the Court of Imperial Stud Shen Xi to his position as Left Vice Minister of Finance. In two months, at the autumn selection, he will be promoted to Minister of Finance, managing all matters within the territory of the Great Sui relating to land, household registration, taxation, military pay, and so forth.”

At these words, the assembled officials exchanged glances with one another.

Now that Zhu Nanxian had succeeded to the position of Eastern Palace, though the full court of civil and military officials knew that Shen Xi’s return to control of the Ministry of Finance was only a matter of time, they had not expected this Crown Prince to make this his first major act upon taking power.

Zhu Nanxian’s gaze swept around the assembly. After a moment, he continued slowly, “I know that among you ministers, some may not understand my decision. But I have three reasons for promoting Minister Shen.

“The Shaanxi tax grain embezzlement case—Vice Minister Shen, including the crimes of the Shen household, have other circumstances behind them. I have already ordered Vice Minister Su of the Ministry of Justice to reinvestigate thoroughly. But regarding Vice Minister Shen’s crime of harboring criminals, he already received fifty strokes of the great cane that day and should not have been subjected to demotion. This is reason one.

“Reason two: yesterday I discussed matters with the Seven Ministers and learned that recently the court situation has been difficult at every step, largely due to the Ministry of Finance’s shortage of silver and grain. Now the court is in need of capable people. Vice Minister Du alone cannot bear the burden. Vice Minister Shen managed the Ministry of Finance for five full years, rendering meritorious service through his labors, and is fully qualified to assume the position of minister.

“Reason three: promoting Vice Minister Shen to minister is also the command of my imperial father and my late eldest imperial brother. After Qian Zhihuan retired from his post before the new year, they both expressed to me their preference for Minister Shen as the next Minister of Finance.

“But I know that the Ministry of Personnel has its regulations, and one cannot be immediately promoted the day of appointment—especially not to the position of minister. Therefore, first restore him to his original position, and wait until the autumn selection in the eighth month for formal appointment.”

As Zhu Nanxian spoke, he looked toward Zeng Youliang. “Minister Zeng, do you have any objections?”

Zeng Youliang had long ago been frightened out of his wits by Wu Yusheng’s death. Today, with Zhu Zhaowei not even attending morning court, even if he had objections he dared not voice them. Moreover, the appointment and dismissal of second-rank minister positions were originally decreed personally by the Emperor or heir apparent. Unless all Seven Ministers jointly impeached together, he as Minister of Personnel had no say in the matter.

Among the Seven Ministers, Su Jin of the Ministry of Justice and Gong Quan of the Ministry of War alone would certainly have no objections to Shen Xi’s promotion to minister.

Zeng Youliang could only say, “Reporting to Crown Prince, everything is entirely at Prince’s discretion.”