Just as Yu Jiuzhou had said, Chi Wan experienced for the first time what imperial power truly meant. The world belonged to the emperor; if he did not wish to see someone, those below would not dare to even submit a memorial.
Chi Wan had someone deliver the memorial to the Secretariat, but it received no response at all. This led the Marquis of Huai’an’s Residence to believe she was all talk and pay her words no mind.
Inside the imperial palace.
After the Emperor finished reviewing memorials, a nearby eunuch immediately served him tea. He glanced over and asked, “Did Chi Wan submit a memorial?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. The Fuma had someone submit a memorial, requesting an audience.”
“Jiuzhou got her the position of magistrate of Qingyuan County. Why isn’t she going to her post? What does she want to see me for?”
“Reporting to Your Majesty, this old slave has brought the memorial. Does Your Majesty wish to see it?”
“Then let’s have a look.”
The Emperor opened the memorial, then snorted coldly and threw it onto the desk before rising. In his youth as a prince, the Emperor had been a renowned handsome man, even acclaimed as the most handsome in Great Zhou. Unfortunately, age had caught up with him. Now nearly sixty, with a long beard, none of his former glory was visible.
His once slender figure, due to poor maintenance, was now so stout that even his wide dragon robe couldn’t hide his belly, making him appear tall and bulky. When he furrowed his brows, however, he looked quite majestic.
“The House of Huai’an has received the grace of Great Zhou for generations. For the sake of mere land, they have shamed the past emperors of Great Zhou and shamed me above, and shamed their own ancestors below. These unworthy descendants will have no face to meet their ancestors even in death.”
The Emperor walked to the stove and sat down, leaning back on the soft couch. “This Chi Wan does have some nerve, daring to report the House of Huai’an to me. But these founding noble families are becoming more and more useless. The House of Huai’an is one I intend to support. How can I have them investigated for a crime right after they’ve been promoted?”
The Emperor didn’t want to slap his own face. He simply pointed at the stove. “I did not see any memorial today. I hope the Fuma knows when to stop.”
The eunuch picked up the memorial from the desk and tossed it into the stove. The charcoal fire within burned even brighter, the flickering light reflecting on the Emperor’s face, making his thoughts unreadable.
The eunuch stole a glance, feeling that His Majesty was growing ever more inscrutable. He quickly lowered his head and remained silent. Having served the Emperor for a long time, he knew well that His Majesty said such things not for his servants to respond, but rather as if he were talking to himself.
If any of these words were to get out, all the servants would have to die—not just him, but every eunuch and palace maid in Daming Palace, thousands of them from top to bottom.
Chi Wan had thought that with her memorial written as it was, with both witnesses and physical evidence, it was a case that could be closed with little investigation. Yet, there was no response at all.
Tomorrow was New Year’s Eve. The holiday would begin on the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month and last until the sixth day of the new year. Officials would handle duties in shifts, and normal work would only resume after the Lantern Festival, with a grand court assembly held on the sixteenth day of the first month.
Chi Wan assumed that perhaps because of the holiday, the Emperor was no longer reading memorials and would deal with the matter after the new year.
Wait a minute, she thought. I’m about to take up my post as the magistrate of Qingyuan County, and the timing is right during the new year period. Is everyone else on holiday while I have to go to work?
Chi Wan looked at the medicinal herbs spread across the floor. They weren’t an urgent matter, and Yu Jiuzhou’s condition had stabilized. She decided to make a trip to Qingyuan County first.
On New Year’s Eve, the Emperor would host a banquet. Nobles and their families, as well as civil officials of the third rank and above with their families, would enter the palace for the feast. As the Fuma, she would certainly have to attend with Yu Jiuzhou, and she would see the Emperor there.
However, the New Year’s Eve banquet was not a suitable occasion to discuss such matters. It might be possible if she could get a private moment with the Emperor, but for now, she could only take it one step at a time.
In fact, she already knew that the case accusing the Grand Princess of annexing commoners’ land was set in Qingyuan County.
Chi Wan decided to go to Qingyuan County today to check on the situation, treating it as her official check-in. The county yamen in Qingyuan should have staff on duty today.
The laws of Great Zhou stipulated that local government offices had to have someone on duty even during holidays. For instance, when a county yamen was on holiday, the magistrate, assistant magistrate, and county sheriff would take turns on duty, and the yamen guards and constables also had to be on duty.
Early in the morning, Chi Wan first sorted her medicinal herbs. She said to Yue Luo, who was helping beside her, “The sun is perfect today. After these herbs have been in the sun and the light weakens, help me bring them back in.”
The process of making pills was more troublesome than making medicinal pastes or patches. She had to make them herself to serve as samples. Only if the samples were good could she proceed to the next step.
She would leave some of the less critical steps to Yue Luo, partly to find something for her to do. After all, Yue Luo was her predecessor’s study attendant, and the two had grown up together, so they must have known each other well. Her own changes were too drastic; she might be found out.
Chi Wan wanted to assign Yue Luo tasks that would send her away, giving her things of her own to do so the two could gradually grow apart. In the future, no matter how much she changed, there would have been a gap in their time together. Whatever changes occurred during that gap would naturally be whatever she said they were.
Yue Luo gave Chi Wan a surprised look. She had heard rumors these past two days that the Fuma knew medicine. She had spent more time with Chi Wan than with her own parents and siblings; they were together for almost all twelve hours of the day, except when sleeping.
She never knew the Fuma was skilled in medicine. However, she didn’t think Chi Wan had been replaced by someone else. Instead, she offered some tactful advice: “My Lady, the Grand Princess secured the position of magistrate of Qingyuan County for you. A post in a capital county is important. Her Highness the Grand Princess must think highly of you.”
Yue Luo thought Chi Wan was studying medicine perhaps to harm Yu Jiuzhou, so she tried to dissuade her. Making pills and such—how could that be better than being a proper official? Making pills was probably a task given to Chi Wan by Prince Zhongshan. Instead of getting involved in such harmful things, it would be better to achieve something in her official career.
The benefits gained from doing evil deeds with Prince Zhongshan were not nearly as reliable as achievements earned through one’s own efforts.
Yue Luo was well aware that after doing so many wicked things with Prince Zhongshan, her lady’s reputation was in tatters. Before, she was just a profligate, which could be excused with a “one is not young if not frivolous.” But after following Prince Zhongshan, her name was truly on the verge of eternal infamy.
The Grand Princess was much better, directly arranging a substantive post for her lady.
Because His Majesty had issued the decree personally, none of the other princes—save for Her Highness the Grand Princess—had that kind of influence. An appointment for a seventh-rank official would normally just require a document from the Ministry of Personnel.
Chi Wan was slightly taken aback, then smiled. “I understand.”
Although Yue Luo looked down on her predecessor, she genuinely wished the best for her. It was also possible that their fates as master and servant were intertwined. Regardless of the reason, Chi Wan would not treat Yue Luo poorly in the future. Here was a person who, despite being influenced by her master, had not chosen to do evil and was still trying to offer guidance. She thought that once she had money, she would give Yue Luo a sum. Whether she wanted to marry a wife and have a daughter or start a business, Chi Wan would support her.
Chi Wan gave Yue Luo instructions on how to handle the herbs, without specifying what they were for, and then went to Yongning Courtyard.
She needed to inform Yu Jiuzhou that she was going to Qingyuan County.
When Chi Wan arrived at Yongning Courtyard, Yu Jiuzhou was just getting up with Chun Gui’s assistance.
She stepped forward to take Yu Jiuzhou’s pulse, but Yu Jiuzhou’s eyes turned cold, shooting her a look as sharp as a knife.
Chi Wan immediately explained, “Your Highness’s health has improved greatly. This subject is just checking to see if today’s medicine needs adjustment.”
The New Year’s Eve banquet was tomorrow, and Yu Jiuzhou would certainly have to be present. After Chi Wan had left last night, she had also summoned Academy Physician Liu to examine her. Academy Physician Liu’s opinion was that Chi Wan’s medicine was very effective; her body was recovering faster than expected, and attending the banquet would be no problem.
Yu Jiuzhou was surprised that Chi Wan truly knew medicine and had even treated her. Hearing Chi Wan’s explanation, she extended her hand.
Seeing the princess elegantly extend her fair, delicate hand, Chi Wan quickly placed her own hand on Yu Jiuzhou’s wrist. On closer inspection, one could see a slight tremor in her hand.
Yu Jiuzhou lowered her gaze, unconcerned. “You are going to Qingyuan County today?”
“Yes.”
Yu Jiuzhou’s lips curved. The rabbit is about to fall into the trap.
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