TGPSAC – Chapter 92

Delegations from Beining and Nanyue arrived in Shengjing, but they were stopped at the city gates, unable to enter.

Li Bao, leading the Embroidered-Robe Guard, surrounded the delegations under the guise of protection and announced loudly, “By His Majesty’s decree, for the sake of friendship between our three nations and the safety of the delegations from Beining and Nanyue, the Embroidered-Robe Guard of the Imperial City Division will be responsible for your security.”

It was protection in name, but surveillance in reality.

They couldn’t just let foreigners run wild on their own turf, could they? After all, foreign hands had played a part in the bloody affair at Xuanyang Temple.

Speaking of the Xuanyang Temple case, nearly all the evidence uncovered pointed to Prince Ying. Although some details remained unclear, it didn’t prevent the case from being closed. The Three Judicial Offices were eager to report its conclusion to the Grand Princess.

But Prince Bao’an had clearly been involved. Were these officials truly unable to find evidence, or did they not dare to investigate?

Yu Jiuzhou pointed out several inconsistencies, leaving the officials from the Three Judicial Offices speechless. She looked at them coldly. “I know you wish to close this case, but there are unresolved matters. If you cannot explain them, how am I to explain this to His Majesty?”

The Three Judicial Offices had no choice but to search for new evidence—or more accurately, to find a plausible explanation that would allow them to close the case without offending anyone.

However, the Minister of the Grand Court of Revision, Sun Yuzhuo, who was nearing retirement and dreamed of nothing else, had been forced into the fray. Now, she had gone a little wild, driven by a single conviction: investigate, and investigate thoroughly.

Since they had dragged her into this and wouldn’t let her retire in peace, she would stir the pot.

Thus, everyone witnessed what it meant to be sixty and still in one’s prime.

The Chief Censor of the Censorate was one of Yu Jiuzhou’s people, and Sun Yuzhuo was desperate to finish the job and retire. The two of them pursued the case with great vigor. The Minister of Justice, however, was unwilling to take a side and lived in constant trepidation. Finding himself with these two as partners, he wished he could feign illness and stay home.

As long as the Xuanyang Temple case remained open, a sword hung over Prince Bao’an’s head—a sharp sword that could very well take his life.

The fact that he was not part of the delegation reception team was particularly troubling to him.

Even though the Regent Grand Princess, Yu Jiuzhou, was in charge of the Great Zhou court, the Emperor would surely be consulted on a matter as significant as receiving foreign delegations. This outcome meant the Emperor had no objections, which suggested that he, Prince Bao’an, held no special place in the Emperor’s heart.

“The Prince of Shunchéng, Yu Xingchen.”

Prince Bao’an, Yu Yichen, sat in a private room on the second floor of a tavern, muttering the name. “Shunchéng… does it mean ‘to inherit through obedience’? How can a mere child compete with me?”

“Lord Father-in-law, you must do something about this. I have been stripped of my duties and can no longer even attend court. If that child is allowed to establish a foothold, will there be any place left for me in the court?”

Prince Bao’an had always been adept at playing the victim, positioning himself as the weaker party to evoke others’ protective instincts.

His strengths were his magnanimity, forbearance, and courteous treatment of worthy individuals—qualities that had helped him successfully ascend the throne in the past.

But beneath these virtues, he was arrogant and black-hearted. Even if someone helped him, he would hold a grudge if their assistance wasn’t offered with sufficient deference, waiting to settle the score once he was in power.

People who wanted to help him had to practically beg for the opportunity, or else he would resent them. But what talented person wasn’t proud? Not every ruler could find a strategist as selfless and hardworking as Zhuge Liang.

The Duke of Xin was old and shrewd. He could see right through Prince Bao’an’s act, so he put on an even better one. Seeing the Prince’s attitude, he quickly bowed. “Your Highness truly humbles this servant. Your Highness is of the imperial family, a prince. How could this servant be worthy of being called ‘Lord’ by you? I implore Your Highness not to address me as such, or I will be too ashamed to face you again.”

A smile touched Prince Bao’an’s lips. He was very pleased with the Duke of Xin’s attitude; the Duke was just as agreeable as he had been in his past life.

“Since Father-in-law insists, I will refrain from calling you Lord.”

The Duke of Xin bowed again before sitting down, then answered Prince Bao’an’s earlier question. “The Prince of Shunchéng is a puppet. His Majesty granted her this title, and whether he intends for her to inherit the throne or not, the meaning is that she must be obedient. She is not a major concern, but she is indeed a nuisance.”

None of the other clan members in the Imperial Scions Institute had been ennobled as princes, yet Yu Xingchen had. So what if she was only a commandery prince? Prince Bao’an was also a commandery prince.

“In your opinion, Father-in-law, how should we deal with her?” Prince Bao’an was furious. This was completely different from his dream. He had eliminated one major threat, only for another to appear.

He desperately wanted to ask his past self what madness had possessed him to oppose Yu Jiuzhou.

If things had gone as they did in his dream, and he had secured the Regent Grand Princess’s support, he would at least be the emperor, even if he didn’t hold power right after his accession. He wouldn’t have been completely powerless. With a little patience, he could have become a true sovereign.

He was filled with regret, feeling that his past self must have been out of his mind.

He had a hand in the Xuanyang Temple assassination, and he didn’t believe for a second that Yu Jiuzhou was unaware. That was precisely why she was preventing the Three Judicial Offices from closing the case so quickly—she wanted to find evidence against him.

So now, his only hope was the Duke of Xin.

With the Duke of Xin’s power, dealing with an idle commandery prince shouldn’t be too difficult, right?

It wouldn’t be too difficult, but it would draw the attention of the Emperor and the Grand Princess. The Duke of Xin still had a daughter in the Princess’s Residence; he couldn’t afford to completely alienate the Grand Princess.

He wasn’t worried that his daughter would be punished by the Grand Princess; he was worried that the escape route he had prepared for the Dong family would be cut off.

After some thought, the Duke of Xin finally said, “Your Highness, the Prince of Shunchéng’s mother and grandmother are still alive.”

Use them to control Yu Xingchen?

Prince Bao’an’s eyes lit up. “Excellent. I’ll leave this matter to you, Father-in-law.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The Duke of Xin was pleased with his plan. It targeted only the Prince of Shunchéng and avoided offending the Grand Princess.

“They’re here! The delegations are here!”

A shout from outside drew everyone’s attention.

Soon, the reception party, led by the Prince of Shunchéng and Commandery Mistress Jiacheng, appeared on the street.

The two of them were in a carriage, but leading the procession was Chi Wan on horseback. She sat tall and straight on a fine steed, dressed in a red flying fish robe and a jade coronet. The embroidery on the robe was exquisite, with giant serpents and flying fish outlined in gold thread that seemed to come alive with the horse’s movements.

At her waist was a double-buckled leather belt, clearly of the highest quality.

Beneath the jade coronet, her hair was as black as ink. A few stray strands at her forehead were gently stirred by the spring breeze, brushing against her cheek and making her look like a figure from a painting.

Her eyes were fixed ahead, her gaze sweeping coolly over the crowd with an innate nobility and authority.

Watching this, Prince Bao’an felt a pang of bitterness. “Sleeping in the same bed for so long has made them so alike.”

The Chi Wan in his memory could never have possessed such an imposing aura. This cold, commanding demeanor was clearly something she had learned from Yu Jiuzhou.

The Duke of Xin glanced at him before turning his gaze back to Chi Wan. “It may seem that the Prince of Shunchéng is receiving the Beining delegation and the Commandery Mistress Jiacheng is receiving the Nanyue one, but in reality, they both answer to the Fuma.”

Prince Bao’an snorted. “Commander of the Imperial City Division, the Embroidered-Robe Guard? What a stunning debut that was. His Majesty personally reviewed the Palace Command, and he could barely tear his eyes away from the drill of a thousand guards. His Majesty even said that if the Fuma were to lead an army, and Great Zhou had a hundred thousand soldiers like that, we would be invincible. To think His Majesty actually wants Chi Jinzhao to lead troops. How laughable.”

The Duke of Xin, however, didn’t think it was impossible. “The Imperial Guard, the Jinwu Guard, and the Capital Camps are all being reorganized. No one knows what they’ll look like, but the Fuma’s Imperial City Division moves in perfect formation, in files of three and ranks of two. When they stand together, their movements are perfectly synchronized, down to the same angle. I’ve heard their quilts are folded into perfect squares like blocks of tofu. If the Fuma can train an army like that, His Majesty might very well be tempted to let her lead troops.”

The Jinwu Guard and the Imperial Guard were mostly sorted out. Those who needed to be executed were executed, those who needed to be dismissed were dismissed, and new recruits from various regions had arrived. But the Capital Camps were different. They were larger, and more of them had participated in the rebellion. They needed a general with an iron fist to whip them into shape.

Chi Wan’s training methods were indeed strict and well-suited for reorganizing the Capital Camps. But the Capital Camps had a hundred thousand soldiers. If the Fuma were to gain control of them, it would be disastrous.

The Fuma already had the Imperial City Division. If she also had the Capital Camps, she could coordinate forces from inside and outside the city. She would surely become a powerful minister in the future.

As the Duke of Xin, he commanded a hundred thousand soldiers on the border, but they could only remain there. The only way to bring them back would be to rebel.

Prince Bao’an was incensed, feeling that Emperor Shengyuan must be blind to grant Chi Wan so much power.

And indeed, the Emperor was tempted. No one disliked beauty, especially the satisfying, fluid movements of the guards.

When the Palace Command guards drilled, their movements were not only aesthetically pleasing but also full of power. In single combat, seven Imperial Guardsmen couldn’t defeat even one of them.

Of course they couldn’t. The nineteen top-ranked guards were chosen for the demonstration. It would have been strange if they could be beaten.

But even against the second- and third-tier guards, the Imperial Guardsmen couldn’t win in a one-on-one fight.

Emperor Shengyuan was a little worried. If everyone in the Imperial City Division was this formidable, capable of fighting one against seven, then the Imperial Guard protecting the palace wouldn’t stand a chance.

Then Li Bao came to report that the Fuma had selected her very best guards to serve in the Palace Command.

If they were the best, then it made sense. It also demonstrated the Fuma’s respect for him as the Emperor.

So Emperor Shengyuan rewarded her generously with a wave of his hand, but the money meant nothing to Chi Wan.

The Jiu Jiu Wellness Center had already opened branches across half of Great Zhou, bringing in millions of taels of silver each month, which amounted to tens of millions a year. Even after costs, the profits were immense. Soon, she would have to lower the price of the pills.

While the price of the pills would be lowered, the beauty products and certain pills for men would not be. That was where the real money was. Some things weren’t necessities, but those who came to consume them were from families that didn’t lack money. She had no qualms about earning money from these nobles and wealthy households.

Chi Wan’s business plan was developing steadily, just as they had initially planned, and earning even more than expected. After all, things like the pacifying pills were practically necessities.

Every Kun Ze who had used the pills praised them. The wealthy could stockpile them at home, no longer having to worry about being unable to go out during their Rain and Dew Period or being plotted against.

Chi Wan couldn’t spend all that silver, so she had Lu Xin take it to Yanbei to establish schools, with herself as the headmaster.

The schools covered everything from primary to university education: nine years of basic studies, three years of specialized tracks, and four years of professional studies, with options for further education.

Yanbei Primary School, Middle School, High School, and University—she refused to believe she couldn’t cultivate talent. And as she had stated, they would only enroll Kun Ze.

Qian Yuan had many paths, while Kun Ze had few. Although she disliked men, the situation for male Kun Ze in this world was the same as for female Kun Ze, so she established two campuses.

Fortunately, Great Zhou already had community and clan schools, so the establishment of her schools was not out of place and didn’t attract much attention.

Establishing schools, like implementing reforms, had to be done step by step. As the headmaster, all she needed to do was provide the funding and the teaching materials.

She also introduced military training. Yu Jiuzhou selected many Kun Ze from among the orphans of fallen soldiers and had them trained. They had to learn everything the Imperial City Division guards learned. Some would become Embroidered-Robe Guards, some would become instructors, and others would become teachers at the schools.

Chi Wan once again marveled at her high and powerful position. She only needed to give an order, and things would be done. She didn’t need to manage too much herself.

She was laying the foundation for Kun Ze to be present in all walks of life, just like Qian Yuan, and Yu Jiuzhou supported her completely. Things that didn’t appear to threaten imperial power or compete with the interests of the noble families proceeded smoothly.

By the time those people realized what was happening, it would be a fait accompli.

Chi Wan now held many cards in her hand. Although she was an open book to Yu Jiuzhou, others had no idea what cards she held.

Her life was now in her own hands. Logically, if she wanted to leave the capital, not even Yu Jiuzhou could stop her. Yet, it had been a long time since she had thought about leaving.

Especially after Yu Jiuzhou’s three-day Rain and Dew Period, during which she had been in constant attendance.

As she had said before, the Yu Jiuzhou of the day was vastly different from the Yu Jiuzhou of the night. The proud cat transformed into a seductive siren.

Riding high on her horse, Chi Wan wore a cold expression, mimicking Yu Jiuzhou, but inwardly she was triumphant, her mind filled with the alluring image of Her Highness from the previous night.

Suddenly, she felt an intense gaze on her. Instead of turning her head, she took out a small mirror and saw Prince Bao’an and the Duke of Xin on the second floor.

Seeing those two together, it was obvious what they were up to.

They weren’t part of the reception for the delegations, so they must have come to get a look at Beining’s Second Prince and Nanyue’s Princess.

However, the real power in Beining would soon shift to the Prime Minister, so it would be more useful to recognize the Prime Minister’s son. And Nanyue had also sent someone else: High General Duan Hefeng.

Duan Hefeng was no simple character. He was said to be the only master of internal energy among the five High Generals, which was why he had accompanied the delegation.

Was Prince Bao’an planning to ally with Beining or Nanyue?

It wasn’t impossible. Everything had changed in this life. For the sake of becoming emperor, it wasn’t unthinkable that Prince Bao’an would change as well.

Chi Wan rode her horse to the city gate. The delegations from Beining and Nanyue were stopped together, and the atmosphere between them was tense.

Li Bao approached her. “My lord, there was a conflict just now between Beining’s Second Prince and Nanyue’s High General.”

A conflict? Interesting. Was it a performance for Great Zhou, or a genuine clash?

If it was a performance, it was to show Great Zhou that there was no possibility of an alliance between the two nations.

Of course, a real conflict was also possible. After all, when Beining and Great Zhou had clashed in the past, Great Zhou had borrowed Nanyue’s Gu masters, who had wreaked havoc on Beining’s forces.

The leader of the Gu masters had been none other than Duan Hefeng. The Khan of Beining had been the commander of the Beining army, and this Second Prince, Daluoyan, had been by his brother’s side at the time, witnessing that war firsthand.

Nanyue’s Gu poison had reduced the combat effectiveness of Beining’s men and horses by thirty percent, which was why Great Zhou had won so easily.

This also showed that Nanyue itself was not to be feared, but its Gu poison was terrifying.

Chi Wan glanced at the two delegations ahead. “Go and ask the Prince of Shunchéng and the Commandery Mistress Jiacheng to come out. Have them meet, then take everyone to the Court of State Ceremonial. Arrange for them to see His Majesty tomorrow morning.”

The delegations had arrived in the afternoon, so it was impossible for the Emperor to receive them. Yu Jiuzhou had no intention of meeting them either. The plan was to settle them in the Court of State Ceremonial, have a brief chat, and then arrange for an audience at court the next day.

When foreign delegations visited, the Emperor would always hold court, no matter what.

A moment later, Yu Xingchen and Yu Qingwan walked over. They were the primary hosts, responsible for liaising with the Beining Prince and the Nanyue Princess. Officials from the Ministry of Rites followed behind them, ready to advise them on what to do.

Chi Wan followed at a slight distance, waiting for the proceedings to end so she could take everyone to the Court of State Ceremonial and then go home.

These past two days, she and Yu Jiuzhou had been particularly intimate. Soon, Yu Jiuzhou’s monthly bleeding would come, and she would probably be kicked out again, forcing them to sleep in separate rooms.

She thought she should research how to make menstrual paper. Making sanitary pads might be a bit difficult, but with Great Zhou’s existing papermaking technology, it should be possible to create paper suitable for menstruation.

She had seen online that many modern sanitary pads had issues, and she had come across a type of paper called knife paper. While it might not be as good as the sanitary belts Yu Jiuzhou currently used, it should be a friendly option for ordinary women.

Things like tampons were too expensive for regular households to afford.

But in ancient times, there was no underwear, only crotched trousers. She had a tailor make underwear using elastic bands from cowhide, but she didn’t know if Yu Jiuzhou had worn the pair she gave her.

The main problem was that she wanted to see, but Yu Jiuzhou wouldn’t let her.

Chi Wan was still thinking about making overnight pants, so Yu Jiuzhou wouldn’t have to worry about side leakage while sleeping and kick her out.

As she was lost in thought, a deep voice suddenly sounded by her ear. “You are Chi Wan?”

She looked up and saw a general in black armor. She was young, with wheat-colored skin and a sword at her waist, exuding a heroic air.

However, her gaze was unfriendly, and it seemed directed at her.

Chi Wan frowned slightly. “Are you the Marquis of Pingliang?”

“I am.”

The Marquis of Pingliang, An Yizhi. She could be considered a distant cousin of Yu Jiuzhou—the granddaughter of her grandaunt. The relation was a bit distant, but still within the five degrees of kinship.

Chi Wan’s mind immediately jumped to that. In any case, anyone related by blood couldn’t get married.

She cupped her hands in a salute. “I have long heard of your name.”

“Oh? Has Her Highness mentioned me to you?” An Yizhi’s eyes lit up.

Chi Wan was speechless. Could she not do this in front of her partner? If Chi Wan were a petty person, she and Yu Jiuzhou would have a lot to argue about later.

“No.”

She answered curtly, not wanting to speak to someone who coveted her wife.

Then, a young woman dressed in the distinctive style of the Miao frontier came over and looked her up and down for a moment. “You are Chi Wan?”

Why were so many people curious if she was Chi Wan? But seeing Commandery Mistress Jiacheng beside the woman, she must be the Nanyue Princess.

Chi Wan nodded. “I am.”

She held a rank equivalent to a commandery prince and was the Fuma of the Grand Princess. In all of Great Zhou, only the Emperor, Empress, and Grand Princess could command her to bow. To foreign princesses and princes, a simple cupped-hand salute was more than enough courtesy.

Duan Jinxian looked at her with satisfaction. “You are very beautiful.”

Uh…

Chi Wan’s cold expression almost cracked, but she still managed to say, “Thank you.”

“And very interesting,” Duan Jinxian added, looking quite pleased.

Wait, she hadn’t said anything. How was she interesting?

To her surprise, Duan Jinxian immediately made a bold declaration. “If you no longer wish to be Yu Jiuzhou’s Fuma, you can consider becoming mine.”

Sister? Is this the time or place to say such things? No, you can’t say that at any time or place.

“Princess, please watch your words,” Chi Wan said sternly.

She wanted to avoid any misunderstandings, especially anything that might make Yu Jiuzhou misunderstand.

Just then, a woman in similar, though less ornate, attire appeared behind Duan Jinxian. She wore no gold or silver.

The princess, being of noble birth, was adorned with many gold and silver ornaments, giving her an air of opulence.

This more understated woman, then, must be the Young Valley Mistress of Insect Valley, Xi Wu.

Chi Wan quickly took note of everyone, committing all their faces to memory, including those who seemed less important.

Among them, the person she felt was most dangerous was not Daluoyan, nor Duan Jinxian, but Xi Wu. Xi Wu cultivated internal energy, and more importantly, she used Gu poison.

It was hard to imagine how terrifying a master of internal energy combined with Gu poison could be.

Chi Wan turned to Li Bao beside her and ordered, “Let’s go. To the Court of State Ceremonial.”

“Yes, my lord.”

But Li Bao had another dilemma. “My lord, they were just arguing over who should enter the city first.”

One represented Beining, the other Nanyue. Naturally, neither would yield, as their nations’ honor was at stake.

Chi Wan lowered her eyes. “Then they will enter side by side. Change their carriages. Tell them it is the rule of the capital that foreign carriages and horses are not permitted to enter the city. Have them ride in the carriages of the Prince of Shunchéng and the Commandery Mistress Jiacheng.”

“Understood.”

Their own people were easy to deal with. The priority was to handle the foreigners first.

If they were delayed outside the city gates for too long with so many people watching, someone would surely file an impeachment memorial tomorrow.

Just as Chi Wan was about to mount her horse, Xi Wu suddenly walked up to her. “I am Xi Wu. May I call you Jinzhao?”

“As you wish.”

After Chi Wan agreed, Xi Wu smiled at her and walked away.

The Marquis of Pingliang beside her was very displeased. “Chi Wan, attracting bees and butterflies out here. Are you being faithful to Her Highness?”

Chi Wan raised an eyebrow. “Attracting bees and butterflies? What are you talking about?”

“The Nanyue Princess said what she said. Is that not you attracting bees and butterflies?”

An Yizhi looked furious. If not for her remaining shred of reason, she would have loved to beat Chi Wan up.

To this, Chi Wan merely replied coldly, “This is the first time I have met the Nanyue Princess. There is no question of attracting bees and butterflies.”

“As for whether I am being faithful to Her Highness, that is a matter between us partners. It is no concern of the Marquis of Pingliang. Her Highness is waiting for me at the residence. I must ask the Marquis not to waste my time.”

Chi Wan was angry. She was not only declaring her sovereignty but also pointedly rebuking the Marquis of Pingliang.

Regardless of anything else, she and Yu Jiuzhou were partners. There were currently no problems in their relationship, and she would not tolerate outsiders making irresponsible remarks, especially when that outsider was secretly in love with her wife.

Chi Wan’s words infuriated An Yizhi. “Chi Wan, don’t think that just because you’re married to Her Highness, you can be together forever. Her Highness… she will never give her heart to anyone. Her heart holds only the Great Zhou, with no room for personal affection.”

Chi Wan swung herself onto her horse with a cold expression. “So what? She is my person now!”

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