Undercurrents

Jiang Jin felt the little tail following her and couldn't help but sneer a few times. Then she darted into the alley. Seeing this, the servant quickened his pace and followed Jiang Jin into the alley.

"Are you looking for me?" Jiang Jin, wearing a veiled hat, appeared like a ghost behind the group.

"You..." Several people who were following Jiang Jin were somewhat surprised. One of them mustered up his courage and asked, "You know martial arts?"

"No, but the fact that you dared to follow a woman in broad daylight shows that Jiufang City is far from safe." Jiang Jin gripped the hairpin in her hair, preparing to strike first.

“My lady, you misunderstand. We are from the Wang family. The man who tried to buy you jasmine flowers in the shop just now was the Ninth Prince of the Wang family. Surely you haven’t heard of the Wang family?” The servant’s face was full of arrogance as he spoke.

“Of course, who in the Great Yan hasn’t heard of the Wang family? Unfortunately, I’m not interested.” Jiang Jin smiled and walked up to the group. “Please make way.”

"Young lady, you're being a bit too aloof," Wang Jiulang said, appearing at the alley entrance, waving his folding fan.

"Does Young Master Wang really think he can force me to come to his residence in broad daylight?" Jiang Jin looked at the henchmen around him, completely unafraid; the poison in his hand was enough to kill them all.

"Of course not, how could I do something so ungentlemanly?" Wang Jiulang closed his folding fan, walked up to Jiang Jin, and ripped off her veil.

"A beauty paired with jasmine, truly a living picture of a lady adorned with flowers!" Wang Jiulang had considered that the woman before him might be beautiful or plain, but when Jiang Jin appeared before him without any makeup, he was still momentarily taken aback.

“Not bad, not bad at all. I never expected that such a beautiful woman as you would appear in this small Bianzhou. I wonder if you would be willing to come into my manor with me? With your looks, you could be my concubine. At that time, you would have one foot in the Wang family.”

Jiang Jin scoffed upon hearing this, "Do you think being your concubine is the greatest honor?"

Jiang Jin pushed Wang Jiulang away, saying, "You're weak and powerless, and you're covered in cosmetics. Besides using the Wang family's name to bully others, what else can you do? You're just a good-for-nothing who was born into a better family."

"As expected of a beauty, even when angry you are beautiful. Don't worry, I will make you lower yourself and beg me."

Wang Jiulang waved his hand, and the servants in the alley left with him. After this incident, Jiang Jin lost interest in investigating further, put her veil back on, and went directly to Bianzhou's largest den of iniquity—the Moon Viewing Pavilion.

“Young lady, we’re not open yet.” Jiang Jin put down a gold coin. “I want to book a superior room for a month, preferably a quiet room at the back where no one will bother me.”

"Yes, of course!" The madam clapped her hands, and someone led Jiang Jin to the bedroom on the third floor.

"My lady, this is your bedroom. My name is Ersan. Please come to me if you need anything." Ersan, with his thin body, slightly curtsied to Jiang Jin.

"Alright, you can go out now." Jiang Jin watched as the door closed and the bolt was locked. A long screen came into view, and beyond it were a round table and a bed.

Jiang Jin loosened her hair and stomped a few steps. Yi Yi appeared behind her and said, "Tell Asui about what happened today. Tell her I will be staying at the Moon Viewing Pavilion for a long time and she doesn't need to worry about me."

"Okay." Yi Yi readily agreed, and Jiang Jin didn't say anything more, standing by the window looking at the street outside.

"My lady, would you like to eat?" A familiar voice came from outside. Jiang Jin unlatched the door and let Ersan in.

"Buy me some clothes and jewelry, and also go to the Fulong Tea House to get me some calming tea. Remember, it has to be a calming tea that can be brewed with cold water. The rest is your errand fee." Jiang Jin placed a few gold beans in her palms.

"Thank you, madam, thank you, madam." The second and third sisters smiled sincerely.

"Go out." Jiang Jin touched her ring, closed the door, picked up paper and pen, and began to write a letter.

"The power of the Wang family in Bianzhou should not be underestimated. However, it is possible that Governor Wang has long harbored the intention to take his place. The Wang family's leader is narrow-minded, and a single spark can ignite suspicion, forcing the dog to jump over the wall, allowing the fisherman to reap the benefits."

Jiang Jin rubbed her temples and threw the remaining papers into the incense burner.

Ever since Wei Shu imprisoned Lady Wang in the prison cart, no one in the governor's mansion dared to plot against him. Zhou Cong spent his days gathering information about Jiang Jin, and soon discovered a clue in the replies from his spies in the countryside.

"General, our scouts have reported that a lone woman in Wuzai Township, below Jiufang City, bought horses. The clothes she wore were the same ones that Madam had worn, and even the bracelet on her wrist was exactly the same as the one Madam often wore."

"Do you know which direction she went?" Wei Shu took the letter and glanced at it, knowing that the person must be Jiang Jin.

“Wu Zai Township is the only way to Jiu Fang City, and also the way back to the capital. However, I have checked the entry registration for the city and found no record of Madam’s entry point. Does this mean that Madam is still outside the city?” Wei Shu tapped the table lightly.

"No, if she's going to Jiufang City, she won't be content to stay outside. Perhaps she has her own methods and has already entered Jiufang City right under our noses." Wei Shu breathed a slight sigh of relief upon learning of Jiang Jin's whereabouts.

"How's it going with Governor Wang?" Wei Shu asked, his brow furrowed as he reviewed the collected evidence.

"Just as the general predicted, but judging from the messages coming from our people who stayed at the Wang family's residence, they have a very good impression of Wang Juesong." Zhou Cong was also somewhat troubled for a moment.

"What about the head of the Wang family? Could it be that he also admires this ambitious collateral relative?" Wei Shu said, looking at the high sun outside. "If Wang Juesong takes over, will the main branch still be able to enjoy the benefits brought by the head of the family?"

"But if Governor Wang falls from power, it will be detrimental to the Wang family in every way!" Although Zhou Cong was not from a prominent family, he understood this simple truth.

"If the governor returns to the capital, it will definitely affect the position of the Wang family head. The Wang family has produced many talented people. Would you choose an ambitious governor or a group of loyal minor officials? The Wang family is not lacking in talented people and the ability to promote others. The Wang family may care about Wang Juesong, but the Wang family head is very wary of him!"

"So even though the Wang family is as solid as a rock, there will still be people who only care about their own interests." Zhou Cong pondered for a moment and then understood the crux of the matter.

“No, while aristocratic families are closely connected, those who hold high positions for a long time become increasingly afraid of having their power taken away by others. This is a human weakness.” Wei Shu sat in a sandalwood chair, watching the birds flying across the sky.

Bianzhou was like a stagnant pool concealing turbulent undercurrents, but even the capital was on the verge of collapse, unable to maintain its facade of peace.

"Grandfather, how could Fifth Sister marry Third Brother? She clearly shared my feelings!" The Crown Prince was agitated, but seeing Dou Gong's expression, he forced himself to suppress his anger. From that moment on, after the imperial decree was issued, the Crown Prince remained frowning for many days.

"Do you think I don't want a daughter of the Wang family to be your Crown Princess? Things have come to this, is there any room for maneuver? Do you really think you can go to the palace and cling to His Majesty's legs and cry?" Dou Gong scolded the incompetent Crown Prince.

"But Fifth Sister..." The Crown Prince felt a pang of guilt as he recalled Fifth Sister's face.

"When you become emperor, you'll have everything you want. So what if she's the Third Prince's consort? You can fake your death, change your identity, and still enter the harem. Your priority now is to restore your image in His Majesty's eyes. This matter is His Majesty's warning to you!" Dou Gong sneered.

"I don't know who dared to frame us, and that Lady Wei Shu is still alive! Not only have we swallowed this mute, but now we can't even get involved!" Dou Gong's weathered face was full of resentment.

"Could it be the third prince? He deliberately used this trick to curry favor with Father Emperor." The Crown Prince forcibly suppressed the urge to smash the inkstone.

"Your Highness, you should rein in your temper. Princess Zhaoyang's marriage is not yet settled, and this can at least be considered a bargaining chip. Although His Majesty is not happy with my suggestion, the princess must eventually marry. Whether it's a prince or a noble family, it will still provide some assistance." Dou Gong carefully considered Zhaoyang's marriage.

Meanwhile, in the palace, Princess Zhaoyang was grinding ink for His Majesty, who was reviewing memorials. "Xuan'er," she said, "there are always people in the court urging me to arrange your marriage. I wonder what you think?"

Princess Zhaoyang stopped grinding ink, bowed, and said in a steady voice, "There is a saying among the people: marriage is arranged by parents and matchmakers, and a daughter should naturally listen to her father."

"Xuan'er, I hope your marriage will not become a bargaining chip for anyone." The emperor took Lou Xuan's hand and led her to the inner palace.

"Xuan'er, do you know why your father gave you this name?" The emperor smiled, looking at the sun outside.

"Xuan means warmth, just like your title Zhaoyang. You are the first child of your mother and me. No matter what, your father's expectation for you is for everything to go smoothly, so whatever you want to ask for, your father will grant it." Lou Xuan stood beside the emperor, smiling as he looked at his mother's portrait in the rear hall.

"But I am the Emperor's daughter, and the Crown Prince's sister. My marriage will always be a matter of great public scrutiny, and I cannot do as I please. Rather than putting the Emperor in a difficult position, it's better to dispel all thoughts of marriage." Lou Xuan knelt down.

"I've heard that Commander Chang Yi is still unmarried. I wonder if he would be willing to marry you, Princess?" Lou Xuan knelt in the back hall, before her mother and father.

"Why Chang Yi?" The emperor sat at the head of the table, looking at Lou Xuan, sunlight streaming through the window and falling on her.

"Perhaps it's because my daughter just saw him." Lou Xuan looked at the emperor with a smile. "He comes from a poor family and is of no benefit to anyone, so he poses no threat to anyone."

"Don't you feel wronged?" The emperor leaned forward slightly. "Your second sister married into the Wang family, and your third sister is engaged to the Xun family. Don't you feel ashamed to have married into a poor family?"

"My daughter always felt ashamed of being incapable and relying solely on her family. Her background may have determined some aspects, but it certainly wasn't everything. I admire Commander Chang for his bravery and skill in battle."

"I understand. You may return now. I need to consider this matter further." The emperor waved his hand, and Lou Xuan bowed and took his leave. The entire hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

"Well, isn't my daughter quite good?" A person stepped out from behind the gauze curtain and knelt in the spot where Lou Xuan had just knelt.