Ji Yingying had grown up in Sandaoyan since childhood. The place was small, and there was hardly a household she didn’t know. The main street corners were all guarded by yamen runners and Zhao family guards. From her observation, all households involved in dyeing and weaving—any business related to brocade—had people watching their front and back doors, though none were watched as closely as the Ji family. Even the old steward’s house where she delivered the lamp oil had no one watching the back door.
This strange phenomenon aroused Ji Yingying’s suspicions. Thinking back to Sheng Fengze’s quiet appearance and subsequent stay at the Zhao residence, Ji Yingying instinctively concluded that the Zhao family’s surveillance of brocade-related households must be Sheng Fengze’s idea.
What made her curious was how the Zhao family had convinced the County Magistrate. Had they also used the pretext of preventing Nanzhao spies from infiltrating to secretly monitor these households?
The day passed in an eerie silence.
At dusk, Zhu Erlang arrived. He carried a basket of eggs and spoke loudly to the Ji family gatekeeper: “My mother asked me to bring these eggs to Elder Sister-in-law Ji to help strengthen her health.”
Glancing over, she saw the Zhao family guard at the alley entrance pull back his head. Zhu Erlang smiled as he entered the Ji family gate, set down the eggs, and spoke urgently: “Quickly report to the inner courtyard—I’ve just returned from Huanhua Stream. I met villagers from the south who said Nanzhao troops were heading toward Sandaoyan. They’ll arrive by dawn at the latest.”
He waited anxiously in the outer courtyard, and before long, Ji Yaoting and Ji Yingying both came out.
“Brother Zhu Er, is what you’re saying true?” Ji Yingying’s face turned grave. If the Nanzhao army would arrive by dawn, the Zhao family must have already made arrangements with Sheng Fengze, which would explain why they were watching the dye houses and brocade workshops.
“It’s true. Brother Ji, quickly pack your things. If you wait any longer, you won’t be able to leave. You can’t go to Yizhou City. The Nanzhao troops are coming along the official road—they’re planning to lay siege to the city.”
Ji Yaoting smiled bitterly. “The County Magistrate has ordered the streets sealed. The Zhao family has deployed hundreds of guards and servants to watch them. How can we leave?”
Zhu Erlang’s eyes darted about. “One or two families certainly can’t leave alone. I’ll think of a way—you pack your belongings first. When the opportunity comes, leave immediately.”
After Zhu Erlang left, Ji Yaoting hesitated: “Our household has dozens of people and so many possessions—we can’t possibly pack everything before dawn.”
“Brother, just pack the valuables—saving our lives is what matters. What are you still hesitating about?” Ji Yingying grew impatient seeing his reluctance to leave.
“When the Nanzhao troops come, they surely won’t kill everyone? Let them take whatever they want. We can’t go to Yizhou City. The roads around Qingcheng are flat—a few hundred cavalry would catch up in no time. Mother’s health is poor, and your sister-in-law is heavy with the child. Yingying, have Uncle Ji prepare the cart to take you to the Qingcheng mountains for refuge. Mother and I will stay and adapt to whatever comes.” Ji Yaoting couldn’t bear to leave the Huanhua Dye House and their old mansion. He also worried that the journey’s hardships would be too much for their mother and Zhang Siniang.
“Brother, you’re truly hopeless! I’m leaving!” Seeing that her brother still clung to hope even after Zhu Erlang’s intelligence about the Nanzhao troops, the quick-tempered Ji Yingying stamped her foot and returned to her small courtyard. She ordered Nanny Ji to pack essential valuables and had Uncle Ji prepare the cart to sleep in.
She called Ying’er over and gave her a handful of gold pieces, saying: “Ying’er, go now and inform the old steward. Once there, stay with Xiangyou and don’t come back. This will prevent the Zhao family from discovering you. Xiangyou is clever—he’ll take care of you. With one less person on my side, it will be more convenient.”
Decisive in her actions, Ying’er tucked the gold pieces close to her body and said: “I’ll find a chance with Xiangyou to send word to the city. Miss, head for Qingcheng—the Yang family guards will look for you there later. Take care, Miss.”
She kowtowed to Ji Yingying and left.
Ji Yingying changed into Hu-style clothes with Ying’er and slept fully dressed.
In the night, a series of urgent gong and drum beats awakened the sleeping residents of Sandaoyan. While most people thought the yamen runners were about to announce another proclamation from the County Magistrate, the streets erupted with the shrill sound of suona horns and the crackling of exploding firecrackers. If it weren’t the dead of night, everyone would have thought someone was celebrating a wedding.
“Zhu Erlang! You’re violating curfew in the middle of the night—we’ll lock you up in the county yamen!” Several dozen Zhao family guards came rushing forward, their leader shouting at Zhu Erlang.
The yamen had only about ten runners, relying entirely on the Zhao family’s three hundred guards to help keep the streets clear. The runners were all locals who normally had good relations with Zhu Erlang. Seeing the situation, they neither tried to persuade nor help, just stood aside watching the commotion.
Seeing that a crowd had gathered, Zhu Erlang gave his dozen or so brothers a look, and they all shouted in unison: “The Nanzhao troops are coming to Sandaoyan! The Nanzhao troops are only thirty li away from Sandaoyan! Everyone quickly pack your things and run!”
“Zhu Erlang! You’re spreading panic—” Before the Zhao family guard could finish, he was knocked to the ground by more than ten men charging forward.
Zhu Erlang beat his gong even louder: “Everyone pack your things and run! I saw the Nanzhao troops heading for Sandaoyan with my own eyes! They’ll be here before dawn! These corrupt officials and the Zhao family have sealed the streets and won’t let anyone leave—they’re trying to trap us all!”
Sandaoyan instantly erupted in chaos.
By now, even the local yamen runners were panicked. No one cared about the County Magistrate’s orders anymore. They all scattered like oil drops on water, rushing back to their own homes.
The Zhao family guards grew desperate, focusing solely on trying to catch Zhu Erlang.
Zhu Erlang and his idle friends were no pushovers—the two groups began fighting in the street. As they fought, they kept shouting that the Zhao family had ill intentions. Seeing more and more people gathering in the street, the Zhao family guards found themselves helpless against Zhu Erlang and returned to the Zhao residence.
At times like these, crying thief was less effective than crying fire, and crying fire was less effective than shouting that Nanzhao troops were coming. The survival instinct made everyone in Sandaoyan jump from their beds. In less than half an hour, the streets leading to both Yizhou City and Qingcheng were packed with people.
The Ji household also descended into chaos.
Zhang Siniang was over eight months pregnant. She had been worried these past few days, and when Zhu Erlang’s group started beating gongs and drums and shouting about Nanzhao troops in the middle of the night, the shock sent her into premature labor.
Madam Ji’s attention was entirely focused on Zhang Siniang’s unborn child. Deaf to the chaos outside, she ordered Nanny Tian to boil water and led Nannies Li and Wu into Ji Yaoting’s courtyard to prepare for the delivery.
Ji Yingying woke to the commotion. When she heard that her sister-in-law had gone into early labor, she froze.
How could they leave now?
She heaved a long sigh: “Nanny Ji, put down the bundles. With Sister-in-law in this state, we can’t leave for now. Go tell Uncle Ji to guard the back door well. I’ll check on Sister-in-law first before deciding what to do.”
Nanny Ji responded with a sound of acknowledgment and hurried away.
Ji Yingying took Ying’er and Xiang’er to Ji Yaoting’s courtyard. Ji Yaoting had gone to fetch a physician. The door was tightly closed, with Madam Ji and two nannies inside helping with the delivery. Two of Zhang Siniang’s dowry nannies and maids were helping inside, while two more waited outside. Ji Yingying walked to the door and called out: “Mother, how is Sister-in-law? I’m here if you need me to do anything.”
Madam Ji’s slightly flustered voice came from inside: “Yingying, Mother is staying with your sister-in-law. The household matters are in your hands now.”
“Alright.” Ji Yingying instructed the young maids to find her in the main courtyard if anything happened, then turned back.
Since they couldn’t leave, they could only shut their doors tight. Ji Yingying retrieved the household contracts from Madam Ji’s room and ordered Xiang’er to summon everyone in the household.