Chapter 24 Those Years

Chapter 24: That Year

A flicker of surprise crossed Gu Yuan’s sharp features. After a moment of contemplation, he stated, "I fear it will not be easy."

Gu Yan had served as Grand Mentor for over a decade, guiding the Crown Prince and clearing obstacles for his ascension. His hands were stained with too much blood. Should he now pledge allegiance to the Virtuous Prince, the Virtuous Prince Faction would never tolerate him.

As for other options… beyond the eldest prince, the Virtuous Prince, and the young Crown Prince, the intermediate princes were all wanting—either their mothers came from humble origins with no influential maternal relatives, or they were frail and sickly, panting after a few steps, or simply too foolish to bear significant responsibility. The emperor had five sons and three daughters in total, a modest number indeed compared to previous dynasties.

For years, the Crown Prince and the Virtuous Prince had been locked in a stalemate, and court officials had placed their bets on these two. No one wished to see a third power emerge from nowhere.

"What a pity," Gu Yuan sighed, his brows furrowing. "There is no prince with the Gu family bloodline."

If Consort Shu in the palace had a son, the Gu family would exert every ounce of their strength to elevate him. From then on, the dynasty would endure for a thousand generations, with the imperial lineage forever flowing with the Gu family’s blood.

What a glorious prospect that would be!

Gu Yan, however, felt no regret. "Dynasties rise and fall in an instant. Why trouble ourselves with the annals of future generations?"

He had always focused on the present. While he lived, he desired boundless wealth for the Marquis of Jingyuan’s estate, with wives ennobled, sons privileged, and all relatives, both close and distant, holding prominent positions. In death, all was void. The blessings of descendants depended on themselves. As for how history would judge him—whether as a loyal minister or a treacherous official—he cared not.

Even upon learning of the Crown Prince’s infertility, he had not abandoned him. Strangling that woman was merely a lesson for the Crown Prince, a trivial matter in his eyes.

The Crown Prince had been at odds with him for a long time. The last time, under Empress Xu’s mediation, the young man had shown resentment, but Gu Yan, being much older, had overlooked it. However, at the Marquis’s banquet yesterday, the Crown Prince had acted uncharacteristically humble, subtly showing weakness and concealing his true intentions, attempting to use Gu Yan as a pawn.

Too young! A mere stripling, trying to emulate Goujian’s endurance—but Gu Yan was no arrogant King of Wu. He had always believed in eliminating threats at the root to prevent future troubles.

The Crown Prince must die.

Gu Yan’s gaze deepened as he calmly stated, "Who said I intend to change course? The Marquis’s estate belongs to the Crown Prince’s faction, and it always will."

His ties to the Crown Prince’s faction were too deep and intricate; he had no intention of severing them.

"But must the Crown Prince be Zhou Chenghui? Throughout history, it’s not uncommon to bypass the Crown Prince and enthrone the Crown Prince’s grandson directly."

Gu Yuan’s eyelids twitched. "But the Crown Prince…"

Isn’t he infertile?

"That’s for the Crown Prince and Crown Princess to consider," Gu Yan said with a cold laugh. In the past, with him and Empress Xu protecting him, the Crown Prince had been too naive, indulging in romantic dalliances. From now on, he would slowly teach him to see clearly: a Crown Prince who could not produce an heir was useless.

A Crown Princess without children to secure her position would forever be like rootless duckweed.

When desperate, people would do anything. All the more so a child.

These two seemingly casual sentences unleashed a tempest in Gu Yuan’s heart. In this way, the Marquis’s estate could indeed prolong its glory, but… At his most rebellious, he had only dared to contemplate a palace coup to install their chosen candidate. For his elder brother to tamper with the imperial bloodline—how could the Great Zhou’s millennia-old foundation be inherited by a bastard?

His audacity was so outrageous, so inconceivable, that it shocked even Gu Yuan.

"Elder brother," Gu Yuan said after a moment of deliberation, "this matter is of great importance. Should we not deliberate carefully? Perhaps there’s still room for maneuver with the Crown Prince…"

He feared not for himself, but for the retribution his elder brother might face. If this failed, the entire Marquis’s estate would be annihilated. If it succeeded, they would descend into the Avici Hell after death, tormented for eternity without hope of redemption.

It wasn’t worth it.

Gu Yan, however, took it lightly. "He who steals a hook is executed; he who steals a state becomes a marquis. In this world, there is no right or wrong—only victors and vanquished."

Seeing Gu Yuan still frowning deeply, he stood up and patted his shoulder. "Don’t worry too much. It’s not even a certainty yet. Even if a 'royal grandson' were to be born, it would take at least another year."

"Circumstances are always changing. We’ll act as the situation dictates. Perhaps… His Majesty is still vigorous, and the Consort Shu you’ve been thinking about might become pregnant, giving us a prince with the Gu family bloodline."

The atmosphere was too heavy, and Gu Yan rarely made jokes. The emperor had never been particularly interested in the harem even in his youth, let alone now, with one foot in the grave. The harem had not seen any announcements of pregnancy for years, and Gu Yuan knew he was being wishful.

A forced smile appeared on his stern face as he nodded uneasily. "Elder brother is right."

Having said that, Gu Yan changed the subject and inquired about Gu Yuan’s daily duties and patrols. With no battles in the northwest, Gu Yuan commanded three thousand elite troops stationed outside the imperial city, guarding it and counterbalancing the capital’s imperial guards.

After a moment’s thought, Gu Yuan said, "The imperial exams are approaching, and many scholars are arriving in the capital. Nothing else seems unusual."

"By the way, I heard that the Marquis’s in-laws are about to arrive in the capital? The security checks outside the city are strict now, and people often get stranded. Why don’t I go directly to fetch them to avoid trouble…"

"A Yuan." Gu Yan, who had been composed until now, suddenly lowered his voice. "You’ve overstepped your bounds. This is not your concern."

Gu Yuan’s expression froze, and he lowered his eyes: "I beg your forgiveness, elder brother."

He had no ulterior motives; he had merely heard Ming Lan mention it in passing and unconsciously remembered it.

He never dared to covet what did not belong to him, nor had he ever thought of betraying his elder brother. His elder brother was prone to suspicion—he should not have brought it up.

Gu Yuan clenched his jaw, his rugged and stern face showing regret. He wanted to explain but feared making things worse. The sight of this tall, sturdy man struggling to speak made Gu Yan uncomfortable.

He had always known that beauty could captivate.

From Yangzhou to the capital, he had handled countless indiscretions behind the scenes. Only by confining her to the mansion had he managed to put a stop to those covetous gazes.

If it were any other man—not his loyal blood brother—

If Gu Yuan were even slightly bolder and actually transgressed—

He would not be in such a bind.

The two brothers parted on uneasy terms amid the heavy atmosphere. Gu Yan closed his eyes for a moment, then lowered his head and opened a secret missive by his side.

It was from Yangzhou. He had ordered an investigation into Yan Xuerui’s background, focusing on Prince Su's Mansion. Prince Su was the current emperor’s brother. After the rebellion of the King of Wu, the emperor, reflecting on the lessons, revoked the feudal lords’ rights to maintain armies. Prince Su was now merely a prince without portfolio, but his inner courtyard was even livelier than the emperor’s harem.

The feminine intrigues were endless. Gu Yan frowned slightly as he read the densely written report but found no leads.

Could his direction be wrong?

Gu Yan furrowed his brows and picked up his brush to reply.

***

After leaving the study, Gu Yuan saw from a distance a group of maids and matrons surrounding a woman of ethereal beauty. He paused, instinctively stepping back behind a tall phoenix tree.

Because of what had happened in the past, to avoid any suspicion, the two had always strictly adhered to propriety and rarely exchanged more than a few words. Today, as usual, Gu Yuan kept his distance, waiting for her to pass before moving on. Unexpectedly, the large entourage stopped right in front of him.

"Second Master," she called softly, curtsying slightly. "Ming Lan has caused you trouble. I must first thank you, Second Master."

Gu Yan was swamped with affairs of state, and even after returning to the capital, it was Gu Yuan, the blood uncle, who took on most of the responsibilities. Now that the children were grown, Yan Xuerui intended to bridge the gap between them.

She lowered her eyes, and as she bowed her head, strands of hair brushed against her collarbone. A faint, elusive fragrance seemed to escape from the collar of her dress—not the cloying sweetness of flowers, but like wild orchids blooming by a mountain stream, tinged with morning mist, drifting into his nostrils.

Gu Yuan’s body went completely rigid. He let out a faint "Mm," then, feeling it was too cold, added, "Of course."

Yan Xuerui: "..."

She simply assumed Gu Yuan was cold-natured and stern. Apart from Gu Yan and Ming Lan, Yan Xuerui hadn't seen any men outside the family for years, and she too felt somewhat uneasy. After a few polite pleasantries, she tactfully expressed her longing for Ming Lan.

In the past, when he wasn't by her side, it was one thing, but now that he was right here in the Marquis' estate, she only got to see Ming Lan for the duration of a morning tea session when paying respects. Sometimes, if she woke up late, she wouldn't see him at all.

Unaware that Ming Lan had received a warning from his father, she directly blamed Gu Yuan for this—whenever she asked, the Eldest Young Master was always "gaining experience" under the Second Master's guidance. No wonder she misunderstood.

Gu Yuan didn't explain. In her presence, he was too stiff to know what to say, silently taking the blame for his elder brother. His cold demeanor and terse words made Yan Xuerui uncomfortable as well. After exchanging only a few words, Gu Yuan stepped aside to let her pass.

Gu Yuan strode back to his courtyard with vigorous steps, took off his cloak, and suddenly barked, "Bring me wine."

Like in the northwestern sands, drinking the fiercest *shao daozi* liquor, spicy and heart-burning, to drown a thousand sorrows.

Gu Yuan had two concubines, both gifted by his superiors in his youth. Now aged and faded, of low status, they dared not question him, simply obeying whatever he said.

He sat imposingly on the stone stool in the courtyard, flicking open the ox-hide rope sealing the wine jar with a finger. His wrist was steady; bypassing the delicate gilded wine cups of the capital, he lifted the jar by its mouth and drank directly from it.

The strong liquor burned down his throat. Gu Yuan's chest heaved violently, a searing pain spreading within. In a daze, he seemed to see again those beautiful, tear-filled eyes hidden behind a pile of filthy straw.

Though beauties were precious in this world, he, the Second Young Master of the Marquis' estate, was no country bumpkin who had never seen a woman. At first, he saw her as nothing but an ungrateful woman.

His elder brother, of noble status, handsome, accomplished in both letters and martial arts, was a rare great man in this world. Even princesses of the highest rank vied to marry him. What was a mere merchant's daughter, fortunate enough to have caught his brother's eye, if not grateful? How dare she think of running away?

Foolish!

After all, it was his elder brother's private matter. It wasn't his place to interfere, so he coldly watched her struggles, certain she couldn't escape his brother's grasp. The main residence often echoed with women's screams and sobs, gradually fading into whimpers. When he went to find his brother, Gu Yan would emerge from the room adjusting his robes, and he could even tease him a little.

"Elder brother, with your formidable prowess, how have you not yet tamed that little lady?"

His brother shot him a sidelong glance and rebuked him mildly, "What 'little lady'? That's your sister-in-law."

A mere concubine—concubines were as tradable as goods. His own concubines were gifts from superiors; he had four initially but found two too bony and flavorless, so he passed them on to colleagues. In his eyes, concubines were truly lowly, unworthy of the title "sister-in-law."

But he didn't dare defy his elder brother, so he obediently used the address, thinking to himself that his brother was just new to the pleasures of the flesh and didn't know his own strength. Judging by the cries from that little lady in the room, she probably wouldn't last more than a couple of days.

No matter, if she died, she died. This woman was ungrateful; when the time came, he would find his brother someone more knowing and agreeable.

Thinking this, Gu Yuan didn't pay it much mind. Until, in the estate's garden, he saw for the first time the woman who had so captivated his elder brother.

She was delicate and frail. The moon-white *ruqun* fluttered in the breeze, and he worried she might be blown away. Her face was the size of a palm, her eyes dark and bright—truly beautiful.

She wasn't afraid of people. After looking him up and down, she picked up a piece of pastry in front of her and began to eat. Her wrists were slender as twigs, her mouth tiny. A pastry he could swallow three of in one bite took her a long time to chew slowly. He stared at her and couldn't help asking, "Is it that good?"

Sticky—he didn't like it at all.

She glanced at him and said softly, "I have to eat my fill."

This answer made Gu Yuan scoff. However lacking the Marquis' estate might be, could it possibly starve her? But after saying that, the woman lowered her head and ignored him.

A few days later, he understood what she meant by "have to eat my fill." She had run away again! He had no idea how her frail body managed to slip through layers of guards and reach his mother's courtyard.

After that, Gu Yuan didn't see her for a long time and nearly forgot about her, until they met again by the estate's lakeside pavilion.

She was even thinner than before, her dark eyes clouded with a shadow, not as bright as they once were. Below was the deep pond water. Thinking she meant to end her life, he urgently called out to stop her.

"With so many people around, you won't die."

He was exasperated. Why was she so stubborn? In character, talent, and appearance, his elder brother was outstanding among men. What was there to resist?

She seemed dazed. After a long moment, she said, "Why should I die?"

It wasn't her fault; why would she seek death?

Gu Yuan was stunned. Feeling he had overstepped, he turned his face away and advised, "Behave yourself. Our Marquis' estate is an illustrious family; we won't treat you poorly."

She gave a light laugh and moved her ankles. Suddenly, a jingling sound rang out.

She lifted her skirt slightly. Her feet were small and exquisite, the size of a palm, but between them was coiled several loops of a golden chain—Western red gold filigree, sharper and harder than ordinary gold, with a few small golden bells the size of little fingers dangling at the ends, adding a touch of alluring charm.

Gu Yuan unconsciously swallowed, defending his brother. "This... you don't understand. Prisoners in dungeons have chains directly pierced through their leg bones, mangled and bloody, a pitiful sight."

She tilted her head and looked at him. "Am I a prisoner in a dungeon?"

Her tone was flat, without sarcasm or anger, as if she genuinely wondered. Gu Yuan awkwardly lowered his head. "Others who disobey are shackled with wooden cuffs. Their limbs often get worn down to the bone by the rough wood, festering and sore, suffering terribly."

She didn't speak, turning to leave. She walked very, very slowly. Gu Yuan's heart fluttered in panic, and he hurried after her.

"This matter, my elder brother—" He ultimately didn't want to speak ill of Gu Yan, so he said, "You've been wronged. Don't worry, I'll speak to my elder brother later. He's reasonable; he'll treat you well."

She said, "If you want my days to be harder, then go ahead."

After much hesitation, Gu Yuan ultimately didn't approach Gu Yan. But he couldn't help thinking of that delicate young girl. The more time he spent in the estate, the more often they met—about once every ten days. Gradually, they grew familiar.

She had been indifferent to him before, but from some point on, she began to complain to him, saying his elder brother hurt her; she showed him the marks on her ankles and wrists, she cried in front of him. She had just passed her coming-of-age ceremony; she missed home.

Even her crying was restrained, muffled sobs in her throat, not daring to make a sound.

Gu Yuan thought, he liked soft, plump women. He wasn't betraying his elder brother. It was just that she was too pitiful, stirring his compassion.

So when she asked for a layout of the estate, he gave it to her. That was the first time she smiled at him. Her smile was beautiful, though she often frowned and was reluctant to smile.

She begged him to divert the guards at the door at midnight. He turned a blind eye, thinking it pitiful to let her visit her parents. But she should never, ever have asked him to harm his elder brother!

She gave him a packet of pollen, saying it was like laxative, to be put in his elder brother's tea to delay his return to the estate, without harming him.

In that moment, he finally understood why, though her feet were chained, she wandered the garden daily. She wasn't waiting for him! Born into a family of perfumers, she was gathering materials. She had never given up on escaping.

Having grown up among fierce uncles and trained in martial arts for years, he might not know what laxative was, but how could he not recognize poison that could kill?

Gu Yuan took the packet of pollen, pondered for a night, and then went to Gu Yan's study.

...

This time, she learned her lesson. It was said his elder brother was furious, even striking her with a horsewhip until she bled before calming down.

He wasn't wrong. Gu Yuan thought to himself, she was just a scheming woman. He could never betray his elder brother for her.

After this, things were quiet for a long time. Gu Yuan began frequently going out, either on distant assignments or staying at friends' homes. Everything in the estate was peaceful, with no further disturbances.

Just when he thought all was calm, Gu Yan was ordered by the emperor to leave the capital to suppress bandits, a mission that would take half a month. At the time, he was enjoying wine at a friend's house when a servant from home stumbled in, panting and out of breath, crying, "It's terrible, Second Young Master, terrible!"

"That... she's run away again!"

...

Gu Yuan slammed the wine jar heavily onto the stone table, the strong liquor splashing onto his chest. He closed his eyes, thinking:

She truly is unruly, and indeed clever—her timing is perfect.

After the whipping, she had been docile for quite a while, and the guards and maids had grown lax. Taking advantage of his elder brother’s absence, she claimed she couldn’t get used to the manor’s food and requested a chef from Yangzhou. The manor had always indulged her every wish, so the Yangzhou chef was brought in. Yet she complained that his dishes were either too salty or too bland—not authentic Yangzhou cuisine at all.

She set to cooking, going to the main kitchen herself. Given past incidents, everyone in the manor was on guard, especially preventing her from approaching the well or the food. With so many eyes watching her, they overlooked the firewood stored below.

The kitchen went up in flames.

That day, the weather was dry, and the wind was strong. The flames raged quickly, and everyone was busy fighting the fire. Only afterward did they realize she had disappeared.

There were farmers who delivered firewood and coal to the manor monthly, arriving between 1 PM and 5 PM. Any later, and the city gates would close, forcing them to stay overnight in the capital. That day, she insisted on cooking herself and held up the farmers for an hour. Anxious to return home, they didn’t notice an extra person on their ox cart.

Her slender figure burrowed deep into the thick haystack, making it hard for anyone to spot.

That was the farthest she had ever run, her closest brush with freedom. The city gates were about to close. Had he arrived a moment later, or been less observant, she might have truly escaped!

He found her. Amid the light of torches, their eyes met for a long time. Those dark, bright eyes were glistening with tears, filled with too many emotions—stubbornness, resentment, despair… finally culminating in a desperate plea. He had never seen such beautiful eyes in his life. Even with her face smudged with coal dust, nothing could obscure those brilliant, starry eyes.

He gathered that brilliant galaxy into his palm.

At that moment, he strangely understood his elder brother—she ought to be kept under lock and key. If he could see her like this, what might happen if others did?

...

In truth, Gu Yuan had regretted it back then. After he caught her that time, she completely lost hope and began a starvation strike in protest. When he heard the news, Gu Yuan pressed a hand to his chest, feeling a dull, persistent pain.

Why go to such extremes? Just live peacefully!

The girl who had once solemnly told him, "You must eat your fill," the girl who had defiantly asked him, "Why should I die?"—had he driven her to this state?

Gu Yuan’s anxiety was deeper than even Gu Yan’s. He even considered pleading with his elder brother. But Gu Yan was harsher, and he feared his brother might truly drive her to her death—he was capable of it.

Fortunately, she was pregnant.

Everyone was overjoyed.

Gu Yuan’s feelings for Yan Xuerui were complex: a youthful, abruptly halted, hazy affection, intertwined with countless threads of guilt. After she officially became his sister-in-law, growing closer to his elder brother, his feelings for her took on an additional layer of unspoken taboo.

He never married.

She was his sister-in-law, but a merchant’s daughter. His third sister-in-law, widowed and timid, dared not confront her. He feared that if he married a high-born lady, she might bully Yan Xuerui.

He kept Ming Lan with him, treating him like his own son. When he saved him at the risk of his life, he couldn’t even tell if it was for the way he called him "Second Uncle" or for his mother.

Earlier in the study, his elder brother said that even Ming Lan was about to marry, and as an uncle, he ought to have someone to care for him.

Seeing her again today, her appearance had barely changed from over a decade ago—her skin like ice and jade, her face youthful, without a single wrinkle at the corners of her eyes. Only her eyes were now soft and docile, no longer as dark and bright as they once were.

Having spent so long on the battlefield, Gu Yuan could only drown his discontent in strong liquor.

Though he didn’t know why he was discontent, he refused to dwell on it. He was a man who roamed the battlefields—how could he afford to be entangled in sentimental attachments?

Gu Yuan glowered and barked, "Another."

In his courtyard, he was in charge, and no one dared to oppose him—except one.

"Second Uncle?"

Ming Lan’s footsteps hadn’t yet reached the courtyard, but his nose caught the smell of alcohol first. He frowned slightly and quickened his pace.

"Second Uncle is in such high spirits today?"

He lifted his robe and sat down, gently shaking the wine jar and seeing how little was left at the bottom. "Second Uncle," he said helplessly.

"This is the capital."

Not the free-spirited northwest. And this was the strongest liquor—even in the northwest, one shouldn’t drink like this.

He set the jar aside with slight disapproval. Though Ming Lan had trained with Gu Yuan for years, he had also received the refined upbringing of an aristocratic family under Gu Yan’s meticulous guidance, leaving him with quite a few particular habits.

For instance, his love of cleanliness—even in the military camp, he insisted on frequent baths.

For instance, his aversion to heavy drinking. He could drink generously with the soldiers after a victory to avoid spoiling the mood, but in private, he preferred savoring aged fine wines slowly.

Gu Yuan gave him a sidelong look. "Kid, trying to manage me now?"

The two had relied on each other for years in the northwest, and Gu Yuan cared for him more than his own son. Hearts are made of flesh, after all. With Gu Yan often busy and stern, Ming Lan felt more at ease with his second uncle.

He smiled faintly. "How would I dare, Nephew? It’s just that seeing Second Uncle with fine wine, I thought pairing it with some good dishes would better suit this fine moment."

With that, he called for snacks to accompany the wine. Drinking alone was hard on the body; having food would make it more bearable.

Gu Yuan understood his good intentions and reached out to pat his shoulder. Suddenly, he said, "You should visit your mother more often."

He remembered every word she had said.

Ming Lan was taken aback, his handsome face twisting slightly.

"Second Uncle, spare me."

Ming Lan complained bitterly, "Father is in some inexplicable rage lately. Anyone who gets within three feet of Mother displeases him."

When Gu Yan was displeased, he made sure others were too. Even as his own son, Ming Lan didn’t dare provoke him.

Gu Yuan chuckled. "Scared?"

"Not scared."

Ming Lan raised an eyebrow, defending himself. "This is called strategic retreat—a wise man knows when to yield."

As the eldest son of the marquis household, he had always been mature beyond his years, only showing this youthful side around those close to him.

Gu Yuan had said his piece. As an uncle, he shouldn’t overstep. Otherwise, his elder brother would read too much into it again. He asked, "At yesterday’s Flowerviewing Banquet in the manor, did any flowers catch your eye?"

Everyone knew the real purpose of the Flowerviewing Banquet. With strict separation between male and female guests, only Ming Lan, as the eldest son of the household, had a legitimate reason to pay respects to his mother and grandmother.

Though it was only for a quarter of an hour, just showing his face was enough to look around and form impressions.

Yesterday’s attendees were all young ladies of suitable age, excellent in family background, character, and appearance. Gu Yuan thought he would surely find at least two to his liking. Yet Ming Lan shook his head and said honestly, "None were as beautiful as Mother."

He didn’t like any of them.

Gu Yuan fell silent for a moment, then advised, "Beauty is only skin deep. In a wife, virtue matters more than looks."

Ming Lan looked at Gu Yuan, his face full of hesitation.

Could it be that Father was drawn to Mother's virtue? Mother is gentle and kind, but over the years, she hasn't lifted a finger to do any household chores—he really couldn't say that with a straight face.

For a moment, uncle and nephew were eerily on the same wavelength. Gu Yuan cleared his throat and slammed his palm on the stone table.

"Tell me, what kind of woman do you like?"

Ming Lan answered straightforwardly, "Gentle and serene, someone similar to Mother."

Gu Yuan mused silently: gentle and serene women were plenty in the capital, but someone like her...

"By the way, Uncle, Mother once had a maid."

Ming Lan suddenly interrupted Gu Yuan's train of thought. Gu Yuan looked slightly surprised. "You took a liking to a maid?"

Given how much she doted on Ming Lan, a mere maid could easily be made a bedmate—she wouldn’t have minded.

"Uncle, what are you thinking?" Ming Lan shook his head, his handsome brows furrowing. "She... is shady."

Mother’s attitude toward her was strange. That day, after saving her from Father’s punishment, he specifically had someone keep an eye on her. He found that aside from being a bit lazy and too curious for her own good, there was nothing particularly unusual about her.

If she were a spy—any kind of spy—she would surely send messages out. Sometimes it wasn’t even a professional spy; someone might be bribed with money to gather information. The Marquis’s household dealt with such people simply and brutally: no interrogation, no distinction—anyone caught sending messages out was killed on sight.

Ming Lan found it strange. If she were a spy, she never sent any messages out. But if she were just an ordinary maid? Mother treated her noticeably different.

Later, he noticed that the maid was always secretly watching him. As the eldest son of Senior Tutor Gu, Ming Lan had experienced several assassination attempts by now.

Could she be a female assassin?

That didn’t seem right either. Ming Lan laid low, waiting for her to slip up, but then one day, Mother suddenly dismissed her.

He grew even more puzzled. As a son, it wasn’t his place to nose into his mother’s business, so he prepared to bury the matter in his heart. But then he saw that maid again—in the palace!

She was no longer a maid. Dressed in Taoist robes, he asked his colleagues about her and learned she was a young Taoist nun assisting Taoist Master Xu. Taoist Master Xu was currently in the emperor’s favor, a big shot in the palace.

Whether maid or Taoist nun, she was still a servant close to someone important—so was her master that Taoist Master Xu?

Ming Lan kept his mother’s unusual behavior to himself but gave him the rest straight, solemnly adding, "That Taoist Master Xu goes by the name Xu Zhi, is well-versed in the Eight Trigrams and the Book of Changes, has a limp, and never shows his true face."

On the day Ming Lan returned to the capital with Gu Yuan, he had a "scuffle" with Qi Chengfeng, Colonel Qi, the grandson of Qi Zhong, in front of the emperor. He missed the welcome banquet at the Marquis’s estate that day. Later, Gu Yan, fed up with him hanging around his mother, listed several official posts for him to choose from and forbade him from moping around the inner quarters.

At home, Ming Lan was no match for his father or uncle, but outside, none of the young men his age could touch him. Without a second thought, he chose to serve in the imperial guards, a position that allowed him to move freely in front of the emperor.

That was the Qi family’s territory—the Virtuous Prince Faction.

He wasn’t acting impulsively. He wanted to watch his father’s back, to detect any changes in the palace in time. Previously, they couldn’t plant anyone in the imperial guards, but he was different—he was the eldest son of Marquis Gu and Senior Tutor Gu.

As Gu Yan’s son, Ming Lan knew that while he bore the heavy responsibility of the Marquis’s estate, he was also under the protection of the estate and his father. As long as the Qi family wasn’t planning a coup for the time being, no one would dare touch him openly.

This was the confidence his father gave him—he wasn’t afraid. As for privately... just as well. He’d been feeling cooped up at home, and this was a perfect chance to blow off some steam.

He never expected to run into that maid in the palace. Just after finishing his duty, he made a beeline for his uncle’s place to discuss it with him.

"Xu Zhi..."

Gu Yuan pondered for a moment. On the battlefield, one needed to be keen-eyed, sharp-eared, and detail-oriented. He might seem rough, but he was actually very meticulous. The name felt somewhat familiar, but after running through his mind, it was too plain—it didn’t ring a bell for now.

He again asked for more details about Taoist Master Xu: he had been introduced to the palace by the Virtuous Prince, and the Taoist nun by his side had once been a maid in the Marquis’s estate. But before being dismissed, that maid hadn’t sent out any messages.

Gu Yuan also sensed something deeply amiss. In the end, the two decided that Ming Lan should investigate for a couple more days to properly get the lowdown on this "Taoist Master Xu."