Liu Chaoming slowly released the attendant. After a moment, he said, “Go tell His Highness—I, Liu Yun, never go back on my word.”

The attendant was still frightened, presenting the broken jade with both hands, not daring to respond.

Liu Chaoming took the jade from his hands. The cool, familiar texture made his eyes turn sorrowful in an instant. He added, “Also remind His Highness not to forget what he promised me back then.”

“Yes.” The attendant said respectfully, “His Highness finally had this humble servant bring Your Lordship one more message—His Highness, like Your Lordship, is someone who always keeps promises. Working tirelessly for many years, not a single day has he forgotten his original intent.”

Liu Chaoming hummed in acknowledgment. “Understood. You may go.”

The attendant departed soundlessly.

Snow fell like cotton. Not far away, plum branches stretched horizontally. Blood-red plum blossoms burst forth with blazing, magnificent splendor, as if trying to illuminate this deep night.

Liu Chaoming stared at this overambitious plum color, caressing the jade stone in his hand. After a moment, he clenched the broken jade tightly in his palm and walked deeper into the plum garden.

When the sky brightened somewhat, the Grand Secretariat sent a dispatch saying His Majesty was unwell and cancelled today’s morning court. Crown Prince Zhu Minda would preside over government, summoning the Grand Secretariat and the Seven Ministers to discuss matters at Fengtian Hall.

It was already the end of the twelfth month. This year’s New Year banquet and Longevity Banquet would be held together—a matter of utmost importance. There were even rumors that in another ten days, before the Minor New Year, all government offices would suspend operations.

Su Jin had slept in the duty room that night. Rising at the hour of mao, she recalled the Petition Drum case and ground ink to write a proper indictment before setting out for the hall.

However, upon just reaching the front courtyard of the Imperial Censorate, she saw over ten Imperial Censors waiting in the snow of the central courtyard. Led by Song Jue, upon seeing her, he called out loudly, “Kneel—”

The dozen or so people all lifted their robes in unison and bowed down to Su Jin.

Su Jin paused in surprise and asked, “What are you doing?”

Song Jue presented a petition, saying resolutely, “This subordinate Song Jue, leading twelve Supervisory Censors from Yingtian Prefecture, earnestly requests Lord Su to thoroughly investigate the Third Prince Zhu Jiyou, the Minister of Works, and the Vice Minister for constructing traveling palaces and selling artisan appointments in Shanxi Circuit.”

Was this… forcing her hand?

Su Jin’s gaze swept over the twelve Imperial Censors behind Song Jue. Yan Xiu and Zhai Di were not among them.

Her expression showed displeasure as she called out, “Yan Xiu, Zhai Qiguang.”

Two men emerged from the hall on the other side of the central courtyard, bowing to Su Jin in unison. Su Jin ignored Song Jue, turning to ask, “When did they get here? Has no one managed this?”

Zhai Di replied, “Reporting to Lord Su, they’ve been here since the hour of yin. This subordinate and Imperial Censor Yan both tried to dissuade them, to no avail.”

Su Jin thought Zhao Yan had probably entered the palace and gone directly to Fengtian Hall, so she asked, “Has Lord Liu not returned?”

Yan Xiu said, “He returned once, but after receiving a dispatch from the Grand Secretariat, he hurried off again. Passing by, he saw them and asked, ‘What are you all standing in the central courtyard for?'” He paused, revealing a somewhat amused expression. “They certainly know how to read faces. When Lord Liu asked, they all scattered at once. After Lord Liu left, they came back to wait again.”

At this moment, the hall door behind them creaked open. Qian San’er, hearing the commotion outside, had intended to come out and investigate. Who knew that upon seeing such a scene, before Su Jin could even call out “Lord Qian,” there was a “click” as the door was bolted shut.

Someone who preferred not to meddle in others’ affairs.

Seeing this situation, Song Jue became even more emboldened, presenting another letter. “Lord Su, last night at midnight, we received another urgent dispatch from Shanxi. This Third Prince and the Ministry of Works commit every evil. In the depths of winter, they still abduct artisans to construct traveling palaces. Several have frozen to death or been injured. This subordinate earnestly begs Lord Su not to tolerate this any longer and immediately memorialize His Majesty!”

Having spoken, he placed the petition and urgent letter in the snow before him, prostrating with both hands on the ground and kowtowing.

The censors behind Song Jue, seeing this, also kowtowed in unison, saying, “We earnestly beg Lord Su not to tolerate evil deeds any longer and immediately memorialize His Majesty!”

Su Jin glanced at the dark yellow letter in the snow. After a long while, she said coldly, “Did this official say she would not investigate thoroughly?”

Hearing these words, Song Jue couldn’t help but look up at her. “Lord Su?”

Su Jin ignored him, handing the indictment in her hand to Zhai Di and saying flatly, “This official has already signed it, but to arrest officials of the seventh rank or above requires approval from the Vice Censor-in-Chief or Censor-in-Chief. Go ask Lord Qian to sign this document.”

Zhai Di took the indictment and knocked on the nearby hall door.

After a moment, Qian San’er opened the door a crack, extended a writing brush to sign the document, then closed the door again.

Su Jin continued, “Yan Xiu, Qiguang—you two immediately take people to the Ministry of Works and arrest Ministry Director Sun Yinde for questioning at the Imperial Censorate.”

Both acknowledged in unison, bowing to Su Jin before departing with a group of censors.

Seeing this, Song Jue was overjoyed, thinking he had persuaded Su Jin. He said, “Thank you, Lord Su.” Just as he was about to rise, he was unexpectedly stopped by Su Jin’s sharp command: “Kneel!”

Her voice was cold to the extreme, as if she were truly angry.

Hearing this, Song Jue and the censors behind him dared not move. They knelt properly in place again, staring at Su Jin in bewilderment.

Su Jin said expressionlessly, “Who told you that you could threaten this official like this?”

Song Jue paused briefly, immediately acknowledging his error. “Reporting to Your Lordship, this subordinate knows he was wrong. It’s just that last night, this subordinate received an urgent dispatch from Shanxi. In my anxiety, I feared…”

“Fear justifies forgetting your own position? Leading a group of censors to coerce this official?” Su Jin rebuked. “Do you think this official is newly appointed? Easy to bully?”

Song Jue’s heart trembled. He immediately kowtowed again on the ground. “Reporting to Lord Su, this subordinate absolutely did not mean that.”

Su Jin sneered coldly. “You didn’t? Then this official asks you—if Lord Liu were trying this case instead, would you dare to lead people to kneel all over the central courtyard?”

Hearing these words, Song Jue buried his head even deeper in the snow. After a moment, he only said, “Lord Su, this subordinate acknowledges his crime and begs Your Lordship’s punishment.”

Su Jin said, “This official believes in out of sight, out of mind. You will all kneel outside the Imperial Censorate’s main gate until noon. When you’ve thought things through, come to this official’s office one by one to receive punishment.”

Song Jue dared not offend further and respectfully acknowledged, leading the several people behind him in orderly fashion toward the outside of the Imperial Censorate.

As the group of people walked outside and took their positions at the gate, they suddenly seemed to see someone, bowing in another direction and calling out, “Greetings to the Thirteenth Prince.”

Hearing this, Su Jin’s heart skipped a beat. She looked up toward outside the courtyard.

However, the gate was only about ten feet wide—she could not see anything.

Zhu Nanxian had actually been there for a while. Not knowing how to explain the jade pendant matter, he had been pacing outside the courtyard organizing his words. He hadn’t noticed that a whole group of people suddenly emerged from the Imperial Censorate and knelt before him in unison. Startled, thinking something had happened, he immediately asked, “What’s wrong? Where is Su Shiyu?”

Song Jue at the front paused in confusion. After a long moment, he realized “Shiyu” was Su Jin’s courtesy name and answered, “Lord Su is currently inside the office. Would Your Highness like to summon him?”

Zhu Nanxian was about to speak when, looking up, Su Jin was already standing at the courtyard gate.

She had not rested well all night. Her black fur cloak made her complexion appear particularly pale. Seeing Zhu Nanxian, she lowered her eyes and bowed. “This humble subject greets the Thirteenth Prince.” Then she paused and asked, “Does Your Highness seek this humble subject for some matter?”

Actually, it wasn’t anything particularly important.

Zhu Nanxian didn’t know how to explain. His throat moved, and he could only hum in acknowledgment.

Su Jin was silent briefly, then said softly, “Very well.” Then she stood up, glanced at Song Jue and the others, said nothing more, and followed Zhu Nanxian away.

Not far from the Six Ministries and the Imperial Censorate offices, at the end of a short path stood a hexagonal pavilion. If spring came, with lush flowers and trees, it would be a fine scene. However, now at year’s end, with all things withered, it could only be considered a secluded spot.

Zhu Nanxian stood in the pavilion. After a long while, he finally turned around, extending something in his hand forward and saying hesitantly, “I came… actually to return this to you.”

It was Su Jin’s jade pendant carved with the character for “rain.”

He was not someone who coveted others’ possessions. Thinking that he had inexplicably kept this jade pendant for nearly two years, it was truly difficult to speak of.

Zhu Nanxian’s exceptionally handsome brow furrowed slightly. After a moment, he tried to explain, “Not returning it to you until today is because…”

Because of what? Fearing others would discover this jade pendant was used by a woman and suspect her identity?

But hadn’t he already made up an excuse to cover it over?

Since the drowning incident, he had seen her several times. Each time, he had kept this jade pendant close to his body. But why had he never returned it?

The clear light after snow shone into the pavilion, enveloping Su Jin in luminous, woven shadows of light.

She glanced at the jade pendant in Zhu Nanxian’s hand but did not take it. Instead, she asked, “Does Your Highness know why the character ‘rain’ is carved on this jade pendant?”

Zhu Nanxian hummed softly in acknowledgment. “Shiyu is your courtesy name.”

But Su Jin shook her head, saying softly, “Shortly after I was born, my father and mother died one after another. My grandfather alone raised me. The year my grandfather met with disaster, I had not yet come of age, so I had no formal name—only my childhood name, A’Yu.”

As she spoke, she lowered her eyelids, her voice revealing neither sorrow nor joy. “Everything from our old home was burned. Only this jade pendant remained. This is the only thing my grandfather left me. I’ve always kept it close.”

Hearing these words, Zhu Nanxian’s eyes showed remorse. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was so important to you.” He pushed the jade pendant forward a bit more, continuing, “Keep it safe. Don’t lose it again in the future.”

But thinking again, he said with certainty, “Even if you lose it again, it doesn’t matter. No matter where you lose it, this prince will find it for you.”

Su Jin’s eyes moved slightly. She couldn’t help but look up at him.

After a moment, she lowered her eyelids again, revealing a brief and faint smile. “Does Your Highness also like this jade pendant?”

Zhu Nanxian did not understand her meaning. “Hmm?”

Su Jin said softly, “If Your Highness likes it, then please keep it.”

As if mountain mists came from the void, crossing mountains and seas, transforming the ground beneath his feet into cloud-topped peaks.

Zhu Nanxian’s hand hanging at his side trembled uncontrollably, yet his eyes still remained composed.

He withdrew the hand holding the jade pendant, nodded once, and said calmly, “Then very well. This prince will keep it safe for you for now.”

He had completely forgotten what Shen Jing had instructed him last night—forgotten to ask Su Jin whether she would be willing to come to the Eastern Palace after the New Year banquet to meet his sister-in-law.

Zhu Nanxian’s mind was completely blank. He only knew that if he continued standing face to face with her like this, he truly didn’t know what might happen.

So he swallowed and said, “This prince will leave first.” He turned and walked no more than two steps before colliding head-on with a pavilion pillar.

Su Jin suddenly smiled.

Zhu Nanxian coughed once, turned his head, and strode purposefully outward again. Who knew that after only three or four steps, not noticing the stone steps before the pavilion, he stepped into empty air.

He staggered two steps in the snow before steadying himself, but didn’t dare turn back. He hesitated briefly, then hurried away.