No one was more familiar with the Princess Manor than Yuan Fuyu.
Xie Huaizhou hadn’t ordered Pei Du to take them to the Xuan Ying Wei Prison, but instead brought them to the Princess Manor Private Prison. Yuan Fuyu could roughly guess what Xie Huaizhou intended to do.
First, before reaching an agreement with her, he was unwilling to let any former subordinates who had followed the Princess get close to her.
Second, Zhai Heming would certainly use the incident at Pei Du’s residence today to make trouble.
If she, He Yichen, or any of the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards were to die in the Xuan Ying Wei Prison, as Xie Huaizhou had said, he wouldn’t be able to explain himself even with a hundred mouths.
The six members of the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards, along with Yang Jiancheng who insisted on staying with Yuan Fuyu, were all locked in the same cell.
He Yichen, Jinshu, and the six female guards following Yuan Fuyu had already been taken out by Pei Du for interrogation.
Yu Yunyan frowned anxiously, pacing back and forth, while Du Baorong applied medicine sent by Pei Du to Yang Jiancheng’s arm.
Dim light slanted in through the small prison window, enveloping Yuan Fuyu who sat cross-legged against the wall.
Lin Changxue leaned against the cell door with arms crossed, staring intently at Yuan Fuyu.
Liu Mei and Li Yunping, sitting opposite Yuan Fuyu, also watched the meditating Yuan Fuyu with thoughtful expressions.
Su Ziyi, meeting Liu Mei’s gaze urging him to question Yuan Fuyu, pondered for a long time before finally speaking: “Miss Cui seems quite young. Have you studied military strategy?”
Hearing this, Yuan Fuyu opened her eyes.
Before Yuan Fuyu could respond, Liu Mei rolled her eyes at Su Ziyi and said: “Stop beating around the bush, let me ask! Miss Cui… this should be our first meeting, yet you seem to know us quite well. You knew Yunyan’s speed was fast… having her capture the leader. How could you be sure that just saying ‘capture the leader’ would make Yunyan understand you meant to capture Xie Huaizhou?”
Yu Yunyan immediately realized this upon hearing it – at Pei’s residence, she had acted instinctively upon receiving the order without thinking it through.
“That’s right…” Yu Yunyan also looked at Yuan Fuyu, “Previously we always followed A’yu’s orders. When I heard the command, I went to capture Xie Huaizhou. But how did you know I would understand your meaning? And when you said ‘left high ground,’ how could you be sure Liu Mei and the others would seize the left high ground?”
Li Yunping didn’t mention that when she drew her sword at Pei’s residence, the way Cui Siniang had placed a hand on her shoulder felt exactly like when A’yu, whom they used to protect, would grasp her shoulder.
This Cui Siniang used them… too naturally, too smoothly.
As if she had fought alongside them countless times.
“Since you’ve seen the letter and believe I’m the Princess’s trusted aide, why is it strange that I know you well?” Yuan Fuyu’s voice remained calm and unruffled. “Not just you, but every member of the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards… I know them all very well.”
“Tell us!” Lin Changxue spoke up.
“You and Du Baorong – one was tricked into joining the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards by the Princess with a packet of osmanthus candy, the other was tricked in by Yang Jianlin with pork knuckles. Neither of you… are the naturally gifted type, but among the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards, you and Du Baorong train the hardest.”
Lin Changxue’s crossed arms tightened slightly. The story about being tricked into the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards with osmanthus candy was known to very few people.
Du Baorong himself had forgotten how he joined the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards and scratched his head: “I don’t remember how I joined the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards.”
Since Yuan Fuyu was going to speak, she would say things that couldn’t be uncovered from outside sources…
“Yu Yunyan, your name was changed by the Princess. She thought your original name was unsuitable—you are yourself… like a cloud, like a swallow, the best in lightness skill among the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards. Your name doesn’t need to carry anyone else’s expectations.”
Yu Yunyan’s lips parted slightly.
“Liu Mei, when the late Emperor’s subordinate picked you up, even at a young age you were drawn to beauty and charm—you took a fancy to the Princess wearing her elder brother’s armor. Later, Yang Jianlin threw you into the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards.”
Liu Mei’s expression shifted: “That’s nonsense! How dare you spread rumors, you little brat!”
Yuan Fuyu chuckled softly, then turned her gaze to Li Yunping, who had lost an eye, and Su Ziyi, who had lost an arm. “From the rebellion to the verge of securing the realm… the Princess led the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards with such ease that she began to believe she and all of you were invincible, triumphant in every battle. The greatest regret of her life was trusting merchants, just like her brother did, which led to the deaths of the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards she regarded as her own flesh and blood. It cost Li Yunping an eye and Su Ziyi an arm.”
She had once promised to lead the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards into the capital, to let them witness its prosperity.
But later, when they captured the capital, twelve of the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards had become memorial tablets.
Some words that Yuan Fuyu, as the Princess, could never bring herself to say… today, using the identity of Cui Siniang, she found she could speak them with ease.
“Yang Jiancheng…” Yuan Fuyu looked into eyes that resembled Yang Jianlin’s. “After the realm was stabilized, the Princess didn’t forget you or your Yang family. She knew about every mission, every evaluation, even your matchmaking arrangements. It’s just… seeing you reminded her of your elder brother.”
Seeing those eyes would bring back the image of Yang Jianlin, covered in blood, using his last strength to help her onto a horse before meeting his death. It was a heart-wrenching memory.
Yuan Fuyu lowered her gaze, frowning to conceal the ache in her eyes.
Yang Jiancheng’s throat tightened. In truth… he had always known.
“Alright, alright!” Liu Mei glared at Yuan Fuyu. “I believe you! I believe you! Stop talking! Just because you’re Ah Yu’s confidante, you talk as if you witnessed it all! What’s wrong with that Ah Yu? Why does she tell this little brat everything? Why doesn’t she mention that she herself is just as fond of good looks!”
Su Ziyi shook his head with a light laugh.
“You only talked about our stories, nothing else?” Liu Mei seemed unwilling to back down. “Like… during the battle for Guancheng, when I charged in alone to rescue Su Ziyi and the others!”
“Don’t even start—that was part of our plan to lure the enemy. You nearly ruined the entire strategy, and you have the nerve to bring it up?” Yu Yunyan jumped in to criticize Liu Mei.
“What about the Battle of Hu’an? Didn’t I save you then? If it weren’t for me… who knows how many pieces your short limbs would’ve been chopped into?” Liu Mei started bickering with Yu Yunyan again.
Yu Yunyan refused to yield: “You’re one to talk! During the capture of Heilin, if you hadn’t been so taken with the bandit leader’s looks, would Su Ziyi and the others have been captured alive?”
Su Ziyi rubbed his temples in frustration, trying to distance himself: “Don’t always say I was the one captured alive. It wasn’t me—it was Du Baorong…”
Du Baorong scratched his head in confusion: “Was it? I can’t even remember.”
Yuan Fuyu watched as the group suddenly turned into squabbling roosters, airing each other’s old secrets, and she could hardly contain the laughter in her eyes.
Such lively commotion—Yuan Fuyu couldn’t remember the last time she had witnessed anything like it.
Yet, for some reason, the emptiness in her heart only grew deeper.
Originally, there should have been eighteen people in this commotion…
While several people were arguing fiercely over past matters, Yang Jiancheng quietly asked Yuan Fuyu, “Your martial maid and six guards were all taken away by Pei Du for questioning. Aren’t you worried they might reveal something? The methods of the Mystic Eagle Guards are beyond their ability to withstand.”
Chapter
Chapter 18: Exposing Each Other’s Secrets
No one was more familiar with the Princess Manor than Yuan Fuyu.
Xie Huaizhou hadn’t ordered Pei Du to take them to the Xuan Ying Wei Prison, but instead brought them to the Princess Manor Private Prison. Yuan Fuyu could roughly guess what Xie Huaizhou intended to do.
First, before reaching an agreement with her, he was unwilling to let any former subordinates who had followed the Princess get close to her.
Second, Zhai Heming would certainly use the incident at Pei Du’s residence today to make trouble.
If she, He Yichen, or any of the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards were to die in the Xuan Ying Wei Prison, as Xie Huaizhou had said, he wouldn’t be able to explain himself even with a hundred mouths.
The six members of the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards, along with Yang Jiancheng who insisted on staying with Yuan Fuyu, were all locked in the same cell.
He Yichen, Jinshu, and the six female guards following Yuan Fuyu had already been taken out by Pei Du for interrogation.
Yu Yunyan frowned anxiously, pacing back and forth, while Du Baorong applied medicine sent by Pei Du to Yang Jiancheng’s arm.
Dim light slanted in through the small prison window, enveloping Yuan Fuyu who sat cross-legged against the wall.
Lin Changxue leaned against the cell door with arms crossed, staring intently at Yuan Fuyu.
Liu Mei and Li Yunping, sitting opposite Yuan Fuyu, also watched the meditating Yuan Fuyu with thoughtful expressions.
Su Ziyi, meeting Liu Mei’s gaze urging him to question Yuan Fuyu, pondered for a long time before finally speaking: “Miss Cui seems quite young. Have you studied military strategy?”
Hearing this, Yuan Fuyu opened her eyes.
Before Yuan Fuyu could respond, Liu Mei rolled her eyes at Su Ziyi and said: “Stop beating around the bush, let me ask! Miss Cui… this should be our first meeting, yet you seem to know us quite well. You knew Yunyan’s speed was fast… having her capture the leader. How could you be sure that just saying ‘capture the leader’ would make Yunyan understand you meant to capture Xie Huaizhou?”
Yu Yunyan immediately realized this upon hearing it – at Pei’s residence, she had acted instinctively upon receiving the order without thinking it through.
“That’s right…” Yu Yunyan also looked at Yuan Fuyu, “Previously we always followed A’yu’s orders. When I heard the command, I went to capture Xie Huaizhou. But how did you know I would understand your meaning? And when you said ‘left high ground,’ how could you be sure Liu Mei and the others would seize the left high ground?”
Li Yunping didn’t mention that when she drew her sword at Pei’s residence, the way Cui Siniang had placed a hand on her shoulder felt exactly like when A’yu, whom they used to protect, would grasp her shoulder.
This Cui Siniang used them… too naturally, too smoothly.
As if she had fought alongside them countless times.
“Since you’ve seen the letter and believe I’m the Princess’s trusted aide, why is it strange that I know you well?” Yuan Fuyu’s voice remained calm and unruffled. “Not just you, but every member of the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards… I know them all very well.”
“Tell us!” Lin Changxue spoke up.
“You and Du Baorong – one was tricked into joining the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards by the Princess with a packet of osmanthus candy, the other was tricked in by Yang Jianlin with pork knuckles. Neither of you… are the naturally gifted type, but among the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards, you and Du Baorong train the hardest.”
Lin Changxue’s crossed arms tightened slightly. The story about being tricked into the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards with osmanthus candy was known to very few people.
Du Baorong himself had forgotten how he joined the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards and scratched his head: “I don’t remember how I joined the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards.”
Since Yuan Fuyu was going to speak, she would say things that couldn’t be uncovered from outside sources…
“Yu Yunyan, your name was changed by the Princess. She thought your original name was unsuitable—you are yourself… like a cloud, like a swallow, the best in lightness skill among the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards. Your name doesn’t need to carry anyone else’s expectations.”
Yu Yunyan’s lips parted slightly.
“Liu Mei, when the late Emperor’s subordinate picked you up, even at a young age you were drawn to beauty and charm—you took a fancy to the Princess wearing her elder brother’s armor. Later, Yang Jianlin threw you into the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards.”
Liu Mei’s expression shifted: “That’s nonsense! How dare you spread rumors, you little brat!”
Yuan Fuyu chuckled softly, then turned her gaze to Li Yunping, who had lost an eye, and Su Ziyi, who had lost an arm. “From the rebellion to the verge of securing the realm… the Princess led the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards with such ease that she began to believe she and all of you were invincible, triumphant in every battle. The greatest regret of her life was trusting merchants, just like her brother did, which led to the deaths of the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards she regarded as her own flesh and blood. It cost Li Yunping an eye and Su Ziyi an arm.”
She had once promised to lead the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards into the capital, to let them witness its prosperity.
But later, when they captured the capital, twelve of the Golden Banner Eighteen Guards had become memorial tablets.
Some words that Yuan Fuyu, as the Princess, could never bring herself to say… today, using the identity of Cui Siniang, she found she could speak them with ease.
“Yang Jiancheng…” Yuan Fuyu looked into eyes that resembled Yang Jianlin’s. “After the realm was stabilized, the Princess didn’t forget you or your Yang family. She knew about every mission, every evaluation, even your matchmaking arrangements. It’s just… seeing you reminded her of your elder brother.”
Seeing those eyes would bring back the image of Yang Jianlin, covered in blood, using his last strength to help her onto a horse before meeting his death. It was a heart-wrenching memory.
Yuan Fuyu lowered her gaze, frowning to conceal the ache in her eyes.
Yang Jiancheng’s throat tightened. In truth… he had always known.
“Alright, alright!” Liu Mei glared at Yuan Fuyu. “I believe you! I believe you! Stop talking! Just because you’re Ah Yu’s confidante, you talk as if you witnessed it all! What’s wrong with that Ah Yu? Why does she tell this little brat everything? Why doesn’t she mention that she herself is just as fond of good looks!”
Su Ziyi shook his head with a light laugh.
“You only talked about our stories, nothing else?” Liu Mei seemed unwilling to back down. “Like… during the battle for Guancheng, when I charged in alone to rescue Su Ziyi and the others!”
“Don’t even start—that was part of our plan to lure the enemy. You nearly ruined the entire strategy, and you have the nerve to bring it up?” Yu Yunyan jumped in to criticize Liu Mei.
“What about the Battle of Hu’an? Didn’t I save you then? If it weren’t for me… who knows how many pieces your short limbs would’ve been chopped into?” Liu Mei started bickering with Yu Yunyan again.
Yu Yunyan refused to yield: “You’re one to talk! During the capture of Heilin, if you hadn’t been so taken with the bandit leader’s looks, would Su Ziyi and the others have been captured alive?”
Su Ziyi rubbed his temples in frustration, trying to distance himself: “Don’t always say I was the one captured alive. It wasn’t me—it was Du Baorong…”
Du Baorong scratched his head in confusion: “Was it? I can’t even remember.”
Yuan Fuyu watched as the group suddenly turned into squabbling roosters, airing each other’s old secrets, and she could hardly contain the laughter in her eyes.
Such lively commotion—Yuan Fuyu couldn’t remember the last time she had witnessed anything like it.
Yet, for some reason, the emptiness in her heart only grew deeper.
Originally, there should have been eighteen people in this commotion…
While several people were arguing fiercely over past matters, Yang Jiancheng quietly asked Yuan Fuyu, “Your martial maid and six guards were all taken away by Pei Du for questioning. Aren’t you worried they might reveal something? The methods of the Mystic Eagle Guards are beyond their ability to withstand.”