The one who came to announce the decree was Wu Chang, the Chief Eunuch of Fengtian Hall.

The Yangtze River summer floods—besides promoting Su Jin to Supervising Censor of the seventh rank, the decree also commanded her to go supervise and inspect the Huguang Circuit. She was to depart the day after tomorrow at the hour of mao.

Liu Chaoming received the imperial edict without saying anything.

Qian San’er glanced at his gloomy expression and asked on his behalf: “Departing at the hour of mao the day after tomorrow? Such urgency?”

Wu Chang replied: “In response to Minister Liu and Minister Qian, for a newly appointed Supervising Censor to immediately go inspect the provinces is extremely rare. Do you know whom His Majesty sent to announce the decree at the Capital Bureau? A Secretariat Drafter went in person. This precisely demonstrates how highly His Majesty values this newly appointed Censor Su. This humble servant congratulates the Imperial Censorate.”

Having said this, he bowed to both of them and withdrew.

Liu Chaoming gripped the imperial edict and stood in place for a while. He had just called out “Qian San’er” when he saw Zhao Yan returning from outside.

Zhao Yan handed Chao Qing’s statement to Liu Chaoming, poured a cup of tea and drained it in one gulp, then said: “It’s done. I rushed back to the palace as fast as I could, afraid of delaying matters.”

Qian San’er asked curiously: “Delaying what matters?”

Zhao Yan seemed extremely thirsty and poured another cup of tea. Holding the teacup, he said: “Wasn’t I afraid that if Zeng Ping refused to sign his confession, Zeng Youliang would come make trouble?”

Qian San’er paused, then retreated to the side.

Liu Chaoming glanced at the statement. The characters were crooked and slanted, causing him to furrow his brow: “He wrote this with his left hand?”

Zhao Yan nodded: “That’s right. Full of pride and integrity. His temperament is quite similar to Su Shiyu’s.” He then leaned in to look at the statement again and said: “You know, with his kind of temperament, without his right hand it would be better to just die. But do you know why he insisted on living?”

Liu Chaoming looked up and asked: “Why?”

Zhao Yan recalled Chao Qing’s appearance during the interrogation.

The summer light shone brightly, falling on his gaunt features. He gazed out the window and said calmly: “Lord Zhao, it’s not that I haven’t thought about death. But when I was in the private room at Xinyue Pavilion, I discerned that the person plotting the scholars’ disturbance case was Zeng Ping from the Ministry of Personnel. I have an old friend who was nearly killed by him years ago. Though I’m merely a commoner in plain clothes, I also have a heart for revenge and vindication. For her sake, even if I can never paint again in the future, I must live on.”

Zhao Yan sighed: “He said Su Shiyu is his life-and-death friend. Though painting is naturally more important than his life, his bond with Su Shiyu is more important than his painting.”

Liu Chaoming walked to the window with hands clasped behind his back and asked: “How did he prove his words weren’t false?”

Zhao Yan replied: “He saw the appearance of the two concubines Zeng Ping gave to Lu Yuwei. I had an artist draw them according to his description, then compared them—they were indeed identical.” He sighed again: “If only we’d found Chao Yunsheng earlier, we could have proven that the earlier disturbance was deliberately incited. This year’s Spring Examination wouldn’t have resulted in so many wrongful deaths.”

Qian San’er at the side heard this and laughed: “Even if no one caused a disturbance, would His Majesty not have handled it? This was a great drama staged for all under heaven. Those His Majesty intended to kill—he’d still kill every single one without exception.”

Zhao Yan pointed at Qian San’er: “You really think your life is too long, saying such things.” Thinking further, he added: “But the people under the Seventh Prince are truly skilled at scheming. With just this one move, they used His Majesty’s hand to easily eliminate Grand Secretary Qiu and took down Yan Ziyan along with him. The Eastern Palace suffered a tremendous loss.”

Liu Chaoming gazed at the setting sun about to sink in the west and asked: “Hearing you describe him, Chao Qing is a clean, refined scholar. Did he explain why he went to Xinyue Pavilion?”

Hearing this question, Zhao Yan recalled Chao Qing’s appearance at that moment.

His right sleeve hung empty. He extended his left hand to grasp the teacup filled with clear water on the table, staring blankly at the ripples spreading within, silent for a time.

He still remembered what Su Jin looked like when they first met.

A refined and free-spirited person whose every gesture and movement carried the quality of clear wind and bright moon.

He had been somewhat jealous at the time, feeling she was like a luminous pearl—as long as she was present, there would be myriad brilliant lights, enough to make everyone around her pale in comparison.

Later, getting closer, he learned she had been orphaned and helpless since childhood, even more miserable than him with his elderly father still alive.

That year when she fell into misfortune, climbing out of a pile of corpses alone, he found her and carried her on his back. When he discovered she was actually female, it wasn’t that he didn’t feel anger and shock.

But after the fury in his heart subsided, what vaguely arose within was joy and relief.

He was unfilial. After his father passed away that year, he only returned home to observe mourning for half a year, then traveled to distant lands to find her.

The days in Songshan County were probably the most pleasant time of his life.

She worked as a clerk at the magistrate’s office, while he sold paintings and calligraphy in the streets and alleys. In spring they’d admire flowers, in winter they’d walk in snow.

She gradually came to regard him as a confidant, trusting him completely, even candidly telling him such a momentous secret as being Prime Minister Xie’s granddaughter.

He knew that her life thus far had been covered in blood. Constraining her heart and binding her emotions was human nature. Sometimes he thought to himself that being her confidant and accompanying her through life wasn’t bad either.

Until today at the railing, when he saw the brief flash of brilliance in her eyes as she looked toward the palace towers, he realized that in this world, there could also be someone who truly held her heart.

This was good too.

Chao Qing thought, if there was someone who held her heart, from now on she wouldn’t have to be so orphaned and helpless anymore.

Zhao Yan asked him why he had gone to Xinyue Pavilion that day.

Chao Qing gazed at the ripples spreading in the water in his cup and slowly said one sentence.

Zhao Yan said to Liu Chaoming: “He said, loving but unable to attain, so he willingly fell into degradation. Alas, having once seen the vast sea, other waters cannot compare—spilled water cannot be recovered.”

Liu Chaoming lowered his eyes, myriad emotions flowing through them. He asked lightly: “Where is Chao Qing now?”

Zhao Yan replied: “He said if there’s nothing else in the capital, he’ll leave for Shu tomorrow.”

Liu Chaoming said: “Leaving so soon?”

Zhao Yan sighed again: “I think he’s afraid of implicating Su Shiyu. After all, he offended the Seventh Prince’s people. If he stays in the capital, Su Shiyu will certainly protect him. Wouldn’t that drag Su Shiyu into danger again?”

Liu Chaoming said softly: “Order the censors along the Huguang and Sichuan circuits to provide extra protection. At most, the Seventh Prince’s people will pursue as far as Huguang before giving up on a nameless nobody.”

Zhao Yan acknowledged.

Liu Chaoming thought for a moment, then added: “There’s a ‘Spring Snow Painting’ in my residence—his most prized work. When he leaves tomorrow, return it to him.”

Zhao Yan said: “Alright, then I’ll go to your residence first to retrieve the painting.” With that, he picked up the official hat resting on the desk and turned to leave.

Only after Zhao Yan’s figure disappeared outside the hall doors did Qian San’er approach and say: “Minister Liu, Su Jin will be leaving the day after tomorrow. Should we have him come to the Imperial Censorate tomorrow to sign the official register?”

Liu Chaoming considered briefly: “She must leave at the hour of mao the day after tomorrow and will have many matters to handle tomorrow. Send someone to deliver the Imperial Censorate’s official register to the Capital Bureau for her to sign.”

Qian San’er acknowledged with a “yes.” After a moment, he said with undisguised regret: “Sigh, I’ve only met Su Jin twice and haven’t had a proper conversation with him yet.”

Liu Chaoming paused in the motion of lifting his teacup.

Qian San’er spread his hands: “Didn’t old Censor and you, Minister Liu, mention Su Shiyu for so many years? Even I ended up inexplicably thinking about him for years. I’m truly wronged.”

Liu Chaoming glanced at him: “What do you have to be wronged about?” Then he said: “Fine, tomorrow you’ll be the one to deliver the official register.” After pondering for a while, he added: “Oh yes, go to the Embroidered Uniform Guard now and retrieve Xu Yuanzhe’s ashes urn and memorial robes from when he passed. Deliver those tomorrow as well.” His eyes lowered slightly as he said softly: “She’s probably still concerned about this matter in her heart.”

The hall fell very quiet.

Liu Chaoming couldn’t help but look up at Qian San’er, only to see him staring at him with a curious expression, saying puzzled: “Minister Liu, you seem a bit off.”

Liu Chaoming’s eyes turned cold as he set down his teacup.

Qian San’er’s expression stiffened. He immediately bowed and said earnestly: “Understood. San’er will scram immediately, scram immediately.” With that, he backed step by step toward the door, then ran off in a flash.

After receiving the imperial decree promoting her to Supervising Censor, Su Jin was dragged out by Zhou Ping and Liu Yichu that night to drink, and woke up late the next day.

She had originally planned to go to the Embroidered Uniform Guard in the morning to collect Xu Yuanzhe’s memorial robes, then go search for Grandmother’s remains by the Huai River in the afternoon. Opening her door carelessly, she nearly tripped—Yingtian Prefect Yang Zhiwei was crouching at her doorway sighing mournfully.

Su Jin paused in surprise: “Lord Yang, what’s this about?”

Seeing her was like seeing a life-saving bodhisattva. Yang Zhiwei said: “Thank goodness you’re going to be a censor. If this continues, this official’s kneecaps will break from kneeling.”

Su Jin gave him a puzzled salute.

Yang Zhiwei tremblingly raised one hand, looking extremely pained: “Go look in Tuisi Hall and see who you’ve summoned this time.”

Inside Tuisi Hall stood two groups of people, one on the left and one on the right.

Leading the left side was someone wearing the fourth-rank cloud and wild goose insignia. He had a lean build, refined features, crescent moon-shaped eyes, and slightly curved eyebrows that made him appear to be smiling even when he wasn’t. This was none other than Deputy Censor-in-Chief of the Imperial Censorate Qian Yueqian, known as Qian San’er.

Leading the right side wore the third-rank leopard general’s uniform. He had a tall, slender frame, blade-thin lips, and stern features that never smiled. This was also someone she’d met—Commander of the Jinwu Guard, Left General Zuo Qian.

The two seemed at odds with each other, each occupying one side.

Even stranger, the clerk behind Qian San’er held a set of memorial robes with an urn placed on top, while the guard behind Zuo Qian stood watch over a coffin.

Zhou Ping and Liu Yichu stood in a corner of the hall, staring speechlessly at Su Jin.

Su Jin fell silent. Just as she was about to step forward and bow to the two high officials, before she could kneel down, she was supported on both sides.

Zuo Qian said: “No need.”

Qian San’er said: “If Censor Su kneels, it would be too much for San’er to bear.”

Su Jin was quite speechless and could only raise her hands in salute.

Qian San’er’s crescent eyes curved even more: “Censor Su, we’ve met before. My surname is Qian, given name Xu, courtesy name Yueqian. Now that you and I are colleagues in the Imperial Censorate, like with Minister Liu and Minister Zhao, just call me Qian San’er.”

Su Jin shook her head: “How could I? Lord Qian holds the position of Deputy Censor-in-Chief. That I don’t kneel is already disrespectful.”

Qian San’er smiled warmly: “Then just address me as Brother Yueqian.” Then he turned and pointed at the items his attendant held: “This elder brother came today specifically to retrieve Young Master Xu Ying’s ashes urn and memorial robes from the Embroidered Uniform Guard to deliver to you, saving you a trip of trouble, isn’t that right?”

Seeing this, Su Jin’s heart leaped with joy. She bowed with cupped hands: “Then I truly thank Lord Qian.”

Qian San’er was just nodding in satisfaction when someone at the side said solemnly: “This general came because the Thirteenth Prince heard that Censor Su was looking for a grandmother’s remains. This general has already sent the Jinwu Guard to search up and down the Huai River. We only found them yesterday and delivered them first thing this morning.”

Su Jin’s eyes brightened with delight as she also saluted Zuo Qian: “Thank you, Left General.”

But after she thanked them, neither Qian San’er nor Zuo Qian left. One continued smiling warmly, the other remained solemn, both staring at her.

Su Jin thought for a moment and said: “Later today, this subordinate will personally visit both your residences to express thanks.”

Qian San’er shook his head: “No need, no need. What does Censor Su plan to do next?”

Su Jin glanced back at Zhou Ping and Liu Yichu: “I’ve already arranged with my two good friends that today we’ll go outside the city to bury Yuanzhe and Grandmother together.”

Zuo Qian said sternly: “You’re a scholar—wouldn’t that be exhausting?”

Qian San’er said: “Exactly. Such a small matter—just leave it to my subordinates. Censor Su need only accompany them.”

Zuo Qian said coldly: “Leave it to me.”

Qian San’er said: “Why should I?”

Su Jin was speechless. Liu Yichu at the side glanced at everyone’s expressions, leaned in and said: “Together, together.”

Zuo Qian nodded, his face cold as he turned. Qian San’er snorted and swept his sleeves as he left.

Everyone chose a spot by the Huai River against the mountains and near water, and buried Yuanzhe’s memorial robes and ashes together with Grandmother.

Su Jin, Zhou Ping, and Liu Yichu bowed before the grave. Zuo Qian with the Jinwu Guard and Qian San’er with the Imperial Censorate clerks also followed behind, bowing in a grand procession.

The grave grass was green. As the wind blew, it was as if after all matters had passed, someone was whispering.

The departed were gone. May there be a place of beautiful mountains and clear waters beyond the six directions where all separated people can reunite.

After burying Yuanzhe and Grandmother, Zuo Qian and Qian San’er accompanied Su Jin all the way back.

Upon reaching the prefectural office entrance, just as the two were about to take their leave, Su Jin suddenly remembered something: “Both lords, please wait a moment.”

She bowed, turned back into the office, and shortly emerged hurriedly again, presenting a black umbrella to Qian San’er: “This umbrella belongs to Minister Liu. I hope Lord Qian can return it on this subordinate’s behalf.”

Qian San’er stared at the umbrella suspiciously. Suddenly spotting the character “Yun” carved on the handle, he couldn’t help but be startled, saying: “This… Censor Su should return it yourself.”

Su Jin hesitated: “Someone from the palace said the Supervising Censor’s official seal will only be delivered tomorrow morning. This subordinate currently cannot enter the palace.”

Qian San’er said with complete seriousness: “Oh, that’s nothing. Minister Liu is on leave today. Censor Su can go find him at the Liu residence.” He suddenly added: “I just remembered—I have urgent business in the palace. I’ll leave first.” With that, he hurried off in a flash.

Su Jin fell silent. She turned to look at Zuo Qian, presenting a dagger. But before she could say anything, Zuo Qian looked at the dagger and also seemed startled: “Censor Su, this is His Highness’s property. Please return it yourself.”

Su Jin said: “But this subordinate…”

Zuo Qian didn’t wait for her to finish. He nodded: “I know. His Highness, he—” He paused, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “—is at his princely residence today.”

Such a coincidence?

Su Jin froze. Before she could speak, Zuo Qian suddenly leaped onto his horse’s back, said concisely “Farewell,” and galloped off swiftly.

An hour later, Liu Chaoming walked through the gates of the Liu residence with a perfectly composed expression.

An’ran at the side felt as if the sun had risen from the west, saying in surprise: “My lord, it’s not yet time to leave office. Why have you returned to the residence?”

Liu Chaoming said: “Oh, day off.”

—

**Author’s Note:**

I posted this on Weibo before, but many of you may not have seen it, so I’ll say it again here:

The outline of this story, its subsequent developments, and the ending were actually set very early on. I’m quite satisfied with it and won’t change it easily, so here’s some advice from God’s perspective:

1. Both Liu Ge and Thirteen are male leads, both! Shen Xiaogege is labeled as a supporting male in the synopsis only because he has no romantic storyline with Su Su.

2. In the opening prologue, 13 didn’t actually die. Our principle has always been: supporting characters can die at will, main characters don’t die easily.

3. This is also the most important point: this story has deep schemes, so be cautious about taking sides. I’ve hinted at this before—the best way to choose sides is to love them all, or be a fickle radish, changing your favorite every day, remaining faithful only to Zhige.

4. No NP, will never be NP in this lifetime.

Answering some questions from friends: I don’t know what points and monthly stones are for either, but it seems you can exchange them for things?