Chapter 290: Uninvited Guest

Chapter 290: The Guest Above the Beams

"Husband, keep your voice down. Don't let anyone discover that His Highness is here." Qin Xiaoyun was a big man, yet he kept looking around nervously as he spoke. If he hadn't been acting so suspiciously, he might have drawn less attention.

"Uncle, there's no need to be nervous." The Crown Prince sounded rather helpless.

Although the Crown Prince had two skilled guards like Ge Quan and Qin Xiaoyun by his side, Meng Wan was still worried that something might happen to him. "Your Highness, have you just arrived in Heshan? Why not come to my humble home to rest for a while?"

The Crown Prince nodded. "I was indeed planning to go to Xiwu Prefecture to discuss matters with Magistrate Song. Why didn't he accompany you to Heshan County?"

Meng Wan wanted to ask the Crown Prince the same question!

But this wasn't the right time to ask. Second Husband Nie was still in the carriage behind, and the Crown Prince's presence shouldn't be known to too many people. Meng Wan could only have Chi Yu escort Second Husband Nie home first.

Then he led the Crown Prince, Ge Quan, and Qin Xiaoyun back to his own residence.

As soon as they returned to the Song family home in Heshan, Meng Wan eagerly brought up the matter of Song Tingzhou being transferred back to Shengjing.

"Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture?" The Crown Prince raised an eyebrow slightly, as if somewhat surprised. "Very well, I understand."

Understand what? Why don't you just say it outright!

Meng Wan was frantic inside but kept his composure on the surface, busily arranging rooms for his distinguished guests and preparing a meal.

"Did your mother not come to Heshan this time?" the Crown Prince suddenly asked.

"My mother is still in Xiwu Prefecture packing up the household belongings, waiting to depart for Shengjing to reunite with my husband." Meng Wan was puzzled—what did this have to do with Chang Jinhua?

The Crown Prince said casually, "Your mother's cooking was quite to my liking last time."

Meng Wan: "..."

Got it. Fried chicken, coming right up.

The Crown Prince had been raised with court etiquette, and he ate with rigid formality—exact bites of vegetables, exact bowls of rice, exact spoonfuls of soup, which dish first, which dish second. It was as if the rules were carved into his bones.

Still, he was pretty easygoing, inviting everyone to eat with him, though the others were a bit stiff about it.

After the meal, Meng Wan continued to fish for information from the Crown Prince about matters in the capital. He didn't ask directly but hinted subtly. "Your Highness, Brother Ge has already given you the letter I obtained, hasn't he?"

The Crown Prince turned to look at Meng Wan. The beauty lowered his gaze, and even half-hidden, his face was captivating. The Crown Prince suddenly felt like teasing him. "I've received the letter. You've made a great contribution this time, Meng. How about I reward you..."

Who needs your measly reward? I've got plenty of money!

"Your Highness! My husband and I are loyal to the imperial authority. What we did was for the benefit of the court—hardly worth calling a merit. How could I presume to ask for a reward?"

If you haven't even ascended the throne yet and we're already accepting rewards from you, won't the Emperor boot my husband out first?

Qin Xiaoyun was sparring with someone in the courtyard, the two going back and forth. The Crown Prince's gaze fell on them, and he finally gave Meng Wan a hint. "The Duke's faction is powerful, and Prince Lian's got the Luo family backing him. It's easy to find leverage, but it must be used well to have any real effect."

No matter how clever Meng Wan was, court intrigue was beyond someone who hadn't grown up in the halls of power like these princes and ministers. He only cared about one thing: "Is my husband's life in danger?"

Seeing Meng Wan drop the act and show his worry, the Crown Prince chuckled lightly. "His life's not in danger, but he might have some minor troubles. You'll understand once you arrive in the capital."

—

At the Ministry of Personnel in the capital—

"Magistrate Song, your appointment document has been verified. The performance reviews from the Merit Evaluation Department are in the back. Please take a look."

The Director of the Selection Department at the Ministry of Personnel respectfully handed over the document for Song Tingzhou's review. A minor clerk nearby smartly poured tea and offered him a seat.

Compared to when he first got his post and was threatened, his status now was worlds apart.

Song Tingzhou sat straight in the chair, didn't touch the tea, and read the document word by word before handing it back to the ministry official. "Thank you, Lord Li."

The Director of the Selection Department was pleasantly surprised. "Magistrate Song is too kind. We could've sent your credentials to your place. Didn't expect you to come all the way here yourself. I've already sent someone to fetch them—just wait a moment."

The official credentials were extremely important. Song Tingzhou had just arrived in the capital. He'd barely had time to rest after getting back to Shichun Lane. He'd washed up, changed, and rushed straight to the Ministry. Now he was exhausted, too tired to talk, and leaned back in his chair to rest his eyes.

Seeing this, the Director of the Selection Department said no more and stepped out to personally fetch Song Tingzhou's credentials.

A minor clerk who didn't know Song Tingzhou's identity hurried over to ask: "Lord Li, who is that man inside? Is there any big-shot official with the surname Song in this dynasty?" He'd been at the Ministry for four years and had never heard of any official above the fourth rank named Song.

"How many years have you been here? I selected officials for Magistrate Song seven years ago—he'd just passed the imperial exams that year." This Lord Li was the same Director of the Selection Department who'd been pressured by Wang Zan and Lin Congrong back then. Who'd have thought that years later, he'd be handling Song Tingzhou's transfer again.

Sigh. How many ranks had that guy climbed in seven years? Enough to make anyone jealous.

Back then, everyone thought that being sent to Lingnan would mean Song Tingzhou wouldn't bounce back for at least ten years. Yet in just seven years, he'd clawed his way back to the capital.

The Director of the Selection Department was relieved he hadn't offended the man back then and had always been polite. Just as he was thinking this, he suddenly noticed a colleague by the corner of the wall furtively glancing toward the hall where Song Tingzhou was.

"Oh, if it isn't Director Cui from the Merit Evaluation Department? What brings you to our neck of the woods?"

Director Cui had been distracted, and Lord Li's sudden shout startled him badly. He wanted to snap back but was afraid of disturbing Song Tingzhou inside, so he kept his voice low. "The Ministry isn't that big. What, I can't even walk through your Selection Department? Lord Li, you're way too much!"

He kept his voice down, but the Director of the Selection Department had no intention of doing the same. He coughed twice, loudly, deliberately loud enough to wake Song Tingzhou from his rest inside. "I was just asking a question. Why's Director Cui so worked up? Could it be you heard His Majesty's personally appointed Magistrate Song arrived and came to congratulate him?"

Both were rank 5a officials, and since rising to 4b meant competing, they were colleagues and rivals. Their relationship had always been like oil and water.

Lord Li knew Director Cui had offended Song Tingzhou, so he was deliberately rubbing it in.

Director Cui cursed Lord Li in his head, but Song Tingzhou's gaze had already landed on him. He could only brace himself and go over to say hello. "Magistrate Song, it's been a long time. Congratulations on your promotion."

A dignified fifth-rank official in the capital, yet at this moment he couldn't have been more humble, desperately hoping Song Tingzhou wouldn't remember the harsh words he'd said seven years ago.

Unfortunately for him, Song Tingzhou did remember. He wasn't usually one to hold grudges, but he'd made an exception for this Director of the Merit Evaluation Department. Because Meng Wan was so smooth with people, few ever badmouthed him, and those who did mostly criticized him for being a gē'er who showed his face in public.

Only this Director Cui had once said his husband couldn't have kids, implying Song Tingzhou should divorce Meng Wan and marry someone else, even threatening his career.

Song Tingzhou had held onto that grudge for seven years.

Song Tingzhou stared at the man with a heavy gaze until Director Cui's skin crawled, then finally said flatly, "Director Cui."

Director Cui's heart dropped, and his smile was worse than tears.

It was over. The man actually still remembered.

Song Tingzhou got his credentials from the Ministry of Personnel, then went to the Seal Office, not far from the Six Ministries, to pick up his official seal and ID plaque.

The title of Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture was like a VIP pass that made the whole process lightning fast. When he got home, Wu Zhaoyuan, who'd been waiting a long time, still hadn't left.

He and Zhu Zening had been taking turns requesting leave these past few days to pick people up outside the city. Today was his turn, and as it happened, he'd been the one to pick up Song Tingzhou.

"All set?" Wu Zhaoyuan stood up and came over to greet him.

Song Tingzhou didn't have to keep up appearances in front of his friend. He invited Wu Zhaoyuan into the inner room, kicked off his shoes, and leaned back on the couch. "Everything I needed, I got. Went smoother than expected—no trouble at all."

Xue Sheng showed the items to Wu Zhaoyuan, then carefully put them away in a chest in the inner room.

"Of course, with your status now, it would be strange if anyone in the Ministry of Personnel actually tried to cause trouble." Wu Zhaoyuan's emotions were mixed—happy for Song Tingzhou's current achievements, yet worried for his friend over other matters.

Song Tingzhou pressed his fingers to his forehead and massaged gently, betraying a hint of fatigue. He asked rather directly, "Zhaoyuan, has something happened in the capital?"

Wu Zhaoyuan let out a sigh. "I was going to let you rest first before discussing anything else, but you're to see the Emperor tomorrow, so you should at least have some idea of what's coming."

Song Tingzhou opened his dark, deep-set eyes. "Speak."

Six and a half years as a provincial official had made his demeanor steadier and more composed. Wu Zhaoyuan suddenly thought the Emperor's decision to recall Song Tingzhou might have been well thought out after all.

Apart from the two of them, only Xue Sheng was in the room. Wu Zhaoyuan paused, then said, "The last Prefect of Shuntian, Lord Duan, died a tragic death on the job."

"And it's not just him—the Prefect before him, Lord Bian, held the post for twelve years and also died a wrongful death. After he died, Lord Duan took over but was dead within three months, for no apparent reason."

Song Tingzhou didn't seem particularly surprised by this news. He just told Xue Sheng to bring a few candles and light them on the low table in front of him.

Wu Zhaoyuan looked at the sky outside—still early, just turning dusky, not fully dark yet. "You've only been in the capital half a day and you're already picking up rumors?"

Song Tingzhou slowly shook his head. "I only just heard this from you, but being suddenly recalled to Shengjing suggests there's real turmoil in the court." He'd already braced himself on the road.

Wu Zhaoyuan looked conflicted. "I can't match your composure."

Anyone in this situation would be scared and rattled—no one could stay as calm as Song Tingzhou.

Xue Sheng brought candles, then hot tea—the last bit they had from Lingnan. He poured a cup for each of them, then stepped back to watch the door.

Song Tingzhou raised the teacup with his long, elegant fingers, took a sip, and asked, "So how exactly did Prefect Bian and Prefect Duan die?"

"No one knows. Neither the Ministry of Justice nor the Court of Judicial Review has let out a single word." Wu Zhaoyuan had little influence in the capital, so all he knew was what everyone was saying.

"Tomorrow when I go to the palace to see the Emperor, I should get some of the details." Song Tingzhou remained calm inwardly—at worst, he'd be deemed incompetent. He'd been personally recalled by His Majesty—if he died, it would be a slap in the Emperor's face, so his life was probably safe for now.

That night, Wu Zhaoyuan didn't go home and stayed over at Shichun Lane. He'd already sent his servant back to the Wu house to pass the word.

Yue Mei from the front courtyard cooked a few dishes and brought them over. Tao Shiyi went out to a restaurant and bought some meat dishes, and together they filled a table in the hall.

Yue Mei took A Xun's portion to his room separately.

Honestly, when she first saw A Xun, she figured he was Song Tingzhou's concubine. But then she figured she'd gotten it wrong—this young man seemed to be an honored guest of the Song household.

Whatever his status, he wasn't someone she could afford to offend. Yue Mei treated him with the utmost respect and told her husband, Brother Liu, to stay out of the back courtyard.

Wu Zhaoyuan stood in the doorway, looking out at the courtyard. "Ze Ning said he'd come after work—why isn't he here yet?"

His family wasn't well-off, and he only had one servant, who he'd sent home early to pass the message.

Song Tingzhou had recovered a bit. "Xue Sheng, have Tao Ba go check on the Zhu residence."

Just as Xue Sheng was heading out, Brother Liu led the Zhu family's servant into the courtyard.

The Zhu servant recognized Song Tingzhou right away. "Lord Song, my young mistress ate something bad today and has diarrhea. The master can't get away, so he sent me to tell you he won't make it tonight."

"Qiongniang's sick again? No wonder he's worried—we can meet another day once the kid's better." Wu Zhaoyuan had been in Shengjing with Zhu Zening all these years, and since they lived close, they saw each other often.

Song Tingzhou asked Wu Zhaoyuan, "Is Qiongniang in poor health?"

Wu Zhaoyuan sighed softly. "She's had it since birth. Ze Ning doesn't want it getting out—he's afraid you'd worry."

Both Zhu Zening and Song Tingzhou had kids, but he'd struggled to have any—nothing after all these years of marriage.

Song Tingzhou told Xue Sheng to fetch A Xun and said to the Zhu servant, "I've brought a doctor with me—let him go with you to check on your young mistress."

The Zhu servant knew Song Tingzhou and his master were close, so he agreed on the spot without going back to check.

Tao Shiyi walked A Xun to the Zhu residence, while Song Tingzhou ate dinner calmly with Wu Zhaoyuan.

Yue Mei's cooking was so-so, and the restaurant dishes were a bit oily. Wu Zhaoyuan poked at his food, ate half a bowl of rice, and put down his chopsticks. He watched Song Tingzhou wolf down his food, finishing his bowl in no time.

Wu Zhaoyuan chuckled. "You can still pack it away like before. I remember back then, your wife used to bring you food."

Song Tingzhou helped himself to another bowl of rice, warmth in his eyes. "Maybe it's age—my appetite isn't what it used to be. Wan'er's a great cook, unlike me—I can only boil porridge."

"Sometimes I envy you—still so in love with your wife after all these years." Wu Zhaoyuan had always been gloomy, and though he'd loosened up over the years compared to his youth, he could never be as cheerful as Zhu Zening.

Since he had to see the Emperor in the morning, the two didn't drink. They ate, drank tea, and chatted—easy and pleasant.

That night, Wu Zhaoyuan slept in the side room. Song Tingzhou sorted his luggage and laid out his official robe for the morning, then went to bed. The long, nonstop journey was exhausting even for someone trained in martial arts.

His body was worn out, but his mind wouldn't stop racing. He hadn't been to the palace in years, so he needed to go over the court etiquette and rituals he'd learned at the Hall of Preserving Harmony, to avoid any slip-up before the throne.

And then there was what Zhaoyuan had said today—two Prefects of Shuntian in a row dying for no reason...

In the pitch-black night, no voices broke the silence, so every other sound stood out: the rustle of leafy trees in the wind, the occasional sleepy chirp of birds in the garden, and the footsteps of an uninvited guest on the rafters...

"Who goes there!"