After leaving the Zhao residence, Zhu Nanxian turned back and asked Su Jin: “What exactly did Hele say that displeased you?”

Su Jin glanced at Zhu Nanxian, stood still as if recalling for a moment, then said with perfect composure: “In response to Your Highness, this subject doesn’t remember very clearly.”

However, Gu Yunjian, who had come out to see off His Highness the Crown Prince and heard these words, stepped forward and bowed: “In response to Your Highness, this subject was also nearby when Princess Hele was gossiping. She didn’t really say much—the general idea was that after Your Highness ascends the throne, besides establishing an Empress, you would also take many consorts and concubines. Speaking privately, her words lacked propriety and restraint. Lord Su, having formerly been a censor upholding moral standards and now heading the Ministry of Justice overseeing laws, naturally should reprimand her a word or two.”

Zhu Nanxian paused in surprise. It was such a trivial matter?

The corners of his lips curved as if he wanted to smile, but catching sight of Su Jin from the corner of his eye, he quickly suppressed his amusement and said gravely once more: “This is quite improper. As a princess, she should set an example. How can she be so ignorant of proper conduct? It seems that only copying scriptures for two years—this prince’s punishment was still too lenient.”

Gu Yunjian quickly said: “Indeed, Your Highness is magnanimous and all-embracing.”

Zhu Nanxian said: “Today is your auspicious day. You need not stand on ceremony for this prince. Return to your residence.”

Gu Yunjian assented, clasped his hands, bowed, and withdrew.

When Zhu Nanxian had arrived, he had the carriage stopped at the alley entrance. In the slanting rays of the setting sun, the world was filled with a tranquil rosy glow. Zhu Nanxian dismissed his attendants and personally led Su Jin toward the alley entrance. Thinking of the earlier incident, he couldn’t help but laugh twice.

After laughing, he couldn’t resist turning back to glance at Su Jin, who followed half a step behind him.

He was tall with an upright bearing. His slanting shadow fell just right to envelop Su Jin in this pool of dim light.

She saw him laugh and knew why he was laughing. A faint, barely noticeable blush rose on her cheeks. Her exceptionally beautiful eyes trembled slightly, like a butterfly fluttering its wings at dusk. She seemed to want to say something but hesitated.

Zhu Nanxian then completely suppressed his smile. Without mentioning the earlier matter again, he changed the subject: “This morning a scout came to report that in the fourth month, someone had seen traces of a ‘mother and child’ in the Jingzhou area. From the description, it sounds like Shuxiang and Lin’er.”

“Truly?” Su Jin said in astonishment.

“Yes.” Zhu Nanxian nodded slightly. “But afterward their whereabouts became unknown again.”

He paused quietly for a moment, then continued: “Today when Gong Quan and Luo Songtang and the others were arguing in Fengtian Hall, I thought through Shuxiang’s past in detail. She grew up following my imperial sister-in-law. Several times when my sister-in-law spoke with her, I was also present. I remember Shuxiang saying her hometown was in Shu, and she had always wanted to return to see it. My sister-in-law even said that when Lin’er grew older, she must make a trip to Shu—that place surrounded by mountains, like a refuge from the world, she had always longed for it in her heart.”

Su Jin said: “Sichuan and Shu are indeed wonderful places. I also lived there as a child.” She paused, then asked, “Does Your Highness mean that Shuxiang and the young prince may have gone to Shu?”

“Yes, I’ve already sent scouts to search.” Zhu Nanxian glanced at Su Jin and smiled. “I’m from Jiangnan and have never been to Shu. If you miss that place, in the future I’ll accompany you there.”

As they spoke, they had reached the alley entrance. Qin Sang stepped forward, clasped his hands, and bowed: “Your Highness the Crown Prince.” He then asked, “Will Lord Su return to the palace together with Your Highness?”

Zhu Nanxian said: “Her carriage was borrowed by Qingyue. She’ll ride in this prince’s imperial carriage.”

As a subject, Su Jin logically should not ride together with Zhu Nanxian.

Fortunately, what Zhu Nanxian rode today was only an ordinary imperial carriage, not yet the emperor’s carriage. Qin Sang didn’t say much more and lifted the curtain to invite the two aboard the carriage.

As the carriage set off, Su Jin lifted the side curtain to look outside. Today, for some reason, night had fallen very quickly. The sky was filled with bright, dazzling stars—tomorrow would likely be a fine clear day.

“A’yu.” Following her gaze to look at the starry sky, Zhu Nanxian said softly, “Last time I said I would marry you.”

Su Jin’s expression stirred slightly. She lowered her eyelids, did not drop the carriage curtain, and only softly responded with an acknowledgment.

Zhu Nanxian continued: “I’ve thought it through carefully. After you return from seeing off the Annan envoy, we’ll perform the heaven and earth ceremony.”

“The elders will be your grandfather and my imperial brother and sister-in-law. We’ll have Qingyue witness the marriage. As for guests, we’ll impose on Seventeenth Brother.”

“The number of people is few, and it won’t be lively enough, but I won’t shortchange you on any of the proper protocols. I’m a legitimate son of the Zhu family—marrying a primary consort should have one hundred twenty-eight sets of betrothal gifts. I’ve already had them tallied. They’ll come from my private accounts—neither the Ministry of Finance nor the Imperial Clan Court can trace them. Seven days and seven nights of music and celebration would be too conspicuous in the palace, so I’ll make it up to you when I accompany you back to Shu to pay respects to Prime Minister Xie. For the wedding dress, use the one Mother Empress wore when she married Father Emperor. It was her most cherished possession, always kept in excellent condition. Later she left it to me, asking me to… give it to the woman I love most in this life to wear. I’ve also set the date—the thirteenth day of the seventh month, the Fishing Festival at the end of summer heat. If you feel it’s too rushed, we can change the date. Just—please don’t set it too far away.”

Su Jin listened quietly as he finished, smiled faintly, and replied: “The thirteenth of the seventh month is very good. Tomorrow I’ll see off the envoy, leave Aocheng on the tenth of the seventh month, travel quickly on the return journey, and will certainly return to the palace on the morning of the twelfth of the seventh month.”

Zhu Nanxian pulled her to his side to sit next to him: “You needn’t rush. Even if you return on the thirteenth itself, it will be in time. After all, I’m handling things here in the palace. If you’re late, I’ll wait for you.” He added, “I only regret imposing on you—marrying me, yet we cannot announce it to the world.”

Su Jin shook her head: “Your Highness considers everything for A’yu. It is A’yu who has imposed upon Your Highness.”

Before long they arrived at the palace. Wu Jizhi and a chief clerk from the Ministry of Finance were hurrying out of the main Zhengwu Gate. Seeing Su Jin descend from His Highness the Crown Prince’s imperial carriage, they quickly came forward to pay their respects.

Seeing the unusual expressions on their faces, Su Jin asked: “What has happened?”

Wu Jizhi said: “In response to Lord Su, Lord Du has disappeared.”

Earlier, Shen Xi had said that upon returning to the palace, he would have Du Zhen arrested for interrogation. From the time they left duty until now had only been two or three hours, yet Du Zhen had actually disappeared.

Su Jin said: “When did he disappear? And what are you doing now?”

The Ministry of Finance chief clerk said: “In response to Lord Su, he disappeared after leaving duty. Today, before Minister Shen went with you to the banquet at the Zhao residence, he had this subordinate go to the Du residence to request that Lord Du return to the palace. But when this subordinate arrived at the Du residence, Lady Du said Lord Du had never returned home, and no one had seen him in the palace either. Just now, when Minister Shen heard about this, he became quite anxious. He had this subordinate and Chief Clerk Wu wait for you at the Zhengwu Gate to return to the palace and ask you to request His Highness the Crown Prince’s permission to deploy troops to search for Lord Du.”

If previously the problem with the account books for military supplies to the South had only made Shen Xi slightly suspicious, then Du Zhen’s disappearance at this critical juncture undoubtedly deepened Shen Xi’s doubts.

As these words were spoken, the curtain of the imperial carriage beside them suddenly lifted. Zhu Nanxian leaned out, glanced at Su Jin, then looked at Wu Jizhi and the Ministry of Finance chief clerk: “Where is Shen Qingyue?”

Wu Jizhi and the Ministry of Finance chief clerk had originally thought Vice Minister Su was merely borrowing His Highness the Crown Prince’s carriage to return to the palace. They hadn’t imagined she had actually ridden in the same carriage as His Highness the Crown Prince. In shock, they knelt to pay their respects, then said: “In response to Your Highness, Minister Shen went to the Imperial Censorate to find Lord Liu.” They explained further: “Minister Shen said that although Lord Du has only been missing for two or three hours, but—”

Before they could finish speaking, Zhu Nanxian raised his hand. Earlier in the carriage, Su Jin had already told him of Shen Xi’s suspicions.

“Qin Sang, transmit this prince’s order: command the Capital Guards to conduct a citywide manhunt for Du Zhen on the grounds that Vice Minister of Finance Du Zhen may have encountered danger. They must root him out for this prince.”