After pausing for two breaths, a smile bloomed on Song Chuyi’s face, and she said amiably, “I do not wish to use power to oppress people. Since you have told half the truth, you may as well tell the other half too, so that later when I discover the truth, I won’t have to spend time looking for you to take revenge. What do you think?”
Qiao looked at the gentle smile on Song Chuyi’s face, but felt a chill in her heart. On second thought, she felt that Song Chuyi was bluffing her, so she said, “Everything I said is true.”
“You have already guessed which Zhao clan I belong to, haven’t you? Otherwise, I’m afraid you wouldn’t even bother with my question.” Song Chuyi stood with hands folded, staring at Qiao. Seeing the change in her expression, she knew she had guessed correctly.
Although people like Qiao were entertainers, because they had long presented beauties to the powerful and noble, they surely had considerable influence among the various states; otherwise, they would not have dared to casually take in handsome men, or even dare to kidnap a scholar like Zhang Yi. A person like this, unless she suspected that Song Chuyi might be of the Zhao clan, would not have answered at all.
The Zhao clan took Zhao as their clan name because of their fief, and moved into the state of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period. Through the generations, the Zhao clan were loyal ministers of Jin. Later, when the three families divided Jin, the Zhao clan occupied territory and established a state, becoming the present state of Zhao.
In this world, what Zhao clan could be more noble than the Zhao royal family?
“Since you have already guessed my identity, given your kind of social skills, you still said to me things like ‘more ill than well’ – why?” Song Chuyi said patiently.
People like Qiao frequently dealt with the powerful and noble, so her manner of conducting herself was bound to be competent. Yet this woman, having already suspected that Song Chuyi was of the Zhao clan, still said things like “very likely to die” to her – clearly she was trying to conceal something.
She wanted to curry favor with Song Chuyi on one hand, while trying hard to conceal something on the other. These two conflicting feelings caused her to say things that did not suit her status.
“If you are not busy, why not come to my carriage for a chat?” Song Chuyi would not corner her in front of everyone.
Qiao pressed her lips together and nodded.
Song Chuyi slightly turned to the side. “Please.”
After boarding the carriage together with Qiao, Song Chuyi instructed the guards that no one was to come within three meters.
The post station had few rooms, but the courtyard was quite large, and the merchant groups were not especially crowded together. Moreover, because of Song Chuyi’s earlier “identity exposure,” as soon as everyone heard her say this, they withdrew of their own accord to beyond three meters before the guards even had to drive them away.
Qiao boarded the carriage and first saw a snow-white little wolf whimpering as it gnawed on meat. Startled, she quickly stepped back half a pace, and then caught sight of the thin slave.
More than a month had passed. The nervousness and tension Song Chuyi had once shown before Qiao had now switched places.
Song Chuyi turned over the two upside-down cups on the small table. Jian hurried forward, took the clay pot off the brazier using a coarse cloth, poured water into the cups, put the pot back on the brazier, and then held the tea out to Qiao with both hands.
Song Chuyi picked up a teacup, gently blew on the hot steam, and felt quite satisfied. Although Jian did not say much, he was very observant.
Qiao accepted the teacup. Looking at the leisurely, relaxed Song Chuyi, she no longer dared to underestimate her. She took the initiative and said, “To be frank with you, young master, your honorable sworn brother did not meet with disaster; he merely left without taking leave of me. That venture of mine was a loss, so I returned to Wei to see whether I could buy a few more beauties. On the way, I learned by chance that your honorable brother had gone in the direction of Daliang in Wei.”
Song Chuyi sneered inwardly. Learned by chance? I’m afraid you tracked him all the way here. No wonder you didn’t dare tell the truth.
With a pleasant smile, Song Chuyi said, “If you learn anything else by chance, be sure to tell me, lest in the future something happen to my sworn brother and I let my imagination run astray.”
“That is only natural.” Although Qiao heard the threatening undertone in Song Chuyi’s words, Song Chuyi had not pressed her into embarrassment, so she forced a smile in response. Inwardly, however, she regretted it deeply. Earlier she had been in a bad mood and, seeing that Song Chuyi was young, had not responded with full vigilance. She had never expected this youth to be so formidable. One wrong sentence had left even someone as smooth and tactful as herself with no room to parry.
Song Chuyi nodded and did not continue with that topic, instead chatting casually with Qiao.
Qiao also intended to probe whether Song Chuyi really was of the Zhao clan, so she chatted with great interest. However, Song Chuyi’s displays of knowledge about Zhao and even Zhao speech tinged with a Handan accent compelled Qiao to believe that this young master before her was indeed a noble of Zhao.
After chatting for about half an hour, Qiao rose to take her leave.
Song Chuyi said, still wanting more, “You truly are broad in knowledge and experience. If you go to Zhao in the future and need help with anything, you may come find me.”
Song Chuyi told her a certain street in the state of Zhao, a certain inn, and a certain steward.
As it happened, Qiao had once been to Zhao and knew that such an inn existed, so she became even more convinced of Song Chuyi’s identity. When she took her leave, her manner was a hundred times more humble than when she had arrived.
Longgu Buwang watched in astonishment at the change in Qiao before and after, greatly puzzled inwardly.
After waiting about another half hour, Ji Yu returned from buying grain, only to discover in astonishment that everyone in the courtyard did not dare approach their merchant group. When they saw him walk over, they all respectfully withdrew to the side.
Ji Yu strode to the side of Song Chuyi’s carriage and, through the window, lowered his voice and asked, “Sir, what happened?”
“You’re back. Set off for Daliang,” Song Chuyi said without lowering her voice.
This trip of theirs had been under the banner of Chu merchants. Now it had become Zhao clan members searching for a certain young master while disguised as Chu merchants. This identity was undoubtedly more credible than that of simple Chu merchants.
It just so happened that relations between Zhao and Wei were fairly good recently, so they would not make things too difficult for people of Zhao. But the King of Wei at this time must certainly be itching to take a fierce bite out of Zhao while it was in civil turmoil. Song Chuyi did not intend to deliver herself to his door; she only planned to go down to Daliang and try her luck.
Qiao’s stopping here meant that Zhao Yilou was most likely nearby.
This move could both make the identity more convincing and allow her to search for Zhao Yilou openly. Otherwise, Ji Yu had come bearing a mission for Wey – why would he take risks for a reason like hers?
This was one of the reasons Song Chuyi had not avoided mentioning the Zhao clan in front of others from the start.
“Daliang, sir…” Ji Yu thought Song Chuyi was insane. Going to Daliang – was that not walking straight into the tiger’s mouth?
Song Chuyi said lazily, “Let’s go. I’ve found a clue.”
Ji Yu did not understand what Song Chuyi was saying, but seeing the strange behavior of the people around them, he decided to leave this place first and ask carefully after they left the city. So he gave an answer and led the merchant group out of the city.
As soon as they left, discussions broke out everywhere in the post station.
They naturally would not loudly spread everywhere the matter of the Zhao clan entering Wei to search for someone, but in private they could not avoid exchanging views with other merchants. The spread of this news would probably remain limited in scope for half a month. Whether it could reach the King of Wei’s ears was still unknown.
