Liu Xuzhi said, “Consider this jade pendant a token. Today this old man makes you a promise—if there comes a day when you have no way to retreat, my Liu residence will always leave you a way out.”

Having said this, he instructed, “An’ran.”

An’ran nodded, took the jade pendant from Su Jin’s hands, and was also stunned.

This jade pendant was almost identical to the one the young master had worn at his waist years ago.

But the young master’s jade pendant—hadn’t it been smashed by the Fourth Prince over ten years ago?

Only after he carefully stored the jade pendant in a case did he discover that the one in his hands differed slightly from the young master’s original one.

Judging by the patterns, they should be a pair.

Su Jin received the wooden case and knelt to perform a bow of gratitude to Liu Xuzhi.

The three conversed in the study for a while longer, speaking of nothing but old matters from years past—words filled with the sense that while things remained, people had changed.

At the hour of the monkey, Su Jin rose to take her leave, saying that although she was on rest today, she still needed to return to the Ministry of Justice.

Liu Xuzhi didn’t detain her, only saying, “Liu Yun, see A’Yu off on my behalf.”

Liu Chaoming agreed and, without having An’ran follow, led Su Jin all the way to the side room where she had changed earlier.

Su Jin changed back into men’s clothing and said to Liu Chaoming, “Shiyu knows the way out of the residence. Having A’Liu alone guide me will suffice. Old Master Liu will be leaving the capital soon. You don’t have much time in the residence, my lord. It would be better to return early to keep your honored father company.”

Liu Chaoming glanced at her and said mildly, “No matter.”

Upon reaching the residence gate, the carriage was already waiting by the roadside. Su Jin seemed to recall something and said to Liu Chaoming, “I wonder on which day Old Master Liu will leave the capital. Shiyu would like to come see him off.”

She was a junior. Today, coming to the Liu residence and receiving Liu Xuzhi’s jade pendant counted as renewing the friendship between the Liu and Xie families. Going to see Liu Xuzhi off was only proper.

Liu Chaoming said, “The fifth of the month.” He also reminded her, “Starting from the fourth, you need to go inspect several prefectures and counties near the capital.”

Inspecting nearby prefectures and counties was one of the important duties after being promoted to minister of a department. Two years ago, when Su Jin assumed the position of Minister of Justice, she had postponed the inspection due to her diplomatic mission. Now that she had returned to the capital, she could no longer delay.

Su Jin said, “Yes, but Old Master Liu is an elder. I can adjust the schedule here.”

Liu Chaoming said, “No need. Father has already stated that having Marquis Wenyuan see him off that day will suffice.” Even he could only go and return immediately.

Su Jin nodded. “Very well, then please trouble you to convey that when Shiyu visits Hangzhou Prefecture in the future, I will certainly call upon him.”

Liu Chaoming stood at the residence gate watching Su Jin’s carriage depart until it was out of sight, then returned to the study in the eastern courtyard. Liu Xuzhi was holding a book and asked, “She’s left?”

Liu Chaoming said, “Already left.”

After pausing for a moment, he asked again, “Father, the jade pendant you just gave Su Shiyu—”

“It’s nothing rare.” Liu Xuzhi’s eyes didn’t leave the book. “Part of your mother’s dowry back then. Originally a pair. I kept one here, and your mother’s piece disappeared over ten years ago.”

His tone was casual, but the person on the other end had no reaction after hearing this.

Liu Xuzhi glanced at Liu Chaoming and saw his eyes were deep, as if containing everything yet containing nothing. He felt he could no longer see through this son of his.

“I came to the capital originally for your marriage, but Qi Boyuan has recently advised me not to trouble myself over it.” Liu Xuzhi set down the book. “He said you already have someone in your heart.”

Liu Chaoming clasped his hands in a gesture of apology, showing no emotion. “Since ancient times, marriages have followed parental command.”

Qi Boyuan’s original words were actually: Liu Yun’s natural talent is rarely seen in a hundred years. His nature is reserved and self-disciplined. In childhood he cultivated himself in the Liu residence, in youth he studied under Meng Liang. His temperament is extremely resilient and forbearing, most skilled at severing emotions and cutting off thoughts. He is ruthless to others, even more ruthless to himself—this is the disposition for accomplishing great things. But I am a Confucian scholar, encountering matters I’m always compassionate. Liu Yun is after all also my student. Seeing him so accustomed to self-affliction, I can’t help but feel heartache. I’d rather he were more ordinary, lived more selfishly—perhaps then he could enjoy a bit more simple happiness.

Liu Xuzhi said, “Forget it. I must leave the capital in a few days and have no time to arrange your affairs. You’ve reached the position of Grand Secretary and can make decisions for yourself.” He took a wooden case from the desk and opened it—inside was a hairpin of pure gold. “This hairpin was made modeled after the one your mother loved most. If there’s someone in your heart, include it with the betrothal gifts as my and your mother’s intentions.”

Liu Chaoming received the wooden case in his hands and replied, “Yes. Your son has been busy with official duties recently. After this busy period passes, I will certainly choose a gentle, respectful, and compliant woman as wife.”

Having been busy since first entering government service until now, when would this busy period ever pass?

Liu Xuzhi heard him speaking even this as if making official pronouncements and couldn’t help wanting to instruct him a bit. The words reached his lips but he forcibly swallowed them.

Would saying it make him listen?

Liu Xuzhi felt he had truly grown old—even his heart wasn’t as hard as before.

In years past, to make Liu Yun successful, he had not hesitated to cut down the magnolia tree in his courtyard. Watching young Liu Yun sit withered by the tree stump through the night, he hadn’t even offered a word of comfort. So that later when Liu Yun left home and went alone to the capital, Liu Xuzhi never ordered anyone to pursue him. Father and son had no contact for three years after that, until Meng Liang searched for and brought back Su Shiyu. Though his legs had become necrotic, he still led Liu Chaoming back to the Liu residence in Hangzhou. Only then, for Old Censor Meng’s sake, did Liu Xuzhi re-acknowledge this son.

So many years had passed. That Liu Chaoming who at age four could name himself Yun had thoroughly and completely become Liu Yun, while Liu Xuzhi was no longer the Liu Xuzhi of the past.

Growth is bitter cultivation, an endless cruel punishment that never feels tedious, but aging happens in just an instant.

Liu Xuzhi waved his hand. “Go attend to your duties.”

For this inspection tour, Su Jin selected three prefecture-level towns. Although all were near the capital, the journey to and from each required one or two days. She departed on the fourth and returned to the capital on the seventeenth of August.

Just as she stepped down from the carriage, Wu Jizhi, who had been waiting at the Zhengwu Gate, came forward and said, “On the ninth of this month, disaster victims in Huguang rioted. Over ten people died or were injured. The news reached the palace yesterday. It’s said to actually be related to the dike construction. Minister Zhang from the Court of Judicial Review proposed that the Three Judicial Offices together dispatch two imperial commissioners to Wuchang Prefecture to handle the case. Lord Liu had this subordinate wait here for you, my lord. He requests that you go immediately to the Imperial Censorate after returning to the palace.”

Su Jin nodded while walking toward the Imperial Censorate. “I already heard about this matter yesterday.”

Wu Jizhi continued, “The Fourth Prince and Fourth Princess Consort will enter the capital tomorrow. The Ministry of Rites and Ministry of War want to reward the Fourth Prince’s military achievements at the autumn rites. Minister Luo and Minister Shen have nearly finished discussing it, but the official document must be issued by the Grand Secretariat. Minister Shen says he wants to discuss it with you later today, my lord.”

Su Jin said, “In a bit, notify the people at the Ministry of Rites and have them write the official document first. If there’s anything improper after I review it, I’ll revise it.”

Upon reaching the Imperial Censorate, she paused in her steps and asked, “Is there news from His Majesty?”

“After His Majesty set out to return to the capital at the beginning of August, the Ministry of War receives daily reports. The journey is proceeding very smoothly, exactly as originally planned. Does Lord Su wish to see the Ministry of War’s urgent dispatches?”

Su Jin nodded. “Have the Ministry of War send them to Liuzhao Pavilion.”

A junior clerk from the Imperial Censorate, upon seeing Su Jin, hurried forward and said, “Lord Su, Lord Liu and Lord Zhai say they’ve been waiting for you in the hall.” He also asked Wu Jizhi, “Will Lord Wu join the discussion?”

Wu Jizhi said, “No, this official still has matters to attend to.” He performed a bow to Su Jin and then left.

Su Jin knew the Huguang disaster victim riots were an urgent matter that brooked no delay. After Yan Xiu and Zhai Di performed their bows to her, she got straight to the point and asked, “For the imperial commissioners to be dispatched to Huguang, does Lord Liu already have candidates in mind?”

Liu Chaoming said, “It would be best if Zhao Yan and Qian Yueqian could go, but the two of them cannot get away. My thinking is to have one of either Yan Xiu or Zhai Di go. It just depends on whether your Ministry of Justice has anyone who can be dispatched.”

Su Jin said, “For the Ministry of Justice, naturally Vice Minister Fang would be best, but these past two years while I was away on my mission, most of the Ministry’s cases went through him, so he also cannot get away at the moment.” She thought for a moment and asked, “Who did the Court of Judicial Review dispatch?”

“The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.”

The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review held the rank of junior third grade. Yan Xiu and Zhai Di were both fourth-grade assistant censors. Generally speaking, for ordinary cases, dispatching imperial commissioners of such rank to the locality already showed extreme importance. But this year’s Huguang matter was different—starting with the peach blossom floods, the subsequent disaster relief, dike construction, and disaster victim riots were all interconnected chain reactions with the same root and origin, yet involved many offices including the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Works, Imperial Censorate, and others. Since summer began, although the court’s various departments had dispatched officials to investigate, they had never achieved the effect of making an example to warn others or settling matters definitively with one blow.

It wasn’t that the dispatched officials weren’t handling matters. With so many incidents concentrated together, things were inherently extremely complex. Officials needed time to untangle the root causes, needed time to determine the best plans, and if unexpected situations arose during this period—such as the riots a few days ago—it would add new troubles.

During the Jingyuan reign, when the Canglang waters flooded, dikes had also been rebuilt once. Taking that instance as example, just the deliberations took most of half a year, waiting until flooding occurred again the following year before they began constructing the dikes.

Both Su Jin and Liu Chaoming had swift and decisive temperaments. Since they had made their decision, they must have the dikes repaired before next spring. If they dragged out the time, not only would it waste money, but the common people of Huguang would suffer another round of hardship.

Therefore, they wanted to dispatch someone quick-witted and decisive, whose word carried absolute authority.

And for such a candidate, there actually was one.

“Just the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review and an assistant censor probably won’t work,” Su Jin said.

Liu Chaoming said, “I think so too.”

Neither of them brought up that person’s name, because given their current positions, this name was too sensitive.

So they could only fall silent.

Just then, a junior clerk outside came to report, “Lord Su, Lord Wu from the Ministry of Justice requests an audience.”

As the words fell, Wu Jizhi also arrived outside the hall door and bowed. “Lord Su, Minister Shen says there’s an extremely urgent matter and requests that you go to Liuzhao Pavilion.” He also bowed to the other three people in the hall and continued, “Minister Shen also said he knows that you lords are currently discussing the candidates for imperial commissioners to Wuchang Prefecture. He will help think of a solution later this evening.”

Although Shen Xi usually wasn’t very serious, he was very earnest about official duties and rarely delayed others’ deliberations due to his own affairs.

Su Jin knew that for Shen Xi to be this anxious, something significant must have happened. She immediately clasped her hands toward Liu Chaoming. “I’ll come back later.” She left with Wu Jizhi.

Liu Chaoming watched Su Jin’s retreating figure and said to Zhai Di, “Go see Minister Su off.”

Not until the figures of several people disappeared outside the courtyard gate did Yan Xiu step forward and say, “My lord, it seems Minister Shen has received that news.”

“Faster than I imagined,” Liu Chaoming said. After deliberating, he added, “This will not be easy to handle.”