It wasn’t until mid-March that Guzang finally took on the appearance of spring. After a warm rain, clusters of greenery emerged in the courtyard, and white apricot and pink peach blossoms opened in succession. When the sun came out, spring was in full splendor, and the garden was filled with vibrant colors.
Since there were no longer watchful eyes in the courtyard and the weather gradually turned warmer, Jiang Zhiyi began taking walks after her afternoon naps. One day, she woke from a nap to find a tall swing had been added to the courtyard. Aware of the resident’s taste, the swing frame had been made of lacquered red wood, with smooth ropes that wouldn’t chafe the hands and a sturdy footboard stable enough to stand on.
That afternoon, Jiang Zhiyi sat on the swing holding Yuan Tuan and enjoying the sunshine while Gu Yu pushed the swing from behind. Gu Yu mentioned that Pei Zisong’s letter had been sent several days ago, and by now, if the Marquis had replied, the response should have arrived. Why hadn’t there been any news yet?
Jiang Zhiyi was playing with the little Pekingese in her arms when she heard this. Her smile faded as she pursed her lips: “It would be best if there were a reply.”
“I’ve noticed that Young Master Shen doesn’t seem as fierce lately. If the Marquis wrote back, we should be able to receive it, right?”
Just as she finished speaking, Jing Zhe crossed into the courtyard with joy written across her face, waving to Jiang Zhiyi from a distance: “Princess, letters from Chang’an have arrived!”
Jiang Zhiyi immediately raised her palm to stop the swing, sitting up straight and looking out with delight: “Are there two?”
“Yes, one from the Marquis and one from Princess Baojia.”
Jiang Zhiyi quickly handed Yuan Tuan to Gu Yu and took the two letters, turning them over to check the intact wax seals: “At least he’s human enough not to have opened them…”
Jing Zhe’s expression became alarmed as she was about to warn her, but a male voice already sounded from behind: “I specifically rode back to deliver these letters to you, and all I get is at least he’s human’?”
Jiang Zhiyi looked up to see Yuance brushing dust off his shoulders as he walked in with a displeased expression.
…She wasn’t embarrassed. What Jiang Zhiyi said behind someone’s back, she would say to their face as well.
“But with so many messengers available, did you come back to deliver my letters, or to see what’s in them?” Jiang Zhiyi snorted coldly, sitting on the swing and opening the letters on her own, ignoring him.
Since recovering her memory, she had become increasingly clever. Yuance clicked his tongue softly: “You can read the Princess’s letter in private, but since the Marquis’s letter concerns our marriage, I should also know the outcome.”
“What, are you still hoping my uncle will mediate? My uncle replied to me, not to you—isn’t the result obvious?”
“Since you’re so confident, my seeing it won’t change the Marquis’s mind.” Yuance sat down on the swing with his legs spread wide.
Shameless. Jiang Zhiyi glared at him, but eager to read the letters, she didn’t want to waste time arguing and allowed him to sit beside her. She took out three sheets of paper from the envelope and smoothed them out.
The first page contained the usual greetings and concerns—her uncle asking about her journey, whether she was warm enough and eating well, if she had lost weight, and telling her that everything at home was fine and that she need not worry.
Jiang Zhiyi read through each word with a curved smile, then turned to the second page—
“After reading the letter that Pei’s eldest son wrote on your behalf, your uncle was deeply pained. Husband and wife live under the same roof and spend day and night together; disputes are inevitable. But as they say, it takes a hundred years of fate to cross a river in the same boat, a thousand years of fate to share the same pillow. To destroy a hard-won marriage over ordinary disagreements would be truly regrettable. Moreover, your uncle has observed your husband’s letter, which was earnestly written and seems to show sincere remorse. Your uncle advises you to consider more carefully and not make hasty decisions, lest you regret it later…”
Jiang Zhiyi’s smile froze, instantly disappearing without a trace.
A moment later, she noticed Yuance leaning close, reading the letter with great interest, the upward curve of her lips now transferred to his face.
Jiang Zhiyi swallowed her anger and turned her eyes back to the letter, flipping to the third page—
“I don’t know what your thoughts will be by the time this letter reaches you. If you have changed your mind, when the troops I send arrive in Hexi, let them stay with you in Guzang. This will give you more leverage in future disputes with your husband. If you still firmly wish to break the engagement, your uncle has a suggestion. I fear you may have no immediate marriage prospects after breaking this engagement. Observing that Pei’s eldest son has better handwriting than your husband—and handwriting reflects character—I can see his upright nature. Since you entrusted such an important matter to him, you must consider him a close friend. Why not consider marrying him after breaking your current engagement? If you agree, I will immediately return the betrothal gifts to the Shen family and discuss your next marriage with the Pei family.”
Yuance: “…”
Jiang Zhiyi was also stunned by her uncle’s sudden change of topic. Turning her head to see Yuance’s face black as mud, she burst into laughter.
Yuance narrowed his eyes dangerously: “Is that funny, Jiang Zhiyi?”
“What? Your humble servant used to write to his father-in-law this way in the past, and it was almost always effective. How could it fail with the Marquis of Yong’en? Besides, this Marquis of Yong’en seems to have no shortage of potential nephews-in-law. How is it that before one marriage is even broken off, he’s already looking for the next one for the Princess?”
—Half an hour later, Yuance returned to the Xuance military camp, standing on a high platform with his hands behind his back, watching the soldiers training in the drill ground below. Mu Xinhong paced back and forth in front of him, repeatedly exclaiming, “This shouldn’t be.”
Yuance frowned, his face as cold as water.
Indeed, it shouldn’t be this way. If his brother hadn’t insisted on presenting himself as a wastrel, he wouldn’t have had to imitate his brother’s handwriting—charitably called “dragon-flying-phoenix-dancing,” less charitably called “crawling-rolling-tumbling”—and thereby lose to Pei Zisong.
“The Marquis’s troops won’t arrive in Hexi for more than a month. We must seize this opportunity to make the Princess change her mind…” Mu Xinhong analyzed the already clear situation. Seeing Li Dafeng casually walking up to the platform, he quickly called out, “Master Li, you’ve come at a perfect time! Please give our Young Master some advice! You must have some insights on how to win a lady’s favor?”
Li Dafeng shook his head: “I have no such experience and cannot help the Young Master.”
Yuance glanced at him sideways: “You have no experience? Then why was half of the Princess’s letter to her about you today?”
Naturally, Yuance hadn’t read the letter between the young women, but he had seen Jiang Zhiyi looking quite upset after reading it, saying that she only occupied half of her sister’s heart now.
Li Dafeng shrugged: “Perhaps because, unlike you, I’m a good person. Good people are always the ones being pursued.”
“…”
Mu Xinhong gave a sympathetic look to the silenced Yuance. As expected of a military doctor, he knew exactly where to sprinkle salt on a wound.
Yuance coldly folded his arms and raised his chin at Li Dafeng: “Have you been too idle lately? Should I find something for you to do?”
“What does the Young Master mean by that?” Li Dafeng blinked innocently.
Yuance rotated his neck from side to side: “When bad people are in a foul mood, they like to torment their soldiers.”
With the “bad person” above, the sounds of military training in the Xuance camp rang out until dusk.
A group of young recruits trudged out of the training ground under the night sky, their muscles feeling like they might fall apart. Spotting Yuance standing overhead, his cold gaze sweeping back and forth, they feared he might select some for additional training. Each one immediately lowered their heads and eyes, quickening their pace.
Yuance gave a cold laugh, just about to detain those who were escaping the fastest, when he saw a soldier who had been left on guard at the manor running up to the platform, hurriedly reporting: “Young Master, half an hour ago, the Young Mistress went to the night market with Miss Pei!”
“Let her enjoy herself, as long as guards are with her.” Yuance turned away without much concern, extending his finger to continue selecting soldiers.
“San Qi is following to protect the Young Mistress, but…” the soldier hesitated, “but Master Pei is accompanying Miss Pei. Is this still something the Young Mistress should enjoy?”
“…” Yuance’s pointing finger curled, and he turned to walk down from the platform.
Mu Xinhong called out loudly from behind: “Young Master, are you no longer training them?”
“Tell them all to disperse.” Yuance hurried down the platform and mounted his horse.
If they didn’t disperse, his household would soon be dispersed.
At the same moment, in the night market of Guzang, Jiang Zhiyi was walking arm in arm with Pei Xueqing, laughing and chatting as they strolled through the streets.
That evening, Pei Xueqing had visited the Shen manor to ask if she had received the letter from the Marquis of Yong’en. It turned out that her uncle, seeing that she had previously asked Pei Zisong to write on her behalf, suspected that Yuance might intercept the letters. Therefore, he had also sent a letter to Pei Zisong, first expressing gratitude for his help in delivering the earlier letter, and second asking him to confirm whether she had received the reply.
Seeing that Pei Xueqing had made a special trip for this, and it happened to be dinnertime, Jiang Zhiyi invited her to stay for the evening meal. After dinner, she had originally planned to send someone to escort her back to the inn, but thinking they could visit the night market on the way, she decided to accompany her.
On the road, they met Pei Zisong, who had come to pick up his sister, making it a group of three.
Feeling a complex gaze from behind, Jiang Zhiyi turned to look at Pei Zisong.
Pei Xueqing had kept the Shen family’s secret tightly guarded, not even telling her father or brother. Pei Zisong was understanding, seeing that his sister didn’t want to talk about it, he didn’t press her, but he probably had his suspicions.
Pei Xueqing had previously inquired about Yuance several times in Chang’an, then fallen seriously ill after Yuance’s engagement. Then, shortly after Yuance arrived in Hexi, she had followed him there. The last time she came to see Yuance, she had returned with swollen eyes from crying—Pei Zisong must have thought his sister had deep feelings for Yuance, so deep that she couldn’t let go even knowing he was engaged.
Now, seeing the two women in such an intimate relationship, his feelings must be mixed.
Jiang Zhiyi said to Pei Zisong: “Master Pei need not worry. Sister Xueqing and I had some misunderstandings in Chang’an, but they’ve now been resolved.”
Pei Xueqing also nodded to her brother: “Yes, brother. Sister Zhiyi treats me very well, don’t overthink it.”
Pei Zisong smiled gently at both women, but hearing this “sister” address between them, his expression grew even more complex.
As Jiang Zhiyi and Pei Xueqing walked arm in arm through the long street, they suddenly heard the sound of clappers and moon guitars accompanying familiar hometown vocals. Looking ahead, they saw a crowd gathered around a theater troupe performing and selling their art, singing Qin opera from Chang’an.
“I can’t believe we can hear Bangzi opera here.” Both Jiang Zhiyi and Pei Xueqing were curious and walked toward the sound.
Seeing that the two women wanted to watch the opera, San Qi quickly cleared a path for them to reach the front of the crowd.
In the center of the crowd, a martial artist with a long beard, red face, and green robe wielded a prop sword, spinning in circles to the music. With a lift of the sword and a turn of his hand, he struck a powerful pose.
“Bravo!”
Most of the audience were locals who couldn’t understand the lyrics of Qin opera, but they enthusiastically applauded the impressive display.
The performers circled with collection bowls. Seeing these Chang’an artists struggling to make a living in a foreign land, Jiang Zhiyi beckoned to San Qi for money.
San Qi took out his money pouch and handed it to Jiang Zhiyi. Not wanting to disturb the Princess while she watched the opera, he asked Pei Zisong: “Master Pei, what are they singing about? I can’t understand a word.”
Pei Zisong listened for a moment and explained: “This is a story about a father avenging his son. The protagonist’s son was killed by his classmate, so the father takes revenge by eliminating the classmate’s entire family. However, after the revenge is complete, he discovers that he targeted the wrong person. The real culprit was someone else, someone cunning who not only used him as a tool to kill but also managed to escape unscathed. Now he’s seeking the true enemy to avenge his son…”
San Qi: “That mastermind is truly vicious! This grudge must be avenged—how can he call himself a father otherwise?”
Jiang Zhiyi had been casually listening to the performance without paying attention to the lyrics. Hearing the discussion between the two men behind her, she suddenly froze and turned around: “What did you say?”
San Qi briefly repeated what Pei Zisong had said to Jiang Zhiyi.
Though the music was deafeningly loud around her, it now seemed distant and muffled. Jiang Zhiyi’s mind was occupied with a single thought—why did this story sound so familiar?
A son killed by his classmate, a father seeking revenge against the wrong target, only realizing after the fact that someone had been using him as a tool for murder…
Jiang Zhiyi suddenly looked up.
Wasn’t this the story of how Yuance had used the Zhuo family to bring down the Zhong family? A troupe from Chang’an, performing such a play in Guzang—was it merely a coincidence, or something else?
Jiang Zhiyi looked at the troupe again. Perhaps it was her imagination, but those painted faces seemed to take on a sinister quality. Whether it was coincidence or not—
“San Qi,” Jiang Zhiyi quickly lowered her voice, “go quickly and send a message to your Young Master…”
Before she could finish, Pei Xueqing let out a cry of alarm, and Pei Zisong shouted “Look out!” as he pulled Jiang Zhiyi away.
Jiang Zhiyi stumbled as she was pulled, and looking down, she saw a sharp knife that had nearly grazed her waist, missing her by just an inch.
In an instant, the performers pulled off their theatrical headdresses and robes, revealing black combat clothing underneath. They drew real swords from their waists and attacked.
San Qi’s expression hardened as he drew his sword and stepped forward. The spectators scattered, screaming in panic.
Before Jiang Zhiyi could gather her wits, she found herself being pulled backward by Pei Zisong, caught in the chaotic flow of people.
The street was filled with panicked crowds and toppled stalls. Pei Zisong protected both women, helping Jiang Zhiyi and Pei Xueqing navigate through the chaos with difficulty.
Suddenly, a surge of people rushed by. Jiang Zhiyi was bumped from behind, losing her grip on Pei Zisong’s hand, and became separated from the Pei siblings.
Turning around, she could no longer see them, but noticed that the blue-faced assassins had pushed through the crowd in pursuit of her.
Jiang Zhiyi ran in desperation, colliding head-on with a figure moving against the flow. Looking up, she saw an extremely familiar face and, feeling greatly relieved, urgently said: “Brother Ace, I think these people were sent by the Marquis of Xuande for revenge!”
Yuance’s gaze flickered slightly. He pulled her behind him with one hand while drawing a dagger with the other.
The dagger flew like an arrow, making a soft thudding sound as it struck flesh. Hidden behind Yuance, Jiang Zhiyi watched as the lead assassin, stabbed in the chest, slowly collapsed.
Yuance turned back to look at the frightened girl and blinked: “What did you just call me?”
“What?” Jiang Zhiyi raised her head in confusion, her mind a complete blank.
What had she called him in her panic just now? Could it have been…
No, was this the time to discuss such things?
Seeing another wave of assassins approaching while Yuance stood motionless, waiting for her answer, Jiang Zhiyi’s blood rushed frantically through her veins, her scalp tingling with anxiety: “Brother Ace! Brother Ace!”
Yuance kicked up a sword that had fallen to the ground, grasped it in his palm, and took her hand. His lips curved into a smile: “Come, Brother Ace will take you to kill some people.”