Su Jin walked into the hall, lifted her robe, and bowed to Liu Chaoming: “My lord, this subordinate has come to plead guilty before you.” She paused and continued, “This subordinate disregarded the law and subjected Sun Yinde to punishment before interrogation.”

Liu Chaoming said coolly: “And what else?”

Su Jin fell silent for a moment, then bowed to him again: “Also… this subordinate wishes to make him change his confession and conceal evidence.”

The three people in the hall made no sound. Su Jin looked up to see that Zhao Yan and Qian San’er had already lowered their heads to drink their tea.

Liu Chaoming walked before her and looked down at her from his superior position: “Continue.”

Su Jin responded with “Yes,” then hesitated: “Actually, I’ve already mentioned this to you before, my lord. This subordinate feels that there’s something else hidden behind this case. Someone… wants this subordinate to quickly get to the bottom of this case. If we completely bring down the Minister and Vice Ministers of the Ministry of Works, we might very well fall into a trap. Moreover, although officials of fourth rank and above are personally appointed by His Majesty, they are nominated by the Ministry of Personnel. The Seventh Prince has long coveted this lucrative position in the Ministry of Works. This subordinate fears he will install his own people. Over time, wouldn’t this become another Ministry of Works rife with corruption and officials protecting each other?”

Hearing this, Zhao Yan closed the lid of his tea bowl and thought for a moment: “Zeng Youliang is the Seventh Prince’s man. According to what you’re saying, the Seventh Prince wants you to investigate this case thoroughly so he can install his own people in the Ministry of Works?”

Su Jin said: “This subordinate doesn’t know. At first I thought so, but later I felt it wasn’t quite right.”

Liu Chaoming looked at her quietly. After a long while, he said: “Stand up and speak.”

Su Jin complied, stood up, and continued: “Minister Liu of the Ministry of Works is actually quite capable, and his legitimate daughter is the Princess Consort of the Fourteenth Prince. So this subordinate thinks we should temporarily remove the charges against Minister Liu from the indictment and keep him at the Ministry of Works. When that time comes, even if the Seventh Prince installs his people, the two sides will check and balance each other, actually serving a supervisory function. In the short term, there certainly won’t be any more selling of craftsmen or corruption and bribery.”

Hearing this, Zhao Yan pondered for a while, then shook his head: “This is inappropriate. Neither are good birds. If these two sides collude, that’s one thing, but what if they fight to the death? What if the Seventh Prince’s people impeach you for shielding Minister Liu? Wouldn’t that be bringing fire upon yourself?”

Su Jin said: “This is merely an expedient measure. Right now is a critical moment. If this matter causes too much commotion, this subordinate fears it will shake the very foundations.”

Though her words were vague, the three men above were all shrewd and understood perfectly well.

The so-called critical moment was precisely when old and new imperial power was changing hands—Emperor Jingyuan was gravely ill, Zhu Minda was about to ascend the throne, and all the crown princes were eyeing the throne covetously. If at this time the Imperial Censorate successively impeached the Third, Ninth, and Fourteenth Princes and uprooted the Ministry of Works entirely, then the palace power structure would inevitably change as a result. If exploited by someone with ulterior motives, who knew what kind of chaos would ensue.

Su Jin continued: “Naturally, after the impeachment, the investigation must still continue.” She lowered her eyes and pressed her lips together, as if finding it difficult to say: “This subordinate will have someone consolidate all the evidence of Minister Liu’s corruption in one place and bring it out when the situation stabilizes. At that time… we’ll push all the blame onto Sun Yinde, saying he accepted benefits from Minister Liu and concealed evidence. After all, the dead tell no tales.”

This was exactly what Liu Chaoming had taught her in the Palace Front Hall case.

In this chaos, even as a chess piece, one must have the mindset of a chess player, making good use of the chips in hand to make the most timely move.

Su Jin was applying what she had learned.

Qian San’er laughed with a “tsk”: “By that time, Sun Yinde probably won’t be able to keep the lid on his coffin.”

Zhao Yan felt Su Jin’s proposal was somewhat risky, but in extraordinary times extraordinary measures were needed—he understood this principle. Besides, he wasn’t the one in charge at the Imperial Censorate anyway. He picked up his tea, took a small sip, and looked at Liu Chaoming’s expression.

Liu Chaoming’s face showed no emotion whatsoever. After a while, he inexplicably asked: “Have you been reading too many poetry collections lately?”

Su Jin didn’t understand.

Liu Chaoming gazed at her coolly.

Last time when she came to ask him for Zhai Di, she first served him tea and ink and asked how he was doing. This time, though she clearly wanted to conceal evidence and alter confessions, she first knelt to accept the lighter charge of making errors in interrogation.

Liu Chaoming said coolly: “In the future, speak directly when you have matters. No need to start with a prelude.”

Hearing these words, both Zhao Yan and Qian San’er laughed aloud.

Su Jin bent down and bowed, saying with complete composure, “Yes. Then this subordinate will take her leave first.”

The jailer in the interrogation room wielded his whip skillfully—he hadn’t injured any bones or tendons, yet made Sun Yinde hurt so much he wished for death. As soon as he saw Su Jin return, he immediately confessed everything through tears, saying he had indeed been installed in the Ministry of Works by the Seventh Prince—

Zhu Zhaowei had long known that the Third Prince was building a traveling palace in Shanxi. He originally wanted Sun Yinde to cause trouble in the Ministry of Works to firmly grasp the Third Prince’s weakness and sweep them all away in one net, then install his own people in the Ministry of Works. Therefore, not long after Sun Yinde entered the Ministry of Works, he volunteered to go to Datong Prefecture in Shanxi. The ostensible reason was to build a temple to pray for blessings for Great Sui, but in reality it was to help Zhu Jiyou build palace pavilions.

Who would have thought that this Zhu Jiyou was a complete lecher, utterly obsessed with women.

Sun Yinde said: “Using beauty portraits to search for beauties, digging out people’s kneecaps—Censor, you already know about these things, so I won’t mention them. In the Third Prince’s residence, inside and out there are hundreds of concubines. He can’t enjoy them all—what to do? In one night he flips through twenty or so tokens. One to help him change clothes, one to lift the curtain, another to arrange the bed—whichever ones serve him comfortably, those are the ones he favors. To put it offensively, he spreads his favor more evenly than His Majesty.”

Hearing these words, Su Jin couldn’t help but frown. She ordered the jailer to release Sun Yinde from the torture rack and let him speak slowly.

Zhai Di on the side asked: “This is the Third Prince’s private matter. How do you know about it?”

Sun Yinde, feeling that his life and livelihood were in the hands of these censors, knelt on the ground and answered whatever was asked: “His Highness doesn’t avoid the topic. He often brags about it, saying he’s a big bumblebee who needs to collect nectar from a hundred flowers.” He added, “Quite a few princes in the palace also know about this. Moreover, the Ninth and Tenth Princes came to Shanxi midway. The Ninth Prince isn’t a good master either—he came to profit. Before leaving, he even asked the Third Prince for several beautiful concubines. On the other hand, the Tenth Prince couldn’t stand these things and found a quiet place to stay, out of sight, out of mind.”

Through the Palace Front Hall incident, Su Jin had gained a deep understanding of the palace power structure—the Third, Ninth, and Tenth were all the Fourteenth’s people. The Third and Ninth, one arrogant and one weak, while the Tenth Prince Zhu Yiheng was a refined gentleman who had been close to the Fourteenth because he had been raised in the Imperial Noble Consort’s palace since childhood.

Seeing Su Jin deep in thought, Sun Yinde thought he had hit upon an important point. Wracking his brain, he thought of something extremely important and continued: “Left Commander-in-Chief Qi Wujiu has three quite outstanding younger sisters—two legitimate and one from a concubine. Does Censor Su know about this?”

Qi Wujiu, son of the Marquis of Anping, held the rank of first grade. His mother was Princess Imperial Lianshu, the sister of Zhu Jingyuan. His status was beyond measure.

Su Jin didn’t respond to this.

Sun Yinde continued: “A few years ago, when the eldest Miss Qi came of age, it was said she would be selected to enter the palace to become the Imperial Consort for the Thirteenth Prince. Miss Qi also fell for the Thirteenth Prince at first sight. At that time, throughout the capital, inside and out, everyone was talking about what a talented and beautiful couple they were. But our Thirteenth Prince first had to observe mourning, then went to the Northwest to lead troops. They originally said they would settle the marriage first, but later, somehow, the Thirteenth Prince sent a letter back from the Northwest asking the Crown Princess to help him break off the engagement.”

He said this much, but who knew what else was hidden behind it.

Song Jue was someone who got sidetracked at the slightest gossip. Even during interrogation, he couldn’t help but interject: “I know about this. Wasn’t Miss Qi later betrothed to the Twelfth Prince? I heard that like the Fourth Prince’s Consort, she’s currently with child and, afraid of the hardships of travel, didn’t return to the capital this time.”

Sun Yinde said: “Yes. Now that the Thirteenth Prince has finished leading troops and completed his enfeoffment, hasn’t he returned? By all rights he should marry. But what is the Thirteenth Prince’s status? Not just any ordinary woman is worthy of him. Looking around, only the Shen and Qi families are the best. Lord Shen has two devastatingly beautiful elder sisters who are already married, and no younger sisters below. The Qi family does have another legitimate daughter, but she’s only twelve this year. Even if the Thirteenth Prince wants to take her as his primary consort, won’t he have to wait another three years? So picking and choosing, there’s only Miss Qi the Fourth left.”

Su Jin knew who he was talking about—Qiling, whose given name also contained the character “rain.”

“Although Qiling is from a concubine, she’s a famous beauty in the capital with exceptional talent, beautiful and intelligent. Ordinary women only study the Four Books for Women, and at most read the Analects and the Book of Songs. This Qiling has mastered all the Four Books and Five Classics. As a child, she even studied under Grand Tutor Yan together with the Left Commander-in-Chief. If she were to take the imperial examinations, not to mention becoming a presented scholar, she could probably at least pass as a scholar or provincial graduate. This subordinate…” He paused and swallowed, “I even have a sample of her small regular script at my residence. Her calligraphy is extremely beautiful. Tell me, who wouldn’t love such a beauty with both talent and looks?”

Su Jin came to some understanding. So when Shen Jing used the excuse that the jade pendant carved with the character “rain” was meant by Zhu Nanxian for Qiling, it wasn’t just because Qiling’s given name also contained the character for rain, but because her status and reputation were sufficient to silence everyone.

She thought for a moment and said coolly: “You bring up the Qi family without reason—what are you trying to tell this official?”

Sun Yinde grinned: “This subordinate wants to trade a secret with Censor Su for my life.”

Su Jin’s face showed no expression: “Speak.”

Sun Yinde said: “Does Censor Su agree?”

Su Jin said: “Whether you speak or not is up to you. Whether I take your life or not is up to me. If you continue to dawdle, this official will simply handle matters according to regulations.”

Sun Yinde hurriedly said: “This subordinate heard someone say this morning that the Thirteenth Prince privately keeps a jade pendant he wants to give to Miss Qi the Fourth, apparently having feelings for her. But when the Third Prince came to the capital earlier, he happened to also meet this Miss Qi the Fourth once and also took a liking to her. He even wants to take her as his second primary consort.”

He said this and chuckled: “Although the Third Prince is usually confused, when it comes to ‘women’ he’s absolutely unambiguous. Isn’t the New Year banquet coming up? He ordered all the high officials in the palace to bring their female family members. Who doesn’t know it’s secretly for the Thirteenth Prince to select a princess consort? The Third Prince knows he can’t compete with the Thirteenth Prince, so he’s probably already thought up some dirty trick waiting ahead. This subordinate figures that you, Censor Su, have always been close to the Thirteenth Prince. You could just go give the Thirteenth Prince a heads up. If you can render another service before the Thirteenth Prince, you might even get promoted another rank to Vice Chief Censor.”

In just two short years, Su Jin had risen from an eighth-rank secretary to a fourth-rank associate censor. There were all kinds of rumors in the palace. But the most excessive rumor was that she used her beauty to serve her superiors and was particularly close to several princes and high officials in important positions.

She didn’t care about these malicious gossip. This was human nature—no matter how hard she tried to be a good censor, there would always be people who slandered her without asking about cause and effect.

Su Jin knew what rumors lay behind Sun Yinde’s words. She stared at a tree outside the window covered in white snow, then turned back: “You want to live?”

Sun Yinde’s fish-bubble eyes showed great joy: “Is Lord Su agreeing?”

This was the first time he addressed her as “lord.” It turned out the two words “preserve life” had such immediate effect.

Su Jin glanced at Yan Xiu, signaling him to close the door, then said: “Then do as I say. First, since the Seventh Prince sent you to catch the Third Prince’s weakness, you must have privately hidden quite a bit of evidence. You have until the end of today to hand over all the evidence to this official. Second, dictate a confession stating the whole sequence of events clearly. Song Jue, you record what he says. Third, confess a false version—Censor Zhai will teach you. Fourth,” she tore off a sheet of paper from the desk and handed it forward, “here’s a blank indictment. Sign your name and affix your seal first.”

Sun Yinde didn’t know what Su Jin intended, but thinking of how he had exhausted his eloquence to preserve his life from her hands, he dared not disobey and agreed to everything.

After Su Jin finished interrogating Sun Yinde and emerged from the interrogation room, snow was falling heavily in the central courtyard, the whole world pure white.

She quietly watched the falling snow for a long time, not moving at all.

When Zhai Di and the other two came out, she was still standing under the corridor eaves, lost in thought.

Zhai Di had always been perceptive. After thinking for a moment, he stepped forward and bowed: “Does my lord have troubles on her mind?”

Hearing these words, Su Jin’s eyelashes moved slightly and she lowered her eyes. Her complexion was as pale as the snow. After a moment, she turned around and shook her head quite calmly: “It’s nothing.”

Zhai Di couldn’t guess her thoughts but understood she didn’t want to say more. He presented the indictment in his hand and asked: “Does my lord truly intend to spare Sun Yinde’s life?”

Su Jin took the document and looked at Sun Yinde’s signature and handprint in the lower left corner. Her thoughts were pulled back to the past—when Yan Ziyan had righteously faced death, when Yuanzhe and Grandmother had died tragically, their bones still unburied by the Huai River. She had vowed to avenge them.

A blazing fire suddenly ignited in the depths of her dark eyes. Su Jin said: “How could I?”

She raised her head, looking at the four characters “Impartial, Bright, Upright, Dignified” on the plaque, and suddenly asked: “Zhai Qiguang, Song Jue, Yan Xiu—are your crimson robes ready?”

Hearing this, all three were stunned.

The official robes of Great Sui officials ranged from light blue for low ranks to dark ink for high ranks. However, censors had another type of robe worn only when impeaching and submitting memorials—the crimson robe.

Wearing the vermilion crimson robe signified that the Son of Heaven had granted authority, allowing them to disregard rank and only seek to hang a clear mirror under heaven.

The three looked at each other in silence, their eyes revealing wild joy. But in the next moment, this joy suddenly vanished. They all bowed to Su Jin together, solemnly and gravely saying: “In response to my lord, as long as the crimson robes exist, impartiality endures. Since the Denunciation Drum case began, this subordinate has been waiting for this day every moment.”

Actually, Su Jin had never worn a crimson robe either.

Since being promoted to Supervising Censor, she had been touring various places on inspection—this would be her first time in this life as well.

She had seen Liu Chaoming wear it once though. His cold jade-like flawless features, the moment the crimson robe was donned, simultaneously produced an almost bewitching gentleness and sharpness, yet also remained as calm as the sea.

Su Jin said: “Good. Tomorrow at morning court, you three will accompany this official to impeach the Left and Right Vice Ministers of the Ministry of Works, the Division Director of the Ministry of Works, and His Majesty’s third son, the Third Prince Zhu Jiyou of Datong Prefecture in Shanxi.”