Zhu Nanxian thus looked toward Shen Xi. “Minister Shen.”
“Your subject is here.”
“The Ministry of Finance manages household registration and financial affairs—it is the foundation of the nation. I hope that after you return to the Ministry of Finance, you will devote yourself to good governance, work vigorously to strengthen the nation, and never disappoint the hopes that my imperial father and I have placed in you.”
Shen Xi folded his sleeves and bowed deeply. “Your subject respectfully obeys Prince’s sacred command.”
With one matter concluded, Wu Chang at the side waved his fly-whisk and announced, “If any ministers have matters, please memorialize—”
State affairs were numerous and complex. Even though Zhu Nanxian had already discussed many important matters with the Seven Ministers yesterday, each bureau had accumulated new business overnight.
Fortunately, he had been extraordinarily diligent in reading memorials all night long, so during discussions he was able to keep matters clear in his mind.
However, after Minister Luo of the Ministry of Rites had offended Crown Prince, he indeed remained completely silent at this morning’s court session.
Yet Zhu Nanxian still remembered the matter of the Annan envoy encountering bandits and returning to the capital halfway. After all, this concerned relations between two nations—it was a matter of great importance. After all matters had been discussed and decided, he said, “Minister Luo, Vice Minister Su, you two remain behind. The rest may withdraw.”
Luo Songtang pursed his lips and moved two steps closer to Su Jin with a face full of grievance, saying in a low voice as the assembled ministers withdrew, “Lord Su, you absolutely cannot ignore this old man’s life and death this time.”
Shen Xi fell behind the assembled ministers and was the last to leave the hall.
Outside, a group of officials had surprisingly not left at all, and they all came forward to congratulate him.
Minister Gong Quan of the Ministry of War said, “What this old man worries about most right now is that the northwest will also descend into chaos. I want to suggest that Prince dispatch additional troops to guard there, but those few—” He raised his hand and pointed at the other two or three ministers. “They say I’m warmongering, conducting sweeping military campaigns. If you ask this old man, whatever autumn rites or temple repairs can be saved should be saved. We may lack anything else, but we cannot lack military provisions. If we lose our territory, that’s when true ritual and musical collapse occurs. Don’t you agree with this reasoning?”
If he answered this question carefully, he would offend people on both sides. Shen Xi changed the subject and answered ambiguously, “I manage silver, I don’t conjure it. Where savings can be made and where there’s surplus—I’ll only know after I return and examine the account books.” His eyes curved into a smile. “Ultimately, we must never shortchange anything if it means shortchanging the nation and its altars.”
“Good, that’s exactly what we were waiting for from you, Qingyue.” Gong Quan said with a laugh. His gaze fell on Liu Chaoming, and he continued, “The northwest has shown unusual activity in recent days. Liu Yun and I actually discussed this matter. He said that regarding the military provisions problem for reinforcing the northwest, you might have a solution. Once you’ve finished going through the Ministry of Finance’s account books, the three of us should sit down and thoroughly discuss northwest military affairs.”
Hearing these words, Shen Xi shifted his gaze to look at Liu Chaoming. After a long moment, he said with a smile, “I remember that at the end of last year, you and I played a game of go. I lost miserably—sacrificing pieces to gain initiative, all the black and white stones in my hand were completely overturned. Later we started a game of chess, and you didn’t play that game well either. I wonder, by today, have you found that general piece yet?”
These words sounded inexplicable, but Liu Chaoming remembered that before the incident at the palace front hall last year, during his last harmonious interaction with Shen Xi, they had exchanged some words that bared their hearts.
—Liu Yun, you treat people and matters like pieces in your hand, placing them in separate squares without mercy, the Chu River and Han border clearly divided. But aren’t you afraid that one day, someone won’t follow your rules and will directly checkmate your king?
—Yes, Vice Minister Shen must not be greedy for victory. If the opponent is strong, protect yourself. Aren’t you afraid that one day, someone will overturn the black and white on your board, making all your hiding places disappear without a trace, leaving you with nowhere to escape and forcing you to start over from the beginning?
Shen Xi looked at Liu Chaoming. After a moment, he withdrew the smile from his face and spoke coldly, “There’s something I’ve always been curious about. The other day at the Commandery, why did Censor Liu come together with Vice Minister Su?”
Liu Chaoming’s face originally had no particular expression, but hearing these words, he lifted the corner of his lips in a mocking smile. “Think whatever you like.”
The surrounding officials heard the two of them talking now about go, now about chess, and were all completely confused.
However, with Shen Xi and Liu Chaoming not leaving, the rest did not dare to depart either.
After a while, the two each looked at the sky, thinking there were still many important matters to handle and not wishing to delay here any longer. Just as they were about to step away, who would have known that someone would suddenly rush out from the crowd, fall prostrate before Shen Xi and Liu Chaoming, and beg for mercy trembling all over, “Minister, Lord Chief Censor, this subordinate, this subordinate knows his error—”
This person was none other than Shen Xi’s former superior, Director Huang of the Court of Imperial Stud.
Shen Xi and Liu Chaoming’s brows furrowed simultaneously, not knowing what chaos Director Huang was coming to add this time.
Director Huang tearfully lamented while trembling, “This subordinate was blind as a dog, wrongly trusted Director Liu of the Stable Bureau, thought Lord Shen altered the transportation route for personal gain, and reported Lord to the Ministry of Justice before investigating clearly. This subordinate knows his error, this subordinate will never do such foolish things again. I beg Lord Liu’s mercy, Lord Shen’s mercy.”
It turned out that Director Huang had a guilty conscience, thinking that Shen Qingyue’s inexplicable words earlier meant he wanted Liu Yun to punish him severely in view of their past relationship.
Though he held the noble rank of fourth-rank director, how could he provoke a Minister of Finance who had Crown Prince’s protection and escort?
Someone nearby teased, “Director Huang has been trembling since the start of today’s court discussion, and he’s trembled until now and still hasn’t trembled enough?”
However, Director Huang wasn’t the only one who kept trembling.
Since Shen Xi had been demoted to the Court of Imperial Stud, there were plenty in court who kicked him when he was down and took pleasure in his misfortune.
Now Zhu Nanxian held military power and had the noble status of Crown Prince—the court situation had been completely overturned in a single night. Shen Qingyue’s position was even more exalted than before. Not to mention the relationship of growing up together with Crown Prince, just his close friendship with Vice Minister Su Shiyu of the Ministry of Justice and his bond as a fellow scholar with Chief Censor Liu Yun who studied together at the Hanlin Academy—how would he need to take a fourth-rank director seriously?
Though Director Huang had erred, his error wasn’t capital. If this were before, Shen Xi would probably have teased him with a few words, frightening him enough while amusing himself.
But having experienced a great calamity, watching Director Huang cry with snot and tears streaming, he found it utterly uninteresting.
With a lazy expression on his face, Shen Xi said nothing more and lifted his foot, about to leave, when the hall doors behind him opened.
Su Jin and Luo Songtang had come out together with Zhu Nanxian.
Seeing the scene before him, Luo Songtang sealed his mouth shut and hid behind Gong Quan, standing against the wall.
Originally only Director Huang had been kneeling on the ground, but as soon as Zhu Nanxian appeared, three to five more people from among the court officials fell to their knees with successive thuds, all trembling as they faced the direction of Shen Xi and Liu Chaoming.
Zhu Nanxian’s brow furrowed slightly. “What’s going on?”
Minister Liu of the Ministry of Works at the side bowed and said, “Replying to Crown Prince, a while ago Director Huang recklessly wrote a complaint accusing Lord Shen. Right now he’s admitting his error to Lord Shen and Lord Liu. As for those other few—” He turned his head to look. “The reasons they’re kneeling are more or less the same as Director Huang’s.”
Director Huang knew that Zhu Nanxian was benevolent and kind-hearted, but Shen Xi and Liu Chaoming were not easy to deal with. If Crown Prince was willing to handle this matter, it would be better than leaving it entirely to those two. So he turned to tearfully appeal to Zhu Nanxian, “Reporting to Crown Prince, this humble servant did err, but this humble servant truly didn’t know that Lord Shen’s alteration of the transportation route was at Prince’s instruction. I absolutely had no intention of making Lord Shen take the blame. I beg Prince to investigate clearly—”
Zhu Nanxian had not the slightest desire to manage such trivial matters, but with so many court officials watching now, and the several kneeling all holding ranks that weren’t low, he could only calm his mind and turn back to ask, “Shiyu, has Qingyue’s case been dismissed?”
Su Jin had kept this matter in mind. After coming out from the Fengtian Hall discussion yesterday, she had found Qin Sang to write testimony together.
“Replying to Prince, the case has been dismissed.”
Zhu Nanxian nodded slightly. “Then have someone take the dismissal record and testimony to the Censorate.” He looked toward Liu Chaoming again. “Liu Yun, you can ask Qingyue about the details of this case. Regardless of who is involved, handle it as it should be handled. This is a small matter—conclude it soon.”
Liu Chaoming, Su Jin, and Shen Xi bowed together to Zhu Nanxian. “We subjects obey the command.”
Zhu Nanxian looked around left and right, then asked, “Why didn’t Tenth Brother come to court discussion today?”
Someone on the other side replied, “Reporting to Crown Prince, Tenth Prince did come to court discussion earlier, but his injuries relapsed, so he’s taken leave again these past two days.” Many in court knew that three months ago, when Zhu Yiheng was injured to the point his life hung in the balance, it was actually to let Zhu Nanxian return to Nanchang, so someone nearby chimed in, “Does Crown Prince wish to visit Tenth Prince?”
Yet Zhu Nanxian replied without any expression, “No need.” Then he called out, “Gong Quan.” The two of them went together toward the Ministry of War.
Su Jin had originally wanted to discuss with Zhu Nanxian about Zhu Zhaowei and Consort Qi, but since he had just returned to the palace, he was so busy he didn’t have a moment’s spare time. In the following two days, she could only see him during court discussions.
Fortunately, Zuo Qian did find some free time and told her that Zhu Nanxian had already assigned people to keep a close watch on Zhu Zhaowei, that he was aware of Consort Qi’s matter, and that he had another matter of particular urgency on his end. As soon as he had leisure, he would definitely speak with her personally.
In the seventh month when the fire star moves westward, the previously sultry weather suddenly turned cool.
On the first day of the month, Su Jin finally finished organizing all the Ministry of Justice’s case files from recent years. The most difficult one among them—the case of the Imperial Noble Consort’s sudden death—could be closed as soon as Consort Qi was interrogated.
She spread out a memorial before her desk, writing the summary meticulously with clear itemization. Just as she was about to personally go to Fengtian Hall to present it to Zhu Nanxian, Eunuch You, the chief steward of the Eastern Palace, arrived and said, “Lord Su, Crown Prince commands this servant to summon you to Weiyang Palace. He says there’s an urgent matter to discuss.”
Su Jin was momentarily stunned. “Prince isn’t at Fengtian Hall today?”
Eunuch You said, “If he continues spending day after day at Fengtian Hall like this, with all those officials coming to petition about matters big and small, no matter how robust Prince’s constitution, he couldn’t bear it.” He smiled again. “So he secretly went to Weiyang Palace to see Lord Su. It’s quiet there with no one to disturb.”
Su Jin smiled apologetically and brought along both the case summary memorial from her desk and the case file for the Imperial Noble Consort’s sudden death. “But I must go disturb him with a case. Otherwise, if it drags on, delays will breed changes.”
Eunuch You quickly opened the door to lead the way for her, continuing her words, “How can other officials be mentioned in the same breath as Lord Su? Lord Su and Lord Shen are those who have accompanied Prince all along the way—the bond is different.”
As they spoke, they arrived at Weiyang Palace.
It was now afternoon, the Hour of the Goat. The gardenia flowers in the garden were in full bloom—amid the large expanse of dark green, dots of pure white were interspersed, and the pleasantly fragrant scent made this tranquil palace garden even more silent. There wasn’t a single palace attendant around—presumably Zhu Nanxian had dismissed them all.
Eunuch You had just led Su Jin past the gardenia path when they saw that Zhu Nanxian, as if unable to wait any longer, had already come out of the hall and was sitting on the stone steps under the eaves, waiting for her.