Chapter 61 It's a bit too late. After all, I'm the only one in this Jian'an City...
According to custom, since Hua Shu and the others left yesterday, Hongzheng Pavilion has been mostly deserted.
Officials below the fourth rank were not qualified to visit, and even so, apart from Huan Xun and Zhao Huashu's group, only three or four groups of people came to the inn.
Officials of the third rank arrived sporadically, and only one or two fourth-rank officials made an appearance. As for the high-ranking officials in purple robes and jade belts, and the princes of noble families, not a single one was seen.
However, among them were several high-ranking officials of the second rank or above, and a few relatives, who sent notices of illness, yet still sent congratulatory gifts without fail.
Yu Nie knew that the political situation in the court was treacherous, but he did not know how far the undercurrents had already reached.
Since the new emperor listened to the advice of the gentry and abolished the imperial examinations, he has cut off the path for those from humble backgrounds to rise in society.
The power dynamics within the court are now clearly divided. First, there is the royalist faction, which stands on the same side as the emperor. These factions are mostly former officials from the new emperor's former residence, newly emerging relatives of the emperor, and scholars from humble backgrounds. Among these groups, apart from Yan Yue, who comes from a military family, the rest are all attached to imperial power, advocating "absolute decision-making" and vowing to eradicate the power of aristocratic families.
Secondly, there were the powerful clans who wanted to continue their ancestors' glory and share the empire with the emperor. These aristocratic families controlled more than 60% of the official positions in the prefectures and counties, which is why they had controlled the government for many years.
It is evident that during the reign of the late emperor, the implementation of the policy of "examination" which was detrimental to the aristocratic families was a result of considerable political maneuvering and scheming.
Finally, there were the neutral faction, observing the struggle between the emperor and the powerful. These were mostly local magnates and declining members of the imperial family. They dared not defy the imperial authority, yet they were also wary of the influence of powerful clans. They lived in constant fear, walking on thin ice, and dared not offend anyone.
Although she didn't know how far the power struggles in the court had progressed, Yu Nie could vaguely sense that those who had presented gifts cared far more about the emperor's thoughts than those who hadn't come.
No one came, so she didn't get any peace and quiet.
The reason is that Zhao Huayan grew up in the state temple without any formal education. Although her speech and behavior have some princess-like demeanor, they are still far from those of the noble ladies in the palace. Now that she has to shoulder the important task of a political marriage, she naturally needs to undergo rigorous training.
In order not to disgrace the royal family and to make her more like a proper princess, Song Ai, along with several female officials, supervised her from morning till night, teaching her royal etiquette. From daily manners, speech, and posture, to the worship rituals of the Jie people's religion, everything was repeatedly refined.
It was far more complicated than what Cuiwei had taught her on the way back to Jian'an.
She spent half a day just learning the gait. Even so, she was considered a slow teacher, but because of the arrow wound on her shoulder, Song Ai and the others were still quite lenient with her.
She didn't know what Gu Xiangzhi had said to the people who served her closely, but no one was surprised by her injuries, nor did they report it to the palace. She applied ointment three times a day, and her condition improved considerably.
Song Ai told her that using this ointment would prevent scarring in the future.
Song Ai and the others showed mercy, but by the end of the day, when she lay exhausted on the bed late at night, her legs were still sore and swollen that even turning over caused pain in her calves.
Hongzheng Pavilion was heavily guarded, with Imperial Horse Guards on duty at key points both inside and outside.
As night deepened, armored figures carrying halberds patrolled the corridors. She held her breath and peered into the bedchamber for a long time, trying to find a suitable time to figure out the patrol schedule of the White Guards, and then slip out to go to the Jiheng Mansion.
Looking at the patrol personnel coming and going outside, she couldn't help but curse Gu Xiangzhi hundreds of times in her heart.
He muttered to himself, "That heartless Gu Xiangzhi! You just casually turned your back and went home, leaving me all alone in this impenetrable fortress, with no one to turn to for help, and I have to rack my brains to find a way to survive..."
She vented her frustration by rambling on and on. Cuiwei, who wasn't on night watch in the palace, rubbed her sleepy eyes, walked up behind her, and said, "Princess, it's the middle of the night. Why aren't you resting? What are you standing here looking at?"
Cuiwei's sudden voice startled her. She turned around, patted her chest, and said, "I thought it was someone else, Cuiwei...you scared me to death."
Upon seeing this, Cuiwei hurriedly bowed, her voice filled with remorse: "This servant deserves to die. I have disturbed the princess. Please forgive me, princess."
Yu Nie waved her hand: "Never mind, I'm fine, you don't need to worry about it."
After speaking for a moment, she glanced again at the patrolling soldiers through the crack in the door, then walked to the table in the hall and sat down.
Cuiwei noticed the lingering melancholy between her brows, clearly indicating that she was preoccupied with something. Just as she was about to ask, she saw her take two teacups from the table, pour two cups of tea, and push one of them in front of her.
Cuiwei was taken aback, but accepted the tea.
Seeing her like this, Yu Nie smiled and comforted her: "Cuiwei, from now on, when it's just the two of us, you don't need to treat me like a princess anymore. I was never really Princess Shunhe. There is no difference in rank between us; we are equals."
“Equality…” Cuiwei murmured, pondering the meaning of the words.
Yu Nie changed the subject, his tone becoming more serious: "Cuiwei, now that we are on the same side, there is something I really should tell you."
It was rare to see her with such a serious expression, so Cuiwei also became serious: "As I said before, from now on, Your Highness is my true master. Please feel free to give me any orders."
Her words warmed Yu Nie's heart considerably.
She picked up her teacup, took a sip of tea, and then slowly recounted to Cuiwei the whole story of how she met Zijing.
The more people who know her true identity, the more dangerous she becomes in the eyes of others.
Cuiwei was the same. Although she had never heard anything about Huan Xun before, and had been in Shuoyang Temple for a long time and was not very familiar with court affairs, as she listened, a layer of worry involuntarily gathered between her brows, and the vague unease in her heart gradually grew heavier with Yu Nie's narration.
Yu Nie said, "Zi Jing is a good person, so I'm not afraid that he will betray me."
Cuiwei said worriedly, "Your Highness trusts Lord Huan so much, should we report this matter to Supervisor Gu?"
"Why tell him?" She had never thought of telling Gu Xiangzhi about her relationship with Zijing: "Didn't you tell me that the people in the Imperial Horse Administration are ruthless? What if he wanted to kill someone to cover it up for safety reasons? I don't trust him."
She had absolutely no trust in Gu Xiangzhi; at this moment, she probably only felt disgust towards him.
Reminded by her, Cuiwei suddenly realized that she had been making hasty and desperate attempts to find a cure.
Yu Nie sat on the cushion with his knees drawn up to his chest: "Didn't he say on the way back that once we entered Jian'an, what happened afterward would have nothing to do with him? We're just asking for trouble by looking for him."
"Forget it..." She waved her hand haphazardly, "Let's not talk about him anymore, it's annoying to even mention him. Let's talk about Zijing instead." She explained to Cuiwei in detail her plan to meet with Zijing in private, and at the end, her tone carried a hint of barely perceptible expectation: "Besides you, Zijing is the only person I know and trust in Jian'an City. Perhaps he can really come up with some solutions."
Cuiwei frowned, her voice full of worry: "But the marriage alliance is a national policy decided by His Majesty, which concerns the overall situation of diplomatic relations. How can it be changed so easily? Even if that Lord Huan really has extraordinary talent, how can he shake His Majesty's heart and reverse this decision that has already been made?"
Yu Nie sighed. She didn't have anyone better to discuss countermeasures with at the moment, and her chemistry skills seemed somewhat useless.
When she left the temple, she left all the bottles and jars she was carrying with her, except for the ones that were already used up, at Jingyuan Temple.
Nowadays, even with that little bit of chemical knowledge, it's impossible to gather the most basic materials to do anything.
Not to mention training, she was followed everywhere she went, and during the day she was so busy that she had no free time at all.
She paused for a moment, then replied to Cuiwei, "But besides Zijing, I can't think of anyone else who can give me suggestions."
This is no longer something she can handle alone. The capital is no different from any other prefecture or county; not only are various forces deeply intertwined, but a single misstep could lead to certain doom.
Instead of figuring things out on your own, it's better to find someone you know to avoid some basic risks.
Although she said this to Cuiwei, she actually knew a man named Xu Jingyang in Jian'an City. However, it was already difficult for scholars from poor families to survive in the imperial court, and since he had finally gained a foothold in Jian'an, she felt embarrassed to disturb him.
That's why Langxi and Ahui weren't around. If they were, no matter who they faced, even if they had to wander the country their whole lives and be wanted by the court, they would still take her out of the capital without hesitation.
Upon hearing what she said about Zijing's decision to overrule public opinion and execute He Renzhi and Zhao Shuhuai, Cuiwei's lingering worries lessened considerably: "From what the princess has said, Lord Huan is truly a loyal and trustworthy official. No wonder the princess trusts him so much."
Immediately, Cuiwei continued, "It's not surprising that the princess trusts Lord Huan so much. However, the Hongzheng Pavilion of the Jiheng Prefecture is located in the south of the city and the north of the city, respectively. Even if you leave the pavilion at night, there's no guarantee that you won't be discovered by patrolling troops on the road."
Yu Nie lowered his eyes in deep thought. Cui Wei's worries were indeed not unfounded.
The curfew in Beiye has always been strict. Once midnight has passed, no one is allowed to linger or wander on the streets unless they have a special pass.
She knew in her heart that this token was not something she could obtain in a short time. The thought had just arisen when she suppressed it again.
After about half a cup of tea's time, Yu Nie's eyes lit up instantly, as if he had finally found a clue.
She looked up at Cuiwei, her tone resolute: "I'm being watched closely these days, and it's not easy for me to go out. But you are still free to move around. Why don't we find a suitable excuse for you to secretly deliver a letter to him, conveying everything I want to say, and then see if he has any countermeasures?"
After careful consideration, Cuiwei felt that this method was a good idea and nodded in agreement, saying, "This method is indeed reliable, and I think it is worth a try."
The two immediately made a decision. Xiao Chengyan would come to take her to Yongxing Temple tomorrow, but there was no suitable time. This matter could not be put on hold for the time being, and they planned to take action the day after tomorrow.
No sooner had the two women finished speaking than a figure in black suddenly emerged slowly from behind layers of curtains.
That all-too-familiar voice came through, carrying a hint of a half-smile: "The day after tomorrow... doesn't the little Taoist priest think that's a bit too late?"
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