Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Over the next few days, I lived alone in a quiet, elegant courtyard within the city.

The commander arranged for two matrons to teach me the etiquette and poise expected of a noble lady, while another teacher instructed me in the theory of the four arts: zither, Go, calligraphy, and painting.

“As the daughter of a Provincial Commander, you must be knowledgeable about the four arts even if you aren’t a master of them. Remember, you must never volunteer a performance. Success means simply not showing any weakness or ignorance.”

I was cautious in my words and deeds, learning everything I could while hiding my true capabilities.

The heavy rain finally ceased on the fifth day.

On the sixth day, I dressed once more in the exquisite garments of a young lady, adorned my hair with pins and ornaments, and set out on the road to the Capital with a new retinue of maidservants and guards.

The difference was simple.

This time, I had become Bai Zhi.

I was being forced to impersonate myself.

The commander accompanied me, escorting me toward the Capital.

Along the way, we encountered several riots and groups of refugees begging or fighting for food. The commander did not treat them with the cold severity I had expected; instead, he ordered the convoy to give them a wide berth and even scattered some loose silver for them.

I was surprised. It reminded me of my father.

Whenever he left Bian City on official business, he would have Mother prepare some loose silver. When I curiously asked why, Father wouldn’t answer, his brow merely furrowed with deep thought.

Sanniang once told me that the world outside was harsh, and it was only because of Father that the people of Bian City lived in relative peace and prosperity.

Father was born into a family that had served the crown for three generations. Ten years ago, weary of court struggles, he gave up his title and the luxuries of the Capital to lead our family to the remote Bian City to serve as the Provincial Commander.

Before this journey to the Capital, he had cautioned me repeatedly:

“Your aunt is the current Consort Yuan, and the Empress Dowager once held you in her arms. I have already used silver to smooth your way with everyone in the inner palace. Lanzheng, just endure these three years, and then Father will personally come to the Capital to bring you home!”

Thinking of this, my eyes welled with tears again.

But I quickly wiped them away.

The commander was keeping watch just outside my carriage.

We traveled for half a month.

The day before we were to enter the Capital, the commander ordered his men to pull back. With a solemn expression, he gave me my instructions.

“Once you enter the palace, you must accomplish two things. First, I will give you a secret signal to use with an undercover contact inside. You are to deliver a letter to him.”

“Second, you are to use your identity as Xie Lanzheng to assist him, protect him, and follow his orders.”

Forcing myself to remain calm, I asked, “Who is this contact?”

The commander fell silent for a moment.

“I don’t know.”

I was slightly startled, but I kept quiet.

In a situation like this, it was always better to say as little as possible.

Sure enough, the commander sighed softly and spoke again.

“Over the years, the Mo Army has planted over eighty contacts within the palace. But the Emperor is ruthless; he would rather kill a hundred innocents than let one slip through. Consequently, those contacts have all met tragic ends. Now, only one remains. Though he is the last, he is the best! To protect him, no one knows his true identity except for the Supreme Commander of the Mo Army and his shadow guards.”

My heart tightened.

This was the first time he had openly admitted to being part of the Mo Army.

The Mo Army was a rebel group currently wanted by the imperial court.

The government had issued a bounty: any citizen of the Yan Dynasty, regardless of status, could claim fifty taels of silver for killing a single member of the Mo Army.

Among the common folk, the Mo Army wasn’t called the Mo Army.

They were called Mo Fifty.

…

“He has only a codename.”

“What is it?”

“Hanyi.”