The Princess and Her Shadow
It was true that Jiang Zhou wasn’t afraid of the Governor’s son, but the mood he had ruined was proving difficult to restore. Glancing at An Yi, who stood behind her, and then at the group of beautiful young women, Jiang Zhou rubbed her nose as a strange sense of guilt bubbled up within her.
She fished a banknote out of her sleeve and handed it to the gentle girl standing closest to her. “Let’s leave it at that for today. Take this and buy yourselves some treats you like. I’ll come back to see you sisters when I have the time.”
“Very well. It is best that you return to your manor quickly, My Lord; otherwise, Young Master He will not let this go easily,” the gentle girl said, taking the banknote with a worried expression. “If it truly comes down to it, just yield a little. In broad daylight, even he wouldn’t dare do anything too outrageous.”
“Don’t worry, ladies, I know what I’m doing.” Jiang Zhou’s mood brightened slightly; beautiful girls truly were endearing.
The Governor’s son wasn’t entirely brainless. After losing face at the Spring Breeze Pavilion, he wasn’t reckless enough to barge back in. Instead, he chose to have his men stake out the entrance. As soon as the scouts saw Jiang Zhou and An Yi emerge, they followed them while sending a companion to deliver the word.
Sure enough, before Jiang Zhou and An Yi had walked even a few hundred meters, a large group of government soldiers surrounded them. Seeing their clear ill intent, An Yi instantly placed her right hand on the hilt of her sword, ready to strike at a moment’s notice.
“Are you the one who ordered your guard to injure Young Master He?” the leader asked, sizing Jiang Zhou up. “I suspect you of intentional assault. Come with me to the yamen (government office).”
“The yamen?” Jiang Zhou pointed at herself. “Are you sure you want me to go to the yamen with you?”
“Naturally. Malicious assault is punishable by twenty strokes of the rod under the laws of Great Shang.” The leader squinted at An Yi. “And you—why are you wearing a mask in broad daylight? I suspect you are a spy sent by the Xiongnu! Men, seize them!”
“How dare you!” Before Jiang Zhou could even act, her own guards—who had been returning to the Princess’s Manor—rushed over. Seeing their Princess surrounded, they drew their waist sabers in unison.
“Who do you think you are, daring to arrest our Master!” a guard barked, eyes flashing with murderous intent. Though they weren’t as formidable as An Yi, they were personal guards assigned to Jiang Zhou by the Emperor; they were men who had seen blood.
The leader’s brow furrowed. “And who are you? I don’t care who your Master is; I only know he injured Young Master He and needs to answer for it at the yamen.”
“Master?” The guard turned to Jiang Zhou, seeking her instruction.
“Then let’s take a trip to the yamen. I’d quite like to see how I ‘intentionally’ injured someone.” Jiang Zhou gave her guard a look of approval—their timing was impeccable, otherwise, a brawl in the street would have been quite unrefined.
…
The Tables Turn
The leader felt a prickle of unease. This level of poise was unusual. Could his Young Master have truly kicked a “steel plate” this time? The answer came quickly.
Upon entering the yamen, Young Master He swaggered out, looking down at Jiang Zhou with arrogance. “Keep acting tough! I told you, if you dare provoke me, I’ll make sure you can’t walk away from this! Men! Give them twenty strokes of the rod!”
“Wait. I recall that the Governor of Jingzhao isn’t a wet-behind-the-ears brat like you. What right do you have to order me beaten?” Jiang Zhou asked. She remembered the Governor as a clever man; how had he sired such a foolish son?
“That’s my father! My father hasn’t arrived yet, so I’m acting on his behalf—” Before he could finish, the Governor of Jingzhao, dressed in full official robes, hurried out. He took his seat and slammed the gavel. “Silence! Who is making such a ruckus?”
“Father! This is the person who let their subordinate beat me!” He Li played the victim.
Jiang Zhou raised an eyebrow and slowly met the Governor’s gaze. “Lord He, I have heard much of you.”
To be the Governor of the capital, one had to be highly valued by the Emperor—which meant he recognized Jiang Zhou. Because she was in male attire, his reaction was a beat slow. He froze for a moment before realizing exactly who was standing before him.
“This official…” Knowing how favored the Eldest Princess was, he instinctively moved to step down and pay his respects.
“Lord He, I would like to hear you judge this case. Let’s see which of us truly deserves the rod.” Jiang Zhou interrupted, giving him a “watch yourself” look.
The Governor’s hand trembled. Looking at his worthless son, fury washed over him. “Men! Seize this unfilial son! Twenty strokes! Strike!”
Before He Li could react, he was pinned to the floor. The rods began to fall. “Ow! It hurts! Father, stop hitting me! I was wrong! I’ll never do it again!”
After the twenty strokes, He Li was a sobbing mess. The Governor stepped down and bowed deeply to Jiang Zhou. “Young Master, this was He Li’s fault. As his father, I apologize on his behalf.”
“Lord He is indeed an upright official.” Jiang Zhou was satisfied. She pulled out a banknote. “Consider this a gesture of compensation for the medical bills?”
The Governor hesitated but accepted the note. “Thank you, Young Master, for your leniency.”
…
A Moment in the Carriage
“An Yi, do you think my behavior was excessive?” On the way back, Jiang Zhou pulled An Yi into the carriage.
“He Li dared to offend the Princess. Giving him the rod was merely a small warning.” An Yi sat stiffly. Sitting openly with the Princess like this was a first for her.
“I see.” Jiang Zhou studied An Yi. Her mask covered most of her face, leaving only her eyes and the area below her mouth visible. “An Yi, can you take off your mask and let me see?”
“Princess, my appearance is flawed. I fear it might frighten you.” An Yi lowered her head.
Seeing her reluctance, Jiang Zhou didn’t push. “How old are you this year?”
“This subordinate is twenty-one.”
Twenty-one. Since Jiang Zhou had only just reached her ji-ji (15th birthday), An Yi was six years older.
“Lift your head,” Jiang Zhou commanded. She reached out and tilted An Yi’s chin up. The exposed chin and lips were remarkably beautiful. Resisting the urge to press her thumb against them, Jiang Zhou released her. “An Yi, when did you start following me?”
“Since the age of twelve. It has been nine years.”
“Then, what do you think of me?”
“The Princess is a phoenix among men, exceptionally gifted and beautiful…”
Jiang Zhou laughed. “Stop. I didn’t ask you here to blow ‘rainbow farts’ at me.”
“Princess… what are ‘rainbow farts’?” An Yi’s eyes showed genuine confusion.
“It means flattery that is as colorful as a rainbow.”
“I see. This subordinate’s learning is still insufficient,” An Yi noted seriously. “But what I said was no ‘rainbow fart.’ It was from the heart. In my eyes, no one can compare to you.”
Listen to that! Her tongue is as sweet as honey!
If it weren’t for the rule about “not eating the grass near your own burrow” (dating those close to you), Jiang Zhou might have been tempted to flirt with her shadow guard.
Stop, stop! Jiang Zhou, get it together! There are plenty of girls at the pavilion! An Yi is for protection.
She decided to keep things as they were: a pure, steadfast relationship between master and servant.