The Night Watcher of Great Jing - Chapter 17

Embroidered curtains, brocade quilts, and the fragrance of orchids and musk.

Zhao Li buried her face in the warm bedding, inhaled the faint scent, and slept soundly through the night.

In the morning, someone knocked.

“Miss A-Li, are you awake?” a maid called softly.

No answer came from within. The maid circled to the small window beside the bed and called again.

After Zhao Li’s sudden outburst the previous day, Matron Wan had disciplined the household that very night.

Only obedient people remained in the courtyard.

Zhao Li refused both personal maids and night attendants, so the maid could only call through the little lattice window.

“Miss A-Li? Hundred-Household Commander Lu has arrived. He and Lord Shen are waiting in the front hall.”

“I’m up!”

Zhao Li sat up with her hair loose and answered.

By the time she had stretched, Matron Wan entered with three or four maids carrying a copper washbasin, toothbrushes, and tooth powder.

After Zhao Li washed and rinsed her mouth, Matron Wan pressed her back down before the dressing table.

She took out a palm-sized box of green jade and used a flat jade spoon to scoop out a dollop of white cream. She spread it over Zhao Li’s face, applying extra to the wound on her cheek.

Zhao Li smelled faint medicine and another strange, unidentified fragrance.

It was probably some ancient skin lotion. She obediently tilted up her face and let Matron Wan massage it in.

Once ready, she walked to the front hall and found Shen Yan and Lu Zhao seated at a round table.

Lu Zhao resembled a shy new bride. He perched on the front third of his stool.

A bowl of porridge stood before him. Two heavily callused fingers pinched a tiny porcelain spoon.

When Zhao Li entered, unmistakable relief crossed his face.

“Lord Shen. Master Lu.”

She had only half raised her hands in greeting when Shen Yan waved her down.

“Sit.”

He wore a silver-gray yesa robe and was exceptionally pleasant to look at, though his face remained dark.

A steaming bowl of thin vermicelli soup with goose meat slid before Zhao Li.

“Eat something first,” he said tersely.

Lu Zhao found breakfast with his superior unbearably stressful. Zhao Li, however, was unfazed.

The hot noodle soup had barely reached her stomach when a plate of fine, golden scallion pancakes appeared beside her.

Zhao Li looked at Shen Yan.

His handsome face remained grave, eyes lowered and emotionless.

“Thank you, Lord Shen.”

One passed the food, the other took it. Their rhythm was surprisingly seamless.

Only Lu Zhao sat with both hands on his knees, shocked as he stole a look at Shen Yan.

Shen Yan sat perfectly straight and watched Zhao Li eat from the corner of his eye.

Then his dark gaze snapped toward Lu Zhao.

*I advise you to mind your own business.*

Shen Yan did not open his mouth, but Lu Zhao read the warning perfectly.

He hurriedly lowered his head and began counting grains of rice in his porridge.

After breakfast, the maids removed the empty dishes.

Lu Zhao’s hundred speculations aside, the well-fed Zhao Li wore an unconsciously contented expression.

The three moved to the study to discuss business.

“These eighty-eight men were selected from active Jingning Guard personnel.”

Lu Zhao produced a stack of names and, at Shen Yan’s gesture, handed it to Zhao Li.

“Every one was born in the Year of the Dragon. All are vigorous and highly skilled fighters.”

Zhao Li carefully reviewed the list.

“Thank you, Master Lu.”

At her current level, asking Zhao Li to face White Tiger Biting the Blade and the bride ghost alone was pure fantasy.

With the support of an official organization, however, the matter became far simpler.

They could use manpower to temporarily dam the Ancient Qin Canal, cut down the willows beside the newer channel to release the yin energy, fill in the diversion channel, restore the old course, and then locate the corpse.

Once weakened, the bride ghost would no longer be a major problem.

The operation sounded simple, but one obstacle remained.

Irrigation canals had always been crucial to farming. Even with good reason, the imperial censors would submit a memorial attacking Shen Yan for interfering.

Zhao Li turned to look at him.

He merely lifted his eyelids and dismissed the concern.

“Do whatever is necessary.”

What else could Zhao Li say?

Using the study’s brushes and ink, she created an on-the-spot presentation for Shen Yan, outlining the operation and the roosters, strong liquor, mengshi stone, cinnabar, and other materials she required.

She held the brush with great seriousness, writing and sketching with a professional air.

Her handwriting was simply rather ugly.

Shen Yan watched in a daze. His hand unconsciously brushed a wooden box on the desk.

Zhao Li had carried out countless operations like this and knew exactly what she was doing.

She quickly organized the plan, discussed several points with Lu Zhao, and then both looked toward the silent Shen Yan.

Only then did he speak.

“You have worked hard, A-Li. Once this matter is concluded, what do you intend to do?”

In Zhao Li’s mind, Shen Yan was older and much higher-ranked. For him to call her A-Li felt no different from a senior official in her old world calling her “Little Li.”

She thought nothing of it.

His question, however, left her confused.

Was she not supposed to join the Jingning Guard next, secure herself an iron rice bowl in the Great Jing civil service, save money, and retire?

The Zhao family would not readily let her roam free.

She was alone in this world and had nowhere else to go.

As though interviewing for a government post, she chose her words carefully.

“Naturally, I intend to join the Jingning Guard, devote myself to my work, and serve the nation.”

Her nonsense made Shen Yan frown.

“You are certain?”

Zhao Li nodded vigorously.

“Absolutely. I love working!”

Shen Yan tapped his knuckles rhythmically against the desk, as if confronted by an extremely difficult decision.

After a long while, he looked up.

Perhaps Zhao Li imagined it, but she seemed to see deep helplessness on his face.

“Very well. As of today, you will assume Lu Zhao’s post as Hundred-Household Commander. Report to the Registry Office shortly and complete the registration.”

Lu Zhao’s head snapped up.

What? His command was gone?

His face had just fallen when Shen Yan continued.

“Lu Zhao is promoted to Deputy Thousand-Household Commander, with an increase in monthly salary.”

Lu Zhao’s shock instantly transformed into delight.

“Thank you for the promotion, my lord!”

Lu Zhao was happy. Zhao Li was happy too.

[Class changed: Jingning Guard Minion.]

[Work hard to advance, gain skills, and reach the pinnacle of your profession.]

What did it mean by *minion*?

A Hundred-Household Commander was solidly a mid-level Great Jing official!

Zhao Li complained inwardly about the system’s standards.

She accepted the sealed appointment document from Shen Yan and followed an equally buoyant Lu Zhao to register at the Registry Office and receive her badge.

“Master Lu, what is a Hundred-Household Commander’s monthly salary?”

With a new job, pay was naturally her first concern.

“Seven taels of silver a month, two bolts of cloth each quarter, and five catties of mutton during the New Year festivals.”

The promotion and raise had fallen into Lu Zhao’s lap, so he was in a splendid mood and answered with great patience.

Seven taels.

Zhao Li converted the amount and felt somewhat disappointed.

In Great Jing, one tael of silver equaled ten mace or one thousand copper coins.

Gold was a precious metal but did not circulate as currency.

A meat bun cost one copper coin, so a Hundred-Household Commander’s monthly salary amounted to only seven thousand meat buns.

Prices were high in Shengjing. Seven taels would buy only one-third of a latrine in the finest part of Zhengdong Ward.

If she wanted a comfortable retirement, she would need to work hard for promotions and raises for another thirty years.

Zhao Li began planning her career.

Behind them, Shen Yan watched the two leave and opened the wooden box at his side.

It held the deeds to a four-courtyard residence in Zhengdong Ward, a street-front shop near the Front Gate, and a productive estate beyond the city.

Shen Yan had used Zhao Li’s identity to attack her father. His conscience was hardly clear.

He had intended to give her these properties so she could live a peaceful, uneventful life like an ordinary young woman.

He sighed helplessly.

Who could have known she would be so fiercely career-minded?

So be it. She could do whatever she liked. It was not as though he could not protect her.

Shen Yan closed the box and casually tossed it aside.