Guo Hanru returned to the Governor-General’s Office of Zhili on the fourth day at noon, covered in dust from his journey.
As a government official, Guo Hanru was exceptionally diligent and conscientious in his work. During these three days, he had spent virtually all his time beside the river embankment, probably without resting for even a single day. By the time he returned, he had become a whole shade darker and thinner, looking both capable and pitiful.
The first thing he did upon seeing Shu Changyu was to give him a clear and detailed report of the inspection, down to the smallest detail. There seemed to be not the slightest problem with the river embankment. As the disciple of the person responsible for constructing the embankment, Guo Hanru was naturally proud of it and spoke at length.
After finishing his report on official matters, Guo Hanru took out a bag filled with local specialties he had brought for Shu Changyu and Jing Mu.
“I originally didn’t want to waste time buying these odds and ends.” Guo Hanru smiled shyly as he spoke to Shu Changyu. “But my wife takes care of everything at home. Whenever I go out, I have to bring her some little trinkets, so I brought some for Lord Shu and His Highness as well.”
Not one of the things he gave them was valuable. They were all ordinary local foods, fruits, and other common items.
It was the first time Shu Changyu had met such an honest and simple official.
“Lord Guo, you’ve gone to too much trouble.”
For Guo Hanru, this truly had been an expense.
Therefore, when Guo Hanru was leaving the Governor-General’s Office of Zhili, Shu Changyu also sent someone to the antique shop from before to buy two pieces of jewelry and gave them to Guo Hanru.
Guo Hanru initially refused to accept them. Shu Changyu therefore said to him, “These things aren’t for you, Lord Guo. Consider them gifts from me to Madam Guo, in thanks for taking care of the household so that Lord Guo can devote himself to serving the imperial court without worries at home.”
Hearing this, Guo Hanru could only thank him. He smiled at Shu Changyu and said, “Then when Lord Shu has a wife, this subordinate will return the courtesy.”
Before Shu Changyu could say anything, he heard Jing Mu give a soft, pointed snort beside him.
“Does Lord Shu know that Lord Li from the south is dead?” Guo Hanru paused. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he asked Shu Changyu.
“…Lord Li?” Shu Changyu frowned when he heard this. “…Which Lord Li?”
Guo Hanru said, “The very Lord Li who was just sent to manage the Yellow River.”
Shu Changyu frowned. “How did he suddenly die?”
Guo Hanru sighed and moved closer to him, lowering his voice. “The news only came back yesterday. They said he accidentally fell into the Yellow River and drowned. But I’ve also heard that Lord Li was originally an associate of Lord Qian of the Ministry of Works. After Lord Qian fell from power, he became afraid of punishment and committed suicide.”
Shu Changyu’s brows furrowed tightly.
“I’ve also heard that His Majesty intends for either me or you, Lord Shu, to go and fill the vacancy,” Guo Hanru said. “Although I am willing to devote myself wholeheartedly to His Majesty, my elderly mother is still ill at home and I cannot travel far. The journey could take three to five years at most. I have nothing to fear, but I’m afraid my mother won’t be able to wait that long. Lord Shu is still young, and this is precisely the time for you to establish achievements and build your career. Thus, I was thinking of giving this opportunity to Lord Shu.”
Having said this, Guo Hanru looked at Shu Changyu.
“Lord Shu, what do you think?”
Shu Changyu did not answer.
After a moment, as though he had not heard what Guo Hanru had just said, Shu Changyu smiled and said, “Lord Guo has just returned after a long and exhausting journey, yet you’ve been standing here chatting with me. Why don’t we go to the dining hall now and give Lord Guo a proper welcome?”
Seeing that he had avoided the subject and moved ahead first, Guo Hanru could only sigh and follow behind him.
That night, Jing Mu arrived as expected.
When he came, the lamp in Shu Changyu’s bedroom had not yet been extinguished. Shu Changyu was sitting beneath the light, holding a volume of books in his hand.
“Grand Tutor,” Jing Mu said urgently the moment he saw Shu Changyu. “You can’t agree to what Guo Hanru said.”
Shu Changyu’s eyes had originally been fixed on the book. His heart had already been troubled by this matter, and his thoughts were in complete disarray. Thus, when he raised his eyes, there was a slight stiffness in his gaze.
Jing Mu only exchanged a glance with him before immediately pulling him from the couch and pressing him into his arms.
Shu Changyu froze for a moment, then said softly, “Don’t worry. I haven’t given that strategy to His Majesty yet.”
Before Jing Mu could speak, he raised his hand and soothingly stroked Jing Mu’s back.
“I’ve already decided that once Guo Hanru heads south, I’ll give that strategy to him. Although the flooding this year is particularly severe, this book will still be more than sufficient to deal with it.”
Jing Mu almost thought he had heard wrong.
Shu Changyu looked up and saw Jing Mu staring blankly at him. The emotions in those eyes changed from stunned disbelief, to confusion, to an overwhelming, almost unbelievable joy.
He suddenly pulled Shu Changyu tightly into his arms, holding him as though he wanted to press this person directly into his flesh and bones.
Seeing him like this, an affectionate yet helpless smile appeared at the corners of Shu Changyu’s lips. He also raised his arms and embraced Jing Mu.
The two of them stood there beneath the lamplight, holding each other. For a long time, neither said a word.
Shu Changyu’s shoulders had been squeezed until they ached before he finally raised a hand and pushed Jing Mu slightly.
Jing Mu instead pressed his face tightly against Shu Changyu’s hairline and asked with a smile, “Grand Tutor.”
“Hmm?”
“Do you love me too?” he asked. “The especially-loving-me kind?”
Shu Changyu’s face heated up. He laughed softly and pushed against him.
“You silly boy, you’re always so jealous and sour—let go quickly. Your arm is so big; you’ve squeezed me until I hurt.”
Only then did Jing Mu foolishly and happily let him go.
“Then, Grand Tutor, what were you thinking about just now?” Jing Mu smiled as he took the book from Shu Changyu’s hand. He casually flipped through it before putting it on the table, then raised his hand and began massaging Shu Changyu’s shoulders.
Shu Changyu paused before saying casually, “I was thinking about when Guo Hanru’s mother died. It should still be several years from now, but I’ve forgotten exactly which year.”
Jing Mu did not suspect anything when he heard this.
“She still has another eight or nine years. She can wait for Guo Hanru to come back. Although the old lady isn’t in good health, she’s quite resilient. It would actually be good for you to let Guo Hanru go. He’s spent his whole life as a minor official. Successfully managing the Yellow River would be a tremendous achievement. He could even earn his mother an imperial honor.”
Shu Changyu smiled.
“That’s right. If I went, when I came back, I’d instead have to bear the reputation of having achieved too much and threatening the emperor.”
The emotions on his face were well hidden. Even Jing Mu failed to notice anything.
What he had been thinking about while sitting there just now naturally had nothing to do with Guo Hanru.
He was thinking about how, these past few days, he had been able to steal time here at the Governor-General’s Office of Zhili for Jing Mu. Now, he was even preparing to push the responsibility of managing the flooding onto someone else so that he would not have to separate from him.
Everything he was doing went against the education he had received since childhood.
For the sake of his own happiness and selfish desires, he was refusing to do what he ought to do. How was that any different from a deserter on the battlefield who feared death and fled?
And yet, whenever he saw Jing Mu, he would uncontrollably cast aside all those responsibilities and moral obligations.
It was as though he were an addict. He knew perfectly well that what he was doing was wrong, yet he still could not control himself.
Shu Changyu thought to himself:
I’m truly addicted.
——
The next day, the newly appointed Governor-General of Zhili arrived to take office, and their party embarked on the journey back to the capital.
Before leaving, the newly appointed Governor-General even clasped his fists and congratulated Shu Changyu several times.
Shu Changyu was completely puzzled and asked what there was to congratulate him about.
The Governor-General merely raised his brows and smiled cheerfully.
“Lord Shu has His Majesty’s deep trust. Given time, your rapid rise to prominence is merely a matter of time.”
His words sounded as though he knew something behind the scenes. They seemed pointed, yet at the same time they also sounded like a completely aimless compliment.
Shu Changyu asked again, but the Governor-General refused to say anything more.
“Once Lord Shu returns to the capital, you’ll know,” the Governor-General said with a smile. “Allow me to congratulate Lord Shu in advance. In any case, it will definitely be a good thing.”
Shu Changyu set off with his heart full of suspicion.
The journey was much more peaceful than the trip there. They traveled at full speed, and by the time they reached the capital, night had just fallen and the curfew had not yet begun.
Shu Changyu therefore had Jing Mu return first while he took Guo Hanru into the palace to meet the emperor.
Qian Ning Emperor’s body was strangely sensitive to the cold. Even though summer had already arrived, he could barely tolerate even a slight cool breeze at night. When Shu Changyu arrived at the Imperial Study, he was sitting on the couch, wrapped in a thin fox-fur cloak and holding a cup of ginseng tea.
Seeing the two of them arrive, Qian Ning Emperor put down his tea and asked about the condition of the river embankment in Zhili.
His health seemed to have deteriorated severely over the past few days, and consequently his mood was poor. Even after hearing their report, he did not show much happiness. He merely summoned his attendants and had rewards given to the two of them one by one.
Afterward, he asked about Sun Dazhi.
Sun Dazhi was currently being held in the Imperial Prison, waiting for his crimes to be fully listed before being sentenced to death. The purpose of the inquiry now was merely to determine whether he should be executed alone or whether his entire family should be implicated.
After all these matters had been clarified, Qian Ning Emperor coughed several times in exhaustion. He sent Guo Hanru out first, leaving Shu Changyu behind.
“Lord Li, the Vice Minister who went south to manage the river, is dead. Third Shu knows about this, yes?” Qian Ning Emperor coughed several more times. He picked up the ginseng tea on the table and took a sip to moisten his throat. “The flooding of the Yellow River is terrible this year, and Shandong is suffering from drought as well. Now the officials inside and outside the capital are all stirring restlessly. Third Shu, I cannot afford for the south to descend into chaos as well.”
Qian Ning Emperor intended… it was actually him.
Shu Changyu lowered his head and knelt.
“Your Majesty, forgive this subject… The strategy I have been writing has not yet been completed. I’m afraid… I will be unable to assist Your Majesty in quelling the flooding. I beg Your Majesty to punish me.”
Unexpectedly, when Qian Ning Emperor heard this, he let out a cold snort.
“Punish you? Third Shu, you’ve certainly grown quite capable now.”
Qian Ning Emperor said, “Naturally, you must be punished. Third Shu, tell me, how should the crime of deceiving the emperor be punished?”
Shu Changyu raised his head and saw Qian Ning Emperor looking down at him.
“Your mother knew about the flooding in the south, so she personally presented your work to Me,” Qian Ning Emperor said. “Third Shu, I must say, your book is very well written.”
Shu Changyu’s ears began to ring.
Mother? Why would Mother suddenly…
Qian Ning Emperor continued speaking.
“Third Shu, I know that you have talent, and I also know that you dislike claiming credit. But I need you now, and the realm needs you. Every man of the Shu family has devoted himself wholeheartedly to serving the imperial court. Even the women of your family are each capable of standing on their own. How is it that when it comes to you, you’ve suddenly become so timid?”
“Third Shu, you must not disgrace the Shu family.”