Chapter 143

Only after they had boarded the carriage and Xie Qi cracked the whip, driving them away from the bustling marketplace, did Aunt Zhao finally let out a long breath of relief.

Completely bewildered, Fan Changyu asked, “Auntie, what exactly happened?”

Looking guilty, Aunt Zhao said, “Changyu, Auntie was foolish. I may have caused trouble for you.”

She recounted the argument she’d had at the fabric stall, too ashamed to lift her head.

“I only heard those women saying that Yanzheng had accepted some Li family’s young lady’s ribbon, and I couldn’t help speaking up… Who would’ve thought it would turn into such a mess…”

Her calloused hands tightened within her sleeves before she finally looked up at Fan Changyu.

“I heard that officials can easily be impeached. This… this won’t cause someone to impeach you or Yanzheng, will it?”

Uncle Zhao was also worried that his wife’s actions might bring trouble upon Fan Changyu.

Immediately, he pointed at Aunt Zhao and scolded her.

“You, honestly. At your age, what was the point of arguing over something like that?”

Filled with guilt, Aunt Zhao didn’t utter a word in response.

Fan Changyu stepped in.

“It’s nothing serious, Auntie. Don’t blame yourself. It’s just that to avoid unnecessary complications, it’d be best not to argue with people over things like this in the future.”

The Emperor, Wei Yan, and even the Li family already knew about her relationship with Xie Zheng.

Once word spread that Xie Zheng had accepted a woman’s ribbon during his triumphal entry, they could easily guess it was hers.

As for everyone else, she and Xie Zheng would marry sooner or later anyway.

There was no harm in the common people knowing.

The only troublesome part was probably her status as a widow.

There would undoubtedly be people who thought she wasn’t worthy of Xie Zheng.

But those same people would still think she wasn’t worthy of him even if they learned the man she’d once married was Xie Zheng himself.

In the past, Fan Changyu might have cared.

But after being tempered by the battlefield for so long, she had already learned to take life and death lightly.

If she still feared idle gossip, she’d truly be regressing.

Hearing her reassurance, Aunt Zhao finally relaxed completely.

“Never again, never again. I definitely won’t do it again.”

The carriage returned smoothly to the Courier Lodge.

Seeing that both Uncle Zhao and Aunt Zhao were unusually quiet, Changning sat in Fan Changyu’s lap and asked,

“Big Sister, is Brother-in-law going to the palace to receive rewards from the Emperor too?”

She remembered that when Fan Changyu had entered the capital, she’d gone to the palace together with the generals.

Fan Changyu nodded.

“Of course he is.”

Officials of the fifth rank and above stationed in the capital were required to attend court daily.

Ministers recalled from outside postings, however, generally only needed to remain at the Courier Lodge or report to their offices unless specifically summoned by the Emperor.

Fan Changyu and the other generals who had recently returned from the northwestern battlefield were effectively idle at the moment.

The Emperor would probably decide their future appointments after the New Year.

Yet the political situation was increasingly turbulent.

The man on the Dragon Throne had possessed little real authority since ascending the throne.

Apart from a handful of truly loyal ministers, most officials only paid lip service to the imperial family.

Behind the scenes, they aligned themselves either with Wei Yan or the Li family.

The young emperor’s achievements were mediocre, but his ambitions were considerable.

He had previously attempted to use the Li family to bring down Wei Yan.

Unfortunately, he had acted too hastily.

Before Wei Yan could be toppled, the Li family realized that the Emperor’s knife was pointed at them as well, prompting them to ally themselves with Crown Prince’s Grandson Qi Min instead.

Now the Emperor had no choice but to seek Wei Yan’s protection once more.

The struggle between Wei Yan’s faction and the Li faction would likely be decided by the ongoing trial investigating Wei Yan’s collusion with rebels.

Lately, Fan Changyu had been spending much of her time at the Court of Judicial Review.

She hoped to uncover what role the Sui family had played in the Jinzhou tragedy years ago.

By listening in on the interrogations, she searched for connections between Wei Yan’s current case and the conspiracy behind the massacre at Jinzhou.

But the joint investigation by the Three Judicial Offices was proceeding painfully slowly.

It might take another month or two before the case was concluded.

As for the man seated on the Dragon Throne, who knew what changes might occur before then?

Changning’s eyes immediately lit up.

“Then what reward will the Emperor give Brother-in-law?”

The question caused Fan Changyu to fall briefly silent.

Xie Zheng had already been granted a marquisate before reaching twenty.

As far as military achievements were concerned, no one in the court could rival him.

The last time she attended court alongside Tang Peiyi, the Emperor had hinted at granting Xie Zheng the Nine Bestowments.

The court officials had all fallen silent at the mention.

At the time, Fan Changyu had found it strange and later asked Tang Peiyi what the Nine Bestowments meant.

Tang Peiyi had answered carefully:

“Throughout history, the Nine Bestowments are only granted when an emperor has no higher honors left to bestow upon a minister. They include gifts such as chariots, ceremonial robes, court music, imperial steps, battle axes, bows, and arrows—symbols of supreme imperial authority.

“But those who received the Nine Bestowments throughout history rarely met a good end. Most were infamous and powerful ministers.”

At present, the court was divided between the Li faction and the Wei faction.

Had the Emperor deliberately pushed Xie Zheng into the spotlight that day?

Was he hoping Wei Yan and Grand Tutor Li would deal with Xie Zheng for him?

The thought filled Fan Changyu with unease.

As she adjusted Changning’s collar, she simply replied,

“How would your sister know what the Emperor plans to reward him with?”

Changning clearly wasn’t satisfied with the answer.

She buried her face in Fan Changyu’s arms and pouted.

A gust of wind occasionally lifted a corner of the carriage curtain.

Gently patting Changning’s back, Fan Changyu gazed through the window toward the direction of the imperial palace.

A faint frown appeared between her brows.

—

Imperial Palace.

“His Majesty summons Marquis Wu’an, Xie Zheng, to an audience!”

The announcement echoed through the long palace corridors.

Its reverberations bounced between the towering gatehouses flanking the Meridian Gate, carrying an aura of authority and majesty.

Rows of armored Imperial Guards stood at attention before the gate, their expressions stern and solemn.

The sun hung high overhead.

Even the glazed roof tiles glittered with golden light.

Dressed in armor and carrying a sword, Xie Zheng strode through the vast palace gates.

His black cloak billowed behind him like a trail of blood-soaked killing intent.

His expression appeared indifferent yet cold.

The qilin-headed pauldrons on his shoulders looked particularly ferocious beneath the blazing sunlight.

Though qilin were auspicious creatures, these seemed tainted by years of drinking blood on the battlefield, radiating brutality and menace.

No one dared meet his gaze.

For a fleeting moment, the red walls and golden roofs lining the palace avenue seemed to lose their usual grandeur and dignity.

Instead, they appeared humbled before him.

When Xie Zheng entered the Golden Throne Hall, every official turned to look.

The foremost position among the military officials remained vacant for him.

Standing at the head of the civil officials, Grand Tutor Li cast him a brief glance.

His deeply wrinkled brows furrowed slightly.

The wolf cub Wei Yan had raised by his side had finally matured.

In terms of ruthlessness and methods, he was every bit as formidable as the younger Wei Yan had once been.

After withdrawing his gaze, Grand Tutor Li resumed staring forward.

Xie Zheng ignored all the scrutiny around him.

He lifted his eyes toward the young emperor seated upon the throne.

The moment their gazes met, Qi Sheng’s smile became visibly strained.

The corner of Xie Zheng’s mouth curled into something between mockery and amusement.

He couldn’t even be bothered to perform a proper kneeling salute.

Merely inclining his body slightly, he cupped his fists and said,

“This subject greets Your Majesty.”

As a marquis, he no longer needed to refer to himself as a general before the emperor.

Qi Sheng feared him, yet secretly hated him as well.

Forcing a smile, he replied,

“Rise, Minister Xie.”

Then he turned to the assembled officials.

“Minister Xie is a pillar of Great Yin. I hereby grant him the privilege of entering court with sword and shoes, approaching without haste, and being addressed without naming taboos.”

These privileges had been granted when Xie Zheng was first ennobled.

Even then, Qi Sheng had already been plotting ways to drive a wedge between Wei Yan and his nephew.

The civil and military officials remained silent.

Looking at the quiet court, Qi Sheng’s resentment over the decline of imperial authority deepened.

Yet there was nothing he could do.

With a forced smile, he continued,

“Minister Xie risked his life to suppress the rebellion in Chongzhou and earned the greatest merit. The Northern Frontier remains secure thanks to his defense. Therefore, I bestow upon him the Nine Bestowments.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he lightly clapped his hands.

Several eunuchs immediately stepped forward carrying trays draped in yellow silk.

Upon them rested a collection of exquisite treasures.

Xie Zheng’s gaze swept over the gifts.

The chill in his eyes deepened.

Still, he merely inclined himself slightly.

“This subject thanks Your Majesty for your gracious favor.”

—

The court session finally concluded without incident.

The Wei faction, lacking Wei Yan’s presence due to his prolonged illness and fully aware of Xie Zheng’s temperament, remained silent throughout.

The Li faction, meanwhile, regarded Xie Zheng with considerable caution.

But since Grand Tutor Li never spoke, none of his followers dared provoke Xie Zheng either.

Only the eunuchs who had personally delivered the imperial gifts to him were still trembling afterward.

Grand Tutor Li departed early alongside his eldest son and several trusted disciples.

As they crossed the Golden Water Bridge and found themselves surrounded only by allies, Li Yuanting finally spoke.

“Father, Marquis Wu’an’s influence has already surpassed Wei Yan’s. As long as he remains in the capital, our plans…”

Despite his frustration, he dared not finish the sentence.

Grand Tutor Li’s crane-embroidered official robes shimmered beneath the sunlight.

Unlike his impatient son, his pace remained steady and his expression calm.

“What are you panicking for? Things will work themselves out when the time comes.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than a lazy yet imposing voice sounded from behind them.

“Grand Tutor, a moment.”

Grand Tutor Li stopped and turned.

Xie Zheng was descending the white marble steps toward them.

“What guidance does the Marquis wish to offer?”

The old man’s tone revealed nothing.

The corner of Xie Zheng’s mouth curved slightly.

“Nothing so grand. I merely have something I’d like to return to the Grand Tutor.”

As he approached casually, the officials clustered around Grand Tutor Li visibly tensed.

Several swallowed nervously.

Perhaps it was only their imagination, but as Xie Zheng drew near, they felt as though a faint scent of blood accompanied him.

Some of the more timid officials even turned pale.

Grand Tutor Li alone remained composed.

His aged but sharp eyes rested on Xie Zheng.

“The Marquis and I have little personal association. What item could you possibly wish to return?”

Xie Zheng stopped three paces away.

With a flick of his wrist, a jade pendant suspended from a red cord dropped from his fingers and swayed gently in the air.

The character “An” was carved into its surface.

The moment Li Yuanting saw it, his face changed dramatically.

“Th-That’s Huai’an’s jade pendant!”

Xie Zheng loosened his grip.

The pendant nearly fell to the ground.

Fortunately, Li Yuanting reacted quickly and caught the cord.

“Returning property to its rightful owner,” Xie Zheng said lazily.

Li Yuanting’s concern for his son overwhelmed him.

“What have you done to my son?!”

Xie Zheng slowly raised his eyes and looked at the Minister of Revenue.

Hadn’t I already said it?

“Returning property to its rightful owner.”

Li Yuanting’s face turned red with anxiety, but Xie Zheng ignored him completely.

Instead, he looked toward Grand Tutor Li.

Sunlight shattered within his long eyes, making it impossible to discern their depths.

“The item has been returned. I’ll be taking my leave.”

As soon as Xie Zheng walked away, Li Yuanting turned urgently to his father.

“Father, Huai’an has fallen into Xie Zheng’s hands. What does he mean by this?”

Grand Tutor Li stared at the departing figure of the young marquis.

Several glimmers of understanding flashed through his aged eyes.

“He’s threatening me.”