“Keep silent. Mother and daughter are unharmed.”
The note contained only eight characters. No signature. Typical of Sheng Fengze’s style—never leaving behind any evidence. These simple words were only understood by the three members of the Ji family.
Ji Yaoting said worriedly: “At dawn, Ling’er and Xiang’er discovered you weren’t in your room. When Madam Li attended to Mother, she couldn’t wake her. Then I received this letter. Brother could do nothing and didn’t want to worry your sister-in-law. I just said Mother’s condition had worsened and you’d gone to the city early to fetch a physician.”
Mother—something had indeed happened to her. Sheng Fengze’s meaningful gaze flashed before Ji Yingying’s eyes, and she jumped to her feet: “I’ll go ask him for medicine to wake Mother!”
“You know where Master Sheng is staying?” Ji Yaoting looked at his sister in surprise. He couldn’t imagine someone as cautious as Master Sheng letting his sister find his whereabouts.
Ji Yingying laughed coldly: “Master Sheng? He’s the Prince of Nanzhao, titled the White Prince. His full name is Sheng Fengze, staying at the city courier station with the Nanzhao delegation. These southern barbarians come to Tang to show off—since he’s so afraid of us revealing his affairs, why can’t I use that to threaten him?”
“Yingying, are you mad? He could drug Mother and take you away without a sound. If you go threaten him, won’t he just kill us?” Ji Yaoting froze mid-sentence, “Since he doesn’t want us to speak of his affairs, he can kill us. Why is he doing this? If he wants the Ji family’s silk-dyeing secrets, why not use Mother’s life to threaten us? For Mother’s sake, I would certainly hand over the secrets.”
Who knows what he’s thinking? Ji Yingying said glumly: “Brother, it seems he doesn’t want to kill us. He’s just warning us to keep quiet. Who knows when he’ll send the antidote to wake Mother? I won’t go find him—I’ll go see Mother.”
Madam Ji truly appeared to be sleeping, wearing a faint smile as if in a sweet dream.
Seeing Ji Yingying, Zhang Siniang stood up and asked worriedly: “Was it difficult to request Imperial Physician Gu?”
This was Brother’s lie to sister-in-law, concealing her absence last night. Ji Yingying replied vaguely: “I didn’t see the physician, he must have been out.”
With Sheng Fengze behind this, it wouldn’t be easily cured.
Zhang Siniang said anxiously: “Mother won’t wake—this won’t do. Why don’t I return home and ask my father to send someone to search for Physician Gu in the city?”
“No, no need.” Ji Yingying knew her brother concealed it to avoid worrying his wife. Seeing Zhang Siniang so concerned for Mother, she was truly moved. In her urgency, she said: “Originally, Physician Gu was invited by Madam Yang to examine Mother. It would be more appropriate to ask Madam Yang for help.”
Zhang Siniang immediately made a decision: “Sister speaks sense. But you’re marrying into the Yang family in a few months—it’s not appropriate for you to appear. I’ll visit Madam Yang tomorrow. Madam Wu, quickly sent someone with a note to the Yang residence, requesting a reply. See if Madam Yang is available tomorrow.”
“Sister-in-law!” Ji Yingying hardly knew how to stop Zhang Siniang.
But Zhang Siniang took it as shyness. She held Ji Yingying’s hand gently and said: “Since our families are joined in marriage, we should help each other. Though the Ji family is humble, we’re now related to the Yangs. For Mother’s illness, Madam Yang won’t refuse if we humble ourselves to ask.”
Faced with Zhang Siniang’s filial devotion, Ji Yingying was speechless. She turned to find Ji Yaoting.
But Ji Yaoting was supportive: “Physician Gu is an Imperial Doctor. Perhaps he can wake Mother?”
Would he? Ji Yingying didn’t doubt Physician Gu’s skills. She believed in Sheng Fengze’s methods: “Brother, think about it. Sheng Fengze could drug Mother. If we wake her, he can do it again anytime. Can we keep Physician Gu in our home forever? Only the one who tied the bell can untie it. We must find Sheng Fengze.”
Ji Yaoting objected: “You can’t go threaten him. What if you anger him?”
Ji Yingying remembered Sheng Fengze’s words: “No, Brother. We don’t need to find him. He said he would visit to check on Mother. We just need to wait for him.”
The Ji family waited anxiously for two days before Sheng Fengze finally came.
Red felt carpets were laid from the Zhao family’s memorial arch to their gate in Locust Tree Lane. Early in the morning, the village head led people announcing with gongs. The Prince of Nanzhao had personally come to select brocade from the New Brocade King Zhao family as gifts to present to his king upon returning to Nanzhao. People who loved excitement and novelty poured out of their homes, surrounding the Zhao family arch until water couldn’t flow through.
“He’s going to the Zhao family to buy brocade? What is he planning?” Ji Yingying instinctively expressed disbelief. She snorted, “Could it be he’s taken a fancy to some ancestral weaving method of the Zhao family? The Zhao family is in for misfortune! They’re drumming and gonging to welcome a plague god into their home.”
Ji Yaoting couldn’t care less whether Sheng Fengze intended to scheme against the Zhao family. He said anxiously: “Will he come to our house to give Mother medicine? Mother has been lying there for two days, only able to take some water—how long can she last?”
Ji Yingying instead remained calm: “There are so many Shu brocade sellers in Yizhou City. Why must he go to the Zhao family? I think he’s using this as an excuse to come to our house. Just wait.”
Sheng Fengze traveled with his identity revealed. As it concerned diplomatic relations between the two countries, besides his guards, the Governor’s office assigned three hundred soldiers as escorts. Wanting to support his daughter’s in-laws, Deputy Governor Niu decided to accompany them personally.
Before 7-9 AM, armored soldiers cleared the streets, stationed every five steps.
Being able to receive a royal buying Zhao family brocade was the Zhao family’s honor. When Old Master Zhao heard from servants that the procession was approaching, he led his three sons, legitimate grandsons, and Zhao clan elders to wait under the memorial arch.
Though not anxious, Ji Yingying couldn’t help feeling curious. She squeezed into the crowd with her two maids to watch the excitement.
Sheng Fengze sat in a vermillion-lacquered carriage with a canopy. He had changed into Nanzhao clothing: a black and blue robe, loose trousers, pointed deerskin boots, and a silver dagger set with various gems at his waist. He wore a black headwrap with a red gem in the center, looking extremely martial and handsome. The watching women couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.
Xiang’er’s eyes were fixed straight ahead, clutching Ji Yingying’s hand and saying repeatedly: “Miss, the Nanzhao Prince is so handsome!”
“Are poisonous mushrooms pretty? Do you know if the crown imperial is poisonous?” Ji Yingying snorted.
As Sheng Fengze rose from his carriage, his gaze swept the crowd, keenly spotting Ji Yingying and her servants. He smiled at Ji Yingying, receiving a glare in return. Sheng Fengze couldn’t help but be amused.
He descended from the carriage and whispered something to Deputy Governor Niu. Niu laughed heartily, nodding noncommittally.
Sheng Fengze walked straight toward the crowd. The common people lowered their heads to avoid him, not knowing what the Nanzhao Prince intended.
“Miss, he’s, he’s walking toward us!” Xiang’er said tremblingly, both frightened and excited.
In broad daylight, what could he do? What would he dare to do? Ji Yingying stood her ground without flinching. Only when Sheng Fengze reached her did she grow anxious, saying softly: “What are you doing?”
Sheng Fengze held out his hand to Chihu who followed him. Chihu produced a five-colored brocade ribbon. Mischief dancing in his eyes, Sheng Fengze offered the ribbon to Ji Yingying: “Beautiful young lady, would you accompany this prince for an outing?”
“Wow! Second Miss Ji is so lucky! If the Nanzhao Prince invited me, I’d surely faint!”
“Second Miss Ji is already engaged. These Nanzhao people don’t understand propriety—how can they randomly invite young ladies to go out on the street?”
“They’re guests after all. And he’s a prince!”
Waves of varied discussion crashed around them. Only Ji Yingying knew how shameless Sheng Fengze was. She straightened her back and refused: “This humble one is already engaged and cannot accompany Your Highness. Thank you for your kind invitation.”
He had expected her refusal. Sheng Fengze just wanted to tease her, and lowered his voice: “Don’t you want your mother to wake up?”
This shameless rogue! Ji Yingying was furious. Her eyes flickered as she called out loud enough for those nearby to hear: “How embarrassing!” She covered her face and ran away.
Her shyness drew laughter from the crowd.
Sheng Fengze wasn’t offended, handing the ribbon back to Chihu. He smiled at Governor Niu: “Tang’s young ladies are quite interesting!”
Deputy Governor Niu also found it amusing and laughed heartily: “Young jade faces are too thin-skinned. Tonight I’ll arrange for courtesans to entertain Your Highness.”
“Thank you.”
Chatting and laughing, the two walked toward the Zhao family arch.
When Deputy Governor Niu proudly introduced his son-in-law Zhao Xiuyuan to Sheng Fengze, Sheng Fengze smiled with satisfaction: “I never expected the weaver of ‘Immortal by the River’ to be such a refined gentleman.”