tit for tat

"A rare guest indeed." Tang Yao pushed the tea to the table. "A day apart feels like three autumns." Tang Yao used a newly learned idiom to show Fu Qinxiang. Fu Qinxiang gestured for the guards to leave, and sat down at the table. A lotus-scented sachet fell from her sleeve as she drank tea, and Tang Yao happened to see it.

"Hmm? The Imperial Preceptor has someone he loves?" Fu Qinxiang reached out to take it, but Tang Yao hooked it between her fingers and examined it closely.

The sachet was indeed filled with the scent of lotus. It was embroidered by craftsmen from Jiangnan and strung with gold thread, clearly the work of Fu Qinxiang.

"How could someone as busy as the Imperial Preceptor have someone he admires? It's unbelievable." Tang Yao held the sachet in her hand and examined it back and forth, slightly nervously checking if a name was embroidered on it.

"Ahem, it's for you." Fu Qinxiang looked slightly embarrassed and swallowed another sip of tea. "Keep it. As long as you don't give it to a man, you can do with it as you please."

Upon hearing this, Tang Yao stood up and put her hands behind her back, saying, "Oh, so it was embroidered for me. That means you like me!" She then turned around and leaned closer to Fu Qinxiang, looking at the woman's red makeup, which was even more exquisite than when she went to court, and said with great pride, "For a dignified national teacher to only give this is not enough sincerity."

Those doe-like eyes stared straight at her, and Fu Qinxiang felt a little flustered. She tilted her head and replied, "I was negligent the other day. I sewed a sachet overnight, which is naturally not worthy of Consort Li. If you want more, please just say so."

After thinking about it carefully, Tang Yao said, "I have everything I want, except for one thing."

Fu Qinxiang looked up: "What?"

“I lack the Imperial Preceptor’s company every day to relieve my boredom,” Fu Qinxiang was about to speak when Tang Yao gently covered her lips with her hand. The latter smiled slightly, “I know the Imperial Preceptor works tirelessly day and night, but please don’t be so quick to refuse. Please look—” Tang Yao smiled and took out a broken piece of ice string from her sleeve, waving it in front of Fu Qinxiang, “Does Sister recognize it?”

Fu Qinxiang's pupils constricted sharply—this was the very ice string from the zither case she had left in the Imperial Garden. She immediately laughed and said, "Good sister, where did you get this? Hurry up and return it to its rightful owner."

Tang Yao pretended to step forward and offer it, but withdrew her hand just as her fingertips touched Fu Qinxiang's palm, and asked, "How can you prove it?"

Fu Qinxiang felt she had been tricked by the concubine, so she got up and walked towards the Mingfeng Qin in the hall. She sat down in a huff and started plucking the strings. The music filled the hall, unlike the restless person playing the qin.

“The Imperial Preceptor is a man of deep emotions. This piece, ‘Rainbow Skirt,’ is indeed full of tender sentiment, but to make such a mistake as mixing up the notes is surely not the mark of the Ice String Master.” Tang Yao raised her chin, revealing a coquettish expression.

Fu Qinxiang spread her hands and said, "It's incomplete precisely because it lacks the Ice String."

"You said it." Tang Yao was determined to win, so she tied the sachet to her waist in a conspicuous place and fiddled with the string with both hands.

Only then did Fu Qinxiang realize she had fallen into a trap. She smiled helplessly and said, "Alas, I cannot outwit Consort Li's talent. I shall respectfully comply." She suddenly leaned closer and said, "You are constantly discussing matters of state with me. This could easily lead to your death. You should think carefully, sister."

Tang Yao did not hesitate at all, and only smiled and said, "I am not afraid of death, I only hope that I will not implicate my sister."

Before leaving, Fu Qinxiang glanced at the string in Tang Yao's arms again. Her eyes darkened, and after leaving the palace, she said to the guards, "That ice string just happened to be picked up by Tang Yao, and she happens to know its value. It's really troublesome."

"It's alright, just don't let her hold you back. It's just a string of strings, I'll go and lure her away tonight." The guard said casually.

Tang Yao glanced out the window. The pavilion was two stories high, offering a view of the distant green mountains and clouds—the nearby mountains were deep in color, while in the distance only a faint outline of their edges could be seen. She remembered growing up with a girl named Guoguo, from Jinyang. Guoguo had told her that Hedong was surrounded by mountains, resembling the Bronze Washing Stone. But she hadn't seen Guoguo since, only learning from her brother that she had been sold to the Cui family as a servant. Tang Yao herself wasn't from a prestigious family, and her brother had unexpectedly become a military commander, only to face famine. She had to perform to earn food to support his salary. Wild geese circled overhead. Tang Yao smiled wistfully, lost in thought; she was already amidst the mountains. Fu Qinxiang's sedan chair continued its swaying journey. Someone like her, always strategizing and planning, seemed never to make a mistake. The imperial city, seemingly magnificent, was always shrouded in the shadows of a dark cloud like her. Fu Qinxiang's approach was clearly to gain her help. How much longer can these heavy wheels keep turning? She doesn't know, but once her youth is over, it will be completely over.

She stared for a long time, wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, turned around, and closed the window.

But fate has brought you a tough one. Tang Yao thought.

————

A biting wind swept through the hall, whipping dust from Zhao Peiming's tattered cloak. His black armor, still gleaming with blood-red plum blossoms, flashed with a chilling light. He gripped the curved sword at his waist, his boots clattering on the golden steps, his left leg slightly lame yet unable to conceal the clanging sound, as if dragging the yellow sands of the borderlands with him. The palace doors swung open with a roar. Zhao Peiming threw his helmet to the ground, drawing his sword with a glare that sent the guards back. Amidst the gasps of astonishment, he cut off a stray lock of hair, his palm bleeding from the blade. He saluted, his voice booming: "Your humble servant Zhao Peiming, carrying the remains of the chieftain of Shajie Saisa Renmandula, boldly presents the map of Shajie Saisa! Your Majesty, whether to execute or punish me, please examine it before making your decision!"

Liu Guanhua stepped forward with a sinister smile and said, "Oh, General Zhao, you've got quite the skill. Two thousand elite troops have been reduced to less than six hundred in the blink of an eye. What should your punishment be?" Zhao Chen opened his mouth to curse, but Fu Qinxiang gently tapped the table and tilted her head to stare intently at Zhao Chen. Her expression was neither angry nor pleased. When Zhao Chen looked over, she raised an eyebrow.

Zhao Peiming flicked a cold arrow from his sleeve, piercing the top of Liu Guanhua's hat, startling the latter so much he almost fell over. Zhao Chen chuckled and raised an eyebrow at Fu Qinxiang. Fu Qinxiang made a gesture to stop him, but Zhao Peiming spoke first: "I offer a reward of ten thousand gold pieces for the head of Sha Jiesai! If you have the courage and strategy, why not lead the army out of the city tomorrow and slay the leader of Sha Jiesai! My remaining six hundred and eight men will follow you to the death! If you don't have the ability, then stop with the empty talk and do more practical things!"

"Enough!" the emperor roared, throwing down his pen. "Zhao Peiming was ambushed on his first campaign at the border. He was already very useful for bringing maps with him. Now, grant him half a day's allowance for land reclamation, and increase his year-end grain tax by 30%! If even a single grain is missing, he will come running with his head!"

Zhao Peiming bowed again to express his gratitude, subconsciously glancing at Fu Qinxiang's sides, but not finding a new seat. Just as he was wondering, he suddenly noticed a man in a fifth-rank official's robe, a head taller than the others, below the steps, and then he understood. Zhao Peiming planned to suppress his smile, but the corners of his mouth still twitched slightly.

"Your Majesty is wise! May I ask where Banrihua is located? Is there any mention of it?" Zhao Peiming asked, bowing.

The Emperor pointed to the steps below, and Jiang Heng stepped forward and bowed, saying, "I am Jiang Heng. I will temporarily receive the flowers for half a day. If you have any questions, please discuss them with me."

"I beg Lord Jiang to grant me a map of the new irrigation canal so that I may be able to cultivate the land!" Zhao Peiming turned to Jiang Heng, but never looked up.

Jiang Heng first sized up Zhao Peiming, then flicked his sleeve and chuckled, "A defeated general like you dares to use my map? Half-Day Flower doesn't raise stray dogs." He casually tossed the map aside, and everyone saw the booklet turn to ashes.

Zhao Peiming felt a metallic taste in his throat. Seeing Jiang Heng's actions, he looked up in confusion. The man before him was different from before. The gentle and considerate gentleman had given way to an air of cold indifference that Zhao Peiming had never seen before. What was most terrifying was that he hadn't even spared him—their hard-won friendship through correspondence had vanished! But when he glanced at the half-stranded belt tied around Jiang Heng's waist—the very thing he had used to tie letters—he laughed uproariously, "What a stray dog! What a half-day flower magistrate! If I were to die a miserable death at the half-day flower's, I would demand a wooden coffin from Lord Jiang every night, and never give up!"

Jiang Heng sneered and stepped into the ranks, concealing himself with his sleeve.

Fu Qinxiang smiled and wiped her fingers, the doubts dissipating slightly—Jiang Heng was, after all, a young master from a wealthy and powerful family, and naturally looked down on military families, let alone such a defeated dog that everyone was eager to kick. As long as these two didn't get along, they could restrain each other at Banrihua, making them easier to deal with.

A palace attendant handed over the scroll. Zhao Peiming bid farewell to his father, presented the map, wrapped up the eagle carcass, and handed it over before leaving in the presence of everyone.

Jiang Heng thought to himself that the remaining Sa Ta cavalry couldn't all be stationed there; a portion of their elite troops would have to be set aside as reserves. If this portion couldn't be captured by Zhao Chen with all their might, it would inevitably fall into Fu Hu's hands. What he had to do was protect that portion; otherwise, Fu Hu's faction would only raise the ladder to heaven even higher. As for Zhao Peiming, he needed to personally accept credit for his crimes, and he had essentially entrusted the entire Half-Day Flower to him. He also had a plan, and he wondered how to find an opportunity to hand it over in person. Just as he was lost in thought, someone suddenly nudged him, interrupting his train of thought. He looked up and saw it was Xu Liaoxiang.

"Court is adjourned, what are you still thinking about? Were you scared by that Zhao Peiming fellow? It's alright, he's not just like that to you," Xu Liaoxiang joked. "That man is always full of hostility, and his speech is very gloomy. I heard it from the seniors. It's good for you to keep your distance from him. We should stay away from military officers. Besides, in the court, those of us who wield pens are more favored than those who wield swords." After saying that, he patted Jiang Heng's shoulder reassuringly, but unexpectedly hit a firm muscle. He pinched it curiously. "Huh, that's strange. Our school's least active young master is secretly practicing martial arts behind his friend's back?"

Jiang Heng awkwardly stepped aside, then quickly walked a few steps and said, "The imperial court is not as comfortable and carefree as the school. If you don't know some ways to protect yourself, you probably won't even be able to cross this threshold."

Xu Liaoxiang leaned closer to smell it again and giggled, "Then why is this peach blossom scent? If you say it's also for going to court, I won't believe you. What, do you have someone you like?"

Jiang Heng didn't think too much about it and said expressionlessly, "Lord Xu is always joking. For more than ten years since I started studying, I have never had anyone I liked. You all always mock me for being heartless. Now you presumptuously speculate based on the slightest changes in me. I wonder what your intentions are?"

“Oh dear, Young Master Jiang, your demeanor is indeed quite different from before. I misunderstood. Tomorrow is a day off, so please rest early today. If you have any questions, feel free to come to the Hundred Flowers Pavilion in the East for a chat.” After Xu Liaoxiang finished speaking, Jiang Heng bowed and watched his classmate greet Xie Yihang as they walked away.

Fu Qinxiang always had people watching him, which made Jiang Heng feel somewhat uneasy. Wearing his official robes also gave him nightmares at night, leaving him listless lately. Just then, the Emperor kept Fu Qinxiang behind for a private meeting, so Jiang Heng decided to wander into the garden to find some lotus flowers to cheer himself up. Before he even stepped into the grass, he heard a loud crash, and someone fell to the ground. He wondered who was hurrying through the garden when he suddenly heard a familiar voice. His heart skipped a beat, and he followed the sound into the corridor.

The man's hair and clothes were disheveled, and blood seeped from his legs, soaking his trouser legs. Jiang Heng pulled out a medicine bottle from his person and quickly stepped forward. He didn't have time to see the other man's expression; all he could see was the injury. Only when the man rolled up his trouser leg did he realize what had happened.