Secret affair

"We have nothing of good tea to offer the commander-in-chief, please bear with us."

Xiao Diting instructed his servants to prepare a feast, settled Yu Lanjiang into his lodgings, ordered this year's Grain Rain tea and some popular snacks from restaurants, and sat in a high seat like a host.

Yu Lanjiang had nothing to do today, so he went for a walk from the Yu family home and turned to the Zhenfu Division. As soon as he entered, he saw someone sitting in a high position in the main hall.

She peeked halfway in, wondering if she had gone to the wrong place. She took a few steps back and looked around. She recognized all the Imperial Guards officers on duty in the courtyard.

Everyone looked at the bewildered commander with normal expressions, as if they were used to such scenes.

Yu Lanjiang tilted his head and thought for a moment before decisively stepping inside.

"The last time I saw Your Highness, you were still a little kid. Now you've grown taller and become more shrewd."

Yu Lanjiang didn't stand on ceremony with her. She pulled up a chair for herself, picked up a piece of tea snack, took a couple of bites, and found that it was the taste she liked. So she ate the whole snack.

Xiao Diting propped her chin up with her hand and watched with a smile as the Marshal devoured his food. While she was unpacking a packet of oil paper, she flicked her sleeve and poured her a cup of tea.

Yu Lanjiang watched her actions out of the corner of her eye. Her stomach and spleen felt much better after this, and she was in a good mood.

She's not the type to hold grudges; if the other party is sincere, she's willing to do them a favor.

"Tell me what you need, and I'll talk to you about it."

Xiao Diting gently pushed the cup of tea that had been poured in front of her, looking obedient, and said sincerely, "Last time, I was the one who first scouted out the commander's whereabouts and played some low-class tricks. I apologize to you."

"It's nothing...why aren't you eating?"

Xiao Diting waved his hands repeatedly: "I don't like sweets."

"Is this for Xiao Pei?"

"First come, first served, but that doesn't have to be."

Hearing her say that, Yu Lanjiang found her rather amusing and became even more patient: "So, did you come here today to see me, or to have a secret rendezvous with Xiao Pei?"

Xiao Diting pursed her lips. She was sitting in a good spot with a clear view of a blurry figure behind the door. The question the commander asked really put her in a dilemma. She thought to herself that this person was truly unpredictable and unfathomable.

However, her main purpose today was to seek help from the powerful figure before her, so she cleared her throat and said sincerely, "I've come for the sake of the Commander-in-Chief."

Yu Lanjiang also laughed, using the excuse of drinking tea to peek behind the door.

The shadow behind the door appeared visibly agitated; it swayed twice and then disappeared into the doorway.

But Yu Lanjiang felt it wasn't over yet, so she deliberately teased her: "My schedule isn't easy to get. How long have you been investigating me behind my back?"

Xiao Diting's breath hitched, and her hands, hidden under her sleeves, clenched involuntarily. A feeling of panic washed over her again. She coughed, unsure whether to continue the conversation or not.

Damn it, I should have thought of that sooner. I shouldn't have answered that question; it would have just left me pleasing neither side.

Commander Yu seemed oblivious to her subtle discomfort, slowly savoring the fine gift bestowed upon him by the palace, his affectionate eyes gazing deeply at her, leaving her momentarily speechless.

Her question was so casual that Xiao Diting was even more unsure of her attitude. The two remained locked in a silent stalemate until finally Xiao Diting couldn't hold back any longer. She sighed, forced a bow, and said, "I'm sorry—"

"Alright, Sister Lanjiang, let's get down to business."

Pei Wenjin, supporting himself on the threshold to block out the sunlight, walked in with a headache. He glanced at the few remaining pastries on the table, feigning indifference as he ignored Xiao Diting, and addressed Yu Lanjiang, "General—"

Commander Yu knew that if he continued to make trouble, things would get out of hand, so he waved his hand with great composure: "You're so protective of your own. Your Highness, just tell me what you want to see me about."

“I want to get involved in the case that the Ministry of Justice is investigating.” Xiao Diting leaned forward slightly, and with Pei Wenjin’s support beside her, she felt much more confident. “To be honest, Commander, you must be aware of my current predicament…”

"Of course I know, I don't intend to help you."

Xiao Diting knew things wouldn't go so smoothly. Yu Lanjiang was no ordinary person to have gotten to where she was today, and she had prepared herself for the possibility that she wouldn't be able to persuade her.

"I understand what the commander-in-chief means, but I still want to try my best."

Her words were sincere and heartfelt, which made Yu Lanjiang seem somewhat unreasonable.

"What bargaining chips do you have?" Yu Lanjiang tapped the table with her fingers, the sound of her knuckles hitting the wood crisp and clear. She also looked at Xiao Diting seriously, without the slightest displeasure, as if she really wanted to find out what Xiao Diting had to offer.

Xiao Diting knew there was a chance, so he quickly said, "I will investigate the case thoroughly and make sure the commander is satisfied."

Yu Lanjiang stared intently at the girl before him, then, as if remembering something, his tone softened, and he pressed on, "What are your demands?"

"After it's done, I will ask the commander for it myself."

"Does it not violate ancestral customs and social norms?"

Xiao Diting raised three fingers to the sky, standing upright at his temple: "I, Xiao Diting, swear to heaven that I will never cause the Commander any trouble!"

"Deal!" Yu Lanjiang flipped her hand that had been tapping the table up, and when she opened her palm, she saw that it was a small personal seal. She pulled Xiao Diting's hand and stuffed the item into her hand. "This is my personal seal. Although it doesn't have the power to command a million soldiers, it's enough to make your journey smoother."

Xiao Diting held the cool object in her palm. It was about the size of three fingernails, exquisite and quite heavy. She knew that this was Yu Lanjiang's trust.

"Use it according to these circumstances, be careful not to get into trouble."

"I understand, Commander."

As Xiao Diting walked out of the main hall, she still felt somewhat dazed, as if her harmonious interaction with Yu Lanjiang just now was all an illusion.

Yu Lanjiang seemed very shrewd and unfathomable, yet she was actually much closer to me than I had imagined. Her connections were immeasurable; granting me the authority to act on my own was the greatest form of indulgence.

This trip yielded far more than she had anticipated. Xiao Diting couldn't figure out why she had changed her previous nonchalant attitude, but that wasn't important, and she didn't have time to care.

Now that he had this pass, Xiao Diting quickly devised a plan, calculated the time when Lin Huaiyu would be on duty, and rushed to Dali Temple without stopping.

Yu Lanjiang remained firmly seated in his chair, not getting up to see the princess off. He simply watched the young princess hop away like a happy rabbit, eager to tell the whole world about his joy.

Looking again at Pei Wenjin, who hadn't said a word since they came in, she was furious: "What are you following her for without any status or relationship? Do you see how much she even cares about you?"

It's no wonder Yu Lanjiang was being sarcastic. Pei Wenjin had been standing behind Commander Yu for a long time. After Yu Lanjiang gave Xiao Diting his personal seal, he chatted briefly with the princess. It was only when the commander-in-chief pressed him so hard that he didn't know how to answer that he glanced at him for help.

However, before Pei Wenjin could intervene, the princess found a way to stop him.

He really is a cold-hearted, indifferent, and unfaithful person.

Pei Wenjin knew the weight of the benefits Yu Lanjiang had promised the princess, and for a moment he dared not utter a word, while Yu Lanjiang continued to press him harder.

"When your uncle was alive, he did try to find your relatives, but you always managed to turn them away."

"Is it that the Wang family's daughter isn't well-mannered enough, or that the Zhang family's daughter isn't pretty enough... that she had to choose someone who's not only full of tricks but also has a special stance?!"

The general was so angry he had a headache. He flicked his sleeve and said, "Go ahead, it's none of my business."

Having said all that, Pei Wenjin couldn't argue anymore, so he simply clasped his hands in a fist and said, "I'll see you off, Commander."

Yu Lanjiang reached out and tapped his forehead: "You'd better watch yourself. Being born into an imperial family is her misfortune. You can't save her, and you shouldn't."

Pei Wenjin watched her clothes disappear through the doorway, suppressing the melancholy in his heart, and echoed Yu Lanjiang's words, "Yes, born into an imperial family..."

Yu Lanjiang patted his head, interrupting the spell, and said reassuringly, "Why are you so sad? It's an achievement to live a good life and get to where you are today."

Pei Wenjin lowered his eyes and murmured, "I hope so."

The birds on the eaves chirped and fluttered their wings, temporarily putting a period to this matter.

Xiao Diting, clutching his personal seal, rushed to the Dali Temple without stopping, just in time to see that brat Song Chenjing carrying something and running out. He hurried past, his face flushed with shame and indignation, not even noticing who was next to him.

Xiao Diting suspected that he had been bullied, so he grabbed Song Chenjing's sleeve. Only then did Song Chenjing realize that there was someone else around, and he quickly knelt down and bowed, saying, "Your Highness, please forgive me—"

The princess was still holding his elbow. Seeing that he was about to perform a grand salute, she awkwardly lifted him up and said seriously, "We are colleagues, there is no need for such a grand salute... What happened that you left in such a hurry?"

Upon hearing this, Song Chenjing was about to say something when he saw Xiao Diting's deep concern. His expression suddenly turned even more unpleasant, changing several times in a short period of time. He gritted his teeth and said defiantly, "It's just a small matter, not worth Your Highness's attention. I can handle it."

Hearing this, Xiao Diting became even more uneasy, his suspicions reaching their peak. He frowned and pressed, "Tell me the truth. Don't worry about anything you're worried about."

Song Chenjing shook his head and squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth: "...It's nothing."

"How is that possible—"

"Your Highness, please don't make things difficult for Lord Song." A handsome young man emerged from under the eaves. He wasn't wearing an official robe but a plain dress, tucked inside the outer robe, his fox-like eyes darting over.

Who else could it be but Lin Huaiyu?

Upon hearing Lin Huaiyu's voice, Song Chenjing's neck stiffened, and he wished he could disappear into a crack in the ground. His tone also became increasingly agitated.

"Your Highness, I have other important matters to attend to..."

Xiao Diting keenly sensed the subtle atmosphere between the two, and mercifully withdrew his claws, gesturing outwards and saying, "Please."

Song Chenjing ran off with the dossier in his arms, looking preoccupied.

Lin Huaiyu stood on a pillar not far away, arms crossed, casting his gaze with an unreadable expression. Seeing that Song Chenjing had run off into the distance, he casually rushed up to the Third Prince and gave him a perfunctory bow.

Xiao Diting held the smooth-feeling seal in his palm and said sincerely, "It's better to coax people away as soon as possible if you've already angered them."

Lin Huaiyu gave a wry smile, leaning on a pillar to slowly straighten up: "Your Highness, please don't make fun of me. Tell me, what do you want to see me about?"

“I want to get involved in that case in the Northwest, and I know you can help me make the connections.”

"No, I can't handle this." Lin Huaiyu shook his head. The weather was cold and gloomy, his face looked terrible, and his tone became harsher. "It's better not to—"

“This is the Marshal’s personal seal.” Xiao Diting opened her palm, presenting an ebony seal to Lin Huaiyu. She licked her teeth and interrupted Lin Huaiyu, “Will you help or not?”

Lin Huaiyu stared blankly at the private seal for a moment, then muttered his reply:

"I'll help."

Lin Huaiyu led Xiao Diting to the backyard of Dali Temple. The lanterns under the corridor swayed in the breeze, casting their shadows long and short.

The brass lock in the archives room was covered with a thin layer of rust. He took out the key and turned it three times. After a soft "click," a smell mixed with dust and old paper wafted out.

"The case files are piled up in the west corner by year. The one in the northwest is marked 'confidential,' so you'll have to look carefully." Lin Huaiyu lit an oil lamp and handed it over. In the dim light, Xiao Diting saw that the stack of files on the shelf was half a person high, and the edges of the pages were yellowed.

Before entering the exhibition hall, he solemnly explained the situation to Xiao Diting: "This matter is too special, and there may not be a complete record of it."

Xiao Diting looked around and said in a deep voice, "It's alright."

So the two of them went inside together, rolled up their sleeves, squatted down and searched through the files. Their fingertips were covered in dust. It wasn't until the sun was setting that they finally pulled out a booklet with a blue cloth cover from a pile of old files.

“This is it.” Lin Huaiyu wiped the words on the cover. “The case of General Longcheng five years ago.”

Xiao Diting turned to the first page. The ink was neat, and a few words pieced together a chilling story.

Under Yu Lanjiang, the commander-in-chief of the Northwest, there was a general who came from a commoner background. He was familiar with the local situation, was very capable, and had made numerous merits. He rose to his position step by step through his own abilities.

With his achievements, he was poised to be ennobled and appointed prime minister, but five years ago, a heavy snowfall brought him to ruin.

"Back then, when General Longcheng was stationed at Juyan Mountain, the commander-in-chief was transferred to the southwest... The border was bitterly cold, and the food and supplies were cut off for more than three months. So he led his remaining hundred or so soldiers all the way north to join the Hu people."

Lin Huaiyu lowered his voice: "When the commander learned of this, he repeatedly submitted memorials to vouch for General Longcheng, but the court had already executed his family members who had moved to the capital when the news of his treason reached them."

"From then on, there was no turning back for that general." Xiao Di emphasized each word, his hand gripping the paper tighter, and the oil lamp suddenly crackled and popped.

In the dim firelight, the two remained silent until Xiao Diting finally couldn't help but ask his question first: "Lord Lin, you come from the Dali Temple, which is against the rules, you know that."

Lin Huaiyu smiled wryly and said, "I know..."

Xiao Diting suppressed her resentment and slammed the book shut, tossing it aside. She opened her mouth to speak, but her keen ears caught an unusual noise outside the window. At first, she thought she had dropped something and hit something, but when she saw Lin Huaiyu's serious expression, she realized that if she didn't react soon enough, she would have lived in vain.

"Someone can't sit still anymore."

She scoffed.