The room was heavy with the scent of medicine. Shen Qi, having forced himself to rise earlier to deal with the Crown Prince’s sudden intrusion, now laid face down on the edge of the bed, his back wracked with pain. It felt as if he were an East Sea dragon whose tendons had been ripped out by Nezha. His freshly torn fingernails were once again wrapped in bandages.
Gao Shuo knelt on one knee outside the screen and reported, “The brother who delivered the secret memo has returned. He reported that His Majesty is already aware of the matter and immediately dispatched the imperial guards. They intercepted the Crown Prince’s carriage in the streets near Nanxun Ward and escorted him back to the palace.”
He hesitated briefly, unable to suppress his concern. “Although the Crown Prince is young, he is still the heir apparent. If he finds out in the future that we reported him to the emperor, won’t this…?”
Shen Qi’s voice, laced with the bitterness of medicinal fumes, sounded hoarse. “The Embroidered Uniform Guard serves only one master, and that is the reigning emperor. Since the emperor is concerned about the Crown Prince’s antics and wants the Embroidered Uniform Guard to help keep an eye on him, we’re merely being truthful to ensure the Crown Prince’s safety. How is that betrayal? Even if the Crown Prince wishes to settle accounts, he’ll have to wait until after he ascends the throne.”
“However, by that time…” Shen Qi let out a low chuckle. “He’ll probably be even more reliant on us than the current emperor.”
Gao Shuo nodded in understanding and was about to take his leave.
Shen Qi asked again, “Did Lord Su return to his residence safely?”
Gao Shuo replied, “He did. I saw him enter the gates. He also brought a woman with him, claiming she’s his newly taken concubine.”
“!”
For a moment, Shen Qi was speechless.
Listening to the heavy, suppressed breathing from the inner chamber, Gao Shuo felt as though he were face-to-face with a trapped beast gnashing its teeth and licking its wounds. A chill ran down his spine as he braced himself for the storm to break.
But no storm came. After a long pause, Shen Qi’s voice sounded faintly. “Noted. You may leave now. Keep an eye on the situation. Before you go, tell the steward to visit Mr. Yingxu’s medical cottage at dawn. Let him know we’re running low on medicine and ask him to prepare more. Also, take the bamboo container on your desk and have him analyze the ointment inside. Ideally, he can recreate the original formula.”
Gao Shuo gave a quick acknowledgment, picked up the bamboo container, and left the room.
Inside, silence fell again. Shen Qi removed the bloodied cloth he had bitten on, rewrapped his fingers, and slowly drank a bowl of linden honey water from the stool beside the bed.
***
Wu Ming temporarily stayed at the Su residence, but this time he insisted on lodging in a side chamber in the second courtyard, farther from Su Yan’s quarters than even the two teenage servants who stayed in the third courtyard. It was clear he saw himself as nothing more than a guard.
Su Xiaobei and Su Xiaojing were initially annoyed at Wu Ming for leaving without a word before, but as two thirteen- or fourteen-year-old boys, they quickly forgave him. After a few days of cohabitation, they found him agreeable—he ate whatever was given without complaint, made no demands, and aside from training incessantly, he had no other quirks.
For seven or eight peaceful days, Su Yan managed to get the mess in the Embroidered Uniform Guard under control. During this time, he turned down several nighttime visits bearing generous bribes and declined multiple invitations from old acquaintances, including the famed courtesan Ruan Hongjiao from the Rouge Alley. He was so thorough in managing his affairs that even flies couldn’t find a crack to slip through.
Noticing the precariousness of Su Yan’s situation, Wu Ming took it upon himself to act as Su Yan’s personal driver, insisting on escorting him to and from various government offices and residences.
Su Yan felt guilty about troubling Wu Ming, but after experiencing a near-accident when a falling bamboo pole almost pierced his carriage, he relented out of a growing concern for his safety.
Fortunately, no further incidents occurred. On the day Su Yan was preparing to enter the palace to report to the emperor, he received a family letter and a package of clothing.
The letter, sent from Fuzhou, was written by his father, Su Keren, the prefect of Fuzhou. It congratulated him on his academic success, expressed the family’s joy, and advised him to be diligent in his duties as a newly appointed official. The letter even urged him to delay returning home for a visit, lest it give the impression of prioritizing personal matters over public duty.
After this politically correct missive came a short note from his mother, Madam Lin. Her words were warm and caring, expressing concern for his well-being. She reminded him that his birthday was on the seventh of June and, unable to cook him a bowl of longevity noodles herself, had sent him some handmade summer garments instead.
Looking at the meticulously crafted clothing, Su Yan sighed softly and recited, “The loving hands of a mother sewing her wandering son’s clothes.” Then he turned to Su Xiaobei and asked, “Today is the first of June, isn’t it?”
Su Xiaobei replied, “This year has a leap month, Master. So today is the first of the fifth month again.”
Su Yan chuckled. “Oh, then my birthday is next month. I’d completely forgotten about it until my mother reminded me in her letter.”
When Su Yan transmigrated into this body, the original owner had already been living in the capital preparing for the imperial exams. Though Su Yan inherited his memories, it felt more like watching someone else’s life unfold on a screen—detached and impersonal. However, holding this handwritten letter from Madam Lin, he felt the warmth of familial affection for the first time and resolved to fulfill the original owner’s filial duties in this life.
However, one cryptic line at the end of Madam Lin’s note puzzled him: “Now that you’re an official, remember the court is not the same as the schoolyard. Adhere strictly to decorum and avoid resurrecting old habits, lest you draw criticism for your conduct.” Su Yan couldn’t figure out what “old habits” she was referring to. The original owner had seemed diligent and well-mannered with no apparent flaws.
Unable to solve the mystery, he set the thought aside, stored the family letter in his desk drawer, and prepared for his palace audience. Dressed impeccably and carrying a thick stack of memorials and evidence, he boarded the carriage to the palace.
***
Emperor Jinglong, after concluding the morning court session, was informed by Lan Xi that Su Yan, the right Shaoqing of the Dali Temple, had been waiting for an audience. The emperor initially summoned him to the imperial study but then changed the location to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, instructing his attendants to prepare tea and snacks in advance.
Led by the eunuchs, Su Yan entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation, a place of significance as the emperor’s primary residence. He understood that receiving an audience here was a gesture of favor.
After paying his respects, Su Yan couldn’t resist stealing a glance at the emperor. In the month since their last meeting, the emperor appeared slightly thinner but still exuded a calm and serene demeanor that was as refreshing as a deep spring in the heat of summer.
The emperor, meanwhile, was also studying Su Yan. With a slight frown, he remarked, “You seem even thinner than before. Is your chef asking to be punished? I know the investigation into the Feng faction is a complicated affair. Don’t rush; take your time.”
Moved by the emperor’s concern, Su Yan smiled and replied, “It’s not the chef’s fault, nor is the workload too heavy. It’s just the summer heat dampening my appetite. I’ll be fine once autumn arrives.”
For a fleeting moment, the emperor entertained an urge to lift him and see just how much weight he had lost, but with so many attendants present, he refrained. Instead, he casually granted Su Yan a seat and gestured at the thick memorial. “Hand it over… Goodness, that’s quite a volume.”
Su Yan presented the memorial and waited respectfully as the emperor flipped through it, his expression growing more intrigued. Finally, the emperor looked up, surprised. “You haven’t just rooted out Feng’s accomplices—you’ve practically turned the entire Embroidered Uniform Guard upside down! Over a hundred officers above the rank of centurion categorized into three grades with detailed evaluations. It’s more thorough than the imperial examination reviews. What’s this? Planning to replace my Embroidered Uniform Guard with an entirely new team?”
Su Yan knew that such an approach—drawing inferences and taking initiative—would undoubtedly please the emperor. Though the emperor might be inwardly delighted by his insight, he still had to maintain an appearance of propriety. Su Yan respectfully explained, “This servant may have overstepped. However, since Feng Que has entrenched himself in the Embroidered Uniform Guard for years, thoroughly uprooting his influence is necessary to remove the rot. I thought, if we’re to pluck one bad fruit, we might as well seize the opportunity to clear the entire vine of infested melons.”
“As for the results of the investigation, I am confident in their fairness and accuracy. All evaluations are well-documented, and Your Majesty is welcome to examine the evidence I’ve presented. Additionally, there are over a dozen crates of records in the Dali Temple, available for any official to cross-check should there be any objections.”
The emperor raised the memorial in his hand. “Just reading this report, it’s evident you’ve put considerable thought and effort into it. Leave everything you brought here; I’ll have the Secretariat review it and compile a summary. Those who deserve promotions will be promoted, those who deserve demotions will be demoted, and those deserving execution will be executed. The Embroidered Uniform Guard has been murky for too long—it’s time to clean it up properly.”
Hearing that the emperor made no mention of involving the court assembly or the cabinet, Su Yan realized that he intended to personally finalize the new appointments within the Embroidered Uniform Guard, ensuring this powerful tool remained firmly under his control.
What new arrangement might the emperor have in store for Shen Qi in this sweeping campaign of purging corruption and upholding integrity? Surely, His Majesty would not underestimate his contributions? Su Yan mulled over how to subtly advocate for his comrade to receive due rewards.
Ever since seeing Shen Qi’s back injuries—an unbearable sight that haunted him at times—Su Yan had been unable to shake the image. Such severe external wounds, where flesh and skin were stripped away, would leave significant scars even with proper treatment and the miraculous secret medicine from Yu Wang. Worse, it might impair Shen Qi’s physical abilities and skills for the rest of his life. Whenever these thoughts crossed his mind, Su Yan felt a deep mix of guilt and gratitude, always wanting to find ways to compensate him.
But Su Yan also knew Emperor Jinglong’s trait of meticulous thought, which often went hand in hand with suspicion. Any overt request for a reward could backfire, making the emperor suspect that there was more than just camaraderie between him and Shen Qi—some personal or vested interest that could harm Shen Qi’s future prospects.
After a flurry of thoughts, Su Yan sighed and said, “The punishments in the imperial prison are excessively harsh, often leading to forced confessions during interrogations. Especially methods like ‘skinning, spinal severing, oil boiling, and combing,’ which are unspeakably cruel and violate natural principles. Your subject dares to ask that Your Majesty consider moderating them.”
The emperor was slightly startled, as though seeing through Su Yan’s compassionate reasoning. He seemed to find the statement deeply reasonable and nodded. “You’re right. Judging by Zhuo Qi’s injuries, one can tell the severity of these punishments. From now on, only lighter penalties like finger presses, leg clamps, and flogging will remain among the eighteen imperial prison punishments. The rest shall be abolished. Speaking of ‘combing,’ how is that Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander, Shen Qi, doing lately?”
Su Yan was about to respond, “He’s been bedridden for a month recovering, his life no longer in danger, and his injuries improving. I reckon he could get up in another month or two,” but suddenly he stopped short—
Shen Qi had already defected to the emperor as a spy back in the East Garden, secretly maintaining contact with His Majesty. The emperor could easily inquire about Shen Qi’s condition directly, so why ask him?
Immediately, Su Yan changed his tone and said, “After attending to my mentor’s funeral, I visited Commander Shen to thank him for saving my life. At that time, his injuries were still severe, so I’m unsure how his recovery has progressed over the past month.”
The emperor remarked, “He has contributed to this case and suffered for it. I am aware of this and will reward and punish accordingly. What do you think about handing the Embroidered Uniform Guard over to him for management?”
Feigning a startled expression, Su Yan replied, “Isn’t that… a bit abrupt? Ah, I don’t mean to question Your Majesty’s decision. It’s just that… ahem, while it seems slightly unconventional to me, the Embroidered Uniform Guard is directly under Your Majesty’s command, so naturally, it’s Your Majesty’s call.”
The emperor nodded lightly. “Shen Qi is loyal and capable, but his limited seniority makes rapid promotion unfavorable for the greater stability. Let’s advance him to the official fourth-rank position of Commandant Assistant and have him temporarily oversee the affairs of the Northern Surveillance Bureau.”
Su Yan was secretly pleased but outwardly maintained a calm demeanor, saying, “Your Majesty’s benevolence is boundless. I’m sure he will understand your thoughtful intentions and serve with utmost loyalty to repay his country and sovereign.”
The emperor placed the memorial aside and rose. “We’ve been talking for quite a while; you must be tired.”
Su Yan flattered him, saying, “Speaking with Your Majesty, no amount of time is tiring.”
The emperor smiled faintly. “Even if you’re not tired, I am. Come, join me for some tea and snacks, and we’ll chat in detail about what you’ve been up to this past month. Stay for lunch in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.”
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