This was the real reason Li Jichen had spent so much manpower and resources to deceive Tang Jiayu with the identity of a merchant's daughter. She carried the imperial legitimacy that every ambitious warlord dreamed of. Emperor Xizong's edict also confirmed that the treasure of The Lingyun Chart definitely existed, but the emperor's true intention favored the Wang clan of Youzhou. Li Jichen could neither reveal the edict nor continue hiding it, so he could only keep Tang Jiayu close for now, not daring to let her learn her own identity.
Duan Ze thought for a moment and said, "After years of suppression by the Lord, Youzhou's military is weak and no longer capable of contending for the realm. The edict from Emperor Xizong explicitly states: if a boy is born, the imperial prince shall ascend the throne; if a girl is born, her son shall ascend the throne, with the princess serving as regent. This shows that what Emperor Xizong cared about most was restoring his own bloodline to the throne—whether male or female, either would be better than the new emperor installed by the eunuchs. Surely all the heroes of the realm can see this. Now the edict, the princess, and The Lingyun Chart are all in the Lord's hands, and Hedong's troops are strong and horses well-fed. When the time comes to contend for the realm, who would dare point fingers at the Young Lord?"
How could Li Jichen bear to wrong his only son like this? He snorted coldly and said, "The emperor's mind is unfathomable. Who knows if he left another secret edict—once the Fanzhen Military Governorates help Tang Jiayu raise troops and overthrow the current emperor, he'll discard the donkey after it has done its work and tear down the bridge after crossing the river."
This was indeed possible, but an advisor's position differs from a father's. What Duan Ze saw was the interest of all Hedong. Duan Ze said, "By that point, the Lord will surely have already marched into Chang'an and installed a new emperor. Even if the secret edict surfaced then, who could contend with the Lord? My Lord, your subordinate knows you love your son dearly and cannot bear to see the Young Lord harmed, but this edict is a heaven-sent opportunity that must not be missed. Tang Jiayu originally liked Wang Rong, but after seeing the Young Lord, she became infatuated with him. How do we know this isn't the will of heaven? The Purple Forbidden Star has moved—it has fallen from the Wang clan of Youzhou into Hedong."
Li Jichen was somewhat persuaded. Duan Ze pressed his advantage: "Moreover, as long as the Lord destroys this edict, Tang Jiayu will have no more value—but the treasure of The Lingyun Chart is very real. Before the great cause, what do romantic entanglements matter! Right now the Young Lord has no feelings for Tang Jiayu, while Tang Jiayu adores the Young Lord. We need only remind the Young Lord not to fall for her, use Tang Jiayu's love to extract the secret, and once Hedong's cause succeeds, release Tang Jiayu as the Young Lord said—each to marry their own. Tang Jiayu may never know in her lifetime what kind of fortune she carried."
Li Jichen thought of The Lingyun Chart he had studied for fifteen years without any gain, and had to admit that while the imperial family was no good at war, when it came to scheming and calculation, they were true masters.
Li Jichen had always felt that The Lingyun Chart was not a complete treasure map. It was more like a master copy, a lock—it had to be combined with a key, perhaps a set of numbers, to read out the true location of the treasure. But this secret key had likely been destroyed by Consort Wang.
Li Jichen was unclear about what had happened in the palace in the first year of Guangming. By his deduction, Emperor Xizong must have taken advantage of the chaos to send his wife and children away, telling Consort Wang the password to The Lingyun Chart that had been passed down through generations of the imperial family, hoping his bloodline would use Youzhou's power to restore the dynasty. Unfortunately, Consort Wang encountered an ambush before she could return to Youzhou, and gave birth to a daughter amid the turmoil.
At that time, Consort Wang had already realized that she would not be able to watch her child grow up with her own eyes. If she told a trusted confidant the method to decrypt it, what if the servant obtained the treasure and then killed her daughter, or swapped the child for another? So Consort Wang simply destroyed the password, hid the secret in some form on Tang Jiayu, and vaguely hinted at it in her letters, exploiting the greed of the world to ensure her child could grow up safely.
After Consort Wang finished all this, she had the wet nurse take the child and leave, while she alone drew off the pursuers. But the wet nurse and her group were still caught by the pursuers. Li Jichen happened to be nearby and mistook the pursuers for Zhang Chao's rebel army. After attacking them, he picked up a great windfall. Even if Li Jichen sensed Consort Wang's scheme, he had no choice but to do as she had hoped—take Tang Jiayu away and raise her. Compared with the founding emperor's treasure, the cost of raising a girl was truly insignificant.
Li Jichen had a maidservant examine Tang Jiayu's body and repeatedly confirmed that there was no mark on her at all. So where exactly had Consort Wang hidden the password?
Li Jichen was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Is it possible that even Tang Jiayu herself does not know how to unlock The Lingyun Chart? When Consort Wang died, she had just been born. A baby—what could she know?"
"But this secret must be related to Tang Jiayu," Duan Ze said. "As a mother, Consort Wang would spare no effort to consider things for her child. Even if Tang Jiayu had no intention of restoring the country in the future, for a woman to have a huge treasure at her side was better than not having one. She would certainly have informed Tang Jiayu of the other half of The Lingyun Chart's key in some form. In Consort Wang's final letter, she said that when Tang Jiayu grew up, she would understand. By 'grew up,' she very likely meant when a woman marries and takes a husband. No matter how you look at it, the person by Tang Jiayu's pillow is the one most likely to glimpse the truth."
This was also Li Jichen's guess. Without Tang Jiayu, no matter how vast the world was, they could not guess the location of the hidden treasure. But Tang Jiayu had taken a fancy to his son. If they wanted to extract the treasure, they would have to let Li Zhaoji sacrifice his looks to get close to her.
Li Jichen sighed. If Li Zhaoji were unwilling, he would never make his son do something like using his looks to serve someone. But Li Zhaoji agreed. If he blocked it again, it would instead make him seem to lack a sense of the bigger picture.
Hedong would ultimately be handed over to Li Zhaoji. Letting him deal with members of the imperial family earlier might, perhaps, also be a good thing.
Li Jichen sighed soundlessly and said, "Call Zhaoji here."
Duan Ze was overjoyed and cupped his hands in salute. "This subordinate obeys."
When Li Zhaoji entered Iron Kite Hall, he already knew what his father was going to say to him. Li Zhaoji was not surprised. He stopped in front of the desk and saluted Li Jichen. "Father."
Li Jichen said with a stern face, "Zhaoji, are you truly willing to go to the Tang residence and play the role of Tang Jiayu's… husband?"
Clearly, his father had originally intended to say live-in son-in-law, but forcibly changed it to husband. Li Zhaoji could already accept the term calmly and nodded composedly. "Yes."
He did not like to think too much. There was no need to agonize over and over about a matter already decided. His saying those words had actually been a momentary impulse. If Wei Chengjun's blatant scheming had not been so irritating, Li Zhaoji would not have lost control of his emotions at all. But since he had already said it, Li Zhaoji had no intention of going back on his word.
Tang Jiayu liked him. No matter how he treated Tang Jiayu, it was Li Zhaoji's business. No other man had the right to interfere.
Li Jichen saw that Li Zhaoji had answered resolutely, and grew even more worried, wishing he could drill the words into his ears: "Her identity dooms her to stand against us. You must remember, you are going there to carry out a mission—no different from when you went to infiltrate behind Chidan's lines. You must never develop true feelings for her!"
Li Zhaoji nodded: "I understand."
"I will have someone arrange separate lodging for you. Remember, you are not to associate with her too closely in private, and you certainly must not have marital relations with her. Your task is to extract the solution to The Lingyun Chart—you should draw her into discussing painting as much as possible. In a moment I will send Duan Ze; he has tailored a set of techniques for drawing information out of people, just for you."
Li Zhaoji clicked his tongue, thoroughly disdainful: "Long-winded."
"Don't treat this lightly." Li Jichen thought for a moment, but in the end did not tell Li Zhaoji about the imperial edict. He only said with a stern face, "She can make Chengjun vie for her favor out of jealousy, and she can draw Wang Rong's attention—she is by no means simple. The daughters of the Li family are practiced at toying with people's hearts. You must be on your guard against her."
Li Zhaoji thought of those bright, moist eyes under the night sky, and felt contempt in his heart. A foolish person like her—how could she have the ability to play Wei Chengjun in the palm of her hand? It was more likely that Wei Chengjun harbored ill intentions. And it was clearly Father who forced Wang Rong to respond; if not for Father, Tang Jiayu and Wang Rong should have had no contact at all.
Li Zhaoji truly could not think of any reason Tang Jiayu was worth guarding against. Giving his father face, he nodded in agreement: "Yes."
Li Jichen gazed quietly at Li Zhaoji, then said in a low voice: "Everyone calls you Young Lord—you must shoulder the duties of a Young Lord. Your wife is to be the future mistress of Hedong."
Li Zhaoji felt the weight in those words, and reined in his flippancy, solemnly promising: "Your son will keep it firmly in mind."
.
The Tang residence.
The moment Tang Jiayu rose today, she sensed something off in the atmosphere. Her heart beat faster, and she strove to act as if she noticed nothing, washing and applying her makeup as usual.
Once she had finished tidying up, Zhexia came forward to relay a message: "My lady, the Master summons you to the Hall of Humble Virtue to take the morning meal together."
Her foreboding confirmed, Tang Jiayu unconsciously clenched her hands, silently praying to the ancestors of the Tang line: if Father and Mother in heaven had any spirit, they must bless her to see everything through smoothly.
Tang Jiayu curved her lips in a light, cheerful smile: "All right."
In the Hall of Humble Virtue, both Pang Cheng and Wei Chengjun were present. Wei Chengjun stared fixedly at her with a sinister gaze; Tang Jiayu pretended not to see it, and bowed to Pang Cheng: "Father."
Pang Cheng sat in the seat of honor, his gaze deep and unreadable, and said: "Let us eat first."
The meal passed in silent stillness. Tang Jiayu did not know how the other two fared, but she certainly could not taste a thing. Just as she was eating her almond junket with a small spoon, Pang Cheng set down his bowl and chopsticks and asked: "After being confined for so long, how clear-headed have you become?"
Tang Jiayu knew exactly what was what. She finished the almond junket, then set down the spoon and lightly dabbed the corners of her mouth: "Your daughter's heart was made clear to Father long ago. There is nothing to become clear-headed about."
"You are dead set on following that poor wretch?" Pang Cheng's face betrayed no emotion as he said, "If you insist on taking him as your husband, you will not get a single coin of the Tang family fortune. You will have to move out and live a hard life with him."
An ordinary girl might be frightened by this, but Tang Jiayu only found it laughable. Without her, the Tang family would not even exist, let alone its wealth. If Pang Cheng really would let her go out into the world, Tang Jiayu would thank them.
Alas, the act still had to be played. Tang Jiayu pinched herself secretly, and her eyes showed four parts guilt, three parts self-reproach, two parts resolve, and one part fortitude, as she said, "I wish to win one heart, and stay together until white hair. As long as I can be with the one I love, I fear no hardship."
Pang Cheng sighed deeply, as if his heart ached for her, then put on a kindly father's face again: "Jiayu, you are still young and think love is important, but as your father, having been through it, I must speak some heartfelt words to you. Love is fleeting; when you marry and worry over firewood, rice, oil, and salt, even the deepest feelings will wear away. Only then will you know that family background and wealth are the only reliable things."
Tang Jiayu knew that, so she had to get Li Zhaoji. Since she was putting on an act, she might as well secure the most powerful young lord in all of Hedong, even the whole realm, to make her second life worthwhile.
Tang Jiayu put on the look of a chaste and virtuous woman, resolutely rising: "Father, if you called me here just to say these things, then there is no need to say more. Your daughter takes her leave."
"Wait." Pang Cheng stopped her, saying, "The Wang young lord of Youzhou sent a card, inviting you to hunt outside the city. Do you want to take a look?"
Wang Rong? Tang Jiayu was tempted. Wang Rong was also under Li Jichen's control. If she could reveal her identity to Wang Rong, the two of them supporting each other would be better than fighting alone. But reason quickly overcame emotion. Even if Wang Rong had truly sent the card, she could not go, especially since this was very likely Pang Cheng testing her.
Tang Jiayu knew that at this moment many people must be watching her, eager to seize even the slightest evidence that she was not sincere toward their Young Lord. Tang Jiayu was determined to disappoint them. Her face was cold as frost, her gaze unyielding, as she said firmly, "In my heart there is only Lord Li. Although we are not yet married, my heart already belongs to him. If I were to look at another man, it would be betraying him. If any other man sends a card in the future, Father, refuse them all. There is no need to tell me."
The attendants all showed surprise. Tang Jiayu would not even look at Wang Rong's card. It seemed she truly felt deeply for the Young Lord.
Even Pang Cheng had nothing to say, and sighed, "Do you truly not regret it?"
Tang Jiayu straightened her back, her gaze blazing, and said from the bottom of her heart, "Never."
Tang Jiayu walked out without looking back. Behind her, the man sighed long and deep, like a father who had compromised, and said helplessly, "Fine. Since you like him so much, how could I bear to truly let you suffer? Your marriage, I permit it."
Tang Jiayu's eyes suddenly lit up, and a cold smile flashed swiftly across her lips. She quickly concealed it, turned around with shock and joy, and asked, "Father, are you telling the truth?"
"Of course." Pang Cheng looked at her with a smile, stroked his beard, and said, "But I have a few conditions."
Tang Jiayu gave a shriek and threw herself at Pang Cheng's legs, full of little-girl mannerisms, and looked up at him expectantly: "Father, tell me quickly."
"First, the marriage will be simple. After he makes a name for himself in the future, he may formally send betrothal gifts with the three letters and six rites."
Tang Jiayu nodded vigorously: "What else?"
"Second, you two will live in separate rooms. Until he achieves something, you cannot be considered truly husband and wife."
Tang Jiayu was momentarily surprised. She did not care about so-called purity, but the fact that Li Zhaoji had taken the initiative to keep boundaries with her meant he still had a conscience.
Tang Jiayu naturally had no objection and agreed at once: "Good."
"Third, you need to apply yourself. You can't keep drifting through life the way you used to. You need to pick up the qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting again…"
"Alright, alright." Tang Jiayu played the part of a spoiled young lady to the fullest, covering Pang Cheng's mouth and coquettishly saying, "Where are all these demands coming from? I won't be able to remember them all. I just know that Father is the best!"
Tang Jiayu started being unreasonable again, and Pang Cheng was so flustered that he couldn't finish what he really wanted to say. Helplessly, he said, "Look at you—how do you carry yourself like an adult? You're still carrying on like a child."
"In the past I had Father, and in the future I'll have Lord Li. I intend to be a child for life." Tang Jiayu smiled and nestled against Pang Cheng, then lifted her eyes and happened to meet Wei Chengjun's gaze.
Tang Jiayu clearly saw hatred and humiliation in his eyes. Tang Jiayu knew that this time she had thoroughly offended Wei Chengjun.
But so what?
The most valuable piece had already entered the game. What was another defeated general worth mentioning?