TGPSAC – Chapter 45

Chi Wan took Yu Jiuzhou’s praise as just that—ordinary praise.

She did not know that it was an expression of Yu Jiuzhou’s expectations for her, that she hoped Chi Wan would become her right-hand woman.

Chi Wan felt the praise was too much. What was a cabinet minister? A member of the Grand Secretariat, one of the few people who managed the political affairs of Great Zhou. She was only nineteen; entering the cabinet at nineteen was an impossibility.

The normal process for entering the cabinet was to pass the metropolitan examination to become a Jinshi, toil away in the Hanlin Academy, be sent out to serve as a local official, return to the capital, rise through the Nine Ministries, perhaps be sent out again as a provincial governor or administration commissioner, and only after becoming a high-ranking provincial official could one enter the cabinet. Or, one might become a Minister directly and then enter the cabinet.

These steps seemed simple, but in reality, so many people came from the Hanlin Academy. Every year, there were three top scholars in the first rank, and anywhere from a few to dozens of probationary officials. Some of them would enter the Hanlin Academy, while others would be trained as Supervising Secretaries in the Six Offices of Scrutiny.

In the twenty-eighth year of the Shengyuan era, only about twenty people had successfully entered the cabinet. Out of the two or three hundred first-rank scholars and probationary officials, fewer than one in ten made it. One could imagine the prestige of a cabinet minister.

Chi Wan dared not accept such a compliment. She wasn’t even a Jinshi. As a student of the Imperial College, she could have received an official post through hereditary privilege even if she failed the provincial exam, but she was from a noble family, so her privilege was for a military position. If she were truly allowed to enter the cabinet, the Emperor would probably be cursed to death by every scholar in the realm.

Besides, she had no desire to be some high-ranking official. What was so good about acting on this stage in the capital every day? Wouldn’t it be better to find a quiet corner and be a “divine physician”?

With her medical skills, it shouldn’t be too difficult to make a name for herself as a “divine physician” in a small town.

Chi Wan kept feeling that Yu Jiuzhou was hinting at something, but she couldn’t figure out what. How could she know that her boss, Yu Jiuzhou, was trying to motivate her, but because she was bad at painting a rosy picture, the message was lost.

The only thing Chi Wan regretted about the boat trip today was that she hadn’t had any fun at all. She had spent the whole time receiving people, first a prince, then the Grand Secretary. It was truly boring.

It was already late, and Yu Jiuzhou had achieved her goals for the day’s outing. She had promised to go out and have fun with Chi Wan, and this counted as having done so. She had also accomplished several things, so the trip wasn’t wasted.

Yu Jiuzhou was accustomed to this kind of outing. For her, recreation always meant observing things from a distance, surrounded by numerous guards. Getting close or participating herself was almost impossible, unless the performers were her own people.

For example, in previous years when the Empress was in good health, she would lead a group of noblewomen to experience a market fair. Each person would bring out some items to sell, and the proceeds would be donated to disaster victims or soldiers on the front lines.

Such an event could raise a considerable amount of silver, and it was for a good cause. In the beginning, some officials had impeached the Empress for engaging in commerce, but the Emperor, desperately short of funds, had forcefully suppressed the objections. The event was held annually, and over the years, it became a custom.

It was only at the market fair organized by the Empress that Yu Jiuzhou, as the Grand Princess, could experience the joy of a common person browsing a market.

This was the difference. Chi Wan felt she hadn’t done anything fun on the boat and that it didn’t count as an outing. Yu Jiuzhou felt that it did.

Therefore, on the way back, Chi Wan remarked with a sigh, “Next time, I will definitely take Your Highness out to have some real fun.”

Yu Jiuzhou asked, “? Today didn’t count as an outing?”

Huh? Chi Wan looked astonished. “We had fun?”

Just watching some singing and dancing on the boat and looking out the window—that counted as fun?

Chi Wan’s gaze toward Yu Jiuzhou filled with pity. “Your Highness, your life is truly difficult.”

Yu Jiuzhou frowned. What was this all about? She was beginning to not understand Chi Wan.

She was the dignified Grand Princess. Why was this person looking at her with such an expression? It made one feel rather aggrieved.

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The two had just returned to the Princess’s Residence when someone immediately came to report, “Your Highness, Fuma, Chi Mingwu is dead. Chi Xu is gravely ill, and the physician says he cannot be saved.”

“The palace sent word that since the man is already dead, the matter is concluded. They allowed the Earl of Huai’an’s Residence to take the body back for burial. As he was a convicted official, a grand funeral is forbidden. His descendants are ordered to mourn for three days before the burial.”

Hearing that Chi Mingwu was dead, Chi Wan immediately looked at Yu Jiuzhou.

Yu Jiuzhou had already formed a plan. “Tomorrow morning, go to the Earl’s Residence to pay your respects at a time when there are many people.”

Chi Wan understood her meaning. “I understand.”

Entering the Earl’s Residence in front of everyone would show that she was not a cold-hearted person. Yu Jiuzhou’s specific instruction was to tell her how to act.

Even though on the surface she was not Chi Mingwu’s child, she was at least from the Marquis’s household and still considered a relative. She had to go pay her respects. At a time like this, friends might not go, but relatives had to.

The Emperor had forbidden a grand funeral, but those related to the Earl of Huai’an’s family would still have to send a junior member to make an appearance. There probably wouldn’t be too many people at the Earl’s Residence tomorrow morning, but it wouldn’t be empty either.

In any case, Chi Wan definitely had to go.

After all, the Grand Madam of the Earl’s Residence was still alive. Although Chi Wan was officially Chi Mingwen’s child, the Grand Madam was, by any measure, her grandmother. Madam Liu was this body’s mother and her nominal aunt. This trip was unavoidable.

Chi Wan could already predict what she would face in the mourning hall, but it didn’t matter. She wouldn’t be spending the night at the Earl’s Residence anyway.

Then there was Madam Liu. In the eyes of outsiders, she was a mother from a minor family, looked down upon in social circles, who only knew how to dote on her child. It wasn’t her fault that she had raised someone like the original Chi Wan; she simply hadn’t seen through the vileness of her mother-in-law and husband.

Chi Wan thought she would probably have to talk to Chi Qing, who had now become the Countess of Huai’an, for Madam Liu’s sake. As long as she showed that she still cared for and supported Madam Liu, the Earl of Huai’an’s Residence would not mistreat her.

At the very least, her life would be better and more hopeful than when Chi Mingwu and Chi Xu were around.

Chi Mingwu would beat and curse this second wife of his whenever he pleased after draining her of her value. Chi Xu had never respected his stepmother, often embarrassing her in front of others.

Liu Wan was a pitiful woman. To her, Chi Wan was her only family.

However, while Chi Wan could support her, she would absolutely not let her meddle in her own life. The last time she visited, Liu Wan had spoken ill of Yu Jiuzhou.

Liu Wan had a good heart but was a bit muddle-headed, mainly because she had been deceived and instigated.

Chi Qing was clever, as could be seen from her advice last time. This person had already chosen a side. Liu Wan needed Chi Qing to treat her well. And then there was the Grand Madam.

The Grand Madam of the Earl’s Residence was not an easy person to deal with. She had single-handedly ruined the original Chi Wan while fooling Liu Wan in the inner quarters. Whenever Chi Mingwu encountered any issues, he would consult this Grand Madam.

Having now lost her son and grandson, she would certainly not let the matter rest. She could do nothing against the Emperor and the Grand Princess, but she would not be kind to Chi Wan, her granddaughter.

Chi Wan analyzed the few people in the Marquis’s Residence and felt a headache coming on when she thought of the Grand Madam. If the Grand Madam truly used the duty of filial piety to pressure her, even though she had married into the princess’s family, she couldn’t escape the ties of blood.

Chi Mingwu was nominally her uncle, but he had also been framed as the murderer of her mother. Moreover, she stood on the side of righteousness between sovereign and subject. The Grand Madam was different. There was no telling what tricks she might pull.

Perhaps she frowned too tightly as she pondered, which drew Yu Jiuzhou’s gaze. “With me here, you need not worry.”

Hearing this, Chi Wan raised an eyebrow. “With Your Highness backing me, are you not afraid that I will use your name to throw my weight around?”

Yu Jiuzhou gave her a strange look. “In this world, there are not many with higher status and more power than you.”

True enough. In the Princess’s Residence, she was an obedient little kitten, but outside, in the eyes of others, she was a great tiger.

Given the official posts she held, others in the Great Zhou court might not fear her, but they had to respect her, even though her only substantive position was that of a county magistrate.

“Then I must thank Your Highness in advance for backing me.” The smile in her voice was too obvious, almost teasing.

Yu Jiuzhou snorted softly and turned to leave. Only Chun Gui, who was beside her, heard her whisper, “Who said I was backing you up?”

Such a girlish, petulant tone made even Chun Gui think she had misheard.

The Earl’s Residence had not sent anyone to announce the death, so Chi Wan acted as if she didn’t know and returned to her small courtyard for a peaceful night’s sleep.

But early the next morning, just as Chi Wan finished two rounds of her fist forms, the person announcing the death arrived. She went to Yongning Courtyard to inform Yu Jiuzhou.

Yu Jiuzhou toyed with the mutton-fat jade prayer beads in her hand. “This older sister of yours is quite a character.”

Chi Wan agreed. They had received the news last night, but no one was sent immediately to announce the death, likely for fear of disturbing the Grand Princess’s Residence. For something like this, the Princess’s Residence would probably know even before the Marquis’s Residence, so there was no need for the extra step.

Coming to announce the death first thing in the morning, with Chi Qing coming personally to be the first to inform her, showed her respect.

“Then, Your Highness, I will go with her now.”

“Go on.”

Yu Jiuzhou waved her hand. The jade beads in her hand collided, producing a crisp, even sound that was quite pleasant to the ear.

Chi Wan glanced at them, then waved her hand and left with a rather dashing air.

Watching her retreating back, the corners of Yu Jiuzhou’s lips curled up slightly. This person was a bit foolish at times.

The slightly foolish Chi Wan walked out of the Grand Princess’s Residence and came face to face with Chi Qing. Seeing her, Chi Qing immediately bowed. “Fuma, my father has passed away. I have come specially to announce the death.”

Chi Qing said “my father” in a formal way, not the intimate term for one’s own father, indicating that she was affirming the fact that Chi Mingwu was no longer Chi Wan’s father.

“My condolences, Elder Sister.”

Even if he wasn’t her biological father but her uncle, it was still appropriate for Chi Wan to address her as Elder Sister.

It was customary not to enter the house when announcing a death, so Chi Qing had been waiting outside. Dressed in mourning clothes, she exuded the air of a scholar. She was shivering from the cold, but still gestured with a trembling hand, “Fuma, please.”

The two boarded the carriage. Inside, Chi Qing studied her younger sister, her eyes filled with pity. “Ah Wan, you have suffered.”

Inside the carriage, the sisters could speak more freely.

Chi Wan was surprised. Why was this sister treating her as if she were truly her own flesh and blood?

In the original owner’s memory, Liu Wan was afraid of Chi Xu, the heir, and indifferent to the illegitimate daughter, Chi Qing. Apart from Chi Wan, she cared for no one else. She couldn’t manage the household affairs, and her entire heart was devoted to her daughter, little knowing she was being plotted against.

It made sense. The Grand Madam doted on the original Chi Wan endlessly. As the mother, Liu Wan would only think that her daughter was favored by the old madam; how could she have imagined a scheme as deep as killing with kindness?

It was precisely because of the old madam’s spoiling and her mother Liu Wan’s distance that the original Chi Wan was not close to this older sister, and even acted arrogantly towards her.

Thus, Chi Wan couldn’t understand why Chi Qing was putting on such an act.

“Why does Elder Sister say such a thing? I am honored as the Fuma. How could I be suffering?”

The last time they met, Chi Qing also seemed to pity her, and today was the same. Although Chi Qing concealed it well, Chi Wan practiced internal martial arts and was very sensitive to various gazes.

The first time they met, her internal energy had not yet awakened. Now, her internal energy could be considered profound, so her perception was even clearer.

Hearing her words, Chi Qing forced a smile. “Ah Wan, it is not so easy to be a pure official. I have seen all that you have done recently, and I have heard about many things. His Majesty wants you to be a solitary official, but thankfully you are clever and did not become one, choosing instead to be a pure official.”

“But how many pure officials have there been in history? Just in our Great Zhou dynasty, when Emperor Yingzong was restored to the throne, Wei Suqing was executed, and his entire family was wiped out. Guo Zishen was a pure official; no one dared to touch him while he was alive, but after his death, his family was humiliated, forced to starve to death, and his grave was desecrated. Does Ah Wan still think it is good to be a pure official?”

Indeed, it was not easy to be a pure official in ancient times. Even if the emperor favored you, after your death, you would be settled with by your political enemies. But these two examples also demonstrated the safety of a pure official.

“Wei Suqing faced a change of emperor. The emperor he served loyally allowed him to hold high power and prestige his entire life. A new emperor naturally couldn’t tolerate him. Guo Zishen was settled with by his political enemies after his death, when the new emperor had just ascended the throne and had not yet taken full control of the government. Those enemies took advantage of the unstable court to attack a loyal official, desecrating his grave and humiliating his family to vent their hatred.”

“This, on the contrary, shows that as long as the pure official is alive and it is not a time of power transition, nothing will happen.”

Besides, she was only feigning loyalty to the Emperor; it wasn’t as if she was truly loyal to him.

Chi Qing shook her head. “Ah Wan, His Majesty is old.”

This one sentence was enough. One dared not discuss the Emperor.

Chi Wan raised an eyebrow, unsure if she was testing who her loyalty truly lay with, or if she was genuinely concerned. Their conversation was far too deep for their shallow relationship.

Before she could figure it out, she naturally wouldn’t say anything. “Elder Sister need not worry. I am the Fuma. As long as the Grand Princess’s Residence stands, so do I.”

Hearing this, Chi Qing was taken aback, then nodded in agreement. “That is also true.”

“By the way, at the memorial service in the Earl’s Residence later, your status is that of a niece, not a daughter. You must remember that.”

“I will remember.” Chi Wan nodded obediently, then added, “There is one more thing. In the future, at the Earl’s Residence, I must ask Elder Sister to look after my mother. All her expenses for food and clothing from now on should be put on my account. I will have someone send silver to the residence every month.”

“What is Ah Wan saying? Just because I, the elder sister, am now in charge of the household, does that mean the old madam will lack for food and clothing?”

Now that Chi Mingwu was dead, the next generation was in charge of the Earl’s Residence. Madam Liu should be addressed as Old Madam, and the grandmother should be called Grand Madam.

Chi Qing was very angry. She was born of a concubine, and it should not have been her turn to manage the Earl of Huai’an’s Residence. But fate was unpredictable. She had striven to pass the imperial examinations, intending to separate from the Earl’s Residence and become an upright official, but the title had fallen to her.

She had thought that without her father and her arrogant brother, she and Chi Wan could get along well. She hadn’t expected the other to be so distant, even offering to send silver just to have her take care of the old madam.

Her own mother had passed away long ago. Nominally, she should call Old Madam Liu ‘mother.’ How could she not support her?

Chi Qing was indignant. “Does Ah Wan think that I, Chi Qing, am the kind of person who would mistreat my legal mother?”

Chi Wan was at a loss for words. She was still thinking in the way of her previous life, where everyone supported their own mother. No matter what, Liu Wan was a pitiful person. Even if it was just out of pity for this woman, she would take good care of her. Who knew that in this world, people would fight over who got to support the elderly, and that her offer would be seen as looking down on the other person.

“Elder Sister has overthought it. I just feel that Mother has had a hard life. I have married into the Princess’s Residence, so Mother must be lonely. I don’t want her to continue like this.”

By her calculations, Liu Wan was only thirty-eight or thirty-nine this year, not yet forty. She was still young, in the prime of her life. Why should she be confined to the inner quarters for the rest of her days?

The rules of this world were as they were, but as long as Liu Wan could think it through and was willing to step out of the inner quarters, she would certainly help.

Chi Qing calmed down. “Ah Wan has a point. It was I who misunderstood. Don’t worry, ever since I took charge of the Earl’s Residence, I have made sure the Old Madam and the Grand Madam live far apart, to minimize their contact. Without the Grand Madam, the Old Madam will not overthink things when she is alone.”

This Chi Qing was indeed clever. She could see who was truly controlling Liu Wan. By separating the two, Liu Wan’s future days would be much better.

Chi Wan cupped her hands in a salute. “Thank you, Elder Sister. But I must do something for my mother. Please consider it as allowing me to fulfill my filial duty.”

She would send a portion of the silver to the Earl’s Residence. Sending it monthly was to let the people of the residence know that she, the current Fuma, had not forgotten that she had a mother there. She could trust Chi Qing, but the servants of the Earl’s Residence were not necessarily trustworthy.

As the saying goes, the minions are the hardest to deal with. That was exactly the principle.

“Fine, you can send the silver over. I will save it for you. If you can no longer be the Fuma in the future, you will have some money to fall back on.” Chi Qing waved her hand.

Chi Wan frowned. “What does Elder Sister mean by that?”

Why would she say she couldn’t be the Fuma in the future? Although that was her plan, she had never told anyone.

Chi Qing knew she had misspoken and gave a dry laugh. “I meant, just in case.”

“And Elder Sister, too. After so much difficulty passing the examinations and becoming a probationary official, now that you’ve inherited the title, I’m afraid you’ll have to abandon your literary path for a military one.”

Chi Wan sighed with regret. In the two hundred years of the Great Zhou, apart from the early days of the dynasty when the military was valued over the civil, civil officials had always held sway over military officials.

To be an upright civil official was the lifelong pursuit of a scholar, especially for a newly minted Jinshi who had not yet been tainted by officialdom and was still relatively righteous.

She had always believed that a student was a student, and an official was an official.

For Chi Qing to no longer be a civil official and instead have to become a military one, it seemed all her ambitions had come to naught.

“Not at all. For a civil official to reach the second rank, it would take forty or fifty years of hard work without great merit. By inheriting the title of Earl, I am directly at the third rank. Moreover, imperial relatives and nobles are considered one rank higher than officials of the same level. If I were a civil official, by the time I reached such a high position, I would be in my sixties or seventies.”

Chi Qing spoke of it lightly, but she could not hide the despondency in her tone.

Chi Wan thought for a moment. “If Elder Sister still wishes to pursue a civil career, I can handle this matter.”

“Don’t be foolish. Whether I pursue a civil or military career, if you were to plead with His Majesty or the Grand Princess for me, you would have to trade something for it. I don’t want that.” Chi Qing shook her head firmly.

“I understand. Elder Sister need not worry.”

Chi Wan’s only question was why this Chi Qing was so close to her.

Chi Qing and the original Chi Wan had been very distant; their relationship was not good.

Before she figured out what was going on, there were some things she could say but not necessarily do. This statement was a test.

Was Chi Qing approaching her for her future prospects, or was it genuine affection? As long as she remained steady, it wouldn’t matter.

Unfortunately, there was no description of Chi Qing in the novel. The original Chi Wan’s relationship with this older sister was not good. If Chi Qing wasn’t doing it for her future, what else could it be for?

The carriage arrived at the Earl’s Residence. There were no white banners hanging outside, but when the doors opened, the inside was draped in white. This both complied with the Emperor’s command and fulfilled the duties of filial piety.

Chi Wan put on mourning clothes. Since she was not a biological daughter in name, the clothes were made according to the regulations for relatives, different from Chi Qing’s mourning attire.

This way, anyone who came to pay their respects would see at a glance what was going on, which happened to corroborate the rumors outside.

It had to be said, Chi Qing’s arrangements were very thoughtful.

Chi Wan walked into the mourning hall. Inside, only Liu Wan was present.

Chi Mingwu’s concubines were not allowed to come. The younger illegitimate children had cried all night and had been sent by Chi Qing to rest. The older married daughters had not yet returned. This was also Chi Qing leaving space for her and Liu Wan.

She walked forward, sat on a cattail hassock, and placed paper money into the brazier. Facing Liu Wan, whose eyes were swollen from crying and who looked as if she had lost all will to live, she didn’t quite know what to say.

After sitting for a long time, Liu Wan finally looked at her. “Ah Wan, you are no longer Mother’s child now.”

It was true. She was registered under Chi Mingwen’s name, so by all accounts, she was indeed not her child.

Liu Wan did not feel too sad about her husband’s death. What saddened her was that her own child had become someone else’s overnight.

To say that her Ah Wan was registered under someone else’s name—that was the child she had carried and given birth to.

A strange sourness welled up in Chi Wan’s heart. Girls were always more sympathetic towards their mothers. She didn’t have much affection for Liu Wan, but as a fellow woman, since she had occupied this body, Liu Wan was her mother, and that was that.

Moreover, it wasn’t Liu Wan’s fault that she had raised a scoundrel. Her only mistake was marrying into the Earl of Huai’an’s Residence and encountering a scheming, man-eating family-in-law.

“Mother, I am, of course, your child,” she blurted out.

Then, she explained, “Mother raised me. No matter what the outside world says or what rumors spread, I am Mother’s child. It is my duty to care for you in your old age. Elder Sister Chi Qing is not an overbearing person. From now on, I will send silver every month—one portion for the Earl’s Residence, and one portion for Mother. Whatever Mother wants to do, I will support it.”

Her words made Liu Wan weep uncontrollably. “Ah Wan, no matter what has happened outside, as long as you still acknowledge me as your mother, that is enough.”

Liu Wan was much easier to talk to than expected. Chi Wan had prepared many words of comfort in her heart but didn’t get to say them.

Liu Wan loved her daughter and didn’t understand the twists and turns of the outside world. A single sentence from Chi Wan was all she needed.

“Ah Wan, Chi Qing is a good person. I thought this child was not close to me, but who knew that after your fath—after Chi Mingwu’s incident, she protected me and kept the Grand Madam from contacting me.”

“Chi Qing told me many things. Only then did Mother realize that I was the one who harmed you. It’s all my fault for being unable to judge people, for not seeing through these venomous vipers, and ruining your life. Don’t worry, as long as you, Ah Wan, still acknowledge me as your mother, I will set up a small Buddhist shrine in my courtyard and burn incense and pray every day for the rest of my life. I will never make things difficult for you.”

Liu Wan turned to look at Chi Mingwu’s memorial tablet. His body was in the coffin. “Mother’s life has never been my own. By my parents’ order, I became his second wife. Who knew that what he wanted was the Liu family’s property—not just my dowry, but the Liu family’s assets as well. I don’t know how many dirty deeds I did for him. It’s good that he’s gone. Now that he’s gone, no one will beat and curse you, Ah Wan, at will. Now that he’s gone, Ah Wan won’t be forced to do things against her will. Now that he’s gone, I am also free.”

With that, Liu Wan waved her hand. “Mother is tired. I’m going back to sleep for a while. You… you may go.”

After speaking, Liu Wan staggered to her feet and walked towards the back hall.

Chi Wan moved to support her but had her hand pushed away. “Nominally, you are not my daughter. When the mourners arrive later, we cannot let them see and spread rumors.”

Liu Wan left the mourning hall, and Chi Qing emerged from the side. “I told the Old Madam that you have had a difficult time these years, that you pretended to be a profligate to survive, and that since you became the Fuma, your father and brother have forced you to do many things you didn’t want to and couldn’t do.”

No wonder. No wonder Liu Wan had said those things.

But Liu Wan didn’t know that her daughter was truly a good-for-nothing waste, a person who did thankless and foolish things. If not for Chi Wan’s arrival, she probably would have been tormented to death within two years.

Liu Wan was a pitiful woman, ignorant and… well, never mind. Chi Wan sighed.

Without Chi Mingwu, and with her separated from the Grand Madam, no one could give her grief anymore.

As for herself, she would support Liu Wan and give her plenty of silver. Liu Wan’s later life would be comfortable.

Having thought it through, Chi Wan smiled at Chi Qing. “I will have to trouble Elder Sister more in the future.”

“Ah Wan, there’s no need to be so polite. We are sisters; there’s no need to be so distant.”

Chi Wan did not respond to this. Then, Chi Qing said, “The Grand Madam has sent word that she wants to see you. Are you going?”

The most difficult hurdle had arrived. This Grand Madam was no ordinary person. On the surface, she was a pious Buddhist, but she had held Liu Wan’s entire life in her hands.

Most importantly, the Grand Madam stood on the high ground of filial piety. If she really wanted Chi Wan to do something, and she refused, she would be unfilial.

As long as Chi Wan was in this world, she was inevitably bound by the rules of this world.

In the modern era, she could have run far away. But in ancient times, she couldn’t. She had no choice.

If she could run, she would have run long ago. With her medical skills, she certainly wouldn’t starve in this world.

“Can I not go?” Chi Wan asked in return.

Chi Qing fell silent. Then, a servant walked in. “Fuma, Her Highness sent a message. The Fuma still needs to go to the palace for an audience with His Majesty and should not stay at the Earl of Huai’an’s Residence for too long.”

Chi Wan raised an eyebrow, then smiled. Yu Jiuzhou had come to her rescue.

The sovereign was greater than heaven. She was bound by filial piety, but if she had to have an audience with the Emperor, she could just not come to this Earl’s Residence again in the future. No matter how many traps the other party had, they probably wouldn’t be able to use them on her.

Chi Qing was also surprised. “It seems the relationship between you, Ah Wan, and Her Highness the Grand Princess is different from what I imagined.”

“And what did Elder Sister imagine?”

“Hmm… it’s hard to say.”

Some things were not suitable to be said aloud.

Chi Wan chuckled lightly. “Elder Sister, in the future, you may call me Jinzhao. It is my courtesy name.”

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