LF Chapter 17

Chapter 17: Worried Sick

Since Yan Wanzhi left the Imperial Palace, she had been riding her horse at top speed towards the Patrol Camp. From early morning until noon, she stood like a steadfast guardian deity on the city tower, gazing far into the distance at the official road to the north.

“My lord, did Your Majesty give you a reward for coming here? Even my soldiers aren’t as attentive as you are,” the garrison commander said, finding this sight amusing. He carried half a jug of wine over to her.

Yan Wanzhi’s gaze remained fixed, but she glanced at the wine jug out of the corner of her eye, raising a hand to wave it away. “I appreciate the general’s kindness, but no drinking while on duty.”

The garrison commander shook his head, took the wine jug, and returned to his room, muttering, “What a dull young man.”

The clouds in the sky grew thicker and thicker, and the scorching sun was blocked by the rolling dark clouds. Dragonflies scattered in a frenzy, and birds hurriedly flapped their wings, flying towards the mountains and forests.

Midsummer afternoons were always like this, prone to outbursts that stirred up trouble and irritated people. But often, after a thunderstorm, one could enjoy a moment of sweet-smelling earth and pleasant cool breezes.

Seeing that the weather was turning foul, Yan Wanzhi frowned deeply, unable to stand still any longer. She began pacing back and forth on the city tower like a pendulum.

Finally, when yellow dust rose on the road to the north, Yan Wanzhi was both surprised and delighted, and hurriedly sought out the steps to descend the city tower to greet them.

“How is it?” She trotted all the way, panting, to wait outside the city gate. When she saw the returning men, she hurried forward to ask.

The men looked at each other, unsure where this young lord had come from.

“I ordered the general to send you to escort that person. Has she settled down safely?” Seeing their confusion, Yan Wanzhi hurriedly explained, casually taking out her official seal to prove her identity.

“My lord, that person entered the North Third Camp last night. We saw her enter the camp easily, without anyone stopping her, and she hasn’t come out for a long time, so we returned to report,” one of the leading soldiers said.

Hearing this, Yan Wanzhi casually thanked them, called over her attendant who was waiting nearby, whispered a few words, and then rode her horse back to her residence.

On the way, heavy rain began to pour down. By the time Yan Wanzhi entered her residence, she was already a drenched chicken.

“Oh dear, my lord, where have you been playing? Why did you make yourself look like this? Someone from the palace came looking for you earlier, saying that Your Majesty had summoned you,” the housekeeper said, wearing a bamboo hat and holding an oil-paper umbrella. He had been waiting in front of the residence gate for a long time.

Hearing this, Yan Wanzhi asked in surprise, “When did the palace people come? I was out on official business.”

The housekeeper was also a little puzzled, squinting his eyes and pondering for a moment before replying, “About a quarter of an hour ago, more or less.”

A quarter of an hour ago, the news from the scout should not have reached the palace yet. Yan Wanzhi figured that it must be that Your Majesty was getting impatient and had sent someone to ask. Therefore, she calmly took the oil-paper umbrella and walked towards the study on her own.

“My lord, aren’t you going to change your clothes before entering the palace?” the housekeeper asked from behind with a puzzled expression.

“No need to rush. The rain is so heavy, you should go back to the house and rest,” Yan Wanzhi replied calmly.

Back in the study, Yan Wanzhi changed her clothes, casually wiped the water off her body, and sat down at her desk, writing and organizing documents without stopping, until dusk.

The housekeeper’s hurried footsteps grew louder and closer, stopping at the study door. He knocked very cautiously, “Knock, knock, knock.”

Yan Wanzhi had two unwritten rules: she never allowed anyone to serve her personally, and she always took care of changing clothes and bathing herself; no one could enter the study, not even the housekeeper.

Hearing the sound, Yan Wanzhi carefully blew the ink dry, folded the manuscript very meticulously, and put it into her sleeve before going to open the door. “What is it?”

“My lord, quickly change your clothes and enter the palace. Your Majesty has sent someone to summon you again,” the housekeeper said, his face showing some worry.

“I know,” Yan Wanzhi closed the door, turned around, and went to the bedroom to find her official robe, walking quickly all the way, but feeling very puzzled in her heart.

Yan Wanzhi rode her horse into the palace. By the time she reached the front of the hall, the last rays of the setting sun had fallen into the mountain stream, and the crescent moon was already hanging on the willow branches.

She straightened her clothes and stepped inside, only to see Your Majesty standing alone in front of the flower window, seemingly admiring the crape myrtle trees outside the window, their petals scattered and fallen into the mud by the rain.

“Your subject Yan Wanzhi greets Your Majesty,” Yan Wanzhi said, unsure why she had been summoned so late, and respectfully stepped forward to pay her respects.

Your Majesty had not seen her in her official robe for many days. She was quite surprised to see her looking so formal, and then smiled softly and said, “You’re wearing the wrong thing.”

Yan Wanzhi was a little stunned, not understanding what Your Majesty meant. She blinked her eyes hesitantly, not knowing how to respond. But at least, she sensed that this person was in a good mood.

Your Majesty slowly walked over, reached out to help Yan Wanzhi up, and looked down at her with a smile in her eyes. “I’ve been thinking about it all afternoon, and I’ve decided that it’s more reliable for you to make this trip yourself.”

“Your subject will obey Your Majesty’s orders,” Yan Wanzhi replied, bowing.

Your Majesty took out a white jade pendant from her wide sleeve and handed it to Yan Wanzhi. “Hua’er is wary, and this thing is important. You’re the only one who saved her, and whom I can trust.”

“Does Your Majesty want to give the Jade Token to Prince Zhao?” Seeing this item, Yan Wanzhi did not rush to take it, but instead asked in confusion.

“You don’t have to tell her what this is, just let her carry it with her. There are all sorts of people in the army, and some people will be able to protect her if they see this thing. Put on a guard’s uniform, the road is difficult to travel in the rain, go early and return early. I want to see you in the main hall tomorrow.”

Your Majesty put the Jade Token into Yan Wanzhi’s hand, turned her head, and wrote a handwritten order to give to her as well. “Be sure to deliver it personally.”

“Your subject obeys the order and will set off immediately,” Yan Wanzhi took it and bowed as she withdrew from the inner hall.

On the way out of the city, the road was muddy and impassable. Yan Wanzhi sat on the bumpy horseback, pondering Your Majesty’s intention.

If she wanted to protect Prince Zhao, a decree could be sent to the army, or some people could be sent to follow her into the camp. Now, she was only being asked to deliver the Jade Token, which could mobilize secret agents and scouts, but she was not allowed to tell her what the object was for. She felt that it was not just to protect her.

Did Your Majesty not trust her sister, or did she not trust her, an outsider? Or, did the sisters collude on some kind of power struggle, keeping her in the dark?

By the time Yan Wanzhi arrived at the North Third Camp, it was already midnight.

The North Third Camp was stationed with 90,000 Imperial Guards, making it the most important barracks for the defense of the capital. Even at night, the sentries were not the least bit negligent.

“Who is exploring the camp in the middle of the night? Dismount immediately!” The soldiers in front of the camp were full of vigilance.

Yan Wanzhi did not dismount as ordered, but raised Your Majesty’s handwritten order and said, “I am entering the camp to deliver Your Majesty’s handwritten order. Why don’t you open the gate!”

Seeing this, the soldiers did not dare to stop her, opened the gate, and let her ride into the camp.

The barracks covered more than a hundred acres, and the tents in the camp were all similar. There were rows of rooms on the mountainside in the distance, which should be where the main generals of the camp were stationed. Yan Wanzhi guessed that Jiang Yinghua should be there, so she followed the winding path in the camp.

Halfway there, she reached the empty square in the camp. There was no one practicing at the moment, which made it seem a little deserted. She led her horse around, looking around. Although the camp was neat and clean, the conditions were really harsh. The mountains in the northern suburbs were cool, which was really not a good place.

When she reached the front of the houses, the patrolling guards stopped her: “Who are you? The front is the general’s residence, and idlers are not allowed to approach.”

“I am ordered by Your Majesty to enter the camp to see Prince Zhao. May I ask, young man, do you know where she is?” Yan Wanzhi asked with a polite bow.

One of the guards, hearing this, nodded toward the mountain and said, “Over there.”

Yan Wanzhi followed his gaze and looked over. Under the moonlight, an old man and a young woman were practicing with spears. It was really rare to see this in the middle of the night.

The old man should be Prince Consort Qiao An, the husband of Princess Rong’an, who had been injured on the battlefield. Now he was in the camp, just recuperating. There was no hope that he would lead troops into battle again.

The young one, needless to say, was Jiang Yinghua, the mischievous girl who had kept Yan Wanzhi from sleeping.

Yan Wanzhi tied her horse down the mountain and climbed up on foot, panting, and called out, “Your Highness, General Qiao, your subordinate greets you.”

Hearing the sound, the two of them put away their weapons and also panted heavily, looking at the person who had come with surprised expressions.

“What are you doing running to the military camp in the middle of the night?” Jiang Yinghua asked in confusion. Even if her elder sister wanted to arrest someone, she shouldn’t send a weak scholar, right?

Qiao An was not familiar with Yan Wanzhi. Seeing that Jiang Yinghua had spoken first, he cupped his hands and said, “I guess you’re looking for Her Highness. You two can chat slowly, I’ll take my leave first.”

“Uncle, walk slowly,” Jiang Yinghua said, returning the courtesy in a rare display of good sense.

Seeing the man walk away, Yan Wanzhi came forward and asked, “Where does Your Highness live? May I have permission to come inside and talk?” As she spoke, she shook the handwritten order from Your Majesty that she was holding.

Jiang Yinghua sized her up and pointed to a lonely little tent next to the long house at the foot of the mountain. “There, Yan Imperial Scribe, if you don’t mind, you can come with me.”

Seeing the small tent, Yan Wanzhi couldn’t help but purse her lips. What was this princess doing? Why did she have to wrong herself like this?

Thinking this, she didn’t say anything and followed Jiang Yinghua down the mountain and toward the tent.

Inside the tent, there was nothing but a wooden bed and a low table. Yan Wanzhi couldn’t help but ask, “Your Highness, are you remembering the hardships of the past?”

Jiang Yinghua rolled her eyes at her. “I call this doing as the Romans do. Stop talking nonsense. What did my elder sister send you here to do in the middle of the night? Let me make it clear in advance, I’m not going back.”

“No one is asking you to go back. This is Your Majesty’s handwritten order. You can read it yourself,” Yan Wanzhi respectfully offered the silk scroll with both hands.

After Jiang Yinghua took it, she untied the ribbon and unfurled it. She saw only six large characters written in vermilion ink:

“Keep your tail between your legs.”

This handwritten order was truly the first of its kind in the world.

Jiang Yinghua’s facial features twisted into a ball, unsure whether to laugh or cry.

Suddenly, her eyes turned cold, and she turned to stare at Yan Wanzhi and asked, “Have you seen the contents of this handwritten order?”

Yan Wanzhi was a little surprised by her reaction and was also very curious about what Your Majesty had written in such a hurry, but in all conscience, she really hadn’t dared to open it. Yan Wanzhi met Jiang Yinghua’s gaze and shook her head.

“It better be. What else is there? You wouldn’t have just been sent to deliver a handwritten order, would you?” Jiang Yinghua continued to ask.

Yan Wanzhi took out the Jade Token from her bosom and said, “Your Majesty asked me to present this object to Your Highness and asked Your Highness to wear it close to your body and keep it safe. It can protect you safely and without worry.”

Jiang Yinghua took it, looked at it back and forth in her hand, and saw that it was just an ordinary jade pendant with a very common pattern: auspicious clouds, cranes, and a fairy. It was just that there seemed to be a small person holding a long sword next to the crane.

She casually put the jade pendant into her bosom and asked nonchalantly, “I know. What else is there?” She didn’t seem to think that these two objects were important.

Seeing that she had put away the jade pendant so casually, Yan Wanzhi was a little worried and added, “There’s nothing else. Does Your Highness have anything to tell Your Majesty? If there’s nothing else, please remember to keep the jade pendant close to your body and not to leave it. I won’t disturb you any longer and will return to the capital to report.”

Only then did Jiang Yinghua realize that this jade pendant might have a special meaning. She rolled her eyes, took out the jade pendant, handed it to Yan Wanzhi, and asked playfully, “Then, would you please help me tie it to my belt? I don’t know how to tie knots.”

Yan Wanzhi raised her head in surprise, meeting Jiang Yinghua’s eager and expectant gaze, and her face flushed red in an instant.

Jiang Yinghua suppressed a smile and handed the jade pendant over again. “Hurry up, it’s the middle of the night, and I’m so sleepy.”

Yan Wanzhi lowered her eyes, took the jade pendant, squatted halfway, kept a distance of an arm’s length from her, and carefully tied the jade pendant firmly to Jiang Yinghua’s belt. She pulled it casually to make sure it wouldn’t fall off before standing up, then took a few steps back and waited for orders.

Jiang Yinghua fiddled with it a few times and said with a smile, “Thank you!” Then, as if remembering something, she added, “It’s so late and you still have to hurry on your way. You’ve worked hard. Remember to ask my elder sister for a reward when you get back. Do you know the way out of the camp?”

Yan Wanzhi cupped her hands and replied, “Your Highness is joking. I know the way. Please take care of yourself. I have to go back.” After saying that, she retreated towards the outside of the tent.

After the person had left for the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, Jiang Yinghua suddenly raised her foot and chased after her, leading the horse in front of the tent towards the camp gate.

Just as she left the camp gate, she caught up with Yan Wanzhi. “Wait, slow down!”

Yan Wanzhi pulled on the reins in surprise and turned her head, never expecting that this little ancestor would chase her out in the middle of the night.

“Here, for you.” Jiang Yinghua threw her a cloak, which contained a dagger. “A weak scholar traveling at night must have a life to return. Be careful on the road, hurry up and don’t delay.”

After saying this, Jiang Yinghua yawned and said lazily, “Don’t thank me, I’m going back.” Then, she turned her horse around and disappeared into the night of the camp like a gust of wind.