The room was pitch-black after the lamp was extinguished. Fan Changyu lay in bed, pressed almost against the wall. She squinted, glancing at the person lying on the edge.
Yes, Xie Zheng was practically sleeping on the bed frame.
She closed her eyes, too lazy to care whether he was comfortable or not. She had already declared multiple times that she had no improper thoughts about him and had left him plenty of space. Yet, after getting into bed, he remained silent, still choosing to sleep on the very edge.
This look of utter avoidance—wasn't it a clear sign he was afraid she'd covet his handsome face?
Fan Changyu turned over to face the wall, thinking to herself that with his foul temper, she wouldn't want him even if he were as beautiful as a celestial being!
The "celestial being" Xie Zheng was feigning sleep with his eyes closed. When the person on the inside suddenly turned over, the corner of the quilt he was barely holding onto was instantly pulled away completely.
The night's chill seeped through his thin lapels and drilled under his skin. Xie Zheng opened his eyes and looked inward. Fan Changyu's form made a small mound under the thick quilt, with most of the blanket spread across the middle of the bed.
To get under the covers, he would have to shift inward a little, but that would inevitably startle Fan Changyu.
Her breathing was shallow; she was clearly not yet asleep.
Xie Zheng retracted his gaze and closed his eyes again.
One year, while leading his troops beyond the frontier, he had been caught in an avalanche and survived after being buried in snow for three days. He paid this bit of cold no mind.
There were at least three feet between them, but perhaps because the thing they were lying on was a bed, he felt a constant sense of unease.
Even siblings of the opposite sex were not supposed to share a room after a certain age, let alone an unrelated man and woman.
In this world, only a husband and wife could share a bed like this.
And the one sleeping soundly beside his couch at this moment was this very woman.
These chaotic thoughts churned in Xie Zheng's mind, chasing away any hint of sleep. When he heard Fan Changyu's breathing become long and steady, a wave of inexplicable frustration rose in him. He simply sat up, leaning against the headboard to ponder the current situation.
After sleeping for a while, Fan Changyu shifted to lie on her back.
Hearing the movement, Xie Zheng's gaze swept over coolly.
She truly had a most deceptive face. Looking at it while she slept, it appeared gentle and harmless in every way.
Yet, when she was up to no good, she wore the same honest and simple expression.
Sui Yuanqing… he must have been deceived by this very appearance, right?
At the thought of this person, Xie Zheng's eyes turned a few shades colder and deeper.
He couldn't quite describe the feeling. It was as if a wildflower in a field that he thought only he had taken a fancy to was now being coveted by someone else.
A spot over his heart felt as if it had been singed by a candle flame. It didn't hurt, but it burned with an unsettling heat.
He stared unblinkingly at the sleeping Fan Changyu, his eyes hidden in the dark of the night, their expression growing ever more inscrutable.
Perhaps sensing his gaze in her sleep, Fan Changyu mumbled in discontent, "Don't want it..."
Xie Zheng didn't hear clearly. He frowned and asked, "What?"
Fan Changyu replied with a mumble, not a single syllable clear. Xie Zheng had no choice but to lean his ear closer to listen.
The chill from his body made Fan Changyu instinctively shy away even in her sleep. As she turned, her lips brushed lightly against his ear. Xie Zheng's entire body stiffened.
Someone was too close. A strange presence enveloped her. After all she had been through, Fan Changyu was still somewhat vigilant. Her eyelashes trembled as she was about to wake. Xie Zheng's cool fingers pressed a point on the side of her neck. Before her eyelids could open, she sank back into a deep sleep.
Xie Zheng got up. Without even lighting a candle, he used the faint glow from the snow outside reflecting into the room to go to the table and pour himself two cups of cold tea, which he drank down.
After finishing the tea, he did not go back to the bed. He simply sat at the table, his brows knitted, his dark eyes staring unblinkingly at the raised curve on the bed, as if deep in thought.
The faint cry of an eagle seemed to come from the night sky.
He lifted his gaze and slipped out of the room almost silently. He vaulted over the wall of the Wang family's courtyard and walked to a more distant street before putting his knuckles to his lips and letting out a sharp whistle.
If a Gyrfalcon delivering a message couldn't find its recipient, it would circle and cry out in the air. Only upon hearing a whistle would it follow the sound and dive down.
In a few moments, a pure white Gyrfalcon swooped in from the night. Xie Zheng extended his right arm, and the Gyrfalcon's iron-hook-like talons gripped his forearm firmly. It flapped its wings to steady itself before folding them.
Xie Zheng took the letter from the Gyrfalcon's leg. After reading it by the moonlight, the paper in his fingertips turned to dust.
The Jizhou Prefecture yamen was also still lit this night.
When Zheng Wenchang came out of the main prison and presented the interrogated confession to He Jingyuan, he bowed his head and said, "It is indeed as you said, my lord. It was Changxin Wang's men who intercepted ours, disguised themselves as grain requisition officers, and went to Qingping County to collect grain. The dozens of lives in Majia Village were also the work of the rebels. This subordinate suspects that the incident in Taizhou, where people were beaten to death during grain requisition, is likely also connected to the Chongzhou rebels."
He Jingyuan stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the row of warm yellow lanterns under the eaves and the heavily falling snow. He answered with a non-sequitur, "Wen Chang, tell me, those two hundred thousand shi of grain, after passing through the hands of Merchant Zhao, where do you think they were sent?"
Zheng Wenchang didn't know why his superior and teacher had suddenly asked about the grain again. He answered truthfully, "This subordinate initially guessed it was for a merchant's profit, but during the grain requisitions in both Taizhou and Jizhou, we saw no sign of that merchant selling the two hundred thousand shi of grain at a high price. Based on the current situation, it does seem like the rebels are stirring up trouble. This subordinate believes that if we raid that Merchant Zhao, we will surely uncover several rebel strongholds."
He Jingyuan shook his head. "You are underestimating the enemy. Tomorrow, just you wait and see how many of the Zhao family's businesses you can still find in the entire Jizhou Prefecture."
Zheng Wenchang lowered his head in shame. "If this subordinate had noticed earlier and raided Merchant Zhao's home, such a major incident in Qingping County would not have happened."
He Jingyuan said, "It's not your fault. The rebels were able to exploit this opening, and I bear some responsibility. If I hadn't fallen for the rebels' trap, single-mindedly trying to force out the person who bought the grain and allowing Wei Xuan to forcibly collect it, the rebels wouldn't have been able to stir up such a storm in Jizhou, no matter how many spies they planted."
Zheng Wenchang didn't understand his meaning. Puzzled, he said, "My lord, how can you take all the blame upon yourself? As this subordinate sees it, the grain purchase was a trap set by the rebels from the very beginning. Wei Xuan is arrogant and eager for glory. He relied on his position as the Military Governor of the Northwest to seize your official seal. That was not something you could control."
He Jingyuan let out a long sigh and said nothing more.
This student of his was good in every way, except he was too upright and rigid. He believed whatever he saw.
There were many things he ultimately couldn't explain too clearly.
If that Merchant Zhao hadn't deliberately left a trail, leading him to guess that the two hundred thousand shi of grain were bought by the Wu'an Marquis, how could he have mistakenly believed that the Wu'an Marquis bought the grain just to trip up Wei Xuan?
In the struggles between those in power, it was always the common people at the bottom who suffered.
He had allowed Wei Xuan to requisition the grain because he wanted the Wu'an Marquis to see what the common people were paying for his personal vendetta. He also wanted to know if the Wu'an Marquis was the kind of person who would resort to any means to achieve his goals.
It was precisely this relinquishment of power that gave the rebels an opportunity.
With the people pushed to this point, the Wu'an Marquis had no choice but to "appear," having his old subordinates from Yanzhou send a military transfer order to move Wei Xuan away and stop the grain requisition.
He had operated from behind the scenes. Regardless of his motives, he had ultimately become a pusher in the rebels' plan.
Today, on his way to Qingzhou, when he saw the person in the blue devil mask who had turned the tide, a question suddenly occurred to He Jingyuan.
What if he had guessed wrong from the start? What if the Wu'an Marquis had never intended to use the people of Taizhou and Jizhou as bargaining chips to bring down Wei Xuan? Then why did he requisition those two hundred thousand shi of grain?
His long-closed eyes suddenly snapped open. "Jinzhou!" he said.
Zheng Wenchang was baffled. "My lord, what about Jinzhou?"
He Jingyuan strode quickly back to his desk, took out a map of the Northwest and spread it open. He pointed at Jinzhou, his expression uncharacteristically grave. "Changxin Wang has rebelled in Chongzhou, causing internal strife in the Northwest, and the Wu'an Marquis has died in battle. What does this mean for the Northern Turks beyond the pass?"
Zheng Wenchang thought through the implications and felt his scalp tingle. He said, "This is the best opportunity to attack the Great Yin."
He Jingyuan paced back and forth before the desk with his hands clasped behind him. "Jinzhou is the gateway to the Great Yin, with Huizhou and Yanzhou behind it, forming a triangle that secures the Great Yin's entrance. But its grain supplies must be allocated by the imperial court. With Chongzhou in rebellion, the grain supply line is cut off. Huizhou has no grain, so where would Jinzhou get any? I have been a fool! Those two hundred thousand shi of grain that were bought—they weren't to frame Wei Xuan at all. They were a precautionary measure for Jinzhou!"
Hearing He Jingyuan's words, Zheng Wenchang was also greatly shocked. Connecting this with his earlier words, he finally understood the key point. "You mean, those two hundred thousand shi of grain were bought by the Marquis? The Marquis, after being defeated on the Chongzhou battlefield, had already foreseen the danger Jinzhou would face in the future?"
He Jingyuan nodded slowly.
Zheng Wenchang said, "The Marquis's foresight is beyond our reach. Now that the rebels' treacherous plot has been foiled, Huizhou is secure, and Jinzhou has grain, this should be a joyous occasion. Why are you still frowning, my lord?"
He Jingyuan sighed. "If external threats and internal troubles pile up together, how can this situation be resolved?"
This question plunged Zheng Wenchang into a dilemma as well.
There were some things He Jingyuan didn't say.
Wei Yan's faction would surely not let the Wu'an Marquis live. Last time, they were able to tamper with things on the Chongzhou battlefield. This time, if the Northern Turks and the Chongzhou rebels attacked the Wu'an Marquis from both front and rear, and the imperial court deliberately withheld military provisions, he truly feared a repeat of the Jinzhou Massacre from seventeen years ago.
He Jingyuan stood with his hands behind his back for a long while before saying to Zheng Wenchang, "Continue to lock down Qingping County and strive to root out all the rebels' spies. The canal waterways are at a low level in winter, which is also a good time to clear out the silt. Wen Chang, once the matter in Qingping County is resolved, you will take men to dredge the waterway from Jizhou to Chongzhou."
If they could travel by water, any amount of goods could be transported.
Zheng Wenchang's heart leaped. He accepted the order and withdrew.
Only He Jingyuan was left in the study. The door to the side room was then pushed open, and an old man with a crane's white hair and chicken-like skin walked out. "Tell me, if that fellow surnamed Wei finds out you've been feigning compliance like this, how many days do you think you have left to live?"
He Jingyuan simply said, "In my position, I plan for its governance; in my office, I fulfill its duties. As long as I, He, have a clear conscience before the people of this world, it is enough."
The old man shook his head and chuckled. "The next time this old man comes looking for you for wine and chess, I can only hope you're still alive."
He Jingyuan said, "I will await Your Excellency, the Grand Tutor's, presence at any time. May I ask where the Grand Tutor plans to go next?"
The old man was dressed in ragged clothes, his white hair held up messily by a wooden pin. A wine gourd hung from his waist. He stretched and said, "That little brat Changxin Wang keeps sending people to my grass hut to disturb my peace every few days. It's terribly annoying. This old man will first wander around for a bit."
He Jingyuan lowered his eyelids and said, "I had thought the Grand Tutor came out of seclusion upon hearing that the Marquis had died on the battlefield."
The old man scoffed. "This old man doesn't have much ability, but in this lifetime, I've only taught this one disciple. The person in this world who can take his life has yet to be born. Otherwise, he would have to gain a junior martial brother."
He Jingyuan listened to the old man's words with a smile, saying nothing.
Grand Tutor Tao had retired from office and lived in seclusion for many years. After Changxin Wang rebelled, he had sent people to find him many times, saying he wanted to invite him to be an advisor, but in reality, he wanted him to teach his two sons.
The old man's last sentence meant that if he were to take another disciple, it would only be one whose aptitude surpassed the Wu'an Marquis's.
It seemed that Changxin Wang's two sons had not caught his eye.
He Jingyuan asked, feigning ignorance, "After the battle of Chongzhou, the heir of Changxin Wang has been known as the 'Little Wu'an Marquis.' Did the Grand Tutor not take a fancy to him either?"
Grand Tutor Tao's expression soured. "When that brat was ten, a chess manual I taught him somehow ended up in the hands of Changxin Wang's youngest son. What do you think Changxin Wang is planning?"
He Jingyuan's expression grew somber. The Little Wu'an Marquis... was Changxin Wang raising his youngest son in the mold of the Wu'an Marquis?
Qingping County.
Fan Changyu woke up at the first crow of the rooster.
The sky was just beginning to lighten. She groggily turned over and rolled to the other side, only to be jolted awake by the startling cold of the bed.
Fan Changyu sat up, her hair a mess from sleep. She remembered clearly that she had shared the bed with Yan Zheng last night. She looked towards the table and, as expected, saw Yan Zheng sleeping there, propping his head up with his hand.
Judging by the temperature on this side of the bed, he probably hadn't slept on it all night.
Fan Changyu couldn't quite describe the feeling in her heart. Was it perhaps the annoyance of having her good intentions spurned?
Then she wondered why she was angry. He was being so proper; she should be happy and think of him as a gentleman.
While she was still wrestling with her thoughts, the person dozing with his head in his hand also woke at the sound of the rooster. His eyes met Fan Changyu's. He paused for a moment before saying calmly, "You're awake?"
Fan Changyu nodded, scratching her hair. "If I'd known, we would have just gone back to town last night. I made you stay up all night again."
Xie Zheng said, "I got up during the night. Seeing that it was almost dawn, I didn't go back to sleep."
Fan Changyu gave a vague hum in response, not wanting to argue with him too much on the matter.
It was just a simple matter of catching up on sleep. He could do as he pleased. It wasn't her who had been freezing and sleepless all night, anyway.
After having breakfast at Head Constable Wang's house, Fan Changyu took Yu Bao'er and returned to town with Xie Zheng.
Changning had slept with Aunt Zhao last night. She almost burst into tears upon seeing Fan Changyu return, but when she saw Yu Bao'er, she was afraid of losing face and managed to hold her tears back.
With the two children together, they had company and were so boisterous they nearly tore the roof down. The only thing that gave Fan Changyu some comfort was that Yu Bao'er no longer mentioned looking for her mother, and Changning seemed to have forgotten about the Gyrfalcon.
Qingping County was still under lockdown to catch the remaining rebel accomplices. However, Head Constable Wang sent someone to her house with a secret reward of fifty taels of silver from the county magistrate.
That day at the magistrate's residence, she had claimed to be one of Head Constable Wang's people. It seemed the magistrate, after taking the credit, was giving her this benefit to win her over.
Fan Changyu deeply understood the principle of getting rich quietly. Fame was useless to her and would only attract trouble; it was not as practical as real gold and silver.
After seeing the official off, Fan Changyu went smilingly into the room to hide the silver. Bumping into Xie Zheng, she said generously, "Half for you?"
It was one thing for this guy to want to draw a clear line between them, but he was the one who came up with the idea to save Qingping County, and he had saved her on the city wall. The accounts still had to be settled clearly.
Xie Zheng just felt that in the two days since they returned, Fan Changyu had become much more distant towards him.
When she saw him, she would still smile and greet him as before, but one could clearly feel that it was different from before.
He suppressed the inexplicable displeasure in his heart and asked, "Does the government know my identity?"
Fan Changyu shook her head. "I didn't tell anyone who you are. The magistrate wants to take all the credit and didn't even mention Head Constable Wang's name, so I doubt he'd bring you up on his own."
She herself was unwilling to be exposed, afraid of being marked by that group of people. Since Yan Zheng had even worn a mask when he appeared on the city wall, Fan Changyu guessed he definitely didn't want to reveal his identity either.
After all, offending those officials would only bring them endless trouble.
Xie Zheng then said, "This reward money is all yours. Why should you split it with me?"
Fan Changyu said, "Wasn't it your idea?"
Xie Zheng lowered his eyes. "The reward money the magistrate gave you wasn't because you defended the city gate. It was because you saved him from his predicament and tied up the rebel. It has little to do with me."
Fan Changyu couldn't win the argument against him. After taking the silver back to her room, she came out a moment later holding a pile of things. "You said before that you were leaving, but you only stayed these extra few days because the county was sealed. I've been gradually preparing some things for you. Take these two sets of clothes to change into on the road. These shoes are double-stitched and durable. Oh, and I also exchanged fifty taels for silver notes for you. It'll be more convenient for you to carry..."
She chattered on like an old mother sending her wandering son on a long journey. "I've also written the divorce papers. All that's left is for you to press your fingerprint."
A letter of repudiation only required one party's signature, but a divorce was different from a repudiation. It was an amicable end to the marriage, so both parties had to sign and press their fingerprints.
The stuffiness that had been stuck in Xie Zheng's chest these past few days grew even more uncomfortable when he heard her talk about these things.
He leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed, watching her for a moment. Then he suddenly smiled and said caustically, "I'm so grateful you've been this thoughtful for me."
Fan Changyu didn't bicker with him, only saying, "Being out on the road isn't like being at home. It's best to be as prepared as possible. If you run into any trouble out there, there won't be anyone to help you..."
An inexplicable emotion churned in his chest, and the caustic smile on Xie Zheng's face could no longer hold. He looked away at the accumulated snow on the courtyard wall and suddenly asked, "What about you? What are your plans for the future?"
Fan Changyu found it amusing. "Didn't you ask that before? As long as Qingping County can remain peaceful, I'm planning to set up the pigsty..."
Xie Zheng's phoenix eyes half-lifted. "I mean, are you planning to marry someone, or continue to have a man marry into your family?"
This question stumped Fan Changyu. She put the pile of things on the table, walked to the steps by the door and sat down. She looked at the pear tree in the courtyard, which had lost all its leaves, and thought for a while before saying, "I'll definitely get married. As for whether I'll marry out or have a man marry in, we'll see when the time comes."
Xie Zheng fiddled with a small pebble, tossing it nonchalantly at the pear tree, startling away a few sparrows perched on it. "What kind do you like? If no one marries you in the future, and no one marries into your family, I can look around for you."
Hearing him mock her, Fan Changyu couldn't help but get annoyed. "Definitely not someone with a foul temper like you! With a mouth as nasty as yours, you should be worrying about whether you can find a wife yourself!"
Xie Zheng sat down, one leg bent, a mocking smile playing on his lips. "I wouldn't marry someone like you either. I need to marry a gentle, virtuous wife who knows how to manage a household."
The last pebble in his hand was thrown particularly far, flying over the courtyard wall and landing somewhere unknown.
Fan Changyu glanced at his exquisite profile, then lowered her eyes and tugged at the corner of her lips. She said frankly, "I like someone gentle and refined. Preferably someone who has read many books, is learned, humble, good-tempered, and loves to smile. My mother used to say when she was alive that my personality is too boisterous, and I need someone more cultured to keep me in check for the days to last."
A trace of inexplicable bitterness rose in her heart. Fan Changyu thought it was probably because she was reminded of her mother.
She said, "We've been through thick and thin for so long, after all. You're about to leave, so don't curse me to be unwanted in the future. I'll wish you to marry a gentle and virtuous wife, and you can wish me to find a gentle and refined husband!"
Xie Zheng said, "Alright."
His smile was truly beautiful.
When he stood up, he even kindly offered a hand to Fan Changyu. Having sat for a long time, her leg was a bit numb. Seeing the hand he offered, she didn't think much and placed her hand on it.
The change happened in that instant. Fan Changyu was pulled by a tremendous force, stumbling into his embrace. The grip on her uninjured wrist was so strong it felt as if it would snap her wrist in two.
He seized her jaw, lowered his head, and almost brutally sealed her lips with his.
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