Chapter 215: Awakening

It had been two years since they last met. The former captain of the Jinyiwei, originally a mere Thousand-Household Officer, had now transformed into the Vice Commander of the Jinyiwei. Over the past few years, though Jiang Xuening had been far from the capital, she had still heard rumors about the Jinyiwei.

It seemed that things hadn’t changed much from the previous life.

The emperor’s weapon, the dog of the powerful, ruthless and efficient. The only difference was that in the previous life, his backing had been Jiang Xuening, but in this life, it seemed that someone else had taken that role.

His dark blue satin robe, embroidered with a subtle pattern of auspicious beasts and cloud-thunder designs, didn’t immediately reveal its origins. However, the spring embroidery knife hanging from his waist clearly indicated his identity.

As his position had risen over the years, he had become more composed, exuding the presence of one with great power.

Yet, when he entered the hall, there was no arrogance, only a posture of humility and congratulations.

Jiang Xuening was stunned when she heard his name.

Seeing him enter the hall now, her heart skipped a beat. The hall was small, so if Zhou Yinzhi had come all the way from the capital and heard some rumors upon arriving at Xinzhou, he would likely have guessed she was here. There was no avoiding it, so it would be better to face it with calmness.

Xie Wei, Lu Xian, and the others were shocked to see this “unexpected guest.” They realized that they weren’t the ones fighting against the Tatars for the nation, so in silence, each one harbored their own thoughts. The other generals, unaware of their involvement in the conspiracy to deceive the emperor, assumed that a special envoy from the court had come to reward them for news of a victory over the Tatars. They were not surprised, in fact, they were full of joy, and their attitudes were especially warm.

Zhou Yinzhi was not well known to the frontier generals, but Xie Wei, Yan Lin, Jiang Xuening, and others recognized him.

For a moment, no one spoke.

Shen Zhiyi sat in the upper seat, her eyes flickering slightly. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but after glancing at Xie Wei, she closed it again.

The atmosphere in the room felt subtly awkward.

Finally, Xie Wei laughed first, saying, “Commander Zhou, you’re too polite. You’ve traveled all the way from the capital, and it’s just in time for the victory banquet. Please, come take a seat.”

Everyone began to exchange pleasantries with Zhou Yinzhi.

Jiang Xuening was also seated and, since she was sitting next to Shen Zhiyi, her position was quite prominent. After Zhou Yinzhi exchanged greetings with Yan Lin, he almost immediately spotted her. He seemed slightly surprised and said, “I didn’t expect the second young lady to be here as well. It’s been two years.”

In her past life, Zhou Yinzhi had been a dog she raised, not a good person. He would do anything to climb up the ranks.

When the Yan family was implicated, he played a part in it.

Later, he changed masters and attached himself to her, then went on to work with Shen Zhiyi, doing all the dirty work for the court.

As far as capability went, he was definitely not lacking.

Unfortunately, in the struggle between her and Xiao Shu, this “dog” turned against her, causing her to fall into an irretrievable situation and dragging Zhang Zhe into it as well.

In this life, Wen Jieyu’s child had been saved and successfully given birth to the prince.

Shen Lang had not mysteriously died either.

So, Shen Jie remained the Prince Linzi and was not named “Crown Prince” nor ascended to the throne. Naturally, Zhou Yinzhi now served the current emperor, Shen Lang. Shen Lang was treacherous, mediocre in state affairs, but he was good at using imperial power to manipulate others. He trusted and valued Zhou Yinzhi far more than he did the previous emperor, Shen Jie, who later ascended the throne.

Jiang Xuening had been away from the capital for two years, and she didn’t want anyone to notice her movements. She had almost cut off communication with the capital and even stopped sending letters to the Jiang family.

In this case, Zhou Yinzhi no longer had anything to gain from her.

She had heard that Zhou Yinzhi had occasionally visited the Jiang family before, but as he grew more favored by the emperor and took full control of the Jinyiwei, even Jiang Boyou, a mere Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Revenue, had to show respect when meeting him. Eventually, there were no further reports of him visiting the Jiang family.

She had always been wary and cautious about this person. Even though she had used him to secretly warn Yan Lin, clean up the Qingyuan Duke’s residence, and even saved You Fangyin, she never fully trusted him.

Now, after two years, everything had changed.

Jiang Xuening naturally wouldn’t be foolish enough to treat him the same way as before. Instead, she responded with a smile that was neither too warm nor too cold: “It’s been two years. Congratulations, Commander Zhou, for your rapid rise and success.”

After everyone exchanged pleasantries, they finally sat down.

Zhou Yinzhi explained that he had come from the frontier with news of victory, which made the emperor overjoyed, so he was specially dispatched to reward everyone, showing imperial favor. He even mentioned how the Marquis of Yongyi’s family had finally returned to the capital, and how Xie Wei’s plans behind the scenes had contributed greatly.

He appeared completely unaware of the truth, as if Yan Lin hadn’t left his assigned post without permission, as if his seizure of military power wasn’t through a forged imperial edict but was truly the emperor’s will. Even the royal family’s previous indifference to Shen Zhiyi’s fate seemed to have never existed.

Everything was presented as a gift from the heavens—blessing, grandeur, and imperial favor!

The reality, however, was that the people who were openly led by Yan Lin and secretly headed by Xie Wei were all involved in a conspiracy to overthrow the emperor. Yet, Zhou Yinzhi sat among them, speaking and laughing as if everything was fine.

Such audacity was something even Xie Wei would admire.

But unlike the others who felt uneasy and suspicious, Xie Wei seemed strangely calm and composed. After all, the attitude of the court after the battle was exactly what he had expected.

At first, Jiang Xuening also felt uncertain. But when she took a moment to think, she understood the key:

The frontier war had already been settled, and the outcome was clear.

The Tatar wolves had always harbored ambitions and had plotted to kill Shen Zhiyi, with plans to invade the Great Qian next year. After this victory, the whole country was in an uproar. Yan Lin, the former heir of the Marquis of Yongyi’s family, had taken command of the military in a position of disgrace, rescued the princess, pacified the Tatars, and his reputation spread far and wide, with people praising him.

Even the emperor had received much praise.

On the other hand, the court was full of turmoil, secretly watching and scheming, in a state of constant “crisis.”

Shen Lang, of course, knew that the frontier generals were plotting against the emperor. But exposing this truth would do him no good. First, it would confirm the rumors about the royal family’s cold-bloodedness, contradicting the teachings of filial piety, and causing the loss of the people’s trust. Second, the frontier had tens of thousands of soldiers, and if punishment were imposed, it would only push Yan Lin to revolt immediately. With external threats still present, how could the emperor add internal strife to his troubles?

It was better to feign ignorance, go along with the flow.

Since they dared to claim they were acting on the emperor’s orders, the emperor could choose to truly believe it, pretending it was genuine imperial command, thus gaining the people’s favor and calming the situation.

He might even send someone like Zhou Yinzhi to the frontier to win over the hearts of the people.

With the emperor’s attention, high offices and rewards were within reach, and who would risk their life rebelling against the emperor?

Jiang Xuening thought this over, then looked around the room. The wine flowed, and everyone was laughing, but who didn’t understand what was really going on?

A cold shiver ran up her spine.

She said nothing, just listened as others spoke.

Over the past two years, Zhou Yinzhi had become increasingly skilled in socializing. Not only could he converse and laugh with Xie Wei, Yan Lin, and the others, but even You Fangyin and Ren Weizhi, sitting nearby, had taken notice of him. He even smiled and said, “It’s been so long since I last saw Miss You, back in prison. Now that you’ve married into a good family, and are rich and prosperous, you truly are a match made in heaven.”

Ren Weizhi was not familiar with Zhou Yinzhi, but You Fangyin had been under the influence of You Yue’s torment in the past, and Zhou Yinzhi had once been kind to her. He had even helped her find someone to teach her how to do accounting. She was a person who remembered favors and genuinely appreciated his kindness. She raised her cup and said, “I owe a lot to Lord Zhou for his care back then. As a humble merchant, I never had the chance to properly thank you, but please allow me to toast you now.”

She sincerely raised her cup in honor of him.

Most of the others didn’t know the backstory, but seeing that Zhou Yinzhi knew You Fangyin, they couldn’t help but think more highly of him.

Jiang Xuening, however, couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

Zhou Yinzhi had come from the capital, while Shen Zhiyi had been in the Tatar region for two years, almost completely unaware of what was happening in the palace. During the banquet, she couldn’t help but ask Zhou Yinzhi about the latest developments. He recounted everything in detail.

That was when Jiang Xuening learned that there had been many changes in the capital.

Even the old friends she once knew had their own stories.

Jiang Xuehui married Shen Jie and became his concubine. She was naturally elegant and virtuous, managing the daily affairs of the Prince of Linzi’s residence. In the beginning, she was favored by Shen Jie, but Fang Miao, though the official wife, was from a humble background and had a tendency to behave in an eccentric and superstitious manner. She and Shen Jie didn’t get along well, often quarreling, which made the proud Prince of Linzi lose his temper frequently.

People in the capital thought that the inner courtyard of the royal residence should belong to Jiang Xuehui.

However, after a year of this back-and-forth, the affection that Shen Jie had once shown Jiang Xuehui gradually faded, and instead, the constant bickering with Fang Miao became more endearing, full of charm and wit. Eventually, their relationship grew harmonious and inseparable, like a perfect match.

By the time Zhou Yinzhi left the capital, news of Fang Miao’s pregnancy had already reached the palace, which somewhat cheered up the empress dowager, who had long been out of favor and had spent years in the Cunning Palace.

As for the companions of the past, most of them had moved on.

Except for Yao Xi, who tragically died at home, the arrogant and domineering You Yue had married a scholar who had entered the Hanlin Academy, though his position was not high and he was largely overlooked, living a mediocre life. The young girl, Zhou Baoying, who loved to eat and play chess, had found a suitable match. She had become engaged to Yan Lin’s former playmate, Prince Yanping, and it was said that they were very well-suited.

The most surprising of all was Yao Rongrong, who had entered the palace.

The emperor, after a night of drunken indulgence, had taken favor with her. She was lucky enough to become pregnant and, with Xiao Shu’s support, was elevated to a position as a talented woman, residing in the side palace of Zhong Cui.

Shen Zhiyi hadn’t heard from her companions for a long time, and now that she knew, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia for times gone by. When she heard Xiao Shu’s name, a cold smile appeared on her lips.

Having grown up in the palace, she could clearly discern Xiao Shu’s intentions in placing Yao Rongrong in her own palace, filled with ambition. Yet, she was no longer interested in probing further. Instead, she raised her gaze and said, “Thinking back to the time we spent together in Chengdian Hall as study companions, those were rare and happy times. Now, everyone has found their place. But why haven’t we heard from Shuyi?”

Chen Shuyi was the beloved daughter of the Grand Secretary Chen Yun Jin. Considering her age, she was already at an age where marriage and matchmaking were common.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yinzhi hesitated for a moment, holding his wine cup as though contemplating something, but did not speak.

This only made everyone even more curious.

However, the person who spoke up was Lu Xian, who chuckled lightly and easily revealed the matter, even teasingly adding, “Now that Lord Zhou is the Deputy Commander of the Jinyiwei, there’s no news in the capital that he doesn’t know. But since this concerns his own lifelong affairs, perhaps he’s hesitant to speak. Your Highness may not know, but back in September, Lord Zhou’s engagement to the Grand Secretary’s daughter was already settled. They are simply waiting for the wedding after the New Year.”

“Ah…”

A collective gasp went through the room.

Shen Zhiyi was taken aback, clearly surprised by the news.

Even Jiang Xuening was stunned.

The others quickly recovered and started raising their cups to Zhou Yinzhi, congratulating him on such a great future ahead, truly “establishing his career before starting a family,” and wishing him a happy marriage.

The banquet became even livelier. Most of the guests’ attention was now on Zhou Yinzhi. Clearly, they felt that this Deputy Commander of the Jinyiwei, with his ability and support from such a powerful family, had an incredibly promising future. They all spoke in praises, trying to make connections.

During this time, no one noticed Xie Wei.

His slender fingers, which were holding the wine cup, began to tremble slightly without him realizing it. A strange feeling slowly crept up from the lower part of his body, becoming more pronounced and intense, making his body, which had been sitting upright, tense slightly.

No one around him noticed anything unusual.

His pupils contracted, and the events that had unfolded during the banquet rushed through his mind. He raised his head and glanced around the room, his eyes scanning the servants and maidens who were refilling the wine cups. His fingers tightened on the cup, but he quietly set it down.

He then turned his head and called for Dao Qin, giving him an order. A cold, murderous intent flickered in his eyes.

Dao Qin was surprised but took the order and left.

Xie Wei then called for Jian Shu and gave him another set of instructions.

Jian Shu was momentarily stunned. After a brief moment of realization, he glanced at the wine cup Xie Wei was holding, then lowered his voice and said, “Yes,” before quickly leaving the hall to have cold water prepared for bathing.

Xie Wei then followed suit and left the hall.

Only those seated nearby, like Yan Lin and Lu Xian, noticed his departure. However, they merely assumed he had some matter to attend to or that he was slightly tipsy and had gone outside for some fresh air. They did not pay much attention to it.

That night was meant to be a celebratory banquet, coinciding with New Year’s Eve—a rare and joyous occasion. The common folk had each contributed in their own ways to mark the occasion.

By the end of the hour of Hai (around 11 PM), steaming bowls of noodles were brought in.

As Guanzhong did not produce rice, Shanxi’s people primarily relied on wheat-based foods. In the city, there was a well-known noodle shop with a skilled owner who specialized in making exquisite dragon beard noodles. That night, he had personally come to assist in the kitchen, preparing his signature dish for the guests, specifically offering a bowl to Princess Leyang, Shen Zhiyi, so she could taste the flavors of Xinzhou.

The noodles were served in white porcelain bowls, floating in a light broth with a touch of oil. The strands were as fine as silk, accompanied by a few green vegetable leaves and two spoonfuls of minced pork, precisely seven parts lean to three parts fat, cooked into a fragrant topping.

As soon as the dish was served, the rich aroma filled the room.

Shen Zhiyi, understanding the goodwill of the commoners, stood up to receive the bowl in gratitude.

Jiang Xuening also had a bowl. She lifted a portion with her chopsticks, took a bite, then sipped the broth. The taste was unexpectedly rich and flavorful. However, having been spoiled by Xie Ju’an’s refined palate, she did not find it exceptionally outstanding.

Yet, as she turned to see Shen Zhiyi sitting calmly beside her, she felt an indescribable sense of peace.

In this lifetime, those who had met tragic ends in the previous one were all safe and well.

She couldn’t help but smile slightly and leaned closer to Shen Zhiyi’s ear, lowering her voice with playful mischief. “These noodles are just average. The bowl Her Highness sent me on my birthday night was much better.”

Hearing this, Shen Zhiyi turned her head, a flicker of confusion appearing in her eyes. “Noodles? What noodles?”

“…”

Jiang Xuening suddenly froze.

Her fingers, still holding the chopsticks, stiffened as she lifted her gaze to look at Shen Zhiyi. The lively expression on her face had subtly stalled.

Shen Zhiyi was startled. “Ningning?”

Jiang Xuening, as if trapped in a dream, murmured as if talking to herself, “Two years ago, on the night of my birthday, after I left Mingfeng Palace, didn’t Your Highness send someone to deliver me a bowl of longevity noodles?”

Shen Zhiyi was bewildered. “How could that be?”

She explained, “That night, you and Fang Miao were drinking. I got drunk early on and only woke up the next day. Besides, the imperial kitchen stops working after the hour of Hai. They wouldn’t have made longevity noodles. You must be misremembering.”

“…”

Misremembering?

In that moment, Jiang Xuening felt a vast emptiness in her heart, followed by a slow yet creeping sense of panic, like unraveling silk threads revealing a hidden truth.

Her thoughts were a tangled mess, but instinctively, she turned her gaze toward a particular seat in the hall.

It was empty.

At some point, Xie Ju’an had already left—without a trace.

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