Even foolish Lin'an had her uses

Zhou Min's widow?

Upon hearing this, Xu Qi'an's first reaction was: she's lying.

Apart from the clerks, all the officials in the Great Feng Dynasty, from the provincial governor to the county magistrate, were from other places.

As a clerk in the Records Department of the Commander-in-Chief's Office, Zhou Min was no exception. Moreover, the records department was his official title, but his real identity was that of Nightwatchers.

Would Wei Yuan really allow a spy to bring his wife and children along? Wouldn't that make him a traitor in no time?

"Zhou Min?" Governor Zhang frowned. "What grievance has he suffered?"

He adopted an attitude of "I don't know who Zhou Min is."

Yang Yingying said mournfully, "My husband was originally a clerk in the Yunzhou Military Command."

Governor Zhang was taken aback, his attitude suddenly changing. He bent down to help the kneeling Yang Yingying to her feet. "So you are the wife of Clerk Zhou. What has happened to Clerk Zhou? And why did you go all the way to Qingzhou to file a complaint, even though it's not so close?"

"Qingzhou and Yunzhou are prefectures of the same rank, so Governor Yang might not take on this case. Hmm, I am the Governor of Yunzhou, and the three provincial offices of Yunzhou are all under my command. Madam, please speak freely about your grievances."

It turns out that not only women are born actors, but officials are also top-notch actors. Xu Qi'an silently watched as Lao Zhang put on a show.

Yang Yingying hesitated for a moment, gazed at Governor Zhang, and said, "Sir, may I see your appointment document, or perhaps your official seal?"

Upon hearing this, Governor Zhang and the Nightwatchers all frowned.

The men with the copper and silver gongs instinctively gripped the hilts of their knives, scrutinizing Yang Yingying.

This is not something an ordinary woman would say, even if she were a woman who had experienced life.

She knows her stuff. Xu Qi'an also gripped the hilt of his knife, staring intently at Yang Yingying. This woman showed no signs of aura fluctuation, and judging by her body fat percentage, she didn't seem to practice martial arts.

However, this only rules out the possibility that the opponent is a martial artist. Other systems have too many fancy tricks and methods, so we cannot be careless.

Governor Zhang calmly took two steps back and said, "I trouble you, Jiang Jinluo, to fetch my official documents and seal."

The cowardly Jiang Luzhong glanced at him sideways and retrieved the documents and official seal.

Governor Zhang ignored Jiang Luzhong's gesture and turned to Yang Yingying: "Considering you are the wife of a high-ranking official, I will allow you to take a look."

Jiang Luzhong had no choice but to step forward and show the documents and official seal.

Yang Yingying examined it carefully for a long time. In fact, it was the first time she had ever seen an appointment document. Her eyes searched for the words "Yunzhou" and "Governor," and after seeing the bright red seal, she had no more doubts.

The fact that the other party has been willing to argue with a weak woman like her for so long is actually a sign of sincerity and character.

Yang Yingying knelt down again and kowtowed, saying, "I am Yang Yingying, originally a woman from the Yunzhou Imperial Academy of Music government-run entertainment institution). Several years ago, I met and fell in love with Lord Zhou, and after shedding my lowly status, I have been serving Lord Zhou ever since."

Everyone exchanged knowing glances.

So she's a seafood merchant. No wonder she's more knowledgeable than ordinary women, and knows how to read documents and official seals. Xu Qi'an suddenly realized.

In this era, seafood merchants were a highly educated and cultured group of women. They were proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and prose.

Yang Yingying briefly recounted her past with Zhou Min, frankly admitting that she was a kept woman and that Zhou Min only met with her once every so often.

"Some time ago, Lord Zhou suddenly came to find me and gave me something. He said that he might be in danger soon, and if he really met with misfortune, he told me to hide immediately, find a way to leave Yunzhou, and give this thing to Lord Yang, the governor of Qingzhou."

"Not long after, I received news of Lord Zhou's passing." Tears streamed down Yang Yingying's face as she sobbed uncontrollably.

The woman was both saddened and frightened, and dared not stay any longer, so she hid at the home of a sister and asked her to find out what was going on.

"After hiding for a while, the woman told me that Master Zhao's caravan was going to Qingzhou soon, so I borrowed twenty taels of silver from her, bought a horse, and left Yunzhou with the caravan."

The rest is history.

Xu Qi'an watched coldly, scrutinizing Yang Yingying's micro-expressions. This time, when she spoke, her eyes were unwavering, and her voice was sorrowful and full of emotion.

There's no sign of it being fake.

So he looked for clues in Yang Yingying's words—Zhou Min never revealed his identity Nightwatchers /cover agent until his death, even though the other party was a trusted confidant like Guan Zhong and Bao Shuya. This showed that Zhou Min was a qualified cover agent.

It would be suspicious if he readily revealed his identity.

As for why he went to Qingzhou to find the Layman Ziyang, instead of other neighboring states, Xu Qi'an's judgment was that Zhou Min trusted no one but this great Confucian scholar from the Cloud Deer Academy.

First, compared to ordinary scholars, the great Confucian scholars of the Cloud Deer Academy are more trustworthy in character due to their cultivation system. After all, bad people cannot follow the Confucian School system.

Secondly, there was a conflict of tradition between the scholars from the Cloud Deer Academy and the Imperial Academy. Adhering to the principle that the enemy of my enemy is my friend, seeking out the Layman Ziyang was the right choice.

Governor Zhang frowned. "You suspect Zhou Min was murdered."

Yang Yingying nodded vigorously. "Isn't it obvious? I beg you, my lord, to do justice for my husband."

"This..." Governor Zhang hesitated for a moment, then said, "Alright, I agree. Take out what Zhou Liying left you as his last possession."

Yang Yingying immediately kowtowed. "Thank you, Your Excellency."

Xu Qi'an couldn't help but look at Zhang with new eyes. Old Zhang's scheming was quite something. He was indeed a seasoned veteran of the officialdom. Those who worked for Wei Yuan were all quite cunning.

Yang Yingying straightened up, reached into her bosom, pulled out half a jade pendant, and presented it with both hands. "This is what Lord Zhou gave to me that night."

All eyes were on the jade pendant.

It was a semi-circular jade pendant, translucent green in color. It was originally supposed to be a round piece of jade, but it was cut in half by a sharp tool.

Jiang Luzhong took the jade pendant and handed it to Governor Zhang, who held it between his fingertips, stroking it and pondering in silence.

"This looks like a token?" Jiang Luzhong said in a low voice. After he finished speaking, he looked at Xu Qi'an and asked for his opinion.

Governor Zhang also looked over.

"What are you looking at me for? I can investigate cases, but I'm not a fortune teller. You two make no attempt to hide the fact that you're using me as a tool." Xu Qi'an pondered, "Let's go to Yunzhou first. What's the use of guessing?"

As Governor Zhang carefully put away the jade pendant, he instructed his soldiers, "Continue onward to Yunzhou."

They dug pits on the spot to bury the bodies, and took the surviving merchants and their goods with them. The caravan continued its journey, heading towards Yunzhou along the official road.

The sun was shining brightly, and the air was warm and inviting. On this rare morning, Huaiqing finished his sword practice and was about to call a palace maid to prepare hot water when he turned around and saw two palace maids sitting in the pavilion playing chess.

Huaiqing frowned, not because he was dissatisfied with the palace maids playing chess, but because they simply didn't understand chess.

She didn't say anything, silently walked into the pavilion, and watched two palace maids play chess.

The pretty young palace maids were so engrossed in the game of chess that they didn't notice their mistress approaching.

They played chess without any strategy, didn't understand opening moves, didn't know how to fight for advantageous positions, and moved their pieces so fast that it seemed they didn't need to think at all.

Huaiqing's brows furrowed deeper and deeper. This childish move was extremely uncomfortable for a master player like her. But after watching for a moment, she understood.

This game is very simple. It's about who can arrange five pieces first, whether vertically, horizontally, or diagonally, it doesn't matter. Whoever gets five pieces in a row first wins.

Unable to resist asking, "What kind of chess game is this?"

The two palace maids trembled in fright, hurriedly stood up, and answered in a soft voice, "It's Gomoku (Five in a Row)."

Gomoku? What is that?

The erudite Huaiqing was taken aback.

Another palace maid explained, "It spread from Princess Lin'an, and now it's circulating throughout the palace; everyone's playing it."

By "everyone," she meant the eunuchs and maids in the palace.

"I heard even Consort Chen said it was interesting," another palace maid said.

Lin'an? She's just a silly girl. Huaiqing nodded and said, "I need to take a bath. Tell the cook not to prepare lunch."

Emperor Yuanjing is hosting a family banquet this morning, and the princes and princesses will dine at the Qianqing Palace.

After bathing, Princess Huaiqing left the garden and headed to the Qianqing Palace.

She met her brothers and sisters in the magnificent hall. In places where she wasn't present, Lin'an, where she liked to wear red dresses and exquisite jewelry, became the center of attention.

Today was somewhat different; the imperial siblings merely nodded to Huaiqing in greeting before continuing their previous conversation.

"A new school of Gomoku was created in Lin'an. The rules of Gomoku are simple and easy to understand, making it more fun to play. Even the servants in my palace can easily pick it up and enjoy it immensely."

"The name of our Princess Lin'an will soon be widely known."

With her round face and alluring peach blossom eyes, Biao Biao thoroughly enjoyed the flattery from her brothers and sisters, a sweet smile playing on her lips, yet she feigned modesty with a few words.

Like a proud little hen that wants to show off but is holding back.

Upon seeing Huaiqing enter, she slightly raised her snow-white chin, striking a proud pose.

"Be jealous of me, be jealous of me!" Biao Biao muttered to herself, glancing at Huai Qing out of the corner of her eye.

But the aloof Huaiqing simply sat there, drank a few sips of tea, and ignored his foolish sister.

"Hmph. Huaiqing is definitely jealous of me," Biao Biao comforted herself inwardly.

Princess Huaiqing was an aloof princess, not only because of her pride, but also because her thoughts were unfathomable to the princes and princesses. While the princesses discussed beautiful clothes and cosmetics, she was interested in the Four Books and Five Classics.

When the princes discussed current affairs and the overall situation, she would ask: How to solve the flood problem? How to govern the officials?

The princes will be very upset, who the hell knows? We're discussing the big picture, the macro issues, you're just arguing for the sake of arguing.

Around noon, eunuchs from Emperor Yuanjing's palace came to invite several princes and princesses over.

Biao Biao followed closely behind her brother, the Crown Prince, her skirt fluttering in the wind. Suddenly, she heard Huaiqing's voice behind her. "Lin'an."

Biao Biao burst out laughing, completely unable to control her expression, and proudly said, "What!"

After the other princes had gone some distance, Huaiqing said calmly, "Who taught you Go?"

"I created it myself." Lin'an was actually conflicted because Xu Qi'an taught her this, and she shouldn't betray her conscience to use it for her own purposes. But her brothers' words were too sweet, and she couldn't resist.

She thought to herself, "I'll say it was Xu Ningyan who taught me this later."

"When Father asks later, you'd better say the same thing." Huaiqing walked outside, his clear, pleasant voice tinged with a warning:

"Father doesn't like that guy, so you need to think before you speak."

After saying that, Huaiqing added, "If you have any."

The word "why" was swallowed whole by Biao Biao. Like a little lion baring its teeth and claws, she chased after Huai Qing while angrily shouting:

"You're the one who's brainless! You're the one who's brainless!"

"I'm prettier and smarter than you. Look, Xu Ningyan is willing to be my slave, and he doesn't want yours at all."

Huaiqing abruptly stopped in his tracks, giving him a stern sidelong glance.

Biao Biao, like a nimble cat, leaped back with a "whoosh," then realized she was being too cowardly, her peach-blossom eyes stubbornly glaring back.

Princess Huaiqing raised her hand to slap her.

"Brother Crown Prince, Huaiqing is going to hit me!" Biao Biao screamed and ran away.

During the banquet, Emperor Yuanjing indeed inquired about this matter.

Huaiqing was shocked to learn that her father wanted to ask Lin'an. She subconsciously glanced at the annoying Huaiqing, whose beautiful face remained expressionless as she ate her food.

Biao Biao's eyes darted around, and she said with a grin, "Because Lin'an is Father Emperor's daughter, and Father Emperor is the smartest person in the world."

Emperor Yuanjing laughed heartily.

As expected, the Emperor had been keeping a close eye on the situation in the palace, just as he silently watched Huaiqing eat without changing his expression as he looked down at the court.

She did not cultivate her own confidants in the palace, never actively sought out information about the palace, and was even unaware of the recently popular game of Gomoku.

It wasn't that Huaiqing didn't know, but rather that she didn't want to know.

Princess Huaiqing had to admit that although her younger sister Lin'an was extremely foolish, even a useless person has their uses; it all depended on how you used her.

At least when it comes to pleasing the Emperor, no one in the palace can surpass Lin'an, including those concubines who are either out of favor or have been favored in the past.