Love in Red Dust - Chapter 34
Chapter 34
Upon entering the grand palace gate, she had only taken a few steps when she saw a figure standing under the dim, flickering lantern light. He stood with his arms crossed, his presence as imposing as a rainbow. Dingyi’s heart skipped a beat—who else could it be but the Seventh Prince? The hour was still early, and he was supposed to have gone out seeking amusement; how had he returned so quickly?
She hurried forward, bowing at the waist, and asked, “Was it dull outside, Master? You’ve returned so soon?”
He replied, “I wasn't in the mood. What kind of place was that? The lead courtesan was as stout as a barrel; if she sat on your lap, she could crush a man to death. How do men manage to live such wretched lives in a place like that...” As he spoke, he looked behind her and saw the Twelfth Prince entering through the gate. He felt a bit of anger; the advice he had given the lad had completely fallen on deaf ears. No sooner had he left than they were entangled with each other again. Right now, he felt like a man whose new wife didn't care for the home—always running off, impossible to keep under control. He couldn't help but raise his voice, pulling a long face as he asked, “Where have you been? The moment your master turns his back, you start running wild—whose house is this the custom of?”
Dingyi knew he was about to lose his temper, so she hunched her shoulders and raised the cage in her hands slightly. “I begged the Twelfth Prince to take me to buy birds.”
“Buy birds?” The Seventh Prince was completely baffled. “You’ve grown addicted to keeping birds, and now you’re planning to get some for yourself to play with?” He lowered his head to examine the cage. “Not bad. Such fine birds—rare indeed.” He then glanced at Hong Ce. “Well now, has your friendship reached such a stage? Two birds like these can’t be cheap.”
Hong Ce remained expressionless and did not mince words, saying plainly, “These birds are not for her; I bought them for you. Your previous two birds were poisoned to death. Xiaoshu was afraid you would be upset, so she brought back new ones to help take your mind off things.”
The Seventh Prince was stunned. “What? The two birds are dead?”
Dingyi’s eyes welled with tears as she stammered, “After returning from your side this morning, I let them bask in the sun in the garden. Later, they wouldn't eat or drink, and before dusk fell, they were both dead.” As she spoke, she knelt to kowtow. “It was my negligence; I didn't care for them properly. Master, vent your anger on me if you must. I joined your service but failed to perform my duties well; I have no face to see you. Only if you beat me or scold me will I feel any peace.”
“You’ll feel peace, but what about me?” Hongtao was shocked. His birds had died in such a confused manner—it was simply inconceivable. “They were fine this morning; how could they just drop dead... get up, get up... You said just now that someone drugged them—who did it?”
“Investigating won't be difficult. Not everyone can enter or exit the palace grounds as they please. The guards all live in the dormitories at the Western Seventh Compound; to enter the palace, one must pass through security. Since we just arrived, none of the eunuchs or palace maids serving here would have the audacity to do this. It must be someone with a prior grudge, someone destroying another’s livelihood out of petty revenge.” He turned to ask Sha Tong, “Have you asked the guard on duty? Who has been moving about after the hour of the Dragon today?”
Sha Tong replied, “Reporting to my Master, the people from our Prince Chun’s household are not permitted to enter the palace without a summons. I checked the entrance logs; only the Seventh Prince’s guards, Liao Datou and Qian Chuan, have entered the inner garden.”
Dingyi let out an “ah.” “Liao Datou was chatting with me in the garden. He was alone; I didn't see Qian Chuan. Could it be a ‘luring the tiger from the mountain’ tactic—distracting me with conversation while someone else secretly fed poison to the birds?”
The situation was clear; they were just hot-headed fools without a plan. They thought that if the birds died, he would blame the person tending them, but they failed to cover their tracks—they bent over and left their behinds exposed.
“Today they poison the birds; tomorrow they might dare to poison a person,” Hong Ce said. “There are state laws and family rules. Committing crimes within the palace grounds—if word leaks out, Seventh Brother, you won't be able to explain it when you return to the capital. For a servant to be disloyal to their master, knowing the birds were his cherished possessions and poisoning them to vent private grievances—such people should be made an example of, to serve as a warning to others.”
The Seventh Prince’s rage was like thunder in the twelfth lunar month, carrying a sharp, panicked quality. He shouted for Na Jin, “Damn it! Bring Shouheng, Liao Datou, and Qian Chuan to me! If I don't deal with them today, I’ll write the two characters of my name backwards!”
The Seventh Prince swept away like a gust of wind. Dingyi looked at the Twelfth Prince in apprehension. He gave a reassuring smile and said to Sha Tong, “Call over all the guards who were stirring up trouble at the Yanzi River Post Station. A group of people who lack loyalty—when things rot, they start from the core. If they don't confess, others will; and if it turns into dogs biting dogs, that’s fine by me.”
Hearing this as she stood beside him, Dingyi felt that the Twelfth Prince was truly not as simple as he appeared. He was a gentle person, yet he could be swift and decisive when necessary. But then again, she had only known him for two months; that amount of time was far from enough to truly understand a person.
As for the Seventh Prince, he was acting like he had consumed gunpowder, raging like a storm in the Wende Hall. He was a martial artist with solid leg techniques. With the servants kneeling before him, he didn't even ask for the cause before giving each of them a heavy kick to the chest. The men didn't dare speak back after the beating; they crawled back up and knelt properly. He snatched a snake-skin whip from the wall and roared at them with a thick voice, “I’m already full of fire today, and the moment I get back, I run into this! Do you think your master is too idle? Are you doing this to annoy me on purpose? People say you keep dogs to guard the house; you lot are worse—you fight within your own nest and harm your master! Speak! Who drugged my birds? Don’t bother trying to cover for each other. I usually indulge you, but that doesn't mean I’m blind. Confess honestly; either we dispose of the ringleader, or the three of you can report to the Yama King together. Don’t make me wait—speak!”
Shouheng stammered in his defense, “Reporting to my Master, I spent the entire day today procuring supplies at the carriage and horse depot. The further north we go, the colder the weather gets; in case we can't reach the post station, we must prepare things to make fire and keep warm. Although I didn't enter the palace, such an incident happening is my dereliction of duty. I feel ashamed before you, Master; please punish me severely.”
The Seventh Prince spat. “You bastard! Do you need a squad leader to handle such menial tasks? Are your subordinates all dead? Failing to manage your men is indeed your crime, but what I want now is the person who poisoned the birds.” He turned around, his eyes glaring at the other two. “Take advantage of the fact that I still have patience and speak quickly. If you provoke me, I’ll flatten you!”
His tone sounded chilling; Dingyi shivered in fear from the side. She looked up and saw Qian Chuan acting blank and foolish, feigning ignorance. “Master, you are wise. Today, Liao Datou and I did enter the palace to report to you, and we left as soon as we finished. Mu Xiaoshu is the bird handler; if there’s a problem with the birds, you should ask him. Besides, security in the palace is tight—who would have the guts to poison them? Was it perhaps his negligence that caused the birds to die of neglect?”
The Seventh Prince’s tendency to be strict in his family rules but “all thunder and no rain” had long been figured out by others. Dingyi was furious seeing Qian Chuan act this way and retorted, “I met Liao Datou in the garden, and we even spoke. The palace eunuchs can testify to that. I’d like to ask you—I didn't see you then. Where were you? Are you still holding a grudge from last time, catching every opportunity to persecute me? You can harm me, but don’t touch my birds! Bullying them because they can’t speak to report you—what kind of hero do you call yourself!”
Hong Ce, who was watching from the sidelines, had not spoken until Wei Kaitai brought a palace doctor in. After the doctor bowed and paid his respects, Hong Ce said, “Qian Chuan’s words also make sense. We must examine how the birds died; we shouldn't wrongly accuse an innocent person.”
A young eunuch brought a tray over, presenting both birds. When the Seventh Prince saw them, he was heartbroken, sitting in his chair and sighing repeatedly. The doctor went to work, plucking feathers from the birds’ bellies and dissecting them all the way from the esophagus, removing the tiny crop. Because it was so small, he had to use acupuncture needles to examine it. Fearing that too much time had passed and the contents had digested, he also pierced the intestines. Everyone stared with wide eyes, truly like a coroner conducting an autopsy, breathing heavily from the tension. The result was vital: if poison was found, it must have been a dark deed by someone else; if not, it was likely Dingyi’s fault.
But these were healthy birds—they hadn't died from the summer heat or the rain, so how could they suddenly die after settling into the palace? A suspicious death meant there was something fishy going on. After a while, the examination finished. On the white cloth in the tray lay a dozen needles, their tips turned black. The doctor lowered his hands and said, “Reporting to the two Princes, the birds were poisoned. The poison was quite potent, but its effect was slow, and the dose was small. From the morning to the evening, there was a long duration, and much was consumed, but it is still detectable.”
Dingyi felt the catharsis of having her grievance cleared. She glared at Qian Chuan. This time, he didn't say a word; his eyes darted around, likely thinking that even if they found poison, there was no evidence to point directly at him. But he had forgotten that a man like the Seventh Prince lacked the patience for complex thought and preferred simple, brutal methods.
Hongtao sneered. “Incredible. A fine bunch of servants I’ve raised, plotting against their own master. Shouheng didn't enter the palace; his failure to supervise doesn't warrant death. As for Liao Datou and Qian Chuan, one way or another, you cannot escape involvement. If you did it, killing you will serve as compensation for the birds; if you didn't do it... then that’s just your bad luck—go down and help tend to the birds!”
The kneeling men were terrified. “Master, this... this...”
Hong Ce looked outside; the rest of the guards under the Seventh Prince had all been summoned. He said, “You all live in the same rooms; I don’t believe no one saw anything. This is not the time to talk about brotherhood—decide for yourselves whether to testify or be dragged down together.”
The Seventh Prince was slightly dazed. Two people dealt with wasn't enough? Was he planning to clear the whole house? The Twelfth Prince’s methods were too ruthless; did he intend to leave him as a Prince without a single guard?
Hong Ce had his own intentions. To catch a thief, one must catch them with stolen goods. Since he couldn't pin them down on the spot, relying solely on deduction might not convince everyone, even if they were punished. People are all the same: when disaster strikes, they are eager to distance themselves. Once they hear about collective punishment, someone will naturally stand up. They didn't see the poison being administered, but they saw the bird feed being mixed—in that case, it was all the same.
Liao Datou finally couldn't hold on. He hadn't expected that killing two birds would cost him his life. His teeth chattered, and he knelt and crawled forward, shaking, as he said, “Master... I didn't do anything! I just said a few words to Xiaoshu in the garden; I know nothing else...”
The Seventh Prince spat in his face. “You’re the type I despise the most—a coward who dares to do it but dares not admit it. What are you!” After a tirade of abuse, he turned his head and shouted, “You all see this? Take him out and behead him for me!”
Suddenly, wailing erupted. No one really wanted to die, and they all begged for mercy, crying and pleading with their master to show grace. Although poisoning within the palace was a capital offense, after all, they had only poisoned birds; taking two human lives seemed a bit excessive. Hong Ce called for them to stop. “Handle it another way; give them fifty military floggings and send them to the Xin Zhe Ku. There is no need for their lives.”
The Seventh Prince was so angry his face sagged, and he sat in his armchair without a word. If he didn't nod, no one could act; they all stood there awkwardly, waiting. He looked around once. “What are you waiting for? Do it!” He waved his hands dismissively. “Dismissed, dismissed... get out, get out!”
The Seventh Prince was in a very low mood, and no one wanted to stand there and get scolded. Everyone agreed and retreated, but then he called out again, “Mu Xiaoshu, you stay behind.”
Dingyi froze and shrank her neck as she walked back into the hall. Hong Ce paused for a moment but eventually left.
Once everyone had gone, it was hard to say whether the Seventh Prince wanted to scold someone or devour them. She looked over timorously and brought the bird cage forward. “Master, please don’t be sad. Birds cannot return to life, but luckily I was quick-witted and got you two more. These birds are no worse than Feng’er and Yingying; they are the same breed, and the Lark knows how to sing the thirteen suites. Master, take a look...” His horse-like face was truly black with rage; Dingyi’s arm remained stiff in mid-air, unable to advance or retreat.
The Seventh Prince snorted. “Good birds? Thirteen suites? How much silver did you spend to buy them?”
She opened her mouth, then hesitated. “Cage and birds included, five hundred taels in total.”
“Five hundred taels? Whose money was it?”
Did he really need to ask whose money it was? Even if she were dismantled, her bones wouldn't be worth five hundred taels. She lowered her head and said, “I have no money; it was the Twelfth Prince’s silver.”
“And you have the gall? Spending other people’s money—don’t you feel ashamed?” The Seventh Prince stood up and paced the floor, holding his chest and howling, “You’ve truly driven me to death! Have I told you or not: don’t go looking for the Twelfth Prince when you have problems? I am your proper master; you should come to me! How do you always forget that? Is that head of yours only there to make you taller? Huh? Your brain can’t remember things—is it filled with bean curd? How many times do I have to tell you? Give me a straight answer!”
The Prince was truly heartbroken. Dingyi was moved to tears by his scolding. “I was just anxious because the birds died. I was afraid you’d be angry, so I hurried to buy others to replace them so you could feel a little better.”
“So it was for me? You have the nerve to say that! If the birds died, they died—what are two birds worth? Why did you go scurrying to him? What is this all about? Are you that afraid of me? Such a good master as me, so understanding of people—you couldn't find another in the whole world. What are you afraid of? Explain it clearly! Can I force you to die? Now look at this—a debt as big as a mountain. How do you plan to repay it?”
He went on and on like an overturned cart of walnuts, leaving her speechless. A good master? Was he talking about himself? She hadn't thought he was easy to talk to before, but this time, seeing how he acted like the death of the birds meant nothing, it was truly baffling.
Dingyi even forgot to cry, staring at him blankly. “What should I do?”
The Seventh Prince glared at her, wishing he could slice her into pieces. He pointed his finger into the cage. “Release them all! I get angry just looking at them!”
She couldn't do that. She hid the birdcage behind her back. “That’s five hundred taels of silver; I can’t squander money like that.”
Never mind five hundred taels—even for five thousand, the Seventh Prince wouldn't have blinked. “I said release them, so release them!”
She took a large step back. “Master, Yingying and Feng’er are both dead. Without birds, what kind of bird handler am I if I stay here with you? Are you going to keep me on idle pay, giving me a salary for doing nothing?”
The salary was secondary, but keeping her idle was out of the question—people who are idle like to let their minds wander; they need something to do. He frowned and scratched his brow. “It’s not that we don’t have money, but we cannot be in debt to others! I will buy the birds myself; I don’t need his gifts. And that Shaanxi dog from last time—either return it to him or pay him the cash. Let him decide the amount. Anyway, one debt is one debt; once it’s cleared, we won’t owe him anything, and when we meet, we can be open and aboveboard.”
Using the word “we” over and over, the Seventh Prince felt this phrasing best represented his current thoughts. He had gone to a brothel today; the courtesans had been as affectionate as could be, clinging and pressing against him, but facing them, he felt nauseated by the smell of their powder. He had sneaked out, crestfallen, and headed to a male brothel—a place filled with teenage boys, all fair-skinned and handsome—but he discovered he still couldn't do it, stopping at the door, unable to take a step forward. Everything felt wrong; suddenly, a chill ran through his entire body. What should he do? Could it be that he was no longer capable?
He stared fixedly at the person under the lantern light; Xiaoshu’s face was still the most pleasing to his eyes. He was slightly lost in thought, supporting his chin and murmuring, “Shu, if you were a woman, how good that would be. I wouldn't have you be a guard; I’d make you my secondary wife.”