"You impudent Taoist!" Just as Xiao Qiu was about to speak, Chi Ying preempted her, scolding harshly, "Do you know who our Miss is? It's your good fortune if she deigns to have her fortune told by you! If Miss is unhappy, His Highness will surely have your stall smashed!"
Upon hearing "His Highness," the young Taoist priest narrowed his eyes slightly, a faint smile appearing on his lips. Calmly, he said, "So it's the daughter of His Highness. My apologies." Though he said so, his tone lacked any respect.
He extended his palm, "Please let this poor Taoist see Miss's palm lines."
Chi Ying dared not risk handing her daughter over to him, so she said, "Great masters can predict fortune from facial features, right? Miss is only one year old, how can you see palm lines?"
The Taoist priest smiled slightly, his gaze seeming to see through everything, "Then please let Miss draw a lot?" He handed over the lot-drawing tube.
Little Cui Xian, seeing something new, immediately showed interest. Her chubby hand reached out, grabbed a stick, pulled it out, and dropped it on the ground with a thud. The Taoist priest picked it up, examined it, and clicked his tongue twice, saying, "Miss has a noble appearance, perhaps destined to marry into a prestigious family in the future. But this lot..."
"What about this lot?" Although they were here to trick him, and his words might not be reliable, Chi Ying couldn't help feeling nervous.
"An eagle tamed in the hall, a sword returned to its scabbard. Though she has the bearing of riding the dragon and ascending the wind, she cannot live in luxury. Eventually, she will retreat," the Taoist priest held the slender stick playfully, smiling, "It's a mediocre lot. Fortunately, she's a girl, not a boy. Otherwise, if His Highness ascends the throne one day, what would he do?"
Chi Ying couldn't help lowering her eyes, pondering his words deeply.
The Taoist priest said that little Cui Xian had a noble appearance but would find it hard to enjoy luxury. Did this mean her future circumstances would plummet? If one day Cui Yi became emperor, little Cui Xian would become a princess, free from the struggle for the throne, thus avoiding disaster. So what would make her distant from luxury?
Mysteriously, Chi Ying thought of the word "marriage alliance" and couldn't help shivering.
More than a year ago, when the late Emperor was still alive, he approved the then Crown Prince Cui Jie's proposal to reduce military spending and stop wars. The State of Chu indeed couldn't afford another war, but the Northern Di people were greedy and cruel. Would they give Chu a chance to recover? To maintain peace, only negotiation remained, and negotiation—inevitably involved territorial concessions, tributes, and marriage alliances!
Would Cui Yi be willing to send his daughter to the North for a marriage alliance? Like countless princesses in history, leaving her homeland, going to a foreign land where she would never return, enduring others' disdain, bullying, contempt... finally dying alone?
"Lady?" The Taoist priest waved his hand in front of her eyes, "Are you the wet nurse of Miss?"
Chi Ying came back to herself, replying formally, "Yes, why?"
The Taoist priest smiled and shook his head, "Nothing. A person's destiny is often influenced by those close to them. Why don't you draw a lot too? Perhaps you can change Miss's future."
The lot-drawing tube was offered to her again. Chi Ying reached out to take it, but Xiao Qiu quickly pulled her sleeve, signaling her not to shake.
But Chi Ying was preoccupied with thoughts of her daughter's possible misfortune. Even if there was a glimmer of hope, even if she could endure hardship for her daughter, she would do it to ensure her safety!
"Clank clank clank... Thud!"
Chi Ying held the lot-drawing tube, woodenly watching the Taoist priest pick up the stick she drew, smiling.
"Why are you laughing?" Chi Ying couldn't hold back.
The Taoist priest turned the stick around for her to see. Both Chi Ying and Xiao Qiu gasped in surprise.
It was a blank stick! There were no words written on it, completely smooth.
Xiao Qiu couldn't help asking, "What does this mean? Why is such an unfinished stick in the tube?"
The Taoist priest laughed, "Not so. This stick is deliberately left blank. May I ask where you come from?"
Chi Ying was still in shock from drawing the blank stick, answering without thinking, "From the capital."
"Where are you going?"
"I am going to..." Chi Ying's eyes suddenly cleared, "I am going to the capital. Where are you from, sir? Where are you going?"
The Taoist priest handed the blank stick to her with a smile, "I came from heaven and will eventually return to heaven. But before that, I have unfinished business in the mortal world."
With that, the Taoist priest shook his robe and stood up, bowing deeply to Chi Ying, "Shan Jian, style name Yuanzhi, has been waiting for Lady Changsun here for a long time!"
"You—!" Chi Ying was utterly stunned. She had calculated a thousand times, but never expected that this mysterious Taoist priest would turn out to be Shan Jian, the strategist of Third Prince Cui Huan! The same Shan Jian who designed to alienate Bai Li Zan and Cui Yi, sowing discord between them, helping Cui Jie plan the assassination at the imperial palace, causing the miscarriage of the Crown Princess, and ultimately driving Cui Yi out of the capital.
In her previous life, Chi Ying had long heard of his reputation. Due to her status, she had never met him personally. All she knew from Cui Jie's praises was that Shan Fu's mind was as meticulous as dust, calculating without omission, excelling at manipulating people's hearts, using ruthless tactics, unconstrained by moral principles. "With him, one can gain the world."
Unlike Bai Li Zan's clever strategies aiming for minimal sacrifice for maximum gain, Shan Jian's approach was bold and merciless, following the path of hegemony, crushing anyone who didn't submit.
Cui Jie's smooth ascent to the throne was largely due to Shan Jian. If Cui Jie hadn't been too eager to kill Cui Huan, Shan Jian might have continued serving him, potentially achieving great fame and honor.
Thinking of this, Chi Ying finally understood. She asked softly, "Third Prince..."
Shan Jian's lips curled slightly, a melancholy smile on his face, not answering.
Whether in her previous life or this one, Chi Ying had no significant relationship with Cui Huan. However, having both been exploited and then killed by Cui Jie, she couldn't help feeling a sense of shared sorrow. Sighing, she said, "Mr. Shan, you must have endured much. Xiao Qiu, go hire a sedan chair and bring Mr. Shan back to the residence."
Xiao Qiu left to carry out the order. Holding his hands in his sleeves, Shan Jian replied, "Since I'm returning with Your Ladyship, there will be better things waiting for me. Things from the past should be discarded."
Chi Ying noticed the jade pendant at his waist, which looked familiar. Thinking back, she realized she had seen it on Cui Huan before. She guessed that his relationship with Cui Huan was more than just that of master and strategist. Having traveled such a long way to Yan Prefecture to seek refuge with Cui Yi, he was likely seeking revenge for Cui Huan.
She wondered how Cui Yi would react when he saw Shan Jian in the residence later.
Yan Prefecture was vast and sparsely populated. Even a single courtyard wasn't expensive. Upon arriving in Yan Prefecture, Cui Yi bought each of Cao Qian and the other two generals a property to avoid having a group of unmarried men living in the governor's mansion, which would be inappropriate.
Of course, for convenience, everyone lived on the same street, within earshot of each other.
Chi Ying pushed open the black wooden door with peeling paint, stepping across the threshold first, "Mr. Shan, you can stay here. Yan Prefecture is so poor that we can barely afford meals, so I can't offer you a grand residence. But in three to five years, everything will improve."
Shan Jian entered, looking around. The single courtyard had a spacious main hall and two side rooms. Servants' quarters were separate, and there was a kitchen—though it was covered in cobwebs from disuse.
A willow tree in the northwest corner swayed gracefully, its green branches dancing in the breeze, pleasing to the eye.
"This tree pleases me," Shan Jian walked straight to the willow tree without entering the house, "When I lived in the capital, there was also a willow tree outside the side courtyard of the prince's residence. I used to play chess and recite poetry under it, quite enjoyable."
Chi Ying sighed, "The dead cannot be brought back to life. Mr. Shan, please mourn appropriately."
Shan Jian turned back with a smile, "Wen Yu, where is he? It's been many years since I last saw him. About the last incident..."
Chi Ying comforted him kindly, "Being on different sides, mutual conflict is inevitable. Besides, you also played a trick on him later, so let's call it even."
Shan Jian hummed, walking a few steps further, stroking the willow tree's trunk repeatedly. Chi Ying couldn't see his face, but she imagined he must look wistful.
"This place hasn't been occupied for a long time. I'll have someone clean it up and send a pageboy and two maidservants to attend to you..."
"No need for maidservants, I'm not used to female servants. A pageboy will suffice."
This seemed to confirm Chi Ying's suspicions, so she didn't insist, simply nodding in agreement, "Alright, will you dine at the residence tonight or..."
Shan Jian stared at the willow tree absent-mindedly, not hearing her. Chi Ying left people to clean up, specifically instructing them not to make noise, and returned to the residence with Xiao Qiu.
That night, Cui Yi returned from the government office, noticing the table set with more dishes than usual. Surprised, he asked, "What's the occasion today? Why so many dishes?"
Chi Ying had changed out of her plain clothes into a black brocade robe embroidered with silver patterns, wearing only a white jade hairpin. Cui Yi's eyes lit up as he approached, "You're dressed so beautifully, who are you trying to impress?" While pulling her towards the table.
Chi Ying giggled, pushing him away, "Shouldn't I ask you the same? Who are you secretly meeting?"
Her question made Cui Yi uncomfortable, and he tried to evade, "Nonsense, I've never secretly met anyone."
"No?" Chi Ying innocently blinked, "But I heard from General Cao..."
"...Hmm."
Cui Yi pulled her to sit down, reluctantly admitting, "I can't say it's a secret meeting. A few days ago, while inspecting the city gate, I met a Taoist priest who said I had the aura of a dragon and tiger, but unfortunately, the tiger had fallen into a valley, unable to fulfill its ambitions. Out of curiosity, I talked with him for a while and found him... quite intelligent."
Chi Ying pretended to be surprised, "Really?"
Cui Yi choked, "Were you asking about this?"
Chi Ying blinked innocently, "No, I heard from General Cao that Old General Xu's son, Xu Cheng, is also a fierce warrior. Didn't your secret meeting fail?"
Cui Yi: "..."
Chi Ying teased, poking his cheek, "What happened, Your Highness? A smart Taoist priest at the city gate, then what? Did he give you some elixir, making you smarter recently?"
At that moment, a soldier reported from outside that Mr. Shan had arrived, and Shan Jian walked in right after.
Cui Yi stared at him, then at the laughing Chi Ying, completely speechless.
Chi Ying laughed heartily, standing up to welcome him, "Since Mr. Shan and Your Highness already know each other, no introduction is needed. Please sit."
Shan Jian was even less formal than Bai Li Zan, merely nodding slightly before sitting down on a stool. Cui Yi looked at him unhappily. Though he had found the man arrogant before, he had tolerated it because he needed his advice. Now that he was invited to the residence, becoming his supporter, how could he still act so arrogantly?
Cui Yi considered how to assert his authority. Pouring wine into a cup, he handed it to Shan Jian, who politely thanked him without addressing him as "Your Highness." Feeling this was serious, Cui Yi decided to show him who was boss. With a stern expression, he coughed, "This prince..."
…"
Shan Jian raised his cup with both hands, calmly interrupting him, "Thank you for your favor, Your Highness, but I have yet to introduce myself."
When he stated his name, Cui Yi nearly fell to the ground, crushing the porcelain wine cup in his hand. He slammed the table in anger, "You are Shan Fuzhi!"
Shan Jian sat quietly without fear, "Indeed, it is me."
His calm demeanor left Cui Yi unsure whether he should order him dragged out and dismembered or personally draw the Xingyuan sword and stab him. The reason he had been exiled to this godforsaken place was, according to Chi Ying, all "thanks to him." A gentleman would not let such a grudge go unavenged; although Wu Wang was no gentleman, he was someone who always repaid his enemies.
"Although Mr. Shan has traveled far to seek refuge under Your Highness, there's no need to be so agitated," Chi Ying pressed down on his knee under the table, preventing him from standing up.
Cui Yi's face turned red. Continuing to scold wasn't appropriate; even he had slightly considered recruiting this man, and killing him outright would be too wasteful. But stopping and continuing to drink wasn't right either; his earlier outburst indicated he had something to say, and failing to follow through would lose his authority.
Thus, Wu Wang held back and forcibly changed the subject, "I have long admired Mr. Shan's reputation. With your assistance, I will surely replace my brother sooner."
Shan Jian didn't mind his awkward transition and remained composed, meeting his gaze, "Whether Your Highness wishes to usurp the throne is none of my concern. I came to Yan Prefecture for two reasons: to avoid danger and to seek revenge. Simply put, I want to use Your Highness and am willing to be used by you. Therefore, Your Highness need not say more; I do not seek fame or fortune, only your promise."
Cui Yi was slightly surprised and asked, "Revenge? For what? What do you want me to promise?"
Shan Jian spoke slowly, "If Your Highness promises to take Prince Cui Jie's head for me, I will go through fire and water for you without hesitation."
Previously the Crown Prince, now the Emperor, Cui Jie's name was forbidden to be spoken except by the late emperor and the Empress Dowager. Yet, as someone who once served him, Shan Jian dared to call him by name, revealing deep-seated hatred that could make him risk his life for retribution.
Cui Yi, usually not very quick-witted, suddenly understood, his lips trembling, "He even killed the third prince?"
Shan Jian's expression was calm like a lake, but his eyes reflected profound sorrow, "Officially, no one knows the Emperor ordered his death. During spring, when the prince fell ill and did not recover after a month, the Emperor sent medicine from the palace. Both I and the princess consort advised against taking it, but the prince trusted the Emperor and believed he wouldn't harm his own kin, so he drank it."
Cui Yi sighed deeply, pinched the bridge of his nose, frowned, and asked, "What about the third princess consort and his concubines? How did the Emperor handle them? Sent them to the teaching music troupe?"
Shan Jian shook his head, "The Emperor pretended to be shocked by the news and ordered a proper burial. The princess consort was sent back to her family in Han Prefecture, and the servants scattered."
Cui Yi lowered his head and fell silent. Chi Ying, however, was puzzled, "Why would the Emperor allow you to leave the capital?" Initially, she thought Shan Jian fled immediately after Cui Huan's death, but since he knew about the princess consort's fate, it must have been after the funeral. Given Cui Jie's appreciation for him, he wouldn't have allowed Shan Jian to escape, especially to join Cui Yi, his sworn enemy.
"If he forbade it, would I have stayed?" Shan Jian lifted his chin confidently, "I borrowed some cosmetics from the princess consort, disguised myself as a woman, and easily slipped out of the city."
Chi Ying was speechless.
Cui Yi pondered for a moment and then asked, "So the decree to withdraw the fiefs will soon arrive in Yan Prefecture? No, it should have arrived already. What happened?"
Shan Jian replied, "An unexpected situation occurred. When I reached Gan Prefecture, I heard that a thousand-strong army of the Northern Di entered the pass. The Emperor is now busy negotiating peace and temporarily hasn't dealt with withdrawing the fiefs."
Talking about peace negotiations, Chi Ying naturally recalled Shan Jian's divination for Xiao Cui Xian earlier. Since Emperor Qisheng had no eligible daughters, he had two unmarried princesses, one twelve and the other nine, who were too young for marriage, which was fortunate.
"Fool," Cui Yi harshly criticized, "The Northern Di have always coveted central China. How can they sincerely negotiate peace? If Great Chu surrenders without fighting, they will think us weak and easy to bully. Gan Prefecture, Han Prefecture, Ying Prefecture, and others will suffer continuous harassment. Our nation, founded on martial prowess, ends up relying on an incompetent emperor for peace. It's a disgrace!"