Chasing Jade (Zhu Yu)

When Zhao Xun received news that the soldiers had withdrawn and rushed back, he saw that the lights in the room were still out.

To prevent the mother and son from being found by the soldiers, he had personally taken them to a secret room beneath the inn, leaving only the innkeeper to deal with things here.

Seeing that there was still no sign of movement in the room, he didn't dare to push the door open rashly. He simply stood outside, cupped his hands, and said, "My lord, my lady, the soldiers who were searching have all left."

The heavy sound of a stone chamber opening came from within the room, accompanied by a dull thud, as if something had slammed hard against a stone wall.

Zhao Xun stood outside the door with his hands cupped, feeling puzzled but not daring to be curious. He just waited quietly to be summoned.

After a good while, the door finally opened. He glanced over without a change in expression and saw that the Wu'an Marquis and the General of the Cloud Banner both looked as normal as ever. The Marquis, likely for the convenience of returning later, was wearing his mask again, while the General of the Cloud Banner's expression was somewhat stern and cold.

After that single glance, Zhao Xun quickly lowered his head again and said, "It will be the fifth watch of the night in half a quarter-hour. A carriage has been prepared at the inn's entrance as the Marquis previously instructed."

As he spoke, he shot a look outside the door. A serving girl immediately entered carrying clothes, respectfully placed them on the table, and then tiptoed back out.

Zhao Xun said, "These are the clothes prepared for the Marquis and the General."

In front of outsiders, to avoid exposing Fan Changyu and Xie Zheng's identities, he addressed them as "my lord" and "my lady." Only when no one else was around did he use their official titles as a form of respect.

After Zhao Xun withdrew, Xie Zheng stripped off his outer robe, picked up the clothes from the tray, threw them on, and fastened the leather belt. With that, he was changed. He glanced at Fan Changyu and said tactfully, "I'll wait for you outside."

After the door opened and closed again, Fan Changyu picked up the other set of clothes on the tray and ground her back teeth.

That man was no better than a dog!

In the middle of kissing, he had started biting her, as if he wished he could swallow her whole.

As she took off her outer robe and put on the guard uniform, the flickering candlelight illuminated the porcelain-white skin of her neck, making the two red marks on her collarbone particularly glaring. Further down, another mark was half-hidden by the collar of her inner garment, inevitably sparking one's imagination as to whether there were similar marks on the skin completely covered by her clothes.

On the way back to the Office of Presentations, Fan Changyu feigned sleep in the carriage the entire time, not even giving Xie Zheng a single glance as they were about to enter the main gate.

Inside the carriage, Xie Zheng watched her back as she disappeared into the crowd of guards, a silent smile tugging at his lips.

Had he angered her a bit too much?

But after they had parted at the suburban estate last time, the next time he saw her was just yesterday. He felt that the little favor he had collected was far from enough.

Having played the thief for a whole night, Fan Changyu simply washed up and fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow. When she woke up again, it was almost noon.

She had just finished a meal that served as both breakfast and lunch when someone from Tang Peiyi's side came, saying there was an urgent matter and asking her to go over.

Fan Changyu changed into a set of robes suitable for receiving guests and went to Tang Peiyi's courtyard.

Only upon entering did she realize that He Xiujun and Zheng Wenchang were also there, though all of them looked terrible.

Seeing her arrive, Tang Peiyi ordered his attendants, "Bring General Fan a seat."

A servant in the room brought a chair and placed it next to He Xiujun. After Fan Changyu sat down, she asked, "Has something happened at court again?"

Tang Peiyi slammed his palm on the table with a heavy thud and said angrily, "That Wei Yan is simply outrageously arrogant! Yesterday, in broad daylight, he had a key suspect tortured to death, and then at night, he dared to storm the Court of Revision's prison to break someone out! Does he think the world belongs to the Wei family now?"

Fan Changyu was drinking the tea a servant had handed her. Hearing this, she nearly choked, coughing several times before she recovered.

Facing the gazes of Tang Peiyi, He Xiujun, and Zheng Wenchang, Fan Changyu felt a pang of guilt. She then placed her teacup heavily on the table and, with an honest-looking face, said, "That's truly too much!"

Only then did the three men retract their gazes.

He Xiujun noticed the faint dark circles under Fan Changyu's eyes and suddenly asked, "Did General Fan not sleep well last night?"

Fan Changyu was not one for lying. She picked up the teacup before her and continued to drink as a cover, saying, "Yes. I was reading a military treatise before bed and found many strategies of attack and stratagem that I didn't understand. I lost track of time while studying them."

Hearing this, He Xiujun grew even more curious. "What military treatise could make General Fan so engrossed as to forget herself?"

Fortunately, she had genuinely read the few military books Xie Zheng had given her a few days ago, so she could now say without blushing or her heart pounding, "I'm ashamed to say, it was the Wuliaozi annotated by the Duke of Wei from the previous dynasty."

Although Xie Zheng had added many new insights on top of those annotations.

He Xiujun said, "No wonder," and smiled. "The Duke of Wei's annotated Wuliaozi is now a sole surviving copy. It's no surprise that General Fan would forget to eat and sleep after obtaining such a treasure."

Fan Changyu didn't know much about the origins of these military treatises and strategies. She hadn't expected that a book Xie Zheng had casually handed her would be so precious. Surprised, she muttered "I'm ashamed" a few times to placate He Xiujun.

Fearing he would continue to question her, she quickly looked at Tang Peiyi. "Has it been confirmed that it was Wei Yan's men who broke into the prison? Was this matter discussed in the morning court session today?"

Unexpectedly, upon hearing her question, Tang Peiyi turned his head to the side and sighed heavily.

Zheng Wenchang, who was beside them, said, "The Court of Revision joined forces with the Five Cities Patrol Command to search through the night, but they found no evidence. This morning, Minister Han's son was found with his tongue cut out and eyes gouged, hanged in his own room. In the throne hall, Minister Han wept bitterly and begged His Majesty to seek justice, saying his son must have also been killed by Wei Yan, simply because his son had a verbal altercation with Wei Xuan two days ago. But alas, without evidence, there's no way to convict Wei Yan."

Fan Changyu's expression changed instantly.

She already knew that Wei Xuan had gotten into an argument with Minister Han's son and beaten him severely; Zhao Xun had reported it to Xie Zheng last night.

But she had not expected that Minister Han's son would be found dead in his room last night, with his tongue cut out and eyes gouged.

Such cruel methods. Was Wei Yan declaring to all the civil and military officials that his time as the powerful chancellor was not yet over?

Tang Peiyi gave a bitter smile. "The imperial power of the Great Yin has long existed in name only... The current emperor.Sigh..."

Although he didn't say more, everyone present knew what he left unsaid.

Qi Sheng was merely a puppet Wei Yan had placed on the dragon throne. He was still counting on Wei Yan to help him secure his position, so how could he possibly punish Wei Yan?

He Xiujun thought of his father's death, and his hands on the table unconsciously clenched into fists. "If the Li family really finds the descendant of the Chengde Crown Prince..."

Tang Peiyi immediately cut him off, "Zifu."

Zifu was He Xiujun's courtesy name. He fell silent.

Even if the one sitting on the dragon throne was a monkey, as long as he wore the dragon robe, plotting rebellion was a great crime of disrespect punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's clan.

Tang Peiyi changed the subject. "Alright, this contest with Wei Yan is not over yet. The war has been tight these past few years, and the national treasury is empty. Word has come from the palace that the victory banquet will be combined with the New Year's banquet. None of you should go out today. Later, people from the palace will come to take your measurements for clothes."

On the way back, Fan Changyu was fraught with worry.

When the Li family impeached Wei Yan, Xie Zheng had said that Wei Yan surely had other moves up his sleeve. Now, at this critical juncture, he dared to order his subordinates to directly kill the son of a third-rank court official. His actions could be described as ruthless and arrogant.

Was he certain that the Court of Revision couldn't find any evidence to convict him, or had he truly become so arrogant that he wouldn't care even if the Court of Revision had both witnesses and material evidence in hand?

If it was the former, it meant Wei Yan still had some reservations.

If it was the latter... what Wei Yan had been plotting after lying low for so long was truly terrifying to contemplate.

Zheng Wenchang came out a step behind her and called out, "General Fan, please wait."

Fan Changyu temporarily reined in her thoughts and turned back to ask, "Does General Zheng need something?"

Zheng Wenchang was a man of few words, but he had a diligent nature. Among He Jingyuan's disciples, his aptitude was not the best, but because of his diligence and hard work, as well as his honest and upright character, he was highly regarded by He Jingyuan.

He said somewhat shyly, "This humble general takes the liberty of asking to borrow the Duke of Wei's annotated Wuliaozi from General Fan for a day."

As if afraid that Fan Changyu hadn't finished reading it and would be reluctant to part with the treasure, he quickly added, "Borrowing it for one night is also fine. This humble general will return it to General Fan tomorrow morning after I've finished copying it."

Since he had put it that way, how could Fan Changyu refuse?

She said, "Alright. I'll have someone send the book to General Zheng's courtyard when I get back. The General doesn't need to rush to return it to me; take your time copying it."

Sole surviving copies were precious, and it was common for people of that time to copy books to circulate and read.

Hearing Fan Changyu's words, Zheng Wenchang felt as if a great weight had been lifted from his heart. He expressed his thanks and returned to his own courtyard, his face glowing.

When Fan Changyu returned, she found the book in her room and had Xie Wu deliver it to Zheng Wenchang.

Just then, the matrons from the palace who were to take her measurements for her court robes arrived. Fan Changyu held out her arms and let them measure her with a soft ruler, but she noticed it was different from when tailor ladies usually took her measurements for ordinary clothes.

The matrons from the Department of Palace Apparel were as meticulous as could be, measuring everything from her forehead down to her ankles, and even taking a measurement around her ribs.

Fan Changyu guessed the ankle measurement was for custom-made official boots, but the head circumference? She was a military official and didn't need to wear an official's hat. What were they measuring her head for?

Fan Changyu had a straightforward personality and asked right away.

The matron in charge of the measurements was a stern-faced woman, but she didn't dare to put on airs in front of a third-rank military general like Fan Changyu. She replied respectfully, "The General also has a set of second-rank imperial decree of honor ceremonial robes that need to be tailored. This head circumference is for making the phoenix coronet."

The headdress that went with the ceremonial robes of a lady with an imperial decree of honor was a phoenix coronet inlaid with pearls and jade.

If Fan Changyu were still an unmarried maiden, the emperor would not have conferred an imperial decree of honor upon her. But because she had previously entered into a fake marriage with Xie Zheng, which was officially recorded at the Ministry of Revenue, and had personally admitted in the throne hall that she had a husband, she was granted this additional honor.

Knowing the purpose of this measurement, Fan Changyu asked no more questions and cooperated with the matrons as they continued to measure.

After each measurement was taken, the matron would quietly instruct a serving girl beside her to record it on paper.

Changning, led by Aunt Zhao, watched from the side, her eyes sparkling and her face flushed with excitement.

Only after the people from the palace had finished their measurements and left did she run over and throw herself into Fan Changyu's arms. "Are they going to make new clothes for Big Sister?"

Fan Changyu said, "They are court robes."

Changning didn't quite understand. She wrapped her hands around Fan Changyu's waist, tilted her head up, and continued to ask, "What are court robes?"

"They are the clothes you wear to see the emperor."

Changning said, "Oh," then asked, "Can Ning Niang see the emperor then?"

Aunt Zhao laughed. "You silly girl, what nonsense are you talking about? The emperor isn't someone just anyone can see. Only high-ranking officials can."

Changning let out a slightly disappointed "Oh," then immediately asked, "Then can Ning Niang become a high-ranking official?"

Fan Changyu squatted down and stroked her head. "Not right now. But if Ning Niang studies hard, by the time you grow up, perhaps women will also be able to enter officialdom."

Having come this far, besides wanting to uncover the truth behind the events in Jinzhou and clear her maternal grandfather's name, Fan Changyu also wanted to add a clause to the Great Yin Law: that women could also inherit their parents' property and establish their own households.

The ones who had nearly driven her and Changning to desperation were the Fan Da family, who had tried to seize the house her parents left behind by relying on the law.

She was resilient and could take a beating. No matter how many pits and bumps were on this road, she had stumbled her way through. But in this world, there were many orphaned girls who had not made it through.

As if encouraged by Fan Changyu's words, Changning immediately started clamoring, "Big Sister, Big Sister, please hire a teacher for Ning Niang! Ning Niang wants to study!"

When Fan Changyu had free time, she could teach the two little ones, but when she was busy, she naturally couldn't manage.

She figured that the palace wouldn't be transferring them out anytime soon, so she said, "Alright. I'll hire a teacher for you tomorrow."

Changning's smile nearly split her face. She tugged on Fan Changyu's sleeve and shook it. "Big Sister is the best!"

Seeing Changning bouncing off to find Yu Bao'er to tell him the good news, Fan Changyu couldn't help but shake her head and chuckle.

Just then, Xie Wu returned from delivering the book. Fan Changyu said to him, "Xiao Wu, keep an eye out for any suitable teachers in the capital. I want to hire a private tutor for Changning and Bao'er to teach them reading and writing for now."

After a pause, she added, "There's no need to hire those famous, profoundly learned teachers. The two children are still young; hiring such a teacher would be a waste of their talent."

Xie Wu agreed to everything, but his expression was a little strange.

Only then did Fan Changyu notice the book in his hand. She asked, puzzled, "Did General Zheng not want it?"

Xie Wu said, "No, that's not it. Back then, Grand Tutor Li's son gifted you several annotated military treatises, and you rewarded them to the generals under you to read. This one was passed to General Zheng. When I went to deliver the book just now, General Zheng had me bring this treatise back, saying he was returning it to you."

Fan Changyu couldn't help but frown. She had almost forgotten about Li Huaian gifting her military books.

She had indeed rewarded those treatises to the men under her command back then. But Zheng Wenchang was a stubborn man; he probably felt bad about borrowing another book from her and so returned this one.

Fan Changyu didn't think much of it. "Forget it. Just put it on the shelf over there."

Xie Wu walked over with the military treatise and glanced at the books Fan Changyu often read on the shelf. Among them were the Four Books that Xie Zheng had annotated for her at the very beginning, as well as the military treatises he had annotated for her later.

Xie Wu hesitated for a moment, then chose the most obscure corner and placed Li Huaian's annotated military treatise there.

In the blink of an eye, it was the day of the New Year's banquet.

What Fan Changyu heard from Tang Peiyi every day was still the Wei Faction and the Li Faction arguing endlessly at court, each sticking to their own views.

But with the deterrent of the tragic death of Minister Han's son, no one, from the imperial court down to the common folk, dared to openly criticize Wei Yan anymore.

Xie Zheng had to prepare for his nighttime investigation of the Cold Palace and deal with the steward he had broken out of the Court of Revision's prison. In the meantime, he was also secretly investigating Grand Tutor Tao's whereabouts. He was too busy to spare a moment, and with various factions watching him closely, he had only managed to sneak into the Office of Presentations to see Fan Changyu once, bringing her a dagger that could cut through iron like mud as a gift.

On the night she was to enter the palace, for some unknown reason, Fan Changyu's left eyelid kept twitching.

Xie Zheng had many plans in place for this New Year's Eve. Fearing an accident, Fan Changyu strapped a small boning knife to her left leg and the dagger that could cut through iron like mud to her right leg before setting out, thinking that if anything happened, she would at least have a sharp weapon for self-defense.

She gave both Changning and Yu Bao'er a large lucky red envelope before finally getting into the carriage bound for the palace with Tang Peiyi and the others, under Changning's expectant gaze.