Entering Cui Mansion

"Third Miss, I've found out everything about the man."

In a side room, Steward Cheng stepped forward with his head bowed and respectfully presented several thin sheets of paper to Cui Xijun.

They contained the details he had gathered about Chen Ye in recent days.

Cui Xijun took them and looked down.

"A descendant of a branch of the Qinghe Chen family... a concealed household of the Gao Family... a cart escort..."

Cui Xijun looked up. "The Gao Family is based in Qinghe Prefecture, if I remember correctly?"

"You remember correctly, miss," Steward Cheng replied softly. "The Gao Family has operated in Qinghe Prefecture all these years, and few of its members have entered the Capital City. Only recently did one of their young masters receive an appointment from the Xie Family, giving them a slight lift in fortunes."

Cui Xijun kept her eyes on the page. "Does this man have any ties to the Yingchuan Chen or Guangling Chen?"

"Unlikely. At most, that Qinghe branch has some ancestral connection to the Guangling side. He was a member of the Gao Family's concealed households, so he certainly had no respectable background. Otherwise, he wouldn't have come to the Capital City and taken such menial work as escorting carts."

Cui Xijun paused. "Did he have a hand in the Liu Family affair?"

"No."

Three questions, three answers. Steward Cheng's replies had been crisp.

Cui Xijun nodded faintly and set the papers on the table. "So apart from his low birth, there's nothing wrong with him?"

Steward Cheng considered this. "There is one more matter involving the Feng Family."

"Let's hear it."

"The Feng Family's inner household was thrown into turmoil recently. The Eldest Young Master was said to have poisoned the Third Young Master to death, and this man was drawn into it. I heard he helped bring the Eldest Young Master's crime to light so quickly."

"The Third Young Master Feng's widow thinks highly of him. He lost his livelihood over the Feng Family affair and went to Xiangguo Temple to offer incense... which was how he met you, miss."

Cui Xijun listened quietly. A clear picture of Chen Ye formed in her mind: a man of humble birth, but with courage, a head for strategy, and a talent for killing.

A capable man.

Having made up her mind, Cui Xijun said, "Whatever else, he saved my life. I promised him a generous reward that day, and I won't go back on my word. Since his background is clean, bring him into the mansion to work."

Steward Cheng hesitated. "The masters of the mansion have all said that any retainers or advisers we recruit from now on must be scholars to qualify. Miss, perhaps..."

"Keep him with me for now. There's no need to issue any formal document in the mansion's name yet."

Steward Cheng nodded. "This old servant understands."

Chen Ye had not been idle these past few days.

Bows and crossbows were prohibited weapons.

Though the great aristocratic clans all made and used them in secret, that did not mean he could openly carry one through the Capital City.

That would only invite trouble.

So he spent what money he had left commissioning a good blade from a blacksmith, then hid it at home in case he needed it.

He also had two new outfits made, respectable-looking without being showy.

Then he went to an apothecary and bought herbs to nourish his blood and vitality and aid his martial training.

Every day, he began practicing standing postures and taking the medicine, tempering his muscles and bones.

Several days flew by.

At last, the news Chen Ye had expected arrived.

"Are you Chen Ye?"

Deep in Osmanthus Lane, a stern-faced man in blue satin stood at Chen Ye's door and knocked.

Two burly Blade-Axe Slaves stood two paces behind him.

One glance at their bearing was enough to tell they were no ordinary visitors.

Neighbors up and down the lane poked their heads out to look.

Chen Ye sized up the three men. Unsure who they were, he said respectfully, "I am. May I ask which household you serve, sir?"

"I come from Cui Mansion. In recognition of your service in saving Third Miss, she wishes to bring you into the mansion to work. Are you willing?"

The stone that had hung over Chen Ye's heart for days finally settled.

Everything he had planned had been aimed at getting into Cui Mansion.

Now he had finally succeeded.

His plan to take revenge on the Gao and Xie families had taken a solid step forward.

Emotion surged inside Chen Ye, but his face remained calm. He observed every courtesy as he said, "I am honored by your household's regard."

The man seemed to have expected that answer.

Entering Cui Mansion was a chance to climb to the heavens in a single step, one that countless scholars in Jing Kingdom dreamed of.

Sons of powerful families might turn up their noses at it.

But no one from a humble family would refuse such an opportunity.

Much less an ordinary commoner who did not even belong to a humble scholar family.

The man in blue satin took a letter from his robe. Cui Xijun's personal seal was stamped into the wax.

He handed it to Chen Ye. "Make your preparations over the next two days. When the time comes, go straight to the mansion and ask for Third Miss Cui."

Chen Ye accepted the letter with both hands, then cupped his fists solemnly. "Sorry for the trouble, gentlemen."

"Please wait a moment." Seeing that they were about to leave, Chen Ye called after them and went back inside.

A moment later, he emerged and distributed some bits of silver among the three men.

"Thank you for making the trip. Once I'm at Cui Mansion, I may have to seek your guidance."

The man in blue satin glanced down at the silver in his palm. It was not much, less than a tael.

The Blade-Axe Slaves behind him had received even less.

But Chen Ye's lodgings were shabby. The man knew he was not well-off, and giving even this much could not have been easy.

His opinion of Chen Ye improved.

He put away the silver, his tone a little warmer. "You aren't like us. We belong to the mansion. Once you're there, just follow Miss Cui's instructions. Don't ask about anything else."

After his experience with the Gao Family, Chen Ye naturally understood the distinction. He grasped the meaning at once and thanked the man repeatedly.

With their business done, the man in blue satin did not linger. He gave a slight nod, then turned and led the others away.

Once they had disappeared around the end of the lane, the neighbors immediately began buzzing with discussion.

Chen Ye shut his door and paid them no mind.

Apart from deliberately letting word spread that he was going to Xiangguo Temple to offer incense, he had kept his distance from them.

For greater security in the future, he ought to move somewhere a little better once he entered Cui Mansion.

With the news confirmed, Chen Ye invited Zuo Dongxi and Su Guang out that evening and told them frankly that Third Miss Cui had asked him to join her.

Both men were delighted to hear it.

As they saw it, the three of them had been through life and death together.

Chen Ye had boarded the great ship ahead of them, and that could only benefit them.

They both felt a little envy, of course.

But neither begrudged him his good fortune.

Both had struggled to make their way in the Capital City. They were shrewd men who had seen something of the world and knew how to look beyond themselves.

The three went straight to a restaurant and drank to their hearts' content.

They also agreed to meet at the pleasure houses every week or two, so they could look out for one another in the future.

Two days later.

Everything was ready.

Carrying Cui Xijun's letter, Chen Ye stood before the towering gates of Cui Mansion.

The mansion was imposing and solemn, with an air of strict order.

Above the gate, the words "State Protector Mansion" were written in strokes like iron and hooks like silver, radiating authority.

Sunlight struck the red-lacquered, copper-studded triple gate, drawing a bright gleam from the metal.

It was midmorning.

Only two sections of the triple gate stood open.

People came and went in ones and twos.

Chen Ye steadied himself, straightened his clothes, and walked forward.

He took out the letter Third Miss Cui had given him and handed it to the gate attendant. "I am Chen Ye. Third Miss invited me to serve in the mansion. Please announce my arrival."

Someone inside the red gates answered and went to carry the message.

Chen Ye stood before the gate and waited patiently.