“Me?” she exclaimed in surprise. “You’re giving me too much credit. I can run errands for you, but this task… I really can’t do it.”
Master Xi smacked his lips. “What are you afraid of? You people handle executions, picking up heads every day as if they were watermelons.”
This comment was far too casual. What did he mean by “picking up heads every day”? Xia Zhi couldn’t listen anymore and retorted: “Criminals who face execution have their bodies claimed by family members. Those without family are taken away by people from Huaishu Residence. We don’t need to handle that.”
With this explanation, Master Xi became troubled again. “Then what should we do?”
Wu Changgeng patted his knee and said: “The executioner manages beheading but not collecting. It’s not that we Small Tree aren’t willing to help, but our ancestor’s teachings forbid it. I suggest you find a horse leather worker. If you don’t have enough money, everyone in the courtyard can chip in, and you can contribute a bit. After the body is sewn together, change the clothes and put her in the coffin quickly. Later when the Madam’s family comes to see her in such a terrible state…”
Master Xi clasped his hands together. “Well, Master Wu, I thank you first. After I’ve sent off my dead wife, I’ll come back to properly repay you. Oh, I’ve never encountered such a situation before. At this moment, I wish I were the one lying there.” The grown man, with his sleeves rolled up, began to cry earnestly, lamenting his loneliness and that in the future, he wouldn’t even have someone to pour his foot-washing water.
Wu Changgeng gestured for him to stop. “As neighbors, we shouldn’t speak that way. Let’s do this: Small Tree will go to Cai Shi Kou, while I gather everyone here to discuss. We’ll piece together some funeral money. What do you think?”
Master Xi hung his head dejectedly and sighed, “I’ll do as you say. I should go back and tell our family’s elder Miss to avoid this for now. If this falls into their hands…”
Shouldn’t she be taught a lesson? Xia Zhi thought the elder sister-in-law deserved to be beaten to death and interjected: “You can’t let her leave! If she leaves and the Madam’s family can’t find the culprit, won’t they bury you alive? With such a major incident, can hiding solve anything? Admit mistakes where needed, and kowtow where necessary. You must give people an explanation.”
Master Xi looked like a frost-beaten eggplant, stuttering: “Her brother is a Vice Commander, regardless of rank. That’s what I fear.”
Now he knew fear, but it was too late. Ding Yi was surprised. “Your wife is the sister of a Commander?”
A Commander, also known as a Jala Ergen, was a third-rank official for the regular position and a fourth-rank for the deputy. In Beijing, where high officials were everywhere, this might not stand out, but for common people, it represented considerable power. Before knowing this, she had felt sad about Madam Xi’s death, but now, knowing the truth, she felt it was even more worthless. Her family wasn’t without influence, yet she suffered with a spineless husband, and in the end, died miserably. What was the point? Ding Yi had one foot across the threshold but couldn’t resist criticizing: “Not to be rude, but having a married sister return to take charge—your family customs are truly unusual.” Master Xi sighed deeply from his lungs, and she didn’t hear whatever else he might have said as she went down the steps past the curtain.
The road from Tongfu Alley to Cai Shi Kou was quite far, and walking would waste half a day. Standing in the courtyard, she saw it was already evening, with large dark clouds piling up in the northwest; the weather seemed about to change. Xia Zhi called from the window ledge, “Unload the cart and ride the horse. When you see the leather worker, don’t haggle with him—trick him into coming first, then we’ll talk.”
Ding Yi acknowledged with a sound and went to the shed in the back to get the horse. After years of hardship, the girlish delicate temperament had long been ground away. Driving carts, riding horses, hauling coal—there was no work in the world she couldn’t do. This would have been unthinkable before. Han families and Banner people raised girls differently. Qi people had natural feet, and women were wild and capable. Han women were not like that. Han women’s tiny bound feet, twisted and squeezed, took half a day to walk a short distance. They were kept in inner chambers with nothing to do but look down at flowing springs and listen to the wind, just waiting to get married.
If her parents were still alive now and saw her straddling a horse with her robe hitched up, they would surely die of shock again. But there was no choice—circumstances demanded it. Who would willingly wade through mud and water? Wasn’t it all for survival? For common people in the marketplace, even taking a breath wasn’t easy. Being able to earn a living following her master’s was already incredibly fortunate.
A great rain was coming, with muffled thunder overhead. It wouldn’t fall immediately, just threatening like it was chasing people away. There was a saying about Beijing roads: “Three feet of dust without wind, a street of mud with rain.” Business had to be done while the ground was dry. Once it started raining, the muddy roads would be difficult to travel.
She rode at full gallop, whipping hard. Upon reaching the leather shop and explaining her purpose, the leather worker seemed troubled. “I’ve heard about this matter. Look, I can handle those officially executed by the court, but for those who died mysteriously, I can’t just act freely. Don’t think I’m being fussy—who doesn’t have some fear of spirits? Otherwise, why would so many people go to Dongyue Temple to burn incense during the New Year?” He lowered his voice. “Those with strong grievances will come after whoever touches them. It’s not worth earning a few coins if it brings bad luck. Why bother?”
Ding Yi knew the tactics of small merchants. His current reluctance was meant to drive up the price, making it difficult for the bereaved to extract more silver. She smiled apologetically: “Everyone in the east and west city knows your skills. This is a good deed that accumulates virtue. The deceased would thank you rather than harm you—what are you afraid of?”
“Have you ever seen a reasonable ghost?” The leatherworker drooped his eyelids, hammering copper nails into a saddle, indifferently saying, “Once dead, their minds are gone. They can’t distinguish good from bad.”
She covered her mouth and murmured hurriedly: “The family said they wouldn’t shortchange you. Madam Xi took her own life after arguing with her sister-in-law. The sister-in-law is feeling guilty now. Ask her for payment, and she won’t dare refuse.”
Seeing an opportunity, the leather worker’s attitude softened, and he immediately changed his tune to appear more mercenary. So she had to continue circling. He sucked his teeth and muttered, “Still not possible. The weather’s turning bad, and my son is finishing his shift without an umbrella. I need to bring one to him.”
How pretentious! Ding Yi asked through gritted teeth, “Where is your son on duty? Can I deliver it to him? This is an urgent matter. Please quickly grab your needles and thread and come with me. A room full of people is waiting for you!”
The leather worker, seeing the moment was right, nodded and said: “Fine. You’re also doing someone a favor, and if I keep refusing, I’ll seem unreasonable.” He took down an oil paper umbrella from the wall and handed it to her. “My son is called Ma Lianying. He works as a cook at Prince Chun’s mansion along the north side of the Back Lake. That boy cooks excellent dishes. When the Prince wants to send a table of food to someone, he dispatches my son. For something like eight bowls and eight plates, plus desserts and fruits, he can handle it all without assistance.”
When Ding Yi heard it was Prince Chun’s mansion, she thought what a coincidence, and casually praised: “Your son is truly accomplished. No matter how bad things get, cooks won’t starve. It’s a good occupation.” She helped him pack his bundle and pushed him out, “Hurry along now. If it rains and your mule sprains its hoof, that would be the end of it.”
The leatherworker headed toward Deng Shi Kou in a crooked manner, while she tucked the umbrella under her arm and headed straight for Prince Chun’s mansion. The princely estate was imposing, just like before, inspiring some awe. At the gate, she found the same doorkeeper, who was somewhat familiar and pointed at her, saying, “You’re back!”
Ding Yi smiled and said: “Please help me find Ma Lianying. His father asked me to bring him an umbrella.”
The doorkeeper responded with an “Oh,” and said, “Cook Ma has gone to a feast. He’s not here.”
She didn’t quite understand. “Isn’t he the cook? How is he attending a feast? If he’s eating out, who’s doing the mansion’s work?”
“Huibin Restaurant has new dishes. Do you think he eats for free? He’s learning! After eating, he brings the skills back, keeps them in his belly, and when the master requests it someday, he makes it fresh to present. That’s the cook’s job.” The doorkeeper chatted with her for quite a while, then beckoned from the doorway, “Leave the umbrella here. I’ll give it to him when he returns. Loitering is not permitted in front of the Prince’s gate. Go on, leave.”
Such were the rules of great households—the gates of nobility were as deep as the sea. In that vast garden, with its multiple halls and courtyards, trying to see someone was harder than climbing to heaven.
Ding Yi felt somewhat disappointed. She was usually very clear about what she was doing, but at Prince Chun’s mansion, she always had a feeling of trying her luck. Wanting to see the Prince was a matter of fortune; meeting him would be lucky, and missing him was fate—just sigh once and it’s over. As for what to say if she met the Prince, she hadn’t thought it through, probably just offering some flattery. If the Prince was in a good mood and gave a nod, assigning her to some corner position, she could accompany the journey to Changbai Mountain. It wasn’t that she couldn’t go on her own; she was mainly afraid. The north had been unstable in recent years, with bandits who would search and rob travelers of their silver. As a lone girl without support, if something happened, no one would even know where to find her grave to mourn.
She turned around dejectedly. This was not a place to linger. Just as she was about to step out from under the eaves, large raindrops began to fall, crashing down noisily. The previously dusty road instantly emitted the smell of mud. How unfortunate—only now did she realize that in delivering an umbrella, she hadn’t brought even a rain hat for herself. Now she was stranded here, with the doorkeeper driving her away, truly caught in a dilemma.
In front of a prince’s mansion, there was no allowance for sheltering from rain. Her horse was still tied under a willow tree by the lake. She steeled herself to rush out, mount the horse, and gallop home—she would eventually make it back.
Summer thunderstorms can be frightening when they break out, turning the sky as black as the bottom of a pot, making it impossible to see one’s hand in front of one’s face. Now she was truly in trouble—where could she go? She paced anxiously, afraid to step out for fear of being struck by lightning, and turned to charcoal. Behind her, the doorkeeper urged, “Hurry up, or if the steward sees you, I’ll be scolded again.”
Driving someone out into a downpour—how heartless. But there was no choice; Prince Chun’s mansion was essentially no different from Prince Xian’s mansion. Neither was a home of kindness. Setting aside the princes themselves, those who served under them were all of the same character. She sighed, preparing to cover her head and leave, when at that moment, someone came up the steps from the other end, unhurriedly holding an umbrella. The rain had soaked the hem of his robe, making it look like thin porcelain with a heavy glaze, giving a sense of distant mist after rain.
It must be someone from the prince’s household, certainly not another person seeking shelter from the rain. She paused slightly, looking at the face behind the umbrella. He lowered his umbrella—a purple-gold hairpin with red tassels. Though the surroundings were dim, his features appeared increasingly clear and distinct in the light under the eaves.
A man with myriad affairs of state kept his strings taut. He raised his eyes to look at her, and should still remember her. His tone was familiar: “You’ve come?”
Ding Yi felt somewhat awkward and stammered a yes. Coming to her senses, she hurriedly gave a curtsy, “Auspicious greetings, Your Highness.”
He lifted his hand slightly. “Rise. What brings you here this time?”