Seeing this scene, the assembled officials waiting outside the hall also bowed deeply to Su Jin, then returned to their offices in order.

Seeing that most people had left, Zeng Youliang said: “Just now when His Majesty asked about the Ministry of Personnel, I thank Shiyu for speaking on Zeng’s behalf.”

Su Jin, suddenly hearing him use her courtesy name, felt somewhat unaccustomed to it.

In her early years when she entered the Hanlin Academy, her first bloody ordeal in her official career was a gift from this Minister of Personnel and his nephew. After more than ten years of ups and downs, though she could no longer say she harbored much hatred toward him, she certainly couldn’t speak of forgiveness. In the past when they were both in court, they remained distant in private.

Therefore, Su Jin maintained this distance: “Minister Zeng is too polite. The Ministry of Personnel handles countless complicated matters. Oversights are inevitable. Su is merely discussing the matter at hand.”

In fact, Zeng Youliang had been immersed in officialdom for decades. How could he not understand that just now in the hall, Su Shiyu was using the excuse of absolving the Ministry of Personnel to plead for Liu Yun and Shen Qingyue?

But as he walked two steps with Su Jin in the direction of the Liuzhao Pavilion, he couldn’t help but continue: “These years… this old man has watched you walk forward step by step. When you first entered the Hanlin Academy, I felt you had too much of a scholar’s idealistic spirit and harbored some prejudice in my heart. Later when you entered the Imperial Censorate and went to the Ministry of Justice, I also felt your good fortune exceeded your abilities. It wasn’t until those years when Emperor Jin’an was in power, when you were diligent in government, disciplined yourself, and fulfilled your duties conscientiously, that I realized this old man had underestimated you back then. In those early years, this old man…”

He had wanted to say that back when Su Jin was beaten with cudgels on the street and climbed out from a pile of corpses alone, he had only learned of it afterwards. Later, when he discovered that this matter was his nephew Zeng Ping’s doing, his sense of justice ultimately could not overcome his parental affection, and he took it upon himself to send her away from the capital.

But when the words came to his lips, they were difficult to speak.

At this point, whether this matter was his doing or not, what did it matter to Su Shiyu?

Her feelings were set, her aspirations were set. Along this storm-filled journey, she would not change her state of mind because of whether someone in an old matter was the chief culprit or an accomplice.

What a pity—such a person of both talent and virtue. If not for that early matter, perhaps he could have formed a gentleman’s friendship with her.

Zeng Youliang heaved a heavy sigh, halted his steps, and bowed with folded sleeves, his forehead nearly touching his knees: “This old man… offers you an apology.”

He performed this bow at the edge of the terrace steps. Below the steps, Shen Xi, having finished discussing business with several officials from the Ministry of Revenue, turned back and witnessed this scene. He blinked and said with a smile: “Minister Zeng is old enough to be Shiyu’s father. Performing such a grand ceremony, aren’t you afraid of shortening your lifespan?”

His words were harsh, but it wasn’t that he couldn’t control his mouth. He knew what matter Zeng Youliang was apologizing for—he was doing it deliberately.

Several ministers hadn’t left yet. Seeing Zeng Youliang made extremely awkward by Shen Xi, they came forward to smooth things over. Chen Jinsheng from the Ministry of War said: “Every ministry and office has personnel vacancies, yet only the Imperial Censorate has an abundance of talent. A few years ago, even His Majesty said he wanted to draw some people from the Imperial Censorate to send to various offices for important positions. Lord Qian went to the Ministry of Justice, but our Ministry of War and Minister Zeng’s Ministry of Personnel didn’t get a single one. As I see it, Minister Zeng isn’t performing a ceremony here—he’s asking Lord Su for advice on the Imperial Censorate’s way of selecting and recruiting talent.”

He continued with a laugh, “Lord Su, there’s a vacancy for Left Vice Minister in the Ministry of War. Chen has been watching Zhai Di—he’s young and capable, steady and decisive. I’ve always wanted to request him. I’ve petitioned His Majesty several times, but His Majesty never approved. Now that you’ve returned, why not make a private decision and give Zhai Di to the Ministry of War?”

Qian Yueqian’s crescent-shaped eyes curved: “You certainly wish. Qiguang was personally promoted by Shiyu. She would give up anyone before she’d give him up.”

Su Jin also smiled: “Indeed, I can’t bear to part with him. Minister Chen should look for someone else.”

As she spoke, she descended the steps and said to Shen Xi: “I didn’t reply to the letter you sent to Shu in April because I was already on the road to the capital. The messenger only caught up with me last night.”

“Why are you suddenly explaining yourself to me?” Shen Xi said, his tone gentle, his face full of impropriety. “It seems the messenger didn’t do his job well. Since you’re from the Imperial Censorate, why don’t you punish him with a crime?”

On the road back to the capital from Shu, Shen Xi walked along feeling something was amiss. Later, he guessed that Zhu Yushen would probably coerce Su Jin to make her return to the capital. He sent people rushing back to Shu in the middle of the night, bringing a banknote.

On the back of the banknote was written a sentence: “Capital for a fortune-telling stall. Find a place and set it up for me first.”

At that time, Su Jin laughed when she saw these words, remembering many years ago when Shen Qingyue lay down in the snow and said that in the future, if he didn’t serve as an official, he would set up a fortune-telling stall: “Set up a fortune-telling stall with sixteen large characters written above: ‘Can determine life and death, can judge fortune and misfortune. One character costs a thousand gold, better than building a pagoda.'”

He raised his folding fan and traced several points in the night sky.

Young Master Shen, pillowing himself on snow, had in his eyes the countless expressions of carefree elegance of this mortal world.

But Su Jin also knew that what he wanted to give her was not just this banknote. He wanted to plan a path for her, hoping she wouldn’t be like him—trapped in desperate straits, confined to the deep palace. He hoped that to the very end she could choose, whether to return to the palace or go elsewhere, all completely according to her own wishes.

And as a human being, wasn’t the most precious thing being able to make choices according to one’s own heart at any time and place?

Su Jin returned the banknote and said to the person Shen Qingyue sent to escort her: “Go back. Tell him I’m already on the road back to the capital. You didn’t find me.”

Whether returning to the capital was of her own will or due to coercion, she could no longer distinguish.

But ultimately, she couldn’t bear for Shen Qingyue to remain alone in this palace, trapped as if drawing a prison around himself. If she didn’t return, what fate would befall him in the end?

Su Shiyu was similar to Zhu Nanxian in one respect—she would never fail anyone in her life.

After the beginning of autumn, the weather cooled quickly. In just a few days, the scorching summer heat completely dissipated.

On this day, fine rain fell. Su Jin emerged from the Imperial Censorate and passed through a corridor. A palace attendant who saw her walking alone without even holding an umbrella hurried over with an umbrella: “Lord Su, where are you going? This servant will escort you.”

Su Jin glanced at him but said: “No need.”

The early autumn rain of Jiangnan barely dampened one’s clothes. Bathing in it instead added a measure of clarity.

The palace attendant responded affirmatively and had just retracted his umbrella and was about to step aside when his gaze inadvertently fell on the entrance to the corridor. He called out: “Your Highness the Princess,” and immediately knelt to perform his respects.

Su Jin’s steps paused slightly. Turning around, she saw that the woman at the corridor entrance had extremely beautiful features and a graceful bearing. A palace gown of Xiang consort color made her entire person like a crabapple blooming in the rain.

It was none other than Qiling.

“Xianli respectfully greets Lord Su.” Qiling moved forward, and upon reaching Su Jin, first performed a curtsy.

Su Jin was stunned for a moment before realizing that “Xianli” was the title Zhu Nanxian had bestowed upon Qiling when he enfeoffed her as a princess years ago.

Remembering the palace attendant’s earlier form of address, she returned a bow: “Not having seen you for many years, I made Your Highness the Princess greet this official first. This official has been remiss in etiquette.”

As she spoke, she stepped aside to make way for Qiling to pass first.

But Qiling didn’t move. She glanced at the maid and palace attendant beside her.

After the two withdrew, she said: “Lord Su, Ruyu has been waiting here to bid you farewell.”