The knocking sounded like soldiers come to search. Qian Jiaoniang’s heart leapt; she put down the spatula, scooped up Big Sis, and carried it into a corner where Old Zhou had once hidden alcohol. It wasn’t deep, but deep enough for the dog. The last search, she’d hidden it the same way. As she shut it in, she whispered, “Don’t make a sound.”
Big Sis seemed to understand, giving two low whimpers.
Granny Zhou told Jiaoniang to lie on the bed. Jiaoniang took out another disguise mask Li Qianmian had given her, pressed it to her face, and lay down without undressing. Granny Zhou, secretly steadying her trembling hands, hobbled out with her cane to answer the door.
Back to the door, Jiaoniang strained to listen. Soon there were rapid footsteps inside. She drew a slow breath to steady herself—when a clear young voice called out:
“Mother!”
She thought she’d imagined it. Frozen on the bed, she heard it again: “Mother!”
It was truly her Chou’er’s voice! She sprang upright to see Xing Pingchun standing at the foot of the bed, sweating and calling her. She stared in shock. “Chou’er, how did you find this place?”
Seeing the mask, he’d hesitated at first, but once she spoke, his hesitation vanished. He rushed forward and threw his arms tightly around her. “Mother!”
She tore off the mask, wrapped her arms around him, still unable to believe it. “Chou’er, you… how did you come?”
Breathing hard from running, he clung to her. “I—I know this place. I remember! I remember Granny Zhou!”
Years ago, though very young, this place had carved a deep mark in his mind. As he grew, he’d partly forgotten, but bit by bit it came back. His mother had vanished here for days, and he had stayed with a kindly old granny, crying daily for her. The granny had coaxed and comforted him until he calmed. One look at Granny Zhou’s face just now, and it all came back.
Jiaoniang never expected he’d have such a memory—who would think a six-year-old could recall the way, and even find it!
Still reeling, she said nothing. Pingchun thought she was angry at him for coming without leave. “Mother, don’t be mad. I didn’t come to drag you back! You can go wherever you want—I’m grown now; you don’t need to look after me!” Hastily, he pulled a pine-green pouch from his breast and stuffed it into her hand. “I came to give you this. You’re on your own out here—you’ll need money. At the marquis’s manor, I can use Father’s silver, I don’t need so much myself. Please take it! Take it, and I’ll go. I promise I won’t come again. I slipped away from Uncle Wang Yong—no one knows!”
She stared at this small, heart-wrenching figure, throat thick as if stuffed with cotton, unable to say a word.
When she didn’t answer, he released her, uneasy. “Then… I’ll go now.”
Still she said nothing.
He hesitated. “Mother, you’re out here alone—take care of yourself. Don’t work yourself to exhaustion! It’s cold now—buy more padded clothes, don’t let yourself freeze. When it’s warm again, find a place to settle, at least send me a note. I swear I won’t tell Father. I won’t come either. Live well. When you say I can come, then I’ll come. Really—I’m not lying!”
She slowly nodded.
He clenched his little fists. “Then… I’m going?”
She nodded again.
He walked to the door, looking back every few steps. One foot over the threshold, he froze like a man struck still. She watched his back, eyes glistening.
After a long moment, he spun around and shot back into her arms like a whirlwind, sobbing, “Mother! Take me with you! I won’t be any trouble! Mother—Mother!”
Xing Pingchun was crying so hard it was heartbreaking—he couldn’t bear to be apart from his mother! Old Granny Zhou, seeing this pitiful child weeping so miserably, couldn’t help but wipe her own eyes.
Qian Jiaoniang’s tears fell in silent streams. She held her beloved child tightly in her arms and let out a long, quiet sigh. Lifting Xing Pingchun’s little face, she wiped away his tears. “Don’t cry anymore. Mother won’t leave. Mother will go back to the marquis’s residence with you.”
“Really?” Xing Pingchun’s eyes, washed bright by tears, seemed to sparkle with tiny stars. “You’re not lying to me?”
Qian Jiaoniang shook her head. “I’m not lying to you.”
At first Xing Pingchun smiled with joy, but then quickly suppressed it. “Mother, didn’t you work so hard to leave? Why go back again? If you don’t like it there, then let’s not return. We can live like before! It’s not as comfortable as Father’s marquis estate, but we can still live well. And now we have money!”
Ah, this obedient yet foolish child… Qian Jiaoniang’s heart melted completely. “These past few days, I’ve thought it through. I truly do want to go back.”
“Really?” Xing Pingchun wiped his nose clumsily, looking at her with hopeful eyes. “Really?”
Qian Jiaoniang smiled, slipped on her shoes, and got out of bed. She went to the corner, took Big Sis from the alcohol cellar, and stuffed a banknote into Granny Zhou’s hand. “Granny, please keep this banknote for yourself. Use it for your own needs—absolutely don’t give it to your younger son… Do this for me: wait a little while. Once I’m settled, I’ll come fetch you to enjoy a good life.”
Granny Zhou sighed repeatedly. “Don’t worry about me! Jiaoniang, for the child’s sake, learn to take things lightly. Women always have to endure some grievances—bear with it and it will pass.”
Qian Jiaoniang smiled and nodded, but Xing Pingchun pressed his lips together in silence.
She bowed in farewell to Granny Zhou, holding Big Sis in one arm and Xing Pingchun’s hand in the other, stepping firmly over the threshold. Dusk had already fallen. Qian Jiaoniang looked up to see a large eagle perched on the wall, wings folded, cooing in the night. Its golden eyes glinted with a sharp, piercing light. She pulled her lips into a knowing curve—she had known from the moment Xing Pingchun entered the door that someone must have already reported to Xing Muzheng.
At a time like this, how could Chou’er possibly slip away from his guards all by himself? This was clearly a long-line fishing tactic.
Big Sis spotted Lielei, who began barking furiously; the eagle also cried out sharply. Only then did Xing Pingchun notice the bird of prey. He jumped in fright. When had Lielei gotten here? If it was here, then that must mean… He ran to open the door and froze in shock.
At some point, the little courtyard had become tightly surrounded by rows of government soldiers. Xing Muzheng sat astride a tall black horse, his expression calm as he stood before the main gate.
“Father!” Xing Pingchun’s eyes went wide—why was Father here!
Granny Zhou and Qian Jiaoniang came out together. Seeing the scene, Granny Zhou was startled half to death—when had she ever seen such a grand spectacle? These officials had completely surrounded her house. And Chou’er… just now, hadn’t he called someone “Father”? Could it be that the imposing official on horseback was that very person?
Qian Jiaoniang met Xing Muzheng’s gaze and smiled faintly.
Xing Muzheng dismounted and held out his hand. “Enough playing. It’s time to go home.”
Qian Jiaoniang smiled lightly. “The marquis is too courteous. Chou’er and I were planning to return anyway—how could I trouble the marquis to come in person?”
She stepped forward, placing her hand in his. Immediately, a powerful force pulled her forward, sending her crashing into Xing Muzheng’s chest. She looked up into his fathomless black eyes—eyes glimmering with a complex, burning light, as if he wanted to devour her whole.
Qian Jiaoniang looked away. Xing Muzheng tossed Big Sis to Xing Pingchun, then wrapped an arm tightly around Qian Jiaoniang’s waist.
Ah Da, Wang Yong, and the other guards, along with the county yamen runners, all knelt. “Respectfully welcoming Madam back to the residence!”
—
Xing Muzheng kept his arm locked around Qian Jiaoniang’s waist all the way back to the small courtyard, holding her so tightly it was as though she might slip away again. Qian Jiaoniang made no sound; even when his grip nearly robbed her of breath, she did not speak up.
It didn’t take a genius to know he was furious. A man divorcing his wife was accepted as right and proper, but a wife running away was a grave offense—one that stripped a husband of his dignity. And with such a large commotion, anyone who ought to know surely already did.
Xing Muzheng threw Qian Jiaoniang into the room and left, only having a meal sent in for her. He let no one else in—not even Xing Pingchun.
Qian Jiaoniang had already steeled herself for the storm when she decided to return. She ate her meal, waiting for Xing Muzheng to come and demand an explanation.
