Qian Xingzhi racked her brains trying to come up with some advantages.
“I have no parents, so although there’s no help from them, you won’t have to serve in-laws. I won’t take concubines; the back courtyard will have only you. If you don’t mind my meager salary, I’ll hand it all over to you to manage.”
Liang Luming made a move on the chessboard, expressionless. “Lord Qian is quite candid. In that case, I’ll speak plainly. The Liang family and the Qian family support different factions—it’s bound to be awkward in the future, all depending on His Majesty’s eyes. Only one thing: no matter what, my husband must stand before me, shielding me from wind and rain, whether those storms come from the imperial family or the Liang family. Otherwise, though I’m stuck in the inner courtyard, I guarantee I’ll drag you down with me.”
Qian Xingzhi was delighted by these words. Without a doubt, Liang Luming was a woman with her own ideas—that made things much easier. She didn’t actually know how to play chess, but she imitated Liang Luming and placed a piece. “Naturally. If I fail to be a proper husband, I’ll submit to your punishment. Conversely, if I don’t harm you, just don’t send me to the chopping block.”
This gave Liang Luming pause for a few seconds, but she quickly agreed. “We’re bound by mutual interest anyway. I have no reason to harm you without cause.”
Good, good, good. I hope you’ll still say that when you find out your husband is actually a wife.
Every time Qian Xingzhi placed a stone, Liang Luming’s brows furrowed deeper.
What kind of chaotic mess is this?
Liang Luming twitched her mouth helplessly. “Lord Qian, if you’re trying to go easy on me, you don’t have to do it like this.”
Going easy too blatantly was another form of disrespect. Qian Xingzhi explained, “I’m not going easy—I really don’t know how to play.”
Liang Luming stared in surprise, but seeing Qian Xingzhi’s serious face, she couldn’t help but laugh. “Lord Qian has a sense of humor.”
The Liang family invited Qian Xingzhi to stay for a meal, but she excused herself on official business and hurried away, unable to help imagining the chaos that would erupt after she left.
Apart from Lu Yu, Qian Xingzhi couldn’t think of anyone else to ask about the Full Moon Tower and the assassination case. Having no reliable source of information was fatal; she had to develop her own informants as soon as possible, or her complete dependence on Lu Yu would eventually lead to ruin.
When she knocked on the Lu Mansion gate again, she recalled their unpleasant parting yesterday and felt apprehensive.
The first greeting was sarcastic: “I was wondering who it was—if it isn’t the honored son-in-law of the Liang family.”
Qian Xingzhi naturally retorted, “I’d rather be a daughter-in-law of the Lu family, but I don’t have the qualifications.”
Lu Yu snorted. “I wouldn’t dare! I’m unworthy.”
Yuan Bai’s gaze darted back and forth between them. He had always suspected that his master’s years of chastity hid something! This Qian Xingzhi was truly skilled—how had she gotten so close without him noticing?
No, it must be his master’s own plan; this was just a means to deceive Qian Xingzhi.
“Since returning to the capital, big brother, have you heard anything about Full Moon Tower and the assassination case?”
“Full Moon Tower has been taken over by the court; it’s probably going to be turned into a theater. As for the assassination, since there’s no solid evidence and several princes have been punished in succession, it’s likely completely over.”
This aligned with Qian Xingzhi’s expectations. “What about the people originally in Full Moon Tower? How were they handled?”
Lu Yu seemed puzzled by the question. He glanced up at Qian Xingzhi’s innocent face, then looked down at his chessboard. “They were to be executed without exception, of course.”
At this, Qian Xingzhi stood up abruptly. “All... all of them? The hundred-plus people at Full Moon Tower, all killed?”
“The Third Prince’s scandal was already exposed,” Lu Yu said, continuing to play with his pieces. “Given His Majesty’s intentions, killing them all is the best way to keep them silent. What’s wrong with you?”
Qian Xingzhi felt nauseous. The Third Prince had done wrong, the Emperor had given the order, but she herself had a hand in driving the situation. Even if she couldn’t be blamed, she couldn’t help feeling she had handed the executioner the knife.
But she quickly calmed down. In the future, there might be more of this. Though the outcome pained her, for survival and to return home, she had no choice.
Now, barely able to save herself, worrying about saving everyone else was beyond her limits. Just like in Nanchuan—when she was a refugee, simply surviving was a blessing. Now that she was an official, she could only do her small part.
If she was going to lose sleep and live in fear over this, she should have listened to Lu Yu and fled to another country long ago.
Seeing Qian Xingzhi standing there in a daze, Lu Yu added softly, “I heard the execution is set for the end of this month. The Third Prince still seems lost in his own mess. I wonder how he’ll react when he finds out his paramours have been put to death.”
Qian Xingzhi seized on the key point. “They haven’t been executed yet?”
“What,” Lu Yu said, somehow putting on that affectionate look again, “you want to save them?”
Qian Xingzhi didn’t hide it. “If there’s still a chance to salvage things, why harm so many people?”
The two faced each other across the table again. The one sitting looked relaxed, though who knew what scheme he was brewing; the one standing had steadied her heart and was already planning to rush to the Third Prince’s residence to urge him to save people.
“Even if some people whored and gambled at Full Moon Tower, ruining their families? That place is a den of iniquity, harboring countless money-grubbers and predators. Perhaps a clean sweep is the best solution.”
But these words didn’t persuade Qian Xingzhi. “I won’t dwell on what kind of people were killed or what crimes they committed—that’s their own business. I just want to atone for my own sins. The rest has nothing to do with me.”
Seeing her resolve, Lu Yu didn’t stop her.
After Qian Xingzhi left the mansion, Yuan Bai approached Lu Yu. “If Lord Qian really persuades the Third Prince to rescue them, it might backfire. That would continue to suppress the Third Prince. And when the Seventh Prince returns to the capital, won’t he attract too much attention?”
Lu Yu shook his head. “He’s been silent too long. If he doesn’t make a splash soon, he’ll fade into obscurity. Let her be. I’m curious to see if she can actually save them.”
*
Having not yet handed over the three hundred thousand taels to the Third Prince, Qian Xingzhi used that as an excuse to visit.
The Third Prince cheered up at the sight of the gold. Recently, he had lost his appetite over his military command and had tried several times to see Jun Anche, only to be rebuffed. He’d heard the Emperor was now favoring the Seventh Prince’s mother, Consort Wen, a minor noble who had somehow risen again at her age—not to be underestimated.
“Has Your Highness seen His Majesty recently?”
Qian Xingzhi was still thinking about the bad advice she’d given the Third Prince last time.
“Father hasn’t seen me,” the Third Prince said, weighing the gold. “Qian Xingzhi, you’re amazing! Where did you get all this?”
He had sent men to investigate, but even his trusted aides couldn’t find anything. Unconsciously, he had started to believe some of Qian Xingzhi’s mystical nonsense.
Qian Xingzhi was also puzzled. How deep had Lu Yu infiltrated? Not even the Third Prince had found a trace. She walked in and out of the Lu Mansion like it was her own home, and still no rumors were heard.
“I heard that on the thirtieth of April, everyone in Full Moon Tower will be beheaded…”
Before she could finish, the Third Prince’s face changed drastically. “All beheaded? No wonder Father won’t see me—he must think I’ll plead for them.”
It seemed Jun Anche was not entirely ignorant of the Third Prince’s habits. He had turned a blind eye before, but now that the opportunity had arisen, he wouldn’t let it pass.
“No,” the Third Prince paced anxiously, his long brows and narrow eyes twisting together—his usual expression of panic. “I must save at least a few. Qian Xingzhi, I’ll write you a list. You must find a way to save these people.”
Hand-delivered intelligence? Qian Xingzhi raised an eyebrow. “Your servant will do his best. But saving them all will be difficult. If Your Highness could see His Majesty and emphasize the hardships you suffered in Nanchuan, it might move His Majesty to pity.”
The Third Prince scribbled a long list and handed it to Qian Xingzhi, who tucked it close to her chest. Curiously, she asked, “Won’t Your Highness send more people? I might not be reliable enough alone.”
It wasn’t that the Third Prince didn’t want to, but over the past month, many of his informants had been uprooted. Those who had previously hesitated to pick sides were now too scared to act, and the rest were either punished or lying low. He had never lived like this! Once able to command wind and rain, now he was constrained everywhere, suffocated.
But the Third Prince put on a brave face. “I have great confidence in Lord Qian. Don’t disappoint me.”
This list might contain important information, but with Qian Xingzhi’s current network, it was too difficult to figure out.
An hour later, she sat in the Lu Mansion again with the list.
Lu Yu had already set up his chess pieces. “From now on, I’ll send Yuan Mo to follow you. In case of an emergency, he can come and go quickly.”
Qian Xingzhi idly played with the black stones in the bowl. “Help or surveillance?”
“Both.”
Although they were just using each other, there was a strange honesty mixed in.
Qian Xingzhi was dissatisfied. “If you had such a person, you should have sent him earlier. I’ve been coming and going several times a day; it should have aroused suspicion by now.”
“Don’t worry,” Lu Yu said indifferently. “I’ve already dealt with the previous issues. Just be more careful in the future.”
Qian Xingzhi tried to memorize the names on the list. “These are almost certainly the Third Prince’s trusted men, probably used for gathering wealth. If we could learn their respective roles, it would benefit you too, wouldn’t it, big brother?”
Lu Yu put away the chessboard and smiled. “Don’t try to curry favor.”
As night fell, Lu Yu invited her to stay for dinner. “Lord Qian has worked hard; you deserve a reward.”
Qian Xingzhi naturally didn’t want to go home and cook. “Then I’ll gladly oblige.”
Though it was home-style cooking, the meal was exceptionally lavish. Good food and wine always recharged Qian Xingzhi, and now she was completely satisfied, her eyes narrowing in contentment.
There was no conversation during the meal until Lu Yu sighed. “The Lu Mansion hasn’t entertained guests in years.”
“That’s easy to fix. I’ll come every day to have meals with you, big brother.”
“Hah, you wish.”