Chapter 430: Threshold

It was late at night.

Time for a midnight meal.

The Fan Residence kitchens never went unmanned at any hour of the day. Two complete shifts rotated constantly, ensuring that whenever one of the household’s important people wanted something to eat, whatever they wanted could be prepared immediately.

But Zheng Fan’s midnight meal tonight had not come from the Fan kitchens.

He Chunlai had made it.

The man who knew how to make candied hawthorns was unexpectedly also very good at throwing together a proper mixed stew.

And it truly was a mixed stew.

Everything had been taken fresh.

Eight green-backed turtles.

One three-colored osmanthus chicken.

A handful of little ornamental koi.

All of it had been thrown into a makeshift earthen stove pit and braised together into one enormous pot.

Every ingredient had originally been a “pet” from the Fan Residence gardens.

Every one of them extremely expensive.

Tonight they had become **gifts from nature.**

Once the stew was ready, Zheng Fan was invited to sit down in the pavilion.

Lake and mountain scenery surrounded them.

The lake was a small pond.

The mountain was artificial rockery.

Lanterns hung everywhere, bright enough to make the night look like day.

The scenery genuinely was beautiful.

Count Zheng pointed at the enormous pot before him and asked:

“Is this dish called **The Hegemon Bids His Concubine Farewell**?”

He Chunlai and Chen Daole looked at one another.

Clearly, neither understood the reference.

A’Ming, sitting alone to one side drinking wine, gave a dry “heh-heh” purely to keep the atmosphere from becoming too awkward.

Zheng Fan lifted his cup and broke through the silent embarrassment.

“Come.

“Let’s drink.”

“Many thanks, Count.”

“Many thanks, Count.”

Everyone drank.

Then began eating.

The meat had been braised until soft and falling apart.

The flavor had penetrated deeply.

It was extremely satisfying.

They had not eaten for long, however, when Fan Zhengwen appeared at the entrance of Qingfang Studio.

This was Fan Zhengwen’s own home.

But even so he was very much the sort of man who never entered a hall without a reason.

The last time he came here, it had been to explain the matter involving his grandmother.

A man as skilled at dealing with people as Fan Zhengwen naturally understood what Zheng Fan liked and disliked.

He would never come simply to force himself into someone else’s amusement.

Zheng Fan rose.

He walked toward him.

“Count.”

Fan Zhengwen saluted.

Zheng Fan immediately noticed something rare in the other man’s expression.

A visible fluctuation.

What exactly could have happened to make the head of a great clan—a man with valleys and ravines in his chest—lose control like this?

For someone in a high position controlling one’s expression was practically a required skill.

Fan Zhengwen opened his mouth.

Then hesitated.

If this had been Snow Sea Pass, Count Zheng would already have said:

*If you have something to say, spit it out.*

But he was eating the Fan Clan’s food.

Living in the Fan Clan’s house.

Looking at the Fan Clan’s women.

And on top of that he had just stewed the Fan Clan’s pet turtles, pet chicken, and a school of ornamental goldfish.

Whatever else happened he ought to leave the host at least a little face.

Fan Zhengwen worked his lips for a moment, as though organizing the words.

Because from the moment he received the message until now he still felt the entire world had suddenly become... absurd?

“Count.

“That subordinate of yours who returned today and then left again sent a message through one of my Fan Clan contacts inside the city.”

Siniang?

The only person who had returned and then left today was Siniang.

“What message?” Zheng Fan asked immediately.

“She said... she thinks she may have captured that princess.”

“...”

Zheng Fan.

...

A carriage.

A proper carriage.

Rolled out of the Fan Residence.

Zheng Fan and Fan Zhengwen sat facing one another inside.

At this moment, Zheng Fan’s expression looked almost exactly like Fan Zhengwen’s.

The New Year had not even arrived yet.

The Lantern Festival was still far away.

Their side had spent all this time planning.

War-gaming.

Preparing.

All for the sake of abducting the Chu princess in one decisive strike on the Lantern Festival.

And while everything here was being arranged methodically—

Siniang had merely come back to visit for a moment.

Then on her way out she had casually captured the princess?

“Count.

“There is an old palace matron in my residence who once lived inside the imperial palace.

“She grew old, left palace service, and afterward the Fan Residence hired her to teach our young ladies proper etiquette.

“She should recognize the Princess.

“We have already brought her along.”

“Where?” Zheng Fan asked.

Fan Zhengwen pointed beneath their feet.

“There is a hidden compartment under the carriage.”

“The Fan Clan’s carriage designs truly are ingenious.”

Fan Zhengwen nodded.

“She’s bound?”

“Mm.”

Fan Zhengwen nodded again.

“She’s tied inside the hidden compartment beneath the carriage.

“Her senses have been sealed.

“Whether or not the person she identifies later truly is the Princess—this matron will die peacefully tonight from advanced age.”

Zheng Fan sighed.

“One could call that a happy death.”

“Yes, Count.”

The carriage reached the rear courtyard of one of the Fan Clan’s wine shops.

The Fan Clan owned countless shops throughout Xiayong.

And because wine shops needed cellars they were particularly suitable places for hiding people.

Zheng Fan and Fan Zhengwen stepped down one after the other.

A good number of Fan Clan guards were stationed nearby.

“If the woman is a fake princess, it doesn’t matter.

“But if she is real, then there should already be many of the Princess’s guards searching throughout Xiayong.

“Count—our time is extremely tight.”

Zheng Fan licked his lips.

Then, together with Fan Zhengwen he retreated behind a tall stack of wine jars and disappeared from view.

Immediately afterward, two black-clothed guards stepped forward.

They opened the carriage compartment and lifted out an elderly matron.

The guards walked in front.

Zheng Fan and Fan Zhengwen followed behind.

For safety neither man wished to expose his identity.

The guards carried the old matron into the cellar and stopped outside one room.

From the outside, the room looked no different from an ordinary wine storage chamber.

But there was a bolt on the door.

When pulled open it revealed a small viewing slot somewhat like the visitor windows in a prison from later generations.

Many lamps had been lit inside.

A woman sat within.

Unconscious.

Across from her leaning against the wall—

Siniang, dressed in red, was sitting there playing with an embroidery needle.

Yes.

Siniang had not merely succeeded in entering the private room at the teahouse.

Afterward, she changed clothes and disguised herself as that Eldest Young Lady of the Mi Clan.

With countless needles pressed against the Princess’s body, she simply walked out of the teahouse in broad daylight right beneath the eyes of a whole group of palace experts.

Then she pretended to continue strolling through the night market.

She waited until the guards around them adjusted their protective formation then knocked the Princess unconscious and vanished from their sight in an instant.

Which was precisely why this kind of protection trying to have both freedom and safety contained enormous weaknesses.

The safest method remained keeping one’s guards directly nearby.

Count Zheng liked it that way.

It made him feel secure.

But far too many nobles enjoyed playing at **white dragons wearing fish-clothes** pretending to be ordinary people and experiencing common life.

They insisted their guards remain at a distance so their mood would not be spoiled.

And that had given Siniang the chance to abduct the Princess.

Everything afterward was straightforward.

Siniang carried the unconscious Princess to one of the Fan Clan contact points revealed to her earlier.

Then she had the people there notify Fan Zhengwen.

Weng Canghai himself had disclosed that contact point to Siniang.

The two sides were currently cooperating.

Naturally, they needed channels for exchanging information.

The old matron looked through the small window at the unconscious woman inside.

Her eyes instantly widened.

Because she had just discovered something even more shocking than being kidnapped for no apparent reason.

“Princess...

“Princess...

“How could...”

**Crack!**

The old matron’s neck was twisted and broken by the Fan Clan guard standing beside her.

That was enough.

There was no need to drag her away, then ask repeatedly:

*Are you sure you didn’t see wrong?*

*Are you sure you still remember what the Princess looks like?*

*Do you want another look?*

No need.

A clan that had lived in extravagant wealth for a hundred years possessed foundations that showed themselves in more than fine food and clothing.

This was also part of that foundation.

There had once been many such great clans inside Yan.

The Beifeng Liu Clan Zheng Fan had encountered before had been one of them.

Unfortunately the Marquis of Zhenbei had flattened them with the Zhenbei Army.

One Fan Clan guard carried the matron’s corpse away for disposal.

Another walked over to Zheng Fan and Fan Zhengwen.

He reported:

“Clan Head.

“She said ‘Princess.’”

Zheng Fan and Fan Zhengwen almost simultaneously released long breaths.

Neither man was timid.

Their unease had come from two things.

First the truth had not yet been confirmed.

Second this uncertainty could trigger an entire chain of changes that would require both men to react immediately.

Yet until the result here was known they had no way to act with precision.

Now they could relax.

Fan Zhengwen sighed with emotion.

“Count.

“The people around you truly are hidden dragons and crouching tigers.”

Zheng Fan coughed lightly.

“Only good luck.”

Fan Zhengwen turned to the guard before him.

“Notify Mr. Weng immediately.

“Tell him what happened.”

“Yes, Clan Head.”

Fan Zhengwen trusted Weng Canghai’s ability.

Once the old man learned what had happened he would immediately begin making all necessary adjustments on the Fan Clan’s behalf.

“Count.

“We should move the Princess back to the Fan Residence at once.”

“Where do we hide her?” Zheng Fan asked.

“Qingfang Studio.”

“That casually?”

“If Chu troops do not come search the Fan Residence—then it does not matter where inside the residence we hide her.

“And if Chu troops do come search the Fan Residence—then where we hide her... heh.

“Still does not matter.”

Zheng Fan nodded.

Agreed.

However, neither Zheng Fan nor Fan Zhengwen showed himself.

Instead, a guard went forward and relayed several instructions from Zheng Fan to Siniang.

**Carefulness keeps a ship sailing for ten thousand years.**

Here the principle was carried to perfection.

Siniang first checked the Princess’s breathing.

Then still felt that was not enough.

She wrapped two layers of black cloth around the Princess’s face.

Finally she stuffed the Princess’s entire body into a burlap sack.

Only once everything was done did Siniang walk out carrying the sack.

The hidden carriage compartment that had been used to transport the old palace matron earlier was now used to transport the Princess.

At the same time after exchanging one glance with Zheng Fan—

Siniang herself lay down inside the compartment as well.

In short every possible factor that might allow a hostage to escape or leave a trail, as so often happened in television dramas was eliminated completely.

Zheng Fan and Fan Zhengwen climbed into the carriage.

The carriage swayed.

Yet both men sat with perfectly straight backs.

The wine shop was not far from the Fan Residence.

They needed to reach a decision during this very short journey.

“Count.

“Do we withdraw our people from Zhou County and the imperial villa?”

Zheng Fan thought for three breaths.

Then finally said:

“Not yet.”

Fan Zhengwen did not appear surprised.

“Then have them remain hidden?” he asked.

Zheng Fan nodded.

“Hide them near Zhou County.”

With only a few sentences the two men reached a tacit understanding.

Still, Fan Zhengwen asked:

“If we simply take the profit already in hand and stop now—would that not be safer?”

After all the Princess was already theirs.

“No.

“If the Princess is abducted this way, then even if she is real—she won’t remain real.”

If Count Zheng simply returned happily to Jin territory with the Princess and claimed his merit before the Marquis of Jingnan the Marquis would probably believe she was genuine.

Then the Marquis of Jingnan would memorialize the Emperor of Yan.

The Emperor would probably believe the Marquis.

The civil and military officials of Yan would also happily go along with the story that Count Pingye had abducted a Chu princess.

After all it would be good for morale and face.

But Chu could simply issue a proclamation claiming the Princess had never been abducted.

They could select another woman of similar age from the imperial clan or even choose another princess altogether and send her to marry Qu Peiluo.

The Qu Clan would cooperate as well.

They would publicly declare the real Princess was safe and that the Yan people had captured a fake.

At that point the real one would become fake.

And the fake one would become more real than reality itself.

Because a princess was a political symbol.

She existed as the object the Regent used to bind the Qu Clan through marriage.

Strip away the halo of her title and what value did she herself truly possess?

Zheng Fan believed that if he simply took the Princess and left now the wedding would still proceed perfectly.

At that point, the achievement from his Chu expedition would become nothing more than a war of words between two states.

What should have been a resounding accomplishment known beneath Heaven might eventually turn into nothing more than someone patting him on the shoulder and saying:

*Well, we believe the woman you brought back was the real Princess.*

*Nicely done, young man.*

*Keep it up.*

In short smuggling the Princess away quietly would cause the political gains and military credit to shrink without limit.

A bold deed watched by several states would be reduced into gossip traded at teahouses and street corners:

“Hey, heard Count Pingye snatched some woman back from Chu?”

“So—we proceed according to the original plan?” Fan Zhengwen asked.

“It should actually become easier.

“The wedding should still proceed as scheduled.

“Both the Chu imperial clan and the Qu Clan should focus most of their energy on searching for the Princess outside.

“Then on the wedding day—

“I lead a cavalry detachment in.

“Charge once.

“Leave immediately.

“Leave my name behind.

“Then the matter becomes settled.”

The form had to be followed.

And it had to be followed publicly.

Fan Zhengwen shook his head.

“Count.

“Have you considered that the Qu Clan and the Regent may anticipate exactly this?

“The difficulty has not decreased.

“It has increased.

“Especially after tonight.

“Chu troops everywhere.

“Qu Clan private soldiers.

“Every household along the borders.

“All of them will be mobilized.

“If Count does not leave today—leaving later will become even more difficult.

“Even the original plan—seizing the Princess from the imperial villa outside Zhou County, then escaping through Qishan—may no longer be executable.”

Zheng Fan raised both hands and rubbed his face.

Then smiled helplessly.

“The person we were supposed to capture has already been captured early.

“And somehow—the whole matter became harder.”

And yet there was nobody he could blame.

Blame Siniang?

There was simply no way any of this could be blamed on her.

Finally—

Zheng Fan made his decision.

“For now—everything proceeds as before.”

Fan Zhengwen said nothing more.

He only accepted the order.

His duty was to help this Count.

Not replace him in making decisions.

At that same moment inside the Fan Residence’s small courtyard that remained warm as spring in the middle of winter the Fan Matriarch sat cross-legged on the dirt late at night.

Three copper coins rested on her knees.

Her expression shifted uncertainly.

She had just cast another divination.

The omen was complicated.

Like a sudden storm raising monstrous waves.

The Fan Clan’s future resembled a tiny boat tossed amid those waves liable to capsize at any moment.

“Go on then.

“Make trouble.

“Keep making trouble.

“Wouldn’t it be simplest if the whole damned family got itself killed cleanly?”

...

Qingfang Studio.

A’Ming continued drinking.

It was difficult for him to become drunk because he could control the amount of alcohol inside his blood.

He Chunlai and Chen Daole sat nearby.

Both looked somewhat uncomfortable.

When Zheng Fan and Fan Zhengwen left together earlier they had left only one sentence behind:

**Siniang seems to have captured the Princess.**

The contrast was simply too obvious.

Chen Daole was still a son of a great clan at heart.

At this moment, his pride felt slightly wounded.

He sighed:

“Looks like the three of us truly are useless.”

He Chunlai felt the same pain.

He nodded.

“Yeah.”

This entire journey had been a brutal demonstration.

The people capable of doing things were desperately doing them.

And every task they touched they handled cleanly and efficiently.

Meanwhile, the three of them looked like freeloaders who did nothing except eat and drink.

A’Ming shook his head.

He smiled.

“The three of us aren’t the only ones here eating and drinking for free.”

That remark crossed a certain line.

Neither Chen Daole nor He Chunlai dared respond.

Chen Daole changed the subject.

“If we really captured the Princess directly this time—doesn’t that mean we can just begin the return journey?”

A’Ming shook his head again.

He took a sip of red wine.

Then said:

“Tsk.

“We haven’t crossed the threshold yet.”

[End of Chapter 430]