“This matter is of great importance. Spies are everywhere in the capital now. For safety’s sake, I’ve shaved my beard. What do you think?”
“The difference is too great. Even if I encountered you on the street, I wouldn’t recognize you at first.”
Xu Xiangren stroked his smooth chin, quite pleased with himself. “That’s precisely the effect I was aiming for.”
With the moment of pride over, it was time to discuss serious matters. Xu Xiangren said earnestly, “Can you contact Shen Du?”
Zhu Yan’s brow furrowed. “Why don’t you tell him directly? It shouldn’t be difficult for a Local Constable.”
“But we don’t know where his loyalties lie now.”
Given the unpleasant rumors circulating, Xu Xiangren’s caution was understandable.
Zhu Yan said with certainty, “He will agree.”
Despite her words, Zhu Yan wasn’t entirely sure how Shen Du was handling things now. With matters weighing on her mind, she didn’t linger long. She rose to take her leave, while Xu Xiangren prepared to depart for another location. When Zhu Yan inquired, Xu Xiangren seemed to have no qualms about sharing:
“I’m going to see Grand Counselor Zhang. This matter concerns the Crown Prince; he can’t remain uninvolved.”
Well, it seemed the busiest person in the world might just be Chief Constable Xu Xiangren, worrying about everything.
Now that Shen Du had publicly divorced Zhu Yan, it was tantamount to openly abandoning and repudiating his wife. She couldn’t return to the Shen residence so brazenly.
Zhu Yan first returned to the Zhu family home, her mind preoccupied. After dinner, Lu Chuichui came riding on horseback to invite her to watch a new play at Furong Garden. Only then did she belatedly realize that today was the Lantern Festival. Her eldest and second brothers had long since established their households, while her fourth sister Zhu Manshu, and fifth brother Zhu Mojie naturally accompanied them.
In Furong Garden, many Hu people were performing tricks: fire-eating, iron flower displays, and feats of flexibility with hundred-foot steel rods. Of course, there was no shortage of Great Zhou Dynasty performances.
The colorful lanterns gathered, creating a dazzling spectacle, but Zhu Yan couldn’t focus on any of it. Though surrounded by the bustling market, her heart was desolate. She was constantly preoccupied with the matter Xu Xiangren had mentioned.
This peaceful and joyous era of great prosperity was about to change.
No good, she was still fretting over losing face.
While lost in thought, Zhu Yan saw Lu Chuichui excitedly run behind the stage. An idea struck her.
Not long after, Lu Chuichui finished his performance on stage and went backstage. Zhu Manshu and Zhu Mojie followed closely behind, anxiously asking where Zhu Yan was.
Lu Chuichui looked around. “Huh? Wasn’t she the one disguised as a maid beside me just now?”
They then went to look for the actress who had been disguised as his maid earlier, only to find it wasn’t Zhu Yan. The three were completely dumbfounded.
Meanwhile, Zhu Yan ran to the Shen residence to find Shen Du but was informed by the steward that Shen Du was at the Lai residence. She bid farewell and hurried to the Lai residence. The steward called after her to change out of her costume, but Zhu Yan refused.
She had no time, and besides, this disguise would prevent people from recognizing her.
As luck would have it, on this Lantern Festival, the Lai residence had invited a theater troupe to perform. Zhu Yan, familiar with the Lai residence from her previous visits to attend banquets, successfully snuck in by blending with the theater troupe. Just as the lead actress was about to go on stage but couldn’t find her maid, she saw Zhu Yan in maid’s attire and directly pulled her onto the stage.
Fortunately, Zhu Yan had been trained by Lu Chuichui. Though somewhat inexperienced, her bearing and her skills in singing, reciting, acting, and acrobatics were passable.
Today’s performance was “Tread on the Ballad,” the same play Lu Chuichui had performed at Furong Garden. It tells the love story of a poor scholar and a wealthy young lady, quite tragic and moving. The lead actress sang with great emotion.
Zhu Yan twirled her water sleeves, placed her hands on her hips, and turned. Her gaze collided with Shen Du’s in the crowd, her heart pounding like a drum. She turned and followed the lead actress off stage to thank the audience.
Wracking her brains, Zhu Yan couldn’t figure out how to make contact with Shen Du. Time ticked by, and she saw Lai Luozhi sitting calmly and steadily, while the situation in the palace remained unknown. Anxious, Zhu Yan steeled herself and snuck out to find Shen Du.
Turning a corner and hiding in the shadows, Zhu Yan witnessed Lai Luozhi treating Shen Du like an animal. She was about to burst out in anger when Lai Luozhi turned and left, leaving Shen Du bowing deeply.
Before Zhu Yan could react, Shen Du scooped her up and leaped away from the Lai residence. They flew over eaves and walls until they reached the courtyard of the Zhu family home.
Zhu Yan felt as if in a dream. “Shen Du, how did you know it was me?”
Shen Du didn’t answer and was about to leave with his back to her when Zhu Yan grabbed the hem of his clothes. “Wait.”
Shen Du seemed impatient, so Zhu Yan spoke quickly: “Do you know that Lai Luozhi has already fabricated evidence to falsely accuse Imperial Consort Xu and Princess Chaoyang of treason? And also…”
“Zhu Yan!” Shen Du turned, his body enveloped in the clear light of the full moon. His deep eyes behind the mask fell upon her, silencing her. “Don’t create unnecessary complications. Think of the Zhu family.”
With that, he removed her delicate hand and left without a backward glance.
Zhu Yan stood dazed in the courtyard.
The moonlight flowed like water, slowly trickling down. The heart that had been burning with anxiety all day was suddenly doused. Zhu Yan felt that all her rushing about today had been nothing but a joke.
“Shen Du, have you truly become Lai Luozhi’s lackey, a coward?” Zhu Yan angrily shook her fist at the bright moon above, roaring, “I can disregard the Zhu family, how can you be so hesitant? How am I not considering the Zhu family? It’s precisely because I’m thinking of the Zhu family that I can’t let the Great Zhou dynasty change hands!”
Today, Zhu Kuo was resting in Lady Jin’s room, and Lady Ru had also retired early. At their age, they naturally didn’t join in the young people’s festivities. But they didn’t expect to be woken from their sound sleep by Zhu Yan’s shouting. One by one, they put on clothes, got out of bed, and opened their doors to see what was happening.
“Sixth Miss, why are you back so early?”
“Yes, were you just calling for Shen Du?”
Zhu Yan waved her hands in embarrassment. “No, I came back to look for Fourth Sister and Fifth Brother.” She then slipped away.
Warned by Shen Du, Zhu Yan became more cautious. The next day, she sent someone to deliver a letter to Xu Xiangren informing him of Shen Du’s attitude. After that, she went about her days as usual, traveling between the Ministry of Justice and the Zhu family home, even visiting the palace less frequently, living quietly.
However, on the day Grand Counselor Zhang came to the Ministry of Justice to retrieve case files and saw Zhu Yan, he deliberately lingered for a moment to speak with her.
“Does Grand Counselor Zhang have any instructions?” Zhu Yan adopted a strictly professional attitude.
Grand Counselor Zhang scrutinized her for a moment, then asked a question unrelated to official business: “I heard Shen Du gave you divorce papers?”
Zhu Yan didn’t understand Zhang Xingwei’s intention. “Yes.”
“Have you gone to the yamen to make it official?” Only after going to court would the divorce be official, meaning the bridge would return to being a bridge and the road to being a road, with no further entanglement.
Zhu Yan shook her head, her eyes bright and clear.
Having anticipated this response, Zhang Xingwei picked up his teacup, pushed aside the tea leaves, and took a sip, frowning slightly. “Why haven’t you gone to court?”
To this, Zhu Yan answered righteously: “I don’t agree to the divorce.” So she wouldn’t go to court.
“Hehe, that’s just like you.”
Zhu Yan looked around. “If Grand Counselor Zhang has something to say, please speak plainly.” She didn’t want to chat here any longer.
Zhang Xingwei composed himself, set down his teacup, and stroked his beard. “The sixth daughter of the Zhu family is indeed different from ordinary women. Very well, I’ll speak plainly.”
Zhu Yan was quite uncomfortable with Zhang Xingwei being so amiable; her respectful demeanor was entirely for show.
“You and Shen Du can no longer turn back. The court is now in great turmoil. If you truly want your father to remain neutral, you should divorce Shen Du. You must be clear about which faction Shen Du belongs to now.”
Which faction did Shen Du belong to?
Zhu Yan looked bewildered, but upon seeing Zhang Xingwei’s half-smiling face, she suddenly understood. Shen Du was now Lai Luozhi’s man, and Xu Xiangren had also informed Zhang Xingwei that Lai Luozhi intended to rebel. So Shen Du would still be implicated.
Her eyes flickered, her thoughts unclear.
“Alright, you should go to court as soon as possible.”
Having said his piece, Zhang Xingwei didn’t linger. He stood up and left.
In the past, Zhang Xingwei would come to try to understand Shen Du’s movements through her. Now that Shen Du had fallen from power and Lai Luozhi was about to rebel, Zhang Xingwei seemed to show genuine concern for her. Heh.