She frantically stomped her feet. “This is terrible! Ru Jian’s coming to kill us! Quick, quick, quick…” Hurriedly, she helped him tie his belt, urgently instructing, “Whatever you do, don’t go out. There’s a ladder in the back; I’ll climb over the wall.”
As she tried to escape, he pulled her back. How long could they keep hiding like this? Better to be straightforward and let Ru Jian prepare himself. If he hadn’t come looking, they would have continued concealing their relationship, proceeding cautiously. But now there was no time for such considerations—after sneaking around for so long, even a Buddha would be provoked to heavenly flames. They were both unmarried, compatible, and together by choice—how did it concern anyone else? Why force national and family grudges upon themselves? Who would deliberately invite such discomfort?
“Today we’ll speak frankly, face to face.” He gripped her wrist tightly. “Fujin, I’m taking you back to Beijing. Even if your Third Brother tries to stop us, he won’t succeed. At worst, we’ll fight to the death. No matter how tough he is, I can have him arrested and escorted back to Beijing with us!”
Usually good-tempered, once truly angered, he disregarded everything. Ding Yi cried out pitifully, “Don’t do this. Ru Jian never forced me; I willingly chose to follow my brother.”
He gave a scornful laugh. “Were you truly willing? He retreats to advance, overtly not forcing you, but in reality driving you to a dead end. I despise being coerced. If I were him, I’d turn a blind eye and be done with it. The case is already being expedited, yet he keeps pressing, leaving people no way out. He can’t blame others for fighting back.” Then he muttered quietly, “We’re both men—who don’t understand each other’s difficulties! Those years of fleeing have damaged his mind. Having waited for someone himself, he now makes others suffer the same. Appearing at such a critical moment—if he wants my life, shouldn’t I want his?”
He was muttering to himself, and Ding Yi couldn’t understand what he was saying. She tugged at his sleeve, asking, “What are you mumbling about? What should we do now?”
He straightened his belt, adjusted his collar, opened the door, and strode out with his head held high.
With many guards in the courtyard, it wouldn’t be easy for the three of them to break through. It wasn’t yet time to completely fall out with each other. For relatives to maintain a long-term relationship, he couldn’t cut off Ding Yi’s family ties. So he remained courteous, calling out, “No disrespect allowed. Please invite the Respected Brother-in-law in for a conversation.”
The guards obeyed, standing in two rows, gesturing for him to enter. Ding Yi hid behind Hong Ce in fear, truly afraid that Ru Jian’s glare would pierce her like a sieve.
In this contest between men, there seemed to be no place for women. Hong Ce settled her to one side, then cupped his hands in greeting to the furious Ru Jian with a smile. “Third Brother, are you done with your business? It’s raining—you’ll get wet. Come inside and take shelter.”
Ru Jian didn’t accept his kindness, glancing at Ding Yi before saying, “I don’t dare accept your good intentions. I came to find my sister. Now that I’ve found her, I’ll take her back. I would be grateful if the Twelfth Prince would allow us to leave.”
As he stepped forward, Hong Ce timely blocked his path, still speaking with a friendly smile: “We’re family here; we can talk reasonably. The third Brother knew about Ding Yi and me since Suifenhe. You’re a sensible person—why press your advantage? I have good tea; let them brew a pot. Let’s sit down and talk openly. Constantly circling isn’t productive. What needs to be resolved must be resolved. It’s time to be honest. What do you think, Third Brother?”
They sized each other up, each taking the measure of the other. Ru Jian had suffered for years outside, relying on his wits to survive. His previous business ventures had been similar—dealing with unsavory characters. There was truth in the saying that one becomes stained by proximity to ink. The development of events to this point owed much to his influence. Wen Lu’s case was merely an old one; it was his lack of innocence that gave others an opportunity. If the investigation had remained without leads, and the investigators hadn’t persisted, a memorandum submitted to explain the situation might have allowed the matter to fade away. So he had to ensure they couldn’t let it go. As for how to ingratiate himself, and bait them without setting the net—Ding Yi was his bait. Perhaps there was no true malice, just an opportunistic exploitation of their feelings. But being manipulated was unpleasant, and more frustrating was knowing the trap yet still diving in—all because he couldn’t give up the cinnabar mark on his heart. Later, as Ding Yi longed for him, perhaps Ru Jian had been waiting for him too. Otherwise, with his shrewd nature, how could he have been unaware of the new neighbor? How could he have allowed them to come and go under his nose for so long? Hit with a slap, then offered a sweet date—he understood such tactics perfectly. But he had never mentioned this to Ding Yi; after all, Ru Jian was her brother, whom she had only recently found. Familial bonds weren’t like bowls that could be mended once broken. He didn’t want to hurt her, so he accepted being manipulated, choosing to remain blissfully ignorant.
Not mentioning it didn’t mean he was in the dark. He needed to send Ru Jian a message, explicitly and implicitly conveying that the case would be pursued to its conclusion, but he wouldn’t be led by the nose—he had his judgment.
It was indeed time to talk. Ru Jian didn’t lose his temper; he turned and sat in the round-backed chair. Instead of directly engaging with Hong Ce, he shifted his gaze to Ding Yi, his tone quite stern: “I asked you before, and you said you hadn’t interacted with the neighbors, that you didn’t know who they were. So you were deceiving me.” Pointing at Hong Ce, he asked, “Who is this? Someone who appeared out of nowhere? When did you learn to lie?”
“Well… I didn’t…” Ding Yi was nervous, twisting the tassels on her pouch into a tangled mess. She timidly raised her eyes to look at Ru Jian, her gaze trembling before quickly lowering her eyelids, hunching her shoulders and waist like a child who had done wrong.
Ru Jian heaved a long sigh. “Is this acceptable? Two people shut in a room in broad daylight, in an ambiguous situation. We dare not complain about the Prince’s behavior, but we can blame ourselves. What are your plans for the future? Do you still want to live?”
Her eyes filled with tears, looking utterly pitiful. She shuffled forward a couple of steps and said, “Third Brother, this isn’t a game between us, as you know. He went to such great lengths to find us, which shows his sincerity. You can’t make me marry someone else; I will be with him.”
Ru Jian glared at her. “Is this how a young lady should speak? Go away! Don’t embarrass yourself here!”
Hong Ce was protective, smilingly mediating: “Third Brother, please calm down. Ding Yi is right; we indeed have genuine feelings. I’m busy with official duties and not someone who can afford to play around. I truly miss her too much to leave her behind. Previously, when you took her from me if I hadn’t found her, I might have given up. But now that I’ve found her, I’m sorry, but even through mountains of blades and seas of fire, I won’t separate from her. I won’t hide it from Third Brother—I’m returning to Beijing tomorrow and plan to take her with me. There are leads in your family’s case, and the arranged marriage in Beijing can’t be neglected. For some matters, we understand each other without words. As long as it benefits Ding Yi, we can disregard right and wrong. Third Brother wants to clear his father’s name; my heart is now the same as yours. I’m doing my utmost—everything I can do, I will do. The rest is up to heaven. Ultimately, whether the case is solved or not, Ding Yi is mine. If you keep her, the case will be handled; if you let her come with me, not only will it be handled, but it will be handled well. Having said this much, I’ll listen to Third Brother’s thoughts.”
His eloquence was impeccable, leaving Ru Jian no opening to exploit. The implication was clear: if Ding Yi didn’t go with him, the case might be hastily concluded; if she did, it would be treated as a family matter, and even wrongs could be twisted into rights—was that the meaning?
Ru Jian stared at him with furrowed brows. Hong Ce’s lips curled in a smile, presenting the posture of a victor. Ru Jian turned his face away with a cold snort. Indeed, if she hadn’t fallen into his hands, it would have been due to his prowess; now that she had, it depended on how the other party chose to handle the situation. Ultimately, it was all for his father’s case. He and his sister had no support; finding a prince to rely on was better than relying on anyone else. As for himself, he was a convicted criminal. By law, he could be sent back to the Changbai Mountains. Since the prince didn’t intend to pursue this, if he didn’t take the offered way out, he would be completely insensible.
He studied Ding Yi for a moment, truly reluctant to hand her over. He knew his sister would eventually marry; there was no reason to keep her forever. But with all their relatives dead, she was the only one left. His feelings for her ran deep, and he feared she might suffer mistreatment in the prince’s mansion.
He clenched his fist, slowly knocking on the table, the tapping sound echoing in the room. After a considerable pause, he said: “The daughter of the Wen family will not be a concubine. Can this prince guarantee that?”
Seeing him soften, Hong Ce was naturally pleased. He nodded and said: “Not only will she not be a concubine, but my Chun Prince’s Mansion will not have a second woman in charge. On this point, Third Brother can rest assured.”
This meant there would be no branch establishment—good. Ru Jian thought for a moment and then said: “Beijing has many people and prying eyes. Find another place to settle her. Since she hasn’t officially married, entering your Chun Prince’s Mansion casually would tarnish a young lady’s reputation. Even with a future grand wedding with proper matchmaking, she would be unable to hold her head high among sisters-in-law.”
Young lovers in the heat of passion often make this mistake. His words reminded Hong Ce, who quickly said: “Third Brother’s consideration is thorough. After returning, I’ll immediately arrange for a house to be prepared.”
Ru Jian nodded approvingly. “I can’t leave my business here for the moment. When everything is settled, I’ll come to Beijing. I have only this one sister; I must personally send her in the wedding sedan.”
Ding Yi felt uneasy, feeling she had betrayed her brother and was troubled by her conscience. Blinking her eyes, she called out “Third Brother,” but he gave her a sidelong glance, saying gruffly: “Don’t put on an act. You must be overjoyed inside. Girls can’t be kept at home forever!” This left her speechless.
Hong Ce, having resolved one concern, emanated satisfaction. He laughed heartily: “Don’t be angry, Third Brother. The sister is still yours, just supported by someone else—it’s all the same. How is Third Brother’s mountain business going? If you encounter any difficulties, just tell Steward Pang. There’s nothing that can’t be arranged.”
Ru Jian was quite surprised. No wonder securing the mountain had gone so smoothly. Logically, such behind-the-scenes dealings in official circles would have been inaccessible to an outsider of unknown origin like himself. It turned out that Hong Ce had facilitated it. So this seemingly upright prince was probably not so pristine after all!
He cupped his hands in salute: “Many thanks for the Prince’s care. Truthfully, this kind of business lacks even contracts; spending silver without assurance is very unsettling. Now that I understand this connection, I feel more secure. After all, we’re family. Once Jujube has officially married, we’ll be even more inseparable—bones may break, but tendons remain connected. The Prince surely wouldn’t harm me.”
Hong Ce smiled lightly. A gust of wind blew in through the half-open window, stirring the purple lambskin trim on his collar. His profile momentarily held an inscrutable quality. It was just for an instant; he pursed his lips and nodded, the dignified bearing of imperial nobility instilling awe.
Ru Jian turned to look at Ding Yi. That foolish sister was staring back at him, grinning as she asked: “Third Brother, when will you return to Beijing?”
He would eventually return to Beijing; the final stages of the case would require his presence, and at that time, it wouldn’t be resolved merely by kneeling in the hall and kowtowing twice. Though Ding Yi had served in the Shuntian Prefecture, she had never witnessed someone accusing a court official and didn’t understand the severity. A commoner accusing an official, regardless of whether the accusation held truth, meant fifty strokes with a bamboo rod upon entering the hall. Knocking at the palace gate was considered troublemaking—you’d be beaten until your skin split and flesh tore. If the yamen runners beat you thoroughly, you’d barely be able to catch your breath, let alone speak. For each day the accusation remained unverified, you’d spend that day in prison. In the end, even if your grievance was cleared and you brought down someone of the highest rank, you would still be guilty. Light punishment meant exile to a thousand li away; heavy punishment meant beheading as a public example. In these times, there was little room for reason.
He scrutinized the Twelfth Prince, who remained composed, showing no reaction. So be it. If he wanted to clear his father’s name, trading one life for another’s vindication seemed fair. He should have died alongside Ru Liang and the others. Keeping this life to seek justice for them was worthwhile.
He smiled. “You settle in first. When the Twelfth Prince sends me news, that’s when I’ll return to Beijing. Remember your Third Brother’s words: for a young lady, face is earned by oneself, not bestowed by others. In some things, if you can’t compromise, you must persist to the end. For instance, if you believe something is right, don’t hesitate or try to convince yourself otherwise. Though our family has declined, we mustn’t lose our integrity. Since you and the Twelfth Prince have decided to spend your lives together, you must trust each other. If anything is unsatisfactory, discuss it openly. In Beijing, you have no one else to rely on but him.”
Her brother’s behavior was almost like both a father and mother to her. Ding Yi’s lips trembled as she wiped away tears. “Don’t worry, I’ll remember everything. When I return, I’ll go to Xinglong Street to find people, explain everything, and ask them to take me in. Even if it means presenting a warm face to a cold reception, at least I’ll have a place to go when I leave home, and people won’t laugh at us.”
With the siblings having reached an agreement, Hong Ce had nothing to add or question. The place they mentioned on Xinglong Street was related to Ding Yi’s mother’s family—her maternal uncle who held an official position in Beijing, a fifth-rank minor official with the title of Zhongshu in the Han Division, barely hanging on. If she truly wanted to go to their home, there would be no need to seek them out; a mere hint would have them rushing to welcome her like an ancestor.
“Third Brother needn’t worry about this. I understand Ding Yi’s intention; whatever plans she has, we’ll discuss them after returning to Beijing.” He said warmly, “You can rest assured entrusting her to me. I cherish my own Fujin and won’t let her suffer the slightest grievance. If I truly didn’t care for her, why would I go to such lengths to find her whereabouts? Today, let’s set aside official business and prepare a feast. I wish to drink heartily with my Brother-in-law. Last time in Suifenhe, you still used the title of Magistrate Yue. We were both busy with questioning, with a wall between our hearts. Now it’s different—someone is connecting us, and we can speak openly.”
Smiling with his eyes, he turned to look at her, reaching out his arm to gather her hand into his palm.