# 101: The Forest Dweller (II)

◎Facing the Wind◎

The person who had been holding onto the bridge pillar on Bian River Street, intending to jump into the river, went and beat the drum at the Ministry of Justice.

When Qu You heard about it, she immediately rushed to the front courtyard. Despite her quick reaction, the moment the person saw someone coming out, they shouted a couple of phrases and then smashed their head against the stone drum, killing themselves instantly.

No one in the Ministry of Justice dared to collect the body; the slightest misstep could lead to further entanglements.

Qu You stood under the drum, stunned. She thought back to when she first arrived here, thinking herself clever, believing that Liang An, who came to snatch the seal of authority, wouldn’t dare to act rashly. She never imagined he would be so desperate as to destroy everything.

Now, it seemed the power struggle was far more terrifying, darker, and crueler than she had imagined.

Reputation, life—all became unimportant in this life-and-death struggle.

Both she and Zhou Tan could guess who orchestrated this grand drama.

It could have been the old nobility dissatisfied with their interests being curtailed, political opponents in court who disagreed with him, or perhaps... Li Yuanjun hadn’t been found yet, and she might have moved to obstruct the new policies.

—But there was no evidence.

This case quickly spread among the common people, as if someone had fanned the flames. The winds shifted in both the court and the city, and memorials impeaching Zhou Tan in the Censorate, which were already numerous, doubled in number.

Qu You slowly pulled up the jade bead on the ribbon of his official hat.

“The banquet at Lin Feng Pavilion today has been prepared. When you return, I will be waiting for you there.”

Zhou Tan, lost in thought, suddenly heard these words. He steadied himself and smiled, saying, “Thank you, my lady.”

Qu You didn’t speak, nor did she look at him. They stood silently facing each other for a moment.

Finally, Zhou Tan broke the silence: “You’ve already guessed, haven’t you?”

“Hmm?”

“After yesterday’s incident, you didn’t ask me a single question, only seeming restless and avoiding my gaze. He San told me you lingered before that screen for a long time.”

She had specifically instructed not to tell Zhou Tan about her coughing up blood, and He San had agreed. But aside from that, he had told him everything else.

“Yes, I’ve roughly guessed,” Qu You replied. She raised her eyes to meet his. “However, in my view, this matter shouldn’t have been resolved this way. I still want to hear your reasons—reasons why it had to be done this way.”

“Alright,” Zhou Tan took her hand. “Today, at Lin Feng Pavilion, I will tell you everything, my lady, without any deception.”

Sure enough, this case caused an uproar during the morning court session.

After the morning court, Song Shixuan summoned Zhou Tan to the Imperial Study.

When Luo Jiangting arrived with a food box, she only heard the sharp sound of a teacup shattering inside the study.

She tiptoed closer and faintly heard the argument between the two.

“Master, I am no longer a child!”

“...The new policies must proceed. This is merely a temporary oversight.”

“At first... With things as they are now, how can I trust? Does this court belong to the Song family or the Zhou family? When the Flower-Cutting Decree was issued, even the national seal was stamped under your guidance. What kind of emperor am I...”

“Your Majesty simply no longer trusts me.”

Not long after, Zhou Tan walked out of the study, expressionless.

Luo Jiangting quickly retreated to the side with her food box.

Zhou Tan seemed not to notice her at all. He took a few steps forward and happened to bump into Yan Fu, who had come to report military affairs.

Yan Fu bowed and exclaimed, “Oh dear! Why is the Prime Minister’s finger bleeding? It looks like it was cut by a sharp object.”

Zhou Tan said, “It’s nothing.”

After a pause, he suddenly added, “You and I have been through life-and-death situations together. Now, the only one who cares to ask after me is Zhuo Zhou.”

Yan Fu didn’t understand what he meant.

But Luo Jiangting was startled. She lifted her skirt and entered the study. The eunuch at the door quickly closed the tall carved wooden door behind her.

“Your Majesty, I just heard...”

Zhou Tan patted Yan Fu’s shoulder, bid farewell, and continued walking out. As he crossed the threshold of the small garden outside the study, he suddenly glanced back. His amber eyes were deep, revealing a faint, barely noticeable smile.

Everyone in the court knew that the Emperor and the Prime Minister ended their meeting in discord.

That noon, Zhou Tan submitted his resignation letter to the Ministry of Personnel, lightly blaming himself for “failing to fulfill the duties of a minister” and requesting to step down as Chancellor.

Song Shixuan approved without hesitation, replying with a simple character: “Good.”

Qu You sat in Lin Feng Pavilion, holding a glass of crisp plum wine, letting the wind mess up her loosely tied hair.

When the servants informed her of the resignation, she wasn’t particularly surprised.

The first time Zhou Tan resigned as Chancellor was due to public opinion in the court, but she had no worries because three months later, he was reappointed for his success in “eliminating the old faction” and served another two years as Chancellor.

Until his second resignation, where he died in a foreign land.

What remains unknown is how much of today’s argument between Zhou Tan and Song Shixuan was real and how much was feigned?

And regarding Zhou Tan’s achievements later on, the “old faction” she could think of probably only included Li Yuanjun, whose whereabouts and fate remain unknown.

But at this moment, she had no extra thoughts to dwell on these matters.

The wine was crisp, and the fine rain outside the pavilion created a misty atmosphere. The lake in the backyard of the Zhou residence was shrouded in fog. Sitting here felt like being in a fairyland. Since Zhou Tan left in the morning, she had been sitting here all day.

Things she couldn’t figure out before suddenly made sense now.

Understanding brought a chill.

Su Chaoci arrived earlier than the agreed time. He shook the yellow oil-paper umbrella that had caught some raindrops, said nothing, and took a seat in the pavilion.

Not long after, Bai Sha Ting and Ai Di Sheng arrived together.

With these two present, the pavilion finally became lively.

It was Ai Di Sheng who first asked, “Didn’t your wife come with you?”

Bai Sha Ting shook his head. “She went with Miss Gao to check the accounts on North Street. She couldn’t find the time.”

“What about Officer Bai?”

“Eleven was urgently summoned by His Majesty. The Empress is ill and won’t be leaving the palace tonight.”

After everyone had settled down and each drank a cup of plum wine prepared by Qu You, Zhou Tan finally arrived late.

When he arrived, the drizzle had just stopped. Though clouds still hung in the sky, the moon was already high, casting faint beams of light through the haze.

As soon as Zhou Tan sat down, Ai Di Sheng quipped with a grin, “What a beautiful night, and everyone’s gathered here to drink and admire the moon. Truly a graceful and delightful affair.”

Su Chaoci remained silent throughout the gathering, merely drinking quietly to himself. Zhou Tan, who had a low tolerance for alcohol, drank sparingly. Seeing Su Chaoci nearly getting himself drunk, Zhou Tan quickly intervened, pressing down on his wine flask.

Su Chaoci struggled a few times, but Zhou Tan refused to let go. In the midst of their tussle, Zhou Tan suddenly exerted force, causing the copper wine flask to crash onto the ground with a sharp clang. “Enough! Stop drinking!”

The hand holding the folding fan in Qu You’s grip stiffened.

The banter between Bai Sha Ting and Ai Di Sheng abruptly ceased. The pavilion fell into silence, save for the chirping of cicadas echoing through the quiet night after the rain.

Su Chaoci glared at Zhou Tan with bloodshot eyes, then abruptly stood up, smashing his wine cup on the ground. “What exactly do you want?!”

He pointed a trembling finger at Zhou Tan. “The incident at the Ministry of Justice yesterday was clearly a setup… Such an obvious trap, yet finding evidence wouldn’t be difficult. I wanted to clear your name, but you stopped me. After your argument with His Majesty in the Imperial Study, when I went to the palace to explain, you forbade me. Since that day of political debate, I’ve been wanting to ask—what exactly do you want? Are you determined to ruin your reputation and alienate everyone around you?”

His words were jumbled, his tone fluctuating wildly. Everyone thought Zhou Tan wouldn’t respond, but after a moment, Zhou Tan muttered softly, “Yes.”

“What did you say?”

Zhou Tan’s hand trembled as he held his wine cup. In that brief moment of distraction, Qu You snatched it from him, tipped her head back, and downed the contents in one gulp before tossing the empty cup to the side. “Let me... speak for him so we can see if my guess is correct.”

Zhou Tan turned to look at her, his throat bobbing as he struggled to speak. “A-Lian!”

Qu You ignored him completely, asking instead, “Brother Su, setting aside matters of the people for now, how do you view the current situation in court?”

Su Chaoci paused, then pressed his fingers to his temples, trying to sober up a bit. “...It’s like water and fire clashing. Even though Xiao Bai and I are united against our enemies, the winds of factional strife have already taken hold. The new officials promoted by the Emperor and the old aristocrats and elders of Bianjing are divided on opposing sides, each harboring ulterior motives. Back when Gao Ze and Fu Qingnian were in power during the previous dynasty, there were at least only two factions. Now, however, multiple parties stand against one another... Enough, Xiao Bai understands this too. To push reforms at such a volatile time...”

Qu You cut him off. “Then how do you propose breaking this deadlock in court?”

Su Chaoci was stumped by her question. He opened his mouth, hesitated for a long while, and finally said, “Suppressing factional disputes won’t happen overnight...”

Ai Di Sheng suddenly chuckled bitterly from the side. “So that’s how it is.”

Bai Sha Ting looked at him with confusion.

Ignoring them, Qu You smiled faintly. “I have a good plan.”

“I’d love to hear it.”

“Now, the old and new officials waver and scheme because His Majesty has only recently ascended the throne, and the current Prime Minister lacks longstanding authority. It will take time... Meanwhile, the growing influence of the Grand Secretariat threatens the interests of the old aristocracy. To protect their gains, they must act.”

Zhou Tan reached out and grabbed her hand tightly.

“To swiftly resolve this turmoil in court, we need a Chancellor who enjoys the Emperor’s full trust and commands the support of both new and old factions, noble families, and the censorate scholars. This person must be decisive, authoritative, and respected by all. If they control the Grand Secretariat for two years, factional disputes will surely subside.”

“Lady Qu speaks wisely,” Su Chaoci said, dazed. “But... since the founding of our dynasty, only Chancellor Liu and Chancellor Gu fit such a description. Now, looking at Xuande Hall, where can we find such a figure? Although Xiao Bai has the late Emperor’s edict to protect him, the scandals from his early years have tarnished his reputation. To achieve what you describe would take many years... unless...”

He trailed off mid-sentence.

Qu You gripped Zhou Tan’s hand even tighter, feeling bitterness rise in her throat, but she forced herself to continue: “There is such a person, Brother Su. And that’s you.”

“You come from an esteemed family, already renowned in the previous dynasty, and as the Emperor’s tutor, you’re capable of mediating among the various factions. No one else in the court or countryside is more suited than you.”

Su Chaoci fiddled with his five-colored prayer beads, instinctively objecting. “I... I don’t have such ability or prestige. Even if Xiao Bai gave me the position of Chancellor, I doubt I could handle it in the short term.”

He already understood, but he simply refused to admit it.

“There’s a way,” Zhou Tan finally spoke, his voice hoarse. “There’s a way, Chaoci. You just need to prove yourself—to show that you have ambition, capability, and the strength to suppress conflicting interests while solving everyone’s greatest concerns.”

Holding his wine cup, Zhou Tan walked over to Su Chaoci and took a deep breath.

“My life effectively ended the moment I was embroiled in the Candlelight Case, forced to betray my teacher to survive—or perhaps even earlier. But you’re different. You come from an upright background and have always enjoyed a good reputation. What you lack is an opportunity.”

Su Chaoci stared at him intently, watching his lips move.

“Ever since I entered the Grand Secretariat, I’ve intentionally allowed rumors to spread. Reform... it’s my wish, but as Huai’an said that day, it should have waited twenty years. My haste now is an attempt to find a method that minimizes harm to the dynasty’s foundation while fulfilling my desires.”

“...Reformers never meet a good end. In a couple of years, I’ll become the target of everyone in court, even more so than now. By then, the initial results of reform will have emerged—a promising start—but they will also incite widespread resentment. When that happens, write a memorial and personally send me, the chief culprit, to the imperial prison. Abolish the new laws. At that point, you’ll command absolute authority in court. No one will dare oppose you, factional struggles will subside, and with Xiao Yan guarding the borders, Great Yan will enjoy a century of peace.”

Having finished speaking, Zhou Tan moved to Ai Di Sheng, snatched his wine cup, and drained it in one gulp. Bai Sha Ting was utterly dumbfounded, dropping his own cup with a clatter.

Su Chaoci sat motionless, like a stone statue.

“...And what about your innocence?”

Zhou Tan avoided his gaze, offering a bitter smile.

“Innocence... what does it matter? I never had it to begin with, and seeking it now holds no significance. As I told you that day—matters of this life, fame after death—they pale compared to what’s before us. I refuse to spend my life chasing after fleeting ideals... History may praise me endlessly, but it won’t make me happier today. Likewise, being reviled and remembered infamously after death is nothing but idle chatter once I’m gone. Why should I fear it? My only remaining wish is this final endeavor. If my ambitions are realized, I’ll have no regrets, even in death.”

The room fell utterly silent.

Qu You lifted the wine jug, chuckled softly, then extended her hand toward the moon, seemingly speaking to no one. “Back then, to bring down Peng Yue, Xiang Hui and Wu Ping plotted together, willing to sacrifice themselves as sharpened blades, trading their lives for justice. You couldn’t save them that day and blamed yourself endlessly...”

“Now, time has passed, and you intend to use the same method, turning yourself into a blade to achieve your goal. As for me... I’m just like you were back then, helpless even knowing in advance what’s to come. How ironic—it’s your wish, and I know there’s no better alternative, so I can’t stop you.”

She rested her head on the table for a moment, neither crying nor laughing, no one could tell. After a while, she suddenly stood up, staggering toward Zhou Tan.

Perhaps the wine had hit her too quickly; she felt dizzy after just a few cups.

Qu You reached out and grabbed Zhou Tan’s pristine collar. Worried she might fall, he steadied her by the waist.

Taking advantage of their proximity, she leaned close to his ear and whispered, “This morning, I asked you a question. Now I understand... That day, Xiang Hui resorted to such a desperate plan because she knew her time was short. But you, Zhou Tan...”

“How much longer do you have to live?”