carp in pond
The Zhao residence has been quite lively these past few days. Jiang Heng usually studies classics and history in his side room, while Zhao Chen focuses on training his troops, hoping to one day add new blood to the Sa Ta Cavalry. At night, Zhao Chen calls Jiang Heng over, and the two drink tea and discuss matters. Occasionally, Zhao Chen will bring up stories from Zhao Peiming's childhood, making them laugh. These stories include jumping from the roof beam at night, missing a tile, and falling into a water vat, or encouraging the guards to ride horses three hundred miles across the border, only to be caught and brought back by envoys from a neighboring country. Jiang Heng has never heard such amusing stories before, so he naturally finds them fascinating. Zhao Chen looked up at the moon, then sighed and said, "This lad is a wild horse, hard to tame, and I can't control him either. I wonder if he'll ever meet a good woman. If he can live a peaceful life, that would be wonderful." The wind rustled through the courtyard, making the bamboo and cypress trees whisper. Jiang Heng couldn't help but look up at the moonlight as well: "The governor is a rare general, a bit of banditry is a good thing. His politeness towards me shows his extraordinary character; meeting a good woman is only a matter of time."
"Haha, actually he's always looked down on scholars, especially those like you who shouldn't be allowed into the court. If he's all respectful to you, he might be plotting something bad. You'd better be careful," Zhao Chen said, a hint of mockery in his voice. Jiang Heng was puzzled. Zhao Peiming didn't seem like the kind of person who would use flattery and deceit to sabotage others. Should he really be wary of him? But he was the first and most trusted person in his life. The more Jiang Heng thought about it, the uglier his expression became. Seeing this, Zhao Chen laughed and said, "Don't be nervous. Peiming isn't that kind of person. His kindness to you is probably because you treat everyone with the same politeness, a reciprocal gesture."
Jiang Heng then realized that these words sounded most relaxed coming from Zhao Chen—a father's teasing of his beloved son often contained an element of exaggeration. But for some reason, the mere mention of Zhao Peiming made Jiang Heng inexplicably tense, as if he had lost his ability to think critically and was being led by the nose. Jiang Heng chuckled lightly and said, "I was being too nervous. On the other hand, I don't believe Brother Zhao despises scholars; perhaps it's just that he wanted to pursue a path he ultimately missed." He then took a sip of tea, using its aroma to moisten his dry throat.
Zhao Chen slowly raised his eyes and gazed at Jiang Heng, saying, "...My dear nephew understands him so well. He truly doesn't want to pursue a martial path, but it would be better for him to be under my protection—if he takes the imperial examination route, if he fails, he'll end up nameless and without status; if he succeeds, he'll have to work under Fu Qinxiang. He's ambitious and will definitely clash with Fu Qinxiang. At that time, he might very well..."
“That’s what happened to my father,” Jiang Heng replied firmly. Zhao Chen nodded and continued, “In a few days, Fu Qinxiang will definitely come knocking, determined not to give up. You need to stay behind me and protect yourself from her. Otherwise, if she takes you away, how can I explain it to your father?” Zhao Chen felt a pang of helplessness, so he resolved to protect Jiang Heng even at the cost of his own life—to pay off the debt he owed Jiang Zhong.
Jiang Heng frowned and said, "But neither I nor your beloved son can live under your protection forever. One day we will have to face the storms alone, and no one can help us then. We will have to forge our own steel wings." The wind picked up again, and after the two entered the house, the servants quickly went to the window to block the wind.
“You…sigh, back when Peiming was your age, to avoid me constantly supervising him, he led the Sa Ta cavalry to fight for ten months straight without returning. You seemed like a gentleman, but I never imagined you were just like him,” Zhao Chen said, his voice tinged with sadness. “You’re right, maybe letting you go out and experience things, and only after hitting a wall, will you realize your mistakes. If you want to come back then, I, Zhao Chen, will definitely accept you.” Jiang Heng stepped forward to support Zhao Chen, speaking softly, “You can rest assured. Although we are both hot-blooded, I have remembered what you said—Brother Zhao and I met by chance, so we should look after each other.” Hearing this, Zhao Chen felt inexplicably at ease and stopped thinking about it.
As expected, within two days, Fu Qinxiang arrived with her guards to pay a visit. That day, the rain lashed the withered lotus leaves, and the only sound in the entire mansion was the resounding patter of the downpour. When the servants opened the door, Fu Qinxiang entered slowly and deliberately. But instead of rushing inside, she first walked along the cobblestone path. Her plain silk umbrella, reflecting the rain, became even more dazzling, making her the focus of everyone's attention. She approached the pond, lowered her eyes, and murmured, "Watching the fish in the pond, I envy their freedom. Though free, they are confined to this pond, like frogs at the bottom of a well." Jiang Heng sat in the nearby corridor, dressed in plain clothes, a scroll in his hand, lost in thought.
Seeing that she hadn't come in yet, Zhao Chen went out to check. He saw Fu Qinxiang pretending to feed the fish by the pond, raindrops dancing on her white umbrella, making her newly bestowed clothes even more dazzling and ostentatious. He sneered and said, "Grand Preceptor, don't you see the smoke of war on the border and the people suffering? You have the mood to admire fish here?" Fu Qinxiang didn't turn her head and said, "The smoke of war is also a signal that some incompetent armies are retreating one after another. The people suffering is a relic of the previous dynasty. We are too ignorant and incompetent to reverse the situation. As for your golden carp in the pond, could you give me one to bring good fortune?" Zhao Chen naturally understood the implication and said, "Please come inside for a chat, Grand Preceptor." Fu Qinxiang smiled and turned around, glancing at Jiang Heng and saying, "You come too." Jiang Heng nodded slightly, and after the two of them went inside, he sat down in the seat closest to the door.
"Such talent is being wasted in your hands. Why not let me take him back? I'll have him replace Jiang Zhong and save the world," Fu Qinxiang said, narrowing her eyes. Where in the world could such a person exist? Jiang Heng couldn't do it. To say such a thing was an empty compliment; to fail would be condemned for generations. Zhao Chen crushed the invitation handed to him by the guard to shreds. His gaze pierced through the flying scraps of paper, locking onto Fu Qinxiang. "I'm tired of hearing this. I wonder what the Grand Preceptor's true intentions are?"
Fu Qinxiang's red lips curled into a smile as she walked to Jiang Heng's side, saying, "I just want to give Jinli a good home. After all, I believe he's willing to try this 'life-saving' position." She leaned down and lifted Jiang Heng's chin, but he dodged away in disgust, not annoyed. "Sigh, I didn't want to say this, but... if he follows you, I can't guarantee that no one will be jealous and do anything shady." Zhao Chen, upon hearing this, angrily retorted, "Thank you for your kindness, Grand Preceptor, but I still have plenty of strength. I can still protect one like him!" Fu Qinxiang shook her head, stood up, and leaned against the back of Jiang Heng's chair, half-leaning against him, saying worriedly, "Oh dear, you should take it easy. Be careful not to rush things and cause your old poison to relapse." Hearing this, Jiang Heng's heart tightened. Zhao Chen actually had an old poison? Could it be the same poison that Fu Qinxiang used to control the assassins? But if it was the same, why hadn't Zhao Chen become her subordinate, but instead been able to confront her?
Before Jiang Heng could think things through, he felt a wave of dizziness. He instinctively clutched his forehead, his vision growing increasingly blurry. He felt something pressing down on him, and when he touched it, he found it was the back of a man slightly taller than himself—a scarred, rugged back, yet warm. The feeling was somewhat familiar, as if he had met that person before. In a panic, Jiang Heng tried to pull his hand away, but the other man held him back, leaving him only with futile struggles. He felt waves of pain in a certain part of his body, followed by a strange sense of pleasure. He couldn't think any further, so he forcefully pulled his hand away and bit his arm. Only then did he truly wake up, noticing Fu Qinxiang glancing at him sideways while casually chatting away.
Surprise and resentment filled Jiang Heng. After listening to the two struggling, he stood up, cupped his hands, and said to Zhao Chen, "I am willing to accept my father's position and work for the benefit of the people." Fu Qinxiang hadn't expected things to go so smoothly, and was naturally extremely proud, looking at Zhao Chen with a smug expression. She thought to herself that Jiang Heng would at least put on a show for her; even if he might be annoyed, his behavior would still be respectful, a thousand times better than Jiang Zhong's, and easier for her to control.
Zhao Chen had just observed Jiang Heng's expression and knew that Jiang Heng had been affected by Fu Qinxiang's sleeping potion and had his mind controlled. He sighed, threw his teacup, and only after the resounding crash did he speak: "Jiang Heng, the path you've chosen is yours to live or die!" But he was also confident in his ability to control the situation—in their conversation the night before, he had already instructed Jiang Heng on how to deal with Fu Qinxiang when she came to their door. Because Fu Qinxiang's sleeping potion was hard to resist, Jiang Heng would most likely not escape her grasp. Therefore, he had made an agreement with Jiang Heng that if he really entered Fu's family, he would accept his fate and become an undercover agent.
Seeing Zhao Chen smash the cup, Jiang Heng knew his plan was done. He bid farewell to Zhao Chen, packed his things, and then walked out of the mansion with Fu Qinxiang. Fu Qinxiang invited Jiang Heng to ride in her sedan chair without further ado. Jiang Heng felt extremely uncomfortable the whole way, while Fu Qinxiang enjoyed herself immensely. She observed Jiang Heng while inhaling the exotic fragrance, feeling quite relaxed. Not long after, she teased, "I saw Young Master Jinli lost in thought earlier. What were you thinking about?"
Jiang Heng feigned shyness and said, "Just now, I saw a beautiful woman walking with me..." "Haha, no need to say more." Seeing Jiang Heng's reaction, Fu Qinxiang felt relieved and leaned closer, saying, "Young man, it's normal to have many things on your mind. Once the Emperor approves your appointment as Prime Minister, I will personally bestow upon you a beauty." Jiang Heng almost showed disgust, but he composed himself and nodded. Only then did Jiang Heng notice that Fu Qinxiang's skirt was similar in pattern to his mother's, both being the work of Southern weavers. However, compared to her, this skirt was embroidered with plum blossoms in gold thread, requiring a considerable amount of time to complete. Her hands, placed on her legs, were adorned with gold rings and jewels, giving it an exaggerated, ostentatious air. Fu Qinxiang seemed to have something tucked into her waistband. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a whip, the end of which was shaped like a snake's head, very realistic. Seeing Jiang Heng staring at it for a long time, Fu Qinxiang laughed and said, "You'll have one too. I'll have five hundred weavers work overnight to make one for you."
Jiang Heng then felt a chill of fear. Weavers toiled year-round, and working through the night was unbearable. Moreover, given Fu Qinxiang's ruthlessness, she might use whipping to force completion, potentially costing many lives for his clothes. Thinking this, he quickly said, "No need. These clothes are only similar to what my mother wore years ago, so I'm just being careful. The weavers don't need to go to such lengths for me." Fu Qinxiang frowned and said firmly, "No, now that you're on my side, you must abide by my rules. Every time I attend court, I must see you wearing the new clothes I bestow upon you." Seeing Jiang Heng open his mouth to refuse again, Fu Qinxiang gave him a cold look. "If you refuse, fine, I'll have the weavers make them until you're 'satisfied' wearing them. We have plenty of time to wait."
Jiang Heng had already imagined countless people dying tragically under the whip, and he compromised, saying, "Just one piece, no need to rush it, thank you, Imperial Preceptor." As he spoke, his voice trembled slightly, whether from the jolting or from his own inability to control himself. Jiang Heng suddenly regretted his choice, wondering if staying at the Zhao residence was the best outcome. But if he stayed, he would inevitably become a threat to the Zhao family—since Fu Qinxiang had taken a liking to him, she would definitely try every means to capture him. If he caused trouble for the Zhao family because of him, even a thousand cuts wouldn't make up for it. But if he got close to Fu Qinxiang, being hated by the world was a minor matter; being forced to harm more people was a major one. Thinking of this, they arrived at the residence Fu Qinxiang had arranged for him. The carriage stopped abruptly, and his thoughts snapped.
Jiang Heng got off the carriage and bowed, saying, "Could I supervise the clothing production?" Fu Qinxiang raised one eyebrow and smiled, "Sure, I've been writing to the Emperor these past few days. You have nothing else to do, so you might as well go and take a look."
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