The entire mountain wilderness seemed to fall silent for a moment.
The verdant green stretched into continuous sheets, like soundless undulating waves, when suddenly a bird’s cry rang out, its voice so crisp it could startle someone from their dreams.
Shen Xi stared blankly at the carriage before him—tung oil roof, elm wood body, ink-colored curtains—ordinary enough to be seen anywhere.
But what did it mean that Emperor Jin’an had returned from the dead?
Could it possibly be… Shisan?
He dismounted from his carriage, his mind in a wooden daze. For a moment, he even forgot to maintain his official bearing. Walking forward to lift the curtain, he stretched out his hand only to realize he was still holding his folding fan. Rarely had he felt so clumsy and at a loss. In his haste to switch hands, before he could even touch the carriage curtain, it was suddenly lifted from inside.
Zhu Nanxian and Su Jin looked toward Shen Xi.
When they had left the imperial palace in the past, it was almost like severing all ties with the past. Having grown up together, having shared their deepest thoughts, their bond had been one of life and death. When they parted, none knew whether fate would allow them to meet again in this lifetime.
A separation spanning life, death, and many years.
Their shock and agitation were no less than Shen Qingyue’s.
Su Jin smiled slightly and called out softly, “Qingyue.”
Shen Xi wanted to return her smile. Though the corners of his lips had clearly turned upward, what escaped from between his teeth was a sigh that seemed both like laughter and lamentation. Though very light, it was as if he wanted to dissolve all the sorrows and joys resonating through his internal organs and release them all at once.
These past three years—no, it should be said that since Shen Jing passed away all those years ago, never had there been a single day when he felt as joyful as he did today.
It wasn’t simple happiness; it was a feeling of completeness.
Complete, like many years ago in the Eastern Palace, when he and Zhu Nanxian had argued while competing to hold the newborn Lin’er.
Or like in the depths of the palace, when he had lain in a snowy field, pointing at the night sky with his fan, boasting and bragging with Su Shiyu.
All the warfare and slaughter, the open schemes and hidden plots that followed—they should all turn to clouds and smoke.
Looking again at the carriage following closely behind Zhu Nanxian, considering who sat inside, with Shen Qingyue’s intelligence, what was there left to not understand?
Yao Youcai, kneeling to the side, witnessed this scene with extreme bewilderment.
That Lord Shen would be shocked and astonished upon seeing Emperor Jin’an—all of this was within County Magistrate Yao’s expectations.
But after all, Lord Shen was Emperor Yongji’s brother-in-law, a trusted minister of Yongji. How could he have no wariness whatsoever toward the late emperor who had returned from the dead with dubious intentions?
He couldn’t help but point out, “Lord Shen, this person is His Majesty Jin’an. He has been living in Shu for these past years, and this lowly official can attest to it.”
“And the person beside him—this person is Lord Su, Su Shiyu. This lowly official has inquired and learned that Lord Su should have been serving his sentence in Ningzhou. For some reason, he has also come to Shu.”
梁都事 on that side, seeing that something seemed amiss here, had already brought several constables and clerks over. He happened to hear Yao Youcai’s words and was immediately shocked and alarmed.
Thinking back to the circumstances of meeting “the Tenth Prince” earlier, though Su Jin had spoken little at the time, her bearing was outstanding—truly unlike an attendant serving beside a prince.
It was said that in the court back then, Lord Shen and Lord Su were rare and precious close friends. Though later when Su Shiyu fell into trouble, Shen Qingyue seemed unmoved, and the friendship between Shen and Su was inevitably criticized privately, yet seeing the two of them standing together today—like bamboo and orchid, bright moon and clear wind—they were simply a perfect pair.
It was truly difficult not to believe she was Su Shiyu.
Thinking further, if this attendant was truly Lord Su, then the “Tenth Prince” beside her—could it be that she truly was the returned-from-death Emperor Jin’an?
Indeed, Emperor Jin’an and His Majesty Yongji were also brothers, similar in age to the Tenth Prince, and also… had the Nine Dragon Dagger.
At this thought, Dudu Liang froze and knelt down, wanting to apologize but not knowing where to begin.
Yao Youcai, seeing that Dudu Liang also believed him, said, “Lord Shen, though Lord Zhai claims to be escorting criminals to the capital for trial, he is actually protecting Emperor Jin’an and Lord Su’s departure from Shu. Not to mention why Emperor Jin’an has returned from the dead, Lord Su alone—failing to serve his sentence as required—this is the crime of deceiving the sovereign. If these two flee far away, it will only bring suffering to this lowly official and the townspeople of Cuiwei Town, wrongly bearing the name of accomplices and facing prison. Please, my lord, make a decision for us—”
“Nonsense!” Shen Xi didn’t wait for Yao Youcai to finish before cutting him off directly.
He glanced at Zhu Nanxian, taking in the crow-blue light cloak and jade clasp at his waist, his mind clear as a bright mirror.
“These two people before us are clearly the Tenth Prince and his personal attendant.”
Yao Youcai’s eyes widened, momentarily unable to make sense of the situation.
Lord Shen had grown up in the palace. If even he said it wasn’t so, could he himself truly have been mistaken?
He recalled once more the events of last night.
Last night at the Yunlai Inn, chaos had erupted. First, Chief Clerk Lu from the Ministry of Finance knelt before Emperor Jin’an, then Vice Censor-in-Chief Zhai prostrated before Emperor Jin’an, then Lord Shu arrived, Lord Liu arrived—all paying respects to Emperor Jin’an.
With so many important court officials acknowledging Zhu Jin’an, how could there be any mistake?
Or was it that Lord Shen refused to believe it?
“If my lord does not believe it,” Yao Youcai grew anxious, “this lowly official heard of Emperor Jin’an and Lord Su’s identities from Lord Liu, the current Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, and Lord Shu, an assistant in the Cabinet. There can be no falsehood. Moreover, it was not only this lowly official who heard it—the townspeople of Cuiwei Town were also present at the time—”
“This official has been friends with Su Shiyu for many years, and moreover grew up with the late emperor. Do I need others to help identify these two?”
Shen Xi’s eyes showed displeasure and seemed impatient. He called out loudly, “Zhai Qiguang!”
Zhai Di, who had already dismounted and stood to the side waiting, stepped forward: “My lord.”
Shen Xi pointed his fan at Yao Youcai, frowning tightly, “What is wrong with this person?”
Zhai Di also glanced at Yao Youcai and bowed apologetically, “Yesterday Lord Liu received an indictment specifically naming this person and his fourth maternal uncle, namely the Prefect of Jinzhou Prefecture. Using the new land reclamation policy, they oppressed the people and seized fields. I was ordered to escort him to the capital. After this person was convicted, here—” Zhai Di tapped his right temple, “he has not been quite right. Sometimes he says that after the late emperor ‘ascended to heaven’ that year, he failed to properly observe mourning, so the late emperor wants to punish him. Other times he says he is innocent. Today mistaking the Tenth Prince for the late emperor is actually one of the better instances—at least it doesn’t implicate others. In more serious cases, he claims he has connections in the capital and no one can touch him, because the lord protecting him is none other than you, Lord Shen.”
Shen Xi raised an eyebrow, seeming quite surprised, “This happened?”
Yao Youcai was absolutely dumbfounded. “Lord Shen, don’t you remember? It was just this spring when this lowly official had someone deliver a greeting card to you.” Inside the card were also five hundred taels in banknotes.
Zhai Di said, “Lord Shen, you see—his illness has acted up again.”
Shen Xi clasped his hands behind his back and looked at Yao Youcai for a while, shaking his head. “Those who commit many injustices will inevitably bring about their own destruction.”
Snapping his folding fan shut, he cast a cold glance at Dudu Liang. “Why are you still standing there in a daze? Are you waiting to bring calamity upon this official? Find a rope to tie up his hands and feet, and stuff his mouth tightly.”
Dudu Liang had been watching like a spectator at a play, thoroughly confused by this dramatic turn of events. In his panic, he had no time to distinguish right from wrong. After all, of those present, he only knew one Lord Shen, and Lord Shen was also the highest-ranking official here.
If he didn’t listen to Lord Shen, who else could he listen to?
So he personally took action, and regardless of what Yao Youcai shouted, in short order had him bound and dragged to the side.
Only then did Shen Xi properly bow to Zhu Nanxian, “I apologize for the disturbance to the Tenth Prince.”
Zhu Nanxian shook his head, “No harm done.” He then asked, “How did Lord Shen come to Shu?”
Shen Xi had actually come for Shuxiang and Yun Xi. Now seeing Zhu Nanxian and Su Jin here, he knew that Zhu Lin, whom he worried about so much, must be in the carriage behind them. So he only answered, “Some private matters.”
He didn’t elaborate, nor could he elaborate in front of others. Dudu Liang on that side, having dealt with Yao Youcai, had returned to await orders.
Shen Xi said, “Today’s disturbance to the prince weighs heavily on this minister’s conscience. Why don’t I clear the way and escort the prince for twenty li?”
Zhu Nanxian didn’t decline either. “Lord Shen is too kind. As long as it doesn’t delay your important affairs.”
Dudu Liang watched this scene from the side, truly puzzled.
Wasn’t it said that Lord Shen and the Tenth Prince had friction between them? Lord Shen was not usually someone who liked to put on airs. Why was he so courteous with the Tenth Prince today?
In his mind was a fog, the clues within tangled and complex. Just as he was about to sort out a thread, suddenly from one end of the mountain road came the sound of galloping hooves again.
A fast horse stopped at the barrier, its rider dismounting and hurrying to whisper urgently into a constable’s ear.
After listening, the constable quickly came forward to report, “Dudu, His Majesty arrived at Jinzhou Prefecture in Shu this morning. The messenger conveys Lord Shu’s urgent order: starting today, whoever wishes to leave Shu, please establish a barrier to obstruct them, my lord.”
Upon hearing these words, Dudu Liang was stunned once more.
Earlier, Lord Liu had him set up a barrier, at least giving him the pretext of “capturing a criminal under imperial decree.” This time Lord Shu had him set up a barrier without even providing a pretext.
What exactly had happened in Shu?
But this made his cautious heart rise again. He was just thinking whether he should detain the Tenth Prince and Lord Shen’s carriages—after all, hadn’t the Tenth Prince said there was an imperial edict? He could wait until the edict arrived before letting them pass.
But before he could voice this thought, Su Jin on the side had already seen through his thinking and struck first, “Dudu Liang, has His Majesty’s edict not yet arrived?”
Dudu Liang answered, “In response to the Tenth Prince and Lord Shen, His Majesty’s edict has not yet arrived. Perhaps…”
Perhaps the prince and lord could wait a bit longer, and leave after His Majesty’s edict arrives.
Su Jin knew what Dudu Liang wanted to say, but how could she let him speak those words? She immediately smiled and said, “This is quite novel indeed. Both are coming from Jinzhou Prefecture to Jianmen Pass—how is it that Lord Shu’s man arrived before His Majesty’s messenger?”