TGPSAC – Chapter 44

After the little play the two had put on, Gao Zheng had no choice but to state his request himself.

“Your Highness, this subject asks for your help.”

By having Gao Zheng say it, it meant he owed Yu Jiuzhou a favor.

If Yu Jiuzhou had been the one to bring it up, not only would the favor be lost, but it would also seem as if they were eagerly trying to help him.

Gao Zheng did not want to get too deeply entangled with the Grand Princess. He constantly reminded himself that he was the Emperor’s man, and no one but the Emperor could be his master.

Yu Jiuzhou smiled, only speaking after a long moment. “I am aware of this matter.”

“This subject thanks Your Highness. If you have any orders in the future, I will certainly do my utmost to carry them out,” Gao Zheng promised.

This was also an exchange between the two of them.

Yu Jiuzhou smoothed her sleeves. “No need to wait for the future. I have something for you to do right now.”

Only then did Gao Zheng feel he had been tricked. But he had come of his own accord and raised the matter himself. Even if he had been duped, it was only because his skills were inferior.

“Your Highness, please speak.”

“When the court convenes in a few days, I want you to raise a matter.”

A sense of panic gripped Gao Zheng’s heart. “May I ask Your Highness, what matter is it?”

“A thorough investigation into the cases of land annexation across Great Zhou,” Yu Jiuzhou said in a placid tone, as if it were a trivial matter.

How could a thorough investigation into land annexation be a trivial matter? If it were truly investigated, he himself would be one of the primary figures involved.

Gao Zheng’s hands, hidden in his sleeves, clenched into fists. “Does Your Highness know what you are saying?”

“I am aware. You just need to propose it. The Fuma will then suggest a compromise. This matter has already been cleared with His Majesty.”

Yu Jiuzhou remained impassive, giving the impression that she did not support this but was compelled to act due to the Emperor’s wishes.

Gao Zheng thought so as well, so he added, “Your Highness, if this subject were to propose this, I would be making an enemy of all the officials and gentry in the realm.”

“Lord Grand Secretary,” Yu Jiuzhou’s tone rose slightly. “This is His Majesty’s command. Those His Majesty wishes to use will live.”

She left one thing unsaid: those the Emperor had no use for, no one could protect.

Gao Zheng had to think carefully. Did the Emperor still have use for him? If not, he had to find a way to make himself useful again.

If the Emperor no longer had use for him, he could only become the Emperor’s blade. If this blade was too precious of itself, then there was no need for it to exist.

Initially, the Emperor had intended to groom Chi Wan to be this blade, but she and Yu Jiuzhou had broken out of that arrangement, heading down the path of a pure official.

An isolated minister has never had a good end. Gao Zheng knew this, which was why he was unwilling. Yet some things were beyond his control.

After a long silence, Gao Zheng seemed to age more than ten years in an instant. In this Great Zhou, he, Gao Zheng, and his Gao family could no longer hold absolute power.

When had he and the Emperor grown so distant?

Gao Zheng rose with difficulty and bowed. “It shall be as Your Highness says. This subject will handle the offending part. But even if the Fuma proposes a compromise, a matter like this is bound to offend people.”

He refused to believe that the Fuma would be willing to offend everyone in the Great Zhou court.

Yu Jiuzhou chuckled lightly. “That is not for the Lord Grand Secretary to worry about.”

Chi Wan also remained silent. It was best to stay quiet on some matters; the more one said, the more mistakes one could make.

“In that case, this subject will take his leave.”

After Gao Zheng left, Chi Wan sat down without waiting for Yu Jiuzhou to speak. “Your Highness, do you think Gao Zheng will be obedient?”

“He wouldn’t dare not to be.”

Yu Jiuzhou’s tone turned cold. This was Gao Zheng’s last chance. If he acted as the Emperor’s blade, the Gao family could survive. If not, their house would be confiscated and their clan exterminated. Gao Zheng could not bear that consequence.

This wasn’t her targeting Gao Zheng; it was the Emperor.

“I gave him a chance. If he doesn’t seize it… His Majesty is not a soft-hearted person.”

After all, she had a thorough understanding of Gao Zheng as Grand Secretary from her past life. If a new person were to take his place, who knew what kind of trouble they might stir up.

For the time being, at least, Yu Jiuzhou preferred Gao Zheng to remain as Grand Secretary. After such a warning, he would behave himself in the days to come. If he behaved, he wouldn’t cause any trouble and could still serve as a sharp blade. Why wouldn’t she be happy with that?

Chi Wan was new to court struggles and only half-understood these things. But after Yu Jiuzhou’s explanation, it wasn’t that she couldn’t figure it out.

Yu Jiuzhou added, “Find some time to report to His Majesty what I discussed with Gao Zheng on the boat today. As for how to say it and what words to use, you can decide for yourself.”

“Alright,” Chi Wan agreed immediately.

She knew this would increase the Emperor’s trust in her. Besides, the content of the conversation—that Gao Zheng had sought out Yu Jiuzhou—was not something that couldn’t be spoken of. With a little embellishment, it could even show that Yu Jiuzhou, the Grand Princess, was always thinking of the Emperor’s interests.

Yu Jiuzhou glanced at the disheveled state of her ruqun. Anyone who didn’t know better might think she, the Grand Princess, had done something outrageous to her.

“Go change your clothes. We have more visitors coming.”

Chi Wan paused. “Is there something wrong with my clothes?”

It was a white ruqun, giving her an ethereal air. As for the messiness, she could just straighten it out.

Yu Jiuzhou’s brow furrowed slightly. “Go.”

“Oh,” Chi Wan replied, turning to enter the inner chamber. She changed into a white Daoist robe.

Since the founding ancestor of Great Zhou, Daoist robes had become common attire. They came in all styles, and even the Emperor wore them in private. It was normal for ordinary people to wear them as daily clothing.

Since coming to this world, Chi Wan had developed a particular fondness for Daoist robes, as she herself was a cultivator of the Dao. However, when she had changed earlier, there hadn’t been a Daoist robe on the boat. How did one suddenly appear?

If it had been there from the start, Chun Gui would not have failed to give it to her.

Chi Wan asked a young eunuch nearby, “Where did this Daoist robe come from?”

The young eunuch quickly replied, “Reporting to the Fuma, Her Highness had someone fetch it specially.”

For her? Chi Wan raised an eyebrow.

It was no wonder she thought so. The clothes were on her body; if they weren’t specially brought for her, who else could they be for?

A slight smile appeared on Chi Wan’s face. She hadn’t expected Yu Jiuzhou to be so thoughtful as to prepare a Daoist robe for her. There were many kinds of clothes, but specifically sending for a Daoist robe was different.

She seemed to recall mentioning that she had studied the Dao. In that case, it was no wonder Yu Jiuzhou had someone prepare a Daoist robe for her.

Dressed in a white Daoist robe, her long, smooth hair tied in a ponytail, Chi Wan stood before a full-length mirror, examining herself.

The mirrors in Great Zhou were no longer bronze. Although they had many impurities, they were proper mirrors and reasonably clear.

Chi Wan looked at her reflection, seeing a dashing and heroic-looking Daoist.

As she walked out, she heard voices from outside.

The voice was somewhat familiar; it must be Prince Ying. Why was he here?

“A’Zhou, I am your cousin, after all. This matter was that boy Jinglan’s doing. As your elder brother, I will certainly get justice for you.”

What was Prince Ying talking about? Getting justice for Yu Jiuzhou from Prince Zhongshan, Yu Jinglan?

Yu Jiuzhou’s laugh was unreadable. “Get justice for me?”

“Yes, A’Zhou, don’t you worry. With your brother here, I guarantee no one will bully you.” Prince Ying’s tone was full of conviction, as if Yu Jiuzhou had suffered some great injustice.

Chi Wan sneered inwardly. What an overconfident man. What gave him the right to think that way?

And calling her “A’Zhou” over and over. Were they that close? Their family lines had diverged more than three generations ago.

But then Prince Ying added, “If the Fuma bullies you, A’Zhou, just tell your brother. I will definitely protect you and put her in her place.”

Chi Wan was speechless. Where did this character come from? He was far too familiar.

“And how does Prince Ying intend to put this Fuma in her place?” Chi Wan walked out and asked in a loud voice.

Prince Ying looked over, embarrassed. He had assumed Chi Wan wasn’t there. Had he known she was, he certainly wouldn’t have said that.

But the words were already out, and there was no taking them back. “Fuma, you misunderstand. I was saying if you bullied A’Zhou. If you haven’t, then I naturally wouldn’t do anything to you. It’s only normal for an elder brother to stand up for his younger sister.”

Listening to his explanation, Chi Wan was silent for a long moment before replying, “Oh.”

Prince Ying had been prepared for a sharp retort, but he never expected her to say just a single word.

He immediately said, “Fuma, please don’t misunderstand. I have no other meaning. It’s just protectiveness. As long as the Fuma treats A’Zhou well, what could I possibly do?”

To Chi Wan’s ears, it was all just blah, blah, blah, not worth a response.

“You’re right.”

Such a reply left Prince Ying with a sense of powerlessness, like punching a fist into cotton.

Chi Wan found a place to sit. Her original spot by the window had been taken by Prince Ying, so she went to the head of the cabin, where there was a arhat bed.

After she sat down, Yu Jiuzhou suddenly stood up, walked toward her, and sat down opposite her. Then she commanded, “Music and dance.”

Prince Ying, left alone by the window, felt extremely awkward and had no choice but to get up and follow.

Hearing Yu Jiuzhou call for entertainment, he quickly said, “No, no, there’s no need. I just happened to hear my sister was here and came to say hello.”

Brother? Sister? So greasy.

Chi Wan complained inwardly, not saying another word this time.

Yu Jiuzhou ignored him as well. Toward people like Prince Ying, she was terrifyingly cold, no less so than when she and Chi Wan had first met.

Feeling awkward once again, Prince Ying shifted his gaze to Chi Wan. Compared to being completely ignored, getting a short reply was better.

“I heard that the Fuma is only eighteen?”

“Nineteen,” Chi Wan corrected. The new year had passed, what was this about being eighteen?

Perhaps after multiple embarrassments, Prince Ying’s skin had grown thicker. “Then I must have misremembered.”

Truly not wanting to continue the awkward chat, Chi Wan couldn’t help but ask, “I wonder if Prince Ying is aware that I encountered an assassination attempt today.”

Prince Ying: “…” Did she have to start with such explosive news? Without even giving him a chance to react.

But why assassinate the Fuma? Shouldn’t the target be the Grand Princess?

Prince Ying was silent for a moment. “What does the Fuma mean by this?”

Chi Wan looked at him as if he were an idiot. “Is my sentence that difficult to understand? I wonder why Prince Ying has such a question.”

Prince Ying took a deep breath and suddenly put on a smile. “A’Wan, you are my sister-in-law. How can you speak to your elder brother like this? Besides, what blind fool would dare to assassinate you, A’Wan?”

Sister-in-law? A’Wan?

Chi Wan was disgusted. “Prince Ying jests.”

“Aiya!” Prince Ying feigned displeasure. “You should call me elder brother. If you’re too shy, you can call me by my courtesy name, Nian’an.”

“By the way, I still don’t know A’Wan’s courtesy name.”

Chi Wan was at a loss for words. What courtesy name? Her original self had not yet been given one. Her elders didn’t care, her teacher was from the clan school and cared even less, and later at the Imperial Academy, no one bothered either.

Perhaps she should give herself one?

That could work. Just as she was about to speak, Yu Jiuzhou spoke first. “Jinzhao.”

Hmm? Chi Wan looked over in confusion, silently repeating the two characters in her mind. Jinzhao, Jinzhao.

Yu Jiuzhou had given her the courtesy name Jinzhao. She liked this name.

The candlelight on the boat flickered, stretching Chi Wan’s shadow long, as if one could see an unusually beating heart within it.

Prince Ying, however, repeated it aloud. “Jinzhao? Chi Jinzhao, a fine name. ‘With wine today, be drunk today; let tomorrow’s sorrows come tomorrow.’”

At these words, Yu Jiuzhou shook her head. “It means, ‘To count the great talents of our time, we must look to this day.’”

Chi Wan’s eyes widened in surprise. She then remembered that she seemed to have muttered this line while drunk. She never thought that one day her courtesy name would come from it. It was a tremendous honor.

But Yu Jiuzhou had changed the preceding characters, calling her a great talent, which gave it a different meaning.

Prince Ying was shocked. “A’Zhou, you really think highly of Jinzhao. Are you saying the great talents of Great Zhou today should be measured by Jinzhao as the standard?”

“A courtesy name is an aspiration. Prince Ying is misinterpreting my meaning.” In her heart, Yu Jiuzhou did indeed think this way. She hoped Chi Wan would become a great talent, a person of upright character with the ability to govern the state and bring peace to the nation.

The few formulas Chi Wan had presented were enough to prove her ability. Her choice to stand up for the scholars proved her moral character. A person who could go to such lengths for scholars naturally had impeccable virtue.

But Chi Wan was a bit too free-spirited. It was clear she had ability, but she lacked any great ambition for an official career.

Yu Jiuzhou thought about how she had made her a Junior Minister of the Grand Court of Revision, a position of the senior fourth rank, and the woman hadn’t shown much joy. A nineteen-year-old Junior Minister of the Grand Court of Revision—in the two-hundred-year history of Great Zhou, there were no more than three such cases. Her future prospects were limitless.

Governing the state was too distant a concept for the current Chi Wan, and she wasn’t skilled in such matters, but no one was born with such knowledge.

Chi Wan was intelligent. If she stayed by her side long enough, she would surely learn.

After these past days, Yu Jiuzhou had high hopes for Chi Wan. As long as she could maintain her current loyalty, it wouldn’t be out of the question for her to become her right-hand woman in the future.

If she were to supervise the state, Chi Wan would be a key minister. If she were to become regent, Chi Wan would be a Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat. If she were to go a step further, why couldn’t Chi Wan be enfeoffed as a prince?

Of course, all of this was predicated on Chi Wan maintaining her current loyalty and ability, meeting her expectations, and learning how to be a great minister who could govern the state and bring peace to the nation.

Unfortunately, the current Chi Wan lacked that kind of drive.

The name Jinzhao was Yu Jiuzhou’s hope for Chi Wan. Not only did she hope for her to become a great talent, but she also hoped she would find some drive.

Chi Wan, however, thought Yu Jiuzhou was helping her out of a tight spot. At the same time, she loved the name. Jinzhao meant the present day. Focus on the present to realize the constant truth; let not anger and resentment disturb your pure cultivation.

Actually, Prince Ying’s interpretation wasn’t entirely wrong. Living in the moment was also quite good.

But could Chi Wan side with Prince Ying? Of course not. So she said, “Your Highness is right. This subject will do her utmost to become such a great talent.”

Prince Ying gave a dry laugh. “I just wonder who gave Jinzhao this courtesy name. When they chose it, did they have the same meaning in mind as A’Zhou?”

Chi Wan sneered. “Prince Ying is mistaken. The world each person sees is different from others. The Prince Ying I see is a man in his thirties whose behavior is greasy. Perhaps in others’ eyes, Prince Ying is rich and powerful, a good backer.”

But her tone made it impossible to hear any praise. Instead, it sounded like she was saying, if it weren’t for these external conditions, your inner qualities would be utterly worthless.

She even said his behavior was greasy, which was as disgusting as eating raw fat.

No matter how good Prince Ying was at pretending, the smile on his face could no longer hold. He was furious inside, but Chi Wan’s words hadn’t been an explicit insult.

When had this good-for-nothing become so sharp-tongued? It was truly infuriating.

And this Yu Jiuzhou, why was she so protective of this waste? Shouldn’t she hate her?

However, he had heard that His Majesty hoped the two would have an imperial grandchild soon and had been trying to matchmake them. Perhaps this was all a show for outsiders.

No, he had to expose their relationship before His Majesty. If His Majesty knew they were actually at odds, who knew how he would punish them.

At this thought, a smile returned to Prince Ying’s face. “Jinzhao, you worry too much. That was not my meaning.”

Hearing him refer to himself as “this prince” again, Chi Wan was equally merciless. “Prince Ying should still address me by my official title. As for ‘Jinzhao,’ this Fuma is not that familiar with Your Highness.”

Prince Ying was a Prince of the Second Rank, and her status was equivalent to one. There was no difference between them.

According to the Great Zhou system of imperial succession, the initial title was Prince of the First Rank, which was downgraded to Prince of the Second Rank after three generations. “Ying” was an ancestral title that Yu Nian’an had inherited.

Similarly with Prince Zhongshan, his ancestral title was Zhongshan, and he inherited it as such. His first-generation ancestor was not favored by the reigning emperor, so both his title and fief were inferior, and his descendants inherited the same.

The first Prince Ying, however, had been favored by the emperor, so both his title and fief were good.

But the princes and princesses truly favored and valued by the emperor were given titles named after the great states, such as “Qin,” “Jin,” “Qi,” and “Chu,” with “Qin” being the most honored—hence, Grand Princess of Qin, Yu Jiuzhou.

The House of Prince Ying was past its third generation, making him a Prince of the Second Rank. Chi Wan’s words couldn’t be considered disrespectful. They were of the same rank, so why should she defer to him?

One moment it was “A’Zhou,” the next “A’Wan.” It was displeasing.

Hearing Prince Ying’s overly familiar tone, calling himself “elder brother” and addressing them so intimately, had already made Chi Wan very unhappy.

Her relationship with her own cousins had been terrible. To fight over things her grandmother left behind, they started by saying she was a girl and didn’t deserve to inherit the family property.

Her grandmother had left behind a sword made of bound copper coins, which they believed was an antique and insisted on taking.

In reality, the coins were very common, worth a few dozen yuan each. The entire sword was worth just over a thousand yuan, but they refused to believe it and wanted to dismantle the sword to inspect it.

Her grandmother had learned the Dao from her master, who had left behind only a few books and nothing else. The coin sword was something her grandmother had made herself; it wasn’t some heirloom passed down for generations that would contain valuable coins.

Her grandmother had so few assets; what valuable coins could she have possibly bought? The people selling the coins weren’t fools either.

These relatives not only fought over her grandmother’s belongings but also tried to take what her parents had left her.

This cousin of Yu Jiuzhou’s, separated by who knows how many generations, was also here to fight for property. And because she was a Kun Ze, he had excluded her from the line of succession.

It was just like her own situation back then. According to their logic, because she was a girl, she couldn’t even inherit her own parents’ things. They were no different from legal illiterates.

But in that world, she had the law to help her. In this world, the law didn’t even stand on Yu Jiuzhou’s side.

Prince Ying’s constant use of “your brother” was to emphasize that he was the elder brother, a strong contender for the throne. He wanted Yu Jiuzhou to think clearly: he was a candidate for crown prince. If she acknowledged him as her brother now, they would still be brother and sister when he became emperor.

Who would have thought he’d run into a blunt fool like Chi Wan? That’s right, Prince Ying already thought of her as a blunt fool.

How could someone be so straightforward? Even if you disliked someone, you wouldn’t speak so bluntly. He, the dignified Prince Ying, always wore a smile on his face. Many people said he was courteous to talented individuals and had the air of a wise prince.

Although some people called him a smiling tiger behind his back—smiling on the surface, a knife behind it—no one had ever pointed it out to his face.

When he showed courtesy by addressing others by their courtesy names, so many people were grateful, feeling they had been noticed by him. This Chi Wan was just too unperceptive.

When he became emperor, Yu Jiuzhou, Chi Wan—none of them would escape.

Furious, Prince Ying stopped paying attention to Chi Wan and turned to Yu Jiuzhou. “A’Zhou, is this how your Fuma speaks?”

Yu Jiuzhou waved her hand, dismissing the performers. “The Fuma’s words are my words. His Majesty is still in good health. I am the Emperor’s daughter, and my name has not been removed from the imperial genealogy. You do not yet count as my elder brother.”

She hadn’t refuted him earlier because she saw Prince Ying as a buffoon and didn’t want to waste words on him. But since Chi Wan had spoken up, and Chi Wan was her person, she naturally had to back her up.

“You!” Prince Ying was thoroughly incensed. This couple, neither of them was any good. And to think he had eagerly come over.

Wait. Chi Wan said she was assassinated. Who would assassinate a Fuma for no reason? The target must have been the Grand Princess. Could it be that Yu Jiuzhou thought he was the one who tried to assassinate her?

Otherwise, although they weren’t close before, they wouldn’t be so confrontational unless something had happened.

No wonder Chi Wan mentioned being assassinated as soon as they met. It was a test.

Yu Jiuzhou must think the assassin was either him, Prince Zhongshan, or Prince Bao’an. The feud between Prince Zhongshan and the Grand Princess was out in the open, so Prince Zhongshan probably wouldn’t dare to send assassins now.

As for Prince Bao’an, he had little power and probably wouldn’t dare either. That made him the prime suspect.

He hadn’t explained at the beginning, and to bring it up now would seem like a guilty conscience. Which bastard dared to sow discord between him and Yu Jiuzhou?

Yu Jiuzhou was a Kun Ze, but he had received news that the Emperor intended to give her significant responsibilities, meaning for her to act as regent of the Eastern Palace.

Acting as regent meant that as soon as the Emperor no longer wished to handle state affairs, Yu Jiuzhou, as the Grand Princess, could immediately supervise the state. This was immense power. With her support, the position of crown prince was practically in his grasp. Who would try to provoke him and Yu Jiuzhou at a time like this?

The conflict between Prince Zhongshan and Yu Jiuzhou was immense and almost irreconcilable. If he had a falling out with Yu Jiuzhou now, that would only leave… Prince Bao’an!

That clever brat, to think he would plot against him.

Realization dawned on Prince Ying, and he immediately said, “Grand Princess, Fuma, I will definitely give you an explanation for this matter.”

With that, he left the cabin.

Chi Wan: “?”

She looked at Yu Jiuzhou in confusion. “What was that about?”

Logically, after she and Yu Jiuzhou had spoken to him like that, shouldn’t Prince Ying be demanding an explanation from them? Why was he the one promising to give them an explanation?

Yu Jiuzhou smiled. “He thinks we believe he arranged the assassins.”

So this was a conversation between clever people. Nothing was said explicitly, yet everything was conveyed.

Chi Wan replayed the conversation in her mind and came to a tentative conclusion. “When I first told Prince Ying I was assassinated, he didn’t take it seriously. So when I spoke to him forcefully, Your Highness followed my lead. On the surface, you were saying we shouldn’t be so familiar, but in reality, you were implying to Prince Ying that you suspected him, using my words to test him.”

“Regardless of whether Prince Ying was behind the assassination, he has to prove his innocence and show it had nothing to do with him. That’s why he said he would give us an explanation. Your Highness, how do you think he will give us an explanation?”

It had to be said, Yu Jiuzhou was brilliant. Her direct statement about being assassinated was indeed a probe, and also a warning to the three princes through Prince Ying.

Yu Jiuzhou had then used her words to lead Prince Ying to not only need to prove his own innocence but also to suspect that someone else was framing him, thereby inciting conflict among the three princes.

“Divert the disaster eastward,” Yu Jiuzhou said, just those four words.

In other words, regardless of whether Prince Ying sent the assassins, he would pin the blame on someone else.

“Your Highness wants to stir up conflict among the three princes. Prince Zhongshan and Prince Ying have been fighting for a long time, so Your Highness wants to drag Prince Bao’an into the fray.”

As she spoke, Chi Wan suddenly understood. “Prince Ying would think that your relationship with Prince Zhongshan is already terrible. Someone must want to ruin his relationship with you as well. In that case, whoever benefits is the mastermind. Prince Ying believes that since both he and Prince Zhongshan have offended you, Prince Bao’an is the one who stands to gain. He will never let Prince Bao’an benefit.”

“Whether he actually did it or someone else did, he will pin this on Prince Bao’an.”

Her analysis earned an appreciative look from Yu Jiuzhou.

“For Jinzhao not to be a Grand Secretary is truly a great pity for Great Zhou.”

Hearing Yu Jiuzhou call her by her newly acquired courtesy name, Chi Wan’s ears grew warm, and she felt an inexplicable sense of joy.

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