The skill of Eunuch Wang was considered a supreme art even within the palace itself.

Fang Linyuan ordered several dishes in one go, and before long, the maids came out one by one, bringing them to the table.

The crab roe was rich and fragrant, paired with the refreshing tofu to make a perfectly harmonious dish. The pancakes were fried in oil mixed with peach blossom honey, filling the air with the sweet fragrance of floral nectar. The lamb from the small kitchen was fresh young goat meat; no complicated seasonings were needed—just a quick flame to bring out the full meaty aroma.

Finally, two bowls of soup were placed before Fang Linyuan and Zhao Chu.

“This is Silver Goji Jasmine Soup specially made by Wang Gonggong. Inside are Chuanxiong (NT: Ligustum chuanxiong, medicinal herb) and White Peony root. Eunuch Wang says that after a long day of labor, this soup is best for calming the nerves and relieving fatigue, and it also benefits the eyes.”

Hearing the maid say this, Fang Linyuan couldn’t help but ask, “What was Your Highness busy with today?”

Zhao Chu glanced coldly at the maid.

But since the maid was from the Hou residence, she didn’t quite catch Zhao Chu’s look. Now that Fang Linyuan was speaking to her, her eyes did not wander elsewhere.

“Ah, it was the autumn harvest accounts sent by Zhuangzi,” the maid smiled. “ Sister Sui Chao said that the harvests this year were good everywhere, but the accounts were more complicated, so Your Highness has worked especially hard.”

Fang Linyuan turned to look at Zhao Chu.

Zhao Chu’s expression was calm; he gave the maid a faint glance and said, “Enough, no need for more words. You may leave.”

The maid smiled and bowed to both of them, then quickly withdrew.

“Were the accounts very complicated?” Fang Linyuan asked Zhao Chu. “If it’s troublesome, just hand it over to Sui Chao. She’s been handling these for mother every year.”

Zhao Chu shook his head and said, “I’m idle anyway, just passing the time.”

Fang Linyuan couldn’t help but admire him.

The court was in chaos nowadays, but Zhao Chu still maintained this serene composure, truly embodying the demeanor of a great general—deeply admirable.

But speaking of the accounts, Fang Linyuan suddenly recalled another matter.

“By the way, this year’s tenant rents were advanced by you,” he said. “I checked the accounts before; it was forty thousand taels of silver. After settling these accounts, you can just move it onto your own books.”

Zhao Chu, who was sipping his soup, raised his eyes at him. “What’s this about?”

Fang Linyuan looked perfectly justified. “Returning your money.”

Zhao Chu’s hand holding the spoon paused slightly. Then Fang Linyuan laughed and said, “I’m not being formal with you, but such a large marquisate should keep public and private affairs clear. You can’t keep taking losses.”

“It’s not a loss,” Zhao Chu said. “The money I advanced was originally earned by you playing polo.”

Playing polo?

Fang Linyuan paused, then recalled exactly what Zhao Chu meant—the day of Qingming, when he and Wang Chang competed, and Zhao Chu bet a large sum.

Wasn’t this confusing things? Without Zhao Chu’s capital, where would that silver have come from?

Fang Linyuan opened his mouth to say something, but Zhao Chu let out a faint chuckle.

“No need to separate so clearly,” he said. “Anyway, both the public and private accounts are under my control now; it’s all mine. Why bother switching it back and forth?”

Fang Linyuan was taken aback, then realized Zhao Chu had made a lighthearted joke.

Their eyes met, and they couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

“Well, so you’ve set your sights on my entire marquisate?” he said, picking up some lamb from the table with a smile.

“That’s fine too. If we don’t separate you and me, then Eunuch Wang is mine from now on—whatever dishes I want him to make, he has to make.”

Zhao Chu laughed too. “As you wish.”

For a moment, a soft, relaxed atmosphere spread across the table. Fang Linyuan was completely unaware of it, just lowering his head to eat the lamb. When he looked up, a bowl of crab roe tofu had already been placed beside him.

Under the warm and gentle lamp light, he and Zhao Chu sat facing each other. Outside the window, the night was quiet; he smiled, and so did Zhao Chu’s eyebrows and eyes.

It was truly like a long-flowing stream of water, drifting lightly forward toward the unseen, endless distance.

*

Dou Huairen endured a sleepless night.

He had put on a show of force at the Garrison Office, merely as a warning to Zhao Chu.

After all, he was helping Zhao Chu scheme for power and usurpation; the two were like grasshoppers tied to the same string.

Moreover, he was the head of the household—a man who stood tall, could ascend the throne, and carry on the bloodline. Whatever Zhao Chu did, he had to rely on him. How could he not be well provided for?

Was that a mere concubine? She was specifically raising Zhao Chu’s heir to seize power!

Dou Huairen was resentful, and he made up his mind: since Zhao Chu couldn’t let him live comfortably, he would make Zhao Chu taste the bitterness of family unrest.

Unexpectedly, upon returning home, he was met by the fury of Princess Hejia.

Zhao Chu had reported everything.

Zhao Chu told Princess Hejia about Dou Huairen’s plan to take his concubine south.

“Dou Huairen, I really underestimated you,” the princess said angrily. “So it’s not that you’re incapable, but all your skills are just used to fight against me!”

“Who’s fighting you? Wasn’t it you who said I’m useless and that my career was going nowhere? Now that His Majesty is selecting officials to go south, what better opportunity? I’m only doing this for Your Highness’s face!”

Dou Huairen stiffened his neck and argued with her.

But Princess Hejia was never someone to reason with.

Before the words were out, a slap had already landed squarely on Dou Huairen’s face.

“Do you think I’m a fool you can deceive?!” Her voice was sharp as she lifted her skirt and lunged forward.

That day, it wasn’t until midnight that Dou Huairen, clutching the bleeding gash on his neck from where he’d scratched himself, slunk back into the study in shame.

... Zhao Chu—of course it was Zhao Chu!

Amid their quarrel, it was only from Princess Hejia’s scolding that Dou Huairen learned the truth.

Apparently, once Zhao Chu knew he had gone to the Garrison Office, he sent someone to find Princess Hejia. That sullen old nanny who always looked like a corpse standing next to her sternly urged her to persuade him.

She said matters of the court were beyond the influence of a mere fifth princess, a woman. Those mother and son before had been admitted into her private residence only under Dou Huairen’s own pretext. Afterwards, out of respect for the late empress, the fifth Princess gave them shelter for a while, but now she could no longer help Dou Huairen elope with that woman.

Good... she had exposed all his dirty secrets to his wife!

By the time Dou Huairen returned to the study, he was beside himself with rage. He dared not argue with Princess Hejia because of her noble status, but what about Zhao Chu? Didn’t he hold some leverage as well?

Dou Huairen frantically began searching through the secret compartments in his study.

Here, he had all the evidence of Zhao Chu’s treason and rebellion! If only he could produce it, would Zhao Chu dare continue to treat him with such contempt?

Trembling, he opened the letters he found.

This one was no good—no important information inside, nor Zhao Chu’s handwriting. That one was no good either; the letter wasn’t written by Zhao Chu, and it even contained his own mad delusions of having his child ascend the throne...

Letter after letter, cold sweat broke out on Dou Huairen’s back.

Dozens of letters... and Zhao Chu seemed completely invisible within them.

No signatures, unclear handwriting, no trace connecting them to Zhao Chu—each one made Dou Huairen look like the traitor...

Zhao Chu... that bastard!

She had long been prepared! Many of the letters were sent by the Eastern Depot, which burned letters after reading them—that was their rule. He dared not reason with those living devils. As for the rest... which letters were burned, which were not, he had never cared.

But the letters he had sent to Zhao Chu? He couldn’t even count them all...

At dawn, Dou Huairen leaned against the broad water elm desk and slumped down onto the floor, utterly defeated.

That slut had planned everything long ago, no wonder she wasn’t afraid of him and casually exposed his affairs...

But she forgot! She was just a woman; once she left him, her uncle, what could she do?

He would just wait!

Unless Zhao Chu gave up her great cause, his son would one day sit on the throne. No matter who the mother was—even if it was that shrew Princess Hejia’s child—it was still his son.

Moments later, Dou Huairen laughed bitterly, his expression nearly deranged.

That slut Zhao Chu—just wait.

Heaven made her a woman so that she would always be beneath him.

*

Unlike the Emperor’s grand celebration, the ceremony for welcoming foreign envoys was complicated but required only cavalry formations, orderly ranks, and proper procession.

After several days of drills, Fang Linyuan had the soldiers of the Sixteenth Guard thoroughly practice the lineup, protocol, routes, and procedures for welcoming the envoys. They ran through the drills twice more, ensuring everything was flawless.

He hadn’t revealed a word of what the Assistant Minister of the Imperial Guards Command told him. So these guys still treated the job like a huge favor and gave their all in the drills.

Sometimes being a bit clueless is a good thing.

A few days later, the envoys from Persia and Burma were about to arrive in the capital.

That evening after practice, the Military Department delivered the horses to be used for receiving the envoys.

They were all tall, strong Dayuan steeds, pure snow-white in coat. Over a hundred white high-spirited horses arrived at the Garrison Office, attracting a crowd of onlookers.

“Truly magnificent horses!” Li Cheng’an, a son of a noble family who was used to seeing fine things, couldn’t help but admire as he circled his assigned white horse several times, reaching out to stroke its mane.

“These horses are specially raised by the court for ceremonial purposes, naturally different,” Fang Linyuan said beside him.

“But we haven’t ridden these horses during rehearsals. What if something goes wrong when the envoys arrive in a couple days?” someone asked.

“These horses were selected from a young age, with stable temperaments and excellent obedience. They’re trained daily in the Military Department. Even if you mess up, the horses won’t,” Fang Linyuan said, glancing at the man and smiling.

The soldiers at the Garrison Office sighed in admiration.

“My father even sent me a good horse a few days ago, but looks like it’s no use now,” Li Cheng’an said with a grin. “Why not pass it on to you, General? That white horse is beautiful; you can give it to your lady.”

Giving horses? Zhao Chu didn’t seem fond of horses.

But when it came to giving a horse to his lady, Fang Linyuan hesitated slightly, thinking of the hard work Zhao Chu had put into managing accounts at home lately.

“Keep it yourself,” Fang Linyuan said.

Meanwhile, several guards were chatting nearby.

“Persia sends exotic beasts every year. I heard that this year, since His Majesty is celebrating his birthday, the offerings are especially numerous. Do you think we can handle them all?”

“Who told you to tame exotic beasts? They’re all locked in big cages.”

“Heh, I really want to see what they look like.”

“You’ve never seen it? I watch it every year—it truly is a rare spectacle the world seldom sees...”

As those around chatted, Fang Linyuan stepped forward and pulled Li Cheng’an aside.

“There’s actually another matter. Come here, I need to ask you something.”

*

Two days later, early in the morning, Fang Linyuan led the Sixteenth Garrison troops to stand by at the South City Gate.

Tall white horses were lined up in formation, the guards mounted wearing golden armor. Above the gold armor fluttered red tassels; in their hands, the soldiers held high banners that waved vigorously. From afar, the scene was a rolling sea of gold and red, like morning clouds shooting down onto the mortal world.

The musicians and troops from the Ritual and Music Department stood in rows on either side, holding countless instruments that sparkled brilliantly under the sun.

Inside the Anping Marquis’s mansion, there was a peaceful silence.

Today, with the arrival of the foreign envoys, many streets were under martial law—no officials or civilians were allowed to set foot there.

Therefore, most of the servants in the mansion did not leave today.

Outside Zhao Chu’s window, Juansu led the servants in the courtyard, sweeping away the snow fallen the previous day. Zhao Chu sat quietly by the window, studying a deadlock on a chess manual.

The chess game was tense. The white stones advanced like a bamboo cutting through a forest; the black stones were in complete disarray. Yet it was not yet fully decided; struggling on, there still seemed to be hidden hope.

Zhao Chu held a black stone in one hand, his eyes lowered in deep thought for a long time.

Just then, Wu Xinghai hurried in from outside.

“Your Highness.” He approached Zhao Chu and placed a letter beside him.

“What is it?” Zhao Chu furrowed his brows slightly, glanced at him, and put the black stone down on the board.

“The Anping Marquis sent someone with an urgent letter. He said there’s an important matter to discuss with you in half an hour,” Wu Xinghai said.

Zhao Chu placed the black stone firmly onto the board.

A complicated chess game was instantly disturbed. Zhao Chu ignored it, swiftly picking up the letter and standing up from the couch.

“Does it say what the matter is?” While opening the letter, he quickly ordered, “Go prepare my traveling clothes...”

The letter unfolded to reveal just a brief sentence, written in Fang Linyuan’s handwriting:

“The carriage is ready; no need to change clothes.”

*

Today, with the foreign envoys entering the capital, Fang Linyuan was leading the escort outside and supposedly had no time to meet him.

If they were to meet now, it must be urgent. But judging by the tone of Fang Linyuan’s letter, it did not sound urgent.

Zhao Chu stopped where he was. Seeing Wu Xinghai turn to fetch his clothes, he stopped him first: “Wait.”

Wu Xinghai turned back and saw Zhao Chu holding the letter in one hand, his expression oddly lingering on it a moment before saying: “Nothing important. You needn’t worry.”

Wu Xinghai didn’t understand but still bowed and said, “Yes, Your Highness.”

He was about to leave when Zhao Chu called him back at the door.

“Better send someone to investigate first,” Zhao Chu said. “Dou Huairen, the Ministry of Rites, the Guard Ministry—everyone related to the envoys’ arrival today—check if there are any unusual movements.”

Wu Xinghai bowed again, glancing at Zhao Chu twice.

The Fifth Princess’s gaze had already calmed; it seemed the letter was not urgent. Yet he still wanted people to check everything, top to bottom...

Wu Xinghai hesitated, then inwardly sighed resignedly.

Such cautiousness—if His Highness was not acting for himself, then who else?

*

Zhao Chu changed into a gold-embroidered pleated skirt fit for travel. The weather was growing colder by the day; over that, he wore a soft red brocade jacket and added a rabbit fur cloak.

Traveling as a woman was always somewhat troublesome. Even without special preparations, by the time he arrived at the mansion gate, it was already fifteen minutes later.

Sure enough, the carriage was waiting. Zhao Chu tilted his head slightly to look; the coachman was bowing and smiling at him.

The carriage passed quietly through the still streets, skillfully avoiding every restricted road. After a few turns, it stopped in a bustling back alley.

Zhao Chu raised the carriage curtain. A maid had already placed a footstool for dismounting by the carriage door.

His eyes briefly scanned around and saw that all the passersby were dressed in fine clothes—either wealthy or noble. Before him, a shopkeeper wearing a broad smile led a group of servants in kneeling to greet him. He looked up and saw a three-story carved building before him, with a side entrance so the signboard was not visible.

He said nothing but raised his hand to signal the crowd to rise.

The shopkeeper immediately stood, bowing and smiling as he led him to the third floor.

“Today we have the honor of Her Highness the Princess’s presence—truly the triple blessing of our Taifeng House!” the shopkeeper said as he escorted him to the far end of the third floor.

Taifeng House?

Zhao Chu had never been here before. He had only heard that this was one of the most expensive restaurants in the capital, much favored by the officialdom’s spoiled sons, hence its fame.

He said nothing, and Juansu beside him already asked on his behalf, “How did the shopkeeper know Her Highness the Princess would come?”

The shopkeeper smiled as he pushed open the two wide, ornately carved doors at the far end of the third floor and said, “The Marquis of Anping is truly thoughtful toward Your Highness—just yesterday, he spared no expense and called in favors from several young masters to reserve this place for you! Our Taifeng Tower is the finest spot in the entire capital today!”

The shopkeeper smiled and pushed open the two large carved doors at the end of the third floor.

The cold wind suddenly blew in sharply, and surprise flickered in the eyes of those around.

The top-floor pavilion had windows on three sides, spacious and magnificent. Soft curtains fluttered in the wind blowing through the open windows.

On the round table in the center lay a feast, but only one set of bowls and plates was set. Though no fine wine was arranged, the faint scent of Dianhong tea lingered in the air.

Right opposite their bed stood a spacious terrace, through which one could see the long street leading all the way to the Imperial City.

“Beasts parading down the long street! That’s the best spectacle in the capital every year during the Longevity Festival! The Marquis heard that this place is the absolute best spot to watch the exotic beasts, so he specially booked this place for Your Highness!” The shopkeeper said as he spoke, then suddenly brightened with excitement.

“Look, Your Highness! The envoy’s procession is coming just at the right hour!”

With that, he led Zhao Chu up onto the terrace.

The morning light on the horizon was bright. The gates and street entrances lining both sides of the long street were packed with common folk who had come to watch the ceremony.

At the southern end of the long street, snow-white steeds and soldiers clad in golden armor stood steadily, holding banners fluttering high, slowly advancing in their direction.

The shopkeeper serving nearby could not help but whisper, “This year’s display is truly grand!”

On both sides of the marching troops, majestic ritual music reverberated through the long street. Escorting the envoy, besides the extravagantly dressed South Seas envoys, were one huge beast cage after another, stretching endlessly out of sight.

A huge Suanni (NT: mythical creature resembling a lion) with a fiery mane, entirely golden in color, showed its magnificent beast head outside the cage. One could see a pair of golden eyes and two pairs of saber-sharp fangs.

The white peacock, with glossy feathers and trailing tail plumes, faintly shimmered with golden light, like the legendary divine bird that parts clouds and brings rain in the mountains and seas folklore.

The Cangguang (NT: litt. Azure brilliance, mythical beast resembling a rhino), only recorded in legend, had thick skin like heavy armor. On its long snout grew a single horn, exactly as described in the Classic of Mountains and Seas.

Then came the giant elephant with its long nose and huge ears. When it was led down the long street, even the blue brick pavement seemed to tremble slightly.

Magnificent, strange, bustling, and prosperous—it was like a divine spectacle shining down into the mortal realm.

This was indeed the best place in the entire capital to watch. The once-a-year parade of exotic beasts down the long street was most breathtaking when viewed here.

Everyone’s eyes around sparkled with excitement.

They whispered among themselves—sometimes saying the beasts looked mighty, other times pointing and saying one looked as beautiful as a divine descent.

Only Zhao Chu, surrounded by the crowd, said nothing.

Everyone was watching the beasts; no one noticed that only he, with bright and focused eyes deep as a starry sky, was looking in a different direction amidst this rare spectacle.

That direction was toward the golden-armored general on the white horse, who led the troops riding past the long street. Passing Taifeng Tower, he quickly winked up toward the top floor.

Naturally, no one watching the beasts noticed, except Zhao Chu.

He knew—the spirited young general was gifting this entire spectacle to him.

Zhao Chu’s hand hidden in his sleeve trembled slightly. In a place where no one could see, he still clenched that letter tightly.

He had received it.

Not because the spectacle was rare, but because nothing in this vast world could compare to the blazing passion in his heart.

--

Author’s note:

Zhao Chu: Wuwuwu, he loves me too, wuwu.

 

Translator : DarNan