Chapter 8: The Willow Catkins Arrive

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Now that the marriage had been called off, Concubine Meng and Xu Yunjun were both showing signs of recovery.

Zhao Jiao could finally devote herself to other matters.

As the saying went, when one was sleepy, someone would conveniently bring a pillow.

She had never expected that going to thank Madam Qiu would bring her such an unexpected gain.

“Enter the palace?”

Madam Qiu had actually asked whether she was willing to enter the palace and attend upon the Empress Dowager!

“Precisely. Fifth Girl, do you know why your father wanted you to marry into the Lu family?”

Madam Qiu gazed intently at Zhao Jiao.

Zhao Jiao was astonished. What connection could this possibly have with entering the palace?

She put on a wounded expression. “Was it for those five thousand taels? Mother, is Father short of money?”

Leaning against the bed, Madam Qiu took Zhao Jiao’s hand and spoke earnestly. “I have wronged you, child. Alas! I only learned of this not long ago. I had not meant to tell you, but your father truly is… Fifth Girl, have you heard that your father intends to bring your grandmother and Concubine Qiu back?”

Grandmother? Concubine Qiu?

In Xu Jiaojiao’s memories, there had indeed been three such people. Seven years ago, Madam Qiu had seized upon an excuse to drive them back to their old home in Fushun.

At the time, Madam Qiu had been able to send them away so smoothly because Xu Guodong still depended on the Qiu family. Now that Xu Guodong intended to bring them back, Madam Qiu must know she could no longer stop him. So what was she hoping to use Zhao Jiao for?

Testing the waters, Zhao Jiao said, “I… heard something about it as well. Father intends to bring them back? Does this… have anything to do with my marriage to the Lu family?”

In her memories, none of those people were harmless. Their return would certainly bring more trouble.

Madam Qiu let out a heavy sigh. “I have already sent someone to fetch them. They should arrive in a few days. Your father must have been plotting this for quite some time. News has recently come from the palace that the Empress Dowager intends to select three daughters of court officials to enter the palace and attend upon her. Those chosen will even be able to study alongside the princesses. Such a heaven-sent opportunity—and the first person your father thought of was your Third Sister, Qian. He wanted you to marry into the Lu family so he could obtain the money to grease the proper palms…”

So that was it!

Xu Guodong truly was something else. To sell one daughter, he was willing to sacrifice another.

The anger on Zhao Jiao’s face was unmistakable.

“Mother, has Father already made the necessary arrangements?”

Even a cornered dog would bite, and Madam Qiu was not surprised by Zhao Jiao’s fury.

“Indeed. Your father used the five thousand taels from the Lu family to secure one of the places for a candidate to enter the palace. Fifth Girl, I knew nothing of this before. That was why I refused when he first asked me for money. If I had known he meant to push you into the fire pit for the sake of your Third Sister, I…”

As she spoke, Madam Qiu began to weep again.

“It is not Mother’s fault!”

“Good child… I know you are sensible. Fortunately, the marriage has now been settled, and my heart is somewhat at ease. Fifth Girl, I want you to enter the palace in the place secured for the Xu family. I am doing this for the Xu family, for…”

“Mother, I want to enter the palace. Please make the arrangements for me. I will certainly repay your kindness in the future.”

She did not need Madam Qiu to offer her any of those reasons. Had she known of this opportunity, she would have done everything in her power to seize it herself.

As she spoke, Zhao Jiao moved to kneel.

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Madam Qiu hurriedly caught her.

“Do not do that. Since you are willing, simply follow your mother’s arrangements. Do not speak of repaying me. I merely feel that if the Xu family is to send one of its daughters into the palace, you are more suitable than Qian. You are sensible and obedient. Qian was raised entirely by Concubine Qiu, and I truly cannot feel at ease… If she were to use those disgraceful tricks of hers in the palace, the only person she would harm would not be herself. Your father is muddle-headed, but I cannot stand by and watch all of us be dragged into trouble.”

“I will follow Mother’s arrangements.”

Zhao Jiao lowered her head, her eyes reddening.

“Good, good! Wait patiently for word.”

Madam Qiu hastened to reassure her.

Zhao Jiao did not stay long. After exchanging a few more words with Madam Qiu, she left.

On the way back, she deliberately slowed her steps, letting the cold wind blow against her all the way. It seemed that only this could calm her mind.

“Miss, did Madam make things difficult for you?”

Yunxiang noticed that something was wrong with her mistress and could not help asking softly. Madam had sent them all outside earlier, and she had no idea what had happened inside.

Zhao Jiao shook her head. Looking up, she realized that she had already reached the entrance to her little house.

“Yunxiang, I am rather worried about Jun. Go check on him tonight. If anything happens, come to me at once. You need not attend me here for the time being.”

Yunxiang was about to say something, but suddenly remembered what Zhao Jiao had said earlier that day and swallowed her words. “Yes, I will go at once. Miss, please get some rest.”

Zhao Jiao nodded. Only after Yunxiang had disappeared into the distance did she step forward and push open the door of the little house.

A sword fell before her.

Zhao Jiao suddenly smiled. This was the second time since her rebirth that someone had pointed a sword at her.

“Who are you, really?”

Zhao Jiao slowly turned toward the voice. In the darkness, her eyes shone brilliantly.

“Liu Xu, you have come.”

She had known he would come tonight.

“You…”

At the familiar form of address, Liu Xu’s hand tightened around the sword, trembling slightly.

“When you were six, you were brought into the marquis’s residence. Father saw that you had the makings of a martial artist, so he secretly arranged for you to be trained. Later, you became my personal guard. You were such a dull, taciturn fellow—utterly lacking in amusement—so I was always teasing you. Once, you accompanied me on a hunt. I pretended to be injured, and you became so anxious that you cried…”

The sword fell to the floor. Tears filled Liu Xu’s eyes as he sank to his knees.

“…Commandery Princess!”

At last, Liu Xu dared to believe it. Even though her appearance had changed, her voice had changed, and her identity had changed…

The things she had just spoken of were known only to him and the commandery princess. Even if someone else had heard of them, no one could have known the details so intimately.

She was the commandery princess!

“It is so good to see you again.”

It was so good to be alive again…

Zhao Jiao supported Liu Xu by the arm and helped him rise. Her eyes had long since grown moist.

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“Commandery Princess!”

Liu Xu called out through his sobs, lifting his head to confirm it again and again.

“It is me!”

“This servant deserves death. This servant failed to protect you…”

To Liu Xu, nothing else mattered so long as the commandery princess was alive. Whatever she had become, it did not matter—as long as she still lived.

“Do not speak of that. Get up first. It is enough that we are both alive. Up!”

The candles were lit, illuminating the room. As Zhao Jiao looked at Liu Xu, the hatred in her heart only deepened.

“Such a fine face…”

Liu Xu shook his head through his tears. Seeing the pity in Zhao Jiao’s eyes, he hurriedly explained, “It does not hurt anymore. This servant is used to it. Commandery Princess, what truly happened in that fire all those years ago? Did someone harm you? And how did you become…”

“You have asked so many questions at once. Which one should I answer first? In any case, the whole matter is difficult to explain. I will tell you later. For now, simply tell me what happened during the two years after my death.”

She urgently needed to understand the situation.

Liu Xu nodded and carefully recounted everything that had happened during the two years since her death, paying particular attention to matters concerning the imperial family and the Grand Princess, Yin Ling.

Zhao Jiao listened intently without interrupting.

In the blink of an eye, an hour had passed.

“…Commandery Princess, that is more or less everything that happened during these two years. The Feng family army has been divided by the imperial court, and its title has also been revoked. Should this servant secretly make contact with them?”

“Not for now. There is no need to hurry…”

Until she had uncovered the truth behind many things, she absolutely could not act recklessly.

The enemy had managed to frame her father so smoothly back then. It was possible that there had been a traitor beside him—or within the Feng family army itself.

“Then what should this servant do?”

“For now, you need to do nothing. In a few days, I will enter the palace. Wait for word from me.”

“This servant will accompany you!”

Through mountains of swords and seas of flame, this time he would never let the commandery princess face everything alone.

Zhao Jiao smiled helplessly. “What do you think I am entering the palace to do? I am…”

She briefly explained the situation, but Liu Xu still felt that it was dangerous.

“Do not worry. I know what I am doing. By the way, I heard that the Grand Princess has taken in an adopted daughter named Nianzhao. Do you know anything about her?”

She had still been unable to resist asking.

At the mention of this matter, Liu Xu’s expression changed at once. Fury flashed across his face.

“Do not mention her. Does the commandery princess know who she is?”