Chapter 53: Assuming Office as Prefect of Taizhou

Su Chen listened as Su Dan indicated his intention to entrust the entire estate entirely to him.

Back at the medical clinic, Su Wan'er had already informed Su Chen about certain official reassignments down from the imperial court. Su Chen had made some preparations at that time. However, now that his father was speaking with such deep feeling and entrusting the entire manor to his care, he still found it unexpected.

Su Chen stood up and looked at his father in surprise.

"Father, where are you going?" Su Chen asked anyway.

Su Dan let out a long sigh. Judging from yesterday's turn of events, things did not look favorable for him this time; he would likely be demoted to an idle post in a place like Taizhou. He still did not understand why Li Shimin had been so angry, but assuming he must have made some mistake, he had yet to figure out precisely where he had erred. Su Dan never suspected that Li Shimin's anger stemmed from jealousy over the immense wealth Su Chen had accumulated, which was the real reason the emperor had targeted his father.

"We will have to wait for the imperial emissary to arrive from the palace before we can know for sure. However, going to a place like Taizhou probably won't be as comfortable as staying here," Su Dan said.

At this moment, Su Dan had no idea what specific duties awaited him in Taizhou. Yet, based on his intuition from the day before, he guessed that the position assigned to him there would hardly be an enviable one.

Su Chen likewise could not fathom why Li Shimin chose this particular juncture to transfer his father away. Nevertheless, matters within the imperial court were exceedingly complex. Although Su Chen had already made the acquaintance of a few prominent figures, he had not yet entered official circles himself and remained largely ignorant of the inner workings.

"Taizhou is a great distance from our Chang'an City. Even riding a fast horse, it would take at least half a month to get there, wouldn't it?"

Su Chen was unfamiliar with the various routes across the Great Tang, which were nothing like those of the modern era. Had there been airplanes and high-speed rail, travel would naturally be swift. But at present, one had either to take a boat or ride a horse. The journey from Chang'an City to Taizhou was by no means short.

Su Dan nodded. "Setting out from Chang'an City, going first to Luoyang, and then diverting from Luoyang to Taizhou—such a journey indeed takes about half a month."

In this era, communication was far from fluid. Once someone left like this, it might be several years before they could return to Chang'an City. Furthermore, maintaining any sort of correspondence with one another would require long intervals between letters.

"Father, do you know what you are actually going to do in Taizhou?"

Su Dan did not know what his specific assignment in Taizhou would be either, as the official decree had yet to be issued. They would only find out once the palace eunuch arrived to read out the imperial edict.

Su Dan shook his head.

At that very moment, a commotion arose from outside. Su Fu hurried in from the courtyard.

"Master, the imperial emissary has arrived with an edict from the palace! Please come out quickly to receive the imperial decree."

By this time, the palace eunuch had already reached the gates of the Su residence. According to established custom, they were required to go out personally to welcome him; naturally, the eunuch could not be expected to bring the decree inside uninvited.

Su Dan, accompanied by Su Chen, hastily hurried out from the inner quarters. Reaching the front entrance, they knelt down to receive the imperial edict.

Su Chen once again heard the eunuch rattle off a lengthy string of grand phrases he could not quite understand. He knew, however, that the final sentence would undoubtedly be the crucial part.

"Su Dan is hereby specially appointed as the Prefect of Taizhou, to proceed to the local region to rectify public customs, manage subordinates, and depart upon this very day without delay!"

As the eunuch read the concluding sentence of the edict, they finally learned that Su Dan had been appointed as the Prefect of Taizhou.

Even Su Dan was momentarily stunned.

Yesterday, Li Shimin had arrived full of fury, raining down scathing reprimands upon him. At that exact moment, the emperor happened to be reviewing memorials concerning Taizhou and was utterly enraged by the situation there, prompting him to casually remark that Su Dan should go to Taizhou to properly experience life. At the time, Li Shimin had indeed intended for Su Dan to experience hardship in Taizhou. Later on, however, following a timely reminder from Empress Changsun—and realizing he needed Su Chen's ingenuity to devise moneymaking schemes—the emperor had no choice but to appoint him as a full Prefect of Taizhou, fearing that any harsher punishment would provoke resentment from their family before he could enlist Su Chen's help.

"Prefect, why are you still standing there in a daze? Hurry up and accept the decree!" the eunuch shouted upon seeing that Su Dan had yet to react.

As far as official rank was concerned, this transfer for Su Dan was essentially a lateral move. Yet, many officials preferred taking up regional posts rather than lingering in Chang'an City, and the Prefecture of Taizhou was considered a fine assignment. Countless people scrambled for such a post, yet securing it was never guaranteed. Moreover, the region of Taizhou was relatively prosperous. In Chang'an City, no matter how high your position might be, there were always those ranking above you, and with Li Shimin residing right there, much of what an official wished to do remained constrained.

However, going to other regions was entirely different, especially holding a position as prestigious as a prefect. That office was practically the supreme authority in Taizhou—the governor whose word was law in that region—which naturally made it vastly different from serving in Chang'an City. Given Su Dan's cautious personality, of course, he would scarcely dare to abuse such power, having always governed with extreme care.

"Your subject receives the decree!"

Only then did Su Dan hurriedly kowtow in gratitude, rising to accept the imperial mandate.

Su Chen had never imagined that his father would actually be sent to Taizhou as a prefect. This appointment was tantamount to serving as an imperial inspector with supreme authority over all local officials—a power so immense it practically reached the heavens. This outcome was far superior to remaining stuck in Chang'an City.

"Eunuch, please step inside the estate for a couple of cups of coarse tea. We have prepared a small token of appreciation for you here, so your journey will not have been in vain," Su Chen said, displaying remarkable perceptiveness.

It would never do to let the imperial eunuch stand idly at the gates; he had to be invited inside. With a fluid motion, Su Chen produced a hundred taels of silver and handed them over. This was a rare instance of supreme generosity from the Su family. Even Su Dan felt a twinge of pain in his heart at the sight of that hundred taels of silver, for the Su household was far from wealthy and relied entirely on the modest fortune Su Chen had managed to accumulate in Chang'an City over the past few days.

The eunuch broke into a broad grin, beaming from ear to ear. He thought Su Chen possessed an extraordinary flair for handling matters—competent, orderly, and deeply versed in the ways of human relations.

"Stepping inside won't be necessary. I must hurry back to the imperial palace to report; His Majesty is still awaiting us. Prefect, you should make your proper preparations and get ready to set out within the next couple of days."

The eunuch declined to enter the Su residence. After all, lingering for a couple of cups of tea served little purpose, and the hundred taels of silver provided by Su Chen were more than enough. Su Fu hurriedly instructed the servants to fetch a package of fine pastries as well.

The eunuch was thoroughly delighted. After all, delivering such an appointment was considered a fortunate errand from which he could harvest a handsome reward. Ordinarily, serving as a eunuch within the imperial palace yielded nowhere near such earnings, yet venturing outside on auspicious missions could suddenly yield such substantial profits.

Su Dan and Su Chen turned back into the manor. Once the news spread among all the members of the Su household, the entire estate erupted in excitement.