Chapter 132: Weaving The Net
On the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, Xiao Yi woke up in the duty room, rubbed his eyes, and felt he had slept well.
He ate his morning meal, practiced a set of spear techniques, then methodically washed up, changed, and proceeded to the front hall for duty.
Passing through the Inner Gate, Lu Chou quickly caught up and asked softly, “How can this servant relieve your worries, General?”
“What worries do I have?”
Lu Chou looked around and said quietly, “The Empress Dowager has passed away. Aren’t you afraid of punishment from the New Emperor?”
“Yes, Ming Gong said I’ve never disappointed him, and now that persona is broken.”
Xiao Yi remarked casually. Seeing that Lu Chou clearly didn’t understand, he let him continue to worry.
Upon reaching Jiafu Gate, a palace maid was peeking this way. She beckoned him over.
“General Xiao, please follow this servant.”
Xiao Yi followed her towards the inner palace, noting that the palace maid was rather unremarkable in appearance, with a demeanor that made her easily overlooked. She had been present at Jin Xiang Hall during the embalming yesterday, and was likely one of the confidantes Zhang Wan mentioned.
“What is your name?”
“Lantern. This servant has already heard from the Palace Lady-in-Waiting that you, Young Master, are willing to take us in, so we won’t die. Thank you for your great kindness, Young Master.”
“How old are you?”
“Thirteen.”
“How did you become Zhang Wan’s confidante?”
“This servant and Candle Wick are both born into the Commander Zhang’s Mansion. Our parents are still at the Zhang residence.”
Xiao Yi then knew that as long as Zhang Wan was around, he didn’t have to fear these two palace maids betraying him.
So he asked, “Do you wish to stay in the palace or leave?”
“This servant is fine with either.”
“It’s more dangerous in the palace, but there’s a brighter future.”
“This servant understands and wishes to stay in the palace for you, Young Master.”
Xiao Yi nodded and asked again, “What can I do for you?”
“If you could bring my family to work at your mansion, this servant would die willingly!”
“Is Commander Zhang’s Mansion not good?”
“It is good, but the young lady is from a concubine, so our parents have a low status in the side courtyard. You, Young Master, are someone the Empress Dowager valued, so it must be right.”
“I will handle this matter. What position do you wish to seek in the palace?”
“This servant is not good-looking and has no future in the Palace Lady-in-Waiting Bureau. I wish to go to the Palace Affairs Bureau. Candle Wick likes sewing clothes and has long wanted to go to the Imperial Wardrobe Bureau.”
“I understand.” Xiao Yi finally added one more instruction, saying, “Don’t let Wang Yan know you are my people.”
“This servant understands. You do not trust Wang Yan and fear others might find us through him.”
“It’s commendable that you are so sensible at such a young age…”
Before long, they arrived at an unoccupied side room.
Pushing open the door, Zhang Wan was sitting behind a desk, meticulously organizing a small wooden box. Hearing the movement, she looked up, and then rose to greet him.
“Young Master, I was afraid others might see us together, so I asked Lantern to invite you over.”
“I know,” Xiao Yi said. “I just asked, and Lantern and Candle Wick are willing to stay in the palace.”
Zhang Wan immediately understood and replied, “This servant will arrange it.”
With that, she picked up a letter and handed it to him, saying softly, “This is what you requested.”
Glancing at it, Xiao Yi saw An Shenqi’s messy handwriting. He was writing to Du Chongwei, discussing whether to fight or to yield.
Such early-era incriminating evidence was indeed not very useful, but it was enough to scare fools.
Xiao Yi took it and looked at the wooden box on the table.
Zhang Wan said with some worry, “The Empress Dowager instructed that these must be burned. This servant must obey. If you wish to know anything, General, this servant remembers it all.”
“Burn them, then. May I take a look?”
“Thank you for your consideration, Young Master.”
Xiao Yi then looked through the wooden box. It was full of letters detailing the scheming and plotting among the various feudatories, which would be useful for Guo Wei in stabilizing the court.
Even so, he did not trouble Zhang Wan and let her burn all the letters.
Just as he was about to turn to leave, Zhang Wan followed him a couple of steps and asked with concern, “Young Master, will rescuing me from the palace implicate you?”
“I won’t fall for that.”
Zhang Wan was slightly taken aback and wanted to explain.
Xiao Yi turned and left, casually waving his hand, telling her not to be nervous.
Arriving at Zi Chen Hall, his expression turned stern.
At the hall entrance, he encountered Li Hongxin. It seemed he had not stayed to keep vigil last night and had just entered the palace.
“Commander Li has not returned to the capital for some time. You must have been very busy?”
“General Xiao looks quite well.” Li Hongxin sighed, “With constant changes, last night, how many people couldn’t sleep, worrying, uneasy, guilty, or lovesick? It’s better to be young, carefree and heartless.”
“I dare not say much about other things, but I have no regrets towards anyone, so of course, I slept well.”
“Good, good.”
Li Hongxin mused for a moment, showing a level of trust he hadn’t displayed yesterday, and asked, “Is General Xiao also interested in business?”
Xiao Yi said, “It’s not me. I have a few friends who are in the cotton cloth business. They transport goods from Jiangnan to Bianliang and double the profit. I wonder how much they could make selling further north.”
“I don’t have such connections for now. If the New Emperor can tolerate me, shall I inquire for General Xiao?”
“It’s a deal.”
It wasn’t the time to talk. Both became solemn and entered the hall to keep vigil.
An Yuanzhen was already kneeling behind the mourning curtain. After maintaining the demeanor of a regent for a day, today she again showed the faint aura of death that he had first seen.
Xiao Yi contemplated. Using the cotton cloth business, with the Li Clan selling in Shanxi, and if they could also procure goods from An Clan in Xiangzhou, they wouldn’t make much money, but the profit chain would be formed.
He needed to speak with An Yuanzhen.
He wasn’t in a hurry, as he didn’t have a single bolt of cotton cloth yet.
After standing for a short while, An Yuanzhen couldn’t sit still.
“General Xiao, regarding the funeral procession, I still have matters to instruct you on. Please come with me.”
“Yes.”
The two turned to Jin Xiang Hall to speak.
An Yuanzhen, exuding grace and dignity, instructed her attendants, “You guard outside.”
“Yes.”
As the hall door “clicked” shut, her expression immediately changed. She glared at him angrily.
“Hmph.”
Xiao Yi knew that she only appeared mysterious but actually had no significant issues, always dealing with trivial matters.
As expected.
“Don’t move. I need to hit you to vent my anger. Don’t move.”
If he didn’t move, he didn’t move. Xiao Yi was indifferent.
An Yuanzhen scrutinized him for a while and chose his upper arm, which was not covered by armor, and pinched it with her fingers.
It didn’t hurt.
“Still quite tough… You’d better remember this: I am the one keeping your secret. You’d best be sensible and don’t make me angry again.”
“Sensible? Are there any specific requirements?”
“You don’t even ask why I’m angry. You don’t understand palace etiquette at all. Specific requirements, you say? I’ve already thought of them. I’m not going to Tai Ping Palace; I want to live in my father’s villa in the capital.”
“No, I will be held responsible for negligence.”
“Now you’re afraid of taking responsibility? You and the Empress Dowager… that… when you were doing that, weren’t you afraid? To be blunt, you’re just unwilling to take responsibility for me. Why? I’ve kept your secret.”
Xiao Yi had nothing much to say. He took out the letter.
An Yuanzhen pretended not to see it and said indignantly, “If you’re afraid of taking responsibility, find someone to impersonate the Empress. I think Zhang Shangyi is very suitable. Haven’t you always been staring at her? How many times have you seen her? Do you think her high-waisted skirt with the scarf is beautiful? She’s not afraid of freezing to death either.”
“There’s no need to find someone to impersonate. The Empress must stay at Tai Ping Palace for a few days.”
“Xiao Yi, I see you are unappreciative.”
“So what?”
“Of course, I’ll report you and ruin you.”
“Empress, please take a look at this.”
“Are you afraid of me? Just say what it is.”
“Your father’s handwriting…”
“Ah.”
An Yuanzhen let out a startled cry, covering her mouth with her hand and widening her eyes as she looked at Xiao Yi, having apparently seen something.
Silence fell in the hall for two breaths.
“Give it to me.”
Xiao Yi raised his hand and lifted An Yuanzhen by her upper arm. She couldn’t hold on and slipped down. Soon, her expression changed.
She actually had acting skills. Tears welled up in her eyes, her lips pouted slightly, her voice became soft, and her tone slowed.
“I wasn’t really going to report you; I’ve been hiding it for you all along. And you, you bring out something so frightening. Burn it, then? Your business, I promise not to speak a word of it for my entire life.”
“I did not intend to harm Commander An, because I have always considered the Empress a friend.”
“Friend?”
An Yuanzhen’s eyes flickered, her gaze implying, “I know everything, but I won’t expose it.”
Xiao Yi put away the letter and said, “Empress, could you do me a small favor?”
“You speak first.”
“I have a friend who wants to purchase cotton cloth but has no connections. Xiangzhou borders Xishu and Jiangnan. Commander An should be able to help, right?”
An Yuanzhen let out a soft sigh and said, “Sure, I’ll mention it when I write back. How much do you want to purchase?”
“Goods worth a thousand guan.”
“Tch, using a butcher’s knife to kill a chicken. Do you think my influence is worthless?”
“A small business.”
“Idiot,” An Yuanzhen suddenly cursed. “If you send me back to Xiangzhou, you can have as much money as you want. Why bother earning so little.”
“Alright, I’m foolish. I plan to learn slowly, expand my reach first, and then grow bigger.”
“Understood. Let my father lend you some capital. You’ll have a reward ‘after you escort me to Xiangzhou’.”
“No need. One thing at a time. I must give you the capital.”
“Quite honest. Then it’s settled. Now, we each keep a secret for the other, no one is allowed to speak of it. We each help one favor, no one is allowed to go back on their word. Agreed?”
“It’s a deal.”
An Yuanzhen suddenly smiled and said, “You fell into my trap, didn’t you?”
“Huh?”
“Didn’t you notice? The trap in my words. So foolish.”
She appeared smug and walked to the hall door with her hands behind her back. She cleared her throat twice, adopting an empress-like demeanor, and said, “Open the door for me.”
Opening the palace gate, Xiao Yi surveyed the majestic Imperial Palace. Two grand halls stood tall in front, and in the distance, Kaifeng City was faintly visible in the snow.
His days of being unrestrained within the Imperial Palace were drawing to a close.
The heart of the empire’s power was ultimately not his.
His gaze shifted to the hall entrance, where a tiny spider was weaving its first web…
