Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Gu Yu finally released her and fell asleep beside her. Jiang Heng gazed out the window, where moonlight streamed down and pomegranate flowers bloomed unseen.

Sleepless through the night, she rose at dawn. To avoid disturbing him, she deliberately went to the courtyard to wash and groom herself.

Alert as Gu Yu was, he naturally heard her movements but neither acknowledged nor hindered her. Instead, he watched through the window as she combed her hair beneath the pomegranate tree. In the end, she even plucked a pomegranate blossom and pinned it in her hair. After finishing her toilette, she called her tabby cat from the pomegranate grove, hugged and kissed it, then headed toward the main hall.

He had detected the moment he entered the room yesterday that the tabby cat must have been staying in her chambers these past few days. However, since the cat did not flaunt its presence before him, he did not inquire further.

Was she up so early again to chant sutras?

For some reason, since yesterday, Gu Yu had felt a persistent unease. Was it due to the arrival of Prince Zhennan’s envoy in the capital?

This envoy from Prince Zhennan was also rather peculiar—instead of staying at the officially arranged guesthouse, he insisted on lodging at Guanyin Temple. Was he afraid they might harm him at the guesthouse?

This was the northern territories, the imperial capital. If they truly wished him ill, even a sacred Buddhist site like Guanyin Temple could not protect him.

However, Lingnan bordered the wild seas, separated by distant mountains. It was said to be unbearably hot and infested with poisonous insects. To dispatch troops on an expedition there would likely consume considerable energy. Now, having just pacified the southern territories and unified the realm, the Emperor intended to disarm and demobilize, allowing the people to recuperate. This was why he had shown repeated leniency toward Prince Zhennan—even considering entrusting Madam Guiyi’s case to Prince Zhennan’s envoy for trial and disposition—all to demonstrate sincerity for peace talks.

Yet, many at court did not desire peace.

The Emperor and Prince Qin had specifically arranged for him to host Prince Zhennan’s envoy, also tasking him with ensuring the envoy’s safety. At least until the decision for war was made, Prince Zhennan’s envoy must not die.

Gu Yu had no liking for this envoy. The moment he saw him, he felt an instinctive aversion.

Gu Yu pressed his temples and rose to wash up.

If war truly broke out in the future, he would personally kill this envoy from Prince Zhennan.

***

Passing by the Buddha hall from yesterday, Gu Yu saw Jiang Heng praying before the Buddha again.

It was still early, and she was the only one in the hall. The tabby cat sat crouched on a nearby prayer cushion, its eyes slightly narrowed, leisurely keeping the lady company.

He never knew she was so devout in her Buddhist practice.

He stood at a distance watching for a while and was about to leave when he saw Prince Zhennan’s envoy also heading toward the Buddha hall. Nearing the entrance, the envoy paused briefly upon seeing his wife inside but still entered the hall.

Gu Yu frowned and strode toward the Buddha hall. He did not get too close, stopping at a suitable distance to observe the scene inside.

Prince Zhennan’s envoy entered the hall, added incense to the burner before the Buddha, bowed respectfully, then turned and left without lingering.

From beginning to end, Jiang Heng did not look up at the newcomer. Even the tabby cat merely lazily lifted its eyelids before continuing to doze on the prayer cushion, not fleeing at Prince Zhennan’s envoy’s approach.

Buddhist practices were more prevalent in the Southern Dynasties than in the north, revered from the emperor down to the common people. Since this Prince Zhennan’s envoy insisted on staying at Guanyin Temple, he was likely a devout believer—devout enough to add incense before the Buddha even in a foreign land.

“Military Advisor Xiao, shall we dine together?”

As he exited the hall, Gu Yu stopped him with these words.

Yan Hui did not refuse and went with him to the Guanyin Temple dining hall.

The temple’s meals were simple—aside from some seasonal vegetables, there were northern foods like flatbread soup and millet rice, but no rice porridge favored by southerners. Yet, seeing Prince Zhennan’s envoy eat smoothly without any difficulty, Gu Yu remarked, “Where is Military Advisor Xiao from?”

Yan Hui spoke without a southern accent and saw no need to lie to Gu Yu. “From the Penglai region of Qingzhou.”

Gu Yu continued, “Then how did you come to follow Prince Zhennan?”

“Amid the chaos of war, I drifted to Jiangzuo, where Prince Zhennan saved me. I stayed by his side to serve,” Yan Hui answered each question.

“Were you originally surnamed Xiao?” Gu Yu asked casually.

The Xiao clan was an eminent family, their ancestral home originally in Lanling in Qingzhou. Later, the entire clan moved south, establishing an honorary Lanling County in Danyang, which contemporaries called “Southern Lanling.” They eventually rose to become emperors and kings, ruling Jiangzuo. Meanwhile, the Xiao clan had long vanished from Qingzhou Lanling.

“No, it was bestowed by Prince Zhennan,” Yan Hui said matter-of-factly.

Many people at the time considered it an honor to be granted the imperial surname. Some even ceased mentioning their original surnames once honored thus. So, if Yan Hui did not volunteer his original surname, further inquiry would be impolite. Gu Yu changed the subject: “How long has Military Advisor Xiao been serving by Prince Zhennan’s side?”

After asking this, Gu Yu noticed Yan Hui looking at him, his eye beneath the mask deep as an abyss.

“Three years, and more,” he said steadily, gazing at Gu Yu.

Gu Yu smiled slightly. “That isn’t very long.”

Yan Hui also gave a light laugh, though his masked eye held no mirth as it fixed on the millet rice before him. “Not long? I feel it has been quite long.”

Gu Yu, unaware of the other emotions in the man’s words, pressed on: “Prince Zhennan sent Military Advisor Xiao for peace talks, so he must trust you greatly.”

He said “peace talks”—negotiations for peace, not uncertain discussions hovering between war and peace.

Yan Hui detected Gu Yu’s probing—he wanted to sound out whether Prince Zhennan leaned more toward peace or war.

Instead of answering, Yan Hui countered, “When can I see Empress Jiang?”

By addressing her as “Empress Jiang” instead of “Madam Guiyi,” he rejected the current Emperor’s conferral. He was also telling Gu Yu that his identity was Prince Zhennan’s envoy, not one of those surrendered officials forced north.

But Gu Yu deliberately corrected him: “You should address her as Madam Guiyi.”

Yan Hui evaded again, asking only, “When can I see her?”

Gu Yu feigned ignorance: “See Madam Guiyi?”

Yan Hui nodded slightly.

Only then did Gu Yu say, “Military Advisor Xiao has just arrived in the capital and must be weary from the journey. Rest for a few days first.”

Yan Hui looked at Gu Yu, half-joking, half-serious, testing: “Could it be that Empress Jiang is currently unable to see me?”

The corners of Gu Yu’s lips curled into a faint smile. “We’ll talk when Military Advisor Xiao stops misspeaking.”

The exchange in the dining hall ended unhappily. The two men walked out side by side. Just as they stepped over the threshold, they heard a woman’s laughter from the nearby bamboo grove.

Following the sound, they saw Jiang Heng watching a young novice, about eight years old, playing with the cat.

The novice held a long, thin bamboo pole with a cluster of colorful pheasant feathers tied to the end, waving it before the tabby cat. The cat leaped and jumped, chasing the feathers, amusing the watching lady to no end.

“Madame Jiang, how did its tail get broken?” Jingyi asked, shaking the long pole in his hand.

Jiang Heng’s eyes suddenly dimmed. She crouched down, lovingly stroking the cat’s forehead, and said, “It scratched someone, and its tail was cut off as punishment.”

Jingyi found it strange: “Would it hurt anyone? It seems very gentle to me—it has never scratched me.”

Jiang Heng smiled faintly: “It is indeed gentle and wouldn’t harm anyone without reason.”

“Then why cut off its tail? That person is truly unreasonable.”

Jingyi felt indignant on behalf of the tabby cat, while Jiang Heng remained silent, guiltily stroking the cat’s stub tail once more. She had failed to protect it.

“Madame Jiang, does it have a name?” Jingyi asked again.

Jiang Heng paused briefly. After a short silence, she nodded slowly. “Yes.”

“What is it?” Jingyi pressed eagerly.

“It’s called Yan Xiaoshi,” Jiang Heng said softly, her gaze growing even more tender as she looked at the tabby. She couldn’t resist picking it up and giving it a gentle kiss.

Jingyi repeated, “Yan Xiaoshi? Did its mother give birth to ten kittens in one litter?”

This brought a smile to Jiang Heng’s face again. She shook her head slightly and answered with a light laugh, “No, its mother only had this one cub in the litter.”

Jingyi grew even more curious. “Then why is it called Yan Xiaoshi? Does the owner of its mother have the surname Yan?”

Jiang Heng shook her head again but offered no further explanation.

Jingyi had only asked casually, so he didn’t press further. Brandishing the bamboo pole, he continued to play with the cat, calling out loudly, “Yan Xiaoshi, come here!”

Lured by Jingyi, the tabby cat dashed out of the bamboo grove and soon bounded up to Gu Yu.

Perhaps recognizing his scent, the cat suddenly let out a hysterical yowl, bared its teeth, and lunged at Gu Yu.

Gu Yu’s hand was already on the hilt of his sword. Seeing the cat charging at him with such ferocity, he was about to draw his weapon when Yan Hui pushed him aside with an outstretched arm, shielding him from the cat.

The previously frenzied tabby quickly calmed down in Yan Hui’s hands, perched obediently on his shoulder. It glared fiercely at Gu Yu, hissing menacingly.

Like a child who’s found a protector in a fight, it began fearlessly provoking an opponent far stronger than itself.

Jiang Heng remained standing in the bamboo grove, watching from a distance without approaching.

Jingyi looked at Yan Hui in amazement, then at the docile tabby perched on his shoulder, and exclaimed delightedly, “How did you tame it? Tell me how, quick! I’ve been raising it for days, and it still isn’t very tame with me. You’ve only known it for a day, yet it seems closer to you than to me.”

Yan Hui said nothing and began to walk away. The tabby remained perched on his shoulder, turning around to raise its stub tail and continuing to hiss at Gu Yu.

“Sir, wait for me! Teach me!” Jingyi called out as he jogged after him.

Gu Yu watched Yan Hui stride away, then glanced at the lady still standing far off in the bamboo grove. He felt that something was off.

Yan Hui had tamed the cat all too easily.

And Jiang Heng had stayed in the bamboo grove the entire time, not rushing over to protect the cat. Wasn’t she afraid he might draw his sword and harm it again?

Earlier in the residence, she had been so anxious and protective of the cat, even rushing back from her parents’ home to defend it.

This time, why wasn’t she afraid?

Or had she been certain that Prince Zhennan’s emissary would intervene?

He had never known that her cat had a name—Yan Xiaoshi…

It sounded like a proper name.

Gu Yu narrowed his eyes slightly, suddenly recalling that the young man who had caused trouble at the posted exam rankings was named Yan Rong.

Now, it seemed, he was studying at the Imperial College. He’d heard that the Chancellor of the Imperial College had personally intervened to get him out of jail.

Since they were not far from the Imperial College, he might as well go see that young man.