The torchlight followed Zhao Xiuyuan’s group toward the back courtyard. As Ji Yingying lay under the corridor, darkness fell before her eyes. She buried her face in her arms.
Memories came like a dream once forgotten upon waking, suddenly crystal clear before her eyes at some unexpected moment.
Had she truly loved Zhao Xiuyuan? The answer was cruel. Yes, she had. Without considering his status or the Zhao family’s wealth, she had purely loved that young man. They had argued about which brocade matched which silk. To see him once, she had wracked her brains a month in advance to find an excuse to visit the Bamboo Grove Temple. Once, she had thought she would marry no one but him.
Tears welled up, gradually soaking her sleeve. Now he had broken down their door, using her sister-in-law’s life to threaten her brother. He had torn to shreds the last beautiful memories in her heart, casting them into the eighteenth level of hell. How could she have loved such a man? One who brought endless harm to her and the Ji family.
She was now certain the Zhao family was in league with Nanzhao. Before, the Zhao family had still maintained appearances with the prominent families in Sandaoyan, but now they had dropped all pretense, showing their fierce true nature. She had to find a way to escape from here. Zhao Xiuyuan wanted to capture her. If she wasn’t here, he would have no leverage over her mother and brother.
Ji Yingying wiped her tears forcefully on her sleeve and looked out.
Only her brother’s feet were visible in the courtyard. Ji Yingying called softly: “Brother.”
“Stay hidden,” Ji Yaoting whispered back.
After a while, footsteps returned. Among the chaos, Ji Yingying heard Xiang’er’s crying and Zhu Erlang’s voice: “What are you doing?”
Then came the sounds of beating. Zhu Erlang fell to the ground. Ji Yaoting’s angry voice and Xiang’er’s sobs filled the courtyard.
“Zhu Erlang, you brought this on yourself! Beat him!” Zhao Xiuyuan kicked Zhu Erlang furiously.
Zhu Erlang’s face turned sideways, covered in blood. He suddenly spotted Ji Yingying hiding under the corridor. With difficulty, he rolled over and began laughing: “Zhao Xiuyuan, you can beat me to death but you’ll never find her! I finally helped Yingying once, helped her escape, haha! You know how clever she is. She’s like a fish in the river—Huanhua Stream will carry her away, and you’ll never find her again! Yingying, run as far as you can!”
Pairs of feet kept stomping on Zhu Erlang until he finally went still.
Ji Yingying’s tears flowed like a spring.
“Let’s go!” Zhao Xiuyuan cast a vicious glance at Ji Yaoting, spat on the ground, and left with his men.
Ji Yaoting lifted Zhu Erlang, patting his face: “Erlang, wake up!”
Ji Yingying started crawling out, but when Xiang’er suddenly saw a hand emerging from under the corridor, she screamed. As Ji Yingying was about to emerge, Xiang’er quickly stepped sideways to block her: “First Young Master! Have they left? Will they come back?”
Ji Yingying quickly withdrew back inside.
“Watch over Zhu Erlang, I’ll go check.” Ji Yaoting called loudly for Uncle Tian and Uncle Ji to follow him.
“Miss, at the moon gate… I think I see shadows,” Xiang’er crouched down, supporting Zhu Erlang, and whispered.
Ji Yingying lowered her voice: “How is he?”
“Still alive,” Xiang’er choked out.
Just then, Ji Yingying felt the ground trembling. She lay down, pressing her ear to the ground. A sound like muffled thunder came from the distance. Her heart jumped: “The Nanzhao troops are here.”
Screams and crying suddenly grew louder in the street, as if crowds had suddenly rushed back onto the roads. Ji Yaoting ran back quickly: “Yingying, stay hidden, don’t come out! Xiang’er, you get in there too!”
Xiang’er crawled in, and Ji Yaoting, looking at the unconscious Zhu Erlang, pushed him under the corridor too. He turned to get the washbasin from inside, drew water from the courtyard’s fire prevention vat, and forcefully splashed it on the ground to wash away any traces.
“Stay hidden! The Nanzhao troops are here. Yingying, take care of yourself. No matter what you see, don’t come out!” Ji Yaoting threw aside the basin and ran toward the east wing.
“Miss…” Xiang’er clutched Ji Yingying’s arm, trembling.
Ji Yingying embraced her, murmuring: “Cover your mouth and close your eyes. If we make a sound, our hiding will have been for nothing.”
After what seemed like an eternity, weak infant cries came from the east wing. Ji Yingying’s heart trembled as she said excitedly: “The baby’s born. Sister-in-law has given birth.”
Uncle Tian’s shouts came from the front gate. Shadows of torches instantly reached the back courtyard. Ji Yingying held Xiang’er tighter.
Soldiers poured into the inner courtyard. Chi Kuang surveyed the yard: “Is this the Huanhua Dye House?”
“Yes. The Huanhua Dye House’s Shu red silk and Huanhua silk are famous throughout Yizhou Prefecture. The Ji family has a century-old secret dyeing formula.” The hem of a blue robe swayed before Ji Yingying’s eyes—it was Zhao Xiuyuan speaking.
Chi Kuang frowned: “Where is everyone? Search!”
Soldiers’ feet ran past the corridor, and women’s screams came from inside the house.
Chi Kuang and Zhao Xiuyuan walked toward the main hall, stepping onto the corridor. Ji Yingying covered her mouth tightly, hearing boots walking above her head.
Before long, the Ji household members were brought to the courtyard.
A soldier hurried over: “General, there’s only a woman who just gave birth over there. She looks like she won’t survive. Everyone else is here.”
Ji Yaoting stared blankly at the baby in Madam Ji’s arms.
Madam Ji handed the newborn to him. She lifted her face, dignified and serene: “The child is dead. What else do you want?”
Dead? Ji Yingying’s eyes widened.
“General, she is the mistress of the Huanhua Dye House. Madam Ji,” Zhao Xiuyuan said softly.
Chi Kuang’s expression softened: “Madam Ji, you need not fear. I will give you a larger mansion, build you a better dye house. Pack your belongings and come with us.”
Madam Ji smiled: “You want the Ji family’s secret formula? Want the Ji family to dye silk for Nanzhao?” She turned to Ji Yaoting, “Elder Son, come here.”
Ji Yaoting stared blankly at his mother. Madam Ji spoke calmly: “His name is Ji Yaoting, my only son. The Ji family’s secret formula passes only to sons, not daughters. Besides me, he is the only one who knows the Ji family’s dyeing secrets.”
“Ah, good. When we reach Nanzhao—”
With a soft sound, a dagger hidden in Madam Ji’s sleeve plunged into Ji Yaoting’s chest.
Ji Yingying bit her arm hard to keep from screaming.
The pain brought Ji Yaoting a moment of clarity. He grasped Madam Ji’s hand, murmuring: “Mother.”
“What are you doing? Stop her!” Chi Kuang, never expecting Madam Ji to stab her only son, roared in anger.
Soldiers rushed forward to pull Madam Ji away. Ji Yaoting looked at the blood gushing from his chest, raised his head, and smiled: “With my death, no one will know the Ji family’s dyeing secrets anymore.”
Zhao Xiuyuan’s face changed dramatically as he pointed at Madam Ji: “Don’t let her die!”
It was too late. Madam Ji’s lips turned black, her face instantly becoming ashen as she collapsed.
“She’s taken arsenic!” Zhao Xiuyuan cried, running down from the corridor to shake her violently. “Tell me, where is Ji Yingying!”
Madam Ji’s gaze was scattered, unfocused. For an instant, she seemed to see Ji Yingying hidden under the corridor, her eyes flickering with light before losing all life.
“Madam! Let this servant accompany you!” Nanny Li screamed, driving her long hairpin forcefully into her chest.
The Ji household members fell to their knees, their wails filling the air.
Chi Kuang irritably rubbed his head, shouting: “Do any of them know how to dye silk?”
Zhao Xiuyuan disappointedly released Madam Ji, surveying the remaining Ji household members before shaking his head.
Looking over the Ji family servants, Chi Kuang raged: “Take all the young maids!”
As soldiers stepped forward to grab Zhang Siniang’s maids and Zi’er, Zi’er cried out in panic: “Young Master Zhao, this slave is Zi’er! The silk-washing maid Zi’er from the dye house! This slave knows where the Young Miss is!”