Chapter Twenty-One: The Man Who Erected the Monument

The Bian River flowed turbulently, its surface obscured by the dense forest of masts from passenger boats, official vessels, and merchant ships. The scene was bustling, with sails catching the breeze and merchants directing their laborers to unload cargo while shouting their wares.

Jiang Zhuo had already informed the Empress Dowager of her intention to return to her ancestral home, and thus, she traveled on an official vessel. Before leaving, her father, Jiang Dun, had dismissed the household servants; as her title of County Lady was newly bestowed, she lacked any trusted retainers of her own. Wishing to avoid drawing undue attention to the modest funeral arrangements for her father—who had been murdered after resigning from office—Jiang Zhuo requested only four highly skilled guards from the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs and brought along her personal maid, Tonghua. The party consisted of only six people.

As for Black Hawk? Jiang Zhuo glanced around. Ever since Ling Heng had departed, Black Hawk had vanished, hiding away somewhere unknown. Although the Jiang Zhuo of her previous life had never possessed a shadow guard, having spent years by Ling Heng’s side, she knew they were not meant to appear before their masters.

The passenger ship drew alongside the pier, and other officials embarking on long journeys began to board one by one. As Jiang Zhuo looked back at the prosperous city of Bianjing and prepared to board, a sudden gust of wind snatched her veil away. She reached out to catch it but stumbled, only to be steadied by Tonghua just in time.

"My Lady—"

Watching her veil drift away, Jiang Zhuo sighed. She possessed a striking beauty, and with the riverbanks teeming with travelers, attracting such notice would only invite inconvenience. Very well, she thought, she would simply avoid leaving her cabin and make other arrangements once she reached Hangzhou.

Just as she turned to leave, a man dressed in dark, close-fitting attire appeared before her, holding her lost veil.

"The wind is strong on the water, My Lady; do take care."

A mask covered half of his face, and a faint smile played on his lips, yet his upright posture felt strangely familiar to her. Jiang Zhuo was taken aback. A moment ago, when she had watched it fly away, the veil had been carried nearly seventy feet by the wind. For this man to catch it in such a short time and return it with such precision, his agility and keen eyesight must be exceptional.

Before she could offer her thanks, the man vanished. Could it be him? The man who had erected a tomb for her amidst the wind and snow? Jiang Zhuo was uncertain.

Erecting that monument had been thirteen years ago, and besides, he was wearing a mask today. Regardless, it was possible that the person who had honored her memory all those years ago was on this very ship. Jiang Zhuo shook her head, dismissing the thought.

Veils were inconvenient on a ship, so once aboard, she changed into plain white mourning garments in the style of a man and took Tonghua to the cabin to eat. In truth, it was a ruse to gather information. The ship’s provisions were limited, consisting mostly of aged fish and shrimp.

To her right sat several young scholars in azure robes, seemingly traveling south for leisure. "They say the scenery of Jiangnan is beautiful, but I refuse to believe it can surpass the splendor of Bianjing!"

"Have you heard? Since last month, young women have been disappearing in Western Shu; there are nearly twenty missing by now!"

"One must visit the Drunken Immortal Pavilion upon reaching Hangzhou! Not only are the ladies beautiful there, but the lyrics and music are composed to perfection!"

To her left, two middle-aged men in blue robes, likely demoted officials, were sighing heavily. "The strife between the old and new factions at court grows ever more intense. Rather than being caught in the middle, it is better to be demoted and be done with it!"

"Official politics are like rowing upstream—if you do not advance, you are swept back. If you truly intend to retreat, brother, consider the fate of Chancellor Jiang as a warning."

Hearing her father’s name, Jiang Zhuo focused her attention.

"Hush! Be careful with your words, brother! Do not forget that walls have ears."

"You are too nervous. Aside from minor officials like us whose careers have stalled, and a few aimless, hedonistic sons of noble houses, who else would be traveling south?"

"Chancellor Jiang is dead, but his new policies remain. It is said that the newly appointed Inspector General traveling south has just returned from the northern front. If you count the time, he is likely traveling south with us."

"A general returning from the northern front? Could it be that *he* is also aboard?"

The two spoke in such cryptic terms that Jiang Zhuo felt as though she were shrouded in mist. However, she had obtained the crucial information. A general from the northern front, the man who had built her tomb in her past life—he, too, was clad in armor. Thinking back, it was highly likely he was the masked man who had retrieved her veil. As an Inspector General, his rank would certainly not be low.

There were four superior cabins on the ship. As a titled daughter of the imperial clan, she occupied one; she only needed to investigate the other three. With her plan formed, Jiang Zhuo rose to question the waiter, leaving Tonghua behind, still munching on pastry crumbs.

"My Lady, why have you stopped eating? Are the pastries not to your liking?"

"…Continue eating. I am packing some snacks to take back for Black Hawk."

Back at the Jiang estate, Jiang Zhuo had attempted to provide meals for Black Hawk. Shadow guards did not eat with maids or guards, nor could they eat with their masters, yet what did he eat every day? Having never raised a shadow guard, Jiang Zhuo was baffled, but she worried about starving the man Ling Heng had gifted her. She had tried everything—noodles, steamed buns, dumplings, and rice—but Black Hawk had never touched a single dish she prepared. Had he been spoiled by the Marquis’s estate and turned his nose up at her food? She had been perplexed until she left out some pastries on the ship and found two missing the next morning. She realized then that shadow guards preferred sweets!

Jiang Zhuo told the waiter that she was a guest in the superior cabins and, finding the month-long journey tedious, wished to make new friends but feared offending any powerful figures. She asked which officials were staying in the other superior rooms so they might look out for one another.

The waiter skillfully accepted her silver, taking her for a young, well-connected nobleman. "The superior rooms are named Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum. You are in the Orchid room. The Plum room opposite you belongs to some new judicial official, about forty years old and quite intimidating. The Chrysanthemum room is occupied by a scholar near your age, likely headed to Hangzhou for an appointment; based on his attire, he seems to be from a noble family, and I expect you would find him more agreeable."

"I thought there were four rooms?" Jiang Zhuo asked curiously. "What about the guest in the Bamboo room?"

The waiter shook his head. Jiang Zhuo slipped him another piece of silver.

Only then did the waiter whisper, "The guest in the Bamboo room is quite eccentric. He never leaves, and every meal is delivered to his room. It is not that I do not wish to tell you, but I truly know nothing."

Jiang Zhuo nodded, understanding. The person she sought was, in all likelihood, in the Bamboo room.