Chapter 1 Late-Night Snack

It was late at night,

Time for a late-night snack.

The Fan residence's kitchen was always bustling, with two full teams rotating shifts to ensure that the esteemed guests could have whatever they desired at any time.

However, Zheng Fan's late-night snack tonight wasn't from the Fan residence.

It was made by He Chunlai, the man who made candied haws, and who also happened to be skilled at making a hodgepodge stew.

It really was a hodgepodge, and the ingredients were all freshly obtained.

Eight green-backed turtles, a tricolored osmanthus chicken, and a handful of small koi carp were all stewed together in a makeshift earthen stove pit to create a large pot.

These things were all "pets" in the Fan residence's garden, each of them quite valuable, but at this moment, they had become "gifts from nature."

Once it was ready, Zheng Fan was invited to take a seat, right there in the pavilion, with the lake and mountain scenery as his backdrop.

The lake was a small pond, the mountain a rockery, and lanterns hung everywhere, as bright as day, truly a moving spectacle.

Zheng Boye pointed to the large pot in front of him and said,

"Shouldn't this dish be called 'Farewell My Concubine'?"

He Chunlai and Chen Daole exchanged glances, clearly unfamiliar with the allusion.

A'ming, who was sitting there drinking alone, chuckled, purely to be supportive and prevent the atmosphere from becoming too awkward.

Zheng Fan raised his glass, breaking the silent embarrassment, and said,

"Come on, let's have a drink."

"Thank you, Boye."

"Thank you, Boye."

After a cup of wine, everyone began to eat.

The meat was stewed until tender and flavorful, making it very satisfying to eat.

However, before they had eaten for long, Fan Zhengwen's figure appeared at the entrance of Qingfang Study.

Although this was Fan Zhengwen's home, Fan Zhengwen rarely came here without a reason.

The last time he came was to explain his grandmother's matter.

Fan Zhengwen, who was well-versed in the art of dealing with people, naturally knew what Zheng Fan liked and disliked, so he wouldn't join in blindly.

Zheng Fan stood up and walked toward Fan Zhengwen.

"Boye."

Fan Zhengwen bowed to Zheng Fan.

Zheng Fan noticed that the other party's expression revealed a rare fluctuation.

What on earth had happened to make the head of a prominent family with such deep thoughts lose his composure?

Keep in mind, controlling one's expressions was one of the compulsory courses for those in high positions.

Fan Zhengwen opened his mouth, hesitating.

If this were in Xuehai Pass, Zheng Boye would have already said, "Speak quickly if you have something to say."

But he was eating their food, staying in their home, looking at their daughters,

And he even stewed their pet turtles, pet chickens, and a bunch of little goldfish,

So he had to give them some face.

Fan Zhengwen hesitated for a moment, as if organizing his words, because from the moment he received the news until now, he felt that the world had suddenly become…so absurd?

"Boye, that subordinate of yours who returned and left today, relayed a message to me through my Fan family's contact in the city's shop."

Si Niang?

The only one who returned and left today was Si Niang.

"What message?" Zheng Fan asked immediately.

"The message is, she said, she seems to have caught that princess."

"…" Zheng Fan.

…

A carriage,

A proper carriage,

Drove out of the Fan residence.

Zheng Fan and Fan Zhengwen sat facing each other, now Zheng Fan's expression was very similar to Fan Zhengwen's.

It wasn't even the New Year yet,

It was still early before the Lantern Festival,

He was making various plans, deductions, and preparations,

All to abduct the Chu princess in one fell swoop during the Lantern Festival,

But while he was preparing in an orderly manner,

Si Niang just came back to visit relatives,

And then conveniently caught the princess on her way back?

"Boye, in my residence, there is an old nanny who used to live in the palace, because of her age, after leaving the palace, she was invited by my Fan family to teach the young ladies of the residence etiquette.

She should recognize the princess, and she has already been brought up."

"Where is she?" Zheng Fan asked.

Fan Zhengwen pointed to his feet and said,

"There's a compartment under the carriage."

"Your esteemed residence's carriages are truly ingeniously designed."

Fan Zhengwen nodded.

"Is she tied up?"

"Yes." Fan Zhengwen nodded again and said, "She's tied up in the compartment under the carriage, and her senses have been blocked.

Regardless of whether the person she's about to identify is the princess or not, this old nanny will pass away tonight due to her old age."

Hearing this, Zheng Fan sighed and said,

"It can be considered a happy funeral."

"Yes, Boye."

The carriage arrived at the backyard of a Fan family liquor store. The Fan family had many shops in Xiayong City, and liquor stores, because they needed cellars, were more suitable for hiding people.

Zheng Fan and Fan Zhengwen got out of the carriage one after the other. There were many Fan family guards around.

"If it's a fake princess, it doesn't matter, but if it's real, there should be many princess's guards searching for her in Xiayong City. Boye, our time is very limited."

Zheng Fan licked his lips.

Immediately, he and Fan Zhengwen retreated and hid behind a pile of high-stacked wine jars.

Then, two black-clad guards stepped forward, opened the carriage compartment, and carried out an old nanny.

They walked in front, and Zheng Fan and Fan Zhengwen walked behind.

Out of caution, they didn't want to reveal their identities.

The guards in front carried the old nanny into the cellar and arrived outside a room. The room looked no different from an ordinary wine room, but there was a latch on the door, which, when pulled open, was a small window similar to those used for prison visits in later generations.

One of the guards reached into his pocket, took out a snuff bottle, opened it, and placed it under the old nanny's nose.

After a short while, the old nanny slowly woke up. After discovering her situation, she was startled at first, but she was immediately held down by two Fan family secret guards, who forced her to look at the small window.

Many lamps were lit inside the small window,

Inside sat a woman, unconscious.

On the side of the woman, leaning against the wall, Si Niang, dressed in red, was sitting there playing with embroidery needles.

Yes, Si Niang not only successfully entered the teahouse box, but also changed her clothes, disguised herself as the Mi family's young lady, and took the princess, held by many needles, out of the teahouse under the eyes of a group of imperial guards.

Then, pretending to continue strolling through the night market, she found an opportunity and, taking advantage of the change in the surrounding guards' defense formation, directly knocked the princess unconscious and took her away from the guards' sight in an instant.

Therefore, this kind of defense that wants both freedom and security has great loopholes.

The safest way is still to have your own guards nearby, which is what Zheng Boye likes, because it's very safe.

But too many dignitaries like to play "the white dragon in disguise," like to experience the feeling of being ordinary people, so they forcibly tell these guards not to get too close to spoil their mood, which gave Si Niang the opportunity to abduct the princess!

Next, things became clear. Si Niang, carrying the princess she had knocked unconscious, found a liaison office previously provided by the Fan family and asked the people inside to notify Fan Zhengwen.

The liaison office was announced to Si Niang by Mr. Weng Zanghai himself, because the two sides were in a period of cooperation, and mutual communication of information was necessary.

The old nanny saw the woman lying unconscious inside,

And her eyes widened immediately,

Because she discovered something even more shocking than being inexplicably kidnapped:

"Princess… Princess… How could it be…"

"Crack!"

The old nanny's neck was snapped by a Fan family guard next to her.

This was enough.

There was no need to pull her back and repeatedly ask: Are you sure you didn't see wrong? Are you sure you still remember what the princess looks like? Do you want to take another look?

There was no need.

The heritage of a family that has been extravagant for a hundred years is not only reflected in its luxurious lifestyle; here, it is also a manifestation.

Back then, there were many such prominent families in Yan, such as the Bei Feng Liu family that Zheng Fan had encountered, but unfortunately, they were leveled by the Zhenbei army led by the Marquis of Zhenbei.

The old nanny's body was carried away and disposed of by a Fan family guard, and another guard walked up to Zheng Fan and Fan Zhengwen and reported,

"Master, she said 'princess'."

Zheng Fan and Fan Zhengwen both breathed a sigh of relief almost simultaneously.

Neither of them was afraid of trouble. Their previous unease was because the matter had not been confirmed, and this uncertainty would trigger a series of subsequent changes, requiring them to make decisive emergency responses, but they had to wait for the final result here before they could take targeted actions.

Now,

They felt at ease.

Fan Zhengwen exclaimed,

"Boye, you really have hidden talents around you."

Zheng Fan coughed lightly and said, "It's just good luck."

Fan Zhengwen said to the guards in front of him, "Immediately notify Mr. Weng and tell him about this."

"Yes, Master."

Fan Zhengwen believed in Weng Zanghai's abilities. When he learned about this, he would quickly make the Fan family's response on his behalf.

"Boye, we should quickly take the princess back to the Fan residence."

"Where should we hide her?" Zheng Fan asked.

"Qingfang Study, I suppose."

"So casually?"

"If the Chu army doesn't come to search the Fan residence, then it doesn't matter where the princess is hidden in the Fan residence; if the Chu army comes to search the Fan residence, then it doesn't matter where the princess is hidden, heh heh."

Zheng Fan nodded and agreed.

However, neither Zheng Fan nor Fan Zhengwen showed their faces. Instead, a guard stepped forward to help Zheng Fan instruct Si Niang a few words.

Caution is the parent of safety was perfectly exemplified here. Si Niang first checked the princess's breathing, and then, still feeling unsafe, covered the princess's face with two layers of black cloth, and finally wrapped the entire princess in a sack.

After everything was done,

Si Niang carried the sack out.

The carriage compartment that had previously transported the old nanny from the palace was now used to transport the princess. At the same time, after Si Niang made eye contact with Zheng Fan, she also lay down in the compartment.

In short, they blocked any factors that might appear in any film and television drama that could allow the hostage to escape or leave a mark.

Zheng Fan and Fan Zhengwen got into the carriage.

The carriage was shaking, but both Zheng Fan and Fan Zhengwen sat very straight with their backs straight.

The liquor store was not far from the Fan residence. They needed to make a decision during this very short trip.

"Boye, should we withdraw the people from Zhou County town and the villa?"

Zheng Fan pondered for three breaths and finally said,

"Not yet."

Fan Zhengwen didn't seem too surprised.

"Then let them hide?" Fan Zhengwen asked.

Zheng Fan nodded, "Hide near Zhou County."

With a few exchanges, the two reached a consensus.

But Fan Zhengwen still said, "Wouldn't it be safer to call it quits while we're ahead?"

After all, the princess was already in their hands.

"No, if the princess is abducted in this way, even if she's real, she won't be real anymore."

If Zheng Boye happily took the princess back to Jin and went to claim credit from the Marquis of Jingnan, the Marquis of Jingnan would probably believe that she was a real princess.

Then, the Marquis of Jingnan would write to the Yan emperor, and the Yan emperor would probably believe the Marquis of Jingnan's words.

The entire court of Yan would also be willing to go along with the idea that the Chu princess had been kidnapped by their own Earl of Pingye, because it would be very flattering.

But Chu could completely spread the word that the princess had not been abducted.

They could find another woman of the same age from the royal family, or even directly choose a princess, send her over, and marry Qu Peiluo, the eldest son of the Qu family.

And the Qu family would cooperate very well by claiming that the real princess was fine, and that the Yan had kidnapped a fake one.

At that time,

The real would become fake,

And the fake would become more real than ever.

Because the princess was a symbolic figure, she was used by the regent to marry the Qu family. Frankly, aside from the aura of the princess's identity, what else was she good for?

Zheng Fan believed that if he just took the princess back like this, the wedding would definitely continue to be held successfully.

At that time, his contribution to entering Chu this time would become a war of words between the two countries.

A glorious feat that was originally famous would very likely turn into a pat on the shoulder:

Hey, we believe that the one you kidnapped was the real princess. You did a good job, young man. Keep up the good work.

In short,

Secretly taking the princess back would infinitely shrink the political achievements and military merits.

The grand gesture that had attracted attention from several countries would be reduced to gossip in the streets and teahouses:

"Hey, I heard that our Earl of Pingye seems to have snatched a woman back from Chu?"

"So, the plan stays the same?" Fan Zhengwen asked.

"The difficulty should be reduced. The wedding should be held as scheduled. Whether it's the Chu royal family or the Qu family, their energy should be focused on searching for the princess on the periphery.

When the wedding day comes, I'll lead a cavalry charge, charge and leave, leave my name, and that's it."

The formality,

Had to be done,

And it had to be done.

Fan Zhengwen shook his head and said, "Boye, have you thought about whether the Qu family and the regent will have anticipated your actions in advance?

The difficulty has not decreased, but has become even higher, especially after today, all the Chu troops, the Qu family's private soldiers, and the various families on the border will be mobilized.

If Boye doesn't leave today, it will be even harder to leave in the future.

Even the original plan to abduct the princess from the royal villa outside Zhou County and leave Qishan may not be possible."

Zheng Fan reached out and rubbed his face,

Smiled,

And said:

"The person we were supposed to catch was caught in advance, but things have become more difficult instead."

But he couldn't blame anyone,

Could he blame Si Niang?

He couldn't blame Si Niang for anything!

Finally, Zheng Fan made a decision and said:

"Let's stick to the original plan for now."

Fan Zhengwen didn't say anything more, just agreed. His task was to help this Boye, not to make any decisions for him.

And at this time,

In the Fan family's small courtyard that was as warm as spring in winter,

The Fan family's old grandmother sat on the mud floor late at night, with her legs crossed.

On her knees, she placed three copper coins.

The old woman's expression was somewhat uncertain.

She had just cast another divination,

The hexagram was complex, like a surging wave,

The Fan family's future was like a small boat in the middle of a huge wave, which could capsize at any time.

"Create trouble, create trouble, it would be easiest if you caused everyone in the family to die!"

…

In Qingfang Study,

A'ming continued to drink,

It was difficult for him to get drunk, because he could control the alcohol content in his blood.

He Chunlai and Chen Daole sat on the side, looking somewhat uneasy.

When Zheng Fan and Fan Zhengwen left together,

They only left one sentence:

Si Niang seems to have caught the princess.

The contrast,

Was too obvious.

Chen Daole was, after all, from a prominent family. At this time, he felt a little hurt and exclaimed:

"It seems that the three of us are really useless."

He Chunlai echoed with sympathy:

"Yes, indeed."

This experience of theirs could really be described as the ones who could do things were working hard and doing things extremely neatly, while they were just loafing around.

A'ming shook his head,

Smiled,

And said:

"It's not just the three of us who are loafing around here."

These words were somewhat taboo, and Chen Daole and He Chunlai didn't dare to respond.

Chen Daole changed the subject and said:

"If we really caught the princess directly this time, can we just return now?"

A'ming shook his head again,

Took a sip of red wine,

And said:

"Tch, the threshold hasn't been reached yet."