Chapter 4: Suspicion"Are you really not a woman?"The bluestone roads within the county were still fairly smooth, but once they left the county and took the main highway, Su Zheyun's body rose and fell with every rut and bump the carriage wheels rolled over.Jiang Weixu had already set off ahead of them, and Lu Xun couldn't help but quicken the pace, having already forgotten about Su Zheyun's presence.Her stomach churned violently. She lifted the carriage curtain—a molten gold sun hung low on the horizon, and beneath it, the gray-yellow road stretched endlessly into the distance. Only five or six guards rode alongside on horseback, fine sand and dust swirling up in a hazy cloud.Fortunately, Lu Xun eventually noticed her discomfort and changed course to Chengzhou, where they switched to a boat and continued their journey to the capital by water.Compared to the carriage rides of the past few days, the water journey was far more comfortable.Each morning at dawn, she leaned against the ship's railing and counted the boats passing along the river. At night, she faced the river and gazed at the moon, the gentle sound of flowing water filling her ears—it stirred up a longing in Su Zheyun's heart.She wondered how Su Wenyu was doing. She wistfully entrusted her feelings to the east wind, then grew increasingly furious.Damn Prince Duan! If she didn't make any money from this, she'd grab her bags and run immediately.The official vessel stood several zhang tall, its deck so wide you could ride a horse across it. Yet on this massive ship, there were only a handful of them. Perhaps worried she'd be bored, Lu Xun approached her a few times, telling her to speak up if she needed anything.Su Zheyun kept a smile on her face—if it weren't for fear of exposing her identity, she'd actually have asked for a bath. But… she tilted her head. Since she was now someone's strategist, she still needed to brush up on some essential knowledge, such as—"May I ask what His Highness Prince Duan's given name is?"Lu Xun was momentarily at a loss for words, his face barely able to maintain composure. He muttered a few words and left directly."Jiu Gong Wei Xu."Su Zheyun sat on the ship's deck. The autumn moon hid and reappeared, thin gray clouds drifting past the sparse stars. A long wind swept toward her, and she smiled easily at the flowing water. Judging by the name, was her superior still a promising prospect?After nearly ten days of travel, they finally reached the capital. Su Zheyun jumped off the boat, and the solid feeling of the ground beneath her gave her an unprecedented sense of security.Just past the hour of Chen, several porters were already working up a sweat. Along the river, the masts of large and small grain boats pressed against one another, the air thick with the smell of sweat and tung oil."Master Su, please board the carriage."The Prince Duan manor's carriage was already waiting nearby. The carriage walls bore fine, even grain patterns, and the black horses' coats were sleek and glossy. Su Zheyun took the chance to stroke one as she boarded.The interior was spacious, with dark-patterned silk curtains that were exquisite and breathable, with a layer of fine bamboo blinds hanging inside.Su Zheyun clutched her bundle with both hands, faintly catching the scent of soap from within, though it was soon overtaken by the agarwood fragrance in the carriage.Jiang Weixu had gone to court, and the steward Zhou Pingquan led her to the manor's separate residence.Su Zheyun followed behind him, her gaze sweeping over the entire estate—truly grand and imposing.The separate residence was small but pleasantly quiet. Jiang Weixu didn't have many retainers, so he'd set aside an independent courtyard for her. Zhou Pingquan had even thoughtfully prepared hot water for bathing.Everything was arranged properly, but Su Zheyun looked at the all-male servants in the courtyard and suddenly wore a troubled expression."Steward Zhou, could you arrange for a… maidservant?" Su Zheyun's mind raced as she desperately searched for a plausible excuse. "In the past, my mother always managed household affairs at home. I'm not used to having men attend to me."Zhou Pingquan pondered for a moment. Whether he believed the reason or not, he still waved his hand and dismissed the servants."I'll arrange a maidservant right away. Does Master Su have any other requests?""I'm not accustomed to being waited on, so please pass that along to the staff." Su Zheyun curved her lips into a warm smile, feeling a bit apologetic for troubling others."Of course. If there's nothing else, Master Su, please go ahead and bathe. Fresh clothes have been prepared inside, and a meal will be arranged shortly."Su Zheyun was naturally pleased. She smiled and saw Zhou Pingquan off, then finally removed her clothes and sank into the hot water.It's easy to go from frugality to luxury, but hard to go from luxury back to frugality.Su Zheyun ate the refreshing side dishes, reminding herself not to become indulged in a life of wealth and comfort.The room was airy and clean, with good natural light. As she was chewing slowly, a delicate young woman in a light pink vest lifted the curtain and entered. Her clothing was of fine, dense silk, with several crabapple blossoms embroidered at the collar.The newcomer bowed respectfully, a gentle smile on her face, her voice crisp as a oriole's song. "This servant is Yutang. Greetings to Master Su."Su Zheyun quickly set down her chopsticks and was about to rise and help her up when she realized that would be inappropriate, so she remained standing and told her to rise instead.Yutang walked to her side, picked up the jade chopsticks, and began serving her food."Steward Zhou has already instructed me—from now on, Master Su may command this servant for anything you need."A warmth of familiarity welled up in Su Zheyun's heart. She was just about to make small talk when a handsome young man walked in. His sapphire-blue brocade was embroidered with large peonies, and a white jade belt cinched his slender waist."Director Zhao."Yutang stepped forward and gave a customary bow. Zhao Jing waved his hand dismissively, his eyes fixed directly on Su Zheyun, a teasing smile playing across his face."So you're Su Zheyun?"Su Zheyun bent into a respectful bow, and a pair of black leather boots entered her field of vision. The hem of the robe bore embroidered golden cloud patterns—exquisite and elegant. She paused for a brief moment, then straightened up to see Jiang Weixu in his dark robes.Jiang Weixu found a seat and sat down, but Zhao Jing was sizing up Su Zheyun with his fan swaying, his eyes full of curiosity."After hearing him brag for so long, I finally get to see the real deal today."The frivolous tone reached Su Zheyun's ears as Zhao Jing lifted his robes and sat down, his probing gaze shifting to Jiang Weixu beside him."My newly acquired strategist, Su Zheyun."Ignoring his joking remark, Jiang Weixu set down the white jade teacup in his hand and introduced him seriously."He's from Fang County. The bandit-suppression case at Dragon Tiger Mountain was his idea.""I know—isn't that the place you were planning to lead troops to suppress?" Zhao Jing nodded in thanks as Yutang served him Biluochun tea, then turned with a smile to the standing Su Zheyun."Master Su looks quite young, but his strategies are seasoned. Has he taken a wife?"Yutang brought a chair for Su Zheyun. She had just sat up straight and was about to speak when Jiang Weixu cut in."Born in the twelfth month of the first year of Taihe, twenty this year, not yet married," Jiang Weixu turned to look at Su Zheyun, his tone carrying a note of confirmation. "Am I right?""…Yes." Su Zheyun's smile froze, her voice catching in her throat a few times before she finally nodded in agreement.She hadn't expected Jiang Weixu to have already pulled up her household registry documents, but she quickly breathed a sigh of relief—thankfully she had arranged a "fake household registration" for herself beforehand."Twenty?" Zhao Jing exclaimed in surprise. "Master Su looks so youthful, I thought you hadn't even come of age yet. So why haven't you married?"Su Zheyun lowered her head with a bitter smile, as if the words were hard to say. "My family was poor since childhood, and both my parents passed away early, leaving only my younger sister and me to depend on each other. I never got around to it.""I see…" Zhao Jing couldn't help drawing out his words, his slightly upturned phoenix eyes strikingly similar to Jiang Weixu's. "Master Su should bring your younger sister over to take care of her. The Imperial Academy has a women's school—His Highness Prince Duan can arrange it for you."Su Zheyun looked at Zhao Jing, then turned to Jiang Weixu beside her, meeting his dark, deep-pooled eyes.Seeing Su Zheyun remain silent, Jiang Weixu assumed she was hesitant and spoke up to ease her concerns."You can bring your sister over. I'll arrange it for you."But Su Zheyun was already crafting an excuse to decline—after all, her position as an advisor wasn't stable yet, and she didn't want Su Wenyu running around causing trouble."Thank you, Your Highness, but my sister is timid and frail. The road to the capital is long; it's better she comes once her health improves."Jiang Weixu naturally wouldn't press the matter. His slender, well-defined fingers lifted the teacup, the ink-jade thumb ring catching a faint emerald glint in the light.Yutang went down to brew tea, and Jiang Weixu pondered in silence for a moment before deciding to speak."If you've taken a liking to anyone in the household, you can tell me, and I'll see to it."The inexplicable topic thrown out of nowhere gave Su Zheyun a fright, causing her to choke hard on a mouthful of tea. She couldn't suppress her coughing, and a flush crept across her face."But Yutang is my mother's person," Jiang Weixu paused, his expression turning serious. "You can only marry her as a wife, not take her as a concubine."The moment the words fell, Yutang walked in carrying a teacup, her movements gentle, the pouring of tea flowing like water.Su Zheyun looked embarrassed—she supposed her eagerness in requesting a maidservant had been a bit too hasty, prompting Jiang Weixu's suspicion."Your Highness…" Su Zheyun didn't know what to say for a moment and could only brush it off casually."Rest assured, Your Highness, I…" She gritted her teeth, her gaze firm. "I won't do anything improper."Jiang Weixu nodded in satisfaction, lifted his robes, and walked out of the courtyard, the jade pendant at his waist swaying with a soft clink with each step.The cloud-shaped censer sent up wisps of white smoke, releasing a pleasant fragrance of pear blossoms.As soon as Jiang Weixu was gone, Zhao Jing immediately shifted into a more comfortable position, sprawling lazily across the table."Does Master Su mind? I'm used to being idle."Su Zheyun naturally said she didn't mind, using the act of drinking tea to shift her stiff body.These chairs without cushions were truly uncomfortable.Sunlight streamed into the room, spilling across Su Zheyun's light, soft garments, making her seem to glow.Zhao Jing studied her delicate features, tapping his fingers against the ribs of his fan, his thoughts beginning to drift."Master Su probably doesn't know—His Highness has been rigid since childhood, and stubborn to boot. Though I'm His Highness's cousin, he's always the one keeping me in check."Su Zheyun didn't quite catch his implication at first. Zhao Jing curled his lips into a mocking smile, the jade belt at his waist rubbing against his robes with a faint rustling sound."Outsiders see that he keeps his distance from women, and all sorts of rumors have spread. Some say he keeps a mistress outside, some say he's impotent, and others say he prefers men."Zhao Jing couldn't help but laugh at the thought of those rumors, slowly opening his fan again—a small white-jade gourd dangling from the braided cord at its end."A man like him, even if he lives to old age, would never take a male lover. You're handsome, so when you attend banquets with him in the future, you're bound to face plenty of gossip. I'm giving you a heads-up now—don't bother with the rumors. If you truly have talent, work hard by his side, and you'll be able to put your abilities to use."So that's what this was about.Jiang Weixu made no untoward moves, so naturally Su Zheyun did not think him a sodomite. She sincerely agreed with a smile, her clear features softening into a gentle expression—thin lips of pale color, brows and eyes like autumn waters rippling across a river.A face fair as a woman's.Just as Lu Xun had said. Zhao Jing narrowed his eyes, then abruptly turned his back to the light and leaned forward, half his features hidden in shadow. A wave of pressure descended, and the atmosphere began to turn dangerous.Before Su Zheyun could react to his sudden movement, his words froze her in place."You really aren't a woman?"It was a rhetorical question.Su Zheyun looked up at him, her breath catching.

Plotting with My Wife