Hot flashes

Shen family.

Shen Duan slowly and deliberately twirled the prayer beads, one by one. Shen Yu sat to the left, a cup of tea in front of him, which had gone cold, but he didn't touch it. There was no one else in the room.

"Has any news come back?" Shen Duan asked.

Shen Yu said, "Everything is as usual."

Shen nodded. "And that one?"

Shen Yu said, "He reviews memorials, meets with ministers, and handles state affairs every day. The one in the Hanlin Academy is also on duty as usual."

Shen Duan's hands, which were twirling the prayer beads, didn't stop. "That's good."

Shen Yu looked at him.

Shen Duan's voice was low, as if he were talking about something perfectly ordinary. "Over in Jiangbei, have them take another look. Destroy or seal up the old files of the River Conservancy Office that should be destroyed. Check the accounts of the Ministry of Revenue carefully, and don't leave any loose ends."

Shen Yu nodded.

Shen Duan added, "Tell the Cui family not to rush things. Great things can't be accomplished in a day. Haste makes waste."

Shen Yu agreed.

Shen Duan remained silent. He slowly and deliberately twirled the prayer beads, one by one. Shen Yu sat for a while, then stood up, bowed, and withdrew.

Zhou Heng returned to the Hanlin Academy and sat in his duty room for the entire afternoon.

He reviewed several documents, read several official gazettes, and then picked up a mathematics textbook and flipped through it.

He flipped through a few pages, put the book down, and picked up another one. Chen Shen stood guard outside, occasionally peeking in to see him reading, then quickly retreating back inside.

Xiao Jue sent someone to summon him for a meal. Zhou Heng packed his things and headed out.

I met Shen Yu under the corridor.

Shen Yu stood there, as if waiting for someone. Upon seeing him, he cupped his hands in greeting. "Lord Zhou."

Zhou Heng returned the greeting. "Prime Minister Shen."

Shen Yu looked at him, his gaze gentle. "Lord Zhou seems to have been very busy these past few days."

Zhou Heng said, "It's alright. We just looked through some old files, nothing serious."

Shen Yu nodded. "The old files from the Ministry of Works are quite dusty. Thank you for your hard work, Lord Zhou."

Zhou Heng smiled. "It's nothing."

Shen Yu smiled and stepped aside. "Lord Zhou, please."

Zhou Heng nodded and walked past him.

Shen Yu stood there, watching his back, then turned and walked in another direction.

Qianqing Palace.

Xiao Jue was reviewing memorials. Zhou Heng walked in and sat down next to him.

Xiao Jue didn't look up. "What did you find?"

Zhou Heng said, "There's nothing there."

Xiao Jue paused for a moment, then continued writing.

Zhou Heng leaned back in his chair, looking at the beam above his head. "They cleaned up the mess very well. The accounts were settled, the people were gone, dead. Nothing can be found."

Xiao Jue put down his pen and turned to look at him.

Zhou Heng looked at him too. "You knew all along that you couldn't find out?"

Xiao Jue remained silent.

Zhou Heng said, "Then why do you still want me to investigate?"

Xiao Jue reached out and pulled him over. Zhou Heng leaned against his shoulder.

Xiao Jue's hand landed on his back. "You won't give up until I let you investigate."

Zhou Heng was silent for a moment. "Now I've given up."

Xiao Jue looked down at him. "Really?"

Zhou Heng did not answer.

Xiao Jue's hand stopped on his back. "Aheng."

Zhou Heng gave a muffled "hmm".

Xiao Jue said, "Some things can't be rushed."

Zhou Heng didn't speak, but leaned against him and closed her eyes.

-----

When Zhao Ting set off from the capital, he brought six men with him, all of whom were veterans who had followed him for more than ten years and had fought their way from the northern border.

The seven men split into three groups, agreeing to meet outside Xuzhou city. Zhao Ting took the eastern route, bypassing the official road and heading south along the Grand Canal.

When he arrived in Xuzhou, it was already dark when he entered the city. The guards at the city gate didn't check him too strictly; they only looked at his travel permit, asked a couple of questions, and let him pass. After entering the city, Zhao Ting didn't stay at an inn but went directly to an alley in the south of the city.

At the end of the alley stood a house with a small facade but a very high courtyard wall. Zhao Ting stepped forward, knocked on the door three times, paused, and then knocked twice more.

The door opened.

The man who opened the door was a man in his fifties surnamed Sun. He had served in the Northern Army in his younger days, but later retired after injuring his leg and opened a small shop in Xuzhou. When he saw Zhao Ting, he paused for a moment, said nothing, and stepped aside to let him in.

"Why has the general come?" Sun Da asked in a low voice after closing the door.

Zhao Ting stopped in the courtyard and looked around. "What's going on?"

Sun Da's expression changed.

He said, "The general instructed me to keep an eye on the situation in Xuzhou, and I dare not be careless. Those granaries are nominally under the Ministry of War, but the keys are not in the hands of the Ministry of War."

"Who has it?"

Sun Da lowered his voice: "It's in the hands of the prefect of Xuzhou. That prefect's surname is Qi, and he was only transferred here two years ago. He's the son-in-law of the Cui family."

Zhao Ting frowned slightly. He was the son-in-law of the Cui family. He thought for a moment, then asked, "Is the granary full or empty?"