A sheen of sweat had gathered on Nian Chujiu’s forehead as well. Even her close-fitting undergarments had become slightly damp from the humidity. Yet her spirits were remarkably high. Her eyes appeared especially dark and bright in the candlelight.
Hearing her mother’s complaint, she merely curved her lips faintly and said calmly, “Mother, a peaceful mind naturally brings coolness. Please don’t worry so much.”
“How can I not worry?” Yin Ying stirred the contents of her bowl with her chopsticks, her northern accent becoming more pronounced. “If you ask me, we should just return to Ding’an. Three-legged toads may be hard to find, but two-legged men are everywhere. With our family’s wealth, we could easily find an honest, reliable, handsome man to marry into the family. You could spend your whole life peacefully beside your parents, and only then would I be at ease.”
Nian Chujiu picked up a handkerchief and lightly dabbed at the corner of her mouth before looking at her mother. “No. We need to find a way to put down roots in the capital.”
In the past, the Nian family had believed that accumulating enough gold and silver would ensure security.
Now she understood differently. In this world, money alone was not enough. The Nian family could not protect its wealth. Nor could it protect its lives. Even with nothing more than the Gu family’s limited influence, her previous life had ended with her helplessly watching her family ruined and destroyed.
That proved one thing: what truly mattered was never gold or silver.
Her gaze drifted toward the deep night beyond the window, toward the capital city itself. Then, enunciating every word, she said: “Mother, what your daughter seeks now is power.”
Overwhelming power. Only then could she protect the people she loved. Only then could she live the life she wanted. Otherwise, she would remain nothing more than an ant beneath other people’s feet.
Yin Ying was stunned by the ambition in her daughter’s words, an ambition far beyond her years. Her mouth opened and closed before she finally managed to say,
“Jiaojiao, that’s easier said than done.”
“Mother, trust me.”
Those were the four words Nian Chujiu spoke with absolute certainty before rising and heading into her inner chamber. When she emerged again, she had already changed into clothing suitable for receiving guests. She wore a composed, dignified blue-green outer robe over a plain white skirt. The colors complemented each other perfectly, and the style was elegant and proper, appropriate for visitors of any rank or status. The fabric was light and breathable, the most suitable outfit for such oppressive summer weather.
Yin Ying stared in surprise. “At this hour, you’re still going out?”
Just as Nian Chujiu was about to answer, the curtain was lifted aside.
Mingyue stepped in, leading Third Master Nian inside at a hurried pace. His blue scholar’s robe was slightly damp, as though he had just returned from outside.
Behind him came Nian Chujiu’s fourth brother, Nian Jinlou, fifth brother, Nian Jinchuan, and sixth brother, Nian Jinsheng. The usual relaxed expressions had vanished from all three of their faces. Each looked tense and serious.
Seeing this gathering, Yin Ying instructed the maids to clear away the meal from the table and said, “Third Brother is here. Boys, sit down and speak.”
Third Master Nian, however, did not sit immediately. First, he bowed respectfully to Yin Ying. “Greetings, Sister-in-law.”
The three young men behind him also bowed in unison. “Greetings, Aunt.”
Though the Nian family was merchants without significant social standing, their household observed propriety and etiquette without the slightest lapse. Their respect for the eldest branch of the family was ingrained in them, a matter of both instinct and family tradition.
After the formalities, Third Master Nian finally sat below Yin Ying. He did not touch the hot tea that a maid had just served. Instead, he turned directly to Nian Chujiu and got straight to the important matter. “Second Brother is currently at Zuixian Tower in the western district, drinking with Official Wang from the Ward Office.”
Zuixian Tower was one of those establishments officially permitted to operate through the night. Even the city curfew did not apply there. Naturally, that meant one drank until utterly intoxicated.
Judging by the situation, Third Master Nian said tactfully, “At this rate, Official Wang probably won’t be reporting to the yamen for roll call tomorrow morning.”
The meaning was perfectly clear: Official Wang had been tied up.
Nian Chujiu raised an eyebrow and smiled. “Then let the Gu family go look for ghosts tomorrow.”
As long as she could buy a few more days, she would have enough time to accomplish everything she needed to do. And the crisis would be resolved.
Although Yin Ying didn’t completely understand, seeing a smile finally return to her daughter’s face eased the tension in her own heart.
Third Master Nian continued, “At the end of Lihua Alley there’s an inn called Tai Ran Residence. Just turn out of the alley, and you’ll see it. Your Fourth Brother has already reserved three upper-class rooms there. You must make sure to check in before the curfew begins.”
“I understand, Third Uncle,” Nian Chujiu replied with a smile.
Yin Ying was startled. “At this hour of the night, you’re still planning to stay elsewhere?”
Nian Chujiu then carefully explained the most important parts of the plan she had discussed earlier with her father and uncles. Even after she finished, however, her mother’s brow remained furrowed.
Softening her voice, she reassured her: “Mother, don’t worry. I have Mingyue and Yunduo with me, and my three brothers will be nearby protecting me. Nothing will go wrong.”
When a child takes even a single step away from home, a parent’s heart follows, even more so in the unfamiliar capital, where danger seemed to lurk everywhere in the darkness. Yet Yin Ying knew her daughter was doing something important. As her mother, she couldn’t be an obstacle. Forcing down all her anxiety, she turned to her three nephews and spoke with unprecedented solemnity: “Then I’m entrusting my precious Jiaojiao to you. You must be careful. Not the slightest mishap can be allowed.”
The three young men all laughed.
“Eldest Aunt, don’t worry.”
“Even if something happened to us, nothing will happen to Little Sister.”
“Anybody who dares bully our sister will have to get past us first.”
Their lighthearted confidence finally drew a reluctant smile from Yin Ying. Still, she repeatedly reminded them to be cautious before letting the matter drop.
Fourth Brother, Nian Jinlou, spoke gently, “Rest assured, Eldest Aunt. Little Sister Chujiu is the precious darling of all of us. Your nephew will do everything in his power to protect her.”
Fifth Brother, Nian Jinchuan, slapped his chest. “She’s our own sister. Even if it costs us our lives, we’ll keep her safe!”
Sixth Brother, Nian Jinsheng, the youngest and most hot-blooded of the group, blurted out, “Even if all of us brothers die, we’ll make sure not a single hair on Jiaojiao’s head is harmed!”
Yin Ying’s expression changed immediately upon hearing that. She quickly spat several times for luck and lightly smacked Sixth Brother on the shoulder.
“Spit that out! Spit it out! What nonsense are you saying? Every single member of our Nian family must stay safe and sound. Not one of us is allowed to be missing!”
Third Master Nian casually smacked the back of his son’s head. “If you don’t know how to talk properly, then don’t talk.”
Embarrassed, Sixth Brother rubbed the back of his head, then mimicked his aunt by pretending to spit a few times toward the ground. “Spit it away, spit it away! I misspoke. We’ll all be safe and sound!”
The interruption eased some of the heaviness in the room.
Just then, Yunduo’s light footsteps stopped outside the curtain. “Miss,” she reported softly, “the carriages are ready and waiting outside the side gate.”
Amid her mother’s repeated reminders to be careful, Nian Chujiu left the courtyard with her brothers and headed toward the side gate.
Mingyue and Yunduo followed closely behind, each carrying a neatly packed travel bundle.
Two carriages with blue cloth canopies waited quietly in the dim night.
They had been rented earlier from a carriage company in the Western Market.
The carriages were not particularly eye-catching and bore no decorations, but their interiors were clean and orderly, and the curtains had been freshly laundered and neatly pressed.
One carriage was for the three brothers. The other had been prepared for Nian Chujiu and her two personal maids, Mingyue and Yunduo.
The drivers were the son and son-in-law of the family’s old steward. One was named Yang Qing, the other Deng Chong. Both were hereditary servants who had grown up in the Nian household. The pair were capable and reliable, known for handling tasks carefully and efficiently.
Earlier, they had been sent to inspect Lihua Alley and were thoroughly familiar with the surrounding streets, buildings, and even the placement of lights throughout the area.
The two carriages rolled out one after the other, their wheels crunching over the wet stone roads as they headed toward Lihua Alley.
Beyond the carriage windows, crumbling walls, charred beams, and abandoned courtyards occasionally flashed by. The once-glorious capital had been reduced to a landscape of devastation.
The new dynasty had only recently been established. Everything lay in ruins, waiting to be rebuilt. Everywhere there were gaps to fill. Everywhere there were opportunities.
The Nian family had countless chances to rise. A faint smile curved Nian Chujiu’s lips—a cold smile.
Based on her deep understanding of Gu Jiangzhi from her previous life, he had almost certainly guessed that she intended to visit Marquis Jinliang’s residence tonight.
At this very moment, he was probably already waiting outside the gates to intercept her. And she was very much looking forward to it.