To put the minds of the captured brocade craftsmen at ease, Nanzhao had specifically allocated a large area in the city to build residences for them. Nanzhao wasn’t without precaution, concentrating all the brocade households together. If anything were to happen, blocking the streets would leave those inside with nowhere to escape.
Each household had living quarters in the front, while workshops for weaving, silk processing, and dyeing were built along the river in the back. A long row of shops was specially constructed in the front street and distributed among the families. This newly built street became known as Brocade Industry Street.
Zhao Xiuyuan, promoted to Deputy Commissioner of the Textile Bureau, held the highest official position among the brocade households. The Zhao residence occupied the best location in the center, with more impressive buildings than other households.
Looking at the street name carved on the entrance arch, Uncle Han Four quietly told Yang Jingyuan and the others, “We’re here.”
Niu Seven nervously clutched Sang Fourteen’s arm, but without needing his comfort, she gathered her courage and said, “Brother Fourteen, let’s go.”
The four split up. Niu Seven and Sang Fourteen went through the main entrance to see Niu Five. Uncle Han Four and Yang Jingyuan slowly entered selling firewood and game meat.
The brocade households from Yizhou Prefecture were new arrivals. The Nanzhao court was intent on winning their hearts. Besides the gifted residences, each household received settlement funds. The court paid for building the weaving, dyeing, and silk processing workshops.
The brocade households were used to living well. Once settled, they began complaining about the ordinary vegetables and rice provided by Nanzhao. Uncle Han Four’s firewood was a copper cheaper than the official supply, and his game was fresh. After just two households, they sold everything.
Uncle Han Four and Yang Jingyuan carried their poles and baskets, eating rice noodles slowly at a street vendor opposite the Zhao residence. Niu Seven and Sang Fourteen glanced at them before stepping into the Zhao mansion.
After the two finished eating, there was still no movement from the Zhao residence. It seemed they must have met with Niu Five. According to the plan, Sang Fourteen would memorize the layout of the Zhao mansion and find an opportunity to meet the two at the inn.
Just as Yang Jingyuan and Uncle Han Four were preparing to leave, palace guards escorted Ji Yingying into Brocade Industry Street. Even from far away, Yang Jingyuan caught sight of Ji Yingying in the ox cart. He sat back down and ordered two more bowls using the Nanzhao accent he had practiced these days.
The entourage stopped at the Zhao residence entrance. An official-looking person accompanied Ji Yingying inside. Yang Jingyuan was confused. Sheng Fengze was dominant, and Ji Yingying submitting to him made sense. But he knew Ji Yingying and Zhao Xiuyuan were sworn enemies with deep hatred. Was Ji Yingying using Sheng Fengze’s power to seek revenge on Zhao Xiuyuan?
At this moment, a rider galloped in from the street entrance. Yang Jingyuan raised his eyebrows, recognizing Zhao Xiuyuan. Seeing him practically flying home, he must have received news and rushed back from the government office.
Zhao Xiuyuan dismounted at the entrance, entering the house with high spirits.
Seeing his expression, Yang Jingyuan felt increasingly that something was wrong. With Sheng Fengze’s backing, Ji Yingying wouldn’t let Zhao Xiuyuan off easily, so how could he be so happy?
“Young Master, shall we return to the inn?” Uncle Han Four asked quietly. The two had eaten four bowls of rice noodles. Staying too long would draw attention.
Yang Jingyuan slowly finished the soup in his bowl, surprised to see the official who had entered with Ji Yingying being shown out by Zhao Xiuyuan. After bidding farewell, he left with the guards. Ji Yingying stayed behind alone? Sheng Fengze hadn’t even sent a guard or maid to accompany her?
The more he thought about it, the more wrong it felt. Looking up at the sun blazing in the sky, he cursed. It prevented him from climbing walls to investigate. Yang Jingyuan could only place his hopes on Sang Fourteen and Niu Seven who had gone to see Niu Five. He decisively left Brocade Industry Street with Uncle Han Four.
Ji Yingying was taken directly to the Zhao family workshop in the back courtyard. Zhao Xiuyuan had left the workshop under his cousin Zhao Dalang’s management. Having received the sovereign’s orders, Zhao Dalang dared not treat her poorly. He had people prepare a separate weaving room for her.
The room contained a loom and a bed against the wall. Ji Yingying entered the room, heard the door lock behind her, and quickly went to the window to look out.
The room was taller than ordinary rooms, with high windows. Probably to prevent silk theft, the two-foot square windows were fitted with iron bars. She had to stand on tiptoe just to reach the windowsill.
Ji Yingying moved the wooden stool from in front of the loom, stood on it to reach the window, and looked outside. The Zhao family’s back courtyard was built in a square courtyard layout, occupying vast grounds. The sound of treadle looms came with the wind. The back gate and courtyard walls were built tall and solid, blocking her view. She silently memorized what she saw. Seeing a maid carrying bedding and food baskets approaching, Ji Yingying jumped down from the stool and sat quietly on the bed.
Zhao Dalang had writing materials sent over and told Ji Yingying, “The sovereign orders you to dye silk that can be used to weave Huanhua brocade. You can write down anything you need, and I’ll have people procure it.” He hesitated before continuing, “The sovereign ordered the Zhao family to weave this Huanhua brocade. If you want to live well, focus on dyeing and color-matching the silk. Besides not being able to leave this room, I won’t mistreat you regarding food and daily necessities. We were all captured and brought to Nanzhao, our fates not in our own hands. I don’t want anything to happen to you either.”
Ji Yingying was somewhat surprised. She thought the Season and Zhao families were like fire and water, incompatible. She hadn’t expected Zhao Dalang to treat her so peacefully. She hadn’t interacted with Zhao Dalang before, only hearing from Zhao Xiuyuan that his elder cousin was obsessed with brocade weaving and simple-minded.
Thinking of that catastrophe, his dead father, and Ji Yingying who had nearly been engaged to Zhao Xiuyuan, Zhao Dalang felt deeply uncomfortable. He forced a smile at Ji Yingying before turning to leave.
He was as simple-minded as ever. Ji Yingying sighed quietly. Now the Zhao household was run by Zhao Xiuyuan and his wife. Of the couple, one dared to wield the knife while the other heated the oil, wishing to devour her bones and all.
Just as she was thinking this, the door lock rattled and creaked open.
Seeing Ji Yingying, Niu Five suddenly burst into loud laughter.
Ji Yingying looked at her calmly and said, “Stop laughing. If you laugh any harder, the roof tiles will shake loose and break.”
Niu Five laughed so hard she couldn’t straighten up. Yuyuan quickly supported her. Laughing, Niu Five said, “Yuyuan, you’ve returned. My sister and her fiancé came to see me. Thisè´±wretch has finally fallen into my hands. Three joyous events today, shouldn’t I laugh?” She burst into wild laughter again until she got a stitch and couldn’t stop coughing.
Hearing “three joyous events” meant Niu Seven and Sang Fourteen had come to the Zhao house to find Niu Five. Ji Yingying felt hope again and smiled, “How wonderful, how wonderful.”
“What’s wonderful? No matter how wonderful, it’s my good fortune!” Niu Five stopped laughing, her voice sharp and fierce. Her finger pointing at Ji Yingying was so thin only skin and bone remained, with long fingernails dyed bright red with henna, like dripping blood.
Ji Yingying, never one to lose to Niu Five in fighting over men, said, “Fortunately my husband didn’t go looking for you!”
“He will come. He will kneel at my feet begging. He may hate this ugly face of mine, but he won’t dare not look at it.” Niu Five touched her face, only hoping that moment would come quickly. When it did, she would be free.
“Isn’t this better? Let me see Sang Fourteen and Seven. They can also pass a message to my husband. Save the Deputy Commissioner’s wife from worrying her hair white and straining her eyes waiting, since he doesn’t know.”
“My lady, don’t listen to her,” Yuyuan quietly reminded Niu Five, trying to keep her clear-headed.
“This is good news. What else can she do? Does she think she can escape this Zhao mansion, escape Tahe City, escape Nanzhao? Grab her.” Niu Five’s voice suddenly turned cold.
Ji Yingying’s heart trembled, knowing she couldn’t fight Yuyuan. She smiled and said, “What’s this? Don’t you want to wait for my husband to come see my miserable state?”
Yuyuan walked straight up, twisted Ji Yingying’s arm behind her back, and grabbed her hair to force her face up.
Her grip was strong, causing pain like broken bones. Ji Yingying smiled disdainfully at Niu Five, panting as she said, “Oh my, hurry up and do it. Scarring my face would be perfect for disgusting Zhao Xiuyuan.”
Niu Five’s ice-cold fingers rested on her cheek, feeling its smoothness. Her fingertips pressed into Ji Yingying’s skin – just a bit more force and she could leave her face covered in scratches. Hearing these words, however, Niu Five couldn’t bring herself to do it. She had waited so long, how could she destroy Ji Yingying so simply? She raised her hand and slapped Ji Yingying’s face several times, finally dispersing some of the anger in her heart.
“I’ll call Seven and Sang Fourteen to see you now. You’d better cry enough to soften their hearts, so they’ll hurry back to Great Tang and bring Yang Jingyuan here.” Niu Five gestured for Yuyuan to release Ji Yingying and stepped out of the room.
Seeing the door locked, Ji Yingying spat out a mouthful of blood, covered her face, and muttered, “Who wants to become an ugly monster like you? I want to keep my beautiful face to see my San Lang.”
Her heart leaped at the thought of seeing Niu Seven and Sang Fourteen. Those two wouldn’t be foolish enough to let slip that Yang Jingyuan had already arrived, would they? And that skilled maid Yuyuan might be eavesdropping.
Ji Yingying ground the ink, quickly wrote a letter, and folded it into her palm.