Zhao Jinfeng always felt that Number Twelve was her jinx.
After noon, the group rode into the city in an ox cart. Zhao Jinfeng was quiet the whole way, but in her mind she was plotting how to make Number Twelve stay in Niujia Village.
At the very least… he couldn’t leave until she’d tried all thirty-six strategies in her plan.
When they arrived, Uncle Zhang went to see his son and grandchildren, leaving the others nearby. Third Brother didn’t know his way around, so he had no choice but to follow Zhao Jinfeng.
Clutching the jade token[1]A jade token can function as a personal identifying object or status symbol in historical fiction. The rules governing this particular token come from the story. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3717507_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3717507_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); that proved Third Brother’s identity, Zhao Jinfeng led him toward the area where Madam Yan and her stepsister, Zhao Yunxiang, were likely to be.
Today, she absolutely could not let Third Brother hand the token over to the county yamen[2]The yamen was the office and compound of a local magistrate, where government administration and legal matters were handled. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3717507_1_2').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3717507_1_2', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });!
If she couldn’t pull it off herself, she’d find a scapegoat.
Zhao Jinfeng began searching the crowd. My dear mother, my dear sister—where on earth are you?
Jinfeng really missed you both—
Sure enough, she soon spotted Zhao Yunxiang outside a rouge shop.
A wicked smile appeared on Zhao Jinfeng’s face.
“Young Master, wait a moment. I’m going to buy a box of hair oil.”
Third Brother was a gentleman. Although Miss Zhao had the noble virtue of treating money like dirt, he still felt it wouldn’t do to eat and live at her expense for nothing. So, leaning on his cane, he felt his way to the counter and said to the shopkeeper, “I’ll pay for whatever that young lady picks out, too.”
Zhao Jinfeng naturally saw Third Brother do this.
Number Twelve.
You’re wonderful.
You’re more handsome than Number Eleven, more generous than Number Six, and more of a gentleman than Number Two.
You’ve successfully piqued my interest in forcing you to love me.
Zhao Jinfeng saw Zhao Yunxiang glance her way. She immediately put on a frightened look, grabbed Third Brother’s hand, and slipped behind him.
Third Brother felt Feng’s body trembling slightly. In a gentle voice, he asked, “What’s wrong?”
Zhao Jinfeng’s voice tightened. “Young Master Song, whatever happens in a moment, please pretend you don’t know me. And don’t stand up for me, either. Otherwise, I won’t get out of here alive today.”
Third Brother was about to ask more when a sharp, acrid voice rang out. “Eldest Sister[3]A family form of address marking a daughter’s relative seniority. It can also be used between siblings of different mothers in the same household. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3717507_1_3').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3717507_1_3', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });?”
Zhao Yunxiang had spotted Zhao Jinfeng from a distance.
She’d recognize Zhao Jinfeng even if she’d been reduced to ashes!
With that delicate, seductive look of hers, Zhao Jinfeng had a kind of charm Zhao Yunxiang couldn’t imitate in a hundred years!
Third Brother stepped out from behind Third Brother. As she did, she hung Third Brother’s jade token—the one that proved his identity—in a conspicuous spot at her waist. Only then did she go to meet Zhao Yunxiang, calling out timidly, “Third Sister[4]A form of address identifying a younger sister by her ranking among the daughters in a family. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3717507_1_4').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3717507_1_4', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });—”
“So it really is you. Aren’t you supposed to be mourning Father at the estate? What are you doing in the city?”
The moment Zhao Yunxiang saw Zhao Jinfeng, she was furious. Zhao Jinfeng was beautiful, and all Zhao Yunxiang had heard growing up was that she didn’t measure up to her. Whenever Zhao Yunxiang picked a fight with her, Zhao Jinfeng didn’t even need to say a word. She only had to cry prettily a couple of times, and Father would blame Zhao Yunxiang.
“You came into the city without even going to pay your respects to Mother?”
Zhao Jinfeng answered obediently, “I was just about to go see Mother. I didn’t want to arrive empty-handed, so I came to the rouge shop to pick out a few gifts for her.”
“So you’ve been hiding money away?” Zhao Yunxiang looked her up and down. “I searched your luggage when you left home. There were only two changes of clothes in it! Where did you get the silver? Did you steal it? Cheat someone out of it? Let me tell you, if you go around stealing and swindling and bring shame on the Zhao family, Mother won’t let you off!”
“I didn’t!”
Third Brother heard a tremor in Miss Zhao’s voice. She seemed terrified of her stepsister. In the indistinct light and shadow, he could just make out Zhao Jinfeng’s thin shoulders trembling.
“You’re still denying it?!” Zhao Yunxiang saw Zhao Jinfeng’s hand keep straying to the jade token at her waist. Her movements were furtive, so Zhao Yunxiang rushed forward and grabbed her. Zhao Jinfeng cried out, “Third Sister, what are you doing… Don’t do this…”
Zhao Yunxiang, use some force!
You’ll never break it pulling like that!
Zhao Jinfeng deftly used the pull to her advantage, sliding backward into a fall. The jade token flew from her palm and struck the wall, shattering into pieces—
Zhao Yunxiang recoiled in shock. “Zhao Jinfeng, what are you pretending for? I didn’t even lay a finger on you!”
Caihuan rushed out and helped Zhao Jinfeng up. “Third Miss, how could you push my mistress? Whatever else she is, she’s your elder sister! How can you… how can you bully her like this?”
Zhao Jinfeng sagged weakly into Caihuan’s arms, her voice barely a breath. “Don’t say that. Third Sister… she didn’t do it on purpose… She really didn’t touch me. I’m just too weak…”
“Y-you… you wretch! Putting on an act again! Again!” Zhao Yunxiang made to grab her. “Get up!”
Zhao Jinfeng was hauled to her feet. She swayed unsteadily, about to fall into Song Zhi’s arms like a willow in the wind.
Hero, save the beauty![5]A familiar romantic and martial-arts-story trope in which a gallant man rescues a woman in distress. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3717507_1_5').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3717507_1_5', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });
Come on, spin and leap and catch her in your arms!
Zhao Jinfeng gritted her teeth and let herself topple. Fortunately, Number Twelve had a conscience. He sprang forward and put an arm around her shoulders.
At the very last moment, Zhao Jinfeng seized her chance and turned her head aside. Her hair brushed lightly across Song Zhi’s face, and she deliberately pressed the full curve of her chest against his, letting him hold her close.
Mm.
She’d changed her clothes just today.
She’d washed her hair just last night.
She’d even dabbed a little perfume on her neck.
A top-notch hunter… appears as the white-moonlight lover[6]In Chinese romance slang, “white moonlight” means an idealized, unforgettable love, often one who seems beyond reach. Here Feng jokingly casts herself in that role. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3717507_1_6').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3717507_1_6', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); prey.
Besides, this prey of hers was fragrant, sweet, soft, and delicate. If Number Twelve was a man at all, he couldn’t possibly remain unmoved.
But—
Those pectorals.
Number Twelve’s pectorals… big and round…
Song Zhi felt the person in his arms trembling. She was as frail and helpless as a young bird caught in a storm, waiting for him to save her.
Only when they were so close could Song Zhi make out her eyes, glistening with tears.
So… Miss Zhao… was this beautiful.
“Shameless!” Zhao Yunxiang pointed at Zhao Jinfeng, her sharp fingernails nearly poking her in the face. “In broad daylight, you’re clinging to some strange man! Mother was right—you’re a born little vixen!”
Zhao Jinfeng hurriedly struggled out of Song Zhi’s arms. She rummaged through all the white-lotus lines[7]White lotus is a Chinese-fiction archetype of apparent purity and helplessness; Feng is deliberately imitating that persona. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3717507_1_7').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3717507_1_7', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); in her head, then spoke in a breathy voice. “I’m not… I didn’t… I…”
A white lotus couldn’t speak up for herself.
Misunderstandings couldn’t be cleared up. Otherwise, how could she maintain her frail, easily bullied image?
Sure enough, Song Zhi held his blind man’s cane crosswise, blocking Zhao Yunxiang. “Third Miss Zhao, being a little vixen takes talent. It’s quite clear you’ll never be one in this lifetime.”
Zhao Jinfeng: !!!
Zhao Yunxiang: ???
Song Zhi’s words pushed Zhao Yunxiang over the edge. She stammered “Y-you…” for a long moment, then burst out, “You’re both disgusting—a dead blind man and a fox spirit[8]Fox spirits appear in Chinese folklore and fiction, often as beautiful shapeshifters. Calling someone a fox spirit can also insult them as seductive or scheming. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3717507_1_8').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3717507_1_8', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });! You’re made for each other, you shameless pair!”
Zhao Jinfeng was ecstatic.
See?
Everyone said she and Number Twelve made a good match, didn’t they?
Song Zhi’s expression darkened, and a sudden pressure radiated from him. He gave a cold laugh. “Watch your tongue. Slap her!”
Song Zhi raised a hand. The wooden cane cut through the air with a fierce whoosh. Zhao Yunxiang’s face changed, and she stood frozen with fright. Fortunately, Zhao Jinfeng kicked her behind the knee. Zhao Yunxiang landed hard on her rear, then clutched her knee and screamed in pain.
Zhao Jinfeng grabbed Song Zhi’s cane and stepped in front of Zhao Yunxiang. Biting her lip, she shook her head and said softly, “Young Master Song… don’t do that! She is my sister, after all…”
Zhao Yunxiang cried out in pain. “You still remember I’m your sister? You kicked me so hard—you were clearly trying to kill me!”
Well.
So you figured that out.
What a clever little thing you are.
“As the eldest sister, you should guide the younger girls in the family. She spoke rudely to you; you shouldn’t be so soft-hearted and kind.” Song Zhi lowered his cane and frowned slightly.
For some reason, he thought Miss Zhao had been remarkably nimble when she grabbed his cane just now.
Zhao Jinfeng lowered her head and wept. “My sister is young and doesn’t know any better. Please, Young Master Song, for my sake, don’t hold it against her.”
References[+]