Chapter 236: Yao Niang

Mid-August, the Heavenly Sect penetrated Zhili, stationing troops in Baoding Prefecture. The so-called “loyalist army” followed closely, seizing Zhending Prefecture, which the Heavenly Sect had fought hard to capture. Baoding was only half a day’s ride from the capital. Zhending, southeast of Baoding, was slightly farther from the capital but still less than half a day’s journey from Baoding.

When Yan Lin and his forces arrived at Zhending, the Heavenly Sect’s righteous army stationed in the city was no match for the assault. Exhausted and battle-worn from fighting the imperial court, they had no time to recover before facing the armies of Xinzhou and Huangzhou. How could they muster any resistance? Within two hours, the city gates were opened in surrender.

Upon entering the city, the devastation of war was everywhere—ruins and desolation as far as the eye could see.

Wan Xiuzi was no easy opponent either. He knew that if he stopped to defend every city he captured, he would be caught between the imperial court and Xie Wei, like prey between wolves and tigers, with no chance of survival. Thus, in the past two months, he devised methods to “weaken” Xie Wei. For instance, upon entering a city, his forces would burn, kill, and plunder, looting the wealth of gentry, officials, and rich households. What they could carry, they took; what they couldn’t, they burned, leaving not a single grain for Xie Wei. If there were able-bodied men in the city, they were either forcibly conscripted into the righteous army as fodder for the next siege or killed on the spot to prevent them from joining Xinzhou’s forces.

Thus, wherever the Heavenly Sect’s army went, nine out of ten cities were left empty. Initially, Wan Xiuzi ordered the looting and clearing, but later, the common people fled before battles began to avoid danger, only returning when General Yan Lin’s loyalist army arrived.

In comparison: Wan Xiuzi was a demon, Xie Ju’an a sage; the righteous army was a band of thugs, Xinzhou’s army the true imperial force. But who could know that the ones orchestrating all this were the very “imperial force” and “sage” themselves?

Yan Lin led the troops in battle, Xie Wei strategized the bigger picture, and Lu Xian coordinated provisions. Naturally, Jiang Xuening contributed as well. After taking control of the south from the Heavenly Sect, trade in Sichuan and Jiangnan naturally resumed. Even though Zhou Yinzhi had stolen a token, he only managed to rob a few hundred thousand taels of silver stored in the bank. Money is lifeless; those who can wield it are the rare ones.

Jiang Xuening didn’t sit idle. She followed the army, bringing along Wei Liang, who hadn’t participated in the imperial exams. In every city, she prioritized the people’s livelihoods, tailoring agricultural plans to local conditions, playing a significant role in pacifying the populace.

However… Jian Shu, clutching a letter from the capital, walked forward, thinking of the naive and simple Young Master Wei Liang, and couldn’t help but purse his lips. It wasn’t that he had any issue with Wei Liang. In fact, this young master, obsessed with farming, worked diligently without any airs and was quite likable. But that was precisely the problem. He was one of Ning’er’s people.

Wei Liang was decent-looking, always trailing Ning’er, and they got along well. Once, their master saw them squatting in the fields, discussing sweet potatoes for an entire afternoon, and his face darkened like the bottom of a pot. Worse, Wei Liang was oblivious to subtlety. One time, when Ning’er wasn’t around, the master happened upon him and invited him for tea, dropping a few pointed remarks. Wei Liang, utterly clueless and lacking in social finesse, responded in confusion, “Can’t Miss East go with us? She manages the money, everyone likes her, and everything needs her approval. How can we make decisions or plant crops just by looking at ledgers?”

That was likely the worst day for their master’s mood. Even Ning’er suffered the next day. During her zither lesson, she lost focus and casually mentioned Wei Liang, prompting the master to grab a ruler and strike her palm. She cried out in pain, never understanding why his temper was so foul that day.

Jian Shu, contemplating his master’s silent jealousy, felt a chill down his neck but dared not speak up. Fortunately, the master knew his limits. His jealousy was fleeting. After all, Ning’er and Young Master Wei Liang were entirely innocent, focused solely on farming. No matter how displeased, the master had to swallow it.

At Zhending Prefecture’s magistrate office, Xinzhou’s forces had already taken over. The courtyard was filled with armored soldiers moving about. The previous magistrate had been beheaded by Wan Xiuzi when the Heavenly Sect entered the city, and most other officials were either killed or had fled, leaving the office vacant—perfect for Xie Wei, Yan Lin, and others to occupy.

Naturally, Ning’er’s quarters were the finest in the residence. It was autumn, and the maple leaves were turning red. From the corridor came the flowing sound of zither music, now practiced enough to feel almost effortless.

Jian Shu, listening outside, couldn’t help but smile. But when he glanced at the envelope in his hand, his expression grew solemn. He stepped into the courtyard. The window was open, and Jiang Xuening sat at the zither table, casually plucking the strings, while Xie Wei stood beside her, silently watching and listening.

When the piece ended, she let out a breath, her face lighting up as she turned to him. “How’s that? I got it all right this time, didn’t I? So, I get to rest for the next half hour!”

Xie Wei’s lips twitched. His cool gaze met her expectant eyes. He knew she was betting with him, claiming that if she played the piece correctly, she’d mastered it and could rest for half an hour. In truth, she was just bargaining to slack off. But there was time ahead. If she didn’t learn it today, she’d learn it tomorrow. This little fool, Ning’er, didn’t understand that at all.

He didn’t make it hard for her, chuckling, “Fine, we’ll stop here for today.”

Since the Heavenly Sect incident, Ning’er had kept her word and studied the zither with him. Over the past few months, on days without battles, when he wasn’t strategizing and she wasn’t managing business, they’d stay in, one teaching, the other learning. But Ning’er’s mouth was full of sweet lies. She wasn’t one for sitting still—lazy indoors, lively outdoors. She said she’d learn the zither to play for him later, and she did learn, making real progress. But she couldn’t sit for half an hour without fidgeting, itching to jump around and dodge practice.

Xie Wei was a strict teacher. Back in the days of studying at Fengchen Hall, he’d have whipped her with a ruler. But now… if she didn’t practice, he got angry; if she practiced reluctantly, he felt sorry for her. He’d asked Jian Shu to prepare two rulers, but both remained pristine, not a scratch on them!

Jiang Xuening had no idea what Xie Wei was thinking, only that he was getting easier to deal with. She hadn’t slacked on zither practice entirely—she’d made a sincere promise to Xie Ju’an. But with the war nearing the capital, memories of past years resurfaced vividly, making it hard to focus. Practicing half-heartedly would yield poor results, so she’d rather wait for a clearer mind and slack off for now.

Sitting too long made her neck sore. She let out a long breath, unable to resist stretching her neck. Xie Wei, standing behind her, smiled and placed a hand on her nape, his slender fingers kneading gently. “With your three-days-on, two-days-off attitude, you might not reach even a fraction of my skill by the time you’re seventy or eighty. Tired after just this short while…”

Jiang Xuening rolled her eyes at him. But when she turned, she caught sight of Jian Shu at the door and his serious expression. Her playful smile faded, and she asked, “The message has arrived?”

Jian Shu stepped inside and presented the letter, bowing. “With Young Master Ding Fei’s help, Dao Qin has safely escorted someone out of the capital. They’ll arrive in Zhending tonight.”

Jiang Xuening took the letter, opened it, and read in silence for a long time. Finally, she looked at the red leaves outside the window and said to Xie Wei, “In the blink of an eye, it’s autumn again, the season when all flowers wither…”

—

Zhou Yinzhi, unusually, didn’t ride a horse or take a sedan. He walked back to his residence, hands behind his back. Scenes from the morning’s court session replayed in his mind. He had just been appointed as the Commander of the Nine Gates, tasked with defending the capital alongside Duke Dingguo, Xiao Yuan—a position just a step away from the pinnacle of power. Yet, he felt no joy.

He never imagined the court would fall to such a state. After returning from Xinzhou, Xiao Shu’s reputation soared, and Shen Lang praised him highly. He thought that, despite offending Jiang Xuening by dealing harshly with You Fangyin, the trip wasn’t a loss. But who could’ve foreseen that the Heavenly Sect would rebel just days later, plunging everything into chaos?

Having been to Xinzhou and knowing the details of the campaign against the Tatars, Zhou Yinzhi wasn’t naive like the capital’s nobles, who believed Xie Wei and Yan Lin were truly loyalist forces or benevolent figures. But no one dared speak the truth aloud. As the Heavenly Sect drew closer, the capital faced growing danger. With the sect’s notorious reputation, many noble families grew restless. Some secretly planned to flee, others even considered defecting.

Could Shen Lang ignore this? The Embroidered Uniform Guard had been covertly arresting those attempting to escape, throwing them into dungeons, or even assassinating them. For now, upholding the narrative of Xie Wei and Yan Lin’s “loyalist army” stabilized the capital. But if the truth were laid bare, the city would collapse without a fight. Who could believe that this lone city could withstand the combined assault of the Heavenly Sect and Xie Wei’s forces?

To Zhou Yinzhi, the court was like an egg dangling on a thread, ready to shatter at the slightest breeze. With only the Tongzhou garrison and the imperial guards, could they truly hold out in this war? And then there was the emperor, who today kept Zhang Zhe, that unyielding man, behind for a private discussion, excluding the ministers—an unusual move.

Growing irritated, Zhou Yinzhi looked up to find himself at his residence’s gate. The newly built mansion was vast, adorned with ornate beams and pillars. Since marrying Chen Shuyi, it had gained hundreds of servants, coral trees, gold, silver, and jewels, exuding opulence. But he had no mood to admire it.

Pausing in the courtyard, he thought of Chen Shuyi’s haughty demeanor and felt a wave of disgust. Turning, he headed toward the west courtyard instead. Normally, maids would be waiting outside, but today, there was no one, and the inside was eerily silent.

Zhou Yinzhi found it odd but didn’t dwell on it. Yet, as he approached the door, he noticed a pot of well-tended golden chrysanthemums lying broken on the ground. A chill ran through him, an ominous feeling rising. Rushing inside, he saw all the maids gagged and bound, thrown against the wall.

His eyes twitched, and he gripped the sword at his waist, charging in. His voice trembled with fear: “Yao Niang—”

The room was empty. On the floor lay an unfinished baby’s garment. A letter rested quietly on the table.

—

At night, lanterns hung along the corridor. Inside, candlelight flickered with the breeze. Jiang Xuening’s refined face wavered in the shifting light.

Dao Qin, who had been in the capital for months, had finally returned, bringing with her a woman—a pregnant woman. She had delicate features and shy eyes. Compared to when Jiang Xuening first met her years ago, her skin was fairer, her coarse clothes replaced with silk and satin. Her gentle features now carried a trace of fear as she met Jiang Xuening’s calm gaze, instinctively placing a hand over her swollen belly.

Yao Niang was over six months pregnant.

In her previous life, Jiang Xuening had never met her. In this life, they had only crossed paths twice. If not for Zhou Yinzhi, she might not even remember her name.

Jiang Xuening gave a faint smile, reaching out to lift a strand of Yao Niang’s hair, pondering how useful this woman could be. Slowly, she said, “Don’t be nervous. I’m not here to kill you.”

Her words, meant to reassure, only drained the color from Yao Niang’s face. She remembered Jiang Xuening clearly. She knew exactly how her master had risen to power years ago. After his trip to Xinzhou, he returned restless, unable to sleep through the night. And now, this young lady was back…

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