"On the day of the Shangsi Festival, at the back mountain of Huguo Temple, I happened to overhear someone discussing certain matters through a wall. Though eavesdropping is somewhat beneath one's dignity, since it concerned the Grand Secretary, I thought it best to relay it to you."
Xie Zhaozhao had deliberated over this phrasing all night and believed it to be the most appropriate.
She had only returned from Huguo Temple the day before yesterday, discussed marriage yesterday, and was telling him today—the timing was perfectly sound.
"Please, do speak, Miss Xie." The young woman was proper and composed, and whatever she wished to tell him, he did not take lightly.
"They spoke of how salt permits in Jiangnan have already been pre-sold two years in advance, with each permit carrying an additional three taels of silver."
"Because the two years' worth of salt permits had already been sold out ahead of schedule, it stirred discontent among some salt merchants. To appease them, the salt administration officials hired bandits from Wolf Cry Mountain to scuttle all official salt ships passing through Yangpo Harbor. The bandits would then fish the salt bags from the water and sell them privately to the merchants."
"These scuttled official ships were reported to the court as losses from typhoon disasters."
"They also said the court would very likely send you to investigate this case. If it couldn't be glossed over, then the bandits of Wolf Cry Mountain would… pin the blame on the refugees."
At this point, her eyes reddened.
In her previous life, he had served his country and his people, yet died young.
Gu Chengyan had personally gone to Jiangnan to investigate his uncle's death, ultimately uncovering that it was the ever-growing numbers of refugees and rioters in Jiangnan who had robbed Grand Secretary Gu, killing him for his money.
The Emperor flew into a rage, and corpses littered the land for a thousand li.
Tens of thousands of refugees—all sent to meet the King of Hell.
She had only learned the truth from Gu Chengyan's lips at the moment of her death—those refugees had all been wrongfully killed.
That scheme had been orchestrated by the Crown Prince and Gu Chengyan together. After all, Grand Secretary Gu was loyal only to the reigning Emperor!
They used the opportunity to eliminate Gu Shaoyu while framing the refugees who were difficult to resettle.
Gu Shaoyu sensed her sorrow. He had initially assumed she would share some trivial matters of the boudoir, but never expected something so enormous it could pierce the heavens.
For a delicate young lady like her to hear such things—how anxious and lost she must have felt.
So much so that she disregarded the propriety and etiquette she valued most, insisting on seeing him to save him.
His perpetually cold and hardened heart softened in an instant.
"You did very well. Leave this to me to handle." After a moment's thought, he asked, "Did you happen to see what they looked like?"
"No, but one of them had a rather shrill voice, like a young eunuch."
On the day of the Shangsi Festival, there had indeed been a eunuch among those who went to Huguo Temple—Shi Xiu, who served the Crown Prince.
What he went to Huguo Temple to do, and with whom he spoke, Xie Zhaozhao naturally did not know. But that day, she had seen Shi Xiu and Gu Chengyan appear together at the back mountain of Huguo Temple.
Gu Shaoyu was deeply shaken. This matter involved far too much, yet she had not told her father or brothers, and had risked damage to her reputation to come and inform him.
For the country, for the people, and then for him—she had done exceptionally well.
Truly a wise and thorough woman.
He reassured her, "This information is extremely important. I will handle it with great care. Do not worry, and do not speak of it to anyone else. Treat it as if it never happened, and protect yourself."
"Mm," Xie Zhaozhao's voice caught with a sob, "I just think those refugees are so innocent."
"You need not dwell on it. I will not let the villains have their way."
Xie Zhaozhao's heart settled. He had entered the Neige at such a young age—there was no doubt about his capability. Having told him everything, the heavy burden weighing on her shoulders was finally lifted.
Surely, he would not recklessly go to Jiangnan this time.
With the matter concluded, she found herself at a loss for what else to say.
Gu Shaoyu was silent for a moment as well, then said seriously, "To be betrothed to you brings me great joy. I look forward to it very much."
Xie Zhaozhao's face flushed bright red. This man—how could he say such things so openly?
"If you ever need anything, you can send word to me through Xiu Yong in the future, or have your maid deliver letters to the islet in the middle of Moon Lake. That is a retreat gifted to me by His Majesty, with dedicated attendants stationed there. Should anything urgent arise, they will inform me."
Xie Zhaozhao did know of the islet at Moon Lake—a tranquil haven tucked away amid the bustle, no small in size. On the islet stood craggy rockeries, surrounded by lush greenery, with winding corridors and pleasant scenery.
Yet in her memory, the islet had always kept its gates shut, its high walls solemn and forbidding. She had always assumed it was uninhabited.
"Alright," she said softly. "That place is quite serene."
"Yes, it's a fine spot for rest and relaxation."
Gu Shaoyu decided at that moment that he would have the islet at Moon Lake thoroughly renovated inside and out as soon as possible—if she liked it, she could stay there for a while.
The two had not been talking long when Xie Yu knocked on the door from outside.
"Grand Secretary Gu?"
Gu Shaoyu had not latched the door tightly in the first place, so at Xie Yu's call, he rose and opened it.
"Are you finished?" Xie Yu asked.
Judging by Grand Secretary Gu's expression, he seemed to be in excellent spirits?
"Yes, all done." Gu Shaoyu said not a word about what Xie Zhaozhao had told him. This matter absolutely could not be known by anyone to have come from her.
Not Xie Yu, and not Xie Anfeng either.
Xie Yu and Gu Shaoyu left together and descended the stairs. Yuanyuan and Manman came in and saw that Xie Zhaozhao was as composed as ever, not a trace of change on her face.
Manman could not help but whisper with sparkling eyes, "Miss, Grand Secretary Gu looks like a celestial being! His gaze is quite intimidating… oh my, he's even more handsome than the eldest young master!"
Yuanyuan tapped her head. "Don't speak carelessly out there."
Xie Yu saw Gu Shaoyu off. A servant boy came running at full speed and said something to Xie Yu downstairs.
Xie Yu quickly came back upstairs and said, "Sister, we need to return home at once. Consort Xi has summoned you to the palace—her messenger is still waiting at the residence."
Their aunt Xie Chunxi was now Consort Xi of the palace. In her early years, she had conceived three children, none of whom had survived, and her health had been ruined—she could no longer bear children.
Xie Zhaozhao had been raised by her side for several years, and the two were as close as mother and daughter.
They returned home and paid their respects to their grandmother.
Their grandmother said, "Surely Her Ladyship heard of your betrothal and is thinking of you. Speak with the consort properly and bring her some joy."
Lady Xu was deeply displeased. Why, when a marriage had been arranged, would the consort summon only Xie Zhaozhao and not Xie Xiangxiang?
Yet she dared not show it, and forced a smile. "The eldest young lady is simply so endearing. Xiangxiang is quite dull by comparison—in all these years, Xiangxiang has never once been summoned to the palace to pay respects to Her Ladyship."
Xie Zhaozhao said with a serious expression, "Those who know would say Mother is praising me for learning my manners well; those who don't might think Mother holds a grudge against Consort Xi. Such words should not be spoken where my sister might hear them, lest she come to resent the consort."
Lady Xu was left speechless, not daring to say another word. She only replied, "The eldest young lady speaks rightly."
But in her heart she seethed with hatred: The whole family revolves around those two siblings—what am I? Sixteen years, and I, the matriarch, have been treated like a servant girl.
Best if what Xiangxiang said proves true—in one month, when Grand Secretary Gu is dead, let's see how you all weep!
Xie Zhaozhao saw the hatred Lady Xu could neither voice nor reveal, and did not spare her so much as a glance. She changed her clothes, noted the message her grandmother wished to convey to her aunt, and took the carriage into the palace.
Just as Gu Shaoyu received the information she provided, he pondered briefly and decided to enter the palace to seek an audience with the emperor.
On the quiet avenue leading to the imperial court, a carriage drawn by a pair of horses came from the Xie residence.
Two snow-white steeds strode with majestic bearing, their hooves falling in perfect, uniform rhythm.
That was the personal carriage of the eldest young lady of the Xie family.
His carriage arrived neither a moment too soon nor a moment too late, meeting hers precisely at the palace gates.