When the junior clerk entered the room to light the lamps, Liu Chaoming glanced at the sky again.

Su Shiyu had been discussing the Annan merchant case with him in his public hall for a full incense stick’s duration.

Calling it throwing out a brick to attract jade or casting stones to ask the way didn’t seem right. From the deceased clerk at Jiujiang Prefecture to the recently killed Qinghe County magistrate—it was more like… wasting time?

But why would she want to waste time with him?

Liu Chaoming’s thoughts were heavy.

Even if Su Jin had guessed the Annan case was Zhu Yiheng’s doing, today the rear palace was holding a banquet and the autumn ceremony was being held at Taiye Lake. She surely wouldn’t choose this moment under everyone’s eyes to have someone abduct Zhu Yiheng to the Ministry of Justice. Setting aside lack of evidence, Zhu Yiheng was ultimately a prince. Without a convincing excuse, how would she explain to the assembled officials?

No, it should have nothing to do with Zhu Yiheng or the Annan merchant case.

But between them, besides the Annan case, what other matter was worth her going to such great lengths?

Since it wasn’t related to Zhu Yiheng, could it be—related to Zhu Yushen?

The thought that had flashed by earlier was about to surface when urgent knocking suddenly sounded outside.

Without waiting for Liu Chaoming’s permission, Yan Xiu pushed open the door: “My lord, this is bad—Lord Shen he—”

He cut off mid-sentence, seeing Su Jin still sitting upright in the public hall, never having left.

“What happened to Shen Qingyue?” Liu Chaoming didn’t respond, but Su Jin asked first.

Yan Xiu’s expression held unconcealed anxiety, but how could he report this matter in front of Minister Su?

Su Jin said again methodically: “Does Censor Yan have something to say that cannot be said before this official?”

Yan Xiu had already been hesitating. Blocked by these words, he truly didn’t know whether he should speak or not.

“Did something happen at the autumn ceremony?” Liu Chaoming suddenly said. He glanced at Su Jin, unwilling to be distracted dealing with her anymore. “Speak freely.”

“Yes. The Fourth Prince was inspecting the troops at Taiye Lake. The dragon boat drifted to the center of the lake and struck something unknown—it’s already half-flooded. But Lord Shen says the dragon boat troop inspection is an honor personally bestowed by His Majesty. Even if it floods, it’s heaven’s will and one should conform to heaven’s mandate. He won’t allow anyone to go rescue.”

He said this all in one breath, paused, then added: “Lord Shen also said the Fourth Prince formerly knew how to float and swim, only now he’s demented. If he didn’t have dementia, His Highness wouldn’t die.”

Shen Xi’s meaning was very clear—

If Zhu Yushen truly suffered from dementia, then he would sink with the dragon boat in Taiye Lake. As long as he dared surface even just to take a breath, it would prove his dementia was fake.

And once proven the dementia was fake, Shen Qingyue would definitely kill him.

Both paths led to dead ends.

This was using Zhu Yushen’s life to test him.

Liu Chaoming stood up without a word, but Su Jin was a step ahead of him, raising her hand to block him.

“Does my lord wish to go to Taiye Lake?” She smiled. “But Shiyu believes that the matter of the Fourth Prince returning to the capital to report was originally handled entirely by Qingyue. Qingyue presides over the Cabinet together with you and me—shouldn’t we trust each other? If my lord goes there and has a dispute with Qingyue, it would instead make people think the Cabinet is not in harmony and has slighted the Fourth Prince. At that time, even a good thing would become bad.”

What was her meaning? Was she threatening him?

Liu Chaoming looked at Su Jin silently.

This enemy he had personally cultivated had unknowingly grown into a towering tree that could stand alone and block winds from all directions.

For a moment he couldn’t discern the taste in his heart. After a moment, he actually smiled slightly.

When he spoke again, the deep darkness in his eyes had completely receded, replaced by the calmness and asceticism from their first meeting: “Lord Su has misunderstood. Since Lord Shen has made a decision, this official is merely going to take a look. Why would I need to interfere with him?”

The dragon boat had already been mostly flooded. The gunwale Zhu Yushen was clinging to was about to sink into the water.

Chaotic footsteps suddenly came from one end of Taiye Lake. Shen Xi looked over—he didn’t know which busybody had gone to report, but it was actually Shen Jun and Gong Quan who had arrived.

Seeing Zhu Yushen about to sink into the lake, Gong Quan was extremely shocked: “Qingyue, what are you doing?” He turned to look at the Imperial Guards by the lake. “Why aren’t you saving him?”

But all the people around were kneeling. Hearing Gong Quan’s words, they buried their heads even lower.

Gong Quan was stunned for a moment, then immediately understood.

Emperor Jin’an was about to return from his personal expedition. The next step would be reducing the fiefs. The Fourth Prince held the power of the military. Zhu Nanxian would definitely not tolerate him.

But military power was secondary. Emperor Jin’an was benevolent by nature. If not for the death of the late Crown Prince three years ago causing him to harbor suspicions toward Zhu Yushen, these years of fraternal strife forcing him to fight all the way without mercy, he wouldn’t have hardened his heart to take the Fourth Prince’s life.

Now, tonight, how could what Shen Qingyue was doing not be at Zhu Nanxian’s instruction?

Thinking of this, Gong Quan’s heart was filled with icy bitterness.

He slowly bent his knees and pleaded: “Qingyue, in former years the northern borders were barren and war never ceased. The Fourth Prince was still a youth when he went to war with the army. At nineteen he commanded troops in battle and has guarded the borders for twelve years since.”

“Twelve years—he risked his life for country and people. What exactly did he do wrong to end up like this? Can’t you spare him and let him live?”

Hearing these words, Shen Xi said blandly: “Duke Gongguo is old and confused. Someone, escort Duke Gongguo to the front palace to rest.”

Shen Jun looked in disbelief at her husband about to sink into the water. Dazed, she took a step forward, seeming somewhat confused, and called out: “Xiao Xi?”

The surroundings were extremely quiet. Wind rose in the deep palace. Shen Xi stood alone by Taiye Lake, his robes and sleeves fluttering in the wind like a banished immortal by the water. With one word from him, the three armies dared not move rashly.

He clearly heard Shen Jun call him but didn’t respond.

An inexplicable fire rose in Shen Jun’s heart. She called out sternly again: “Xiao Xi!”

Shen Xi’s face was like frost and snow. He turned his face away, only looking at the lake water, not at people.

Shen Jun’s heart was both angry and sorrowful. In extreme anger she couldn’t help but laugh coldly. Better to rely on oneself than beg others. She pushed aside the two palace attendants blocking her and jumped toward the lake, but Shen Xi gave instructions a step ahead of her: “Qin Sang, Qin Ruo.”

Two guards immediately blocked Shen Jun’s path with crossed swords, saying quietly: “Princess, forgive us.”

“You dare block this palace too?!” Shen Jun was simply furious beyond restraint.

Though Qin Sang and Qin Ruo were Zhu Nanxian’s personal guards, when Shen Jun married to Beiping that year, Zhu Nanxian had assigned them to guard her for eight years. In eight years at Beiping, Zhu Yushen had treated these two men well!

“When Thirteen left the Eastern Palace, this palace had you go protect his safety. Now that he’s ascended the throne as Emperor, is this the result of this palace helping him, saving him, treating him like a brother?!” Shen Jun rebuked angrily.

The sound of water flooding came again from the lake. The people around gave a low cry. Shen Jun looked up—Zhu Yushen had already sunk into the lake.

He was already demented, couldn’t float or swim. Acting on instinct, he struggled a few times, slapping the water, before the lake water covered his head.

Seeing this scene, Shen Jun no longer wished to waste words with Shen Xi. She had come from the rear palace without her red-tasseled spear at her side. Barehanded, she tried to push away Qin Sang’s and Qin Ruo’s swords.

Though Qin Sang and Qin Ruo didn’t dare draw their swords against Shen Jun, stopping her for a moment wasn’t a problem. The three were locked in struggle when another loud cry came from one end of Taiye Lake: “Lord Liu and Lord Su have arrived—”

With Emperor Jin’an not in the palace, all government matters large and small were decided by the Cabinet. If anyone in this palace could suppress Shen Qingyue, it was only the other two Cabinet ministers.

Hearing that Su Jin and Liu Chaoming had arrived, Zhu Yushen’s deputy general suddenly mustered all his strength and violently broke free from the Jinwu Guards’ restraint. He ran before the two and kowtowed: “Lord Liu, Lord Su, I beg you both to save my lord!”

Su Jin didn’t answer.

Liu Chaoming glanced at Taiye Lake. The lake water had covered Zhu Yushen’s head. He seemed to still be struggling underwater. Ripples spread in circles from the lake’s center.

Somehow, Liu Chaoming recalled what Zhu Yushen had said to him ten years ago: “With today’s promise between you and me, we’re destined to walk an extremely perilous path. Only by abandoning vain thoughts and severing selfish desires can there be a chance of survival.”

Yes. At this moment, with just one command from him, he could save Zhu Yushen.

But then what?

They were already in a dangerous situation. If he saved him, Shen Qingyue definitely wouldn’t believe Zhu Yushen’s dementia was real. He might not leave the capital.

If Shen Qingyue didn’t leave, when Zhu Nanxian returned, what chance of survival would they have?

The current situation couldn’t tolerate even the slightest softness of heart from him. He could only be ruthless—to himself, to his allies, to everyone—to win the chance to defy fate and change destiny.

“This official believes,” after a long while, Liu Chaoming spoke coldly, “rules are rules. The boat sinking is heaven’s will. Acting according to heaven is the proper way. Lord Shen is correct. The Fourth Prince is blessed and will have heaven’s protection. There’s no need to rescue him.”