“After the Princess’s death, Xie Huaizhou absorbed most of her power. But how could Zhai Heming, being the Emperor’s maternal uncle, willingly submit to an Imperial Son-in-Law? Since then… the court has been divided into three factions: the noble families, Xie Huaizhou, and Uncle of the Emperor from the Zhai family.”
Yet because of this, the court achieved a strange, delicate, but more stable balance than when Yuan Fuyu was alive.
“The killer was the trusted aide of the late Princess, the assassinated were Xie Huaizhou’s people, those who rescued Pei Du’s assassin were from the noble families’ faction, and the ones who exposed this were subordinates of Uncle of the Emperor from the Zhai family. All three court factions are involved. Do you think this matter won’t become known to everyone?”
He Yichen recalled what Yuan Fuyu had said to Qiancheng in the gambling house earlier and suddenly understood.
“You want to use the Princess’s death to stir up waves in the capital again, bringing your identity as the Princess’s trusted aide into the open and entering the game with high profile.”
“Not just to enter the game. Only with Da Zhao’s court stable can General Zheng campaign against the Turkic tribes. Whether investigating the Princess’s death or avenging her, the court must not fall into chaos. By involving all three factions… no one can sit back and watch others fight while remaining unscathed, nor can any single faction dominate.”
For Yuan Fuyu to reclaim some of her power from Xie Huaizhou, her entry into the game must create a significant stir.
But currently, the court must remain stable.
Xie Huaizhou could use the Princess’s dying words as pretext to make Yuan Fuyu’s followers pledge loyalty.
Then… why couldn’t she, this false trusted aide of the Princess, together with a genuine one like He Yichen, use the Princess’s name to win hearts?
Both she and He Yichen currently held no power or position, nor were they in the court.
The noble families and Zhai Heming were all power-hungry—how could they not want to use her and He Yichen as pawns to swallow Xie Huaizhou’s power, reducing the number of factions competing for influence?
Exploitation works both ways.
Riding the favorable wind, sending me up the blue clouds.
Whether borrowing Zhai Heming’s influence, leveraging the noble families’ power, or even cooperating with Xie Huaizhou—all were possible.
Yuan Fuyu would use every resource at her disposal to uncover the truth behind her death.
Then, bit by bit…
Reclaim the power that rightfully belonged to her.
“Tomorrow, should we be rescued by people from Qianjin Pavilion? Or should we go to prison?”
“If we’re rescued by Qianjin Pavilion’s people, what grounds would Magistrate Qian have to charge Qianjin Pavilion when he’s so determined to rescue Madam Wei from there?” Yuan Fuyu said to He Yichen. “Before curfew tomorrow, I’ll come to your courtyard in Anxing Ward. Go back now!”
“Wait!” He Yichen stopped Yuan Fuyu. “Pei Du’s martial skills are virtually unmatched. I’m not skilled in combat, and you’re a delicate woman. With just your martial maid and six guards, can you kill Pei Du?”
He Yichen was uneasy. “Should I find more people? When I was stripped of power, many followed me out of Xiaoshi Bureau…”
“Unnecessary. A dog that bites its master will surely be beaten to death, but… not necessarily tomorrow.” After speaking, Yuan Fuyu left with Jinshu.
Whether Pei Du had betrayed his master or not, to Yuan Fuyu, he was more valuable alive than dead now.
Killing was easy, but if Pei Du’s death brought no value, it would be a losing deal.
Currently, Yuan Fuyu wanted her reputation as the Princess’s trusted aide to become known to all.
·
The heavy snow that started on the evening of the fourth day of the twelfth lunar month showed no signs of stopping by dusk on the fifth.
He Yichen listened to the curfew drums echoing in the distance, pacing restlessly back and forth in the room.
Besides He Yichen, there were seven others in the room—three men and four women, all clad in dark, form-fitting attire.
Some were drinking tea, others sharpening blades, and a few polishing spearheads.
One leaned against the wall with a sword in their arms, eyes closed in quiet repose.
Snow had fallen in the capital, making the night roads treacherous.
Yuan Fuyu arrived slightly late. Pushing the door open, she saw the seven figures inside and froze, her gaze lingering on their faces.
The seven also halted their activities, turning to look at Yuan Fuyu, the Princess’s trusted confidante.
Seeing Yuan Fuyu standing motionless at the doorway, He Yichen immediately stepped forward.
He explained in a low voice, “These people are absolutely trustworthy. They are all close allies who once fought alongside the Princess on the battlefield. When they learned we were going to question Pei Du tonight about the Princess’s death, they all came.”
How could Yuan Fuyu not recognize these seven?
Six of them were her Golden Banner Eighteen Guards.
The short but agile Yu Yunyan, Liu Mei with the scar running across her face, the robust Lin Changxue, and Li Yunping, who had lost an eye to an arrow.
Su Ziyi, who had lost his left arm, and the unshaven Du Baorong.
The youngest among them was Yang Jiancheng, the Deputy Director who had been expelled from the Mystic Eagle Guards just two months after her death.
He was also the younger brother of Yang Jianlin, captain of the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards.
Yang Jianlin, a scion of a military family, was the only constant companion during Yuan Fuyu’s unruly youth.
Brimming with youthful vigor, he was always clad in bright attire and rode spirited horses. His fervent devotion to her burned as brightly as the sun, never concealed. With Yang Jianlin by her side, Yuan Fuyu never suffered a single wound.
Had he not died…
He would have been Yuan Fuyu’s Imperial Son-in-Law.
Her lifelong partner.
Yang Jiancheng’s eyes bore too striking a resemblance to his elder brother Yang Jianlin. This was why Yuan Fuyu had promoted Yang Jiancheng but could not bear to see him afterward.
Aside from the Yang brothers, the rest of the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards were war orphans rescued by Yuan Fuyu’s father. They had grown up with Yuan Fuyu since childhood, as close as siblings.
Even the name “Golden Banner Eighteen Guards” had been coined through their collective brainstorming with Yuan Fuyu and Yang Jianlin.
Back then, a merchant who prioritized profit over loyalty had provided military intelligence to Yuan Fuyu’s elder brother, only to betray him at a critical moment, leading to the deaths of Yuan Fuyu’s brother and his wife.
It was the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards who exchanged their lives for theirs—at the cost of twelve dead, two permanently disabled, and four severely wounded—fighting desperately to rescue Yuan Fuyu and the orphaned child of her brother.
Yang Jianlin had died in that very battle.
Later, when the Yuan family seized the capital and stabilized the realm, Yuan Fuyu held great power.
The six surviving members of the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards felt they could no longer assist Yuan Fuyu in political affairs.
They sought neither fame nor official positions, declaring they only wished to resume the trades their parents had once practiced and live ordinary lives, enjoying the peace and simple pleasures of the common folk.
Yuan Fuyu had agreed.
Upon returning to the capital this time, her intention had been to avoid disturbing their peaceful lives as much as possible.
If she had wanted to involve them so soon, would she have needed He Yichen to make contact?
“He Yichen, come out here!” Yuan Fuyu snapped, her face taut as she turned and strode into the courtyard.
Puzzled, He Yichen gestured for the seven inside to wait and followed Yuan Fuyu into the courtyard. “What’s wrong?”
Yuan Fuyu suppressed her rising anger. “Who gave you the audacity to contact them? They are the last of the Golden Banner Guards—four with lifelong severe injuries, two permanently disabled! If we go to see Pei Du now and he has truly betrayed his master, there could very well be an ambush! And you gathered them here?”
It was not yet time for Yuan Fuyu to call upon the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards.
Yuan Fuyu had meticulously planned every step, and she detested subordinates who acted on their own initiative.
“They came to me first! You brought me the Princess’s handwritten letter, but you’re only sixteen. I’ve always had doubts about you. To be safe, after entering the capital, I went to Su Ziyi to verify the authenticity of the letter.”
He Yichen felt his heart tighten under Yuan Fuyu’s gaze.
“Moreover… with me and the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards accompanying you to meet Pei Du, Xie Huaizhou, the noble families, and the Emperor’s Uncle from the Zhai family will have no doubt about your identity.”