“Big brother, this is my first time! I must have been out of my mind. Please spare me.” The man knelt on the ground and begged bitterly. “Besides, we’re both technically part of the government, aren’t we? My father is the village headman, and I’m his son, Xie Qiang. For his sake, please let me go, all right?”
The village headman?
Gao Qi gave a cold laugh. “Get lost! If you dare act like a scumbag again, I’ll break your legs!”
“Yes, yes.” The man fled in a panic.
Gao Qi asked Tao Jiang with concern, “Are you all right?”
Tears dripped from Tao Jiang’s eyes. “Thank you, Brother Gao.”
Gao Qi shifted his gaze to the right. The man had walked more than a dozen steps, yet was already dawdling and looking back. Gao Qi lifted the cloth bag he had been carrying and called out loudly, “You should thank Lady Historian. Not long after she left, she remembered that there was a bag of eggs she’d bought this morning and forgotten in the carriage. She asked me to bring them to you. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have run into this and wouldn’t have been able to save you.”
As he spoke, Gao Qi gently urged Tao Jiang forward by the shoulder and back. “Come on, I’ll take you inside.”
Once they entered the house, Gao Qi peered through a crack in the window. The man stood looking around for a while. Only after confirming that he could no longer hear anything did he finally leave for good.
Tao Jiang opened the cloth bag, only to find that there were no eggs inside. It was filled entirely with props used for opera performances.
She froze.
Gao Qi explained, “I noticed someone following you, so I grabbed a bag at random and chased after you without checking what was inside.”
Tao Jiang understood at once and thanked him repeatedly.
Gao Qi warned her, “There’s something wrong with that man. Stay at home and be careful. I’m going to report this to Lady Historian. Keep the door shut, go out as little as possible, and don’t open the door for anyone.”
Tao Jiang nodded vigorously.
Only then did Gao Qi hurry back toward the opera stage.
By then, the people from the Legal Office had already packed everything up, and everyone was waiting for him.
At last, Gao Qi returned. Yan Liangyu lifted the carriage curtain and smiled. “Where did you go snooping around this time?”
“This time… I may really have found something.” Gao Qi grinned, looking rather pleased with himself.
Yan Liangyu immediately beckoned him into the carriage.
Gao Qi told Yan Liangrong and Yan Liangyu everything that had happened, then added, “That man is extremely suspicious. He harassed Tao Jiang, but first asked why she had climbed into the carriage. Only after confirming that she had merely gone in to ask for food did he begin entertaining his filthy thoughts.
“And he said something very strange: ‘A little beauty like you, just like your sister, will sooner or later become someone else’s meal. Rather than let someone else have you, you might as well let your big brother here enjoy you first.’ We went to such lengths to find out about Tao Yang’s situation. How did he know about it?”
Yan Liangrong nodded. “He is the village headman’s son. He knows every detail about everyone in the village.”
Yan Liangyu was deeply worried. “Then… should we arrange for someone to protect Tao Jiang? What if that man comes back?”
Gao Qi replied, “There’s no need for now. That man is a coward. He probably won’t dare cause trouble again in the short term.”
Yan Liangrong’s expression turned grim. “Besides, the sixteenth is almost here. If that man really is an accomplice of those villains, he won’t dare ruin the ‘honorable guests’’ plans. He won’t dare commit another offense and draw attention to himself anytime soon. Keeping him around for now may not be a bad thing. We might even be able to use him to catch the culprits.”
Yan Liangyu and Gao Qi nodded in agreement.
That evening, the three of them—Yan Tongshu, Yan Liangrong, and Yan Liangyu—regrouped and exchanged information.
Yan Tongshu furrowed her brows. “The problem now is that we don’t know how to look through the personnel rosters of the various armies without alerting anyone, then eliminate the names one by one.”
Yan Liangrong sighed as well. “And there are quite a few second- and third-generation military families. The sixteenth is almost here. Even if we manage to obtain the rosters, there’s simply too little time to investigate them.”
“So,” Yan Tongshu said, looking up at Yan Liangrong, “I want to find someone who can pretend to be helpless and pitiful, infiltrate the village, and try to become this group’s target for this year.”
“What?” Yan Liangrong and Yan Liangyu were both dumbfounded.
Who could they find?
What young woman would be willing to take such a risk, while also being certain that she would be chosen and able to escape unscathed?
Yan Tongshu said quietly, “I know what you’re thinking. That’s why this person must be breathtakingly beautiful, unforgettable at first sight, and capable of making those men unable to look away the moment they see her—so that they have no choice but to select her. She also needs to be bold and careful, unconcerned with worldly notions of chastity and reputation. And she must know martial arts, so that if we lose contact with her along the way, she can protect herself—and protect the other girls as well.”
Yan Liangrong and Yan Liangyu grew even more bewildered.
Where in the world could they find a woman like that?
Women who knew martial arts were already rare. To also possess peerless beauty—that was someone in a million. And with time so tight, where could they possibly find her?
Yan Tongshu fell silent for a moment. Then the corners of her lips curved upward as she said softly, “I have the perfect candidate.”
The next day, Yan Tongshu brought Yan Liangrong and Yan Liangyu to report for duty at the Kaifeng Prefecture.
Then Yan Tongshu went to Zhang Jiu’s office.
Pearl followed behind her, carrying a tray laden with carefully prepared iced sugar snowballs, chilled lychees, and red-bean milk tea.
Yan Tongshu knocked on the door and flashed Zhang Jiu a brilliant smile. “Assistant Magistrate Zhang.”
That smile made it obvious at a glance that she was asking him for a favor.
Zhang Jiu handed the official documents to a bailiff and waved for him to leave.
Yan Tongshu entered and placed the iced sugar snowballs, chilled lychees, and red-bean milk tea in front of Zhang Jiu one by one. “Assistant Magistrate Zhang, we have a case that requires your help.”
Zhang Jiu smiled with refined courtesy. “I am at Lord Yan’s disposal.”
Yan Tongshu briefly outlined the ins and outs of the case.
The smile on Zhang Jiu’s face instantly froze into layer upon layer of ice.
These beasts wantonly humiliated innocent civilians and treated the law as though it were nothing. Even chopping them into a thousand pieces would not be enough to satisfy the people’s outrage!
Yan Tongshu said solemnly, “The nature of this case is especially vile. It defies both justice and morality. But these men have been committing such crimes for far too long, and the girls suffered severe psychological trauma. With the two factors combined, it will be very difficult to find conclusive evidence. That’s why I wanted to ask you for a favor, Assistant Magistrate Zhang.”
Zhang Jiu immediately rose and bowed. “Please give me your orders, Lord Yan.”
Yan Tongshu repeated what she had told Yan Liangrong the night before.
Although Zhang Jiu’s heart burned with justice and he longed to capture the criminals and bring them to justice immediately, he had never imagined that she would ask him to lure them out.
Zhang Jiu looked as though he had been struck by lightning. He stood there, stunned.
Yan Tongshu knew that her proposal was somewhat preposterous. Afraid that Zhang Jiu might refuse, she parted her lips and was just about to persuade him when Zhang Jiu immediately said, “Lord Yan, I am willing.”
A light flashed in Yan Tongshu’s eyes. “Truly?”
He had not hesitated even once.
Zhang Jiu’s features were as cold and pure as snow. “To seek justice for the people and eliminate violence is this subordinate’s duty. What harm is there in pretending to be a woman for a few days?”
Yan Tongshu was moved.
This was what a truly upright person was like.
For the sake of justice and fairness, they could brave boiling water, tread on mountains of blades, and fear nothing. They could also cast aside rigid conventions and the restraints of worldly opinion, charging forward without hesitation.
Yan Tongshu clenched her fists. “Since that’s settled, there’s no time to waste. Let’s begin now.”
Yan Tongshu brought Zhang Jiu to the bedchamber, where Yan Liangrong and Yan Liangyu were already waiting.
Zhang Jiu took the clothes and went inside to change.
A moment later, the door opened slightly.
Pearl, Yan Liangrong, and Yan Liangyu all stared in shock.
As befitted the third-ranked palace graduate who had dazzled the capital, even without makeup or an elaborate coiffure, he was breathtakingly beautiful, with a beauty that transcended the ordinary.
That face was not merely androgynous; it did not show the slightest trace of age.
Was this what it meant to be favored by Heaven?
“How is it?” Zhang Jiu asked softly.
Yan Tongshu considered him for a moment. His voice was clear and melodious, but it was still unmistakably a man’s voice. Zhang Jiu would have to pretend to be mute.
That was for the best. Those animals with human faces and bestial hearts were all spineless cowards. They only picked on the weak, and if the beautiful woman they targeted also happened to be mute, they would be even more pleased.
Yan Tongshu gave Zhang Jiu a thumbs-up.
Yan Liangrong and Yan Liangyu ushered Zhang Jiu inside to apply his makeup and arrange his hair.
Yan Liangyu styled his hair in a tassel bun, with pearl tassel ornaments pinned on either side. The arrangement did an excellent job of softening the shape of Zhang Jiu’s face, making it appear more delicate and feminine without covering his features. It displayed his beautiful face to perfection.
The hairstyle was soon finished, but Yan Liangrong found herself stumped when it came to the makeup.
The clothes they had prepared for Zhang Jiu consisted of a peach-pink top and a willow-green skirt.
A poor village girl would certainly dress simply and would not have spare money to buy expensive rouge. At most, she might dust her face with rice powder and dab on a little lip rouge for decoration. There was no way she could apply layers of cosmetics.
“No, no, this won’t do.”
Yan Liangrong removed the pearls from Zhang Jiu’s hair. “What poor village girl could afford pearls?”
She replaced the pearl hairpin with a small silk one, then twisted an ordinary strip of cloth into a thin cord to serve as the tassels.
Yan Liangrong studied Zhang Jiu’s face carefully before saying, “Close your eyes.”
Zhang Jiu obediently shut them. He felt something patting and smearing his face for a long while. When he opened his eyes again, even he was startled.
It seemed that she had applied only a little pale lip rouge to moisten his lips. There was no powder on his face, yet he could see in the mirror that his appearance had changed considerably. It looked somewhat unfamiliar—softer and more fragile. Even his eyes appeared far more innocent.
He stared in surprise. “How did you do that?”
Yan Liangyu laughed teasingly. “Naturally, it’s because my sister’s skills are superb.”
Yan Liangrong looked Zhang Jiu over from every angle, clearly delighted with the result. “Perfect.”
Zhang Jiu was rarely observed so closely by anyone, least of all by women. He felt slightly self-conscious. The tips of his ears reddened as he lowered his eyes.
Once the clothing and makeup were finished, Yan Liangrong opened the door.
Yan Tongshu and Pearl had been waiting outside for some time, both eager to see the result. Yan Tongshu could not resist teasing him. “What a lovely young lady. I wonder which prominent family she belongs to?”
“Lord Yan!” Zhang Jiu had never been teased like that before, and reproach immediately appeared in his eyes.
Yan Tongshu hastily composed himself and stopped teasing him. He then explained the plan he had discussed with Yan Liangrong and the others the night before.
First, Zhang Jiu would put on a veil and make a mysterious visit to Fish Village to rent a house.
Then they would find people to pretend to be distant relatives of Zhang Jiu, the mute orphan girl, and have them come to cause a scene. The bigger the commotion, the better. They would draw everyone out to watch, then tear away Zhang Jiu’s veil and reveal his devastatingly beautiful face—one capable of captivating both men and women.
Naturally, Zhang Jiu would have to act timid and pitiful, doing nothing but cry.
Finally, Yan Liangyu, who worked for the Legal Office, would happen to pass by and come to Zhang Jiu’s aid. But Zhang Jiu, being excessively timid, would refuse to pursue responsibility for his distant relatives. Instead, he would even speak up on their behalf, angering Yan Liangyu into leaving.
That way, Zhang Jiu could smoothly establish himself as a famously timid beauty.
Yan Tongshu finished explaining in one breath, paused to catch her breath, then said solemnly, “Assistant Magistrate Zhang, you have only one hour to learn how to act like a woman.”
Zhang Jiu thought for only a moment before replying, “It shouldn’t be difficult.”
Yan Tongshu, Yan Liangrong, Yan Liangyu, and Pearl all stared at him in shock.
Zhang Jiu explained, “Every year, the Registrar and I conduct inspections in the villages surrounding the city. I am quite familiar with the habits of both men and women in the nearby villages.
“Ladies of the capital are bound by rules governing every movement and gesture. They are taught by governesses from childhood, and it takes more than a decade for them to develop such refined manners. If I wanted to learn that sort of bearing in such a short time, it would indeed be difficult. But village women are different.
“Life in the countryside is hard. Everyone must work—plowing the fields, weaving cloth, chopping firewood, cooking, fetching water. They rise with the sun and retire with it. They have neither the time nor the strength to concern themselves with those empty formalities.
“Therefore, the way men and women walk is generally the same. Men walk one way, and women walk the same way. Men run one way, and women run the same way. At most, their parents might remind them not to expose themselves when running or walking. So I only need to pay attention to a few details.”
None of them had ever considered the matter so carefully.
But now that Zhang Jiu had pointed it out, it made perfect sense.
Yan Liangrong and Yan Liangyu suddenly understood.
They had been taking it for granted that women should look and move like women, and men should look and move like men.
Yet every one of those graceful steps and elegant postures required years of practice, day and night.
In the villages, both men and women had to work from dawn until dusk. They barely had enough to eat. Who had the leisure to practice the mannerisms found in aristocratic households? Even if they wanted to, where would they find the money to hire someone to teach them?
Everyone simply lived according to nature.
Now that the most difficult problem had been solved, Yan Liangrong and Yan Liangyu brought Gao Qi and Zhao Sheng in to play Zhang Jiu’s distant relatives and rehearse with him.
As it turned out, they had greatly underestimated the situation.
Learning to act like a woman was not the hardest part. The hardest part was acting like a fragile woman.
Yan Tongshu sat in a chair, propping her chin on her hand in frustration.
Zhang Jiu was upright and resolute by nature. Even after his makeup softened his features, there was still a forcefulness about him. He lacked that timid, helpless air of someone who could be easily manipulated.
The sharper the contrast became, the more clearly Yan Tongshu recognized how vile those men were, and the stronger the hatred in her heart grew.
Those beasts were cowards—weak, timid, and insecure. They only dared to bully soft targets, which was why Zhang Jiu had to play the part of a fragile young woman here.
If those bastards had even the slightest courage and dared to challenge one of the stronger, more fearsome women in the village, that woman would have torn their house apart.
They were nothing but bullies who preyed on the weak, putting on a show of strength while being useless cowards underneath!
Sooner or later, she would butcher the whole lot of them.
Zhang Jiu practiced for nearly half an hour and only barely managed to master that delicate, almost-frowning expression of vulnerability. Fortunately, he was playing a mute. As long as he knew how to cry, he could probably muddle through.
Yan Tongshu brought over some chili peppers and instructed Zhang Jiu to rub them onto his fingers when the disturbance took place the next day. If he could not cry, he was to touch his eyes with the chili-coated fingers.
Zhang Jiu obediently followed her instructions.
After everyone had agreed on the details, Zhang Jiu took a carriage to a quiet spot in the outskirts. With his face covered by a veil, he walked alone into Fish Village to rent a house.
People usually registered their house rentals at the village headman’s home.
Zhang Jiu stopped an older woman and gestured like a genuine mute. The woman, Fan Li, quickly understood what he wanted and smiled.
“Looking to rent a house? There aren’t many people renting around here, so we have plenty available. I know of several places myself. Come on, I’ll take you.”
The older woman brought Zhang Jiu to her female cousin’s husband’s home. As luck would have it, there was a small vacant house right next door.
Zhang Jiu took out her purse, poured out the copper coins inside, and counted out six months’ rent, coin by coin, for Fan Cai, the cousin of the landlady, Aunt Fan. After accepting the money, Fan Cai smiled and said, “Our village is rather remote. It’s not easy to get into the city, and buying things isn’t convenient either. You’ve just moved here, and you’re mute besides…”
Fan Li jabbed Fan Cai in the waist with her elbow. “You big mouth! How can you say things like that?”
How could she go around poking at other people’s sore spots?
Zhang Jiu lowered her head, her expression hidden from view.
She was tall, so whether standing or walking, she would deliberately bend her knees to make herself seem less conspicuous.
Fan Cai patted her own mouth. “Look at me—I really don’t know when to keep quiet. What I mean is, we all live in Fish Village, and you’re renting my house. If anything is inconvenient or you need help with something, just let me know. The people in our village may not have much money, but when it comes to lending a hand or putting in some effort, no one will refuse.”
Zhang Jiu lowered her eyes and nodded.
Fan Cai and Zhang Jiu agreed to go to the village headman’s office the next day to register the tenancy. Once Zhang Jiu had entered the house, Fan Cai said to Fan Li, “That girl is wearing a veil, but judging by her eyes and brows, she must be a beauty. She’s just a little tall.”
Fan Li shot her a look. “What’s wrong with being tall? Which man in our village wouldn’t love to marry a tall woman and have tall children? These days, if you’re tall, people fight to hire you when you go out looking for work. If you’re short, no one even wants you to guard a house or collect night soil.”
Fan Cai was displeased. “Why have you been snapping at me all day? If it weren’t for the fact that you found me a tenant today, I would’ve kicked you out already.”
“Heh.” Fan Li grinned. “Since you put it that way, I’m in no hurry to leave today. I’ll stay for lunch.”
“Fine, fine, fine. As if I’d begrudge you a meal.”
At noon, Fan Cai had her grandson bring two bran buns to Zhang Jiu next door.
A girl had come all alone to rent a house in such a remote place. She was mute as well. Something must have happened to her family, and she had probably been driven out by relatives who wanted to seize the family property.
The girl had counted and recounted her money when she paid the rent, and there had been only a few copper coins in her purse. She had just moved in, too, with a cold stove and empty pots. How could she have had time to prepare a meal?
As her landlady and neighbor, Fan Cai naturally felt she ought to look after her.
Not long afterward, Fan Cai’s six-year-old grandson, Chen Dongdong, returned.
“Mother, I gave the buns to that older sister. She took off her veil to eat, and she’s so pretty! I’ve never seen such a beautiful older sister before. Mother, when I grow up, can I marry a wife as pretty as her?”
“Hahaha!”
Everyone in the house burst out laughing.
Fan Cai teased him, “You want to get married? Then you’ll have to see what you’re capable of. We’ll see whether you can earn money and afford to support a wife.”
Chen Dongdong snorted, unconvinced. “I’ll definitely earn lots and lots of money when I grow up, and then I’ll marry that older sister.”
Another wave of laughter filled the room.
Meanwhile, Zhang Jiu was eating her meal. Yan Tongshu had also brought Pearl and Jinbao to Aunt Yang’s noodle stall. She had only just sat down, and the noodles had not yet been cooked, when three meat-filled flatbreads were handed over.
Meng Zheng’s voice came from above her head. “They’re from the place you like. I had them add plenty of meat.”
Meng Zheng casually placed his sword on the bench opposite Yan Tongshu, then took a long stride and sat down. He raised a hand and tapped her lightly. “What are you spacing out for? Aren’t you going to eat?”
The string of Buddhist prayer beads blessed by Master Yuanhui on Meng Zheng’s wrist swung before Yan Tongshu’s eyes with the movement.
Yan Tongshu pressed her lips into a smile. She divided the three flatbreads between Pearl and Jinbao, giving each of them one, then took two bamboo tubes of lychee slush from her backpack. She handed one to Meng Zheng.
Soft ripples spread through her eyes. “You bought me flatbreads, so I’m treating you to lychee slush. That makes us even. And don’t let the simple appearance fool you—this is made with real lychees, not smoked plums flavored to taste like lychee.”
Yan Tongshu waved to Aunt Yang. “Aunt Yang, bring Lord Meng the largest bowl of noodles you have, with two extra portions of minced meat! Put it on my tab!”
“Coming right up!” Aunt Yang called loudly.
Meng Zheng understood. Neither of them mentioned the past.
He reached out and accepted the bamboo tube, then scooped up a spoonful. What a unique flavor.
Yan Tongshu asked with a bright smile, “Isn’t it delicious?”
Meng Zheng nodded, pleasantly surprised. “I’ve never tasted anything like this before. So this is what lychee is called? The flavor really is sweet and distinctive.”
“Of course,” Yan Tongshu said with a smile. “When have I ever recommended anything wrong?”
Meng Zheng gave Yan Tongshu a thumbs-up. “Lord Yan truly is impressive.”
Yan Tongshu grinned smugly.
After a while, Meng Zheng asked as he ate, “What case were you investigating yesterday?”
Yan Tongshu swallowed the flatbread in her mouth and answered carefully, “A case involving dogs biting people.”
Those beasts were dogs, and before the first round began, they had released dogs to bite people. So wasn’t that exactly a case of dogs biting people?
Yan Tongshu saw nothing wrong with her description.
The case might involve sensitive matters that were not suitable for public discussion, so Meng Zheng expressed his understanding.
“Is there anything I can help with?” he asked.
Just then, Aunt Yang brought over the noodles.
Yan Tongshu set down her flatbread and picked up her chopsticks. As she stirred the noodles, she asked, “Can you quietly obtain the military registers of all the Imperial Guards and garrison troops inside and outside the capital?”
The military registers were rosters containing information on every soldier. Several copies were generally kept, with one each held by the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Revenue, and the individual army concerned.
This was something Meng Zheng genuinely could not manage.
“I can arrange for you to consult the registers of the Divine Guard Army, but as for the other armies…” Meng Zheng spread his hands. “I’m afraid I can’t help.”
The expression on Yan Tongshu’s face fell.
Meng Zheng continued, “The court is short on soldiers. In the past, different units even came to blows over recruits they were competing for. After that incident, the various armies were no longer allowed to consult one another’s registers.”
“Such a shame.” Yan Tongshu sighed.
Seeing the gloomy look on her face, Meng Zheng suddenly smiled. “But you’re in luck.”
Yan Tongshu immediately raised her head and looked at him expectantly.
Meng Zheng smiled. “Recently, His Majesty has been considering reorganizing the Imperial Guards. He has already ordered the military registers and organizational details of the various armies to be brought together. If you go to the palace today, explain the reason, and ask to consult them, His Majesty will surely grant your request, given how much trust and support he has always shown the Kaifeng Prefecture.”
Yan Tongshu finished her noodles at lightning speed and lavished praise on Meng Zheng. “Meng Zheng, you’re amazing! I’ll be going now. I’ll treat you to a meal next time!”
Watching Yan Tongshu rush off in a whirlwind, Meng Zheng lowered his head with a smile and slowly savored the bowl of spicy fish-paste noodles he had not tasted in so long.
Sure enough, food recommended by Lord Yan always suited his palate best.
Yan Tongshu took a carriage, but instead of heading straight to the imperial palace, she first returned to the Yan residence. She rummaged through the very bottom of her wardrobe for the token that allowed her to enter the palace, picked up Yuanzi, and leaped into the carriage before hurrying toward the imperial palace in a flurry.
After all that rushing around, it was already past noon by the time Yan Tongshu entered the palace.
Chuigong Hall.
Qin Yi was, as usual, reviewing memorials.
Snowfluff had already eaten lunch and was curled up listlessly in one corner of the imperial desk. Its fluffy tail drooped despondently. Though perfectly healthy, it was clearly unhappy.
“Your Majesty,” Lu Xi called softly.
Qin Yi rested his chin on one hand, his brows faintly furrowed and his gaze fixed on the memorial before him. His vermilion brush hovered now and then, then descended to mark out a comment.
Without raising his eyes, he asked quietly, “What is it?”
Lu Xi announced, “Lord Yan requests an audience.”
Qin Yi’s wrist paused, and the tip of his brush dragged a vermilion streak across the memorial. He set the imperial brush back in its stand, closed the memorial he had only half finished reviewing, and placed it to one side.
He looked at Lu Xi. “Has the sun risen in the west?”
