For the next two days, Shao Shang continued to pass her time in the Everlasting Autumn Palace as usual. Whenever the Empress inquired about the war at the front, Royal Uncle would appear calm and confident, as if everything was under control. However, on the seventh day after the army's departure, a report arrived from the front that infuriated the Emperor so much he reportedly raged in the Department of State Affairs for nearly half an hour, skipping visits to both the Everlasting Autumn Palace and Consort Yue.
When Shao Shang was tasked with delivering porridge and pastries, she felt somewhat apprehensive. At a corner in the palace corridor, she stopped Yuan Shen to ask what had happened.
Yuan Shen frowned and said, "The magistrate of Copper Bull County has defected to the enemy."
Geographically clueless, Shao Shang could only ask, "Is it a strategically important location?"
"Though not far from Shouchun, it's not a military stronghold," Yuan Shen replied. "But Magistrate Yan Zhong comes from a humble background and was personally promoted by His Majesty."
Shao Shang instantly understood—Royal Uncle had been publicly humiliated.
"That Yan guy must be out of his mind! Even the blind can see the court is certain to win this campaign against Shouchun. The only question is whether the army can return before New Year's Day," Shao Shang said. "Defecting at such a time clearly shows he’s not right in the head."
Yuan Shen clasped his hands in his sleeves and looked up at the sky. "Perhaps Magistrate Yan harbored some resentment. I heard that years ago, His Majesty once appointed him as a commandery governor. But when he enforced the laws too harshly, the noble families nearly rebelled while His Majesty was still at war. To pacify them and protect Yan, His Majesty had no choice but to demote him to Copper Bull County."
Shao Shang pursed her lips dismissively. "Now that the army is marching toward Shouchun in full force, venting his resentment this way is no different from seeking death."
"Not necessarily. Yan Zhong is quite capable—otherwise, His Majesty wouldn’t have promoted him in the first place," Yuan Shen said with a smile. "Copper Bull County has a rich copper mine and a large smelting facility. To prepare for the Shouchun campaign, the court hasn’t levied any copper from the county this year, planning to requisition it locally when needed. By my rough estimate, the county has accumulated at least two thousand catties of refined copper."
Shao Shang didn’t catch on. "You mean Magistrate Yan coveted the refined copper? Why would he want copper? If he’s going to embezzle, why not gold..."
"Fool! Gold would draw attention! That refined copper is ready-made—just pour the molten copper, and you’d have countless coins!" Yuan Shen snapped impatiently. "The report says Yan Zhong fled days ago with his wife, children, and the two thousand catties of refined copper. Before leaving, he pretended to surrender and handed over the easily defensible Copper Bull County to Peng Zhen, while he himself disappeared. Hmph, even Rebel Peng was tricked by him."
"Then where did he go? Every inch of land belongs to the Emperor..." Shao Shang began, but Yuan Shen cut her off.
"Right now, Shu isn’t under imperial rule. It’s said Yan Zhong fled toward Shu. Even if His Majesty decides to conquer Shu, it would take years of preparation. By then, Yan Zhong could be long gone!"
Yuan Shen’s expression turned grave. "Coming from a humble family, he has no one to implicate. If he joins the usurper king of Shu, he’ll meet his end when His Majesty’s army conquers Shu. But if he changes his name and lives as a wealthy man in the countryside, finding him would be like searching for a needle in a haystack."Shao Shang was astonished, even feeling a strange sense of admiration: "What a cunning move, full of twists and turns! Who would have thought even rebels these days are so meticulous?" After this brief admiration, she turned to Yuan Shen and said, "Since Copper Bull County isn’t that important, you should try to persuade His Majesty not to be so angry—it’s bad for his health."
Yuan Shen remained silent for a moment before replying softly, "His Majesty isn’t angry because of that."
Shao Shang froze, then immediately understood. The Royal Uncle wasn’t upset over the loss of a city, nor was he angry about being humiliated. Rather, it would now be harder for him to promote talented scholars from humble backgrounds without facing opposition from the aristocratic ministers. She sighed quietly, feeling a pang of sympathy for the Royal Uncle’s plight, and added, "Why don’t you say that Yan Zhong is just one man, and there are still countless loyal scholars from humble families serving the state? How can one generalize based on a single case?"
Yuan Shen studied the girl’s expression, a playful smile tugging at his lips. "You catch on quickly. But how should I advise His Majesty? And what is my own background?"
Shao Shang blinked. "Don’t the classics teach us to recommend talent for the state’s sake, regardless of personal ties or grudges?"
"Ah, I’m nowhere near as well-read as Young Lady Shao Shang," Yuan Shen retorted sarcastically. "But may I ask which classic contains the phrase ‘recommend talent for the state’s sake, regardless of personal ties or grudges’? This humble one is ignorant—please enlighten me."
Shao Shang scowled. She hated nothing more than being quizzed on literary topics. "You’re so annoying. You know I’m not well-read, yet you insist on pressing the point." Ling Buyi would never show off like this!
Yuan Shen seemed to think of the same person and fell silent.
Seeing the topic dropped, Shao Shang’s expression brightened, and she smiled. "Young Master Shanjian, last time I heard you’d finally found five well-matched Young Ladies of good character and appearance. How’s that going now?"
Yuan Shen’s face darkened. "Thank you for your concern, Young Lady Shao Shang. It’s now down to three out of five!"
With a dramatic sweep of his wide sleeves, he turned and strode away like a passing cloud. Halfway down the path, he paused and said quietly without turning back, "Actually, knowing you’ve started reading The Annals of Lü Buwei brings me great joy. But I’m afraid I can’t be like Qi Huangyang."
Before the girl could react, his figure disappeared around the corner.
Shao Shang didn’t dwell on it. After all, in all the time she’d known Yuan Shen, they had rarely parted on good terms. Right now, she was more concerned about the Crown Prince—after all, she was now somewhat tied to his faction.
After Qu Lingjun’s departure, the Crown Prince had been despondent for a while, though officially, it was still attributed to "recovering from injuries." Ling Buyi’s method of consolation was straightforward and blunt: he simply asked the Emperor to assign more work to the Crown Prince. A busy man had no time for melancholy. In Ling Buyi’s view, most sentimental wallowing was the product of idleness.
Coincidentally, Cui You shared the same belief. To keep the restless young nobles in the military in check, he constantly assigned them tasks to keep them occupied. To this end, Cui You went to great lengths, traversing mountains and valleys to scout out small bandit strongholds for the young men to practice their skills on.At first, those ambitious young noblemen couldn't even recognize tripwires or horse traps. In the initial battles, several were even captured alive, requiring Cui You to advance the ransom money. There were also those who, while scouting with reconnaissance troops, encountered pitiful women pleading for help. Their foolish chivalry nearly got them all wiped out. But the most amusing were those dashing young lords who boldly went to taverns within bandit territory to gather information. They went in with graceful demeanor and unrestrained charm, only to be drugged with sleeping draughts, stripped naked, and tied up in S&M-style positions hanging from trees.
However, Cui You was quite considerate. When rescuing these gentlemen, he deliberately dismissed the crowd, sending only a few tight-lipped confidants. The victims returned filled with gratitude toward "Professor Cui." After several such incidents, those aristocratic youths either lost their nerve or became more cautious—in any case, they all behaved. About a third were injured enough to be packed off back to the Capital City. Cui You was quite satisfied with the bandits' performance and with a grand wave of his hand, granted them all amnesty.
Thus, even before news of the victory at Shouchun arrived, memorials from local officials praising Cui You's merits piled high on the Emperor's desk, leaving him somewhat amused yet exasperated.
Just as Shao Shang was worrying whether Uncle Cui's slow march would delay military operations, the Crown Prince arrived at Everlasting Autumn Palace with exciting news—
"One must admit Cui Hou is truly cunning. He deliberately spread rumors about the unruly noble youths in his army and made a show of suppressing bandits, leading Rebel Peng's faction to believe the main forces were not only far away but also in dire straits. Little did they know Cui Hou had secretly sent Zisheng leading light cavalry through backroads on a forced march day and night! A few days ago, Zisheng captured the first city and even killed one of Rebel Peng's vanguard generals!"
"This is 'repairing the gallery roads while secretly crossing at Chencang,'" the Empress laughed. "Everyone assumed Cui Hou's massive army would press forward given the numerical advantage, yet he chose to deploy an unexpected strike force."
Shao Shang worried, "Those officials entrusted their sons and nephews to Cui Hou. If Zisheng takes all the credit, won't it cause resentment?"
The Crown Prince smiled. "Don't worry, Cui Hou is shrewd. There's plenty of work like pursuing fleeing enemies or mopping up remnants for those young men to earn merits."
"That's more like it," Shao Shang nodded. "I hope others can also distinguish themselves so Zisheng doesn't stand out too much."
The Crown Prince privately thought the Emperor specifically wanted Ling Buyi to shine this time—how could things go as she wished? But being kind-natured, he humored her: "Rest assured, not all those noble youths are wastrels. Though the campaign isn't over, several young heroes have already emerged. It will surely be a satisfactory outcome for all."
Turning to the Empress, he added, "Mother, Lou Taipu has been especially cheerful these days. Guess why? His nephew Lou Ben, Lou Ziwei, recently accomplished a great feat."
"Lou Ben? Was he also part of the Shouchun campaign? I hadn't heard," said the Empress.
"Of course not—he's a wandering free spirit, utterly unconstrained!" the Crown Prince laughed. "Remember Copper Bull County, Mother? With its copper smelters, successive magistrates fortified the walls thick and high. A direct assault would've cost heavy casualties. Yet Lou Ziwei, eloquent and versed in diplomacy, actually persuaded Rebel Peng's garrison commander to defect. Thus, without losing a single soldier, Copper Bull County was reclaimed!"Shao Shang's mind quickly turned—Lou Ben? Wasn't he Lou Yao's elder brother from the same parents? With such a merit to his name, Lou Yao would likely be assigned to a better and closer location as a local official now, and He Zhaojun wouldn't object either.
As the frontlines continued to send frequent reports of victories, although the battle at Shouchun wasn't yet concluded, a decisive victory was already assured.
With her worries eased and the Empress showing extra compassion for her separation from Ling Buyi by relaxing academic demands repeatedly, Shao Shang lived a carefree life without burdens—until fate, perhaps deeming her too idle, dropped an unexpected matter into her lap.
One evening, as the Emperor came to dine with the Empress as usual, after the meal and wine, he casually remarked, "Shao Shang, I heard your father and Wan Songbai are sworn brothers?"
While refilling the Empress's bowl with steaming bone broth infused with purple ginger, Shao Shang respectfully replied, "Your Majesty speaks true. Not only are my father and Uncle Wan as close as brothers, but our families are also deeply connected."
The Emperor eyed the bowl of soup with a twinge of envy. It was already winter, and naturally grown fresh purple ginger was long gone, leaving only older ginger varieties. These tender purple ginger shoots were painstakingly cultivated by the girl using charcoal-heated greenhouses.
The Empress, frail and weak with poor digestion, benefited greatly from purple ginger in winter. However, due to limited yield, the girl always reserved it exclusively for the Empress, leaving others to merely watch.
His expression remained impassive as he continued, "Today, Imperial Censor Huang Wen submitted a memorial impeaching Wan Songbai for violating laws and disrupting order."
Shao Shang's hand trembled in shock. "Th-this... What should we do now...?"
The Emperor found amusement in her reaction. "You didn't immediately cry injustice first?" When nobles faced accusations, they typically denied everything outright, only making excuses when denial became impossible.
Hastily handing the soup bowl to the Empress, Shao Shang moved closer to the Emperor and said anxiously, "My mother often says Uncle Wan is full of flaws—given to heavy drinking, quick-tempered and irritable. She warned he'd be impeached someday! I just didn't expect... it to happen so soon..."
Her refreshingly unconventional response left the Emperor momentarily speechless.
Shao Shang wanted to plead for mercy, but having lived two lifetimes with a confrontational approach, she was unpracticed in such appeals.
"Your Majesty..." she implored with a look of distress, "My poor Uncle Wan..."
The Emperor rolled his eyes inwardly—this was no way to beg for leniency. "Poor? Those who break laws and disrupt order deserve no pardon!"
"No, no! I'm not saying Uncle Wan shouldn't be punished for breaking laws, but..." she faltered nervously. "Sigh... I heard a few years ago, a certain Prefect Ouyang was caught in corruption, embezzling over ten million coins. Despite ironclad evidence, because he came from a prestigious family and had authored scholarly works with disciples everywhere, over a dozen officials pleaded for him—some even offered to die in his stead! But Uncle Wan... his family line is sparse, with few in-laws or old friends. Now, at just one impeachment, Your Majesty is ready to punish him immediately, without even a single colleague speaking up for him..."
The Empress lowered her head to hide a smile, thinking the girl's persuasion method rather clever.
"Nonsense!" the Emperor scolded. "There were indeed those who spoke for Wan Songbai today."Though only two had spoken up, offering mild comments like "a thorough investigation is warranted," the girl had hit the mark. When he intended to discipline the influential noble families, it was like pulling one hair and moving the whole body—pleaders and intercessors came in an endless stream, even drawing out the Old Prince Ruyang from his seclusion in a Taoist temple. In that case, someone like Wan Songbai should perhaps be treated with more leniency...
Just then, Zhai Nanny entered carrying a warming basket. Shao Shang quickly retrieved a small earthenware pot from within and respectfully presented it to the Emperor: "Your Majesty, please enjoy. These kidney beans were harvested and sun-dried in season, and rehydrating them took considerable time, which is why the stew is only ready now."
The Emperor lifted the spoon and found it to be a stew of purple ginger and kidney beans, which pleased him greatly. He thought to himself that this Cheng Shaoshang wasn’t entirely scatterbrained—knowing he usually indulged in rich meats and wine, she had prepared this light and refreshing dish to cut through the grease. The beans melted in his mouth, and the purple ginger was crisp and flavorful. The Emperor thoroughly enjoyed it, and his opinion of Shao Shang improved slightly.
The Empress couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.
The Emperor sipped the soup leisurely and remarked, "Huang Wen’s memorial accuses Wan Songbai of enclosing civilian farmland and forcibly taking several young maidens as concubines... What’s wrong with you...?" The girl’s eyes had widened like copper bells.
"Your Majesty, that can’t be right!" Shao Shang exclaimed. "Uncle Wan is probably innocent!"
The Empress was puzzled. "How would you know?"
Shao Shang hurriedly explained, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, if you’d seen Uncle Wan’s concubines, you’d understand! My Uncle Wan... well... his tastes have remained unchanged for decades... He, he only likes..."
She struggled to find the right words. Though she wanted to gesture, she restrained herself, remembering it would be improper. "Uncle Wan only likes voluptuous, graceful women. None of his concubines were younger than twenty when they entered his household, and it was even better if they’d been married or had children before..." To put it bluntly, Lao Wan had a biological instinct for fertile women—something Madam Xiao had criticized countless times.
Though the girl spoke vaguely, the Emperor and Empress understood.
"Accusing Uncle Wan of forcibly taking married women would be more believable, but young maidens...?" Shao Shang sighed helplessly. "Uncle Wan... as my father put it, even if he were dead drunk, he’d never mistake..."
The original words she had overheard from Old Man Cheng were: "Slender waists, delicate grace—Lao Wan has never had any interest in those. He only likes full breasts and wide hips. If he can feel bones when he grabs them, he won’t take them!"
The Emperor hesitated. "Huang Wen has always been cautious. Eight or nine out of ten he accuses are truly guilty..."
"But if it’s eight or nine, there’s still one or two, right? Maybe this is a mistake." Shao Shang pressed urgently. Seeing the Empress’s disapproving look, she quickly prostrated herself. "This lowly one has overstepped and offended. I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness."
The Emperor waved it off, stroking his beard. "Very well. Summon Wan Songbai to the Capital City and have Ji Zun question him. If nothing’s amiss, he can return to his post as commandery governor."
Seeing the girl’s pitiful expression and thinking of his adopted son, the Emperor sighed softly. "Never mind. If the Court of Justice gets involved, it’ll stir up unnecessary rumors. I’ll have someone summon Wan Songbai to the capital for a routine report—he’s been in office for half a year anyway. He can clarify matters then."
"Your Majesty is wise!" Shao Shang kowtowed joyfully in gratitude.
"I also thank Your Majesty on Shao Shang’s behalf," the Empress said respectfully, raising her sleeve in salute, her eyes smiling.The Emperor shot his wife a sidelong glance, struggling to keep a stern face.
Originally, Shao Shang was supposed to stay overnight at the Everlasting Autumn Palace, but with this incident occurring, she had to request a token from the Empress to leave the palace immediately. By the time she arrived home, everyone had already retired. Shao Shang quickly asked Madam Qing Cong to wake Madam Xiao and hastily relayed the matter.
After listening, Madam Xiao first stiffened, then pressed for details of the conversation between the Emperor and her daughter, before finally relaxing her brow. "Good. His Majesty likely didn’t intend to punish Uncle Wan immediately either, otherwise he wouldn’t have deliberately said those things in front of you."
Shao Shang pondered this. "Mother makes a good point."
"Still, we can’t take it lightly." Madam Xiao adjusted the undergarment draped over her shoulders. "I’ve heard a little about this Censor Huang. He’s not one to make baseless accusations, nor is he the type to seek fame or credit. If he dared to impeach, he must have some evidence."
"Could Uncle Wan really have abducted those women?!" Only now did Shao Shang begin to grasp the dilemma the Second Imperial Concubine had faced during Qu Lingjun’s case. "Mother, did I bring trouble upon our family? If Uncle Wan truly committed a grave crime, yet I pleaded for him..."
Madam Xiao said firmly, "What trouble? You did absolutely nothing wrong this time! Our bond with the Wan family is one of life and death. Whether Uncle Wan did it or not is one matter; whether we should offer our help is another. If he truly made a mistake, at least we’ve fulfilled our duty of loyalty!"
Thinking of how her daughter had unhesitatingly defended Wan Songbai before the Emperor and Empress, displaying the same earnest and steadfast character as her father, Madam Xiao felt it was no wonder Wan Qiqi constantly praised Shao Shang as someone trustworthy enough to entrust with life and family.
Being praised by Madam Xiao was a rare occurrence, and Shao Shang wasn’t quite used to it.
Early the next morning, the Emperor’s decree-bearing messengers galloped off on horseback. Two days later, Cheng Song and Wan Qiqi approached Madam Xiao, proposing to meet Wan Songbai on the road.
Cheng Song said, "Mother, Qiqi can’t stay still at home for another moment—she wants to find Uncle Wan and get to the bottom of this. The old madam has already agreed. I... I want to accompany her. I won’t feel at ease otherwise..."
Shao Shang waggled her eyebrows teasingly and let out a playful "Wow."
Wan Qiqi blushed, both proud and embarrassed. "Aunt Xiao, this is all my willfulness. Please persuade A'Song. I’m skilled in martial arts and horseback riding. With family generals and household troops accompanying me, nothing will happen."
Madam Xiao replied, "Why stand on ceremony with me? What kind of bond do our families share? How could I let you travel alone?" After a moment’s thought, she added, "Very well, let Zifu escort you. But won’t you and your father miss each other on the road?"
"No. There’s only one main road to Xu County. Besides, I already sent a servant yesterday to deliver a message. Father won’t take any random shortcuts."
"Good." Madam Xiao nodded, then hesitated as she looked at the happy young pair before her. "Still... though the two of you are already betrothed, spending days together eating and lodging in the same place... we must still observe propriety..."
Cheng Song blushed and lowered his head, but Wan Qiqi’s eyes lit up. "Aunt, why not let Shao Shang come with us?"
Shao Shang was taken aback but quickly grew tempted. The last time she traveled with Uncle Piggy Hoof, despite encountering a tragic incident, the rest of the journey had been delightful and enlightening.
"Shao Shang, Shao Shang," Wan Qiqi tugged at her dear friend’s hand, her face alight with excitement. "Come with us! The further south we go, the warmer it gets. Think of it as a sightseeing trip..."Cheng Shaogong couldn't help but comment from the side: "At this time of year, the mountains are covered in snow and the waters frozen—what scenery is there to enjoy?"
"You shut up! If you dare ruin my plans, I'll tell everyone how you cried like a baby when you were losing your baby teeth!" Wan Qiqi threatened, then turned to Shao Shang. "That Lord Ling of yours is like a man-eating tiger, watching you so closely. Once you're married, you won't even be able to leave the house freely!"
"Qiqi," Cheng Song chided with an amused smile. "Don't talk nonsense. If Niao Niao tells Ling Zisheng, you'll be in trouble."
"It's fine," Shao Shang waved her hand calmly. "Sister Qiqi isn't wrong. If we're comparing, all the jailers at the Court of Justice combined don't have half his presence. So, Mother...?" She looked inquiringly at Madam Xiao.
Madam Xiao pondered briefly before making a decision. "Very well. Since Shao Shang is going, Shaogong, you'll go too."
Cheng Shao Gong was dumbfounded and wailed, "Mother, I don't like going out! I want to stay at home!"
"Enough nonsense. If your eldest brother hadn't caught a chill recently and was bedridden, do you think it would be your turn?" Madam Xiao retorted.
"Third brother, come on. Absorb some spiritual energy along the way—maybe your divinations will become more accurate," Shao Shang said cheerfully, tugging at her brother's sleeve.
Cheng Shao Gong grumbled, "This is the imperial capital. Where else could have more spiritual energy than here?" Despite his words, under Madam Xiao's firm insistence, he reluctantly agreed.
Before the four set off, Madam Xiao began her usual instructions.
Her two sons needed little reminder—years of discipline had not been in vain. But the two girls were more troublesome. One was impulsive and loved excitement, while the other was headstrong and refused to be slighted. Together, they could stir up enough trouble to shake the heavens...
Madam Xiao solemnly addressed Wan Qiqi: "Stay on the main road the entire journey. No meddling in others' affairs, no unnecessary detours, and no getting distracted by the bustle of towns along the way."
Wan Qiqi readily agreed. Cheng Song teased from the side, "You agree so easily, but I doubt you'll keep even one of those promises!"
Madam Xiao said calmly, "No matter. Qiqi, listen carefully. If you don't stay on the official road, I'll punish Zifu. If you get injured or fall ill, I'll still punish Zifu. If you cause trouble or stir up trouble, I'll punish Zifu again... Do you understand?"
Cheng Song: "..."
Wan Qiqi: "..."
Madam Xiao then turned to her daughter. Shao Shang grinned carelessly. "What, Mother? Are you going to punish Lord Ling too?"
Madam Xiao replied, "Of course not. But if you don't behave or cause trouble, I'll report everything to Zisheng and let him deal with you. If you dare act recklessly, let's see if you'll ever leave the house again in your life."
Shao Shang: "..."
Author's note: Transition chapter—
Don't apply historical context, as the timeline in this story is completely mixed up.
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