A light drizzle had fallen at dawn, yet the court was attended by a full complement of officials.
Wen Zhuo was there as well. Shen Zheng watched him from behind and saw that he truly seemed to have made a complete recovery.
Bu Zhangyi of the Ministry of Revenue stepped forward and reported that two days earlier, they had received a petition from the officials of Qianzhou, submitted through the provincial inspectors. There had been an unusual amount of rain this spring, and crops in various areas had already suffered flooding. They feared it might once again develop into a major disaster and asked the court to decide what measures should be taken.
Emperor Shunyuan frowned. “Wasn’t five million taels approved back then for Qianzhou to repair its dikes and provide disaster relief? How is it facing floods again after only a few years? Have the local authorities inspected the situation thoroughly and submitted a truthful report?”
Bu Zhangyi knelt and answered gravely, “Your Majesty, according to the censor assigned to Qianzhou, there appear to be traces of ants and rats gnawing at the dikes. We fear that if the waters rise too high this year, the dikes may burst again!”
“How can vermin have gnawed through a dike that was only repaired a few years ago?” Emperor Shunyuan slammed his hand down on the imperial desk. The force of it made all the officials drop to their knees.
Bu Zhangyi prostrated himself and petitioned, “The former governor of Qianzhou, Cao Fangzheng, is dead, and this matter implicates far too many people. We humbly ask Your Majesty to permit the Ministry of Revenue to send an official to Qianzhou to conduct a thorough on-site investigation.”
His words took a roundabout turn, but the spearhead was once again faintly directed at the Crown Prince.
The last time the Cao Fangzheng case had failed to bring down the entire Cao faction, the supporters of Prince Xian had been deeply resentful. Now, with the unusually heavy rains this spring, Qianzhou had already been receiving rain for a full month—and they had long known exactly what kind of shoddy work had gone into the dikes Cao Fangzheng had built.
Emperor Shunyuan considered the matter without answering.
The Crown Prince panicked. He secretly crawled a little farther forward, reached out, and poked Gong Zhiyuan in the arm, hoping he would come up with a solution.
Gong Zhiyuan’s thoughts raced. In an instant, he had devised a countermeasure, and he knelt as he shuffled forward.
“Your Majesty, judging from what Minister Bu has said, the disaster has not yet occurred. In my opinion, there may be some exaggeration involved. In ancient times, officials often fabricated reports of disasters to reduce tax collections. Perhaps someone simply wants to shirk his duties and take advantage of the court. Besides, if heavy rain were to continue for a hundred days, causing the water level to rise and floods to surge like the sea, and the dikes were then breached, could that really be blamed on the former governor?”
His words made sense, and Emperor Shunyuan nodded. Instead, he reproached Bu Zhangyi. “The flooding hasn’t even happened yet. Why are you in such a hurry?”
Bu Zhangyi only wanted an opportunity to investigate. Once an investigation began, he would certainly be able to uproot the Cao faction completely.
“We must take precautions before disaster strikes, Your Majesty!” Bu Zhangyi insisted. “I have heard that Qianzhou borders Bozhou, and both lie along the Liang River. During the disaster that year, Qianzhou had to spend five million taels to bring the crisis under control, while Bozhou reinforced its dikes in advance and avoided disaster by merely making use of its own government funds. Now Qianzhou is once again reporting that ants and rats have damaged its dikes, while Bozhou remains completely unaffected. The contrast between the two places could not be clearer!”
At his words, Wen Zhuo merely lowered his eyes with an impassive expression, as though he were entirely deaf to the dispute in the hall.
In his previous life, he had used Prince Xian’s power to strike at the Crown Prince, uprooting the entire Cao clan and severing the Crown Prince’s support.
In this life, the Cao Fangzheng case had already occurred. Everything seemed to be progressing ahead of schedule, as though some unseen force were correcting the accumulated ailments of this dynasty.
“Oh? Is that so?” Emperor Shunyuan’s interest was piqued. “Who was in charge of Bozhou that year? He did an excellent job. Why has no one ever told me about it?”
Bu Zhangyi glanced at Wen Zhuo before saying, “The Art of War says, ‘The best warriors win without wisdom being credited to them or valor being celebrated.’ It means that those who are truly skilled at war do not gain a reputation for brilliance or receive glory for unmatched courage, because they plan ahead and secure victory before their opponent has even gained an advantage. This man came from a poor family. As soon as he entered officialdom, he was sent to the remote region of Bozhou, and he had no acquaintances at court. Who would have submitted a memorial praising his achievements?”
The moment Bu Zhangyi finished speaking, the officials exchanged glances. All of them were curious about this capable official, but quite a few who knew the truth had already turned their eyes toward Wen Zhuo.
Shen Zheng, too, silently gazed at the man wrapped in crimson official robes. His figure was slender yet as resilient as bamboo. His hair was bound beneath a black official crown, revealing only a section of his porcelain-white, tranquil neck.
So it was not only those two cold pages of official history that had failed to record what he had done. Even in this dynasty and this generation, there were many who knew nothing of his past—including the Emperor.
His accomplishments and dignity as an official, his ambitions and abilities—if not for the needs of factional strife, they would have been worn away amid the Classics and histories of the Hanlin Academy, along with the endless slander that he was a dissolute wastrel.
Bu Zhangyi continued, “Your Majesty, this man is Wen Zhuo, Director of the Hanlin Academy. Many of the refugees from Qianzhou fled to Bozhou during the disaster, and it was Wen-Daren who accepted and aided them. I learned of this only by chance, while speaking with a hydraulic official from Qianzhou.”
Emperor Shunyuan suddenly looked at Wen Zhuo, and for a moment, he was lost in thought.
He remembered that when he had summoned Wen Zhuo back to the capital, it had been because the prefect of Huizhou had lodged a complaint, claiming that Bozhou had stolen Huizhou’s business in Songluo tea.
But after investigating, they had discovered that the tea planted in Bozhou came from young trees and was sold cheaply. It could not compare with the old trees of Huizhou at all. Wealthy families with discerning tastes still bought Huizhou tea.
Yet, unexpectedly, the remote and impoverished Bozhou had become prosperous and peaceful, eliminating one hidden danger for the court.
That was why he had praised Wen Zhuo so generously, transferred him back to the capital, and reprimanded the prefect of Huizhou.
Only now did he realize that Wen Zhuo had even managed the flood relief back then.
Emperor Shunyuan seemed to have grown accustomed to Wen Zhuo’s preference for an easy life—frequenting the pleasure quarters, avoiding factional alliances, and refusing to accumulate power. He was perfectly happy to have such a satisfactory solitary minister by his side: clever, quick-witted, and mindful of his limits.
So much so that he had nearly forgotten that this man ought to have been the top scholar of the sixteenth year of the Shunyuan era—a talent capable of bringing peace and order to the realm.
At that thought, a trace of wariness unconsciously entered Emperor Shunyuan’s gaze as he looked at Wen Zhuo.
Wen Zhuo smiled and said calmly, “Minister Bu is exaggerating. Although Qianzhou and Bozhou both lie along the Liang River, Qianzhou is upstream, while Bozhou is downstream. I only made preparations after seeing Qianzhou suffer the disaster; it was not a matter of taking precautions before anything happened. Moreover, it was thanks to Your Majesty’s decision to exempt Bozhou from taxes that year that the government funds could be put to use. This was originally Your Majesty’s achievement as well. Why has no one ever submitted a memorial praising Your Majesty for it?”
Emperor Shunyuan was amused by his words and coughed several times in succession. “Submit a memorial praising me? To whom would it be submitted? Who could possibly bestow a commendation on me? You, on the other hand, are perfectly capable of coming here every day and taking all kinds of rewards from me. When I do something right, it is merely what I am supposed to do. When I do something wrong, the entire realm curses me.”
Seeing that Wen Zhuo had not sided with Prince Xian’s faction, the Crown Prince breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed this man really was a solitary minister who had no desire to involve himself in factional struggles.
Gong Zhiyuan’s thoughts became even more confused. According to what Xie Langyang had said, it had been Wen Zhuo who instigated the Spring Terrace Go Gathering case, causing the Crown Prince to suffer devastating losses. But now that Wen Zhuo could have pressed his advantage, he had not done so.
Could it really be that Xie Langyang had acted out of jealousy?
That would be utterly useless!
Bu Zhangyi refused to let the matter drop. “Just as Your Majesty said, since the disaster has not yet occurred, we should take it seriously—but not attach excessive importance to it. I have heard that Gu Weizhi of the Ministry of Revenue was transferred here from Bozhou and once worked with Wen-Daren to manage the disaster. Why not send him to Qianzhou this time to conduct an on-site investigation? He is certain to act impartially.”
Gu Weizhi was new to the capital. He belonged to neither the Crown Prince’s faction nor Prince Xian’s. He also understood the local situation, making him the best possible choice for the investigation.
Moreover, his family was still in Bozhou. On this trip back, he could conveniently collect his wife and children as well—a perfect way to accomplish two things at once.
Bu Zhangyi was not afraid that the investigator would fail to be one of his own people. As long as someone was sent to investigate, they would certainly uncover the problems.
Gong Zhiyuan was instantly thrown into a panic, yet he could think of no proper reason to refute him.
Emperor Shunyuan nodded. “Very well. Then send Gu Weizhi to take a look.”
Gu Weizhi stepped forward and knelt, his voice ringing with resolve. “I accept Your Majesty’s command. I shall not fail in my mission!”
Wen Zhuo lowered his head and gently smoothed the edge of his sleeve, pressing down a small wrinkle that had not been properly ironed. The back of the hand he had treated with acupuncture yesterday had already begun to turn faintly blue.
Yet at this moment, he had completely forgotten last night’s suffering. He was instead drowned in exhilaration.
He knew that once Gu Weizhi left, the Crown Prince’s deposition would not be far off.
Just then, Eunuch Liu Quan approached on silent footsteps and whispered into Emperor Shunyuan’s ear, “The Nanping envoy wishes to bid Your Majesty farewell. He is waiting at the palace gates.”
Emperor Shunyuan waved his hand impatiently. “I have no time to see some insignificant envoy. You may offer him a few words of consolation in the side hall later.”
Liu Quan bowed and withdrew. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
As soon as the court session ended, Wen Zhuo was surrounded so tightly by a crowd of sycophantic officials that he could barely move. He handled them with ease, answering every question as he made his way toward the palace exit.
Neither Shen Zheng nor Gu Weizhi managed to get close to him.
When they reached the vicinity of the Hanlin Academy, Wen Zhuo spotted Wu Kan and the Mu trio being escorted toward the side hall by palace eunuchs. As they passed one another, Wu Kan raised his eyes, and their gazes met briefly.
Xue Chongnian asked, “Lord Wen, what is it?”
Wen Zhuo immediately looked away. “Nothing. I was merely thinking that, as the chief official in charge of the Spring Terrace Weiqi Tournament, I ought to see the Nanping envoy off tomorrow.”
After pondering this for a moment, Xue Chongnian praised him, “Lord Wen, you must be worried that the Nanping envoy was treated too poorly this time and that Nanping will take offense. That must be why you intend to smooth things over afterward. You truly are thorough in all matters!”
Wen Zhuo thought to himself, When did this man become so good at talking? I have no memory of it from my previous life.
Wu Kan was not at all surprised that he had failed to see Emperor Shunyuan. However, upon seeing Liu Quan, he was still astonished by the precision of Wen Zhuo’s judgment.
Liu Quan was like a tranquil stream of water. No matter how the world around him was overturned, no matter how turbulent and treacherous the currents became, he always flowed gently through the cracks torn open by the chaos, emerging completely unscathed amid the ruins.
“His Majesty is occupied with the affairs of state and cannot receive the envoy, so he has sent me to see you off.” Though Liu Quan was Emperor Shunyuan’s most trusted attendant and the current Chief Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, he treated everyone with courtesy and showed not the slightest trace of arrogance.
Wu Kan threw back his head and laughed. “Eunuch Liu’s presence is more than enough to show me respect.”
Perhaps because Emperor Shunyuan was absent and no senior cabinet ministers were present either, Wu Kan’s speech became much more casual, and he could not resist making several extravagant boasts.
“Ah, I had originally planned to win the Spring Terrace Weiqi Tournament outright this time. As for the title of national champion, well, we do not particularly care for it…” Wu Kan paced around the side hall restlessly, speaking with careless bravado. “It is simply a pity that we will not be able to make the Emperor of Great Qian show some generosity and bring out Jun Dingyuan’s secret treasure for us to see.”
After saying this, Wu Kan waved his hand dismissively. “Never mind, never mind. At worst, we can come back to Great Qian next year!”
Liu Quan slowly lifted his eyes, then lowered them again. He made no comment on Wu Kan’s words.
Wu Kan suddenly produced a stack of banknotes and waved it in front of Liu Quan, lowering his voice. “Why doesn’t Eunuch Liu show some generosity as well and tell me what treasure Jun Dingyuan keeps hidden in his tent?”
Liu Quan remained unmoved by the stack of money. He merely said blandly, “I wish you a smooth journey tomorrow, Envoy.”
Wu Kan froze. His dark expression brightened again in an instant. “Very well, very well. Eunuch Liu truly regards money as dirt. I admire you.”
He stuffed the banknotes back into his clothes, then said sternly to the Mu trio, “Let’s go!”
At last, Shen Zheng waited until Wen Zhuo had finished dealing with the affairs of the Hanlin Academy. He left Taibai Sha behind, changed into a set of ordinary clothes, and hurried to the Wen residence—only to find that Wen Zhuo had already retired to bed.
Wen Zhuo’s health always deteriorated whenever it rained. He had been busy for most of the day and had not even eaten lunch.
Only one window in the room had been left open. The sun still hung high in the sky, while Wen Zhuo lay curled up beneath the quilts. The faint fragrance of medicine drifted through the room, just like the scent that had clung to him when Shen Zheng first met him.
Back then, Shen Zheng had been mostly curious about Wen Zhuo. But now…
Shen Zheng crouched beside Wen Zhuo’s bed. Even in sleep, Wen Zhuo’s posture remained tense, his brows drawn slightly together. Two blue marks still showed on the back of his exposed right hand.
Shen Zheng wanted so badly to take those bruises into his mouth, to warm them, lick them away, and soothe all his pain.
But in the end, he merely supported Wen Zhuo’s hand with great care, then tucked it back beneath the quilts with reverence and tenderness.
What did it matter whether Wen Zhuo was a treacherous minister or not? Even if he were burdened with undeniable crimes and cursed by the entire world, Shen Zheng would still see to it that he lived to a hundred, safe and joyful all his life.
“Tell Teacher that I’ll be going out of the city tomorrow as well once he wakes,” Shen Zheng instructed Liu Qiying as he rose.
Liu Qiying nodded, hesitated, then lifted the packet of jujube rice cakes. Shen Zheng had bought them after making the journey from the palace to Huiyang Gate and then from Huiyang Gate to the Wen residence. It had been quite a trek, and yet his lord had not managed to eat any.
Shen Zheng waved his hand. “You two eat them. It isn’t good to give Teacher sweets all the time. I just occasionally want to… spoil him too much.”
Only after leaving the Wen residence did Shen Zheng spread open both hands and shake them in pain.
Afraid he would not make it in time, he had ridden a horse to buy the cakes. The abrasions from yesterday, which had just begun to heal, had been rubbed raw again, and blood was seeping from them.
-
Early the next morning, Wu Kan led the Mu trio out of the hostel. The official in charge looked him up and down, clicked his tongue, and processed the necessary paperwork.
Though the hostel was filled with officials, not a single one came to see them off. Everyone harbored the long-standing hostility toward Nanping.
Wu Kan and the Mu trio therefore sat alone in their carriage, leaving the capital through Guang’an Gate and traveling south.
They had only just passed through the city gate when they saw a small red-lacquered sedan chair stopped beside the official road.
Wu Kan lifted the curtain, jumped down from the carriage, and strode toward the red sedan chair with his hands clasped behind his back.
“Director Wen, I have done as you instructed. I hope you will honor your side of the agreement as well.”
Wen Zhuo bent forward and stepped out of the sedan chair. The sky was clear that day, but the wind had risen. The strands of black hair at the back of his neck were stirred by the breeze, trembling like taut strings.
There was no one else around, so Wen Zhuo had no need to put on an act. He raised a hand to smooth the sleeve of his pale blue robe and said solemnly to Wu Kan, “In the past, when Great Qian was defeated, we endured ten years of humiliation. Last year, we finally managed to turn the tables and make Nanping suffer a little. But this struggle over pride will never end. The only ones who suffer are the people along the border, who have been forced to flee their homes time and again.”
“This time, Nanping failed to achieve its aims at the Spring Terrace Weiqi Tournament, while the deep-rooted problems within Great Qian were exposed to the world. It cannot exactly be called a victory for us either. I hope that, over the next ten years, both sides can recuperate and rebuild, with no more wars.” As he spoke, Wen Zhuo turned to look at the three youths whose appearances were frightening to behold. “They are only nineteen, yet they have already achieved such accomplishments. They are clearly gifted geniuses. It is a shame that their bodies have been ruined to this extent. If you have any compassion, you should treat them as well.”
Wu Kan had not expected Wen Zhuo to speak so candidly at a time like this. There was no mockery, no scheming, and no bargaining—only the hopes of a Great Qian official for the future of the two nations, and his pity for the Mu trio.
Wu Kan suddenly found himself unable to muster the mood for sarcasm. He thought this man was truly strange—beautiful as a demon, sinister as a ghost, and yet occasionally radiating the divine compassion of one who pitied all living beings.
It was as though he had endured countless trials and tribulations, tempering his heart until it became unbreakable.
After a long silence, Wu Kan made his solemn promise.
“Agreed.”
Something seemed to stir in the wooden, vacant eyes of the Mu trio. They stiffly bent their knees and bowed deeply to Wen Zhuo.
The carriage from Nanping followed the official road and gradually disappeared into the distance. Wen Zhuo stood by the roadside, watching the shadow shrink into a tiny speck between the trees before slowly withdrawing his gaze.
He raised a hand to help himself into the sedan chair, only to see a white horse kicking up dust as it approached. It was not moving quickly, but its mane was slightly raised and its breathing labored. Clearly, it had been waiting for quite some time, and was growing restless.
Shen Zheng lowered his wrist and pulled on the reins. Stepping White Sand came to a steady halt before Wen Zhuo.
He was dressed in black riding clothes, his arms and calves bound snugly in a sleek, practical style. A silver chain circled the leather belt at his waist, and his hems fluttered in the wind, making his tall frame and long legs look even more striking.
He teased, “What did Teacher say just now? Why do I feel like Wu Kan was practically worshiping you?”
Wen Zhuo’s gaze shifted from Stepping White Sand to Shen Zheng. The horse was tall, but its rider was even taller; Wen Zhuo had to crane his neck to look at him. The sunlight was particularly harsh, and its golden glare made his lashes tremble. A trace of astringency even surfaced in his eyes.
So Shen Zheng had learned to ride so quickly. As expected of someone with extraordinary talent.
He said nothing. Turning around, he headed toward his small red-lacquered sedan chair. Only when his palm pressed against the cool carriage rail did he realize that the chair was so low it seemed almost painfully glaring.
Taking advantage of having lived in the capital for so long, Xie Langyang had deliberately chosen a residence far from the Vice Minister’s Manor, knowing full well that Wen Zhuo was new to the city and unfamiliar with its layout.
The two places were an hour’s walk apart. Traveling by sedan chair often meant getting caught in the congestion of the streets, so the only convenient way to go back and forth was on horseback.
But Wen Zhuo was in poor health and had always been afraid of such unruly, untamable beasts. He had never managed to learn to ride.
Naturally, Xie Langyang did not want him to learn, either. He was deeply worried that Wen Zhuo might show up at his manor without warning. He felt guilty, uneasy, and under tremendous pressure.
That way, the timing of their meetings could remain entirely under Xie Langyang’s control.
When he wanted to see Wen Zhuo, he could ride over. When he did not, it would be difficult for Wen Zhuo to go looking for him.
Wen Zhuo knew this perfectly well. Though he was angry, he could find no way to refute Xie Langyang’s reasoning.
Since ancient times, people had been bound by the authority of their fathers and constrained by the kindness of their teachers. Wen Zhuo, with no one to bind him and no one indebted to him, had instead become an anomaly.
Because of that, he could not justifiably demand that anyone choose only him—that they defy social norms and disregard the law for his sake.
Yet now, seeing Shen Zheng mounted on horseback, another wave of loneliness welled up inside him. It felt as though he had once again been left behind, forced to watch helplessly as those around him went somewhere he could not reach.
He knew that projecting such feelings onto Shen Zheng was absurd. Shen Zheng was merely his student. Once he ascended the throne, Wen Zhuo would be the one summoned to appear before him by imperial decree—not Shen Zheng waiting for Wen Zhuo to summon him.
But in that moment, Wen Zhuo still could not suppress the ache.
“What have you come here for? I’m going back alone in my sedan chair.”
Shen Zheng keenly sensed that something was wrong with his mood. Thinking it over carefully, he realized that Wen Zhuo had stared at Stepping White Sand for a while before suddenly changing expression.
Although his words were sharp, his movements as he prepared to board the sedan chair were painfully slow. He adjusted his sleeves, lifted the hem of his robe, and dragged out every motion as though he wanted to break a single action into eight hundred steps.
That meant he did not want to sit in the sedan chair.
A stubborn little cat.
Shen Zheng jumped down from his horse, walked around to face him, and did his best to offer him an easy way out.
“It’s rare that we’ve come out of the city. There’s nothing urgent waiting for us back there, so don’t rush into the sedan chair.”
“I won’t.” Wen Zhuo kept a stern expression and symbolically scratched at the carriage rail with his hand, indicating that he was still planning to climb in.
Suppressing a laugh, Shen Zheng simply sat down in the driver’s seat, blocking Wen Zhuo’s path completely.
“I went to see you yesterday, but you were already asleep. Did the acupuncture hurt?”
“Not in the slightest.” Wen Zhuo assumed the all-powerful bearing of a teacher, treating acupuncture as though it were nothing. “Move aside. Go ride your horse.”
Could he really be upset that Shen Zheng had learned to ride?
Could it be that he actually enjoyed being squeezed together with Shen Zheng inside the little sedan chair?
Several thoughts flashed through Shen Zheng’s mind, and he more or less understood. Wen Zhuo probably felt insecure. He was afraid that once Shen Zheng learned to ride, they would no longer be able to share the sedan chair, and that Shen Zheng would gradually grow distant from him.
“Let me take you horseback, all right?” Shen Zheng reached out and caught the wrist of the hand Wen Zhuo was using to lift the curtain.
Wen Zhuo’s entire body stiffened. He immediately looked up at Shen Zheng in surprise.
But his mouth remained stubborn. “I can’t.”
“I’ll teach you.” Shen Zheng sounded utterly sincere. “I’m quite good now, and Stepping White Sand listens well. You only need to sit in front.”
“No.”
Wen Zhuo tried to pull his hand back and reach for the curtain again.
Shen Zheng did not hold him tightly. His fingers followed the force of the pull, yet remained lightly resting against Wen Zhuo’s wrist.
“I’ll hold you from behind. We’ll go slowly. Even if we fall, I won’t let you hit the ground. All right?”
Wen Zhuo pressed his lips tightly together and fell silent.
Seeing this, Shen Zheng seized the opportunity and offered up the final step down with a smile.
“Master Wen, you’re brilliant beyond compare and possessed of exceptional intelligence. I wonder whether you’ll learn to ride faster than your own pupil.”
Wen Zhuo stopped scratching at the carriage. He stepped down from the bench, flicked his sleeve, and declared with an air of lofty pride, “Naturally, I’ll learn faster than you.”
