Outside Zhao Chu’s window, the grass and trees had nearly all withered.

The autumn sky was high and clear, and the sunlight streaming through the sparse, bare branches into the room was especially bright, casting the gaunt limbs’ shadows onto Zhao Chu, resembling a twisted, rugged landscape embroidered on fine silk.

A rhythmic rustling sound came from the desk before him.

It was an exquisitely crafted tea mill, and nearby a basket held some unmilled tea leaves.

Zhao Chu was methodically rolling the tea leaves; the crushed powder released their full fragrance, delicate and lingering, drifting from the tea mill.

Three steps away, Wu Xinghai, whom he hadn’t seen for several days, was reporting on the court affairs.

“The news from Yanzhou arrived at the palace several days ago. Although His Majesty hasn’t shown anger or reacted yet, the eunuchs sent word saying that officials in the southern faction have been panicking. Lord Sang Zhixin has petitioned to see the emperor several times, but still has not met him.”

Zhao Chu under the window slightly nodded.

He had told Fang Linyuan not to say anything because he had already privately delivered all the news from Yanzhou to Emperor Hongyou.

Heng Feizhang had few friends at court, a lone wolf. Recently, Emperor Hongyou trusted him deeply and greatly valued what he said.

These days, Fang Linyuan did not know, but Heng Feizhang had been secretly sending confidential letters to the palace.

Recently, Zhao Chu had even secretly staged a disturbance—a killer blocking the road.

The assassin who almost killed the messenger remained unidentified, but the evidence in the secret letters all pointed to Sang Zhixin secretly forming factions, embezzling military supplies, and even supporting many people behind the emperor’s back. Emperor Hongyou must have already reached a judgment.

Right now, such calm was the most terrifying for Sang Zhixin.

“However, the emperor has yet to act, but the Third Prince and the Su family faction cannot remain still,” Wu Xinghai continued. “They fear the emperor will be lenient and spare Sang Zhixin again. They’ve been restless these days and are ready to move against Sang Zhixin.”

At this, Wu Xinghai lowered his voice and asked, “Does Your Highness have any plans?”

“No need.” Zhao Chu lowered his eyes nonchalantly, showing no expression, but carefully collected the powdered tea into the jar.

“In a few days, everything will be clear. Right now Zhao Jin is anxious, Sang Zhixin is afraid—let them fight it out themselves…” He paused slightly, then added, “Send someone to spread the word to those hidden among both factions: quickly sort themselves out these days. Don’t meddle in this dirty water again.”

“Yes.” Wu Xinghai promptly replied.

He was about to ask more when Zhao Chu turned his head away, closing the tea jar while speaking to the silk attendant beside him.

“Send this to Fuguang Pavilion.” he said. “Tell Miss Hanlu that the marquis caught a chill a few days ago and has a cough. Have her prepare this for him daily.”

The attendant nodded, holding the tea jar and quietly leaving.

Zhao Chu then lowered his eyes a little, looking at the still unpacked tea mill on the desk.

If it weren’t for the fact that his and Fang Linyuan’s appearance together raised too many suspicions, he would have personally given these warming tea treats to Fang Linyuan.

The image of Fang Linyuan drinking his tea came to his mind, and as he was lost in thought, Wu Xinghai silently made a deep bow to him.

“Your Highness.”

Zhao Chu tilted his head and saw Wu Xinghai bowing low.

“Your Highness is currently confined to the Anping Marquis residence, but that is only a temporary expedient. Now that the great undertaking is near completion, Anping Marquis… I implore Your Highness to reconsider.” Wu Xinghai said. “...After all, a man cannot become empress.”

Zhao Chu paused slightly, fixing his gaze on him.

He seemed to be thinking, staring at Wu Xinghai for a moment, then slowly replied, “Yes.” He said. “How could he be the empress?”

Wu Xinghai’s tense shoulders relaxed for a moment, as if a heavy hanging heart was finally relieved.

He looked up, about to say something more, but Zhao Chu slightly turned his head to look out at the withering branches shedding leaves.

He seemed to be speaking to Wu Xinghai, yet also talking to himself.

“That is a cage that devours its prey without leaving bones.”

“Who would dare lock him inside it?”

*

Early the next morning, Fang Linyuan went to Jiyue Hall to pay his respects to his sister-in-law. Changnian hadn’t seen him in days and had already finished reading several essays. Word was that he had completed the Analects, and the teacher said he could now begin reading the Zuo Zhuan.

When Song Zhaojin saw Fang Linyuan, she couldn’t help but cry again. She said he had worked hard, touched his arm and remarked he seemed to have lost weight. She also said Zhao Chu had suffered greatly, fallen seriously ill, and that even though the weather had turned cold, ‘she’ had yet to fully recover.

Fang Linyuan quickly comforted her, and even swore by the heavens that once Zhao Chu recovered, he would definitely go visit ‘her’. Only then was Song Zhaojin coaxed into feeling better.

Leaving Jiyue Hall, Fang Linyuan was just about to return to Fuguang Pavilion when, unexpectedly, as he passed through the main hall, he was caught by Li Cheng’an and a few others who had rushed to the residence to ambush him.

“General, be honest—have you forgotten your old friends? Ever since you returned to the capital, we’ve waited day and night, like watching for stars or the moon, but you’ve never come to find us for a drink!”

At the sudden sight of this disorderly pack of spoiled scoundrels, Fang Linyuan was immediately troubled by a headache from the noise.

He turned back to glance in the direction of the inner residence, thinking he wouldn’t be able to see Zhao Chu today anyway, and so he simply let them drag him along all the way toward the main gates.

“How long have you been waiting? I only just returned from my audience at the palace last night,” he said, casting a sideways glance at Li Cheng’an.

“But that’s already a whole night!” Lou Shuo and the others jeered.

The group clustered around him and led him to Taixing Tavern, chattering and gesturing as they recounted all the things that had happened in the capital while he was away.

They said that ever since the last Huazhao Festival, Lou Shuo had become addicted to giving donations and had taken to playing the role of a heroic outlaw. Whenever he saw injustice, he’d throw silver at it, and in recent days, he was nearly worshiped as a living Bodhisattva in Shangjing. His father and elder brothers had just returned to the capital to report in, and were praised by the emperor for raising a son so pure-hearted and kind.

They also said that when the princess fell seriously ill and word from Yanzhou hadn’t yet reached the capital, Li Cheng’an started worrying on Fang Linyuan’s behalf, nearly charging into the palace with tribute to inquire after him. It took quite a few people pulling and dragging to barely stop him.

And the brothers from the Garrison division, having been disciplined by Fang Linyuan, had become much more proper. Recently they’d handled a few petty cases in the capital. The emperor, pleased, personally appointed the sixteenth Garrison units as the ceremonial guard for the Wanshou Festival, when foreign envoys would pay tribute—a tremendous honor, a massive boost to their prestige!

Their mouths never stopped as they talked the whole way, and Fang Linyuan couldn’t help but laugh along with them.

No wonder the old veterans in the army always said—there’s no greater joy than making accomplished soldiers out of spoiled ones.

The group entered the tavern, ordered fine wine and dishes, and began toasting Fang Linyuan one after another, welcoming him back and cleansing away the dust of travel.

Fang Linyuan could tell that these boys truly missed him.

So he gave face to each and every one of them, refusing no one, never dampening their spirits.

A few cups in, Li Cheng’an began to sigh.

“It’s just, that day when I went into the palace to accept your reward on your behalf, the emperor asked me about the Huazhao Night and the matter with the barbarian bandits. I couldn’t help you much then.”

Fang Linyuan paused slightly.

Huazhao Night?

More than half a year had passed. The emperor had seemed unconcerned about the matter for some time and had never brought it up again.

Why ask about it all of a sudden?

He held his thoughts back, heart dropping for a moment before he calmly asked, “What do you mean? Wasn’t the case closed back then?”

“That’s what I said too!” Li Cheng’an, oblivious, sighed and placed his cup on the table.

“But the emperor said that the original findings were overturned by the Court of Judicial Review. They said it wasn’t a scheme by barbarians beyond the border at all, but the work of another perpetrator. Ai… General, we were young and reckless back then, and let those bandits slip through such a big loophole. You were given the task at a critical moment, and even now you’re still dragged into it. I truly…”

Fang Linyuan quickly cut him off: “What exactly did His Majesty ask, and how did you answer?”

“His Majesty asked how you conducted the investigation at the time. How could I let the emperor place blame on you? I told him you made every effort—marketplaces, Hu traders, city gates—you thoroughly investigated everything. All clues pointed to that Hu merchant’s household, so the case was concluded with due caution.” Li Cheng’an said.

“I told the emperor! We followed you step by step during the investigation. We knew you truly had no knowledge of any hidden truth, and we truly had no way to uncover it either.”

Fang Linyuan fell into silence for a moment.

The emperor suddenly taking interest in the case again… could only mean news of those assassins in Yanzhou had reached his ears.

But why would he care about the details of the old case? Why probe indirectly through Li Cheng’an?

Fang Linyuan’s brow furrowed slightly, and the fingers resting on the table tapped twice without him realizing it.

Even he didn’t notice—the gesture was strikingly similar to Zhao Chu’s.

Beside him, Li Cheng’an was still blaming himself: “But now the case has been overturned. No matter what I say, it’s probably useless. If only I hadn’t gone drinking that night—if only we’d discovered those Hu bandits earlier…”

“Enough,” Fang Linyuan interrupted.

The look he gave Li Cheng’an carried a hint of helplessness.

This kid—his tolerance for alcohol was pitiful, yet he still insisted on drinking.

“If not for that night, I wouldn’t have met you all.” He said. “Besides, you answered very well.”

Li Cheng’an assumed Fang Linyuan was merely comforting him.

“General! I truly didn’t manage to help this time, but from now on, even if I must sacrifice liver and brain, I swear I won’t let you be dragged down by us again!”

Fang Linyuan shook his head.

He wasn’t comforting Li Cheng’an—Li Cheng’an, by sheer accident, had answered just right.

Whatever it was that His Majesty had hoped to get from questioning him…

Doing his best, yet yielding no result—perhaps that was the best answer of all.

*

By the time Fang Linyuan returned to the residence, even his own steps felt unsteady beneath him.

These young noblemen really didn’t hold back once the drinking started. He had accompanied them with all he had, and now he was feeling overwhelmed.

When he arrived back, night was already deep.

The gatekeeper wanted to send someone to escort him, but he waved them off and strolled slowly toward Fuguang Pavilion on his own. The household was sparsely staffed to begin with, and there weren’t many who needed tending at night, so at this hour, few people were to be seen.

He made his way back to Fuguang Pavilion, encountering only a few night-duty servants along the way.

Inside, the lamps of Fuguang Pavilion were still lit, and across from it, a few windows in Huaiyu Pavilion also shone with light.

Fang Linyuan recognized it instantly—that was Zhao Chu’s bedroom.

Zhao Chu was still awake?

This realization gave Fang Linyuan a sudden jolt of energy—an alertness that, stirred by the alcohol still lingering in his veins, gave rise to a kind of bold and reckless courage.

At this hour, with no one around, could he not go see Zhao Chu?

Even if he couldn’t walk through the front door, the courtyard walls could be climbed. After all, it wasn’t like he hadn’t done it before—Zhao Chu even sneaked him back into the residence from outside once, and they hadn’t been caught then either.

Fang Linyuan’s heart pounded in his chest like a war drum.

He seemed excited, but it wasn’t the kind of drunken excitement that made one act rashly.

Rather, it was the thought of seeing Zhao Chu.

This thought that had long been buried in his heart—occasionally scratching at him, teasing him—he could finally make it real himself, without waiting any longer.

His heart surged uncontrollably with this excitement.

 

--

Author’s note:

Records from the Guard Logs of the Anping Marquis’ Residence:
There were two recorded incidents of individuals scaling the courtyard walls—both culprits were the Marquis and his Consort. Subordinates once proposed adding more side entrances, but the request was denied. The master's intentions remain unclear.

 

 

Translator : DarNan