The night grew deeper, and the sound of the wind grew louder.
Su Jin and Tan Zhaolin rushed all the way to the front gate of the eastern courtyard. She produced another letter and presented it: “I trouble this guard. My surname is Su. I formerly served as a clerk in the Bureau of Scrutiny at the Imperial Censorate. Today, entrusted by Lord Zhang of the Court of Judicial Review, I have come specifically to visit the imperial envoy lord who has come to Shu.”
The guard received the letter and hesitated for a moment, glancing at her.
“Since you have been entrusted by Lord Zhang, may I ask which lord exactly Lord Zhang has asked you to visit? Just the imperial envoy?”
Su Jin was somewhat surprised. The implication was that the personage residing in the eastern courtyard should be distinguished from the imperial envoy—he wasn’t here to conduct official business in Shu?
She was about to probe with a couple of questions when the guard opened the letter and indeed saw the thin slip bearing the seal of the Court of Judicial Review. He added: “Please wait, young master. I shall go in and announce you.”
Having spoken, he turned back into the courtyard. When leaving, he didn’t forget to close the courtyard gate and drop the latch.
Su Jin was even more surprised. In a dignified Imperial Envoy’s Reception Temple, there wasn’t even a guard on rotation duty?
Before she could think further, Tan Zhaolin said: “My lord, I think there’s something strange about this guard.”
“How so?”
“The way he holds his spear is wrong. It’s too formal. My lord, you don’t know—every garrison has different regulations. Only soldiers from the Northern Grand Camp, especially those from the Imperial Guards, would hold their spears this way.”
Imperial Guards?
The duty of the Twelve Imperial Guards was to protect the palace and the emperor. In this distant land of Shu, how could there be Imperial Guards?
“Are you certain?”
Tan Zhaolin said: “I used to be in the Five Cities Military Commission, which also fell under the Northern Grand Camp’s jurisdiction. As someone who practices martial arts, I can tell these habits at a glance.”
Su Jin rubbed the space between her brows. Imperial Guards appearing in Shu—could it be that Zhu Yushen had already entered Sichuan?
No, that wasn’t right. Zhu Yushen had returned from his personal campaign in Annan commanding two hundred thousand troops from Lingnan. Even if he were to enter Sichuan, there were plenty of elite forces around him to protect him. There was no need to transfer troops from the capital.
But aside from Zhu Yushen, who else would dare transfer Imperial Guards away from the palace? This was a grave crime punishable by beheading.
A thought vaguely surfaced in her mind. Su Jin was still thinking when she suddenly saw a procession of torchlight approaching. Accompanied by clamorous voices, it was actually Zhang Zhengcai, the prefect of Jinzhou, along with several officials and runners.
Su Jin was puzzled. Hadn’t Zhang Zhengcai just been wary of the personage in the eastern courtyard? How had he suddenly mustered the courage?
Her gaze fell on the infinite darkness behind him, where she saw a tall, thin figure standing at a moderate distance.
So he had found someone to back him up.
“Young Master Su, the other day you and the Jiang family’s Guard Nan caused a great disturbance at this official’s villa and abducted the criminal suspect this official was to escort to the capital. Now have you grown tired of living? Rather than fleeing, you’ve come to this reception temple to walk into a trap yourself?” Zhang Zhengcai asked methodically.
He was already in his fifties, with graying temples, but being broad-bodied and easygoing, he didn’t appear very old.
Su Jin knew Zhang Zhengcai had come prepared. If she tried to leave by force, outside there was likely already a net laid out.
However, as the saying goes, strike a snake at its seventh inch. He was merely a prefect—could she not handle him?
“Lord Zhang, I don’t understand what you mean. Yesterday County Magistrate Yao of Pingchuan County invited me to his villa for a discussion. As for the criminal suspect to be escorted to the capital, Old Master Jiang of Cuiwei Town—isn’t he staying perfectly well at his villa?”
Although Zhang Zhengcai and Yao Youcai were uncle and nephew, there was only one Jiang Jitong, which meant there was only one share of credit to claim. Yesterday, Yao Youcai had concealed from Zhang Zhengcai the fact that he had taken Jiang Jitong to the villa to make him write a confession and sign over the deed—clearly intending to seize the credit.
At these words, Zhang Zhengcai’s expression indeed changed.
Su Jin continued: “Lord Zhang, are you the only one waiting for me at the reception temple tonight?”
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing much. I just thought Lord Zhang and County Magistrate Yao were inseparable like Meng and Jiao. I find it strange that tonight I only see Lord Zhang. Where has County Magistrate Yao gone?”
Hearing these words, Zhang Zhengcai’s heart sank again. Before he could figure out the implications, Su Jin was already continuing: “A few days ago, I did indeed abscond with Old Master Jiang along with someone else. However, at that time the authorities hadn’t even issued a warrant to apprehend the criminal. Not knowing Old Master Jiang was guilty of any crime, I took him away—perfectly justified. Lord Zhang, you cannot charge me with any crime, much less make an issue of it in the capital. County Magistrate Yao is different. Lord Zhang, while you’re here contending with me, do you know what your nephew is doing? If he takes people to Yunlai Inn and interrogates witnesses from Cuiwei Town in front of Lord Zhai from the Imperial Censorate, claiming this primary credit, when rewards are bestowed in the future, will you still be able to share in the spoils?”
In truth, Su Jin wasn’t certain where Yao Youcai had gone. She only saw Zhang Zhengcai waiting here for her and guessed that her decision to come to the reception temple had long been seen through.
Since someone was waiting for her at the reception temple, someone must have gone to Yunlai Inn to cause trouble as well.
However…
Su Jin glanced again at that person standing behind Zhang Zhengcai’s group, concealed in the darkness. Her hand at her side tightened slightly.
Both Zhu Nanxian and Zhu Lin were at the inn. She had complete confidence in Zhai Di, but she didn’t know who else besides Zhai Di had gone to the inn, or with what purpose.
Three years away from court politics, with layers of fog before her eyes—even she, who had once held the position of first-rank ministerial advisor, might not be able to part the clouds to see the light.
Though Su Jin’s mind turned over and over, her expression remained calm and unruffled. When Zhang Zhengcai asked: “Yesterday when you went to Yao Youcai’s villa, what did he tell you?” she knew he had completely believed her.
Since he believed her, she might as well voice the doubts in her heart.
“Naturally it was an extremely important matter.” Su Jin slowed her speech. “County Magistrate Yao said that Lord Zhang, you have always been outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant toward your superior lord. That lord holds overwhelming power in the realm. Lord Zhang, doing this, your official career cannot last long. Therefore, the credit for Cuiwei Town might as well be claimed by him, Yao Youcai.”
She said this much, then to prevent Zhang Zhengcai from disbelieving, she added: “Oh, that’s right. County Magistrate Yao also mentioned that your superior is none other than the current Duke, Minister of Finance, Lord Shen Xi.”
“He’s full of shit!” Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhengcai flew into a rage. “I’ve never even met Lord Shen in person—when have I ever been outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant?! What kind of personage is Lord Shen? I keep even a single letter from him on my desk as a treasure. If we’re talking about being outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant, it’s Yao Youcai who—”
Before he could finish venting his fury, it lodged in his throat.
Zhang Zhengcai finally realized that he must have been possessed by demons, actually being led by the nose all along by this scholar surnamed Su, nearly laying bare his entire foundation.
However, Su Jin’s gaze had already turned cold: “What you just said—is it true? You’ve never met Lord Shen from the capital? This so-called following orders from Shen Qingyue is only because you received a letter from him?”
She asked again: “Who gave you his letter? What did it say?”
Though she asked this, she also knew Zhang Zhengcai would definitely not answer again.
But it didn’t matter. As long as no one interfered, she could always make him talk.
Having been deceived by a mere scholar in front of several prefectural and county officials, Zhang Zhengcai had lost all face and dignity. He wished he could immediately dismember Su Jin on the spot. A bellyful of malicious fire scorched his throat, making even his voice three parts hoarse: “Someone, immediately apprehend this person surnamed Su for this official!”
“Lord Zhang.” Su Jin’s tone remained calm. “Aren’t you curious why I would be interested in Lord Shen’s letter?”
“Because I happen to have a letter from Lord Shen as well.”
She paused and smiled: “Don’t believe me? Lord Shen, to avoid his family taboo, always omits one stroke when writing characters like ‘xin,’ ‘jia,’ ‘you,’ and others in his letters.”
Although Zhang Zhengcai knew this person called Su Xie was probably manipulating him again, what she said hit exactly at the crucial point—that letter from Lord Shen in the capital did indeed have some peculiarities.
With a wave of his sleeve, he dismissed the runners with a darkened expression: “Since you know Lord Shen’s writing habits, you must not have come empty-handed and have some substance in your belly. This way—this official can release you, as long as you—”
“No, detain her.”
Just then, that tall, thin figure standing behind the crowd finally stepped into the torchlight and night wind.
His face was gaunt with high cheekbones—it was Shu Wenlan.
Su Jin had guessed early on that the person waiting there was him, and she knew that since he was allied with Zhang Zhengcai tonight, he must have some scheme.
However, as long as he had a scheme, she would temporarily not fall into danger.
Everyone calculated their own plans—who could control whom?
“Lord Shu, this person is merely an ignorant young student. You need only wait while this subordinate gets to the bottom of the matter and has someone apprehend him. How could this trouble your great personage?”
Having been led by the nose in a great circle by Su Jin just now, Zhang Zhengcai’s face couldn’t quite hold up, fearing that Lord Shu would look down on him.
“Ignorant young student?” Shu Wenlan said faintly, “Prefect Zhang, those words are rather presumptuous.”
Zhang Zhengcai was puzzled. As far as he knew, although this scholar surnamed Su formerly held an official title, he was merely a seventh-rank clerk. He himself was at least a fourth-rank prefect—how could this be presumptuous?
“Standing far away just now, I thought it was merely an ordinary scholar. I never imagined it would actually be Lord Su.” Shu Wenlan looked toward Su Jin. After a long while, he folded his sleeves and bowed: “Lord Su, three years have passed. I trust you have been well.”
Su Jin also returned the bow: “Lord Shu.”
This kind of reciprocal bow could only be exchanged between officials of the same rank or with ranks not greatly different.
Zhang Zhengcai was stunned. Only now did he finally begin to taste something amiss.
“Lord Shu, wasn’t Su Xie a seventh-rank clerk in the Bureau of Scrutiny at the Imperial Censorate back then? How, how…”
How could he be an old acquaintance of Lord Shu?
How could he exchange reciprocal bows with him?
How could he know Lord Shen’s writing habits?
“Su Xie?” Shu Wenlan seemed somewhat surprised.
He glanced at Zhang Zhengcai and the group of bewildered prefectural officials behind him, then said with a smile: “He is not Su Xie. He is the very person who, with the Dengwen Drum case, single-handedly brought down the Third Prince, who went on a mission to Annan and secured four years without warfare on the southern border of Great Sui—the Minister of Justice, first-rank ministerial advisor of the Inner Cabinet, Lord Su Shiyu.”
The night wind had reached a howling pitch, sweeping through the branches with a rustling of leaves like the cries of beasts.
Hearing these words, Zhang Zhengcai was greatly shocked. His legs trembled and he directly stumbled back a step.
For a moment he didn’t dare look at Su Jin. After a long while, he only stammered: “But, but that Lord Su—shouldn’t she be serving her sentence in Ningzhou right now?”
“Indeed,” Shu Wenlan smiled again. “This official remembers that when Lord Su left the palace that year, it was Lord Liu who determined your crime and personally saw you off in the prison cart. Now that Lord Su has appeared in Shu territory, what explanation should there be for this?”
His words held implications. Su Jin understood them clearly.
But she didn’t answer.
In the struggles of those years, Shu Wenlan had also been involved. They were both players in the game and should know that so-called merits and faults, so-called crimes, were all superficial froth—scattered by wind, shattered by rain. Even right and wrong must be left to idle fishermen’s gossip. What explanation could there be?
“Is Vice Minister Shu asking this official for an explanation?”
The arched gateway to the eastern courtyard opened wide on both sides, and a clear, cold voice came from within.
Liu Chaoming was not wearing official robes. In the night wind, his plain-colored robe was like moonlight, with three leaves embroidered at the cuffs. His eyes were like cold jade, holding deep mist in their depths—the features of an old friend.
The features of an old friend remained unchanged.