Hearing these words, Liu Chaoming made a sound of acknowledgment and actually also stood there without speaking.
Su Jin had no choice but to employ a delaying tactic, saying: “In response to Your Seventh Highness, if my younger sister could marry the Twelfth Prince as consort, naturally that would be her good fortune. However, this subject has been away from home for many years. At home there is still an elder brother and the family matriarch. This matter is not something this subject alone can decide. Might Your Highness allow this subject to first write a letter to inform the family?”
Zhu Zhaowei was unexpectedly not insistent: “That’s fine. Marriage is a major matter requiring parental decree and a matchmaker’s words. Vice Minister Su should indeed write.” He paused, then suddenly changed the subject, his smile deepening even more: “Recently there have been many matters in the palace. Vice Minister Su is entangled with official duties and presumably cannot spend much time with family. Miss Su has traveled from afar and will inevitably be lonely. By coincidence, the Grain Rain spring outing in a few days is being organized by my wife. Since Miss Su is the younger sister of a dignified vice minister, why don’t this prince take the liberty of granting Vice Minister Su two days of rest so you can accompany your younger sister on the outing together?”
Su Jin had wondered why Zhu Zhaowei was so abruptly proposing marriage for Zhu Qiyue. It turned out the marriage proposal was false—using retreat to advance and getting herself and Su Wan to join the spring outing was the true purpose.
She had just used writing a letter as an excuse to half-push, half-refuse the marriage proposal. Now, in front of all the ministers, she absolutely couldn’t refuse the spring outing as well.
Su Jin thus had no choice but to accept.
Zhu Yiheng beside them said: “Seventh Brother, these two days of rest come at a crucial time. Since Lord Su was promoted to vice minister, she rushes daily between the Imperial Censorate and the Ministry of Justice. She can be called the most hardworking person at court. Taking advantage of the Grain Rain festival to refresh her spirit—that’s sharpening the axe without delaying the woodcutting.”
Having said this, his gaze swept past Liu Chaoming. Suddenly he smiled with pursed lips: “This prince is truly slow to realize—I’ve just discovered that all four great censors from the Imperial Censorate are gathered here. Given your diligence, you presumably haven’t had the leisure to drink a farewell cup with Lord Su since her departure. Today is a rare auspicious day. Why don’t Seventh Brother and I bear witness while the four of you toast and drink a cup, also wishing Lord Su that after going to the Ministry of Justice, she can climb even higher?”
Since the Shen household’s troubles, Su Jin, Liu Chaoming, and Qian Yueqian had not spoken a single word beyond official business. With Zhu Yiheng’s proposal, though the three showed no outward reaction, each had their own inner turmoil. Fortunately, Zhao Yan smoothed things over, saying: “What the Tenth Prince says is quite right. We ministers were too busy and neglectful.” He immediately had wine poured.
Among the four, Su Jin was after all the junior. She didn’t hesitate, raising her cup to the three—Liu, Zhao, and Qian: “In the past at the Imperial Censorate, I received the care of you three lords. A farewell is truly unnecessary. This cup should properly be offered by this subordinate to you.”
The earlier rosy clouds had already faded. Only then did Liu Chaoming look over from the deep twilight, and together with Zhao Yan and Qian San’er drained their wine, replying in an extremely light tone: “Your work is diligent and clever—that’s a strength. But occasionally you’re somewhat impetuous. Now that you serve as vice minister, commanding criminal law and governance, you should reflect on yourself three times daily. This official knows you’ve been working hard lately, but still hopes you won’t slack off or become indolent during these two days of Grain Rain. Think thrice before acting on all matters. After your rest, there’s no need to come to the Imperial Censorate anymore.”
Su Jin respectfully assented, bowed again to the princes and high officials, then departed with Su Wan.
By the time they reached the Su residence, it was nearly midnight. Though Madam Tan had already prepared the guest room, Shen Xi and Sixth Uncle Shen would only stay one night. Tomorrow, after receiving the official seal at the Court of Imperial Stud, they would move to the Stable Administration at Yunhu grasslands.
Finding a free moment, Su Jin questioned Tan Zhaolin: “Why did you arrive late at the Zhao residence today?”
Tan Zhaolin said: “This matter is truly my fault. I was driving the carriage halfway when passing the Tenth Prince’s residence, I saw them recruiting household troops. Thinking the hour was still early, I stopped the carriage to go take a look. Who knew that later more and more people came to apply, blocking the road, so I arrived late.”
Hearing these words, Shen Xi couldn’t help asking: “Zhu Yiheng is recruiting household troops?”
Seeing reproach still in Su Jin’s eyes, Tan Zhaolin didn’t dare respond to her. Hearing Shen Xi’s question, he hurriedly answered: “Yes, Lord Shen. I also felt it was suspicious, which is why I went to look. Tell me, right now every region is conscripting soldiers—why is the Tenth Prince taking this opportunity to recruit household troops?” He paused, really feeling he’d grown a brain lately, and couldn’t help volunteering: “Lord Shen, Lord Su, I have a few reliable brothers. How about I have them apply to the Tenth Prince’s residence and take the opportunity to probe what’s going on?”
Who knew that Su Jin and Shen Xi exchanged a glance and both shook their heads.
Shen Xi said: “Zhu Yiheng is the type who most loves to muddy the waters. Making such a big production—who’s to say it’s not a feint? Wait until there are other clues about this matter. Since he’s being so open about it, investigating now would also be wasted effort.”
Su Jin remembered something and asked: “Zhaolin, what about the letter you retrieved from the Shen residence today when you passed by?”
Tan Zhaolin slapped his forehead: “Ai, how did I forget this!” Speaking thus, he quickly pulled a letter from his chest and placed it on the table, then stared at the military seal stamped in wax at the opening and asked: “Lord Shen, this fire seal is a fourth-rank Manifest Might General’s seal. I remember letters like this don’t go through the Bureau of Receptions but are delivered by the general’s personal soldiers riding fast horses. Apart from the recipient, no one can open it—otherwise it’s dealt with under military law. Which general familiar with you sent this letter? The Seventh Prince has people watching the Shen residence daily—how did they not steal this letter?”
Shen Xi said: “Because this letter is family correspondence. Zhu Zhaowei can’t be bothered with it.”
Hearing this, Sixth Uncle Shen immediately reacted. He hurriedly held the fire seal under lamplight to examine it repeatedly, beside himself with joy: “Young master, this letter was indeed sent by Third Miss.”
He paused, seeing confused expressions on both Tan Zhaolin and Su Jin’s faces, and explained: “Lord Su and Guard Tan don’t know—our Third Miss has military registration. The year she was enfeoffed as princess, His Majesty also granted her the rank of fourth-grade general.”
In Great Sui, so-called generals were actually scattered military official ranks. Like county princess and commandery princess, they were merely titles. Though they had rank, they had no authority. Among them, some people like Zuo Qian and Qi Wujiu had both the title of general and also served respectively in the personal guard forces and at the regional military commission. But Shen Jun’s generalship was purely an empty shell.
Su Jin said: “To be a general, one must have military registration. The Shen household is a scholarly family—where did Third Miss’s military registration come from?”
“Third Miss was close to the Fourth Prince since childhood. The Fourth Prince’s birth mother was precisely from the Qi family. Third Miss often went to the Qi household as a child and even learned martial arts following the Fourth Prince. Later the Qi family’s young master died of illness, and a military registration spot opened up in the Qi household. Old Lord Qi, the Marquis of Anping, took Third Miss as an adopted daughter and gave her this spot.”
Having said this much, Sixth Uncle Shen couldn’t help smiling: “Later on, wasn’t there war chaos in the northern frontier? The Fourth Prince led troops to quell the unrest. Once, Third Miss, when no one was paying attention, secretly followed with a few personal guards. Unexpectedly she even achieved a merit. After returning victorious, His Majesty said she was a woman not inferior to men. Not only did he enfeoff her as princess, he also granted her a fourth-rank general’s rank.”
“That was a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse—she lucked into great fortune by chance. Moreover, wasn’t this fourth-rank generalship picked up for free something His Majesty reluctantly gave considering the faces of the Qi household, the Shen household, and Zhu Yushen?” Shen Xi said carelessly: “From childhood to adulthood, Shen Jun has done nothing proper except bring shame and disgrace. There’s no need to air such old and musty matters—it would make people laugh their heads off and the Shen household would have to take the blame for her.”
Su Jin had long heard that Shen Xi and Shen Jun had been at odds since childhood—small quarrels every two days, big quarrels every three days. She never imagined that even in such circumstances now, his tone mentioning Shen Jun remained unkind.
Sixth Uncle Shen was quite embarrassed. While opening the letter, he tried to explain to Su Jin: “Our young master and Third Miss may quarrel, but their feelings are still good.”
However, as if to refute him, on the unfolded letter paper, large characters wrote only two sentences, quite exasperated—
Such a huge matter and you didn’t even write to tell me? You little bastard, you just wait!
Six days passed, and the spring outing day of the Grain Rain festival arrived.
This was one of the most important days of the year for the capital’s women. Because the spring outing followed the season—it wasn’t simply a distant excursion for sightseeing. During it, they made offerings to the spring deity, praying for next year’s rain and seeking next year’s blessings.
Thus, though the spring outing was attended by women, every year several high court officials and noble princes led personal guard forces to accompany them.
Su Jin received Zhu Zhaowei’s favor—the Grain Rain day happened to be her rest day. Rising early, she first called Su Wan before her, giving all the instructions that needed giving, then admonished: “If anyone grills you, digging to the bottom to inquire about my affairs over the years, just say I left home early and push them off with ‘I don’t know.'”
Su Wan assented, but couldn’t help asking: “But third brother, Ah Wan has some difficulty distinguishing which words should be answered and which shouldn’t. I fear I’ll let something slip.”
Actually, apart from Old Master Su, no one in the Su household knew Su Jin’s origins. The household only spread rumors that she was Old Master Su’s illegitimate son from outside. Thus Su Wan’s so-called “letting something slip” merely referred to this illegitimate son claim.
Su Jin said: “That you must weigh yourself. Remember—if you can say less, absolutely don’t say more. If you can remain silent, absolutely don’t open your mouth.”
Su Wan murmured her agreement and followed Su Jin onto the carriage.
Reaching the west city gate, several accompanying officials were already waiting there. This year the accompanying officials were very few, the highest rank being no more than the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Seeing Su Jin arrive, they hurriedly came to pay respects. Among them, a secretary from the Ministry of Rites who was accompanying his granddaughter bowed and said: “Right now we’re only waiting for the Twelfth Prince and the princess consort before we should depart. We’ll go to Yunhu Mountain and pray for rain at night, so the round trip will take two days and one night.”
Su Jin nodded and brought Su Wan to where the women were. That secretary hurriedly followed, introducing: “This is Vice Minister Su of the Ministry of Justice.” He added: “This is Lord Su’s younger sister, Miss Su Wan.”
These women were all noble ladies of the capital. Quite a few had already met Su Jin. All respectfully performed courtesies to her.
Su Jin had originally wanted to entrust Su Wan to Miss Zhao’s care. Sweeping her gaze around, Miss Zhao unexpectedly hadn’t come. Just as she was hesitating, she saw Qiling step forward from the crowd and bow slightly to her: “Ruyu recently went to the courier station to welcome elder sister back to the capital and had a brief encounter with Miss Su Wan. If Lord Su is concerned, you may entrust Miss Su Wan to Ruyu’s care.”
Apart from Qiling, Su Jin didn’t recognize anyone else. Moreover, Zhu Qiyue and Qihuan had also arrived, so she nodded: “Very well, many thanks to Fourth Miss Qi.”
Having spoken, she turned with hands behind her back, paid respects to Zhu Qiyue, mounted her horse, and departed following the sedan chairs.
From Xianchi Gate in the west city to Yunhu Mountain took three hours. Su Jin rode alone, lost in thought, when that Ministry of Rites secretary spurred his horse a few steps forward, catching up. Most respectfully he said: “Lord Su is probably an important person who forgets many things and no longer remembers this subordinate.”
Su Jin glanced at him and shook her head slightly: “You’re Secretary Jiang from the Ministry of Rites. Two years ago when I went to the Ministry of Rites to shelter from rain, I saw you once.”
Back then Su Jin had still been an eighth-rank clerk at the capital yamen. Times had changed—unexpectedly in just over two years, she had been promoted to third-rank vice minister. In such chaotic times, one didn’t know whether the chaos had disrupted her or achieved her.
“Yes, yes,” Secretary Jiang said. “I’m flattered Lord Su actually remembers this subordinate.”
He paused, momentarily thinking of the task Minister Luo of the Ministry of Rites had assigned, not daring to be negligent. He probed: “A few days ago at the morning court deliberations, the Seventh Prince personally appointed General Luo to go to Lingnan to quell the bandits. The court has been full of discussion about this. I heard several generals even prepared a joint petition arguing on behalf of General Luo’s injustice. These past days they’ve been rallying signatures. What is Lord Su’s opinion on this?”
Now Su Jin understood Secretary Jiang’s intent in asking these questions. Luo Songtang of the Ministry of Rites had always been a fence-sitter swaying with the wind. Right now the court held divergent views on the Lingnan military situation. This Minister Luo was eighty percent afraid of offending someone and had sent someone to probe the Ministry of Justice’s stance with her.
Su Jin felt there was nothing to conceal about this and spoke truthfully: “General Luo is indeed not the best choice. He has commanded troops in the Northwest and is familiar with the geography there, but is unfamiliar with Lingnan and the miasmic lands of the southern frontier. However, three days ago he already received the order and departed. There’s absolutely no reason to recall soldiers midway through an expedition. Never mind the waste of time and resources—the impact on morale is what’s critical.”
And such a joint petition, claiming to plead on behalf of General Luo, yet only seeking signatures after his departure—wasn’t it those remaining military officers just going through the motions? One, not offending Zhu Zhaowei; two, also preserving their reputation?
Signing or not signing was truly the same.
Secretary Jiang said: “Then Lord Su’s meaning is not to sign?”
Su Jin smiled: “Otherwise, Secretary Jiang, why don’t you help this official ask Minister Luo’s opinion? Whatever the Ministry of Justice does, we’ll completely follow the Ministry of Rites’ lead.”
Secretary Jiang was startled, saying with trepidation: “Lord Su mustn’t say such things! How can the Ministry of Rites bear such responsibility?” In his heart he knew she had already seen through his intentions. He quickly cut off that line of conversation and turned to other idle matters.
Because the Court of Imperial Stud’s Stable Administration was also at the Yunhu Mountain grasslands, the entire journey followed official roads that were extraordinarily smooth. With someone making idle conversation, they arrived in no time.
The accompanying palace maids and eunuchs arranged for the high officials and female relatives to finish their midday meal. Just as they were about to rest, at Su Wan’s square table, a woman unexpectedly sat down.
This woman wore palace attire with a plum blossom hairpin. She had curved brows and kind eyes—she was precisely Zhu Zhaowei’s secondary consort.
Because Zhu Zhaowei’s principal consort had died some years ago, everyone in the palace called this secondary consort the Seventh Prince’s Consort.
“When Lord Su brought her younger sister earlier, this palace had already felt sister looked particularly familiar. This spring outing, because some matters occurred in the palace, neither Consort Qi nor Consort Yu could come. Instead it’s being organized by this palace. I only hope not to neglect sister.”
Su Wan had already heard from Qiling in the sedan chair that the Imperial Noble Consort in the palace had been suffering from madness these days, disturbing the entire harem. The two mistresses currently in charge of the harem couldn’t get away, which is why they didn’t come.
Su Wan remembered Su Jin’s teachings. She bowed to the Seventh Prince’s Consort and answered: “Your consort is too kind.”
The Seventh Prince’s Consort smiled: “This palace heard Miss Su is from Qizhou. In his early years, Old Master Su even had some dealings with the Marquis of Wenyuan—is that so?”
Su Wan didn’t know who the “Marquis of Wenyuan” she mentioned was. Fortunately, Su Jin had earlier instructed her how to answer if she encountered such questions, so she said: “In his early years, father traveled the land and made acquaintances widely. Later he settled in Qizhou. As for whom he knew before and with whom he was familiar, this subject’s daughter is only the youngest sister in the family. He never mentioned past events to me.”
The Seventh Prince’s Consort said: “Yes, I also heard early on that Old Master Su was a man of few words who didn’t speak in detail even to family about his own experiences. Moreover, when he brought Lord Su to the Su household, it caused considerable strife, yet he didn’t defend Lord Su with even a word. It only made things hard on you, my lord, wandering homeless from childhood without a single good day.”
Hearing these words, Su Wan recalled the turmoil after Su Jin came to the Su household in childhood. For a moment her heart ached in sympathy, and she couldn’t help saying: “Though it was chaotic then, when third brother lived in Shu before, life was still very good.”