Not long after Mudan’s return from Fang Garden, it was New Year’s Eve. On this day, the family hung spring couplets, and peach wood charms, burned paper money, and lit bonfires in the courtyard. Inside, they lit lamps and candles, sang, danced, and drank to welcome the new year. Though He Zhizhong and others were absent, the He family was accustomed to such separations. After dinner and drinking pepper wine to ward off cold and dampness, they heard a commotion outside—the annual Nuo exorcism ritual had begun. The children clamored to go watch, and Mudan joined them.
They saw countless people wearing fierce masks, dressed as various spirits and deities. In the center were two figures wearing old person masks, the Nuo Father and Nuo Mother, leading the crowd in song and dance. The atmosphere was lively and boisterous.
After this group passed, another appeared, dressed uniformly in red tops and black pants, carrying yak tail whisks. They looked more organized than the previous group. One of them stopped at the door, lifted his mask, and smiled at the He family. The children laughed, shouting, “It’s Uncle Zhang Five! Where are you going, Uncle Zhang Five?” He Lie and He Chun even tugged at his sleeves.
Second Young Master quickly bowed to Zhang Five, asking, “Where are you headed, Brother Five?”
Zhang Five glanced at the jubilant crowd behind him and replied, “These are palace attendants heading to the imperial palace for the Nuo exorcism ritual with the music officials.” He winked, adding, “I hear the Emperor and nobles will be watching as usual. It’s a rare opportunity.” In truth, it was the best chance to glimpse palace life.
Second Young Master smiled, “It’s been a while since you’ve shown such enthusiasm.”
Zhang Five laughed sheepishly, “About a thousand people will enter the palace this time. Many are using this chance to sneak in and have a look. Since I’m familiar with the music officials, they asked for my help.”
Everyone understood. Each year at this time, many people sought Nuo ritual costumes, trying to infiltrate the exorcism team to catch a glimpse of the imperial concubines, princesses, and beauties. Among them were often wealthy young men and scholars. Zhang Five had clearly colluded with the music officials to exploit people’s curiosity for profit.
He Ru, He Hong, and others wanted to join for the excitement but didn’t dare ask their parents directly. Instead, they pestered Mudan, who, thinking it wasn’t a big deal, spoke to Madam Cen. Thus, the four oldest boys were allowed to go with Zhang Five. The rest of the He family watched the festivities a while longer before returning inside to continue their New Year’s Eve vigil.
As dawn approached and everyone was about to sleep, they heard footsteps and laughter outside—the four boys had returned. Entering the house, they were bombarded with questions. He Hong excitedly recounted, “It was truly worth the trip! The palace was adorned with brocade curtains, bright lanterns everywhere, and music filled the air. Dozens of fire mountains in the courtyard blazed several zhang high, as bright as day, with fragrance permeating the air. It was indescribably beautiful. Unfortunately, when the fires dimmed and palace servants pushed in carts of agarwood to replenish them, the fire mountain nearest to us had a strange smell. Clearly, some of the agarwood burned was subpar. I wonder how that happened.”
Second Young Master casually remarked, “There are always bold servants who try to profit by switching out the good stuff for inferior goods. Didn’t anyone notice?”
He Hong replied, “Someone did ask, but it didn’t affect the overall atmosphere. They just added a lot of musk to cover it up. The people above didn’t seem to notice.”
Fifth Young Master laughed, “At a time like this, even if they noticed, they’d pretend not to. They’ll deal with it later.”
He Ru, growing impatient, said, “Enough about that, let’s talk about the fun stuff.” The other boys chimed in, recounting their experiences, much to the envy of those who couldn’t go. Even the adults were interested, occasionally interjecting questions. The excitement kept everyone awake, creating a lively atmosphere. Seeing the high spirits, Madam Cen was in a good mood and allowed the children to continue their chatter, only instructing the servants to take care of things in the kitchen before retiring to bed.
Mudan returned to her room and slept until noon before rising to dress and groom herself. When she emerged, the whole family was awake and preparing for the meal. Just as they were about to start eating, a servant rushed in, announcing, “We have visitors.”
It was rare for guests to visit on the first day of the New Year, as most people started visiting on the second day. Though surprised, Madam Cen instructed the servant to welcome the guests.
Moments later, a young woman in a dark gray hooded cloak and water-red jacket and skirt entered hurriedly. She glanced around the table, spotted Mudan, and quickly bowed, saying, “Miss He, I’m Ahui. Do you remember me?”
Mudan had recognized her as Qin Niang’s maid Ahui as soon as she entered but hadn’t spoken to see what she wanted. Hearing Ahui address her, Mudan smiled while instructing someone to arrange a seat and bring hot tea for Ahui, “I remember. What brings you here? I thought I might have been mistaken at first.”
Ahui glanced at the others and lowered her voice, “I’m here to deliver a message. Is it convenient for you to talk, Miss He?”
Thinking that Qin Niang hadn’t made contact for a long time and suddenly sending a maid now must be for something important, Mudan quickly invited Ahui to the back. However, Ahui looked at Madam Cen and Second Young Master, saying, “The matter is crucial. Perhaps the madam and Second Young Master should hear it too.”
Madam Cen and Second Young Master exchanged surprised glances. Madam Xue immediately stood up and led the others out, leaving only Madam Cen, Mudan, and Second Young Master with Ahui. Seeing everyone else leave, Ahui spoke urgently without waiting for questions, “My mistress sent me to inform you that your household is in danger!”
Everyone was shocked by this statement. In ordinary households, such an inauspicious remark might have angered people, but Madam Cen, having seen much in her life, remained composed and asked, “What danger? Please explain in detail, Miss Hui.”
Seeing Madam Cen’s calm demeanor, Ahui silently praised her and said, “Did your household recently deliver forty carts of agarwood and various incense to the palace?”
Second Young Master tensed unconsciously and replied, “Yes, that’s correct.”
Ahui sighed and continued, “Last night, during the palace bonfire ritual, they only used agarwood and musk. One of the fires, when replenished with agarwood, emitted a foul odor. Many people noticed but dared not alert the nobles, so they tried to cover it up. However, there will certainly be an investigation afterward. Someone has claimed that ten of the forty carts of agarwood from your household contained mixed-in inferior or fake goods. If they had been burned separately in different fire mountains, it might not have been noticeable, but unfortunately, they were all concentrated in one place…”
Madam Cen and the others were shocked. They had heard He Hong mention this earlier but never imagined it would be connected to their family. Second Young Master firmly stated, “Impossible! Every piece of incense we sent to the palace was personally inspected by my brothers and me. We confirmed everything was in order before handing it over to Elder Jian. If there had been any issues, it would have been rejected by Elder Jian! How could it have reached the palace?”
Ahui waited for him to finish before slowly explaining, “The He family has a long-standing reputation, and naturally, no one doubts your integrity. However, it’s hard to prevent sabotage by unscrupulous individuals. The carts still bore your family’s seal, and now Elder Jian has completely distanced himself, saying that because of your long-standing relationship and flawless record, he didn’t inspect the goods carefully. He also hinted that he had originally intended to give your family a larger share, but your agarwood supply was insufficient, so he only allocated forty carts. Someone has testified that your family had been frantically searching for agarwood to make up the forty carts, even scouring neighboring counties, but still fell short by eleven carts. Then, somehow, you suddenly had enough… My mistress doesn’t know the exact situation, but she wanted me to inform your family so you can be prepared when someone comes to investigate.”
The implication was that the He family, desperate to secure this business deal, had resorted to using inferior or fake goods when they couldn’t source enough quality agarwood. Second Young Master were stunned, realizing they had fallen into a trap and that Elder Jian had been bought off. He also recalled the eleven carts of incense that Six Young Master had procured and became furious. Mudan and Madam Cen, remembering Liu Chang’s earlier visit and commotion, also looked concerned.
Seeing their reactions, Ahui quickly tried to reassure them, “The truth will prevail. If your family truly hasn’t done these things, you have nothing to fear from an investigation. My mistress, remembering Miss He’s kindness, has already gone out to seek help, hoping to resolve this matter quickly and clear your family’s name. However, her influence is limited, and you may still face some hardships.” Knowing she shouldn’t stay long, Ahui stood to leave.
Although Madam Cen was so anxious her hands and feet were shaking slightly, she managed to maintain her composure. She thanked Ahui, asked her to convey their gratitude to Qin Niang, and gave her a generous reward before asking Mudan to see her out. Then she immediately instructed Madam Xue and others to quickly hide valuables in the wall cavities as a precaution.
Mudan escorted Ahui out. When they reached a secluded spot, Ahui bowed to Mudan and said softly, “Please know, Miss He, that our mistress has never forgotten the life-saving kindness you showed her. Often, she’s not free to act as she wishes, but she has never ceased thinking of how to repay you. Please don’t hold it against her.”
Mudan steadied her and sighed, “When I helped her back then, I never expected repayment. I was simply following my heart and reacting to the situation. Today’s warning is enough to settle any debt. Tell her not to dwell on it.” Mudan realized that for Qin Niang to know about this matter so quickly and send someone to warn them, she must have learned it from Prince Jing. Qin Niang likely already knew how to handle this situation, and regardless of how much they tried to curry favor, it wouldn’t change the outcome. It was better to be generous and not mention it further.
Seeing that Mudan didn’t bring up the incident with Lu Fifth Young Master and only expressed gratitude for today’s warning, without any attempt to leverage the situation for more favors, Ahui inwardly praised her discretion. She smiled and said quietly, “Miss He is generous, but my mistress dares not forget such kindness. She has a personal message for you alone: this matter still involves General Jiang.”
Mudan was stunned, then smiled bitterly without speaking. It was clear that Prince Jing intended to watch the spectacle first, then sell favors when someone came begging for help. If she wanted his assistance, Jiang Changyang would need to take a clear stance. But Jiang Changyang was unwilling to do so, nor was it convenient for him to. Besides, Mudan didn’t even know where Jiang Changyang was at the moment, so how could she rely on him? She would have to endure what she must and seek other solutions. There was always a way.
Seeing Mudan’s silence, Ahui smiled knowingly and said, “My mistress also said she understands your difficulties. If General Jiang is inconvenienced, she will certainly exert herself on your behalf. However, as she lacks influence, it will take more effort and time. Your household will need to worry and be delayed longer.”
Mudan understood Qin Niang’s meaning: to help her while bypassing Prince Jing. Although she didn’t fully trust this, she was somewhat pleased that Qin Niang might have such ability. Without refusing, she bowed in thanks and sent Ahui out.
As soon as Ahui left, Mudan sent Gui to find Commander Guo while she rode off to seek Lady Bai. Soon after, Erlang sent someone to call Liulang and summoned He Hong, He Ru, and others to inquire about the details of the situation. Liulang, of course, denied everything, insisting that Erlang and Wulang had personally inspected the eleven carts of agarwood and confirmed there were no issues. He argued that the responsibility couldn’t be placed solely on him.
Just then, someone pounded on the door. A shop assistant burst in, reporting that the spice shop had been sealed and fake and low-quality agarwood had been found in the warehouse. Suddenly, it seemed the He family’s guilt was confirmed. Erlang immediately slapped Liulang, shouting, “What happened? Everything was clean before, and you were watching the shop these last two days. Who did you let in?”
Previously, Wulang and Mudan had just checked the accounts and inventory with the old shopkeeper. During the last two days, while he and Wulang were collecting debts, Liulang had been minding the shop. If there was a problem, it must have originated with him. Liulang, feeling guilty and drenched in cold sweat, stubbornly denied knowing anything. After accepting money from Fang Er, Fang Er asked to see the famous incense in the He family’s warehouse. Unable to refuse due to Fang Er’s leverage, Liulang secretly led him inside. Afterward, he had gone to the Fang residence for drinks, waking up drunk in the evening. Now he realized the warehouse problem must have occurred then. He dared not tell the truth, insisting he knew nothing and urging, “Disaster is upon us, we should run quickly.”
Wulang patted Zhang Shi’s shoulder reassuringly and sneered, “Run? Where to? What about our entire family if we flee?”
Another commotion erupted as a group of officials burst in. Without explanation and refusing bribes, they chained Erlang, Wulang, and Liulang. As they began ransacking the house, Madam Cen shouted, “Wait! You can arrest people, but are you confiscating our property? Show us the official warrant first!”
Feng Daniang and others blocked the inner doors, preventing the officials from entering. The He family had always maintained good relations with their neighbors, who came out to mediate, forming several layers around the house.
The lead official sneered, “Are you rebelling? Arrest them all!”
Suddenly, a voice called from the doorway, “Oh my, what’s happening here? Such a disturbance on New Year’s Day.” It was Liu Chang, dressed elegantly, who strolled in casually. He smiled, glancing at Madam Cen, Erlang, Wulang, Xue Shi, and others. Not seeing Mudan, he looked slightly disappointed. Turning to the lead official, he smiled and said, “Meng’er, why aren’t you at home celebrating? What’s all this commotion about?”
The official called Meng’er beamed at him and replied, “Ah, Ritual Officer Liu, we’re carrying out our duties. What brings you here, sir?”
Liu Chang smiled and said, “An old acquaintance of mine lives here. I’m on holiday, so I came for a casual visit. Who would have thought I’d stumble upon this situation? What exactly is going on?”
Meng’er explained the situation, essentially accusing the He family of fraud by selling fake goods to the palace and committing the crime of deceiving the emperor. He added that Madam Cen and others were resisting arrest and plotting rebellion.
Liu Chang feigned surprise and said, “Surely there must be some misunderstanding? The He family is known for their honest business practices. They’ve supplied incense to the palace many times before. How could they dare to commit such a brazen act?”
The official played along, sneering, “Greed can darken even the most honest heart. Who can say for certain? Several people have accused them, and fake goods were found in their shop. How can that be false?”
Liu Chang approached Madam Cen and bowed, pretending to ask about the situation and if there was anything he could do to help. Madam Cen, knowing he was involved, coldly turned away without speaking. Liu Chang sighed, holding his forehead, “I had hoped to do you a favor, sparing the women and children from fright. But since you don’t appreciate my intentions, I have no face to…” He trailed off, turning to give Meng’er a subtle signal.
Receiving Liu Chang’s hint, Meng’er grinned maliciously and ordered his men to tie everyone up, boasting that he would take responsibility. A group of men rushed in, causing chaos. They didn’t find much value, but confiscated the incense mountain display from the main hall, along with some gold and silver bowls and plates, silks, and women’s jewelry as evidence.
Liu Chang stood outside with his arms folded, listening to the commotion with undisguised pleasure, his eyes gleaming. In the past, the He family had used their wealth to overpower him. During the divorce, they had beaten him severely. At the East Market and the Dragon Boat Festival treasure competition, they humiliated him countless times, reducing him to his current state. He thought to himself, soon someone would come begging for his help. He imagined Mudan pleading tearfully, him refusing, her begging again until he finally agreed when he was in a good mood. At that thought, he couldn’t help but smile.
Soon, the officials had bound Madam Cen, Xue Shi, Bai Shi, Zhen Shi, Feng Daniang, and other women, along with He Hong, He Ru, and the older boys, leaving behind only the pregnant Zhang Shi and concubines Wu and Yang. As they were being led away, Mudan arrived on horseback with Pan Rong, while Gui brought a dark-faced man. Seeing the tragic scene, Mudan’s face turned pale. She jumped off her horse with tears in her eyes and rushed to embrace Madam Cen.
Pan Rong and the dark-faced man approached Meng’er, trying to persuade him to release the women and children. Meng’er refused, his face stern. As the argument heated up, he began shouting, leaving Pan Rong and the dark-faced man at a loss.
Liu Chang watched from a distance, unmoved. He knew Mudan had many connections and would surely call on many people for help. Look, even Pan Rong had come. But this time was different. He had planned for a long time, enlisting the help of many enthusiastic allies. With real evidence in hand, he wouldn’t stop until the He family was completely crushed. He wondered what the He family would use to show off in the future.
The He family members were crowded at the street corner for a while before being led away. The dark-faced man and Pan Rong tried to console Mudan before following on horseback to keep watch. Mudan was left alone with Gui, standing motionless in the crowd, staring blankly at the retreating figures of her family. Suddenly, she covered her face and crouched down, refusing to look up for a long time. Several women came to comfort her, but she just shook her head vigorously.
Liu Chang’s heart seemed to clench painfully for a moment, followed by an exhilarating sense of satisfaction. He gripped his horsewhip tightly, watching Mudan from the shadows. After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Mudan slowly stood up. She looked at the surrounding neighbors, forcing a smile more painful than crying, and turned towards the He family’s gate, supported by one of her aunts.
Liu Chang couldn’t help but step forward, blocking Mudan’s path. He wanted to tell her he could help, that he didn’t need her to beg, that if she just spoke one kind word to him, fulfilling his wish, he could ensure her mother, sisters-in-law, and nephews returned unharmed.
But Mudan merely paused before walking past him indifferently, not even sparing him a glance. Liu Chang couldn’t resist following her, blocking her path again at the gate. He coughed loudly and said, “Dan’niang! I can help you.”
Mudan looked at him steadily without speaking. Liu Chang, uncomfortable under her gaze and growing irritated, suddenly heard her say, “To what extent can you help me? Can you clear my family’s name of this false accusation?”
Liu Chang, delighted, controlled his joy and said slowly, “Your brothers were indeed bold. What they did is irrefutable, with both witness testimony and physical evidence. The spice shop certainly can’t be reopened. What I can do now is to ensure your mother, sisters-in-law, and nephews are safely released, and to lessen your brothers’ suffering and reduce their sentences. If you can’t continue in the spice trade, you can always switch to the jewelry business.”
Mudan narrowed her eyes, “How do you know they have both witness testimony and physical evidence?”
Liu Chang replied, “How could I not know? I won’t deceive you. This matter has already been decided from above. The trial is merely a formality. If you don’t believe me, you’ll see the outcome in a few days. I just pity your elderly mother, your sisters-in-law, and your nephews, who have never suffered like this before. For women, being imprisoned for even ten or fifteen days can ruin everything. Your nephews’ futures are also in jeopardy. And your brothers will undoubtedly be beaten and suffer greatly.”