◎Shanjun, have you heard the four words “phoenix reigns over all under heaven”?◎

When the incident occurred, Yu Qingwu was in the Court of Imperial Stud copying documents. With horse plague in various regions, the first to die were horses, followed immediately by the people tending the horses.

How many horses died was recorded very clearly—people needed to be purchased to make up the numbers. As for how many people died, no one mentioned it, nor did they need to be replenished.

The realm should be at peace. Now was a prosperous age. In prosperous ages, there were no deaths.

Yu Qingwu’s expression was somber. He turned with the documents to speak to Court of Imperial Stud Vice Minister Gong Lin: “We may not report it, but we must know in our hearts how many people have died.”

Gong Lin came from a distinguished background—his mother was Princess Anning, his father was Chief Inspector of the Five City Soldiers and Horses Office. This person had originally been a ne’er-do-well who didn’t study. Because he was about to marry soon, he wanted some prestige, feeling deeply that having an official position sounded better when spoken of, so he was sent to the Court of Imperial Stud to idle away his days.

But he arrived just in time for the horse plague. Though he was a ne’er-do-well, he was a soft-hearted one. Even though he wasn’t invested in these matters, after being influenced by his surroundings and running around here for several months, he understood how many white bones were piled beneath these documents that seemingly recorded horse deaths.

He couldn’t help but sneer: “How many people die is of no concern to the court. After all, if this household dies today, it doesn’t matter. Tomorrow they can seize another family’s fields and force them to raise horses—thus, there are still horses. As for whether there are still people, only the King of Hell knows.”

Yu Qingwu patted his shoulder. “Eventually it will change.”

Gong Lin said painfully, “Junior Minister Yu, I don’t understand. The simple truth that when horse plague comes, it’s definitely not just horses that die—even I understand this. Why does His Majesty—”

Yu Qingwu cut him off. “Speak cautiously.”

Gong Lin felt stifled and more stifled, finally saying resentfully, “Then what does the court plan to do about this horse plague? How will you remonstrate with His Majesty?”

Yu Qingwu replied, “Strive to have the Ministry of Revenue allocate silver, exempt horse tributes this year, reduce horse tributes next year… and then reform horse administration.”

Gong Lin couldn’t think through so many things and only knew to handle what was before him. “Have the Ministry of Revenue allocate silver? The Court of Imperial Stud clearly has silver.”

Yu Qingwu glanced at him and said in a low voice, “Where is there any silver?”

Gong Lin was astonished. “I’ve often heard that the Ministry of War has the most abundant silver, obtained from selling horses. This silver originally came from the common people. Now that the people face disaster, shouldn’t it be used on the people?”

Yu Qingwu smiled.

He finally understood why Senior Minister Su had kept this wealthy young master around. He led Gong Lin to the storeroom where documents were kept and took out an account book to give him. “Look and see how much is left.”

Gong Lin hurriedly took it and flipped through. The more he read, the more alarmed he became. “How is there only two hundred thousand taels of silver left?”

The account book was too shocking. His heart felt tight as he read, so he found the room too dark. He hurried to open the window. Fierce sunlight thus shone on the account book, also illuminating clearly the reason for the missing silver.

“Year twenty-eight of Yuanshao, His Majesty constructed the Southern Garden, borrowed one million taels of silver.”

“Year thirty-one of Yuanshao, various provinces’ border military provisions borrowed three million taels.”

“Year forty-three of Yuanshao, Prince Yu constructed his prince’s manor, borrowed two hundred thousand taels.”

“Year forty-four of Yuanshao, His Majesty’s birthday banquet…”

The more Gong Lin read, the more his heart chilled. He was good at mental arithmetic. As he read, he calculated. By the end, his eyes nearly blazed with fire. “All together, front to back, it’s nearly ten million taels of silver…”

He said angrily, “Well then! No wonder the court increases horse tributes from the people every year. Now it’s become so harsh that those who don’t raise horses can’t farm—so they’re afraid no one will raise horses, then there’d be no way to sell horses, and thus no cheap silver to use.”

Yu Qingwu stared at him, seeing he still had an innocent heart, wondering whether his father and mother’s status could be borrowed for use in this matter.

Just as he was thinking this, he heard footsteps outside. The Court of Imperial Stud Registrar entered, covered in sweat. “Junior Minister Yu, Junior Vice Minister Gong, quickly, quickly…”

Yu Qingwu said gently, “What has happened?”

The Court of Imperial Stud Registrar stamped his feet anxiously. “Oh my! News just came from the palace. Senior Minister Su entered the palace for an audience with His Majesty. He’s pointing his sword at Prince Qi, accusing Prince Qi’s brother-in-law of embezzling military funds, misappropriating silver the Court of Imperial Stud was supposed to use for plague relief. Right now we don’t know what’s happening inside.”

He asked, “Junior Minister Yu, did you know about this?”

Yu Qingwu’s face went pale. “I didn’t know…”

Senior Minister Su had been keeping it from him all along, never telling him.

He left Gong Lin to watch over the Court of Imperial Stud and turned to run, heading toward the palace. But just as he reached the Proclamation Gate, he encountered Wu Qingchuan.

He roared, “Unfilial wretch!”

Those two words tore Yu Qingwu’s heart apart once more.

He was already anxious. Hearing this, he closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again, he said sarcastically, “Does Elder Wu have no other words with which to curse?”

Things had already reached this point, with weapons drawn. Why still drag up the past?

Wu Qingchuan strode over, his face red without a trace of pallor—whether from rushing or from fury. Then without a word, he raised his hand to slap Yu Qingwu’s face.

In the past under such circumstances, Yu Qingwu never blocked. Some favors, once received, meant even beatings must be endured.

But today he raised his hand to block it.

He stared at Wu Qingchuan. “This subordinate official still needs to enter the palace for an audience with His Majesty. The Elder should refrain from adding five finger marks to my face.”

He was tall. Once he straightened his back, Wu Qingchuan had to look up at him. Only then could he see clearly that his face was covered entirely in terror and sweat, as if he’d been pulled from water.

Wu Qingchuan laughed in extreme anger, letting out a “ha.” “—Audience? What audience will you have? Is there still any need for an audience?”

He extended one finger and jabbed it hard into Yu Qingwu’s chest. “I told you long ago not to act rashly. Enough people have died already. Why do you still insist on walking this path!”

Yu Qingwu was about to retort when he heard Wu Qingchuan say, “Did you incite Su Huairen? Otherwise, someone like him—a turtle that’s pulled in its head for ten thousand years, giving money when asked for money, giving grain when asked for grain, someone who’s worked at the Court of Imperial Stud for decades—how could he do such a thing!”

Yu Qingwu’s expression changed. Senior Minister Su had indeed never been so radical before.

Wu Qingchuan said with anguish, “If he dies because of you, will you be able to sleep peacefully in the future? You want to seek death yourself, and you want to drag others down as backing, don’t you?”

Yu Qingwu was jabbed backward a step.

The fierce sun blazed—it was precisely noon.

Yet cold sweat poured from his body in wave after wave.

He had indeed consciously guided Senior Minister Su toward reforming horse administration.

Was it his incitement?

Elder Brother and Yingying’s deaths had always been an obstacle he couldn’t overcome in his heart. He had always felt he was the one who implicated them.

Now, had he also implicated Senior Minister Su?

This senior minister past fifty would retire and return to his hometown in another two years. Yu Qingwu had always wanted to accomplish more before his retirement.

The expressions on his face shifted, his complexion growing even paler.

Seeing him thus, Wu Qingchuan pointed at the tip of his nose and cursed, “Your own death is insignificant. By what right do you decide others’ lives and deaths?”

Yu Qingwu was again jabbed into involuntarily retreating. He felt bewildered for a moment. After quite a while, he raised his head. “If that’s the case, then Elder should stay far away from me.”

Wu Qingchuan rebuked, “Say that again!”

“He said, please stay far away from him.”

Lan Shanjun stood to one side, quietly watching the two people opposite. She had just come out of the palace. She knew Yu Qingwu would enter the palace from the Court of Imperial Stud through the Proclamation Gate.

As expected, she encountered him. But clearly, she wasn’t the only one familiar with his temperament.

This was her first time directly facing Wu Qingchuan. She had always known that in year fifty-seven of Yuanshao, Yu Qingwu’s head would be severed by his blade, separated from his body.

But looking now, before cutting off Yu Qingwu’s head, he had trampled the three characters “Yu Qingwu” into the ground again and again, also jabbing at his spine, determined to poke the tall and crane-like figure he had once personally raised full of holes.

She sneered. “Is the Elder cursing him for inciting others to seek death, or for inciting others to oppose you?”

First there was Marquis Boyuan, then Prince Qi’s brother-in-law. As Prince Qi lost power, naturally Wu Qingchuan’s pressure increased.

Wu Qingchuan frowned, unwilling to argue with a small woman. But Lan Shanjun’s words became increasingly harsh. “Moreover, as long as the Elder doesn’t harbor murderous intent in the future, he will be able to live long.”

Wu Qingchuan looked at Yu Qingwu. “Is this the virtuous wife you personally chose? I see she’s just like you—both stubborn bones that don’t respect elders.”

But hearing this, Yu Qingwu’s expression changed. Anger surged in his heart. His fingers slowly clenched as he asked word by word, “What constitutes an elder?”

“Someone who abandons the carriage and flees?”

For a moment, Wu Qingchuan was struck speechless. In his entire life, only in this matter could he not stand tall before Yu Qingwu.

But he had blocked Yu Qingwu here today with good intentions. He said heavily, “Su Huairen went with the determination to die. Doing this, His Majesty won’t let him live either. If you go into the palace again, you’ll merely add one more corpse.”

No matter what, he didn’t want to see Yu Qingwu die so quickly.

But Lan Shanjun knew Yu Qingwu wasn’t going to die. He was going to save someone.

She called out, “Yu Qingwu.”

Yu Qingwu walked to her side.

Lan Shanjun said, “Just now the young princess came out of the palace with me. She needs to be sent back. Come with me to escort her to the Eastern Palace.”

Yu Qingwu replied, “Alright.”

He did indeed need to go to the Eastern Palace.

The two turned to walk back together. Lan Shanjun looked up at him once, then comforted him softly, “You don’t need to blame yourself.”

Yu Qingwu said in a muffled voice, “Is it easy to see?”

Lan Shanjun nodded. “Yes.”

She said, “Senior Minister Su has been an official for decades. Whether in terms of storms weathered or conduct as an official, he’s decades ahead of you. His actions all follow his heart, with his own considerations. He doesn’t need you to take responsibility.”

In her previous life, she had never heard of Senior Minister Su accusing Prince Qi’s brother-in-law, but the horse plague matter had indeed occurred.

If Senior Minister Su had this thought in his heart, why didn’t he act in her previous life? Did he ultimately give up, or was he obstructed?

She said, “No matter what, I believe that having done this, he has no regrets in his heart.”

Yu Qingwu smiled bitterly. “Things being as they are, I can only do my utmost to save him.”

He took a deep breath. “Shanjun, is the Grand Prince in the Eastern Palace?”

Lan Shanjun nodded. “Yes. Before I left, the Grand Princess Consort entrusted the young princess to me.”

Yu Qingwu was surprised. “The Grand Princess Consort… before this, did she discuss it with the Grand Prince?”

Lan Shanjun replied, “No. Bringing the young princess out with me was the Grand Princess Consort’s own decision.”

This one matter alone made Lan Shanjun even more certain that the Grand Princess Consort was a reasonable person. She was telling them they could go to the Eastern Palace.

Yu Qingwu’s heart eased for a moment. When entering the palace to see the Grand Prince, he first performed a ceremony to the Grand Princess Consort.

The Grand Princess Consort smiled. “Hurry and go in. The Grand Prince is so angry he can’t eat.”

Yu Qingwu raised his legs and entered.

Lan Shanjun accompanied the Grand Princess Consort talking in the corridor. She naturally also needed to give thanks, but the Grand Princess Consort waved her hand and only looked toward the sky.

The fierce sun stabbed painfully at one’s eyes. The Grand Princess Consort remembered when she was small, she too had loved looking at the sky like this. Her great-uncle would smile and say, “Yuanniang, what’s in the sky?”

When the Grand Princess Consort was small, she loved to eat. Half the rice in the Grand Prince’s bowl was eaten by her. Back then she could still gain weight from eating. The chubby little girl was very distressed: “A’Hu doesn’t have wings and can’t fly. I want to become a phoenix to carry him flying… But Great-Uncle, will my wings also be very fat? That would be so ugly.”

Great-Uncle laughed heartily and hoisted her onto his shoulders. “My Yuanniang is worried her wings will be fat!”

The Grand Princess Consort said, “I’m not just worried about that one thing! Great-Uncle, I worry about many things.”

If she became a phoenix, how would she fly in the sky? If she encountered other birds, would she understand their speech? Would the words she spoke be human speech or bird speech—she was very troubled.

Great-Uncle said, “Yuanniang, you’re one person. Why go understand a bird?”

The Grand Princess Consort murmured, “But the phoenix isn’t a bird.”

Lan Shanjun didn’t hear clearly. “Mm?”

The Grand Princess Consort asked, “Shanjun, have you heard the four words ‘phoenix reigns over all under heaven’?”

Lan Shanjun nodded. “Naturally I’ve heard of them.”

The Grand Princess Consort smiled. “When I was small, those four words were what I studied.”

She had studied alongside A’Hu.

She said, “So you don’t need to thank me.”

She also had things she wanted to do. She sighed. “But don’t blame the Grand Prince for not helping.”

She said, “His position is extremely difficult. Countless pairs of eyes are watching him. One wrong step and he’ll be beyond redemption, repeating the old path.”

——

In the study, the Grand Prince sat before a chess board, saying gently, “Since you’ve come, sit down and play a game?”

But Yu Qingwu discovered the board was already filled with pieces, black and white interlaced—a dead game.

Yu Qingwu sat down, looking at the board and asking in a low voice, “Your Highness, can he still be saved?”

The Grand Prince shook his head. “You came too late. He’s already beyond saving.”

He said, “Senior Minister Su died striking his head against a pillar.”

Yu Qingwu’s hand, reaching to take a piece, froze in midair. After quite a while it came down, grasping a white stone and holding it. “Is that so?”

The Grand Prince replied, “Yes.”

He said, “With the man dead, his integrity intact, treating it as a remonstrance unto death, the matters afterward will be easier for me to handle.”

If the man lived, it would become factional strife.

He said, “The senior minister was upright his entire life. Rest assured, I will preserve his posthumous reputation.”

He looked at Yu Qingwu. “You don’t need to grieve either. In death, some are heavier than Mount Tai, others lighter than a goose feather. The senior minister died where he should.”

Yu Qingwu’s hand clenched bit by bit. “Then was there Your Highness’s intent in this?”

The Grand Prince shook his head. “I merely followed the momentum. The senior minister was willing.”

He looked at Yu Qingwu. “To accomplish something, one or two deaths, even ten, a hundred, a thousand—as long as it’s accomplished, it’s worthwhile.”

“Since you’ve walked this path, you cannot be reluctant to let people die.”

He patted Yu Qingwu’s shoulder. “Don’t grieve here. From now on, I’ll be entrusting the Court of Imperial Stud’s affairs to you.”