All along the way back to the marquis’s residence, Wang Yong tried to dissuade Qian Jiaoniang, but could not change her mind. She packed a simple bundle, summoned Ding Zhang, Qi Momo, and others, entrusting them to look after the household, receive no guests, and say only that she was ill and needed rest. Xing Pingchun rushed back from the academy—of course, he had heard about the army at the gates, but not that Xing Muzheng was imprisoned. Qian Jiaoniang told him the truth. Xing Pingchun leapt up: “I’m going too, to rescue Father!”
Qian Jiaoniang said solemnly: “If I go, you cannot. You are the young master of Yunzhou City. Though you are young, you must remain here to steady the people’s hearts. Let them see with their own eyes that you are here. We will certainly return.”
Xing Pingchun clenched his fists, staring fixedly at her. The anxiety in his eyes gradually gave way to calm. Seeing this change, Qian Jiaoniang felt comforted—her Chou’er had grown.
“Mother, you must come back with Father. I will wait for you both.” Xing Pingchun spoke word by word, with a trace of fear and unease, though he strove to press it down.
Qian Jiaoniang smiled, touched his head. Xing Pingchun threw himself into her arms. After soothing him with a few words, she raised her head and asked Wang Yong and Jiang Pengyi to take good care of Chou’er.
Xie Zhang returned from negotiating with the general outside the city. As Qin Shaoyuan had said, they were merely ordered to surround the city and still awaited the emperor’s command.
Knowing there was no time to lose in going to see Xing Muzheng, Qian Jiaoniang gave Xie Zhang a few instructions and prepared to leave. Unexpectedly, Chunwu barred her way. Usually, Qian Jiaoniang had thought her no different from Hongjuan or Yanluo, but now she remembered—Chunwu was the female guard Xing Muzheng had left at her side, one with real skill. So she said: “Chunwu, if you are willing, come with me.”
Chunwu replied: “Madam, I am your personal guard. Of course I will go with you. But before that, there is something important I must tell you.”
Qian Jiaoniang was startled. “You have something else?”
Chunwu glanced around, stepped closer, lowered her voice. “It concerns the Marquis.”
Qian Jiaoniang had not expected Chunwu to have clues. Understanding her intent to speak privately, she led her to a side room. “What did the Marquis tell you?”
Chunwu lowered her gaze. “Madam, please come with me to the study. What the Marquis left is in the study.”
Qian Jiaoniang hesitated briefly, then nodded and followed. Entering the study, Chunwu went straight to a small compartment in the wall bookshelf, retrieved a rolled-up imperial edict, and brought it to Qian Jiaoniang with head bowed. “Madam, please look.”
“What is this?” Qian Jiaoniang looked at the bright yellow color. She faintly knew this was an imperial edict, yet did not understand why Chunwu suddenly presented her with one.
“The Marquis said, once Madam reads it, you will know.”
Suspicious, Qian Jiaoniang accepted it, opened it, and read word by word. Her eyes flickered with ripples. There was nothing else written within—only a decree of imperial marriage, commanding Qian Jiaoniang to once again marry Xing Muzheng. Qian Jiaoniang had not expected this. Back then, Xing Muzheng said he had begged the emperor to retract the edict. She thought he meant the decree of their divorce had been voided. But who would have thought—the emperor had not withdrawn his own “golden words from the throne,” but instead required her to remarry all over again. Yet Xing Muzheng had never shown her this edict, nor had they held another wedding ceremony. In that case, as things stood now, could they not truly be considered husband and wife?
Seeing that Qian Jiaoniang had finished reading, Chunwu went on: “Madam, the Marquis said the imperial family also left an oral decree: if you regret it, you may burn this edict and act as though it had never existed.”
Qian Jiaoniang’s gaze hardened. Why would Xing Muzheng have Chunwu tell her such words at a time like this? Was he trying to detach her from him, to wash her hands of his affairs? If so… did it mean that, before leaving, he already carried the thought of never returning?
A sharp pain struck her heart, followed by an inexplicable anger. She rolled up the edict and tossed it aside carelessly. “What does he take me, Qian Jiaoniang, for!” With that, she swept her sleeve and left.
