TGPSAC – Chapter 47

It wasn’t working. It just wasn’t working.

Chi Wan thought that if she had the figure of the ladies from the Court of Imperial Entertainments, she would perform a dance to entice Yu Jiuzhou. Seduction was always faster than a battle of wits.

But Yu Jiuzhou probably wasn’t the type to be swayed by superficial beauty.

Oh, what was she thinking? What did it matter whether Yu Jiuzhou liked it or not? It wasn’t as if they were truly married.

As long as Yu Jiuzhou was willing to place her in an important position, given her character of arranging escape routes for all her subordinates even after her failed coup in the past, she certainly wouldn’t be treated poorly.

Besides, she didn’t ask for much—just to live out her days in anonymity. That wouldn’t be difficult for Yu Jiuzhou.

The difficult part now was that too many people were watching her. Her every move was under someone’s gaze, making it impossible to completely break away.

Chi Wan leaned against the side, a bed warmer nestled in her arms. She wasn’t cold; she just wanted something to hold.

“On the fifth, I need to make a trip to Qingyuan County to discuss the land annexation case with Lu Zhen. Is there anything Your Highness would like me to bring back?”

Hearing this, Yu Jiuzhou subconsciously glanced at the wind chime by the window. It had never once rung since it was hung up.

This person had bought a wind chime in the middle of winter. That large window was rarely opened, making the wind chime quite useless.

So, Yu Jiuzhou said, “Don’t buy any wind chimes.”

Chi Wan was speechless. She had only bought it because she thought it was pretty, not considering that the windows would be tightly shut in winter, with only a few small casements opened for ventilation.

“Understood.”

A flicker of amusement passed through Yu Jiuzhou’s eyes. “You have nothing to do this afternoon. Go to the Imperial City Division and get to know the people.”

“Chun Gui, bring that document on the Imperial City Division for the Fuma to see.”

The document had been prepared long ago. It listed all the personnel of the Imperial City Division.

The former Commander, the two current Vice-Commanders of the third rank, and two Assistant Commanders of the fourth rank proper. The Southern Office was responsible for the division’s internal judicial cases, while the Northern Office handled external cases. There were also thirteen garrisons, each with over a thousand men managed by a Chiliarch.

By this count, Chi Wan now had fifteen thousand people under her command.

How many of them would actually listen to her was another matter, but to have over ten thousand people at her disposal in the capital was no small number.

And the list Yu Jiuzhou had given her contained not only the names of all management personnel at the Baihu level and above, but also their detailed backgrounds. All she had to do was memorize this information and match it to the people.

Chi Wan was surprised. She had just been made Commander of the Imperial City Division, and Yu Jiuzhou already had everything prepared.

“Vice-Commander Huang Yuecheng. Is she trustworthy?”

She looked at Yu Jiuzhou, and Chun Gui immediately explained, “She is one of our people.”

Yu Jiuzhou had marked all her own people as trustworthy. This meant she was handing over the Princess’s Residence’s entire foundation within the Imperial City Division to her. What an immense show of trust.

“Does Your Highness trust me this much?” Chi Wan was very curious. Although the two had established a degree of trust, this was on another level.

Yu Jiuzhou must have done many things since her rebirth. Chi Wan didn’t know the details, but being shown something like this was proof enough of her trust.

“Am I not allowed to trust you?” Yu Jiuzhou retorted.

There were some things she didn’t want to say, as it wasn’t in her nature.

Chun Gui, the master translator, was back in action. “Fuma, any one of the formulas you’ve offered could bring in a fortune of ten thousand taels. You trust Her Highness, so naturally, Her Highness trusts you in return.”

“A ruler and their subject without mutual suspicion. To Her Highness, the Fuma is someone worthy of trust.”

Chun Gui’s final words warmed Chi Wan’s heart. No mutual suspicion, worthy of trust—wasn’t this exactly what she wanted?

After winning Yu Jiuzhou’s trust, it would be much easier for them to cooperate, whether it was in planning strategies or handling other matters.

“Chun Gui,” Chi Wan called out.

Chun Gui asked, “Does the Fuma need something?”

“This Fuma hereby appoints you as the official translator of the Princess’s Residence.”

What kind of official was that? Chun Gui pondered for a long time but couldn’t figure it out.

Yu Jiuzhou, however, understood. “The Court of State Ceremonial has people who understand foreign languages. They translate books from those peoples. Chun Gui, you know foreign languages?”

Chun Gui shook her head. “I know dialects.”

In Great Zhou, the official language was mandated. Many local officials, unable to speak it, struggled to adapt after being transferred to the capital. After finally earning a promotion, their inability to speak the official language meant they could only be posted to the provinces again.

To be an official in the capital, at the foot of the Son of Heaven, was a position others begged for. This showed just how important the official language was.

But that wasn’t what Chi Wan meant. Listening to the two of them discuss it so seriously, she almost burst out laughing.

Perhaps her amusement was too obvious, because Yu Jiuzhou was the first to realize she was teasing Chun Gui. She let out a soft huff as a reminder.

Chun Gui then understood, a look of exasperation on her face. She was only afraid the Fuma would misunderstand Her Highness.

Her Highness never spoke her mind, nor did she take the initiative to explain her actions. For instance, the Fuma’s new position as Vice Minister of the Grand Court of Revision—if Her Highness hadn’t sent someone to arrange it, His Majesty would never have thought of the Fuma.

“Fuma, if you truly have nothing to do, you should take a look at Her Highness. Ever since winter began, her hands and feet are always ice-cold. The inside of her quilt is still cold in the morning.”

Chi Wan raised an eyebrow and squatted down by Yu Jiuzhou’s feet. “Your Highness, give me your hand.”

Without any hesitation, Yu Jiuzhou extended her hand. It seemed she had grown accustomed to giving her hand to Chi Wan.

Chi Wan took her pulse for a while, her brow deeply furrowed. “A cold constitution needs to be supplemented. Medicinal supplements can be harmful; dietary therapy is best.”

“I’ll write a few dietary therapy prescriptions. Have Her Highness consume one serving daily, and there should be progress after a month.”

Chun Gui nodded repeatedly. She was also very worried. Her Highness had been sleeping restlessly lately, often waking from nightmares. She was deeply concerned.

Just as she was about to speak, an excited voice suddenly came from outside. “Your Highness, Fuma, Chun Gui, I’m back!”

Xia Qu, dressed in simple linen, was carrying chickens, ducks, fish, and eggs. It was a wonder she could carry so much.

She was the very picture of “a chicken in her left hand, a duck in her right,” and was that a mutt in her arms?

Xia Qu’s persona as the resident comedian remained unshakable.

Chun Gui helplessly went forward to take the items. “You could have had someone take these to the kitchens. Why bring them to Her Highness?”

“This is a token of appreciation from the old soldiers for the Fuma.”

Chi Wan was stunned. “For me?”

“That’s right.”

“Thank them for me. Take it to the kitchens. We’ll have chicken tonight.”

Chun Gui called for servants to take the things to the kitchen, while Xia Qu had already bounded over to Yu Jiuzhou. “Is Your Highness ill? Why are you having your pulse taken?”

Chi Wan smiled. “Her Highness has a cold constitution. The things you brought back today will come in handy.”

“Of course.” Xia Qu tilted her head up proudly, then asked in confusion, “If Her Highness has a cold constitution, can’t you regulate it with internal energy? Doesn’t the Fuma know how to use internal energy?”

Chi Wan was at a loss for words.

“I could, but Her Highness’s body is weak. I’m afraid it would have to be done in several sessions.”

It wasn’t that she hadn’t thought of using internal energy to regulate Yu Jiuzhou’s body. It would require a quiet environment, and both of them would have to be lightly dressed.

She was afraid that if she suggested it, Yu Jiuzhou would suspect her of having ulterior motives.

Xia Qu squatted in front of her. “Is the Fuma not going to live in the residence anymore?”

“I am.”

“Then what do a few sessions matter?”

Indeed, it didn’t matter. Chi Wan said in a low voice, “If Her Highness agrees to us being in a room together, lightly dressed, I certainly have no objections.”

Yu Jiuzhou: “?” You’re muttering so loudly, who can’t hear you?

She remained silent, so Chun Gui the translator naturally came online. “It’s fine. As long as it can cure Her Highness. Besides, you are the Fuma. There is nothing wrong with you sharing a room with Her Highness.”

It would have been better if Chun Gui hadn’t explained. With her explanation, Yu Jiuzhou could feel her ears burning.

It was a simple treatment, but Chun Gui’s words made it sound as if the two of them were going to do something in the room.

Yu Jiuzhou lifted her foot and kicked at Chi Wan’s shoulder, but instead of knocking her over, she ended up placing her foot in Chi Wan’s lap.

This made it look as if she was letting Chi Wan hold her foot to warm it for her.

Yu Jiuzhou quickly retracted her foot, pretending nothing had happened.

“How could I not respect a physician?”

She had agreed to the internal energy treatment, but she still tried to cover it up, stating that Chi Wan was a physician and she was merely following a physician’s treatment. What could be wrong with that?

Her clumsy denial, which only drew more attention to the matter, made Xia Qu burst into laughter.

Yu Jiuzhou’s brow furrowed. “Xia Qu, go and bring Dong Ying back.”

Dong Ying… Hearing that name, Xia Qu’s face fell. “Your Highness, can I not go?”

“What do you think?”

Yu Jiuzhou’s voice was laced with danger.

Chi Wan quickly distanced herself from the battlefield, retreating to Chun Gui’s side. “Why is Xia Qu so afraid of Dong Ying?”

Chun Gui, Xia Qu, Qiu Lai, and Dong Ying were Yu Jiuzhou’s most capable attendants.

Dong Ying was in charge of the secret guards and was often away from the residence.

Chun Gui whispered, “Her Highness is sending Xia Qu to Dong Ying for punishment. She won’t be injured, but it will be very tiring.”

“Drills?”

“You could say that.”

As the two of them whispered quietly to each other, Xia Qu’s face was tense.

Xia Qu cast a pitiful glance at Chi Wan, hoping she would plead for her.

Chi Wan decisively sold out her teammate. “Your Highness, this subject will make a trip to the Imperial City Division. I will return tonight to use internal energy to treat Your Highness.”

She fled immediately.

Xia Qu gritted her teeth and looked at Chun Gui.

Chun Gui lowered her eyes. “Your Highness, I’ll take the Fuma’s prescription to the kitchens.”

Seeing Xia Qu’s pitiful expression, Yu Jiuzhou finally relented. “Go get some silver and follow the Fuma.”

Xia Qu’s eyes lit up. “Then do I still have to go to Dong Ying’s?”

“Do you want to?”

“No, no!”

Xia Qu scurried away, her voice trailing behind her. “I’m going to deliver silver to the Fuma!”

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The Imperial City Division was located on the east side of the Imperial Palace. The offices were here, and the yamen was very large.

When Chi Wan arrived, it was in a state of noisy chaos. She couldn’t tell what was going on.

Only when she got closer did she hear someone giving a lecture.

“By His Majesty’s decree, the new Commander of the Imperial City Division is to be Fuma Chi Wan. The Fuma holds several posts and is also the Vice Minister of the Grand Court of Revision. The Fuma is a busy person. I do not wish for any of you to trouble the Fuma with matters. Do you all understand?”

The people below exchanged glances. Seeing their superior’s foul expression, they were about to speak when a resonant female voice cut in.

“Vice-Commander Chen, what is the meaning of this? Are you trying to sideline the Commander?”

“Vice-Commander Huang, you mustn’t say that. The Fuma holds several posts. I am merely trying to lighten the Fuma’s burden. What is wrong with that?”

Vice-Commander Huang? That must be Huang Yuecheng. She was a female Qian Yuan of about thirty, one of Yu Jiuzhou’s people.

The other Vice-Commander was named Chen Hubiao. He was the other Vice-Commander of the Imperial City Division.

She understood now. This Chen Hubiao was displeased with her appointment as Commander, and his words were meant to prevent the division from cooperating with her.

Chi Wan smiled. Was this man overconfident? Given her status, what did Chen Hubiao have to challenge her with?

Oh, she had forgotten. Chen Hubiao was one of Prince Zhongshan’s men. No wonder he was as arrogant and brainless as the prince.

Chi Wan walked up the steps of the Imperial City Division, and someone immediately blocked her path. “Halt! Unauthorized personnel are not permitted to enter.”

Chi Wan said nothing, simply taking the token from her waist and tossing it over.

The person glanced at the token and hastily knelt. “Greetings, Lord Commander.”

Chi Wan held out her hand, letting the person place the token back in it before she walked inside.

The courtyard of the Imperial City Division was filled with people. And this was during the New Year, with only a skeleton crew on duty. If it were a normal workday, there would be even more people.

Over a thousand people filled the main courtyard.

The Imperial City Division also had two-story buildings. The interior was vast, perhaps a third the size of the Princess’s Residence.

The division had over ten thousand personnel, but not all of them worked at the headquarters. A capacity of two or three thousand was sufficient. Even so, because it reported directly to the emperor, its yamen was considered one of the largest in the capital.

Chi Wan walked in, coming face to face with Chen Hubiao, who easily spotted her entrance.

Everyone stood still. She wasn’t wearing the uniform of the Imperial City Division, but a white cotton Daoist robe lined with animal fur and padded with cotton, which was very warm.

That morning, the palace had sent over clothes. So many sets had been rushed in just a few days. Her own courtyard was too small to store them, so a room had been specially cleared out in Yu Jiuzhou’s courtyard to hold her clothes.

It was called a room, but it was more like a row house with an open interior. Only the bedroom was separate; the rest was divided by screens, exuding an antique charm. It was a simple yet elegant space, complete with a bed and other furnishings. Chi Wan wouldn’t have minded sleeping there.

Over the past two days, most of her belongings had been sent there by the Princess’s Residence staff. Her former small courtyard now held fewer of her personal items than this temporary space.

Perhaps she would move into Yu Jiuzhou’s courtyard at some point. This was a process, a performance for the emperor to see.

From separate courtyards to separate rooms—at least it was progress.

The emperor wanted them to produce an imperial grandchild. Sleeping in separate courtyards would certainly not lead to that. In the same courtyard, the chances were much greater.

Chi Wan thought of the room full of clothes. She didn’t even know how to wear them all. All she could say was that noble houses were extravagant, and the imperial family was even more so.

And arriving at the Imperial City Division, her Daoist robe was too striking, excessively beautiful.

The uniform of the Imperial City Division leaned toward a military style—a uniform gray round-collared robe with a belt full of small rings for hanging various items. The main idea was that one didn’t have to carry anything by hand; everything hung from the waist.

Such an outfit was ugly and not the least bit imposing. Naturally, it couldn’t create a sense of pressure for the officials. No wonder the Imperial City Division had fallen into decline.

Although they worked for the emperor and monitored the officials, their power was too limited. In reality, they dared not offend anyone.

Chi Wan thought to herself that the first order of business at the Imperial City Division would be to change their uniforms. This outfit was too ugly.

As she was thinking, Chen Hubiao barked, “Who are you? Why have you come to my Imperial City Division?”

Chi Wan looked at him coldly. Before she could speak, Huang Yuecheng strode forward and saluted. “This subordinate, Vice-Commander of the Imperial City Division, greets the Lord Commander.”

“Commander? The Fuma?” Chen Hubiao muttered before following suit with a salute. “This subject greets the Fuma.”

Chen Hubiao’s meaning was clear. He was greeting the Fuma, not the Lord Commander. This was insubordination.

Chi Wan slowly walked onto the platform and surveyed the crowd within the Imperial City Division.

“By imperial command, I have been appointed Commander of the Imperial City Division. From now on, within this division, there is no Fuma, only the Commander.”

After she spoke, no one dared to say a word. It was clear that Chen Hubiao had long held sway in the division, and the people below were not yet ready to pick a side.

However, there were still those who could read the situation. The current Chi Wan was someone even the Grand Secretary and the three princes had to treat with respect. Did they really think she was a pushover?

Huang Yuecheng took the lead in saluting. “We subordinates greet the Lord Commander.”

In an instant, half the people knelt, their heads bowed.

The other half exchanged glances, and then some of the neutral ones also knelt. With just one sentence, Chi Wan had forced them all to salute, whether they were convinced or not.

Chen Hubiao’s face was ashen. Remembering Prince Zhongshan’s message today to put Chi Wan in her place, he steeled himself and stepped forward. “This subject, Vice-Commander of the Imperial City Division, along with the members of the division, greets the Fuma.”

Chi Wan smiled. Did this man really think she couldn’t do anything to him?

She strode forward until she was in front of Chen Hubiao, slowly pulling her hand from her sleeve.

“Chen Mouse-biao?”

Chen Hubiao’s face darkened, but then he looked up with a smile. “Fuma, it is Hu, as in tiger.”

Chi Wan sneered and raised her hand, slapping him across the face. A sharp “smack” echoed, and five red finger marks appeared on his cheek.

Stunned by the sudden blow, Chen Hubiao was about to retaliate, but he stopped himself after taking a single step. The person before him was the current Fuma, a favored subject of the emperor.

He suppressed his rage, gritting his teeth. “Fuma, how can you strike a subordinate official? I am an official of the third rank. Even if I were guilty of a crime, I should be tried by the three judicial offices. How can you use private punishment? Besides, I do not accept this. I have done nothing wrong.”

“Just now, I heard you say that all matters of the Imperial City Division, big and small, should be left to you, and that I should not be troubled.”

“And I said that no one in the Imperial City Division is to call me Fuma; they are all to call me Commander. Is Vice-Commander Chen hard of hearing?”

Chi Wan’s tone was calm, betraying no anger, but her words sent a chill down one’s spine. “Men, Chen Mouse-biao is gravely ill with deafness. Effective immediately, he is to go home and recuperate. I will report to His Majesty and have a new Vice-Commander appointed.”

The implication was that she intended to strip Chen Hubiao of his position as Vice-Commander. Where did she get such audacity? He was, after all, an official of the third rank.

Chen Hubiao shouted, “You are only the Commander! You have no authority to appoint or dismiss officials of the fifth rank or higher within the division!”

“Heh.” Chi Wan gave a cold laugh and asked a seemingly random question. “Can you still hear?”

“What?” Chen Hubiao leaned in to listen, but his ears were filled with only a ringing sound. He couldn’t hear anything.

A murmur went through the crowd below. It was obvious to them all that Chen Hubiao had gone deaf.

As expected, Chen Hubiao cried out in panic, “What’s wrong with my ears?”

“I can’t hear! I can’t hear!”

“What did you do to me?”

Chen Hubiao realized it must have been because of Chi Wan’s slap. If he lost his hearing and his official post, he would be useless. Even if he wasn’t killed, his fate would be miserable.

This was the nature of the struggle for the throne. Once you picked a side, even if you did nothing, the pawns placed on the board would be the first to die when the attack on your master began.

From the moment they pledged allegiance, they either awaited the glory of having backed the winning dragon or died on the path of succession. This was a truth that everyone who took a side had to understand.

Chen Hubiao was Prince Zhongshan’s man. The investigation into the Yanbei land annexation case was aimed at Prince Zhongshan. When the case began, if the Imperial City Division’s assistance was needed, the internal threats had to be cleared out first.

Chen Hubiao had thought he was just putting Chi Wan in her place, and that she would hit back and that would be the end of it. He never expected her to be so ruthless as to deafen him directly.

How could a deaf person be an official? In the Great Zhou Dynasty, even being ugly was a disqualification for office.

During the palace examination, if the emperor looked over and saw a hideously ugly scholar, that would simply not do.

Being deaf meant he could only retire.

Chen Hubiao knew how many people he had offended. When he was in a high position, those wild dogs didn’t dare to approach. But once he fell from his high perch, they would rush in to bite him to death and devour him.

But his intention had been to sideline Chi Wan. That way, the emperor would deem her useless and abandon her, a fatal outcome.

Chi Wan looked at him coldly, her tone icy. “Did you not hear my words?”

“Yes.” Seeing Chen Hubiao’s fate, the others no longer hesitated.

Huang Yuecheng’s people, in particular, immediately stepped forward, seized Chen Hubiao, and dragged him away.

No one stopped them, not even Chen Hubiao’s own men. They didn’t dare. Chen Hubiao’s influence was gone.

This was the result of failing to read the situation. Who was Chi Wan? A Fuma with a status equivalent to a commandery prince, a first in the two-hundred-year history of Great Zhou.

She was the Commander of the Imperial City Division personally appointed by the emperor, and she had been given the authority to arrest anyone below the fifth rank without question. With such power in hand, what was dealing with a single Chen Hubiao?

An official of the third rank was a high position, but no matter how high, it wasn’t higher than the heavens.

He had dared to treat a newly appointed Commander in such a way, his words and actions all pointing to his intention to sideline the emperor’s chosen appointee.

It was true that in all of Great Zhou, no one besides the emperor and the Grand Secretariat had the power to dismiss a third-rank official at will. But Chi Wan had an imperial mandate, and she used the emperor’s authority to light the first of her three fires as a new official.

Chi Wan looked at the people below, her tone softening slightly. “I don’t care whose people you are, but I have only one requirement: all actions are to be based on my orders. Unless it is a direct edict from His Majesty, you are not to heed anyone, not even the three princes. Is that understood?”

“Understood!”

Their voices were not in unison, but they were loud enough.

No wonder the emperor preferred to use the Imperial Guard rather than the Imperial City Division in recent years. These men were far inferior to the Imperial Guard, let alone a yamen like the Brocade Robe Guard.

Chi Wan had wanted to train these men to be like the Brocade Robe Guard. Now it seemed she had a long road ahead of her.

Chi Wan waved her hand. “You are all dismissed.”

She turned and walked into the building, with Huang Yuecheng quickly following. “Lord Commander, your office is upstairs.”

The Commander of the Imperial City Division’s office was on the second floor of the main building. The entire second floor was her office.

Chi Wan went upstairs and entered the room, with Huang Yuecheng behind her.

“Have a seat.”

After sitting down, Chi Wan gestured for Huang Yuecheng to do the same.

Someone soon brought in a brazier and hot tea.

Huang Yuecheng knelt and sat, pouring hot tea for both of them. “My lord, it is not my place to say, but Chen Hubiao is, after all, a Vice-Commander, a high official of the third rank. Treating him this way may not be good for your reputation, and His Majesty may not permit it.”

Huang Yuecheng had received instructions from Yu Jiuzhou to cooperate with Chi Wan, which was why she offered the reminder.

“I know you are concerned for me, Vice-Commander Huang, but I don’t have much time. I must act with lightning speed.”

When the court session began on the sixth, Emperor Shengyuan would have Yu Jiuzhou investigate the case. Regardless of the quality of the men in the Imperial City Division, at least her orders could be carried out immediately without anyone obstructing her.

Besides, Chen Hubiao wouldn’t be deaf forever. He would recover in two or three months.

As for training the men of the Imperial City Division, that would have to be done slowly.

Chi Wan thought of military-style management. She had never been a soldier, but she had undergone military training. The methods from that would be more than enough.

Military training lasted a month; the Imperial City Division would train for three. After three months of new recruit training, she would select from them. Those who didn’t pass would no longer be allowed to remain in the division.

And the uniforms. She would have them custom-made to imitate the Brocade Robe Guard, complete with Embroidered Spring Sabers. A group of men standing there like that would be incredibly intimidating.

Hearing Chi Wan’s words, Huang Yuecheng keenly sensed something, but she didn’t ask. Whatever it was, a subordinate should not inquire if their superior did not speak of it.

Chi Wan knew she understood. “Ink and brush.”

Huang Yuecheng brought over paper and a brush, and Chi Wan wrote several large characters on it—Imperial City Division Three-Month Training Plan.

One, Military Skills Training (divided into five categories)

【Formations】【Barracks Discipline】【Military Combat Forms】【Tactics】【Weapon and Equipment Handling】

Two, Physical Fitness Training

【Endurance】【Strength】【Coordination and Agility Training】

Three, Discipline and Team Awareness

【Discipline Education】【Teamwork】

Four, Ideological Education

【Patriotism and Loyalty to the Ruler】【Obedience to Orders】【Vigilance Against the Enemy】【Willpower Cultivation】

In summary: A soldier’s duty is to obey orders.

For each sub-category, Chi Wan wrote down what to do and how to do it.

She even drew standard diagrams.

As for loyalty to the ruler, it naturally wasn’t loyalty to Emperor Shengyuan, but it had to be written that way on the surface.

At first, Huang Yuecheng didn’t understand, but when she did, her eyes widened. “Such a training method… the Fuma… ah, Lord Commander is truly worthy of her military noble background.”

Hearing her misspeak, Chi Wan pretended not to notice. “I’ll leave this matter to you. It would be best to start training within three days. However, I need you to leave me three hundred trustworthy men. These three hundred will train later. I have a great use for them.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Chi Wan was about to say more when she saw someone waving at her from outside the Imperial City Division.

Xia Qu?

Chi Wan frowned, then saw Xia Qu draw a bow and shoot an arrow straight at her face.

That simpleton.

Chi Wan tapped her toes lightly, retreated slightly, and reached out to catch the arrow.

Only then did Huang Yuecheng react. “Be careful!”

Then she saw Chi Wan catch the arrow in her hand. Her pupils contracted sharply. The Fuma actually possessed such skill.

Dismissing a third-rank Vice-Commander upon her arrival, suppressing the entire Imperial City Division with lightning-fast tactics—that was strategy.

The three-month training plan for the division showed the Fuma’s talent as a general.

And just now, catching a fired arrow with her bare hands was an even more direct and shocking display.

Chi Wan took a rolled-up piece of paper from the arrow. Opening it, she saw it was a bank note for ten thousand taels.

Needless to say, Yu Jiuzhou must have sent Xia Qu to deliver it. Sending so much meant she wanted Chi Wan to use both the carrot and the stick.

The stick had just been used, so now…

“Vice-Commander Huang, I would like to treat the officers of the Imperial City Division at the Baihu level and above to a meal. Where would be a good place?”

There were many expensive restaurants in the East Market, right next to the pleasure quarter and the Qifeng River. There were restaurants along the river, and one could choose to dine inside or on a boat. One could also choose to have company.

Her predecessor’s memories were quite familiar with these things, but Chi Wan wanted to know where officials liked to treat each other, or where would be a good place for the Imperial City Division’s internal gatherings.

Huang Yuecheng hesitated for a moment before saying three words, “The pleasure quarter.”

The pleasure quarter? That would work.

Chi Wan nodded. “Vice-Commander Huang, gather the officers at the Baihu level and above. Tonight, we will go to the pleasure quarter to get acquainted. Also, send someone to Lao Wang’s to buy botuo. Everyone on duty today gets a bowl, plus a lamb cake.”

“It’s the New Year, after all. We should let our brothers and sisters have a good meal.”

Yu Jiuzhou was so thoughtful. This way, she had both the carrot and the stick.

Chi Wan thought she should buy something to thank Yu Jiuzhou later. The matter of going to the pleasure quarter tonight was a bit tricky. Although she and her subordinates wouldn’t do anything untoward, there would inevitably be drinking.

There was no helping it. It was a custom in Great Zhou’s officialdom to treat guests to meals in the pleasure quarter. The entertainment quarters were also stratified. The pleasure quarter had mostly courtesans skilled in the arts, though some also sold their charms, like the male courtesan who had nearly incapacitated Prince Bao’an that day. But scholars and refined guests preferred to watch performances, hoping to win favor with their own talents and then stay the night.

That was why Prince Bao’an’s act of lavishly spending money had earned the scorn of many scholars.

The top three brothels in the capital did not engage in the flesh trade, attracting patrons solely with their artistic talents, like the Autumn Water Pavilion.

Chi Wan didn’t understand all this. She was taking her men to the pleasure quarter mainly to eat and watch a show, at most some singing and dancing, and then to check out one of Prince Bao’an’s trump cards, the Autumn Water Pavilion.

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