As expected, no one objected to Sui Yunzhu’s arrangement, and the shift schedule was happily settled. Watching everyone return to their rooms without care, Sui Yunzhu resigned herself to the role of den mother and went to inform Xuan Liu of the assignments.
Being a palace guard offered excellent benefits. Shifts rotated every twelve hours, and during off-duty time, guards could do as they pleased. With Gao Dazhuang’s permission, they could even leave the palace!
Due to their meritorious service at the border, the Emperor granted them a half-month break.
After the break, Lou Mingyue’s team took the first shift, while An Jiu’s team rested in their quarters.
With fewer people around, Sui Yunzhu persuaded An Jiu and Li Qingzhi to go out for a stroll. Li Qingzhi was eager, and An Jiu thought it would be good to get out, so they quickly agreed.
The three went to find Gao Dazhuang.
Gao Dazhuang had been assigned to Gushe Palace, recently awarded to Consort Yu. He worked there as a lowly eunuch. In the palace, all new eunuchs were called “little yellow gates.” If they performed well, they could be promoted to “inner court yellow gates.”
Consort Yu was due to move into Gushe Palace soon, so the place was bustling with preparations. With so many similar-looking eunuchs around, An Jiu’s group struggled to find Gao Dazhuang.
It was their first time seeing Gao Dazhuang’s face. Contrary to their expectations of an otherworldly appearance, he looked quite ordinary—a fresh-faced youth of sixteen or seventeen.
Crouching in the shadows, Li Qingzhi whispered, “The commander must be wearing a mask.”
An Jiu thought to herself, “At his age, of course, he needs a disguise!”
Gao Dazhuang’s ears twitched, catching Li Qingzhi’s words. He swept haphazardly with his broom, moving to a secluded spot. “Come out.”
The three leaped over the wall, landing before him.
“What is it?” he asked.
Seeing Gao Dazhuang working so hard, Sui Yunzhu sensed his frustration and carefully considered her words. Li Qingzhi spoke up, “Commander, we want to go out for a while.”
Gao Dazhuang raised his slender eyebrows. “Go out for what?”
“To take a stroll!”
“To buy some things.”
Li Qingzhi and Sui Yunzhu spoke simultaneously.
Sui Yunzhu looked away, while Li Qingzhi, realizing his mistake, quickly added, “Yes, yes, we’re going to buy things and take a stroll along the way.”
“Get back to your quarters, all of you!” Gao Dazhuang growled softly, slamming his broom to the ground. “Damn it, life just keeps getting worse!”
It wasn’t clear if he meant himself or the three of them.
“We won’t forget to bring you something good to eat,” An Jiu said innocently.
Gao Dazhuang put his hands on his hips, breathing heavily in anger. “You think I’m just after a bite to eat?!”
“Of course, the commander doesn’t lack food and drink,” Sui Yunzhu interrupted as An Jiu was about to speak again. “Mei Shisi means we’d like to show our respect by bringing you something from outside.”
Gao Dazhuang calmed down a bit. After composing himself, he said evenly, “I want fried noodles from Liao’s shop at the West Gate. No green onions. Extra chili.”
He then pulled out a pinky-sized seal from his robes. “Give me your hands!”
The three removed their handguards and held out their palms. Gao Dazhuang stamped each hand. “Keep these safe and don’t lose them. Don’t blame me if you can’t get back in otherwise.”
“Couldn’t you think of a more reliable method?” An Jiu complained. “You’re just making it easy for yourself!”
Each team of Long Wu Guards had different passes, decided by their leader, and reported to superiors.
Gao Dazhuang picked up his broom and swung it at An Jiu.
“Gao Dazhuang!” a shrill voice called angrily from the front hall.
Gao Dazhuang froze, suppressing his temper. He glared fiercely at An Jiu before scurrying to the front hall, broom in hand.
The three troublemakers followed, watching as a eunuch repeatedly struck Gao Dazhuang with a feather duster. “You little wretch! Slacking off the moment I turn my back! Who gave you such audacity? You’ll lick Gushe Palace clean today if you have to!”
Gao Dazhuang played his part well, cowering and hanging his head as the eunuch beat him.
“The commander has it tough,” Li Qingzhi sighed. “We must bring him two bowls of noodles.”
The three slipped away, changed clothes, and disguised themselves before easily leaving the palace using their hand stamps.
Once outside, they split up to handle their affairs.
An Jiu had just reached the Imperial Street when she sensed a familiar presence. Looking up, she saw a young man sitting in a teahouse. He wore a dark blue robe with wide sleeves, one arm resting on the windowsill. The taut silk outlined his broad shoulders and muscular arms. His long fingers held a blue and white porcelain cup, wisps of steam rising from it, blending with the morning light on his handsome face, softening his chiseled features.
He looked down at her, the corners of his eyes crinkling with a smile.
An Jiu stood stunned for a moment before rushing up to the teahouse, appearing before him in an instant.
He set down his cup and smiled. “Don’t recognize me?”
“Chu Dingjiang,” An Jiu said softly.
Chu Dingjiang’s smile deepened. “Come, sit.”
An Jiu finally believed he had once been a noble young master. Though courteous, his every movement differed from the weak, rule-bound scholars of the Song Dynasty. Instead, he exuded an air of nobility mixed with unrestrained freedom, drawing many glances.
“Haven’t had breakfast?” Chu Dingjiang called a waiter, ordering her a basket of buns, some side dishes, and a bowl of plain congee.
When the food arrived, Chu Dingjiang picked up chopsticks and offered them to her.
An Jiu raised her hand, but instead of taking the chopsticks, she pinched his face and tugged hard, muttering as she saw the red mark left behind, “It’s you?”
Mo Sigui’s skills were indeed impressive, healing such a large scar so quickly.
Chu Dingjiang placed the chopsticks in her hand. “Are you that surprised?”
“Mm, it’s like you’ve become a different person,” An Jiu said, stuffing a bun into her mouth. “How did you know I’d be out today?”
Chu Dingjiang smiled mysteriously.
An Jiu suddenly understood. “It was Sui Yunzhu.”
She didn’t know when Chu Dingjiang had won Sui Yunzhu over, but his methods were certainly discreet and efficient.
“Mm,” Chu Dingjiang nodded. “Eat up.”
His actions were the same as before, but with new clothes and without the scar and beard, his entire aura had changed dramatically. Sitting across from him, An Jiu felt a sense of unreality.
After breakfast, they went out together.
An Jiu was still dressed as a young man in drab, short clothes, looking like Chu Dingjiang’s servant as she walked beside him.
“Ah Jiu, let’s get you changed. We’re going to the outskirts,” Chu Dingjiang said.
With his handsome face, tall and muscular build, and unique aura, Chu Dingjiang already drew attention on the street. Add to that An Jiu in servant’s attire walking beside him as an equal, and heads turned wherever they went.
Uncomfortable with the attention, An Jiu agreed. “Alright.”
However, she didn’t understand why she needed to change to the outskirts. She leaned in and whispered, “Are we being followed?”
Seeing her serious expression, Chu Dingjiang found it amusing and nodded solemnly.
They quickened their pace and entered a clothing shop. Chu Dingjiang scanned the hall with a grave air before selecting a moon-white woman’s outfit for her to change into.
The shopkeeper gave them an odd look, which Chu Dingjiang ignored. He tossed some silver on the counter. “Have someone do her hair in a woman’s style. This is payment.”
The shopkeeper pocketed the silver, his mind full of speculations about unsavory affairs. He gave Chu Dingjiang a knowing look and called his wife to do the hair of the “young man” now dressed as a woman.
An Jiu’s boyish disguise already had soft features, so in women’s clothes with a feminine hairstyle, she passed as passable, if not entirely convincing.
Once ready, the two snuck out through the shop’s back door and rented a carriage to leave the city.
“Why didn’t you change?” An Jiu asked, her suspicions growing. She had been carefully scanning with her mental energy but detected no one following them or any threats.
Chu Dingjiang took out a small vial of oil, gently wiped the side of his face, and peeled off a mask.
“You lied to me,” An Jiu said coldly.
Chu Dingjiang had meant it as a joke, but seeing her genuine anger, he could only say, “Don’t be mad. I found you amusing and wanted to tease you. It was my mistake. I’ll accept any punishment.”
His quick admission of fault left An Jiu conflicted. Continuing to be cold seemed petty, but letting it go completely stuck in her craw.
“I’ll keep a tally and think about it,” An Jiu said sternly.
The carriage traveled out of the city, stopping at a pear orchard. At this time of year, the pear blossoms were long gone, and most of the pears were still green, offering little entertainment.
Past the orchard lay vast fields of wildflowers—white, yellow, and purple. By a shimmering stream stood a thatched hut, its path overgrown from disuse.
An Jiu’s mood lifted unconsciously.
The world stretched wide, with no one else around.
Chu Dingjiang wrapped an arm around her waist and, using qinggong, leaped over the flower field. An Jiu’s ribbons fluttered as they flew like immortals, landing gently before the thatched hut.
“I prepared some things last night,” Chu Dingjiang said, entering the hut and bringing out two baskets. He removed his belt and rolled up his sleeves, revealing muscular arms. Smiling at An Jiu, he said, “I slaughtered a suckling pig at dawn. It’ll make a good roast for lunch.”
An Jiu looked at him, feeling a bit dazed. The day felt so perfect it seemed like a fragile dream.
She had dreamed of beauty before—blue skies and white clouds, fields of wildflowers, fruits and peaches, horses and sheep—but never imagined a man in the picture. Yet now, she thought having a man around wasn’t so bad, especially since Chu Dingjiang was entirely different from her father.
“Why are you in a daze? Come here!” Chu Dingjiang called, holding a dressed piglet, his robes tied up casually.
An Jiu felt a sense of familiarity return. She ran over a slight smile on her face. “You’re better like this—messy. That proper gentleman look doesn’t suit you.”
“…”