IN THE DIRECTORATE of Ceremonial's Room of Inner Duties, a sharp slap rang out as Wei De's hand struck Shen Jue's cheek. It left a red mark like smudged makeup, but Shen Jue didn't so much as groan; it was as if he felt no pain whatsoever. Instead he said, "Please calm your anger, Father," quickly dropping to his knees. His forehead touched the cold, cracked floor tiles, the chill seeping into his entire body.
"Shen Jue, how dare you?!" Wei De paced back and forth, his face flushed with rage. "You've grown bold, haven't you? Do you think I can't control you anymore? Leaving the capital without permission, taking our men, and killing Liu Guicang—that bastard may have stirred up trouble in the jianghu, but he made us generous offerings every year. I promised him that the Eastern Depot wouldn't interfere in the jianghu, and now you go and slap me in the face the moment I turn my back!"
"Father, please let me explain!" Shen Jue shuffled forward a few steps and kowtowed again. "Last month, the Eastern Depot received a secret report from Liuzhou accusing Liu Guicang of gathering forces from across the jianghu to stage a rebellion. I dared not delay for even a moment. I rode through the night to apprehend him!"
Wei De let out a cold laugh, the wrinkles on his weathered face deepening like the furrows in old tree bark. "So what? Should I thank you now? Or petition the emperor to reward you? Shen Jue, you little brat!" His anger rising, Wei De approached Shen Jue and delivered a fierce kick. The force sent the younger man sprawling, knocking his gilded official cap from his head. Shen Jue calmly picked up the rolling cap, put it back on, and knelt in his original position.
"Don't think I don't know about your great deeds! Rebellion? Firearms?!" Wei De downed several cups of tea in frustration, then pointed at Shen Jue. "Wasn't it you who spread rumors about Liu Guicang's wife having an affair? What personal grudge did you have against him? Regardless, I could still have overlooked that—venting a little anger is inconsequential. But I thought you were level-headed, the kind of man who'd never let a personal vendetta cloud his judgment. Yet look at you now! The Eastern Depot's chief running off to Liuzhou without a word and killing Liu Guicang! What am I supposed to do if the scholar-officials in the imperial court find out about this?"
"Father, anyone could've uncovered Liu Guicang's annual tributes to us! Protecting a jianghu troublemaker like him didn't benefit you in any way. Just last month, Eastern Depot spies spotted the servants of Left Vice-Censor-in-Chief Meng Jian in Liuzhou. They were probably there to investigate the matter. I admit I acted on a grudge, but your safety was my primary concern! Think about it: Liu Guicang invited the jianghu to witness the execution ceremony. The censors are masters of twisting words, and they would've convinced the emperor that Liu Guicang was a dissident even if he had had no intention of rebellion. Moreover, your son was so concerned that our intelligence was faulty that I went there myself disguised as a Garden assassin. Nobody knows that it was the Eastern Depot's doing. Father, my rash actions certainly deserve punishment, but please try to quell your anger!" Shen Jue prostrated himself again; his forehead struck the ground so hard that blood began to bead, leaving tiny crimson smears on the tiles.
"I see that you have no remorse whatsoever!" Still unmoved, Wei De sat in his black-lacquered, gold-inlaid chair, gazing coldly at Shen Jue. Even when Shen Jue knelt, his posture was as straight as a bamboo stalk in the wind. With a slight furrow of his brow, Wei De continued offhandedly, "You've always been stubborn and headstrong, and now you're clearly beyond my control. Fine. I'm too old to waste time arguing with a troublemaker. Pack your things, Shen Jue. I'm sending you back to the Cold Palace."
Shen Jue, seemingly rooted to the spot, didn't move. After a long pause, he straightened and bowed deeply to Wei De. "I've failed you. I've served by your side all these years, but I've done little to ease your burdens. Now that I can no longer stay by your side, I only hope you'll take care of yourself and not allow court affairs to exhaust you. Please be cautious with Meng Jian; he's ambitious. I wish you health and peace. Farewell!"
Wei De's teacup trembled in his hand, splashing liquid onto his python-embroidered robe. Still, he didn't move as he watched Shen Jue lower his head with a sorrowful expression, then shuffle backward, preparing to rise and leave. Impulsively, Wei De reached out and called, "Wait!"
Shen Jue froze. At the same moment, hurried footsteps echoed from outside.
"Wei-gonggong!" the approaching eunuch called. "His Majesty summons you."
Wei De froze then rushed to the window. "Do you know why?"
"I don't," the eunuch replied hesitantly. "But judging by His Majesty's expression, it isn't good."
Wei De glanced at Shen Jue. "Could this be about you killing Liu Guicang?"
Shen Jue shook his head. "No one knows that was me. However…" He pulled a folded memorial from his sleeve and handed it to Wei De. "Read this on the way, Father. It may help resolve the matter."
Wei De accepted the memorial suspiciously, staring at Shen Jue for a moment before departing in a swirl of robes. Wei De didn't see the subtle change that washed over Shen Jue's face. His sorrow peeled away like chipped gold leaf from an old incense burner to reveal only cold indifference.
Wei De hunched low as he hastened obsequiously into Zhaoren Hall, where the emperor came to read books and review memorials. The walls were lined with towering shelves tightly packed with rows of books bound in blue and black. The emperor was not particularly fond of reading and had tucked a few erotic illustrations among the texts—an indulgence unknown to outsiders. In the center of the room stood a huanghuali wood desk piled with memorials and documents. Whatever the emperor discarded, his attendants promptly sorted.
The emperor sat in a high-backed chair, his expression dark with displeasure. A eunuch at his side gave Wei De a pointed glance. Wei De's heart sank. He knelt shakily before the emperor, unsure what to expect. The emperor usually stopped him from doing so and helped him to his feet. For the first time ever, though, he provided no assistance, allowing Wei De to perform the full obeisance. Then the emperor tossed a memorial at his feet.
"Read it," the emperor ordered.
Wei De picked the memorial up, his heart pounding harder with each line he read. As the words blurred before his eyes, cold sweat trickled down his spine. Without even reading to the end, he let out a desperate cry, dropping to his knees to crawl to the emperor's feet. "Your Majesty, please judge wisely! This servant has nothing to do with wretched Liu Guicang! Meng Jian has slandered me with baseless accusations! What tributes? What offerings? These are all fabrications! Your Majesty, I have served you all my life. Don't you know the kind of person I am? I'm a coward—how could I dare to associate with lawless jianghu rogues?!"
"Meng Jian's family has been loyal for generations! Why would he invent a charge of collusion with rebel outlaws?" The emperor was livid, nearly speechless with rage. "Your man, Qian Zhengde, was seen eating and drinking with this Liu fellow—Liu…whatever-his-name-is! You've lost your mind, Wei De!" The emperor gestured angrily at the desk, which was piled with memorials. "Look at these—every one is a complaint against you! Zuo Lanjiang, the left assistant minister of the Court of Judicial Review; He Siming, academician of Hanlin Academy; Ye Zhi, the minister of justice; even the retired Dai Shengyan, known for his integrity—have all accused you! Dai Shengyan claims that you were involved in annihilating the Xie family nine years ago. Of course, I know you'd never commit such a monstrous crime, but I must provide an explanation!"
Wei De trembled uncontrollably, fumbling to retrieve a memorial from his sleeve. "Your Majesty, please read this before passing judgment!"
The emperor snatched the memorial and skimmed it, his eyes rapidly scanning the text.
Wei De mopped his brow and continued his plea. "This servant has no connection with Liu Guicang! The only possible link is that Eastern Depot spies reported that Liu Guicang was in frequent contact with southern barbarians, likely to plot something sinister. I didn't want to accuse an innocent man, so I ordered a thorough investigation. Just last month, the Eastern Depot received a secret report that Liu Guicang had issued a call to the jianghu, summoning people from all corners of the land to Liuzhou. Our spies also reported that southern barbarians disguised as martial artists were heading to the gathering. Fearing rebellion, I ordered my unworthy son, Shen Jue, to rush to Liuzhou and execute Liu Guicang at once!"
The emperor's anger flared. "What?! A jianghu ruffian dared to collude with those southern barbarians?!"
"Your Majesty may not know, but Liu Guicang's mother was herself a barbarian from the south," Wei De said, wiping his eyes. "Rebellion is no trivial matter. Better to err on the side of caution—better to kill ten thousand wrongly than to let even one traitor slip through. Though the evidence wasn't concrete at the time, I had no choice but to let Shen Jue take decisive action. Liu Guicang claimed to be executing the Wuminggui, a Garden assassin, and I secretly ordered Shen Jue to disguise himself as a fellow Garden assassin to rescue the Wuminggui and eliminate Liu Guicang. Thankfully, Shen Jue succeeded. Afterward, the Eastern Depot discovered over three hundred firearms at Liu's villa. Your Majesty, Great Qi's Divine Mechanisms Camp has five hundred firearms at most!"
The emperor trembled with rage as he reread the memorial several times. Then he noticed Wei De still weeping at his feet and hastily helped him up. "I've wronged you, old friend! Looking at this now, it seems that Qian Zhengde was the traitor, and you've been dragged into his mess!"
Wei De nodded repeatedly. "Rest assured, Your Majesty—I'll deal with that treacherous dog myself!"
"Punishments must be balanced with rewards," the emperor said, tapping his desk. "Shen Jue has performed admirably—he deserves recognition. As it happens, Consort Li has a maid named Zhuxia, a lovely girl who's been recommended more than once. Shen Jue is no longer young, and although he went under the knife, he should have someone by his side to care for him. Let's arrange for them to marry. That way, Zhuxia can keep serving Consort Li, and everyone will be pleased."
***
LATER, GOLDEN SUNLIGHT STRETCHED into the room, casting Shen Jue's silhouette onto the floor in a long, lone shadow. When Wei De left, he forgot to close the door behind him. Eunuchs and maids carrying trays occasionally passed the doorway and glanced curiously at Shen Jue kneeling within.
Their murmurs reached his ears, but his heart had long since grown numb. No words could sting him now. Despite the June heat, a chill seeped into his chest, cold enough to make him shiver. The Forbidden City had been stocked with ice to cool the main halls, and the emperor even enjoyed chilled fruit daily, yet Shen Jue now felt an icy breeze drill into his core.
He recalled a time many years ago, back when he was Xie Jinglan. Newly apprenticed, he'd just learned that his so-called father didn't even know what he looked like. Trying to comfort him, Xiahou Lian had hugged him in the garden, saying "Hugs can cure all sadness." Shen Jue closed his eyes and tried to summon the memory of that embrace, of Xiahou Lian's voice. Slowly, it began to feel real—like Xiahou Lian was there beside him, holding him again, hands firm on his shoulders, radiating warmth like winter coals.
It was worth it, Shen Jue thought. As long as Xiahou Lian is safe, it was all worth it. A faint smile curved his lips as a single tear slipped down his cheek and splattered into countless droplets on the floor.
Hurried footsteps sounded outside. Immediately recognizing them as Wei De's, Shen Jue wiped the tears from his face and quickly replaced his smile with a sorrowful expression.
The hem of Wei De's python-patterned robe brushed Shen Jue's arm as his godfather approached.
"Oh, goodness!" Wei De exclaimed, then helped him up. "Why are you so stubborn, my child? Do you really not know to stand and rest if I don't order you to get up?" Chiding Shen Jue lightly, Wei De pulled him into the main hall to sit down.
"A son who errs should kneel to learn his lesson," Shen Jue responded, lowering his head.
"Erred in what regard?" Wei De shook his head and sighed. "It's all my fault. Your father was blinded by greed, chasing after such trivial benefits. I accused you mistakenly! I'm thankful that you killed that wretched traitor; otherwise, I'd have been dragged down with him!"
"It was presumptuous of me to act on my own. I won't dare to do so again. Please forgive me, Father." Shen Jue began to kneel again, but Wei De grasped his arm firmly and pressed him back into his seat.
"Jue-er, do you know why I picked you out from the Cold Palace all those years ago?" Wei De stood up. The sky outside darkened, and the lanterns lit up one by one. He gazed through the soft, gauzy curtains at the faint glow of those lanterns as if peering into distant memories.
"Because I saved you from the horse that day?" guessed Shen Jue.
"No, not because you saved my life—because I saw myself in you." Wei De absently rubbed the tourmaline beads in his hand. "Before His Majesty ascended to the throne, he was just a despised, neglected prince. And who was I? Just some insignificant eunuch. I was like grass on the roadside; anyone who passed by was free to trample me. But I refused to resign myself to that fate. I served His Majesty with all my heart, hoping for the day when I might rise over everyone. Look at me now! I've been blessed by the heavens. His Majesty is emperor, and I've gained power in this Forbidden City. On the hunting grounds, Jue-er, I looked in your eyes and saw the same defiance I'd once had!"
"Even such ambition would mean nothing without your guidance, Father. Without you, there would be no Shen Jue today." Shen Jue handed Wei De a cup of tea.
Patting his shoulder lightly, Wei De accepted the cup. "Keep working hard, Son. You're nothing like Qian Zhengde's useless bunch—they'll never amount to anything. Deep down, they see themselves as mere slaves. How could they ever achieve successes with that mindset? You and I are different; we're the same kind of person. But I'm old, worn out. Sooner or later, I'll have to let go. One day, all this"—Wei De gestured around the Directorate of Ceremonial—"will be yours."
Yes. All mine. Beneath his robe's richly embroidered sleeves, Shen Jue's fingers tensed and went pale. He lowered his head so that Wei De could not see the cold smirk on his lips nor the darkness roiling in his eyes—only hear him say, as softly and politely as always, "Father, you will live to a ripe old age. Just staying by your side as your humble messenger is enough for me."
Shen Jue left the Forbidden City before the palace gates locked for the night. At the Shen mansion, Fang Cunzheng had been awaiting him for hours. When Shen Jue returned, dusty from travel, Fang Cunzheng greeted him warmly. His sharp eyes automatically noticed the red imprint on Shen Jue's cheek, and his heart sank, pounding hard in his chest. Quickly averting his gaze, Fang bowed even lower, pretending not to have noticed the mark.
Shen Wenxing brought a towel and basin, his face twisting in distress as he dabbed warm water on Shen Jue's cheek to soothe the inflammation. In his mind, he cursed Wei De over and over.
"How's the antidote going?" Shen Jue asked as he washed his hands.
Fang Cunzheng beamed and presented him with a small box of purple sandalwood. Shen Jue took the box and opened it. Inside lay a tiny black pill, along with a sheet of rice paper on which the pill's ingredients were neatly transcribed.
"Depot Chief, this is a sample of the antidote to Seven Fifteen, as well as the formula," Fang Cunzheng said eagerly, bowing low. "We've tested it on each of the test subjects—they're strong and lively again. Some will eat four bowls of rice in one sitting!"
"You're certain?" Shen Jue asked.
"Absolutely! I wouldn't dare deceive you," Fang Cunzheng swore, his gestures exaggerated. Grinning broadly, he added, "The antidote doesn't have a name yet. Please, Depot Chief, bestow it with one."
Shen Jue stared silently into the box for a long time. The thumb-sized black pill gleamed like polished obsidian beneath the lamplight, its surface smooth and flawless. "Let's call it Hope's Return," he finally murmured.
"An excellent name! Brilliant!" Fang Cunzheng praised him effusively.
Shen Jue closed the box with a troubled expression. "The existence of Hope's Return must not be revealed to Wei De. How should we handle all the people at your estate?"
Eyes darting about the room, Fang Cunzheng took a step closer. "Dead men's mouths are the most reliably shut. Why not burn them all and be done with it, Depot Chief?"
"Good idea," Shen Jue replied coldly.
Feeling that he had offered wise counsel, Fang Cunzheng nodded enthusiastically.
"And you?" Shen Jue's asked, his sharp, frosty gaze shifting to Fang Cunzheng.
Fang Cunzheng froze, a chill running down his spine. "D-Depot Chief, wh-what do you mean?" he stammered.
"Do you take me for a fool, Fang Cunzheng?" Shen Jue sneered. "You already arranged buyers; you planned to deliver the goods tomorrow. Unfortunately for you, all your buyers are dead now."
Black smoke suddenly billowed from the west. "There's a fire in the western city!" someone outside shouted.
The smoke was coming from the direction of Fang Cunzheng's estate and test subjects. Shen Jue shielded his eyes and looked toward the horizon. "Your suggestion was excellent—I've already implemented it. You're right: Dead men's mouths are the most reliably shut. Yours included."
Without warning, one of Shen Jue's agents appeared behind Fang Cunzheng and covered his mouth. A flash of cold steel sliced across his throat, and Fang Cunzheng collapsed instantly.
Shen Jue lowered his gaze to the small box in his hand and traced its intricate patterns with his fingers, each touch lingering with strange affection. "Send out an order that the Wuminggui of Qiye Garden be immediately captured. Remember, though, he is not to suffer even the slightest injury."
Shen Wenxing hesitated. "What about Wei-gonggong?" he asked.
"Keep it completely hidden from him," Shen Jue replied darkly. "Direct only my most trusted subordinates to capture Xiahou Lian. The rest of the Eastern Depot is not to interfere. As for the other Garden assassins, kill them or capture them—but spare none. That will create confusion and ensure that Wei De suspects nothing."
"I fear that Master Xiahou Lian may misunderstand your intentions."
"He won't," Shen Jue murmured, stroking the sandalwood box in his hand. "His mother will tell him that his only chance for survival lies with me."