Nie Siran X Su Ruhe (3)
When Su Ruhe woke the next day, he could not remember at all how he had returned the night before.
“Gongzi, you are awake.” The bookboy came in carrying a basin. Seeing him seated on the bed, he hurried over. “Gongzi drank wine last night. Does your head still ache now?”
“It does not ache.” Su Ruhe put on his shoes and lifted his right hand to rub his cheek. “Strange. Why does my face hurt a little?”
“Ah? Gongzi, let me have a look.” The bookboy set down the washbasin and ran over. Leaning in for a closer look, he cried out in surprise, “Su gongzi, why is your right cheek a little swollen?”
“I do not know. Perhaps I struck it somewhere last night.” Su Ruhe did not take it much to heart. He lowered his hand into the basin and scooped up water to wash his face.
Standing behind him, the bookboy scratched his head in puzzlement. “That should not be so. It was Young Master Nie who brought you back last night. By rights, gongzi should not have hurt his face.”
Nie Siran?
Su Ruhe’s hand, in the act of wiping his face, stopped. His thoughts turned over in his mind. Once again, he raised a hand to touch his cheek. A faint pain came from there. Thinking of one possibility, Su Ruhe’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“In the future, if he comes again, you are not to open the door for him.” After finishing washing his face, Su Ruhe changed into his official robes and went out. Before leaving, he specifically gave the instruction to the bookboy.
“This servant understands. Su gongzi may rest assured.”
Time passed quickly in a blur. In the blink of an eye, more than half a month had passed, and Prince Li and the Prince Consort returned to the capital.
Prince Li’s return stirred up towering waves in what had once seemed a still and quiet court. The First Prince was crippled, the Liu family had fallen, the Crown Prince had been deposed, and the great families that had entrenched themselves for generations came crashing down in grand and violent fashion. In the span of a single night, the winds in all of Ye Jing changed direction.
These last several days, such matters were all anyone discussed in the teahouses and winehouses. Su Ruhe sat on the second floor of a teahouse drinking tea. Before long, the bookboy came out from a bookshop across the way, and soon the sound of footsteps rose from the stairs.
“Su gongzi, this is three hundred and fifty taels of silver. Over these past six months, the storybooks have sold well, and the shop has earned much more than before, so your share of the profits is much larger as well. The shopkeeper said he wishes to seize this fine opportunity and have you put out several more books.” The bookboy set the purse upon the table, delight filling his eyes.
Su Ruhe picked up the purse, took out some of the silver, and handed it to the bookboy. “Take these twenty taels and buy medicine for your mother, then buy some nourishing tonics as well. Keep whatever remains for yourself.”
Holding a handful of silver, the bookboy dropped to his knees at once. “Gongzi, this... this is too much. This servant already receives wages each month. I do not need so much silver.”
Su Ruhe rose and walked outside. “Consider the extra silver as something left aside for your marriage in the future. Take it.”
With reddened eyes, the bookboy scrambled up, lifted a hand to wipe his eyes, and hurried after him.
“Many thanks, gongzi. Where is Su gongzi going?”
“To look around and see whether there is an appropriate gift for the Prince Consort’s capping ceremony.”
Su Ruhe spent a long time choosing, and in the end took a fancy to a white-jade chessboard, spending three hundred taels to buy it.
The bookboy clicked his tongue at the sight. “Young Master, this gift is far too costly.”
Young Master had spent half a year writing books to earn only a little over three hundred taels, yet this single gift had spent the savings of half a year all at once. The bookboy felt some heartache, yet he saw that Young Master seemed rather pleased.
Su Ruhe understood what he meant and said, “It is not expensive. If the silver is spent, it may be earned again. In one lifetime, the Prince Consort will have only one capping ceremony. One’s sincerity cannot be careless.”
The bookboy nodded. The two walked home together. After returning home, the bookboy watched as Su Ruhe solemnly put the chessboard away, yet in the end he still felt somewhat depressed. Feeling sorry for his gongzi, he said, “Last year, when gongzi came of age, the most valuable gift you received did not even exceed one tael of silver.”
After properly storing the chessboard inside the cabinet, Su Ruhe turned around at these words, his gaze gentle and calm. “On the day of my capping ceremony, the officials at court were not invited. It was conducted simply. You know as well that everyone lives in straitened circumstances. Why put them to unnecessary expense?”
“Besides, so long as everyone came, I was already very happy.” Having said this, Su Ruhe went to the kitchen to wash his hands, rolled up his sleeves, and prepared to cook.
The bookboy followed him there. Sitting by the stove to feed in firewood, he looked at Su Ruhe’s busy figure, lowered his head, and pushed in a small handful of sticks. In a low mutter, he said, “Su gongzi is truly too easily satisfied.”
On the day of the capping ceremony, Su Ruhe rose very early. First he spent an hour in the small study writing. Once the daylight had grown fully bright, he extinguished the candle on the desk, rubbed his wrist, and went to eat breakfast. After the meal, he took a bath, changed into a new set of clothes that he seldom wore, then took up the gift box and made for Prince Li’s residence.
Prince Li’s residence was exceedingly lively today.
After presenting the congratulatory gift, Su Ruhe followed a servant to Apricot Garden. Inside Apricot Garden, voices overlapped one upon another, and it seemed that many people had already arrived.
Almost all the officials of the court had come. Su Ruhe had no interest in going over to exchange pleasantries. By himself, he circled around the crowd and walked deeper into Apricot Garden.
The farther in he went, the farther he left behind the sound of voices. The garden was dense with flowers in blooming clusters, the faint fragrance rising on all sides. Walking there amidst the beauty, even one’s heart seemed to grow peaceful with it.
He found a patch of grass, around which hydrangeas half the height of a man had been planted. Even if someone came by, it would be difficult to notice that a person was seated there upon the grass.
Su Ruhe sat down right there on the ground and drew from his sleeve a thin little booklet and a tiny charcoal pencil.
He had always had the habit of carrying paper and brush upon him. Whenever inspiration arose in his mind, he would take them out and record it on the spot. This had already become his habit over many years.
Before long, the paper held the simple outlines of far mountains sketched upon it. Su Ruhe drew with complete concentration, so much so that he did not even know when people had come behind him, until those two began chatting, carrying on as though no one else were present.
“Brother Zhu, let this little brother first congratulate you. As for the seat of Minister of Revenue, looking across the present court, only Brother Zhu is the most suitable.” The man’s words were thick with flattery.
“No, no, no.” Another voice was humble to the extreme. “Brother He should not raise me up so. In terms of achievement in governance, Vice Minister Su of the Ministry of Revenue is the most suitable candidate.”
“Tsk, where can he compare with Brother Zhu?” The man from before let out a contemptuous snort. “He has merely latched himself onto Prince Li. A mountain pheasant wishing to become a phoenix, yet he does not even weigh his own worth.”
“Brother He, weigh your words with care. Vice Minister Su handles affairs fairly. You and I have both seen it with our own eyes.” The surname Zhu then changed his tone, and within it there were two parts of probing. “I have heard certain rumors in private, has Vice Minister Su truly aligned himself with Prince Li?”
“Can that be false? Do not underestimate him. This person’s schemes run deep and his heart is vicious. Even Chen Youwei was defeated at his hands. Brother Zhu must be careful.”
As he spoke, he saw Zhu’s face grow pale, and inwardly he gave a cold laugh. Then, pretending kindness, he added, “Though Brother Zhu need not worry overmuch. In the current court, the people of the Crown Prince faction and the Prince Qi faction hate Prince Li to the marrow. They do not dare do anything to Prince Li himself, but against one little vice minister, they have methods aplenty.”
“Yet I have heard that His Majesty is very pleased with Vice Minister Su.”
“As the saying goes, three cobblers equal one Zhuge Liang. Su Ruhe is neither the son of a princely or noble family, nor does he have any powerful in-laws to support him. With him standing all alone, why should His Majesty be unable to do without him?”
“Brother He means...” The other man hesitated as he spoke.
“If Brother Zhu wishes to secure the Minister’s post, then this capping rite at Prince Li’s residence offers a timely occasion to move about and cultivate connections for yourself.”
“Brother He speaks correctly. Come, let us go at once to the front hall.”
The sound of footsteps receded into the distance. Su Ruhe lifted his eyes, and the charcoal pencil in his hand came down for the final stroke as well.
Nie Siran searched through the garden for quite some time. Only after reaching the deepest part did he catch sight of Su Ruhe, who was slowly walking out.
Lightly shaking his folding fan, elegance and charm showed full in his eyes. “Where was Vice Minister Su hiding him...”
His gaze dropped lower, and he saw the faintly damp hem of Su Ruhe’s sleeve, those white and slender fingers hanging loosely, droplets of water falling from their tips.
Su Ruhe noticed where his eyes had fallen and said blandly, “Just now I dirtied my hands and washed them in the pool. Has the banquet begun?”
“Mm, it is about to begin.” Nie Siran kept looking at him.
Su Ruhe said no more. Lifting his foot, he walked forward and slowly passed by Nie Siran.
Nie Siran turned his head and looked after the retreating figure, a thoughtful expression in his eyes.
Not long after the capping ceremony, the Emperor announced during morning court that the Third Princess would enter a marriage alliance. After court dismissed, Eunuch Yuan Sheng, who served at Emperor Hongjia’s side, called Su Ruhe to a stop.
“Vice Minister Su, His Majesty requests your presence.”
Su Ruhe followed the eunuch to the imperial study.
Emperor Hongjia was reviewing memorials. Su Ruhe waited outside the hall for a while before a eunuch came with the command for him to enter.
“This subject pays respects to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty enjoy ten thousand blessings and golden peace.” He bowed low and knelt upon the polished marble floor that shone like a mirror, his palms resting against the cool stone tiles. Inside the hall it was so quiet that only the rustle of turning pages could be heard.
Emperor Hongjia closed the memorial in his hand. Lifting his eyes, he looked toward the kneeling man below and, with imperial gravity, measured him from head to toe. Then, smiling, he said, “Beloved Official Su, rise quickly. This day I have summoned you here. Presumably, you have already guessed the matter for which I called you, have you not?”
Su Ruhe’s eyes stirred slightly, while on his face there appeared an expression of alarm. “This subject does not know. I beg Your Majesty to make it plain.”
“Hahaha. If Zhen recalls correctly, Beloved Official Su was the Tanhua of that year. With such a clever head upon your shoulders, can it truly be that you cannot guess why Zhen has summoned you today?” Emperor Hongjia lifted the ginseng broth from the table and took two sips, while the laughter in his tone slowly lessened.
Su Ruhe kept his head lowered. Light from outside the window streamed in, making the stretch of neck beneath his official collar gleam white.
After some thought, he hesitated and said, “Has Your Majesty summoned this subject for the matter of the Minister of Revenue?”
“Precisely so.” Emperor Hongjia nodded in satisfaction.
Su Ruhe said nothing and quietly waited for Emperor Hongjia’s next words.
Emperor Hongjia said, “Previously, in the case of the Daoist temple embezzlement, you handled matters very well. You worked carefully and conscientiously. It is thanks to you that Third Son was not falsely accused and thrown into prison.”
Su Ruhe clasped his hands and bowed. “This subject would not dare claim the merit. Your Majesty’s fortune reaches Heaven. Prince Li was under Your Majesty’s protection, and thus he was able to turn misfortune into good fortune and remain safe and sound.”
These words pleased Emperor Hongjia exceedingly. His gaze once more fell upon Su Ruhe, and the satisfaction in his heart climbed another level.
He had already sent people to investigate. Su Ruhe had neither father nor mother, his family background was clean, he had served as an official for years without accepting bribes, and he maintained distance from all factions and parties. In the court, he was one of those rare ministers of pure loyalty.
What he lacked most now was precisely such pure ministers.
There was only one matter... that, in the end, he minded somewhat.
“Beloved Official Su and Third Son seem to have had rather frequent dealings lately.” Emperor Hongjia smiled in a half-true, half-false manner.
Su Ruhe lifted the hem of his robe and knelt again. In a voice clear and pale as snow, he spoke neither hurriedly nor slowly. “Because of the building of the Daoist temple over the past half year, this subject indeed went many times to Prince Li’s residence to seek an audience with His Highness. Yet His Highness had many affairs to attend to and was much occupied, so this subject was unable to see His Highness often.”
“Then if that is so, once the matter of the Daoist temple was ended, there was no further contact between you and Prince Li?”
Su Ruhe knew that Emperor Hongjia had surely sent people in secret to follow and investigate him. His face did not change as he said, “Regarding the matter of the embezzlement, Prince Li bore gratitude toward this subject and invited this subject many times to attend banquets in thanks. This subject found it difficult to refuse, and thus... this subject attended the Prince Consort’s capping ceremony.”
Emperor Hongjia nodded.
This matched the results of the investigation he had ordered. Su Ruhe had not lied. On the contrary, he was one of those rare people who answered with plain honesty.
Emperor Hongjia’s expression turned kindly. He ordered Eunuch Yuan Sheng to help him up and even bestowed tea upon him.
“Today, Zhen has summoned you for no other matter. The seat of Minister of Revenue now stands vacant. Is Beloved Official Su willing to fill that position and help Zhen share the burdens of rule?”
“To partake of the ruler’s salary and share the ruler’s burdens, this is a responsibility from which this subject cannot shrink. This subject thanks Your Majesty for this grace.”
Having spoken, Su Ruhe once more rose and knelt. His face remained calm, and each word left his mouth in measured sequence. “This subject has received Your Majesty’s appreciation and rejoices within. Yet this subject’s experience is still shallow, and his abilities slight. I fear I would fail Your Majesty’s grace bestowed upon this subject... I beg Your Majesty to withdraw this command.”
The smile upon Emperor Hongjia’s face stiffened. “You are unwilling to be Minister of Revenue?”
Su Ruhe said, “This subject is not suited to it.”
Emperor Hongjia said, “You officials, do you not all struggle desperately to claw upward? Zhen has now given you this opportunity, yet you refuse even to take it?”
For a moment, Emperor Hongjia grew somewhat angry. “Beloved Official Su, you had best think it through. Once you step out of this hall today, the opportunity will be gone.”
Su Ruhe kowtowed. “This subject thanks Your Majesty for Your intention. This subject... is ashamed to accept it.”
“Then what is it you want?” Emperor Hongjia looked coldly down at him. “In view of your merits, whatever you want may be asked for.”
The fingertips hidden within Su Ruhe’s sleeves trembled slightly. He knew that if he refused the office of Minister today, then in the future, wishing for promotion would likely become harder than ascending to Heaven.
If that were so, then he might as well follow his own heart and make an attempt.
“Your Majesty, this subject wishes to take up a post in the provinces.”
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
Su Ruhe: Farewell, Mother. Tonight I am setting sail for distant seas.
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