Zhu Nanxian pushed open the door and strode in the direction of the sound. Upon reaching the kitchen, he saw a basin-sized porcelain bowl shattered on the ground, its soup spilled everywhere. Shuxiang lay prostrate on the floor, her clothes half-soaked, her exposed neck and the back of her hands bright red, already beginning to blister.
Yun Xi was crouching beside Shuxiang, glaring angrily at Qin’er.
Seeing this scene, Zhu Nanxian, without asking about the cause and effect, stepped forward and called out: “Shuxiang.” Hearing her barely audible response, he supported her arm and helped her to a nearby room, then instructed Yun Xi: “Fetch a basin of cold water.”
At this moment, Su Jin and the people inside the inn, having heard the commotion, also rushed over.
Seeing the situation, Su Jin immediately ordered one of the Jiang family guards: “Go fetch a doctor.” Watching as Yun Xi carefully immersed Shuxiang’s scalded hand in the cold water, she looked around and her gaze fell upon the slightly trembling maid Qin’er. In a cold voice, she said: “Won’t you give an explanation?”
This matter could be considered half an accident.
Qin’er, believing she had guessed the relationship between Shuxiang and Zhu Nanxian, followed her to the kitchen to interrogate her. Shuxiang was a weak woman who, over these years of wandering outside with Lin’er, had not been without experiencing insults and questioning from others. If Qin’er had been asking about someone else, it would have been one thing, but this time she specifically threw dirty water on Zhu Nanxian. In her panic, Shuxiang hastily defended him.
However, Qin’er was convinced that she and Nanting had an illicit affair and was unwilling to speak with her further. While carrying the soup and leaving the kitchen, she declared that she would tell everyone about Shuxiang’s shameful deeds.
At this moment, Yun Xi happened to come to the kitchen looking for Shuxiang. Hearing Qin’er’s words, she grabbed her wrist and ordered her to apologize to Shuxiang and Zhu Nanxian. In the scuffle, the scalding soup splashed out. Fearing that Yun Xi would be injured, Shuxiang rushed forward to shield her with her own body. The entire basin of soup poured all over her, resulting in her current condition.
After hearing Qin’er’s explanation, Jiang Yue’er knew that her own maid had caused trouble and timidly called out: “Young Master Nan.”
But Zhu Nanxian paid no attention and only instructed Tan Zhaolin to go outside and fetch a medical woman to examine the injury on Shuxiang’s neck.
Qin’er had felt somewhat guilty at first, but seeing Zhu Nanxian caring for Shuxiang in every way while treating Jiang Yue’er coldly, she became even more indignant. Regardless of everything, she said: “She has the air of a vixen. The soup spilling was heaven’s will. After seducing Master Chao, she’s now seducing Guard Nan. She deserves to suffer!”
Yun Xi immediately said: “You’re slandering!”
But Qin’er retorted: “Isn’t it true? Master Chao’s academy only accepts ten students. As soon as you aunt and niece arrived in town, he made an exception to allow you to enroll. Why is that? Now she’s seducing Nan—”
Before she could finish speaking, Shuxiang, who had been lying on the couch, suddenly propped herself up to sit, her eyes glaring angrily at Qin’er: “You can slander me, but you cannot, but you cannot slander Master Chao and Young Master Nan.”
She was of servant status, and burdening His Majesty with the need to protect her was already a sin. Now she had also implicated his reputation in being insulted. She only wished she could atone with her death.
Fortunately, at this moment, the Jiang family guard who had gone to fetch the doctor and Tan Zhaolin returned. Zhu Nanxian, troubled to the point of a headache, said coldly: “All of you get out.” He cleared the room for the medical woman and doctor, then, taking Yun Xi with him and wearing a cold expression, passed by the Jiang father and daughter. Coming before Su Jin, he hesitated and said: “I…”
Su Jin nodded: “I know. For tonight’s journey, Zhaolin’s protection will suffice.”
Although Shuxiang was merely a palace maid, she had cared for Zhu Lin for many years. To Zhu Nanxian, this was no less than a tremendous kindness. Now that she and Yun Xi had encountered such an incident, how could he leave? Su Jin would have to go to the Imperial Envoy’s Reception Temple at Baoding Alley by herself.
Su Jin glanced at the Jiang father and daughter standing in the distance and added: “It’s good that you stay. I’ve always felt somewhat uneasy about the Jiang family.”
Time was of the essence. Fearing delay would make finding Zhai Di difficult, she summoned Tan Zhaolin, and the two left the inn together.
Just as they exited the inn’s door, someone called from behind: “Shiyu.” It was actually Chao Qing pursuing them.
Drawing near, he nodded to Tan Zhaolin: “I trouble you, Hero Tan. I have some words I wish to speak with Shiyu alone.”
In the evening dusk, his brow seemed locked in deep fog. After Tan Zhaolin walked away, he asked softly: “Shiyu, this young master surnamed Nan—he’s not merely an old acquaintance to you, is he?”
Su Jin was somewhat surprised. She had thought Chao Qing had pursued them to give urgent instructions, never expecting him to ask about this.
For a moment she was at a loss, not knowing how to answer him. Thinking again, in this life she had many acquaintances but few close friends. Apart from Qingyue, the only one with whom she could speak without reservation was Yunsheng. So she said in a low voice: “We never properly held a wedding ceremony, so I don’t know if it counts as being husband and wife, but our lifelong commitment was made long ago.”
Chao Qing was stunned, not expecting she would be willing to tell him frankly.
Knowing the truth, his heart, which had been suspended, did not settle to solid ground but instead floated even more violently. Thinking of her words “never properly held a wedding ceremony,” he felt heartache. Having committed to a lifetime together, why would he not even grant her a wedding ceremony?
The words came to his lips, but he felt he shouldn’t ask. After thinking it over, he only grasped at the essential: “Just what sort of person is he?”
Su Jin said: “Yunsheng, it’s not that I don’t trust you, but his identity is truly inconvenient to tell others.” She smiled faintly, “But rest assured, he has never treated me poorly.”
Having said this much, as long as she felt it was good, what else was there for him to ask? When she mentioned that person, even her brows and eyes held a smile. This was enough. Anything more said after this would be unnecessary.
Chao Qing watched as Su Jin boarded the carriage and drove toward the end of the alley, trailing a faint moonlight in the distance, like certain matters that had long concluded but gained an additional note of lingering sentiment after many years.
Since it was lingering sentiment, there were no gains or losses worth calculating. So he shook his head, turned around, and returned to the inn.
What Chao Qing didn’t see was that the moment his figure disappeared into the inn, two silhouettes emerged from the corner wall at the end of the alley. One of them was tall and thin with a gaunt face. He seemed to be in poor health—even in the warming early spring weather, he wore a fur coat.
Shu Wenlan glanced at the distant inn, coughed twice, and asked: “Did you see clearly?”
The person behind him said: “Reporting to Your Lordship, I saw clearly. Just now only Lord Su and Guard Tan left. This subordinate has already informed Prefect Zhang to strictly guard the reception temple tonight.”
Shu Wenlan smiled faintly and said: “Tell Yao Youcai as well that the time has come. Have him lead Zhai Di to Yunlai Inn to arrest people. You should follow along as well. There’s no need to be ruthless—just force that personage inside the inn to reveal his identity in front of everyone.”
“Yes,” the person behind him responded. “But Your Lordship, that personage’s status is too exalted. Once he reveals it, we won’t be able to touch anyone he wants to protect. Moreover, Lord Zhai will soon reach the inn. He was promoted personally by Lord Su back then and is utterly loyal to that personage.”
Shu Wenlan said casually: “His Majesty will enter Shu territory in the next couple of days. No matter how precious that personage is, one mountain cannot accommodate two tigers. He’s not the one we’re targeting anyway. Whoever he wants to protect, let him protect.”
The night was dark. Shu region had been clear for many consecutive days, but only today did cloud masses slowly gather at the horizon, occasionally obscuring the moon. Gradually the wind rose, actually showing signs of impending rain.
Su Jin descended from the carriage and walked to the entrance of the reception temple, presenting her name card and a letter, saying: “I trouble this guard. My surname is Su. I’ve come specifically to visit Lord Zhai Di.”
She had already been questioned once by the officials guarding the alley entrance. Learning that Su Jin was a candidate who had served as a clerk in the Bureau of Scrutiny at the Imperial Censorate for two years, they allowed her through.
But a minor seventh-rank clerk wanting to visit the Vice Censor-in-Chief was somewhat underqualified.
The guard looked over the name card, sizing up Su Jin and Tan Zhaolin, but said nothing.
This identity was given to her when Liu Yun had someone escort her out of the capital years ago. After all, it had some connection to the Imperial Censorate. Su Jin thought for a moment and utilized this connection, saying: “Guard, you may not know, but I formerly held office at the Imperial Censorate and served under Lord Zhai’s command. Before Lord Zhai came to Sichuan this time, he sent me a letter inviting me to meet.”
The guard was skeptical: “Lord Zhai is a dignified third-rank censor. Would he write you a letter?”
Su Jin nodded: “Yes. Otherwise, as a mere commoner, how would I know that the imperial envoy at the reception temple is Lord Zhai Di?”
Hearing these words, the guard felt they made sense. Looking at Su Jin again, the more he looked, the more extraordinary she seemed. Even his manner of speaking became more respectful: “Young Master, please wait. Allow this humble one to have someone go in and announce you.” With that, he handed the name card and letter to the official behind him, whispered a few instructions, and the official nodded and hurried into the temple.
The reception temple was very large. Besides the main courtyard, there were four courtyards in total to the east and west. The three lords from the capital each occupied one, and the other was temporarily inhabited by Zhang Zhengcai, the prefect of Jinzhou.
The official knew that Lord Zhai had long since left the reception temple with County Magistrate Yao, but he didn’t inform Su Jin. Having received her name card, he instead went to Zhang Zhengcai’s western courtyard.
Before long, the official returned and said to Su Jin: “Young Master Su, Lord Zhai has seen your name card and ordered this humble one to quickly invite you in.”
It was a spring night. All along the way, passing through flowers and along paths, Su Jin and Tan Zhaolin followed the official to an arched gateway adorned with hanging flowers. The official said again: “Young Master, please wait a moment. This humble one will go in again to announce you.”
However, before he could leave, Su Jin called him back and asked with a smile: “Guard, Lord Zhai always used to say my calligraphy was poor and specifically ordered me to practice diligently. Just now, after he saw the letter, did he mention that my calligraphy has improved?”
The official said: “He mentioned it, he mentioned it. The lord said Young Master Su’s calligraphy is much better than before.”
Once the official’s figure disappeared beyond the gateway, the smile vanished from Su Jin’s face. She had felt something was wrong from the start. Such a vast reception temple with three capital officials residing within, yet at evening it was as quiet as if uninhabited. Not to mention Shu Wenlan and that person in the ink-colored sedan chair—Zhai Di was the Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Imperial Censorate. The two circuit inspectors of Shu should have come to pay their respects and accompany him.
That’s why she tested the official with the letter.
Zhai Di recognized her handwriting. Having seen the letter and learned she was in Shu, he would certainly keep quiet about her calligraphy. How could he add an extra compliment saying “the writing looks good”?
Su Jin glanced at the three characters “West Front Courtyard” on the gateway’s plaque, knowing that the lord inside this courtyard was definitely not Zhai Qiguang. She paused, formulated a plan, and without time to explain too much to Tan Zhaolin, briefly said: “Let’s go.” She slowly retreated one step and turned to disappear into the pitch-black night.
The wind grew stronger, brushing across faces, scraping out a bone-chilling coldness.
Tan Zhaolin followed Su Jin as she left, but saw that she wasn’t leaving the reception temple at all. Passing the main courtyard and crossing through the corridor, she was instead urgently heading toward the eastern courtyard at the other end.
He was somewhat puzzled: “My lord, have we been played? Lord Zhai isn’t at the reception temple tonight? Then let me take you out.”
Su Jin glanced at him but said: “We went through great difficulty to get here. Why leave?”
Before Tan Zhaolin could ask more, she explained: “The one who wants to deal with us is that person waiting in the western courtyard just now. This person is most likely Zhang Zhengcai, the prefect of Jinzhou. Clearly it’s a trap to lure us in, yet after we entered the reception temple, he didn’t immediately detain us. Instead, he insisted on leading us two into the western courtyard. Why is that?”
Tan Zhaolin scratched his head: “Why?”
Su Jin pointed to the distant eastern courtyard: “It means someone else is living here, and Zhang Zhengcai is extremely wary of the personage residing here and dares not disturb him.”