X
Sure enough, a little later, a guard came to find Shen Lingwei.
At that moment, Shen Lingwei was reading in the study.
Soon, a man’s voice came from outside the door.
“Subordinate Zhao Zhao, reporting to the lady.”
Shen Lingwei’s brow furrowed slightly.
What was bound to come had come.
This Zhao Zhao was the head of the guards sent by the old emperor to her side.
In the name of protection, but in reality, to monitor.
“Commander Zhao, please come in.”
Shen Lingwei put down the travelogue she was reading and looked towards the door.
The person at the door soon entered.
Seeing that only Shen Lingwei and her personal maidservant were in the room, he spoke.
“My lady, it has been over a month now.
Would you like to write a letter home?”
“Yes.
Wait a moment.
I will write it shortly and give it to you.”
“Yes.”
After speaking, Zhao Zhao withdrew.
Shen Lingwei began to grind ink and write.
She briefly described the sights along the journey.
She also wrote about how devoted Fan Chuan was to the Great Zhou, having just returned to the northern border and already going to inspect the military camp.
In short, Shen Lingwei wrote only good things, which were also the truth.
After finishing, she handed the letter to Xiao Tao to give to Zhao Zhao.
Xiao Tao looked at the letter, hesitant to speak.
“Young lady, just give it to him like this?
What if the Marshal finds out?”
“It’s fine.
Just give it to him.”
Shen Lingwei then picked up a travelogue and continued reading as if nothing had happened.
Xiao Tao, seeing her young lady’s calm expression, had no choice but to obey.
That guard commander, named Zhao Zhao, quickly dispatched a guard to ride fast back with the letter.
Of course, that guard hadn’t gone far before he was intercepted by Fan Chuan’s people.
The guard was directly locked up in a secret place by Fan Chuan’s shadow guards, and the letter was also confiscated.
Fan Chuan went to the military camp for a full five days.
She first went to the checkpoint to inspect the soldiers on duty there.
Then she visited several garrison points within Zhuozhou’s borders one by one.
According to past practice, she would have been out for at least ten days before returning to the Marshal’s residence.
This time, however, Fan Chuan tried to shorten the time and returned in five days.
On the way back to the Marshal’s residence, Fan Chuan saw a shop on the roadside selling osmanthus cakes.
Remembering that Shen Lingwei liked them, she dismounted and bought a portion.
But this place was, after all, not the capital; she didn’t know if Shen Lingwei would like these osmanthus cakes.
Yun Heng saw her Marshal buying pastries and immediately guessed who they were for.
It had to be said, their Marshal knew how to make his wife happy.
Fan Chuan, seeing Yun Heng looking at her, asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, nothing.”
Yun Heng quickly replied.
Fan Chuan shook her head, mounted her horse, and headed towards the Marshal’s residence.
After returning, she went straight to her own small courtyard.
Shen Lingwei was tending to flowers and plants in the garden.
When she saw Fan Chuan, her eyes lit up.
“You’re back?”
“Mm.
I finished dealing with everything and came back early.
I brought you some osmanthus cakes.
I don’t know how they taste.
Try them.”
“Okay.
You must be exhausted?
Let me help you take off your armor first.”
As she spoke, Shen Lingwei quickly had a maidservant prepare water.
She washed her hands and then began to help Fan Chuan remove her armor.
With experience from previous times, Shen Lingwei was a bit faster this time.
“Take a bath in a while and have a good rest.”
Shen Lingwei, seeing the dark circles under Fan Chuan’s eyes, knew she definitely hadn’t rested well these past few days.
And indeed, to come back early, Fan Chuan had crammed many military affairs into those five days.
So she had only been able to sleep a little over two hours each day.
Fan Chuan followed Shen Lingwei back to the bedroom and let Shen Lingwei help her remove her armor.
She felt a warmth in her heart.
Since her family was gone, Fan Chuan hadn’t felt this way in a long time.
Having someone at home waiting for her to return seemed like a very happy thing.
While Fan Chuan was lost in thought, her armor had already been removed by Shen Lingwei.
She helped Shen Lingwei hang the armor on a nearby wooden rack.
Shen Lingwei then quickly had someone boil hot water and got a change of clothes for Fan Chuan.
The corners of Fan Chuan’s mouth lifted slightly.
She quite liked the feeling of having someone care for her and take care of her.
While Fan Chuan’s thoughts drifted, Shen Lingwei had already placed her clothes on the rack next to the wooden tub.
Then she walked back.
“Your clean clothes are ready.
After you bathe, put them on.”
“Okay.
Thank you for running around for me, my lady.”
Fan Chuan smiled at her, though the smile held a bit of weariness.
Shen Lingwei quickly said, “Don’t thank me.
These are things I should do.
We’re already married.”
The smile at the corners of Fan Chuan’s lips grew even wider.
She nodded at Shen Lingwei.
“Mm.
Then try the pastries.”
“Okay.”
Shen Lingwei acknowledged, washed her hands again, and then opened the package of pastries.
She pinched a piece of osmanthus cake and brought it to Fan Chuan’s lips.
Fan Chuan took a bite.
The taste seemed not as good as the ones from the shop in the capital.
But she still finished the whole piece of cake from Shen Lingwei’s hand.
It seemed having someone feed her was also a very happy thing?
“The taste doesn’t seem as good as the ones in the capital.
You try it?”
Fan Chuan said.
“Mm.”
Shen Lingwei also pinched a piece and ate it.
The taste was average.
But that Fan Chuan, despite being so busy, still remembered her favorite pastries made Shen Lingwei very happy.
“Not bad.”
Shen Lingwei finished a piece of cake and smiled at Fan Chuan.
Fan Chuan smiled back at her.
It seemed that looking at Shen Lingwei made her feel less tired.
While they were talking, the servant boys had brought the wooden tub and adjusted the water temperature.
“Then I’ll go bathe first.”
Fan Chuan looked at Shen Lingwei and said.
“Mm.”
After speaking, Fan Chuan went in to bathe.
Shen Lingwei had someone bring clean water and used a cotton cloth to carefully wipe the silver armor clean, piece by piece.
When Fan Chuan came out after bathing, she saw that Shen Lingwei had just finished.
She quickly said, “I could have done this myself.
How could I trouble you with this?”
“It’s no trouble.
We’re married.
It’s only right that I do this for you.”
Shen Lingwei smiled at her and had Xiao Tao take the used water out.
Fan Chuan was drying her hair with a cloth, feeling a bit embarrassed as she looked at Shen Lingwei.
Those were her armor pieces.
How could she let Shen Lingwei do that for her?
“Marshal, let me.”
Shen Lingwei walked over and reached out to take the cloth from Fan Chuan’s hand.
Fan Chuan pressed her lips together.
She had wanted to say no, but thinking of Shen Lingwei’s temperament, she closed her mouth and simply handed the cloth to Shen Lingwei.
Shen Lingwei used the cloth to gently dry Fan Chuan’s wet hair.
Fan Chuan’s earlobes turned red.
She didn’t dare look Shen Lingwei in the eyes, her gaze only darting around.
Shen Lingwei naturally noticed Fan Chuan’s discomfort, but she just curved her lips and didn’t mention it.
She simply continued, changing to a dry cloth, gently drying Fan Chuan’s wet hair.
Fan Chuan didn’t dare look at Shen Lingwei’s face.
Her gaze drifted down, landing on Shen Lingwei’s waistline.
Shen Lingwei’s waist was very slender.
Fan Chuan felt she could encircle that slender waist with one arm.
Thinking this thought was very inappropriate, Fan Chuan quickly shook her head.
Shen Lingwei saw her shake her head and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, nothing.
How have you been these past few days?”
Fan Chuan quickly changed the subject.
“Very well.
I walk in the residence’s garden when I have nothing to do, or read in the study.
It’s quite comfortable.”
Shen Lingwei’s movements were gentle as she smiled in reply.
“That’s good.
Oh, did they come to take your measurements?”
“Yes.
They said the new clothes would be delivered in about ten days.”
As Shen Lingwei spoke, her gaze unconsciously fell on Fan Chuan.
It warmed her heart that she remembered these small things about her.
The military camp was already so busy, yet she still remembered these little matters concerning her.
“That’s good.”
Fan Chuan nodded.
“Alright, that’s about enough.
Wait until your hair is completely dry before tying it up.”
“Mm, okay.
Then let’s have lunch together.”
Fan Chuan said, having the maidservants prepare lunch.
It was about lunchtime after her bath.
After lunch, Shen Lingwei had intended to let Fan Chuan have a good sleep and rest.
But then Yun Heng arrived.
“Marshal, there is urgent military business awaiting your decision.
Please come to the command tent.”
Yun Heng bowed and said.
“Alright.”
Fan Chuan nodded and looked at Shen Lingwei beside her.
“Then I’ll go.”
“Mm.
Important matters come first.
Go.”
Shen Lingwei had thought she could spend a little more time alone with Fan Chuan, but as soon as Fan Chuan returned, there was more business.
She could only be a magnanimous wife and let Fan Chuan attend to her duties first.
After leaving the courtyard, Fan Chuan asked, “What’s so urgent?”
Yun Heng whispered a few words in Fan Chuan’s ear.
Fan Chuan immediately became serious and followed Yun Heng out of the Marshal’s residence on horseback.
They rode all the way to a farmstead on the outskirts.
This was also Fan Chuan’s property, though she rarely came here.
Entering the farmstead, Fan Chuan asked, “Where is the person?
And the letter?”
“Marshal, the letter has been given to me.”
Yun Heng said, carefully handing the letter to Fan Chuan.
Fan Chuan looked at the envelope.
On it was written a single large character: ‘Secret.’
The seal of the envelope was stamped with a hot gold seal.
Fan Chuan didn’t open the letter immediately.
Instead, she went to a woodshed on the farmstead.
Inside was the guard who had been sent back to the capital to deliver the letter.
Fan Chuan beckoned, signaling for someone to remove the rag from the guard’s mouth.
She asked, “Did the old emperor send you to monitor me, then report back on my movements periodically?”
The guard stared at Fan Chuan and cursed, “Fan Chuan, the Fan family has been loyal for generations.
You know I am His Majesty’s man, yet you have arrested me.
Are you planning treason?”
Fan Chuan sneered.
“You also know that my Fan family has been loyal for generations.
But what good has that loyalty done us?
Zhou Nanfeng, does he trust our Fan family?
He never has.
Even though my Fan family has been reduced to just me, he is still especially wary of me, wary of the hundred thousand troops in my hands.”
Fan Chuan swept her gaze over the man and continued.
“Actually, it doesn’t matter whether you talk or not.
Yun Heng, just deal with him.
We can’t leave him alive.”
The guard clearly hadn’t expected Fan Chuan to stop asking questions and simply kill him.
He panicked immediately.
They were loyal to the old emperor, because he gave them a lot of silver and promised even more after they succeeded.
But silver was far less important than their own lives.
“Wait, I’ll talk, I’ll talk!
Yes, His Majesty sent us to monitor you.
Every month, we need to take Shen Lingwei’s letters back to the capital.
They’re said to be letters home, but in reality, they’re secret reports to His Majesty.
Shen Lingwei writes down your actions and doings for the past month in the letter and reports them.”
The man spilled everything in one breath.
Fan Chuan nodded.
Although she had known in her heart, hearing from another person that Shen Lingwei would write to report her movements still made her a bit upset.
But when she was in the capital, she had already made up her mind: she no longer wanted to be the fish on the Zhou family’s chopping board, slaughtered at will.
Fan Chuan signaled to Yun Heng.
Yun Heng drew the long sword in her hand and killed the man with one stroke.
The man fell backward, blood gushing out.
“Marshal, we’ve intercepted the person.
What do we do about the rest?”
Yun Heng was a bit worried that the capital would become suspicious if they didn’t receive the letter.
Fan Chuan glanced at her, walked out of the woodshed, and said as she walked, “His Majesty probably won’t have time to worry about our side.
Besides, it takes at least two months for a secret report to reach the capital.
Who knows what the situation in the capital will be by then.”
Yun Heng quickly said, “This subordinate understands.”
When she was in the capital, she had stayed inside the Marshal’s residence and closed her doors.
But that didn’t mean her people also stayed in the residence.
Fan Chuan had sent out many shadow guards to gather intelligence.
The most important piece of intelligence was that the rebellion within Jiangnan Province seemed to be getting out of control.
Previously, the people in the capital had only said it was ordinary bandit activity.
The old emperor, busy keeping his sons in check, hadn’t paid much attention.
But when she was in the capital, she had already heard that this matter was about to blow up.
It had been over a month now, and this matter should have completely blown up.
The court’s soldiers were just people who only knew how to eat, drink, and have fun.
They were useless for a real task.
Perhaps sending tens of thousands of troops would only make the situation in Jiangnan worse.
After all, those incompetent fools had often killed innocent people to claim credit for killing bandits in the past.
The common people were already filled with complaints about the court’s soldiers.
Compared to the rebels, the common folk were more afraid of the court’s soldiers entering their territory.
As Fan Chuan thought, she had already entered her study on the farmstead.
After dismissing everyone, she sat at her desk, staring blankly at the letter in her hands.
Fan Chuan’s heartbeat quickened.
She was afraid of seeing bad news in the letter, afraid of breaking the delicate balance between her and Shen Lingwei.
Fan Chuan pressed her lips together and took a deep breath.
She still opened the letter and read it.
Her expression was serious as she read.
This letter, written in six pages, was filled with content that was nutritious – meaningless flattery of the old emperor, or veiled praise of how hardworking and loyal Fan Chuan was to the court.
Anyway, there wasn’t a single word that was disadvantageous to her.
After reading the whole letter, Fan Chuan leaned back in her chair and breathed a sigh of relief.
She had shown no flaws in front of Shen Lingwei.
But she had handled many matters without Shen Lingwei knowing.
Yet Shen Lingwei hadn’t mentioned these things in the letter.
Was Shen Lingwei on her side?
Or was she overthinking things?
Fan Chuan sighed.
Under the current circumstances, it wasn’t appropriate for her to confront Shen Lingwei.
It wouldn’t be a wise move.
She still needed to see how things developed before making a decision.
But at least the letter contained nothing harmful to her.
She and Shen Lingwei could still interact as before.
After handling this matter, Fan Chuan began to write a letter to Lu Zijin and Wei Lan.
Once she raised her army, it would inevitably affect them.
Even if, for the Lu family’s safety, they had ostensibly cut off contact, once she disobeyed the court’s orders, it would still affect them.
It would be better to send people to escort them to Zhuozhou to settle.
Thinking this, Fan Chuan wrote everything in the letter.
It included her marriage in the capital, and also the rampant banditry in Jiangnan.
Of course, the main point was for Lu Zijin and the others to come to Zhuozhou as soon as possible.
After writing the letter, Fan Chuan had Yun Heng personally take fifty highly skilled personal guards, disguise themselves as a merchant caravan, and go immediately to Panyang City to escort them.
These matters kept her busy until the afternoon.
Fan Chuan then rode back to the Marshal’s residence.
By the time she returned, it was almost dark.
When Fan Chuan entered, Shen Lingwei was resting on the soft couch in the bedroom.
Seeing Fan Chuan return, Shen Lingwei quickly sat up.
“You’re done with your work?”
Meeting Shen Lingwei’s concerned gaze, Fan Chuan nodded.
“Mm.
Mostly done.
I can rest at the residence for a few days.
I’ll go back to the military camp after that.”
“Good.
Then I’ll have them prepare the meal.
Let’s rest early.”
Shen Lingwei had already stood up and walked to Fan Chuan’s side.
Fan Chuan had returned in a hurry; even though the weather wasn’t hot, fine beads of sweat had formed on her forehead.
Shen Lingwei smiled at her, took out her own handkerchief, and wiped the sweat from Fan Chuan’s brow.
“You’re sweating a lot.
Is it hot outside?”
“It’s fine.
Not too hot.”
She had been afraid Shen Lingwei would worry, so she had given her horse to a guard and hurried back to find her.
“Don’t move.
Let me wipe it.”
Seeing her try to step back, Shen Lingwei reached out and took Fan Chuan’s wrist, stopping her.
Then she continued to gently wipe her sweat.
When Shen Lingwei wiped her sweat, she stood very close.
Fan Chuan instinctively avoided meeting Shen Lingwei’s eyes, but her earlobes still turned a faint red.
The two ate.
Fan Chuan bathed again, then dried her hair and prepared to rest.
Autumn in the northern border was already a bit cold, requiring thick blankets.
The maidservants had prepared all this early.
Fan Chuan dried her hair completely before getting into bed.
Shen Lingwei was already lying on the inside.
Fan Chuan also lay down.
Only a single candle remained on the round table.
After the bed curtains were lowered, the light inside the bed grew even dimmer.
After waiting for a while, seeing that Fan Chuan didn’t speak, Shen Lingwei said, “Rest early.
You’ve worked too hard these past few days.”
“Okay.”
Fan Chuan acknowledged and closed her eyes.
But her mind was still on the matter of Shen Lingwei.
She was still thinking about the letter.
What exactly was Shen Lingwei’s attitude towards her?
Fan Chuan’s heart was very confused.
But she had been too tired these past few days and soon fell asleep.
On the other side, Wei Lan and the others received Fan Chuan’s letter nearly a month later.
Because Yun Heng and her group had traveled almost day and night, it had taken them less than a month to reach Panyang City.
After arriving in the city, they found a large tavern to stay in.
To avoid drawing attention, Yun Heng, when delivering the letter, disguised herself as a merchant and went to the Lu residence herself.
At first, the guards at the gate didn’t recognize Yun Heng.
In the end, Yun Heng had to tell the guards that she was from the Fan family and gave them some silver to go in and announce her.
Only then did the guard reluctantly go inside.
It was still morning, and Lu Zijin wasn’t at the residence.
But fortunately, the master had moved to Jingchen Courtyard, so they didn’t have to run as far to announce.
The guard soon arrived at Jingchen Courtyard.
He learned from the maidservants in the courtyard that Wei Lan was carving jade in her workshop.
The guard was a bit troubled, but he had taken five taels of silver and didn’t want to not fulfill his duty.
So he had to steel himself.
He bowed outside Wei Lan’s workshop door and then spoke up.
“Master, there is someone at the main gate who requests an audience.
They say they are from the Fan family.”
Wei Lan hated being disturbed while carving jade.
She was in the middle of carving a design on a hand-held piece.
Hearing the voice outside, she was indeed annoyed.
But when she heard ‘Fan family,’ she was clearly stunned for a moment.
Wei Lan sighed, put the half-carved monkey piece aside, washed her hands, and pushed open the door.
“Is the person male or female?
About how old?”
“A young female Qiankun.
She looks quite spirited.
Judging by her clothes, she looks like a passing merchant.”
The guard, seeing Wei Lan come out, quickly said.
Wei Lan nodded.
“Bring her to the study.
I’ll wait for her there.”
“Yes, master.”
The servant boy quickly ran towards the main gate.
Wei Lan returned to the bedroom, changed out of her work clothes, had someone bring water to wash her face, and then went to the study.
She had just sat down and drunk half a cup of tea when Yun Heng was brought in by the guard.
Wei Lan dismissed everyone else in the study and specifically had the door closed.
Only Xi Ye remained by her side.
Xi Ye naturally recognized Yun Heng.
She said to Wei Lan, “Master, this is Yun Heng, a guard by the Marshal’s side.”
Wei Lan nodded and looked at Yun Heng.
“Did my cousin send you?”
Yun Heng quickly bowed to Wei Lan.
“Yes.
Our Marshal has safely returned to the northern border, but her situation is not optimistic.
The old emperor had someone marry the Marshal, but in reality, he sent people to monitor her.
The Marshal does not want to continue like this.
So she sent me to escort you and the young lady to the northern border.”
Wei Lan nodded.
So, Fan Chuan really intended to rebel.
If that was the case, then she and Lu Zijin definitely had to leave.
Otherwise, once the news of Fan Chuan’s rebellion came out, even if the Lu family had cut off ties with Fan Chuan, they would still be implicated.
At best, their property would be confiscated and they would be exiled; at worst, they would be executed and their families wiped out.
But the Lu family’s businesses were very extensive.
It would take them some time to deal with it all.
Wei Lan looked up and asked, “When will she make her move?”
Yun Heng hadn’t expected Wei Lan to just come out and say it like that.
She quickly cupped her hands and said, “It would take at least two months for the capital to find out anything.
But the Marshal’s wish is for you to come as soon as possible.”
“Alright, I understand.
And the people you brought?”
Wei Lan asked.
“I brought fifty guards.
They’re all staying at an inn in the city.”
Yun Heng said.
“No, you can’t stay at an inn.
It’s too conspicuous.
Xi Ye, the Lu family has a farmstead on the outskirts.
Take them there to settle.
Yun Heng, change into the clothes of a Lu residence guard and stay here, so we can ask you questions at any time.”
Wei Lan thought for a moment and said.
“Yes.”
The two acknowledged and went to carry out Wei Lan’s instructions.
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