It was over.
Chen Baoxiang watched the figure approaching from a distance and felt her vision go dark.
How could there actually be a member of the Zhang Family here —
Don’t be afraid.
The Great Immortal spoke to her in a low voice —
Remember the plan I told you earlier.
That plan?
Chen Baoxiang thought it over, and still felt her legs go weak: If I’m exposed, I’m dead for certain —
Just repeat what I tell you to say.
By the time they finished speaking, the man was already standing before the cell bars.
A tall, slender young man — rather handsome — lowered his head to look at her, his brow furrowed tightly: “What did you just say?”
Chen Baoxiang met his gaze, mustered her courage, and repeated: “You’ve come at just the right time, my lord. I was just about to report to you — this banquet today was one Zhixu privately invited me to attend. The fact that he didn’t enter my name on the guest list is his own business. Why should I be held responsible for it?”
A collective sharp intake of breath rose from the surroundings.
Zhang Xilai studied the woman before him carefully.
Plain-looking, with an odd application of makeup; her clothing and accessories were coarse and ostentatious, as though trying to flaunt wealth — yet a single glance made it obvious she had not come from a wealthy or noble household.
— And a woman like this had been privately invited by Zhang Zhixu?
His tone naturally darkened: “Do you have any evidence?”
“What I said to him were private words between us — what evidence could there be?” Chen Baoxiang said with a pout. “He told me about this the day before the Burnished Tail Banquet began. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Jiuquan, the attendant at his side.”
She even knows Jiuquan.
Zhang Xilai was somewhat surprised.
Chen Baoxiang continued: “I also asked him to properly send me an invitation card, but he told me to ride with him in his carriage — so naturally there was no need for a card. On that day, the carriage left from the east side gate of the Zhang Family estate. Did we not happen to run into you then? You greeted Lord Zhang warmly and said you would head over yourself once you finished copying the calligraphy he had given you.”
Those were indeed the words he had spoken that day. There had been no one else around — only his young uncle’s carriage.
Zhang Xilai hesitated briefly, then gave a small nod.
Chen Baoxiang pressed on while she had the advantage: “He also mentioned you to me on the road, Young Lord Zhang — he said you are the most promising one among the younger generation. On your birthday, he sent you a hairpin, hoping you would achieve the top rank in the imperial examinations.”
At these words, Zhang Xilai was fully convinced.
When his young uncle had sent him that birthday gift, none of the others had recognized it for what it was — some even said his uncle merely wanted him to take better care of his appearance. Only Zhang Xilai knew it was the pale jade qilin hairpin his uncle had worn when he placed third in the imperial examinations.
“Someone come — open the cell door.”
Lu Qingrong saw things turning badly and immediately spoke up: “Wait!”
She turned to another official standing nearby: “Lord Xie, you and Lord Zhang have been close friends since childhood. If Lord Zhang had such a beloved confidante, surely you would know her?”
Chen Baoxiang’s heart sank, and turning to look, she indeed saw an official with his arms folded, watching the spectacle in amusement, smiling as he said: “This young lady — I have not had the pleasure of meeting her.”
“You heard him?” Lu Qingrong immediately gained confidence. “Your honeyed words may have fooled Young Lord Zhang, but you cannot deceive Lord Xie, who is with Lord Zhang every single day.”
This is bad.
Chen Baoxiang wailed inwardly: How on earth do I deal with this one now? —
It’s all right.
The Great Immortal remained composed —
Answer as I tell you.
Chen Baoxiang was gripped with anxiety, fingers picking at the wood splinters on the cell bars as she spoke again: “Although you have not seen me before, my lord, I have seen you.”
“Oh?” Xie Lanting leisurely accepted the tea a prison guard brought over, skimming the froth as he asked, “And where might you have seen me?”
“At Xun Yuan.”
“That is Zhang Zhixu’s private residence. I go there often — many people know of it,” he said, taking a sip of tea. “Tell me something others don’t know. Otherwise, I cannot protect you.”
Everyone present fixed their eyes on her in unison, as though one wrong word and they would rush forward and drag her straight to Wumen.
Chen Baoxiang swallowed, and repeated the words with the resignation of one facing death: “On the twentieth of last month, Lord Xie drank three pots of Jiangnan Chunfeng wine at Xun Yuan, and got so drunk he went around chasing everyone present and calling them Father.”
“Pft —” Xie Lanting spat out a mouthful of tea.
“Is — is that not enough?” she said nervously. “Then there’s also the time in the ninth month, when you came to Xun Yuan in the middle of the night, crying, looking for Lord Zhang, saying that the singing girl you had kept for five years had run off with a lute player — that you felt so humiliated and couldn’t sleep.”
“And just a few days ago, you went to Xun Yuan to borrow three thousand taels of silver from Lord Zhang, saying it was for Chunfeng Lou —”
“That’s enough.” Xie Lanting coughed while stretching out a hand over the bars to clap it over Chen Baoxiang’s babbling mouth, and through gritted teeth said in a low voice, “How do you know even all of this.”
Indeed.
Chen Baoxiang blinked innocent wide eyes while muttering inwardly: Great Immortal, how do you know all of this!
The Great Immortal was silent and apparently had no intention of dignifying that with a response.
But having said all this aloud, the noble guests present had gone from skepticism to complete and utter belief.
Chen Baoxiang and Zhang Zhixu — their friendship was truly no small matter.
“Quickly, quickly release this young lady.” A perceptive official was already urging the prison guards to move. “What do you mean ‘sneaking into the banquet’ — she was a proper guest of the Zhang Family. One cannot suspect just anyone. Young Miss, are you hurt anywhere?”
“I knew all along Chen Baoxiang was no ordinary person — this is all the Lu Family stirring up trouble.” A noble lady came over to take her by the arm. “It just so happens we’re heading out for drinks — come along and wash off the bad luck.”
“That drink should really be my treat — the pastries Baoxiang sent me last time were absolutely delicious. We should reciprocate properly. Let me treat you to the new dishes at Zhaixing Tower.”
Several women, some pulling her hand and some tugging her sleeve, jostled and shuffled her along, elbowing Lu Qingrong in the process so that she stumbled.
Lu Qingrong was thoroughly embarrassed and, furious, gathered her skirts and moved to leave.
“Oh, Miss Lu.” Chen Baoxiang called after her. “How about I treat you to drinks? To thank you for speaking up on my behalf — it’s thanks to you that I was spared a longer time in this cell.”
Look at this insufferable triumphant expression!
Lu Qingrong was so infuriated she turned her head away and refused to look at her: “No need. Without me, you wouldn’t have been able to fool this pack of fools.”
Then she gave a cold laugh: “You had best pray this lie holds for a lifetime. Otherwise, you’ll have a very ugly death coming.”
The crowd laughed and joked that Lu Qingrong had clearly lost her composure — with Young Lord Zhang and Lord Xie both vouching for her, how could Chen Baoxiang possibly have been lying?
Chen Baoxiang laughed along with them, though as she laughed, she felt a little like crying —
Great Immortal.
She asked inwardly —
If in the future we encounter someone who knows Zhang Zhixu very well — someone who knows more about him than we do — won’t I be exposed?
No.
We won’t be exposed?
What I mean is —
Zhang Zhixu felt the panic of this unfamiliar body and looked through her eyes with calm composure at the prison gate ahead —
In this world, no one knows him better than I do.