“Anyway, whatever works—it’s better than spending my whole life being meek and bearing the title of ‘someone’s prince consort,’ right?”

“If you don’t want it, there’s a crowd of people fighting for it, so why worry?” Huang Zixia gave him a look of disdain.

The storyteller’s voice carried up from below: “Everyone, speaking of Princess Tongchang, do you know about the divine retribution that occurred yesterday at Jianfu Temple, where someone was struck dead by heavenly lightning?”

The crowd below erupted in exclamation, with someone asking loudly: “That person struck by lightning at Jianfu Temple yesterday was actually connected to Princess Tongchang?”

“Indeed! Minister Cui of the Court of Judicial Review has ordered an investigation, revealing that the person was Wei Ximin, a eunuch from the Princess’s residence. This man was one of the Princess’s close attendants, and his death by lightning left Princess Tongchang bewildered, wondering how someone so evil as to deserve death by heavenly lightning could have been by her side.”

“This storyteller has quite the network of information,” Huang Zixia muttered to herself.

Zhou Ziqin said proudly: “Of course! Storytellers in the city quarters have the best intelligence—every mouth in every street and alley is their source. But I’m not bad either, I’ve already built good relationships with people in the Court of Judicial Review. Let me tell you, I got inside information about this last night!”

Though Huang Zixia was preoccupied with her concerns, she still asked: “What information?”

“This Wei Ximin, you see, was assigned to Princess Tongchang since childhood and was devoted to her—practically a loyal dog who’d strike wherever she pointed. So when she learned he was struck dead by lightning, Princess Tongchang was furious. Last night she went to Minister Cui’s residence, ostensibly to inquire about Wei Ximin’s cause of death, but actually to pressure him to resolve the case quickly.”

“How can it be resolved? From everything at the scene yesterday, it could have just been an unfortunate coincidence of lightning strike.”

“Exactly, but Princess Tongchang had another demand. Since the whole capital is saying someone by her side was so evil they received divine punishment, she wants Minister Cui to explain soon to avoid tarnishing the Princess’s residence’s reputation.”

“No wonder Minister Cui looked so devastated when he heard it involved Princess Tongchang,” Huang Zixia said with slightly furrowed brows. “It’s harder to stop people’s mouths than to dam a river—even if she’s the Emperor’s most beloved Princess Tongchang, how can she control what the capital’s people want to say?”

“See? It’s already the talk of the entire city,” Zhou Ziqin shrugged. “It’s a case with no leads, yet a princess is insisting on clearing her eunuch’s name—whoever handles this gets a hot potato in their hands.”

Huang Zixia made no comment and changed the subject: “About what we discussed before, regarding my friend Zhang Xingying’s matter—is there any progress?”

“Hmm… don’t spoil the mood like this, let’s talk after eating, otherwise it’ll seem like you only invited me to eat to ask for favors.”

“Strange, as a lowest-ranking eunuch with only two taels of silver monthly salary, if not to ask for favors, why would I deliberately spend one tael to treat you at Cuijin Tower?” Huang Zixia frowned and said, “This matter needs to be quick, absolutely quick! Because in two or three days I’ll be going to Shu territory with the Prince.”

By then she would be immersed in investigating her family’s wrongful case—how would she have time to look after Zhang Xingying?

Zhou Ziqin patted his chest generously: “Alright, let me tell you—Xu Congyun, captain of the Third Cavalry Unit of the Capital Defense Command, is my close brother. He told me to bring Zhang Xingying to report to him this afternoon. I guarantee that once Zhang Xingying goes there, there’ll be no problem!”

Huang Zixia breathed a sigh of relief: “Good if this works out, I’ll treat you to another meal when we meet in Shu territory.”

“And if it doesn’t?”

“Then you’ll have to throw up today’s meal and return it to me!”

At the capital’s famous Duanrui Hall medical clinic, even the medicine-drying area was extraordinary. Across a vast open space, bamboo trays were densely arranged like fish scales, each filled with various cut medicinal herbs.

Among the ground full of drying trays, Zhang Xingying stood in the middle, holding a bamboo tray seven feet in diameter, tossing and shaking it to ensure the herbs dried more evenly in the sunlight. With his tall stature and strong arms, he lifted and lowered the tray high, releasing bursts of medicinal fragrance.

As he moved through the field of trays, flipping them one by one, row by row, growing increasingly distant, Huang Zixia quickly called out: “Second Brother Zhang!”

Zhang Xingying turned to see the two of them, showing a puzzled expression: “You are…?”

Huang Zixia lowered her voice and called: “Second Brother Zhang.”

Zhang Xingying studied her appearance for a long while before letting out an “Ah” and pointing at her stutteringly: “You, you’re Huang…”

“Yes, I’m here to return a favor,” Huang Zixia emphasized the word “return” and quickly interrupted him, saying, “Last month, thanks to Second Brother Zhang’s help entering the city, but that caused your current predicament. So I’ve come today to return your kindness and introduce you to a new job.”

Zhang Xingying still stared with his mouth agape: “You…”

“I’m Yang Chonggu! Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten me after helping me!” Huang Zixia desperately made eye signals to him.

Zhang Xingying finally realized that she was now a criminally wanted person and naturally couldn’t reveal her true identity. But he still had trouble accepting it and could only stare at her blankly, answering mechanically: “Oh, oh, Yang Chonggu… you’re now…”

“I’m now working under Prince Kui, surprising isn’t it?” Huang Zixia quickly said, and seeing his shocked expression, immediately shifted the topic to someone else, pointing at Zhou Ziqin: “This is Young Master Zhou Ziqin, son of Vice Minister Zhou from the Ministry of Justice.”

Zhou Ziqin was always enthusiastic and quickly cupped his hands in greeting: “Second Brother Zhang! Though we’ve never met, I’ve heard Chonggu mention you many times! He said Second Brother Zhang is as righteous as the clouds are high, has a heroic heart and spirit, is both filial and loyal, warm-hearted in the old ways… Ouch!”

The last two words came because Huang Zixia had stepped on his foot. However, Zhou Ziqin was unconcerned with such minor matters and continued rambling: “Don’t worry, Chonggu’s business is my business, I’ll take care of this, I cannot refuse…”

Before he could finish, the door of a small house by the drying area opened, and an old man poked his head out and shouted at them: “What’s all this noise! Zhang Xingying, why aren’t you flipping the medicines? If these herbs aren’t dried soon, what will we use in the shop?”

Zhang Xingying quickly responded, then bent down to pick up another bamboo tray and began flipping the herbs.

Zhou Ziqin looked at the sea of bamboo trays in disbelief and asked: “Second Brother Zhang, just you alone? One person has to flip all these trays once every day?”

Zhang Xingying shook his head, putting down one tray and picking up another to flip while saying: “No, four times. Twice in the morning, twice in the afternoon.”

“Then you don’t need to do anything else all day, just flip medicines!”

“No,” Zhang Xingying said somewhat sheepishly, “There’s also cutting medicines, grinding medicines, pounding medicines, decocting medicines, processing medicines, honey-refining… I’m not very efficient, always failing to complete the tasks Master assigns, so I have to get up earlier and sleep later.”

“Your father was at least a practicing physician, how come he didn’t teach you anything?”

Zhang Xingying shook his head dejectedly and said: “My father is elderly and can no longer see patients. It’s already good that Duanrui Hall would take me in and give me work to do.”

As he spoke, his hands never stopped, flipping three or four more trays during the conversation.

Zhou Ziqin grabbed his hand without further discussion: “Stop flipping, let’s go! Even I can’t stand watching this—how can Duanrui Hall exploit people like this!”

Zhang Xingying quickly caught a tray that was about to tip over: “Go… go where?”

The old man nearby saw them ignoring him and became furious: “Zhang Xingying! Be careful with your work! Don’t blame me for chasing you out if you don’t finish!”

“Chase what? Listen here, he’s not doing it anymore!” Zhou Ziqin pulled Zhang Xingying up and turned to leave. “The Capital Defense Command is waiting for him, who has time to listen to your nagging?”

The old man’s mustache bristled as his eyes bulged: “Capital Defense Command? What a joke! Only the rich and noble can enter there, what qualifications does this fellow have?”

“The Capital Defense Command wants him, what’s it to you?” Zhou Ziqin threw back without deigning to look at him. “Wait till Second Brother Zhang serves for two or three years and transfers to the Divine Strategy Army—that’ll kill you with anger!”

The old man was indeed almost angry to death: “Dreaming nonsense! Zhang Xingying, if you leave, don’t come back!”

Zhang Xingying’s face showed hesitation, but Huang Zixia saw his eyes brighten, and he finally let go of the bamboo tray.

“Alright, one word—are you going or not?” Zhou Ziqin patted his shoulder, already acting like his brother. “With your build and this imposing presence, it would be the Divine Strategy Army’s loss not to have you!”

“I’m going!”

Xu Congyun, the cavalry unit captain of the Capital Defense Command, was generous and cheerful. He and Zhou Ziqin had known each other since childhood, so their relationship was naturally extraordinary.

After chatting casually with Zhang Xingying and learning he had been in Prince Kui’s ceremonial guard, he asked: “Prince Kui’s attendants are all carefully selected—since you were chosen, you must be outstanding. So why did you leave?”

Zhang Xingying hesitated for a moment. Huang Zixia quickly said: “Second Brother Zhang had bad luck—he got a stomach ache while escorting, fell behind, and unfortunately was discovered, so he was dismissed.”

Xu Congyun looked at Huang Zixia and asked: “And this eunuch is?”

“This is Eunuch Yang Chonggu from Prince Kui’s residence, currently a close attendant to Prince Kui,” Zhou Ziqin said.

Xu Congyun was immediately both surprised and delighted: “What! Could this be the Eunuch Yang who solved the Four Directions case? I’m truly honored!”

Zhang Xingying nodded vigorously beside them, looking at Huang Zixia with admiration.

Zhou Ziqin also affirmed: “Yes, Chonggu is very capable, second only to my most admired Huang Zixia.”

Huang Zixia looked up at Zhang Xingying and saw his smile become rigid. She could only say modestly: “Not at all, it was just coincidence.”

Xu Congyun raised his hand and forcefully patted Zhang Xingying’s back. Zhang Xingying, who had been standing ramrod straight, was almost knocked breathless by his massive palm.

“Since these two are vouching for you, and you were able to enter Prince Kui’s residence before, I trust there should be no issues with your physical condition or family background. How about this—the Third Cavalry Unit is shortest on men, so you’ll be assigned there first. Follow along with everyone for a month or two, and if there are no problems, after notifying Commander Wang next month, we’ll officially enter you in the register. Consider it settled.”

Now Zhang Xingying would willingly have his heart, liver, spleen, stomach, and kidneys knocked out by that pat. He was too excited to speak, only standing there grinning foolishly.

Huang Zixia also let out a long breath. Deep down, she had always felt guilty about Zhang Xingying, and now that his situation had improved, she finally felt she could go to Shu territory with a clear conscience, no longer indebted to anyone.

With the important matter settled, Zhou Ziqin called his friends together, summoning several Capital Defense Command unit captains for a feast he would host at a restaurant.

Being poor, Huang Zixia and Zhang Xingying didn’t dare compete with this young noble, lest they have to sell themselves to pay for the table of wine and dishes.

Whether by good or bad luck, the group ran into Wang Yun as soon as they left.

“Brother Wang!”

“Commander Wang!”

Everyone hurried to greet him and seeing behind him a handsome man who was none other than Prince Consort Wei Baoheng, they all rushed forward to pay their respects, some calling him Prince Consort, others Undersecretary Wei, making the entrance to the office suddenly very lively.

Wei Baoheng had an excellent temperament and smiled and nodded to everyone in acknowledgment. Wang Yun glanced at Huang Zixia and asked with a measured smile: “Why has Ziqin brought Eunuch Yang here? Is there some important matter?”

Zhou Ziqin quickly pulled Zhang Xingying forward and said: “I heard Brother Xu’s cavalry unit was short on men, so I brought someone to recommend. This is Zhang Xingying—he has a clean family background, is quick and capable, and looks, his appearance is one in a hundred. Plus he’s very familiar with Chonggu, and absolutely reliable. Brother Xu said to try him for a month first, and if suitable, he’ll report to you. When the time comes, please look after him, Brother Wang!”

“Recommended by Yang Chonggu?” Wang Yun immediately grasped the key point.

Zhou Ziqin, completely unaware of the grudge between them, nodded with a smile.

Zhang Xingying was even more focused on nervously bowing to Wang Yun.

Wang Yun raised his hand to stop him and said: “Ziqin, originally since Captain Xu had already agreed to keep him, I wouldn’t say anything—I generally don’t interfere with the cavalry unit brothers’ comings and goings. But this brother’s case, I’m afraid it won’t work.”