In the main hall, Hong Tai and Ma Dongchang were still discussing countermeasures. Hong Tai relayed Muzheng’s words to Ma Dongchang, who was utterly baffled. “Wait—what does he mean by that? If he can return, why wait for such a desperate situation to do so? Is it that only then will he be willing to give in? Or does he want to give an explanation to the Qian woman, to show he did his utmost? Or… could it be that he intends to take the chance to be rid of her? No, no—Muzheng isn’t such a sinister man. Besides, if he wanted to be rid of her, it would be easier to obey the decree and divorce.”
Hong Tai shook his head. “I don’t know either.” But though he said he didn’t know, his eyes held a deep, hidden meaning. If that day truly came, could it be that Muzheng intended…
“Master, Minister Hang has personally sent in his visiting card—he’s waiting outside!” the butler hurried in to report.
“Quickly, invite him in!” Hong Tai and Ma Dongchang both rose, exchanging glances. Though they had gone with Hang Zhi to fetch Muzheng that day, they were not really colleagues or close acquaintances. Why would Minister Hang personally come to Hong’s residence? And besides, it was said that on the Crown Princess’s birthday, Minister Hang had sent imperial guards to block Muzheng on Yonghe Street, claiming to have seen rebels in Muzheng’s entourage—an affair that ended badly. For him to come now—was it to kick them while they were down?
A moment later, Hang Zhi arrived in plain clothes with several maidservants and attendants in tow, still dressed all in white, pure as snow, like an exiled immortal. Hong Tai and Ma Dongchang greeted him at the gate, and the three exchanged polite inquiries about each other’s well-being as they entered the front hall. Hong Tai invited Hang Zhi to take the seat of honor, but Hang Zhi demurred for a while before finally sitting down. Hong Tai ordered good tea to be served, and after a round of pleasantries, he asked with a smile, “Minister Hang, to what do we owe the honor of your visit today? Might there be some matter on which you wish to instruct us?”
“‘Instruct’ is far too strong a word. I have merely been troubled by a certain matter and wished to discuss it with Lord Hong. I did not expect Lord Ma to be here as well—so much the better.”
Hong Tai and Ma Dongchang exchanged a glance. “May we ask what matter brings Minister Hang here?”
Hang Zhi said, “I have come about His Majesty’s house arrest of Marquis Xing. Upon hearing the news, I grew quite anxious, yet I do not know what offense Marquis Xing committed to provoke His Majesty’s wrath. I know that you two have long been on good terms with him, and since he was summoned away from your residence, I thought you might know something. If I learn the cause, I can do what little I can to help persuade His Majesty to calm his anger.”
“This…” Hong Tai looked again at Ma Dongchang. In the current Great Xie court, no one was more able to speak before the emperor than Hang Zhi. If he was truly willing to help, all the better. But the incident on the street that day made them wary of saying too much.
“Minister Hang, to tell the truth, my brother and I are worried about the matter ourselves, but we have no idea what caused the imperial fury.” Hong Tai weighed his words and decided to say no more. Perhaps this affair was still under Muzheng’s control—if Hang Zhi truly came to help, fine; but if he intended to add fuel to the fire, Muzheng might come storming out in response.
“Even you two don’t know?” Hang Zhi looked genuinely surprised, wearing an expression of deep disappointment.
Seeing Hong Tai answer that way, Ma Dongchang followed suit, shaking his head. “No idea.”
“That makes things difficult.” Hang Zhi rubbed his hands. “If even you two worthy gentlemen don’t know, then who would?”
“Well… probably only Marquis Xing himself,” Hong Tai said with an awkward laugh.
Hang Zhi frowned and sat in thought for a while. Suddenly, he clapped his hands. “That’s it—Dingxi Marchioness is still here in your residence, isn’t she? As the marquis’s pillow-side companion, she ought to know some inside details.”
Hong Tai said, “Though Madam Xing is staying in my house, she is but a woman, and the marquis has never discussed important matters with women…”
“Oh, come now, Lord Hong—you’re being shortsighted. The marquis didn’t speak of such things before because his wife wasn’t at his side.” Hang Zhi gave him a look as if his own beard proved him the wiser. “Back when I was in the Crown Prince’s residence, I knew the two of them were as harmonious as zither and harp—otherwise, would the marquis have given his wife half a fish’s eye to eat? Quickly, quickly—go and invite Madam Xing here. I’ll ask her myself!”
“This…”
“Oh, enough with the hesitating! The marquis’s very life is at stake—why are you dawdling? Quickly, Lord Hong, quickly!”
“All right, all right, I’ll send for her at once…”
Really? So anxious now, but where were you yesterday? Hong Tai suddenly realized—Hang Zhi was clearly here for Madam Qian!
But since things had reached this point, he couldn’t refuse. After all, the man was still the current prime minister—someone Hong Tai couldn’t afford to offend. Now all he could do was hope that Madam Qian would be shrewd in what she said. With no choice, Hong Tai waved to the steward to hurry to the back courtyard and fetch the Marchioness.
~
“‘In the heavens, may we be two birds flying wing to wing; on the earth, may we be two trees with branches intertwined… In the heavens, may we be two birds flying wing to wing; on the earth, ah, may we be two trees with branches intertwined…”
On the stage in the back courtyard of the Hong residence, Guan Sheng and Wu Dan sang with lingering tenderness. In the audience, Qian Jiaoniang, wearing a crimson lined jacket with fur-trimmed skirt, clapped and called out her praise. Madam Hong and the concubines sat beside her, echoing her applause, though they also glanced at each other sidelong. Her husband had been under palace house arrest for three days without release, and she still had the leisure to listen to opera—this marchioness was surely the first in history to do so. Seeing her so carefree, anyone who didn’t know better might think her husband had been promoted.
Qian Jiaoniang cracked melon seeds between her teeth, the little table beside her already piled with shells. Qingya sat on her other side, picking out the seeds that she had shelled for herself one by one. She glanced at Qian Jiaoniang, who was humming along idly with the opera, and couldn’t help asking in a low voice, “You really aren’t worried at all? Even Master Hong, the emperor’s own brother, couldn’t get to see the marquis. It seems the imperial family is serious this time. I’ve heard that if someone is kept under house arrest for too long, they’re either stripped of office or sent to the execution grounds.”
Qian Jiaoniang brushed the shells from her palm. “He brought it on himself.” Thinking of how he had foreseen this day coming and had taken the opportunity to trap her for five days, Qian Jiaoniang ground her teeth in frustration. If only she could be as shameless as he was—she might have managed to shake him off entirely by now. Still, to say she wasn’t worried at all would be a lie; if Xing Muzheng came out before the five days were up, that would… be a big problem.
She propped her chin in her hand, eyes fixed on the stage but her thoughts wandering.
“Jiaoniang? Jiaoniang?”
After Qingya called her several times, Qian Jiaoniang finally came back to herself. She shook her head forcefully to banish the troubling thoughts, cleared her throat, and said to Qingya, “If you have time to worry about others, you’d do better to worry about yourself.”
Qingya looked puzzled. “What’s there for me to worry about?”
“I heard from Wang Yong and Ah Da that these past few nights, people have been breaking into the Hong residence after dark—seems they’re after us. I suspect some of them are from the Hang household,” Qian Jiaoniang said, casting her a sidelong glance. “As for the others, I don’t know who sent them.”
At this, Qingya lowered her head in silence.
“I’d say Minister Hang will be here before long,” Qian Jiaoniang continued, grabbing another handful of seeds.
Qingya’s head shot up. “He’s coming here?”
“That’s right.” Qian Jiaoniang arched an eyebrow. “This is a heaven-sent opportunity—anyone who didn’t come would be a fool.”
No sooner had she spoken than the head maid from Lady Hong’s household came hurrying over with two servant girls. She addressed Lady Hong and Qian Jiaoniang: “My lady, the master requests Dingxi Marchioness in the front hall to discuss a matter—Minister Hang is there as well, and it seems he has urgent questions for her.”
Madam Hong was astonished. The master and Minister Hang? Urgent questions for a woman?
Qingya stiffened at the words, but Qian Jiaoniang was unsurprised. “See? Speak of the devil and he appears.” She rose and smiled at the head maid. “Please tell them I’ll be there after I change my clothes.”
After speaking, Qian Jiaoniang bid farewell to Madam Hong and walked unhurriedly toward the courtyard where she was temporarily staying. On the way, she told Suier to have Qingya change into the outfit she wore last time when going to the Crown Prince’s residence, and told Qingya to wait in the room.
Qingya said, “Since Li Qianmian has already prepared the mask, why not use it once and for all?”
“That’s only for when there’s no other choice. But you may as well put it on for now. Hang Zhi came while Xing Muzheng was away—I’ve no idea where he’s gone off to this time.”
Once Qian Jiaoniang had changed clothes, a maid from the Hong residence came to report that Master Hong, Minister Hang, and Lord Ma had moved to the back garden and were waiting for her in the Jingxin Pavilion.
Want to show your support? Go donate at Paypal or Ko-fi to show your appreciation! Want to get early access to at least 10+ chapters in advance? Go to my Patreon to join now! :)
