The clouds dispersed, and sunlight cast latticed shadows across the window.
After hearing Liu Chaoming’s words, Su Jin paused and asked, “Your honored father knows my identity?”
She knew little of her father’s generation’s friendships, only that both her grandfather and father had had dealings with the Liu clan of Hangzhou.
Liu Chaoming said, “In the eighteenth year of Jingyuan’s reign, when you were demoted to Songshan County, the old censor feared your female identity would be discovered. He wrote to my father asking him to take you into the Liu residence to teach and transmit knowledge, leaving you a way out. But my father greatly respects propriety and the law and paid no attention to the old censor’s letter. I only learned of this matter two years ago. Later, when the old censor died with regret and remorse, my father has been unable to let it go these past ten years, always feeling he failed an old friend. Therefore, he wishes to invite you to the Liu residence for a meeting.”
Su Jin remembered that when Xie Xiang was wrongfully executed, the old censor had pleaded for his old friend and been subjected to caning by Emperor Jingyuan. After that, hearing that Xie Xiang’s only granddaughter had disappeared without trace in that disaster, he had gone alone to the Sichuan-Shu region to search for her, delaying treatment and causing his legs to become necrotic.
Setting aside the friendship between the Liu and Xie clans, based solely on Old Censor Meng’s kindness to her, she should pay her respects to Old Master Liu.
However, if this matter had occurred in the past it would be one thing, but now although she and Liu Yun maintained appearances on the surface, privately they had long been irreconcilably opposed. A few days ago, the person she had sent to watch Qian Yueqian reported that the courier had been killed by his own people before even leaving the city. She knew this was Liu Yun’s handiwork.
With such mutual opposition, how could she change back into women’s clothing to visit his residence? Wouldn’t this place her in an extremely perilous situation?
Outside, wind seemed to pass, and the sunlight reflected on the window rippled slightly.
Seeing Su Jin remain silent, Liu Chaoming also fell quiet. What their current situation was, she knew clearly, and he knew clearly too. Forget it—he was the one who had presumed first.
He clasped his sleeves and bowed to Su Jin in apology, turning to leave, when Su Jin suddenly called out, “Liu Yun.”
The sunlight blazed brilliantly, a fierce beam pouring through the gap of the opened door, spilling onto him and onto her as well.
Su Jin felt this intense light would expose her mortal secret completely.
But in truth, her origins, her secrets, had never been concealed or hidden before Liu Yun.
“When does your honored father wish to see me?” she asked.
Liu Chaoming was suddenly stunned.
If it had nothing to do with positions or the political situation, she always had toward him a kind of inexplicable, almost stubborn trust that came from her true heart.
Su Jin added, “I… don’t have any skirts. I’ll need some time to prepare.”
Liu Chaoming was quiet for a moment before saying, “Father is still staying at the Marquis Wenyuan residence these days. He won’t return for two more days.”
Su Jin then nodded. “Very well. In two days, Shiyu will visit your residence.” She thought for a moment. “When I come, I’ll bring Aunt Tan. At that time, please arrange a room for Shiyu, my lord. I’ll change clothes after arriving at your honored residence.”
Liu Chaoming silently agreed, pausing before saying, “Thank you.”
Su Jin shook her head. “You are too courteous, my lord.”
That day, returning to her residence, Su Jin thought about not having any skirts and planned to have Tan Shi borrow one from the Shen residence. After she mentioned this matter to Tan Shi, Tan Shi said, “How could there be no clothes? Back when Miss Su Wan came to the capital, you instructed us to have several sets of robes made for the young miss. Although the young miss is no longer in the capital now, several sets were kept for each of the four seasons. You just need to pick one, my lord.”
Su Jin didn’t spend much effort choosing, only instructing Tan Shi to prepare everything a young lady would need, then returned to the palace to handle government affairs.
Instead, it was Tan Shi who busied herself with this matter for two full days, turning out all the skirts, hairpins, rings, and ornaments for young ladies in the residence, including her own, selecting item by item, choosing piece by piece. Even after boarding the carriage to the Liu residence with Su Jin, she still worried, “My lord only concerns yourself with court affairs every day and pays too little attention to your own matters. The proprieties for women are vastly different from those for men, yet you won’t even spare half an hour to learn them.”
Su Jin laughed. “Learning on the spot is the same. I read the Four Books for Women in my early years.”
The Liu residence originally had very few servants. Today most had been sent by Liu Chaoming to the rear courtyard, leaving only An’ran and A’Liu waiting at the gate.
Although A’Liu had accompanied Su Jin on inspection tours in past years, he hadn’t known she was actually female. Ever since An’ran told him, he had been unable to sleep for two nights straight, tossing and turning without understanding. Today, seeing Su Jin, he wanted to ask several times. Fortunately, he had been repeatedly warned by An’ran beforehand, so although he wanted to speak, he at least held back.
An’ran led Su Jin to a side room and said, “The room is equipped with a vanity and water. If Lord Su needs anything else, An’ran and A’Liu will be guarding outside—just give a word. My lord has instructed that An’ran should only notify the master after Lord Su has finished washing and changing clothes. Lord Su, please take your time.”
Su Jin nodded slightly. “Thank you for your trouble.”
Tan Shi had prepared two sets of robes for Su Jin—one plain-colored, one crabapple red.
Su Jin had little experience selecting skirts. She only felt that since she was meeting an elder, her clothing shouldn’t be too ornate, so she casually pointed to the plainer one.
Fortunately, the plain color wasn’t entirely plain. The skirt body was white as the bright moon, gradually turning blue toward the hem, progressing through frost color, moon white, lake blue, and dark blue. The fabric was of finest silk, and when she walked it was like a gently rippling moonlit lake. Looking carefully, one could see water lotuses blooming among these azure waves, embroidered with sapphire-colored dark thread—only the outlines were sketched, so as not to disturb the simple elegance or add excessive splendor, swaying gracefully.
While dressing Su Jin’s hair, Tan Shi said, “Young ladies should walk with lotus steps, moving lightly. My lord hasn’t worn women’s clothing in so many years—lotus steps won’t be possible. Using the wave-like hem to cover will make it less noticeable.”
She taught Su Jin several hand gestures commonly used by women, then said, “My lord likes to clasp your hands behind your back when speaking, but young ladies absolutely cannot clasp hands behind their backs. If you don’t know where to put your hands, just let them hang at your sides or fold them in front.”
Su Jin learned everything, feeling she could manage today’s situation adequately, and laughed. “I understand. I’ll just keep my hands hanging and absolutely still. No matter what the elder asks, I’ll just move my mouth.”
Then she pushed open the door and said to An’ran and A’Liu guarding outside, “Let’s go.”
When An’ran and A’Liu turned to look at Su Jin, both froze for a moment. After a while, it was An’ran who reacted first, saying, “The master and Lord Liu are waiting for Lord Su in the study in the eastern courtyard.” He stepped aside to clear the path. “Please follow An’ran, my lord.”
As a junior, going to the study to pay respects to Liu Xuzhi was proper.
For a moment Su Jin wanted to ask why not go to the study in the main courtyard, but the words were already at her lips when she remembered A’Liu had once said the study in the main courtyard belonged to Liu Yun, and no one in the Liu residence except An’ran was permitted to enter it.
It was early autumn, the hour of the ram. The sunlight had a very light, shimmering quality.
The study door was pushed open. Liu Chaoming glanced over and for a moment thought it was a white butterfly dancing gracefully toward him from the moonlight.
Below the moon was a lake, with lotus flowers blooming in the lake. The flower colors appearing and disappearing as they reflected the light, yet not as captivating as the butterfly.
The butterfly was Su Shiyu.
Her eyes were truly beautiful—divided into two lines at the most perfect angle, the trailing ends light and delicate, ready to take flight with the slightest movement.
Lips touched with rouge, face powdered lightly—the clear wind and bright moon remained, with flower fragrance added.
Liu Chaoming actually never paid attention to a person’s appearance. Even though over these years Su Jin had gradually become different from others in his heart, it was only because of her unyielding resilience, her keen intelligence and love of learning, and her extraordinary talents.
He had seen her in women’s clothing before, but both times had been matters of life and death. He simply had no time to look carefully, his heart only hoping she would quickly change her clothes back.
Not until today, when this moonlit butterfly flew straight into his heart, did he belatedly understand that Su Shiyu was beautiful.
This kind of soul-stirring quality—this was called beauty.
So by the time Liu Chaoming came to his senses, Su Jin had already walked to the center of the hall and was bowing to Liu Xuzhi.
Only then did he realize his impropriety and shifted his gaze away.
“A’Yu pays respects to Uncle Liu, Lord Liu.” Su Jin was about to bow when she suddenly felt something was wrong. Her hands raised halfway stopped abruptly, and after a moment she withdrew them to rest at her waist and curtseyed slightly.
She had known it—she really should have spared half an hour to learn the proprieties from Aunt Tan.
Fortunately, Liu Xuzhi paid no mind and only said, “Since you are now the Second Grand Secretary and Minister of Justice, there’s no need to be so formal. Please sit.”
This time Su Jin remembered the proprieties well. She first curtseyed slightly, drew in her steps and retreated to the chair at the side, folded her hands properly, and only after sitting stable and straight said, “Thank you, Uncle.”
Liu Xuzhi looked at her, feeling that although Su Jin’s features more resembled her father, when it came to her bearing—even though her performance of women’s etiquette was somewhat awkward now—one couldn’t help but think of Xie Xiang’s demeanor in years past.
“In those years, this old man had bonds of friendship with both your grandfather and father. Their talents were unmatched in the world, truly admirable.”
Su Jin said, “Yes. When my grandfather was alive, he used to mention the Liu residence of Hangzhou to A’Yu, praising them by saying the Liu clan was a household of great scholars, their brilliance impossible to conceal.”
Liu Xuzhi said, “Since Liu Yun invited you to the residence, he must have already explained the reason to you. Your relatives have all passed away now, and Meng Liang entrusted you to this old man back then. This old man has only one question to ask you.” He paused. “Would you be willing to enter my Liu residence in the future?”
At these words, Liu Chaoming, standing to the side, showed shock in his eyes and couldn’t help but turn to look at Liu Xuzhi.
Su Jin was also stunned. “Uncle Liu, forgive this junior for not understanding your meaning.”
Liu Xuzhi said, “You are a woman after all and cannot serve as an official for life. Although the current Emperor Jin’an values you highly, if one day your identity is exposed, you cannot escape the crime of deceiving the sovereign. Choosing an opportune moment to retreat is not a bad strategy. Meng Liang was right—with your scholarly abilities, to retire to the inner chambers would be truly regrettable. This old man can allow you to continue as a man and come to my Liu residence as a teacher to transmit knowledge.”
Hearing Liu Xuzhi’s words, Su Jin knew he was thinking of her welfare. She rose and first bowed to him, then said, “Thank you for Uncle Liu’s invitation. However, A’Yu already has plans in her heart for the future. Uncle’s kind intentions—A’Yu accepts them gratefully.”
Liu Xuzhi said, “You still want to continue remaining in the capital? The capital is fraught with danger—for you it’s no less than walking on eggshells at every step.”
He sighed. “Very well. You are an old friend’s daughter. This old man once disregarded you out of adherence to propriety and law. Though I have no shame before propriety and law, in the end I failed the friendship with the Xie clan and with Meng Liang over all these years. Qi Boyuan told me that these years you’ve endured great hardships. This old man has wronged you.”
At this point, he paused slightly and took something from his sleeve. “In a few days this old man must depart and return to Hangzhou. I have nothing good to leave you. This jade pendant—please accept it.”
Liu Xuzhi’s tone brooked no refusal.
Su Jin knew it would be improper to decline. She stepped forward and received the jade pendant in her hands, saying, “Thank you, Uncle Liu.”
This was a clear and lustrous jade pendant, warm to the touch.
Liu Chaoming glanced over and was instantly stunned.