“The Zhao family has woven brocade for generations, continuing for a hundred years,” Zhao Xiuyuan slowly stood up. “Over these hundred years, the Zhao family has produced countless beautiful brocades. We’ve earned an honorary arch and several ‘King of Brocade’ plaques. The Zhao family of Sandaoyan is renowned in Yizhou Prefecture. But that’s all it is—renown. Even though we reclaimed the title of Brocade King last year, people still consider the Yang family from Yang Family Lane in Yizhou City as the true Brocade Kings! What more can the Zhao family achieve in another hundred years? At best, we’ll be known as the Brocade King Zhao family of Sandaoyan. We’ll still be merchants! Mere lowly traders!”
Second Master Zhao erupted in anger, “Are you suggesting the Zhao children should abandon our family’s brocade business to study for imperial examinations? Second Son, have you lost your mind?”
“I’m perfectly clear-headed!” Zhao Xiuyuan’s cheeks flushed with excitement as he shouted, “To secure the Brocade King title, I was forced to become engaged to the Niu family and marry an ugly woman! Why did I have to marry Fifth Miss Niu? Grandfather, you said since the Yang family has officials in court, the Zhao family needed powerful in-laws to compete for the Brocade King title. Will the imperial court ever grant the Zhao family official positions? Never. Because we’re just one of countless merchant families in the Great Tang. But His Highness the White King of Nanzhao has promised that if the Zhao family relocates south, he’ll appoint the Zhao family head as Grand Commissioner of the Nanzhao Brocade Bureau, overseeing all of Nanzhao’s brocade industry. We can continue making brocades, and we’ll no longer be lowly merchants! Why shouldn’t I agree?!”
The entire hall was stunned.
“That’s a Nanzhao position! We are subjects of the Great Tang! Second Young Master Zhao, you’re only the heir, not yet the family head—what right do you have to make decisions for the Zhao family?! I refuse to leave our homeland for that savage southern territory. I’d rather die here!” Second Master Zhao shouted.
A flash of light swept through the air, stirring the candlelight in the hall. Second Master Zhao’s mouth gaped open as he clutched his throat, one hand reaching toward Old Master Zhao. Gurgling sounds escaped his throat as if trying to call out “Father” or continue his protests. Blood spurted from his neck as he crashed onto the table.
“You want to die here? I’ll grant your wish,” Chi Kuang said coldly.
“My second son!” Old Master Zhao suddenly pushed away his eldest son Zhao Bingsong who was supporting him, and crawled desperately toward Second Master Zhao.
“Father!”
“Second Master!”
The crowd suddenly awakened, and the hall erupted with wails and screams.
Bright red blood dripped steadily from the table onto the expensive Persian carpet below. It seeped in gradually, like newly woven flowers on the carpet’s pattern.
Zhao Xiuyuan slowly raised his hand to wipe away the blood that had splattered on his face. His excitement and fervor were doused cold by Second Master’s spurting blood. Was he wrong? Even with their best efforts, they would only ever be the Brocade King Zhao family. In Nanzhao, with the Zhao family’s skills and experience, they could manage the entire brocade industry, looked up to by all craftsmen. Sheng Fengze had said that if he performed well, marrying a princess wouldn’t be out of the question.
He only wanted Ji Yingying. He just wanted to escape that ugly woman, Fifth Miss Niu!
“You killed my father, I’ll fight you to the death!” Eldest Young Master Zhao lifted the long table and charged at Chi Kuang.
A lieutenant beside him kicked the back of his knee. Eldest Young Master Zhao crashed to the ground. Before he could rise, a spurred leather boot pressed down on his back.
Chi Kuang lowered his head, tapping his face with the back of his sword: “Eldest Young Master Zhao? I hear your brocade-making skills rival your Second Brother’s. I can’t bear to kill you. Men, bind him and take him away!”
Two soldiers entered, bound Eldest Young Master Zhao, and carried him out.
“I see the Zhao family prefers punishment to mercy. Bind them all and take them away!” Chi Kuang ordered loudly.
“General, please calm down!” Zhao Xiuyuan suddenly snapped to his senses and bowed, “General, I guarantee all the Zhao family’s skilled craftsmen will relocate south. Please give us two days to pack…”
Chi Kuang had already turned away.
Two soldiers stepped forward and twisted Zhao Xiuyuan’s arms, dragging him out.
“Let go! I’m the Bureau Commissioner personally appointed by His Highness the White King! General Chi Kuang, you can’t treat the Zhao family like this!” Zhao Xiuyuan struggled until his face turned red, shouting.
No one paid him any attention. The soldiers seemed well-prepared, seizing anyone who appeared under forty and dragging them away. In an instant, the hall was filled with shouts and curses. Soon after, women’s cries echoed from the rear courtyard.
Chi Kuang played with an exquisite vase from the hall’s decorations, clicking his tongue and shaking his head: “His Highness the White King plays the good man, so I’ll be the villain. How could I face my soldiers if we ignored the wealthiest family in Sandaoyan to plunder poor households instead?”
He looked up to see the Zhao family elders, led by Old Master Zhao, frantically rushing toward their captured younger relatives. Chi Kuang shouted orders: “Take everyone over forty to the side courtyard and lock them up. Tell them if they make any more noise, I’ll start killing people!”
His voice thundered so loudly it made eardrums ring. Old Master Zhao’s eyes rolled back once more as he fainted.
The hall finally fell silent. Chi Kuang ordered with satisfaction: “Search the house! Be careful! Don’t damage anything!”
“Yes!” The lieutenant responded, excitedly leading a group toward the rear courtyard. “Search the house and move everything out!”
“General Chi Kuang!” Zhao Xiuyuan kept shouting, stretching his neck.
Chi Kuang considered for a moment, then walked over: “Second Young Master Zhao, if you behave, I’ll let you temporarily oversee the craftsmen we’re taking from Sandaoyan. If you fail to manage them well, I’ll kill you!”
If he could just get through this and see Sheng Fengze… Zhao Xiuyuan hastily replied, “I already agreed to go to Nanzhao, please rest assured, General! I will certainly convince the Zhao family members.”
Chi Kuang whispered something to a lieutenant and waved his hand: “Take them away!”
The lieutenant smiled and shoved Zhao Xiuyuan forward: “Let’s go. Follow the General’s orders, and I’ll take care of you.”
In the courtyard of the Moon Brocade Hall in the rear compound, all the Zhao family servant women under forty had gathered. There were over two hundred of them, packed together. The women didn’t dare cry openly but huddled together trembling, suppressing their sobs.
Fifth Miss Niu stood at the front of the group. She glanced at the First Madam who had collapsed crying in her maid’s arms, then turned away.
Soldiers surrounded them, staring intently at the weeping Zhao family women.
After a while, two soldiers brought over a maid. Yu Yuan broke free from the soldiers and quickly walked to Fifth Miss Niu’s side.
“Is everything arranged?” Fifth Miss Niu asked softly.
“Just as you predicted, my lady. Don’t worry.” Yu Yuan glanced around and whispered like a mosquito, “I’ll find a chance to help you escape.”
The veil moved slightly, seemingly pulled by a smile. Fifth Miss Niu said leisurely: “Escape? Why? I’m waiting for His Highness the White King to enter the city and hand over the Yang family to me as well.”
Yu Yuan was shocked: “My lady, they’re taking people to Nanzhao! How can you endure such hardship?”
“I am Second Young Master Zhao’s wife. When the husband is honored, so is the wife. Naturally, I should follow him to enjoy good fortune in Nanzhao. How could I suffer when he serves Nanzhao?” Fifth Miss Niu murmured, “I just want to know, when Yang Jingyuan learns that I can humiliate the Yang family in Nanzhao, separated by thousands of mountains and rivers, will he go mad with pain?”