Joining Up

"This subordinate would not dare."

Yang Tingying was a master at stirring up trouble, but he was completely inept at apologizing. All he could do was repeat the same old lines like "forgive me" and "I would not dare," which was like adding fuel to the fire. Aside from making Wen Chan even more impatient, it had no positive effect whatsoever.

Wen Chan's temper was indeed worse than usual today, and realizing this herself only added to her anger. She said impatiently, "Cut the nonsense. Is there any actual business? If you have nothing to say, then go back to wherever you came from."

Yang Tingying was taken aback by her question. He hesitated for a moment before saying in a low voice, "This subordinate... is grateful for Your Highness's favor. Your Highness is of noble and precious birth, magnanimous and elegant, so naturally, countless talented individuals would be willing to pledge their loyalty and serve you. This subordinate is but a minor official of little importance, lacking in talent and often offending others. I only wish to peacefully do my duties and earn enough to feed and clothe my family. I beg Your Highness to grant my wish."

"What have I done?" Wen Chan retorted coldly. "County Magistrate Yang, have I hindered your official duties or docked your salary? We can each walk our own path. Do you need my permission for that?"

Gossip kills invisibly. Wen Chan didn't need to lift a finger, or even interact with him, to turn him into a thorn in many people's sides. Yang Tingying had been away for too long and lacked defenses against these convoluted schemes in the Capital City. He probably hadn't expected Wen Chan to turn hostile so quickly—strangely, though he had only interacted with Her Highness once, he felt an unfounded trust in her, as if a deep part of his mind was certain she would not truly force him into a corner.

It was precisely for this reason that Yang Tingying dared to come to her door and stand here, looking up to speak to her directly. "This subordinate knows Your Highness has countless ways to make a person bow their head. This matter began with me; my wife is innocent. Trouble should not extend to one's family. I ask Your Highness to be merciful."

Wen Chan suddenly asked an unrelated question. "Next time, if I invite your wife to a banquet, will you let her come?"

Princess Chiming's reputation was that she was "heavy-handed," but Yang Tingying felt "unpredictable" and "scheming" could be added to the list. It was also very difficult to lie in her presence. Any hint of concealment or wavering would be seized upon as a weakness and turned into an arrow that would fly back to strike him.

He answered honestly, "This subordinate does not know. That would depend on her wishes. If she wants to see Your Highness, she will still come."

"Even knowing that I am using your wife to coerce you, you will still let her choose?"

"Who she socializes with and who she is close to are her freedoms," Yang Tingying said. "She has been implicated because of me. If I were to shamelessly shift all the blame onto her just to protect my own reputation, I would have no face to claim to be loyal and upright, much less face her."

Wen Chan seemed lost in thought. After a long silence, she smiled faintly. "That's the only commendable thing about you."

Yang Tingying: ?

Was that a compliment or an insult?

"Since you've come to my door of your own accord today, I won't beat around the bush. I'll be direct. I do intend to recruit you. Although your position is a bit low right now, it doesn't matter. You are bound to have a meteoric rise in the future."

Yang Tingying: "This subordinate begs your pardon..."

"Let me finish," Wen Chan interrupted him. "You don't want to publicly stand with me, fine. If you continue to serve as a censor in the future, you can even impeach me. You can also choose not to align with anyone's faction, to be loyal only to His Majesty and the imperial court. None of these are problems."

"The condition is, I have an organization under me called 'Deep Forest,' which aims to gather intelligence and monitor the movements on all four borders. You are to become a member. There will be some things that require your cooperation."

"If you run into trouble, including but not limited to drought relief, flood control, murder cases, denouncing corrupt and powerful figures, being framed and suppressed by others, and so on, as long as it does not violate natural justice and public ethics, 'Deep Forest' will also do its best to help you resolve it."

Yang Tingying: "..."

He seemed to understand, yet he was also a bit dazed. He felt like the Princess was acting like a street swindler. What did she mean, "in order to publicly draw a clear line with Princess Chiming, I must secretly join her organization"?

"This subordinate appreciates Your Highness's kind intentions." Yang Tingying politely declined. "But I only wish to be a clean and honest minor official and do not wish to join any faction. Your Highness should seek someone more capable."

"In the twenty-eighth year of Tianxi, the powerful eunuch Zheng En interfered with the deposition and enthronement of emperors, shaking the foundations of the state. You submitted a memorial to impeach him and were demoted to the southwest. In the fifth year of Yanshou, when His Majesty summoned monks and Daoists from all over the realm to pray for blessings, you offered frank remonstrance and were demoted for several years. You finally returned to the capital, only to impeach Grand Princess Chengyang for indulging her household slaves less than a year later." Wen Chan said, "County Magistrate Yang, your actions do not look like those of someone who only wants to be a clean and honest minor official."

Yang Tingying: "..."

"To have done the right thing, yet be unfairly demoted and languish among the lower ranks, don't you find it unfair?" Seeing his silence, Wen Chan added more fuel to the fire. "A son does not speak of his father's faults, but there's no need for us to feign blindness to what is plain for all to see. In today's imperial court, talent and integrity alone are not enough to stand firm. A gentleman walks a straight path, but for an official who truly wants to accomplish something, sometimes taking a few detours is necessary to reach the destination."

"Why me?" Yang Tingying asked.

Wen Chan replied, "Because I want people like you to remain in the imperial court."

She once thought that as long as there was a wise and brilliant monarch, the realm could enjoy long-term peace and stability. Only later did she gradually come to understand that whether the world prospered or fell into chaos was not a situation a single emperor could control. Capable ministers and competent officials needed to be cultivated, and they also needed to be sheltered from the storm lest they be broken. Giving more opportunities to those who were upright and brave might, at a certain moment, allow a certain person to become the turning point that changed destiny.

"Your Highness's words carry too much weight. This subordinate is afraid... I cannot bear it."

Yang Tingying's tense shoulders relaxed slightly. After years of ups and downs, of being displaced and living away from home, it was impossible to say he held no resentment in his heart. He had also countless times questioned whether he had truly done the wrong thing. To suddenly hear Princess Chiming's affirmation, even if her motives were not entirely pure, still gave him the feeling of "finally meeting a kindred spirit."

"You can't bear this? Then I'll say something you can bear even less." Wen Chan said, "You know that you've offended the Grand Princess this time, and that someone intervened to protect you. If you had been convicted for this and exiled for a few more years, how do you think the Lu Family would view the marriage between you and your respected wife? From my observation, although your wife is of high birth, her social interactions among the officials' wives are mediocre. I wonder what the situation has been these past few days?"

Yang Tingying had no residence in the Capital City and could only live by relying on the Lu Family. Since Princess Chiming had shown her high regard for him, the Lu Family's attitude toward their daughter and son-in-law had indeed improved considerably. Yang Tingying was more or less aware of the hidden discord within the family, but for Wen Chan to point it out so directly was truly embarrassing. "I have made a fool of myself in front of Your Highness."

"Currying favor with the powerful and trampling on the weak isn't funny. What's funny is being arrogant at first and respectful later." Wen Chan smiled faintly. "Well? Even if not for yourself, County Magistrate Yang, you should fight for your wife's dignity."

Yang Tingying's weakness was obvious, but since ancient times, deep affection has been rare. Even if Wen Chan was exploiting it, she wanted to use it for a good purpose. Yang Tingying had clearly been struck where it mattered. He lowered his head, not speaking, and contemplated for a moment before looking up again to ask, "This subordinate has one more thing I do not understand. I ask Your Highness to tell me the truth."

Wen Chan had already anticipated his question. "Ask."

"Your Highness has planned so painstakingly, cultivating trusted followers and winning over partisans. What position is it that you wish to attain?"

Worried that Wen Chan might find it offensive, he added, "This subordinate swears on my life and the lives of my family that I will never divulge a word of what was said today. If I leak the slightest bit, this subordinate will kill myself as an apology to Your Highness."

Wen Chan revealed an 'I knew it' smile.

"You've barely got one foot on the boat and you're already thinking about these things?" she sighed leisurely. "You seem to have misunderstood something. 'Deep Forest' does not exist for my sake. To maintain the peace of the realm and the stability of the dynasty—that is the purpose of 'Deep Forest's' existence."

Yang Tingying: "..."

"What, are you surprised?" Wen Chan glanced at him. "Unwilling to believe that there is such a purely good person like me in this world?"

Yang Tingying choked a little and quickly said he wouldn't dare.

"Whether you believe it or not, this is the truth," Wen Chan said. "As for what result this goal will ultimately lead to—which is the question you just asked—that is not for you or me to decide. It depends on the will of heaven and the tides of time."

Yang Tingying didn't seem to buy her cryptic words and was still hesitating. However, Wen Chan was tired of talking. She picked up her tea to wet her throat. "You don't understand? It's fine if you don't. You will naturally understand in the future. Come, let's settle the business at hand. Congratulations on joining 'Deep Forest.' Hmm, let's call your codename 'White Egret'."

"..."

Yang Tingying had to speak up to correct her. "Your Highness, this subordinate is no longer a censor."

Wen Chan: "Being a censor is a state of mind. Don't doubt yourself. You have what it takes to be a censor."

"As for how to make contact, I will send someone later to explain the details to you. If you betray us, you will be hunted by many people you would never expect, so try your best not to attempt it."

Yang Tingying completely gave up arguing. "Yes, this subordinate will bear it in mind."

"Xihe County is a critical location. Being a county magistrate in the capital's suburbs is not easy. If you have trouble, you can come to me for help. For official matters, you can also rely on Lord He, the Magistrate of the Capital Prefecture. But he is not yet a member of Deep Forest, so be careful not to let it slip." Wen Chan concluded, "In short, we'll discuss things together when they arise. No matter who it's for, try to stand your ground in your own position. The days ahead are long, and there will come a day when you soar to the heavens."

Yang Tingying had been inexplicably dragged onto her pirate ship. Everything that had happened tonight felt like a dream, but the frantic beating in his chest carried an unfounded premonition—the "moment" that represented a turning point had finally arrived.

He bowed deeply to Wen Chan. "This subordinate accepts the order... Thank you, Your Highness, for your cultivation."

Seeing Yang Tingying off settled one matter, and Wen Chan's mood finally improved a little. She calmly washed up and went to sleep, only to be awakened at some unknown watch by the slight movements of Pei Rusong returning.

He was already moving with extreme care, but in the dead of night, even the faintest rustle of fabric was infinitely amplified. Wen Chan listened to his movements for a while, and finally, when he lifted the bed curtains and sat on the edge of the bed, she let out a soft sigh and said, "Why don't we just sleep separately?"

By the dim, hazy moonlight, she saw Pei Rusong's figure freeze abruptly. Even the sound of his breathing stopped.

Unexpectedly, he didn't move or make a sound. Wen Chan waited for a moment, and a bad feeling suddenly flashed through her mind. She propped herself up and, ignoring Pei Rusong's attempt to turn his head away, reached out and brushed her hand against his face.

A patch of dampness.

Wen Chan: "..."

"You're kidding me?" She pinched Pei Rusong's chin, forcibly turning his face toward her, and asked in disbelief, "Young Master Pei, you're crying over this?"