Chapter 59: Discovering Clues
The residence Pingzhou Governor Chen Wei arranged for Wen Yu was a private estate behind the government office.
Originally belonging to a wealthy merchant in the city, the property had been confiscated after the merchant committed crimes and had his family assets seized. Due to its exquisite construction and proximity to the government office—separated only by a back alley—the authorities had refrained from reselling it after confiscation. Instead, they renovated it for hosting imperial envoys dispatched by the court.
As dusk settled, the stone lanterns lining the courtyard flickered to life, their hazy glow intertwining with the lights beneath the eaves.
Chen Wei led Wen Yu toward the main courtyard, explaining, "This estate has five sections. The front two courtyards already house many officials who came to pledge allegiance after reading your denouncement of Pei Song and recruitment of talents. The rear three courtyards remain vacant. You may reside in the main courtyard, while the adjacent sections can accommodate your personal attendants."
He nodded courteously toward Xiao Li as he spoke.
Xiao Li followed behind Wen Yu, his expression neutral. His striking height and appearance, coupled with his unflappable demeanor that made him difficult to read, led uninformed observers like Chen Wei and his associates to assume he was a personal guard Wen Yu had brought from Changlian Wang's residence.
Since entering the city, Wen Yu had noticed that Li Xun and the others had reassigned Xiao Li to her side for her convenience.
She had originally intended to recommend Xiao Li for a position in the Pingzhou Military Camp, but with nightfall approaching and numerous critical matters yet to be discussed, it seemed inappropriate to abruptly bring up the recommendation.
Moreover, since Chen Wei had already made arrangements, relocating Xiao Li at this moment would convey an overly obvious intention of "neglect."
She merely wished to clarify certain boundaries between them. If her attitude were misinterpreted by subordinates, leading to Xiao Li being marginalized or mistreated after her departure from Pingzhou, that was not an outcome she desired.
Thus, Wen Yu said nothing further, tacitly accepting the arrangement. Only upon entering the main courtyard in the fourth section did she ask, "Aside from Lord Li and the others, have any other trusted affiliates from Changlian Wang's residence sought us out?"
Chen Wei shook his head. "Lord Li Xun and his group were the first to escape from Fengyang. Many accompanying generals and the residence's death guards perished at the hands of pursuers. Afterward, Pei Song tightened surveillance over the captured advisors and generals from the residence, and no former affiliates have managed to escape since."
Li Xun, following behind, seemed to recall something and added, "The Crown Princess Consort had a pair of twin martial maids. When the Crown Grandson was lifted and dashed to death by Pei Song's lackeys, one died protecting him, and the other was severely injured. The Crown Princess Consort instructed her to follow us south to seek you, Princess..."
Wen Yu immediately turned her gaze. "Are you referring to Zhao Bai and Can Ye?"
Li Xun hurriedly confirmed, "Yes, yes! The one who came to Pingzhou with us was Miss Zhao Bai. However, she was already gravely injured in Fengyang. During our journey south, we encountered pursuers multiple times, and Miss Zhao Bai sustained further injuries while protecting us. She has been recuperating in Pingzhou ever since and has not yet recovered, which is why she did not accompany me to Xinzhou to find you, Princess."
Wen Yu appeared to ponder deeply for a moment before stating, "Have her brought to my courtyard. I will see her later."
Chen Wei bowed in acknowledgment.
Everything in the main courtyard had been meticulously arranged by Chen Wei, and the servants assigned there were sensible and clever. With Wen Yu bringing only a small entourage, there was no need to occupy the additional courtyards front and back.After Chen Wei escorted her to the main courtyard, he withdrew first. The remaining attendants were all Wen Yu's own people, and she could arrange their accommodations as she pleased.
Wen Yu's gaze swept over the maids standing in a row with bowed heads in the main courtyard. She said to Xiao Li, "You may temporarily reside in the eastern wing of this courtyard."
Xiao Li was somewhat surprised and lifted his head to look at Wen Yu, but she had already entered the main room surrounded by maids, leaving him only with the view of her towering cloud-like hair and the hem of her robe trailing on the ground.
Xiao Li stared at that retreating figure for a while before returning to the room Wen Yu had assigned him.
A six-panel sheer screen partitioned off a secluded space around the bathtub in the cleansing chamber, with plain silk sleeping robes draped over the screen.
The steam rising from the bathtub slightly dampened Wen Yu's hair at her temples. She lifted her snow-white arm, droplets of water falling from it, and pressed her fingertips against her temple with a slight frown.
Her head throbbed intensely—it seemed her chronic headache had returned.
After two consecutive days of travel, her body was utterly exhausted, but the tension in her mind was so taut that it left no room for sleep.
From the moment she entered Pingzhou City, pressure had enveloped her like an ever-present net.
From now on, she would no longer be operating from the shadows but exposed to everyone's view.
Among the officials who had come to pledge allegiance, there were undoubtedly many loyal subjects, but there would certainly be those who were wavering or had been sent by others as spies.
At present, she still hadn't determined who among these people could be trusted and who could not—this was the source of her underlying anxiety.
Earlier, when she asked Chen Wei if there were any other trusted followers of the Prince's estate in Pingzhou, it was because she wanted to quickly gather those she could use.
Moreover... ever since she became separated from her close aides during the initial journey, she had been trying to contact them.
In Yong City, she attempted to send messages using embroidered handkerchiefs and clothing patterns. Later, after gaining Lord Zhou's support, he helped her contact her trusted followers before arranging her southward journey, yet there had been no news in return.
When they reached Xinzhou, having Zhao Youcai and the others use the Prince's estate's hidden emblem as a military banner for recruitment was actually a gamble.
She reasoned that if she and Xiao Li could reach Xinzhou despite being pursued by Pei Song's Hawk Hounds, then if any other old retainers of the Prince's estate were heading to Pingzhou, even if they hadn't arrived yet, they should be nearby.
Unexpectedly, the hidden emblem on the military banner had attracted advisors who had fled from Fengyang, not the trusted followers she had been separated from.
Wen Yu's fingers paused at her temple as a troubling suspicion suddenly arose in her heart: Could it be that all the trusted followers who initially accompanied her to Southern Chen had met with misfortune?
Her gaze sharpened, and her lips pressed tightly together.
She scooped up a handful of water from the bathtub and splashed it on her face, forcing herself to calm down.
On the surface, everything seemed to be falling into place, but this was precisely when the undercurrents in Pingzhou were most turbulent.
Because once her alliance with Southern Chen was finalized, Pingzhou would have powerful backing again, and the prominent families that Pei Song or Wei Qishan could sway would not dare to cause further trouble.
Before the alliance was secured, if she were to be assassinated or face similar threats, it would undoubtedly be the most effective means to completely destabilize Pingzhou.
Wen Yu slowly closed her eyes.
The calmer the surface appeared, the more vigilant she needed to be.
At this moment, she had few trusted followers she could completely believe in—people to whom she could truly expose her back without any defenses. When Xiao Li's face unconsciously surfaced in her mind, she was so startled that her eyes snapped open instantly.When had she unconsciously come to trust and rely on him to such an extent?
Although she had already made plans to settle him properly in Pingzhou, when she searched her mind for capable people, he was still the first one she thought of.
At this moment, Wen Yu suddenly felt somewhat at a loss.
It was a habit she herself hadn’t even realized.
“My Lady, Miss Zhao Bai is here.” A maid’s respectful voice came from outside the washroom.
“Have her wait a moment. I’ll be right out.” Wen Yu steadied herself with effort, rising amidst the sound of water.
Zhao Bai was one of her own people. Wen Yu noticed she was dressed much more casually, her slightly damp black hair left loose.
Yet Zhao Bai remained as proper as she had been back in the prince’s residence, wearing a white robe with black armored arrow sleeves. Her face was delicate, but her eyes were sharp like unsheathed blades, carrying an aloofness that kept others at a distance.
As Wen Yu emerged from the inner room, Zhao Bai bowed and clasped her hands in a formal salute, only lowering her gaze to conceal a faint redness in her eyes. “Zhao Bai pays her respects to My Lady.”
Seeing the sickly pallor on Zhao Bai’s face, Wen Yu knew it must be due to the old injury Li Xun had mentioned.
She gestured for Zhao Bai to sit. “You’re injured. Don’t stand for too long. Sit and speak.”
Zhao Bai refused to take a seat. “Propriety must not be neglected. The Princess Consort instructed me that after finding you, I am to serve by your side from now on. Henceforth, you are my master.”
This cold and stubborn nature was exactly as Wen Yu remembered.
Zhao Bai and her twin sister Can Ye were both orphaned children of military households adopted by Wen Yu’s father, the Prince. Because of their exceptional talent, the sisters passed the residence’s shadow guard selection and, after Wen Yu’s elder brother married, were gifted to his wife, Jiang Yichu.
In the past, whenever Wen Yu visited her brother and sister-in-law’s courtyard to see her nieces and nephews, it was always Can Ye who chattered incessantly, while Zhao Bai remained consistently taciturn. Yet, even Wen Yu’s father and mother trusted her implicitly in handling matters.
Back then, Wen Yu also had two Martial maids of her own. When she was in a playful mood, she would often pull them along to kick shuttlecocks. If the shuttlecock landed on the roof, the Martial maids would use their lightness skill to flip up and retrieve it for her.
Occasionally, Can Ye would also itch to join them in play, but as soon as Zhao Bai appeared, the Martial maids would straighten up like mice spotting a cat, instantly becoming proper.
Wen Yu’s father had witnessed this a few times and once shook his head with a wry smile, telling her brother that having Zhao Bai serve as a mere Martial maid in the residence was somewhat a waste of her talent.
There were no shortage of female generals in the court, and it was said that her brother later considered recommending Zhao Bai for a military position. But Zhao Bai herself was unwilling, stating that she only wished to remain loyal by her mistress’s side.
And indeed, her sister-in-law treated Zhao Bai and Can Ye with great kindness.
Recalling these past events, Wen Yu felt a pang of sorrow and asked, “Is my sister-in-law well?”
Zhao Bai replied, “When I traveled south with Lord Li and the others, the Princess Consort and the young masters had already been confined in the Star-Picking Tower. When I sneaked in at night to see the Princess Consort, she instructed me that if I found you, I should tell you not to worry about her and the young masters. She will protect them. The journey to Southern Chen spans thousands of miles through treacherous mountains, with dangers lurking at every turn. It is you who must take extra care.”
“Sister-in-law…” Wen Yu’s eyes dimmed, revealing a trace of grief.Zhao Bai glanced at Wen Yu's profile before lowering her gaze to continue, "After arriving in Pingzhou, I sent a letter to the Consort using the prearranged contact method we agreed upon before heading south. I received a reply not long ago—the Consort mentioned that Pei Song's identity seems unusual, though she hasn't yet uncovered who he truly is."
Wen Yu had not expected Jiang Yichu to also detect anomalies in Pei Song's background. She responded, "Regarding Pei Song's true identity, when I passed through Tongcheng, I met a daughter of the Feng family. From her, I learned it might be connected to the Qin family. But my knowledge of court officials surnamed Qin is limited, and with the urgency of travel at the time, I couldn’t investigate further. Now that we’re secure, I’ll arrange for someone to look into it. My sister-in-law is in a den of tigers—tell her not to take risks. Her priority is to protect herself and A Yin. I will bring both of them back safely."
Zhao Bai, recalling that she hadn’t seen any familiar faces from the Prince’s estate around Wen Yu earlier, remarked, "Various factions have extended their reach into Pingzhou. Your Highness must remain cautious here."
Wen Yu looked at her. "I summoned you today precisely to ask one more thing."
"You escorted many of the estate’s advisors south and have spent time with them in Pingzhou. What are they like?"
Zhao Bai immediately grasped Wen Yu’s implication. "The advisors each have distinct temperaments; I dare not generalize. But Lord Li Xun, Lord Li Yao... along with Fang Zhizong, Liu Chong, and He Kuan, are all men of unwavering integrity. Some fell gravely ill over the Prince and Heir’s deaths, while others acted as decoys to evade pursuers during our flight. I believe they are utterly loyal to the estate and can be relied upon by Your Highness now."
Wen Yu nodded. "Tomorrow, I’ll properly meet the officials you mentioned. It’s late—retire for the night. No need to return to your previous quarters; stay in this courtyard."
Zhao Bai understood the intent behind Wen Yu’s arrangement.
When Wen Yu called a maid to lead her to her room, Zhao Bai realized with surprise that Wen Yu seemed to have no personal maid attending her. Casually, she asked, "Where are those who serve Her Highness?"
The guiding maid respectfully replied, "Aside from one personal guard, Her Highness brought no one else to reside here."
Zhao Bai paused mid-step, but then reflected: though she and the estate’s advisors had faced repeated attacks during their escape, Wen Yu’s journey must have been even more perilous. How could she have traveled with a retinue of servants?
But the personal guard by Her Highness’s side—why hadn’t Wen Yu mentioned them earlier?
Zhao Bai instinctively assumed the guard must also be from the estate. If so, they should recognize her. She intended to ask the guard about Wen Yu’s experiences along the way.
Just as she was about to inquire where the guard was lodged, the door to the east wing opened.
Out stepped a young man with broad shoulders and long legs, strikingly handsome. Fresh from a bath, his hair damp, a few wet strands fell across his forehead, accentuating fierce, captivating eyes—like a wolf cub. In one glance, Zhao Bai felt an urge to draw her blade.
Her hand instinctively reached for her waist, finding nothing, and she remembered she had come unarmed to see Wen Yu.
Xiao Li also noticed Zhao Bai. Though he didn’t know who she was, seeing her emerge from Wen Yu’s room, he guessed she was the estate confidant Wen Yu had instructed the Pingzhou Governor to meet.He sensed the other party's hostility and wariness, slightly furrowing his brow but paying it little mind as he took his change of clothes and went out.
Zhao Bai watched his tall, retreating figure, her brows deeply knitted.
Chen Wei and Li Xun were both men, naturally unlikely to consider finer details.
Yet it struck her immediately: if the princess only had this man by her side while evading pursuers, would there not have been countless inconveniences throughout their flight?
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