Chapter 32

Chapter 32

A light drizzle fell during the morning court session, but all officials were present and accounted for.

Wen Zuo was there too. Shen Zheng, watching him from behind, thought he looked completely recovered.

Minister of Revenue Bu Zhangyi stepped forward to present a memorial. He reported that a petition had been received two days ago from the magistrate of Qianzhou Prefecture. The heavy spring rains this year had caused flooding in various farmlands, threatening a major flood. He asked the court to decide.

Emperor Shunyuan frowned. "Wasn't five million taels approved just a few years ago for Qianzhou to repair dikes and provide disaster relief? How can there be flooding again so soon? Have the responsible officials investigated thoroughly and reported the facts?"

Bu Zhangyi knelt, his tone solemn. "Your Majesty, according to the report from the Qianzhou Surveillance Commissioner, there appear to be signs of ant and rodent damage on the dikes. They fear this year's floodwaters will be too powerful, leading to another breach!"

"Dikes repaired just a few years ago, already damaged by pests?" The Emperor slammed his hand on the Imperial Desk, startling all the ministers into kneeling.

Bu Zhangyi prostrated himself. "Cao Fangzheng, the former Governor of Qianzhou, is dead. This matter has wide-reaching implications. I humbly request Your Majesty's permission for the Ministry of Revenue to dispatch an official to Qianzhou to conduct a thorough re-inspection."

This statement subtly shifted the blame, once again pointing a veiled finger at the Crown Prince.

The Virtuous Prince Faction had been deeply resentful that the Cao family clique wasn't completely ousted during the Cao Fangzheng case. Now, with the heavy spring rains—Qianzhou had seen rain for a full month—and their prior knowledge of the poor quality of Cao Fangzheng's dike repairs, they saw their chance.

Emperor Shunyuan pondered without answering.

The Crown Prince panicked, stealthily shuffling forward and poking Gong Zhiyuan's arm, seeking his counsel.

Gong Zhiyuan's mind raced, quickly formulating a counterargument. He edged forward on his knees.

"Your Majesty, from what Minister Bu has said, the disaster has not yet occurred. I believe there is an element of exaggeration here. Historically, officials have often falsified disaster reports to reduce tax levies. Perhaps someone seeks to shirk duty and take advantage of the court. Moreover, if it rains for a hundred days straight, causing water levels to surge and waves to breach the dikes, can that truly be blamed on the former Governor?"

This reasoning held merit. Emperor Shunyuan nodded, instead reprimanding Bu Zhangyi. "The flood hasn't even happened yet. Why are you in such a hurry?"

Bu Zhangyi simply sought an opportunity for an investigation, knowing that one would inevitably uproot the Cao faction entirely.

"It is about preparing for the future, Your Majesty! I have heard that Qianzhou borders Bozhou, both lying along the Liang River. During the flood years ago, Qianzhou required an allocation of five million taels to recover, while Bozhou, having reinforced its dikes early using only its own prefectural funds, avoided disaster. Now, Qianzhou reports pest damage to its dikes, yet Bozhou remains unscathed. The difference between the two is stark!"

Upon hearing this, Wen Zuo merely lowered his gaze with a placid expression, as if deaf to the dispute in the hall.

In his previous life, he had leveraged Prince Xian's influence to attack the Crown Prince, uprooting the Cao clan and clipping the Crown Prince's wings.

In this life, with the Cao Fangzheng case occurring earlier, the entire process seemed accelerated. It was as if an unseen force was correcting the accumulated ills of this dynasty.

"Oh? Is that so? Who was in charge of Bozhou back then? He did an excellent job. Why has no one mentioned this to me?" Emperor Shunyuan became interested.

Bu Zhangyi glanced at Wen Zuo before replying. "Sun Tzu's Art of War states, 'The victory of a skilled commander brings him neither reputation for wisdom nor credit for courage.' It means a truly skilled commander achieves victory without gaining fame for wisdom or feats of valor, because he plans ahead and secures victory before the enemy gains an advantage. This man came from a humble background. Upon entering officialdom, he was dispatched to the remote Bozhou. With no connections at court, who would have memorialized his achievements?"

Bu Zhangyi's words caused the assembled ministers to exchange glances, curious about this capable official. However, a significant number who knew the inside story already turned their gazes toward Wen Zuo.

Shen Zheng also quietly watched the figure clad in the deep red official robe. His frame was slender yet resilient as bamboo, his hair gathered under a black hat, revealing only a section of porcelain-white, tranquil neck.

Just like the two cold pages of the Qian History, it seemed even in this dynasty itself, many were unaware of his past deeds, including the Emperor.

His merits and dignity as an official, his aspirations and talents—if not for the needs of factional strife—had been worn away amidst the classics, histories, and philosophies of the Hanlin Academy, and the waves of slanderous gossip.

Bu Zhangyi continued, "Your Majesty, this man is the Hanlin Academy Director, Minister Wen. At that time, many refugees from Qianzhou fled to Bozhou, and it was Minister Wen who received and aided them. I only learned of this by chance while conversing with a Qianzhou water conservancy official."

Emperor Shunyuan suddenly looked at Wen Zuo, momentarily dazed.

He remembered summoning Wen Zuo back to the capital because the Huizhou Prefect had complained that Bozhou was stealing Huizhou's Songluo Tea business.

But after investigation, it turned out Bozhou was cultivating new tea trees, selling the tea cheaply, which was incomparable to Huizhou's old-growth tea. Connoisseurs still bought Huizhou's tea.

Therefore, he had specially praised Wen Zuo, recalled him, and reprimanded the Huizhou Prefect.

So, Wen Zuo had also managed flood control back then.

Emperor Shunyuan seemed to have grown accustomed to Wen Zuo's preference for avoiding busywork, his frequent visits to the pleasure quarters, his reluctance to join factions, and his disinterest in amassing power. He was content to have such an agreeable lone minister by his side—clever, astute, and knowing his place.

So much so that he had almost forgotten this man was originally the top scholar in the sixteenth year of Shunyuan, a talent for governing the realm.

Thinking of this, Emperor Shunyuan's gaze toward Wen Zuo unconsciously held a touch more wariness.

Wen Zuo smiled, speaking calmly. "Minister Bu exaggerates. During the flood back then, although Qianzhou and Bozhou were both along the Liang River, Qianzhou was upstream, Bozhou downstream. I only made preparations after seeing the disaster in Qianzhou; it wasn't preemptive planning. Moreover, it was only thanks to Your Majesty exempting Bozhou's taxes that year that the prefectural funds could be managed. So, the credit truly belongs to Your Majesty. Why has no one memorialized Your Majesty's merit?"

Emperor Shunyuan was amused by his words, coughing several times. "Report my merits? To whom? Who can reward me? You're always managing to snag rewards from me. When I do well, it's expected. When I err, the people curse me."

Seeing that Wen Zuo did not side with the Virtuous Prince Faction, the Crown Prince couldn't help but sigh in relief. It seemed this man truly was a lone minister, unwilling to involve himself in factional strife.

Gong Zhiyuan's thoughts grew even more tangled. According to Xie Langyang, it was Wen Zuo who propelled the Spring Terrace Chess Association case, causing significant losses for the Crown Prince. Yet now, when Wen Zuo could press his advantage, he did not.

Could it really be Xie Langyang's jealousy at work?

How utterly useless!

Bu Zhangyi refused to let go. "Indeed, as Your Majesty says, the matter has not yet occurred. It should be taken seriously, but not overly so. I have heard that Gu Weizhi of the Ministry of Revenue was transferred from Bozhou. He worked with Minister Wen on disaster management back then. Why not send him to Qianzhou to investigate? He will surely act impartially."

Gu Weizhi was a newcomer, affiliated with neither the Crown Prince Faction nor the Virtuous Prince Faction, yet familiar with the local situation. Sending him was ideal.

Furthermore, his family was still in Bozhou. This trip would allow him to fetch his wife and children on the way—killing two birds with one stone.

Bu Zhangyi wasn't afraid the investigation wouldn't target his own people. As long as someone went to investigate, problems would surely be found.

Gong Zhiyuan grew anxious instantly but couldn't think of a valid reason to object.

Emperor Shunyuan nodded. "Very well. Send Minister Gu to take a look."

Gu Weizhi stepped forward and knelt, his voice clear and resolute. "I accept the decree. I will not fail in my mission!"

Wen Zuo lowered his head, gently smoothing the edge of his sleeve, pressing down a slight, un-ironed crease. The back of his hand, needled the day before, was already slightly bruised.

But at this moment, he had completely forgotten the previous night's suffering, submerged instead in satisfaction.

He understood that after Gu Weizhi's departure, the Crown Prince's removal was not far off.

Just then, Eunuch Liu Qian approached quietly, whispering to Emperor Shunyuan, "The Nanping envoy wishes to bid you farewell and is waiting at the palace gate."

Emperor Shunyuan waved a hand impatiently. "A mere envoy. I won't see him. You can offer a few words of consolation in the side hall later."

Liu Quan bowed and retreated. "Yes."

After court adjourned, Wen Zuo was immediately surrounded by a crowd of fawning officials. He handled them with ease, answering questions as he made his way out of the hall.

Neither Shen Zheng nor Gu Weizhi managed to get close.

As he neared the Hanlin Academy, Wen Zuo saw Wu Kan and the Mu trio being led by a eunuch toward the side hall. As they passed each other, Wu Kan looked up, their eyes meeting briefly.

Xue Chongnian asked, "Minister Wen, is something wrong?"

Wen Zuo immediately averted his gaze. "Nothing. I was just thinking that, as the official in charge of the Spring Terrace Chess Association, I should see off the Nanping envoy tomorrow."

Xue Chongnian considered for a moment and praised, "Minister Wen is concerned that the Nanping envoy was treated poorly this time, which might cause Nanping displeasure. So you intend to smooth things over. Truly thorough in handling affairs!"

Wen Zuo wondered to himself, when did this guy learn to talk like that? He didn't remember that from his past life.

Wu Kan wasn't at all surprised that he didn't get to meet Emperor Shunyuan, but upon seeing Liu Quan, he was astonished by Wen Zuo's precise judgment.

Liu Quan was like a still pond—no matter how chaotic or treacherous the surroundings became, he could always flow smoothly through the cracks and remain unscathed amidst the chaos.

"His Majesty is fully occupied with state affairs and cannot receive the envoy, so he has sent me to see you off." Despite being the Great Companion to Emperor Shunyuan and the current Director of the Directorate of Ceremonial, Liu Quan treated everyone with respect, without putting on any airs.

Wu Kan let out a hearty laugh: "You coming yourself, Eunuch Liu, is honor enough for me."

Perhaps seeing that Emperor Shunyuan was absent and no important ministers from the Grand Secretariat were present, Wu Kan spoke more casually and couldn't resist shooting his mouth off.

"Ah, I was planning on sweeping the championship at the Spring Terrace Chess Association. We're not that hung up on the 'National Master' title..." Wu Kan fidgeted as he paced in the side hall, blustering, "It's just a pity I couldn't get the Emperor of Da Qian to be generous enough and let us have a look at Jun Dingyuan's secret treasure."

After saying this, Wu Kan waved his hand dismissively: "Never mind, never mind. Worst case, we'll just come back to Da Qian next year!"

Liu Quan's eyes flicked up, then slowly lowered again, offering no comment on his words.

Suddenly, Wu Kan pulled out a wad of banknotes and waved them before Liu Quan's eyes, lowering his voice: "How about you do me a favor and be generous, Eunuch Liu, and tell me what treasure is hidden in Jun Dingyuan's tent?"

Liu Quan didn't bat an eye at the money, replying calmly: "I wish the envoy a safe journey tomorrow."

Wu Kan was taken aback for a moment, then his gloomy face broke into a smile: "Alright, alright. Eunuch Liu regards money as dirt—I admire that."

He tucked the banknotes away and barked at the Mu trio: "Let's go!"

Shen Zheng had waited until Wen Zuo was done with his duties at the Hanlin Academy. He left his horse, White Sand Treader, behind, changed into casual clothes, and hurried over to the Wen estate, only to find Wen Zuo had already gone to bed.

Whenever it rained, Wen Zuo's health suffered. He'd been so busy, he hadn't even eaten lunch.

A single window was open in the room. The sun was still up, yet Wen Zuo was curled up under the blankets. A faint scent of medicine drifted through the room, reminiscent of the scent that had clung to him when they first met.

Back then, Shen Zheng was mostly curious about Wen Zuo, but now...

Shen Zheng crouched by Wen Zuo's bedside. He saw that even in sleep, Wen Zuo wasn't relaxed—his brows were slightly furrowed, and two faint bruises were visible on the back of his right hand.

Shen Zheng longed to take the bruised skin into his mouth, to warm it, to soothe it with his tongue, to ease his suffering.

But in the end, he carefully lifted the hand and, with reverence and pity, tucked it back under the blankets.

Forget about whether he was a treacherous official or not. Even if he were notorious and condemned by all, Shen Zheng wished for him to live a long life, safe and happy.

"Tell the teacher when he wakes up that I'm going out of the city tomorrow too," Shen Zheng said to Liu Qiying as he stood up.

Liu Qiying nodded, hesitantly holding up the package of Jujube Cold Cake. From the palace to Huiyang Gate, and then to the Wen estate, Shen Zheng's trip to get this must have been a pain, but the master hadn't even gotten to eat it.

Shen Zheng waved his hand: "You two eat it. It's not good for the teacher to have sweets all the time. I just sometimes want too much..." to spoil him.

After leaving the Wen residence, Shen Zheng finally unclenched his hands, wincing in pain as he shook them.

Afraid he wouldn't make it in time, he had ridden a horse to buy the cake. The rope burns that had begun to heal yesterday were rubbed raw again, oozing blood.

-

Early the next morning, Wu Kan led the Mu trio away from the guesthouse. The officer in charge glanced at him up and down, scoffed, and processed the paperwork.

Although there were many officials at the guesthouse, not a single one came to see them off. Everyone held a long-standing hostility toward Nanping.

Wu Kan and the Mu trio sat alone in their carriage, leaving the capital through Guang'an Gate and heading south.

Just outside the city gate, they saw a small red-lacquered sedan chair parked beside the official road.

Wu Kan lifted the curtain and jumped down from the carriage. With his hands behind his back, he swaggered toward the red-lacquered sedan.

"Master Wen, I have done as you instructed. I hope you will also honor our agreement."

Wen Zuo bent slightly and stepped out of the sedan. The day was clear but windy, and the black hair at the nape of his neck was stirred by the breeze, like trembling strings.

With no one else around, Wen Zuo had no need for pretense. He raised his hand to smooth the rolled-up sleeves of his water-blue robe and said solemnly to Wu Kan: "In the past, Da Qian suffered defeat and endured ten years of humiliation. Last year, we finally turned the tables and made Nanping taste some bitterness. But such conflicts of pride have no end—only the people at the border suffer, displaced time and again."

"At this Spring Terrace Chess Association, Nanping's schemes did not succeed, but Da Qian's accumulated shortcomings were also exposed to the public, so it cannot be said that we won either. I hope that in the next ten years, both sides can recuperate and there will be no more war." Wen Zuo then looked at the three terrifying-looking youths. "These three are only nineteen years old and have already achieved so much—clearly, they are geniuses. It's truly a pity their bodies have been ruined like this. If you have any kindness in your heart, please try to heal them as well."

Wu Kan hadn't expected Wen Zuo to speak so candidly at this moment—without sarcasm, without schemes or transactions—simply as a minister of the Da Qian Dynasty, expressing hopes for the situation between the two countries and showing compassion for the Mu trio.

Suddenly, Wu Kan lost the desire to be sarcastic. He found this person truly strange—beautiful as a demon, sinister as a ghost, yet occasionally radiating a divine compassion for all living beings.

As if having endured the trials of a thousand hammers, he had forged an indestructible heart.

After a long silence, Wu Kan solemnly promised: "Alright."

A flicker of emotion seemed to stir in the dull eyes of the Mu trio. Stiffly, they bent their knees and bowed deeply to Wen Zuo.

The Nanping carriage gradually disappeared down the official road. Wen Zuo stood by the roadside, watching the silhouette shrink to a sesame-seed-sized dot among the trees before slowly withdrawing his gaze.

He raised his hand to steady himself on the sedan pole, only to see a white horse kicking up dust as it approached. It wasn't moving fast, but its mane was slightly flared and its breath heavy—clearly, it had been waiting for a long time, and the horse was growing restless.

Shen Zheng tightened his grip on the reins, and White Sand Treader came to a steady halt before Wen Zuo.

He was dressed in black riding attire, his arms and calves tightly bound, appearing exceptionally robust. A silver chain was wrapped around the leather belt at his waist, and the hem of his robe fluttered in the wind, accentuating his tall, straight posture and long legs.

Wen Zuo's gaze shifted from White Sand Treader to Shen Zheng. The horse was tall, and the man even taller—he had to tilt his head back to look up. The sunlight was fierce, its golden rays making his eyelashes tremble, and a hint of bitterness welled up in his eyes.

So Shen Zheng had learned to ride a horse so quickly—truly gifted.

He remained silent, turning toward his own red-lacquered sedan. As his palm pressed against the slightly cool carriage shaft, he suddenly felt that this sedan chair was embarrassingly short.

Xie Langyang, relying on his long residence in the capital and knowing full well that Wen Zuo was new and unfamiliar with the area, had deliberately chosen a residence far from the Vice Minister's mansion for him.

Walking between the two places took an hour, and taking a sedan often meant getting stuck in crowded markets. Only riding a horse allowed for convenient travel.

But his health was poor, and he had always been afraid of such unruly, untamed animals, so he had never managed to learn.

Naturally, Xie Langyang didn't want him to learn either. He was worried that Wen Zuo might uncontrollably appear at his mansion gate—he felt guilty, anxious, and under great pressure.

This way, the timing of their meetings could be entirely controlled by Xie Langyang.

When he wanted to meet, he would ride over on horseback. When he didn't, Wen Zuo would find it difficult to seek him out.

Wen Zuo was well aware of this. Though annoyed, he could do nothing about the reasons Xie Langyang gave.

Since ancient times, people have been bound by paternal authority and tied by the debt of a teacher's kindness. Having no such attachments, he had instead become an anomaly.

Thus, he could not righteously demand that others choose him alone and, for his sake, defy moral principles and disregard the laws of the state.

Now, seeing Shen Zheng on horseback, a wave of loneliness washed over him again, as if he had been left behind once more, watching helplessly as those around him reached places he could not.

He knew it was absurd to project such feelings onto Shen Zheng. Shen Zheng was merely his student. In the future, when Shen Zheng ascended the throne, it would be Wen Zuo who received summons to an audience, not Shen Zheng who answered his call.

But at this moment, he still couldn't suppress that discomfort.

"What are you doing here? Your teacher is going back alone in the sedan chair."

Shen Zheng keenly sensed something was off with his mood. He thought back and realized Wen Zuo had stared at White Sand Treader for a moment before his expression changed.

He was talking tough now, but his movements to board the sedan were sluggish—rolling up his sleeves, lifting the hem of his robe, as if breaking a single action into eight hundred steps.

He plainly didn’t want to ride in the sedan.

Such a contrary little cat.

Shen Zheng dismounted and circled around to face him, earnestly giving him an out.

“We’ve finally gotten out of the city, and there’s nothing urgent back home. No need to hurry into the sedan.”

“I won’t.” Wen Zuo kept a stern face, symbolically brushing his hand over the carriage shaft to show he still intended to climb up.

Holding back a laugh, Shen Zheng planted himself in the driver’s seat, blocking his path completely.

“I stopped by yesterday, but you were already asleep. Did the acupuncture hurt?”

“Not in the slightest.” Wen Zuo put on the air of a master who could do anything, treating acupuncture as nothing. “Now move aside quickly and go ride your horse.”

So he was bothered that he’d switched to riding a horse?

Did he actually like being squeezed together in the small sedan?

Several thoughts flashed through Shen Zheng’s mind, and he roughly understood: Wen Zuo likely felt insecure, afraid that once he learned to ride, they could no longer share the sedan and would grow distant.

“How about I take you for a ride on horseback?” Shen Zheng reached out and caught his wrist just as he was lifting the sedan curtain.

Wen Zuo stiffened all over, immediately raising his eyes to give Shen Zheng a surprised look.

But his words remained stubborn. “I don’t know how.”

“I’ll teach you.” Shen Zheng spoke earnestly. “I’ve practiced quite well, and White Sand Treader is obedient. You can just sit in front.”

“No.”

Wen Zuo tried to pull his hand back, still intent on lifting the curtain.

Shen Zheng didn’t grip him tightly, allowing himself to be tugged along by the force, but his fingertips remained lightly resting on Wen Zuo’s wrist.

“I’ll hold onto you from behind, and we’ll go slow. Even if I fall, I won’t let you fall. How about that?”

Wen Zuo pressed his lips together and fell silent.

Seeing this, Shen Zheng seized the moment to offer one last olive branch, smiling as he said, “Master Wen is brilliant and exceptionally talented. I wonder if you’ll learn to ride a horse faster than your disciple.”

Wen Zuo stopped brushing the shaft, stepped back from the stool, and with a flick of his sleeve, announced haughtily, “Naturally faster than you.”