Liu Xi, at Song Lan’s side, poured wine for Ye Tingyan. Song Lan watched him drink it down, and then continued to Luowei: “Ye’s father was a trusted subordinate under General Zhuozhou — the Cleansing Boat General — in those years. His family’s ancestral home was in Beiyou. In the thirteenth year of Jingning, Beiyou was in desperate straits, and the old general died in battle. His few young sons escorted the coffin to the capital, and you and I met them briefly.”

That battle in Beiyou had been brutal. As soon as Song Lan mentioned it, Luowei recalled: “I remember — though it seems not many years later, the eldest son of General Ye’s family was defeated in the Youyun River campaign, with catastrophic losses. The late Emperor was furious and stripped their family of their title.”

“Precisely,” said Song Lan. “Had it not been for Father Emperor’s benevolence — mindful of the general’s merits and graciously decreeing that the Ye brothers need not be punished for their elder brother’s crime — you and I would not be seeing the Third Young Master today. After the Youyun River campaign, the family’s protection was no more; the Second Young Master remained in the old general’s former troops, while the Third Young Master traveled widely, abandoning the martial for the literary.”

When Luowei had just now mentioned the rise and fall of the Ye family, the Third Young Master’s expression had not changed in the slightest. Only when Song Lan spoke did he raise an eyebrow in respectful reply: “To travel alongside His Majesty was this official’s great fortune.”

Luowei studied the Third Young Master of the Ye family before her.

If she recalled correctly, the Third Young Master Ye was born in the same year as Crown Prince Chengming, making him a few years older than herself.

Once Song Lan had brought him up, she pondered at length, and only with difficulty could she catch hold of a few blurred memories — when the young masters of the Ye family had entered the capital back then, they had stayed at Qingxi Courtyard, arranged by the late Emperor. The Third Young Master had seemed to get along extremely well with the Crown Prince, and she had even encountered the other person several times outside the palace precincts.

Song Lan had only been introduced to the Third Ye at a distant table by the Crown Prince at a subsequent banquet, and afterward the three of them had gone together to see him off.

Song Lan did not know the nature of that friendship, so he merely regarded it as an old acquaintance and felt no particular attachment.

But even if she had known him years ago, the other person was not anyone she had held dear. The memory was too vague — she had entirely forgotten even what he looked like… Where had that brief jolt to her heart a moment earlier come from?

With this in mind, Luowei signaled Liu Xi to pour Ye Tingyan a second cup of spring wine: “Third Young Master — it should now be Lord Ye — a moment ago His Majesty said the Lord did not wish to follow his elder brother into the military and has been devoted to the literary arts for many years. All the scholars in the realm count it their glory to win first place in the capital examinations — why is it that the Lord only comes to the capital now?”

Ye Tingyan held the lotus-shaped gold cup he had been given, his manner respectful, his answers fluid: “In reply to My Lady: this official’s elder brother was unworthy and brought shame upon the family. This official, being without merit or accomplishment, had no face to enter the capital to meet the Emperor. So this official carried in his heart the will to be loyal to His Majesty, and for many years worked diligently in Beiyou. Only now, with some small contribution to show, did this official dare submit his essay in last year’s special examination and follow His Majesty to the capital to mount this platform. This official is deeply ashamed.”

Diligently working for many years?

He had been on familiar terms with the Crown Prince back then. If he had been diligently working for years, toward whom was his loyalty directed?

During the Thorn-Crabapple case, the Ye family was still mired in infamy. This Third Young Master had stayed out of the capital for years and only appeared now — was it truly to seek a good future for himself after the family’s fall from grace?

So many doubts, and she could not puzzle them out.

Though Song Lan presumably did not know of the friendship between Ye Tingyan and Crown Prince Chengming back then. Had he known, given his suspicious nature, he would never have dared to bestow favor on this person.

Then — was the Third Young Master Ye not afraid she would inform Song Lan of this matter?

Luowei turned this thought over briefly, then laughed at herself for being too suspicious. In the eyes of the world, which knew nothing of the real situation, Song Lan was Crown Prince Chengming’s closest imperial brother. Pledging loyalty to him, and pledging loyalty to an old friend — what difference was there?

After Ye Tingyan had drunk the three cups of spring wine bestowed by both the Emperor and Empress, he was about to withdraw when Yu Qiushi — who had been silent for some time — suddenly stopped him: “Lord Ye, please stay.”

He rose with his wine cup, walked toward Ye Tingyan, and turned to ask: “Your Majesty, may I ask — what official post has Lord Ye been given?”

Song Lan, not grasping his intention, simply replied: “Ting Yan’s ‘A Discourse on the Wounded and the Knowing’ from last year’s special examination caused a sensation with a single stroke. He is accomplished in both literary composition and calligraphy, and while in Beiyou he assisted the Prefectural Judge in conducting both external and internal inspections. The Ministry of Personnel’s documents have already been drafted. Though he bears no family patronage, upon entering the inner court he will hold the post of Supervising Censor, and concurrently serve as External Scholar Attendant of the Qiong Ting.”

These two posts were an interesting combination. The Emperor’s appointment of a Supervising Censor required no consent from the chief minister; and though the External Scholar Attendant of the Qiong Ting held no lofty rank and was normally under the jurisdiction of officials at all levels within the Qiong Ting, it was still half a foot directly through the door of the central court.

So long as the Emperor was willing, with a few achievements, one could openly and legitimately be promoted further.

Luowei’s lips curved slightly. Song Lan was more impatient than she had imagined.

Although Song Lan’s relationship with Yu Qiushi was not the head-on confrontation she had previously supposed, ever since the post of Participating in Governance had been abolished in the reign of Emperor Ming, the overwhelming dominance of the chief minister had been a deep anxiety for every emperor. Noble figures of integrity like the three Su chief ministers were, after all, far too rare. Even if Song Lan was genuinely close to Yu Qiushi, he still thirsted to curb the minister’s influence sooner or later.

In this way, Song Lan would need to seek trusted subordinates from outside the noble families.

Ye Tingyan came from a fallen military family; he was untethered from the sway of the capital’s great clans, and yet had built considerable influence in the north. He was, without question, Song Lan’s ideal candidate.

She understood it clearly, and of course Yu Qiushi understood it just as clearly. The toast he was now offering was almost certainly an opportunity to make things difficult.

Luowei picked up a piece of fruit from the glass dish at her side and settled in to enjoy the spectacle.

Sure enough, after receiving his answer, Yu Qiushi immediately changed his manner of address: “Lord Supervising Censor.”

Ye Tingyan responded without arrogance or servility: “Please, Grand Preceptor, instruct me.”

“Your essay ‘A Discourse on the Wounded and the Knowing’ was written superbly. In a young scholar, it takes courage to stand alone against thunder and storm from above, and from below carries a heart that grieves for all living things — this old man greatly admires it.” Yu Qiushi’s expression was sincere and natural, like a kindly elder. “Yet this old man has one matter that is unclear to me, and I ask the Censor to enlighten me.”

“This official would not dare. Grand Preceptor, please speak.”

“Many people do not know — the eldest son of the Ye family bore the suspicion of having turned traitor in the Youyun River campaign. At the time, the Censor and another elder brother were seized as suspected traitors and even had slave brands burned into their flesh. Afterward, since the eldest son was already dead and evidence was insufficient, the late Emperor, in his benevolence, chose not to investigate further; mindful of the late General Ye’s merits, he issued a decree pardoning the Ye family’s offenses.”

Ye Tingyan listened calmly, not even the hand holding his cup trembling in the slightest.

Luowei glanced at Song Lan and saw his expression grow subtly heavier.

Ye Tingyan had entered the capital, and counting today it was only five days. The young Emperor Zhao had surely never imagined that within a mere few days, Yu Qiushi would have already thoroughly investigated this secret matter from so many years ago, from so many miles away.

“The Censor suffered this great calamity while still young — it nearly destroyed him. After the Second Young Master joined the army, you were separated from your elder brother and vanished for a long while, and were only eventually found again after much difficulty. This old man has an old acquaintance — a military officer who once garrisoned in Beiyou. While drinking together a few days ago, the subject came up by chance, and this old man heard some fresh intelligence.”

“After the Third Young Master went missing, the general’s old comrades were numerous; great sums of money were spread about to help the Second Young Master search for his younger brother. Over five years there were no fewer than a dozen impostors — yet the one who was ultimately found and confirmed as the Censor…”

“Was identified because of that essay, ‘A Discourse on the Wounded and the Knowing.'”

He dragged out his last syllable with deliberate significance, his voice carrying a smile, yet his words were clearly a form of interrogation: “The Third Young Master was certainly accomplished in both the literary and martial arts in his youth — moreover, who among those capable of writing such an essay would have the motive to be an impostor? And so no one doubted it.”

“Yet when this old man heard the full account, many misgivings arose in his heart.”

He did not continue, yet everyone already understood his meaning.

Ye Tingyan stood very still and, in a somewhat odd tone, asked slowly: “Grand Preceptor suspects this official’s identity?”

Yu Qiushi shook his head: “Identity? Not identity — motive. This suspicion is not difficult to hear in Beiyou. For the Censor to be granted an official post, his background must certainly have been investigated thoroughly. Yet why did this sort of rumor never reach His Majesty’s ears? Even this old man only came to know of it by chance, through a stroke of luck — who was it that deliberately obscured this matter in between?”

He immediately turned and bowed respectfully to Song Lan: “What this official wished to say to His Majesty just now was precisely this — His Majesty may employ old retainers of the Ye family, but must not use an official of uncertain identity!”

Luowei gave a cold laugh inwardly.

Yu Qiushi was, as ever, an old fox who had been steeped in the ways of power for years. What a vicious use of stratagem.

Most likely at the very moment Song Lan brought Ye Tingyan back to the capital — or perhaps even earlier, when he had seen the essay and guessed that Song Lan intended to promote this person to curb the ministerial power — Yu Qiushi had already begun investigating for weaknesses in Ye Tingyan.

The Second Young Master Ye had recognized this younger brother; when Song Lan’s people investigated, they had never thought to question this. Yu Qiushi had deliberately sought out a military officer from Beiyou and questioned him carefully, word by word, day by day and year by year, until at last he found this one opening.

With a little embellishment, he could plant an inextinguishable shadow of doubt in the heart of an emperor already prone to suspicion.

How was Ye Tingyan to prove his own identity?

— It was like proving that ‘I’ am ‘I.’

If he could not do so cleanly and forcefully, even if Song Lan did not believe it now, there would surely be lingering misgivings when the time came to rely on him.

A masterful use of the art of striking at the heart.

Luowei rested her cheek on her hand, and a thought suddenly crossed her mind — Song Lan and Yu Qiushi had been in league for a long time; Yu Qiushi had surely more than once before Song Lan put forward similar arguments about her.

After all, these two men knew full well that she and Song Lan slept with blades between them.

In the darkness of night, with no light, they could not come to open conflict. But once daylight came, everything would be laid bare.

And yet Song Lan, enduring such suspicion, boldly performed his act in front of her — was it because he was confident that whatever he did would never be discovered by her? Or was it that he could find no one else to hold Yu Qiushi in check?

The boy who had seemed timid and shy in her eyes in those earlier days had already long since grown a thoroughly cunning and calculating mind for wielding power.

Song Lan’s brows had drawn tightly together. Luowei was still intently focused on the half-eaten pastry in her hand, but Yu Qiushi suddenly turned his face toward her and said: “His Majesty and My Lady both met the Third Young Master back then. His Majesty only saw him once and may well have forgotten, which is understandable — but My Lady, did you and the Third Young Master perhaps have a closer acquaintance, and do you still remember his appearance? If so, then there would be no need for further investigation.”

If she said yes, she could resolve Ye Tingyan’s immediate predicament — but she would inevitably become embroiled herself, and have to repeatedly bring up those years.

She had no close personal acquaintance with Ye Tingyan; to keep silent would already be a kindness.

And so Luowei immediately denied it: “Grand Preceptor jests. This Lady, just like His Majesty, only saw the Third Young Master once in his youth. How could she recall his appearance now? She only vaguely remembers that he was a refined and graceful young gentleman — is that not so, Your Majesty?”

Song Lan forced a smile: “Indeed, we only met him once.”

Ye Tingyan stood alone on the Vermilion Terrace, his golden cup already empty.

After hearing her words, he showed neither disappointment nor panic. He simply lifted his eyelids and gave her a faint, unhurried look.

That single glance made Luowei suddenly realize that the overly coincidental encounter earlier on the road might have been Ye Tingyan, having foreseen today’s trouble, attempting to seek a moment of her attention.

Yet he had found no opportunity to speak.

Three people stood before him, each harboring a thousand different schemes of power. Since it was none of her concern, she was not interested in the outcome.

But Ye Tingyan’s calm and indifferent gaze stirred a flicker of curiosity in Luowei — if he had known in advance of Yu Qiushi’s suspicions and had already been thinking of a way out, yet now found himself unable to carry out that plan, did he have any other strategy in reserve?

Song Lan deliberated for a moment, then finally spoke: “Ting Yan, can you resolve the Grand Preceptor’s doubts?”

Ye Tingyan, in a manner of complete composure, swept aside his lower robe and knelt down again: “At the time, this official was wandering destitute and was harmed by a villain. He suffered injuries for a long while, and only with great difficulty eventually reunited with his elder brother. If his elder brother were not certain, why would he have acknowledged him? He is now far away in Beiyou and cannot testify on this official’s behalf. What the Grand Preceptor suggests is entirely without foundation.”

He wore his green court robe with the jade crown pin and knelt perfectly straight. His upright and dignified bearing was such that Luowei nearly doubted whether the brazen smile she had seen at the roadside was her own illusion: “That I am myself — why should it require proof? That I am myself — how could it ever be proven?”

Yu Qiushi appeared not to hear, and pressed forward with a bow: “Your Majesty!”

Song Lan swirled the wine cup in his hand, thought for a moment, then suddenly said: “According to the Grand Preceptor’s account, the Third Young Master Ye, before his separation from his elder brother, had been seized as a suspected traitor and had a slave brand burned into his flesh. In that case, it would not be difficult to confirm his identity — one need only look and see whether he bears that slave brand on his body.”

Yu Qiushi started, and glanced at Ye Tingyan at his side — only to see his expression stiffen.

To have a slave brand burned into one’s flesh was an extremely severe punishment among the people of Great Yan. For the assembled scholar-officials gathered here at the Vermilion Terrace today, it was a humiliation no less than death by dismemberment. Even if one were later pardoned, having that slave brand cut away along with the skin would still leave behind an ugly scar.

The ‘Discourse on the Wounded and the Knowing’ was written with an exceedingly proud spirit; could a Confucian scholar capable of writing such an essay bring himself, in an act of imposture, to burn that mark of shame — destined to follow him for life — into his own flesh?

Yu Qiushi was still hesitating, but he heard the murmur of discussion rising from below the terrace, prompted by Ye Tingyan’s prolonged failure to withdraw. His mind turned swiftly, and he immediately said: “His Majesty’s words are precisely so. To prevent this person from having any opportunity for deception, why not invite him to display the brand mark here and now? If this official has been overly suspicious, I am willing to apologize to the Third Young Master before all present.”

Song Lan said, satisfied: “Very well.”

Yet Ye Tingyan said: “This cannot be done!”

Yu Qiushi’s slander had been fabricated out of nothing — using something that could not be proven to drive a wedge between this ruler and minister. Now that Song Lan had mentioned the slave brand, he had immediately changed his approach, wishing that Ye Tingyan would strip his garments in public and expose the scar beneath his collarbone.

If there was no scar, the suspicion would be proven — the crime of deceiving the Emperor confirmed.

If there was one, then he would suffer a devastating loss of face before all the scholars of the realm; even if he entered the Qiong Ting, it would be hard to command respect.

Ye Tingyan’s words “This cannot be done” only made Yu Qiushi all the more certain: “Lord Supervising Censor, are you unwilling — or are you afraid?”

Luowei finished the pastry in her hand and thought to herself: if Ye Tingyan were cornered by Yu Qiushi into a desperate situation and in a moment of panic fell into the trap, it would truly disappoint her greatly. She had cultivated her position in the court for many years; it was not easy to find someone who might, with Song Lan, be used to divide the chief minister’s favor and influence. If he could handle the present predicament, then perhaps in the future…

Ye Tingyan faced Yu Qiushi’s towering pressure without the slightest sign of retreat, and word by word said: “Though this official comes from the frontier, he was nevertheless enlightened and raised on the words of the sages. The sages teach that a gentleman values his garments and crown above his own life. Is the Grand Preceptor genuinely suspicious of this official’s identity, or is he deliberately humiliating him?”