TGPSAC – Chapter 105

Outside the capital city gates, Chi Wan, dressed in a red python robe, leaned back in her carriage, awaiting the arrival of Princess Lin’an.

According to her scouts, Princess Lin’an’s procession was about a tea’s time away.

Her timing was perfect—not arriving at the last second, nor too early. A tea’s time would pass quickly.

When she arrived, Fu Qing was already waiting. Fu Qing had expected her to alight from the carriage, but she showed no intention of getting out to wait beforehand.

Fu Qing frowned and hesitated for a moment before walking over to the carriage. “Fuma, I request an audience.”

Her rank was the same as Princess Lin’an’s. Since Fu Qing had shown herself, she had to be polite.

For a long while, there was no sound from within. Just as Fu Qing thought Chi Wan would not see her, a voice came from the carriage. “Chen Yuan, serve the tea.”

“Yes.”

Then, Chen Yuan, dressed in her flying fish robe, seemed to conjure a small folding table out of thin air from the side of the carriage. She quickly spread a cloth on the ground, placed the small table on it, and then set the tea upon the table.

Only then did Chen Yuan move to the side of the carriage and stand respectfully.

She had said nothing, yet as if she didn’t need to see or be told, Chi Wan emerged directly from the carriage.

Fu Qing was very curious as to how she knew everything outside was ready.

Chi Wan was putting on an act, feigning an air of superiority.

In truth, she was merely imitating Yu Jiuzhou. Even with only a sixty or seventy percent resemblance, she was already brimming with an aristocratic air.

Seeing that familiar aura about her, many people saw the shadow of Her Highness the Grand Princess in her.

The married couple was becoming more and more alike. If they wore the same clothes, one might not be able to tell them apart from their backs alone.

Chi Wan sat down at the low table first, and Chen Yuan held an umbrella to shield her from the sun.

The Fuma is a delicate little girl, many thought to themselves.

Watching Chi Wan sip tea under the umbrella, Fu Qing sat down, speechless. “Is the Fuma not worried about Beining deploying its troops?”

Chi Wan raised her eyes slightly. “This matter is already a foregone conclusion. What use is there in worrying?”

Spies had long been dispatched to Beining; it was just that no news had returned yet.

When she had rebuilt the Imperial City Division, she had assigned people to monitor both internal and external affairs, striving to achieve the same glory as the Embroidered-Robe Guard of old.

Once someone was in the sights of the Imperial City Division, the division could find out every word they spoke and every bite of food they ate.

The current Embroidered-Robe Guard was not yet at that level, but they would be sooner or later.

The agents she sent to Beining and Nanyue included both Brocade Robe Guard and Embroidered Robe Guards. Their funding was entirely her responsibility, and they could withdraw funds from her or Yu Jiuzhou’s businesses at any time.

Getting things done required money. Those people were risking their lives in other countries; the least she could do was ensure they had no worries back home.

So she was waiting—waiting for news from her own people.

While the information from Fu Qing was important, it was unverified. Other than believing that Beining would indeed attack Great Zhou, she needed to confirm everything else.

As for Beining attacking Great Zhou, it was better to believe it and be prepared than to dismiss it. They had to make countermeasures first. If an attack truly came, Yanbei would suffer a devastating blow if caught unprepared.

She had a feeling that if Beining really did send troops this time, they would not be like before, simply looting and leaving.

For them to come to Great Zhou at almost the same time as Nanyue—she refused to believe it was a coincidence.

And for them to suddenly send a delegation of high-ranking officials and important figures at this time, only for them to come and go so quickly.

Nothing happened in between. It was too quiet to be normal.

The quieter it was, the more Chi Wan felt that something major was about to happen.

Fu Qing, sitting before her, knew the inside story but wouldn’t say. Chi Wan could understand why.

After all, Great Zhou had not raised her. The Emperor was the one who had killed her mother’s lover and sent her mother to a foreign country. She, a dignified Commandery Mistress, had to live under someone else’s roof.

Her mother, a princess, had to serve a man twenty or thirty years her senior.

Even if there was no hatred, there was definitely resentment.

Chi Wan could understand, which was why she and Yu Jiuzhou had risked offending the Emperor to welcome Princess Lin’an back.

In any case, Princess Lin’an and Fu Qing were doing these things for the sake of their own future lives in Great Zhou.

She wouldn’t demand anything of Fu Qing. She was merely displeased that Fu Qing’s visit to the Grand Princess’s Residence had aroused the Emperor’s suspicion. If she hadn’t reacted quickly, the Shengyuan Emperor would certainly have become suspicious of them.

As if sensing Chi Wan’s displeasure, Fu Qing put on a smile. “The Fuma speaks sense. The armies of Great Zhou are unparalleled; naturally, we have no fear of the petty thieves from Beining.”

Chi Wan smiled faintly. “Commandery Mistress Fu Qing will be living in the capital from now on. If Aunt Lin’an needs anything, feel free to come find me.”

She said to find her, not Yu Jiuzhou, and it had to be a matter concerning Princess Lin’an. It was acceptable to do what she could for an elder.

Fu Qing heard the distinction. “Then I thank the Fuma.”

Though she said this, her thoughts were different: This Chi Jinzhao is truly difficult to deal with, so watertight. Mother said she and the Grand Princess were on our side, and that as long as we maintained a good relationship with them, our days in Great Zhou wouldn’t be hard. But now it seems these two aren’t as sentimental as Mother made them out to be.

If Chi Wan knew what Fu Qing was thinking, she would only scoff: Letting them return to the capital was a matter of conscience. We tidied up Princess Lin’an’s residence and made all the arrangements meticulously. If not for Fu Qing’s actions yesterday, we would still be holding Princess Lin’an in high esteem today. I would have come to receive her as a junior, giving her ample face. But today, I wore the python robe.

Sometimes, a change happens in an instant. Fu Qing’s actions made Chi Wan and Yu Jiuzhou decide that today’s reception had to be conducted strictly according to protocol.

Chi Wan, who had come to welcome them, wore her highest-ranking official attire, the python robe. The flying fish robe was several ranks lower.

Chi Wan let out a soft laugh. “The Commandery Mistress is too kind.”

After that, neither of them spoke. Fu Qing didn’t know what to say.

Going to the Grand Princess to discuss Beining was her mother’s idea, but her mother had told her to go discreetly, not to make a high-profile entrance.

Although Chi Wan showed nothing, she could still feel the coldness in the other’s attitude.

It was useless to say more now. It was better to wait for her mother to arrive.

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A tea’s time passed quickly, and Princess Lin’an’s procession came into view.

Fu Qing and a group of officials from the Ministry of Rites straightened their appearances, their eyes fixed on the convoy.

Neither of the two Vice Ministers of Rites had come, let alone the Minister himself. The only ones present were a fifth-rank Director from the Bureau of Ceremonies, two Section Chiefs, and some members of Princess Lin’an’s household staff.

If this was the only reception, it would make people think His Majesty did not value Princess Lin’an. But Chi Wan had come—the first Fuma in Great Zhou’s history to hold a rank equivalent to a Prince of a Commandery, and who also held a noble title. This, in turn, made it seem like a very important occasion.

That was why the officials stood so straight upon seeing Princess Lin’an’s procession. They weren’t putting on a show for Princess Lin’an, but for the Fuma, and for His Majesty.

Only when the carriage drew near did Chi Wan leisurely rise. Chen Yuan was quick to clear everything away; the tea, table, and even the ground cloth were gone in an instant.

At that moment, the procession also came to a halt before them. The leader was not An Yizhi, but her deputy commander, Ji Yi’an.

The moment the convoy stopped, Ji Yi’an immediately dismounted, walked before Chi Wan, and saluted. “Your subject, Ji Yi’an, pays his respects to the Fuma. I wish the Fuma well.”

“This Fuma is well.”

Only then did Ji Yi’an continue, “Reporting to the Fuma, your subject was ordered by the commanding general to escort Princess Lin’an back to the capital. I have fortunately not failed my mission.”

“General Ji has worked hard. Stay in the capital for two days before returning. I happen to have a task for you.”

“Yes.”

After a few words, Chi Wan announced in a loud voice, “Fuma Chi Wan, by order of His Majesty, has come to welcome Princess Lin’an back to the capital. We will now return to the Princess Lin’an’s Residence.”

Returning directly to the Princess Lin’an’s Residence? Not going to see His Majesty?

Inside the carriage, Princess Lin’an frowned. She didn’t want to see the Emperor, but if the Emperor wouldn’t see her, her situation might become precarious.

However, she had also heard that it was her niece who had arranged for her return, not the Emperor.

Princess Lin’an slightly lifted the curtain, just a tiny crack. She saw that Chi Wan was wearing a python robe, looking all business, and had not come up to greet her.

Logically, given Yu Jiuzhou and Chi Wan’s attitude towards her, it was impossible that they wouldn’t even offer a greeting. Had something else happened in the past few days?

She also saw Fu Qing standing next to Chi Wan. Could it be related to Fu Qing?

Princess Lin’an couldn’t figure it out, but in public, she couldn’t very well call them over to talk. She could only wait until they reached her residence.

Unexpectedly, as soon as the procession arrived at the residence, Chi Wan spoke up. “My task is complete. Princess Lin’an has just returned, so it is inconvenient for us to disturb you further. Please take good care of Princess Lin’an. Once Her Highness is settled, I will certainly pay a visit with Her Highness the Grand Princess. Farewell.”

She didn’t even step through the gates of Princess Lin’an’s Residence, indicating that her presence today was purely official business.

But she also said she would visit another day, which was merely the proper etiquette for a junior.

So, as soon as Chi Wan left, Princess Lin’an alighted from her carriage. She glanced coldly at the female official of her residence. “This princess is tired.”

“Yes, Your Highness’s bedchamber has been prepared. Please, this way,” the female official hurriedly said, stepping forward.

As Princess Lin’an walked, she gave Fu Qing a meaningful look.

Fu Qing quickly followed behind Princess Lin’an, bringing her own people inside as well.

There were too many outsiders in the Princess Lin’an’s Residence, spies from all factions. Since they couldn’t control the entire residence, they had to at least control the bedchamber.

Once Fu Qing had her people arranged, she went to Princess Lin’an. “Mother.”

“Did you have a conflict with the Fuma?”

Hearing her mother ask this right away, Fu Qing’s heart skipped a beat. Because they had lived among a foreign clan, her mother was very strict with her. Hearing that tone in her mother’s voice, she felt a little scared.

Fu Qing recounted yesterday’s events without hiding a single detail.

Lin’an looked at her coldly. “What did I tell you?”

“It was Fu Qing’s fault.” Fu Qing immediately knelt.

Her mother had told her to go to the Grand Princess’s Residence discreetly. She had tried to be clever, thinking that a high-profile visit would better intimidate them, but they were not intimidated at all.

Lin’an closed her eyes. In all those years in a foreign land, living under someone else’s roof, they had long learned that circumstances were stronger than people. If they wanted to live well, showing weakness was a necessity.

“You wanted to cause them trouble, but they can just as easily cast you aside. What’s more, they value me not because I am their aunt, but because of what Chi Wan said on the day of the competition. Even if it wasn’t me who was married off, but someone else, they would have done the same.”

Throughout the journey, she had been wondering why Yu Jiuzhou and Chi Wan wanted to help her.

After much thought, she kept mulling over Chi Wan’s public statements and, for the first time, felt that those might be their true thoughts.

Otherwise, she couldn’t see what benefit there was in helping her.

But with Fu Qing’s stunt, their debt to her was more or less paid in full.

From now on, there would be no personal sentiment with the Grand Princess’s Residence. If they wanted to cooperate, they would have to offer benefits first.

This was not what Lin’an wanted to see, which was why she had urged Fu Qing to be low-key. But this was the result.

Seeing Fu Qing’s shocked expression, she didn’t know what to say. They were both young people in their early twenties, so how was it that the other one was so shrewd, while her own daughter was fine when she was clever, but too wishful when she was impulsive?

“Fu Qing, I know you are angry at everything in Great Zhou, especially the people in this capital. Some you even despise, or hate. But you shouldn’t direct these emotions at Jiuzhou and Jinzhao. The two of them were still young back then. Now that they are in power, they have brought us back. You need to be clear on who the main culprit is.”

The main culprit was naturally the Emperor. If the Emperor had been even a little stronger, they would not have been trapped in a foreign land for so many years.

Fu Qing had thought about this, and with her mother’s guidance, she more or less understood. “Yes, Mother. When I have the chance, I will go to the Grand Princess’s Residence to apologize.”

Hearing the words “Grand Princess,” Lin’an’s smile was a little bitter.

According to custom, she, the Emperor’s own sister and the imperial heir’s aunt, should be the Grand Princess. Even if she couldn’t hold the title, it shouldn’t go to a junior.

But the Emperor had arranged it so, which showed that in his heart, he had no regard for her, his sister.

It made sense. If he had cared for her, how could he have poisoned her lover and sent her away in a political marriage?

No matter how close they were as children, once he became emperor, he was just like that.

Lin’an waved her hand. “I’m tired. I’ll leave the affairs of the residence to you.”

“Yes, Mother.”

Watching her mother’s back as she entered the inner room, Fu Qing was filled with regret. She had made her mother worry again.

She hoped the Grand Princess and the Fuma were easy to talk to and that her mother’s relationship with them could be repaired. If possible, she would willingly take a hundred lashes.

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At that moment, Chi Wan was unaware of what was happening at Princess Lin’an’s. She went to report to the Shengyuan Emperor, then returned to the Grand Princess’s Residence.

“You’re saying the Fuma didn’t say a single word to Lin’an from beginning to end?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Shengyuan Emperor had started talking about this matter the moment Chi Wan left.

Wang Hai’s confirmation made him laugh out loud. “Chi Jinzhao, oh, Chi Jinzhao, truly upright and loyal, wearing everything on her face. Good, very good.”

The Shengyuan Emperor said “good” twice. Wang Hai smiled obsequiously, not daring to say anything.

Although Princess Lin’an had no power or backing in Great Zhou, her political marriage was, after all, a meritorious act. He couldn’t be too harsh.

But he also had to let Princess Lin’an know whose domain Great Zhou was. If she and her daughter wanted to live noble and respectable lives in the future, they had to rely on him, the Emperor. They should stop thinking about any old grudges.

Chi Wan’s actions, though born of anger at Fu Qing, perfectly aligned with the Shengyuan Emperor’s intentions. Thus, he grew even more satisfied with Chi Wan.

“Issue a decree. Have the Fuma inspect the Capital Camps.”

The person inspecting the Capital Camps would typically live in the barracks. Inspecting all Five Army Camps would take ten days to half a month.

But the Capital Camps were very close to the capital. As long as Chi Wan didn’t mind the fatigue, she could travel back and forth each day.

The Emperor had never forgotten the rebellion in the Capital Camps. He had to make them once again the capital’s line of defense, and loyal to him, the sovereign.

It wasn’t that he insisted on using Chi Wan, but the performance of the Imperial City Division guards had truly surprised him. He thought, if the hundred thousand soldiers of the Capital Camps were like the guards of the Imperial City Division, what would he have to fear for the capital’s safety?

After learning that Beining was going to attack Great Zhou, he became even more determined to make the Capital Camps capable of fighting one against a hundred. Only then could he be safe.

And so, the Shengyuan Emperor, regardless of his daughter’s pregnancy, decided to send the Fuma out.

The imperial edict arrived at the Grand Princess’s Residence on Chi Wan’s heels. Upon receiving it, Chi Wan wanted to refuse.

Returning to Yongning Courtyard, she casually tossed the edict onto the table, walked over to Yu Jiuzhou with a wronged expression, and sat down, burying her head in Yu Jiuzhou’s embrace.

“Who sends a spouse out to work when their wife is pregnant?”

How annoying. No matter what, the spouse should be allowed to stay and accompany their wife.

A person like the Shengyuan Emperor truly didn’t deserve anyone’s loyalty.

Yu Jiuzhou put down her memorial, soothingly stroking Chi Wan’s head. “Hasn’t the training at the Capital Camps stabilized already?”

“Yes, it has. The insubordinate ones have been killed, beaten, or locked in solitary confinement until they cried and admitted their mistakes. The situation is already under control.”

Chi Wan was truly exasperated. A while ago, when she and Yu Jiuzhou were at odds, she had frequently gone to the Capital Camps.

Her title there had been upgraded from “Devil” to “Demon King”—the Great Demon King, in fact.

Every time she went, she would find different ways to torment the soldiers. The sight of her made their legs go weak.

Yet they also trusted her completely. They took to heart the many things their Great Demon King said.

One of the most memorable phrases was, “Better to bleed and sweat in training than for your families to shed tears and for you to shed blood on the battlefield.”

They trained hard, so that if they were ever needed on the battlefield, the skills they learned today might one day save their lives.

Furthermore, every time the Great Demon King came to the barracks, she would improve their meals. They already ate well on a daily basis, supposedly subsidized by the Great Demon King, but when she visited, they ate even better.

Never mind their time in the army before; even at home, when they occasionally went out for a feast, the food wasn’t as good as what they had in the barracks’ mess hall now, let alone the improved meals.

And most importantly, ever since the Great Demon King took over the Capital Camps, their military pay had never been short, and those who performed well even received subsidies.

Those who excelled in training would also receive certificates and prize money, and there were even rumors of medals.

Commemorative medals, honorary title medals, and most importantly, meritorious service medals.

The few Brocade Robe Guards who had won the competition against Beining had received the Heroic Model Medal.

As for the meritorious service medal, it seemed only one person had received it so far. It was said that they had completed a very impressive mission, but the person’s identity was not disclosed.

The medals were an honor. Ever since the soldiers learned of their existence, every one of them wanted to perform meritorious deeds. Their desire for merit had reached its peak.

In any case, the Capital Camps no longer needed Chi Wan to be there. After the basic training was over, they just needed to maintain their daily routine. Yet now, he was insisting she go and inspect the camps.

And she couldn’t refuse. Even if it was just for show, she still had to go.

She lay on Yu Jiuzhou’s lap, unwilling to get up. The two of them had only just reconciled. A wife in her second trimester was so very delicious; she didn’t want to leave at all.

Her wife was so tasty, who would want to go on a business trip!

Chi Wan lay on Yu Jiuzhou’s lap, her face turned towards her abdomen, whimpering and making one’s heart itch.

Yu Jiuzhou couldn’t help but push her face away a little. “If you don’t want to go, then don’t.”

“How can I do that? His Majesty’s decree has already been issued.”

Defying an imperial edict was no small matter. Even getting the Shengyuan Emperor to retract it would come at a considerable cost.

Yu Jiuzhou pinched her ear. “It’s fine. I’ll handle it.”

The sense of security that came from her big sister?

It was true. For others, defying an edict was a major affair, but for Yu Jiuzhou, there were many ways to change the Emperor’s mind.

But defying an edict was still defying an edict. A single misstep could make the Shengyuan Emperor displeased with the Grand Princess’s Residence.

As Yu Jiuzhou’s power grew, even if the Shengyuan Emperor had previously had good intentions of letting her hold power to protect his legacy, he wasn’t dead yet. If it came to a point where people only knew the Grand Princess and not the Emperor, that would be unacceptable.

The more power Yu Jiuzhou held, the more the Shengyuan Emperor would fear her. He would never like her.

This was an inevitable outcome. Yu Jiuzhou had come to terms with it in her past life and cared even less in this one.

Chi Wan still shook her head. “The twenty-ninth year of the Shengyuan reign… before then, the Shengyuan Emperor will have many opportunities to cause trouble. There’s no need to provoke him over something like this.”

The Shengyuan Emperor would die next year, which was less than a full year away.

The real struggle would begin after his death.

They had to establish their advantage before the Shengyuan Emperor died. The three princes had fallen to their current state largely thanks to the Emperor’s presence.

If the Shengyuan Emperor were not around, it would be much more troublesome for Yu Jiuzhou to deal with them. Even with conclusive evidence, it would be a difficult task.

The Emperor represented legitimacy. Unless Yu Jiuzhou was willing to be someone who disregarded her reputation, it would be very difficult to handle.

But Yu Jiuzhou was also going to be emperor, and reputation was very important.

The best-case scenario was succession—to inherit the throne legitimately from the Shengyuan Emperor’s hands. That was far better than being a treacherous subject.

Therefore, Chi Wan felt it was better not to oppose the Emperor on such a small matter. She just didn’t want to leave Yu Jiuzhou and was snuggling in her arms to whine a little.

She couldn’t eat her good wife anymore, so of course she had to cry and whimper.

At this thought, Chi Wan buried her head in Yu Jiuzhou’s embrace again. “If only I could split myself in two.”

One to go on the business trip, and one to stay at home, eating and drinking well.

Yu Jiuzhou laughingly pinched her ear and pulled her out. “Fool.”

“How am I a fool?” Chi Wan rubbed her ear and, in a fit of pique, pinched Yu Jiuzhou’s cheek.

Yu Jiuzhou: “?”

No one had ever dared to do that to her. It had always been her pinching Chi Wan; when had she ever been pinched?

This person was always pinching her in the dark—though not her face, and in places that were far more embarrassing. But in broad daylight, pinching her face, where was her dignity?

She looked at Chun Gui, who had her head down, stifling a laugh, and Xia Qu, who was already laughing openly.

Yu Jiuzhou’s face flushed, and she said in an annoyed tone, “You two, get out.”

Xia Qu huffed softly and muttered as she left, “Why don’t you make the Fuma get out?”

Chun Gui shot her a look. “Of course Her Highness can’t bear to drive the Fuma out.”

In the Fuma’s words, the peanut gallery should leave first.

With the hindrances finally gone, Chi Wan placed her hands on either side of Yu Jiuzhou’s waist, leaned in, and kissed her.

If people hadn’t been there, she would have kissed her long ago.

Just one look at Yu Jiuzhou, glowing with a gentle radiance, made her want to devour the woman whole.

Especially since Her Highness was getting more and more delicate. Yu Jiaojiao.

Chi Wan kissed her forcefully, only letting go when Yu Jiuzhou pushed her weakly.

Then, she suddenly thought of something. “Wait! I can ride alone, leave early and return late. I can make it back every day!”

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