Watching his friend’s expression shift between frowning and smiling, Cheng Lei couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. Love was truly something not to be trifled with. Before, he had found Fu Yun Xi’s coldness frightening, but now these mood swings were even more unsettling.
“How’s the investigation in Shu territory going?” The last time Fu Yun Xi had ordered his men to investigate the Tang Clan matters in Ba-Shu, it had greatly surprised Cheng Lei. Fu Yun Xi had never shown much interest in jianghu affairs. Later, learning it was Han Yan’s request, he found it puzzling – after all, why would a sheltered young lady want to investigate a jianghu sect?
Fu Yun Xi’s expression changed slightly as he recalled his men’s findings. The embroidered handkerchief was indeed unique to the Tang Clan, but there was no one named Qiao in the clan. After extensive inquiries, they learned that the Tang Clan leader’s youngest daughter was called Tang Qiao, nicknamed Little Qiao, but she had died from a severe illness twenty years ago. Fu Yun Xi’s spies had visited Little Qiao’s tomb only to find it empty.
Fu Yun Xi couldn’t fathom why the Tang Clan would construct an empty tomb, but his spies reported that the clan harbored deep fear and hatred toward court officials. Being skilled in poison use, the spies couldn’t investigate further for fear of discovery.
“It’s related to the imperial court,” he said gravely.
Cheng Lei was startled: “Jianghu sects and the court usually keep to themselves. How did they become involved? Since sister-in-law asked you to investigate, doesn’t that mean she’s connected to the court?” At this thought, Cheng Lei’s expression suddenly changed: “Come to think of it, it is strange. Sister-in-law is merely a fifth-rank official’s daughter, supposedly having no connection to the palace. Yet since her appearance at the palace banquet, Wei Ru Feng, the Seventh Prince, and the Empress Dowager have all been watching her moves. It doesn’t make sense.”
At that time, Han Yan wasn’t yet Xuan Qing Wang Fei, just a common official’s daughter, yet Wei Ru Feng wanted to personally make her his heir’s wife, and the Empress Dowager even considered arranging the marriage. Could there be some hidden connection?
Fu Yun Xi watched the green tea leaves floating in his cup. The court was already murky waters, and they were determined to drag Han Yan in – their motives couldn’t be simple. Cheng Lei suddenly said, “Oh right, Yun Xi, there’s something else.”
Fu Yun Xi raised his eyes to look at him as Cheng Lei continued uncertainly: “I had several men watching the Zhuang mansion day and night, and discovered others are monitoring it too.”
This was peculiar. Watching Han Yan was one thing, but why monitor the mansion day and night? Could the Zhuang mansion hold some unspeakable secret?
Fu Yun Xi said coldly, “They’re getting restless.” He had long suspected the Zhuang mansion held something important but hadn’t confirmed it. Now with repeated assassination attempts on Han Yan, and Zhang Tai Shi’s favored concubine staying there for so many days, it must be related to that thing. As long as Han Yan remained in the Zhuang mansion, not yet officially moved to the Xuan Qing Wang mansion, her fate remained tied to the Zhuang family.
He couldn’t allow Han Yan to be in any danger. As time passed, these people were becoming restless and would likely strike soon. Before his military campaign, he had to ensure Han Yan was in a secure environment. Though Han Yan could handle herself, now that she was his Wang Fei, Fu Yun Xi couldn’t allow anything to happen to her.
Cheng Lei saw Fu Yun Xi’s thoughts and couldn’t help but smile. Once this ice-cold man developed feelings, he became extremely protective. Cheng Lei was genuinely happy that Fu Yun Xi had found someone, though this Wang Fei seemed far from ordinary. Aside from all the complex powers involved, just her ability to say such shocking words as “one life, one world, one person” was impressive enough.
“The Empress Dowager won’t give up easily. Sister-in-law ruined the Seventh Prince’s plans, so he must hate her to the bone now,” Cheng Lei kindly reminded.
“He’s left the palace to pray for blessings,” Fu Yun Xi rubbed his forehead, his handsome face showing a fierce expression. “I’ve already sent secret guards to protect her. Whoever touches a single hair on her head, even if they flee to the farthest corner of the Great Zong, I’ll tear them to pieces.”
The Zhuang mansion had been unusually quiet lately. Han Yan hadn’t gone out, and when Zhuang Han Ming visited several times, she dismissed him claiming fatigue. Qing Qiu Yuan was extremely quiet. It was said that Concubine Zhou and Concubine Mei had become very close lately, while the elder Madam Zhou had gradually grown distant from Zhuang Shi Yang.
“Who knows what they’re planning? My heart is so unsettled,” Ji Lan couldn’t help but complain. Indeed, this lukewarm situation felt more like the brewing of some grand scheme. Han Yan waved dismissively: “It’s fine, let them be.” After hearing her words, Zhuang Shi Yang distanced himself from elder Madam Zhou was expected. Men always chase novelty – no matter how much Zhuang Shi Yang liked elder Madam Zhou when it came to his career prospects, he could quickly prioritize.
Ji Lan suddenly said: “Oh right, Young Lady, the task you assigned me earlier has been completed.”
“So quickly?” This was beyond Han Yan’s expectations.
Ji Lan nodded: “Jiao Meng’s brother has lost all their family’s money gambling, and now debt collectors want to take their house as collateral.”
Han Yan nodded: “In that case, it’s time I paid her a visit.”
In the capital’s largest gambling house, a gaunt young man was thrown out, blood on his lips from obvious injuries. Still, he shouted back defiantly: “You’re going too far!”
“Get lost!” A pot-bellied man stepped on his back: “Boy, hurry home and pack up. Your house is now mortgaged to a young master. Hahaha! You have three days – if you can’t come up with the money, the young master will come to claim your ancestral home!”
Chen Er angrily said: “I’ll win it back!”
The man laughed as if hearing a great joke: “Win it back? With what? You don’t even have money to gamble with! Hahaha, I hear you have a sister… how about…”
Chen Er erupted in anger: “Don’t you dare touch my sister!”
“Enough nonsense,” the man frowned. “Get him out of here!”
The servants swarmed forward and threw Chen Er out. He stumbled back to his old house only to find it in complete disarray as if recently ransacked by bandits. Chen Er’s heart jumped as he stepped into the inner room, hearing women’s soft sobs and an old man’s crying. Inside, he saw his sister Jiao Meng crying at their eighty-year-old father’s knee. Seeing Chen Er, Jiao Meng’s crying stopped, immediately replaced by anger: “Why did you come back? Why didn’t you die at the gambling house?”