Those were a pair of tearful eyes.

Though his eyes were red and filled with moisture, he still wore a smile, appearing as if he was at ease.

But how could a smile ever be faked?

The corners of his mouth lifted, but the edges trembled uncontrollably. His eyelashes were damp from the moisture in his eyes, and the sadness and longing in them were no less than Song Zhaojin’s, yet it seemed as if he was forcing himself to bear something on his shoulders, refusing to let the tears fall.

Yet, with such a large residence resting on his shoulders, those shoulders appeared too fragile to carry the burden.

Zhao Chu watched as that tear rolled down his face, vanishing into his collar in an instant.

At the very moment the tear fell, Zhao Chu’s hand, hidden within his sleeve, trembled slightly as well.

It seemed as though he wanted to reach out and wipe away that tear, or perhaps, he wanted to place his hand on the back of the man's head and draw those tearful eyes into his own shoulder.

His bones let out a faint creak, as if that tear had fallen into the rusted crevices of his soul.

Fang Linyuan only realized at that moment how out of place his behaviour was.

As the head of the family, the master of the entire marquisate, he shouldn’t be shedding tears like this, especially in front of his sister-in-law and Changnian. It was truly inappropriate.

He quickly raised his arm to wipe his face, hurriedly rubbing his eyes. Little did he know how his current state appeared in Zhao Chu’s eyes.

Then, he saw Zhao Chu walk over and stop in front of him.

Zhao Chu held a silk handkerchief in his hand, as if intending to offer it to him.

Fang Linyuan looked up at Zhao Chu.

The weather had been getting warmer by the day, and Zhao Chu had already switched from silk to satin garments, recently opting for gauze as thin as cicada wings.

The embroidery on his garment seemed to be of swallows carrying the spring, a pattern Fang Linyuan wasn’t familiar with. Under the sunlight filtering from outside, the translucent fabric cast patterned shadows of the swallows on Zhao Chu’s body.

Fang Linyuan saw Zhao Chu look down at him. His face, shrouded in shadow, remained as expressionless as ever, but for some reason, those cold, bewitching eyes seemed deeper than usual.

For a moment, Fang Linyuan felt as if he had stepped off solid ground, falling into a mass of cold yet soft silk.

He blinked, and the tears he had just rubbed from his eyes, still clinging to his lashes, fell with a slight tremble.

He watched as Zhao Chu extended a hand.

Through the thin layer of the handkerchief, Fang Linyuan felt the warmth of Zhao Chu’s fingertip as it wiped the tear from under his eye.

Then, Zhao Chu’s hand lifted slightly and gently brushed his hair.

The gesture overstepped a boundary, but Fang Linyuan clearly understood that Zhao Chu was comforting him.

As if soothing a small animal.

Fang Linyuan almost wanted to tease Zhao Chu. It was just two tears, after all. Why did he act like it was the end of the world, as if the sky were falling?

But just as the corners of his lips lifted by two inches, Zhao Chu's soft sleeve brushed past the side of his face, gently sweeping over him.

Cool but soft, like a breeze trying to lift him up.

Fang Linyuan's mouth twitched, and the moisture that had just dissipated instantly reappeared in his eyes.

In the next moment, the tear fell along his cheek, accompanied by the sourness welling up in his nose.

He was very sad. He had gotten used to holding it in, but he had never forgotten, not for a day. He missed his mother, his father, and his brothers deeply.

When he lost them, he was still a boy, shorter than all the soldiers around him by half a head.

The opposing general mocked him, coaxing him like a child to open the city gates. The soldiers behind him cried, tearing strips from their underclothes to write farewell letters to their families.

How could he dare show any weakness in front of anyone? Even when he cried alone, clutching his brother's armour in the dead of night, he bit his lip so hard and didn't dare make a sound.

He had grown so used to it that, for a moment, he had forgotten what it felt like to be comforted.

He had also forgotten that, when someone consoles you, it becomes even easier to cry.

*

Changnian noticed the silent exchange between the two. His hands paused, and then he met Zhao Chu's gaze.

His small aunt, who was very tall but especially beautiful, smiled at him slightly and put a finger to her lips.

He understood this gesture meant not to tell his mother.

 

Changnian nodded quickly in agreement with his little aunt, holding up a finger to his lips to signal a "shh" gesture.

His little aunt smiled and nodded back at him.

However, his little uncle immediately noticed their secret, his eyebrows twitching slightly, as if feeling a bit embarrassed.

He hurriedly took the handkerchief from his wife’s hand, pushed her gently, and looked up at her with what seemed like a flustered expression, gesturing with his hands.

Yet, his wife remained unperturbed, her demeanour as calm as Changnian had recently learned to describe as "clouds floating lightly and the breeze passing gently."

She gave a serene smile and lightly nodded at her husband before silently returning to the steps and glancing at the maid by her side.

“Madam, the Fifth Prince has arrived,” the maid quickly said with a smile.

*

“I have received the good news and came to congratulate you on receiving the title,” Zhao Chu greeted Song Zhaojin with a composed demeanour. “The doorman just delivered two congratulatory notes, so I’ve accepted them on your behalf.”

Fang Linyuan finally let out a sigh of relief.

He quickly wiped his face with Zhao Chu’s handkerchief, pulling himself out of his sad emotions, and didn’t forget to flash a grin at Changnian.

What are you looking at, you little rascal!

Changnian grinned back, covering his mouth as if Fang Linyuan and Zhao Chu had done something scandalous. Fang Linyuan’s ears were getting red from the embarrassment, and he made a fist to gesture menacingly.

Keep smiling, and I’ll take you out to do three sets of punches under the blazing sun!

Beside them, Song Zhaojin didn’t seem to notice anything unusual.

"Your Highness is here," she said warmly as she wiped away her tears. "Please, have a seat. How could the servants be so careless? They should have announced your arrival."

"I saw the Marquis and my sister-in-law talking, so I didn’t want to interrupt," Zhao Chu said as he sat down.

He really was a calm and composed person. Everyone present knew he was lying, but his demeanour was so natural that no one could detect any sign of discomfort.

"Your Highness mentioned earlier that some invitations had been delivered?" Song Zhaojin asked again.

"Yes. There were invitations from the Marquis Bo household and from the Ministry of War, both congratulating you on receiving your decree of honour," Zhao Chu replied.

"A joyous occasion in the household calls for a banquet," Song Zhaojin said, though a hint of concern appeared on her face.

Her eyesight wasn’t good, and events like this always made things harder for her.

Fang Linyuan, hearing this, was about to speak, but Zhao Chu, standing below, slowly said, "Indeed. If you trust me, Sister-in-law, leave it all to me. You only need to make an appearance at the banquet. There’s no need to worry about the rest."

"I fear it would be too much trouble for Your Highness," Song Zhaojin quickly responded.

Fang Linyuan also glanced at Zhao Chu.

Even though Song Zhaojin couldn’t see him, Zhao Chu still gave a faint smile, his voice gentler than usual.

"No trouble at all. I’m usually free with nothing much to do. In fact, I find myself a bit bored," he said.

"Organizing a banquet involves many trivial matters. For those details, you can just give orders to Suichao," Song Zhaojin replied.

Zhao Chu made a soft sound of agreement, then continued, "Since we’re planning a banquet, why not also pick an auspicious day and open the ancestral hall to offer a sacrifice to our ancestors?"

Both Fang Linyuan and Song Zhaojin were momentarily stunned.

Zhao Chu continued, "I just overheard a couple of words from the side. Considering that the Fang family has been loyal and righteous for generations, and that Brother sacrificed himself for a noble cause, it’s only fitting to inform the Marquis’s parents and brothers of such good news."

Fang Linyuan rarely heard Zhao Chu speak so much, especially about such detailed matters concerning his family.

His thoughtfulness and care made it feel as though he were handling affairs for his own family.

For a moment, Fang Linyuan felt a little dazed.

Beside him, Song Zhaojin's eyes welled up with tears again. "Your Highness is so considerate, I truly…"

She was choked with emotion, and it took her a moment to wipe her tears before she said, “…If the elders at home knew, they would surely be thrilled for the Duke and would be delighted to see you two united.”

Fang Linyuan looked at Zhao Chu, who also turned his gaze towards him.

Though Zhao Chu's words were clearly directed at Song Zhaojin, his eyes were fixed on Fang Linyuan.

“You need not worry,” Zhao Chu said. “With me around, you can rest assured.”

*

The celebration at the Anping Marquis’s residence was extremely lively.

As summer approached, the greenery in the estate became even more lush, and the pond in the garden rippled with clear water. During the festivities, Zhao Chu had also brought a pool of lotus flowers from the south. While the lotuses had yet to bloom in the entire city, the Anping Marquis’s estate was adorned with verdant willows, abundant lotus leaves, and vibrant koi fish swimming among them—a truly magnificent sight.

The feast was held by the lotus pond.

The ladies of the capital who were close to Song Zhaojin were aware of her past and had been discreet about her lack of a title. Now that she had finally been honoured with a title and a high rank, their joy was almost palpable as they gathered around her.

The wife of the Marquis of Bo sent two large carts full of congratulatory gifts. When she saw Fang Linyuan at the banquet, her eyes were red with emotion as she insisted on toasting him. “General, Zhaojin is truly fortunate to have a brother like you.”

Li Cheng’an and others also attended the banquet with their families. In addition to the congratulatory gifts, they sent large red envelopes, and even the uninvited Duke of Qin sent gifts, filling the front yard of the Anping Marquis’s residence.

“General, we’ve heard about the events outside the city the other day!” During the feast, several young nobles from the Sixteen Guards surrounded Fang Linyuan, animatedly describing the situation.

Li Cheng’an sighed beside him, “A night raid over a thousand miles? That’s just too impressive!”

Fang Linyuan laughed and nudged him with an elbow. “It wasn’t a thousand miles. Read more books and don’t use words carelessly.”

As they chatted and laughed, Fang Linyuan’s gaze shifted and he saw Zhao Chu, who had just been toasting with several ladies not far away.

“I’ll go over there,” Fang Linyuan said, stepping away from the group and heading towards Zhao Chu after exchanging a few brief words with them.

The others teased him from behind, “Look, the General is going to find his wife again!”

Fang Linyuan ignored them and approached Zhao Chu.

“I should be the one thanking you,” he said, smiling slightly and looking a bit embarrassed as he recalled the scene in Jiyue Hall.

That day, he had lost his composure and was grateful for Zhao Chu’s support in managing his emotions.

What happened that day—he couldn’t quite bring himself to say the rest. After all, as an adult, it was embarrassing to bring up the fact that he had cried in front of someone else.

Zhao Chu’s gaze gradually filled with amusement as he pressed, “What about that day?”

This fox spirit, though not as wicked as Fang Linyuan had once thought, was still no saint.

Fang Linyuan grumbled to himself, picked up the wine jug beside him, and filled his cup to the brim. “Let’s not talk about it anymore. I’ll just toast you with this cup to thank you.”

Whenever he thought about crying that day, he felt like a startled deer, wide-eyed with embarrassment.

Zhao Chu chuckled softly and raised his own cup in response.

Fang Linyuan lifted his head and drained his cup.

Zhao Chu’s gaze lingered briefly on Fang Linyuan’s slender, undulating neck, before he too drank his wine.

Zhao Chu was tall and usually wore embroidered shoes with very thin soles, but even so, he stood eye to eye with Fang Linyuan who wore boots.

From a distance, they appeared evenly matched, a harmonious pairing.

“General and the Princess make such a lovely couple, don’t they?” A woman standing near Song Zhaojin remarked with a smile after witnessing the scene.

Those around her immediately chimed in with praise, all agreeing that the Princess and Fang Linyuan made an ideal couple, like a match made in heaven.

“They’ve always been affectionate. My younger brother is truly blessed to have married the Princess,” Song Zhaojin replied, her expression warm and gentle.

The women nearby sighed in admiration, saying, “Though the first lady of Anping Marquis Manor faced hardships early on, with a nephew like the Marquis supporting the family, her future blessings will surely be long-lasting.”

“Indeed, Anping Marquis Manor seems to have good fortune, always producing heroic figures,” another woman added.

“But we’ve yet to hear any news from the Fifth Prince’s wife, have we?” one of the women whispered quietly. “It’s been a few months already...”

“What’s this, are you scheming because the Princess hasn’t had any news? Do you intend to send someone into the Marquis Manor to help the General continue his family line?” another woman teased with a laugh.

The group burst into laughter.

“Oh, what could I possibly be scheming? The Anping Marquis Manor’s status is far beyond our reach,” the woman laughed, pushing the other playfully.

“You wish! But if the Marquis agreed, even sending a legitimate child as a concubine would be a worthwhile offer, wouldn’t it?”

The group of women continued their banter, half-joking and half-serious, leaving it unclear whether someone might indeed have such thoughts.

*

The case of Feng Hanxue, managed by the Eastern Depot, had temporarily come to a close, but the investigation into corruption in Jiangnan had only intensified.

Fang Linyuan had heard bits and pieces over the past few days.

The case involving just Feng Hanxue and Qiu Shuo had already implicated several officials in the capital, and who knew what other powerful figures were involved? Recently, from the Brocade Guard to the Eastern Depot and the Dali Temple, people had been arrested and households confiscated, leaving everyone extremely busy.

Fang Linyuan himself wasn’t idle either.

In just a few days, even the court had broken into heated arguments.

As Fang Linyuan and Zhao Chu had anticipated, many officials previously associated with Feng Hanxue and Qiu Shuo were now scrambling to distance themselves from the scandal, eager to escape any implication. Some, who had only minor connections, were cutting ties immediately and making their positions clear to avoid any fallout.

First, the censors submitted memorials accusing the Ministry of Revenue of embezzling disaster relief funds. They argued that since such instances had occurred before, it was likely that the Ministry had been involved in similar misconduct and called for a thorough investigation of its financial records over the years.

But the officials at the Ministry of Revenue, being in charge of the nation’s funds, could hardly survive such scrutiny without exposing some irregularities. Within a few days, a memorial surfaced from within the Ministry itself, presenting evidence that Qiu Shuo had used his local connections to bribe numerous officials from Jiangnan who now held positions in the capital. The accusers argued that this clique of Jiangnan officials, bound by regional ties, were guilty of protecting each other, and thus, the investigation should focus on them rather than just the Ministry.

Now, who were these Jiangnan officials? Almost all of them were protégés of Lord Sang Zhixin!

And who was Lord Sang Zhixin? As the Minister of the Censorat, he was currently the most favored and powerful official at court, especially since the prime minister's position remained vacant.

In response, the Jiangnan faction immediately retaliated, accusing the capital-born officials of using the matter of regional affiliations to suppress others while themselves abusing their power in the capital and exploiting the common people.

Within days, the corruption issue in Jiangnan had escalated into a chaotic, factional brawl. Ministers, in their pursuit of protecting their interests, no longer cared about their dignity as scholars, launching into bitter and unruly attacks on each other.

One day, someone accused another of using their servants to bully and monopolize the market. The next, someone was accused of moral failings and frequenting brothels. The day after that, another official was denounced for his luxurious lifestyle, with accusations that he had embedded pearls into his inner robes for decoration.

Fang Linyuan learned all of this when Lin Zizhuo placed a stack of documents on his desk.

While the court erupted in noise, with ministers flinging dubious accusations at one another, every single memorial had to be investigated by the Btocade Guard to verify the claims.

Lin Zizhuo had been running himself ragged.

“I reported to His Majesty today, and the emperor agreed to let you take on some of the case files,” Lin Zizhuo said. “These are the less critical ones, and you can investigate them gradually as part of your city patrols.”

Fang Linyuan hadn’t expected these matters to fall to him.

“If you’re overwhelmed, isn’t there still the Eastern Depot?” he asked. “The Eastern Depot also has the duty to supervise officials. Why does this fall to me?”

At the mention of the Eastern Depot, Lin Zizhuo’s expression became somewhat unusual.

After a brief pause, he explained, “His Majesty never liked the eunuchs of the Eastern Depot when he was still the crown prince. Since he ascended the throne, he’s avoided using them whenever possible.”

Fang Linyuan didn’t quite understand.

After all, the Eastern Depot had originally been established because palace eunuchs, having no family ties or heirs, were unburdened by external influences. Given their proximity to the emperor, they were theoretically the most suitable to serve as the emperor’s eyes and ears.

However...

Considering Shi Shen’s attitude of absolute obedience to Zhao Chu, it seems that if he weren’t in a desperate situation, he wouldn’t have resorted to taking another path.

With this in mind, Fang Linyuan said nothing more, nodded to Lin Zizhuo, and took the stack of case files.

As soon as he opened them, he was taken aback.

What were these cases about? Official A going to a brothel and not paying, Official B having marital discord with his wife, Official C taking a concubine during his mourning period, Official D squandering his wife’s dowry.

“Is this what the court fights about?” Fang Linyuan slammed the documents shut. “Are the daily efforts of the Brocade Guard all spent on such matters?”

Lin Zizhuo’s expression remained serious and composed, as though he was used to such grand spectacles.

“This corruption case is so massive,” he explained. “Everyone wants to muddy the waters to buy themselves more time, so they end up presenting such trivial matters in their reports.”

Fang Linyuan was astonished by the nature of these documents.

“You needn’t worry too much. These are mostly matters of personal morality among officials. Just follow the procedures to clarify them,” Lin Zizhuo said, handing Fang Linyuan a badge of the Brocade Guard. “As long as you get results, the rest doesn’t matter.”

Fang Linyuan nodded and agreed.

He found these cases quite headache-inducing, while Li Cheng’an and the others seemed quite excited. They were like children with a rare and intriguing book, their enthusiasm was significantly higher than usual.

“Follow the rules, and don’t let the excitement cause you to offend anyone,” Fang Linyuan instructed.

Li Cheng’an nodded repeatedly.

But Fang Linyuan knew that Li Cheng’an was somewhat reckless, and delegating the task to him might lead to problems.

Thus, after careful consideration, Fang Linyuan arranged all the matters of the Sixteen Guards and personally took a team to investigate the cases detailed in the documents.

First, they visited the brothel where Official A had been, confirming that he indeed had run up a tab for drinks one day while drunk and hadn’t paid. They then investigated Official B, whose wife claimed that their marital relationship was harmonious and that the gossip was merely malicious slander.

When they went to look into Official C, the concubine insisted that she had been promised a lifetime with the official before his previous spouse’s death and cried out in despair when questioned. In the case of Official D, his wife not only refused to allow an audit of the dowry accounts but also drove the Sixteen Guards away.

After a whole day of such investigations, Fang Linyuan’s head was pounding.

It was all such trivial matters. He simply filled out the details of the investigations as per the documents provided by Lin Zizhuo, no matter the outcome, and moved on to the next case.

After completing the four investigations, it was getting late.

“This is truly more exhausting than a whole day of battle,” Fang Linyuan said as he left Official D’s residence, rubbing his temples. He turned to Li Cheng’an, who was following him, and said, “What time is it? If it’s already past the hour of Xu (NT: 19h - 21h), we’ll call it a day.”

“There are still three quarters of an hour until the hour of Xu,” Li Cheng’an, holding the case file, said. “There’s one more household with a kept mistress. General, once we finish this one, we should be able to wrap things up.”

Fang Linyuan felt his back and waist were utterly drained.

“Let’s go,” he said, grabbing the case file and quickly glancing at the address. Without even noting the official’s name or title, he mounted his horse and headed in the direction of the address.

Li Cheng’an tucked the case file into his coat, waved to the Sixteen Guards behind him, and followed Fang Linyuan.

The household in question was located in Chunlai Alley, adjacent to Rongchang Street.

Chunlai Alley was home to many wealthy merchants from the surrounding area, with most houses being traditional three-courtyard structures.

As Fang Linyuan led his group through the alley, the commoners sitting on the steps outside their homes stood up to avoid them. Once they had passed, they leaned out from their doorways to see which household was being raided.

Fang Linyuan stopped in front of the address listed in the case file.

It was also a three-courtyard residence, with the gate firmly closed. The front yard was planted with several thriving peach trees. The gate was adorned with peach charms from winter, inscribed with elegant calligraphy, a style commonly used by women.

Fang Linyuan gestured toward the gate.

Li Cheng’an dismounted with two men and went up to knock on the door. After a short while, a middle-aged woman who appeared to be a servant opened the door with a forced smile.

She looked up and saw Fang Linyuan and his team.

Her smile froze, and she immediately took a step back, hurriedly trying to close the door.

Oh, from the looks of it, they seemed to have really caught something.

Li Cheng’an, who had been knocking, looked visibly excited. He grabbed the door and looked up at Fang Linyuan.

“Who are you?” the woman asked warily.

The Sixteen Guards stepped forward, pushing the gate wide open, and stood on either side, saying, “We are here on orders to inspect this place. Here is the BrocadeGuard’s token. Anyone who resists will be taken into custody for interrogation.”

The woman was petrified.

At that moment, a young lady emerged from behind the peach blossoms. She looked to be in her early twenties, with a delicate and charming appearance, holding a two- or three-year-old child in her arms.

“ MamaZ hang, who is outside?” she peeked out and asked loudly.

Her accent was from the south, likely Jiangsu or Zhejiang, soft and gentle.

The woman immediately turned around, “Madam, please take the young master inside. Just a bunch of unkempt soldiers from who knows where. I’ll send them away right now.”

The young lady, startled, quickly retreated with the child into the house.

Fang Linyuan’s brow furrowed slightly.

They were hiding and only the women were visible; there must be something suspicious about this household.

Meanwhile, Li Cheng’an’s expression had changed drastically.

“Soldiers?!”

This woman had some nerve! In all his time in the Sixteen Guards, he had never been addressed so rudely!

“Get in there and search the place immediately!” he ordered darkly.

But the woman blocked the doorway, her fear still evident, but her stance had become defiant. She raised her voice, saying,

“This is the private residence of the Fifth Prince and Princess Huining. Who are you to be so bold here?”

 

--

The author has something to say:

Zhao Chu: Since you want to thank me, what about...

Fang Linyuan: How about I offer a toast first?

Zhao Chu: (Choking on the words “I offer myself” at the tip of his tongue) ... Fine.

 

Translator : DarNan