False Alarm

Proofreader/Editor:

Nene Yashiro

Tang Jiwei deliberately stalled the case of Jiang Tianyi. Zhang Ling became anxious, visiting him repeatedly, always looking worried. He feared that Tang Jiwei’s inaction would cause him to be blamed by the likes of Li Huili.

In the study, several pots of charcoal fire were placed, as Madam Xiao was afraid that the cold air might affect Tang Jiwei’s health. Furthermore, since he had once suffered an injury to his legs, even though the barefoot doctor had healed him, his joints still ached slightly every time the weather turned cold.

For the first time, Tang Jiwei did not stop his mother’s exaggerated behavior, as there was almost a charcoal fire burning every short distance apart. He smiled and had a servant pick some plum blossoms from the garden and place them in a vase, changing them every day. The clever maidens also set up fruits and other decorations in his study.

Thus, winter had arrived. He didn’t notice the smell of charcoal; visitors, on the other hand, were greeted by the refreshing fragrance of plums and the scent of fresh fruits, which helped to ease Zhang Ling’s nervous mood, allowing him to gradually relax.

“The atmosphere in the court is becoming more tense and unpredictable. My time in the Ministry of Revenue has not been easy. You have been slow in handling the Jiang family case, and I’ve been suffering due to factional struggles. It seems the days of entering court are not as easy and pleasant as we initially thought. To hold the world in one’s arms is only to argue with officials in the court. Ah, things are much more disappointing than I imagined!” Zhang Ling sighed, shaking his head. His previously gentle face was now marked by worry, showing a deep concern for the country and its people.

Tang Jiwei lay back in his chair, reading a storybook, while savoring the tea made by Qiao’er with snow water. The delicate fragrance of tea lingered in the air, and his white robe, adorned with plum blossom edges, gave him an increasingly elegant and handsome appearance. But Zhang Ling was too concerned to notice, rolling up his sleeves and drinking the tea in one go.

“You don’t worry about anything, but I’m quite worried for you! That Li Huili doesn’t know what’s gotten into him, constantly acting against you. I must have misjudged him before!” Zhang Ling said with bitterness, now speaking more casually with Tang Jiwei, his previous formalities gone. As Madam Xiao liked him, he now acts like a second young master of the Tang family, moving around freely, and had become even more handsome.

Tang Jiwei sighed, thinking that Zhang Ling was like the pig Wuneng from Journey to the West, who swallowed ginseng fruits without tasting their essence, only swallowing everything blindly.

“There’s no need to worry too much. Although Jiang is a powerful prince, he is still constrained in prison. The problem now is finding something that will make him have the will to survive, something that will prompt him to reveal everything to reduce his punishment,” Tang Jiwei reassured him with a smile. Though he was uncertain himself, he didn’t want Zhang Ling to worry. Moreover, as part of the “rebel” faction, he didn’t want Zhang Ling, who was purely kind-hearted, to get involved.

Zhang Ling did not question him at all. Instead, he sat down and discussed how they could find a weakness in Jiang’s defenses.

Outside, the snowflakes fluttered, and the fragrance of plums wafted through the air. Inside, the fragrance of books surrounded them, and the aroma of tea filled the room. They relaxed, slowly closing their eyes and dozing off.

Qiao’er noticing there was no movement from inside for a long time, peeked in and saw that both of them had fallen asleep in the reclining chairs. She quickly covered them with woolen cloaks. The little maid, seeing the hard work of the officials who appeared so glamorous to the public, knew how hard it was behind the scenes. Her master often stayed up late, thinking deeply about the case files, so she thought being a maid was better, at least she didn’t have to worry.

At dinner, Madam Xiao came to call them for a meal. The dinner at the Scholar’s Mansion was prepared early, as Madam  Xiao feared Tang Jiwei might forget to eat while working on the case. After the servants woke them, they gently wrapped cloaks around their shoulders.

Zhang Ling woke up feeling refreshed, laughing as he told Tang Jiwei, “The breeze by the window, such a beautiful view to fall asleep to! It’s much better than my quiet and lonely mansion.”

Tang Jiwei adjusted his cloak and asked, “Did you come here to discuss important matters or to nap in my reclining chair?”

Zhang Ling, without feeling guilty, laughed and replied, “You need to rest to be more efficient, right? To thank you for letting me have such a pleasant nap, I’ll go visit the famous Jiang Wangye in prison. I want to see what kind of person he really is!”

Tang Jiwei laughed at his joke. Zhang Ling was clearly more interested in seeing Jiang’s true appearance, but he pretended it was a form of repayment. Since the case wasn’t progressing, it was fine to let Zhang Ling play the role of a distraction. Sometimes, dealing with someone as clever as Jiang required someone with more subtlety, and Zhang Ling’s occasional wit could be helpful.

“Then I’ll thank Brother Zhang in advance!” Tang Jiwei cupped his hands.

Zhang Ling, not feeling awkward, waved his hand with a smile, “No need to thank me!”

The maids, after becoming familiar with him, also started to like Zhang Ling. He had no air of authority, and every time he came, he was all frowns and worries, but when he left, he was always smiling, brightening the mood of everyone around him.

Madam Xiao directed the servants to prepare the meal. The Scholar’s Mansion, though not as lavish as those grand estates with glistening gold and precious stones, was still quite particular about food and living arrangements.

Before her marriage, Madam Xiao was a young lady from a wealthy family in Jiangnan. Although born of a concubine, her family had plenty of prestige. Had she not eloped with Tang Jiwei’s father and lived in poverty, she might have been even more refined. She treated her servants neither too strictly nor too leniently, and her manners were always those of a noblewoman. When other women gathered, there was always a sense of comparison, but Madam Xiao never made Tang Jiwei feel ashamed.

Tang Jiwei entered and immediately smelled the familiar fragrance. He smiled warmly, washing his hands and saying to his mother, who was instructing the servants, “Mother, you’re cooking today. It seems Brother Zhang is in for a treat!”

Madam Xiao was flattered by the praise, and warmly invited Zhang Ling to sit down, “We’re not outsiders, so there’s no need for formalities. At our house, we keep things simple. I’m not the type of old lady who insists on strict customs. I’ve lived through hard times, and now that I’m older, I find it better to eat together and enjoy the warmth!”

Zhang Ling immediately replied, “You’re being humble. Auntie is warm and hospitable, treating everyone well. We all know this. I keep coming back because I think your cooking is fantastic. We’ve all lived through hard times, and I love the feeling of gathering together like this.”

Zhang Ling inadvertently flattered Madam Xiao, causing the old lady to laugh so much that she covered her mouth, saying that he was like the Monkey King who couldn’t settle anywhere.

“Aunt, you’re wronging me,” Zhang Ling said with a smile, “Just now, after I had a cup of tea from your house, someone called me a pig who swallows ginseng fruits like Wu Neng, and now I’m like the Monkey King?” He glanced at Tang Jiwei, thinking that the only one who could control him was this formidable old lady who had the manner of a general’s wife.

Madam Xiao scolded Tang Jiwei, and as she spoke, she picked up some vegetables and put them into Zhang Ling’s bowl, saying, “Don’t listen to his nonsense. He’s always talking too much, but you’re a good child, much more sensible than he is!”

Zhang Ling lowered his head and laughed while eating. Tang Jiwei calmly placed a chicken drumstick into his bowl and said, “Let’s see if this can shut you up!”

“It’s almost there, almost!” Zhang Ling shook his head repeatedly.

Tang Jiwei didn’t respond, continuing to eat, while Madam Xiao kept adding more food to Zhang Ling’s bowl, piling it up like a little mountain.

After Zhang Ling, who had been hiccupping, was sent off, Tang Jiwei turned around and smiled as he returned to the residence.

“Which friend is Tang brother sending off personally at the gate?”

A deep, commanding voice came from behind Tang Jiwei, so familiar that it took him a moment to react.

Han Zhen walked up the steps, fanning himself, and said, “It seems I’ve startled you, Tang brother, you look quite surprised!”

Tang Jiwei bent down to salute, since Han Zhen didn’t want others to recognize his identity, Tang Jiwei had no choice but to respond as a friend.

Han Zhen admired Tang Jiwei’s astute mind and nodded before leading the way into the mansion. Chief Eunuch Li Sheng, transformed into a servant, followed closely behind, while Tang Jiwei trailed behind a step.

Tang Jiwei was indeed shocked by Han Zhen’s sudden visit. Although they were not close enough to be considered intimate friends, this visit was certainly not due to personal matters, so it must be for official business.

Tang Jiwei immediately thought of the case of Jiang Tianyi, which he had put aside. His heart raced with worry. Han Zhen was a man with a deep and unfathomable mind, with spies everywhere. If someone overheard Jiang Tianyi’s conversation in prison, he might find himself in even more danger.

He couldn’t afford to lose this time. He had to come up with a plan quickly. Han Zhen was like a fierce tiger, lurking in the shadows, ready to strike. If Han Zhen suspected him of mishandling the case, there could still be room for maneuver. But if Han Zhen had already set a trap for him, then it would be a deadly situation.

As he pondered how to make Han Zhen believe him, he was led to his study by a servant, and a chill ran down his spine. Someone who had never been to his house knew so much about its layout, and the study was located in a place surrounded by plants. If one hadn’t been here before, it would be impossible to find it just by good navigation.

At this point, even Tang Jiwei, who was usually unflappable, felt a cold sweat form.

He signaled to Qiao’er, who was outside, and she quickly went to the tea room to prepare tea.

“Your study is excellent, Tang Jiwei,” Han Zhen said as he entered the study. “The environment is serene, and the fragrance of books is in the air. No wonder it’s the library of a top scholar!”

Tang Jiwei immediately knelt and greeted him, motioning for Han Zhen to sit. Chief Eunuch Li Sheng smiled and helped him up, saying, “Sir, you are too formal. The master is in simple attire today and doesn’t require such formalities.”

Han Zhen looked around the study, noting its elegant and refreshing arrangement. On a high rack by the charcoal brazier, there were plum blossoms, and next to a lounge chair, two tea cups were placed.

“Who did you entertain just now?” Han Zhen asked, putting down his fan and tapping the bell on the desk.

Although Tang Jiwei had grown accustomed to the sight of that fan, he couldn’t care about such trifles now. All his attention was focused on covering up the fact that he was preparing for rebellion.

Tang Jiwei respectfully replied, “It was the recently appointed flower picking scholar. I’ve known him for a long time, and we have frequently exchanged letters and discussed books.”

“Oh? I didn’t expect him to be your friend,” Han Zhen replied indifferently. Tang Jiwei’s heart skipped a beat. He feared he had said the wrong thing. If Zhang Ling was implicated today, he would feel deep regret.

“We occasionally appreciate calligraphy and painting together. Zhang brother has exceptional taste, and the paintings I purchase are always shared with him for appraisal,” Tang Jiwei explained.

Han Zhen chuckled, “No need to be nervous, Tang Jiwei. I didn’t come to blame you for mishandling the case, nor will I involve Zhang Qing. Rest assured, sit down.”

Tang Jiwei breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that Han Zhen didn’t know his secret. He had only come to remind him due to the Long Princess’s advice, so as not to openly change orders due to her influence. It was a subtle and smart move by Han Zhen to communicate with him privately.

“When the time comes, Tang Jiwei will bear the blame for failing to solve the case. I feel guilty towards you,” Han Zhen said with a light sigh, looking at Tang Jiwei.

Tang Jiwei got up from his seat and knelt, “It would be an honor to share the burden for Your Majesty, and I do not feel wronged!”

Han Zhen smiled, pointing his fan at him and saying to Li Sheng, “Always making things sound so serious, my Tang Qing is truly boring!”

Li Sheng smiled and helped Tang Jiwei up. Tang Jiwei didn’t get upset by the Emperor’s teasing about being “uninteresting,” but he was deeply surprised by Han Zhen’s playful comment. Han Zhen, in his memory, was usually calm and approachable, not one to joke around in this manner.

It seemed that time and distance had truly changed things between them.

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The Author has a message: The author is humbly asking for your collection, you people with hearts of stone don’t feel sorry for me… truly, you’ve hurt my heart and soul!