An intelligence report submitted to Yuwen Tong, however, said that Zheng shi had taken Yuwen Qi to that temple to meet someone, whose identity was cloaked in a shroud of secrecy, and who had a powerful force in the capital city as his backer.

Yao Yi and some others, in order not to alarm the mastermind, let that man leave.

After pondering for a few moments, Yuwen Tong gave a sneer. This person wielded such great power in the capital city, and his methods were so familiar. He wondered whether this man who had suddenly shown up to upset his plan was the same person who had killed Su Zhi previously.

"There's no way Yuwen Qi could make a full recovery from his broken legs after a single meeting with that man. After that man shows up a few more times, your opportunity to reveal his identity will arise. Currently, our first priority is the matter Xie Shi has been dealing with. Go and see if he's found anything."

"Yes, Marshal."

This was the day when Yuwen Zhi's old servant would go to that teahouse. Xie Shi had been lying in ambush in there for quite some time.

...

In the teahouse.

When the storyteller reached the most heart-thrilling part of the tale and all customers in the teahouse had their attention fixed on him, one particular person quietly left the hall making towards the privy in the back yard. This person was slightly hunched and stayed in the privy for a long time before exiting.

After walking through the privy door, he cautiously looked around and didn't return to the hall of the teahouse until he confirmed that nobody was watching.

Xie Shi cocked an eye at a spot near the foot of the wall behind the privy. With a sudden flicker of his figure, he disappeared.

When Yao Yi arrived, Xie Shi was still not back yet. The guard that had accompanied Xie Shi to the teahouse was wavering between going to look for Xie Shi or continuing to wait when he caught sight of Yao Yi and called in a pleasantly surprised tone, "Captain!"

"How's it going? Has Xie Shi found anything out?"

"He isn't back yet."

Yao Yi patiently waited, but after nearly two hours, Xie Shi still hadn't returned, and neither had Xie Shi sent an SOS. Uncertain of whether Xie Shi was in danger, Yao Yi decided to go and look for him with the guard and was just about to set off when Xie Shi showed up, a funky odor about him.

Yao Yi clapped a hand over his nose. "Where the hell have you been? Why do you smell so weird?"

Xie Shi shot a dark glance at him. "I ascertained where that venomous snake went. Let's go back and report to the Marshal first."

After returning to the residential compound of the Yuwen family, Xie Shi took a bath, changed clothes and then went to see Yuwen Tong. He said, "Marshal, that snake went through a back-wall of the imperial palace. As it's small and not easy to spot, nobody apart from me noticed it entering the palace. I vaguely saw the snake worm its way into a utility room before I lost sight of it. There were guards on the other side of the palace wall, so I didn't go inside without your consent."

Yuwen Tong was unsurprised at this reply. What had happened corresponded with one of his speculations, which would probably lead to the most troublesome eventuality.

Yuwen Zhi had been secretly keeping in contact with someone in the imperial palace. Given that there was some kind of link between this person's duties and a utility room, his or her status was probably not high, but it was also possible that he or she was a servant of someone of higher rank. As things stood, there was no other clue whatsoever to that person's identity apart from this.

"Send a message to our informer in the palace. Tell him to figure out a way to enter that utility room seven days later and see if he could find anyone suspicious there."

"Yes, Marshal."

"Marshal, how about I personally go in there? I could gauge its approximate position without seeing it, for I'm more sensitive to the smell of that snake." Xie Shi offered to perform the task of his own volition.

Yuwen Tong thought for a few moments and said, "That might not necessarily be a bad idea, but although the utility room was not heavily guarded, you must be careful as well. Make sure nobody sees you. Your life is much more important than these matters."

Xie Shi promised solemnly, "You may rest assured that I'll be very cautious, Marshal."

...

"Marshal, Second Mistress came with her servants and handmaids. She..."

Yao Yi walked inside to report, a peculiar expression on his face, as if there was something in his mind he couldn't quite understand.

Seeing his countenance, Yuwen Tong asked, "What's the matter?"

"Second Mistress brought many gifts and a large group of servants and handmaids, saying that she came here to apologize and wanted to help make preparations for the wedding. And she chanced upon First Mistress and Childe Han's wife and had a talk with them. I worried that she might be mean to others, so I stopped her. She's waiting outside."

By "First Mistress", Yao Yi was referring to Fang shi, Yuwen Chi's wife as well as Yuwen You's daughter-in-law, and Childe Han, naturally, was Yuwen Han. Both of them were here to help with the preparatory work of the wedding.

A flicker flitted across Yuwen Tong's eyes and he said, "Let her in."

Soon Zheng shi entered, followed by a lot of servants apart from Nanny Zhong and a couple of handmaids, who were carrying dozens of caskets containing valuable gifts.

"Tong, please forgive me for saying those aggressive words previously. I apologize to you. Your cousin has also paid the price for his impulsive deeds, and he still hasn't recovered from his broken legs. For the sake of your grandfather and your father, please pardon us for our mistakes. I brought these gifts to offer my congratulations to you. They'll prove useful on your wedding day. All of them come from my private collection which I've been keeping for many years. Though not very valuable, they're definitely an expression of my good will." Zheng shi had started talking on entry, occasionally dabbing the corners of her eyes with her handkerchief, as if wiping tears, a seemingly guilty look on her face.

Then Nanny Zhong beside Zheng shi knelt down and started kowtowing repeatedly, begging pardon, and all other servants and handmaids immediately followed her lead.

The corners of Yao Yi's mouth twitched and he looked at Yuwen Tong.

Yuwen Tong, a very calm expression on his face, neither forgave nor refused to forgive her, and it was very hard to tell what he was thinking.

Secretly anxious, Zheng shi directly began to weep. "I know our non-acceptance of Ling Zhang put you in an awkward position. You may rest assured that we will never say another negative word about you two being together. You can marry him as you please. I promise I'll stay on good terms with him in the future and I won't pick on him."

"You really think so?" asked Yuwen Tong, his tone still bland, giving little away.

"Of course. I never go back on my word. Childe Ling will be the legal mistress of the first branch of the Yuwen family after marrying you, and will no doubt need some time to accommodate himself to his new role. I will help him get used to it as quick as possible. Rest assured, we've all accepted him," said Zheng shi.

'This woman sounds as if Childe Ling needed your acceptance to be the legal mistress of the first branch. Who does she think she is? Isn't she worried that she might hurt her tongue by talking so big?' thought Yao Yi scornfully, feeling that on no account would the Marshal be hoodwinked by such lame acting of Zheng shi's.

However, the next moment, he heard Yuwen Tong say, "I'm very glad to hear that. Now that Aunt has accepted Brother Zhang, relations between the two branches of the family will return to normal."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. You may rest assured that Aunt will be nice to him."

Zheng shi, overjoyed to hear this, promised that she would be kind to Ling Zhang.

Yao Yi's mouth hung open. What had he just heard? The Marshal couldn't see through such a terrible lie of Zheng shi's? He really fell for it?

"Mar–"

"Yao Yi, get some men here and put away these gifts from my aunt."

Yao Yi had tried to persuade Yuwen Tong but the latter had interrupted him before he could finish his first word. He was fairly reluctant, but Yuwen Tong's sudden interruption had also made him come to realize that this matter was not as it seemed, so he answered, "Yes, Marshal."

It was at this moment that Yuwen Tong told those servants and handmaids on their knees to stand up.

"Ahem, wait," Zheng shi suddenly added with a smile, "As I'm your aunt, it's my unshirkable responsibility to arrange your wedding. Previously I was being foolish and narrow-minded, leaving you no choice but to go to Yuwen You's branch of the family to seek help. Now that we've sorted things out, maybe it's time you told them to return and let me take over. I promise you'll have an elaborate wedding."

Yao Yi inwardly rolled his eyes upwards. 'What a nerve.'

Unswayed, Yuwen Tong replied, "I don't dare put you to that much trouble, Aunt. Given that Granduncle and Uncle have already moved in here to help, it'd be inappropriate for me to ask them to leave. People will laugh at the Yuwen family if I do that. Am I right, Aunt?"

Zheng shi said with a fixed smile. "Yeah, you're right. I was being unthoughtful. Then... how about I have Nanny Zhong and some others stay here to help? Nanny Zhong is poised and competent. I'm sure she'll prove helpful."

Yuwen Tong flicked a glance at Nanny Zhong standing on the side. On sensing Yuwen Tong's glance, Nanny Zhong shuddered unnoticeably and bowed her head, not daring look at Yuwen Tong's eyes.

"Okay, then. Thank you for your kindness, Aunt. Yao Yi, take Nanny Zhong and the others to my elder aunt. Tell her to make arrangements for Nanny Zhong to help."

"Yes, Marshal."

It was only when Yao Yi took Nanny Zhong and some servants away that a real smile – a smug one, though – appeared on Zheng shi's face. Seeing Yuwen Tong's face which had been impassive all along, Zheng shi didn't feel like staying a single extra moment and soon made an excuse and left.

Shortly after she took her leave, Yao Yi walked inside and said anxiously, "Marshal, how could you allow Zheng shi's servants to stay? I could tell at a glance those people harbor evil intentions!"

Yuwen Tong cast him a sidelong look. "You think I need you to tell me that?"

"Then why did you–"

"I just want to find out what Zheng shi is up to – no, what the one Zheng shi answers to is up to, to be precise. Keep a close watch on them, and be careful not to alarm them."

Yao Yi was secretly startled. The one Zheng shi answered to? It seemed that the Marshal had had some speculations about it some time ago. Now wonder he'd accepted Zheng shi's offer.

"I'll see to it that proper arrangements are made."

"Um. And inform my elder aunt of this matter so that she'll be prepared."

"Yes, Marshal."

...

Fang shi felt a sense of relief when she'd been told Yuwen Tong's intention. As a woman, she had an instinct that Zheng shi entertained dark schemes, and had worried that Yuwen Tong had fallen prey to Zheng shi's trick, but now she fully relaxed safe in the knowledge that Yuwen Tong had had everything planned out, and set out to make arrangements for Nanny Zhong and other servants sent by Zheng shi to start working. In order to prevent them from creating diversion to make trouble, Fang shi had them work together, not giving them any chances to split up, and even when their assignment was of little importance, she'd also have someone have half an eye on them.

Nanny Zhong, feeling that Fang shi was so good at this that she probably wouldn't be able to find an opportunity to make her move, secretly clenched her teeth and sent a message back to Zheng shi, who went very angry after reading it and found that Fang shi was such a pain in the neck.

Originally she had been the mistress of this residential compound and should be the one in charge of the preparatory work for Yuwen Tong's wedding, but Yuwen Tong, without asking for her consent first, had invited Yuwen You's branch of the family to move in, which had infuriated Zheng shi. She had wanted to reason with Yuwen Tong, but unexpectedly, Yuwen Tong had soon demanded he and his uncle divide up the family property and live apart, denying Zheng shi the opportunity to express her anger, so she had decided not to lift a finger, expecting to see them botch up the wedding. However, Fang shi had turned out to be handling everything pretty well, giving Zheng shi no chance to tease about anything. Anger had been smoldering inside her for quite some time, and now, after receiving Nanny Zhong's message, she flied into a temper and prepared to go there and do something to make things difficult for Fang shi.

"...Nanny Zhong has been serving this family for many years and is more experienced than you. I sent her here to help you make preparations for Tong's wedding, not to let you suppress her. Sister-in-law, the previous disagreements between Tong and the second branch of the family were just some misunderstandings. Now that we've cleared the air, as the mistress in charge of domestic matters of the Yuwen family, I should've taken over the preparatory work for Tong's wedding. Tong is just too embarrassed to have you go back, because he was the one who invited you here in the first place and doesn't want to hurt your feelings, but it doesn't meant that you have the final say in these matters. If you keep sidelining Nanny Zhong, I'll have no choice but to talk with Tong, and in that case, he might cast aside the consideration of face and have you leave."

Zheng shi's voice was quite loud and it was not easy for Yao Yi not to overhear her. He walked up and said, "May I ask why you're standing here, Mistresses? First Mistress, the Marshal would like a word. Second Mistress, if you have no other business here, please go back home."

The forms of address, "First Mistress" and "Second Mistress", struck Zheng shi as extremely unpleasant. As Second Mistress of the Yuwen family, she was of much higher status than Fang shi who was First Mistress of another branch, but Yao Yi had addressed them in such an ambiguous fashion that people unaware of the truth might get the misconception that Fang shi was a notch above her!

Zheng shi was very displeased at the words, but Yao Yi hadn't really made any mistakes by addressing them this way, so she said sulkily, "Guard Yao, do you by any chance still have difficulty distinguishing your Marshal's family members from outsiders? Do I need to teach you how?"

"My apologies. It's just that the Marshal has something to consult with First Mistress about and requests her immediate presence. If Second Mistress has any business of urgency, you may tell me and I'll make sure the Marshal is informed of it," said Yao Yi.

Fang shi was a smart woman and knew Yao Yi had specially come here to help her out, so she immediately said, "Now that Tong wants to talk with me about something, I'll go there right now."

After saying this, she left with her handmaids without further ado, leaving Zheng shi and Yao Yi staring at each other where they stood.

Zheng shi was consumed with anger, but she also knew that if she really went to talk to Yuwen Tong, he might not necessarily side with her in this matter, for in Yuwen Tong's eyes, Fang shi was a closer family member than her!

"Let's go back." Zheng shi, even more unwilling to stay in this place where she could do nothing but stare at Yao Yi, stormed off, followed by her handmaids.

Nanny Zhong was left on the scene, face to face with Yao Yi, her face full of embarrassment.

Yao Yi threw a glance at her. "Nanny Zhong, you've been in this family for many years, so I think you're more acquainted with the rules than most. Do what you're supposed to do, and don't make trouble for the Marshal. If you feel these assignments degrade you, you may return straight away."

Nanny Zhong hurriedly said, "Don't misunderstand me, Guard Yao. I make no pretence to being overqualified. I'm going back to help First Mistress right now."

With some servants in her wake, Nanny Zhong also hurried off, knowing that Zheng shi wouldn't be able to offer her help any time soon, that she was now on her own.

After these people who had tried to make mischief cleared off, Yao Yi looked at the thick letter in his hand and almost jumped, his grim expression instantly vanishing. With that he hastily headed for the Marshal's chambers. If he was late, the Marshal would definitely be angry with him.

However, Yuwen Tong didn't blame Yao Yi after receiving the letter. "Did you dismiss Zheng shi?"

"Yes. I think she won't come back any time soon," replied Yao Yi.

Yuwen Tong said, "Her servants wouldn't be able to find a chance to make their move if you watch them too closely. Go consult with my elder aunt and figure out a way to allow Nanny Zhong an opportunity."

"Yes, Marshal," Yao Yi answered and quickly left for fear that Yuwen Tong might blame him for not having delivered the letter quicker.

When Yao Yi had left, Yuwen Tong hurriedly opened the envelope and started to carefully burrow in it. As expected, he found another, thinner envelope in it. After opening it, he began reading the letter word by word with rapt attention, as if trying to engrave these words in his mind. As his eyes moved along the lines, a smile curled the corners of his mouth. When he'd finished it, a regretful sigh escaped his lips, as though he wished he'd read it slower.

He'd read it too quick, and his longing was on the verge of overwhelming him.

Had there not been so much unfinished business to deal with, he would go back to the manor immediately. For him, the only place he would call home was where his darling was. And he was now terribly homesick.

Ling Zhang missed him as well. During the past few days when Yuwen Tong had been absent, he had neither slept well nor eaten well, and had lost a lot of weight for greatly missing Yuwen Tong. If it weren't for the fact that the Yuwen family had delivered dowry to Tanyang, which had made it inconvenient for him to go to the Yuwen family, he would have returned to the capital city to see Yuwen Tong already.

He gave it some thought and still failed to refrain. "Brother Wang, find me an unobtrusive carriage. You and Brother Liu are to disguise yourselves and accompany me back to the capital city."

Wang Dashan was totally unsurprised at this sudden decision of Ling Zhang's and immediately went to make preparations without asking any questions.

After hearing about it, Miao Shiba requested permission to go with them on the spot.

Miao Shiba had orders to stay with Ling Zhang, so Ling Zhang gave his consent in the knowledge that it was inappropriate to leave him behind.

The four of them, Ling Zhang, Wang Dashan and Miao Shiba sitting in the carriage, Liu Yi who had seldom appeared on public occasions acting as the driver, covertly entered the city and then returned to the Ling Mansion.

Yuwen Tong's eyes, in an instant, became scarily bright at the message that Ling Zhang was in the Ling Mansion. He put Yao Yi in charge of everything and then quickly left.