“I heard Lord Wu had a stuttering problem as a child. Yuan originally didn’t believe it, but seeing it now, it seems the root of the illness remains.” When Yuan Cheng said this, he looked at Mo Zi with a smile. But his hand, just as Wu Jian was staring, unobtrusively withdrew into his sleeve.
“You… you…” Yuan Cheng had struck Wu Jian’s sore spot. He wished he could rush over and grab him. He hadn’t actually stuttered as a child—he’d just been so nervous under his father’s severity that he couldn’t speak properly. His mother thought he stuttered and called for physicians and medicine. Only family members knew of this matter, yet somehow Yuan Cheng had learned of it. But Wu Jian couldn’t think that deeply—he simply flew into an embarrassed rage. As Yuan Cheng said, he lacked his father’s strategic mind—he was merely a corrupt official who bullied others relying on his father’s power.
Seeing Wu Jian stutter “you” twice without continuation, Mo Zi couldn’t help pressing her lips together in amusement. Hadn’t he truly become a stutterer?
Wu Jian wasn’t stupid enough to miss why Mo Zi was laughing, but he didn’t direct his anger at her. Because she was a beauty. And a gentleman, of course, cherishes beauty. Therefore, he attributed all of Mo Zi’s mockery to Yuan Cheng.
“Yuan Cheng, what verbal cleverness are you showing off? Don’t forget, you’re a criminal official from our Nande. His Majesty sentenced you to exile a thousand miles away. Not only did you escape, you dare strut before me? Do you know that because you scorned the law and offended public sentiment, His Majesty and the Empress Dowager issued a public proclamation sentencing you to immediate execution? In other words, in Nande you’re already a dead man. I don’t even need to capture you to take your life here.” Wu Jian’s face revealed murderous intent.
Mo Zi was shocked—she hadn’t expected Nande to fabricate news of Yuan Cheng’s death.
Regarding such news, Yuan Cheng seemed to have known long ago. His expression was so calm it showed not half a ripple. “Unfortunately, Lord Wu has forgotten—this is Great Zhou. The Yuan Cheng of Nande is a dead man, but the Yuan Cheng of Great Zhou is a court official. If you take my life, according to Great Zhou law, your crime warrants execution. If Lord Wu doesn’t mind trading life for life, by all means try to kill me. However, if my people accidentally remove your head, it becomes ‘Nande envoy attempted to murder Great Zhou official, was killed in counterattack.’ At that time, Lord Wu’s personal grudge against me becomes an inter-state dispute. I wonder—is plotting treachery more unreasonable, or unavoidable self-defense?”
In today’s noble lady attire, Mo Zi couldn’t cold-laugh or laugh heartily, so she smiled softly. Very falsely.
It seemed Nande’s so-called proclamation of Yuan Cheng’s death to appease public anger abroad was truly foolish. This essentially gave Yuan Cheng permission to reside openly in another country. And Nande couldn’t very well shoot itself in the foot by saying “the person who died here has fled to your territory—please hand him over.” Once someone’s dead, what right do you have to openly demand them back? Yuan Cheng was now a Great Zhou person. If Wu Jian moved against him, it would be scorning Great Zhou’s laws and imperial authority. Even a pig-brain could understand this point.
Wu Jian was so enraged by Yuan Cheng’s words that smoke came from all seven orifices. But the other party was completely in the right. Though his side had greater numbers, they were on a Great Zhou boat. If he truly took Yuan Cheng’s life, he’d also suffer misfortune. Moreover, Yuan Cheng was already useless trash to the Wu family. Now it seemed he held some minor official position—Wu Jian didn’t believe the Emperor would truly value the son of a traitor. Even if his father wanted to eliminate Yuan Cheng, it didn’t require his action. This mission had two objectives: First, secure Great Zhou’s assistance to quickly quell the rebellion. Second, partition Yuling and reach a peaceful agreement with Great Qiu. If these two tasks were completed, his father’s heir would be none other than himself. Then, below one person, above ten thousand—he’d have everything.
Thinking this, Wu Jian snorted several times, forcibly suppressing his fury, deciding to temporarily let Yuan Cheng go.
Little did he know, in Yuan Cheng and Mo Zi’s eyes, he and that group of yes-men Nande officials were the laughable ones.
Though Wu Jian no longer mentioned the past, it didn’t mean he’d shut up. His triangular eyes swept around, discovering Yuan Cheng occupied one of the two tables in the pleasure boat. He said arrogantly, “I am a Nande envoy, holding second-rank office. Even before your Emperor, I have my seat. Yuan Cheng, go stand outside. Otherwise, I’ll report you for insubordination and lacking hospitality. Though it’s a minor crime, with your status, if you can’t bear it and get demoted to commoner—that death would come quickly. Of course, this envoy is a true gentleman who cherishes beauty—this young lady may remain in the boat without issue.”
Yuan Cheng’s eyes, like black stone, showed no light. He lowered his eyelids, then rose from his seat.
Wu Jian sneered crookedly—he’d expected Yuan Cheng to yield. Thus he strode to the table, sat beside Mo Zi, and even began chatting with her. “Which household is the young lady from?”
Though Mo Zi had long known that being a beautiful woman was more advantageous in high society than being a capable woman, using her face to gain small advantages—such things she’d only enjoyed when first entering the Great Qiu palace. Afterward, people coveted her talents far more than a pretty, pleasing face. Therefore, she’d learned to hide—not just her skills, but also her beauty. Unexpectedly, years later, she received beauty treatment once more. But the person giving her this treatment was scum—really nothing to be happy about.
“Thank Lord Wu for cherishing—” The word “cherishing,” her tongue tied up, unable to say it. “Only, this humble woman knows her status is lowly and dares not sit at the same table as Your Excellency. Better to wait outside together with Lord Yuan.”
Wu Jian’s face clouded over darkly. His gaze coldly assessed the two. “Nande’s Prime Minister Yuan always easily won women’s hearts. I didn’t know Great Zhou’s Lord Yuan could also make beauties flock to him. However, Miss, I advise you—following such a person is undoubtedly seeking heartbreak, because his own future is precarious. Even if he could gain a princess’s favor, so what? Still left with nothing, endless bitter cold.”
If it were someone else, Mo Zi might still explain her relationship with Yuan Cheng. But facing Wu Jian, she was too lazy to waste words. She followed behind Yuan Cheng, walking outside.
Outside was very cold. Fortunately, the journey was half over—lights on the opposite shore were faintly visible.
“You shouldn’t have followed me out.” Yuan Cheng folded his hands in his sleeves. Snow flakes stuck to his clothes without melting, quickly settling in a light layer on his shoulders.
“You want me to stay alone with idiots and fools?” Mo Zi exclaimed, “Then it’s over—I’ll become stupid too.”
After Yuan Cheng smiled, he lowered his gaze. “Though Wu Jian is dull-witted, his heart is vicious. On the palace boat he wouldn’t dare do anything to you, but if he learns of my closeness with you, he might use you to threaten me.”
“If I became a hostage, could he threaten you?” After Mo Zi asked, her tone shifted, lightly tapping, “He couldn’t.”
“Indeed he couldn’t.” Yuan Cheng didn’t deny it. “As Brother Mo, you’re my sworn third brother. As Mo Zi, you’re my—useful friend. However, if it meant exchanging Yuan Cheng’s life—”
He slowly shook his head. “So, don’t hold excessive expectations of me.”
Mo Zi’s heart felt like a thorn had been driven into it—it wouldn’t bleed, but it was unpleasant. Yet her facial smile remained bright. “Yuan Cheng, that day I said mutual benefit makes friendship—that remains unchanged to this day. Though you and I have experienced many things, it only proves one point: we are indeed useful to each other. You shouldn’t hold excessive expectations of me either.”
Yuan Cheng withdrew his distant gaze, looking at Mo Zi’s smile. Unable to see the stubbornness within, he felt slightly vexed. What vexed him, he couldn’t distinguish, nor did he want to. At least, not now.
“Mo Zi, after we disembark, with the token the Emperor gave you, you’ll certainly have a special seat with palace maids attending you. You needn’t follow closely behind me.” Today, he’d gifted fine clothes and beautiful attire deliberately so people wouldn’t recognize her shabby-clothed self later. Separate carriages indicated she and he had independent identities. He hadn’t planned to openly have her behind him, making her a thorn in the eyes of those with ulterior motives. Her wariness of Great Qiu—he also saw it. As a guest invited by the Emperor rather than attending as his steward or sworn brother, perhaps it could prevent the other party from acting rashly.
Mo Zi agreed with a sound.
After a long while—
“Which Nande princess likes you? The Empress Dowager’s daughter?” The thorn couldn’t be pulled out, but it wouldn’t kill her. She understood—the torrent had already risen. First decide the direction forward. Once embarked, success or martyrdom were the only outcomes. This era was thus, her environment was thus, and the fates of Yuan Cheng, Jin Yin, and herself were thus.
Yuan Cheng suddenly laughed, from the heart. “So what if it is?”
“Just curious why you didn’t become a prince consort. Think about it—if you were the Empress Dowager’s son-in-law, the Wu family would be the unlucky ones.” She was genuinely curious. This powerful prime minister’s past life of extravagant luxury with beauties like clouds—if even a princess was devoted to him, how had he lost office, been stripped of property, and nearly lost his life in Nande?
“Would being a son-in-law definitely mean safety? Since ancient times, imperial families have no kinship. Flesh and blood slaughtering each other, closest kin killing each other—only imperial families have the most and most brutal cases. Great Zhou’s founding Empress nearly killed all her sons and the Li clan relatives. Do you still think a prince consort could escape conspiracy? Anyone can become a prince consort—just remarry the daughter. Golden branch and jade leaf—who would despise her for being a widow?”
Hearing this, Mo Zi couldn’t contain her amusement. “Yuan Cheng, are you sure you studied the Four Books and Five Classics and not forbidden books secretly bought from bookshops? How can you be so vicious?”
“Thank Miss Mo Zi for the compliment.” Yuan Cheng made a bow. “The boat is docking. Yuan will go ahead.”
Mo Zi ignored his affected gesture. “Just as others already know your identity, my being at your residence also can’t be hidden for long.”
Yuan Cheng didn’t respond to this statement either, saying instead, “Just enjoy eating, drinking, and playing to your heart’s content. There’s no curfew tonight—no need to rush back to the residence. When the time comes, Huayi will come fetch you.”
Mo Zi stood motionless, watching Yuan Cheng go ashore, led away by a lantern-carrying eunuch.
Wu Jian emerged, seeing Mo Zi standing alone, quite surprised. “Miss didn’t walk together with Lord Yuan?”
Mo Zi swept both sleeves. Snow flowers danced in the air. She displayed a smile. “This humble woman isn’t acquainted with Lord Yuan—merely troubled him for transport. Having arrived, men and women are different, closeness and distance have distinctions—naturally each goes their own way. This humble woman dared not share the boat with Lord Wu also because I hold your esteemed reputations and virtuous character in such high regard, without any intent to conspire with anyone. Wishing all honored envoys a good New Year, this humble woman will disembark first.”
Yuan Cheng could endure, so could she. Within endurance hide dark opportunities; within endurance await powerful strikes.
After disembarking, she produced the come-and-go-freely token the Emperor had given. The eunuch immediately looked at her with new respect, raised his hand and summoned two palace maids, instructing them to lead Mo Zi to a side hall.
One held an umbrella, one carried a lantern.
Mo Zi walked through the snow, gradually hearing human voices. Her heart couldn’t calm.
Tonight, likely, would not pass peacefully.