Chapter 2: The Pearl — Bring Me My PearlFor several days in a row, the side chambers of the government office had been completely transformed. The various curiosities purchased from the Treasure Pavilion were arranged on the shelves, and even the tables and chairs had been given a fresh coat of lacquer.Candlelight blazed brightly within the room. Jiang Weixu sat upright in the center, poring over Fang County's tax and corvée registers with rapt attention. A gilt Boshan incense burner on the desk burned aloeswood, its thin blue smoke curling upward, filling the chamber with a subtle fragrance.The emperor was far away, and Heaven was high above—he knew full well that small counties like Fang were most fond of tampering with their levies and labor duties.The room was silent, broken only by the occasional rustle of turning pages.Chen Dao stood off to the side, covertly exchanging glances with the subordinate beside him. His bulky frame began to feel unsteady after standing for a while, and sweat beaded profusely on his face.The Crown Prince was dissolute and incompetent, while Prince Duan had repeatedly distinguished himself in battle and enjoyed great favor. The Empress had passed away early, and Noble Consort Rong now held the phoenix seal in the harem. The court officials knew full well that the tide was turning in Prince Duan's favor.But Jiang Weixu spent much of his time in the military, and his aura of decisive ruthlessness had grown ever stronger. He himself was a "Yumen demon" who always sided with reason rather than kin, and most subordinates dared not provoke him.A pin could be heard dropping in the room. Only the intermittent chirping of cicadas from outside grew increasingly distinct within. Chen Dao kept glancing toward the doorway, not daring to make a move.As Jiang Weixu on the main seat raised his hot tea, Chen Dao's gaze quickly swept over the solemn sword-bearing guards on either side, then his face resumed its fawning expression."Your Highness, this humble official has prepared some modest wine and dishes. You must be weary from your journey—would you care to dine first, and review the registers tomorrow?""No need." The steady voice fell, his gaze never leaving the registers. "I depart tomorrow. Magistrate need not trouble yourself."Chen Dao was rebuffed, and urgency grew in his heart. Jiang Weixu had arrived several days early—the male entertainer he'd purchased hadn't arrived yet, and now even the wine and food were refused. There was nothing to curry favor with. Was he just supposed to watch the prize slip through his fingers?"Sir." Li Shouren slipped quietly into the room. The two exchanged a look, and Chen Dao was immediately struck with inspiration."Your Highness, this humble official has recently acquired a new strategist named Su Zheyun. He was the one who handled the bandit-suppression case. He is already within the compound—would Your Highness care to meet him?""Is this the Dragon-Tiger Mountain bandit case?" Jiang Weixu's hand paused on the page he was turning, a flicker of interest rising—though the next moment, his attention returned to the registers. "Stirring discord, applying coercion, feigning suppression while actually offering amnesty. In the end, without spending a single soldier, he pacified a bandit situation. Magistrate Chen's strategist does indeed possess considerable courage and insight."Hearing this, Chen Dao's smile nearly overflowed, as if the praise were meant for himself."Thank you for your kind words, Your Highness. But this young man's schemes go beyond even that. Registrar Li, if you would, please summon Master Su."Jiang Weixu looked up, about to raise a hand in refusal, when he saw a figure in a moon-white brocade robe step into the hall.Su Zheyun's brows and eyes were as tranquil as mountain rain after a fresh storm, a pair of bright pupils seeming to hold spring water within. His bearing was upright, his smile like a beautiful crescent moon. His complexion, set against the robe, appeared even fairer, lending him an air of transcendent otherworldliness.The silk-thread embroidery on his garments caught the light and seemed to flow with each movement. Jiang Weixu's heart quickened involuntarily, only one word surfacing in his mind—Smooth as pearl and jade.His gaze traveled downward. When he took in the full attire Su Zheyun wore, Jiang Weixu released his clenched hand, and reason regained the upper hand.A man?His brows knitted together, an unnoticed pang of regret flashing through his heart."Rise."A brief command came down from above. Su Zheyun straightened up and raised his eyes, finally getting a clear look at the famed Prince Duan.A robe embroidered with coiled dragons, a jade belt. White garments with crimson cloud patterns, sword-like brows and star-bright eyes.The man looked seventeen or eighteen, quite handsome—but unfortunately, his clothing clashed with hers.Su Zheyun's smile deepened as she tried to appear as friendly as possible.If this handsome man were a bit more generous and bestowed more gold and silver, she'd think even better of him.But after that "rise," the person above remained silent for a long while.Su Zheyun slowly let her smile fade and glanced sideways at the standing guards, a hint of confusion growing within her.Was her smile too ingratiating?Su Zheyun lowered her head, sinking into self-doubt. Chen Dao and Li Shouren also exchanged glances, utterly baffled. Only Jiang Weixu's guard, Lu Xun, was struggling to hold back his laughter.Jiang Weixu had long been in the military camps, always abstinent and self-disciplined, without so much as a woman by his side—no wonder people speculated he had other inclinations.He had just flown into a rage in Chengzhou over being gifted a male favorite, and now, detouring to Fang County, another one was being offered up. It seemed his master's reputation was beyond saving.But…Lu Xun stole a glance at Jiang Weixu. Why wasn't he angry yet? This wasn't right—he'd better not actually be taken with him! He still had to report back to Noble Consort Rong!"I hear from Magistrate Chen that Dragon-Tiger Mountain was your idea?"After a long silence, Jiang Weixu finally spoke, and the tense atmosphere in the room visibly eased by several degrees.Su Zheyun clasped her hands in salute, a faint smile curling back at the corners of her lips. Her voice was soft, yet her words were crisp and clear:"I am grateful for Magistrate Chen's high regard. Only through his trust could my meager talents be put to proper use, allowing me to contribute a small measure of strength for the people and for the court.""Mmm. Meager indeed."In official circles, flattery was the norm, and Jiang Weixu did not usually despise it. Yet somehow, provoked by Su Zheyun's few words, a wave of impatience rose unbidden in his heart, and he shot back bluntly.Upon hearing this, Su Zheyun's smile gradually faded, and his delicate brows knitted slightly."Naturally, I cannot compare to the great talents in Your Highness's residence."He spoke each word slowly, his expression still respectful, but his eyes were clearly filled with defiance.Truly lacking in emotional intelligence—what a waste of that handsome face.These words, however, were like a stone cast into a lake, stirring a thousand ripples. No one had ever dared to talk back to the noble and revered Jiang Weixu to his face; even the imperial censors in court always skirted around the issue with euphemisms and roundabout phrasing.Lu Xun tilted his head slightly, glancing at the frowning Jiang Weixu, then at the displeased Su Zheyun, and a faint smile curled at the corner of his mouth.So the male concubine they'd sent was actually angry? Surely they hadn't really sent a strategist?Fang County truly was a place hiding dragons and crouching tigers.Su Zheyun was completely unaware that his sarcasm was too obvious. What he thought in his heart, he had already restrained greatly in his words. It was poor Chen Dao and Li Shouren who suffered—one his superior, the other the one who'd come up with the plan—both breaking out in a cold sweat of terror.Chen Dao was filled with regret. He'd always seen Su Zheyun as docile as a lamb, assuming he was a soft persimmon everyone could squeeze. Only today did he realize the man was a thorny character.If he could at that moment, he would kneel and beg Su Zheyun to shut up, then have him thrown out.Jiang Weixu had never met such a bold person either. Being talked back to left him momentarily stunned. A small offense like this was hardly worth a great rage.Su Zheyun's defiance, instead, piqued his interest.He leaned forward slightly, his gaze falling on Su Zheyun's face, and spoke in a measured tone: "Since that's the case, I happen to have encountered a difficult problem recently. I'd like to ask Young Master Su to offer some insight."Su Zheyun was briefly taken aback. They had just been trading barbs—why was he suddenly testing her knowledge? She was suspicious, but since he was a prince and had extended the invitation, she couldn't pretend to be deaf and mute. So she composed herself, cupped her hands, and said, "Please speak, Your Highness.""I have a longsword I always use, sharp enough to cut through iron like mud. I cherish it dearly and never let it leave my side. But last year on my birthday, my mother gifted me a precious sword—neither sharp nor comfortable in hand."Jiang Weixu paused, then continued."But it was my mother's sentiment after all. If I use it, I must abandon the old sword to honor her feelings; if I don't use it, though I preserve the old sword, I fear I would wound my mother's heart."Jiang Weixu's tone was calm, but his dark, deep phoenix eyes were fixed intently on Su Zheyun."If Young Master Su were in my place, how would you choose?""I'd choose the old sword." Su Zheyun answered without hesitation. It wasn't that she understood the hidden layers of the question—it was that she understood Jiang Weixu's own choice.One sword was praised, the other disparaged; following the flow of his words couldn't be wrong."The old sword that fits well won't become hard to use just because a new sword appears. Your Highness never actually considered switching swords—you're only troubled by how to deal with the new one, am I right?"Jiang Weixu lifted his chin slightly and sat up straighter."Yes. So how should I deal with it?""Return the sword." Su Zheyun met Jiang Weixu's gaze directly, catching the subtle shifts in his expression."Though the sword was given to Your Highness on the surface, you have no power to dispose of it—otherwise, you wouldn't be in a bind. So return the sword, let those who can handle it deal with it. That preserves the old sword and lets others know you don't need the new one. Isn't that killing two birds with one stone?"It was an answer he'd never heard before. A smile spread across Jiang Weixu's face as he slowly turned the thumb ring on his finger, his gaze landing on the lively Su Zheyun, his eyes darkening a shade.Su Zheyun truly exceeded his expectations—quick-witted and sharp-eyed, seeing the crux of the problem at a glance."So you do have some talent. I underestimated you." Jiang Weixu tapped the table lightly with his index finger, then with his right hand removed the jade pendant from his waist. "In that case, this is my reward to you."A fine jade pendant fell into her hands. Su Zheyun took a look—the jade was translucent and flawless, shaped like a full moon, with a lifelike lotus carved in the center. The mutton-fat jade warmed to the touch, clearly worth a fortune.A genuine smile spread across Su Zheyun's face, softening his features, and the earlier displeasure was swept away."Thank you for your reward, Your Highness. May all your wishes come true, with blessings and longevity. If there's nothing else, may this humble one take leave?"Taking the reward and running? Chen Dao muttered inwardly, about to speak up to stop him, but the man in the seat of honor waved a hand grandly, granting her leave.Su Zheyun immediately bowed and withdrew, striding out briskly.If she didn't hurry, what if he changed his mind about such an expensive gift?The room fell back into its former silence. Chen Dao couldn't quite gauge Jiang Weixu's thoughts: he'd seemed interested just now, so why let Su Zheyun go so easily?Though the handsome-man tactic had failed, he wasn't ready to give up on currying favor. He was about to arrange some song and dance entertainment—"Leave."Jiang Weixu pressed his right hand to his temple, eyes shut tight, a weary expression on his face.Chen Dao, being perceptive, clamped his mouth shut, afraid of touching a sore spot, and led Li Shouren out with proper deference.Outside the government office, Su Zheyun sat in the carriage, examining the jade pendant gifted as a reward by candlelight.Those from the capital were generous—far more so than Chen Dao.Su Zheyun carefully tucked the jade pendant into her bosom, her heart brimming with delight as she calculated how to spend this windfall.Ah, she'd come into a sudden fortune today, and for a moment she didn't know what to do with it—a truly happy dilemma.Just as she was thinking this, Jiang Weixu's handsome face suddenly surfaced in her mind. Su Zheyun silently decided to retract her earlier grievances against him and offer him her sincere well-wishes.After all, they would never meet again. When she next went to the temple to burn incense, she would light a perpetual lamp for him—it would count as accumulating some merit.The night was deep and dew-laden, and the flickering flames melted drops of candle wax that clung to the gold foil on the candle's surface.In the modest home, Su Zheyun had already fallen asleep in each other's arms with Su Wenyu, meeting the Duke of Zhou in their dreams.In the side chamber, Lu Xun had just received the confidential document and immediately began examining it without pause.The candle burned bright as Jiang Weixu annotated official documents at his desk, silent and wordless."Your Highness, is there anything else we need to bring tomorrow?"After handing over the confidential document, Lu Xun ground ink beside him, his hand strength perfectly measured, the ink uniform and glossy."What do you think?"Jiang Weixu didn't look up, yet the pressure emanating from him was undiminished.Lu Xun kept his eyes lowered, his gaze fixed on his nose, his mind focused. To avoid Lady Rong causing him trouble, he decided to play dumb."Your subordinate does not know—please enlighten me, Your Highness."The tip of the wolf-hair brush dipped into the inkstone, and vermilion strokes dotted the memorial. With just a few casual circles and marks on the memorial, he decided the rise and fall of countless officials' careers.This was the pinnacle of power—yet beneath the glory and favor, wolves still lurked on all sides."My jade pendant—it's still on him."He continued reading and annotating, never once lifting his head.Since Jiang Weixu had spoken so plainly, Lu Xun naturally stopped playing dumb and quietly withdrew.The story he had told Su Zheyun earlier was half true, half false. He had never owned an old sword he never let go of—what truly never left his person was that jade pendant. And tonight, by some strange twist of fate, he had given it away.He valued talent.Since she was a pearl, she should not remain in the remote corner of Fang County, silently gathering dust.

Plotting with My Wife