The carriage traveled to the Liu residence, and the minor official went to knock on the gate.

The old servant who opened the door was astonished upon seeing Liu Chaoming: “My lord has returned?”

Liu Chaoming had been entangled in official duties for years, often staying at the Imperial Censorate day and night, rarely returning to the residence. Thus, upon hearing the old servant’s call, someone inside immediately echoed: “My lord has returned?”

Accompanying these words, two attendants emerged from within. Su Jin had met one of them before—it was the person who had brought her an umbrella in the rain at the Court of Judicial Review that day, called An’ran. The other wore a plain white long robe with refined features, bearing some resemblance to An’ran—likely they were brothers.

The two came forward together but simultaneously paused upon seeing Su Jin. They exchanged glances, and An’ran asked in surprise, “My lord, is this… a guest you’ve invited to the residence?”

Liu Chaoming gave a light “Mm” and instructed, “A’Liu, go prepare a set of clean clothes for Clerk Su.”

A’Liu acknowledged, his face full of curiosity as if wanting to say something more, but after receiving a glance from An’ran, he could only take his orders and leave.

An’ran asked, “Where does my lord wish to receive the guest?”

Liu Chaoming glanced at Su Jin and said, “The study.”

The Liu residence was austere. Perhaps because the master was rarely there, the household including servants totaled fewer than ten people—so desolate it hardly seemed like the residence of a Left Censor-in-Chief of the second rank.

Liu Chaoming led Su Jin around the front courtyard and into the study.

A’Liu had already prepared the clothes. On the tray lay a moon-white straight robe, and drawing near, one could smell the clear fragrance of Solomon’s seal.

Liu Chaoming was momentarily stunned.

A’Liu smiled and said, “Young Master Su, you have a slender frame. These are clothes from my lord’s youth. I’ve already washed them several times with soap powder, and every year they’re fumigated with fragrance once. Young master, please wear them with confidence.”

Su Jin couldn’t help but glance at Liu Chaoming. Liu Chaoming was startled and averted his gaze.

Su Jin hesitated for a moment, then responded with a “Fine,” took the clothes, and turned to go to the partition room.

A’Liu followed behind her, saying eagerly, “Young Master Su, shall I fetch water for you shortly?”

Su Jin nodded once: “That would be appreciated.”

Who would have known that after A’Liu finished speaking, he didn’t leave the partition room but instead stepped forward to help Su Jin change clothes.

Su Jin suddenly stepped back, staring at him in bewilderment.

At the same time, a cold voice came from the outer room: “A’Liu.” Liu Chaoming was slightly frowning, his gaze falling outside the room. “Get out.”

A’Liu seemed somewhat puzzled and said, “Since my lord established this residence, apart from Lord Shen and a few others who came uninvited, this is the first time my lord has brought someone back to the residence. Third Brother and I have followed my lord since childhood and know that my lord is naturally reserved and doesn’t enjoy liveliness, but in the way of receiving guests, the key lies in attentiveness and warmth—A’Liu understands this.”

As he spoke, he looked at Su Jin again and continued earnestly, “Young Master Su, you don’t know—you’re the first person my lord has invited to the residence, a distinguished guest. In a moment, A’Liu will help you change clothes, then fetch water for you. The clothes you’re wearing aren’t very clean—A’Liu will wash them for you shortly. Oh yes, Young Master Su, what do you like to eat? I’ll have Uncle Liu prepare it…”

He rambled on endlessly. Both Su Jin and Liu Chaoming looked at him wordlessly for a moment.

Fortunately, An’ran arrived at the study. Seeing that A’Liu’s old habit had flared up again, he grabbed his arm with one hand and directly pulled him outside, saying as he did so, “Come out with me.”

A’Liu said, “Wait, Third Brother, I haven’t finished—”

An’ran stuck his head back in to apologize to Su Jin: “Clerk Su, please forgive us. My fourth brother has a cleanliness obsession and is quite talkative. Please be understanding.” As he spoke, he covered A’Liu’s mouth with one hand and dragged him out, half pulling, half pushing.

Liu Chaoming glanced at Su Jin and also left the study, closing the door behind him.

Su Jin had just removed her outer robe when she heard An’ran momentarily fail to keep A’Liu’s mouth covered, and the chattering voice rang out again: “Wait, Lord Liu, why did you come out too? It’s just changing clothes…”

Liu Chaoming said coldly, “Find something to stuff in his mouth.”

An’ran said, “Yes, we’ll definitely stuff it—stuff it for a whole day.”

Shortly after, Su Jin finished changing clothes and pushed open the door to leave.

The summer light was perfect. Liu Chaoming stood with his hands clasped behind his back beneath a glossy privet tree, delicate white flowers hanging on the branches. He wore a crane-embroidered insignia badge, his tall figure standing like jade.

Hearing the door open, Liu Chaoming turned around. The slanting sunlight fell gently across his brow, and his already handsome features seemed covered with a layer of radiance.

He glanced at Su Jin wearing his youthful robes, his eyes lowering slightly, and for a moment said nothing.

Su Jin walked over and bowed to him, calling out, “Lord Liu.”

Liu Chaoming gave an “Mm,” his gaze falling on the upturned eaves behind her: “Have you thought about what to do in the future?”

Su Jin shook her head slightly: “I don’t know. I’ll take it one step at a time.”

Only then did Liu Chaoming shift his gaze to look at her. After a moment, he asked softly, “Why did you enter officialdom?”

Su Jin pressed her lips together before saying with some confusion, “When my grandfather died unjustly that year, I felt unwilling and resentful. With single-minded determination to seek justice for him and clear his name, I studied bitterly to enter officialdom. Unfortunately,” her tone became choked, “I later discovered that so-called fairness, innocence, and justice are sometimes merely means by which those in power delude the common people. They can only exist within the principles of balance under heaven and unity among all people—otherwise, they’re worthless.”

Liu Chaoming asked, “So you simply muddle through?”

Su Jin smiled: “Not exactly. Since I chose this path, I must walk it no matter what. Having already entered officialdom, I focused my heart on doing well with the matters at hand.”

Liu Chaoming nodded: “Being down-to-earth and attending to the present is also not a bad way of survival.” Then he suddenly asked Su Jin, “In your childhood, did you ever hear of the Liu family?”

The Liu family was a family of great scholars. Standing firm since the previous dynasty, over hundreds of years they had produced countless ministers and nobles. Although some had bled and sacrificed in power struggles, the family’s branches spread wide and deep, never harming its foundation.

Su Jin knew the Liu family Liu Chaoming referred to was his branch in Hangzhou. During the war years, Old Censor Meng, Prime Minister Xie’s close friend, had served as a tutor in the Liu family. Prime Minister Xie had also visited as a guest and was quite respected by Old Master Liu—they were half old acquaintances.

Su Jin said, “I’ve heard of them, but in my childhood I only knew of Liu Yun, not Liu Chaoming.”

Prime Minister Xie’s original words after visiting as a guest were: “The Liu family has a son who styles himself Yun. This person is like jade, with brilliance restrained within.”

Liu Chaoming gazed into the distance with clasped hands: “When you fell into misfortune that year, why didn’t you come to the Liu family for help?”

Su Jin smiled quietly: “When I fell into misfortune that year and witnessed with my own eyes my close relatives being cruelly killed, I couldn’t trust anyone. Moreover, from Shu to Hangzhou is a thousand li. At that time, filled with resentment, seeking only to study bitterly to clear my grandfather’s name—how could I have gone?”

Liu Chaoming lowered his gaze and only after a long while said, “You… in the court, do you still have any unfulfilled wishes?”

Su Jin was startled: “What does my lord mean by these words?”

Liu Chaoming looked into Su Jin’s eyes: “Do you want to find Chao Qing? Want to kill Zeng Ping and Zeng Youliang to avenge their harm to you that year? Or do you want to clear Prime Minister Xie’s name?” He paused. “I can do all these things for you, but you must leave.”

Su Jin didn’t understand: “Where does my lord want me to go?” Then she seemed to realize: “My lord wants me to leave the capital, leave this place of conflict?”

She lowered her eyes and smiled: “But what good would it do if I left? I’m already alone in this world—where I am, am I not just passing through this life? The world is vast yet I have no place to return to. It’s better to remain in this place of conflict and do what I can within my abilities—”

“You can go to Hangzhou,” Liu Chaoming interrupted.

Then, avoiding Su Jin’s gaze, he said softly, “My hometown.”

Su Jin was slightly startled and asked, “What does my lord seek?” After a pause, she couldn’t help asking again, “Did the old censor, before his death, make my lord promise to look after me?”

Liu Chaoming didn’t know how to answer. In his heart he felt it was so, yet for a moment it didn’t seem to be.

His thoughts were like scattered snow, melting upon touching the ground, leaving no trace.

He turned his face away and said, “You’re a woman who has falsely entered officialdom as a man—this is already unorthodox. Do you still want to sink deeper and deeper here?”

As he spoke, he drew a heavy breath: “In last night’s scheme, you’ve already been drawn into the struggle between the Crown Prince and the Seventh Prince. Do you think this is the end of it? Zhu Minda has now guessed you’re a woman. Given his temperament, he’ll definitely use this point to make further moves. If it were a time of peace and prosperity, that would be one thing, but now His Majesty is already old, and regional princes control their territories. Hundreds of years ago, the Western Han ‘Rebellion of the Seven States’ and the Western Jin ‘War of the Eight Princes’ are vivid before our eyes. With historical precedent ahead, factional strife grows ever more intense. In as little as one year, at most three, the entire court will inevitably become a bloodthirsty vortex from which none will be spared—you included. If you continue walking this path, you’ll inevitably sink deep into the mire, unable to extricate yourself. When that time comes and you fall into an abyss of eternal suffering, I fear even I won’t be able to protect you.”

The wind blew, and glossy privet flowers rustled down.

Su Jin raised her eyes from within this wind, looking at Liu Chaoming: “If I leave, what about you, my lord? That day in the Palace Front Garden, my lord already used the Imperial Censorate’s position to buy my life from the Eastern Palace. Now I’ve become the Crown Prince’s witness, yet my lord wants to send me away? Then how will my lord establish himself between the Eastern Palace and the Seventh Prince in the future?”

She turned her back: “My lord, you and I are both like duckweed. From the moment we stepped into official life, we’ve already been sinking in this mire. Shiyu doesn’t hope to preserve only herself—she only wishes to hold firm to her original heart.” As she spoke, she suddenly smiled gently. “Didn’t my lord also ask me whether I was willing to come to the Imperial Censorate and become a censor who sets disorder right and maintains an unwavering heart?”

Scattered flowers brushed against her shoulders, sliding down her robe and falling to the ground.

Those were his youthful robes, before his coming of age, full of high spirits and grand ambitions.

Strange—she was clearly a woman, yet he seemed to see in her his former self.

Liu Chaoming averted his gaze, his eyes somber as he looked at the glossy privet flowers lying on the muddy ground, and said softly, “The matter of coming to the Imperial Censorate ends here.”

“Just consider that I never said those words.”

Su Jin’s figure stiffened slightly.

Liu Chaoming turned and walked toward the corridor, asking, “An’ran, is the side room prepared?”

An’ran poked his head out from beyond the corridor: “It’s prepared. Does Clerk Su wish to rest now?” Then he smiled at Su Jin. “I’ll take the clerk there right away.”

Liu Chaoming nodded slightly. From the corner of his eye, he saw Su Jin stand silently beneath the glossy privet tree for a moment, bow deeply to him, then turn toward the side room.

An’ran led Su Jin to the side room, then hurried back to the study. Seeing that Liu Chaoming was still standing in the corridor, he couldn’t help but step forward and say, “My lord, I am incompetent and cannot share my lord’s worries. Moreover, there’s one matter—speaking of it, I fear it will add to my lord’s troubles even more.”

Liu Chaoming frowned and glanced at him: “Speak freely.”

An’ran swallowed and said, “It’s like this—Lord Shen somehow arrived earlier and has been crouching outside the study eavesdropping for quite some time. He’s currently waiting for you in the main hall.”