Calling him “Lord Zhang”…

Zhang Zhe gently grasped Jiang Xuening’s palm in return and asked impassively: “Is there new information?”

Feng Mingyu nodded, smiling: “There is some unusual news. However, outside the city gate here isn’t the place to talk. Let’s enter the city first, find an inn to lodge at, then discuss this matter with you in detail, my lord.”

He still used “my lord.”

This time, even Jiang Xuening heard the subtlety hidden in that form of address.

Her palms grew slightly sweaty.

Zhang Zhe knew the situation had changed. However, no matter how it changed, since these Heavenly Doctrine people hadn’t immediately moved to kill them, it proved this wasn’t yet a dead end.

He went over to lead his horse.

Unexpectedly, Feng Mingyu followed and said: “Though our Heavenly Doctrine’s Tongzhou branch hall is in the city, bringing this group of notorious bandits through makes it inadvisable to swagger through the streets. For prudence’s sake, we think it’s better for everyone to enter in separate groups.”

Jiang Xuening immediately frowned.

Feng Mingyu sensed her displeasure and glanced at her, explaining as if to comfort her: “Though Lord Zhang and your younger sister have traveled together all this way, who knows whether those people might cause some disturbance when passing through the city gate? By rights, you should go with your younger sister. But if one person gets in trouble, the other can’t escape either, which would trouble your conscience. So this old one thought—if you trust us—entering the city separately, having Huang Qian escort Miss Jiang while this old one accompanies you into the city. Would that be appropriate?”

Appropriate or not?

Of course not!

But Jiang Xuening looked up and scanned the surroundings: Heavenly Doctrine followers surrounded them, numerous and powerful. That Huang Qian was even standing nearby with his hand on his blade, eyes fixed unblinkingly on them.

This posture meant that even if inappropriate, it had become entirely appropriate.

Her voice carried sarcasm: “Your sect is truly thoughtful.”

In others’ eyes, she was Zhang Zhe’s younger sister. Being willful was acceptable.

Zhang Zhe gazed at Feng Mingyu for a moment, then said faintly: “Then I shall respectfully accept rather than decline. Thank you for the trouble.”

Most people had already packed up.

Horses led, fires extinguished.

The Heavenly Doctrine people and those fugitives from the imperial prison all walked in groups of three or five.

The happiest was Xiao Dingfei.

Upon getting definite word they’d enter the city, without another word he directly mounted his horse. With a flick of his riding crop, he galloped straight toward the city, only his carefree laughter carrying from far in the darkness: “This young master is going ahead into the city to have fun! I can still catch the girls. You all take your time!”

“…”

Everyone fell silent in unison.

With Xiao Dingfei leading, everyone gradually entered the city in separate groups.

Tongzhou was the vital route for southern regions entering and leaving the capital. Dozens of li outside the city, military camps were still stationed, originally commanded by the Marquis of Yongyi household with strict military discipline. Therefore, over the years there had been few military or bandit problems. Merchants traveling north and south were extremely numerous, so the city gates closed relatively late.

But after the marquis household fell, Tongzhou’s main camp experienced a mutiny and things became somewhat chaotic.

By this hour, some people were inevitably lax.

In the dark, the city guard soldiers’ eyes couldn’t open wide. They yawned repeatedly. Seeing only plainly dressed people coming and going, they felt even less spirited.

The first several groups all entered the city without incident.

Zhang Zhe and Feng Mingyu were at the back.

The two abandoned their horses and walked.

Snow had fallen some days ago. The muddy ground was somewhat moist, but the winter weather was too cold—the earth had frozen solid, quite firm underfoot.

Only at night, the wind blew increasingly cold.

Zhang Zhe’s form was thin, tall, and straight. In the bitter wind, he possessed a certain austere bearing.

Feng Mingyu had seen many spirited heroes in the sect. But after all, jianghu sects had rather common airs. Yet this Lord Zhang before him possessed strict propriety throughout, allowing no fault to be found.

Just this bearing alone made him involuntarily praise it.

But after receiving that letter, Feng Mingyu’s first suspect was him. So now he smiled and said: “Just now, your younger sister seemed rather unhappy. Presumably she’s deeply attached to Lord Zhang—sibling affection is profound. Suddenly separated, her eyes glaring as if she wanted to devour this old one. Ah, it makes this old one feel I’ve become the villain.”

This referred to when he’d separated Zhang Zhe and Jiang Xuening earlier.

Zhang Zhe still had an impression of it.

The Heavenly Doctrine separating them must harbor suspicion. Jiang Xuening wouldn’t fail to see this, but seeing it didn’t necessarily mean she had to swallow this grievance.

Who told her she was a young lady, playing Zhang Zhe’s younger sister?

So when she’d seen Zhang Zhe about to leave with Feng Mingyu, she’d sneered sarcastically, only saying: “The rotten old man clearly has some business with my elder brother but makes grandiose excuses!”

After speaking, she humphed. Her eyes rolled, and she actually stomped hard on Feng Mingyu’s foot!

Feng Mingyu was dumbstruck.

But after stomping, the young lady didn’t care. Without looking at anyone, she charmingly turned her head and walked straight toward Huang Qian.

Zhang Zhe nearly laughed, only able to apologize to Feng Mingyu, saying something about his younger sister having a childish temper and asking Mr. Feng to be understanding.

How could Feng Mingyu quibble?

At his age and in such a special situation, even if angry inside, he couldn’t show it. He could only stiffen his face saying “no matter, no matter,” acting as if nothing had happened.

Now Zhang Zhe lowered his eyes and could still see the footprint left on Feng Mingyu’s boot.

The young lady was clever and mischievous, harboring grudges and refusing to suffer the slightest loss.

Recalling that earlier scene, his originally cool lips gained a softness even he didn’t notice himself. He only said: “My younger sister had poor experiences since childhood. After returning home, she was spoiled by everyone. Her temper isn’t very good. I’ve troubled the Left Minister’s patience.”

That was called “temper isn’t very good”?

Aside from those shrews in the marketplace, Feng Mingyu had never seen such a young lady!

This Lord Zhang’s heart was truly biased beyond measure.

But he’d opened his mouth now also harboring suspicion, so he said: “Poor experiences? Isn’t she your younger sister?”

Thus Zhang Zhe knew he’d guessed correctly.

After receiving that letter, the Heavenly Doctrine side had indeed become suspicious of him and Jiang Xuening. Especially since he alone was in danger yet still brought a young lady—no matter how one thought about it, it defied reason. So they wanted to probe something from this, which was why they separated him from Jiang Xuening.

Only Jiang Xuening’s background…

Zhang Zhe opened his mouth, then closed it. Finally avoiding this topic, his face returned to coolness, only saying: “Old matters from years past. I’m unwilling to mention them again.”

This attitude showed scruples and unwillingness to speak, not seeming false.

Feng Mingyu was also someone skilled in human nature and worldly wisdom.

His mind turned and he changed the topic, half-joking: “Then this little miss is somewhat difficult to serve. This old one has offended her. Does your younger sister have anything she likes—food or playthings—this old one will ask first. When we enter the city shortly, I’ll have some brothers from the sect arrange it to make your sister happy and calm her anger.”

Ostensibly, Zhang Zhe had come on orders from Mountain Man Du Jun.

The saying goes: if not for the monk’s face, then for the Buddha’s.

Feng Mingyu being courteous to Zhang Zhe and by extension courteous to Zhang Zhe’s younger sister was reasonable, so saying this wasn’t problematic.

But Zhang Zhe had long been practiced at interrogating criminals in prison, deeply knowing that if two criminals jointly committed a crime, separating and interrogating them individually would inevitably make them reveal flaws.

The Heavenly Doctrine was playing no other scheme than this.

Only this question…

What did Jiang Xuening like?

Zhang Zhe thought—she liked fine clothes and beautiful food, garden tours and pleasures. She’d once searched throughout the empire for chefs to make peach slice cakes for her, then fastidiously said none tasted good. After tormenting them for half a year, when she tired of it, she ordered those chefs driven from the palace.

Shen Jie had theater troupes brought into the palace for her.

Palace maids, to curry her favor, simply became too lazy to even seduce the Emperor, attending daily at Kunning Palace to show her trendy novelties from outside.

She liked cloud-mist tea, peach slice cakes, water treading, cuju, listening to opera, playing double-six…

Everything fun, everything delicious.

But this also became a handle for upright ministers throughout court and country to attack her. They detested her pleasures, detested her lack of propriety, impeaching her for not knowing frugality, lacking the demeanor to be mother of the empire.

Jiang Xuening, in fury, cut all the peonies in the Imperial Garden bald.

During that period when they entered the palace, the peonies they saw in the Imperial Garden—cluster after cluster with broken flowers and leaves, a miserable sight.

Some ministers said the eunuchs tending flowers were negligent in their duties.

The attending eunuchs quietly reported: “This was the Empress herself with scissors, saying she knew His Majesty had recently been summoning several ministers to tour and discuss matters in the Imperial Garden. She specially cut them to show the ministers a beautiful spring color, to relieve boredom.”

Those old ministers immediately became furious, blowing beards and glaring eyes.

Shen Jie came from Qianqing Palace. Seeing that chaotic scene, he couldn’t help laughing aloud. After coughing a few times, he became serious but showed no intention to investigate. Like a peacemaker, he glossed over it: “The Empress was thoughtful, though it looks, looks…”

After “looking” for a long time, he finally picked a word.

Then said: “Somewhat unconventional, that’s all.”

Seeing Zhang Zhe hadn’t answered for a while, Feng Mingyu couldn’t help saying: “Your sister doesn’t like anything?”

Zhang Zhe paused, then said: “She likes everything.”

Feng Mingyu said: “But your sister seems somewhat…”

Somewhat picky.

Feng Mingyu didn’t say this explicitly.

But Zhang Zhe suddenly recalled that beautiful bird.

Blue-green feathers covering its wings, a long tail beautiful as a phoenix’s—reportedly called a “phoenix-tailed magpie.”

That time was still at the summer palace.

The day before, he’d encountered that legendary Empress at the lotus pond’s stone pavilion and suffered difficulties. The next day, Shen Jie took civil and military officials to the hunting grounds.

Jiang Xuening was naturally there too.

She wore splendid clothing, holding an exquisite fragrant fan in hand, sitting under the tent only watching others from afar, appearing quite disinterested.

Until several beautiful birds flew past those mountain forests.

Blue-green colors, extraordinarily bright.

She was immediately captivated, standing up and grabbing the corner of Shen Jie’s black dragon robe with gold patterns, pointing at those small birds: “I want that!”

Shen Jie naturally indulged her.

He immediately told those young men participating in the hunt that whoever could shoot down those phoenix-tailed magpies would be heavily rewarded.

Those people were naturally eager to try.

But after busying themselves for ages, there were no results.

Jiang Xuening became rather unhappy.

So Shen Jie comforted her: “Just a small bird. If you truly like them, another day I’ll have the inner palace select a few for you and hang them all outside the palace gate. Would that be good?”

But Jiang Xuening said: “What’s interesting about ones raised in the palace? I want the ones from outside.”

So Shen Jie had no solution either and sighed.

Just then, some soldiers in the Imperial Guards suddenly cried out, interjecting: “Doesn’t Grand Tutor have excellent archery? I saw it last time—hitting a willow leaf at a hundred paces!”

Originally, Xie Wei wouldn’t come for the Chengde summer retreat.

He remained in the capital handling some court affairs for the Emperor. But recently there were several difficult matters to discuss with the Emperor, so he’d ridden here yesterday. The Emperor let him rest a day. Today he hadn’t left yet—it was opportune timing.

Once these words were spoken, everyone’s gazes immediately converged on him.

This young current Grand Tutor was then wearing pale blue Daoist robes, lightly furrowing his brows.

But Shen Jie laughed and invited him to try.

Jiang Xuening seemed not to regard this person highly. Her lips imperceptibly curled downward. Behind them, she added coolly: “Make it alive.”

At that time, Xie Wei had already drawn his bow, arrow on the string.

Hearing this, he looked back at Jiang Xuening.

Zhang Zhe at the time thought this current Grand Tutor with his sage reputation probably, like other ministers, held Jiang Xuening in low regard.

With a “whoosh,” the arrow pierced the clouds like lightning shooting toward the forest.

The arrow shaft incredibly and perilously grazed the left wing of one phoenix-tailed magpie!

That bird cried out miserably, unable to steady itself, falling at a slant and dropping to the grass.

Thus Jiang Xuening completely lost that maternal demeanor befitting the empire. She couldn’t help calling out joyfully, as if forgetting her dislike of Xie Wei, hurriedly telling the palace attendants beside her to catch that bird.

The palace attendants retrieved the bird—it was actually still alive.

Only its wing was somewhat injured, yet it remained brilliantly beautiful, just right for raising in a cage and hanging under the corridor.

From then on, everyone throughout the palace knew the Empress kept a beautiful bird in Kunning Palace.

Everyone was happy those days.

Because when the Empress smiled, she looked very beautiful. Those brows and eyes more brilliant than bird feathers bent gently, surpassing even Luoyang peonies, radiantly making people feel their hearts melting.

She liked sitting under the corridor watching that bird.

Sitting for most of the day.

But day by day, her smile grew fainter each day.

Finally, half a month later, the smile disappeared from her face.

Palace attendants whispered that Her Majesty hung that cage under the corridor, sitting and watching for half each day, yet grew more melancholy each day.

One night, rain fell heavily.

The next morning when palace attendants arose, they surprisingly saw that exquisite birdcage fallen under the corridor. Its small door had opened. The beautiful bird inside was nowhere to be found.

The palace attendants were terrified, trembling as they reported this matter.

But Jiang Xuening showed no reaction.

She reportedly slept for two days straight in the palace, ignoring even the Emperor’s visits. From that day forward, Kunning Palace’s corridor was clean and bare. Never again was half a bird’s cry heard.

Perhaps fine clothes and beautiful food, amusements and pleasures—none were what she truly liked?

She only loved that bird with brilliant feathers.

Only sometimes when people are in the mountains, they don’t know their own hearts.

Zhang Zhe raised his head to look at that deep black sky, but recalled the words the young woman had said to him by that river at the village, suddenly very happy for her.

What of dangerous circumstances?

He looked back at Feng Mingyu, saying calmly: “She’s not picky.”

Not picky?

Feng Mingyu thought privately he certainly hadn’t seen it. Thinking that talking in circles with this deadpan face, who knew how long it would take to extract what he wanted to hear, he simply abandoned those miscellaneous words and asked directly: “But this old one doesn’t understand—your sister being such a delicate young lady, how could you bear to bring her out? If there’s some mishap, how would you handle it?”