Chapter 54 Making Her Tremble

The woman lowered her head slightly, revealing a bit of her fair neck beneath her collar. The warmth of the room coaxed the chill from her skin, softening the fine hairs that had stood on end back into a smooth, tender sensation. He knew that feeling well—silky like custard, a mere touch enough to make her shiver lightly.

Xiao Yuanchi averted his gaze. “It’s a waste of effort.”

Yin Jiaojiao snorted. “It wasn’t really a waste. Who could have guessed that during such a critical military emergency, you’d still be caught up in tender affections? I’m far more magnanimous than she is. Staying up late isn’t for trifling over love and petty emotions; it’s because I worry about you, about the provisions at the Six Garrisons, about Liangzhou’s fate, and even about you, the newly appointed commander who hasn’t arrived yet but is already facing trouble.”

Mention of military affairs wiped the playful expression from Xiao Yuanchi’s face as he straightened. “Things have come to this point, so we can only meet force with force, water with earth. Don’t worry, I won’t let you, the commander’s wife, have to scrimp and save.”

Scrimping and saving was something she had experienced often in childhood, so Yin Jiaojiao was unbothered. “I don’t mind scrimping, Prince. But don’t you think this matter is suspicious? Right as you’re about to take your post, the provisions get intercepted. Could this be just the beginning?”

“Are you suggesting someone wants me to die in Liangzhou, buried beneath the iron hooves of Dìróng?”

She nodded.

Xiao Yuanchi narrowed his eyes slightly, neither warm nor cold. “In such a short time, Jiaojiao, your understanding of the situation has grown remarkably.”

“Since becoming your princess, I’ve been captured by mountain bandits, attacked by assassins—I’ve had to grow up. If you think I’m wrong, just don’t listen,” Yin Jiaojiao turned her head away. “Even your Lady Sun said that my own father dislikes you, let alone the Dìróng who you’ve beaten to pieces.”

“So you think the mastermind is Dìróng?”

“Probably,” she said, recalling carefully. “Until I died in my previous life, at least the front lines were held by Dìróng’s forces. Why wouldn’t it be them?”

Xiao Yuanchi studied her for a moment, then suddenly said, “If I’m not mistaken, your birth mother, Lady Cen, is from Shazhou and lived in Liangzhou for three years.”

“Yes.”

“Then Liangzhou is half your hometown. Since you rarely return, don’t dwell on troubling thoughts. If you have time, look into your maternal family’s past—it won’t be a wasted trip. Otherwise, don’t provoke Xuezhi.”

In the end, he was defending Gu Xuezhi again.

Yin Jiaojiao stared at the warm stove, sighing softly, “Did I provoke her? It’s you all who keep provoking me.”

Xiao Yuanchi was too indifferent to respond and turned to leave the room. Surprised, Yin Jiaojiao asked, “So late, you’re not sleeping?”

He didn’t stop, just said over his shoulder, “If there’s more to do, you sleep first.”

These days, they had stayed together every night. Though they did little, it was the longest time they’d spent together since she married into the prince’s mansion—nearly day and night side by side. She lay alone on her side of the bed, glancing at the empty other half, feeling a sting of loneliness.

How laughable. She had long been used to an empty room, but after only a few days, the habit had changed—to being accustomed to someone sleeping beside her, to anticipating company.

Enough. She was reborn not to win his favor, but to focus on her own affairs.

…

Because the provisions were stolen, their group was forced to delay in Yanzhou. The prefect of Yanzhou patted his chest, vowing to do everything possible to gather another batch of supplies before spring planting. At least, the soldiers stationed at the border outposts would not starve. The commanders of the other five garrisons also hurried to meet with Xiao Yuanchi for arrangements. Meanwhile, the officer responsible for the escort was imprisoned.

Xiao Yuanchi was busy inside and out for two whole days, during which Yin Jiaojiao didn’t see him once.

“Last night, he stayed at the Yanzhou commander’s residence. Early this morning, he went to the northern camp. Several commanders have arrived, along with imperial inspectors stationed here. The court in the Eastern Capital already knows. According to Deputy General Su, we’re lucky the incident happened early. Had it occurred later, after the prince assumed his post, it could have been another crime,” Qiu Ming said as she helped Yin Jiaojiao adjust her wind hat.

“Princess, are you sure you won’t bring two more personal guards?”

“We’re entering the city, not leaving it. Yanzhou has always been peaceful. We’re only making a short trip and will return soon. Riding in a carriage the whole way, two guards are enough.” Yin Jiaojiao tightened the strings under her chin. “Are you sure the old Cen shop in Yanzhou is still around?”

“Yes, definitely. This is easy to verify—just ask the clerks at the courier station. Twenty-some years ago, the Cen shop was famous in Yanzhou for ironware and herbal medicines, with a steady reputation. The business flourished until one day it started selling off assets. Within three months, all the Cen shops were renamed and taken over by other old firms in Yanzhou. The clerks have the list. We can visit some of the larger ones—perhaps we’ll meet some elderly folks from those days.”

“Good, let’s go.”

They switched to a common border-town oil-skin carriage. The guards disguised themselves as coachmen for a low-profile departure.

Yanzhou city was not far from the courier station. Soon, the carriage stopped before an ironware shop. Judging by the storefront, it was a bustling business, occupying three adjacent doorways. A golden plaque bore five large characters: Lin’s Ironware Shop.

The guards, familiar with swords and blades, praised, “No wonder this is a border town. The Eastern Capital wouldn’t have such a large-scale ironware shop.”

“What do you mean?”

“Madam, because of the frequent wars in border towns and nearby cities, household goods must be sturdy and durable. Every family keeps weapons for defense, so business flourishes. In the Eastern Capital, there isn’t such demand. A shop this large would soon close.”

Upon entering, Yin Jiaojiao realized the guard wasn’t exaggerating. The shelves were filled with a dazzling array of goods: swords, spears, halberds, and various pots, pans, and bowls. She was amazed.

Qiu Ming used the pretext of buying a short dagger to fetch the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper, an elderly gentleman about sixty, immediately asked, “Madam, are you visiting from the wealthy regions of Central Plains?”

“Good eye, shopkeeper,” Yin Jiaojiao smiled. “We’re from the Eastern Capital, passing through here. We heard it’s dangerous further west, so we thought to buy some weapons for protection.”

“Then you’ve come to the right place. In all Yanzhou, only Lin’s Ironware Shop makes short daggers of the finest quality—even Dìróng’s can’t compare.”

The old man launched into a long introduction, his face glowing with pride. Surprised, Yin Jiaojiao said, “So impressive? There are Lin’s shops in several nearby cities. I visited a few, and none dared claim so boldly. Are you trying to fool me because I’m a stranger?”

“Our shop is honest—no cheating young or old,” the shopkeeper waved a hand. “Lin’s is our new owner. The wealthy proprietor owns countless shops all bearing the Lin name, but their origins differ greatly.”

“Oh?”

The shopkeeper patted his chest proudly.

“We were originally the top branch of the old Cen shop. When Cen’s were still around, our shop was among Yanzhou’s best ironware suppliers.” After boasting, he quickly elaborated, “Madam, if you ask experts, you’ll know: across the northwest, products from Cen were all masterpieces. Their ironworking skills even attracted the covetous eyes of the old Dìróng khan, who sent men to capture the elder Cen to forge weapons for them. In that crisis, General Gu intervened and rescued the elder Cen. Everyone at the border knows this story.”

Hearing this, Yin Jiaojiao was astonished. “General Gu? The Gu who died in battle at Huoliao Valley?”

“Yes, about twenty-six or twenty-seven years ago. He commanded the Six Garrisons then. There’s still a residence of his in Yanzhou city.”