Chapter 217: A Flaw

When Jiang Xuening went out, she didn’t dare to even glance at Jian Shu standing outside. Taking advantage of the dimming sky, she returned to her room and immediately yanked off her dirty dress. It felt inappropriate to leave it in the room for the maid to clean, so she threw it into the water basin, letting it soak until there were no traces left, and only then did she feel at ease.

However, she couldn’t sleep well that night, tossing and turning in bed.

The next morning, when the maid came in to attend to her washing, she was surprised to see that her clothes from the previous day were soaking wet in the basin. Jiang Xuening explained that she had drunk too much the night before and hadn’t been paying attention when she tossed her clothes aside. Naturally, the maids didn’t think much of it.

With the border war having ceased, You Fangyin and Ren Weizhi planned to leave Xinzhou on a suitable day. However, since they were already there, and the border also had its unique goods, they decided to take some back with them and make a business of it. So early in the morning, they asked Jiang Xuening if she wanted to go to the market to stroll around and see the local sights of Guanzhong.

Jiang Xuening was in a bad mood.

She had finally made up her mind last night to have a serious conversation with Xie Wei. But before she could say much, something absurd had happened! If she hadn’t woken up this morning to see her clothes soaked in the water basin and noticed faint bite marks on her neck, she might have thought that she had dared to dream such a wild thing herself.

Her plans had also been disrupted.

She knew Xie Wei’s abilities well and understood her own predicament. The longer she delayed, the more she would get entangled in a whirlpool she couldn’t escape from.

When You Fangyin came to find her, it was a good opportunity to leave the suffocating General’s Manor, go to the market for some fresh air, clear her mind, and think things through.

So, the two of them went out together.

On the morning of the first day of the new year, the market was filled with joy, and the shops were full of goods. Everywhere, people were heading out to play.

From the high city tower, Xie Wei and Lu Xian had already observed the situation at the military camp outside the city and were heading back.

Though it was the new year, the wind was still cold.

However, as Lu Xian spoke, he felt that Xie Wei’s mood didn’t seem to be affected by the cold wind. His expression was distant and clear, exuding a sense of aloofness. Compared to the soft moon in the sky, he resembled the faint wind drifting over a willow-filled pond.

Lu Xian glanced behind him and didn’t see Dao Qin, so he casually asked, “I heard that Dao Qin caught a girl last night, gave her a good scolding, and she cried terribly. I also heard that she’ll be locked up in the prison for several days. What happened? What did she do wrong?”

Xie Wei raised an eyebrow.

He turned to look at Lu Xian and said, “Dao Qin has a strange personality. He likes to argue with people. I suspect he offended someone.”

Lu Xian: “…”

Couldn’t you be a little more vague? Damn, I don’t believe you!

He decided not to pry any further. Looking around to make sure no one was nearby, he finally spoke, “Now that the court has sent Zhou Yinzhi to check on us, it feels like we’ve been put in check. What are you planning to do?”

Shen Lang was indeed no fool in terms of imperial strategies.

Although he hadn’t taken the proper approach, using these unorthodox methods was enough to deal with ordinary people.

Unfortunately, Xie Wei was not an ordinary person.

He lowered his gaze and traced his fingers along the scars left by blades on the city wall. “Now that he’s here to offer peace, the generals in Xinzhou also lead their troops. It won’t be easy to raise a banner for rebellion all of a sudden. This isn’t the best time. But…”

Lu Xian asked, “Do you have a backup plan?”

Xie Wei withdrew his hand, looking at the fine lines in his palm, and said, “The Tianjiao hasn’t made a move yet. Wan Xiuzi has been planning for years, and surely he can’t miss the right moment. The mantis stalks the cicada, but the oriole is behind—it’s not a matter that can be rushed.”

As they were speaking, there was suddenly a noise from below.

The two of them turned their heads and saw Zhou Yinzhi walking up from below.

The soldiers on both sides saluted him.

He immediately spotted Xie Wei and Lu Xian, paused for a moment, then walked forward. “I’ve come to see Master Xie. I was in a hurry yesterday, and with the celebration banquet, I didn’t have time to discuss official matters. I was just about to look for General Yan Lin, but I ran into you here.”

Xie Wei replied, “Do you have official business?”

Zhou Yin’s gaze flickered slightly, and he smiled at him, “I heard that Her Royal Highness the Princess has been rescued for over a month now. Initially, her body needed rest, but now she is almost fully recovered. His Majesty intends to bring her back to the capital. Moreover, your efforts with General Yan Lin in attacking the Tatars, rescuing the Princess, forcing the Tatars to submit to our empire, weakening their power, and preventing future wars along the border for the next few years—this is truly a great contribution. It should be announced to the world, and you should be rewarded with higher ranks and titles. The Ministry of Rites is already drafting the official documents for the promotion. I just don’t know, when will you and General Yan be departing?”

The border had 100,000 soldiers stationed, and the capital was too far to reach. But returning now would mean going in empty-handed and straight into enemy territory. Who would dare take such a risk?

Xie Wei felt that Zhou Yinzhi’s words carried a probing intent, but he remained calm and composed. Instead of answering immediately, he first glanced around, then looked at Zhou Yinzhi and lowered his voice, sighing lightly, “Lord Zhou, does the court really intend to let this matter go so easily?”

Zhou Yin’s expression suddenly froze, “What do you mean…?”

Xie Wei’s face turned slightly cold, “The Yan family was once investigated for their connections with the rebellion of Prince Pingnan. They have held a grudge against His Majesty and the court. This time, while Yan Lin seemed to have raised an army to rescue the Princess at the border, a heroic act praised by the people, you and I know well that His Majesty never issued such an order. When I arrived at Xinzhou, I knew something was off. Unfortunately, by then, it was too late. Military power had already fallen into the hands of traitors. For self-preservation, for the greater good, and for the common people, I had to take a passive approach, helping them succeed before waiting for the court’s instructions. But, Lord Zhou, you came alone, and yesterday at the banquet, you were chatting and laughing with him. It’s hard to understand. I wonder, what is the court’s plan?”

Lü Xian, who had been listening beside them, almost couldn’t help but laugh.

Zhou Yinzhi, however, had not expected Xie Wei to say such a thing.

When he arrived in Xinzhou, he had also inquired around, and almost immediately assumed that Xie Wei had been involved in the border’s falsified imperial decree and rebellion. After all, based on his past knowledge while serving under Jiang Xuening, and his interactions with the court in the past two years, Zhou Yinzhi never dared to underestimate Xie Wei. In fact, he was even more cautious of him than most others.

But now Xie Wei was saying that his cooperation with Yan Lin had been a mere formality.

Zhou Yin’s mind raced, and for a moment, he couldn’t tell whether Xie Wei was telling the truth. But, having gone through many ups and downs in the Jinyiwei, he had learned to speak in different ways to different people. Now, he let out a faint bitter laugh.

With a low and heavy voice, he said, “It turns out Master Xie has his own difficulties. I had thought, since His Majesty regards you as a mentor and arm, this situation shouldn’t be so dire. But as you said, the matter is already decided, and there’s little chance to change things. Perhaps it’s better to let things be and see how it unfolds. Or maybe you have a better idea?”

Xie Wei lowered his gaze, his eyes shifting with a gleam of light. After a long silence, he shook his head, “The enemy is strong, and we are weak. There are no good solutions.”

Zhou Yinzhi continued, “Then about returning to the capital…”

Xie Wei glanced toward the arrow tower built on the inner side of the city walls. “Young Master Yan has just gathered the generals leading the troops in the city at the arrow tower to discuss matters. But I, being a mere civil official, am not fit to listen in. Lord Zhou, you’ve come at the right time. Why don’t you go and probe the situation? We can make our plans afterward.”

Zhou Yinzhi also looked at the arrow tower but hesitated.

He didn’t trust Xie Wei’s words even three parts out of ten.

He feared that if he trusted even one part, he might fall into an irretrievable situation, or worse, fall into a trap and unintentionally reveal secrets that could lead to his own demise.

Lu Xian, who understood the situation clearly, knew that Xie Wei’s words weren’t truthful but were only meant to confuse Zhou Yinzhi. He found the situation amusing, but since Zhou Yinzhi seemed cautious with others around, Lu Xian moved a step aside to avoid being in the way.

Just then, as he took a step, he saw someone below.

Without thinking, he blurted out, “Miss You?”

You Fangyin had been accompanying Jiang Xuening to visit a local tea house in Xinzhou City. They had just bought two taels of tea leaves and were planning to return and compare them with those from their own business when unexpectedly, someone called out to her.

They looked up at the sound of the voice and saw Lu Xian.

Along with him, they also saw Xie Wei and Zhou Yinzhistanding on the city tower.

Jiang Xuening was momentarily stunned.

Xie Wei was also somewhat surprised. However, when he saw Jiang Xuening, he noticed her new outfit—a light green pleated skirt, with a fluffy scarf wrapped around her neck, completely concealing her delicate neck. Strangely, this reminded him of the events of last night.

It was rare for him to feel so uneasy, which made him stiffen for a moment.

After all, something like self-indulgence…

Jiang Xuening looked at him.

Although Xie Wei didn’t avoid her gaze, the tips of his ears inevitably turned a shade of red, slightly suspicious.

However, the attention of others was focused below, and no one noticed him.

When Zhou Yinzhi saw Jiang Xuening with You Fangyin, his gaze flickered slightly, and he took the initiative to start a conversation with her, “Miss Ning’er, are you busy with business together with Boss You?”

Jiang Xuening withdrew her gaze from Xie Wei.

After all, it wasn’t her who had done something so embarrassing, so she felt more at ease, even smiling slightly at the corners of her lips, “Not exactly. We were just strolling around the streets.”

Since the conversation had already started, it would be inconvenient to just leave. Moreover, she had always had some doubts about Zhou Yinzhi.

Since they had encountered each other, she told You Fangyin that she was going to the arrow tower. But You Fangyin shook her head, glanced at the people standing on the tower, and said she would wait for her in the nearby tea house, not going up with her.

Jiang Xuening glanced at Lu Xian standing above and understood, so she didn’t say anything more. Nodding, she lifted her skirt and walked up the stairs to the tower.

Xie Wei seemed uneasy and didn’t speak.

Lu Xian, seeing that You Fangyin hadn’t come up, seemed somewhat displeased, but didn’t say anything either.

However, Zhou Yinzhi was quite familiar with the situation, casually chatting with Jiang Xuening. When he saw that she was holding two taels of tea leaves, he couldn’t help but say, “I’m afraid the tea in the Guanzhong market can’t compare to the ones in the capital. After all, the best ones are from the Jiangnan region or sent to the palace.”

Jiang Xuening had a fairly wide range of business dealings in the hunting industry in recent years, and she had once been in charge of the inner palace, so she knew very well how regions sent their tributes to the court. How could she not understand this?

But Zhou Yinzhi had never had such an understanding of tea in the past.

She recalled when she visited Zhou Yinzhi’s house, a girl had attended to her. The best tea the family had, though it wasn’t of the highest grade, was a top-tier Dong Ding Oolong.

When Jiang Xuening thought of that girl, she couldn’t help but think of Zhou Yin’s engagement to Chen Shuyi. She couldn’t help but ask, “How is Miss Yao Niang?”

Zhou Yinzhi froze for a moment, seemingly not expecting her to ask about Yao Niang.

How could he know how well Jiang Xuening understood him?

In his previous life, although Zhou Yinzhi married Yao Xi, his house had many concubines, and Yao Niang, though not the most beautiful or the most favored, had been the longest-lasting among them. Later, Yao Xi mysteriously disappeared, and although Jiang Xuening didn’t involve herself with Zhou Yinzhi’s private affairs, she had heard some rumors suggesting that Yao Xi had intended to harm Yao Niang, which had led to the incident.

Thus, she paid special attention to this relatively quiet woman she had seen only a few times.

Zhou Yinzhi became somewhat cautious, “Why do you ask about her?”

Jiang Xuening replied, “I just thought of her when tea was mentioned. She used to make tea for me. Although the tea wasn’t that great, her skill in making it was quite good. Now that you’re going to marry Chen Shuyi, don’t let her be wronged.”

Zhou Yinzhi suddenly fell silent.

After a while, he smiled, “She’s the daughter of a tea farmer. Her family fell on hard times, and she came with me. She does love tea. Before I left the capital for Xinzhou, the autumn tea from the palace had just been given, and she particularly liked the Dianhong. You’re thoughtful, Miss. I’ll be sure to pass on your regards to her.”

Jiang Xuening suddenly raised her eyes and looked at him steadily.

Her gaze was so intense for a moment.

Zhou Yinzhi suddenly felt a bit uneasy, “Is something wrong?”

However, her gaze quickly returned to normal, and Jiang Xuening casually responded, “Never mind, why should I concern myself with Lord Zhou’s affairs? I just suddenly thought of it. Please don’t worry, I was being presumptuous.”

Zhou Yinzhi quickly replied, “No, not at all.”

Xie Wei, who had been listening to their polite exchanges for quite some time, felt increasingly uncomfortable, as if they were old friends who hadn’t seen each other for years. Finally, he couldn’t help but interject in a neutral tone, “Lord Zhou, if we don’t leave soon, the meeting at the arrow tower will probably be ending.”

Zhou Yinzhi was startled and finally picked up on the subtle hint in Xie Wei’s words, which seemed to carry the implication of “sending him off.” Immediately, he sensed something amiss and ceased his conversation with Jiang Xuening. He bowed and said, “I nearly forgot the important matter. I shall excuse myself and go to meet General Yan.”

After finishing his words, he performed a formal salute and walked toward the distant arrow tower along the winding city wall.

Jiang Xuening, however, watched his retreating figure, her brows tightly furrowed.

Xie Wei, with a faint smile that wasn’t quite a smile, asked, “You seem quite familiar with him?”

A cold feeling crept through Jiang Xuening’s heart, and she said firmly, “Zhou Yinzhi is not telling the truth.”

Xie Wei was taken aback.

But Jiang Xuening’s mind was racing. She quickly turned her body, lowered her voice, and looked at Xie Wei, speaking at an almost lightning-fast speed, “Dianhong tea comes from Yunnan, and autumn tea in the southwest is always picked later. The journey is longer, so it’s traditionally delivered to the palace in mid-November, with a delay of no more than ten days due to snow. When the emperor bestows it to favored ministers, it’s usually around late November or early December. He claims that when he left for the border, the autumn tea had just been bestowed in the palace, and the journey from the capital to Xinzhou takes no more than nine or ten days on horseback. How could it be that he only arrived in Xinzhou yesterday, on New Year’s Eve?”

Xie Wei’s pupils contracted slightly.

Jiang Xuening’s voice grew even more certain. “Either he lied about the time he departed, but there’s no need for that, or during the time he was missing, he went somewhere else with other intentions!”

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