“The vacancy for Deputy Protector-General of An Bei has been filled by His Majesty’s appointment from the Jin Wu Guards,” Shen Yun’an found out easily. Many people had investigated—this person was undoubtedly His Majesty’s man.
“And then?” Shen Xihe gently stroked her short-lived cat’s soft fur, occasionally pressing its ears back to reveal an earless face with only its prominent large eyes showing.
“And then?” Shen Yun’an was slightly startled. “Youyou, are you suggesting His Majesty’s man is questionable? That’s impossible.”
This person was His Majesty’s confidant. The Protector-General of An Bei was already elderly, and His Majesty had long abolished the hereditary system for Protector-Generals and Military Governors. Placing a confidant there now meant that after three to five years, they would naturally succeed as Protector-General, controlling military power in that region.
“I’m asking who filled the vacant position in the Jin Wu Guards,” Shen Xihe said casually while scratching her short-lived cat’s neck.
“Those selected for the Jin Wu Guards are all people His Majesty trusts. You think someone took the opportunity to place their person in the Jin Wu Guards?” Shen Yun’an felt this was unlikely. “The Jin Wu Guards’ selection process is extremely strict. Unless someone could predict His Majesty would transfer someone out, how could they prepare in advance?”
His Majesty hadn’t given anyone time to react. When one person was transferred from the Jin Wu Guards, another was immediately promoted from within, and then a clan member’s son was selected to join the Jin Wu Guards. All these edicts were issued simultaneously.
“Brother, give me the list of Jin Wu Guard transfers,” Shen Xihe raised her head from the sunlight, which illuminated her elegant, pristine face like a flower. “Brother, don’t forget—someone managed to place people within His Majesty’s Embroidered Guard.”
The Embroidered Guard and Jin Wu Guards—one was His Majesty’s blade, unstoppable; the other his armor, impenetrable.
If someone could infiltrate the former, why not the latter?
“Are you suspecting the same person is behind this?” Shen Yun’an could sense his sister’s wariness about the person who had impersonated Hua Fuhai.
If such a person truly existed, able to hide so completely that no one could find them, yet quietly extend their reach into the Emperor’s most strictly guarded forces—that would be truly terrifying.
The Jin Wu Guard appointments weren’t secret, as they were public positions, unlike the Embroidered Guard who appeared and vanished like ghosts. Even now, few in court knew the identities of all thirteen Embroidered Guards.
The Embroidered Guard rarely appeared, and when they did, it meant a capital offense. Thus, most who had seen them were already on the path to the yellow springs. The occasional crimes not serious enough for silencing might have seen one or two guards, but besides His Majesty, no one knew all thirteen.
For this very reason, the capital’s meritorious nobility were especially cautious, never knowing if an Embroidered Guard might be among them.
Shen Yun’an quickly compiled all the information about the Jin Wu Guard personnel changes for Shen Xihe.
The Jin Wu Guards were divided into left and right divisions, each with one General-in-Chief of Senior Third Rank, two Generals of Junior Third Rank, one Colonel of Senior Fourth Rank, and one Lieutenant Colonel. The one who transferred to An Bei to replace Rong Ce was the Left Jin Wu Guard’s Colonel, whose position was filled by his direct subordinate, the Lieutenant Colonel, and so on down the line.
Shen Xihe focused particularly on this Lieutenant Colonel. He was from a humble background, having risen through military examinations. A strong man who had caught His Majesty’s attention with outstanding performance during a hunting expedition, leading to his promotion. He was known for being loyal, filial, and frugal, rarely speaking, having been overlooked in the Jin Wu Guards for many years until the hunting expedition provided his opportunity.
However, he was a loner who never socialized with colleagues.
“Such a clean background, no wonder His Brush was willing to employ him heavily,” Shen Xihe smiled enigmatically after reading. “Brother, I’m going to the palace.”
“The palace?” Shen Yun’an’s first thought was, “To deliver birthday gifts to the Empress Dowager?”
The Empress Dowager’s birthday was in two days, and many royal clan members and nobles had already started sending birthday gifts.
“To pay respects to the Empress Dowager, and incidentally meet with the Crown Prince,” Shen Xihe didn’t hide her intentions, to avoid her brother feeling uncomfortable if he found out later.
“I’ll go with you,” Shen Yun’an immediately stood up, unwilling to let his sister meet Xiao Huayong alone.
“Brother, me going alone is different from both of us going,” Shen Xihe shook her head slightly.
Her meeting with Xiao Huayong could be explained as romantic sentiment, but Shen Yun’an frequently meeting Xiao Huayong could be suspected of forming a political alliance.
“Why do you need to see him?” Shen Yun’an asked reluctantly.
“There are some things I want to verify,” Shen Xihe smiled gently, picking up Short-lived and placing it in Shen Yun’an’s arms. “Brother, help me watch it, don’t let it go out to catch mice.”
Shen Xihe strongly disliked mice, and Short-lived had recently developed a habit of sneaking out, bringing back half-eaten mice at night, for which Shen Xihe had confined it many times.
“Meow!” Caught off guard by being placed in Shen Yun’an’s arms, Short-lived immediately extended its claws, gripping his robes tightly, afraid of falling.
Shen Yun’an disliked cats, especially after noble ladies made it fashionable to keep them as pets. He felt these naturally wild and alert creatures were being raised to be weak and timid, leading to his prejudice against all cats.
But Short-lived was different. Perhaps because his sister raised it—though ugly, it was very brave!
Just like the men of the Northwest, not as delicate and refined as the capital’s men, but full of vigor—to his taste!
When Shen Xihe entered the palace, the Empress Dowager’s quarters were too busy, so after sitting briefly, she went to the Eastern Palace.
This time, Xiao Huayong received her in a courtyard fragrant with Pingzhong trees. Golden leaves, golden twilight, his dark-collared long robe with its noble purple lapels embroidered with intricate patterns, and a heavy white cape draped over his shoulders.
His dignified, elegant bearing was displayed perfectly. Even with his slightly hunched back, he showed no signs of decline, though he appeared extremely thin. Despite being a young man, he didn’t seem weak, yet inspired sympathy in observers.
The table was laid with fragrant hundred-flower cakes, crystal-clear water cakes, and delicate seven-return cakes…
“Youyou… Please be seated, Princess…” Xiao Huayong seemed somewhat delighted to see Shen Xihe, warmth rippling through his gentle eyes as he unconsciously called out her childhood name, then quickly corrected himself upon realizing the impropriety.
After Shen Xihe sat down, he poured her a cup of clear, tranquil tea: “Please forgive my presumption earlier. I learned your childhood name from the Young Master and found it quite fateful, so I remembered it.”
“Fateful?” Shen Xihe was puzzled.
Xiao Huayong coughed lightly before smiling warmly: “I too had a childhood name—Lu Ming (Deer’s Call). Deer represents longevity; my grandmother hoped I would live a long, healthy life.”
Hearing this, a faint smile graced Shen Xihe’s lips: “I thought deer represented rank and fortune—the highest salary, the highest position. For instance… contending for the Central Plains.”
Xiao Huayong’s brows twitched almost imperceptibly as he lowered his head to drink tea, concealing the smile in his dark eyes.
It seemed she had come prepared today.