BXG - 9

Returning to Her Maiden Home

Emperor De sent Zhou Tan a box of Longfeng Tuancha —a rare and precious tea. The eunuch delivering the gift congratulated Zhou Tan with a sharp, somewhat mocking tone.

Longfeng Tuancha was typically reserved for imperial relatives, high-ranking officials like the prime minister or chief ministers, and other elites. Now, it had been bestowed upon Zhou Tan, a fourth-rank official serving as Vice Minister of Justice, clearly indicating imperial favor.

Zhou Tan accepted the gift and offered a perfunctory expression of gratitude. Qu You glanced at him but couldn’t discern what he was thinking.

Such an extravagant token of favor—how could it compare to the absence of even a single imperial physician during his illness?

When Zhou Tan was on the brink of death, no one had come to his aid. Now that he had recovered, Emperor De’s reward likely carried another message: do not hold a grudge.

Qu You knelt there, lost in thought, when suddenly the eunuch addressed her.

“Madam,” he said with a sly smile, “Her Highness Consort Gui sends her congratulations on your marriage and has prepared a gift for you. Given Master Zhou’s recent indisposition, I imagine you’ve been preoccupied. Now that he is well, Her Highness has promptly dispatched me to deliver this.”

As he spoke, he opened the brocade box handed to him by a junior eunuch. Qu You, mimicking Zhou Tan’s earlier gesture, reached out to accept it. Inside, she found a delicate silk fan with a white jade handle.

The fan was exquisitely embroidered, its beauty unmistakable. Qu You examined it more closely and noticed the design featured pear blossoms and fruit.

Zhou Tan politely bowed. “Thank you, Lord Liu. Another day, I will accompany my wife to express our gratitude.”

After seeing off the imperial envoy “Lord Liu,” Zhou Tan watched as Qu You picked herself up from the ground, still clutching the brocade box. She casually took out the fan and gave it a few flaps, releasing the sweet fragrance of pears into the air.

“Do we really have to go thank them?” Qu You walked over to Zhou Tan, fanning herself as she asked in a familiar tone. “I know nothing about palace etiquette—I might cause trouble.”

She had already made peace with the situation in her mind. After all, Zhou Tan was just an ancient figure from a thousand years ago. There was no point in getting upset with him. Instead, she might as well enjoy his wealth, eat well, and wait for the author of The Flower-Cutting Decree to appear.

She harbored neither love nor hatred for Zhou Tan. Her earlier sympathy and vague expectations stemmed from his unconscious state and that ambiguous dream.

Now, as she fanned herself, she reasoned that from Zhou Tan’s perspective, his wariness of her was understandable. She still hoped to extract firsthand historical accounts from him, so maintaining a cordial relationship would be beneficial.

Zhou Tan seemed surprised. “You haven’t learned these customs?”

“I detest kneeling,” Qu You replied offhandedly. She then held the fan up to Zhou Tan. “Doesn’t Consort Gui hate you? Sending this seems like a deliberate insult to me.”

Pears symbolized separation. Only now did Zhou Tan notice the embroidery on the fan. Just as Qu You thought he wouldn’t respond, he suddenly said, “Her father is the current prime minister, Fu Qingnian.”

After Gu Zhiyan stepped down as prime minister, Emperor De recalled Fu Qingnian from the Jianghuai region to take over. He also promoted Gao Ze, an official from the Office of the Secretariat, to serve as chief minister. The two men hailed from different backgrounds and factions, locked in fierce rivalry.

Fu Qingnian’s faction of upright scholars looked down on Gao Ze for pandering to the emperor’s whims, while Gao Ze mocked the hypocrisy of Fu’s faction, who claimed moral superiority yet lacked the courage to risk their lives in remonstration like Gu Zhiyan. The power struggle between the prime minister and chief minister mirrored the intense factional conflicts of previous dynasties—a situation the emperor likely welcomed.

Zhou Tan’s betrayal of Gu Zhiyan had severed ties with the scholarly elite. Though Gao Ze had attempted to recruit him multiple times, he failed, leaving Zhou Tan isolated in court—even abandoned during his assassination attempt.

Qu You understood the implication of Zhou Tan’s words. Consort Gui’s insistence on arranging this marriage was likely aimed at thwarting Gao Ze’s plans to marry his daughter, Gao Yunyue—one of the “Twin Beauties of Bianjing,” renowned alongside the original protagonist—to Zhou Tan.

Still, Consort Gui’s network of spies was extensive. Qu You suddenly remembered something Zhou Tan might not yet know and waved the fan lightly. “The pear blossoms are fine, but Consort Gui must have heard about your brother barging into the wedding hall to snatch my fan. Sending this is probably meant to provoke me into losing my temper, causing discord in your household.”

“…He’s been spoiled,” Zhou Tan said impassively after a moment of silence. “I will deal with him.”

His focus was misplaced; she hadn’t intended to tattle.

Qu You chuckled helplessly, then suddenly remembered something else and decided to extend an olive branch. “By the way, someone told me this morning that my father has been released from prison. Thank you.”

“A small effort,” Zhou Tan replied tersely. He turned to leave but paused mid-step. “You should have returned to your maiden home within three days of the wedding, but since your father only left the Ministry of Justice yesterday, we cannot neglect propriety. I’ll accompany you back in two days. After that, I’ll be busy at the Ministry of Justice and won’t have time.”

Zhou Tan had actually volunteered to accompany her on this visit.

Even as she sat in the carriage, Qu You was still pondering his motives. After much thought, she remained baffled and couldn’t help stealing glances at him.

But Zhou Tan simply closed his eyes to rest, saying nothing.

The once-desolate Qu residence now bustled with activity in honor of Qu Cheng’s return. Red lanterns adorned the main courtyard.

In the early morning, a middle-aged man in a brown brocade robe sat solemnly at the head of the round table facing the door. To his left sat Yin Xiangru, her complexion pale.

“Amitabha Buddha, my husband has finally returned. My prayers were answered,” Yin Xiangru murmured, clasping her hands in prayer. Thinking of her daughter, tears welled up in her eyes. “But Aling… If it weren’t for Aling’s willingness to marry, my husband might not have returned so smoothly. I wonder how Aling is faring. Will her husband accompany her today?”

Qu Xiangwen glanced at his father, noting his dark expression, and quickly lowered his head.

“Even if I had died in prison, you shouldn’t have sold off our daughter! Do you know who Zhou Tan is? That demon! Are you not afraid he’ll kill her?” Qu Cheng scolded sternly.

Yin Xiangru dabbed at her tears with a handkerchief. “The emperor’s decree—could we have defied it?”

Qu Cheng wasn’t truly blaming her and sighed instead. “Why are you crying? They’ll be here soon. I doubt Zhou Tan will accompany Aling. Seeing you like this will only upset her…”

Just then, a maid rushed in. “Master, the young lady—and… her husband have arrived!”

Upon entering, Qu You noticed only one empty seat at the table. She instructed a nearby maid to fetch another chair and then gracefully curtsied to her parents. “Greetings, Father, Mother. I’ve been occupied these past few days and am late in coming.”

Zhou Tan silently followed her lead in bowing and then sat beside her.

This was Qu You’s first meeting with the original protagonist’s father. Qu Cheng hailed from a scholarly family in Jiangnan and had passed the imperial examinations to become an official. Though aged, he retained an elegant demeanor. Having had no direct contact with Gu Zhiyan, he had endured only mild hardships in prison. Emperor De’s treatment of these scholars was meant as a warning, and Zhou Tan’s intervention had secured his release.

Yin Xiangru studied her daughter, reassured by her calm demeanor and opulent attire. Her gaze then shifted to her son-in-law.

This son-in-law bore little resemblance to the fearsome, monstrous figure she had imagined. This young man appeared refined and handsome, exuding the air of a scholarly student. It was hard to reconcile him with the grim reaper wielding life-and-death authority in the Ministry of Justice.

However, their polite speech and distant behavior revealed that, though not openly hostile, they were far from intimate.

At the very least, her son-in-law was alive, which was a relief.

Qu Cheng, however, clearly didn’t share this sentiment. From the moment Zhou Tan sat down, he treated him as if he were something unclean, repeatedly clinking his teacup against the table.

With a stern face, he scolded Qu You briefly before asking a few gentle questions. Yet, he steadfastly avoided addressing Zhou Tan.

Zhou Tan didn’t seem to mind, lost in thought where he sat.

For her visit, Qu You had brought gifts of money and jewelry. Previously impoverished, the household now enjoyed improved circumstances thanks to Qu Cheng’s reinstatement and compensation funds, along with loans borrowed by Aunt Fang from their Jianghuai estate. Judging by Yin Xiangru’s rosy complexion, life had evidently improved for her recently.

Qu Cheng clearly had no desire to converse privately with Zhou Tan. Though Qu You wished to spend more time with her mother, she had to leave today. Since Zhou Tan didn’t object, she assumed she’d be able to visit frequently in the future.

Without partaking in lunch, the couple awkwardly prepared to depart. As they reached the gate, Qu You turned back, intending to say a few more words to her father. Suddenly, Qu Cheng called out, “Vice Minister Zhou.”

Zhou Tan turned and gave a formal salute. “Minister Qu.”

Their exchange was stiff and formal, akin to a cursory greeting between officials.

“Today, I’ll impart a word to Vice Minister Zhou,” Qu Cheng said haughtily, his tone icy. “Duke Zhuang of Zheng refrained from confronting his younger brother Gongshu Duan, choosing instead to endure silently. Do you know why? Whether the Ministry of Justice seeks to resolve longstanding cases or fabricate injustices to entrap upright scholars—you know, and I know. Though Aling is my eldest daughter, do not expect me to collude with someone like you because of her.”

Qu You understood the allusion: repeated wrongdoing leads to self-destruction; one need only wait.

Zhou Tan’s expression remained unchanged—he neither explained nor showed frustration, merely offering a respectful bow. “Thank you for your guidance, Minister Qu.”

Before Qu Cheng could say more, Zhou Tan turned and continued walking. But after taking a step, he felt Qu You tug on his sleeve. Without turning, she said, “Father, he saved your life.”

Qu You was deeply uncomfortable. No matter how much Qu Cheng disliked Zhou Tan, today Zhou Tan had shown ample respect. Remaining silent earlier was one thing, but hurling insults upon departure was another.

Moreover, Zhou Tan had secured Qu Cheng’s release from prison—he deserved some gratitude.

Qu You had always been someone who sided with reason over familial loyalty.

Zhou Tan looked at her in astonishment, a crack finally appearing in his frosty facade.