Huo Xian left after tidying himself up, and once the door closed, she was alone in the room.
Ji Yuluo stood in place for a long time, watching the layers of dark clouds change colors—ink rolling into crimson, crimson blending into blue, gradually transforming into a streak of daylight. She lifted her index finger to her nose and sniffed.
It was Huo Xian’s scent.
It involuntarily reminded her of how he was driven to madness just moments ago, yet did nothing that needed to be done. Ji Yuluo lowered her eyebrows, finally suppressing her bit of disappointment and irritation.
She collapsed exhaustedly onto the bedding, buried her head in the soft pillow, and took a deep breath, slowly digesting the frustration of a failed endeavor.
Gradually, her consciousness became hazy.
She had an unusually good sleep, dreamless.
Three days later, the Duke of Zhenguo received an imperial decree to head south for a redress, and the mighty army marched out of the city gates. The sound of horses’ hooves shook the entire capital, finally instilling a sense of urgency about the impending battle among those who had grown accustomed to a life of luxury.
Although Dayong was riddled with problems and power changes had been frequent in recent years, the area under the emperor’s foot remained the safest place. Many people had never seen blood in their lives and couldn’t help but feel anxious, leading to a wave of grain hoarding in the capital.
Additionally, due to the influx of refugees from war-torn areas, chaos ensued, with brawls and disturbances occurring everywhere.
The capital’s security was originally managed by the Jinyiwei, so they were overwhelmed during this period. Huo Xian had to deal with Zhao Yong while secretly investigating the Zhao faction through private soldiers from Yunyang. Although Ji Yuluo stayed at the Huo residence, she hadn’t seen him for days.
Taking advantage of these days, she set up a secret post, which on the surface looked like a teahouse.
Since it was a covert post, it had to be concealed, so she chose a location at the mouth of a less busy alley—neither too big nor too small, unlikely to attract attention.
That day, Ji Yuluo left the Huo residence, intending to handle affairs at the teahouse.
There were many things to manage for a secret post, and there were too few people transferred to the capital, so she had to handle everything personally.
When the carriage reached the middle street, it encountered a crowd of troublemakers. Ji Yuluo instructed the driver to take a detour, but as the wind blew open the curtain, she caught sight of something from the corner of her eye and frowned, “Wait.”
Ji Yuluo jumped off the carriage and pulled out someone who had been shoved to the ground in the crowd.
Ji Xianyu was jostled and unsteady, her knees scraped, and her hair partly undone. She looked like a frightened little rabbit, bewildered and panicked. When she saw Ji Yuluo, her eyes lit up, but soon dimmed, and she said with reddened eyes, “Sister…”
Since getting married, Ji Yuluo hadn’t seen Ji Xianyu.
She wasn’t actually living a married life, so she never attended the poetry gatherings and elegant banquets reported by the women in the backyard. Nanny Liu occasionally brought her invitation cards, which she initially found excuses to decline and later simply ignored, so she never had the chance to see Ji Xianyu.
Ji Xianyu had sent visiting cards, but she also declined them with the excuse of illness.
As time went on, Ji Yuluo almost forgot she had this convenient younger sister.
She had no maid with her and went out alone, which was indeed rare. It was chaotic now, yet Lin Chan dared to let such a delicate girl wander outside.
Clearly, this little girl had snuck out of the residence on her own.
Ji Yuluo glanced around and then took her onto the carriage.
At first, Ji Xianyu just hung her head, wiping the mud off her hands with a handkerchief. Later, her eyes gradually filled with mist, and large teardrops fell one by one. Eventually, she started to sob, “Sister.”
Ji Yuluo sipped her tea without responding.
She was annoyed by crying and wouldn’t bother comforting people. So, she waited for her to finish crying and speak if she wanted to.
Sure enough, after crying, Ji Xianyu began to speak, “I snuck out of the residence on my own. Father arranged a marriage for me with the Duke of Zhenguo’s nephew. Mother disagrees and argues with Father every day… This morning, Father hit Mother in a hurry to attend court. He said she was unreasonable all these years and committed the Seven Outrages, and he confined her to reflect on her actions. They argue every day, and I don’t know what to do…”
Ji Yuluo squinted her eyes slightly, “Xiao Yuanjing?”
Ji Xianyu nodded with a sniffle, “Yes, him. Sister, do you know him?”
Ji Yuluo didn’t have a deep impression of Xiao Yuanjing. Their only interaction was when she infiltrated the Xiao residence, and he was the one who arrested people.
However, during the investigation of Xiao Cheng’s hidden troops, they found clues through Xiao Yuanjing’s “external residence.” Xiao Yuanting was an unworthy spendthrift. Compared to his own son, Xiao Cheng clearly trusted this nephew more. At that time, Huo Xian also said that Xiao Yuanjing, who worked in the Shenji Camp, neither drank nor gambled and had a calm and low-key personality. Ji Chongwang’s reputation had been completely ruined by Huo Xian, his “son-in-law.” So, he naturally chose the more reliable Xiao Yuanjing to restore his reputation through marriage with the Xiao family.
Moreover, Ji Chongwang, who was then the head of the Imperial Academy, would provide additional support to the Xiao family, making it a lucrative deal. Ji Chongwang might not have known Xiao Cheng’s plans; otherwise, given his nature, he wouldn’t dare to agree.
On the surface, the marriage between the Ji and Xiao families seemed well-matched, and Lin Chan should have been overjoyed. Why would she oppose it?
Ji Yuluo asked, “Why does Mother oppose it?”
Ji Xianyu dried her tears, glanced at the carriage curtain, hesitated for a moment, then covered her mouth with her hand, leaned over, and whispered, “Mother said the Xiao family’s family morals are corrupt. The old madam of the Xiao family, the Duke’s mother, once had… an illicit relationship.”
The last two words were particularly difficult for Ji Xianyu to utter.
Ji Yuluo raised an eyebrow. Such secrets might have been embarrassing for Ji Xianyu, but Ji Yuluo wasn’t too shocked. The Ji family had enough scandals of its own; they had no right to look down on others.
So she nodded lightly, “You are marrying Xiao Yuanjing. The matters of the previous generation don’t concern you much.”
Ji Xianyu bit her lip and said in a muffled voice, “I don’t know where Mother heard such rumors. She said the one who had an affair with the old madam was an illegitimate son of the Xiao family, the biological brother of the old Duke… She also said that with such a scandal, even the Duke’s lineage might be questionable. Mother said this was a mess and forbade me from getting involved.”
Women cared most about reputation. Lin Chan, coming from a scholarly family, had a high self-regard. If not, she wouldn’t have spent years with Ji Chongwang without learning how to placate her own husband. She naturally looked down on the scandal-ridden Duke’s residence, especially since Xiao Yuanjing was just a nephew, a collateral branch. He wasn’t worth it.
However, baseless rumors should not ruin Ji Chongwang’s chance of ascending the ranks, so he naturally wouldn’t agree.
But Xiao Cheng…
Ji Yuluo suddenly remembered something and became lost in thought.
Ji Xianyu called out to her, “Sister, Sister?”
Ji Yuluo snapped back to reality and looked at her, “What do you think?”
Ji Xianyu lowered her head in thought before speaking, “Xiao Yuanjing is much older than me, which isn’t ideal in terms of age. But I heard he lives a clean life, never frequents pleasure houses, and doesn’t even have a concubine in his household. That’s quite good.”
Ji Yuluo wanted to say that a man in his twenties from a wealthy family with no woman around probably had issues. But just as she was about to speak, a figure flashed in her mind, and the words got stuck in her throat.
Some men could be surrounded by concubines yet still behave like Liu Xiahui, resisting temptation even if it was handed to them on a platter, preferring to endure than to give in.
However, she didn’t think Xiao Yuanjing could be compared to Huo Xian. There must be another reason. Moreover, the Xiao family was not a good match, something Lin Chan had stumbled upon correctly by accident.
Whether the Ji family would get embroiled in this mess didn’t concern Ji Yuluo. Who Ji Xianyu married was none of her business, but…
The carriage stopped in front of the Ji residence, and Ji Yuluo said, “You’re still young. High-born girls from prominent families don’t need to rush into marriage. Your father has other considerations, but this marriage isn’t good for you.”
Perhaps Ji Yuluo’s sudden concern startled Ji Xianyu. She didn’t even notice the term “your father” and instead looked at Ji Yuluo with a blank stare before breaking into a smile, “If Sister says it’s not good, then I won’t marry!”
“…”
Ji Yuluo said, “We’re here. You can go back now.”
Reluctantly, Ji Xianyu looked at her and asked, “Is Sister doing well? I heard that Lord Huo cares for you deeply and treats you well. Is that true?”
Her eyes were filled with concern.
Ji Yuluo raised an eyebrow. The rumor about Huo Xian’s love for his wife had inexplicably spread, but she knew he must have fueled it himself. This was also a reason for Ji Chongwang’s tarnished reputation, as many people assumed there was something unsavory between Ji Chongwang and Huo Xian.
Thinking of this, she responded perfunctorily with a “Hmm.”
Ji Xianyu smiled faintly, “That’s good.”
She lingered, unwilling to leave, and hesitantly asked, “Sister, can I visit you at Huo’s residence in the future?”
“No,” Ji Yuluo replied bluntly.
Ji Xianyu could sense Ji Yuluo’s increasing coldness. She thought her sister, having left the Ji family, didn’t want to associate with them anymore, considering how poorly she had been treated before.
With a look of sorrow and tears welling up in her eyes, Ji Xianyu softly replied, “Oh,” then got off the carriage. Even after disembarking, she stood nearby, gazing longingly in Ji Yuluo’s direction.
Ji Yuluo didn’t look at her; she simply instructed the coachman to turn around and head back toward the market.
She settled down, reflecting on Ji Xianyu’s words. The name Xiao Yuanjing painted a picture in her mind, but she couldn’t recall his appearance since she hadn’t clearly seen his face at the time.
That day, she had infiltrated the Xiao residence following Zhao Yong and had seen Zhao Yong meet with Xiao Cheng…
Ji Yuluo paused, feeling that some crucial detail had been overlooked.
—
At the Northern Zhenfu Division.
Huo Xian had just pacified the irritable and restless Emperor Shun’an in the palace. Unluckily, on his way back to the division, he encountered Xiao Yuanting flaunting his arrogance on the street. Xiao Yuanting decided to tag along with Huo Xian.
Xiao Yuanting held an idle position at the Honglu Temple, rarely attending even the most basic duties. He was clueless about the intricate court politics and completely unaware that Xiao Cheng’s southward campaign was a scheme by Huo Xian. He still considered Huo Xian a close friend, sighing deeply, “Has the Prince of Xingnan taken lion-hearted courage to rebel in this chaos? Hey Zhe’an, can my father win this battle?”
For once, Xiao Yuanting seemed genuinely worried, as rumors outside were exaggerating the strength of the Prince of Xingnan’s northern army, making it seem like they would soon storm the capital.
Huo Xian glanced at him.
The Prince of Xingnan had expert assistance and had been planning this campaign for years, ensuring ample troops and provisions for the battle. The court, on the other hand, had hastily responded. Without Xiao Cheng’s own “trump cards,” seeking redress would be tantamount to a death sentence.
Naturally, Xiao Yuanting knew nothing of this; the young master was still living in a dream.
Huo Xian smiled, “Of course, with the Duke of Zhenguo leading the way, what could go wrong?”
Among his group of dissolute friends, Huo Xian was the most capable, successfully holding the position of Prefect and keeping the emperor pleased. Regardless of how others cursed him, Xiao Yuanting genuinely admired him. If Huo Xian said there was no problem, Xiao Yuanting felt slightly reassured.
He rambled, “I don’t know what’s gotten into my cousin. He’s always been dutiful to my father, but now that my father’s off to war, he’s looking to marry someone. Couldn’t he wait a bit? Oh right, it’s that little girl from the Ji family. She’s not even of age yet, only a month to go. It’s too early. If this marriage happens, you and he will become brothers-in-law. Don’t get too chummy with him, alright?”
Huo Xian paused slightly, “Xiao Yuanjing is proposing to Ji Xianyu?”
“Yes.”
Xiao Yuanting didn’t think much of it. Seeing it was getting late, he left after his complaints, probably heading to his next engagement. Before leaving, he asked, “Want to join? A beautiful woman from the Western Regions has arrived in the Southern Alley. She’s someone you’d usually only see in the palace.”
Huo Xian stood up to send him off, “Duty calls. I’m not as fortunate as you.”
Xiao Yuanting clicked his tongue, “You make it sound like I’m the only one having fun. Maybe I won’t go either. With my father just off to war, it doesn’t seem right. Where are you headed? I’ll accompany you for a while.”
Huo Xian patted his shoulder, “To the imperial prison, care to join?”
As expected, Xiao Yuanting frowned at the mention. He was a true pampered child, grown up in luxury. He often bullied others with his power but couldn’t stand the sight of blood. Just the thought made him nauseous, which was also why he admired Huo Xian so much.
Xiao Yuanting waved his hand dismissively, “Forget it, I can’t accompany you. Farewell.”
With that, he finally left.
The lighthearted smile vanished from Huo Xian’s face as he returned to his office. Behind the bookshelf was a hidden space, the table there piled with dossiers. Liyang and other trusted aides worked tirelessly, racing against time due to the ongoing war.
For years, Zhao Yong had managed to keep his hands clean, letting others do the dirty work. As a result, there was very little incriminating evidence against him, and finding an opportunity to bring him down along with his associates was even harder.
Yunyang was a blade handed to Huo Xian, a blade that could pierce the heart of the Zhao faction.
But this blade had to strike Zhao’s heart to be effective; otherwise, it would be a wasted effort and could backfire.
Their only window of opportunity was during the clash between the forces of the Prince of Xingnan and the Duke of Zhenguo.
Everyone understood this, hence they dared not slack off.
Speed was of the essence; they needed to act swiftly!
At that moment, Liyang got up and glanced outside the door. Seeing that Xiao Yuanting had finally left, he whispered, “Master, we’ve captured the person. Shall we interrogate him tonight?”
Huo Xian loosened his cuffs, his expression cold, “Yes, interrogate him. Once it’s done, you can all leave for the night.”
Liyang quickly replied, “No need, we can endure it.”
Huo Xian glanced at Liyang’s bloodshot eyes and said, “You might be able to endure it, but I can’t. Now go, get out of here.”
Liyang grinned, “Alright!”
By the time they emerged from the imperial prison, the stars and moon filled the sky.
Huo Xian reeked of blood, with a faint smell of rust that lingered despite removing his outer robe.
Irritated, he used a fragrant sachet to scent his clothes, but after sniffing it, he frowned and threw it to Nanyue, “Where did you get this? The mixed smell is even more disgusting.”
Nanyue, puzzled, responded, “I borrowed it from a jailer. Master, you never used these before. You used to say that using fragrance was effeminate, forbidding me from using it as well. So—”
Seeing Huo Xian’s sidelong glance, Nanyue quickly said, “So I didn’t prepare any. I’ll remember next time.”
