In the depths of winter, Zhu Yixin had run so hard that beads of sweat dotted her brow. She pulled me into a tight embrace, patting my back with heartache. "We arrived too late. We never expected you to be near the Shixi Pavilion..."
Lu Kaifeng, meanwhile, had his brow furrowed in a rare display of agitation. He was likely furious and self-reproachful for failing to see through the opponent's illusion array in time. He and Qiao Songlin were casting spells all around, attempting to capture any lingering traces of the illusion, paying particular attention to the defensive artifacts Xia Ji had left behind.
Nie Xueqing, however, had great faith in my abilities. She simply patted my shoulder in comfort before asking about the encounter. I gave a brief account, and the group gasped in shock. "To think he was actually the Grandmaster’s disciple..."
Before we could discuss it further, Luo Cheng finished his negotiations with the manager. This middle-aged man, surnamed Qin, finally showed a hint of respect. He spoke to me with newfound politeness. "This humble one was ignorant and has offended you. I beg for Madam Su’s forgiveness. However, the Imperial Treasury is a restricted area; unauthorized entry is a crime clearly stipulated in the laws of Great Jing. I have already sent word to the masters of the house. As for how this will be handled, I must ask Madam to wait a moment."
"Are you suggesting I go sit in a jail cell?" I looked at him with a faint, knowing smile.
Manager Qin hurriedly waved his hands. "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare."
Zhu Yixin said indignantly, "You manager, how can you be so unreasonable? It was clearly a villain of the Cloud-Eating Realm who launched an attack, and this lady was caught in the crossfire. How can you justify throwing the victim into a cell?"
Manager Qin didn't dare argue with her. He kept bowing and scraping, desperately hoping for someone from his house to arrive. I had no intention of following their arrangements and had already sent Luo Cheng’s men out. I smilingly patted Zhu Yixin’s hand to show I was fine, then casually asked Lu Kaifeng, "Eldest Brother, have you found anything?"
"I will make him pay the price," was all my Eldest Brother said.
Qiao Songlin analyzed the situation. "Everything has been peaceful lately, and Zhenzhen even went to the outskirts today. To bypass secluded areas and choose the bustling East Market instead—Xia Ji was either overconfident or in a great hurry."
"It should be the latter," I said. "Given his brilliance, for him to not even bother scrutinizing the surrounding terrain suggests he might have struck the moment he caught my trail. He was in quite a rush to take my life."
Regardless, setting an array in the East Market was truly unwise. The defensive arrays of the merchant houses found everywhere were at least of the Star-Plucking Realm. I could have triggered one anywhere; it was just that the effect wouldn't have been as spectacular as the Shixi Pavilion's. Sometimes, clever people fail because they are too conceited.
Nie Xueqing interjected, "Relying solely on the secret guards isn't enough. I’ll assign two experts to protect you; they won't leave your side for a moment."
Only then did I find the time to ask her, "Sister Qing, how did you end up with my brothers and sisters?"
"Am I not allowed to drop by for a visit?" she replied with a smile.
Seeing us chatting and laughing as if no one else were there, Manager Qin’s originally ruddy face gradually turned sallow. He was anxious but helpless. Finally, the person he was waiting for arrived and whispered instructions in his ear. He offered me a forced smile and began, "Madam Su, please move to our main residence—"
He was cut off by a line of officials in black robes embroidered with gold, marching in with long strides. Luo Cheng was hidden at the back of this group. The leader wore his official uniform with dignity and possessed an extraordinary aura. He gave Manager Qin a nod as a greeting and said, "The witness will be taken by this official."
As he spoke, two men who looked like Thousand-Unit Captains each led a squad to surround the Shixi Pavilion, efficiently beginning to gather evidence. Though they were collecting evidence, by surrounding the building, the guards of the Dayou Chamber of Commerce were naturally hemmed in as well. It looked more like they had come specifically to suppress them.
Manager Qin hurriedly tried to block them. "How should I address this Excellency?"
"Surnamed Chu," the man said coldly. "This matter involves items for internal palace use, so it naturally falls under the jurisdiction of this Temple. Do you have any objections?"
Oh my, this Lord Chu was quite overbearing and cold. By comparison, my Lord Wei was practically the height of gentleness when presiding over a case!
Regardless, he was being overbearing toward my opponent, so the more overbearing, the better. I didn't bother with the tactless Manager Qin anymore. I turned and followed the men from Yingzhao Temple, signaling to my siblings and Nie Xueqing with my eyes that they needn't worry. They weren't worried, of course; Yingzhao Temple was likely safer than my own home right now.
Lu Kaifeng said, "We’re going to Yongzhao Ward." They intended to check if there were any issues with the arrays near my home and to rearrange the guards as a precaution.
As I walked, I sorted through my thoughts. I was clean as a whistle; what enemies could I possibly have? The only ones I’d offended so far were the Palace of a Thousand Colors, and since their total withdrawal from the capital region, there had been no news of them. For now, I couldn't determine if they were involved. I had only stayed in a handful of places: Mount Gomeng, the Wen family, the Nie family, and Wujing Sect. Thinking through them all, attacking me seemed groundless and roundabout. For instance, if someone had a grudge against the Nie family, they should have gone straight for the head of the family, Nie Xueqing, who was right there.
As for Wei Qingming... even storybooks know to kidnap the beautiful spouse of a powerful figure to use as leverage. I had even tried to get close to Xia Ji by calling him 'Shishu,' hinting that he could kidnap me instead of killing me, yet he remained unmoved. It was as if he were simply venting his anger by killing a wife to avenge a wife...
In the end, it all came back to Xia Ji’s words: what kind of help had I given that I shouldn't have? And, I truly hoped it had nothing to do with Wei Qingming; otherwise, she would be ten thousand times more in danger than I.
This Lord Chu moved like lightning. Once we reached the public offices of Yingzhao Temple, he skipped all the formalities and had me sit down immediately to record my statement. I sat down unhurriedly, watching the scribe lay out paper and brush, and asked with a smile, "Might I ask for Lord Chu’s full name?"
"Chu Jiangheng."
My guess was proven right. He was Envoy Number Seventeen, holding the formal rank of Commander Assistant, fourth rank. No wonder he was named 'Jiangheng'—he was indeed overbearing.
Yingzhao Temple was an institution at the level of a Regional Military Commission. Grandfather Feng was the Commander, third rank, with four Commander Assistants beneath him, followed by two Pacifiers. If Wei Qingming needed to wear official robes—for instance, on major occasions like an imperial audience—she could hold the rank of Pacifier, junior fifth rank. However, this was a titular post under Yingzhao Temple’s special system; it wasn't recorded in the Ministry of Personnel, and they didn't even pay her a salary! The two real Pacifiers were different people. Given her troublesome identity, she couldn't advance further along this bright and glorious official path; she had reached her ceiling. Chu Jiangheng was about ten years older than her. In this dynasty, where the average age of a fifth-rank official started at sixty, he was truly a young upstart. He hadn't climbed as slowly as the one in my house...
I recounted the events in detail. The scribe had me verify the record and sign it. Just as I put down the brush, Chu Jiangheng said, "I’ve heard Wei Nine speak of you."
"Oh? I'm honored."
He continued, "He shouldn't have involved you. Yingzhao Temple is not anyone's private property to be used for cleaning up messes after causing trouble."
"Lord Chu, you said yourself just now that since it involves the internal palace treasuries, Yingzhao Temple must take over according to regulation. How is this 'cleaning up' for me?" I replied calmly. "I merely reported it to you quickly to prevent a common woman like myself from being forcibly detained in a private residence by the Dayou Chamber of Commerce. That would have been truly detrimental to the investigation."
My irritation stemmed from the fact that while his tone was calm, it carried an underlying disdain for a colleague using private power for a mistress. That was one thing, but his use of the word "involved" suggested he felt women had no right or ability to meddle in such affairs and should stay home. Having been talked back to, he grew even more dissatisfied, yet he put on an air of being above arguing with a woman and waved for someone to see me out.
Luo Cheng was waiting outside with seven guards. When they saw me emerge, they all dropped to their knees, blaming themselves for failing to protect me. I smiled and helped him up, telling the others not to stand on ceremony. "When a Cloud-Eating Master strikes, there is nothing any of us can do. It’s best that no one was hurt. You’ve worked hard, brothers. Go have a good drink tonight and rest."
As I spoke, I pulled out money for wine. Luo Cheng naturally refused, so I laughingly tossed the coin purse into the arms of the lead guard, adding, "I, Su Zhenzhen, am a person who settles every score. I will certainly vent this grievance for all of you!"
Turning onto Chongming Street, Nie Xueqing was waiting with her people, offering another round of concern. Xiao Yan had run out from home in a panic upon hearing I was attacked; she looked ready to burst into tears and hug me, but didn't dare because of my recent coldness. Sister Qing pointed out her two best female martial artists, both around thirty. One was at the late Cloud-Swallowing stage, and the other was actually at the Great Circle. Their names were Xu Rong and Kong Xia. I called them 'Sister' with a smile; from now on, they would accompany me everywhere. As for Sister Qing herself, she had reached the Great Circle of the late stage over the past three years. It was said she planned to settle her affairs after the New Year and find a quiet place for secluded cultivation to attempt the breakthrough to the Cloud-Eating Realm.
On the way back, I took Sister Rong and Sister Xia into the carriage to get acquainted. Zhu Yixin was both envious and jealous, able only to watch longingly before Nie Xueqing dragged her back into their own carriage. Now, with two groups of people escorting and protecting me, I certainly had quite a bit of "face"...
Zhu Yixin was consumed with worry and couldn't sit still inside. She dragged Muyu to wait at the gate, with Qiao Songlin accompanying them. Seeing me finally return, she let out a long sigh of relief and asked urgently, "That official didn't make things difficult for you, did he?"
"How could he?" I laughed. "If he had, I wouldn't be home at this hour."
In truth, I understood Manager Qin. According to the law, even if I wasn't a suspect, I would have had to stay at the magistrate's office for at least four or five days as a witness until the matter was cleared. The Dayou Chamber of Commerce was also wary of my connections to the most untouchable group in the capital. They didn't dare actually hand me over to the Prefect, so they chose a middle ground: having me stay a night at the estate of their chairman, Li Hongchou, to explain the situation to all parties. I understood this at the time; I simply didn't want to spend the night alone in a stranger’s manor.
Qiao Songlin simply said, "Everything is normal at home. A-Zhi, go to sleep in peace. We are all here. Big Boss Nie, you’ve worked hard as well." Nie Xueqing shook her head with a faint smile.
A warm current flowed through my heart. I smiled and said, "Compared to all this love and care, a random 'Shishu' popping up to try and harm me once or twice isn't such a big deal!"
Back in my room, I couldn't care about anything else. My first priority was to write to Wei Qingming. Although Yingzhao Temple would certainly relay the full story, and I should report the good news rather than the bad, I feared that if this truly concerned her, the subtle details were best described by me as the eyewitness. It might give her more clues to deduce the whole picture and guard against the unexpected. I drafted it twice, then carefully transcribed it, sealing the letter with our agreed-upon method and handing it to Luo Cheng to be sent off. I feared nothing; I only worried for her.
My brothers and sisters said nothing, but the next day, they each moved their belongings into the Orange Garden. Even Lu Lingfeng, whose movements were usually erratic, was called back. Fortunately, the place was large; exploring the house alone would keep her entertained for half a month. Upon hearing of the incident, Lu Lingfeng generously offered me the ghost Wei Qingming had given her at the Tianshan Meeting. "Your paramour caught it. I’ll lend it to you."
I felt both amused and touched. This time, I didn't plan to refuse. After all, it was a ghost of the Cloud-Eating Realm! Perhaps it could even withstand a move or two against Xia Ji. Besides, this was my paramour’s prey to begin with!
