Before she even stepped out, the entire household of the Duke of Anguo seemed eager to mobilize, determined to escort Ye Jiao to the Jingzhao Office. Facing the throng of guards brandishing blades and cudgels, Ye Jiao let out a long sigh."Are you lot drawing the Duke's silver salary just to help patrol the streets for the magistrate?"
The house guards babbled excuses, "We're just afraid someone might try to bully you, Miss."Last time, when Ye Rou was harassed at the Qian residence, it was these same men who rushed over in the dead of night to bring her back.
Ye Jiao gave a cold chuckle and waved them off. Bullied? She wasn't so sure who would be bullying whom today.
Still, if she wasn't bringing guards, surely she'd at least need to arm herself?Seeing the arsenal laid out by Feng Jie, she could only feel more exasperated.
Longbows, crossbows, broadswords, sharp sabers—even spears with red tassels, and a heap of hidden weapons fit for an assassin.
"Uncle Feng," she said, hands on hips, "am I assuming office, or preparing for an arms deal? Don't tell me you've forgotten crossbows are strictly regulated under Tang law?"
"My lady," Feng Jie pleaded, "please, take at least one weapon. With it on you, they won't dare act recklessly."
Ye Jiao flung her silk shawl back and strode forward."No," she said, "as a military officer, I'll be issued a blade. Why should I waste our own resources before I've even drawn my first salary?"
No guards, no weapons—yet with her low-cut long dress and trailing shawl, how was she to move freely?Shui Wen chased after her, following close behind with a worried tone."My lady, you should at least change your attire. Perhaps something like men's clothing? I've prepared some for you."
She held up a green-blue half-sleeved robe for Ye Jiao to see.
"Too ugly," Ye Jiao refused without hesitation, and climbed into the carriage, even forbidding Shui Wen to accompany her.
Shui Wen stood beneath the eaves, lips trembling, almost in tears.Her mistress was truly pitiful—she hadn't fallen asleep until the hour of the ox last night, tossing and turning, and now, so early in the morning, she had to report for duty.
Those military constables—some were arrogant sons of noble families, others were former lowlifes now wearing a badge. None were easy to handle.Her lady was delicate and soft-skinned; what if she got hurt?
That same delicate Ye Jiao first went to the Ministry of Personnel to receive her appointment papers, and then made her way to the Jingzhao Office.
Liu Yan was reading a dossier when she arrived. Surprised, he took her documents and carefully looked them over."You're not afraid?" he asked.
He had already heard the news yesterday—that after being rejected in marriage, Ye Jiao had sought and obtained an official position. Now, all the government offices in the capital were waiting to watch her make a fool of herself.
"What is there to be afraid of?" Ye Jiao replied nonchalantly.
Liu Yan nodded. "Then off you go on your own."
You may not be afraid, but I am.He turned back to his dossiers, only lifting his head to breathe a silent sigh of relief after Ye Jiao had left.
Liu Yan was not skilled in dealing with people—least of all women.
The attendant handling his writing instruments quickly asked, "Master, aren't you going with her?""No need," Liu Yan instructed, "Go inform the doctors to be on standby, and prepare extra trauma medicine. Post some men near the military constables' station. If they dare lay a hand on her—intervene at once."
The constables were notoriously unruly. Some of their leaders had powerful backers, and Liu Yan could not afford to offend them—he had endured much already. He was worried for Ye Jiao, yes, but more than that, he was… curious.
The constables' station was adjacent to the Jingzhao Office, a small post. They were tasked with patrolling the capital day and night, and escorting the emperor's carriage when he ventured out.
Though Liu Yan could issue them orders, their direct superiors were the commanders of the Imperial Guard's sixteen divisions. That they were often defiant toward Liu Yan was to be expected.
Roughly two thousand constables were stationed in the capital, but most were currently on duty. Waiting for the new Chief Constable were ten squad leaders.
Ye Jiao arrived in a crimson dress the color of twilight, draped in a white fox-fur cloak lined with feather gauze. Her hair was tied in a half-bun adorned with a multicolored floral hairpin.
As the weather had warmed by the time she reached the post, she removed the cloak and draped it over her shoulders. Passing along the outer wall, she picked a blooming branch of monthly rose. The stem was long, ending in a single apricot-hued flower.
She pushed open the door.Not a soul in sight.
By protocol, the squad leaders should have been present to greet her, listen to her orders, and pledge their loyalty.Their absence was a clear message—a first move in a battle of wills.
Ye Jiao strolled around the station, familiarizing herself with its layout.There were front and rear gates, a dozen or so rooms, the largest hall spanning seven chambers—enough to host dozens of men.The back courtyard held a training ground with weapon racks and plum-blossom stakes.
On one such stake, a young man—seventeen or eighteen—was bound.His uniform was torn from lashes, exposing bloody welts. His head hung low; perhaps he had fainted.
Ye Jiao walked over, hands clasped behind her back.Was this the second message?
"Hey," she said, gently tapping his cheek with the flower, "wake up."
The boy stirred, his dazed, sorrowful eyes lifting toward her. His cracked lips moved with difficulty."You are…""I'm your new superior," Ye Jiao said calmly. "Who are you?"
At her words, the boy's eyes widened in panic. His face, streaked with blood, filled with fear."Chief! Run! Run!"
His warning was followed by the sudden, synchronized clatter of weapons.
From the high walls, from the eaves, from all directions—crossbow bolts flew at her.
"Catch the thief!" shouted the constables, clad in black round-collared tunics with beast-emblazoned sleeves, loosing arrows as they cried out.
"What thief?" Ye Jiao snatched her cloak from her shoulders, spun it to deflect one arrow, then nimbly dodged the rest."I am the thief," the bound youth sobbed.
This wasn't an ambush to catch a criminal—he was the criminal.Their goal was to scare Ye Jiao off under the pretense of arresting a thief.
That was the true warning: a show of force under the guise of law.If she were injured, they would claim it was in the line of duty.If she died—well, they had their scapegoat ready.
Arrows flew past like shooting stars.Two changed course mid-air and headed straight for the bound youth.
Ye Jiao could have dodged them—he might even be part of the act.But he had warned her.
For that, she would act.
She reached out and, in a flash, caught one arrow mid-air.Her movements were sharp and swift, her crimson skirt flaring around the plum-blossom stakes like a bloom in the netherworld.
Ye Jiao was angry.
She dropped the cloak, gripped the arrow in one hand and the rose in the other. Leaping high, she bounded over the stakes, dodged the final arrow, and charged straight at the constables.
So, they wanted a fight?
Every man who neared her was quickly repelled.Arrows slashed her way—she parried.A boot slammed into a breastplate—she pressed down on an archer's bow.If they drew swords, she took them.
She seized a fine saber—its sheath inlaid with clouds and beasts, its silver-gilded hilt adorned with gleaming blue-green glass beads.
Its owner, a young man in his twenties with sharp brows and a martial air, turned red with rage and lunged at her with another weapon.
Now that he was fighting, the others fell back, cheering him on.
Ye Jiao did not use the blade's edge.She came to assert her authority—not to kill.
Most constables knew little martial arts; otherwise they'd have joined more prestigious divisions.
Her red skirt spun like fire, hair perfectly in place, as she struck with the back of the blade—shoulder, arm, wrist—three quick blows.
The man's weapon dropped.
Ye Jiao closed in, her fluttering shawl coiling around his neck like a leash.She led him, like a dog on a tether—