Shu Wenlan couldn’t catch his breath. His face flushed bright red, but he didn’t panic. Struggling, he placed his hands on Zhu Nanxian’s hand that gripped his throat and forced out a smile: “A Ministry of Revenue administrator has already died in the Yunlai Inn. Your subject is an imperial commissioner. Your Majesty will not kill your subject.”

At first hearing, these words seemed baseless, but upon careful consideration—Lu Dingze was a sixth-rank administrator. His death could still be temporarily concealed by Zhai Di. But Shu Wenlan was an imperial commissioner, a first-rank minister. If he also lost his life, the matter would definitely blow up immediately.

Zhu Nanxian’s purpose was to send Zhu Lin and Shuxiang away. If Zhu Yushen, upon entering Jinzhou, immediately sent people to investigate Shu Wenlan’s cause of death, no one at the Yunlai Inn would be able to leave.

Shu Wenlan had calculated precisely this point, which was why he dared to come alone to meet the Jin’an Emperor.

“Moreover, even if Your Majesty is willing to consider the young prince and wants to send him away first while staying behind alone to bear the consequences, Your Majesty must not forget—the one who will remain in Shu with you is also Lord Su, Su Shiyu.”

Su Jin had also met Shu Wenlan tonight. If the crime of murdering a court-appointed imperial commissioner fell on her, she would likely never know peace for the rest of her life.

Shu Wenlan’s words struck precisely at Zhu Nanxian’s vital points, word by word.

Zhu Nanxian’s pupils constricted sharply. His arm suddenly exerted force, gripping Shu Wenlan’s throat and violently shoving him aside.

Shu Wenlan lost his balance, knocked over a square table, and fell to the ground.

His back ached intensely, and his throat burned unbearably. For a moment he couldn’t stand up and had to support himself on the floor, coughing violently—in that instant just now, Zhu Nanxian had truly harbored murderous intent toward him.

Although Magistrate Zhang only half-understood Shu Wenlan’s words, the three words “young prince” alone were enough to make him understand that the situation here was extraordinary.

He gave a look ordering the soldiers in the inn to completely withdraw to the side, then clasped his hands in supplication: “Jin’an Emperor, in your subject’s humble opinion, what Lord Shu says is not without reason. In any case, these townspeople are going to the capital to testify about the mulberry field case. The Yongji Emperor will arrive at Jinzhou Prefecture at daybreak. Why don’t you wait an hour or two and speak with him face-to-face about this case?”

Zhu Nanxian paid no attention and was about to order Zhai Di to leave with the people regardless, when knocking came from outside the inn again.

“Lord Shu, Lord Zhai, Lord Liu and… Lord Su, Su Shiyu, have arrived.”

The wind and rain outside hadn’t ceased. Hearing the three words “Su Shiyu,” Zhai Di was momentarily dazed. He shifted his gaze to look behind Liu Chaoming and saw it was truly Su Jin. For a moment he even forgot his manners, crossed the distance in two or three steps, lifted his robe and bowed before Su Jin, calling: “My lord.” He then asked, “My lord, how is it that you’re also in Shu? This subordinate thought that when the three-year term was complete, I would request to come to Sichuan as imperial commissioner, and after matters here were settled, go to Ningzhou to visit you.”

Su Jin smiled and said gently: “Qiguang, it’s been many days since we’ve met. How have you been lately?”

She didn’t answer Zhai Di’s question, truly because the causes and circumstances were complex and couldn’t be explained in a few words.

Though Zhai Di was two years younger than Su Jin, he was at least twenty-five or twenty-six years old. Being deflected so deftly by her, he suddenly realized his breach of decorum. He quickly smoothed his robe and stood up, then bowed again to Zhu Nanxian and Liu Chaoming: “Your Majesty, forgive this offense. Lord Liu, forgive this offense. This subordinate did not expect to be reunited with Lord Su. In my extreme joy, I forgot myself and showed impropriety before Your Majesty. I beg Your Majesty and my lord to punish me.”

Zhu Nanxian shook his head: “It’s of no consequence.”

With the Chief Grand Secretary of the Cabinet present, the yamen runners lit several more lamps.

After Liu Chaoming finished his formal greeting, he glanced at Shu Wenlan, who was supporting himself against the table with a pale face, and said to Zhai Di: “Zhai Qiguang, this official has been fully informed of the Cuiwei Township mulberry field case. I hereby order you to immediately take one hundred soldiers and escort Jinzhou Prefecture Prefect Zhang Zhengcai, Pingchuan County Magistrate Yao Youcai, and fourteen residents of Cuiwei Township to the capital for trial. Additionally,” he paused and bowed to Zhu Nanxian, “your subject has received a petition and learned that Your Majesty is also connected to this case. I wonder if Your Majesty would be willing to accompany Zhai Qiguang to the capital to testify in this case?”