TIGR Chapter 104

The Imperial Guard’s Revenge

Chapter 104 Gift

Due to the appearance of unidentified assassins in the capital, the Lantern Festival celebrations were cancelled. For those three days, from the fourteenth to sixteenth, a night curfew was in effect.

The streets were filled with the sounds of alarm, and Imperial Guards patrolled everywhere. The common people stayed home, afraid to make any noise. Wang Yanqing was no different. She had no particular attachment to the festival and hadn’t even hung any lanterns in her residence.

On the day of the Lantern Festival, Wang Yanqing was quietly resting as usual. Exactly at Shen (3-5 pm), the gatekeeper suddenly rushed in, saying someone had sent Wang Yanqing a gift and asked what she would like to do with it.

When Wang Yanqing heard “gift,” she had a hunch of who it was from. Curious about what Lu Heng was up to, she instructed the gatekeeper to bring it in. The gatekeeper soon brought over a perfectly square box, and upon opening it, she found a lantern inside.

The lantern was shaped like a tiger, covered with red paper, and had the character “Wang” written on its forehead. The lantern was made very intricately, with the tiger’s expression vividly lifelike, yet it didn’t look scary at all. Rather, it appeared quite endearing.

The maids gathered around, chattering about how beautiful the lantern was. Suddenly, someone with sharp eyes pointed to the bottom of the box and said: “There’s a letter too.”

Someone nearby discreetly nudged her, and the maid finally realized she had spoken out of turn. They exchanged glances, carefully set the tiger lantern down, and quietly exited the room.

Wang Yanqing sighed and ultimately picked up the envelope, opening to read the contents inside.

The writing on the paper was surprisingly simple: “Today, while tracking down informants, I happened to see a lantern being sold by the roadside. It reminded me of you, so I bought this tiger lantern. I wish you a happy Lantern Festival in the Year of the Tiger.”

Wang Yanqing flipped over the paper but found nothing aside from this sentence. She set the note down and became lost in thought while looking at the tiger lantern.

In fact, she had recognized it the moment she opened the box. The character, “Wang,” on the tiger’s forehead had been written by Lu Heng. Among so many zodiac animals, he specifically chose a tiger not merely because it was the Year of the Tiger, but because her surname was Wang.

|| Wang (王) has ties to the Chinese tiger zodiac, which also aligns to the ancient time block Shen (3-5 pm). A brief note on the Tiger zodiac sign: it fought for the Jade emperor in the heavens and earth and for its merit, the emperor wrote Wang on its forehead to symbolize its strength over the beasts.

It was hard to say what he meant by this, but he had successfully stirred her emotions into a whirlwind.

For Lu Heng, gifting precious jewelry or even estates were nothing special. With his status, there were countless ways to make money. No matter how expensive something was, it was just a number to him. He didn’t even need to put much thought. He just needed to casually instruct his servant, and the right gift would be chosen for him.

If something held his time and attention, it was of genuine value. Even an old lantern from the roadside, if he wrote on it, it signified that he personally chose the lantern and inscribed it himself.

During the days of the Lantern Festival, pressure to catch pirates was particularly high. He suddenly stopped by the roadside, thinking she might like this kind of lantern. What was he thinking in doing this?

When the maid came in to change the tea, she noticed Wang Yanqing staring intently at the lantern and cautiously asked: “Madam, what should we do with the lantern?”

Wang Yanqing came back to her senses. She initially didn’t want to accept anything from Lu Heng, but looking at the adorable little tiger lantern, she couldn’t bring herself to throw it away. She said softly: “Don’t waste the craftsmanship of the lantern maker. Let’s hang it up.”

The maid was overjoyed and hurriedly replied: “Yes.”

As the sky gradually darkened, a red tiger lantern hung from the eaves, clearly visible when one looked up. Wang Yanqing actually understood Lu Heng’s intentions. Lu Heng was a good-for-nothing, but the craftsman was not in the wrong. It would be a pity to blame the lantern for her feelings. She had resolved to ignore Lu Heng and not fall into his traps. However, some thoughts couldn’t be easily controlled, especially with the prominent tiger lantern above her head, constantly reminding her of Lu Heng’s presence. This led to her dreaming about him at night.

In her dream, she was only ten years old, trying to copy calligraphy left by her teacher, but for some reason, she couldn’t finish the assignment. Just when she was at a loss for what to do, her second brother suddenly appeared, claiming he could imitate Wang Yanqing’s handwriting and suggested that she distract their teacher outside while he helped her forge it.

When Wang Yanqing woke up the next day, she listened to the wind outside the window for a long time, but still felt it was ridiculous.

In reality, she never had unfinished assignments, nor had she deceived her teacher. Her second brother was not Lu Heng either.

She couldn’t help but let out a low sigh.

After Wang Yanqing accepted the lantern, it seemed to encourage the person outside, who continued to send her gifts. Yet, each time, they were not valuable items. For instance, this time he sent a plum blossom.

Attached to the flower was a short note that read: “The pirates are hiding among a theater group, and many plum blossoms are growing outside the Pear Garden. This one bloomed especially well and the flower itself is without blemish. It would be a waste to leave it here. Should we transplant it to our residence?”

Wang Yanqing glanced at the note before tossing it on the candlewick to burn. How could he be so brazen about stealing? Whether to transplant the plum blossom or not was his business, why was he saying, “our residence?”

She had no mercy for Lu Heng’s letters, she burned each one as it came. But this plum blossom left her in a quandary.

It was truly beautiful, its vibrant blooms resembling blood ablaze the cold winter, and throwing it on the ground would be an utter waste. With no other option, she instructed the maid to fetch a vase for the plum blossom.

In this way, Lu Heng continued to bother her from time to time. Even when he wasn’t physically present, his presence was never absent. Wang Yanqing was still too naïve. Encountering someone like Lu Heng, a seasoned player in the political arena, she unwittingly found herself being led by the nose.

Lu Heng was well-versed in the art of gift-giving in the palace and court. He knew that food should never be gifted, as it could lead to trouble and would soon be consumed, leaving the recipient with no lasting memory. Similarly, gold, silver, and jewels could easily be spent and would fail to leave a profound impression.

Thus, he chose unique gifts like lanterns and plum blossoms, items that could be displayed for a long time and would stand out. The single red plum blossom in her room became a striking centerpiece, captivating and unforgettable. Every time she saw it, she was reminded of him.

Wasn’t this more useful than sending a mountain of gold and silver?

Time flowed by unnoticed, and before she knew it, it was the twentieth day of the first lunar month, the day court resumed. As usual, Lu Heng sent a small gift to Wang Yanqing and complained in his letter that the old men didn’t care at all about the injury on his shoulder, pressing him hard during the morning court sessions. After barely managing to deal with them, he returned to a cold and empty home.

If in previous letters he had wrapped his words in layers, now he was bluntly stating his grievances. As Wang Yanqing read the letter, she subtly sensed the emperor’s mood.

If Lu Heng were to hint through the maids about how serious his injury was and how difficult it was to face the scrutiny of the court alone, she would surely feel a twinge of aversion. But since he openly addressed it himself, clearly using his injury to elicit sympathy, she found it less objectionable.

However, this awareness sparked a sense of caution in her. How could she have forgotten the lesson of being slowly boiled like a frog in warm water? If the three chief auxiliaries, Yang Ting, Yang Yingning, and Zhang Jinggong, couldn’t outmaneuver him, what confidence did she have to avoid Lu Heng’s traps?

She had just escaped the confines of the Fu family. Did she really want to willingly step into another, deeper, larger, and seemingly more enchanting, golden cage?

Wang Yanqing thought to herself that this couldn’t go on any longer. She gathered up all the gifts Lu Heng had sent and called for the gatekeeper, adopting a serious expression: “Return these items to Master Lu. From now on, any letters sent from the Lu Mansion, no matter what they are, need not be delivered to me.”

The gatekeeper could see the seriousness in Wang Yanqing’s expression and immediately understood the gravity of the situation. He nodded, quietly gathering the gift boxes, not daring to utter a word in protest. Wang Yanqing then summoned a steward and asked: “Have the various departments resumed their duties in the past few days?”

The steward, unsure of Wang Yanqing’s intentions, cautiously replied: “The government offices in the capital should have, but there are still restrictions at the city gates. If you’re going to handle matters outside the city, it still might not be possible.”

Wang Yanqing nodded and said: “Perfect, go ask at the Shuntian Prefecture whether the procedures for freeing a servant can be completed these days.”

The steward complied. He seemed to want to remind Wang Yanqing of something but ultimately chose to remain silent and went out to take care of the tasks she had assigned.

Clearly, she could just mention it to Lu Heng and not worry about anything, but Wang Yanqing chose to inquire at the Shuntian Prefecture and handle it personally.

While the court was debating who would oversee the pirate matter, the concerns of the common people remained focused on their everyday lives. When the city gates would open mattered far more to them than the court’s plans to mobilize troops against the pirates.

Wang Yanqing, too, was uninterested in the pirates. All her attention these days was devoted to the Shuntian Prefecture. She did not mention her identity, simply stating her surname as Wang and expressing her desire to free her former servant. The procedure for freeing servants was not uncommon and had a fixed process, but this time, the efficiency of the Shuntian Prefecture was surprisingly high, almost as if it had been completed in the blink of an eye.

Wang Yanqing didn’t want to think about whether Lu Heng had had a hand in this. On the day all the paperwork was finalized, Wang Yanqing called for Fei Cui and handed her an official document.

When Fei Cui saw the document bearing the government seal, disbelief filled her expression. Wang Yanqing pushed the document toward her and said: “This is your contract and proof of release. I didn’t mention it before for fear of affecting your mood, but now that everything is settled, please check if there are any issues.”

Fei Cui picked it up to look. As a personal maid, she could recognize some characters. She didn’t need to understand every word, just seeing the red fingerprint and the government seal on the contract was enough.

Fei Cui had been sold at a young age and had learned that being a servant meant being of lower status, enduring hardships and always having the consciousness of being a servant. She was expected not only to serve her master but even to risk her life to protect her master’s belongings. Fei Cui had long since grown accustomed to this life, but suddenly, one day, someone told her she was free.

No one could determine her value or sell her anymore.

In an instant, Fei Cui felt bewildered. After a long silence, she asked: “Miss, are you really not planning to return to the Marquis Mansion?”

Fei Cui’s contract was with the Marquis of Zhenyuan, who had transferred it to Wang Yanqing. Now, Wang Yanqing was setting her free. This indicated that Wang Yanqing truly regarded her as a person, unlike those young ladies who spoke of sisterly bonds with their maids while tightly holding onto their contracts of servitude and never mentioning their freedom. On the other hand, it also suggested that Wang Yanqing intended to leave.

So, before leaving, she wanted to ensure Fei Cui’s future was settled.

Wang Yanqing subtly nodded, her tone calm and indifferent: “Yes.”

A silence fell between the two. After a moment, Fei Cui quietly said: “That’s good. The Marquis will ultimately have to marry a noble lady of suitable status. If not from the Yongping Marquis Mansion, there will be others. No matter how much he cares, he can’t always keep an eye on the inner courtyard. If the mistress and the old madam want to make things difficult, they will always find a way. Rather than suffer a lifetime of mistreatment, it’s better to leave with a clear conscience.”

In fact, Fei Cui had sensed this during Fu Tingzhou’s last visit. She noticed that there was no longer the same spark in Wang Yanqing’s gaze. There was no love, no hate, not even resentment.

Fei Cui understood then that there was no longer any possibility between the Marquis and Miss.

During this time, Fei Cui had watched with cold eyes, feeling how much Lu Heng cared for Wang Yanqing. Growing up in the inner courtyard, she was used to the subtle battles between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law, the competition for favor among wives and concubines, and the scheming of maids. While inner courtyard matters were not the domain of men, they were inescapably tied to them. It was not difficult to guess whether a man cared or not.

Fei Cui had once supported Wang Yanqing staying at the Zhenyuan Marquis Mansion, mainly because Fu Tingzhou had feelings for her. Although it was a harsh truth, given Wang Yanqing’s beauty, it would be difficult for her to live the quiet, self-sufficient life she dreamed of in the common world. Sooner or later, she would attract the attention of men with ulterior motives. Since she would be forced into marriage anyway, it was better to marry Fu Tingzhou, who at least had childhood ties and genuine feelings for her.

— It’s just a pity that this sincerity still ranked below the interests of the Marquis Mansion.

But now, it seemed there was another man who could place Wang Yanqing’s interests before those of his family. Fei Cui understood that her freedom from servitude was due to Lu Heng’s influence. But even if she had to go through it all again, she would still tell Wang Yanqing the truth. Regardless that from Lu Heng’s viewpoint, Fei Cui’s actions had indeed disrupted his wedding.

Even so, Lu Heng was still willing to show kindness. Likely out of regard for Wang Yanqing, he treated Fei Cui with some consideration.

Now that Wang Yanqing had regained her memories, she still chose to leave Fu Tingzhou and sever ties with the Fu family. If this was Wang Yanqing’s decision, Fei Cui could only offer her blessings.

But Fei Cui still wouldn’t say anything good for Lu Heng. He still did what he did. No matter how pitiful Lu Heng pretended to be now, he still wasn’t a good person.

In the end, the Zhenyuan Marquis Mansion ultimately held some kindness toward Wang Yanqing. Without the Fu family, whether Wang Yanqing could grow up smoothly was debatable. She didn’t say the Marquis Mansion was wrong, but just wanted to change the subject lightly: “You were sold due to a natural disaster, and after all these years, I wonder if there are still any relatives in your hometown. I’ve prepared a dowry of fifty taels for you. If you want to return home, I can send someone to take you back. You can buy a few acres of land there and find a decent man to live a stable life. If you don’t want to go back, then you can set up a shop in the capital and do some small business.”

Fei Cui shook her head and said: “There are too many nobles in the capital. I don’t want to stay here. It’s been so long that I can hardly remember what my hometown looked like, only that it had many rice fields, and the county town was quite prosperous. I want to go back and take a look. If I can find my family, I’d be happy to settle down in a nearby county.”

Wang Yanqing nodded, not interfering with Fei Cui’s decision. Fifty taels of silver may not seem like much in the capital, possibly not even enough to cover a meal for people like Lu Heng, but for ordinary folks, it was enough to ensure a lifetime free from worry.

Fifty taels were just enough to secure Fei Cui’s future without attracting danger. Giving her more would only bring harm.

Perhaps this was the fragility of human nature. Fei Cui was sold by her family, yet after regaining her freedom, she still wanted to return to find them. Wang Yanqing made no comment on this but simply reminded her: “You must protect yourself and never tell anyone how much silver you have, even if they are close relatives.”

Fei Cui nodded and replied: “Thank you, Miss. I understand.”

Wang Yanqing felt a vague melancholy in her heart, but she forced a smile and said to Fei Cui: “From now on, you don’t need to refer to yourself as a servant anymore. You should gradually shed these old habits.”

Fei Cui smiled in agreement. The sunlight poured through the window, and it seemed as if time had returned to those years when they relied on each other and shared everything. After carefully storing away her contract and the documents, Fei Cui hesitated several times but finally mustered the courage to ask: “Miss, what do you plan to do in the future?”

“In the future?” Wang Yanqing gazed at the shimmering dust floating down in the sunlight, her thoughts drifting slightly, “I don’t know. But I heard that the city gates are open these days, perhaps I’ll go back home and have a look.”

Fei Cui hesitated, then quietly asked: “You are not staying?”

Wang Yanqing shook her head with a smile, lowering her gaze to the dazzling, almost unreal patterns on her skirt, and said softly: “For two years, I couldn’t see that he was deceiving me. Now, who knows what’s real and what’s not?”

Fei Cui’s lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but she gave up when the words came to her lips. Instead, she put on a cheerful demeanor and playfully said to Wang Yanqing: “Miss, you are gentle, kind, steadfast, and intelligent. Any man in the world who marries you will be blessed for three generations. You will surely find a worthy husband.”

When Fei Cui praised Wang Yanqing, she didn’t use words like beautiful or slender. She knew what Wang Yanqing truly cared about. Wang Yanqing merely smiled in response.

After Fei Cui left, the smile in Wang Yanqing’s eyes quickly faded. She walked to the window, where the plum branch from a few days ago had already withered, standing alone in the vase. When she lightly touched it, many pieces crumbled and fell away.

Wang Yanqing sighed inwardly and looked up at the bright sunlight outside.

Fu Tingzhou was gone, and now Fei Cui was leaving as well. From now on, she would be all alone.

At least Fei Cui could hold onto hope in her search for family, but what about Wang Yanqing? Who could she seek out?

Back at the Lu residence, Lu Heng received updates on Wang Yanqing’s latest movements. As he reviewed the conversation between her and Fei Cui, his expression grew darker with each line.

After he finished reading everything, he pressed his fingers to his temples, revealing a rare look of frustration.

There were few things left in the world that could make him feel so conflicted and at a loss. Just because he had dealt with Fu Tingzhou didn’t mean he was free from troubles.

Lu Heng originally thought Wang Yanqing was just acting on impulse and once her anger subsided, there would be room for negotiation. However, she seemed determined to leave.

Lu Heng certainly couldn’t let her go. He knew all too well the impact distance could have on feelings. Once out of sight, no matter how deep the emotions, they would gradually be forgotten. Yet, he couldn’t openly intervene, or else all the effort he had put in would be in vain.

It could even backfire.

Lu Heng spent the whole night contemplating Wang Yanqing’s situation, not sleeping until very late. But not long after he turned off the lights, urgent footsteps suddenly echoed from outside. The guards, forgetting their manners, pounded on the door: “My lord, something big has happened!”

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