The courtyard was cloaked in silence, as the martial officers displayed expressions of dejection, timidity, or barely concealed excitement. The disheartened were those who had failed to defeat Ye Jiao, the timid were licking their wounds, and the excited harbored dreams of one day earning promotion into the imperial guard. A crushing display of martial prowess, combined with a delicate balance of reward and intimidation, quickly earned Ye Jiao the submission—if not admiration—of most.
In an instant, they scrambled to their feet and jogged off to inform their respective captains. The young man who had fought Ye Jiao remained seated beneath the eaves, stretching out his hand toward her, clearly disgruntled."My blade. Return it.""It's mine now," Ye Jiao replied flatly. "Have your unit issue you another."The young man sneered, mocking her."You really are green," he said smugly. "Do you think our unit issues swords like that? This one was a gift from the palace."A reminder, casually delivered—a gift from the palace, meant to make her reconsider his identity."The palace?" Ye Jiao tilted her head, feigning indifference. "Bestowed by His Majesty himself?"
Of all those within the palace, Ye Jiao was only familiar with the emperor. If need be, she could simply ask him for one.Recognition suddenly flashed across the young man's face. He remembered now—Ye Jiao had been personally appointed by the emperor. A flicker of discouragement passed over him, though he still glared defiantly."My sister is Consort Zhao," he declared, twisting his neck as he spoke with careful vanity, as though afraid an abrupt movement might strain it.
Consort Zhao—one of the Nine Concubines, ranked below the imperial consorts. It was rumored she'd borne the emperor's youngest son and was much favored."So, your surname is Bai?" Ye Jiao asked. She vaguely recalled that the Consort hailed from a military family. Why then was their son idling as a petty martial officer rather than serving on the battlefield?"Bai Xianyu!" the youth announced proudly.
Ye Jiao stretched out her hand. "Bai Xianyu, hand over your scabbard."During the earlier scuffle, she'd only glimpsed the ornate sheath, unable to detach it from his belt.Bai Xianyu flinched backward. Ye Jiao immediately threatened,"I'll file a report directly with the emperor."Startled, Bai Xianyu hastily tossed the scabbard at her. In his panic, his belt came loose, and his outer robe fell to the ground, revealing his inner garments. Embarrassed, he scrambled to dress himself, while Ye Jiao merely glanced at him with disdain.What's the fuss? You're not some belly-dancing courtesan. As if I'd be interested in looking at you.
"You're ruthless," Bai Xianyu muttered. "I hate women who go tattling."
Ye Jiao stepped over to the plum-blossom stakes and cut the ropes binding a young officer."You really a thief?" she asked."I am," he replied, jaw clenched, showing no sign of regret. "My mother is gravely ill. We had no money. I stole Captain Bai's silver.""Truly?" Ye Jiao turned to look at Bai Xianyu."She probably is sick," he muttered, rubbing his neck. "But she's not my mother. Why should he steal my money?"
Ye Jiao pulled out a pouch of silver and tossed it to the youth."Take these next few days off. Treat your mother. Come back once she's well."
The young man stood stunned, as if unable to believe in such fortune. Seeing how gaunt he was, Ye Jiao patted his shoulder gently. Just as she was about to offer a few words of comfort, a commotion erupted outside.
Bai Xianyu's subordinates had arrived, bringing with them the other nine unit captains. They came in all shapes and ages, the eldest no more than thirty-five or six, the youngest being Bai Xianyu himself. Everyone knew Bai intended to put Ye Jiao in her place—and they'd supported him. But now, seeing Consort Zhao's brother turned into a laughingstock, they quickly concealed their disdain and offered Ye Jiao formal bows.
When they straightened up, they noticed the red marks around Bai Xianyu's neck. Sharing glances, they suddenly felt a collective tightness in their own throats. Saying nothing, they awaited Ye Jiao's instructions.
Her expectations were clear—dedicated service would be rewarded, negligence punished.One of the captains stepped forward and offered,"Lord Commander, patrolling and arresting criminals are tasks for us. The streets are harsh, full of sun and rain. It would be a shame if your health suffered. Please remain at the office and await our reports."
The remark, while flattering, was quickly echoed by the others."Indeed, no need for you to go out."Ye Jiao smiled politely and raised her voice."I appreciate your concern. But having accepted a command from the emperor himself, I dare not grow complacent. Bring over Captain Bai's horse. Let's begin our patrol."
A street patrol wasn't exactly grueling labor.In a flurry, the captains stood and moved out. Each brought two or three aides. Combined with the ambushers Bai Xianyu had hidden earlier, the group quickly swelled to over a hundred. Ye Jiao mounted the horse, leading a force that surged like a tide down the street, claiming half the thoroughfare.
For ease of riding, Ye Jiao wore trousers beneath her robes.Bai Xianyu, watching his steed taken from him, couldn't help but grumble."Why is it always me you bully?"No one dared speak for him. One of his aides led up another horse."Come on, Captain," the aide urged. "A true man knows when to bend."
That day, all of the capital's offices that had awaited Ye Jiao's humiliation instead heard tales of her leading ten captains on patrol. Wherever they went, chaos seemed to follow—men tumbling, chickens flying, dogs leaping. At least, so said the censors.
In truth, the commotion stemmed more from crowds than from misconduct. Curious citizens had gathered, eager to catch a glimpse of the legendary female commander.
At East Market, some vendors, as was custom, slipped food into the officers' hands. Good relations with the Wuhou often paid dividends when trouble struck. Bai Xianyu accepted two live chickens—only to be caught red-handed by Ye Jiao.
"Return them," she ordered. "You're an officer of the law, not a highway bandit.""As if I even wanted them," Bai Xianyu retorted, face flushed. He flung the chickens skyward—thus fulfilling the phrase, chickens fly.
In West Market, someone cried out, "Thief!"Ye Jiao spurred her horse forward, the chase startling a stray dog that leapt into a pan of frying cakes—thereby completing the second half of the proverb, dogs jump.
They caught the thief in the end, a man clutching stolen jewelry, now trembling in the presence of over a hundred solemn officers."Seriously?" he stammered. "All this… for me?"Ye Jiao gave no reply—just had him seized.
Not long after, they reached the gates of Prince Zhao's estate.Ye Jiao lifted her gaze to the vermilion plaque above the entrance, memories stirring. She had once spoken to Li Ce here, the two of them sitting under the corridor's warm sun. She had nursed him through illness, bought him soft tofu pudding, even delivered ginseng as if it were mere radish.
When she'd been happy, she remembered all the good he did.When heartbroken, all she could recall was what she'd given—and how he'd betrayed her.Heartless bastard.
The officers behind her, seeing her pause to stare at the plaque, instinctively did the same.Inside, the gatekeeper saw the whole troop peering at the estate's nameplate and panicked, hurrying off to inform the household, fearing the prince had committed some grave offense.
Fortunately, Ye Jiao didn't linger. She continued walking.The estate's outer wall stretched long. Eventually, they reached a spot she knew well—where a tuft of wall grass was missing. Li Ce had dislodged it the night he'd climbed out.
Just on the other side lay his private courtyard.
Two elderly laborers in short coats, brooms and bags in hand, spotted her and bowed quickly. They were street cleaners assigned by the Jingzhao Prefecture, responsible for keeping the city streets free of horse dung and refuse.
Liu Yan might've struggled to control the martial officers, but he managed the sanitation workers well."No need to sweep," Ye Jiao told them. "From now on, this street is off-limits for cleaning."The workers, thinking Prince Zhao had requested peace and quiet, hastily agreed."What's in your sack?" Ye Jiao asked.The cleaner took a cautious step back, as if fearing the stench might offend her."It's horse and ox—"