At its peak, Nanzhao possessed vast territories. It stretched east to present-day Zhaotong in Yunnan, bordered Vietnam to the southeast, connected with India and Tibet to the west, covered parts of Laos and Thailand to the south, and adjoined Yizhou to the north.
In the third year of Taihe during the Great Tang, Nanzhao mobilized its entire nation’s forces to invade Tang, occupying Yizhou for ten days before departing with great plunder. They established the Dadu River as the boundary with the Great Tang.
As they traveled further south, the sunlight grew increasingly intense. While snow flew in Yizhou, flowers bloomed abundantly in Nanzhao’s capital, Tahe City. The climate and customs so different from Yizhou gradually drew the Tang people’s minds away from homesickness. Curiosity and anxiety about their new lives occupied everyone’s thoughts. A hundred li from Tahe City, the crowd was separated and led away in different directions.
Ten li outside Tahe City, the procession halted and made camp. Nanzhao ministers who had rushed from the palace to receive them had been waiting for some time.
This time, they merely sectioned off a small area within the military camp using tent walls to house the Tang people who would be taken into the capital.
There weren’t many people, and they seemed to know each other. The women recognized their relatives, and upon finally meeting, they couldn’t help but break into another round of tears.
Though the space was small, it was sufficient for the hundred-odd people. Those inside are divided into two groups. One group appeared disheveled but wore clothes of silk and satin. The other group sat huddled in the corner, wearing hemp clothing.
She recognized Zhao Daylang Zhao Xiuyuan brothers, the entire families of Yang Second Master and Third Master. There was Zhou Qilang, who had once harassed her and been kicked into the river. Those she didn’t recognize were presumably from Yizhou’s renowned silk and brocade merchant families.
Ji Yingying instinctively sat with those wearing hemp clothing. She searched twice but didn’t see anyone from the Yang family’s first branch. Had none of them been captured? She remembered the Nanzhao forces had taken away able-bodied people under forty. Perhaps that’s why Yang Shi and Yang Jingshan’s couple had been spared. Yang Jingyan’s couple had already left the city with their grandchildren, avoiding the catastrophe. What about the first branch’s servants? They must have been separated along the way. She wondered where Xianger, Chunlan, and that little maid had been sent.
Ji Yingying noticed a kind-faced woman in her early thirties beside her and asked softly, “May I ask which household you’re from?”
The woman replied quietly, “I am a weaver from the Ge family’s brocade house in southern Yizhou City.”
The Ge family was also a famous brocade merchant house in Yizhou Prefecture. They specialized in weaving red brocade, and wealthy families all considered it prestigious to have a new groom’s clothes made from Ge family red brocade. They were regular customers of the Ji family’s Shu red silk. Those brought here must be the Ge family’s top weavers. Ji Yingying remembered and asked respectfully, “May I ask if you are which month of the Ge family?”
“My humble name isn’t worth mentioning. I am Ge Liuyue,” the woman didn’t deny.
The Ge family had few children of their own and bought young girls to train. They gave them the family name and named them after months. There were twelve months in total. Each was in charge of a workshop and treated as half-masters in the Ge family. Ge Liuyue excelled at weaving pomegranate red brocade.
Ji Yingying instinctively looked around. Three young women around ten years old sat beside Ge Liuyue. Where were the others?
“The old madam was strong-willed and led the whole family to commit suicide. They burned down the house and workshop. Only I and First Month Elder Sister remained, along with these few female apprentices. First Month Elder Sister was in poor health and didn’t survive the journey,” Ge Liuyue must have been an extremely strong person, as she calmly told Ji Yingying the truth about the Ge family.
“I’m sorry.” Ji Yingying hadn’t meant to touch others’ wounds. Ge Liuyue’s calmness made her very apologetic.
“And you are?”
“Ji Erniang from the Huanhua Dyehouse in Sandaoyan married to Third Young Master of the first branch of the Yang family in Yang Family Lane.”
With this introduction, Ge Liuyue understood her identity. She asked in surprise, “Why are you…” She glanced toward where Yang’s Second Master and Third Master were.
Ji Yingying didn’t hide anything: “The first branch doesn’t get along with the second and third branches. I encountered Nanzhao soldiers while visiting my maiden home. I’m the only one left from the Ji family. Do you know any news of the Yang family’s first branch?”
The news of Yang Jingyuan marrying during the mourning period had spread throughout Yizhou City. Everyone knew she had been in the Yang family for less than a year and came from a humble background. Ge Liuyue understood somewhat. She consoled Ji Yingying, “I haven’t seen anyone from the Yang family’s first branch along the way. I knew your mother. If Third Madam Yang doesn’t mind, please stay with me.”
Ji Yingying gratefully nodded and sat quietly beside her. No one from the first branch? Not even the maids? Could it be that the First Madam was also strong-willed, and like Old Madam Ge, had burned down Bailu Hall and everyone had committed suicide? When she thought of Yang Shi at this moment, Ji Yingying felt a surge of emotion.
Just then, she saw Zhao Xiuyuan walking toward them. Ji Yingying frowned. Not wanting others to hear Zhao Xiuyuan’s mad talk, she stood up and walked aside.
A cyan-colored garment appeared before her. Fine cyan silk, with some dust on the hem, but relatively clean. Even after being captured by Nanzhao, someone had been taking care of him. Ji Yingying looked at him quietly: “Your wife and the masters of Yizhou’s wealthy households are all here. Zhao Xiuyuan, you’d better mind the face of the Zhao family.”
“That hateful Niu Wuniang, she kept your whereabouts secret all this time. Did she give you trouble on the way?” Zhao Xiuyuan seemed used to Ji Yingying’s cold attitude and asked on his own.
“None of your business.”
Zhao Xiuyuan looked at her thin chin with pity and said, “Don’t worry. Prince Bai has promised me. As long as I can make Nanzhao’s brocade industry prosper, he’ll grant me an official position. I’ll protect you in the future.”
Ji Yingying laughed: “Yang Jingyuan beheaded the Qingping Official’s son. He wants to kill me for revenge. Can you protect me?”
Zhao Xiuyuan’s gaze flickered. How could he let the Qingping Official kill someone he hadn’t yet possessed? He said firmly, “You know the Ji family’s secret dyeing techniques. I’ll appeal to the ruler. Yingying, trust me…”
“Do you have the gold token from Sheng Fengze? Niu Wuniang has one,” Ji Yingying interrupted him, maliciously thinking that this couple seemed to have made separate deals with Sheng Fengze. Wonder whose influence would be greater in the future?
“Gold token? What gold token? Sheng Fengze gave Niu Wuniang a gold token?” Zhao Xiuyuan was shocked.
Ji Yingying was pleased: “Yes. He asked you to oversee Nanzhao’s brocade industry but couldn’t spare you a gold token. Why would he give one to Niu Wuniang? Could it be that the official position was promised to her?”
“Impossible!”
The wind moved the clouds above, casting mottled shadows on the ground. Zhao Xiuyuan’s expression changed like the weather. Ji Yingying chuckled: “Shouldn’t you hurry back and get clarity? It’s not like I can run away, right?”
What deal had Niu Wuniang made with Sheng Fengze to receive a gold token? Zhao Xiuyuan’s mind was in chaos. He hurriedly said, “Anyway, we’ll have good days again in Nanzhao.”
He left Ji Yingying and turned back. Ji Yingying watched his retreating figure and smiled. How had she ever found Zhao Xiuyuan’s back view so attractive before?
The Yang family members in the distance had also seen Ji Yingying. Even from ten zhang away, Ji Yingying could feel the hatred in their gaze. She paid it no mind and returned to Ge Liuyue’s side.
While Niu Wuniang and Zhao Xiuyuan were talking, a group of people dressed as officials entered through the tent entrance. They walked straight to where the wealthy households were, and though too far to hear clearly, their manner seemed extremely friendly. After a brief conversation, they took away everyone from that side.
After another while, a squad of soldiers rushed in. Ji Yingying saw the lieutenant among the troops and sighed inwardly, saying softly to Ge Liuyue, “Aunt, these must be the Qingping Official’s men coming for me. If there’s a chance in the future… please tell my husband Yang Jingyuan.”
She stood up.
“Is she Yang Ji?” the leading general asked the lieutenant. Seeing him nod, he ordered, “Take her away.”