Seeing the Fourth Prince actually kneeling before them, the assembled officials were all so shocked they couldn’t speak. However, summoning Zhu Yushen back to the capital to report had been Shen Xi’s idea, and all matters large and small should be decided by him. Without him speaking, the rest dared not interject. In their panic, they could only follow suit and kneel down.
Shen Xi stared coldly at Zhu Yushen. After a while, as if coming to his senses, he softly called out: “Third Sister.”
Shen Jun instinctively looked back and saw that Zhu Yushen was actually kneeling in bewilderment before a group of officials. A sharp pain struck her heart. She quickly turned back to help him up, saying to Shen Xi, Su Jin and the others: “I’ve made you all laugh.”
Su Jin said: “What words are these, Princess?”
The assembled officials were all somewhat uneasy after Zhu Yushen had knelt to them first. It was still Liu Chaoming who gave a reminder: “Vice Minister Zou.”
Only then did Zou Liren, responsible for leading the assembled officials in praising military achievements, step forward and chant: “The ceremony begins—”
Actually, military achievements should properly be praised by the Son of Heaven leading civil and military officials, but with Zhu Nanxian not at court, the responsibility fell to the Ministry of Rites.
After the military achievements were praised, the assembled officials parted to make way as Minister of Rites Luo Songtang invited Zhu Yushen to the Western Tower to burn incense and inform the ancestors.
The incense-burning ceremony lasted two hours, from noon to the hour of shen. The assembled officials need not accompany him. But because Duke Gongguo, Marquis Wenyuan, and Marquis Dingyuan had all entered the palace today, though Shen Xi was entangled in official business, he couldn’t leave for the moment. Together with people from the Ministry of Rites, he escorted the three old ministers to the front palace hall for entertainment.
After Liu Chaoming returned to Liuzhao Pavilion to handle today’s government affairs, he went back to the Imperial Censorate. A junior clerk came to report: “Lord Liu, this morning Lord Zhai entered the palace with Lord Su’s carriage. People from the Transmission Office say that Lord Zhai received a sealed letter from Jiujiang Prefecture last night, and after reading it, he went to Su Manor without stopping.”
Hearing this, Qian San’er, who was also in the public hall, asked: “What was written in the sealed letter?”
“In reply to Lord Qian, Lord Zhou from the Transmission Office said he was afraid of alarming Lord Su and didn’t dare open the letter. He could only inquire through other channels. From what we can see now, it’s most likely that the Jiujiang Prefect caught the errand runner who transported goods to Lingnan, surnamed Qi, and is currently interrogating him. As for what was extracted from the interrogation, that’s unknown.”
Liu Chaoming said: “You may withdraw.”
The junior clerk bowed to Liu Chaoming and Qian Yueqian and withdrew from the public hall, closing the door behind him.
The door made a “click” sound. Qian San’er’s naturally crescent-shaped eyes that carried three parts mirth now held a grave expression.
He pondered for a long while, and when he spoke again there was a trace of irritation: “This Zhai Qiguang truly has some ability. Though young, he has many methods and connections. In just a few days he’s found leads. No wonder Su Shiyu singled him out from among the patrol censors to carefully cultivate. Her eye is truly ruthless.”
Seeing Liu Chaoming’s slightly furrowed brow and expression even more somber than his own, he asked puzzled: “My lord, this person surnamed Qi is plainly just an errand runner who only delivered purchased raw silk and tea to Lingnan. Where those goods went afterward and where the earned silver flowed—he knows nothing of this. The people from Jiujiang Prefecture shouldn’t be able to extract anything.”
“Whether they can extract anything doesn’t matter. What matters is, why is a mere errand runner still alive to this day?”
Qian San’er was suddenly reminded by these words. A conjecture was forming in his mind when Liu Chaoming immediately spelled it out: “Su Shiyu habitually scrutinizes matters when encountering them, thinks more deeply than ordinary people. I’m afraid she’s already guessed from this errand runner that this matter was Zhu Yiheng’s doing.”
Qian Yueqian was greatly shocked at these words. Zhu Yiheng was still confined in Orchid Garden. If Su Jin had decided to move the knife against their faction, as long as she seized the opportunity, she definitely wouldn’t show Zhu Yiheng any mercy.
However, now Zhu Yushen had been summoned back to the capital, his life and property all in Shen Qingyue’s hands. If Su Shiyu also moved against Zhu Yiheng, leaving only Liu Yun, even with overwhelming power, he ultimately couldn’t surpass Emperor Jin’an.
Truly deep water and scorching fire.
Qian Yueqian couldn’t help asking: “Then according to my lord’s meaning, how should we respond?”
Liu Chaoming pressed his fingers to his brow: “Let me think.”
Outside, the sun had already set in the west. Before long, a junior clerk knocked at the door: “Lord Liu, Lord Su from the Ministry of Justice has arrived.”
Liu Chaoming’s just-relaxed brow furrowed again imperceptibly.
Why was Su Shiyu coming at this time?
But he didn’t reveal this doubt, dismissing Qian Yueqian and saying blandly: “Invite her in.”
Su Jin really did have the appearance of someone coming to discuss matters, holding two memorials in her hand. She selected the first one and presented it forward: “The matter of repairing the pagoda at Bao’en Temple has been decided. The Ministry of Works just submitted the budget to the Ministry of Finance. The ancient bell from Zhaojue Temple was also moved there today, just waiting for Qingyue’s approval. But Qingyue must leave the capital the day after tomorrow, so this matter is somewhat urgent. Therefore I brought it for my lord to review first.”
Liu Chaoming accepted the memorial but didn’t examine it closely.
Since Zhu Lin was alive, it meant the twelve national mourning bell tolls at Zhaojue Temple that day had saved an imperial heir’s life. Shen Qingyue would naturally be willing to repair the pagoda and enshrine this old bell.
He returned the memorial to Su Jin: “I have no objection.”
Su Jin continued: “Additionally, I wanted to ask my lord—once Qingyue goes to Wuchang Prefecture, matters there will be coordinated and arranged by him. But his energy alone is limited and mainly focused on repairing the embankment. My meaning is that the Three Judicial Offices should still follow the original plan and send two imperial commissioners to investigate the refugee riot case. The Court of Judicial Review has decided on Magistrate Liu. Previously my lord said the Imperial Censorate would choose one person between Censors Yan and Zhai. I wonder if my lord has decided?”
Liu Chaoming looked at Su Jin without saying a word.
Today was truly strange. Su Shiyu always acted with utmost urgency in her work. For such small matters, she would normally at most send someone to ask for a result. What interest had arisen in her to personally come before him and inquire about matters in such detail?
Liu Chaoming’s instinct told him this matter wasn’t simple. Suddenly thinking of Qian Yueqian’s words “Zhai Qiguang truly has some ability,” he said: “Yan Xiu has matters he cannot leave. I’ve already decided to have Zhai Di accompany Shen Qingyue to Wuchang.”
Hearing him mention Zhai Qiguang, Su Jin’s heart also stirred slightly.
Was Liu Yun’s meaning to use this opportunity to separate Qiguang from her side?
Very well. In any case, she had already found leads in the Lingnan merchant case. She had plenty of people to follow the trail.
“Having Qiguang go is also good. He’s talented. With more tempering, he’ll have opportunities for promotion in the future.”
Seeing Su Jin agree so quickly, Liu Chaoming found her thoughts somewhat inscrutable. He only felt her purpose wasn’t what it seemed. Just as he was raising his guard to think about other personnel matters, before the thought could surface, Su Jin’s words pushed it down: “Lord Liu, you mentioned before that the Imperial Censorate was also investigating the Annan merchant case. Do you have any leads here?”
Without waiting for his answer, she smiled again: “By coincidence, I have leads here. The Jiujiang Prefect caught a merchant surnamed Qi who ran errands transporting goods to Lingnan. I just received his confession today.”
As Su Jin spoke, she truly took out a confession from the bottom of her memorials and presented it forward.
Judging by the wax seal, it was precisely the sealed letter discovered by the Transmission Office today that they hadn’t dared open.
What was Su Shiyu’s intention? Throwing out a brick to attract jade? Testing him?
Neither was right.
As Liu Chaoming accepted the confession, he laughed inwardly.
She knew the Lingnan merchant case was what he was most worried about at present. She was precisely using this to obstruct his vision.
He knew her purpose, but absurdly, he truly was obstructed.
The confession in his hand was like a mass of fog, covering the scene before his eyes, causing the thought that had just surfaced in his mind to sink down like a lake stone. He naturally had ways to dive into the water and retrieve the lake stone, but by the time he retrieved it, would everything still be in time?
The earlier thought left a trace of inexplicable urgency at the bottom of his heart. Though Liu Chaoming’s face showed no expression, he couldn’t help but glance sideways at the sky outside the window.
Most of the sunset glow had already faded. At exactly the hour of xu, the Jinwu Guard and Prefecture Army Guard had already formed ranks along the shores of Taiye Lake. The dragon boat about to enter the lake was moored at the embankment. Shen Xi withdrew his gaze from the horizon and glanced at Zhu Yushen being helped over by palace attendants not far away, asking the person beside him: “How is it?”
The person beside him was Wu Jizhi, who had just come from the front palace: “In reply to Lord Shen, Lord Su has gone to the Imperial Censorate to detain Lord Liu. She said she would raise the Annan case with Lord Liu. Even if Lord Liu can react, using this to delay him for a while shouldn’t be difficult.”
Shen Xi asked again: “Has the banquet started in the rear palace?”
A director from the Ministry of Finance said: “This subordinate just inquired with Steward Hu from the Imperial Clan Court. The rear palace banquet will last until the end of the hour of xu. Because Dowager Consort Qi and Dowager Consort Yu fear the rear palace is too quiet and would slight the Fourth Princess, they specially invited Princess Qiling and several ministers’ wives and noble ladies into the palace. It will last even longer than an ordinary palace banquet.”
Shen Xi nodded, swept away the heavy expression in his eyes at once, and strode forward with a beaming smile: “Brother-in-law has come neither early nor late, but at just the right time.”
His voice was clear and pleasant, and what he said were intimate family words that put listeners at ease.
The two palace attendants supporting Zhu Yushen, seeing Lord Shen wanted to support the Fourth Prince, quickly withdrew their hands and stepped aside.
Shen Xi guided Zhu Yushen onto the dragon boat. The deputy general following them was also about to board when Shen Xi raised a hand to stop him, reproaching lightly: “Don’t you understand the rules?”
The deputy general was stunned, not understanding: “Does Lord Shen mean to have His Highness board the boat alone?”
Shen Xi frowned and glanced at him without speaking. Vice Minister of Rites Zou Liren from the lakeside quickly came forward to explain: “This general doesn’t know—the dragon boat is considered a bestowal from His Majesty. The general aboard will receive homage from the soldiers and civilians on both shores, therefore only His Highness may board this boat. Even one additional person would diminish His Majesty’s dragon authority.”
These words were true.
Even if this ceremony were moved to the turbulent Huai River, the Bureau of Astronomy would calculate the date and wind direction in advance to make the boat travel with the wind, emphasizing the meaning of conforming to the mandate of heaven.
The deputy general still hesitated: “But the Fourth Prince…”
“General, be at ease. After half an hour passes, we’ll drop anchor and pull the boat back, and the ceremony will be complete.”
Hearing these words, the deputy general still couldn’t feel reassured, but the guards at the shore had already untied the ropes. The dragon boat, following the wind, slowly drifted toward the center of the lake.
Calling it a dragon boat wasn’t entirely accurate—compared to a true Son of Heaven’s vessel that would go down the Huai River, it was much smaller, only five or six zhang long in total. But though the sparrow was small, it had all five vital organs. The imposing dragon head, the snake-like, serpent-like boat body—drifting with the wind like a responding dragon entering water.
When the dragon boat floated to the center of the lake, with a unified call from the Jinwu Guard’s deputy commander, the Imperial Guards on both shores raised their spears high in celebration.
Shen Xi stared intently at Zhu Yushen standing on the dragon boat. Just as this ear-splitting shout reached them, the dragon boat drifting slowly from the lake’s center suddenly shuddered.
Zhu Yushen’s deputy general also saw this scene and couldn’t help stepping forward, wanting to see more clearly.
Just then, the boat body suddenly swayed again, then slowly tilted at an angle to the left. Zhu Yushen couldn’t stand steady and fell sitting on the boat.
Seeing this situation, the Imperial Guards on the lakeside all fell silent.
In the middle of the night, wind sounds were sharp. Everyone on the lakeside looked toward Shen Xi. Zou Liren said quietly: “Lord Shen, do you think the Fourth Prince’s boat is taking on water?”
Shen Xi reproached with a laugh: “What words are Vice Minister Zou speaking? The dragon boat is the Son of Heaven’s vessel, His Majesty’s bestowal. How could it take on water?”
He seemed to have still taken Zou Liren’s words to heart, deliberately stepping forward a few paces to look carefully, then said rather indifferently: “Oh, the boat body is indeed a bit tilted. It probably struck a lake stone. It’s nothing serious.”
There weren’t many court officials here at Taiye Lake—mostly people from the Ministry of Rites, Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and Court of Imperial Entertainments. Once Shen Xi’s phrase “nothing serious” came out, those who could understand did, and those who couldn’t understand—how would they dare question Shen Xi?
Only Zhu Yushen’s deputy general demanded angrily: “What do you mean ‘nothing serious’? His Highness suffers from dementia and has long forgotten how to float or swim. What if the boat sinks?”
With this question, there wasn’t a single sound around.
As if to confirm the deputy general’s words, from the lake’s center actually came the sound of rushing water—this was the sound of lake water flooding into the dragon boat.
The dragon boat sank a bit more into the lake.
The deputy general could bear it no longer. He went around to an empty spot nearby, wanting to jump into the lake to bring Zhu Yushen back.
Seeing this, Shen Xi said coldly: “Restrain him for this official!”
Several Jinwu Guards responded and immediately came forward to hold the deputy general down on the ground. The deputy general was furious beyond restraint: “What is Lord Shen’s meaning?! The Fourth Prince returned to the capital to report and receive merit, not to be punished! Is Lord Shen trying to cover the sky with one hand and drown His Highness in this Taiye Lake!”
As his words fell, the Imperial Guards and court officials on the lakeside all bowed their heads and knelt down. The timid ones were already trembling.
Shen Xi laughed coldly: “Which eye of yours saw this official trying to drown the Fourth Prince in this lake? This official is merely seeing that the autumn ceremony time isn’t complete and wishes His Highness to properly complete the ceremony in full. Furthermore, this dragon boat tour of the lake is personally bestowed by His Majesty, emphasizing precisely conforming to heaven’s mandate. This official will say something unpleasant—even if the boat truly sinks, that too is His Majesty’s meaning. Do you lot still want to defy the sacred will?!”
As he spoke, he turned back around, hands clasped behind him, looking toward Zhu Yushen clinging to the boat’s edge. He changed to a kindly appearance, his voice seemingly neither loud nor soft yet just enough for Zhu Yushen to hear: “It’s only a pity that brother-in-law has now become demented. Qingyue remembers that when we were young, brother-in-law’s water skills were excellent. If he didn’t have dementia, even if this boat sank, he couldn’t be drowned.”