The Prisoner of Beauty - Chapter 76

Chapter 76

The following afternoon, after returning from the Northern Rooms, Xiao Qiao changed into a set of half-new, half-worn light water-green clothing and removed her hairpins and rings. Her attire resembled that of someone from an ordinary family. Wearing a face-concealing veiled hat, she traveled by carriage to the Joyous Blessing Inn in the city, accompanied by Chun Niang and Nanny Lin. Leaving Nanny Lin to wait inside the carriage, she brought Chun Niang within and inquired of the waiter about the young master who had taken up lodging there a few days ago.

The waiter said: "Young Master Zong is still here. Furthermore, three to five friends came to visit him today, and he ordered a wine banquet to be set up on the empty ground of the rear hall. I am just about to go over to add more wine."

Chun Niang gave the doorkeeper ten large coins: "I am an old acquaintance of his, and just happen to have a matter to seek him out for. I will deliver the wine over in your stead along the way."

Seeing that although this lady wearing the wrapped-gauze hat did not have prominent clothing, the serving woman following her stood out and appeared even more dignified than the mistress of an ordinary household—and furthermore was generous with money—how could the waiter be unwilling? He agreed with one mouth.

Following the directions the waiter had just given, Xiao Qiao arrived at the rear hall.

This Joyous Blessing Inn was considered famous in the city. To attach themselves to elegance, they had cleared a small courtyard in the rear hall and planted several stalks of yellow-groove bamboo. Although it had now entered late autumn and the weather was gradually turning cold, this yellow-groove bamboo was resistant to the cold; its stalks and leaves were yellow flecked with green, rustling in the wind, possessing a bit of the charm of the lands south of the Yangtze River.

Xiao Qiao went along a corridor toward the rear hall, hearing faint laughter carried by the wind. Drawing slightly closer, she saw that beside a thicket of bamboo, four or five men were feasting while seated on the ground. Some were sitting and some were reclining, all around twenty years of age, and the oldest among them was merely twenty-five or twenty-six. Their postures were all wild and unbridled. She heard a slightly older man sitting toward the north laugh and say: "I once attached myself to the Linqing County Magistrate as his retainer. One morning, a storehouse thief-supervising officer came in high spirits to pay his respects to the magistrate, saying he had a dream last night wherein the magistrate was promoted and grew rich, and he specially came to report it. Initially, the magistrate was delighted and rewarded him abundantly. Yet by the following day, he suddenly flew into a great rage and ordered this person to be flogged with a staff. Do you gentlemen know the reason within this?"

While the remaining few people pondered deeply, one after another unable to solve it, they suddenly heard a woman's voice travel out from behind them: "The duty of a storehouse thief-supervising officer should be to apprehend bandits at night. For him to go to sleep and dream, such a neglect of duty makes receiving punishment only natural. I wonder if my guess is right or wrong?"

The several men seated on the ground were startled. Immediately feeling it made sense, they burst into a sudden understanding laugh. Turning their heads around, they saw that on the empty ground not far away stood the woman who had just spoken. She wore a veiled hat on her head, her face covered by thin silk gauze, accompanied by a middle-aged serving woman behind her. Not knowing where they came from, the several men could not help but look at each other.

Among them, a man in a green robe, of a similar age to Wei Shao, stood tall with a long sword hanging from his waist. His appearance was cultivated and elegant; he was precisely Zong Ji. Turning back and recognizing Chun Niang, he rose from the ground, straightened his clothing, and welcomed them forward.

Chun Niang nodded to him with a smile, calling out "Young Master's peace" and handing over a pot of wine.

Through the silk, Xiao Qiao saw Zong Ji's gaze fall upon herself, a trace of doubt carrying within his expression, so she said: "To pay a rash visit is exceedingly impolite. The day before yesterday, I received your letter sent from a thousand miles away and am extremely grateful. Passing by today, I specially came to express my thanks. If there is any disturbance, I hope for your broad tolerance."

The moment she opened her mouth, Zong Ji knew her identity; she should be that Lady within the Wei Estate. Startled, he hurriedly paid his respects to her. Seeing this situation, his remaining friends knew this woman should have a matter to visit for. The wine banquet had proceeded to this point and was also pretty much enjoyed to the full, so they rose one after another to bid farewell and depart. Passing near Xiao Qiao, although they could not see her countenance clearly due to the veiled hat blocking her face, beneath the thin silk, it could faintly still be discerned that she was a young and beautiful woman. Furthermore, she had just broken the playful riddle with a single word, showing her intelligence. They were extremely curious, and could not resist casting a few more glances as they passed by.

Zong Ji escorted his friends outside. The several men all teased him, saying he had only arrived in Yuyang for a few days, yet when had he unexpectedly associated with such an outstanding beautiful lady? Concealing it without reporting, next time he must definitely make a wine penalty.

Since Zong Ji had already guessed that woman's identity, how did he dare to desecrate her? He hurriedly denied it flatly, and after swiftly sending his friends away, he returned. Arriving before Xiao Qiao, he said respectfully: "I did not know the Lady would personally drive here, and have failed to welcome you from afar. Could it be that there is a place where I can be of use? If there is any, please command freely."

Back on that day when he was saved by Bi Zhi, he had sworn an oath to repay him. Hearing the Bi Zhi couple speak of this Lady of the Marque of Yan with great respect, as if she had previously been of grace to the two of them, within his heart he subsequently regarded her equally as his benefactor. Knowing that with her identity, if there were no other matter, she would also not specially come here to see him in person, that was why he spoke in this manner the moment he opened his mouth.

Xiao Qiao let Chun Niang avoid them first, and afterward said: "My elder sister specially mentioned you in her letter, saying your acquaintances are extremely broad and you are a person who can be relied upon. Therefore, I came rashly. To not conceal the truth, I indeed have a request of you."

As she spoke, she lifted the veil of her hat, revealing her face, and smiled slightly toward Zong Ji, nodding her head.

Zong Ji's sight fell upon her face, his gaze fixing slightly for a moment before he finally reacted. He unexpectedly did not dare to look back into her pair of eyes again, merely saying: "I have received the Lady's undeserved praise. So long as there is a matter, the Lady may command freely. Zong Ji will blot the ground with his liver and brains to repay the grace of my benefactor saving my life back on that day!"

...

Coming out from the Joyous Blessing Inn, Xiao Qiao pondered deeply all along the road back to the estate.

Last night, Nanny Huang's secret report regarding Nanny Jiang's stealthy actions caused Xiao Qiao’s originally tense nerves to pull tightly once more.

In her past life, Madame Xu's unexpected death due to illness, Da Qiao, Lady Zhu, Nanny Jiang by Lady Zhu's side, and also that Madam of a local marquis surnamed Li who had appeared in her line of sight for the first time...

So many people, it seemed they should be able to be threaded into a single line.

Nanny Jiang was Lady Zhu's confidante, Lady Zhu was the managing mistress of the Wei Estate, and that Madam of a local marquis surnamed Li was a noble lady within Yuyang City. If the two of them had interacted in the past, Lady Zhu dispatching Nanny Jiang to her door right now would also be explainable.

But Xiao Qiao's intuition conversely told her that matters would not be this simple.

Merely looking from Nanny Huang's description last night, it was still impossible to judge whether Nanny Jiang quietly going to the residence of the Madam of the marquis surnamed Li was a dispatch by Lady Zhu, or a private action hidden from Lady Zhu.

Happening precisely at this juncture when Madame Xu was ill and Wei Shao had again left home, Nanny Jiang making such a nearly stealthy action was simply too worthy of suspicion.

But in the middle, it conversely appeared as if something was missing, causing her to consistently be unable to reasonably string the relationships of these people together.

Furthermore, that Madam of a marquis surnamed Li—in the end, what kind of sacred divinity was she?

She had come to Yuyang for nearly a year. Noble ladies of Yuyang—Xiao Qiao had seen most of them.

Her memory was not bad. People she had met faces with, even if only for a single glance, she would also not forget.

But this local marquis's Madam—Xiao Qiao was certain she had not come to the Wei Estate to move about.

Out of her status as a widow, living in seclusion and rarely coming out was originally also reasonable.

But right now, since she had broken into her own line of sight at this juncture in this manner, Xiao Qiao did not plan to let it pass.

Therefore, she personally found that Zong Ji and requested his help, helping herself to stare firmly at this local marquis's Madam, unable to let a single action or movement of hers pass.

In truth, Xiao Qiao right now also possessed male servants she could dispatch to manage matters. But this matter was special; ordinary people would fear it difficult to stare out any kind of renown. That Zong Ji, however, was different. As Da Qiao's letter described, he was a wandering knight-errant.

Knight-errants, from the time of the Spring and Autumn Period onward, had been a special social existence group. Valuing righteousness and slighting profit, a promise was worth a thousand pieces of gold, and they would even not hesitate to use death to repay those who understood them.

If this knight-errant Zong Ji were willing to lend a hand to help, the efficacy would definitely be better than her handing the matter over to ordinary people.

But this kind of martial-world knight-errant was very difficult to buy off with money. Looking at what was spoken within Da Qiao's letter, this Zong Ji also appeared to place quite a heavy emphasis on righteousness. Thus, she thought to rely upon her relationship with Bi Zhi and Da Qiao to open her mouth and ask him to help.

Originally she was slightly apprehensive, fearing she would be too rash coming to the door like this.

She had not expected Zong Ji would agree with one mouth, and looking at his attitude, it was also not forced.

This allowed Xiao Qiao to finally feel slightly at ease.

She could not resist turning her attention once more to the medicine Madame Xu took.

Previously she had thought it over repeatedly: assuming everything was still the same as the past life, and Madame Xu, who was originally recovering, suddenly became heavily ill and died past medical help, then most likely, it was that the diet or the soup medicine had been tampered with by someone.

Therefore, after she determined that Nanny Guo, who was responsible for decocting medicine in the Northern Rooms, possessed no problem, she exhorted her time and again that she must guarantee every turn she decocted medicine, she must stare at it from beginning to end, unable to leave a single step.

Originally she felt it was already pretty much enough. Right now, because of this accident, it caused Xiao Qiao to grow even more tense.

The moment she returned to the Wei Estate, she instructed Chun Niang that she need not manage herself anymore. Next, before Madame Xu recovered and stopped her medicine, she was to go and decoct medicine together along with that Nanny Guo. When the kitchen cooks made food, she must also watch to the side; if there was any outsider drawing near, she was to tell her immediately.

Chun Niang was somewhat bewildered. But the Lady's emotions these past days had also infected her. She did not ask much, on the spot complying.

"When it is time to decoct medicine and make food, you may use an excuse to go over and remain before the stove. There is no need to let people know that it was I who specially dispatched you to stare again."

Xiao Qiao pondered for a bit, giving another instruction.

...

After Chun Niang left, Xiao Qiao pondered for a long duration, deciding to take a trip toward the Eastern Chambers.

After that matter of Wei Yan the other day, apart from revealing her face to escort Wei Shao a few days ago, Lady Zhu had shut herself within the Eastern Chambers during the remaining time, and furthermore did not want Xiao Qiao to go pay her respects.

Xiao Qiao had not seen her for quite a number of days.

She wished to go test her out, to see whether she actually knew about the matter of Nanny Jiang quietly going to the local marquis's Madam's house.

Xiao Qiao arrived at the Eastern Chambers and waited for half a day, yet she did not even catch a glimpse of Nanny Jiang's face. A serving woman came out, saying the Madam would not see her, telling her to return.

Xiao Qiao had no alternative, and could only dispel the thought.

...

In truth, she had also thought to simply disclose the news that someone might wish to be disadvantageous toward Madame Xu to Nanny Zhong, letting her help to guard against it together.

But after considering it time and again, in the end she still could not make up her mind.

If she told Nanny Zhong, Nanny Zhong would definitely ask the reason as well as the object of suspicion.

At that time, how would she speak?

After all, up until the present moment, everything was merely her own suspicion, or in other words, catching at shadows.

The object of her greatest suspicion was precisely Lady Zhu. Because only Lady Zhu possessed the motive and the possibility to strike.

But this was absolutely not a small matter. Lady Zhu was the managing mistress of the Wei family, Wei Shao's mother. For her to suspect her of wanting to harm Madame Xu to death without proof or evidence like this—on the lighter side, it was her losing her mind and estranging them before Madame Xu; spoken heavily, it was being rebellious and possessing unfathomable motives.

No matter from human relationships or common sense, without conclusive evidence, it was impossible for her to recklessly disclose even a sliver of wind and sound outside.

Therefore, right now what she could do was also merely exerting everything she was capable of to guard against it before it happened.

It was merely thus.

...

Chun Niang went to the Northern Rooms. Xiao Qiao summoned Nanny Lin over, letting her go again to inquire into the details of that Madam of a marquis surnamed Li in detail. The more detailed, the better.

Nanny Lin had been in the Wei Estate for many years; she was a genuine native of Yuyang, and the person was also clever. Inquiring into this kind of local household, handing it to her was simply couldn't be more appropriate.

Nanny Lin complied, departing in a rush. Arriving at the dusk of the following day, Xiao Qiao returned from Madame Xu's place to the Western Chambers. The moment she entered within, she saw Nanny Lin welcome her forward. Knowing she should possess news, after entering the room and closing the door, she asked: "How is it? Could it be you have inquired into something?"

Nanny Lin said: "In response to the Lady, that local marquis's Madam lost her husband one year ago. To observe mourning, only then did she return to the ancestral residence of Yuyang. Early on, she had consistently resided within Luoyang. After returning, she subsequently lived in seclusion and rarely came out, and her public reputation is extremely fine. It is only known that she possesses a young son within her household. The remaining details truly could not be inquired out."

Xiao Qiao let Nanny Lin go down, falling into deep thought herself.

Luoyang...

At the first moment, a name leapt out within her mind: Su Euhuang.

Could it be that Su Euhuang and the local marquis's Madam knew each other, and furthermore met faces with Nanny Jiang through the local marquis's Madam?

But Nanny Jiang was Lady Zhu's confidante, and Lady Zhu toward Su Euhuang was clearly deeply hateful.

Within this, what else was there that she did not know?

Moreover, Su Euhuang right now had already departed Yuyang; this point she was able to be certain of. Because she had once heard with her own ears Nanny Zhong speak to Madame Xu that the people of the relay station had personally escorted her to twenty miles outside the city.

Unless she disregarded the risk of provoking Madame Xu's anger and doubled back once more, remaining within that local marquis's Madam's household.

Could it be...

Nanny Jiang was actually also Su Euhuang's person?

Xiao Qiao received a great fright from this thought she had suddenly thought of.

If this were true, then a link on that line that had consistently troubled herself these days and could not be connected was supplemented to completion.

Madame Xu, Lady Zhu, Nanny Jiang, Su Euhuang...

In other words, the object of suspicion, apart from Lady Zhu, right now added another Su Euhuang.

Although she herself was not within the Wei Estate, if Nanny Jiang were her person, it was also not without an opportunity to strike against Madame Xu.

Lady Zhu possessed the motive to resent Madame Xu. Su Euhuang appeared to possess it as well.

Xiao Qiao immediately felt her heart jumping and her flesh creeping, sweat seeping out from the palms of her hands.

...

During this one night, Lady Zhu, Su Euhuang, Nanny Jiang—one face after another continuously surfaced within her mind like a revolving lantern. She suffered from insomnia for a whole night. Early the next morning, she rose with dark circles under her eyes. Straightening herself up and just about to go to the Northern Rooms, Chun Niang entered, quietly telling Xiao Qiao that first thing in the morning, news had traveled from that Young Master Zong, requesting the Lady to go to the inn once more; he possessed a matter to inform the Lady of in person.

Xiao Qiao’s spirit shook. Knowing he should have inquired into something, she hurriedly changed her clothing, bringing Chun Niang and Nanny Lin like the previous time, hurrying to the inn.

Inside the inn, Zong Ji was already waiting.