Gu Qingying wept bitterly as her maids supported her. She struggled long when boarding the carriage, but the stronger guards forced her inside.
In contrast to Gu Qingying’s emotional state, Mei Zhaoxue was much calmer. Since the Imperial Guards’ attack on the mansion, she had been confined to Linghan Courtyard. Leaving the mansion now felt like a relief, so she bowed to Jiang Taohua before departing.
“I’ve been thinking lately,” Mei Zhaoxue said, her gaze profound as she looked at Taohua. “Why bother with lesser talents when greater ones exist?”
Taohua smiled slightly. “How can our modest skills compare to those of great figures? Haven’t you realized yet? Those who think themselves clever often suffer the worst defeats.”
“I simply lacked the necessary skills,” Mei Zhaoxue replied, looking at her. “But don’t be too smug. With three kingdoms at war, you’ll eventually meet the same fate as me, no matter how clever you are.”
Taohua’s heart skipped a beat as she frowned. “What do you mean by that?”
Mei Zhaoxue chuckled lightly. “Today my family is ruined and I’m cast out. Tomorrow it will be your turn to see your country and home destroyed. Didn’t we all truly believe we were cherished and loved? Yet look now – what won’t he sacrifice for what he wants? Imagining you’ll end up as pitiful as me, I no longer care to scheme.”
With a wry smile, Taohua nodded to her. “Thank you for the advice.”
She wasn’t foolish enough to let Shen Zaiye manipulate her unchecked. She knew the three warring kingdoms meant Wei harbored ambitions of unification, but she had no choice now. She could only let Changjie follow Wei in attacking Wu. But after that, the situation would be unpredictable.
Mei Zhaoxue glanced at her, eyes full of pity, before boarding the carriage with dignity. Taohua stood at the gate, watching the carriage disappear before smiling and returning to the mansion.
That evening, Shen Zaiye prepared a lavish feast, timed perfectly for Qian Baimei’s return.
“Your timing is impeccable,” Qian Baimei said, covered in blood spatter including his hair and face. He glanced at Taohua nearby, tossed several seals to Shen Zaiye, and then asked, “Where can I bathe?”
“It’s already prepared,” Shen Zaiye pointed to a side hall. Qian Baimei rose and swept away like the wind. Soon he returned, hair still damp, clean, and refreshed, all traces of blood gone.
He had donned his peony robe again, pristine as ever.
Shen Zaiye always treated meritorious officials well. Suppressing his temperament, he smiled and said, “You seem to cherish this robe greatly, unwilling to stain it with blood.”
After every battle, his robe remained immaculate.
Sitting down irritably, Qian Baimei retorted, “What choice do I have? A married-off disciple is like spilled water. No one will make me new robes anymore, so I must take care of the old ones, right?”
Shen Zaiye paused, then turned to look at Taohua with a gentle smile. Though his gaze seemed tender, for some reason it nearly made Jiang Taohua drop her chopsticks in fright.
“That was my apprenticeship gift,” Taohua said softly. “Master said since he took me as a disciple for free, I couldn’t really repay him, so he gave me the pattern and materials to embroider a robe. It took me several months back then!”
“So you’re not incapable of women’s work after all,” Shen Zaiye said with a forced smile, lifting his collar. “Then can you explain these strange patterns?”
He had been quite pleased when he received this robe this afternoon. Though the embroidery was truly awful, at least she had finally put some effort into giving him a gift.
However, that bit of happiness was immediately extinguished in the face of Qian Baimei’s grand red peony robe.
A robe that took months of embroidery for others was completed in just days for him and with the simplest, crudest patterns at that. Was this woman truly tired of living?
Taohua laughed nervously, touching the straight-line pattern on his collar. “Isn’t this unique? You can tell it’s my handiwork at a glance.”
Qian Baimei glanced at him as well. “If you don’t like it, take it off and give it to me.”
Swallowing his anger, Shen Zaiye snorted coldly and picked up his chopsticks. “Let’s eat first.”
Qian Baimei had already started eating, muttering that the mansion’s chef’s skills weren’t bad. He continued, “The guards at Wei’s official residences are not up to par. I thought with so many people it would take at least two days, but I finished in just one.”
Shen Zaiye frowned. “The mansions you went to each had dozens of guards. How is that not up to par?”
Taohua laughed nervously. “My lord, Zhao’s official residences don’t use guards – they all use imperial guards.”
“Why?” Shen Zaiye asked, puzzled. “Is it that dangerous?”
Taohua glanced at her master but said nothing.
Qian Baimei explained, “Probably because I like to visit their homes frequently, so they got scared.”
Shen Zaiye: “…”
What kind of person was this? Frequently breaking into official residences, killing indiscriminately, and so fearless?
“But they should thank me,” Qian Baimei continued. “It’s precisely because they increased their vigilance that ordinary assassins can’t take them down.”
Shen Zaiye closed his eyes. “After today, Wei’s officials will have to thank you too. I’m afraid their vigilance will increase significantly.”
“Anyway, those you disliked are all dead. Whether the rest are on guard or not, you don’t care,” Qian Baimei put down his bowl and narrowed his eyes at the man across from him. “Can you fulfill what you promised me?”
“Rest assured,” Shen Zaiye nodded. “I never go back on my word.”
“But…” Qian Baimei said, “Although everyone who saw my face is dead, this silver hair can’t be hidden. People will recognize me as the recent mass murderer as soon as they see me. Perhaps soon someone will uncover my identity in Zhao. Can you resolve this before then?”
Shen Zaiye glanced up at him. “If you’re not at ease, why not take a look around the streets after the meal?”
Wouldn’t he be arrested immediately? Qian Baimei frowned, but out of curiosity, he decided to try.
So as the lanterns were first lit, Qian Baimei took to the streets, his silver hair uncovered and trailing behind him ostentatiously. His loose red peony robe made him look both languid and dangerous.
The commoners on the street were stunned, freezing in place as they saw him. Qian Baimei observed, thinking these people must fear him. It seemed his reputation had truly spread throughout Wei’s capital in just one day.
Just as he was pondering this, someone suddenly emerged beside him, pulling him into a nearby school.
“…” He disliked being touched and instinctively moved to shake off the hand. Turning his head, he saw it was a middle-aged woman looking at him anxiously. “Hero, how dare you come out so boldly at this time? The officials are still searching for you!”
What did she call him? Qian Baimei was stunned, thinking he must have misheard. “Hero? Are you talking to me?”
“Of course it’s you!” The woman pulled him further inside. “Although I don’t recognize you, this silver hair is unmistakable. You’re the great hero who punishes evil and upholds justice, acting on Heaven’s behalf!”
Qian Baimei: “…?”
Bewildered, he was dragged inside. The school was full of scholars and literati who froze upon seeing him, then surged forward to push him into a room.
“Be careful, sir!” A scholar frowned. “We’ll cover for you. Hurry and leave – the official patrol will pass by here!”
“Yes!” Some scholars kept watch while others searched for an escape route. Those nearest to him even knelt, clasping their hands in salute. “Meeting you today is truly our great fortune. Please accept our bow!”
Dumbfounded, Qian Baimei was used to being the villain and had never received such treatment. He couldn’t help but grab someone nearby and ask with furrowed brows, “Why do you call me a hero and a righteous man?”
“Because you’ve eliminated evildoers for the people!” The middle-aged woman nearby said. “We common folk aren’t ignorant. Those you killed were all thoroughly wicked! Someone’s already investigated – Mei Fengchang was corrupt, extorting money from the people. He had hundreds of thousands of taels of silver and gold in his home! And that Grand Commandant Chu allowed his relatives to murder in the army, deceiving superiors and oppressing subordinates, framing loyal officials! Heaven may not protect virtue, but we have a hero to seek justice for the people. How wonderful!”
Qian Baimei: “…”
Shen Zaiye’s skill at guiding public opinion was truly formidable. He had merely killed people, yet somehow became a hero.
However, how many officials were truly upright and honest? If you killed ten at random, nine would be corrupt. So perhaps he did deserve the title of hero.
With the common people spontaneously covering for him, all that remained was for the officials to cease pursuing him, and peace would be restored.
That man must have laid the groundwork days ago, waiting for him to finish the killings so public opinion would support him. If jianghu figures continued to hunt him now, it would go against the will of the people and invite condemnation.
His worries were indeed unnecessary. Though Shen Zaiye’s martial arts were unremarkable, his abilities were not to be underestimated.
Basking in everyone’s adoration, Qian Baimei returned to the mansion in high spirits. For once, he looked at Shen Zaiye directly. “The killings weren’t in vain. I’ll give you credit for that.”
Shen Zaiye smiled, swirling the tea in his cup. “Soon someone will investigate and clarify the crimes of those who died and submit a memorial to me. I’ll then order the officials to cease pursuing you for the killings. As for the martial arts alliance, Xu Yangui will handle that for you. You can rest easy.”
“Good,” Qian Baimei clapped his hands, narrowing his eyes at Shen Zaiye. “But there’s one thing I don’t understand. Since you can guide public opinion to see me as a hero, why not clear your name of slander?”
Earlier on the streets, many were saying why hadn’t Shen Zaiye been killed too, as he was the biggest corrupt official and traitor. How could such a capable person allow himself to have such a reputation?
“There’s no need,” Shen Zaiye replied. “I’m not a good person to begin with, so I don’t care what others say. Right now, I’m more concerned about whether Jiang Changjie can help His Majesty take Wu’s border cities.”
(End of Chapter)