On the night of the fifteenth day of the first month, the city was illuminated with lanterns as bright as daylight. Everyone wore joyful expressions, with laughter and chatter bubbling throughout. In the flower hall of the prefectural yamen’s back courtyard, guests filled every seat, brilliant candles shone, and amid the clinking of cups and chopsticks, conversation flowed continuously.

Inside a room in the back courtyard, Shen Zhishu was changing his clothes. He removed and then reattached the silver fish-shaped pouch at his waist, adjusted his sideburns in the mirror, and turned to leave.

A man in his twenties entered from outside and waited to the side, reporting to him: “Young Master, all those civil and military officials to whom you sent invitation cards three days ago have arrived tonight.”

He smiled, “That’s good.” He stepped toward the door but turned his head back to the man, saying: “Hu Yuelin, when we get to the front, you must not call me Young Master anymore.”

Hu Yuelin pursed his lips, wanting to say something, but as he looked up, he met Shen Zhishu’s serious gaze. He simply nodded and said: “As Young Master commands.”

Shen Zhishu strode toward the flower hall, knowing that Hu Yuelin couldn’t immediately break the habit of addressing him as he had at the Shen residence. He didn’t blame him further, only asking: “How are the matters I asked you to investigate?”

Hu Yuelin lowered his voice and said: “Young Master’s previous guess was indeed correct. The person sent to the main garrison has returned with news that all officers in the Qingzhou garrison follow Vice Magistrate Wang Qi’s every command. Upon detailed investigation, we found that the silver sent from the capital to each northern garrison at the beginning of each month was decreed by the Emperor out of concern for the soldiers guarding the border. Yet this Wang Qi claimed that it was only after his repeated memorials to the capital that the soldiers received this extra monthly allowance. As a result, which of the officers, ignorant of capital politics, wouldn’t be deeply grateful to Wang Qi?”

Shen Zhishu listened with pressed lips, his expression growing darker. When Hu Yuelin finished, he paused in his steps and stood still for a good while before continuing forward, saying coolly: “Qingzhou is in a remote location, and the officials on Chao’an’s northern route are already quite unbridled, but who would have thought that the administration in Qingzhou would be particularly lawless. Wang Qi’s audacity is truly tremendous, even daring to claim the Emperor’s goodwill as his achievement.”

Hu Yuelin’s face was equally displeased as he asked urgently: “Your subordinate will draft a memorial tonight, and after Young Master reviews it tomorrow morning, we can sign and send it to the capital, directly presenting it to the Crown Prince. What does Young Master think?”

“Based solely on those officers’ one-sided statements,” Shen Zhishu’s brows furrowed deeply, “even if we submit a memorial impeaching Wang Qi, we won’t be able to bring him down in one go. Moreover, he has the backing of those Eastern Court senior officials, and he might even counter-accuse me… This matter cannot be rushed; we need to plan carefully for the long term.”

Hu Yuelin was quite unwilling to let it go but couldn’t argue. He only muttered glumly: “Young Master has considered it thoroughly… Should we inform the Master about this matter first?”

Shen Zhishu’s expression changed instantly. He let out a cold snort and said nothing more, walking so quickly that in just a few steps he had ascended the stairs and headed straight into the flower hall.

The pearl curtain was lifted, the flames in the brazier flickered softly, and the aroma of wine and dishes brightened everyone’s eyes. When the assembled civil and military officials saw him enter, they all put down their wine cups and rose to greet him, with calls of “Prefect Shen” sounding all the way.

Although every one of them had more seniority than him, none dared to treat lightly this “son of a noble family” who had become Prefect at such a young age. Especially when they thought of his incomparable family background, they were even more eager to please him.

Even Vice Magistrate Wang Qi, who was of equal rank but a full ten years older than him, rose to respectfully welcome him, smiling: “Prefect Shen invited us to this banquet, yet arrives so late himself.”

Shen Zhishu’s face was all smiles as he returned the bows one by one, finally walking to Wang Qi’s table. He lifted his robe to sit with him and smiled: “I was delayed by some urgent matters just now, making Vice Magistrate Wang and all the officials wait here for a long time. Yan Zhi feels quite ashamed.”

Wang Qi hurriedly said: “Not at all. Prefect Shen’s feast is excellent in appearance, aroma, and taste. It will surely make us forget to return home even after eating our fill. Even the best restaurant in Qingzhou city cannot compare with Prefect Shen’s sincerity tonight.”

Everyone present joined in the praise.

Shen Zhishu smiled and raised a toast to everyone, saying: “My coming to Qingzhou is truly by the Emperor’s decree and the Crown Prince’s trust. I only wish that all the officials could work together with me to share the Emperor’s and the court’s burdens. If I do anything wrong in the future, I hope you gentlemen won’t hesitate to instruct me.”

Wang Qi covered his cup with his official sleeve, drained it in one gulp, and seeing this, everyone else raised their cups as well, smiling: “Prefect Shen’s words are too serious.”

Wang Qi set down his cup, looked around at everyone, and gave a nod to the attendant beside him. Seeing the man walk quickly out of the hall, he then said to Shen Zhishu: “Prefect Shen’s words have truly touched my heart. As a close official to the Crown Prince, you are willing to come to a remote prefecture for experience, which is truly admirable.”

Shen Zhishu merely smiled, “I have a mind full of empty learning, and having just entered officialdom, I am already entrusted with such a heavy responsibility. I am truly apprehensive and ask Vice Magistrate Wang to guide me in military and civil affairs.”

As they spoke, the attendant who had left returned, holding a large black lacquered wooden box with both hands, presenting it before Wang Qi.

Everyone looked in their direction.

Wang Qi raised his chin slightly, and the man opened the box and held it before Shen Zhishu.

Shen Zhishu’s lips remained upturned, but the smile in his eyes had long disappeared. He saw in the wooden box before him an exquisite three-volume colored boxwood carving, a rare treasure difficult to find even in the capital.

Wang Qi said: “Everyone knows Prefect Shen is a scholar of refined learning. Having traveled thousands of miles to take up the post of Qingzhou Prefect, you must miss the cultural items of the capital. This carving is a small token, just a modest gift from us to congratulate Prefect Shen on assuming office. We hope Prefect Shen won’t find it too humble.”

Shen Zhishu thought for a moment, then scanned everyone’s faces before suddenly laughing aloud: “Thank you, Vice Magistrate Wang. This is exactly to my taste.” He then stepped forward to accept the wooden box, handing it to Hu Yuelin with a slight change in his expression but said nothing more.

Wang Qi watched and smiled slightly, waving his hand at the assembled civil and military officials. Everyone sat down and continued their conversation and drinking.

As Shen Zhishu sat down, he said in a low voice: “Vice Magistrate Wang’s gift is truly precious. I wonder how much silver it cost, making Yan Zhi unsure how to reciprocate…”

Wang Qi maintained his smile: “It was given to me by someone else, I didn’t spend any silver. As long as Prefect Shen is pleased, that’s all that matters.”

Hu Yuelin stood behind, maintaining a composed expression with downcast eyes, examining the carving carefully. Finally, he noticed a small character “Yan” in the corner of the box.

Outside the hall, the night sky was bright with a clear moon and sparse stars. The snow-covered tree branches looked like silver, casting a clear glow on the ground.

The next day dawned clear. The sun had barely shown its face when a servant hurried through the halls of the back courtyard, going straight to Shen Zhishu’s room to knock on the door.

“Sir…”

Shen Zhishu was still in bed, not yet risen. Hearing the voice, he raised his hand to pull back the curtain and responded in a hoarse voice: “What is it?”

The person said timidly: “There’s a woman outside the yamen gates beating the drum and refusing to leave, saying she has come to collect a debt from you, sir…”