015 Fatal Flaw
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The next day was devoted to aftermath work.
The commander of the Eastern City Military Office succumbed to his severe wounds, and the court arranged compensation for his family.
All the escorts involved in the operation suffered seventeen casualties, while the Southern City Military Office lost five. Jiang Qingyun personally delivered the condolence payments to those affected or their families.
Although the escorts belonged to the martial underworld, they were among the most honorable of their kind. Generally, they maintained close ties with the government.
They represented a force worth cultivating—discreet yet powerful.
At the victory banquet, Jiang Qingyun invited Jiang Deshun and his daughter to dine at the same table, an honor that left them both overwhelmed, Jiang Deshun drinking himself into a drunken stupor.
...
At dawn.
Sunlight filtered through the window paper, casting a warm glow on Jiang Qingyun’s face.
Upon waking, his first sight was two faces—one human, one feline.
“Young master, you’re awake?”
“Meow, meowww, meow~”
Jiang Qingyun gently stroked the calico cat’s head first, then turned to Green Pearl’s face.
He got up, washed, and changed clothes.
While dressing, he suddenly asked, “Green Pearl, how long has it been since you last went home?”
Green Pearl’s swift movements faltered; she pondered for a long moment before answering, “About six years, I can’t remember exactly.”
“Do you miss home?”
“You have treated me so well, young master, I have come to regard this as my home.”
“From now on, you don’t need to call yourself ‘servant.’ I dislike that term.”
“Yes, young master.”
“Pack your things. Tomorrow, you will come with me to visit your old home.”
This unexpected plan left Green Pearl dazed throughout the day, causing her to make numerous mistakes.
Even the calico cat seemed to sense it, quietly perching above, watching her.
...
At the Ministry of Personnel.
Jiang Qingyun and Zhao Zesheng dismounted one after another.
“Ah, you’re here.”
“Brother, we meet again.” Jiang Qingyun smiled warmly and discreetly handed over two taels of silver.
“Promoted again?”
“Rank six, no longer acting.”
“Not bad. Go on ahead, I’ll take your horses to the back and feed them some hay.”
“Thanks.”
Today, the Langzhong of the Literary Selection Division was in the hall. With the recommendation of adviser Zhou Shao, everything proceeded smoothly and naturally.
The Langzhong was kind and genial, and the process remarkably efficient.
Zhao Zesheng was inwardly impressed. He knew how difficult it was to gain entry to the Ministry of Personnel’s Literary Selection Division, and how stern the officials there could be, deepening his respect for Jiang Qingyun.
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...
“Congratulations, Brother Jiang. From today, you are officially a sixth-rank official with a bright future ahead.”
“Brother Zhou, you flatter me. How about we have a meal together?”
“Gladly.”
After the previous affair at the Infant Care Hall, their relationship had improved significantly.
“Brother Zhou, shall we go back to the Alley of Beggars?”
“Let’s pick somewhere else. Since returning from the Infant Care Hall, I’ve had nightmares for four days straight. Sigh.”
Jiang Qingyun fell silent.
Outside Zhengyang Gate, in the bustling Dashilan commercial district, there was a mid-sized restaurant.
“Oh dear, Lord Jiang, please take back your silver. You’re embarrassing me.”
Jiang Qingyun gave a subtle glance; Zhao Zesheng immediately stood, holding silver in one hand and draping an arm around the innkeeper’s neck as they went downstairs.
...
“Brother Zhou, are there any major developments in the court lately?”
Zhou Shao sipped his drink and spoke softly:
“The southern provinces suffer from heat; the army has temporarily ceased fighting. The Ming forces are embroiled in internal strife; General Du Yinxi was nearly killed by his own men. The battles in Datong, Shanxi, are unfavorable. The Regent King is furious and has punished several generals at the front. Rumor has it, the Regent King has contracted typhoid.”
“Anything else?”
“The Forbidden City is tense inside but loose outside. Five hundred garrison banner soldiers from Zhili have secretly entered the capital.”
“Brother Zhou, what’s your take?”
“The Regent King’s faction won’t last long.”
“What if the Regent King leads troops back to the capital?”
“Shh, be careful. That’s impossible.”
“Why not?”
“Throughout history, those willing to risk following a lord do so for a future. The Regent King’s time is near; he has no son, no heir. Who would risk everything for a doomed cause? Even if he called out, no one would follow.”
Jiang Qingyun nodded.
“Having a son means having everything. Without one, all is empty.”
“Exactly.”
...
Footsteps pounded on the stairs as Zhao Zesheng returned.
Zhou Shao ceased discussing secrets and casually chatted about trivial officialdom anecdotes and street gossip.
They dined by the window, full of lively spirit.
During the meal, the trio spoke of the smallpox plague in the capital, sighing with regret.
“Brother Zhou, why not come to my Military Office? I can help you get inoculated with human smallpox. That would settle it, and you could rest easy.”
“The Imperial Medical Bureau says the inoculation has a failure rate of forty to fifty percent. Are you better than the Medical Bureau?”
“Brother Zhou, have you not heard of the 'Ten Laughables' in the capital? The Medical Bureau’s prescriptions, the Ministry of Works’ tea, the Shenle Temple’s prayers, the Armory’s weapons, the Workshop’s facilities, the Charity Hospital’s food and clothing, the Music Bureau’s women, the Censorate’s officials, the National Academy’s scholars, the Hanlin Academy’s literature.”
*Pfft.*
Zhou Shao spat out his drink and wiped his mouth, laughing: “That’s going too far.”
“Actually, what I mean is the Medical Bureau plays it safe, always prescribing mild tonics and never adopting anything risky. So, inoculation might not be as terrifying as they say.”
Zhou Shao held his cup thoughtfully.
“I’ll look through medical texts. If I decide, I’ll come to you.”
After the meal, Jiang Qingyun, as usual, handed him a fifty-tael silver note.
Zhou Shao considered for a moment.
“Brother Jiang, why not donate it to the Infant Care Hall? I—I truly don’t dare step foot there.”
“I plan to open an Infant Care Hall under the Military Office’s name in the Southern City and transfer children there. Then I’ll keep this note.”
“Good idea.”
...
After seeing Zhou Shao off, Jiang Qingyun pulled out two silver notes and a jewelry box.
“Zesheng, you’ve got a long errand. Give the silver notes to my father and the jewelry to my mother. My home is the second house on Needle and Thread Alley, marked by a large locust tree at the door. Be quick. Tomorrow we leave for Baoding Prefecture together.”
“Rest assured, my lord.” Zhao Zesheng bowed deeply.
Jiang Qingyun himself, accompanied by four guards, went straight to the Western Gate Escort Agency outside Chongwen Gate.
The courtyard was filled with young escorts practicing their martial skills.
Ah, there he is—the unassuming archer Jiang Nan, still focused on his archery.
Escort captain Jiang Deshun hurried over, kneeling on one knee.
“I was unaware of your arrival, my lord. Forgive my lack of preparation.”
“Captain Jiang, arrange a quiet room. I need to speak privately with your daughter Jiang Nan on behalf of the court.”
“...”
Jiang Deshun’s mind stalled for several seconds but complied.
He warned his daughter:
“Lord Jiang wants to speak with you alone. It should be nothing serious, but be careful.”
Jiang Nan’s face flushed deeply.
“Damn official!”
“Shh, what are you saying? Don’t think that way. Lord Jiang is young and handsome, with no shortage of wives and concubines. It can’t be, can’t be. Don’t overthink.”
...
The Escort Agency prepared an empty room—bare except for a table and chairs.
Soon, an indignant Jiang Nan entered, carrying her bow and arrows.
“My lord, I hear you asked for me?”
“Change your clothes first!”
“What?”
“You’re dressed as a man and carrying a bow. How can we talk like this? It’s impossible! You must adopt a proper attitude for this conversation. Go—change into a skirt and then come see me.”