Zhao Yong sat cross-legged on a haystack, meditating. Beside him, on a shabby low table, sat a half-eaten bowl of porridge.
Calling it porridge was generous; it was more like rice water.
In just three days, his cheeks had become gaunt. Despite this, he maintained an air of calm and inscrutability, his eyes closed, his facial wrinkles unmoving.
Next door, the jailers were drinking and playing finger-guessing games, exchanging lewd jokes. The air seemed filled with the noisy sounds of their spit. Suddenly, the commotion abruptly ceased.
What followed was a series of heavy footsteps.
Zhao Yong opened his eyes to see Xiao Yuanjing already standing before the cell. He said, “Supervisor.”
Zhao Yong was not surprised by Xiao Yuanjing’s arrival. He slowly stood up and asked, “Where is your uncle now?”
Xiao Yuanjing replied, “We received news three days ago that he has reached Runing Prefecture. He must be closer to the capital by now.”
Zhao Yong responded with a hum and said, “Although the Ministry of Justice hasn’t mentioned the Xiao family, I suspect it’s just a delaying tactic. It won’t be easy for your uncle to enter the city. Make sure you’re ready to respond in the city. The specific arrangements I explained to you when he was heading south. Just focus on your tasks. Yuanjing, you’ve always been reliable over the years, which is why your uncle values you the most.”
Xiao Yuanjing bowed his head and said, “Thanks to the care from my uncle and you, Supervisor.”
Zhao Yong said, “You are a Xiao. In the future, all of this will be yours. Even your inept brother will need to rely on your support.”
Xiao Yuanjing replied, “I’ve already tricked Yuanting into staying at the old residence in Gongzhou. I won’t let him enter the capital before things settle down, to prevent him from falling into others’ hands.”
Zhao Yong nodded, “You’ve thought it through. Your uncle only has Yuanting as a child. By handling matters at the rear, you allow him to focus on the front.”
Xiao Yuanjing quickly summarized the major events in the court over the past three days. After listening, Zhao Yong remained silent for a while before asking, “Has Huo Xian made any moves?”
Shaking his head, Xiao Yuanjing said, “He’s been staying in the Supervisor’s Office. This time, the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple are determined to settle accounts. Even the Jinyiwei are under pressure, being hindered at every turn. It doesn’t make sense for him to create trouble for himself.”
Zhao Yong said nothing, just pressed his lips together. “He’s an unpredictable person. Keeping a close eye on him is not a bad thing.”
Xiao Yuanjing nodded and added, “I’ve also noticed that Huo Xian’s new wife, the eldest daughter of the Ji family, has some skills. She doesn’t seem as weak as the rumors suggest. Something feels off.”
Hearing this, Zhao Yong was momentarily stunned. His old eyes narrowed slightly as if he remembered something, and he let out a chuckle from his throat. “I actually overlooked her. Handle it as you see fit.”
“Handle it as you see fit” carried a deep implication. Xiao Yuanjing had just responded affirmatively when a jailer approached, pacing hesitantly from afar.
Zhao Yong glanced at him, then at Xiao Yuanjing’s weary face, and said, “You should leave. Don’t come here unless necessary, to avoid giving others any leverage. These are critical times; every step must be taken cautiously. Don’t let irrelevant matters distract you.”
Irrelevant matters made Xiao Yuanjing’s heart tremble. He lowered his eyes guiltily and said, “Understood, I take my leave.”
He respectfully saluted and turned to leave the prison.
As soon as he stepped out of the iron gate, the vitality on his face vanished. An aide approached from afar and asked, “Young master, did the Supervisor say anything?”
Xiao Yuanjing shook his head and asked, “Any clues on the person?”
Upon asking this question, some emotion finally surfaced. The aide frowned, his expression serious, and said, “It shouldn’t be. Chang’an is a calm person and wouldn’t wander off recklessly. Besides, if something really happened—”
Xiao Yuanjing’s sharp gaze swept over, causing the aide to pause and say, “Our people searched thoroughly around Jiuzhen Temple, even on the mountain. The Imperial Palace was heavily guarded that night; he couldn’t have left on his own. How could he disappear without a trace?”
Xiao Yuanjing’s expression darkened, and a cold face appeared in his mind.
The arrow pointed at him that night—Xiao Yuanjing would never forget it!
Clenching his fist, he gritted his teeth and said, “Have the movements of the person you were following been confirmed?”
The aide nodded, “That young lady is living a carefree and comfortable life. She strolls around the market daily, listens to tunes in the teahouse until sunset, and then rides back to her residence, enjoying pastries from Donglaibao or sweet soup from Hualuzhai along the way. Judging by the time, she should be leaving the teahouse about now.”
However, the aide was puzzled, “Young master, I had someone follow Madam Huo. She has shown no abnormalities. A few days ago, she almost killed a concubine in the residence out of jealousy. She’s just an ordinary woman. Why should you pay attention to her?”
Xiao Yuanjing didn’t respond. He stood still for a long time, then beckoned the aide to come closer and whispered a few instructions. The aide’s face changed slightly, and he said in surprise, “But at this time, stirring up trouble might—”
Xiao Yuanjing shot a cold glance, enunciating each word, “I told you to do it.”
—
As the sun set and dusk fell, pedestrians hurried through the streets, rushing home for dinner. The food stalls started to get busier, crowded with people.
The teahouse, located in a corner, remained quiet.
Ji Yuluo closed her secret protection, looking at the sparrows by the window with an unreadable expression, slowly sipping her cool tea.
The maid said, “Miss, this is the latest development from Jiangnan. A lot of people left the main building, and those in charge are all out. Some people can’t hold back anymore. When the master takes over the imperial city, the owner of Cuixue Tower will be replaced. Many people have ambitions now, even though Miss has no intention to manage things—”
Ji Yuluo set down her tea and glanced sideways, “Who said that? I’m counting on it to make money.”
The maid was momentarily stunned, her lips moved, and she looked puzzled. Is Miss short of money?
She said, “Then these—”
Ji Yuluo stood up and said, “Do whatever needs to be done. People are coming to our doorstep; do I need to teach you what to do?”
The maid understood and knew how to respond to the Jiangnan branch.
When the time came, Ji Yuluo did not linger. She ordered her carriage to be prepared and, passing by Donglaibao, brought some pastries for Chaolu before heading back to the residence.
Nowadays, Nanny Liu was very worried about her, as if she had noticed that Ji Yuluo did not have the demeanor of a head mistress. She tried various ways to reform her, wanting to instill the virtues of the three obediences and four virtues deeply into her bones.
If she came home late at night, Nanny Liu would sigh and sometimes wait for her in the courtyard during dinner.
Ji Yuluo, who had been accustomed to freedom for many years, felt awkward being constrained at first. But after a few days, she started to enjoy it. Thinking of Nanny Liu’s nagging face made her laugh, and she didn’t even realize the subtle smile on her lips.
The carriage moved slowly through the bustling streets and reached the alleyway. The noise suddenly quieted down.
Ji Yuluo’s finger, lightly tapping on the food box, suddenly stopped. She lifted the curtain and said, “Chaolu, stop.”
As her words fell, an arrow flew straight towards Chaolu. Fortunately, she reacted quickly and dodged it.
Several figures appeared abruptly on the high wall, their faces covered, making it impossible to see their features. Judging by their skills, they were likely trained shadow guards from some household. These people split into two groups—one aimed to kill Chaolu with lethal intent, while the other spared Ji Yuluo.
Chaolu, carrying her own sword on her back and holding Nanyue’s sword in her arms, allowed Ji Yuluo to draw an extra blade from the sword box. Ji Yuluo fought back fiercely, the clash of blades ringing out, startling the birds perched on the treetops.
An assassin’s steel blade grazed Ji Yuluo’s neck. He said, “I advise you not to resist. Come with us obediently, and we might spare this little maid’s life!”
Ji Yuluo narrowed her eyes, unable to figure out who these attackers were. Since when did she have enemies in the capital? While fending off the enemy’s blade, she reached for the attacker’s mask.
Unfortunately, these shadow guards never show their faces. Even if she saw it, it would be an unfamiliar one.
This was a small alley behind a tavern. On the third floor, a window was slightly open. Xiao Yuanjing looked down, seeing the chaotic scene below. The highly skilled shadow guards, despite their numerical advantage, failed to capture Ji Yuluo and lost several men.
When the leader decided to retreat, Ji Yuluo’s quick reflexes caught one of them. The shadow guard bit down hard on his back teeth and died in her grasp.
Ji Yuluo’s face darkened, and Xiao Yuanjing, watching from the window, didn’t look much better. The aide was even more shocked—was this the ordinary woman he had described?
The aide pushed open the window and said, “Master, let me meet her!”
Xiao Yuanjing opened his mouth but didn’t stop him.
The aide leaped down, his curved blade cutting through the air with a sharp wind. Ji Yuluo’s arm went numb from the impact, and she stepped back two paces. The aide’s abdomen was slashed, bleeding as he landed.
Just as he raised his blade, arrows flew towards him from the opposite side, followed by a group of guards swarming in.
A whistle sounded from the tavern window. The aide, gripping his steel blade, gritted his teeth and had to retreat. Shen Qingli was about to pursue when a patrol of soldiers appeared on the long street. He hesitated and stepped back.
Ji Yuluo glanced at Shen Qingli, frowning as she rifled through the bodies on the ground. “Why are you here?”
Shen Qingli crouched down to help examine the corpses, saying, “I’ve been noticing something off in the market these past few days. These people have been hiding in the bustling streets for several days. We’re staying at an inn, which is good for its high vantage point. We initially thought they were after us, just waiting for them to show themselves.”
Ji Yuluo nearly stripped the corpse completely. Seeing that she was about to remove even the undergarments, Shen Qingli stopped her. “Let me do it.”
Ji Yuluo didn’t argue, just felt her palms go numb. When she stood up, her vision darkened, and she stumbled forward a few steps.
Shen Qingli, frightened, stepped back and then moved forward to catch her. “What’s wrong with you…?”
Before he finished speaking, she had already fainted in his arms.
Stunned, Shen Qingli cursed under his breath, then carried her towards the inn, calling back to Chaolu, “I’ll take her first. You go back and inform them.”
Chaolu chased after them for a few steps, then stopped, looking bewildered.
Indeed, Miss Ji had instructed that if she was out late, she should inform that nagging old Nanny Liu. So, Chaolu immediately turned around and headed towards the Huo residence.
Unexpectedly, she almost collided with Huo Xian’s horse at the gate.
Huo Xian hadn’t returned to the residence for three days. Chaolu gave him a surprised look and was about to bypass him and enter the residence when he called out, “Where is your Miss?”
Chaolu hesitated for a moment before saying, “We were ambushed on the way. She fainted and was taken away.”
Huo Xian’s face instantly changed, “Where is she?”
Chaolu remained silent, attempting to step inside to explain everything to Nanny Liu first. However, just as she turned her foot, Huo Xian grabbed her and lifted her off the ground. “If you don’t tell me tonight, you won’t be allowed to leave the residence. Let your Miss fend for herself outside. By morning, you might have to collect her corpse.”
“You!” Chaolu dangled in the air, turning to glare at him fiercely, even baring her teeth at him.
