Seated in the place of honor was a woman dressed in a pale green robe embroidered with gold-thread feathers. Her hair was piled high, and a red-gold peacock hairpin, delicately filigreed, adorned it. Four or five maids in little silver-marten jackets stood properly at her side. Every one of them was pretty and charming.
"Meeting a friend? Ordinary people aren't allowed to enter the Marquis Mansion without permission. Young Master Yi surely knows that rule. Besides, the First Madam wants to see you today. If you don't arrive on time, we servants will be in a difficult position."
Faced with four or five guards whose expressions were blank, and the whispers and gossip around him, Hong Yi showed no surprise, worry, or fear. Instead, he flicked his sleeve with calm confidence. He didn't get up; he merely rubbed the ring on his finger.
The title Princess Zhennan of the Divine Wind Kingdom had not been bestowed by the kingdom's ruler. It had been granted personally by the emperor of the Great Gan Dynasty. Years ago, when the Yunmeng Kingdom attacked Yujing, it also sent an army by sea from the south to launch an assault. At the time, the Divine Wind Kingdom was a vassal state of the Great Gan Dynasty. Its forces joined the Great Gan navy to intercept the invaders, fighting a bloody battle and routing the Yunmeng army in one stroke.
"What? You've brought Hong Yi back? Then tell him to kneel in the courtyard first."
Lady Zhao spoke calmly when she saw the guard, stroking the cat in her arms.
The students at the Imperial Academy were all related to the Marquis Wuwen household in one way or another. They knew Hong Yi's standing in the mansion, along with some of the delicate relationships involved.
"What?" Lady Zhao sprang to her feet.
"Ordinary people? I'm not an ordinary person. Since you're here, that works out perfectly. Go to the Imperial Academy across the way and invite Princess Zhennan of the Divine Wind Kingdom for me. She said she'd visit the Marquis Mansion today. Hmm? Take this iron ring with you as proof, so you'll have something to show her guards."
Hong Yi took the iron ring from his hand and set it on the table, speaking to the guard.
"I'll go back and tell the First Madam to prepare. I'll head to the Imperial Academy," the guard captain said hurriedly. He took the ring and rushed off toward the academy.
"But I've already arranged to visit a friend at her residence today. I think I'd better meet her first, then return to pay my respects to the First Madam."
Hong Yi made friends selectively. He was drawn to people who were innocent and guileless, because they reminded him of the little fox in the valley.
Two women sat in the main hall, with a group of maids attending them.
Though the guards didn't understand why Hong Yi knew Princess Zhennan, the ring was genuine, and the matter was of great importance. They didn't dare be even slightly negligent.
Just then, a guard hurried in.
She held a little cat, pure white from head to tail, in her arms.
"This really is Princess Zhennan's ring. Last time she visited Prince Rong's residence to read, the First Madam there spent days making preparations. Every detail was attended to perfectly. Even the emperor was pleased when he heard about it... If she's coming to our mansion..."
"Exactly, exactly."
"Though this will make Lady Zhao lose face, and life will be even harder for me afterward... I never planned to stay in the Marquis Mansion for long anyway. Once the imperial examinations are over and I've become a successful candidate, moving out will be perfectly proper."
"I'm surprised. Hong Yi always used to dodge trouble. Why's he suddenly grown a backbone today?"
One of the guards took the ring and weighed it in his hand. Then he saw the writing on it, and his expression changed.
"Hong Yi... why did you only come to see me now? I have something I wanted to tell you. But I've been so busy this past month, cooped up in the imperial palace the whole time."
As Hong Yi was thinking, a commotion suddenly came from the academy entrance. A clear voice rang out.
In any case, many people thought Hong Yi was in for trouble this time.
Now that Princess Zhennan had come of age, she had traveled to Yujing in the Dagan Empire to study and pay her respects to the emperor. The emperor, empress dowager, and empress all liked her very much, and had formally adopted her as their daughter. Her status was extraordinary. Even when she visited the households of princes and high officials, their wives and titled ladies had to observe every courtesy. If word reached the emperor that they had slighted her and brought shame upon the Great Gan Dynasty, the consequences would be serious.
"Elder Sister, everyone in the Marquis Mansion says you run the household well. Someone like Hong Yi—pardon my bluntness, but in another noble household, he'd have been quietly tripped up and killed long ago. Yet you've been so tolerant. You've provided him an annual allowance of money and a monthly grain stipend, never shorted his monthly allowance or mistreated him, and even let him study in peace. Who'd have thought he'd turn out to be such an ungrateful wretch? The Marquis told him not to practice martial arts, yet he did it in secret. Clearly, he wants to win a title for his dead, lowborn mother, to put that woman's name above yours and break the rules of our household. Look at how venomous his heart is. This time he injured my Rong Pan and Gui'er. You can't be lenient anymore. You have to make a stand."
A trace of a cold smile showed on the guard's otherwise expressionless face as he heard Hong Yi's words. Though he spoke politely, there was no doubt that they would use force if Hong Yi refused.
Hong Yi quickly stood. Luo Yun had changed into a light, practical outfit and looked graceful and elegant.
Hong Yi spoke unhurriedly. Great households prized etiquette above all, especially when a foreign princess was involved.
"I've already sent someone to fetch Hong Yi. He wouldn't dare not come."
The Marquis Wuwen residence.
"Hong Yi's in trouble now. He'll definitely be punished severely."
"Yeah, let's go back and watch the show."
"Anyway, he's in for it when he gets back."
"I've arranged to meet Princess Zhennan today. Take this ring to the Imperial Academy and tell her Hong Yi invited her. If she comes by later and doesn't find me, and that leads to gossip and trouble..."
Hong Yi continued.
A chill flashed through Lady Zhao's eyes, but her voice remained mild.
Later, when the emperor bestowed his rewards, the ruler of the Divine Wind Kingdom had asked for the title Princess Zhennan for his as-yet-unborn daughter. (Had she been a boy, she would have been Prince Zhennan.)
Hong Yi had dared to strike Hong Gui today partly because he had a small plan in mind. Otherwise, he would have chosen to retreat for the time being.
"I've already found out how this started. Your Hong Gui was at fault too—he charged into someone on horseback. But Hong Yi dared to break the Marquis's ban and secretly practice martial arts, so I have no choice but to enforce the family rules. Otherwise, how could we manage the seven or eight hundred people in our household?"
"Fine."
The guard was genuinely afraid of causing trouble.
"Who knows? Maybe he's lost his senses. But that blow he landed on Hong Gui was clean and swift. I wonder where he learned martial arts."
Only then did the students in the academy come out of their daze.
Princess Luo Yun, forgive me for using you as a shield. But I, Hong Yi, am borrowing your influence. I'll make it up to you.
Hong Yi thought to himself.
After seeing one guard leave, another hurried off toward the Marquis Mansion. Hong Yi breathed a sigh of relief.
Luo Yun had invited Hong Yi to visit her that day, and now that invitation had come in handy.
"Princess Zhennan is on her way to the Marquis Mansion. I came ahead to inform Your Ladyship," the guard said quickly.
"Princess Zhennan is coming to the Marquis Mansion!"
The moment the four or five guards heard the words "Princess Zhennan," their faces filled with shock. Then suspicion appeared in their eyes as they stared at the iron ring on the table.
This woman was Lady Zhao, the First Madam who managed the household affairs of all seven or eight hundred people in the Marquis Mansion.
The iron ring had a distinctive shape. Cloud patterns resembling chrysanthemums covered it, and the ring itself was engraved with extremely fine, twisting characters: the writing of the Divine Wind Kingdom. The ring was made from the kingdom's Chrysanthemum Cloud-Pattern Steel, worth more than an equal weight of gold.
When four or five guards from the Marquis Mansion barged into the classroom, the students scattered around the room began whispering among themselves.
Hong Xuejiao had befriended Duke of Xiaoli Jing Yuxing, and the two were close. They might well become lovers, and she could one day become a duchess. That was why her standing in the Marquis Mansion had risen steadily, to the point that even the First Madam had to be somewhat wary of her.
It was Luo Yun, whom Hong Yi had encountered by chance aboard the Guan Shi Shop that day.
Hong Yi thought to himself.
A woman studying at the Imperial Academy, a member of a foreign royal family, and a chrysanthemum-patterned ring—Hong Yi had no trouble figuring out that she was Princess Zhennan.
"Did the First Madam summon me?"
As she spoke, she turned and pulled Hong Yi out of the academy.
When Hong Yi had seen through Luo Yun's identity aboard the Guan Shi Shop, he had struck up a conversation with her. He had even set aside the decorum expected of a scholar to talk with her at length about cultivation and the Immortal Way. He had hoped to get to know her...
"Hey..."
Just then, the woman seated beside Lady Zhao spoke. She was dressed in finery too, and her lips moved rapidly as she spoke, sharp-tongued and cutting.
"That's right. That's right."
"Quick, light the incense and get all the maids in order. We'll go to the entrance to welcome her. We absolutely mustn't make an etiquette blunder!"
Lady Zhao immediately gave the order, her expression tense.
At that moment, many people who had overheard Hong Yi speaking with the guards stared wide-eyed. Nobody had expected the situation to take such a turn.
The woman's face was smooth and unlined, fair and clear. She looked to be in her thirties, nearing forty. Her brows and eyes held the dignified air of a learned woman, but the slight straightness of her brows also gave her a sharp edge.
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