Gu Dezhao gazed at the envelope in his hand with a grave expression, then looked at his daughter with disbelief.

Gu Jinchao took a sip of tea and said, “Father, please don’t ask why. Your daughter cannot explain clearly here. Take this letter immediately to Tongzhou and find Ding Yongmo, the supervisor of Tong Granary. He will know what to do.”

Gu Dezhao frowned again, “Chao, my daughter, this matter concerns your father’s life and death… How did you get this letter? And what is written inside?”

Jinchao sighed. It was understandable that her father was concerned. After all, the origin of this letter was truly suspicious.

She hesitated for a moment, but still told her father about the letter’s origin. If her father didn’t understand the importance of this letter and accidentally revealed the information to others, that would be even worse.

After hearing Jinchao’s words, Gu Dezhao was quite surprised: “So it was Official Chen… You say he wants to help me because of his connection with Official Wen?”

Jinchao said, “Father… if others learn of this matter, our Gu family could face complete disaster.”

Gu Dezhao nodded to show he understood. He normally had no interaction with Official Chen, merely exchanging greetings when they met, with Official Chen simply nodding in acknowledgment without ever speaking a word. Knowing there was no room to maneuver regarding the disaster relief grain, he felt relieved but mostly confused.

Seeing that it was already getting late, he didn’t ask anything more. After saying a few words to Second Master Gu, he saddled his horse and headed to Tongzhou.

The granary would be opened the next day.

Jinchao went to pay her respects to Madam Feng before returning to Yanxiu Hall, where she prepared some snacks for her father.

Gu Dezhao had not slept all night. After taking care of the matter, he returned to Daxing and first went to Jinchao’s Yanxiu Hall.

He took a sip of cinnamon water and told Jinchao, “There’s no problem… Supervisor Ding immediately burned the letter over the candlestick after reading it. Then he found people to transport grain overnight. This time, they first transported thirty thousand shi to cover the disaster relief grain. The remaining hundred and fifty thousand she will be transported in multiple batches.” Even just thirty thousand shi of grain was enough to keep them busy all night. Fortunately, the people Ding Yongmo found were all quiet workers who kept their heads down and did their jobs.

Gu Dezhao had more to say. After reading the letter, Ding Yongmo had said something to him.

“Official Chen is taking a great risk to help you. I didn’t realize your relationship with Official Chen was so close.”

It felt somewhat like trying to get closer to him.

Gu Dezhao felt something wasn’t quite right. Even with Official Wen’s connection, it didn’t make sense for Third Master Chen to help him to this extent. The granary’s grain had always been of utmost importance, and Ding Yongmo was no ordinary person. Transporting thirty thousand shi of grain in a single night was no simple matter. If information leaked out carelessly, Third Master Chen could very likely fall under Official Zhang’s suspicion.

He felt that Jinchao was still hiding something from him, but after some thought, he still didn’t ask.

His eldest daughter was a person of strong judgment. She must have her reasons for keeping secrets.

After eating some snacks, he hurriedly changed into his official robes and took a carriage to the Daxing granary to prepare for the grain transport.

It started snowing heavily again.

Chen Yanlun raised his head and glanced outside the latticed window. The snow was falling thick and fast, covering the sky and earth.

A servant brought over a cup of Da Hong Pao tea. Chen Yanlun took it, sipped once, and asked, “Has the Seventh Young Master come?”

The servant respectfully replied, “He came once, but seeing you were asleep, he left first. He said he would come back in the afternoon to ask for your guidance on essay composition.”

Chen Yanlun had discussed matters with Second Master Chen until very late the previous night. By the time he returned to rest, it was already the hour of Hai (9-11 PM).

Chen Yanlun made a sound of acknowledgment, “Tell him not to come. For matters of essay writing, he should ask his Third Great-Uncle. Also, send him the white fox fur cloak. Although he doesn’t use a brazier in his study, he still needs to stay warm.” Chen’s family’s children couldn’t be spoiled. He never used a brazier, and in winter he slept on a cold kang with just a thin quilt.

The servant acknowledged the order and went to take care of it.

Outside the latticed window, the north wind whirled the heavy snow around, but inside the study, only the sound of the water clock could be heard.

Third Master Chen put down his book and stood up, walking to the latticed window to quietly watch the chaotic snowfall.

The heavy door curtain was lifted by Chen Yi, who walked in with a few steps. He whispered in Third Master Chen’s ear, “Third Master, someone from the capital has brought a message.”

Official Zhang Julin had sent someone to request his presence at the Cabinet.

Chen Yanlun smiled slightly, “Prepare the carriage.”

For a place of such immense power, the Cabinet looked rather unremarkable. It was located inside the Zuoshun Gate, on the west side of Wenhua Hall, with the Shili Supervisorate further inside.

In the main hall stood a long desk, with six black-lacquered Grand Preceptor chairs arranged on both sides. Brown cocoon silk curtains with dark patterns hung around, and above was a plaque inscribed with “Virtuous and Principled.” Four six-sided lanterns depicting the Eight Immortals crossing the sea provided constant illumination.

These four lanterns were currently lit.

Third Master Chen braved the wind and snow to enter the Cabinet’s main hall, and guards closed the hall doors. After exchanging greetings with two high officials, he sat in the first Grand Preceptor chair on the left, next to Wang Xuanfan, whose face was ashen. Across from him sat Liang Lin, the Grand Academician of Huagai Hall, wearing an official green right-lapel robe and slightly plump in build.

The person standing in front of the long desk said, “Yanlun, you should acquire a residence in the capital. With the snow so heavy, traveling from Wanping is too inconvenient.”

This person wore a right-lapel round-collared robe with crane patterns and a jade-and-leather belt fitting for a first-rank official. Of medium height, with long, narrow, bright eyes, he resembled an ordinary elderly scholar. But his thick eyebrows gave him an imposing presence even when not angry.

Chen Yanlun smiled and said, “This official does not like to join in busy places. I find the capital too noisy, while Wanping is quieter and more pleasant to live in.”

Official Zhang immediately said, “Your temperament is just too subdued. Your surroundings are also too quiet.”

After saying this, he casually extended his hand, and a compiler immediately passed a vermilion brush to him.

Feng Chengshan, the Imperial Secretariat’s Chief Eunuch, who had been sitting aside drinking tea, put down his cup upon seeing this and said with a smile, “…His Majesty’s intentions have been made clear by this humble servant. If Official Zhang has no other business, we still have duties to attend to and will take our leave.”

Official Zhang looked up at Feng Chengshan, marked a memorial with the vermilion brush, and unhurriedly said, “Please inform His Majesty that this old official will visit him tonight.” Official Zhang had been the imperial tutor before joining the Cabinet, after which Chen Yanlun took over the position.

Feng Chengshan’s smile froze, but he soon cupped his hands and left.

Official Zhang then put down the vermilion brush and said without showing pleasure or displeasure, “The Daxing granary has already been opened, and one hundred and twenty thousand shi of grain are now being transported from Baodi waterway to Shanxi. Let your Ministry of Revenue allocate disaster relief funds first. Providing relief is the priority.” He then said to Wang Xuanfan, “The Public Works Ministry’s river dredging project can be postponed. Last year’s harvest was poor, the court reduced taxes, and now the national treasury is empty. It’s not the time for water conservancy projects.”

Wang Xuanfan immediately stood up and cupped his hands, saying, “This official… Sun Shitao is still with me. If Official Zhang requires, this official will immediately arrange for Sun Shitao to be found dead in his home.”

Official Zhang calmly said, “Sun Shitao must certainly die, but how he dies is no longer important. Now that the disaster relief grain has been transported to Shanxi, this old official hardly considers the Gu family worth attention.”

Even without the Gu family, it would be of no consequence to the Marquis of Changxing’s household.

Wang Xuanfan said in a low voice, “This matter is unusual. The Marquis of Changxing’s household must have secretly helped the Gu family, otherwise the shortage of two hundred thousand shi of grain in Daxing could never have been filled. This official was careless and failed to have people monitor the activities of the Daxing granary…”

Official Zhang gave him a cold look, “How could the Marquis of Changxing help the Gu family? Could they conjure two hundred thousand shi of grain out of thin air? Moreover, they wouldn’t use grain from the Thousand Households Military Granary just for the Gu family. This is indeed your mistake, but you needn’t rush to admit fault. As we approach the New Year, you can stay at home and think it through carefully before coming back to discuss it.”

Wang Xuanfan repeatedly acknowledged, wiping sweat with his sleeve.

Liang Lin also stood up and cupped his hands, “Official Zhang, this matter is not without room for maneuver. This lowly official has a humble plan.”

At this moment, Jiang Yan had a guard announce that he had important matters to report to Chen Yanlun.

Chen Yanlun walked out of the Cabinet’s main hall. Outside, the sky had already darkened, but the snow continued to fall.

Jiang Yan handed Chen Yanlun a letter, “Third Master… something has happened.”

Chen Yanlun opened the envelope, looked at it, and then closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.

Yuan Zhoru had committed suicide.

Inside was not only the coroner’s examination record but also Yuan Zhoru’s suicide note.

“It was this morning when a maid went to clean the study… and found Master Yuan hanging from the beam. By the time people got him down, he was already stiff. He must have hanged himself late last night. He also left a suicide note. Our people in Shanxi got the news and transmitted it immediately, along with a copy of the suicide note.”

Yuan Zhoru knew he couldn’t escape death. Even if he escaped this time, he wouldn’t escape later, so it was cleaner and more resolute to die.

Shanxi was suffering from famine, with people homeless and countless instances of children being sold. In his suicide note, he expressed deep grief and despair because Official Zhang wanted him dead, which had instead implicated hundreds of thousands of people in Shanxi. He had tried to transport grain from the charitable granaries in Shaanxi and Shandong, but he couldn’t solve the problem. As the famine grew increasingly severe, grain prices skyrocketed, reaching a hundred times the normal price.

Everyone must die someday, either as heavy as Mount Tai or as light as a feather.

If he had to die in a political struggle, he would rather die for the people.

“I heard that before his death, Master Yuan drank with his staff and said, ‘Better to die, at least then Zhang Julin might spare Shanxi’…” Jiang Yan’s voice was extremely low, “After Master Yuan’s death, the people of Taiyuan in Shanxi wept upon hearing the news. The whole city spontaneously wore mourning clothes, and even old people and children came out to join the funeral procession for Master Yuan. Sending troops to disperse them was ineffective…”

He had originally thought Yuan Zhoru was also calculating and feared death. It turned out everyone has moments of great righteousness.

Chen Yanlun said nothing, put the letter back in the envelope, and turned to walk back into the Cabinet’s main hall.

Liang Lin was still speaking, “…when the waterway connects to Yongqing, we can intercept and redirect, using the delay caused by ship damage…”

Chen Yanlun walked to Official Zhang’s side, whispered something, and handed him the letter. Official Zhang’s brows furrowed slightly, but he said nothing as he opened the envelope. Liang Lin and Wang Xuanfan both looked at Chen Yanlun, not knowing what had happened.

After reading it, Official Zhang closed the letter, still showing no joy or sorrow, but said to Liang Lin and Wang Xuanfan, “You may leave first. This matter need not be discussed further.”

Liang Lin and Wang Xuanfan looked at each other in bewilderment before finally withdrawing from the Cabinet’s main hall.

Official Zhang then called Chen Yanlun to speak, “Since he is already dead, then intercept the grain transport and distribute the grain to the people. It will be faster than transport via the Grand Canal. Also, quickly use treasury funds from Shandong, Henan, Huguang, and Jiangxi to buy grain and transport it to the governors of Suzhou and Zhejiang for price stabilization, to suppress the rise in grain prices. Transport the body back to the capital to let his family see him one last time. For Yuan Zhoru’s suicide by hanging, we need an explanation that will stabilize public sentiment.”

Chen Yanlun responded, “This official understands.” He turned to leave.

Official Zhang called out to him, “…Yanlun.”

Chen Yanlun turned around. Official Zhang’s gaze fell upon him, and after a long while, he said, “I have always wanted to promote you. You should understand everything.”

Chen Yanlun smiled slightly, “Of course.”

In his heart, he understood very well that Zhang Julin still suspected him.