The midnight curfew cast a heavy shadow over Sandaoyan. After dawn, hardly any shops opened. People hurried through the streets, rushing to visit friends and acquaintances for news. Only yamen runners and Zhao family guards leisurely patrolled the streets.
The Ji Family shop remained closed. Ji Yaoting went out to gather information. Just as he left the alley, he saw more than ten men walking down the street. Delighted, he waved and called out, “Second Young Master Zhu!”
Zhu Second Young Master walked over with a smile: “Brother Season, were you heading to the county office for news? I was just coming to find you.”
“Have you heard anything?” With Zhu’s Second Young Master’s talent for networking, he could gather information much faster than Ji Yaoting. Lowering his voice, Ji Yaoting continued, “My sister returned yesterday. Second Young Master Zhao came knocking at midnight. If you have any news, tell me quickly.”
Ji Yingying had returned to her maiden home. Zhu Second Young Master’s expression changed dramatically. He pulled Ji Yaoting under the eaves: “Why did she come back instead of staying safely in the city? Yizhou city has the Western Chuan army and city walls – it’s much safer than our Sandaoyan. My friend at the county office said Lord Zhao visited the magistrate yesterday evening, and that night the curfew was ordered. Before this, Sang Fourteen and Third Young Master Yang asked me to watch the Zhao family’s movements. I suspect the Zhao family is up to no good. What right do they have to seal off the streets? I’m trying to find friends to help me slip out of Sandaoyan to inform Sang Fourteen in the city.”
Is the Zhao family up to no good? But why would they have the County Magistrate seal off the streets? Ji Yaoting couldn’t make sense of it.
Zhu Second Young Master whispered, “It’s not safe for Second Miss to stay home. Have her change into men’s clothes and leave through the back door – I’ll take her back to Yizhou city.”
Ji Yaoting smiled bitterly: “When I left home, I saw four Zhao family guards at the front alley entrance. Checking back home, there were men at the back door too. They’re even patrolling the riverside. This isn’t just sealing off streets – every household has become like prisoners.”
“Exactly. That’s why I need to slip out and ask Sang Fourteen what’s going on. Isn’t his father at the prefecture office?” Knowing it would be difficult to escape with Ji Yingying, Zhu’s Second Young Master changed his mind. “Let’s wait until I return from the city. Brother Season, with your wife’s condition, you’d better stay home and guard the household.”
After seeing off Zhu Second Young Master, Ji Yaoting returned home. Seeing the Zhao family guards at the alley entrance made him inexplicably nervous. He regretted not heeding his sister’s advice to move the family into the city earlier.
Back in the rear courtyard, all three women sat in the hall, looking at him expectantly. The dyehouse work had stopped, and the twenty-some servants and silk-washing maids stayed in their rooms. The house had become quiet overnight, and this silence was unsettling.
“Brother, did you learn anything?” Ji Yingying personally brought tea to her brother.
Ji Yaoting forced a smile: “Everyone’s keeping their doors closed, nothing unusual. I met Second Young Master Zhu – he said he’ll try to slip out to the city to ask Sang Fourteen for news. Let’s stay calm for now.”
Before Ji Yingying could speak again, Madam Ji interjected: “I think nothing’s wrong – the County Magistrate is just concerned about safety, hence the street restrictions. This is good – any stranger will be obvious. It prevents Nanzhao spies from infiltrating.”
Mother came from a prestigious family and was worldly-wise, always the family’s backbone. Usually, such words from her would have reassured Ji Yingying, but today she thought differently.
“Brother, do other families have Zhao family guards watching their front and back doors?” Ji Yingying had sent Ling’er and Xiang’er to check the doors early on. Though the Zhao family guards were helping the county office patrol the streets, and Sandaoyan had several hundred households, they had stationed eight guards at the Ji Family’s doors alone. Ji Yingying refused to believe Zhao Xiuyuan had good intentions. It felt more like they were specifically watching her.
Ji Yaoting was momentarily speechless: “Second Young Master Zhao… don’t worry, sister. I won’t let the Zhao family act recklessly. The neighbors are all watching.”
Madam Ji added: “As long as they don’t break into the house, we’ll ignore them.”
What’s wrong with Mother and Brother? Ji Yingying returned to her room, dejected.
Seeing her gloomy expression, Maid Ji tried to comfort her: “The Madam and Young Master are experienced – Young Miss should listen to them.”
A sudden realization struck Ji Yingying, finally grasping what had been puzzling her: “Maid, you’re wrong. Mother’s health is poor. My sister-in-law is heavily pregnant. They, and Brother, are all dreaming.”
“Dreaming?” Maid Ji repeated blankly, not understanding her meaning.
Ji Yingying spoke increasingly rapidly: “Mother was widowed and raised us siblings alone. She’s tired. She doesn’t even want to protect the secret formula anymore. She only hopes her Sister-in-law will bear a son, continuing the Ji Family line. That Brother can keep the dyehouse. Live peacefully. Mother doesn’t want to think about whether Nanzhao troops will come – she won’t even consider the worst about the Zhao family specifically watching us. Brother’s the same.”
She had never wanted to belittle her brother. Now Ji Yingying had to admit that Ji Yaoting, raised in a small dyehouse, with just a few years of education before helping in the business, had his limitations. Her brother was just an ordinary person. Hoping for a peaceful, simple life. Always thinking positively. Holding onto their dreams, just hoping they wouldn’t shatter.
In the family, she might be the only clear-headed one.
“Maid, pack the luggage, tell Uncle Ji Fu to prepare the carriage,” Ji Yingying made her decision.
Maid Ji was shocked: “The streets are sealed – how will Young Miss leave?”
Ji Yingying said calmly: “With Zhao family men watching, Second Young Master Zhao won’t let me leave. I just want Xiangyou to slip away from our house during the confusion. Notice how we have more guards than any other family? Once away from our house, Xiangyou might have a chance to return to the city with news.”
The carriage left the Ji house. Before leaving the alley, Zhao family guards stopped them: “The County Magistrate has ordered a nighttime curfew and daytime street closure. Sandaoyan allows entry but no exit.”
Ji Yingying directly lifted the carriage curtain, saying with a half-smile: “Who said we’re leaving Sandaoyan? Can’t we take a stroll after being cooped up so long? Zhao family guards are acting like yamen runners – is Lord Zhao trying to be the County Magistrate?”
The Zhao family guards blushed at her words. Remembering Zhao Xiuyuan’s instructions, they exchanged glances and said: “We can’t stop Second Miss Ji from strolling the streets. But trying to leave Sandaoyan would be openly defying the County Magistrate’s order. The Zhao family is just thinking of Sandaoyan’s safety. We’re working without pay – surely the Ji Family has no objections?”
“No objections! Thank you for your hard work. I’ll have the kitchen send you some soup later.” Ji Yingying lowered the curtain and casually instructed Ji Fu, “Just drive around.”
The carriage meandered from the west end of the street to the east, turned toward the riverside, and slowly returned to Huanhua Dyehouse’s back door.
Ji Yingying acted like a married daughter feeling nostalgic. She stopped to greet familiar households and shops along the way, making the Zhao family guards following behind yawn with boredom.
No one noticed that when they stopped by the old steward’s backyard near the river, Xiangyou slipped into the steward’s courtyard, concealed by Maid Ji and Ling’er’s blocking.
“Elder, your well water is truly sweet. Thank you,” Ji Yingying winked at the old steward before returning to the carriage.
As the carriage entered through the back door, Ji Yingying alighted, the smile completely vanishing from her face.