Ji Fu hurriedly returned from the courthouse, reporting that Ji Yaoting had already accompanied the bailiffs back home to retrieve Madam Ji’s handwriting samples. Ying Ying urged her mother: “Since we’ve already paid for one night’s lodging, and the snow is getting heavier outside, Mother should rest at the inn. We’re not far from the courthouse – if there’s any news, I can send Xiang’er to check.”

Madam Ji smiled gently: “There won’t be any more court sessions today. Go meet your brother and we’ll head home.”

Ying Ying was stunned for a moment before quickly understanding. With the Yang family deciding to intervene, and Madam Yang’s brother serving as a Record Officer in the prefecture court, they would surely find ways to delay things until receiving word from the Ji family.

After all, this involved the life of an imperial clan member’s titled wife. Even if Yang Jingyuan favored her, he was still a concubine’s son. The Yang family, essentially just wealthy merchants, wouldn’t risk their entire clan over young love. Ying Ying glanced at her mother, deeply admiring her insight. Her mother wouldn’t be wrong about Madam Yang’s proposal. With this thought, her worries and concerns lifted, leaving her with a light feeling of matters being settled.

“Then I’ll go with Uncle Ji Fu to meet my brother.” Ying Ying left Nanny Ji to care for her mother and departed with Xiang’er.

Just as they reached the courthouse entrance, Ji Fu saw Ji Yaoting exchanging pleasantries with Imperial Advisor Jin and parked the cart nearby.

Seeing her brother, and as her mother had predicted, that the trial wouldn’t continue, Ying Ying felt waves of joy and lifted the curtain to smile at Ji Yaoting.

Imperial Advisor Jin’s face was as dark as the gloomy sky as he said flatly: “Court will reconvene in two days. I will still await Young Master Ji at the courthouse entrance. The snow is too heavy – Ning will bring the materials to the Ji residence tomorrow.”

Ji Yaoting couldn’t be bothered to say more, merely cupping his hands in farewell before climbing into the mule cart.

Watching the cart gradually disappear into the distance, Imperial Advisor Jin slowly tucked his hands into his sleeves, his mustache twitching as his eyes grew stormy.

A man in warrior’s garb led two horses to his side, saying hatefully: “Advisor, we’ve confirmed it. The Ji family dares to have different intentions and collude with the Yang family. Madam Yang Shi went to the inn to see Second Miss Ji. Her brother, Officer Shi, persuaded the prefect to delay the trial. In my opinion, the master is too merciful. We should just kidnap all three members of the Ji family. I have hundreds of ways to make them hand over their secret methods and teach Ning their dyeing techniques.”

“We must ask the master’s opinion about this. Let’s go!”

—…—

Ten li east of Yizhou City stood Tazi Mountain. Nine peaks stretched from north to south – before the Tang Dynasty, it was called Nine-Peak Lotus Mountain. Later, because this name was too common and there was a pagoda and temple built on the mountain, it gradually became known as Tazi (Pagoda) Mountain.

Tazi Mountain wasn’t tall, with gentle slopes. From the foot of the mountain to the temple area grew a vast plum forest. In winter, the subtle fragrance would drift through the air, and the snow-covered blossoms looked like a sea of fragrant snow. It was one of Yizhou City’s scenic spots.

Two carriages stopped at the temple gate at the front of the mountain. Yang Silang dismounted his horse, rubbed his hands, and personally opened the carriage door: “Father, Mother, please get out.”

He helped Second Master Yang and Madam Zou down. Exhaling, he said: “The snow is heavier here than in the city. But in this weather, before it clears up, it’s not a good day for viewing plum blossoms. It’s as gloomy as a stepmother’s face!”

Second Master Yang glared at him: “What nonsense are you spouting? Your mother braved the wind and snow to pray for you! Serve your mother well.”

The maids and servants from the second carriage rushed forward to support Madam Zou. She was also puzzled about why her husband had insisted she she’d had a dream last night and must come to Tazi Mountain to pray today. But since they were already here, offering incense and making a wish would be good. She smiled: “It would be disrespectful to the Buddha to take a sedan chair up to offer incense. Silang, just accompany your mother up.”

The group climbed the steps up the mountain. Reaching the temple, Madam Zou exhaled a white breath and pressed her palms together in prayer.

The household manager had already made arrangements. The temple greeter welcomed Madam Zou with a Maitreya-like smile.

At the main hall’s entrance, Second Master Yang stopped: “I’ll go drink wine and enjoy the scenery in the plum forest. After you finish praying, return to the courtyard to rest. Don’t wait for me for meals.”

Yang Silang, also impatient with the praying, called out: “Father, I’ll join you…”

Second Master Yang glared at him: “Your mother came to pray for you. You must accompany her.”

He left with four guards.

Yang Silang pouted. However, he looked at it, his father’s behavior seemed unusual today. Was it necessary to bring four armed guards to view plum blossoms?

“Silang!” Madam Zou was eager for her son’s company and smiled sweetly as she called him over. Yang Silang had no choice but to turn and enter the great hall.

Snow had fallen for two days, making the plum fragrance sharp and ethereal. In the plum forest on the temple’s south slope stood a thatched pavilion, its stone table and benches covered with thick brocade cloths, charcoal basins burning brightly around it. Outside the pavilion, two servants were busy boiling water for tea, with a row of tin wine vessels warming in the hot water trough.

Second Master Yang led his guards around to the bottom of the south slope. Seeing the pavilion’s eaves in the distance, he stopped. After hesitating, he stepped onto the stone path leading into the plum forest.

After walking for the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the full view of the pavilion became clear through the sparse branches. A man sat in the pavilion with his back to Second Master Yang.

Second Master Yang couldn’t help but look around. Before the pavilion was a smooth stone slope, and on this side was the plum forest where he stood, offering a very open view. Apart from the two busy servants, there was no one else around.

He approached with his guards. As they neared the pavilion, his guards suddenly drew their swords, two of them holding their blades before the two servants. Two guards protected Second Master Yang as he entered the pavilion.

Surprisingly, the servants showed no sign of panic, and the man seemed not to have heard the sound of swords being drawn, continuing to drink his wine at ease.

Second Master Yang coldly watched the man sitting with his back to him and said: “Who exactly are you? How did you place that letter on the desk in my bedroom?”

The man slowly turned around. With tanned skin and a lean face, his eyes and the exposed fur at his neck were as black and shining as mink: “My surname is Sheng. This is freshly brewed green mosquito wine – would you share a drink? Why doesn’t Second Master Yang sit down and chat?”

His composure and bearing rather surprised Second Master Yang. He gave a signal, and his guards sheathed their swords and retreated outside the pavilion.

Second Master Yang lifted his robe and sat opposite Master Sheng. Behind him was the open stone slope, and across he could see Master Sheng’s servants and his guards. This gave him some sense of security.

Master Sheng poured wine, drinking a cup himself first. He looked at Second Master Yang with a smile.

Remembering the letter’s contents, Second Master Yang gritted his teeth and drank. He set down his cup heavily and said in a low voice: “Who exactly are you?”

Master Sheng said leisurely: “Didn’t I tell you in my letter? I am someone who can help you obtain the Yang family’s assets. If you didn’t want to become the head of the Yang family, you wouldn’t be drinking with me now.”

“You underestimate me!” Second Master Yang’s eyes narrowed as he suddenly smashed his cup on the ground.

This was a pre-arranged signal – the four skilled guards immediately leaped into the pavilion from outside. Four blades were held simultaneously at Master Sheng’s throat.

Master Sheng turned his head, looking at the bright blades at his neck. He blew a breath, and several mink hairs were cut by the blade’s edge, floating down.

He clicked his tongue in appreciation: “Good swords. The Yang family, the Kings of Brocade, are truly wealthy. Even their guards can use such razor-sharp precious swords.”

Second Master Yang snorted coldly: “If you won’t reveal your identity, don’t blame me for binding you and taking you to see my elder brother.”

Master Sheng raised his hand, and the guards tensely shouted: “Don’t move!”

He merely clapped his hands.

Snow fell from the plum blossoms with a rustle, and suddenly a row of black-clad figures appeared at the edge of the plum forest, bows drawn and aimed at the pavilion.

“I could have had you killed. When delivering the letter, I could have taken your head,” Master Sheng’s smile vanished as he spoke coldly.