The book stated that the female lead only managed to clear Prefect Jiang’s name at the very end with the male lead’s help. As for the male lead himself? Heaven knows which corner of the world he was currently stuck in.
Song Boxue figured that if the female lead ran into trouble, she’d help where she could. Even if they didn’t become best friends, she wanted to at least build some goodwill.
After all, the entire plot of this book revolved around the female lead. If she accidentally offended Jiang Fanyin one day, perhaps this bit of assistance would keep her from meeting the same tragic end as the original character.
Whatever happened, she had to keep her legs intact.
Jiang Fanyin watched Song Boxue approach. The person before her had clear, bright eyes that held a hint of genuine concern—limpid and honest.
Her heart suddenly skipped a beat. She quickly turned away, murmuring, “I am fine.”
Watching the girl practically flee the scene, Song Boxue raised a hand to rub her temples. Why did the female lead seem so odd?
Jiang Fanyin hurried back to her room and bolted the door behind her, only then breathing a sigh of relief.
Following her routine, she checked the bundle in her wardrobe and pulled out a piece of parchment she kept close to her person. Her father had handed this to her before being taken away, charging her to entrust it only to someone reliable.
Looking at the contents of the parchment, Song Boxue’s face flashed through her mind. Whether or not this person was truly trustworthy remained an unanswered question.
Thinking of Song Boxue, she knit her brows slightly.
The wound on her neck finally seemed to demand attention, a dull ache asserting its presence. Jiang Fanyin couldn’t help but recall last night. Why had her heart fluttered so strangely when she heard the bailiff say Song Boxue was thirsty? She must have been worried the woman was having another “episode.”
She unconsciously touched the dagger hidden in her sleeve, her lashes trembling.
The next morning, the two walked to the front hall together. Advisor Zhou was waiting there early, as usual. After exchanging greetings, the three of them moved to the inner court.
Song Boxue thought for a moment and began dismissing him again. “Advisor Zhou, you may go tend to other matters.”
Advisor Zhou’s expression stiffened. In the past, this straw bag of a magistrate knew nothing and required his constant presence for everything. Lately, however, she seemed to be intentionally distancing herself—even dismissing him outright.
He glanced at Jiang Fanyin. He thought he understood the reason, yet he did not leave as instructed.
“Sir, Battalion Commander Jiang arrived early this morning. Shall I invite him in?”
Song Boxue gave him a surprised look. Yesterday, he had led the man straight in; today, he actually remembered to ask for permission.
Recalling the poison, she remarked casually, “You and Commander Jiang seem quite well-acquainted.”
It was a statement, not a question.
Advisor Zhou’s face remained impassive. “I served in the City Guard for two years. I have met the Commander on a few occasions.”
To be precise, he had been one of Jiang Wuyi’s soldiers. There was no need to hide this, as his military record was easy enough to verify.
But. Has this fool noticed something?
Advisor Zhou scanned Song Boxue with a feigned nonchalance, a flash of disdain flickering in the depths of his eyes.
“I see. Then please, bring him in,” Song Boxue said with a smile. The moment Advisor Zhou stepped out, her smile vanished.
She turned to Jiang Fanyin. “Sister Jiang, do you think Advisor Zhou has more reason to harm me, or is it Commander Jiang?”
That unreliable supporting male lead clearly harbored hostility toward her. It was impossible not to be suspicious.
Jiang Fanyin averted her gaze and said softly, “Both men must be guarded against.”
Jiang Wuyi seemed convinced that Song Boxue had harmed her—or rather, convinced that Song Boxue would harm her. Even her own explanations had been futile.
Song Boxue arched an eyebrow, silently observing Jiang Fanyin. How did the book describe her? A gentle, soft-spoken beauty? Song Boxue found her more like a rose with hidden thorns. With this “guard against everyone” attitude, she suddenly felt a pang of pity for the male supporting leads.
In truth, she understood where Jiang Wuyi’s hostility came from. From his perspective, she—the fiancé—was essentially a romantic rival. But just because they were rivals, he had someone try to poison her? He certainly treated human life like a game.
Hearing footsteps, Song Boxue followed etiquette and performed a formal greeting to Jiang Wuyi. Living in this strictly hierarchical ancient society, she had to follow the rules whether she liked it or not to avoid giving anyone an opening to attack her character.
This time, Jiang Fanyin did not stop her. In fact, she silently knelt down beside her.
“Greetings, Commander.”
Seeing Song Boxue kneel, Jiang Wuyi’s brows began to rise in satisfaction, only to freeze when he saw Jiang Fanyin on the ground as well.
He frowned deeply. “Yin’yin, please get up.”
Jiang Fanyin didn’t move. She simply looked up toward Song Boxue.
Jiang Wuyi understood her meaning instantly. He clenched his fists, suppressing his rage as he barked, “Both of you, rise.”
As expected, Jiang Fanyin only stood up once Song Boxue did. To Jiang Wuyi, the scene looked painfully like a devoted wife following her husband’s lead.
His eyes darkened. He pulled an official document from his robe. “Look this over, Magistrate Song. I expect you to settle this immediately.”
Song Boxue rolled her eyes internally at his arrogant posturing and began reading the document.
He wants iron ore? For forging weapons?
Her intuition told her something was wrong. However, since she wasn’t yet fully versed in the laws and regulations of this era, she didn’t want to expose herself by refusing outright.
“I must ask Commander Jiang to wait in the side hall with Advisor Zhou for a moment.”
“I can wait, but the General cannot. If military affairs are delayed, you won’t be able to bear the consequences,” Jiang Wuyi snapped. After a pause, he followed Advisor Zhou to the side hall.
Once they were seated, Jiang Wuyi looked at the advisor. “I thought you said Song Boxue was a political illiterate who listened to your every word?” To him, it didn’t look like the magistrate relied on Zhou at all.
Advisor Zhou lowered his head. “She did, before Miss Jiang arrived. Now, she likely only listens to Miss Jiang.” With one sentence, he washed his hands of the failure.
Hearing this, Jiang Wuyi’s irritation spiked again. He stared gloomily at the entrance of the inner court. He had to find a way to make this corrupt official show his true colors. Only then would Yin’yin believe him.
Inside the inner court, the moment they were gone, Song Boxue stood up and handed the document to Jiang Fanyin.
“Sister Jiang, take a look. Should I give him this iron ore?”
“Iron ore?”
Jiang Fanyin’s heart tightened as she took the document.
After reading it, she instinctively touched the parchment wrapped tightly around her midsection. Had her father sent her to Pingchuan County for more than just seeking refuge with Song Boxue?
Seeing her heavy expression, Song Boxue leaned in and whispered close to her ear, “Sister Jiang, do you find this strange as well?”
Because they were so close, a faint, refreshing scent—reminiscent of lemons seemed to drift from Song Boxue, enveloping Jiang Fanyin.
Jiang Fanyin’s fingers twitched slightly, and she shifted a fraction away. “The City Guard and the local prefectural governments have always operated independently. Without explicit permission from the Imperial Court, it is best to avoid private dealings.”
The iron ore could not be given.
Song Boxue caught the main point immediately. “So, if there is no imperial decree, I can refuse?”
Jiang Fanyin nodded gently; that was a certainty. If a local government and the City Guard became too cozy in private, it wasn’t a “necessary interaction”—it was collusion.
Song Boxue’s expression relaxed. That made things easier. “Then I’ll just send him packing.”
Seeing how simply Song Boxue was taking it, Jiang Fanyin placed the document back on the table and warned, “This bears the seal of the Commander-in-Chief. It states that the Court has defaulted on military pay and that their weapons are dilapidated, requiring the Pingchuan County Office to assist in replacing them. A direct refusal would likely offend the City Guard.”
Though they were meant to be independent, a lowly county magistrate could hardly afford to provoke the City Guard. Doing so would likely make any future official business incredibly difficult.
“Then how about I ‘comply in public but oppose in private’? I’ll agree on the surface but drag my feet behind the scenes.”
Song Boxue thought for a moment and offered what she felt was a decent solution.
Jiang Fanyin knit her brows slightly. Comply in public but oppose in private? Why did that phrase sound so unsavory?
She remained silent for a moment, glancing toward the door. “Think of it as ‘crossing the fields in the dark.’ Agree to his face, then immediately send a memorial to the Imperial Court to ask for instructions. But do not go through the Liuping Prefectural Office.”
Song Boxue looked at Jiang Fanyin and leaned in even closer. “Your father was the Prefect of Liuping. How exactly did he get implicated in a rebellion case?”
She didn’t need the female lead to tell her that the current Prefect of Liuping was untrustworthy. According to the book, Prefect Jiang would eventually be exonerated, and the one actually involved in the rebellion was the current Prefect.
As for the specific details, she wasn’t sure; the book had glossed over them.
Song Boxue’s words landed right by her ear, accompanied by the warmth of her breath.
Jiang Fanyin silently shifted her body away once more. “I am not entirely clear on the details of my father’s case. However, you can send the memorial to Weitian Prefecture.”
Once you left the jurisdiction of Liuping, the closest major administrative center to Pingchuan was Weitian. Beyond Weitian lay the capital; it was essentially under the direct jurisdiction of the Court and should be reliable.
Hearing this, Song Boxue looked troubled. “But who should I send? I don’t have anyone of my own in the county office yet.”
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The Author has something to say:
Song Boxue: This official is basically a general without an army.