Zhu Zhaowei stared intently at Zhu Nanxian and said with a smile, “Good, then I shall have someone tally the count and also draft the requisition letter for the horses. It will be sent to Nanchang Prefecture this very day.”

As he spoke, he glanced at the Vice Minister of the Ministry of War standing to the side. That Vice Minister understood the signal and promptly withdrew.

With one matter concluded, Zhu Zhaowei thought for a moment and said, “There is one final matter.” He looked toward Su Jin. “Although the civilian horses conscripted from Guangxi cannot immediately serve on the battlefield, they can be sent to the Court of Imperial Stud to be raised, and perhaps they’ll be useful in the future. However, with the sudden addition of over a hundred injured horses, the Directorate of Imperial Stables at the Court of Imperial Stud will certainly lack sufficient manpower. I ask that Imperial Censor Su inform Assistant Director Shen that three days hence, when the civilian horses from Guangxi arrive, he should report to the Court of Imperial Stud to assume his post.”

Su Jin lowered her eyelids, and only after a long while did she speak: “In reply to Your Highness, Shen Qingyue suffered excessive punishment that day. The Imperial Medical Academy says he requires at least three months of recuperation before he can recover. His originally scheduled appointment was for mid-April, but now it’s barely the end of February, so I fear he cannot shoulder this responsibility.”

Her hands had been injured and hung powerlessly at her sides, but as she said this, she raised her sleeves and bowed. “May I request that Your Highness grant a few more days’ grace?”

Zhu Zhaowei appeared somewhat troubled: “It’s not that I am unwilling to grant grace, but matters have their priorities. Assistant Director Shen’s injury affects one person—at worst he can assume his post with a walking stick. But if the wartime use of horses is delayed, that would disregard hundreds upon thousands of lives at the border. Wouldn’t you say that’s the logic?” He smiled leisurely again. “Naturally, Shen Qingyue was once a Vice Minister of Revenue after all, and I have no wish to make things difficult for him. How about this—once the end of the month passes and Qingming is over, at the beginning of the third month, we’ll have Assistant Director Shen report to the Court of Imperial Stud. What do you think?”

Having said this much, he didn’t wait for Su Jin to answer but added a final sentence: “Actually, that day when Shen Qingyue fainted from the punishment, I was constantly worried about his injuries. Afterwards, I even sent someone specially to the Shen residence to inquire, only to learn that since Shen Tuo was exiled, the Shen household has dispersed, and Shen Xi’s whereabouts are unknown. If Imperial Censor Su truly finds this difficult, why not tell me where Shen Xi is currently residing? I would be willing to visit personally, and if he is indeed too gravely injured, I will reconsider.”

Su Jin slowly lowered her clasped hands and said nothing more.

At this moment, the palace hall door opened slightly, and a palace attendant outside reported: “Seventh Prince, the Tenth Prince requests an audience.”

As spring night descended, Zhu Yiheng wore plain robes. Before even entering the hall, his smile gently spread: “Knowing that Seventh Brother is conducting an investigation, Tenth Brother originally shouldn’t disturb you at this time, but there is a matter at hand that is truly quite urgent.” He paused, then said, “Fourth Brother has decided to return to Beiping and set out to fight the war against Northern Liang.”

Zhu Zhaowei was startled: “Truly?” A trace of joy flashed across his brow. “Has he determined when he’ll depart the capital?”

“Within these two days.” Zhu Yiheng said. “The exact date hasn’t been set because the allocation of wartime provisions and personnel is particularly difficult. Fourth Brother is still at the Five Military Commissioners’ Office discussing with several military commissioners, but how the final decision will be made still depends on your opinion, Seventh Brother.”

He paused, his gaze meeting those of Liu Chaoming and the other two. After exchanging courtesies, he continued: “Has Seventh Brother finished questioning the case? Should Tenth Brother invite Fourth Brother, the military commissioners, and Minister Gong of the Ministry of War to come to the Hall of Supreme Harmony for a discussion?”

Though Zhu Zhaowei’s face revealed nothing, in his heart he truly wished Zhu Yushen would leave as soon as possible. Hearing Zhu Yiheng say this, he still pretended to deliberate carefully before saying: “Never mind, going back and forth would tire you. I shall personally make a trip to the Five Military Commissioners’ Office myself.” As he spoke, he looked toward the Vice Minister of the Ministry of War who had earlier withdrawn to the rear of the hall to write the horse requisition letter.

That Vice Minister nodded once and immediately presented the letter to Zhu Nanxian.

Zhu Zhaowei watched intently as Zhu Nanxian signed his name on the letter, then ordered someone to deliver it to the Transmission Office overnight. Afterwards he said, “Well then, everyone here is dismissed.” He added, “Thirteenth, seeing that you care about the borders and volunteered to donate horses, I won’t hold against you today the offense of leaving the Western Guard Office without permission and intruding into the Hall of Supreme Harmony. You have injuries, so return to the Eastern Palace first to rest.”

Having finished speaking, he strode out with all his attendants and guards.

The palace attendants and guards all waited outside the hall. In the brightly lit great hall, within moments only three people remained. Zhu Nanxian’s gaze swept over Su Jin’s scarred fingers. After a moment of silence, he cupped his fists and bowed to Liu Chaoming: “Today I must thank Lord Liu.”

Liu Chaoming knew that Zhu Nanxian’s thanks were truly for him having sent someone to the Western Guard Office to inform him of Su Shiyu’s misfortune. Without saying much, he returned the bow: “Thirteenth Prince is too courteous.”

Su Jin stood quietly for a moment, then also said: “Many thanks to Lord Liu.” Then she added: “Regarding the Honglu Temple case, I will work through the night and, by the hour of chen tomorrow morning, will certainly have the case file written and presented before Lord Liu.”

“No need.” Liu Chaoming said. “I have already assigned this case to Qian Yueqian to handle.” His gaze also swept over Su Jin’s fingers, then he said coolly, “Besides, can your hands still hold a brush?” Then he went toward the hall exit.

Since the Ningjiao case, Zhu Nanxian hadn’t seen Su Jin for over a month.

He knew that after the Eastern Palace’s downfall, Su Jin and Shen Xi’s days would certainly not be easy, but he never imagined that Shen Xi would be punished to the point of nearly losing his life. With Shen Xi having fallen to such a state, Su Jin alone must surely struggle unsupported.

Zhu Nanxian, who always spoke his mind, now facing Su Jin found himself momentarily at a loss for words. He couldn’t even ask the simple question of whether she was doing well.

Because he knew whether she was doing well or not.

Footsteps came from outside the hall—evidently the Feathered Forest Guard had come to “escort” Zhu Nanxian back to the Eastern Palace.

His brilliant eyes suddenly grew clouded and overcast. Su Jin, seeing Zhu Nanxian’s expression, knew he was contemplating her and Shen Xi’s predicament, so she said: “Your Highness need not worry. I have already devised a plan. Your Highness is confined to the Eastern Palace and must first preserve yourself before—”

“Wait for me.”

Before she could finish, Zhu Nanxian interrupted her.

At the same time, the hall doors were pushed open. Wu Yusheng led a company of Feathered Forest Guards and bowed from outside: “Thirteenth Prince, this subordinate has come to escort you back to the Eastern Palace.”

Zhu Nanxian had originally wanted to say more, but when the hall doors opened, everything sank to the bottom of his heart.

Outside it was already deep night. Su Jin was a minister and absolutely could not remain alone in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. She had no choice but to bow to Zhu Nanxian and withdraw from the hall.

Standing in the brightly lit great hall, Zhu Nanxian looked out and saw Su Jin walking to the terrace steps, where the censor named Yan Xiu came forward to meet her, seeming to say something.

But Su Jin only stood there silently. After a moment, she shook her head somewhat disappointedly and went alone toward the Imperial Medical Academy.

Zhu Nanxian thought he probably understood why Su Jin was disappointed.

This censor named Yan Xiu had been following her constantly since Su Jin’s promotion to Vice Director of the Censorate. Apart from Zhai Di, he was her most trusted subordinate. Yet now he had acted at Liu Chaoming’s direction, presenting the correspondence between Qi Boyuan and the Su family patriarch in court. Clearly he was also an informant Liu Chaoming had planted at her side.

Though he had never harmed her.

Zhu Nanxian stood quietly in the great hall, letting the image of Su Jin standing alone in the dusk wind and sound engrave a deep shadow on his heart. Then he suddenly felt that his former self was somewhat ridiculous.

This struggle for succession that he had actually understood since childhood yet avoided at all costs had finally swept before him in such a cruel manner—like a savage beast that had devoured his family, his paradise, and now even attempted to devour his lifelong beloved.

Thus the unyielding spirit brought back from the battlefield, the pride he never spoke of, were at this moment completely crushed to powder.

If this was truly his battlefield, hadn’t he been a deserter for half his life?

Under the escort of the Feathered Forest Guard, Zhu Nanxian headed toward the Eastern Palace, yet from the deep darkness of night he turned his head back and silently gazed at that Hall of Supreme Harmony that symbolized supreme imperial power. Suddenly he said to Wu Yusheng: “Having the Eagle Guard escort me is sufficient. You may all return.”

Wu Yusheng saw that the Eastern Palace was near and thought nothing could go wrong, so he acknowledged the order and withdrew.

After the Feathered Forest Guard departed, Zhu Nanxian entered the Eastern Palace and suddenly asked the Eagle Guard commander beside him: “What has Zhu Qiyue been doing lately?”

This Eagle Guard commander surnamed Fu had been specially instructed by Zhu Qiyue to protect Zhu Nanxian’s safety. But Zhu Nanxian didn’t appreciate it, and up until today, this was the first time he had deigned to speak to him.

Commander Fu was overwhelmed with the unexpected favor and immediately said: “In reply to Thirteenth Prince, the Twelfth Prince Consort will soon arrive in the capital. Moreover, hearing that there will be war in Lingnan, the Twelfth Prince has recently been rotating between the Northern Military Camp, his princely residence, and the Five Military Commissioners’ Office, so he doesn’t often come to the Eastern Palace.”

Zhu Nanxian made a sound of acknowledgment and said: “Imperial Sister-in-law arriving in the capital at this time should make it in time for the Spring Excursion at the Grain Rain Festival.”

Commander Fu said: “Yes, and the Twelfth Prince received His Majesty’s command at the New Year banquet to reside with the Prince Consort in the capital until autumn before departing.” As he spoke, knowing that Zhu Qiyue felt guilty toward Zhu Nanxian in his heart, he probed tentatively: “The Twelfth Prince says that when you princes were young, you were all very close, and when the Prince Consort returns, the whole family should gather together.”

Zhu Nanxian walked through the night, his eyes downcast. After a moment he said: “Recently I haven’t been sleeping well. I keep dreaming of Father Emperor and wonder how his health is.” Then he paused and said softly, “If you can see the Twelfth Prince, tell him to come to the Eastern Palace when he has time.”