The Ji family lived just a street away from the Zhao residence. The wedding pavilion was erected beneath the ceremonial arch, visible from the doorway of the Ji family shop. The Ji mother and her two children walked to offer their congratulations and sat in the wedding pavilion to enjoy the feast and watch the opera, just like any other neighbor.
Madam Ji, being considerate of others, hadn’t brought any serving maids or elderly attendants—for a modest family to have servants standing behind them while eating at a wedding feast would only invite mockery from the neighbors, like a pig putting on airs by sticking a scallion in its snout.
Madam Ji was “invited” out through the side door by the Zhao family servants. Looking back at the two household servants standing at the entrance, she once again felt the bitter loneliness of having no family clan to rely upon.
Ji Yaoting was dining with the male guests in the front hall. It wouldn’t have been proper for Madam Ji to burst in there looking for him. She hurried home, intending to send Ji Fu and his brother or Tian Gui to find Ji Yaoting at the Zhao residence. Just as she reached the ceremonial arch, someone called out to her. She turned to see Second Young Master Zhu.
“Aunt Ji, where’s Young Master Ji?” Second Young Master Zhu was sharing a table with his group of idle friends. After their meeting at the Green Ram Temple, Ji Yaoting never mentioned marriage again, and he understood Ji Yingying’s attitude. After a period of disappointment, he heard that Zhao Xiuyuan had become engaged to the young lady of Deputy Commander Niu’s family. Second Young Master Zhu’s hopes were rekindled. He figured that once Zhao Xiuyuan was married, Ji Yingying would have to give up on him. This time, having learned his lesson, he hadn’t rushed to propose, waiting until today.
Madam Ji grabbed his arms in an uncharacteristic display of emotion, her voice trembling with agitation: “Second Young Master, I need to ask a favor of you.”
Startled, Second Young Master Zhu quickly responded, “Aunt Ji, I’ll do whatever I can to help.”
“Go, go to the Zhao residence and call Young Master Ji out.” Madam Ji caught her breath, suddenly worried about Ji Yaoting. He was the Ji family’s only son; if anything happened to him, she couldn’t go on living. “Also, find Young Master Sang the Fourteenth from the Chief Historian’s mansion. He’s here representing the bride’s family. Second Young Master, please find him. I’ll wait here.”
Sang the Fourteenth? The young master from the Chief Historian’s mansion who had graciously invited him for tea and sent him chrysanthemums? “I know him. I’ll go right away.” Seeing the flush of agitation on Madam Ji’s face, Second Young Master Zhu knew something must have happened. He suddenly had a moment of clarity: “Where’s Second Miss? Why isn’t she with you?”
Thinking of her daughter, Madam Ji opened her mouth but could only choke back a sob: “Please hurry.”
Had something happened to Ji Yingying? Second Young Master Zhu’s heart tightened. He called his idle friends to bring a bench for Madam Ji to sit on, then ran toward the Zhao residence.
Watching him leave, Madam Ji beat her chest in regret. She truly regretted letting her daughter choose her husband. Second Young Master Zhu couldn’t compare to Zhao Xiuyuan in looks, talent, or family background. But he was a good person. If she had arranged this marriage earlier, the Zhao family wouldn’t have set their sights on her daughter.
If they could produce half the money by tomorrow… Since the debt hadn’t matured, the Zhao family had no right to detain her daughter. Madam Ji craned her neck to look down the alley, hoping her son would come out soon so they could discuss raising the money.
After the time it takes to burn an incense stick, Second Young Master Zhu carried Ji Yaoting out on his back, accompanied by a man in fine silk clothes. Second Young Master Zhu, dripping with sweat, set Ji Yaoting down and helped him sit, then gulped down a bowl of tea before saying: “Aunt Ji, Young Master Ji is drunk. He won’t sober up for a while, but please tell me what you need done.”
Seeing her usually sensible son drunk beyond consciousness, Madam Ji knew the Zhao family must be behind this. Did they think that without her son, a widow couldn’t handle matters? The pride in Madam Ji’s bones helped her remain calm.
“Second Young Master, please take Young Master Ji home. Wake him up by whatever means necessary. I have something to attend to, and I’ll return when it’s done.”
Second Young Master Zhu glanced at Sang the Fourteenth: “I leave my aunt in your care. If you need any help, just ask my brothers here.”
Sang the Fourteenth looked at the seven or eight idle young men who had stood up in response, thinking that while Second Young Master Zhu might be simple, he had good connections. He was especially grateful that Zhu hadn’t discovered his involvement in that incident with Yang Jingyuan. People with good connections couldn’t be too bad. Intending to build a relationship, he immediately changed his form of address: “Brother Zhu, don’t worry. I’ll handle things here.”
The young master from the Chief Historian’s mansion’s confidence immediately put Second Young Master Zhu at ease. He called his attendant and helped Ji Yaoting home.
Something must have happened to Ji Yingying for her to tell her mother and send someone to find him. After everyone left, Sang the Fourteenth approached Madam Ji and said softly: “Madam Ji, you can trust me completely.”
Madam Ji had no one else to turn to. She trusted not in Sang the Fourteenth himself but in his status. She looked up at the Zhao residence beyond the wall, where she could see the two-story Vine Garden pavilion in the distance: “Young Master Sang. Do you see that pavilion? The Zhao family is holding my daughter there. You’re here for the wedding and will stay at the Zhao residence tonight. I need you to protect her for one night. Can you do that?”
Zhao Xiuyuan was marrying Fifth Miss Niu today, yet the Zhao family was detaining Ji Yingying in their residence. Sang the Fourteenth was startled and looked up at the pavilion.
Madam Ji watched him, seeing a faint smile appear on his face, and her heart settled. Yizhou Prefecture was too small, and Sichuan was too enclosed. The Zhao family truly didn’t understand how insignificant their power was before absolute authority. She smiled slightly, folded her wide sleeves across her chest, and bowed: “Such great kindness needs no thanks.”
Madam Ji’s graceful bow made Sang the Fourteenth step back in surprise, returning the bow deeply: “Madam, please wait calmly at home for good news.”
Watching Madam Ji leave, he shook his head and muttered: “Strange, why did I address her as ‘Madam’? Isn’t the Ji family just running a small dye shop?”
Without dwelling further on thoughts of Madam Ji, Sang the Fourteenth turned toward the Zhao residence. The refined elegance he had shown to Madam Ji transformed into the excitement of a young noble seeking thrills: “The groom hasn’t shown his face yet, we must find him!”
——…——…
In the woods by Huanhua Stream, five or six people dressed in night-walking clothes sat in a circle. One of them hadn’t pulled up his face covering, revealing a thin face with a small mustache—it was Clerk Jin.
The bustle and excitement from the Zhao residence were carried over by the wind, making the woods seem even more serene by contrast.
He looked at the silent man sitting to one side and said softly: “This humble one didn’t expect Your Highness to come personally. Such a small matter could have been handled by this humble servant. Why risk yourself, Your Highness?”
The man was tall, with deep-set eyes visible above his black face covering: “This prince would have come sooner or later. Proceed according to plan.”
At that moment, a black shadow silently flashed into the woods. He leaned against a tree and whistled like a bird twice. Hearing the same bird call from within the woods, he then walked in.
Seeing the group in the woods, the newcomer dropped to one knee and reported quietly: “The three members of the Ji family entered the Zhao residence, but only Madam Ji and the drunk Young Master Ji came out. However, two more people joined the Ji household—Second Young Master Zhu from Three Canals and his attendant.”
Clerk Jin immediately said: “Ji Yaoting hasn’t moved into his new residence in the east wing yet, so he should be resting in the front courtyard. He won’t discover us.”
The leader remained silent. After sitting quietly with the group for about half an hour, he stood up: “Make it clean. This prince will go watch the excitement.”
Clerk Jin respectfully replied: “Your Highness, rest assured, no one will detect anything amiss.”