“Miss Xie even wrote to ask about your condition just the other day. How could this suddenly happen…” Xiao Qian’s legs gave way as she spoke.
Her mistress had always been close to Miss Xie, and having grown up alongside them, Xiao Qian shared a deep bond with her as well.
Murong Yun supported Xiao Qian with one hand, giving her a reassuring look.
“Which authorities surrounded the Xie family?”
“Miss, it was the Jiangnan Prefecture Office. There was no warning this morning. They bypassed the county yamen and directly sent troops to surround the entire Xie household,” Steward Yao replied, his furrowed brow easing slightly.
He had hesitated on the way back, unsure whether to report the matter, but thankfully the young lady had become much calmer after her recent outing.
Murong Yun thought for a moment. “Prepare some writing materials and place them on my desk.”
“Yes, Miss.”
She had no intention of acting rashly. Appearing publicly in Jiangnan, especially in men’s clothing, could easily lead others to trace matters back to the Murong residence. Yet appearing as a woman would be even more troublesome. Once she left Jiangnan for the imperial examinations, she might be recognized.
The Bi Luo Chun tea brewed that morning had long gone cold. Outside, the rain began again, slanting across the courtyard and striking the broad banana leaves with a steady pattering sound.
“Prepare a carriage,” Murong Yun suddenly said, rising to her feet, her skirt sweeping across the blue bricks.
She changed into another outfit. After some thought, she decided that if she were to seek help from Shangguan Xuan, she would still need to dress as a man. Otherwise, it would invite gossip.
Xiao Qian tugged anxiously at her sleeve. “But Master ordered that no one in the residence is to go out these next few days.”
Even if Miss wished to save them, it might be impossible. Their opponent was the prefectural authority. Offending the Master would only make matters worse.
“Lives are at stake. I’ll explain when I return.” Murong Yun hurried inside and soon emerged in refined male attire.
Xiao Qian returned from outside, holding up her skirt hem, her ears slightly red. “Y-young master, the carriage is ready.”
The number of guards at the gate had increased, and they stepped forward to block Murong Yun.
“Young Master, please don’t make things difficult for us,” one of the younger guards said, lowering his head.
It was early November, and the Jiangnan air was biting cold. Wrapped in a fox fur cloak, Murong Yun stood against the dim light, her gaze turning icy. “If I insist on leaving, what then? Tell Father that if he chooses to stand by and do nothing, no one will come to the Murong family’s aid when the time comes.”
In the original story, the Murong family collapsed at a single blow, their accumulated wealth over generations swallowed by Zhou Kun and his associates.
The reason was simple. When merchant families encountered trouble, each sought only to protect themselves, staying uninvolved. By the time disaster struck them, there was no one left to speak on their behalf.
The guards raised their spears to block her path, but when they tried to speak again, they found themselves unable to utter a word.
The older guard stared in horror at the thin silver needle embedded in the younger guard’s back.
“The needle isn’t poisoned. It will only paralyze you temporarily.” Murong Yun held another slender needle between her fingers, its tip glinting coldly.
Xiao Qian trembled as she handed over an oil-paper umbrella.
Murong Yun pushed it away, stepping directly through the puddles and climbing into the carriage.
As the carriage jolted forward, she gripped her folding fan, unease churning within her.
The Xie family’s downfall was supposed to happen next spring. The timeline had advanced far too quickly.
“Young Master, we’ve arrived at the nearest inn.”
Lanterns bearing the words Hongyun hung beneath the eaves. Outside, everyone held oil-paper umbrellas, and the road was crowded on both sides. As people jostled, water dripped from the umbrellas, soaking Murong Yun’s shoulders.
“Young Master, how will we find the person you wish to meet?” Xiao Qian asked after being bumped by a passerby.
“Shopkeeper, I’m looking for someone.” Murong Yun placed a gleaming silver ingot on the counter.
The shopkeeper, a man with a large mole on his chin, rolled his eyes and smoothly swept the ingot into his sleeve before raising his voice. “We do not disclose our guests’ room numbers! I don’t know the person you’re talking about!”
Then, lowering his voice, he added, “Who exactly are you looking for, young master?”
“Exceptionally handsome, with a face like polished jade, a gentleman one cannot forget after a single glance.” Murong Yun flicked open her fan and spoke softly.
“…”
The shopkeeper nearly laughed. What an odd description of a friend. Still, after a moment, he slapped his forehead. “Yes! Yes, there is such a person. Room Two, Building Ding.”
In his eyes, guests were not judged by appearance but by wealth. Rooms were ranked from Jia to Yi to Bing to Ding, with the earlier ones being more luxurious. That man had arrived in fine clothes but booked the cheapest room, so the shopkeeper had not paid much attention, only remembering his striking features.
Entering the Ding section, Murong Yun frowned at the noise. From the sounds within the rooms, most occupants were gamblers and drunkards hiding from family troubles.
Xiao Qian knocked on the door. “Young Master Yun requests an audience.”
A voice came from inside. “Young Master Yun? I don’t know him.”
Murong Yun spoke coldly, “Don’t keep me waiting, or you’ll regret it.”
The door flew open, revealing Shangguan Xuan, smiling. “Please, come in.”
The men passing by cast ill-intentioned glances at Xiao Qian.
Murong Yun grabbed her hand and pulled her inside, shutting the door tightly.
The room was simple, yet free of the stale odors outside. Instead, there lingered a faint scent of pinewood belonging to Shangguan Xuan.
“Weren’t we supposed to meet in two days? Could it be that you couldn’t wait?” Shangguan Xuan poured tea leisurely, a smile playing at the corner of his lips.
From the moment the door opened, Xiao Qian had not blinked. She could hardly believe that someone in the world could rival her young master’s beauty. Standing together, one was gentle as jade, the other roguish and elegant, like figures straight out of a storybook.
“Is she your maid?”
“She’s been with me since childhood, through life and death.” Murong Yun pulled the still-dazed Xiao Qian to sit. “Have some tea. There’s no need for formalities outside.”
Shangguan Xuan’s smile deepened as he poured tea for them. “I thought I was the only one who shared life and death with you. I didn’t expect competition.”
Xiao Qian choked on her tea, coughing violently, her face flushed. What kind of words were these? How embarrassing!
Murong Yun diluted her tea with cold water and drank several large gulps. “A childhood friend’s family has been sealed off by the prefectural office.”
Shangguan Xuan paused before speaking calmly, “They must provide a reason for sealing the estate today. Otherwise, it violates the law. Your friend—is it a man or a woman?”
Murong Yun shot him a glare. “Your intentions are obvious to all. She’s a woman. We grew up together and are very close. Our families nearly arranged a marriage.”
Murong Yun only accepted relationships between beautiful men and women.
“Oh?” Shangguan Xuan smiled instead of taking offense, savoring his tea.
Night gradually fell.
“They still haven’t announced a charge, which means the verdict hasn’t been finalized,” Murong Yun said, suppressing her worry.
“In that case, you could repeat what we did at the yamen gate before. Cause a scene, and their flaws will reveal themselves.” Shangguan Xuan lowered his gaze, as if regretting his own suggestion.
The water boiled again, but this time no one moved to pour it.
Back then, Song Qi had been with them. Now, only the two of them remained.
“Speak to him freely. As long as we remember, Song Qi will always be with us.” Murong Yun drained her cup in one gulp.
After she left, a shadow emerged from the darkness. “Young Master, when will you let Young Master Yun know about Song Qi?”
“The time hasn’t come,” Shangguan Xuan replied, closing his eyes.
…
Lanterns lit the entrance of the Murong residence, their flames flickering.
“Kneel!” Murong Chong roared, while Concubine Ruan avoided Murong Yun’s gaze behind him.
Her eyes seemed capable of striking people.
Murong Yun lifted her robe and knelt upright before the ancestral tablets.
“The Xie family’s downfall has nothing to do with us. We can simply halt the canal business for now. Yet you still want to save them?” Murong Chong gripped a long rod, his teeth clenched.
Murong Bin’s gaze followed the rod, anticipation flickering in his eyes, yet the blow never fell.
“You think that after leaving the residence once, you understand the world?” Murong Chong’s lips parted as if he wanted to say more but held back.
The ancestral hall was cold. Murong Yun knelt motionless, her knees aching, then burning, until the pain dulled into numbness.
Xiao Qian quietly wiped her tears. “Miss, the kneeling cushion is deformed. Let me replace it.”
“It makes no difference,” Murong Yun replied, calculating matters in her mind. The expressions of Concubine Ruan and her half-brother earlier filled her with disgust. After a moment, she lay down flat. “Stand guard at the door. Don’t replace the cushion. I need to keep up appearances.”
Stretching her legs, she waited for the blood to circulate again. Suddenly, she asked, “If Father were gone, how would the family wealth be divided?”
Xiao Qian nearly dashed her head against a pillar. “Miss, please be careful with your words! You mustn’t say such things!”
In front of the ancestors, her mistress truly had no fear.
Lowering her voice, she added, “By usual practice, the only male heir would later be transferred under Madam’s name to manage the family business.”
“I see.” Murong Yun rolled over, rubbing her numb knees. “Then there’s no need to kneel.”
If the wealth wasn’t divided equally, there was no point pretending to be a filial daughter.
“Why hasn’t my half-brother been placed under my mother’s name yet? Does Mother refuse?”
Xiao Qian glanced around before whispering, “Such matters aren’t decided by the Madam. The master hasn’t agreed.”
“Oh?” Murong Yun stretched lazily. “What interesting things happened while I was away?”
“Nothing unusual…” Xiao Qian began, then paused. “But there is something strange.”
“In the past, the Second Young Master spent money freely, but ever since you left, he’s changed completely. He only uses his monthly allowance, and even the Master praises him.”
Murong Yun grew interested. “Where does he spend his money?”
“On poetry gatherings with scholars and beauties,” Xiao Qian replied without hesitation.
The candlelight flickered. Murong Yun propped her chin on her hand. “Such a proper reason.”
But she didn’t believe it.
[Host, special reward! This time you’ll receive the “Map of Jiangnan.” From mountain ranges to even the nearest dog hole to the Murong residence, everything is marked!]
“…The system really keeps up with current events,” she muttered inwardly.
But would missing this reward mean losing something crucial?
[The task is to burn one centimeter of your ponytail within the time of one incense stick. If time runs out, it will be considered abandoned.]
Still hesitating, Murong Yun was so startled that her hand slipped from her chin, her head dropping onto the cushion.
She had not removed her jade crown, and her long ponytail hung behind her.
She stepped forward, pretending to carry out the task, holding her hair near the candles placed before the ancestral offerings.
“Miss, what are you doing?!” Xiao Qian cried out in shock.
“Absurd!” Murong Chong’s roar came from the doorway as he threw down a thick cushion.
Startled, Murong Yun turned her head, and as her hair swung, its tip brushed the outer flame of the candle—
Sizzle!
Murong Chong grabbed her hand. “Your body and hair are gifts from your parents. Burning your hair is disrespectful and unfilial!”
“Yun’er, what has gotten into you? Do you hate being a woman so much?”
“Whether as a woman or a man, what I desire is freedom. Only by disguising myself as a man can I break free of these constraints.”
“If you truly wish to escape the limitations placed on women, I will give you that chance. But Yun’er, do not disappoint me—”