It wasn't until they boarded the carriage and Xie Qi cracked the whip to drive away from the bustling market that Aunt Zhao finally let out a long sigh of relief.
Fan Changyu, utterly confused, asked, "Auntie, what exactly is going on?"
Aunt Zhao replied with guilt, "Changyu, I was foolish and might have caused trouble for you."
She recounted the argument she had at the fabric stall, too ashamed to lift her head. "I only spoke up when those women started gossiping about that nonsense—how the hair ribbon Yan Zheng received was from some Miss Li. I didn't expect it to escalate like this..."
Her calloused hands clenched tightly in her sleeves before she finally looked at Fan Changyu and asked, "I've heard that officials can easily be impeached. Will this... will this lead to someone impeaching you or Yan Zheng?"
Zhao Mu Jiang, worried his wife's actions might bring trouble to Fan Changyu, immediately pointed at Aunt Zhao and scolded, "You, you! At your age, why must you argue over such trivial matters?"
Aunt Zhao, filled with remorse, didn't even retort when her husband berated her.
Fan Changyu reassured her, "It's not a big deal, Auntie. Don't blame yourself. But to avoid unnecessary complications, let's not engage in such arguments in the future."
The emperor, Wei Yan, and even the Li family already knew about her relationship with Xie Zheng. If word got out that Xie Zheng had accepted a hair ribbon from a woman in the city, they would easily guess it was her.
As for the rest, she and Xie Zheng would marry sooner or later, so it didn't matter if the public knew. The trickier part might be her "widowed" status—some would inevitably think she wasn't good enough for Xie Zheng.
But those who thought she wasn't worthy would still feel the same even if they learned that the man she had once married was Xie Zheng.
In the past, Fan Changyu might have been bothered by this. But after enduring the trials of the battlefield, she had grown indifferent to life and death. If she still feared gossip, she would truly be regressing.
Hearing Fan Changyu's words, Aunt Zhao finally relaxed completely, repeatedly saying, "No, no, I won't do it again."
As the carriage smoothly returned to the Office of Presentations, Changning, sitting in Fan Changyu's lap, noticed that Zhao Da Shu and Aunt Zhao were unusually quiet. She asked, "Sister, is Brother-in-law also going to the palace to receive official rewards from the emperor?"
She remembered that her sister had gone with the generals to the palace after entering the city that day.
Fan Changyu nodded lightly and replied, "Of course he is."
Only capital officials ranked fifth grade or higher were required to attend daily court sessions. Officials summoned from outside the capital, unless instructed otherwise by the emperor, only needed to stay at the Office of Presentations or handle official business at their respective offices.
Fan Changyu, Tang Peiyi, and the other generals who had just returned from the northwestern battlefield were still in a period of leisure. It was likely the emperor wouldn't assign them new posts until after the new year.
But the political situation in the court was unpredictable. The one seated on the throne had held little real power since ascending. Apart from the truly loyal ministers, the courtiers' reverence for the imperial family was superficial, with most secretly aligning themselves with Wei Yan or the Li family, forming factions.
The young emperor, though mediocre in governance, was ambitious. He had previously tried to ally with the Li family to overthrow Wei Yan, only to act too hastily. Before Wei Yan fell, the Li family saw the knife the emperor had placed at their throats and instead allied with the imperial grandson, Qi Min.The young emperor now had no choice but to seek Wei Yan's protection again. The outcome of the power struggle between the Wei Faction and Grand Tutor Li's faction would likely be determined by the Joint Trial by the Three Supreme Courts regarding Wei Yan's collusion with rebels.
Fan Changyu had been frequenting the Court of Revision these days to attend trial hearings, trying to uncover what the Sui family had done during the Jinzhou Massacre years ago and find clues connecting Wei Yan's current rebel collusion to the orchestrated Jinzhou tragedy.
However, the joint trial was progressing extremely slowly. It would likely take one or two months to conclude.
The variables surrounding the imperial throne remained uncertain months later.
Changning's eyes sparkled upon hearing Fan Changyu's words: "What will His Majesty reward Brother-in-law with?"
This question made Fan Changyu pause in contemplation.
Xie Zheng had been enfeoffed as a marquis by his capping age—a military achievement unmatched in the entire court. During her last audience at the Golden Chime Hall with Tang Peiyi, the emperor had hinted at bestowing Xie Zheng with the Nine Bestowments.
Yet the court officials had remained deathly silent.
She found it strange at the time and later asked Tang Peiyi at the Office of Presentations what the Nine Bestowments signified.
Tang Peiyi answered cryptically: "Since ancient times, only when the Son of Heaven has no higher honors to confer would he grant his subjects the Nine Bestowments—including chariots, ceremonial robes, musical instruments, special palace steps, axes, bows and arrows among nine items, symbolizing supreme imperial authority. But throughout history, those who received them were all treacherous ministers who met untimely ends."
The current court was divided between the Wei Faction and Grand Tutor Li's faction.
Had the emperor's words that day been meant to thrust Xie Zheng into the spotlight, making him a target for both Wei Yan and Grand Tutor Li?
Fan Changyu couldn't help feeling concerned. Adjusting Changning's collar, she merely said, "How would your sister know what rewards the emperor intends to give?"
Clearly unsatisfied with this answer, Changning buried her face in Fan Changyu's arms and pouted.
Occasional gusts of wind lifted the carriage curtain. As Fan Changyu patted her back, her gaze drifted toward the imperial palace beyond the window, brows slightly furrowed.
——The Imperial Palace——
"Announcing the presence of Wu'an Marquis Xie Zheng—"
The summons echoed through the lengthy palace corridors, reverberating between the ten-zhang-high watchtowers flanking the Goose-Wing Tower, solemn and imposing.
Golden Guard soldiers in armor stood in two rigid columns before the Meridian Gate, expressions stern.
At high noon, the glazed tiles on the palace roofs gleamed with golden edges under the sunlight.
Clad in battle armor, Xie Zheng strode slowly through the palace gates that yawned like a beast's maw, his black cloak billowing behind him as if dragging a trail of blood and killing intent.
His expression carried casual indifference edged with cold sharpness. The qilin-head pauldrons on his shoulders appeared ferocious in the sunlight—though an auspicious beast, they seemed imbued with the bloodthirsty malevolence of battlefields, making onlookers avert their eyes.
The red walls and golden tiles lining the palace path momentarily lost their usual majesty and opulence, appearing to bow humbly before him.
When Xie Zheng entered the Golden Chime Hall, all civil and military officials turned to watch his approach.
The foremost position among military officials remained vacant for him. Standing at the head of the civil officials' formation, Grand Tutor Li glanced briefly at Xie Zheng, his wrinkled brow furrowing slightly.
The wolf cub Wei Yan had raised had truly grown up—in terms of audacity and methods, he was every bit Wei Yan's equal in his youth.
Withdrawing his gaze, the Grand Tutor straightened his ceremonial tablet and resumed looking forward impassively.Xie Zheng ignored all the scrutinizing gazes, lifting his eyes to meet those of the young emperor seated high above in the Golden Hall. Qi Sheng’s forced smile faltered slightly when their eyes locked.
The corners of Xie Zheng’s lips curled in a faint, mocking tilt. He couldn’t even be bothered to perform the full kneeling ceremony, merely inclining his torso slightly forward and clasping his fists in salute. “Your humble servant greets Your Majesty.”
Now that he had been enfeoffed as a marquis, he no longer needed to refer to himself as a general in the emperor’s presence.
Qi Sheng both feared and secretly loathed him, his teeth gritted behind the strained smile as he said, “Rise quickly, Our beloved minister Xie.”
Then, addressing the assembled court officials, he declared, “Minister Xie is a pillar of Great Yin. We hereby grant him the privilege to enter the court with his sword and shoes, to walk without hastening his steps, and to present memorials without being announced by name.”
These were privileges he had bestowed upon Xie Zheng ever since his enfeoffment as a marquis. One could say that from that moment on, Qi Sheng had been scheming to drive a wedge between Wei Yan and Xie Zheng, uncle and nephew.
The civil and military officials lining both sides of the hall dared not utter a word in response to Qi Sheng’s proclamation.
Surveying the silent court, Qi Sheng’s resentment toward the decline of imperial authority deepened. Yet, powerless to change it, he could only offer Xie Zheng a hollow smile and say, “In quelling the rebellion in Chongzhou, Our beloved minister Xie risked life and limb, earning the foremost merit. The Northern Court has also remained peaceful under his guardianship. Today, We specially bestow upon him the Nine Bestowments.”
With a light clap of his hands, eunuchs brought forth the prepared rewards on trays draped with yellow silk, presenting them before Xie Zheng.
Xie Zheng’s gaze swept over the exquisite artifacts held by the eunuchs, his eyes growing even colder. With another slight bow, he said, “Your humble servant thanks Your Majesty for your boundless generosity.”
The court session finally concluded without major incident. Members of the Wei Faction, aware of Wei Yan’s prolonged absence due to illness and wary of Xie Zheng’s temperament and methods, remained silent throughout. The Li Faction, however, regarded Xie Zheng with deep apprehension.
But since Grand Tutor Li had not spoken, his subordinates dared not provoke Xie Zheng recklessly.
Only the eunuchs who had carried the trays of imperial gifts to Xie Zheng trembled uncontrollably even after leaving the hall.
Grand Tutor Li, along with his eldest son and a few trusted disciples, was among the first to depart after the court adjourned.
Once they reached a secluded area near the Golden Water Bridge, his eldest son, Li Yuanting, unable to contain himself, asked, “Father, the Wu’an Marquis’s current influence has clearly surpassed Wei Yan’s. As long as he remains in the capital, our plans…”
Despite his frustration, Li Yuanting didn’t dare finish the thought.
Grand Tutor Li’s crane-patterned official robes shimmered brilliantly under the sunlight. Unlike his son’s impatience, his steps remained unhurried, his expression unreadable. “Why the haste? The boat will straighten itself when it reaches the bridge.”
No sooner had he spoken than a languid yet commanding voice called from behind, “Grand Tutor, a moment.”
Grand Tutor Li halted and turned to see the young Martial Marquis approaching leisurely along the white marble steps. With measured calm, he asked, “What instructions does the Marquis have for me?”
Xie Zheng’s lips curled slightly. “Instructions are unnecessary. I merely have something to deliver to the Grand Tutor.”
As Xie Zheng approached with casual ease, the cluster of civil officials surrounding Grand Tutor Li tensed, swallowing nervously.
Perhaps it was their overactive imaginations, but as Xie Zheng drew near, they felt as if a faint scent of blood enveloped them. The more timid among them even paled.Grand Tutor Li remained composed, his aged yet sharp eyes fixed on Xie Zheng as he said, "This old man has little personal interaction with the Marquis. May I ask what item the Marquis wishes to deliver to me?"
Xie Zheng halted his steps three paces away from Grand Tutor Li. With a flick of his wrist, a jade pendant tied with a red cord slipped from his hand, swaying gently in midair. The character "An" was carved into the jade.
Li Yuanting's expression changed drastically the moment he saw the pendant. "This... this is Huai'an's jade pendant!"
Xie Zheng loosened his fingers slightly, causing the pendant to nearly fall to the ground. Fortunately, Li Yuanting reacted swiftly and caught it by the cord.
Xie Zheng said lazily, "Returning the jade intact to Zhao."
Li Yuanting, frantic with worry, shouted at Xie Zheng, "What have you done to my son?"
Xie Zheng lifted his gaze coldly, eyeing the Minister of Revenue with deliberate slowness. "Didn’t I just say? Returning the jade intact to Zhao."
Li Yuanting, consumed by paternal anxiety, flushed red with agitation. But Xie Zheng ignored him and turned back to Grand Tutor Li. His long, narrow eyes caught fragments of sunlight, making their depths even more inscrutable. "The item has been returned. I shall take my leave."
As soon as Xie Zheng departed, Li Yuanting couldn’t help but exclaim to Grand Tutor Li, "Father, Huai'an has fallen into Xie Zheng’s hands! What does this mean?"
Grand Tutor Li watched the retreating figure of the young Martial Marquis, a faint glimmer passing through his aged eyes. "He is threatening me."
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