Extra Story Two
Late spring was often rainy. The wet marks from the night's rain had yet to dry on the courtyard's green bricks. The plants in the flowerbeds, however, were an alluring verdant green after the downpour, and the water droplets on the tips of their leaves refracted a faint golden light in the early sun.
The room's doors were wide open, and a set of bamboo-slat blinds of varying lengths hung under the eaves, letting slivers of morning light into the room.
Song Yan still maintained his posture of a deep bow, the back of his bamboo-green scholar's robe already soaked through with cold sweat.
Amidst the curling fragrance of tea, the floral clusters embroidered with fine, dark silver thread on Fan Changyu's slanted, tea-white brocade robe became indistinct. She lowered her eyes to the cup, which held a few floating brownish-green tea leaves, and took a shallow sip, her expression unreadable.
Wu Guangkun looked at Song Yan, then at Fan Changyu, and his heart screamed that this was not good. He could only force a smile to break the deadlock. "This... Are the Great General and Juren Song old acquaintances?"
Fan Changyu's expression was cold as she said with ambiguous meaning, "This general is not worthy of being called Juren Song's 'old acquaintance.'"
The moment these words were spoken, Wu Guangkun couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. Song Yan's body stiffened for a breath, then, like a snapped bamboo stalk, he lifted his robes and knelt. When he spoke, it was hard to tell if his voice held more bitterness or more shame. "This Song will never forget the great kindness of the Great General's family. My actions back then..."
Fan Changyu cut him off. "According to the laws of this dynasty, those who hold scholarly titles may see an official without kneeling."
Her gaze swept to her sides. "Help Juren Song up."
Xie Wu, who was waiting nearby, stepped forward and hauled Song Yan up with a single hand. Song Yan's body was suddenly thrown off balance, and he staggered a step before steadying himself. He exuded an air of indescribable discomposure, completely devoid of the feigned calm and composure he had before entering the room.
Wu Guangkun looked embarrassed. He wanted to speak up and plead for him, but he didn't know what kind of grudge existed between Song Yan and the Great General of Huaihua. In the end, he didn't dare to speak rashly again, his small eyes revealing a hint of bewilderment.
Fan Changyu looked at Song Yan. "The money for my father's coffin and your tuition fee has been repaid by you, Juren Song. The Fan and Song families are thus even. There is no 'great kindness' as you claim."
Song Yan stared fixedly at Fan Changyu, who sat in the seat of honor. His eyes, weathered by years of hardship, churned with complex emotions. After a long while, he managed to force out a single word: "Yes."
Even Xie Wu, standing to the side, couldn't help but frown. He didn't know the details of what had happened back in Qingping County, but he felt that the way this failed juren was looking at his Great General was not quite right.
Fan Changyu said, "I am looking for a private tutor to begin Ning Niang's education. You should know that it's impossible for me to hire you."
Wu Guangkun and Xie Wu were both utterly confused by this, but Song Yan once again managed to force out a single "Yes."
"In that case, please leave." Fan Changyu set down her teacup. "Xiao Wu, see them out for me."
Xie Wu immediately made a "please" gesture toward Wu Guangkun and Song Yan.
Wu Guangkun was filled with regret. Fearing he had also offended the noble personage because of Song Yan, he wanted to say something to remedy the situation. But looking at Fan Changyu's completely cold face and Xie Wu's hand gesturing toward the door, he didn't dare to act presumptuously. He could only wear a fawning yet stiff smile as he was escorted out.
Just as they neared the door, a young girl with her hair in two buns came pattering over from the other end of the corridor. A tall, handsome guard followed behind her. Before she even entered, her loud, milky voice could be heard. "Big Sis! I've finished packing everything in my room!"
Coming face to face with Wu Guangkun and Song Yan, the girl's grin, which had stretched to her ears, receded slightly. She clutched the hem of her dress with her chubby hands and addressed Wu Guangkun somewhat reservedly, "Tutor."
Wu Guangkun felt as if he had seen his savior and immediately replied amiably, "It's Ning Niang..."
Unexpectedly, Changning's gaze fell upon Song Yan walking behind him. Her small, jade-white face immediately fell. Her chubby little hands clenched into pink fists at her sides, and her large, dark, grape-like eyes filled with hostility as she said loudly, "Bad person!"
With that, like a little calf, she huffed and puffed her way to Fan Changyu's side, burying her face in her lap and only glaring at Song Yan from the corner of her eye.
Song Yan's face had turned another shade paler. Xie Wu also sensed something was amiss and secretly glanced at Fan Changyu.
But Fan Changyu only stroked Changning's hair and said, "A child's words are spoken without malice. Xiao Wu, continue to see our guests out."
Xie Wu then led Song Yan and Wu Guangkun out.
Changning's dimpled fingers picked at the lacquered gold pattern on Fan Changyu's leather belt, her lips pouted in displeasure. "Big Sis, what's that bad person doing here?"
When the Song family came to break off the engagement, Changning was over five years old and old enough to remember things. Even though two or three years had passed in a flash, she still clearly remembered the bad people who had bullied her and her Big Sis.
Fan Changyu said, "A person's life is but a hundred years. Fortune's wheel is ever-turning. He failed the imperial examinations and wanted to become your tutor to make a living."
Changning immediately refused. "Ning Niang doesn't want him to teach me!"
Her fair cheeks, tinged with pink, puffed out in anger, and a tuft of hair on top of her head stood up, showing the intensity of her rejection.
Fan Changyu chuckled. "Didn't I send him away?"
Only then was Changning pleased. She tugged on a corner of Fan Changyu's hem and said, "Big Sis is a Great General now, why didn't you have him beaten with a plank?"
Fan Changyu's expression grew a little more serious. She said to Changning earnestly, "Ning Niang, Big Sis is a Great General, but this authority is for protecting the peace of the Great Yin's people, not for carrying out personal vendettas. Do you understand? Song Yan has a poor character, but our grudge with him was settled long ago. He has done nothing wrong now. If Big Sis were to use her position to make things difficult for him because she resents the past, then the one at fault would be Big Sis."
Changning lowered her head and nodded. "Ning Niang will remember."
Fan Changyu said meaningfully, "Everyone chooses their own path. Since we are on a smooth, wide road, there's no need to stray onto a crooked path for the sake of some petty people. This sea of officialdom is full of treacherous currents and hidden reefs. The slightest misstep can lead to eternal damnation. Even if Song Yan manages to squeeze into this sea, there will be plenty of pitfalls waiting for him. We don't need to step on him and add to our own karma."
Changning nodded even more forcefully.
Only then did Fan Changyu ask, "Have you finished packing the things in your room?"
She had just married Xie Zheng last month. Since she had no parents, her maternal grandfather was a loyal minister who had been wronged by the court for over a decade, and her only adoptive father was a noble old official of modest means, there was no one to handle her wedding arrangements. Yu Qianqian had taken it upon herself to organize everything. The dowry had been allocated from the state treasury after discussions with the court officials.
Fan Changyu had lived in the Office of Presentations for nearly two years, and some of the things she had acquired had not yet been moved.
To make it convenient to care for Changning in the future, her Great General's manor had been built right next to the Xie residence. After more than a year, the manor was finally completed. The inner courtyard wall was connected to the Xie residence, almost merging the two manors into one.
She had come over today for two reasons: one was to move the rest of her things from the wedding, and the other was to meet the private tutor recommended by Wu Guangkun.
When Changning heard about it, she immediately insisted on returning to the Office of Presentations with her, declaring that she would pack the things in her own room herself.
She was still young, so hiring a private tutor with a juren degree to start her education was more than sufficient. But Fan Changyu was truly surprised that Wu Guangkun had recommended Song Yan.
"It's all packed! Ning Niang wanted to help Big Sis pack too, but Uncle Xiao Qi wouldn't let me!" Changning said, making a face at Xie Qi.
Xie Qi cupped his fist and replied, "This subordinate did not dare to rashly move some of the books and personal belongings in the General's room."
At Fan Changyu's position, only her trusted aides could handle her letters and documents with her permission. Other servants would not dare to touch those things at all.
Fan Changyu understood Xie Qi's concerns and said, "There's nothing important in the room. Take the books back and put them in the study at the Xie residence. As for the personal belongings, just store them in the General's manor's storeroom for now."
She had already taken all the important documents and items from her room. What remained on the shelves were just some military strategy books, history books, and policy essays she used to read. When Xie Zheng learned she was moving everything over, he had specially cleared out half of the study for her. She would be consulting these books often in the future, so it was better to put them all in the study to save the trouble of looking for them later.
With Fan Changyu's instructions, Xie Qi personally went to pack up the books and personal belongings.
After passing through a decorated gateway, Xie Wu was about to lead Song Yan and Wu Guangkun out of the residence when he saw a group of people descending the steps at the main gate. The man in the lead wore a gold coronet and the python-patterned robe of the Prince Regent. His figure was tall and straight, and the cold, solemn majesty that emanated from his very bones overshadowed his handsome features, striking fear into one's heart with a single glance.
Xie Wu hurriedly led Song Yan and Wu Guangkun to stand at the side of the narrow path, heads bowed, waiting for Xie Zheng to pass.
Xie Zheng knew that Fan Changyu was returning to the Office of Presentations today to move the rest of her things, so he had come over to see how she was doing as soon as he left the palace.
Xie Wu and the two men standing in the narrow path before the decorated gateway were still quite conspicuous. As he was about to walk past, he suddenly stopped, gave them a cursory glance, and asked Xie Wu, "What is this about?"
Xie Wu said, "Miss Changning's private tutor passed the metropolitan examination and came to resign today, recommending a juren in his place. The Great General found him unsuitable and did not hire him, ordering this subordinate to see them out."
Xie Zheng had only asked casually, but upon hearing that Fan Changyu had not hired the recommended private tutor, his intensely oppressive gaze fell upon the man in the green scholar's robe with his head bowed.
It had to be said, this style of dress was the kind of scholar's attire that Xie Zheng disliked the most.
He frowned slightly, and the two men, who had their heads bowed so low they could only see their own toes, began to tremble under his gaze. Perhaps because the man in the green robe was still young, his entire body was shaking like a sieve.
Xie Zheng knew he didn't have a good reputation in the court or among the populace. Ordinary civil officials feared him, so it was only natural for a juren who had yet to enter officialdom to be afraid of him. Since Fan Changyu hadn't hired him anyway, Xie Zheng didn't press for the reason in front of the two men. He only instructed Xie Wu, "Then see them properly out of the residence."
Only after Xie Zheng had completely passed did Xie Wu lead the two men to continue out of the residence. But the juren in the green robe seemed too frightened by his Prince to walk, his face was ashen, and he looked as if he had died once already.
Xie Wu knew that because of the case that brought down Grand Tutor Li, scholars all over the land held a prejudice against his master. But the Prince had only asked a couple of questions, and it had frightened this juren to such a state. Xie Wu was a little displeased, and his tone grew colder. "The Prince is fair in his rewards and punishments. Even if the Great General did not hire Juren Song, there is no need for you to be so terrified."
Song Yan mumbled an affirmative, but when he lifted his foot to walk again, his legs were still as soft as noodles.
There was no mistake. That voice was the same as the husband Fan Changyu had recruited back then.
At the Lantern Festival that New Year, his line, "The northern geese fly south, but the ground is so full of phoenixes there's no place to land," had remained in Song Yan's memory for years. He would not mistake that voice.
Then he thought of the rumors that had spread among the common folk last year when Fan Changyu and the Prince Regent's engagement was announced—that the Prince Regent was the very same husband she had once recruited. At this thought, Song Yan's face turned ashen.
The terror that suddenly swept over him was even more intense than when he had learned that the dignitary he was to meet today was Fan Changyu.
It was rumored that the Prince Regent was ruthless and bloodthirsty, that the number of lives he had taken was at least eight thousand, if not ten thousand. The private prison in his residence was said to have countless instruments of torture. Prisoners who wouldn't break even after all the tortures in the imperial prison would confess everything in less than half a day in his private prison.
The sun, just out after the rain, was not fierce, but as Song Yan and Wu Guangkun walked out of the Office of Presentations' main gate and down the steps, he felt dizzy. He looked up at the sky, and the sun seemed to turn into a ring of fire burning straight into his eyes. Beside him, Wu Guangkun was still complaining, asking him if he had offended the Great General in the past. Song Yan's vision went black, and he lost consciousness.
Xie Zheng went to the inner courtyard to find Fan Changyu. Before they could exchange more than a few words, Xie Wu rushed back to report that the juren who had come to apply for the private tutor position had fainted at the entrance of the Office of Presentations.
Fan Changyu couldn't help but frown at the news. She hadn't made things too difficult for Song Yan, so why did he faint after leaving the Office of Presentations?
Seeing her strange expression, Xie Zheng asked, "What's wrong?"
Fan Changyu answered truthfully, "The person Tutor Wu recommended was Song Yan."
Xie Zheng looked at Fan Changyu, clearly not remembering who that was for a moment.
Fan Changyu had to put it another way. "The scholar I was engaged to back in Qingping County."
Xie Zheng's face visibly darkened a shade, his phoenix eyes turning exceptionally cold. "He came to you seeking connections?"
Fan Changyu said, "Finding a tutor for Changning can be a big or small matter. I was afraid that if people knew our residence was hiring, some with ulterior motives might be sent over. So I asked Tutor Wu not to announce it publicly for now and to bring any suitable candidates directly to me. Who knew I would run into Song Yan."
Xie Zheng gave a soft "en," his emotions unreadable.
When Xie Zheng arrived, Changning had gone to find Xie Qi to help pack up the room Fan Changyu used to live in. Fan Changyu gave Xie Wu, who had come to report, a look. After Xie Wu withdrew, she said to Xie Zheng, "You don't seem very happy."
Xie Zheng poured himself a cup of tea, his expression indifferent. He only said, "I'm not."
Fan Changyu's expression became somewhat subtle. She looked at Xie Zheng. "Xie Jiuhang, you can't possibly still be jealous of Song Yan, can you?"
Xie Zheng's eyelids lifted, and two words escaped his thin lips: "Ridiculous."
Fan Changyu nodded. "That's true. In terms of talent and learning, you are a man of great strategy and immense knowledge. Other than passing the provincial examination on his first try, he has nothing to boast about. Now he has failed the metropolitan examinations twice and has fallen into such a state. If you were to compare yourself to him, it would truly be lowering your own status."
At first, Fan Changyu's words had a hint of coaxing, but as she continued, she seemed to be genuinely reflecting. "Back then, I knew you were literate and said that when you became a high official in the future, if you ever ran into Song Yan in court, you should suppress him a little to vent my anger. But only two or three years have passed. What seemed like the sky falling back then is now just a shallow pit on the road I've traveled. And does Song Yan even need you or me to suppress him? In this sea of officialdom, a single stumble could cost him half his life."
Her tone was light and calm, as if she had truly let go of the past. Her words completely smoothed over the slight prickliness and gloom in Xie Zheng's heart.
He turned his head slightly, half his body bathed in the warm spring light, which made his face appear fairer. His eyes, touched by a ring of warm sun, also seemed to soften a great deal. The gold thread embroidery on his python robe shimmered with a floating golden glow. Between his long fingers, he held a sky-blue porcelain cup, which still contained half a cup of pale, honey-colored tea. Against this backdrop, his fingertips looked like white jade, exuding an air of indescribable leisure and ease.
He said, "Is everything packed? I'll take you home."
Fan Changyu smiled. "Only the books and some personal belongings from my room are left. Xie Qi is packing them, so he should be almost done."
When the two of them went out, Xie Qi had indeed packed up all the items in Fan Changyu's room. All the books were packed in special book chests.
The two of them returned to the Xie residence with Changning. After their meal, Fan Changyu felt a little drowsy and took Changning with her for an afternoon nap.
When Xie Zheng entered the study to handle political affairs, he saw several book chests containing Fan Changyu's books piled on the floor. Fearing that the servants, unaware of her reading habits, might place the books in the wrong spots and make it inconvenient for her to find them later, he personally placed them one by one onto the half of the bookshelf he had cleared for her.
The military strategy books Fan Changyu read were basically all selected by Xie Zheng. From simple to complex, he had annotated all of them.
Therefore, when he picked up a volume of military strategy that he had not chosen for her, Xie Zheng couldn't help but take a second look. He opened it and found that it also contained extremely detailed annotations, but the elegant and fluid handwriting was not his.
Xie Zheng's face showed no emotion, but his eyes suddenly turned terrifyingly cold and deep. He sat down behind the desk and spent the entire afternoon meticulously reading that book of military strategy from beginning to end, not missing a single character of the annotations.
After finishing, he calmly ordered someone to summon Xie Wu.
The moment Xie Wu entered the study and saw the familiar book of military strategy on the desk, he froze for an instant, then felt his scalp about to explode.
That book of military strategy was the one Zheng Wenchang had returned to Fan Changyu back then. The annotations within were all written by Li Huaian, Grand Tutor Li's grandson!
"Who gave her this book?" Xie Zheng sat behind the desk, his voice sounding calm at first, but it was precisely this calmness that made Xie Wu's hair stand on end.
He licked his lips, hesitated for only a breath between lying and telling the truth, and chose the latter. There was nothing between the Great General and Li Huaian. If his master misunderstood because of his deliberate concealment, then he would only have himself to blame for being too clever for his own good.
He said, "It... it was back on the battlefield in Chongzhou. When the Great General was promoted to Swift Cavalry Commandant, the Grand Tutor's grandson gave it to her as a congratulatory gift for her promotion."
Xie Zheng's expression remained unchanged, but the knuckles of the hand flipping through the book seemed to protrude slightly. An inexplicable pressure emanated from him, making Xie Wu feel as if the air in the study had thinned.
Fearing Xie Zheng would misunderstand, he quickly tried to explain further. "When the Great General received the book, she gifted it to the soldiers under her command. It was only later, when General Zheng borrowed military books from the Great General at the Office of Presentations, that this book was returned along with the others."
Xie Zheng still said nothing.
After a long time, just as Xie Wu felt a drop of cold sweat trickle down his temple, he finally heard Xie Zheng say, "You may leave."
Xie Wu let out a slight sigh of relief, thinking that the matter was over as far as Xie Zheng was concerned.
That night, however, Fan Changyu tasted the bitter consequences.
Both of them were martial artists, so it was inevitable that they had vigorous energy. But most of the time, Fan Changyu could keep up with him. They would often fool around until late at night, and after a satisfying bath, she would be pulled into Xie Zheng's arms to fall into a deep sleep.
Xie Zheng was not a man of many words in that regard. Just like when he practiced martial arts or waged war, his actions were always fiercer than his words. He would restrain her tightly, his attacks deep and heavy.
This night, Fan Changyu was already exhausted, but he seemed insatiable. He would always ask her questions about military strategy when she was too lost in pleasure to think. Of course, Fan Changyu couldn't answer, and he would then have a legitimate reason to continue punishing her.
In the end, Fan Changyu's shattered voice was already tinged with the sob of ultimate pleasure. "Xie Zheng, Xie Jiuhang, that's enough!"
Xie Zheng lowered his head slightly to look at her. His sweat-dampened hair was messily strewn across his forehead, his gaze profound and dark. The prominent Adam's apple on his neck bobbed up and down, swallowing emotions only he knew.
When he lowered his head to kiss her already swollen red lips, his cool, mellow voice held only the endless greed of a wolf as he said hoarsely, "Not enough!"
Far from enough.
It would never be enough!
If there were truly a way in this world, he would probably be unable to resist sucking her marrow dry to satisfy the avarice in his heart.
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