Volume One, Chapter Nine: Currents Beneath the Surface

Zhu Xiaozhi stood before the gates of the General’s Mansion, her palms slick with sweat. She had hidden three or four daggers beneath her skirt, ready to distribute them if necessary for self-defense.

No one searched women, but all the weapons carried by men were confiscated, including Pei Zai’s sword.

The banquet was held in the backyard, flanked on both sides by soldiers under Ning Dehai’s command, their blades gleaming as they stood guard. The three Zhu sisters parted ways with their father and younger brother, following their mother to take seats behind a curtain that separated the guests.

Women were, of course, forbidden from sharing the same table with men unless they wielded the authority and strength of the Empress Dowager or Princess Changle.

To the men present, the latter were no different from men themselves—indeed, while the vocabulary of the era had grown rich, the highest praise these men could offer to the most exceptional women was still to say they were “like men.”

No sooner had Zhu Xiaozhi sat down to wait for the attendants to serve dishes than Ning Dehai’s unmistakably slick and aggravating voice drifted from behind the curtain.

“I had thought His Majesty and Envoy Pei would depart today, so I did not detain them last night. But since they plan to stay in my Fanyang for a few more days, it would be improper not to host our guests properly.”

Zhu Xuanli’s heart still clung to the warning from his youngest daughter. He pressed down his swirling doubts and responded politely, “General Ning governs this region with great responsibility; there must be many pressing matters. I would not wish to trouble you further.”

“Pray tell, Your Majesty, when do you intend to leave? Please inform me in advance so I may dispatch an escort.”

“We are still selecting an auspicious day. Princess Changle has made arrangements, and General Gao will accompany us along the way. There is no need for your concern, General Ning.”

Zhu Xiaozhi’s pupils contracted sharply. This was disastrous! If Ning Dehai had been hesitating before, now that he knew General Gao would be coming to meet them, he would surely seek to resolve matters swiftly before reinforcements arrived, erasing all traces.

She hurriedly rose, accidentally knocking over a teacup, drawing everyone’s attention.

She could not see what was happening beyond the curtain, but a calm youthful voice rang out.

“General Gao is rushing day and night; perhaps he will arrive by tomorrow.”

Ning Dehai raised his eyes and scrutinized Pei Zai’s still youthful face carefully, top to bottom.

He had inquired about the boy’s background; once a commoner, Pei Zai now, under the protection of Princess Changle, had become a de facto representative of the new emperor.

Ning Dehai originally intended to exclude the injured boy from the banquet as a test of the new ruler, but the boy had insisted on appearing uninvited—a foolish loyalty.

It remained unclear whether this fierce devotion was pledged to the new emperor or to Princess Changle.

“So you’re waiting for Princess Changle’s escort. I saw His Majesty lingering, and I thought perhaps I had somehow offended him. I even considered retiring and letting someone else take my place to farm the land.”

Zhu Xuanli nearly choked on his tea and hastened to soothe him.

“General Ning, your service and achievements are great; please do not imagine such things!”

“Ah, it’s not that I am unwilling to be modest, but if His Majesty were to walk the main road and take a look, he would see how strict and orderly the people of Fanyang are—perhaps even more so than in Chang’an.”

Though Ning Dehai was close to wealthy merchants and nobles like the Liu family, he treated ordinary soldiers and civilians with cruelty.

Fanyang’s inner city was indeed orderly, but it resembled a silent ghost town. No one dared speak loudly for fear of disturbing those in the heavens above.

Zhu Xuanli glanced discreetly at the attendants bearing Ning Dehai’s sword and pretended to scratch an itch, wiping the sticky sweat from his brow with his sleeve.

“General Ning has governed this land so well; I hardly know how to reward you.”

“No need for further reward, Your Majesty, but I do have a somewhat impertinent request.”

“I’ve heard that the imperial jade seal of our Great Chu is carved entirely from white jade, crafted over the course of a year. I only caught a fleeting glance last night. Your Majesty knows my fascination with such rare treasures. Might I be so fortunate as to see it today?”

Zhu Xuanli’s smile stiffened, and he cast a cautious glance at Pei Zai.

“Actually… the jade seal is still in the custody of Envoy Pei.”

Behind the curtain, a massive figure leaned forward greedily, nearly toppling over onto everyone at the table.

“That is where Envoy Pei errs. Princess Changle trusts you and appointed you as the bearer of the seal. Now that you have brought it before its true master, why not present it to His Majesty at once?”

“Sir, such conduct could embarrass His Majesty.”

Pei Zai, however, remained unflustered, bowing slightly.

“The imperial edicts are still en route. By protocol, the envoy must bear the seal. The jade seal symbolizes the emperor’s authority. Would it not dishearten the people should it be casually handed over or displayed as a mere trinket?”

The massive man thudded heavily back onto his wide chair, large enough for several men. Zhu Xiaozhi even felt the ground tremble.

“Envoy Pei is truly eloquent. Wine! Wine!”

The tense and dangerous atmosphere dissolved instantly. Cups clinked and laughter rose as the men hurriedly raised their glasses in merriment, while the women exchanged smiles and sipped their drinks.

Zhu Xiaozhi picked up the fallen teacup and handed it to a servant, smiling awkwardly as she sat down again, smoothing her skirt to conceal the daggers tied at her legs.

Presiding over the women’s seats was Ning Dehai’s wife, a young girl clad in an apricot-colored gown, no more than twenty years old.

Zhu Xiaozhi noticed she was exceedingly shy and naive, barely attending to guests, relying entirely on the maid beside her whispering instructions like a general strategizing a campaign. Even after Zhu Xiaozhi’s earlier disturbance, the young lady had not so much as lifted an eyelid.

Wondering what the maid had whispered, the young lady suddenly looked toward her.

“Are you Princess Zhaoyang? I have heard that Princess Zhaoyang is skilled in the qin. Might I have the honor of a friendly contest?”

Zhu Xiaozhi had indeed learned the guqin for the sake of online performances, though her instrument was a rented piece costing mere tens of yuan a day, and her lessons were free courses from the internet. She wondered if her experience would translate to the genuine ancient Chu qin.

Zhu Shiyue set down her cup.

“Madam must have mistaken me for someone else. Xiaozhi has never touched the qin. I will compare with you instead.”

Lü Yuan quietly added from her seat, “She grew up in the suburbs, unlike her sisters who have at least spent some time in Chang’an. With such rough manners, there’s no way she can play the qin.”

The young lady’s eyes, round and almond-shaped but dull and lifeless, fixed unblinkingly on Zhu Xiaozhi’s face.

“No, it is her.”

Zhu Xiaozhi felt a chill crawling over her skin, recalling countless scenes from horror films. But seeing her eldest sister’s worried gaze, she felt a sudden calm.

Perhaps the young lady only needed a reason to act, but for now, they must not defy any of their demands.

“Then I shall risk embarrassing myself.”

The maid brought forth a jade qin. The young lady played first, and though not masterful, her performance was indeed pleasing to the ear.

The women praised her warmly, and from beyond the curtain came scattered applause from the male guests.

When it was Zhu Xiaozhi’s turn, having dabbled in many arts to boost her popularity during performances—piano, guqin—she paid little mind to proper technique and simply played aimlessly.

At the end, she plucked a string too forcefully, nearly dislodging the dagger strapped to her arm. She hastily caught it.

Terrified, Zhu Xiaozhi folded her arms and glanced anxiously around.