Three feet from the stockade, Ji Yingying stopped. She looked at her five maids. Only one or two silver hairpins remained in their hair. They must have been searched upon entry. She touched her hair and smiled bitterly. For convenience, she had changed into Hu-style clothes and arranged her hair in the simplest topknot, secured with an unremarkable silver hairpin.
When leaving the Yang family, First Madam had given her a bag of gold nuggets—she’d given a handful to Ling’er and sewn the rest into the hems of their clothes. Taking them out now would surely attract the soldiers’ greed. Being searched would be disastrous. Touching the small knife hidden in her boot, Ji Yingying felt somewhat reassured.
The maids all still wore their silver ear studs. Even Yulan’s rice grain-sized gold ear studs hadn’t been taken. People considered pierced ears normal for women. Unless particularly valuable, such ornaments weren’t confiscated. Ji Yingying removed her two pearl earrings. The perfectly round pearls gleamed enticingly in the night.
Hopefully… She clutched them in her palm, gathering her courage.
“Sir! Sir!” she called softly.
The soldier turned around puzzled, seeing a pair of dark eyes looking at him. He couldn’t help but smile. Yizhou’s young ladies were quite fierce. When he’d caught two of them, they’d jumped around like mother hens protecting chicks. Once imprisoned here, they’d turned meek and timid. Few dared sit near the stockade. This one was brave enough to even call out to him.
Interested, he asked: “Calling me?”
Ji Yingying moved another foot forward, opening her palm: “I only have these pearl earrings left, they’re high-quality South Sea pearls. They’re yours.”
“For me?” The general had ordered that no captives could escape or be allowed to easily commit suicide, under penalty of military law. The soldier grew wary, stepping further from the stockade.
Ji Yingying threw the earrings at his feet and pleaded: “I ask nothing else, just for you to tell me where they’re keeping our family’s nannies and servants. My mother and brother have passed away—I don’t know if anyone has been sent to prepare their bodies.”
Having hidden under the corridor, her face was very dirty, obscuring her features. Her eyes were black as unfading ink, brimming with tears as she gazed at him pleadingly.
Before coming, His Highness the White King and the general had instructed that these people were to be taken to Nanzhao as servants—killing them was forbidden. This young lady’s mother and brother must have angered the soldiers by resisting. She was only asking about this much; telling her wouldn’t hurt. The soldier’s heart softened. He bent down pretending to clean his boots, quickly picked up the earrings, and said in a low voice: “Those over forty won’t be taken away. After you leave, they’ll be released. They’ll take care of your mother and brother’s bodies.”
“When do we leave?” Thinking of the bodies lying in the courtyard, Ji Yingying wished they could depart immediately so the released Ji family members could give her mother and brother a proper burial.
“Soon.” The soldier dared not say more, sighing softly before turning back to his post.
Soon.
Did he mean the capture of Yizhou City would be soon? Nanzhao forces had come from the west. The main army was in the south. The southeast must also have troops. With three armies surrounding it and no reinforcements, the city’s fall was imminent.
Or did he mean they would be sent away soon? An army moving with captured civilians would be slow. When Tang reinforcements arrived, these people would become a burden.
A year ago, Sheng Fengze had used century-old ginseng to lure her into signing an IOU. If she couldn’t repay his money, she would be his servant for three years. Now Ji Yingying understood—he hadn’t wanted just one servant. He wanted thousands of Yizhou craftsmen as slaves.
Perhaps before Yizhou fell, they would already be on the road south.
The longer they stayed, the better chance of rescue. But the longer they stayed, the longer her mother and brother would lie alone in the courtyard.
Ji Yingying sat back down. At least Uncles Ji Fu and Ji Gui would be released, and Nanny Wu and Nanny Tian would be safe. She thought of Nanny Ji again, her heart aching—she could never again lean against Nanny Ji’s broad back. Yes, Ji Ying was still here, surely detained with Second Brother Zhu. She hadn’t seen Ling’er. Had she and Xiangyou escaped capture or been killed? Since Nanzhao would release the nannies, they wouldn’t kill needlessly. She must have hidden well and avoided capture.
Nanzhao wanted to capture people, not kill them. Yet Mother had killed her brother with her own hands.
Mother must have guessed Nanzhao’s purpose. That’s why she chose to kill her brother rather than let him be taken as a slave. The nephew was dead, sister-in-law was dead. If brother were taken, he might never return. How could mother go on living? She hated the Nanzhao people so much she’d rather kill her brother than let him dye silk for Nanzhao. But surely living was better than dying. Mother, why couldn’t she understand this? Ji Yingying buried her head in her arms in anguish.
The five maids heard everything. Seeing her like this, they grew anxious: “My lady, would you like to lie down and rest awhile?”
On such a night, who could sleep soundly? Ji Yingying wiped her tears on her sleeve and raised her face. Seeing the five’s expressions, she suddenly understood. They weren’t suggesting rest—they feared seeing her panicked and grieving. There would be a way. Having witnessed her family die like that, Ji Yingying thought, she must live well. Until Yang Jingyuan found her.
She looked at the moon’s position and said: “Take turns keeping watch, two hours each. The rest should sleep. Yulan, you’re first.”
Yulan’s eyes brightened as she said humbly: “Rest assured, my lady.”
Ji Yingying forced an encouraging smile and curled up on the ground, closing her eyes. Four maids slept beside her while Yulan sat straight, kneeling.
Before Nanzhao’s army surrounded the city, had Madam and Big Brother and Sister-in-law escaped? But Nanzhao only took those under forty. As long as they allowed their property to be plundered, Madam and Big Brother and Sister-in-law would be safe even if they stayed home.
With Madam’s temperament, could she endure it? That night when Deputy Commander Niu came demanding brocade, Chen Nanny said Madam had cursed him in anger. The commander had chopped off a corner of the hall table. Even a third-rank Tang military officer who extorted Shu brocade couldn’t avoid war. Did he feel guilty? Even his daughter would be forcibly taken to Nanzhao. Did he regret not fighting Nanzhao to the death? Fifth Miss Niu had a skilled fighter as her maid—would she try to escape along the way?
She had clearly ordered someone to harm her—how could she hope Fifth Miss Niu would help her escape? Don’t be foolish.
Oh, Zhao Xiuyuan! Ji Yingying suddenly wanted to laugh. Had he imagined that his collusion with Nanzhao would end with him being taken as a slave?
Where was Yang Jingyuan? Had he received her letter? Would he bring the Dongchuan army to reinforce Yizhou? If she had no chance to escape on the journey, would he come to Nanzhao to find her?
Thinking confusedly of these matters, Ji Yingying heard Yulan waking Chunlan. She wasn’t alone now. Five people were depending on her. If they were really to be taken away, she needed to preserve her strength and energy… That night, Ji Yingying slept sweetly, without a single dream.