“Miss, are we going back through Ziteng Street?” Chun Mei said as she helped Su Mi into the carriage.
“Um.” Su Mi turned her head to look at the sky. It was already evening, and she thought the street would not be crowded.
After speaking, she lifted the carriage curtain and peered inside.
During the journey back, Mrs. Yu was always hesitant to speak, but Su Mi could easily understand her meaning. She just thought it was too far-fetched to have her marry that man.
The ice in the cup had long since melted, and Su Mi suddenly felt a little stuffy in her chest.
She lifted the window screen and left a corner open. The wind that the carriage stirred up blew in, and the street scenes swayed by. Unconsciously, they had already arrived at Ziteng Street, in front of the government office.
The two rows of constables at the entrance had already vanished, as had the official sedan chair on the stone pavement. Unexpectedly, she remembered the back view and profile she saw earlier.
It was strange that she couldn’t have possibly known him, but she felt a strange familiarity. Something flashed through her mind, but she couldn’t grasp it.
The carriage stopped at the entrance of a four-courtyard mansion in the southeast corner of Jiangling City. Two thick, square stone pillars stood on either side, looking quite imposing.
“Madam, you’re finally back,” the old housekeeper said with a smile as he took the fragrant utensils from Chun Mei’s hand. “The Master hasn’t eaten yet.”
Mrs. Yu asked in confusion, “I told Auntie Zhao earlier that I would be back late today and they didn’t have to wait for me.”
The old housekeeper scratched his head and said, “I don’t know about that.”
The Su family had one wife and two concubines, as well as two maids. The younger generation ate in their respective courtyards, and the maids were not allowed to eat with them. So, the ones that were waiting for Mrs. Yu were her husband, Su Mingde, the second concubine, Auntie Zhao, and the third concubine, Auntie Liu.
Mrs. Yu’s nickname was Qingniang. Although she was the legitimate wife, she had no son and had to adopt Auntie Zhao’s son as her own. The Su family, being a merchant family, did not have as many rules as the official families, and Yu Shi was not someone who would fight for power. Over time, Auntie Zhao’s position in the Su family had become almost equal to Mrs. Yu’s.
Coincidentally, Mrs. Yu had gone out with Su Mi today, and Su Mingde was also out. She had told Auntie Zhao about their late return, but it seemed that the message had not been relayed.
Mrs. Yu never thought badly of others, but Su Mi immediately understood that it was intentional on Auntie Zhao’s part not to tell her father about their late return. Even if they explained later, it would create friction between Su Mingde and Mrs. Yu. One time may be okay, but what about the second or third time?
“Mom, let’s go in together.” Su Mi took Yu Qingniang’s hand. She didn’t like to explain, so let her do it.
“But your father…” Yu Qingniang showed a dilemma. Su Mingde didn’t like Su Mi, and everyone in the Su family knew about it.
“its okay, Mom. I’ll go back to the small courtyard after I send you in.” She knew her father didn’t like to see her more than anyone else. But with Yu Qingniang’s temperament, if she didn’t clarify things today, she would silently suffer later.
“Okay.” Yu Qingniang finally agreed and took a step forward.
The Su residence was a four-entry courtyard. The entrance was a blue-brick stone arch, concave in shape, with a pattern of magpies landing on plum blossoms carved on the brick carvings, which was meant to bring good luck.
Su Mi followed Yu Qingniang along the cobblestone path, admiring the flowers and trees all the way. As the evening approached, the heat slightly subsided. However, when they reached the second courtyard, Su Mi’s back was still covered with a thin layer of sweat.
The courtyard was decorated with stone and flowers, and four dark red doors looked somewhat vague in the twilight. Two of them were wide open, and occasional laughter could be heard.
Su Mi followed Yu Qingniang into the hall. Perhaps they had a pleasant conversation just now, and Su Mingde, who was sitting at the mahogany round table, still had a hint of a smile on his face.
“Dad.” Su Mi called out.
Although Su Mingde started his business early, he had his children later than his peers. Now he was almost at middle age, but the sharpness of his eyebrows and eyes still showed his youthful demeanour. It was not surprising that all the Su family’s children were handsome and beautiful.
He glanced at Su Mi and casually responded, then looked at Yu Qingniang and said, “Qingniang, why did you just come back?”
Su Mingde started his business as a craftsman when he was young, and Yu Qingniang went through the hard times with him, so he always treated her differently. If it were someone else, he wouldn’t have the patience to wait for her.
“I took Mi’er to Lingquan Temple to burn incense. There was some congestion on the road.” Yu Qingniang slowly explained.
When Su Mingde heard “Mi’er,” he remembered the matter of her being rejected for marriage, and his face looked ugly. “Let us know in advance next time. We were waiting for you tiredly.”
Yu Qingniang whispered a response and didn’t speak again, but Su Mi spoke up.
“Mom, I told you not to just tell Aunt Zhao.” “She’s busy, and you forgot about it, right?”
Although Su Mingde didn’t like Su Mi, he still looked at Aunt Zhao when he heard her words.
Aunt Zhao had a smile on her face, but in her heart, she cursed Su Mi fiercely. She knew Su Mi had a sharp tongue and was difficult to deal with. It seemed that she wouldn’t get any good results today. As her eyes wandered, she came up with another plan.
She smiled and said, “Oh, Master, look at my memory.” Madam told me today she would seek a marriage for Second Miss.
Aunt Zhao sighed and continued, “The Zhou family is really too much.” “They said they would break off the engagement, and how can they believe the rumours from the streets?”
“What rumours?” Su Mingde frowned and turned his head.
Su Mi laughed coldly in her heart and immediately interrupted Aunt Zhao, “Dad, we heard the rumours when we went to burn incense today. Mom was also very angry.”
“Hmm?” Su Mingde became even more curious after hearing this. Aunt Zhao also froze. Was Su Mi dumb? Was she going to confirm the rumours about her cousin from the Yu family herself?
Su Mi lowered her eyes and said helplessly, “There are rumours that the daughter is too spoiled by her parents and has a bad temper.” They are afraid that if she gets married, she will make things difficult for the young master of the Zhou family.”
After hearing this, Su Mingde’s face became awkward. He coughed twice and said, “How can we believe rumours?” Alright, go back to your courtyard.”
“Yes, Dad.” Su Mi replied.
Everyone else may not have known, but in the Su family, everyone knew that Su Mi was the least-favored daughter. Even the five-year-old daughter of Aunt Liu was favorably treated more than Su Mi. When Su Mi was younger, she didn’t understand and would often do childish things to get Su Mingde’s attention, but it had the opposite effect.
Everything had a reason, but Mrs. Yu didn’t tell her. Now, Su Mi didn’t care to know anymore.
The events of that year were unknown to Su Mi, but Aunt Zhao and others knew. Su Mingde probably remembers it again now. He hadn’t even moved his chopsticks much, so how could Aunt Zhao dare to mention those true rumours? She could only hold it in for the time being.
After Su Mi left, Yu Qingniang sat down quietly, her chopsticks only picking at the small dishes in front of her, without saying a word.
The table was quiet for a while, and then Auntie Zhao picked up a few pieces of salmon with pine nuts and offered them to Yu Qingniang. “Madam, I was thinking of sending Zhen’er to the MiaoYin QinFang in the south of the city to learn the guqin for a few days. I wonder if Madam can allocate more monthly allowances to Zhen’er this month.”
Yu Qingniang naturally would not refuse, but before she could answer, Su Mingde asked, “Why does Zhen’er want to learn the guqin?”
This was the sentence Auntie Zhao had been waiting for all night. “Master, Zhen’er has been selected in the first batch of the selection of women in Jiangling City recently!”
“Oh?” Su Mingde’s frowning brow finally smoothed out. “When did you get the news?”
“Yesterday, the prefectural government sent a flower note. I was thinking that if Zhen’er could learn to play the guqin while she was going to the capital, she would have one more thing to rely on, and her chances of being selected would be greater in the future.” Auntie Zhao smiled.
Who didn’t know that last-minute efforts were of no use? But she was just using this as an excuse to make the master ask, so as to win his favour without leaving a trace, which was her way of being a concubine.
“Well, come to think of it, I haven’t seen Zhen’er in a long time.” “Let’s go see her together later.”
“Yes, Master.” Auntie Zhao was overjoyed. Master’s meaning was to go to her room tonight.
Auntie Liu had been eating silently all along, and her heart skipped a beat when she heard this sentence, but her face still showed a gentle expression, and her emotions could not be seen.
In the end, who remembered that Yu Qingniang had not yet answered that question?
Yu Qingniang’s expression remained unchanged, and she took a bite of the salmon with pine nuts. The food cooked today was indeed a bit fishy.
While they were talking, Su Mi had already returned to her small courtyard, and Chun Mei had prepared her dinner.
“Miss, the hot bath has been prepared by Aunt Lin.” Chun Mei stepped forward to take the cloak that Su Mi had just taken off. She had been wearing it when they went up the mountain and hadn’t taken it off since.
“Okay, Chun Mei, sit down and eat with me.”
“Thank you, Miss.” Chun Mei smiled with a dimple. She had been serving by Su Mi’s side since she was a child. The first time Su Mi asked her to sit down together, she refused, but later she got used to it and now readily agreed.
To others in the Su family, this courtyard may seem desolate and lonely, but to the two of them, it is comfortable and pleasant.
Unlike the warmth of Su Mi’s courtyard, the dungeon in Jiangling City was a completely different scene.
The dungeon was surrounded by four walls that were airtight and pitch black, with only a few candles lit, and the flames rose straight up, sending up a long wisp of smoke that was eerie.
On the rust-red brick wall, a person is locked up. The wrists are tightly bound by narrow circles of black iron shackles, and the feet are also hooked by chains, rendering their entire body motionless.
The person is small in stature and has an ordinary-looking face with makeup. The corners of his lips, which are covered in bloodstains, are cracking and peeling. A white shirt covers their thin body, which seems somewhat empty. Whip marks and lashings across his body are spread all over, and as one approaches, the smell of blood emanating from them becomes apparent.
Apart from this person, there are two others present, one standing and the other sitting.
“Master, this servant has made a mistake. I beg the master to spare my life. This servant will never dare to make the same mistake again.” Chen Sanquan spoke pleadingly, his voice weak and intermittent.
“Little Quan, I gave you an opportunity, but unfortunately, you didn’t take it,” said Qin Yan, sitting on a Nanmu official chair in front of an iron railing. He wore black, cloud-patterned boots and stepped on a long whip with blood on it. He leisurely wiped off the dirt on his hands.
“Master, I will never be greedy again, never again.” Chen Sanquan didn’t know what else to say and kept repeating this sentence.
Qin Yan chuckled and exerted force on his hand, tearing the white handkerchief he had just wiped his hands with into four pieces. He walked towards the dark groove on the steps, threw the rag in his eyes, and turned his head to look at the person in the chain, overlooking him as if he were looking at an ant.
“Chen Sanquan, do you think the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue haven’t reported you and the governor of Jiangling to me yet?”
“The evidence you wanted, I have found it for you. If there is anything else you need, talk to Ling An.”
Qin Yan glanced at the man named Ling An standing beside Chen Sanquan, then turned and walked out of the dungeon door.
“There’s no need to keep him,” he said.
“Yes, Master,” Ling An watched Qin Yan’s figure disappear at the door before looking back and bending down to soak the yellow paper in the bucket.
“Sir, does Master really want to kill me?” Chen Sanquan trembled, and the chains made a rustling sound.
People all say that Qin Yan is a treacherous courtier, ruthless, and merciless, but the eunuchs of the Eastern Bureau all know that as long as they don’t harbor any ill intentions, they can have his protection and live a stable life. Chen Sanquan had embezzled before and didn’t die, so he thought he wouldn’t die this time either.
Ignoring Chen Sanquan’s fear and the sound of struggling chains, Ling An neatly covered his face with the first layer of yellow paper and slowly spoke, “The six ministries have never liked us at the Eastern Bureau. Did you not think it was a trap to work with them? If Master had not discovered it early, he would have become the behind-the-scenes manipulator of this embezzlement case.”
“The master never spares those with malicious intentions.”
The fifth layer of wet yellow paper was covered, and Chen Sanquan’s choking sound gradually weakened.In the big, dark prison, only a lifeless body and a burnt-out candle were left in the end.