Junsu looked towards Zhao Chu with some anxiety, unsure whether Zhao Chu intended to let Fang Linyuan know about him covering the taxes.

Zhao Chu merely glanced at her briefly and said, "You may leave now."

Junsu immediately understood, holding the account book in both hands, she bowed to the two of them and then retreated.

This was expected. From her experience, the Fifth Prince was never one to speak much; no matter what he did, he didn’t like others to know.

But…

Her experience wasn't entirely reliable.

If we really talk about experience, the Fifth Prince was known to be the stingiest person in the world. He had struggled with basic necessities since childhood and had even sold the most valuable items he owned to get out of the palace for an Eastern Depot official, only to have half of it deducted by the eunuchs. How could he not know the immense value of silver?

Yet, hadn't he just given 40,000 taels of silver to Marquis Anping as if tossing it into the water?

He even asked her to leave quietly, not wanting even the sound of the silver falling into the water to be heard.

Junsu quietly lowered her head and retreated, closing the door behind her, leaving Fang Linyuan and Zhao Chu alone in the room, silently facing each other.

Fang Linyuan blinked, assuming that whatever Junsu was holding was something important that should not be revealed, and he didn't ask further.

But…

He put down the hangover soup and saw Zhao Chu's gaze quietly fall on his injured hand.

He quickly hid his hand behind his back like a thief, smiling awkwardly at Zhao Chu.

"The commander of the Beizhen Commandery waited in front of the Guards Office for a long time. I thought it wouldn't be polite to turn him away," he said. "I didn’t drink much, it shouldn’t be a problem."

Zhao Chu's gaze paused slightly before shifting from his hand to his face.

They stared at each other in silence, the only movement being the firelight flickering in Zhao Chu's eyes, though those eyes remained unfathomably deep, like a dark abyss.

"I... I forgot," Fang Linyuan muttered, feeling guilty under Zhao Chu's gaze.

Then Zhao Chu sat down in front of him.

"Have you always been like this?" Zhao Chu asked.

"Like what?" Fang Linyuan didn’t quite understand.

"Your body and appearance, easily damaged for just anyone," Zhao Chu said, still looking at him. "It was like this for Wang Chang, and now for some random Brocade guard."

Fang Linyuan was slightly taken aback. "I never thought about it that much."

He was telling the truth. When saving a life or agreeing to a request, it all happened in an instant. How could he have thought that far ahead?

Zhao Chu slightly lowered his gaze and remained silent for a moment.

Fang Linyuan bit his lip and cautiously leaned forward.

Was he angry?

But he happened to collide with Zhao Chu's raised eyes and quickly sat back down, startled.

"What are you doing?" Zhao Chu asked.

"I... I wanted to see if you were upset," Fang Linyuan answered honestly. "I really forgot today, it won't happen again."

Zhao Chu seemed to be amused by him.

"Your injuries keep recurring. Isn't that more important than whether I'm upset or not?"

"Uh." Aren’t they two different things? Fang Linyuan didn't see how they were comparable.

His vague response sounded like a straightforward admission to others.

Zhao Chu paused for a moment, then averted his gaze unnaturally under Fang Linyuan's confused stare.

He lowered his eyes, took something from his sleeve, and placed it in front of Fang Linyuan.

"The prescription you wanted is ready. When you send it to your subordinates, remind them not to let it leak," he said.

Fang Linyuan quickly took the prescription and opened it.

It indeed listed common medicinal ingredients, many of which were very inexpensive. This prescription was perfect for the soldiers on the frontier.

Fang Linyuan's face lit up with joy.

Zhao Chu truly was a good person, and he had kept this matter in mind!

He carefully placed the prescription in his pocket, not noticing the complex look Zhao Chu gave him.

After a moment, he heard Zhao Chu say, "I'm not angry."

The voice was soft, and the tone was gentle, giving the impression of a subtle attempt to soothe someone.

"Hmm?" Fang Linyuan was momentarily puzzled.

He looked up and saw Zhao Chu's furrowed brows as he gazed at the swaying peach branches outside the window, his expression inexplicably awkward.

"But you should cherish your own body," Zhao Chu added.

"Even if it's just for my sake."

The last part was barely audible, dispersed into the rustling of falling petals by the night breeze drifting through the window.

*

When Fang Linyuan saved Wang Chang, he really didn’t think much about it. He didn’t consider their past grievances or expect any repayment from Wang Chang.

Therefore, a few days later, when Wang Chang came to the Sixteenth Guards Office to thank him, Fang Linyuan was a bit surprised.

Wang Chang didn't seem to have any injuries. He moved swiftly that day, and the flaming projectile didn’t even touch him. However, he must have lost a lot of face that day, and his expression was quite unnatural when he saw Fang Linyuan.

"I’m here to thank you for saving my life that day," Wang Chang said. "Everyone told me that if it weren't for you, I would have been trampled to death by the horse."

Fang Linyuan crossed his arms and looked at him, curious about Wang Chang's embarrassed demeanour: "You've played polo since you were a child. How could you not know the dangers?"

Wang Chang mumbled and couldn't say a word.

That was naturally because he was so skilled at polo that he had never lost a match. Besides, people in the capital feared him, and even the Third Prince had always been polite to him. When had he ever needed to take action himself?

Since Wang Chang remained silent, Fang Linyuan didn’t push him. From his awkward attitude, it was clear that he was forced to come and thank him, and Fang Linyuan had no interest in making it difficult for him.

"Alright, I’ve received your thanks. I still have official duties. You can go now." He lazily waved his hand and turned to leave.

But Wang Chang called out to him.

"Wait."

Fang Linyuan turned back and saw Wang Chang awkwardly take a box from his sleeve and open it in front of him.

The sight of the enormous banknotes inside made Fang Linyuan’s eyes widen.

"What are you doing?" he asked, taking a cautious step back.

Wang Chang closed the wooden box and said, "Verbal thanks alone lack sincerity, and giving you something would be considered private gifting. This money is my personal savings. I will send it to Yumen Pass today to donate for the construction of city walls in the eighteen cities of Longxi."

Fang Linyuan was stunned. He never expected Wang Chang to do such a thing, and his opinion of him improved a bit.

After a moment, he asked, "Are you sure about this?"

"The messenger is already waiting at the Duke of Qin’s residence," Wang Chang replied.

Fang Linyuan's gaze lingered on the box for a moment, then he looked at Wang Chang with more seriousness.

"Since you’ve made up your mind, I accept your thanks," he said.

"Can you do me another favour?" Wang Chang asked.

"Go ahead," Fang Linyuan responded readily.

"At the banquet that day, I had an argument with the Fifth Princess. It’s inconvenient for me to visit and apologize, so please convey my apologies to her," Wang Chang said.

This was an easy task for Fang Linyuan, and he agreed without hesitation.

Wang Chang hesitated for a moment before speaking again.

"I will remember that you saved my life that day," he said. "If you ever need my help in the future, just let me know."

For some reason, this statement was more sincere than anything Wang Chang had said before.

Fang Linyuan, however, didn’t quite understand.

The thanks had been given, the money had been donated, and their grudges were settled, right? Why was he bringing up the life-saving incident again, as if the earlier donation was on behalf of someone else?

But then, he didn’t really know Wang Chang. Fang Linyuan didn't dwell on it and simply nodded at Wang Chang.

"Alright," he said. "I see you like black horses? I've seen you riding black horses several times."

Wang Chang looked puzzled but nodded. "Why do you ask?"

"I brought back some fierce horses captured from the Turks when I returned to the capital. They're kept at my estate, and among them is a particularly shiny black one, but it has a very wild temperament and requires effort to tame," Fang Linyuan said. "The one that was confiscated from you can't be returned, so I'll have this one sent to the Duke of Qin's residence as compensation for what happened on the street that day."

Wang Chang's eyes lit up at these words.

*

The same day, Fang Linyuan returned to the marquis’s residence and had someone lead the Turkic steed to Wang Chang.

It was indeed a fine horse and giving it away was a bit painful for Fang Linyuan. But considering how much money Wang Chang had donated to Yumen Pass, he figured a single horse was a fair trade.

The servant who delivered the horse came back to report that the young master Wang had been delighted and rewarded him with a generous amount of silver.

Fang Linyuan didn’t think much of it and casually mentioned the day’s events, including Wang Chang’s message, to Zhao Chu over dinner at Huaiyu Pavilion.

Zhao Chu smiled faintly and acknowledged with a nod, saying nothing more.

The Duke of Qin was truly frightened by him. He even had to use Fang Linyuan to relay messages about his donations, fearing any rash actions from Zhao Chu.

“What are you smiling about?” Fang Linyuan asked from across the table.

Zhao Chu calmly replied, “I’m just surprised that Wang Chang remembered such a small matter.”

Fang Linyuan had no idea this was just Zhao Chu’s usual stratagem.

When Zhao Chu was fully confident, he would openly reveal his identity to his adversaries, forcing them to submit even if they were furious.

Since Shi Shen had obtained several pieces of evidence of the Duke of Qin’s illicit activities, Zhao Chu had boldly presented himself to the Duke as the Fifth Princess, using both threats and coercion to bring him into his fold.

Cautious and cunning individuals like the Duke of Qin feared fearless madmen like Zhao Chu the most. Even knowing Zhao Chu’s ambitious plans, he dared not risk his life and fortune against him and had no choice but to become his pawn.

As for the silver sent to the frontier...

However, in Fang Linyuan's case, the donation was nothing more than a form of compensation. But with the Duke of Qin’s intricate mind, he surely perceived it as a bribe from Zhao Chu to win over the border generals. He believed himself entangled in the web of bribery, with his funds and his hand in delivering them, making it impossible to extricate himself from Zhao Chu’s schemes.

Zhao Chu’s smile faded.

On the other side, Fang Linyuan nodded in agreement and said, "That kid probably isn't beyond redemption. It truly surprised me that he thought of donating to Longxi."

“Are you happy then?”

Zhao Chu’s question puzzled Fang Linyuan. “What?”

“He used the donation as a token of gratitude for you saving him,” Zhao Chu continued. “Are you happy?”

Fang Linyuan didn’t understand why Zhao Chu asked this, but he nodded sincerely. “Of course, I’m happy! It’s a significant amount of silver.”

The candle on the table popped softly, and the flickering light momentarily shone in Zhao Chu’s eyes.

Zhao Chu smiled slightly, his lashes fluttering as he blinked, making the candlelight in his eyes shimmer like rippling water.

“As long as you’re happy,” he said softly, his gaze lowered.

*

After Qingming Festival, the capital grew increasingly warmer. Even the spring breeze carried warmth, making it feel hot against the skin.

Fang Linyuan’s injury had almost healed, and he could now ride and wield a sword without the bandages.

Lin Zizuo, having finished his casework, found some leisure and invited Fang Linyuan to meet the city’s garrison general outside the city.

Speaking of General Zhu Song, who guarded the city, Lin Zizuo told Fang Linyuan that Zhu had admired him for many years. Upon hearing of their meeting, Zhu was so delighted that he dug up wine he had buried under a tree for over a decade to share a drink on the city wall.

Fang Linyuan didn’t know Zhu Song.

On his day off, he arranged to meet Lin Zizuo and others at the south gate where Zhu Song was on duty. As he approached the gate, he saw the tall, armoured general waving enthusiastically from the wall. By the time he reached the gate tower, Zhu Song had rushed down like a whirlwind.

Zhu Song was exceptionally tall, about nine feet in height, and robust. When he stood before Fang Linyuan, he was like a boulder that had broken off the city wall.

“Subordinate greets General!” Zhu Song’s voice boomed as he bowed deeply, attempting to pay his respects.

Although Fang Linyuan held a high rank, his actual position was the same as Zhu Song’s. Seeing Zhu about to kneel, Fang Linyuan quickly supported him.

In an instant, it felt as though a thousand pounds pressed against his arm. Fang Linyuan, feeling a bit overwhelmed, looked towards Lin Zizuo, who shook his head with a helpless expression.

Fang Linyuan barely managed to stop Zhu Song, saying, “General Zhu, you’re too kind.”

With some effort, Fang Linyuan managed to get Zhu Song to stand up. Lin Zizuo stepped forward to introduce them.

But there was no need for much introduction. To Zhu Song, Fang Linyuan was a renowned and distinguished general. Even before Lin Zizuo finished speaking, Zhu Song was already pulling Fang Linyuan aside, earnestly and sincerely expressing his admiration and reverence.

His voice was so loud that it hurt Fang Linyuan’s ears. Seeing Zhu Song’s eyes shining like copper bells on his dark face, Fang Linyuan couldn’t bring himself to interrupt.

The group conversed as they made their way up to the city wall.

Though the capital had waterways, the gates were still major thoroughfares for merchants and travellers. The road from the south gate led straight to the southern towns and was always bustling with traffic.

As they walked along the city wall, Fang Linyuan observed the checkpoints and the comings and goings at the south gate. Most entering the city were common folk with their goods or merchants on horseback, all required to undergo inspections. Despite it being dusk, a long queue of people waited at the gate. The guards were methodical, but the inspection process wasn’t as thorough as Fang Linyuan had expected.

Zhu Song was enthusiastically describing his iron formation used against the Turkic cavalry at Yumen Pass when Fang Linyuan interrupted, “General Zhu.”

“Yes?” Zhu Song stopped immediately, looking at him with earnest attention.

Fang Linyuan pointed to a direction below the gate and asked, “General, look at that cart with three or five people. Why is only the driver’s documentation being checked?”

Zhu Song chuckled and explained, “General, you may not be aware, but this is an old practice. There are so many people entering and leaving the capital daily. If we inspected everyone thoroughly, half of them would still be outside by the time the gates closed.”

“But if someone were to sneak in, wouldn’t it be easy for them?” Fang Linyuan asked, puzzled.

“That doesn’t happen,” Zhu Song replied confidently. “We don’t just check the driver. Regular citizens are checked by household. Families entering the city together only require the head of the household and able-bodied men to be inspected, while the others are briefly registered.”

“And there have been no mishaps?” Fang Linyuan inquired further.

“None at all,” Zhu Song answered. “Each family has official documents and travel permits, with all members registered. If an outsider were to mix in and cause trouble, the entire family would be held accountable.”

Fang Linyuan nodded thoughtfully as he looked down at the city gate.

“General Fang, did you notice something amiss?” Lin Zizuo asked. “Does it have to do with the Turkic raiders?”

Hearing this, Zhu Song’s expression grew serious as he turned to Fang Linyuan.

“We only check Han people like this. Every foreign merchant is thoroughly inspected, without exception,” Zhu Song added. “It’s unlikely that any suspicious individuals slipped through.”

Fang Linyuan shook his head and gave them a reassuring smile. “There’s nothing wrong. I’m just used to stricter border checks. This is my first time seeing such a method of personnel inspection.”

Both men nodded in understanding.

Talking about the Turkic raiders, Zhu Song added, “When they broke through our defences, we were caught off guard. His Majesty has ordered us to review all entry records of foreign individuals over the past few months, but all their documents are in order. We haven’t found any suspicious characters.”

“Then what about those leaving the city?” Fang Linyuan asked.

“Procedures for leaving the city are usually simple. His Majesty has recently ordered us to conduct checks, but it’s like searching for a needle in a haystack. Still, since it's the Emperor’s decree, we can only do our best,” Zhu Song replied.

Fang Linyuan nodded thoughtfully at this.

As the conversation continued, the sky gradually darkened. The night shift deputy had already taken over from Zhu Song, and after observing the changing of the guards below, the group moved to Zhu Song’s quarters atop the city wall, where they set up a feast.

The view from the city wall was excellent; one could see the countless lights of the capital spreading out like a sea of stars, while looking outward, the scattered villages and towns glimmered like stars in the night.

Even before the city gates were locked, many citizens continued to enter the city as darkness fell. The nearby canal, broad and undulating, reflected the shimmering lights and boats on the water, making it difficult to see the moon’s reflection.

Zhu Song had set out some of his family’s long-aged fine wine for the occasion. Seeing Fang Linyuan and having old ties with Lin Zizuo, he drank with great enthusiasm.

After discussing the matter with Zhu Song, Fang Linyuan was still puzzled about how the Turkic raiders had managed to enter the city. His mind was elsewhere.

After three rounds of drinks, Zhu Song noticed Fang Linyuan’s distraction.

“General Fang, what are you thinking about?” he asked.

Fang Linyuan replied, “Considering that there have been no irregularities among the foreign merchants entering the city in the past few months, how did those one hundred or so bandits manage to infiltrate?”

Zhu Song gave a comforting smile and patted Fang Linyuan’s shoulder.

“It’s hard to figure out just by thinking,” he said. “Didn’t the general find the leader of the Turkic raiders? The Emperor’s bounty has been issued to all provinces and counties. Once this person is captured, the case should soon become clear.”

“But I’m worried…” Fang Linyuan said, holding his wine glass and sighing slightly after a moment of thought.

Zhu Song looked puzzled and turned his hesitant gaze towards Lin Zizhuo.

“Are you worried that if these people can sneak into the capital unnoticed, they might also leave without being detected?” Lin Zizuo asked.

Fang Linyuan nodded.

Lin Zizuo thought for a moment and said seriously, “General, don’t worry, that’s not possible. While these people may have entered the capital with legitimate identities, even if they manage to evade detection within the city, escaping the vast expanse of Daxuan would be impossible. They might be hiding somewhere for now, but in time, they will inevitably be found.”

His words were indeed true. The travel permits and documents for the Turkic people entering Daxuan were all issued by the Daxuan government, with each person having a specific permit, leaving no room for error.

The leader of the group, Uliq, was attempting to leave the city. With a foreigner face, he carried nothing but his travel document—he couldn’t even use a fake identity.

Fang Linyuan nodded thoughtfully. “You’re right.”

“If General is still concerned, how about we have Old Zhu copy the records of all the foreign merchants entering and leaving the city in recent days for you to review?” Lin Zizuo suggested, looking at Zhu Song with a smile. “You might find some clues.”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Song immediately stood up.

“What are you doing?” Lin Zizuo quickly called out to him.

“I’ll go have them retrieve all the documents for the general,” Zhu Song said, a bit unsteady from drinking too much. His words were somewhat slurred.

“There's no need to rush. Sit down and relax!” Lin Zizuo urged.

But Zhu Song didn’t look back and continued walking out. “I’m going to get them for the general!”

“Drank too much,” Lin Zizuo said with a helpless shake of his head, turning to Fang Linyuan.

Fang Linyuan chuckled at Zhu Song’s antics and promptly stood up to follow him outside, catching up and stopping him.

“There’s no need to hurry, General Zhu. Please sit down first,” Fang Linyuan said with a smile. “They are still on duty down there; you don’t need to add to the commotion.”

As he spoke, he glanced down at the city gate and saw a convoy of several carts slowly pulling up in front of the gate.

The entire convoy consisted of seven or eight people, hurrying to enter the city before the gate closed for the night.

As the closing time approached, the soldiers at the gate appeared weary. They approached the convoy and asked for their travel permits and documents.

The driver at the front hurriedly reached into his chest.

Fang Linyuan’s gaze lingered on him, and his eyes narrowed.

The man’s demeanour seemed off.

While merchants and travellers usually appeared natural, with documents prepared to avoid delays, this man’s actions were awkward and hesitant. He tried to avoid the guard’s scrutinizing gaze while handing over the documents.

Such behaviour was typical of someone who was anxious and fearful.

Fang Linyuan’s gaze shifted to the other people in the carts.

There were both men and women, and an elderly couple as well. From a distance, they appeared to be a family, but something felt off.

In the next moment, Fang Linyuan’s eyes sharpened.

Indeed! A family that had travelled such a long way would be expected to show signs of exhaustion and relaxation upon reaching the city. But when the man presented the documents, these people’s eyes were all sharply focused on him, as if they were monitoring hostages.

Their clothing also seemed peculiar. Although the late spring night was warm, they were all dressed meticulously, their collars buttoned tightly, hiding their bodies completely.

Fang Linyuan's hand resting on the city wall tightened slightly.

At that moment, the elderly woman in the cart lifted her head, and her gaze met Fang Linyuan's.

In the brief instant of eye contact, she instinctively raised her hand to clutch her collar tightly.

In a flash, Fang Linyuan remembered what the palace eunuch had vividly described to him before the palace gate.

“… It is said that followers of the Sacred Lotus Sect tattoo a lotus flower here for identification.”

Fang Linyuan immediately leaned forward.

“Stop them!”

He shouted, issuing a short but clear command to the soldiers below the city gate.

--

The author has something to say:

Today's commentary is a special 520 gift for everyone, a sweet side story unrelated to the main plot~

Below is the side story content↓

—The Acacia—

—Regarding the small matter of the princess’s ongoing secret crush—

For Fang Linyuan, the 20th of May was just an ordinary day. The garrison needed to be on duty, and those troublesome monkeys, who were always trying to push their luck, required his supervision to practice properly.

But Zhao Chu had feelings that he could not share with others. On this day, he had a secret but palpable affection.

He pondered for a long time, feeling that he should give Fang Linyuan something.

Sending silver always felt insufficient, and a jade pendant seemed too ambiguous. As for a handmade item, Fang Linyuan had always avoided such things, as if trying to evade an entanglement.

Thinking of this, Zhao Chu felt a bit disheartened.

So, a few days in advance, he personally planted an acacia under the window. Day after day, with sunlight and rain, the green branches gradually bore clusters of red fruits, reminiscent of those tender and lingering days.

On the morning of the 20th, when Fang Linyuan was practicing with his spear, he saw Zhao Chu arrive in his courtyard, carrying a pot of red fruits.

Fang Linyuan paused his training, holding the spear behind him with one hand, and stood beside Zhao Qiao, examining the jade pot in his hand. “What’s this?”

Zhao Chu merely extended the pot towards him and said, “It’s for you.”

Fang Linyuan leaned in closer to examine it.

He didn’t appreciate poetry and didn’t understand the sentiment of “this item is most reminiscent of longing.” But he saw that the green, swaying branches bore transparent and lovely red fruits that looked like red beans or small cherries and seemed quite sweet.

He reached out to pick one to taste.

But before he could touch the leaves, Zhao Chu slapped his hand away. “What are you doing?”

“I was going to see if it’s sweet,” Fang Linyuan replied.

Zhao Qiao’s expression turned cold as he reminded him, “It’s poisonous.”

Fang Linyuan was startled and immediately withdrew his hand, looking at Zhao Chu in surprise.

“Then why are you giving me this?” he asked. “I wouldn’t dare to use it to kill anyone!”

Zhao Chu pressed his lips together, struggling to force out a reply after a moment.

“For admiring,” he said stiffly. “Place it by the window; it’s pretty.”

Fang Linyuan sighed with relief and took the jade pot with one hand.

“You should have said so earlier,” he said. “It’s quite lovely. Thank you.”

Zhao Chu felt as though he had swallowed a bitter acacia fruit, his heartfelt sentiments that had taken days to cultivate and grow were now stuck in his throat, neither up nor down.

Just then, the sun rose from beneath the eaves, casting light on Fang Linyuan’s face.

Fang Linyuan looked curiously at the acacia pot, holding his long spear in one hand and cradling the pot in the other, carefully examining its appearance. He handled it gingerly, as if it were a delicate springtime kitten, both agile and timid.

In that moment, Zhao Chu felt as if the acacia fruit lodged in his throat had melted away.

It seeped into his heart and limbs, a potent poison capable of consuming organs, yet as soft and melting as spring ice.

So this is what longing was like.

Longing that seeps into the bones and consumes the blood is like a soft blade that wounds with love, and an endlessly deep cage.

But at this moment, Zhao Chu knew that despite drinking poison, he found it as sweet as honey.

 

Translator : DarNan