Chapter 64: Unexpectedly, a Noble Son of the Imperial Family

The dilapidated temple let the wind seep through its four walls, and the night breeze flickered the candle flames, casting shifting shadows across the hall. Ye Chang looked at Lady Fang, his expression troubled.

“Sister-in-law,” he called softly, but she showed no response.

Lady Fang had neither eaten nor drunk anything that night. Ye Chang pondered, then fetched the thin porridge he had prepared, placing it before her.

The porridge, now cold, carried no aroma; it was nothing more than plain rice gruel. Lady Fang’s gaze was vacant, staring ahead without focus, as if she hadn’t even noticed the offering.

“Sister-in-law, please eat something. My brother’s death has nothing to do with you,” Ye Chang suddenly said, his words making Lady Fang tremble violently.

“I... I...”

“Do you know what relationship you have with the third nobleman?” Ye Chang pressed further.

That question filled Lady Fang’s eyes with terror. She stared at Ye Chang as if her young brother-in-law had suddenly transformed into some dreadful monster.

Yet Ye Chang’s eyes remained calm. He moved a stool over and sat opposite her.

“What do you know?” Lady Fang asked in a trembling voice, suddenly frail, for her greatest secret had been stirred.

“In my memory, Sister-in-law is not a local. You came to Wuze years ago seeking relatives but found none, and eventually married my elder brother,” Ye Chang said slowly. “You are literate and well-mannered—not a daughter of a humble household. The case of the three noblemen involved many, and Princess Xianyi’s consort, Yang Hui, played a major role. My brother’s misfortune was at the hands of Yang Hui’s steward, Yang Fu.”

“Yang Hui!” Lady Fang spat the name with venom, as though she wanted to tear the skin from his bones.

“My brother’s death was unrelated to you, merely a coincidence, but it is tied to your true identity,” Ye Chang continued. “I know you blame yourself, but unless the root cause is removed, and so long as Yang Hui knows, this outcome is inevitable.”

Lady Fang still gave no reply, but her gaze finally settled on Ye Chang’s face.

“Yang Fu, I have killed him with my own hands, avenging my brother in part,” Ye Chang announced, startling Lady Fang.

Lady Fang, who had shown little reaction until now, suddenly sprang up and seized Ye Chang’s arm. “Eleventh Brother, how could you do such a thing, how could you risk so much? What should we do now? You must leave at once—go to Jiangnan, to Lingnan—anywhere the authorities cannot reach you. Now, quickly, immediately!”

She pushed Ye Chang with all her might, but as a woman, her strength was slight; despite several attempts, she could not move him. In her urgency, she nearly collapsed into Ye Chang’s arms, her faint scent enveloping him. Ye Chang was caught off guard by her intense reaction and took two steps back.

“Hurry and go!” Lady Fang said, tears in her eyes. “So long as the emperor remains, you must never return!”

Ye Chang’s heart stirred. Lady Fang’s meaning was clear: Yang Hui, because of Princess Xianyi, enjoyed Li Longji’s favor. So long as Li Longji reigned, Yang Hui’s position was secure. But if a new emperor ascended, Yang Hui’s involvement in the succession would surely demand a reckoning. At that time, it would be fortunate if he could even protect himself.

“Go, don’t hesitate! Don’t worry about the family—as long as I am here, I will see to Cinu and Xiaoniu, raise them to adulthood, and take care of Xiang’er and Chunming as well!”

Despite Lady Fang’s repeated urgings, Ye Chang remained unmoved, which made her anxious. Already weak from fasting all day, her exertions left her breathless; in her agitation, she grew dizzy and fainted into Ye Chang’s arms.

Ye Chang felt her body sink and quickly steadied her. Lady Fang tried to stand, but lacked the strength. Embarrassed and anxious, she lay in Ye Chang’s embrace, trying to speak, but her lips only pressed against his chest.

“Sister-in-law, are you all right?” Ye Chang was still unsure of her condition, holding her tightly and asking anxiously, blaming himself for acting too hastily.

The jade pendant on Ye Shu’s body was certainly not from the Ye family; its only possible source was Lady Fang. If he did not uncover its origins, Lady Fang, Cinu, and Xiaoniu would all be in danger. Ye Chang, accustomed to cunning and calculation, could not help but apply his methods to Lady Fang, hoping to break through her defenses while she was exhausted from receiving Ye Shu’s coffin.

Yet such urgency might deeply disturb Lady Fang’s spirit, perhaps even make her gravely ill.

“Let me go!” Lady Fang finally caught her breath and, in her mortification, pinched Ye Chang fiercely. But, pressed against him, her hand landed awkwardly. Ye Chang nearly cried out in pain, but dared not let her go, so he endured and helped her sit on the mat.

Drawing a sharp breath, Ye Chang stepped back two paces. “Sister-in-law!”

Lady Fang pressed her hands together and knelt on the mat, silently praying before Ye Shu’s coffin. After a while, she turned back. “You must leave now, Eleventh Brother—do not let the authorities capture you!”

“Rest assured, Sister-in-law. On this trip to the capital, I befriended several powerful allies—Princess Yuzhen, the Twenty-ninth Noble Lady, as well as He Zhizhang, guest of the Crown Prince, and Han Chaozong, the Intendant of Jingzhao.” Ye Chang wanted to rub the spot she had pinched, but refrained in her presence, forcing himself to speak.

He named these people to borrow their power, but Lady Fang’s eyes brightened at the mention. “Princess Yuzhen? Did you truly meet her?”

“Yes, the Princess favored me with several gifts on my return,” Ye Chang replied. “Also, because I rendered a small service to the state, I have returned by the emperor’s decree, granted silk and released.”

“You—did you offend before the throne?” Lady Fang was startled.

“No, I merely took the Twenty-ninth Noble Lady for a stroll in the West Market. I was preparing to return home and make clothes for Xiang’er; the noble lady’s stature matched Xiang’er’s, so she served as a fitting model.”

Ye Chang affected a light tone, leaving Lady Fang speechless. She watched him for a long moment, then shook her head. “The imperial family is heartless. You... it is good you have returned.”

“Then, Sister-in-law, can you tell me about my brother’s jade pendant?”

“I... my surname was not originally Fang, but Xue. I was... I was...” Even with forewarning, Ye Chang was shocked by her true identity.

Her mother was Princess Yi, daughter of Emperor Ruizong Li Dan (Li Longji’s father); her father, Xue Jing; her brothers, Xue Shen and Xue Xiu; her elder sister married the deposed Crown Prince Li Ying. During the Three Noblemen Incident, Xue Xiu, being an influential relative, was framed by Consort Wu Hui and Yang Hui. The first accusation came in the twenty-fourth year of the Kaiyuan era, implicating Lady Fang, who fled under an alias with the Fang family nurse from her hometown of Xiuwu. The nurse died, leaving her destitute until Ye Shu rescued her, leading to her marriage.

Her brother Xue Xiu died in the twenty-fifth year of Kaiyuan, a victim of the Three Noblemen Incident. Her eldest brother Xue Shen, unruly in conduct, was killed by Emperor Xuanzong in the twenty-seventh year. These events taught her the heartlessness of the imperial house and erased any desire to return to Chang’an.

The jade pendant had originally been her token of affection for Ye Shu, her only link to her former identity. Ye Shu always wore it. She had not expected Yang Fu to discover it, thus bringing disaster.

At this point, Lady Fang choked with emotion. “Eleventh Brother, it was I who caused your brother’s death. If not for me, he would not have suffered such tragedy...”

“What blame is yours? If you think so, the real murderers will go free while good people suffer daily torment. Those killers, those butchers, they live on others’ grain. By your reasoning, the farmer is most at fault—without farmers to feed them, how could they commit evil?” Ye Chang, surprised by the story, tried to comfort her.

The situation was not as dire as it could have been. His brother Ye Shu was simply unlucky. Lady Fang was only Xue Xiu’s sister; even if she had been his daughter, after so many years of hiding, she should have been forgotten. Unless Yang Hui recognized her and was determined to uproot all remnants of his enemy.

“Just leave Chang’an. It is an ill-omened place. Never go back...” Lady Fang murmured.

Yet Ye Chang felt he would still have to return.

Seeing Lady Fang’s mood somewhat eased, Ye Chang urged her again to eat, and this time she accepted, nibbling at the cold porridge. To distract her from sorrow, he asked about Cinu and Xiaoniu’s recent situation, but Lady Fang quickly inquired about his experiences in Chang’an, probing for details.

Ye Chang recounted only the safer incidents: using mathematical puzzles and football games to win over wandering ruffians, then employing them to uncover the truth about Ye Shu. Though he avoided mentioning fights and assassination attempts, Lady Fang still found the tales thrilling, especially his duel of wits with Ji Wen, which ended with the West Market project delaying Ji Wen’s pursuit. Lady Fang sighed, “Eleventh Brother, keep your distance from Ji Wen in the future.”

“Yes, I know how deep that man’s schemes run; I’ll avoid him if I can.”

“You must. He only suspected you before, but now he surely knows you committed some crime in Chang’an. If not, why would you try to hinder him? At present, he thinks building the West Market is a greater merit than catching you, so he’s let you go for now.”

Ye Chang was startled—such a possibility had indeed crossed his mind. When he left Chang’an’s Intendant’s office, Ji Wen came to see him off, especially asking about his origins and address. The meaningful smile he gave still sent chills through Ye Chang upon recollection.

Lady Fang, with her intricate ties to the Tang imperial clan, understood court intrigue sometimes better than Ye Chang himself.

“There should be no great harm. I’ll keep away from Chang’an, and he’s ambitious—he’ll never come to Xiuwu as an official.”

They discussed matters since their parting, and the earlier awkwardness seemed to vanish. As night deepened, Ye Chang leaned against the wall and gradually drifted into sleep. He faintly heard someone calling him; opening his eyes, he saw his elder brother Ye Shu’s concerned face!

“Brother!” Ye Chang started. “You... are you safe?”

“I am well, but must go on a journey. The family is yours to care for,” Ye Shu whispered. “My wife and children, you must raise them.”

Ye Shu’s eyes glistened with tears, full of emotion. Ye Chang frowned, “Brother, you... you...”

“Take care. I must go.”

Watching Ye Shu depart, Ye Chang felt something was amiss but could not identify what. He wanted to follow, to ask where his brother was going, but his feet felt bound and would not move.

“Brother, brother!” Ye Chang called out involuntarily, but Ye Shu only turned, waved, and repeated, “My wife and children, you must raise them!”

Then Ye Shu vanished.

Ye Chang was seized with intense fear and anxiety. He was about to cry out when he heard someone beside him. “Eleventh Brother, what’s wrong?”

Turning, Ye Chang saw Lady Fang’s concerned gaze. He was about to say he had seen his brother, but she was so close, her face nearly touching his. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. Just now, I saw my brother—he asked me to care for you all.”

“I know. I know Shu would never forget us... He was always kind. Even in death, he keeps us in his heart. He must have known the jade pendant would bring us trouble, so he never spoke of its origin, which led to his misfortune...”

Lady Fang wept as she spoke. Ye Chang wanted to comfort her, but his mind was exhausted; when he tried to speak, no sound came out, and he slipped back into a half-sleep.

He had traveled tirelessly, and only now could he truly rest, sinking into dream. In his hazy slumber, he felt as though something was entwining him, the heat spreading through his body.

His mind relaxed, and at seventeen, the stirrings of youth crept into his dreams. Amidst the haze, he sensed someone clinging to him. He tried to push them away, but his hand encountered soft flesh, and he felt weak all over. Still lost in the dream, a wave of pleasure swept over him; he involuntarily cried out, shuddering.

Lady Fang was startled awake by Ye Chang’s soft moan. In her own confusion, she had dreamed of Ye Shu, who had entrusted her and the children to Ye Chang. Not yet fully alert, she heard Ye Chang’s faint voice and opened her eyes. By candlelight, she saw his face flushed, trembling against the wall. Thinking he had fallen ill from his journey, she moved closer to check, and caught a strange scent.

For Lady Fang, married six years and mother of two, that scent was unmistakable. She even saw a damp ring spreading from Ye Chang’s garments, making her heart pound like a drum.

Shame and anger tangled within her, leaving her utterly at a loss.