Ji Yaoting hesitated, understanding that his mother had deliberately sent his sister away to privately inquire about that night at the Zhao residence. He rose and bowed to A-Sheng: “Please wait a moment, Young Master Sheng.” He left the main hall and, understanding his mother’s intentions, went straight to the kitchen to keep his sister there, preventing her from overhearing.
With just a glance from Madam Ji, the two elderly maids, Li and Wu, withdrew with the serving maids, carefully standing guard at the door.
It wasn’t raining today, though thick clouds blocked the sun. The morning light was bright enough that the hall wasn’t gloomy. The soft daylight fell on Madam Ji’s face, her lingering illness lending her an air of fragility.
A-Sheng sat composedly, looking steadily at Madam Ji: “What would Madam Ji like to ask?”
Madam Ji gazed at him calmly: “Are you scheming against the Ji family for our secret formula?”
A-Sheng showed no trace of alarm, maintaining his slight smile: “What makes Madam say this?”
Madam Ji sensed something familiar. A wave of melancholy crossed her eyes. Even someone like Sang Shilang, from an official family, couldn’t cultivate this kind of innate elegance and deeply ingrained pride of the upper class. She had thought only the Zhao family was plotting against them. Now it seemed clear that the merchant-class Zhaos could never command someone like Young Master Sheng.
Madam Ji sighed: “The dye house fire, the Zhaos pressing for debt payment. My anger caused my illness, and the physician prescribed ginseng. Our servants searched all of Yizhou City but couldn’t find ginseng over twenty years old. Yet you happened to have one, and it happened to be seen by our servant bringing thanks. Young Master Sheng, you rescued my daughter from the Zhao residence. Then you sold her century-old ginseng at a discount. You keep showing kindness to the Ji family. I don’t believe in such coincidences.”
A-Sheng was surprised by Madam Ji’s perception. Thinking of her background, he understood. Since Madam Ji had seen through him and directly mentioned the secret formula, should he still honor his agreement with Ji Yingying? Remembering Ji Yingying’s vivacious smile, he felt a twinge of conscience. After just a moment’s hesitation, he made his decision.
“The Ji family’s secret formula passes to sons, not daughters. Madam Ji, widowed for many years, raised two children alone. I assume you would rather die than surrender the formula.”
Madam Ji quickly caught on: “You wouldn’t sell ginseng to my daughter at such a low price without reason. What did she promise you?”
A-Sheng took out a contract from his robe and placed it on the table: “One year’s term, Second Miss Ji as guarantor, two thousand guan silver on credit. Madam Ji, these are generous terms.”
Madam Ji gripped her armchair’s handles tightly, forcing herself to stay calm: “You don’t want the formula—you want my daughter?”
A-Sheng folded the contract carefully and tucked it back into his robe: “That depends on whether the Ji family can repay the debt in a year. I won’t be as unsightly as the Zhaos, brandishing an undue contract threateningly. Only if Second Miss Ji is willing will she serve me.”
“No,” Madam Ji muttered, her eyes flashing sharply as she stared at him, “You won’t give the Ji family a year. What have you done? What else have you done to the Ji family?”
A-Sheng smiled, looking at the sky outside, speaking softly: “You’ll know very soon.”
Madam Ji’s heart pounded like a drum. A veil seemed to hang before her eyes, letting her dimly see the truth while keeping it uncertain. Her daughter’s talents were already impossible to hide. That’s what made this mysteriously noble and elegant man willing to forgo the formula in favor of her. No, he certainly wouldn’t let the Ji family off so easily. Madam Ji blurted out: “You want both—the formula and my daughter!”
“Naturally,” A-Sheng chuckled. His white teeth contrasted with his tanned skin, his smile as clean and bright as the sky after rain. Yet it sent chills down Madam Ji’s arms.
“I’ll sell the dye house, sell our residence, but I won’t let you have your way!” Madam Ji declared word by word, fighting waves of dizziness.
A-Sheng turned to look at her, his eyes showing traces of pity.
Sounds of commotion came from outside. Maid Wu heard the servants’ report and, face changing drastically, stepped through the doorway: “Madam, a group of constables has arrived. They beat Ji Fu at the gate and forced their way in.”
Madam Ji stood up abruptly, ignoring Young Master Sheng, and staggered out, supported quickly by Maid Wu as she crossed the threshold.
A squad of constables suddenly poured through the moon gate leading to the front courtyard. Ji Gui ran in from the counter: “This is the back courtyard, officers, please don’t intrude!”
A nearby constable shoved him to the ground as they escorted their leader toward Madam Ji.
The leader, seeing Madam Ji standing in the doorway, asked: “Are you Ji Xu-shi, owner of the Huanhua Dye House? Someone has accused your household of murder for profit. An arrest warrant has been issued by the Yizhou Prefecture office. As the owner, you’ll need to come with us.”
Murder for profit? Whose money, whose life? Madam Ji’s head buzzed.
Two constables approached her with ropes.
Maid Li quickly descended the steps, blocking them with a placating smile: “Officers, our madam is still ill. If there’s been a complaint filed, we’ll appear in court to answer it. Binding our madam would make travel difficult—could we arrange a sedan chair to transport her? She placed the money pouch from her belt directly into the constable’s hand.
Ji Gui, quick-witted, had already wrapped the remaining counter money in a pouch. He grabbed the leader’s hand and stuffed it into his sleeve, pleading: “Officer, please have some tea in the front hall while our madam changes clothes.”
The leader felt the weight in his sleeve, his expression softening. Seeing Madam Ji’s pale face and unsteady stance, he thought she might collapse on the walk back to Yizhou City. A carriage would be more convenient for everyone. He maintained a stern face: “Don’t take too long.”
Ji Gui repeatedly agreed and invited the constables to the front hall for tea.
At this moment, Ji Yaoting and Ji Yingying emerged from the kitchen, having heard the commotion.
“What’s happening?” The siblings stood dumbfounded at the chaos by the second gate and the presence of court officers.
Ji Gui stepped forward to block the siblings, fawning to the leader: “Officer, this way please.”
The leader glanced at Ji Yaoting, eyes narrowing, and pushed aside Ji Gui’s arm: “Young Master Ji? I hear you manage the Huanhua Dye House…”
“Officer! I am the dye house owner and head of the Ji household. Please wait a moment.”
The leader turned to see Madam Ji, supported by others, looking at him calmly. Her natural dignity made him nod involuntarily: “If Madam Ji has anything to arrange, do it quickly.”
Maid Wu called the courtyard maids to quickly take the feast prepared for Young Master Sheng to serve the constables instead. The back courtyard suddenly fell quiet again.
“Yingying, return to your courtyard. Don’t come out without my order! Yaoting, wait outside—I’ll call you after I finish speaking with Young Master Sheng.” Madam Ji, most worried about her daughter’s impetuousness, cut off Ji Yingying before she could cry out.
“Mother, what’s happened to our family?” Ji Yingying was desperately worried.
“Maid Ji, escort the young miss back. Yingying, don’t make trouble for Mother.”
Ji Yingying wanted to say more but, seeing her mother’s pale face, swallowed her words. As Maid Ji accompanied her back to her courtyard, Ji Yingying grabbed her hand: “Nanny, quickly go see what’s happened. Why have court officers come to our home? I’ll stay here and not cause Mother any trouble.”
Maid Ji was also desperately worried. With a sigh, she turned and hurried back, her stout figure rushing away.
Madam Ji turned around. Young Master Sheng still sat quietly, as if he hadn’t heard the courtyard chaos. He seemed confident, as though he’d come not for a feast, but to spring a trap.