Chapter 17: Jianghu Expert

When Fang Rui was the Crown Prince he liked roaming the jianghu with Rong Tai, and it was because of roaming the jianghu that he first met Shen Yu.

Having spent a long time in the jianghu, he knew something of its ways. There was a Jianghu Roll, essentially a ranking list of the jianghu’s masters.

On the Jianghu Roll was the name Huyan Suoyun: Great Qi’s First Fist, Huyan Suoyun.

First Fist Huyan Suoyun carried great renown in the jianghu, yet he had subordinated himself to the court’s Court of Judicial Review as a lower ninth-rank prison warden. Many couldn’t understand why such a famous jianghu figure would stoop to serve the court.

But those in the know understood: Huyan Suoyun had stayed at the Court of Judicial Review to repay Minister Cui Hao, who had saved his mother ten years earlier, and thus served Cui Hao loyally.

Thinking of this man gave Fang Rui a headache. If he could, he would rather not meet him at all.

Shen Yu sat behind the table while Fang Rui stood at her side. Since he had already told outsiders he was Shen Yu’s subordinate, he could stand openly beside her instead of hiding.

“Prison Warden Huyan, what business do you have?” Shen Yu did not immediately have Huyan Suoyun push the door open.

From outside the door Huyan Suoyun said, “Lord Cui has ordered this subordinate to assist Lord Shen.”

A cold smile pulled at the corner of Fang Rui’s mouth. At the teahouse he had clearly heard Wang Zhongyuan tell Cui Hao that Shen Yu could be silenced if necessary, and since Huyan Suoyun was Cui Hao’s man, the word “assist” could very well mean “assassinate”.

“Come in.”

As soon as Shen Yu’s voice fell the door opened. A tall man entered, and even in his prison warden clothes one could feel the taut, knotted muscles beneath as if they might rip the fabric at any moment. Looking up, he was a man in his early thirties with hard, stern features, the sort who did not indulge in banter.

Huyan Suoyun bore a pair of heavy gauntlets. The moment he entered a wave of pressure washed over the room, and his gaze fell on Fang Rui beside Shen Yu like sleet and snow, chilling to the bone.

That look… Fang Rui could interpret as a master sizing up another master, the sort of look that meant he might be ready to kill.

But Shen Yu believed it was simply that Fang Rui’s appearance didn’t look like that of a respectable person but more like an escapee, so Huyan Suoyun’s first glance landed on him.

“He is my covert guard, Jia Ming.”

Huyan Suoyun nodded at Fang Rui on hearing this, then bowed to Shen Yu, “This subordinate pays respects to Lord Shen.”

“No need for formalities.”

Huyan Suoyun merely bent his waist slightly, then straightened as stiff as a wall. People of the jianghu have strong pride. Few entered officialdom, and they scorned court officials.

Even Huyan Suoyun’s imposing pressure could not subdue Shen Yu. She had posed as a man for twenty years and moved cautiously day by day, so she was not easily cowed.

She looked at Huyan Suoyun and said, “I didn’t expect Lord Cui to send you to assist me.”

Huyan Suoyun replied, “Lord Shen is not familiar with the Court of Judicial Review. Lord Cui therefore had this subordinate come to assist you.”

Shen Yu did not belabor the point and said directly, “Since you’re here to assist me, good. Go and fetch the recorded testimony Chen Chi gave earlier.”

The prison warden slightly lowered his head and answered, “Yes, Lord Shen.”

Once Huyan Suoyun left, Shen Yu exhaled and looked at Fang Rui, asking, “Is it difficult to make a switch right under this man’s nose?”

Fang Rui glanced at the door and answered, “It’s rather difficult, but I have a chance of success.”

After interacting for that short while, Fang Rui could clearly feel the terrifying aura Huyan Suoyun emitted. His place on the Jianghu Roll was by no means empty praise.

In his previous life he would have been unable to deal with Huyan Suoyun, but after reincarnation his senses were keener and his skills sharper. How great his odds against Huyan were he couldn’t say, but overall he now had an innate advantage.

Hearing Fang Rui’s reply, Shen Yu pondered, then said, “To avoid needless complications, we’ll act tonight. I just saw Chen Chi and he was not harshly interrogated. If someone were to impersonate him in the regular cell they’d soon be discovered. So I had him moved into an iron cell. There’s only one key, which I hold, and we left only a small food slot. Even if someone wanted to silence him, it would be difficult.”

Fang Rui asked, “You found a substitute?”

Shen Yu looked at Fang Rui and said, “He’s a condemned man convicted of murder, awaiting execution after the autumn. But he has an elderly mother and a young son. I told him that if he was willing, I would arrange for his mother and son to be cared for.”

The corner of Fang Rui’s mouth twitched. “Is that a threat?”

Shen Yu stood and shook her head, her expression earnest. “It’s more like helping him. The person he killed had no grievance with him. Losing a man like that is not regrettable, but his elderly mother and young son are innocent. Luckily he still has some conscience and remembers he has a mother and child.”

Mention of a mother silenced Fang Rui for a moment. After a pause he said, “Fine. Tell me the place and I’ll bring the man over tonight.”

“The condemned man is in the fifth cell from the left on the first level and the execution order has already been issued for the midnight hour tonight. The biggest question now is whether Chen Chi will cooperate quietly.”

Fang Rui chuckled, “Leave this matter to me.”

Shen Yu looked at him in surprise, “You?”

Fang Rui smiled, curling his lips. Even if Shen Yu couldn’t see his face clearly, she could feel the confidence radiating from him.

That afternoon Shen Yu had Chen Chi isolated and kept only one dungeon key, ordering that no one be allowed to see Chen Chi alone without her command.

Shen Yu’s actions sowed doubt in Cui Hao’s heart. He suspected Shen Yu had realized his plan to silence Chen Chi.

Cui Hao hastened to send word to Wang Zhongyuan in the city. After much thought, Wang Zhongyuan told Cui Hao to act quickly: Shen Yu had only just arrived at the Court of Judicial Review and had seen Chen Chi today, so if Chen Chi were to kill himself others would suspect Shen Yu had said something in the cell to drive him to suicide.

Fang Rui had considered Wang Zhongyuan might want to silence Chen Chi, but he hadn’t expected to run into them here.

The Court of Judicial Review was nearly four hours’ travel from the Grand Guardian’s residence and a round trip would have taken an entire day, which would make it impossible to supervise anything, so Shen Yu arranged for lodgings at the Court of Judicial Review.

It’s just that…

“Why are you here?” Shen Yu’s face turned very sour.

On the simple bed, Fang Rui, dressed in black, had taken off his shoes and was lying down.

Seeing Fang Rui so relaxed, could Shen Yu’s expression remain composed?

Certainly not!

Fang Rui glanced at her and said as if it were obvious, “We have a kidnapping to do at midnight and the Court of Judicial Review didn’t provide me lodging, plus I must stay close to protect you. Can’t I lie on this bed for a while?”

Shen Yu rolled her eyes, turned, sat at the round table, and opened the books she had brought from the Grand Guardian’s residence.

Shen Yu concentrated on her reading while Fang Rui turned onto his side, propping his head on his hand, and intently watched Shen Yu’s gentle profile in the dim candlelight.

Shen Yu favored white. Once she changed out of official robes into plain clothes she seemed quieter and softer, and he could not take his eyes off her.

With someone staring at you unblinking like that, no matter how focused you were on other tasks, his gaze, which was like a leopard watching an antelope, would raise goosebumps again and again.

Shen Yu couldn’t pretend she was reading anymore. She turned her head back at him and asked, “Seen enough?”

Who knew that thick-skinned man would reply, “A lifetime hasn’t even been lived yet, how could I have seen enough?”

Shen Yu rolled her eyes. She should have ignored him.

Fang Rui sat up, climbed down from the bed, and looked at Shen Yu. Though there was no sign of fatigue on her face, he knew Shen Yu hadn’t slept well these past days and, with barely noticeable concern, said, “You sleep first. I’ll go out at the right time.”

Shen Yu glanced at him, then looked down at the book on the table, “I’ll read a little longer.”

Fang Rui thought Shen Yu was worried about the upcoming matter and comforted her, “Huyan Suoyun may be stronger in fist techniques, but in agility, hearing, and sight he doesn’t match me. So rest easy and sleep.”

But Shen Yu’s concern wasn’t only about tonight’s plan. It was also because someone had just lain on her bed.

Without looking up she said, “I’m not worried about you. If you succeed, that’s good. If you fail and lose your life, that’s even better. Someone would silence you for me.”

At that, Fang Rui sat before Shen Yu, propping his chin on the back of his hand, and in a teasing tone said, “So young and already planning to be a widow?”

Shen Yu raised her eyes and looked at him calmly. She had to get used to Fang Rui’s teasing. Two out of three things he said were not serious, and if she couldn’t accept that she’d be constantly riled.

“If you heroically die carrying my secret, I’ll mourn you as a widow for three years.”

When Shen Yu finished, Fang Rui watched her impassively for a long moment before teasing, “I’m simply not going to die. Your widowhood will have to last at least five years.”

In his previous life when he died, Shen Yu was twenty-five and still the eldest son of the Grand Guardian’s house. Her status had not changed.

Shen Yu withdrew her gaze, unwilling to banter further, and took a brass-colored key from her sleeve, handing it to him.

“Remember: it’s on the fourth level of the prison, the innermost cell under the Fire Section, behind an iron gate forged from dark iron. The lock was crafted by a disciple of a master locksmith for a year and no one has opened it without the key. To open that lock you must use this key.”

Fang Rui took the key from Shen Yu’s hand, walked to the window, listened to the footsteps outside, and after a group had passed he turned back to Shen Yu, voice bright, “Wait for good news from me.”

Under Shen Yu’s watchful gaze, Fang Rui opened the window, braced the sill, and climbed out.

After Fang Rui left, Shen Yu took a deep breath and hoped the matter would proceed smoothly.