Сhарtеr 355: Тhе Bronzе Sparrow of Chang'аn Sings 9
Zhu Yаn arrivеd neаr Рingkаng Wаrd and frоm а distаnсе saw Rоng Zhui standing at the dооr, talking tо someonе. She seеmed much bеttеr in sрirit, but thе bright light in hеr еуes from bеfоre wаs gоnе—she wаs indeеd nоt the samе аs she оnce was.
Sоon, someоnе lеd her tо meet Xu Хiаngrеn, the соmmаndеr оf thе Unrighteоus Аgents. Withоut delаy, Zhu Yan hаnded а lеttеr to Хu Хiаngrеn as soon аs she saw him.
Xu Xiangrеn was puzzled: "Еverything is finе, why аrе yоu giving me a letter?"
Zhu Yan opened the window to check the surroundings before returning and pointing at the letter, which had no salutation or signature:
"Find a way to deliver this letter to Her Majesty."
Xu Xiangren was shocked, feeling as though the envelope in his hand weighed a thousand pounds: "This is…"
Zhu Yan stopped him with a look, dipped her delicate fingers in tea, wrote a few characters on the table, and then wiped them away.
Xu Xiangren’s expression turned complex. Zhu Yan stood up and walked to his side, saying solemnly: "Lives are at stake, Brother Xu. Do not hesitate."
Xu Xiangren shuddered all over. Seeing the determination in Zhu Yan’s eyes and the radiant gleam in her beautiful gaze, he couldn’t help but smile:
"Alright."
A sense of boldness seemed to arise out of nowhere.
Knowing the danger of this method, Zhu Yan hesitated slightly: "Brother Xu, what if…"
Xu Xiangren laughed with his usual hearty tone: "Zhu Yan, you think too little of your brother. My reputation as the commander of the Unrighteous Agents isn’t for nothing. Even your husband wouldn’t dare to easily control me."
Zhu Yan was momentarily stunned, looking at the honest curve of Xu Xiangren’s bearded face as he smiled: "I actually forgot how Brother Xu became the commander of the Unrighteous Agents. How shameful."
It is said that the Unrighteous Agents were originally established by the celestial master Yuan Tiangang for the Empress. However, as he was a recluse and uninterested in leading the Unrighteous Agents, he traveled the martial world and selected Xu Xiangren to become their commander.
According to Shen Du, in the records of the imperial cabinet, Xu Xiangren was once a renowned figure in his youth. He could enter the Daming Palace as if walking on flat ground. He made a bet with the Empress three times and actually managed to steal valuable items from her palace amidst thousands of troops and horses. Of course, he later returned them. In his youthful pride, Xu Xiangren sought fame, not wealth, nor did he risk his life.
Zhu Yan clasped her hands in gratitude, feeling reassured: "Then I thank Brother Xu for your righteous assistance."
The two parted ways, and Xu Xiangren soon disappeared from sight. At a corner, Zhu Yan ran into Rong Zhui. Just as she was about to lower her head and avoid her, Rong Zhui caught up and grabbed Zhu Yan’s arm, looking her up and down. A strange emotion flickered in her eyes:
"Zhu Liuniang looks no less impressive in men’s clothing, even more handsome than Zhan Xin’s young male impersonation when she used to sing."
Zhu Yan’s expression changed slightly. Sensing her unease, Rong Zhui pulled her into her own room, poured a cup of tea, and pushed it toward her: "Don’t worry. I saw nothing of your visit this time."
Seeing Zhu Yan’s caution, Rong Zhui smiled bitterly,
"Someone of my status can only survive by clinging to the powerful. But what the powerful want to know is still up to me to say."
Zhu Yan’s eyes flickered. Rong Zhui stared at her face, tears slowly welling up in her eyes: "I heard that during your trip to Yingzhou, you completely destroyed that woman. Is it true?"
Zhu Yan nodded silently, adding at last: "I watched her turn to ashes with my own eyes."
Hearing this, Rong Zhui wiped away her tears with a silk handkerchief, her face relaxed: "That’s good. The next time I visit Zhan Xin, I’ll tell her the good news so she can rest in peace."
Kuang Zhanxin was killed by Madam Tang, who dug out her heart, and her heart’s whereabouts remain unknown to this day. Given their deep sisterly bond, it would be good if she could find peace.Rong Zhui sighed with emotion for a moment when a knock came at the door. Her expression turned stern as she rose and walked to the curio cabinet, twisting the switch open to reveal a hidden door behind it.
"Leave through here, and no one will know."
Zhu Yan naturally thanked her and was about to leave when Rong Zhui stopped her, looking at her intently. "Zhu Liuniang must have family, right? It would be best for you to come here less often in the future."
As she spoke, she released Zhu Yan's hand.
"Today is the beginning of winter, and it's cold outside. Take this cloak to ward off the chill."
Without waiting for a response, Rong Zhui handed Zhu Yan a brocade cloak embroidered with red plum blossoms and lined with silver squirrel fur. Only after Zhu Yan stepped outside and examined it closely did she notice four characters embroidered in a corner of the inner lining: "For Zhan Xin," with the signature "Rong Zhui" and the date—the third day of the tenth month, which was precisely today.
Was this a cloak Rong Zhui had made for Kuang Zhanxin out of longing, or had she started making it long ago and only finished it today?
Wrapping herself tightly in the brand-new cloak, Zhu Yan braved the cold wind and stepped onto the bustling streets.
A few days later, the Ministry of Justice received an imperial decree pardoning General Kanakishiro and his family. The Kanakishiro family was released, their residence returned, and the general was reinstated to his official position.
However, Lai Luozhi was not punished. Although Zhu Yan did not know what General Kanakishiro had written in his letter to the Empress, she surmised that he had likely separated his own crime from Lai Luozhi to seek a resolution.
He understood that even if he exposed Lai Luozhi, the Empress would probably not punish him, and in doing so, he would lose any chance of saving himself.
With the Empress personally ordering the release, Lai Luozhi would not dare to openly frame him again.
As for the Unrighteous Agents, Zhu Yan had heard no mention of their involvement in General Kanakishiro's case from start to finish. Only then did she truly believe that Xu Xiangren was more than just a simple-minded uncle.
Walking back to the Shen residence with light steps, she was surprised to find Shen Du home earlier than her, sitting at the table with a dark expression.
Zhu Yan glanced questioningly at the butler, who shook his head to indicate he didn't know, then instructed the servants to prepare the meal.
"Why are you home so early today?" Zhu Yan approached him, concern in her voice. "Did you encounter some difficult problem?"
But Shen Du remained unmoving, his cold eyes like the frosty weather outside, fixed on her. He reached out and grabbed her hand as she was removing her cloak, his gaze narrowing sharply.
"Whose is this?"
Zhu Yan was in high spirits today and, accustomed to Shen Du's cold demeanor, didn't react immediately. She answered honestly, "I went to the Bright Hall, and the Brothel Matron Rong Zhui gave it to me."
She then explained further,
"The date embroidered inside is today's, so it must be a cloak Rong Zhui embroidered for Kuang Zhanxin out of longing, but she gave it to me instead."
Shen Du's eyes darkened, a sharp glint flashing within. "It's not your day off yet. You were supposed to be on duty at the Ministry of Justice. Why did you go to the Bright Hall? Was there a criminal case there?"
"Of course not," Zhu Yan began to say but regained her composure, downplaying it. "I went there to return the Unrighteous Agents commander's seal to Brother Xu."
Shen Du's expression grew even darker, his gaze fixed on her. "Didn't you return that seal to him the day before yesterday?"
It was a statement, not a question.
Zhu Yan thought for a moment before realizing. "You had someone follow me?"
Questioned, Shen Du showed a rare hint of embarrassment but quickly regained his composure. "Do you have any idea how dangerous it was for you to deliver that letter for General Kanakishiro?"
He was clearly reprimanding her for her recklessness.
Still immersed in her displeasure at being monitored by Shen Du, Zhu Yan responded impatiently, "I couldn't just stand by and watch him die, could I?"Choked with anger, Shen Du was momentarily speechless, but he couldn’t very well lash out at her. He took several deep breaths, forcing himself to calm down.
“Xu Xiangren kept it tightly under wraps. If it weren’t for that, the Inner Guard would have stopped it long ago.”
Zhu Yan couldn’t bear to listen any longer. Once she decided to do something, no one could persuade her to change her mind, especially when lives were at stake.
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