The Right Deputy Commissioner frowned. Where did this young man come from, so lacking in perception? “Yes, you.”

Tie Ci smiled, “Are you sure?”

Originally she had thought today had been quite productive – she learned what she wanted to know, observed the good relationship between Yannan and Qianzhou officials, and even found a talented person. She could finish the banquet and leave first, at least letting Old Master Tan smoothly finish his birthday celebration.

But once she went upstairs, she couldn’t guarantee what would happen.

Beside her, Pang Duan suddenly swayed to his feet, grabbed the fan pouch from her hand with one hand, and said with tremendous vigor, “Brother, I’ll help you deliver this fan pouch upstairs!”

Tie Ci smiled, “Delivering a fan pouch isn’t like entering a dragon’s pool or tiger’s den. How could I trouble Brother Pang?”

Pang Duan bent down, leaned close to her ear, and whispered, “Brother, you don’t know – though upstairs isn’t a dragon’s pool or tiger’s den, it could be called a den of demons dancing wildly. That Third and Fourth Master Tan – one is a dandy who talks big, the other has sinister thoughts and stirs up trouble. That Right Deputy Commissioner Qin Liangfeng is the worst kind of person who climbs high and steps on the low, occupying high position through flattery and his family’s mountains of gold and silver. Most importantly, there’s You Weinan, who’s now practically the uncrowned king of Yannan. This person is… universally loving and welcoming, and seems to be interested in you… hehe.”

Tie Ci stood up and took back the fan pouch, “I think your ‘hehe’ is more terrifying than any den of dancing demons. I’d better go see for myself.”

Pang Duan stared blankly as she lifted her robes and calmly went upstairs, shaking his head, “…Truly a newborn calf unafraid of tigers, hehe.”

Tie Ci went upstairs and heard lively conversation from above, “…My granddaughter, knowing I love playing chess, specially opened her private treasury and carefully selected this chess set to send. Never mind the materials – mainly these gold thread inscriptions and carvings are the handiwork of Master Gan Song. Master Gan’s surviving works are now rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. Each character is worth a thousand gold…”

Amid everyone’s exclamations and praise, Tie Ci walked over and saw You Weinan leaning casually by the window, playing with the fan in his hand. That Deputy Commissioner Qin was still there, fawning beside him saying something. You Weinan listened carelessly while his fan snapped open and shut with crisp, continuous sounds. Remarkably, Deputy Commissioner Qin wasn’t affected at all and spoke without the slightest pause.

As Tie Ci approached, she heard him saying, “…That garden surpasses even Siyi Garden, and its location is excellent, right on the west side of Tiannan Street in Kunzhou, next to the back gate of the Prince’s mansion…”

You Weinan’s eyes suddenly lit up. He straightened toward Tie Ci with a smile, “Just for a fan pouch, you actually came up personally to deliver it. May I ask where this brother serves and what your honorable name is?”

Tie Ci smiled and bowed, “This humble official is Wu Ba, Judicial Clerk of the Records Office under Yannan’s Mubang Pacification Commission.”

Whether Ye Ci or Ye Shiba, both had become famous throughout Da Qian with the popularity of Chronicles of Compassionate Heart. Yannan might well have heard of them, so they couldn’t be used again.

You Weinan murmured, repeating this somewhat strange name, “Wu Ba?”

Tie Ci: “Yes.”

Yes, your father.

You Weinan frowned, “I’ve met several judicial clerks from records offices, but I don’t seem to have seen you before?”

Tie Ci’s expression didn’t change, “I’m a member of the chieftain’s clan, just appointed at the beginning of this year.”

The three great chieftains of Yannan submitted to the Yannan Prince’s mansion, but due to their special identity and status, they also retained some autonomy over their clansmen and lands. For Pacification Commission officials, except for the Deputy Pacification Commissioner who needed consultation with the Yannan Prince’s mansion, those below Deputy Commissioner were all appointed by the chieftains themselves. Tie Ci didn’t believe You Weinan would know about changes in every minor judicial clerk position.

Sure enough, You Weinan immediately smiled, no longer dwelling on this issue. He gently pushed the fan pouch back with his hand, saying, “This fan pouch comes from the embroidery workshop of Hua Wuniang, a master embroiderer from Zhongzhou. It’s quite an interesting item. I feel an immediate affinity with Brother Wu, so I’ll give it to you.”

Tie Ci’s finger touched the fragrant fan pouch but didn’t take it back, “Commissioner You jests. Such a precious and personal item – this humble official is just a rough person, how could I be worthy? Commissioner You should keep it yourself.”

Deputy Commissioner Qin had been lingering and wouldn’t leave. Seeing You Weinan actually giving away such a personal item, his face couldn’t help showing some envy. Seeing Tie Ci firmly declining, he immediately raised his eyebrows and shouted, “You petty clerk don’t know what’s good for you! When a superior bestows something, it cannot be refused. What are you hesitating and refusing for? Quickly thank the Commissioner!”

You Weinan waved his hand, showing no signs of anger, and smiled, “Ah, Commissioner Qin, don’t be like that. Don’t startle Brother Wu.”

He was about to say more when suddenly an attendant pushed through the crowd and hurried over, whispering a few words in his ear. You Weinan’s eyebrows slightly raised as he said, “…How truly…” He glanced at everyone and stopped.

Laughter came from nearby as Third Master Tan said loudly, “…No matter, no matter! The Crown Princess sent this chess set for grandfather to play with… We’re family, so there’s no need to always keep it on high display… It’s fine if it gets worn from use – the Crown Princess and the Consort will naturally send new ones… Come, take it down, take it down, it’s fine, it’s fine… Look at how warm and smooth these chess pieces feel to the touch, this carving work…” A group of people clustered around him, carefully carrying down that chess set and placing it on the small table beside the arhat bed. Old Master Tan sat down with a beaming face and began playing against the Chief Clerk of Yannan Prince’s mansion.

You Weinan straightened up, smiled at Tie Ci, and flicked the fan pouch toward her face with his fingertip, “I still have business to attend to, so I’ll take my leave first. Brother Wu, until we meet again.”

The fan pouch carried the scent of cosmetics as it flew toward Tie Ci’s face.

Tie Ci didn’t even blink and puffed out a breath.

The fan pouch was blown into a somersault and fell to the ground.

You Weinan wasn’t offended and seemed to find it very interesting, laughing heartily. He ignored the fallen fan pouch and turned to bid farewell to Old Master Tan.

That side immediately stood up in a clamor, with everyone expressing their earnest wishes in a babel of voices. You Weinan paid them little attention, only smiling slightly and nodding casually as he quickly walked through the crowd toward the hall’s exit.

Here, Deputy Commissioner Qin saw the fan pouch fall to the ground and instinctively bent to pick it up, then quickly walked a few steps, wanting to use returning the fan pouch to You Weinan as an opportunity to curry favor and chat a bit more.

But he saw You Weinan, who had already reached the stairway, suddenly turn around and glance at the fan pouch in his hand. Deputy Commissioner Qin hurriedly said, “Commissioner You, your fan pouch…”

You Weinan’s lip smile suddenly vanished, and that friendly, tender baby face suddenly appeared cold. Deputy Commissioner Qin was stunned. You Weinan had already said coldly, “Throw it away.”

Deputy Commissioner Qin was shocked and hadn’t yet reacted when You Weinan’s attendant stepped forward and almost roughly snatched the fan pouch from his hand, then threw it precisely into the spittoon held by a serving girl.

You Weinan looked at Deputy Commissioner Qin’s hands with disgust, said nothing, turned and went downstairs.

Those attendants followed down in a mighty procession.

People from all sides looked over with complex gazes. Deputy Commissioner Qin stood awkwardly in the room, his face flushed red. After a long while, he stammered, “…That fan pouch fell on the ground and got dirty, he wasn’t disgusted by my hands being dirty…”

The observing crowd quickly said understandingly, “Of course, of course.”

But Deputy Commissioner Qin’s expression looked even worse.

Tie Ci raised her eyebrows, thinking You Weinan’s behavior was truly gentle arrogance.

Seeing there was nothing more for her here, she prepared to go downstairs. Since Deputy Commissioner Qin was blocking the necessary path, she had to sidle past him, slightly brushing his arm.

Deputy Commissioner Qin, who had been in a daze, was awakened by this touch. Just as he saw Tie Ci with her head down about to leave, seeing Tie Ci now reminded him involuntarily of his recent humiliation, then he thought this humiliation was precisely caused by this minor official from the remote frontier before his eyes. Immediately his heart flared with anger and evil thoughts arose. He suddenly threw out his elbow and shouted, “Where did this blind bastard come from! Get lost!”

Tie Ci was caught off guard. The room was crowded now and she couldn’t use teleportation. This elbow knocked her body backward, and she seemed to hit the table corner. With a crash, accompanied by everyone’s screams, something clattered to the floor.

“The chess pieces bestowed by the Crown Princess are broken!”

A great shout rang out, and everyone quickly retreated as if encountering plague. On the arhat bed, Old Master Tan angrily stood up.

“Who! Who knocked over the chess board!”

Deputy Commissioner Qin suddenly turned and pointed at Tie Ci, “It was him! I saw him pushing through the crowd and knocked over the chess board!”

Third Master Tan hurriedly pushed through the crowd, pointing at Tie Ci and shouting, “This is an imperial court item bestowed by the Crown Princess! You actually smashed the chess board! Quickly come pick it up! Kneel down and pick it up!”

Old Master Tan’s angry eyes fixed on Tie Ci. His expression suddenly froze, and a trace of confusion crossed his face, but the fury over the destroyed birthday gift quickly overwhelmed this moment of familiarity. He darkened his face and angrily said, “Where did this thing with no manners come from! Come forward and beg forgiveness!”

Fourth Master Tan supported his elbow on his knee and examined those chess pieces carefully, then said gloomily, “What’s the point of picking them up? They’re already broken!”

The Tan family was greatly alarmed and hurried forward to check. Sure enough, one chess piece had cracked at the corner.

Everyone was in an uproar. Items bestowed by the Crown Princess were almost like imperial gifts. Damaging imperial gifts in public could be serious enough to warrant punishment.

Old Master Tan’s chest heaved. After several heavy breaths, he suddenly pointed at Tie Ci, “Damned thing, you dare crack something bestowed by the Crown Princess! Seize him!”

The thing was already damaged. Although this young man had knocked over the chess board, the cause was Third Master showing off by taking the birthday gift down from the offering table. Once this incident occurred, there would inevitably be much discussion, and if it reached the Crown Princess’s ears, that would be bad.

Immediately a group of servants rushed over.

A shadow flashed, and Dan Shuang and Chi Xue appeared at the stairway. Originally the two had been left downstairs, but now the commotion upstairs had alarmed everyone.

Before Tie Ci could act, a white shadow flashed and Dan Shuang was already in the center of the crowd. She raised her hand and shook it, her belt becoming a soft whip. One lash brought down a swath of servants, with crisp snapping sounds on the floor, dust rising, and chess pieces all flipping over.

Old Master Tan suddenly stood up, pointing at Dan Shuang angrily, “Where did this wild girl come from!”

Tie Ci suddenly waved her hand, and the windows around the room snapped shut with banging sounds.

The guests below who had been listening intently showed disappointed expressions.

Upstairs, the light suddenly dimmed, and the officials were somewhat panicked, retreating one after another. Third Master Tan hurriedly commanded the servants, “Open the windows! Open the windows! No, protect us! Protect us first! Someone is causing trouble at the birthday banquet – quickly go call the constables!”

Dan Shuang expressionlessly blocked the stairway, her long whip held straight across her body, “Come on, go call people.”

The servants hesitated and dared not step forward.

Old Master Tan was furious, “Rebellion! Rebellion! Someone—”

Chi Xue suddenly stepped forward calmly.

She walked with her skirt hem motionless, taking delicate steps, graceful from head to toe and even to her fingertips. Those present were all officialdom figures, and seeing her immediately felt she was extraordinary, instinctively quieting down somewhat.

The Chief Clerk of Yannan Prince’s mansion frowned and said quietly to the Captain of Anzhou Patrol Commission beside him, “This one’s bearing doesn’t seem like she comes from an ordinary family.”

That Captain came from a prominent family and whispered, “She looks like she has the demeanor of palace people…”

The two exchanged glances, their faces turning pale simultaneously. They said nothing more and even stepped back a few paces.

But most people weren’t so discerning, especially the furious Tan family. Third Master Tan pointed at Chi Xue and shouted, “Where did these random cats and dogs come from? Get out quickly, or you’ll all go to Pingyun prison together!”

Fourth Master Tan calmly walked to a corner, opened a window, and let out a whistle. Immediately orderly footsteps came from below.

Chi Xue walked a few steps and stepped on something. Looking down, she saw it was a chess piece that had rolled out. She glanced at it, smiled, and lightly stepped on it with the hard sole of her embroidered shoe, grinding it.

The chess piece shattered to powder.

The noisy room immediately fell silent as death.

After a moment of stiffness, Third Master Tan let out an angry howl and actually lunged forward himself, his round body hurtling like a cannonball.

Tie Ci reached out and grabbed his back collar. Third Master Tan spun in a circle in her palm, and immediately his eyeballs began rolling too.

After Deputy Commissioner Qin knocked Tie Ci away and caused her to overturn the chess board, he had been somewhat uneasy, but now he couldn’t help grinning.

What an arrogant young man.

Old Master Tan waved his hands frantically, spinning in place in circles, angry to the point of incoherence, “…Truly arrogant! Arrogant! I’ll report to the court, inform the Crown Princess, have your entire families exterminated!”

Tie Ci: “Understood. No, you won’t.”

Unfortunately, obviously no one understood. Everyone was scolding and shouting angrily in a chaotic mess. Some rushed toward Dan Shuang, some toward Tie Ci – it was complete chaos.

Until Chi Xue said, “What crime warrants family extermination? What crime warrants clan annihilation?”

“Naturally for deliberately destroying something bestowed by the Crown Princess…”

“…Because of the crime of falsely claiming gifts from the Crown Princess?”

“…”

The roaring suddenly stopped, silent as death.

Old Master Tan’s previously flushed face suddenly turned ashen gray, looking at Chi Xue with alarm and uncertainty.

Third Master Tan’s face turned even more purple. His eyeballs rolled around, and he immediately shouted loudly, “What nonsense!”

Fourth Master Tan looked at Chi Xue and Dan Shuang with gloomy eyes and quietly slipped out through a side door.

Everyone looked at the Tan family members, then at Chi Xue. The former showed panicked expressions while the latter was calm and composed. Almost without saying anything, everyone’s gazes became complex.

Seeing these complex gazes, Old Master Tan suddenly awakened, knowing that he absolutely could not show guilt at this moment, or it would be tantamount to confessing without being beaten. After that, the Tan mansion would become a laughingstock in both Qianzhou and Yannan.

He quickly coughed and said, “Nonsense! Where did this lowly servant come from to speak such wild words! Drag her out!”

The servants rushed forward again, but this time their steps were somewhat hesitant.

Third Master Tan suddenly thought of something, straightened his chest, and said aggressively, “You’re saying our birthday gift is a fake gift from the Crown Princess? How could you know what the Crown Princess bestowed? You’re here to cause trouble! Insulting the imperial family, deceiving court officials – you don’t want to live!”