It was “submit entirely to your judgment,” not “leave it entirely to your decision.”

Liu Xuzhi looked at Liu Chaoming and said mildly, “You may rise.”

However, Liu Chaoming only knelt upright without standing.

He had been this way since childhood—once an idea took root in his heart, even if it was destined to be without affection, without result, without direction, without end, he would still adopt an unyielding stance.

Liu Xuzhi continued, “Since ancient times, marriages have been arranged by parental command and matchmaker’s word. Your mentor died early, and these years no one has made such decisions for you. This is my fault as your father. Before coming to the capital, I already punished myself.”

Liu Chaoming was slightly stunned.

The Liu family’s conduct was strict. For such a grave offense as having no heir, even though Liu Xuzhi was the family head, he would still be heavily punished.

No wonder during the meal and tea service earlier, Liu Xuzhi had been coughing incessantly. He was already at the age of knowing heaven’s mandate and could not withstand such severe punishment.

Liu Chaoming stood up and performed a bow to Liu Xuzhi.

Liu Xuzhi continued, “We’ll discuss this matter later. I have a question for you. The descendant of the Xie clan, Xie Xiang’s granddaughter A’Yu—has she already returned to the capital from her diplomatic mission?”

Liu Chaoming hadn’t expected Liu Xuzhi to suddenly ask about Su Jin. After a moment of silence, he said, “She returned in mid-July.”

Liu Xuzhi made an acknowledging sound, then said no more.

It was hardly surprising that Old Master Liu knew Su Jin’s identity—in years past, he had enjoyed excellent friendships with Old Censor Meng and Marquis Wenyuan.

In the eighteenth year of Jingyuan’s reign, when Su Jin first entered government service and was demoted for offending the Ministry of Personnel, Meng Liang, in order to protect her and leave her a way out, had written to Liu Xuzhi explaining that Su Shiyu was indeed a descendant of Xie Xu, hoping that if Su Jin had nowhere else to turn, the Liu residence could take her in and let her teach and transmit knowledge under the Liu family’s tutelage with her scholarly abilities.

Liu Xuzhi was a rigid person. When he first received Meng Liang’s letter, he only found it utterly absurd, feeling that Su Jin disguising herself as a man to enter government service was an insult to the Xie family’s traditions. He set the letter aside and paid it no further attention.

But people do ultimately change.

As time passed, some matters dispersed like smoke and clouds without a trace, while others sank deeper and deeper like rocks in a lake.

Nearly ten years had passed since the eighteenth year of Jingyuan’s reign. During these years, Meng Liang had died with the self-reproach and regret of having failed Xie Xu. Su Shiyu returned to the capital and entered the Imperial Censorate to learn from Liu Yun how to be a censor. Qi Boyuan wrote to Liu Xuzhi saying that she was truly outstanding—petitioning for the people, never retreating in the face of danger, quite bearing the legacy of Xie Xiang’s style.

Liu Xuzhi’s friendship with Xie Xu had not been deep, but he had enjoyed a good relationship with the Xie family’s young master, Su Jin’s father. In years past, when the Xie family’s young master traveled in his youth, he had lived in Hangzhou for two years. After meeting his wife, the two went to Shu together. Unfortunately, his health had already deteriorated by then. He died of illness after Su Jin was born, and Su Jin’s mother, grieving excessively over this, became plagued by illness and followed her husband a year later.

The past was gone. Even most of the old acquaintances were no more. Those sharp edges hidden in his heart had unknowingly been worn smooth and become insignificant.

Liu Xuzhi sighed. “For this visit to the capital, I already wrote to Qi Boyuan in advance, saying I would stay at his residence for a few days. When I return, invite A’Yu to the residence. She is, after all, the descendant of an old friend. I should meet her once.”

Liu Chaoming remained quiet for a while before saying, “Yes, your son will speak with her.”

Since Liu Xuzhi was going to the Marquis Wenyuan residence, Liu Chaoming didn’t need to pay his respects the next day. After reviewing and approving the official documents he had brought back to the residence and sleeping for two hours, upon rising he instructed An’ran to go daily to the Marquis Wenyuan residence on his behalf to pay respects, then returned to the palace before the hour of the tiger.

The court assemblies these past few days discussed nothing more than two major matters: first, the funds for rebuilding the dikes in Huguang; second, arrangements for receiving Emperor Jin’an along his route back to the capital.

A few days ago, word came from the northwest that Zhu Nanxian had set his return to the capital for the end of July. However, he needed to reorganize the Northwestern New Army along the way, and after entering the Central Plains heartland, he would also inspect several garrison posts. Therefore, this journey would take approximately three to four months, and he could reach Yingtian Prefecture at the earliest in November.

As for Huguang, the riots among disaster victims had been temporarily alleviated by local authorities. The trusted agent Shen Xi had dispatched was also en route and should arrive at Wuchang Prefecture around the beginning of August, about ten days from now.

“After the people from the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Justice arrive at Wuchang Prefecture at the beginning of August, they should undoubtedly make ‘discoveries’ before long,” Yan Xiu reported to Liu Chaoming. He sorted through the letters in his hands. “Besides this, according to the letter from the Fourth Prince’s consort, this time the Fourth Prince’s head ailment came on fiercely but also recovered quickly. They only rested in Jinan Prefecture for five days before setting out again. By the calendar, in less than a month, by mid-August, they should return to the capital to report.”

Liu Chaoming made an acknowledging sound. “As long as it’s before the autumn rites at month’s end.”

Yan Xiu continued, “Additionally, because Zhaojue Temple was abandoned, the Ministry of Works began repairing Bao’en Temple the year before last. Now the temple structure is complete. The people from the Ministry of Works are asking whether they should additionally build a bell tower to house that massive bell carried out from Zhaojue Temple back then.”

This matter had been under discussion since Zhu Nanxian’s campaign and after two years still had no resolution.

Liu Chaoming said, “His Majesty will return in November. Have the Ministry of Works wait for His Majesty to return and discuss it carefully.”

Yan Xiu said with a smile, “Minister Liu from the Ministry of Works says the bell tower matter must be decided before the autumn rites, otherwise their ministry won’t be able to report next year’s budget estimates to the Ministry of Finance in time and will suffer losses again.”

At this point, he suddenly said, “My lord, now that Lord Su has returned, why not let her make the decision on this matter?”

When Liu Chaoming heard Yan Xiu mention Su Jin, his heart skipped a beat, and he recalled how Liu Xuzhi had said a few days ago that he wanted to meet the Xie family’s A’Yu once.

Liu Yun had never hesitated over anything in his life, but this particular matter was truly difficult to broach.

After a moment of silence, thinking that Liu Xuzhi would return to the residence in two more days and knowing he couldn’t delay any longer, he said, “Where is the Ministry of Works’ memorial? I’ll take it to Su Shiyu myself.”

By coincidence, Minister Liu Dingliang of the Ministry of Works, fearing that Liu Chaoming wouldn’t be willing to settle the bell tower matter, had brought several officials from the Ministry of Works and Ministry of Rites to Liuzhao Pavilion to discuss it with Su Jin. They were only halfway through when the junior clerk standing guard outside knocked on the door. “Lord Su, Lord Liu has arrived.”

Su Jin was startled. She was the Second Grand Secretary, Liu Chaoming was the Grand Secretary—even if there was business, Liu Chaoming shouldn’t come in person.

She opened the door and bowed. “If Lord Liu has business, why didn’t you send someone to summon Shiyu to come to you?”

Liu Chaoming glanced at the various officials, large and small, standing in her hall and didn’t answer this question.

Minister Liu Dingliang of the Ministry of Works was the first to understand. He bowed and said, “Since Lord Liu has important matters to discuss with Lord Su, we shall take our leave first.” With that, he led several people away.

Only then did Liu Chaoming say, “I’m here about the Bao’en Temple bell tower matter.” He handed the memorial in his hand to Su Jin. “You decide.”

Su Jin took the memorial and looked at it. Wasn’t this the same matter Liu Dingliang had just been discussing?

She didn’t believe that with Liu Yun’s abilities, he couldn’t see that Liu Dingliang had come to find her precisely about building the bell tower. Since he could see this, why dismiss the people from the Ministry of Works and Ministry of Rites? If there was no conclusion anyway, wouldn’t it be better to sit down and discuss it together?

Though Su Jin was puzzled in her heart, her expression showed nothing. She only said, “His Majesty has not yet returned to the capital. Whether to build this bell tower would actually be best decided by Qingyue.”

The last time the ancient bell of Zhaojue Temple tolled a death knell was for Zhu Minda and Shen Jing. After that, Zhaojue Temple was abandoned and the ancient bell fell out of use.

These past two years, Shen Xi had consistently avoided discussing this matter because of Shen Jing. After Bao’en Temple’s reconstruction was decided, the Ministry of Works had approached him several times, but he always played deaf and dumb and evaded them. Liu Dingliang had no choice but to seek out Su Jin and Liu Chaoming.

“But Qingyue is unwilling to make this decision. I still need to think about it more,” Su Jin added.

Liu Chaoming acknowledged with a sound. “I’ll leave the memorial with you.”

After saying this, he didn’t immediately leave. He stood silently for a while, then spoke again. “There’s one more matter.”

“My father is in the capital these days. He would like—to invite you to the residence for a visit.”

Hearing these words, Su Jin was startled and couldn’t help but clasp her hands in a bow. “To speak frankly, Shiyu actually knew long ago that Old Master Liu had come to the capital. I’ve always wanted to visit the residence to pay respects, but first, official duties have been too demanding to get away, and second—” She hesitated. “I didn’t know in what capacity I should go, so I kept putting it off. Instead, I’ve troubled Old Master Liu to extend the invitation first. This is Shiyu’s breach of etiquette.”

Actually, Su Jin’s thinking was still too shallow.

The “capacity” she referred to in her words had only two meanings: the capacity as a colleague serving in court with Liu Chaoming, and the capacity as a censor who, like Liu Chaoming, had studied under Meng Liang.

Liu Chaoming looked at her, hesitating for a long while before saying, “You’ve misunderstood. What my father means is that the person he wants to meet is the Xie clan’s A’Yu.” He paused again. “Father is a person who greatly respects propriety and observes rules. May I ask you, when meeting him, to change back into women’s clothing?”