Chapter 195: Those Who Count Others Will Always Be Counted

It is said that people feel refreshed when faced with good news, but today, while Father Zhu Gaoxu encountered setbacks, Prince Shouguang Zhu Zhanqi’s face was filled with smiles—more precisely, it seemed to glow with excitement. The whip he never left his hand was now in the hands of a retainer, as he spoke cheerfully with his elder brother Zhu Zhan Tan, though his tone carried a hint of hostility.

Seeing his elder brother’s stern expression and remembering that this Han Prince’s mansion was someone else’s territory, Zhu Zhanqi did not dare to be too arrogant. After all, the two slaps he had received last time still stung, so he certainly didn’t think Zhu Zhan Tan was easy to bully. He casually adjusted the colorful butterfly-and-phoenix ribbon at his waist, bowed smilingly, and then left with great satisfaction. Yet, after taking a few steps, he heard Zhu Zhan Tan’s voice behind him.

“Is County Magistrate Xiao Zhang here?”

Hearing those words, Zhu Zhanqi was stunned. He had remembered Zhang Yue from that day in the Qingzhou government office. After being taken back to the prince’s mansion, he sent people to investigate, and upon learning the result, he was almost furious. If it had been anyone else, it might have been fine, but how could he have imagined that those two slaps from Zhu Zhan Tan were also caused by an old enemy?

Due to those severe blows from the court, he had spent half a year recuperating in bed, becoming a laughingstock. He couldn’t trouble Zhang Fu, and after hearing that Zhu Di had rewarded Zhang Yue generously and learning the reason, he grew resentful toward Zhang Yue. Out of this anger, he plotted in secret, only for it to end in failure.

But this time, he thought everything through clearly—unless Zhang Yue was a god, how could he possibly remain unharmed!

Turning his stiff neck, Zhu Zhanqi saw the blue cotton curtain at the entrance lifted high by a servant, and soon a young man in a green sleeveless cloak stepped out. Even if he turned to ash, he would still recognize him. Seeing the man bow deeply to Zhu Zhan Tan, and Zhu Zhan Tan help him up with a smile, as they talked amiably arm in arm, he was almost driven mad with anger.

Just a minor figure, not even Zhang Fu’s biological son—why did everyone look up to him?

Repressing his urge to provoke, Zhu Zhanqi glared fiercely at Zhang Yue until he was sure he would never forget that detestable face. Only then did he mount his horse and whip it hard with all his strength. As he galloped away while the other guards hurriedly prepared to chase after him, Zhu Zhan Tan, who was talking with Zhang Yue inside, casually glanced in their direction.

“My second brother has been irritable and quick-tempered since childhood, always clutching that whip in his hand. I don’t know how many times I’ve tried to discipline him, but sadly he just won’t listen. If it weren’t for Yuan Jie blocking him that time, who knows what trouble he would have caused?” At this moment, Zhu Zhan Tan used Zhang Yue’s courtesy name, his tone growing more friendly. “Lord Zhang sent a message yesterday, saying the emperor has appointed you to investigate your father’s assassination. Our King of Ying was valiant in his youth, and you too are a young talent. I really rely on you this time!”

With such high praise poured at him, Zhang Yue couldn’t refuse without appearing rude, but he still spoke humbly. Noticing the sedan chair parked nearby and seeing Zhu Zhan Tan’s strained expression, as if all his weight were pressing down on the eunuch beside him, he said, “It’s cold and windy today. Since Your Highness is weak, perhaps the King of Han could send someone to lead me in. I dare not trouble Your Highness to show me the way.”

“Father…” Zhu Zhan Tan then showed a faint bitter smile. “Since even Yuan Jie knows how troubled my health is, there’s nothing left to hide. If I could just send someone to take you to see Father, why would I come all the way to the door to greet you? Although Father is being treated by the imperial physicians at the Imperial Medical Academy, he keeps drinking against their advice after being seriously injured, and with the queen consort around… those physicians are also at a loss. I went to admonish him yesterday, and in his anger, he almost drew his sword on me. If you go to see him now, it’s likely… I was also there the day Father was assassinated. If you have any questions, you can ask me as well.”

Although he had been shocked by the King of Han’s wild behavior during their last meeting, and truly didn’t want to deal with the infamous Zhu Gaoxu, Zhu Zhan Tan’s words seemed to be considering his interests. Yet, thinking of the arrow he had seen on the road earlier and that mysterious piece of white cloth, he had to stay extra vigilant.

“I heard that the assassin was chopped to pieces on the spot, and his body was dragged out to feed the dogs. With this lead cut off, I wonder if Your Highness could allow me to meet the guards who were with him that day?”

“This isn’t difficult,” Zhu Zhan Tan smiled slightly before ordering someone to make arrangements. But when he turned around, he found himself talking with Zhang Yue in front of the gatehouse. He instinctively slapped his forehead in frustration. “Look at my memory! It’s one thing to stand outside in the wind, but I even forgot to invite you in. Someone, bring over the sedan chair!”

Zhu Zhan Tan’s grand sedan chair was usually used only in the royal mansion. It was a pointed-top, heated sedan chair carried by eight people, with two seats inside and a table in the middle. Beneath the table was a heating stove that burned silver frost charcoal. As soon as the curtain was lifted, a wave of heat hit one’s face, but there was no sign of smoke. Unable to refuse Zhu Zhan Tan’s hospitality, Zhang Yue bent down and sat in after him, with a young eunuch following behind to serve them. With a sound, the sedan chair was lifted, and although it swayed slightly as it moved, not a drop of water spilled from the teacups on the table inside.

“Actually, I had already advised my father that since we were stationed in Le’an, we shouldn’t keep traveling to Qingzhou Prefecture, so as not to anger the Emperor. But he never listened. The assassination attempt happened at the royal mansion in Qingzhou. I was with my father when we just arrived from the front courtyard to the main hall, and the chief steward led the servants out to greet us. Since they had been serving us for years, my father and I weren’t very cautious. Unexpectedly, one of those servants suddenly attacked, wielding a thin, short Burmese knife. Under normal circumstances, even if that person were extremely skilled, he wouldn’t have been able to hurt my father. But he was despicable to the extreme—he threw lime while attacking, blinding my father, allowing him to stab my father in the shoulder. Even so, my father still punched him to death.”

As he recounted that dangerous incident, Zhu Zhan Tan’s face turned pale and then red, as if the terrifying scene was still before his eyes. It wasn’t until he noticed Zhang Yue staring at him intently that he sighed. “That day, all the servants present were executed in a fit of anger by my father. The guards accompanying us also deserved death, but since they were carefully selected warriors, my father spared them from execution and ordered eighty lashes each. Later, when I drafted a memorial on my father’s behalf, I also interceded for them. Otherwise, in his fury, the Emperor would have demanded dozens of heads, and even their wives, children, and families would not have escaped death.”

Although eighty lashes was a severe punishment, these guards had committed dereliction of duty, which deserved death. This was already considered leniency. Having heard of the Han King’s cruel reputation, Zhang Yue now saw that Zhu Gaoxu could still spare the lives of his subordinates in a fit of anger. His earlier fixed perception gradually changed.

Indeed, there’s always someone who causes trouble under the sun. Although Zhu Gaoxu seemed cruel and heartless, he was quite protective of his guards. Suddenly, he remembered what Shi Quan had revealed that day and took a deep breath. Those who calculate others will themselves be calculated; this time, whether Zhu Gaoxu had used a ruse or not, he himself had first been tricked and drugged!

In the upper room of the inn, Amber, who was still weak, had her eyes closed, but her mind was in chaos—she simply couldn’t fall asleep. Ten years were enough to bring about tremendous changes. No one remembered the name of that most heroic general from the Jingnan Campaign, nor that prominent surname, nor his contributions to military affairs. What everyone remembered was that disastrous defeat that led to the destruction of hundreds of thousands of troops, and the general who brought shame to the nation was hated by all. Thus, no one would pay attention to Hainan, far away in the corners of the world, nor would anyone care about the Qiu family.

Her grandfather, Qiu Fu, had started his career in the military but wasn’t part of a century-old family like the Zhangs. Initially, he was just a lowly soldier; in the chaos of battle, injuries were common. Thanks to a prescription for an antidote called “Qian Ding Fang” given to him by a wandering doctor in his early years, her grandfather survived several life-threatening injuries. After being granted the title of duke, Qiu Fu made sure all his descendants memorized this prescription thoroughly. Although she was only his granddaughter and the only child of her father, she also memorized it secretly after some coaxing.

Who was that bearded man?

Ten years had passed—even the most familiar faces could change drastically, and even the closest relatives could become strangers. If that man had only obtained the prescription from the Qiu family, he wouldn’t have looked at her that way. But if he was her own relative, wouldn’t he know the consequences of leaving Hainan? It had already been a huge risk to keep her, who was seriously ill, there. Now, if people found out that a Qiu family member who should have stayed in Hainan appeared in Shandong…

“Young master, it’s cold outside. Come back early…”

Hearing these words suddenly, Amber was shocked. She thought Zhang Yue had already left—how could he return at this time? She quickly opened her eyes and saw Qiu Qiu lying on the edge of the bed, asleep, still murmuring those usual words. Thinking of how Qiu Qiu was devoted and had little worry, with only Zhang Yue in her heart, she couldn’t help but sigh.

At that moment, she suddenly heard a faint noise outside. Realizing that Zhang Yue must have stationed people outside to keep watch, she assumed someone had come in to check and immediately closed her eyes, pretending to sleep. However, the soft sounds soon disappeared, and she could hear Qiu Hen’s snoring and murmuring clearly. After waiting for a while, she opened her eyes again only to see a person standing right in front of the bed!
The newcomer also wasn’t expecting Amber to open her eyes at this moment and was momentarily stunned. Seeing Amber instinctively cover her mouth, his rough, bearded face showed an expression of struggle, before he finally whispered hoarsely, “Sister Qi, is it you?”