The street gate banged loudly, startling Jin Ge’er, who was feeding the fish in the pond.
“Open the door!”
The voice of Wang Shi’qi-lang came from outside.
It sounded unfriendly, and his expression looked even more so.
“With the young masters gone, it’s truly unsettling,” the maid standing under the corridor couldn’t help but murmur.
All the young masters had left—even that annoying Zhou Liu-lang was gone—and now the mistress was alone again.
“Miss, should we move back to the Zhou residence?” she turned and called into the room.
“No need,” Cheng Jiao-niang replied, setting down the book in her hand. “Go to Immortal’s Abode and see if Manager Wu needs any help.”
Again, she was being sent out. The maid sighed.
It was so hard to get used to the young masters being gone.
But what could be done about it?
“Alright, Miss, I’ll go right away,” she said.
The gate was still being pounded.
Cheng Jiao-niang called out to Jin Ge’er, who answered promptly and stepped forward to open the door.
Wang Shi’qi-lang stormed in, furious.
“What were you doing, not opening the door?” he shouted.
No one answered him—they all just stared.
Under normal circumstances, this wouldn’t have fazed him, but after last night, when that girl had been surrounded by so many people on the Heavenly Street, Wang Shi’qi-lang’s attendant couldn’t help but feel an inexplicable unease.
“Lady Cheng, young master was worried about you,” one of them spoke up. “You left on your own last night…”
The words reminded Wang Shi’qi-lang of his earlier grievance, pushing aside his irritation over the delayed door-opening as he recalled the humiliation from the night before.
“That’s right! Why did you run off alone?” he fumed.
“Young Master Wang, who was the one who ran off first?” the maid retorted sharply.
“I had business to attend to!” Wang Shi’qi-lang snapped, annoyed.
“Going to see the courtesan counts as ‘business’?” the maid scoffed.
Admiring beauties was, of course, Wang Shi’qi-lang’s greatest priority—what of it? Was she jealous?
“If I say it’s business, then it’s business,” he said with a raised brow. “What are you going to do about it?”
Cheng Jiao-niang turned her gaze to the maid.
“Go attend to your duties,” she said.
The maid acknowledged with a “yes,” shot Wang Shi’qi-lang a glare, and strode out.
“Yesterday, seeing you occupied, I didn’t wish to impose. By chance, I met an acquaintance and left first,” Cheng Jiao-niang said, looking at Wang Shi’qi-lang. “I made sure to inform the attendant at Desheng Pavilion, knowing you’d worry and inquire if you returned and couldn’t find me.”
At any rate, this young lady was quite obedient—she neither cried nor threw a tantrum when scolded…
Her calm, steady manner of speaking was unlike the women he usually kept company with, who would either weep apologies or pout and wheedle. This kind of demeanor… wasn’t bad at all.
“You’d better remember that!” Wang Shi’qi-lang snorted, seating himself on the veranda. “Didn’t I tell you to be obedient? Couldn’t you have just waited where you were?”
Cheng Jiao-niang lowered her head slightly and remained silent.
“Next time, if you run off again, I’ll abandon you,” Wang Shi’qi-lang warned.
Cheng Jiao-niang smiled faintly and nodded.
“And another thing—what was up with your uncle’s family yesterday? I followed you there, and they actually refused to let me in!” Wang Shi’qi-lang fumed. “Utterly outrageous! The sheer audacity! You must cut ties with them from now on!”
As he spoke, an older attendant at his side cleared his throat lightly.
“Lady Cheng, your uncle’s family was able to attend the lantern festival on Heavenly Street? They must be pillars of the court,” he said with a probing smile.
“I’m afraid I don’t know,” Cheng Jiao-niang replied, shaking her head. “Isn’t Heavenly Street open to everyone?”
Asking her was pointless…
This girl didn’t even live with the Zhou family—how would she know their affairs?
But if she didn’t live with them, why had so many people surrounded her last night?
“You’ve been in the capital for quite some time now, Lady Cheng. You must be quite familiar with the people and affairs here?” the attendant pressed with a smile.
“Only with a few families—not particularly well acquainted,” Cheng Jiao-niang answered.
The attendant was about to ask more, but Wang Shi’qi-lang waved a hand impatiently.
“What does it matter whether she’s familiar or not? Our family’s business is all in the south—we’ve no use for them. No need to suffer their insults. Stay far away from your uncle’s household from now on,” Wang Shi’qi-lang declared.
Cheng Jiao-niang smiled faintly and nodded.
“As you say,” she replied.
This young lady was truly a picture-perfect beauty—like a painting, so serene that even anger couldn’t be sustained in her presence.
“Never mind. What a disappointment, all in all,” Wang Shi’qi-lang said, standing up. “I’m leaving.”
“Young Master Wang,” Cheng Jiao-niang called out to him, “when are we returning?”
At these words, Ban Qin and Jin Ge’er exchanged startled glances.
We? Returning?
Meanwhile, Wang Shi’qi-lang’s attendants relaxed slightly, nodding in understanding.
So this young lady has no real ties to the capital after all. If she were well-treated here, why would she be thinking of leaving?
That scene last night, with people crowding around her—it must have been because of the Zhou family. For them to gain entry to the Heavenly Street lantern festival… It seems the Zhou family isn’t as insignificant as our family believes. We should investigate further and report back to the master.
“Ready to leave so soon? Have the Cheng family still not come for you?” one attendant asked.
Cheng Jiao-niang nodded.
So the Chengs care even less about her…
Or perhaps they never intended to take her back at all.
“Then you might as well come with me,” Wang Shi’qi-lang quickly offered, already stepping away as if afraid she might press further. “I’ll send for you when it’s time.”
Without waiting for Cheng Jiao-niang to respond, he was already out the door.
“Young Master…”
The attendants caught up with Wang Shi’qi-lang and stopped him.
“There’s no need to wait—it’s time to leave now,” the elder attendant said with a knowing smile.
“Uncle Gu, what’s the hurry?” Wang Shi’qi-lang protested. “I haven’t even—”
“Young Master, whatever you ‘haven’t even’ done, it’s time to go. Otherwise, the master and madam will come to fetch you themselves,” the attendant called Uncle Gu replied, still smiling.
“Even better—let Father and Mother come enjoy the capital for a while,” Wang Shi’qi-lang said with a laugh.
Uncle Gu gave him a look that was half-amused, half-exasperated.
“Young Master, no amount of talk will change this. We’ve already allowed you to delay long enough—you’ve seen and done everything you wanted,” he said, then turned to the others. “Go arrange for carriages and horses.”
One of the men acknowledged the order and hurried off, while the rest half-pulled, half-escorted Wang Shi’qi-lang back to the inn.
Knowing further protests were useless, Wang Shilang had no choice but to agree. The servants quickly dispersed to make arrangements, leaving him alone in the inn.
“Young Master Wang.”
Someone knocked on the door and called out.
“Chun Ling!” Wang Shi’qi-lang exclaimed in delight, jumping to his feet as the young maid entered.
“Young Master Wang, why didn’t you come last night? Lady Zhu even asked about you,” Chun Ling said.
“I did go, but they said there was no room reserved for me,” Wang Shi’qi-lang replied. “You…”
“That can’t be! I reserved one—I told them to send you in under my name…” Chun Ling said, equally surprised. “How dare they ignore my instructions? I’ll go tell Lady Zhu right away—”
With that, she turned indignantly to leave.
So that was what had happened. Wang Shi’qi-lang’s confusion cleared, and he quickly called her back.
“It must’ve been my fault for not explaining clearly. Never mind, it doesn’t matter anyway,” he said, grinning at Chun Ling. “Lady Zhu really asked about me?”
Chun Ling nodded.
“Of course…” she said. “I even mentioned that you’d be bringing your betrothed to see the lanterns. Lady Zhu said she’d love to meet the jiao-niang (lovely lady) who’s engaged to you.”
No sooner had she finished speaking than Wang Shi’qi-lang let out a loud “Ha!” and sprang to his feet.
Chun Ling froze, startled, and instinctively took a few steps back. Had she given something away?
“How did Lady Zhu know my betrothed is named Jiao-niang?” Wang Shi’qi-lang demanded, widening his eyes.
Jiao–niang?
So her name is Jiao–niang—Cheng Jiao–niang.
Chun Ling pursed her lips, silently repeating the name as a faint smile appeared at the corners of her mouth.
What an effortless stroke of luck.
Cheng Jiao–niang…
“Truly a delicate, enchanting lady—even her name is so beautifully chosen,” she giggled.
“Don’t mention her. If not for her, I would have met Lady Zhu last night,” Wang Shi’qi-lang said, waving his hand dismissively.
“Oh? Did she not want to go to Desheng Pavilion?” Chun Ling asked, feigning concern.
“No, I got distracted for a moment, and she ran off with someone else. Spent the whole night searching for her—what a waste of time,” Wang Shi’qi-lang grumbled.
Ran off with someone…?
“Ran off with someone? Was she kidnapped?” Chun Ling gasped, her face turning pale. “I—I was kidnapped and sold too… There are so many traffickers these days… Is—is she alright?”
Seeing the little maid so frightened that she was babbling incoherently, Wang Shi’qi-lang chuckled.
“No, no, it was a misunderstanding. That person was her maternal uncle’s cousin,” he explained with a laugh, then added with a snort, “Though he’s no good either.”
Maternal uncle. Cousin.
Chun Ling relaxed slightly and patted her chest.
“That’s a relief, you scared me,” she said. “So your betrothed has an uncle in the capital—he must be quite important?”
“Important? Just some military officer, nothing special…” Wang Shi’qi-lang said dismissively, tilting his head as he tried to recall. “Guide General, that’s it—Guide General, of the Zhou family.”
Guide General. The Zhou family.
Chun Ling memorized the names and nodded.
“Then after you’re married, you’ll be able to visit the capital often to see relatives,” she said playfully, feigning reluctance. “That way, we might meet again.”
“Whether I visit relatives or not, I can come anytime,” Wang Shi’qi-lang declared boldly. “Tell Lady Zhu for me—I’ll definitely come see her again next year.”
“You are leaving?” Chun Ling gazed at him with wide, pitiful eyes.
“Yes, my betrothed insists on going home,” Wang Shi’qi-lang said, putting on an exaggerated look of helplessness.
No way am I admitting that I, a grown man, got dragged back by my own attendants.
“Then I wish you and your bride a lifetime of happiness,” she said, kneeling and kowtowing.
“Get up, get up,” Wang Shi’qi-lang laughed. “You stay well in the capital—I’ll definitely come see you again.”
A few sweet words to coax the little maid, so she’ll put in a good word for me with Lady Zhu.
Sure enough, the girl looked up at him with touched and joyful eyes, nodding eagerly.
Once outside the inn, Chun Ling glanced at the tip in one hand and the address Wang Shi’qi-lang had written for correspondence in the other. The gratitude and delight on her face had long vanished, replaced by a smirk of disdain.
A lifetime of happiness—sure!
“Sister, Sister!”
Chen Dan-niang hurried to catch up with Chen Shi’ba-niang.
“Can we go see Lady Cheng today?”
Chen Shi’ba-niang reached out to hold her hand.
“Didn’t we just see her yesterday?” she said, glancing toward the main hall up ahead. “Let’s ask Grandfather first.”
Chen Dan-niang nodded, and the two sisters walked hand in hand. When they reached the courtyard and spotted Chen Shao’s attendant standing nearby, they quickly stopped.
“Is Father with Grandfather?” Chen Shi’ba-niang asked.
The attendant nodded.
“Are they discussing something important?”
“Yes, the people sent to Bing-zhou have returned,” the attendant replied.
Bing-zhou?
Chen Shi’ba-niang froze momentarily.
“Sister, where is Bing-zhou?” Chen Dan-niang asked, puzzled.
Bing-zhou was… the place where Cheng Jiao-niang had been raised for years in a Taoist temple…
Chen Shi’ba-niang stared blankly at the hall for a moment, lost in thought.
Could there be any news related to Lady Cheng?
Chen Shao slid a letter across the table.
Old Master Chen looked at the letter pushed toward him, his brow slightly furrowed, his expression tinged with regret.
“By the time we found him, he was already beyond recovery,” Chen Shao said. “We waited by his side for several days, but there was no improvement, and he couldn’t be transported to the capital by carriage.”
“Did he say nothing at all?” Old Master Chen asked. “No mention of where he was from, or even his name?”
Chen Shao shook his head.
“From start to finish, he didn’t utter a single word. We even began to suspect we’d found the wrong person—but then he produced this letter,” he said, gesturing to the letter on the table. “He only said one thing: ‘For Lady Cheng.’ That alone proves he knew her. Shortly after, he passed away.”
Old Master Chen’s gaze fell upon the letter on the table.
Just who was this man? If he was some extraordinary recluse, why would he end up in such dire straits?
What does the letter contain?
More techniques for reviving the dead? Profound final teachings from a great sage? Or perhaps secrets of his master’s lineage?
He reached out, but just as his fingers were about to touch the letter, he paused.
“Deliver it to Lady Cheng,” he said, withdrawing his hand and straightening his posture.
