After Liu Chaoming returned to the palace, he didn’t go to Liuzhao Pavilion but went directly to the Imperial Censorate.
Yan Xiu came out from the public hall to greet him, cupping his hands: “Minister, your subordinate heard something happened outside the city?” He looked around and lowered his voice: “I heard that Cai Hao died.”
Cai Hao was the name of that Fengxiang Guard commander who had committed suicide.
Liu Chaoming didn’t answer, asking instead: “Where is Qian Yueqian?”
Yan Xiu bowed: “Minister Qian went to the Court of Judicial Review to verify case files. He said he’ll return shortly.”
Liu Chaoming’s brows furrowed slightly as he walked toward the duty room. Yan Xiu followed beside him and continued: “Cai Hao killed County Magistrate Hu in front of everyone today and then committed suicide. Ministers Shen and Su will surely deduce he was acting on your orders, Minister. I’m afraid they’ll use every resource at their disposal to investigate. As long as they uncover even one more clue, your situation in the future will become difficult, Minister.”
Liu Chaoming sat down at his desk, his expression unchanged: “Wait outside. As soon as Qian Yueqian returns, have him come see me immediately.”
“Yes.” Yan Xiu saw him take a roll of case files from the desk and, not daring to disturb him, withdrew.
Now that Liu Chaoming controlled the Grand Secretariat, he had mostly delegated Imperial Censorate matters to Zhao Yan, Qian San’er, and the two Vice Censors-in-Chief. But he never neglected important case files that required his personal review and verification.
Before long, there was a knock at the door. Qian Yueqian and Yan Xiu pushed the door open: “Minister, you wanted to see me?”
Liu Chaoming put down his brush and asked directly: “Besides going to the Court of Judicial Review today, you also went to handle the aftermath?”
Qian San’er said: “Yes. Your subordinate heard that the matter of County Magistrate Hu was discovered by the two Ministers Shen and Su, so I’ve already sent people to silence those who originally participated in the Annan merchant trading.”
Liu Chaoming asked again: “Who did you send?”
“A horse relay officer from the Court of Imperial Stud. He needs to travel north and south anyway. Please rest assured, Minister.”
Liu Chaoming pondered for a moment: “Send people to intercept this horse relay officer. Kill him.”
“Minister, your subordinate doesn’t understand.” Qian San’er said, “With County Magistrate Hu’s matter ending this way, Shen and Su will surely conduct a nationwide investigation. Those two now wield overwhelming power. Even if the few informants who traded in Annan back then are hidden deeply, it will take Shen and Su at most half a year to find them. Once this case is investigated, even if it’s unrelated to you, Minister, Shen, Su, and Emperor Jin’an will inevitably develop murderous intent toward you, Minister, the Tenth Prince, and the Fourth Prince.”
Liu Chaoming said: “So you should go ask Zhu Yiheng—if he was going to do something so audaciously bold, why were his methods so sloppy? How could he leave such loose ends?”
Qian San’er bowed down: “Please don’t blame him, Minister. County Magistrate Hu and the others all risked their lives alongside the Tenth Prince back then. The Prince inevitably felt reluctant and thought he had arranged things very properly. Who knew Shen and Su would have such supernatural abilities?”
Liu Chaoming said: “Never mind. Assigning blame now is meaningless.” He looked at Qian Yueqian. “Su Shiyu is a person of meticulous mind and extremely deep cunning. Three days ago, her front foot left the Hu residence, and her back foot dispatched Fengxiang Guards to guard the residence front and back, not allowing anyone to leave. Do you think she doesn’t know about you sending a horse relay officer to silence the loose ends? She and Shen Qingyue probably ordered their agents to watch you a day or two ago. Are you planning to let this horse relay officer lead her all the way to the witnesses?”
Qian San’er was stunned. He rushed out the door. After a moment he returned and bowed deeply to Liu Chaoming: “Thank you for your guidance, Minister. Your subordinate has already sent people to intercept and kill the horse relay officer as you instructed.”
Yan Xiu thought carefully: “But now we can neither act nor not act—we’re truly too passive, no different from waiting for death.” He thought for a moment. “As Minister Qian said, if His Majesty or the two Ministers Shen and Su learn what that hundred million taels of silver was used for, they will surely strike at the Prince and you, Minister.”
“Won’t they strike now?” Liu Chaoming said. “Why do you think Shen Qingyue insisted on having the Fourth Prince return to the capital?”
Not to mention that secret decree of “execute without mercy,” nor to mention whether Zhu Nanxian, after returning from campaign, could tolerate a powerful vassal prince in the northern border harboring ambitions to seize power—over these years of fighting, the cruelty of factional position struggles was plain to see. Anyone who set foot on this path had no way back. Even though Liu Chaoming had remained on the sidelines until just over two years ago when Zhu Yushen went on campaign and he finally declared his position, what he had done before that because of the oath sworn with those three jade disc fragments was enough for Zhu Nanxian to execute him without mercy.
Zhu Nanxian’s actions after ascending the throne had indeed exceeded Liu Chaoming’s expectations. He admitted that the Thirteenth Prince he had never thought highly of had indeed acquired some semblance of an emperor. But Zhu Nanxian went on campaign just two months after succession—why should he change the position he had spent ten years deliberating and choosing based on just those two months of performance? Why should he change his position for anyone or any reason?
Would changing stop the conflict? Would changing make Emperor Jin’an trust him? Zhu Thirteen had waded through blood all the way here—wouldn’t he feel like dealing with a tiger and thus develop even greater murderous intent because of his fickleness?
Once you chose a position, it was best not to change it. Shen Qingyue back then was the best cautionary example—being uncertain in position and leaving escape routes everywhere ultimately led only to a dead end. Shen Qingyue was just extremely lucky, which was why he managed to save his life.
And Liu Yun, at any time in any circumstance, never doubted himself.
Yan Xiu asked: “In your view, Minister, approximately when will they strike?”
Liu Chaoming pondered. Back when Zhu Nanxian went on campaign, though the two of them hadn’t spoken explicitly, they had tacitly formed an understanding to prioritize the realm, both temporarily ceasing hostilities to govern with dedication. Now that the warfare was about to end, Shen Qingyue was having the already afflicted Zhu Yushen return to the capital, and Su Shiyu was opening a case to investigate the Annan trading case—this showed their faction had already developed murderous intent.
Having developed murderous intent, they would find a reason and make some preparations. “Probably within about a month they’ll strike.”
When this statement came out, both Qian Yueqian and Yan Xiu were stunned.
Liu Chaoming raised his hand to pinch the bridge of his nose: “We need to find a way to delay, otherwise there won’t be time to respond.”
Sunlight spilled across the desk, illuminating the dust floating in the air with crystal clarity. The public hall was so quiet it made Yan Xiu want to count each speck of dust. His heart was cold and desolate. He felt he was no match for Shen and Su and didn’t know how to come back from the dead within a month.
Even illuminated by such brilliant sunlight, Liu Chaoming’s face showed not a single flaw. Only his eyes shifted between depths, as if his thoughts were sometimes floating, sometimes sinking.
“The Late Crown Princess’s maidservant has recently been hiding with Zhu Lin in the Huguang area?” After a while, Liu Chaoming suddenly asked.
Qian San’er responded: “Yes. Back when the Fourth Prince ordered his agent among the Yulin Guards to send away Miss Shuxiang and the young prince, I heard they always wanted to go to Sichuan. When passing through Jingzhou they encountered bandits. Last year they turned back to Huguang. This year the Huguang area suffered peach blossom floods again. Miss Shuxiang and the young prince count as disaster victims and are currently trapped in Wuchang Prefecture.”
In the first month of the twenty-fifth year of Jingyuan, on the day of the Zhaojue Temple incident, after Shen Jing drew away the Yulin Guards, palace maid Shuxiang took Zhu Lin back to the main hall for chanting sutras, hiding behind the curtain behind the Buddha altar. Unfortunately, in less than a quarter-hour, the two were found by a Yulin Guard commander. However, this commander was Zhu Yushen’s man. He dispersed the other Yulin Guards and secretly sent away Shuxiang and Zhu Lin.
Afterward, Wu Yusheng, following Zhu Zhaowei’s orders, extensively killed many Yulin Guards to create the false impression that Zhu Minda’s death was due to traitors among the Yulin Guards. Zhu Yushen’s planted agent unfortunately perished as a result.
Liu Chaoming said: “Hasn’t Shen Qingyue been troubled lately by the matters of rebuilding embankments and refugee riots in the Huguang area? Didn’t he plan to personally go to Wuchang a while ago?”
Yan Xiu and Qian San’er exchanged glances and immediately responded: “Yes, but Minister Shen later felt he couldn’t get away and has already sent his trusted people along with Minister Su’s people to Wuchang.”
Liu Chaoming said: “Find a way to leak the information about Zhu Lin being in Wuchang Prefecture to his trusted people.”
Yan Xiu said: “If we leak it to Minister Shen, will Minister Shen relax his vigilance because of it?”
“He won’t.”
“But Shen Qingyue has one knot in his heart that he can never untie in this lifetime—Shen Jing.”
Since he couldn’t untie it, no matter to whom he entrusted Zhu Lin, he wouldn’t be at ease. He would surely personally go to Wuchang Prefecture to find Zhu Lin and confirm he was still safe.
Qian Yueqian and Yan Xiu withdrew to the public hall entrance when they suddenly remembered something and asked: “Minister, since Su Shiyu sent Fengxiang Guards to watch the Qinghe Hu residence, what about the people inside the Hu residence? Your subordinate remembers there was a young servant in that residence who had followed County Magistrate Hu for many years. He must know some inside information.”
Liu Chaoming had already opened a case file. Hearing this question, he didn’t look up: “I left a black piece when I departed.”
Liuzhao Pavilion was built on the left side of Dingyan Hall, the deliberation hall of the Six Ministries. After Zhu Nanxian reorganized the Grand Secretariat two years ago, this place became the public hall for the Grand Secretariat officials. Liu Yun, Su Shiyu, and Shen Qingyue each had their own courtyard hall.
After the court discussion this day, Censor Zhai Di led a Fengxiang Guard to request an audience with Su Jin.
Upon seeing her, this Fengxiang Guard knelt and said: “Please forgive your subordinate official, Minister Su. Your subordinate was careless and negligent. The entire Hu residence had five servants and attendants in total—all have perished.”
“Dead?” Su Jin was startled. “How did they die? When did they die?”
“Reporting to Minister Su, your subordinate, following your orders that day, waited until Prefect Cao of Suzhou Prefecture left with his people, then immediately entered the Hu residence intending to escort everyone back to the capital. At that time they were already dead, and each person had been killed by a single sword strike. Your subordinate has investigated carefully. The one who acted should have been a martial arts-trained servant within the residence. Your subordinate doesn’t know why he acted and searched the entire residence without finding anything. However,” the Fengxiang Guard paused, “there was one thing your subordinate found strange. Your subordinate found a black game piece in the main hall, but people at the Qinghe County yamen said County Magistrate Hu never played chess.”
Su Jin thought for a moment and asked: “Did you find this piece on the small table beside the first chair on the left side of the main hall?”
“Precisely.” The Fengxiang Guard said in surprise, “How did Minister Su know?”
So that was it. That day Liu Yun had visited the Hu residence and sat precisely in the first chair on the left side of the main hall.
This black piece was probably a signal he left behind.
Su Jin said: “You may leave. Remember to transfer all evidence and corpses brought from Qinghe County to the Ministry of Justice.”
After the Fengxiang Guard left, Zhai Di said: “Your subordinate heard that after today’s court discussion, Minister Shen summoned people from the Ministry of Revenue and Ministry of Works to discuss funding for embankment construction in the Huguang area. They probably haven’t finished deliberating yet. Does Minister Su want to go find him?”
Su Jin said: “He mentioned this matter to me. As it happens, the Ministry of Works sent the refugee riot case to the Ministry of Justice. I’ll go back to the Ministry of Justice to have a look.”
“Perfect timing.” Zhai Di said, “The refugee riot case is precisely the one your subordinate is handling at the Imperial Censorate. Your subordinate also needs to go to the Ministry of Justice.”
The two talked as they walked outside Liuzhao Pavilion. When they reached the front courtyard, they saw two other people approaching from the other side. A clerk rushed ahead of Liu Chaoming and bowed to Su Jin. After receiving her acknowledgment, he got up and hurried out of Liuzhao Pavilion, instructing: “Quickly prepare the carriage. The Chief Grand Secretary has urgent business and needs to return to his residence.”
Su Jin bowed to Liu Chaoming: “Minister Liu.”
It was a bright summer morning. Liu Chaoming, borrowing the morning light, looked her up and down, made an “mm” sound, and walked toward the pavilion exit.
Su Jin stood for a while. After Liu Chaoming had walked far away, she said: “This is fresh indeed. I’ve known Liu Yun for five years. I only knew he labors over documents day and night. I didn’t know he would also rush home during duty hours because of family matters.”
“Minister Su doesn’t know?” Zhai Di said in surprise.
“What?”
Zhai Di smiled: “Your subordinate heard that Minister Su and Minister Liu’s older generations had some connections, so I thought Minister Su knew about this matter.” He added, “Old Master Liu arrived in the capital today.”
Su Jin said in shock: “Old Master Liu—could that be Liu Yun’s father?”
“Precisely.” Zhai Di said, “Minister Liu never mentions family matters. In all these years in the capital, he’s never been seen having any contact with family members. People in the court therefore have a saying that Minister Liu is more like Old Censor Meng’s actual son. This time Old Master Liu came to the capital without informing Minister Liu beforehand. I heard it’s for Minister Liu’s lifelong matter. The Minister only learned of it yesterday.”