Forty-seven
The night in Youzhou City held an air of solemnity and mystery that surpassed its daytime grandeur. The Wei Prince's mansion was brightly lit, with carriages and horses constantly passing before its vermilion gates. Invited merchants and wealthy individuals, dressed in brocade robes, presented their name cards under the tutelage of servants, their identities verified before being allowed entry. The sounds of stringed instruments and flutes drifted faintly from within, mingled with laughter and conversation in the Khitan language, creating an atmosphere of opulent extravagance.
However, at the side gate of the Prince's mansion's backyard, a different scene unfolded. Dozens of temporarily recruited servants stood in a long line, undergoing strict questioning and reprimand from the mansion's steward. Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang, disguised as ordinary Han Chinese youths, dressed in coarse cloth, kept their heads down and blended into the crowd, concealing all their sharp edges.
"Listen up, all of you!" A Khitan steward with a small mustache spoke in broken Chinese, his voice arrogant and condescending. "Once you're in the palace, keep your eyes peeled! Don't look at what you shouldn't look at, and don't listen to what you shouldn't listen to! Be quick and efficient, serve the nobles well, and you'll be rewarded! If you mess things up, you'll be in big trouble!"
After the instructions were given, the servants were assigned to different areas. Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang were lucky enough to be assigned to the outer perimeter of the banquet hall to serve drinks and dishes. Although they couldn't directly enter the core area from here, moving around allowed them to come into contact with all sorts of people and overhear more conversations.
Inside the banquet hall, wine cups clinked and people mingled. The banquet was hosted by the chief secretary of the Prince of Wei's residence and officials stationed in Youzhou. Although Yelü Zongzhen was still in Song territory and had not yet returned, his influence was everywhere. The invited merchants toasted the chief secretary, who represented the Prince of Wei's residence, and flattered him to the extreme. They all clearly wanted to get on the Prince of Wei's good side and get a share of the profits in the border trade and other shady businesses.
Zhan Zhao, holding a wine pot, humbly poured wine for the guests, while carefully listening to every word of their conversation. Most of it concerned the market prices of furs, medicinal herbs, and horses, as well as speculation about the situation on the Song Dynasty's borders, occasionally interspersed with praise for the power of the Prince of Wei.
"...I heard that the young emperor in the south has been having some trouble in the palace lately?" a fat merchant said in a low voice to his companion.
"Indeed, it's said that some important person has fallen ill, causing widespread panic. If you ask me, this Song dynasty..."
Zhan Zhao felt a chill run down his spine, but his face remained impassive as he silently filled the wine cup. The Liao people had learned of palace affairs so quickly!
Just then, a crisp bell sound and slightly hurried footsteps came from outside the hall. A young girl dressed in a fiery red Khitan riding and archery outfit, accompanied by several maids, rushed in. She was about sixteen or seventeen years old, with healthy honey-colored skin, bright and striking features, and a pair of lively and spirited eyes that carried the wildness and pride unique to the children of the grasslands.
"Brother Wang hasn't returned yet? This manor is getting more and more boring!" The girl's voice was clear and crisp, filled with dissatisfaction. Her gaze swept over everyone in the hall, and those merchants who were usually arrogant all lowered their heads, not daring to look directly at her.
"Greetings, Princess Yaoguang!" The chief steward, who was in charge of the banquet, hurriedly stepped forward and bowed, saying with a smile, "Your Highness, His Highness the Prince of Wei is still in the Southern Dynasty and has not yet returned. Today's banquet is to entertain the distinguished guests from Nanjing. If Your Highness is in the mood, would you please take a seat and have a few drinks?"
The one who arrived was Princess Yaoguang, Yelü Yao, the younger sister of the Liao emperor and the full sister of Yelü Zongzhen. She was pampered from a young age and had a lively and domineering personality, making her a well-known little devil in the Liao Kingdom.
Yelü Yao pursed her lips, clearly showing little interest in such social occasions. Her gaze swept across the hall, suddenly landing on Zhan Zhao, who was pouring wine for a guest. It wasn't that Zhan Zhao's disguised appearance was particularly outstanding, but rather his composed demeanor and upright posture as he poured the wine, which stood out remarkably among the group of servants who were either obsequious or timid.
Yelü Yao was naturally curious and bored, so she strolled over.
"You, raise your head." She pointed at Zhan Zhao with her riding whip, speaking in Khitan.
Although Zhan Zhao did not understand the Khitan language, he understood its meaning from the gestures and tone. He raised his head as instructed, his gaze calm and neither humble nor arrogant.
Yelü Yao saw his face clearly. Zhan Zhao, in disguise, could only be described as handsome, but his eyes were deep and bright, like a cold pool containing starlight, carrying an indescribable calmness and power. Yelü Yao had seen too many eyes filled with fear or infatuation, but this was the first time she had seen such a gaze in the eyes of a "servant," and she couldn't help but be slightly taken aback.
"Are you from the Song Dynasty?" she asked in slightly broken Chinese.
"Yes," Zhan Zhao replied succinctly.
“He does have a good eye.” Yelü Yao circled him with interest, lightly tapping her palm with her riding whip. “To remain so calm in front of this princess is quite interesting.” Suddenly, she became playful and pointed to a young servant who had accidentally knocked over a wine cup due to nervousness and was being scolded by the steward. “You, go and clean that up for him.”
She was referring to the broken wine cup, where wine and shards were scattered all over the floor. This was originally the servant's duty, but Yelü Yao's actions were clearly meant to tease, to see how this "calm" Song man would react.
Zhan Zhao's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, but he quickly regained his composure. He didn't speak, but silently walked over, picked up a rag and dustpan from the side, and cleaned up the shards and wine stains with swift and steady movements. The whole process was efficient and decisive, without the slightest hint of humiliation or dissatisfaction.
Yelü Yao watched his focused profile as he cleaned, his composure unlike that of ordinary servants, which fueled her curiosity. Having grown up in the palace, she was used to flattery and trembling, so Zhan Zhao's silent yet resolute reaction was refreshing to her.
"What's your name?" After cleaning up, Zhan Zhao was about to leave when Yelü Yao asked again.
Zhan Zhao had already prepared an alias: "My surname is Han, and my given name is Zhao." It was taken from the homonym of the character "Zhao" in "Zhan Zhao".
"Han Zhao..." Yelü Yao read it once, then waved her hand, "Alright, go ahead and get busy."
Zhan Zhao bowed and withdrew, his gaze never lingering on Yelü Yao for long.
His attitude only piqued Yelü Yao's interest more. As a princess, when had she ever been so "ignored"? During the banquet that followed, her gaze kept unconsciously following the servant named "Han Zhao," watching him move calmly among the guests, and observing the lines of his profile when he occasionally spoke quietly with his companions.
"Go, investigate Han Zhao's background," Yelü Yao whispered to the maid beside her.
After the banquet, Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang left the Prince's mansion with the other servants without attracting much attention. Back at the inn, they exchanged the information they had heard. Although fragmented, piecing it together, they could confirm that the Prince of Wei's mansion had close ties with certain "special" merchants from Song territory and was deeply concerned about the internal turmoil within the Song court.
"That Princess Yaoguang seems to have a bit of a crush on you, little cat," Bai Yutang teased. "I, Fifth Master, can see it clearly; that little girl's eyes are practically glued to you."
Zhan Zhao glanced at him helplessly: "Brother Bai, you still have the mind to joke at a time like this? We need to find conclusive evidence of their collusion as soon as possible."
"What's the rush?" Bai Yutang leaned back lazily in his chair. "Since Her Highness the Princess favors you, isn't this a perfect opportunity to get something out of that little girl?"
Zhan Zhao frowned: "Using women is not the act of a gentleman."
"Nonsense!" Bai Yutang scoffed. "Why bother with gentlemanly conduct when dealing with wolves like this? Besides, she came to us of her own accord. We'll just have to play it by ear."
Over the next two days, Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang continued to operate in Youzhou City as guards for a merchant caravan, secretly investigating merchants and suspicious individuals who had close ties with the Prince of Wei's residence.
Whether by coincidence or by Yelü Yao's own design, Zhan Zhao "bumped into" the princess twice on the street.
The first time was in front of a shop selling silk from the Central Plains. Yelü Yao and her maid were selecting fabrics when she saw Zhan Zhao passing by. She called him over and asked him to help her choose colors. Zhan Zhao declined, saying he didn't know anything about it. Yelü Yao wasn't angry; instead, she smiled and said he was "interesting."
The second incident occurred at the racetrack in the west of the city. Yelü Yao was galloping on her horse when it suddenly became startled and nearly threw her off. Zhan Zhao happened to be nearby at the time. Without thinking, he used his lightness skill to rush forward, grab the reins, and stabilize the frightened horse with his internal strength. His movements were swift as lightning and completed in one smooth motion.
Yelü Yao, still shaken, looked at the composed and calm "Han Zhao" beside her and was even more astonished. How could an ordinary caravan guard possess such skillful martial arts and such composure in the face of danger?
"Your skills are quite good." Yelü Yao jumped off her horse, looked Zhan Zhao up and down with a sharp gaze, "You don't seem like an ordinary guard."
Zhan Zhao felt a slight chill in his heart, knowing that he might have revealed a flaw in his haste, but he remained calm on the surface: "I have practiced martial arts since childhood, only for self-defense. I am glad that Your Highness is unharmed." After saying that, he was about to take his leave.
"Stop!" Yelü Yao called out to him, walked around to face him, looked up at his ordinary yet undeniably handsome face after his disguise, and suddenly laughed, "Han Zhao, this princess finds you quite interesting. How about becoming my personal bodyguard? It's much more promising than being in the merchant caravan."
Zhan Zhao lowered his eyes: "Thank you for your kindness, Princess. I already have a master and dare not break my promise."
"Oh?" Yelü Yao raised an eyebrow, never before had anyone rejected her so decisively. Far from being annoyed, her competitive spirit was completely ignited. She, Yelü Yao, had never failed to get what she wanted! How dare a mere Song Dynasty guard refuse her time and time again?
"Very well." Yelü Yao's lips curled into a triumphant smile as she lightly tapped Zhan Zhao's chest with her riding crop. "Han Zhao, we will meet again. This princess will see how long you can keep up your tough act."
Having said that, she mounted her horse and rode away with her maid, leaving Zhan Zhao with a furrowed brow and alarm bells ringing in his heart. This princess's entanglement would likely bring unnecessary trouble.
Bai Yutang strolled over from the side, clicking his tongue: "Look, you've gotten yourself into a love triangle, haven't you? It seems this little princess is determined to get back at you."
Zhan Zhao sighed: "It seems that we should not stay in Youzhou City for long. We need to speed up our actions."
However, the tree may wish to remain still, but the wind will not cease. When Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang attempted to secretly investigate a fur merchant with close financial ties to the Prince of Wei's residence, they unexpectedly discovered that they too seemed to be being watched. The other party acted discreetly, but Zhan Zhao, with his exceptional vigilance, still detected the subtle, almost imperceptible, gaze.
Were they sent by Yelü Yao to investigate his background? Or did the remnants of Prince An or the subordinates of Prince Wei's mansion discover their whereabouts?
Either way, the situation was becoming increasingly complex and dangerous. Zhan Zhao knew they had to be even more careful and find crucial evidence before being exposed; otherwise, not only would their mission fail, but they might also be trapped in the Liao Kingdom, unable to escape.
Princess Yaoguang, who had developed a strong interest in him, undoubtedly became the most unpredictable variable in this murky situation.
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