Fan Changyu remained silent for a moment before saying, “Since this is related to my maternal grandfather’s grain transport, I’ll go with you.”
Xie Zheng opened his eyes in the darkness. The truth from seventeen years ago concerned not only himself but also the person before him.
In the moonlight streaming through the window, he could faintly make out Fan Changyu’s facial features. Her eyes were filled with solemnity.
Xie Zheng’s hand still rested on her waist. Through the thin fabric of her clothes, he could vaguely feel the raised scar on her abdomen.
This journey ahead might still be a trap.
The elite “Tian” rank soldiers under Wei Yan’s command were likely no easier to deal with than the Imperial Shadow Guards on Qi Min’s side.
He said, “Wait for the young emperor’s edict to arrive, then return to the capital with the main army. Following me into the capital without an edict could get you beheaded if discovered.”
Fan Changyu glared at him. “You think I’m afraid?”
Knowing her temperament, Xie Zheng’s lips curled into a slight smile, his gaze softening. He buried his nose in her hair, inhaling deeply before saying, “I know you’re not afraid, but we should always prepare for all possibilities.”
His palm gently caressed the scar on her waist. “The empress dowager and her son are still in the separate courtyard. I’ll feel more at ease with you here. If I fall into a trap and disappear like the old man, take this token. You can mobilize the Blood Robe Cavalry and the Hui Prefecture Xie family’s forces. If things become desperate, don’t rush into the capital. Convince Tang Peiyi to support the young prince’s claim to the throne. With the blood of the Chengde Crown Prince, even if you temporarily retreat to a corner of the Northwest, no one in the court will dare label you as rebels.”
Fan Changyu felt an oval-shaped token, still warm from his body heat, being pressed into her palm. Her heart filled with mixed emotions as she turned to look at Xie Zheng and asked, “What about you?”
Seeing the worry in her eyes, Xie Zheng pulled her into a tight embrace. “I’m only describing the worst-case scenario. Wei Yan can’t make me disappear without a trace.”
Fan Changyu still held the token he had given her, her heart in turmoil. She buried her face in his solid chest and muttered, “You must be extremely careful.”
Xie Zheng’s robe had already been loosened earlier, and now the woman in his arms pressed her cheek against his chest, her breath warming his skin as she spoke.
At the prime of his youth, with the woman he loved lying beside him, he struggled to control himself. His Adam’s apple bobbed several times as he stared at the dark canopy above, nearly giving in to his desires. “If you’re that worried, why don’t I leave an heir for the Xie family?”
The tender emotions in Fan Changyu’s heart faltered for a moment. With a straight face, she reached out and pinched his taut waist hard, eliciting a muffled, laughing groan from Xie Zheng. “Attempting to murder your husband?”
Fan Changyu tried to pinch him again, but Xie Zheng caught her hand.
What started as playful roughhousing soon turned into something more as she found herself pinned to the bed. Xie Zheng propped himself up, gazing at her for a few breaths before suddenly lowering his head to kiss her.
His long, loose hair occasionally brushed against Fan Changyu’s neck and shoulders, cool and slightly ticklish.
Unlike their previous kisses, he was in no rush to conquer. Instead, he became extremely patient, his gentleness seeming to bewitch her.
And indeed, Fan Changyu found herself enchanted-
The next day, when Fan Changyu woke up, the sun was already high in the sky.
The sunlight pouring in through the doors and windows was a bit dazzling, causing her to squint.
There was a weight on her chest as if something was pressing down on the blanket.
Upon closer inspection, she saw that it was Channing lying on top of the covers.
Madam Zhao had already helped her wash up and get dressed. Her hair had grown longer now, and the two little buns on either side were neatly tied, adorned with two small fluffy flowers with bells.
Channing rested her chubby hands on her round chin, smiling as she said, “Sister is a big sleepyhead today, only getting up when the sun is high enough to shine on your bottom.”
Still drowsy, Fan Changyu instinctively wanted to reach out and pat Channing’s head. But as memories of the previous night flooded back, she abruptly stopped herself from taking her hand out from under the covers. Her expression became somewhat unnatural as she said, “Sister was indeed lazy today. Ning’er, could you help fetch some water for washing my face?”
Her voice was a bit hoarse, probably due to having just woken up.
Channing rarely had the chance to be of service to Fan Changyu, so upon hearing her request, she immediately responded with an obedient “Alright.” She jumped down from the bed, put on her shoes, picked up the copper basin from the wooden rack, and pattered off to the kitchen to find Madam Zhao.
Once alone in the room, Fan Changyu lifted the covers and sat up. Her undergarments were loosely draped over her body, with a trail of red marks extending from her neck down to her shoulders.
Her chest still ached a bit, likely from being nipped by teeth.
Fan Changyu rubbed her messy hair, feeling somewhat despondent.
She wasn’t sure how things had escalated to this point last night.
Wanting to change clothes, her gaze fell upon her right fingertips. Remembering what Xie Zheng had left on her hand the night before, even though it had been washed clean, she instinctively wiped her hand on the clothes she was about to change into.
That’s right, he had used her undergarments to wipe her hand last night!
Fearing that things hadn’t been cleaned thoroughly and that Channing might discover something, Fan Changyu’s eyes darted around the room, searching for the undergarments she had soiled the night before.
When she spotted the half-dried clothes hanging on the wooden rack, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Then, an odd feeling arose in her heart—he had washed her undergarments clean before leaving.
Her cheeks burning, Fan Changyu rubbed her face and hurriedly found a chest binding from the clean clothes box, quickly binding her chest before Channing returned.
To facilitate wearing military attire, Fan Changyu usually bound her chest.
However, today it was somewhat painful. As Fan Changyu tied the binding, she glanced down and saw that the tips were swollen. She pressed her lips together, recalling the chaotic moments from the night before. Half embarrassed and half annoyed, she silently cursed Xie Zheng in her mind.
Fortunately, autumn had arrived. Fan Changyu chose a robe with a higher collar to cover the marks on her neck.
However, during mealtime, Madam Zhao’s sharp eyes somehow caught sight of them. Recalling the sounds she had heard the night before, Madam Zhao asked, “Changyu, why haven’t we seen Yanzheng since you returned from Chongzhou?”
Fan Changyu instantly choked on her mouthful of rice.
Originally, fearing that Madam Zhao and the others would worry, she hadn’t mentioned her separation from Xie Zheng. As for her true identity and relationship with Xie Zheng, she didn’t know where to begin explaining, so she still hadn’t clarified it to Madam Zhao and her husband.
At this moment, she could only poke at the rice grains in her bowl and mumble vaguely, “He went with the main army to Kangcheng to eliminate the remnants of the rebels. He should return when the army enters the capital.”
Madam Zhao’s expression became somewhat strange. Wondering about the marks on Fan Changyu’s neck, she could only probe indirectly, “You two haven’t fought, have you?”
Fan Changyu looked bewildered. “No, we haven’t.”
Seeing her reaction, Madam Zhao grew increasingly worried. She hesitated before asking, “In the future… do you plan to live alone with Yanzheng or…”
Misunderstanding Madam Zhao’s meaning, Fan Changyu responded frankly, “Of course, I’ll still bring Ning’er and you along. You and Uncle are like half my family. How could I leave you behind?”
Madam Zhao slapped her thigh in frustration. “Who’s asking about that? I’m asking if you’re going to be like those heartless men who suddenly become successful, keeping several women at home and several more outside?”
Xie Wu, who was sweeping the courtyard, and Xie Qi, who was playing with Channing, both looked horrified upon hearing Madam Zhao’s words.
This time, Fan Changyu choked, pounding her chest and gasping for air, her face turning almost the color of pig liver.
“Child, eat slowly. I just asked you a question, how did you end up choking…” Madam Zhao patted her back, and seeing no effect, quickly poured a cup of tea and handed it to Fan Changyu.
After downing a cup of tea, Fan Changyu finally caught her breath.
She asked in confusion, “Madam, what nonsense are you talking about?”
Madam Zhao glanced at Xie Wu and Xie Qi in the courtyard, who were busy with their tasks but eavesdropping, then pointed at her neck.
Fan Changyu quickly pulled her collar closer, knowing she couldn’t hide it anymore. Feeling embarrassed about the marks, she hung her head and said quietly, “Yanzheng came back last night.”
Madam Zhao’s face immediately lit up with joy. She asked, “Where is he?”
Fan Changyu finished the tea in her cup and said, “He left again.”
Afraid that Madam Zhao would continue to ask questions, she put down her teacup and headed out. “Madam, don’t worry about these things. I have matters to attend to in the military camp, so I’m heading there now.”
In truth, there wasn’t much going on in the camp recently. Fearing the embarrassment of others seeing the marks on her neck, Fan Changyu decided to visit Yu Qianqian and her son in the separate courtyard instead.
Three days after Xie Zheng’s departure, Fan Changyu learned from Xie Wu that the Blood Robe Cavalry had captured Li Huai’an and brought him back.
Thinking of the deaths of He Jingyuan and the soldiers outside Lucheng, Fan Changyu’s teeth itched with hatred. She couldn’t wait to confront Li Huai’an in person.
And indeed, she went to do just that.
When she saw Li Huai’an sitting calmly among the dried grass in Xie Zheng’s private prison, dressed in tattered clothes with disheveled hair, Fan Changyu couldn’t suppress the anger rising in her heart. She said coldly, “With loyal bones scattered outside Lucheng, I wonder if Minister Li has been sleeping and eating well these days?”
Li Huai’an opened his eyes and looked at her outside the cell. A fleeting expression of pain and shame crossed his face before turning into bitterness. “If I said I haven’t had a moment of peace, would Miss Fan believe me?”
The image of He Jingyuan’s body standing on the walls of Lucheng, along with the soldiers who had followed her out of the city only to fall one after another, was still vivid in Fan Changyu’s mind. Her gaze was as sharp as a knife. “Minister Li should save these words for the day when the truth comes to light, to be heard by the thousands of unjustly killed soldiers! The common people all believe that the Li family is like Minister He, all good officials. But it was your Li family who treated their lives as worthless grass!”
Li Huai’an still only smiled bitterly. “Huai’an has always admired Miss Fan’s unrestrained nature, her clear-cut love and hate. But living in this world, many things aren’t simply black and white; there are always trade-offs. What the Li family has done may be wrong now, but in a decade or two, it might bring about a golden age for the Great Yin.”
Fan Changyu clenched her teeth and struck the prison wall with all her might.
The hard bricks cracked, scattering debris on the ground, and Li Huai’an’s words abruptly ceased.
He looked up, seeing the anger on Fan Changyu’s face, and was slightly taken aback.
Fan Changyu stared at him coldly. “What makes you so arrogant as to utter such words? Is it because you were born into wealth and don’t have to worry about your next meal like ordinary people? Is it because you’ve read too many books by sages, and the suffering you see is nothing more than light words on paper? It’s not you who died, nor your family members. What right do you have to say that their deaths are exchanged for a golden age for the Great Yin?”
This questioning left Li Huai’an completely stunned.
Fan Changyu gave Li Huai’an one last cold and mocking look before turning to leave the prison. However, as she approached the prison gate, there was a commotion.
Several men wearing Blood Robe Cavalry uniforms and carrying bloodied swords burst in, coming face to face with Fan Changyu.
In an instant, Fan Changyu realized these men were impostors. She drew the boning knife she always carried at her waist.
The men attempting the jailbreak exchanged glances, then charged at Fan Changyu with their swords raised.
The prison corridor was narrow. As Fan Changyu’s blade clashed with theirs, sparks flew. Using her brute strength, she forced the assassins to retreat, their blades scraping against each other.
One of the assassins tried to sneak attack, but Fan Changyu kicked his arm, instantly dislocating it. Unable to hold his sword, it clattered to the ground with a metallic ring.
After dealing with the few assassins who had reached the prison, Fan Changyu turned to Li Huai’an. “Minister Li is imprisoned here, yet there are still people willing to risk their lives to rescue you. Those soldiers who died outside the city that day never received such help, even until their dying breath!”
Li Huai’an lowered his head, his messy hair covering most of his face. He said, “Go save the young prince and his mother.”
Fan Changyu’s expression changed slightly. “What do you mean?”
Li Huai’an’s voice was calm to the point of numbness. “The jailbreak is just a decoy.”
In a flash, Fan Changyu understood that this was a diversionary tactic!
Those men had disguised themselves as Blood Robe Cavalry and fought their way to the prison, catching the real Blood Robe Cavalry off guard. The Blood Robe Cavalry would certainly dispatch more troops here for reinforcement, tying up their forces at the prison. If anything were to happen at the separate courtyard, there wouldn’t be enough time to send forces there!
Fan Changyu rushed out without delay, encountering many fake Blood Robe Cavalry along the way. In a moment of carelessness, her arm was injured. Unable to distinguish friend from foe, she resorted to swinging her blade at anyone she encountered.
When Xie Shi’yi arrived with his men, he met Fan Changyu face to face. Just as he was about to speak, he nearly got slashed by her blade. He quickly raised his sword to block and shouted, “Commander, it’s me, Shi’yi!”
Fan Changyu, clutching her bleeding arm, glanced at the hundred or so men he had brought and said, “Quickly, to the separate courtyard! Their real target is the separate courtyard!”
Xie Shi’yi’s face changed dramatically. He immediately ordered his subordinates, “A few of you stay here to clean up. The rest, follow me to the separate courtyard!”
Fan Changyu said, “I’m coming too.”
Xie Shi’yi looked at Fan Changyu, realizing he couldn’t stop her. He tossed her a bottle of wound medicine and said, “Then be extra careful, Commander!”