At the Si Family Silks.
Accompanied by Shi Ziran and a few guards, Jing Rong followed the man in the direction of the Si Residence backyard. They passed by a yard that was used for dyeing and drying textiles before finally arriving at a clean and spacious courtyard where Wen Xiao was seated inside, waiting.
Upon noticing the visitors, Wen Xiao immediately got up and greeted him. “My respects to Your Highness.”
Jing Rong waved his hand and dismissed his men. Stepping inside the building, he noticed the two cups of tea that had been set on the table. He narrowed his eyes.
“Your Highness, please take a seat.”
Jing Rong crossed his legs and sat down.
Wen Xian swept his robe and sat on the other side of the table across him. “I have long wished to invite Your Highness to my residence. It’s a pity that we’re able to meet only now due to how busy Your Highness has been.”
Jing Rong merely took a sip of tea and smiled. “I have to thank Young Master Wen for your assistance last time.”
“It’s my honour to be able to save Your Highness.” How humble!
Jing Rong did not make a sound.
Wen Xian refilled his teacup and inquired. “I’ve heard that Your Highness had lost something precious?”
“That’s right, it's very important to me.”
“What is it? If Your Highness doesn’t mind telling me, perhaps I could assist you in locating it.”
“It’s a person.”
Wen Xian chuckled “A person? Who?”
Jing Rong looked up with a near-imperceptible ferociousness in his gaze.
Wen Xian played the fool. “I don’t know this person that Your Highness is talking about?”
“Since this prince is already here, why are you still beating about the bush? Let’s just be direct and get to the point.”
Ha ha ha! The pale-faced man suddenly burst into laughter, the humble and respectful manner that he had slowly disappeared, transforming into a twisted grin.
“Your Highness, that imperial bodyguard barged into my residence all alone. I thought that he was a thief, so I had him detained.”
“Where is he?”
Jing Rong asked once more.
“He’s all bloodied up. Perhaps… he might not have long to live.”
Jing Rong’s fingers tightened their hold on the teacup.
Wen Xian spoke. “Your Highness need not be so anxious over a mere guard. After all, intruders who dare to barge into my residence’s hidden passages deserve to die. The fact that I spared his lowly life is already a big favour to Your Highness.”
Wow! How magnanimous! Jing Rong replied, “What if this prince says that he’s coming home with me?” [1]
“Then we have to see if Your Highness has the ability to do so.”
Suddenly...
Rustle rustle rustle! In that moment, numerous armoured men appeared on the surrounding rooftops, armed with bows that had their sharp arrowheads targeting Jing Rong as well as Shi Ziran and the others who were outside the yard.
Shi Ziran unsheathed his sword in response and readied himself for an impending battle.
Inside, Wen Xian laughed at his sure victory.
“Since Your Highness is already here, I’m afraid… you can no longer leave.”
Across the table, Jing Rong continued to impassively drink his tea and merely gave a passing glance at what was happening outside the door before looking back at him. He calmly replied. “Since you’ve already prepared a Hongmen Banquet for this prince, you must have given them the order to kill. If that’s the case, let’s be honest here, shall we? This prince just wants to know… just what are you aiming for?” [2]
“The Great Lin Empire!” These four words came out of Wen Xian’s mouth.
“The Great Lin Empire?” How laughable! “The plans that you had painstakingly crafted, from absconding with the disaster relief funds, to murdering court officials, and sending assassins after this prince. Do you think that by doing so, you could obtain the Great Lin Empire?” Fat hope!
“Of course not.” Wen Xian answered truthfully. “However, the plans have to be carried out step by step. The current Great Lin Emperor is a despot, reaping the lives of innocents and even his own siblings, all to secure his own position. I would like to ask, how can we possibly let an emperor like this rule the Great Lin Empire? We have been waiting for this day for many years; the day that the Empire will return to its rightful owner. Not only will we, seventy-odd retainers from the Imperial Duke’s palace, be able to clear our names, the Great Lin Empire will also enter a new dynasty.”
Oh! Jing Rong finally understood. “So you were all from the Imperial Duke’s palace.” [3]
“Your Highness is wise.”
“Then, who is the so-called rightful owner that you speak of?”
“Someone that you would never have guessed.”
...
Meanwhile, at Anchang Court, Ji Yunshu had been feeling uneasy ever since Jing Rong had departed and was anxiously waiting for him. Yet, at this moment, her neighbour Madame Wen paid her a visit along with a few boxes of osmanthus cakes. “Teacher Ji, I recalled that last month, Xiyue told me how you liked my osmanthus cakes. So I specifically prepared several boxes for you to eat.” She handed one of the cakes over to her.
Right now, she wasn’t in the mood to eat anything at all. Looking at the kindly Madame Wen, she faintly smiled and set the treats aside. “Madam Wen, this one simply does not have the appetite now.”
“These are freshly baked, and are very delicious. If you leave them there for too long, they would lose their flavour.” Madam Wen insisted on giving the cake to her.
At this time, Ji Yunshu’s cat suddenly ran out, and pawed at her clothes.
“Meow!” Ji Yunshu, upon seeing the cat, decided to feed some of the cake to the cat. She broke a little piece and fed it.
“Teacher Ji, this cat can’t eat the cake.”
“This lowly one’s cat is a glutton, so it will eat almost everything.” Ji Yunshu then continued to feed it.
The cat licked the treat on Ji Yunshu’s hand, its soft tongue giving her a ticklish yet comforting feeling. However…
“Meow~” The cat suddenly shivered all over and collapsed without warning. It lay there motionless as if it were dead. [4]
Ji Yunshu wasn’t surprised. Her hand clenched tightly into a fist, as her gaze grew chillier. “Why?” She asked in a low voice.
Madam Wen also put away her benevolent mask and looked at her with eyes bearing the scars of years gone by, unspoken pain flowing through them. She finally spoke. “This is your fate.”
My fate? Ji Yunshu huffed coldly as she got up and headed towards the door. Behind her, Madam Wen called out, “It’s too late!”
Ji Yunshu stopped in her tracks and asked, with her back facing her, “Is it really necessary to kill innocents in order to achieve your goals?”
“We waited for forty years. We can’t wait any longer.”
Ji Yunshu snorted again and stepped out the door. However, Madam Wen suddenly shouted out, “Stop her!”
Over a dozen people suddenly rushed into the courtyard to block her progress. “Anchang Court is already under our control and your friends have been captured. However, we will not kill them, because what we want… is that prince’s life.”
Ji Yunshu clenched her fists tightly and grit her teeth. Her eyes turned red.
The next moment, Shi Zijin jumped out from the shadows. With a look from Madam Wen, those people rushed up and started fighting with her. With much effort, Shi Zijin managed to open up a gap in the guards. “Teacher, leave first!”
Just as Ji Yunshu was about to leave the courtyard, Madam Wen blocked her way.
“Make way!”
Madam Wen ignored her.
She must go save Jing Rong! Little Xiyue suddenly jumped out from nowhere and hugged Madam Wen. She called out to Ji Yunshu, “Big Brother, leave first. There’s a horse outside the door.”
Ji Yunshu’s entire body was trembling and her eyes were bloodshot.
Little Xiyue shouted, “Go, quickly!”
Ji Yunshu took several steps backward, before she turned around and ran out of Anchang Court. She leapt onto the horse Little Xiyue had prepared and rode towards the Si Family Silks.
[1] Can we just take a moment to appreciate all the sass?
[2] Hongmen Banquet refers to a treacherous historical event at the end of the Qin Dynasty involving Liu Bang and Xiang Yu. Basically, the latter invited the former to a feast at the Hong Gate (aka Hongmen), where he was supposed to kill the former. But he was indecisive and Liu Bang managed to escape before he or his advisors finally decided to strike. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feast_at_Swan_Goose_Gate
[3] Yaasss finally the threads are weaving together! *rubs hands in glee*
[4] Why are cats dying all over the place? Author do you have something against them?