Chapter 307: End of Late Afternoon (3)

Chapter 307: Shen Shi Luo Mu (Three)

The imperial capital in the first month was in the grip of raging wind and snow.

Even now, at the hour of the rooster, the sky had already dimmed to utter darkness.

The black heavens loomed like an unfathomable abyss, as goose-down snow cascaded endlessly upon the city below.

The majestic and solemn imperial palace stood firm amid the storm, its ninety-nine-tiered eaves adorned with towering red lanterns for the New Year, their lights blazing like a divine tower cast down from the hands of gods.

On the nearly deserted streets, a black-and-red carriage marked with the characters "Military Ministry" crept slowly toward the palace.

Watchtowers lined the way, their armed guards standing rigid, their rifles untouched by snow, eyes sharp with vigilance as they tracked the approaching carriage.

After passing through countless layers of checkpoints, the carriage finally entered the Military Ministry compound.

Yet it did not head for the central main hall but veered silently toward a forgotten corner.

A squat, weatherworn building stood there, shabby compared to the others.

Like a dying old man among the vibrant young, it exuded layers of withered gloom.

As the carriage drew near, a Jinyiwei officer in embroidered robes hurried down the steps to the left, reaching out to open the door.

A man in black armor stepped out slowly.

His hair was white, his nose straight and proud, his cheeks hollow, eyes glinting with ferocity. His stooped frame resembled a gaunt tiger, his aura that of a lone wolf.

The wind howled, cold seeping through the air.

He exhaled a puff of mist, rubbed his icy hands, and tucked them into his sleeves before ascending the steps.

At that moment, a loud voice rang out through the snow.

"Is that Su the Thousand-Household?"

Su Ce glanced sideways, his gaze piercing the white void. A group in crimson qilin robes stood out starkly.

"Su the Thousand-Household, today is the day we officials from the Punished People’s District report for duty. Why aren’t you even in formal robes?"

The speaker, still far off, bowed politely.

"Qilin robes are too costly. If they get torn in a fight, it’d be a shame."

Su Ce’s tone was icy, radiating a cold detachment that kept others at bay.

Like his black armor, he clashed with the group in their finery.

Yet these Punished People’s officials seemed accustomed to his ways, barely glancing his way.

Or perhaps they treated him as air, stopping in the snow to chat among themselves.

Only the Korean Punished People’s Thousand-Household, Yan Cheng, who had first called out to Su Ce, climbed the steps to stand beside him.

"This meeting hasn’t started yet, old Su. Why the hostile air? Come on, say hello to everyone. We officials from the Punished People’s District rarely meet—best to catch up while we can."

Yan Cheng smiled warmly, playing the good-natured mediator.

Su Ce showed no interest in the invitation, replying coolly, "No need for that."

He tilted his chin, nodding toward the officials a few zhang away. "I doubt they want to deal with me either."

Yan Cheng glanced back, seeing them whispering and clamoring, their demeanor clearly avoiding this side.

"Haha."

Yan Cheng forced a nervous laugh, lowering his voice. "Old Su, don’t blame them for being petty. It’s just your temper’s a bit... too fierce."

He paused, choosing his words carefully. "Too brutal. Every year at these meetings, several colleagues end up bruised and battered by you. After all, we’re all Thousand-Households, figures of note in the empire. Your methods are... excessive."

Contrary to Yan Cheng’s cautious tone, Su Ce spoke without lowering his voice, his words ringing clear in every ear.

"The saying goes, a crying child gets milk. If someone benefits from your tricks, that’s their business. I won’t meddle in your underhanded schemes."

"However, I’ve heard some of you plan to gang up on me today at the meeting, dividing the funds and positions allocated to my Wa-region Jinyiwei."

"I don’t know if your influence has grown or your courage has swelled."

Su Ce loomed over them, his gaze imperious.

"But whoever tries such low-handed tactics, feel free. Just don’t expect to return to your district in one piece!"

"Don’t spout nonsense like ‘This is the capital, and Su Ce wouldn’t dare kill you.’ Whoever displeases me, I’ll take their life. After all, living this long is already a blessing!"

One man’s arrogance left the others frozen in fear.

Black pressing against red.

Before the North Township Pacification Office in the Military Ministry compound, Su Ce, the Wa-region Thousand-Household, stood like a savage tiger and lone wolf, baring his claws without restraint.

Logically, these officials were his equals, sharing the same rank.

Yet none dared speak in opposition, nor even meet his gaze.

Each seemed deaf, eyes fixed on the ground.

Had someone lain there, looking up, they’d see these men, though bowing their heads to the grime and snow, wore identical expressions of disdain.

Porcelain does not meet clay, and sages do not contend with madmen.

In their eyes, Su Ce was a madman wielding his Thousand-Household status as a clay vessel.

"Old Su, don’t say that. What you heard must be malicious rumors, unworthy of belief."

"Our Jinyiwei’s internal evaluations follow the martial records in the penal territories. There’s no room for fraud. Besides, I trust everyone here avoids such disgraceful tactics. The officials in the North Township Pacification Office will surely act impartially, without favoritism."

Yan Cheng, ever the smooth-talker, leapt to defuse the tension.

"Gentlemen, the meeting time approaches. Let’s go inside."

He called the cowering "quails" and tugged Su Ce’s sleeve, ascending the steps together.

"Old Su, I heard your Wa-region had some trouble an hour ago?"

"Your information’s quick. Even the Military Ministry doesn’t know yet, and you do. Did you plant a spy in my office?"

Su Ce arched an eyebrow, glancing sideways. The other’s face paled, and he hastily explained, "How could I? I can’t even fully monitor my own Korean district, let alone plant people in your Wa-region. Don’t wrong me."

"Then how did you know?"

"It was the Lu family."

Yan Cheng hesitated, then sighed helplessly. "The Lu clan has some influence in Liaodong. My Korean district borders Liaodong, so I couldn’t easily refuse their requests."

"Yan Thousand-Household, speak plainly." Su Ce’s eyes narrowed, his tone turning colder.

"I know Lu Chengjiang’s deeds are unforgivable. If he were in my district, I wouldn’t have spared him. But he served you as a deputy for so long—there’s no merit without hardship."

Yan Cheng, sensing Su Ce’s shift, gritted his teeth and blurted out, "Now that he’s dead, the debt’s settled. The Lu family doesn’t wish to pursue further. They only hope you’ll soften your report to the Military Ministry, giving Lu Chengjiang a respectable name."

Yan Cheng’s meaning was clear; he trusted Su Ce would understand.

Su Ce’s steps faltered, and he said something that left Yan Cheng bewildered.

"How high is the Lu family’s status?"

Yan Cheng's brow furrowed tightly. "What does Old Su mean?"

"If his Lu family's lintel reaches from earth to sky."

Su Ce extended a finger, pointing to the distant, blazing structure that no one dared to gaze upon directly. "If it can rival the height of the imperial capital's palace, then I shall return to the Wōmin District now, lead my eight hundred Jinyiwei with bare hands, and offer my neck for slaughter."

"Old Su, such a jest cannot be made." Yan Cheng's face darkened.

"No?"

Su Ce pointed to the stern yamen at the end of the steps.

"Is there any yamen of the Northern Camp higher than this? If there is, I shall resign my post as a thousand-household officer in the Wōmin District and become a raider in Liaodong, risking the remaining half of my life to settle the score with their Lu family."

Yan Cheng's face turned ashen, and he remained silent.

Su Ce watched the other's expression shift, a faint smile playing on his lips. "So, it seems there are none left? Then why does the Lu family dare to make such demands of me?"

"Why?"

"Because many Jinyiwei in the Wōmin District hail from the Liaodong Province of the imperial heartland. With the Lu family's protection, I can rest easy. As long as Lu Chengjiang does not cross the line, the wealth he embezzles, I treat as payment for my brothers' living expenses."

Su Ce's voice suddenly turned cold. "Alas, he has crossed the line this time! Greed burning his heart, purging dissent, betraying the court—how can such a traitor still have a good name? How can I face those who died unjustly, even wrongly executed?"

Yan Cheng hurriedly said, "The Lu family is aware of the grave consequences and has offered sincere terms. As long as you—"

Su Ce abruptly raised his hand to interrupt, "I know the Lu family holds high office in the Northern Camp, and that they have recently allied with the Lu clan, a prominent family in Liaodong, securing a formidable ally. Without these advantages, Lu Chengjiang would never dare act so recklessly."

"Since you are aware of these circumstances, why struggle in vain? It is merely giving a corpse dignity, yet in return, you gain countless tangible benefits!" Yan Cheng urged bitterly.

"Dignity... these two words carry great weight."

Su Ce lifted his head to gaze at the snow-laden night, snowflakes drifting onto his weathered face, into his burning, scorching eyes.

He exhaled a white mist and whispered,

"For these two words, we Jinyiwei of the Wōmin District have fearlessly cast our heads and spilled our blood, facing the enemy's blades head-on and guarding against hidden arrows from behind. Yet even so, many court officials meet an end unworthy of the name 'dignity.'"

Su Ce paused for a long while before slowly lowering his gaze, shaking his head at Yan Cheng.

"Having served as the Wōmin District's Jinyiwei thousand-household officer for so many years, I have no great skill—only the remains of over a thousand fallen courtiers who died in foreign lands. What dignity I can offer, I have already given to them, and I shall give only to them."

"Why do this? The days ahead in the Wōmin District will grow harsher still."

Yan Cheng could not fathom why Su Ce clung to such elusive concepts as 'dignity' and 'honor.'

To him, these were the pursuits of those in power and influence. For their Jinyiwei, whose lives hung by a thread each day, only tangible gains could make their existence bearable.

"Yan Cheng, I have spoken at length because you are unlike those beasts below the steps. Though your Korean District has never handled major cases, at least your subordinates have not perished without cause. So, do not disappoint me."

Yan Cheng let out a long sigh, saying no more.

"One final message—please convey to the Lu family. I shall bury Lu Chengjiang's bones before the thousand-household office, trampled and cursed. If they seek vengeance, I, Su Ce, await them in the Wōmin District."

"But if I hear that any fallen Jinyiwei's family in the Wōmin District has suffered mistreatment in Liaodong, I shall seek them out. The distance between the Wōmin District and Liaodong is not great!"

Su Ce lifted his foot and ascended the steps.

This time, Yan Cheng did not follow but stood rooted, his face a mask of complexity, watching the slightly hunched figure recede.

The Northern Camp's steps were long, lined with Jinyiwei standing rigidly, blades in hand.

As Su Ce stepped onto the final stair, these men, who had stood motionless in the snow for an unknown duration, moved in unison, drawing their swords!

Clang!

The sharp ringing of blades intertwined, followed by the metallic resonance of deformed echoes.

Each spear transformed into a black umbrella, forming a bridge before the Northern Camp's gate, sheltering from wind and snow.

Su Ce remained unmoved by the spectacle, continuing his steady, unhurried pace toward the slowly opening, solemn gate.

Wherever he passed, the spontaneously umbrella-bearing Jinyiwei bowed their heads in salute.

"Su Ce, thousand-household officer of the Wōmin District's Jinyiwei, arrives!"

"Su Ce, thousand-household officer of the Wōmin District's Jinyiwei, arrives!"

The proclamation grew louder, one voice overlapping another.

Until at last, the howling wind and snow!

Standing on the steps, Yan Cheng gazed upward at the scene, silent for a long time, then clasped his fists in silent respect.

At the same time, in the thousand-household office of Edo Castle:

"The Inuyama Castle thousand-household office solved the Honghu case, eradicated the traitor Lu Chengjiang, and both achievements will be reported to the Northern Camp for approval and rewarded accordingly!"

"Hundred-household Gui Wang Da was wrongly accused and severely wounded. He remains at the thousand-household office to recover his body and spirit. Upon full recovery, he shall assume the deputy thousand-household position!"

Qian Fengting, reading the command from the distant imperial heartland, spoke aloud: "By order of Su Ce, thousand-household officer of the Wōmin District's Jinyiwei, Li Jun, a small flag of the Inuyama Castle hundred-household office, has slain enemies with distinction and is hereby promoted to hundred-household officer, commanding the Inuyama Castle Jinyiwei!"