Chapter Sixteen: Turmoil in the Marquis’s Residence

Among those who cultivate the mystical arts, there exist many abilities and spells that seem utterly inconceivable to ordinary people. For instance, even the art of finding someone often requires capturing traces of information—divination, too, needs a name, birth date, or a personal belonging as a basis for casting the hexagrams. Likewise, many supernatural methods rely on physical remnants or the lingering resonance of an information field to track a target. The greater the lapse of time, the harder the pursuit. By deliberately sowing chaos in his own aura, Shangguan Chuanyun made it nearly impossible for anyone to trace him. After verifying that all traces and the energy field of his arrival here were erased and thoroughly muddled, ensuring that no one could possibly follow him, he led Shangguan Qingyun in aimless circles around the area. Only when he confirmed they were unobserved did he head in the direction of the Marquis of Wu'an’s residence.

Suddenly, Shangguan Chuanyun glanced toward the Marquis of Wu'an’s estate. The moment his gaze fell upon it, his face changed dramatically. He turned to Shangguan Qingyun and said, "Something's happened. We must hurry home." Without further explanation, he grabbed Shangguan Qingyun and broke into a run toward the residence.

He had only glanced at the estate by chance, but immediately sensed the presence of martial energy and killing intent surging into the sky. Using his vision technique, he saw two enormous clouds of destiny circling above the Marquis’s house, confronting one another. Other smaller clusters of fortune hovered protectively at the periphery, even the house’s own destiny was being squeezed to the sides. The two most formidable manifestations in the air were a golden, round coin with a square hole—unmistakably his mother's aura—and a black tiger-head seal streaked with threads of purple mist, which could only be the Lady's. Such seals usually carried a killing intent, likely inherited from the General Zhenyuan, but the purple mist was puzzling; only those of imperial blood possessed it. Shangguan Hongyun had it, too. This made Shangguan Chuanyun suspect that the Lady and the emperor might have had an affair.

…

While Shangguan Chuanyun was dragging Shangguan Qingyun back to the residence, the Marquis of Wu’an’s estate had already descended into chaos. The eldest son, Shangguan Hongyun, who had been punished to kneel in reflection that morning, had somehow slipped out to see the emperor. News had spread, causing both delight and anxiety among the various household members.

The Lady, however, seemed to have anticipated this, though she was still uneasy. The Marquis had ordered Hongyun to be confined and reflect, yet now he had been released; if this led to embarrassment for the Marquis, so be it—there was no turning back. Had it not been for her father, General Zhenyuan, supporting them, the Marquis would not enjoy his current position. Now that news had arrived that General Zhenyuan controlled the entire northern region, even the emperor dared not harm her son. If the Marquis did hold her accountable, her father could always put pressure on him.

Having made up her mind, she waited for further news.

"Madam, Ma Cai, whom you sent to await news, has returned," announced Wu Nanny, the Lady’s old nursemaid and companion, upon entering and finding her deep in thought.

Only upon hearing Wu's voice did the Lady snap out of her reverie. "What is it?" she asked.

Wu Nanny repeated, "Madam, Ma Cai—whom you sent to the palace gates this morning—has returned and says he has good news to report."

"Let him in," the Lady replied coolly. Although she was anxious to know the specifics, she maintained her composure.

"Yes, Madam." Wu Nanny went out and led Ma Cai inside.

Ma Cai came in, knelt to pay his respects, and finally said, "Madam, I bribed a palace servant and learned that the eldest young master has been appointed by His Majesty as a third-rank general. Furthermore, because he recommended a master alchemist to the emperor, His Majesty was so pleased that he immediately bestowed a marriage—betrothing the fifth princess to our household as the eldest young master's bridegroom. His Majesty also decreed that you, Madam, are to be ennobled as a second-rank titled lady."

The Lady's heart blossomed with joy at this news—this was precisely what she had hoped for. The higher the son rises, the higher the mother’s station. She had previously held only the title of Lady by virtue of being the Marquis’s principal wife; now, with her son made a general and appointed imperial son-in-law, and herself granted a noble title by imperial decree, it was truly a triple blessing. She said to the kneeling Ma Cai, "Well done. Collect one hundred taels of silver from the accounts office." She waved him away.

"This is your reward," she added. Ma Cai rose, bowed, and withdrew.

Thinking of the triple celebration, she realized a grand feast was in order—and such a celebration required money. Naturally, she would turn to the wealthiest among the wives, Lady Jia of the third household. She turned to Wu Nanny and said, "Send someone to the third branch to collect thirty thousand taels of silver, and say it’s for the marquisate’s triple celebration."

Wu Nanny hesitated before replying, "Madam, Lady Jia had a dispute with us only yesterday, and her foolish son almost got into a fight with the eldest young master. If Lady Jia refuses…"

She trailed off, knowing well how to survive under the Lady's roof.

The Lady pondered for a moment and then sneered, "Hmph. We may have taken a bit much last time, but if not for that thankless little wretch Shangguan Chuanyun, there wouldn't have been any trouble. Now that he’s gone, Lady Jia—a mere merchant’s daughter—dares not protest."

"Yes, Madam. I will go myself," Wu Nanny replied, and left to retrieve the silver.

Money had always been easy to extract from the Jia household. A little intimidation and the silver would flow in without resistance. Perhaps this time, because she had pressed too hard and that brat Shangguan Chuanyun had interfered, there was trouble, but she had already arranged for someone to deal with him. The diviner she had hired was powerful enough that even the Marquis would be caught off guard. Shangguan Chuanyun would not escape. And even if word reached the Marquis, he would not dare act against her.

She had long regarded the Jia household’s coffers as inexhaustible. She spent extravagantly and also funded part of her father’s army from it. If that gold mine ever dried up, her family’s power would be severely impacted. She could not allow that to happen. Anyone who stood in her way would be eliminated, even the Marquis’s own sons. In recent years, the northern armies had grown to two hundred thousand; though the court paid most expenses, Lady Jia’s silver was still substantial—second only to the court’s own funding. Last year alone, she had extracted a million taels, enough to cover thirty percent of the army’s costs. If she could maintain this, the entire north would fall into their hands. That little bastard Shangguan Chuanyun—let him die cheaply.

As these ruthless thoughts filled her mind, hurried footsteps sounded outside. Someone stumbled in, fell to their knees, and gasped, "Madam, Wu Nanny was beaten by Lady Jia’s people when she went to collect the money!"

"What?" The Lady shot to her feet. "Explain yourself!"

"Yes, yes," the servant sobbed, wiping away tears. "A few of us went with Wu Nanny. Lady Jia found an excuse, claiming you had seized her son and flatly refused to pay. Wu Nanny said we were only there for the money and knew nothing else, but Lady Jia had her men beat Wu Nanny—she’s still lying there as we speak." The servant wept bitterly.

The Lady was seized by fury. She had only sent her people to collect a little money—how dare Lady Jia have them beaten? Where was her dignity as the principal wife? Though she had long since lost her authority and any semblance of face, her anger was real. She gave a cold laugh and shouted, "Liu Er! Gather everyone—all our people! Go settle this account!"

A shadow slipped in from the side and replied, "Yes, Madam." Then he was gone.

…

Meanwhile, chaos reigned in Lady Jia’s compound. She had mobilized all her available people. That morning, word had reached her that her younger son, Shangguan Qingyun, was missing. Assuming he’d gone to his brother, she sent to investigate, only to find the table in Shangguan Chuanyun’s room reduced to splinters and a crater blasted into the courtyard—clear signs of a fight. Normally, this would be unremarkable; her eldest was always up to something odd, and even demolishing the house would surprise no one.

But today was different. The eldest, who had been confined and made to kneel in punishment, had gone to see the emperor. Now, word was out that the monk who’d asked her for money to repair his temple was actually a master alchemist, beloved by the emperor, who had rewarded the eldest with a princess and granted the Lady a noble title.

Lady Jia, however, cared little for their affairs. Even if the Lady remarried the emperor and became empress, Lady Jia would only remark, "Oh, is that so?" But now her two sons were missing, and there were signs of battle near her eldest’s quarters. She knew her son had some martial skills—there must have been a conflict.

Reflecting on her own conduct, she realized she had offended no one, except perhaps the Lady’s faction, who were not in their right minds. With her sons still missing after several hours, Lady Jia had already gathered her people to confront the Lady and demand her children’s return. Just then, Wu Nanny had swaggered into her courtyard, demanding money as if she were the master. Lady Jia decided to seize Wu Nanny first; when Wu Nanny, accustomed to lording it over others, persisted with her airs, Lady Jia lost patience and had her beaten within an inch of her life.

Even though Wu Nanny knew some martial arts, she was quickly overwhelmed. The rest of her retinue were likewise thrashed, except for one quick-witted servant who managed to escape. Lady Jia considered this evidence of good sense—anyone who could flee understood the situation; those left behind were fools who couldn’t read the room.

As for Wu Nanny, she had grown arrogant from bullying others under the Lady’s protection. Lady Jia had endured enough; if she couldn’t deal with the Lady herself, she could at least teach her minions a lesson.

"Miss, it’s terrible! The Lady is coming with her people!" a maid burst in, panic-stricken.

…