Love in Red Dust - Chapter 9
Chapter 9
She ran toward the Drum Tower, her feet moving in a blur, soaked in sweat by the time she arrived. Secretary Bai lived in Shajing Hutong; one turn into a two-courtyard compound was his home. Dingyi went up to knock, and after a long while, she heard the sound of coughing and spitting inside. Soon, someone came to open the door. Secretary Bai looked up, let out a cry of surprise, and said, "Oh, Little Tree! Here to visit our humble home?"
Secretary Bai was a man of some scholarly standing, though he bore no heavy air of officialdom. He was easy to talk to and righteous. As soon as she entered, she burst into tears, "Secretary, please, save my senior brother."
She recounted the whole story, from beginning to end. Secretary Bai furrowed his brows deeply. "How could you do such a thing? You hold positions in the yamen, yet you go outside to steal dogs—and of all dogs, you steal one belonging to the Seventh Prince? What am I supposed to say to you? This matter cannot reach the ears of the Magistrate; if he finds out, your rice bowls will be smashed for good." As he spoke, he twisted his beard. "I do have some connections with people in Prince Xian’s manor, but servants are servants after all. You’ve seen the Seventh Prince’s temper; he kills people at the slightest provocation. You harmed his dog—what’s to stop him from mincing you for broth? This isn't an easy problem to solve. I must think carefully..." He gestured for her to enter. "Come, come, let’s go inside to talk."
The Secretary’s wife was also quite polite. Seeing her, she greeted, "Little Tree, you’re here?" She told a young maid to slice some melon to treat her.
Her heart felt as if it were being scorched by boiling oil. She stood up and bowed slightly. "Thank you, Madam, but how could I eat right now? My senior brother has been captured."
Madam Bai fanned herself with a round fan and said, "Xia Zhi has always been reckless; it’s no surprise he caused today’s trouble. Trying to find a way out now will be difficult. It’s the Seventh Prince’s beloved dog—cutting its ears and chopping its tail! It’s not a pet dog anymore; you’ve turned it into a badger-hunting dog. How could anyone be happy about that?"
The Secretary nodded. "She’s right. The Seventh Prince is not easy to handle. If you go to beg him, you’ll have to pay. You have no silver. What if he asks you to take the dog’s place? What will you do? Even if we stir things up from the outside, in the end, it’s all in his hands; there is no way around it. Without his imperial decree, who would dare release a prisoner so easily?" He mused for a moment and asked, "The last time you escaped danger, it was the Twelfth Prince who protected you, wasn't it? In that case, there is a connection. Why don't you go and beg him again? Prince Chun is a kind-hearted man. As long as he is willing to help, more than half the matter will be settled."
Dingyi recalled that serene, unruffled face, never having imagined she would have the chance to cross paths with him again. For some reason, she felt a profound fear. Wringing her hands, she said, "I owe him too much from last time. To go and beg him again, wouldn't it look like I’m extorting him?"
"Do you not want to save your senior brother’s life? The Seventh Prince is capable of anything. If you’re too late, you’ll just have to prepare a coffin to collect the body. Don't worry about your pride right now—how much is your face worth? Getting the person out is what matters."
"What about the 'door fee'? How much is appropriate?" Dingyi asked with a woebegone expression. "Without a door fee, they won't even let you in. Isn't that how all the princely manors are?"
Secretary Bai replied, "That doesn't matter. Prince Chun manages his household strictly. Even the eunuchs have been reprimanded; whoever dares to take a 'door fee' will have their bedroll tossed out. Since it’s not too late yet, you must go quickly. Look for a man named Guan Zhaojing; he is a steward of the manor. Mention me to him, and he won't make things difficult for you. Entrust him to deliver your message and try to find a way to see the Prince. I will head out to Prince Xian’s manor to see if I can dig up any news. If Xia Zhi is lucky, he might suffer some physical punishment, but his life should be spared."
Dingyi hurriedly said, "Thank you, it’s a lot of trouble for you. Once my senior brother is out, I will make him thank you properly."
Secretary Bai shook his head. "That is talk for later. We see each other all the time; since you came to me, there is no reason to stand by and watch you die."
They both left the house, heading in different directions. The Seventh Prince’s manor was on the street inside Desheng Gate, while Prince Chun’s manor was along the northern bank of Houhai; the distance was not too far. When they reached the area near Di'an Gate, they parted ways. Dingyi walked north along Shichahai by herself, her heart drumming with anxiety. She didn't know if she would be able to see Prince Chun by arriving so unannounced. What if he had already rested? What if he were asleep by the time she arrived? What would she do then? And what would happen to Xia Zhi overnight? Everything had reached a dead end, so she had to treat a "dead horse as a living one" and hope for the best. The only thing was that she couldn't bring herself to mention the dog-stealing part; if a commoner asked a Prince to be a lobbyist for a thief, she might be kicked out before she even finished explaining.
It was shameful, but there was no other way. Looking ahead, the grand manor was not far off. Large red lanterns hung beneath the eaves, and two massive stone lions sat on either side of the steps. The manor rarely opened its main gate, only doing so for weddings or funerals; usually, people entered and exited through the side gates. Thus, those six doors of vermilion lacquer, accented with copper studs arranged nine-by-seven, looked exceptionally grand and solemn.
She hesitated. Coming to ask for a favor empty-handed felt wrong; she should at least bring a box of pastries. But then she thought, he is a Prince—what has he not seen? Bringing him food would be more embarrassing than coming empty-handed. She steeled her nerves and walked over. As she approached, she saw to her relief that the side gate was still open. Glancing inside, she saw figures moving about; the household had not yet settled for the night. She breathed a sigh of relief. Just then, a gatekeeper walked out, scanned her up and down, and barked in a coarse voice, "Hey, why are you blindly crowding forward? Is this a place for you to sightsee?"
Dingyi forced a smile. "Pardon my intrusion, I am looking for someone. Secretary Bai of the Shuntian Prefecture sent me; I am looking for Chief Steward Guan Zhaojing."
When the gatekeeper heard that someone had referred her, his expression softened a bit, though he still looked down on her. He muttered, "Why do you look so girlie...? Wait here. I’ll go inside and pass the message, but if he has errands, he won't be able to come out."
Dingyi had to bow and scrape to show her gratitude. She was accustomed to such cold treatment, and sometimes she felt quite sad about it, but this was the life of an ordinary person living under another’s roof. Without a powerful backer, you didn't have a single coin in your pocket, and no one took you seriously. As for her, what people looked down on even more than her poverty was her appearance. If she claimed to be a man, her thin arms and legs didn't look the part; if she were a woman, her chest was as flat as a board. People had already made their judgment: she was neither man nor woman, a "half-and-half." Sometimes she cursed them for their blindness in her heart; once she saved enough money to leave Beijing, as long as her brothers were alive, she would find them, switch to women's clothes, and never play a man again.
She waited and pondered, suddenly hearing footsteps. She thought about stepping forward to greet them, but stopped herself, deciding it was better to stand to one side.
A man dressed like a eunuch walked out of the east side gate, wearing a blue silk robe with "hoof-shaped" sleeves. He led the person behind him with a subservient stoop, saying as he walked, "...The Princess sent someone this morning to ask if the Prince’s petition to go to Ningguta has been approved by the Emperor. This servant understands the Princess’s heart; she was worried that when the Thirteenth Prince goes to Chahar, he would have no one by his side. Later, when she heard that Master Lou would still be following as an attendant, she finally put her heart at ease."
The glow of the lanterns illuminated the face of the man behind him—an exceptionally young and handsome man with a faint, thin smile at the corners of his lips. He didn't continue the conversation, only saying, "I have already reported to the Prince. The roster for the Leopard Tail Squad is being resubmitted. As for who stays and who is cut, I will follow the Prince’s will entirely."
The eunuch agreed repeatedly and set the footstool for him. Once the man was on his horse, the eunuch bowed low with hands held together, "Safe travels, Master Lou."
That Master Lou left with his guards, the sound of hoofbeats drifting far off into the street. Dingyi was still ruminating on their conversation. Prince Chun was going to Ningguta, taking the route through Shengjing; Changbai Mountain was a mandatory stop on the way to Ningguta... Her mind buzzed, as if after a long, arduous journey, she had suddenly seen a ride she could catch. That sense of surprise and delight was beyond words. If she could build a relationship and mix into the accompanying team, at least the thousands of miles of travel would have support. But for now, saving Xia Zhi was paramount; that ancestor had been dragged into the Seventh Prince’s manor, and she didn't know how many layers of skin had been peeled off him by now.
"Hey, stop spacing out! This is the person you’re looking for." The gatekeeper called her and pointed at the eunuch who had seen off the guest. "This is the Chief Steward."
The structure of a princely manor was similar to that of the Imperial Palace, with the inner and outer courtyards managed separately. Those on duty in the outer courtyard were officials of the manor. "The minister’s gatekeeper is a seventh-rank official," and here at the princely manor, even the lowest-ranked were at least fifth or sixth rank. As for the inner courtyard, the head eunuch was the leader, with subordinates strictly divided into those who handled affairs, those who ran errands, and even those who did minor tasks—each with their own duties. The eunuchs who attended to daily needs were often those who had served since childhood and were more trusted than officials; thus, the head eunuch almost entirely managed all the affairs of the manor. The Prince was the head, and the head eunuch was equivalent to the second-in-command.
Someone like this could get things done. Dingyi hurriedly went up and offered a bow, "Greetings, Great Steward."
Steward Guan was in his thirties, with a high forehead and a garlic-shaped nose—a person who looked quite clever and slick. He was fawning toward superiors and quite majestic toward inferiors. He glanced at her, "So Secretary Bai sent you to find me? What is it? What’s the matter?"
Even though it was difficult to speak, she had to grit her teeth and say it. She bowed again, "Reporting to the Great Steward... There is indeed a matter. I have come today to beg for an audience with the Prince. Please, Great Steward, be accommodating and report this for me... A life is at stake. If the Great Steward performs this act of kindness, this lowly one will remember your grace, set up a memorial tablet for you, and offer three sticks of incense a day in your honor..."
Guan Zhaojing was confused by her words and waved his hand to interrupt her, "Wait... wait. Seeing the Prince is not that easy. Who are you, and what is this about? You just open your mouth and say you want to see the Prince—where are the rules in all that? If I lead you through the door, I shoulder the responsibility; I have to ensure you aren't an assassin."
She had been so anxious she had forgotten. She hurriedly said, "This lowly one is Mu Xiaoshu, holding a post at the Shuntian Prefecture. Wu Changgeng of the Execution Grounds is my master. Last time at the Caishikou execution ground, I had a brief meeting with the Prince. That time, I offended the Seventh Prince, and it was the Twelfth Prince who spoke up for me, saving my life."
Guan Zhaojing said "Oh," and nodded. "I understand. I’ve heard of that. So you’ve come today to show your gratitude?"
She was a bit embarrassed. "Gratitude is one part, but there is another matter. My senior brother... offended the Seventh Prince’s dog and has been captured by him. I have nowhere else to turn, so I have to boldly come to beg the Twelfth Prince once more for a way to survive."
It really was a case of "if there is a first, there is a second." He had saved her once, and now she was coming to him again—what kind of situation was this! Guan Zhaojing patted the back of his neck. "Whether the Prince nods or not is hard to say. I’ll look at the 'face of the Buddha' if not the monk—after all, Secretary Bai sent you, and I have to sell him some face. How about this: you wait at the second gate. The Prince has just finished his meal and is currently feeding the fish in the Western Garden. I will go inside and report it. As for whether he is willing to see you, that depends on your own fate."
No matter what, it was a chance. She was quite optimistic, smiling and saying, "The Prince is a good man; he will definitely see me."
Guan Zhaojing tilted his head and went inside. Dingyi waited patiently outside the threshold. One wait passed, then two, and she gradually grew disheartened. Leaning against the wall, she sighed and looked up at the moon; the moon, too, seemed dim and lusterless. She thought that because she had been so rude, the Prince would surely not pay any attention to her.
Just as she was lamenting, a small eunuch ran over and waved from afar. "Don't just stand there! The Prince allows you to enter!"
Dingyi was overjoyed. She hurriedly said, "Ah!" and stepped through the threshold into the beautifully carved and painted Prince Chun’s manor.