Her current circumstances were already precarious enough — she absolutely could not allow Xie Changgeng to grow suspicious of her actions, and even less could she let him discover Xi’er’s existence, lest it add trouble upon trouble.
Though her heart was filled with reluctance, a temporary separation was unavoidable. Mu Fulan’s reason reminded her of what she must now do.
After settling everything, she dared not linger too long. Suppressing the overwhelming reluctance in her heart, she had no choice but to part from Xi’er, who had only just returned to her side that very day.
She stood at the rear gate of the mountain path leading to the pagoda forest, gazing at the small figure being sent down the mountain.
Such a tiny child — so clearly unwilling to be parted from her, yet so well-behaved, not a single cry or fuss. He only kept turning to look back at her, his eyes brimming with tears, filled with nothing but longing for her.
Mu Fulan stood there the entire time, watching her son’s figure until it had completely disappeared from sight, before finally turning to leave.
By the time she entered the city and returned to the residence, it was already evening. Like the days before, Xie Changgeng had not yet come home at that hour. But the moment she stepped through the door, the steward brought her a piece of news.
A report had come from Hexi — the northern forces were stirring, and the Military Governor would not be able to remain in the capital for the New Year after all. He was to depart for Hexi in three days’ time.
Mu Fulan’s expression remained largely unchanged. She simply instructed that someone pack his things as soon as possible, though inwardly her nerves immediately tightened.
She had originally thought he would leave no earlier than after the New Year, giving her at least half a month’s time. She had not anticipated such a sudden change — only three days remained now.
With him leaving, the question of where she would go next — or rather, the direction of the “fate” that now lay before her — had suddenly been thrust squarely in front of her, pressing and urgent.
Grateful that she had made the decisive arrangement for Xi’er that very day, Mu Fulan immediately turned her mind to a notion she had been quietly weighing over and over in recent days.
She did not have much time left. She had to act, and quickly.
That evening, Xie Changgeng returned even later than usual. The steward had no doubt already told him that Mu Fulan had gone to the Protection of the Nation Temple to pray that day. He said nothing of it. When he returned and crossed paths with her in the room, he merely gave her a cold glance, then went to his study. He came back very late, by which time Mu Fulan had already gone to bed with the bed curtains drawn.
He still slept on the couch, as before, no different from any other night.
The following morning, after Xie Changgeng left, Mu Fulan was summoned into the palace by Empress Dowager Liu. With Hexi unsettled and Xie Changgeng soon to return to Liangzhou, the Empress Dowager asked what her plans were.
Mu Fulan continued to play the fool, saying that he had been very busy these past few days, going out early and returning late, and had not mentioned the matter to her at all. She had no idea what to do herself. She would be content to follow him to Liangzhou or return to Xie County to attend to her mother-in-law — whatever her husband arranged.
Empress Dowager Liu did not keep Mu Fulan long. After she left, the Empress Dowager watched her departing figure and asked the eunuch Yang beside her: “What do you make of it?”
Eunuch Yang replied, “Military Governor Xie is about to leave the capital, yet Consort Mu still does not know where she will go. It is clear the Military Governor does not have her in his thoughts.”
The Empress Dowager nodded. “That is my assessment as well. This Consort Mu is beautiful on the surface, but she has a timid, spineless character and is terribly dull. Even if she initially won Lord Xie’s favor through her looks, it cannot last.”
Eunuch Yang said with a smile, “Indeed. Your Majesty need not concern yourself that she will bewitch or drive a wedge between the Military Governor.”
The Empress Dowager smiled. “On that count, there is no need to worry. But since I have summoned her to the capital, I cannot very well let her leave so soon. I shall have her stay on a while longer.”
Eunuch Yang was momentarily startled, then suddenly understood.
Though the Changsha Kingdom was small and its forces weak, it was still enfeoffed princely territory. Even if the Empress Dowager had no intention of moving against it right now, there was no guarantee that side would stay quiet — seizing the opportunity to stir up trouble during unrest was not impossible. Word had it that Mu Xuanqing was very fond of his royal sister. Keeping Consort Mu as a hostage would naturally be of use.
“Your Majesty intends to use her as a hostage to keep Mu Xuanqing in check?”
“What do you think?”
Eunuch Yang considered for a moment, then said carefully: “Your Majesty, there is something your servant has never understood. Why has Your Majesty not also brought the Military Governor’s mother to the capital? The Military Governors hold great armies — the Military Governor Xie in particular. Though he is utterly loyal to Your Majesty, the human heart is difficult to fathom. Should he ever…”
He paused.
“I have heard he is a filial son. Why not find some pretext to bring his elderly mother to the capital as well? That way, it would be perfectly natural for Consort Mu to remain and attend to her mother-in-law. Your Majesty would then have a hostage from the Military Governor and a hostage from the Changsha Kingdom both — would that not be killing two birds with one stone?”
The Empress Dowager shook her head.
“If I find a pretext to detain Consort Mu, Lord Xie will not resist. But if I also bring his mother here, he will suspect that I do not trust him and am using his mother as a hostage.”
She gazed into the distance for a moment.
“Even if one wishes to use hostages, now is not the time. At present we are beset by difficulties both within and without — this is precisely the moment when he is needed. There is no need to invite unnecessary complications.”
Eunuch Yang bowed hastily. “Yes, yes — Your Majesty’s thinking is most thorough. Your servant spoke out of turn.”
The Empress Dowager smiled. “Then it is settled. When he comes to see me, I shall inform him of this matter — that Consort Mu will be detained in the capital as a hostage.”
Eunuch Yang flattered her: “Your Majesty’s wisdom is unmatched!”
Mu Fulan left the palace and returned to the Xie residence. That afternoon, under the pretense of returning a social call on the wife of a capital official, she went out. Partway along the route, she invented an excuse to dismiss the accompanying steward. Inside the carriage, she changed into a plain and unremarkable set of clothes. She then alighted from the carriage and instead boarded a sedan chair she had arranged in advance, making her way to a wine house in the western part of the city.
Internal Secretariat Secretary Zhang Ban had received a sealed letter bearing the name of Changsha Kingdom’s Chancellor Lu Lin, arranging to meet him at this wine house at the hour of wei that day.
Zhang Ban’s heart was full of misgivings.
The last time, he had accepted a substantial bribe from Lu Lin and spoken on behalf of Changsha Kingdom in front of the Empress Dowager. Now, receiving a letter from him again so unexpectedly was startling — he could not fathom how the man had the audacity to come secretly to the capital, nor what in the world he meant by arranging this meeting. Having taken a man’s money, one inevitably felt a certain weakness of hand. He was inwardly ill at ease, even displeased.
But since the invitation had been sent, he knew that if he did not show up, the other party would certainly not let the matter rest. With no alternative, he stripped off his official robes, disguised himself, and slipped quietly to the private room at the wine house mentioned in the letter.
Zhang Ban arrived at the door of the private room, glanced behind him to confirm no suspicious persons were following, and pushed the door open.
The room was perfectly quiet, with no one else in sight. Behind the decorative screen, the faint outline of a figure was just barely visible.
Zhang Ban stopped and fixed his gaze on that figure. “I am here. What is your business?”
The figure moved, stepping out from behind the screen.
It was a young woman dressed in the manner of a married lady, who appeared to be no more than sixteen or seventeen, of extraordinary beauty. She gave a smiling nod in his direction.
Zhang Ban’s gaze fell upon her and froze for a moment. A beat later, realization dawned on him, and he was thoroughly astonished.
“Who are you? How do you come to be here?”
Mu Fulan said, “I am the royal sister of the Prince of Changsha. Today, I borrowed Chancellor Lu’s name to invite the Secretary here to meet.”
Zhang Ban was even more surprised.
He naturally knew that Mu Xuanqing’s sister had married Xie Changgeng and had recently arrived in the capital. But he could never have imagined she would dare use Lu Lin’s name to lure him here like this.
What in the world was her intention?
His expression shifted slightly, and he quickly glanced behind him.
Mu Fulan walked slowly toward him and said with a smile, “Secretary Zhang need not worry. I have invited you here today with no ill intent whatsoever — I have a matter I wish to discuss with you.”
Zhang Ban steadied himself, let out a quiet breath, and without looking directly at her, composed his expression and said coldly: “What matter?”
Mu Fulan said, “The last time, it was thanks to Secretary Zhang’s generous heart and righteous assistance that Changsha Kingdom was able to find peace. My royal brother is deeply grateful. When I set out, he specifically instructed me that should I have the chance to see the Secretary in person, I must offer his thanks on his behalf.”
“Enough of that. You are a woman — you have gone to the trouble of impersonating Lu Lin’s name to see me here, and I very much doubt it is merely to convey gratitude. What else do you want?”
Mu Fulan smiled. “I had long heard that Secretary Zhang is not only a capable official, but a forthright man. Having met you today, I can see that is indeed so — and I find that I do so enjoy dealing with men of the Secretary’s character. Since the Secretary has asked directly, I shall not mince words either. To be perfectly honest, the reason I have taken the liberty of inviting you here today is that I have a favor to ask.”
Zhang Ban, hearing that she had come to ask something of him, could not help but glance sideways at her. She fixed a pair of beautiful eyes on him, her gaze unwavering, and he felt suddenly lightheaded. Unconsciously lifting his chin, he said: “What favor?”
“The Secretary holds an important position — a pillar of strength before the Empress Dowager herself — and you surely know that because of my background in Changsha Kingdom, my current circumstances are not easy. Xie Changgeng will be leaving the capital in a few days, and I fear the Empress Dowager will detain me in the capital to use as a hostage. Today I have boldly asked the Secretary out, hoping that the Secretary, for my royal brother’s sake, might lend me a hand. If you could persuade the Empress Dowager to abandon this idea and allow me to leave the capital, not only would my royal brother express his gratitude — I myself would be endlessly thankful to the Secretary.”
Zhang Ban glanced at her again.
“Consort Mu, there is something I do not understand. You and Xie Changgeng are husband and wife — there is affection between you. In a matter like this, why do you not seek him out, but instead come asking an outsider like me?”
Mu Fulan said, “Does the Secretary truly not know what manner of man he is? What affection could he and I possibly have as husband and wife? So long as the Empress Dowager commands it, not only would he not lift an eyebrow if I were detained as a hostage for Changsha Kingdom — he might not even flinch if she took my life.”
Zhang Ban shook his head and sighed. “That you see things so clearly shows you are no fool. What a pity your royal father gave you away in marriage to the wrong man. Since you have come to me, it is not that I am unwilling to help — only that this particular favor may be rather difficult to manage…”
His gaze came to rest on Mu Fulan’s face and stayed there.
This Zhang Ban was composed on the surface, but in truth was a man given to licentiousness. How could Mu Fulan not see the odd gleam gradually appearing in his eyes as he looked at her? She smiled and said: “I know this matter is not simple. Should the Secretary be willing to help, once it is accomplished, I will certainly make it worth your while.”
Zhang Ban knew it would be unwise to tamper with Xie Changgeng’s wife. But faced with such a beautiful woman who had come to him of her own accord, he had no desire to refuse outright either. Hearing a hint in her words, he cleared his throat and drew his expression into an even more composed look.
“What do you mean?”
Mu Fulan stepped toward him a few paces and said in a low voice: “The Secretary may not yet know — Xie Changgeng harbors intentions of rebellion. Others may not be aware of this, but he and I are husband and wife, sharing the same bed every night — how could he hide it from me?”
Zhang Ban was taken aback. The light, flirtatious look on his face vanished instantly. His eyes fixed on Mu Fulan, and his expression became gravely serious.
“Consort Mu — is this truly so?”
Mu Fulan nodded. “It is absolutely true. I once heard him let slip treasonous words in his sleep. If a man does not think of such things during the day, how could he dream of them at night? He is enormously ambitious — is he truly the sort who would be content to serve under others forever? Even if I had not happened to overhear his sleep-talking, the Secretary is surely sharp-eyed enough to see it clearly in his own heart.”
Zhang Ban and Xie Changgeng — one in charge of internal affairs, one commanding forces outside — were both men the Empress Dowager regarded as “pillars and confidants.” Now that Xie Changgeng’s power had grown so substantially, Zhang Ban had come to feel like a man fallen from favor. Given his nature, how could he be entirely unmoved?
She watched Zhang Ban and, seeing that he said nothing, continued: “When my royal father betrothed me to Xie Changgeng, his intention was to gain an ally for Changsha Kingdom. Yet who would have thought he would turn out to be such a cold and ruthless man — everything he does is for his own advancement, without a shred of regard for Changsha Kingdom? Changsha Kingdom only seeks to protect itself. Rather than depending on him, we would be better served placing our trust in you, Secretary Zhang.”
“Should the Secretary help me escape, without being kept in the capital as a hostage, I am willing to keep watch over Xie Changgeng’s movements on your behalf. The moment I obtain solid evidence, I will bring it to you.”
Zhang Ban appeared outwardly calm, but inwardly his thoughts had already turned over countless times.
In only a few short years, Xie Changgeng had risen with such stunning speed, rendering meritorious service one after another, growing ever more favored in the Empress Dowager’s eyes, and posing an increasing threat to Zhang Ban’s own position. Zhang Ban had never let a hint of this show on the surface — whenever the two met, he was all smiles and cordiality — but in his heart, he had long since begun to seethe with anxiety and jealousy.
Just at the start of the year, he had secretly incited a court official to bring a matter before the Empress Dowager, insinuating that Xie Changgeng had the means and opportunity to commit treason, and urging the Empress Dowager to take precautions. But to his dismay, the Empress Dowager was not only unmoved — she had the man punished on charges of false accusation. Since then, not a single voice in the court had dared utter another word on the subject.
All this time, Zhang Ban had been agonized by his inability to lay hands on concrete evidence of Xie Changgeng’s treasonous intent — and now, the opportunity had simply come to him.
Consort Mu slept at Xie Changgeng’s side. No matter how guarded Xie Changgeng might be, he would never imagine that she could become one of Zhang Ban’s people.
Given how small and weak Changsha Kingdom was, dependent on the whims of others, and with Xie Changgeng now clearly useless to rely upon, she would be desperate for anyone willing to help — and he was offering that help. She was not likely to cross him after the fact and treat him like a fool. If she could be put to use as a pair of ears and eyes planted at Xie Changgeng’s side, and one day real, incontrovertible proof came to light, he could then present it before the Empress Dowager — why would she not believe him?
Zhang Ban suppressed the surge of excitement roiling within him and let a smile slowly spread across his face.
He looked at Mu Fulan and gave a nod.
“Consort Mu — then it is agreed. From this day on, the affairs of Changsha Kingdom are my affairs. Your present situation — I will do my utmost to assist you.”
Mu Fulan came out, boarded the sedan chair back to where the carriage was waiting, climbed in and changed back into her original clothes. Seeing that nothing seemed out of order, she called for them to return.
The carriage came to a stop before the Xie residence gate. She stepped out, supported down by a maidservant, and was just about to go inside when a voice came from behind: “My lady, please wait!”
Mu Fulan turned and saw a servant dressed in the manner of a wealthy household come running out from the entrance of a nearby alley, hurrying to her side and bowing, saying he had been sent by the consort of Prince Qi. “This servant has come to deliver a letter to you on behalf of our Consort…”
As he spoke, he reached into his chest to feel for the letter. Just at that moment, the sound of hoofbeats came from behind. The man turned and, seeing that Xie Changgeng had also returned in the distance, immediately recalled his master’s instructions and hastily withdrew his hand. He apologized and said he could not find the letter — he must have accidentally dropped it on the road somewhere — and that he would go back and look for it first. With that, he turned and hurried away.
Mu Fulan was momentarily baffled. For one thing, she could not understand why the consort of Prince Qi would suddenly be sending her a letter, nor what she might want to say. For another, something about the behavior of this messenger struck her as peculiar. But since the man was gone, she thought no more of it. She glanced at Xie Changgeng riding back on horseback, then turned and went inside.
Xie Changgeng arrived at the gate shortly after and dismounted. The gatekeeper came out to receive him.
He cast a look in the direction the man had so abruptly turned and fled upon seeing him return, and asked a brief question.
The gatekeeper replied, “He said he was sent by the consort of Prince Qi to deliver a letter to my lady. He arrived a good while ago, and when he learned my lady had gone out, he refused to leave the letter with me and insisted on waiting. Just now, when my lady returned, he said he could no longer find the letter.”
Xie Changgeng glanced once more in the direction the man had gone, then called over a retainer, gave a brief instruction, and went inside himself to wait behind the spirit wall. In a moment, the retainer returned and reported: “I caught up with that man just now — subdued him in a few moves. This letter was found on his person.” He held it out.
Xie Changgeng took it and broke the seal.
Just as he had suspected — the letter was not from the consort of Prince Qi at all. It had come from Zhao Xitai, the heir apparent of Prince Qi’s household.
Xie Changgeng scanned the contents of the letter, and his face immediately darkened with a somber expression. He called over a maidservant who happened to be passing nearby and ordered the letter to be delivered to Mu Fulan.
“Tell her it was I who sent you with it!”
The maidservant, seeing the master’s face so forbidding, was somewhat frightened. She took the letter and turned quickly to go. A few steps away, a voice came from behind: “Stop!”
The maidservant halted at once and turned around. Seeing Military Governor Xie walking toward her, she watched as he took the letter back, clasped it in his hand, and strode away inside.