The Imperial Guard’s Revenge
Chapter 125 Taking the Initiative
Wang Yanqing glanced at him through the mirror and asked with a smile: “We’re almost in Hangzhou. How long do you plan to indulge yourself, brother?”
Lu Heng seemed to let out a light laugh, holding the end of her hair. He slowly leaned in, and two faces appeared in the mirror, one graceful and the other heroic: “What’s the matter? Are you scared?”
In this position, they were nearly touching. Wang Yanqing wasn’t wearing any makeup, and a strand of her long hair was still in his hand. It truly gave off a sense of dependence and fragile intimacy. Wang Yanqing smiled faintly, then turned on the stool, her arms affectionately wrapping around Lu Heng’s neck: “But we can’t keep living like this. We should have some plan, at least for the future.”
Their position shifted instantly, now facing each other. Lu Heng’s fingers played with Wang Yanqing’s damp hair as he softly comforted her: “It will be fine. Let’s drink and be merry today then worry about tomorrow when it comes.”
Wang Yanqing thought to herself that he was truly a scoundrel of a brother, one who wouldn’t take responsibility after getting what he wanted. Was Lu Heng acting true to his nature, or was this part of his persona? Although Wang Yanqing’s words were teasing, they were also asking about his plans for the future. He, on the other hand, told her to worry about it tomorrow.
There was hardly any space between them. Wang Yanqing furrowed her brow, growing a bit impatient. When she spoke, her tone carried the sense of a final ultimatum: “Brother, I don’t want to keep indulging in this nonsense. If you don’t give me an answer, then this will be the end. I’m going to get married.”
Lu Heng narrowed his eyes upon hearing this and stared at her intently: “Is my sister that ruthless?”
His gaze was filled with danger, but Wang Yanqing had already figured him out. Every time she made him angry, his methods of punishment were always the same. They were out in public, and there were eyes everywhere, he wouldn’t do anything too extreme.
Therefore, Wang Yanqing spoke without fear: “Anyway, it’s going to happen eventually. You decide what to do.”
Lu Heng nodded slightly without commenting. Stretching out his long arm, he placed the wooden comb back on the vanity and said: “It’s the last night, after all. I should leave my sister with some memories. Let’s go to bed and talk. Will you walk there yourself or what?”
He was clearly still smiling, but there was a chilling undertone in his voice. Wang Yanqing couldn’t help but think of how Imperial Guards tortured officials accused of crimes. She felt a twinge of regret, but her pride wouldn’t let her back down. She slapped Lu Heng’s hand away and walked toward the canopy bed: “You go out. This is the end for us. I’ll sleep by myself.”
She hadn’t taken more than a few steps when someone grabbed her from behind. Lu Heng grabbed her arm and effortlessly pulled her back into his embrace, lifting her off the ground with ease. Looking down at her, he smiled ambiguously and said: “Since you’ve provoked me, there’s no way you can just end things whenever you want. Tonight, I’ll make sure to leave you with a final night you won’t forget.”
Lu Heng especially emphasized the words “final night,” his tone carrying an ominous edge. Wang Yanqing’s breath caught in her throat and Lu Heng strode towards the bed. While he turn around to arrange the bed curtains, Wang Yanqing quickly got up and took the initiative to wrap her arms around his waist: “Brother, I was just joking.”
Lu Heng held the bed curtains tightly together and pried open Wang Yanqing’s fingers. He turned around and easily pushed her down on the bed: “Qing Qing, you are grown up now. You should know that even if you say something as a joke, you must take responsibility for it.”
“I know.” Wang Yanqing lay obediently under him, her little finger gently tracing his palm, “I’m just worried about you.”
At this moment, the bed curtain was drawn tightly, and it seemed as though only the two of them remained in the world. They spoke in whispers, making sure not to be overheard. Wang Yanqing knew that Lu Heng was someone who held grudges, and the more he held them, the bigger they became. If she didn’t behave well now, life would be difficult for her once they returned to the capital.
Lu Heng didn’t respond, but he took a pillow from the side and propped up the back of her head. She had just finished bathing, so her hair was still wet. She would catch a cold if she lay directly on the bedding.
Wang Yanqing didn’t pay much attention to his actions and hurriedly asked: “What exactly are your plans for tomorrow?”
Lu Heng sighed quietly. He realized that his wife seemed far more interested in solving the case than in him. As he combed her black hair, he said: “The most important thing in coming to Suzhou is, of course, investigating the cause of Zhu Wan’s death. Tomorrow, we need to find a way to secretly visit Zhu Wan’s home.”
Wang Yanqing caught the strange note in his words: “Secretly visit?”
“Yes.” Lu Heng replied, “Although this trip south is a covert operation, I suspect that someone else already knows about it.”
Wang Yanqing’s eyes widened: “You mean there’s a traitor in the Imperial Guards?”
“The people I personally selected, of course, I trust.” Lu Heng said, “But every weapon in the court is registered. When we transported weapons from the Shenji Battalion, we had to go through other departments. I trust the Imperial Guards, but I don’t trust others.”
Wang Yanqing vaguely understood what he meant: “You’re saying that someone in the court may have noticed you leaving, and sent word to the officials in Jiangsu and Zhejiang?”
Lu Heng nodded, not hesitant to assume the worst about his colleagues: “I can’t rule out that possibility.”
When Zhu Wan was impeached, many in the capital made a huge fuss. Someone could be hiding something underneath the surface. Lu Heng received a secret imperial order to investigate the officials in Jiangnan. This wasn’t just about cutting off someone’s source of income. If Lu Heng discovered anything, an entire group of people involved would be in danger, their lives and livelihoods at risk.
These people, in order to protect themselves, would do whatever it took to stop him, even going as far as to kill him. After all, Lu Heng had made many enemies over the years in the officialdom. Killing him would open up many high-ranking positions in the Imperial Guards, which would surely tempt some.
Once Lu Heng left the capital, his whereabouts completely disappeared from the court’s eyes, and their only communication was through internal codes. The traitors in the court might not know Lu Heng’s exact location, but they certainly knew he would come to Suzhou to find Zhu Wan. All they needed to do was lie in wait at Zhu Wan’s house.
The more Wang Yanqing thought about it, the more unsettled she became. No wonder the entire Lu family had to be so cautious. Being a part of the Imperial Guards was a very dangerous job. When she thought about it this way, the fact that their family had lasted six generations was truly impressive.
Wang Yanqing asked: “I saw many trained in martial arts disguised as commoners at the inn today. Were they your people?”
Lu Heng narrowed his eyes subtly after hearing this, his tone hard to read, a mix of anger and amusement: “You could already tell? What a bunch of useless fools.”
“Don’t blame them.” Wang Yanqing gently patted Lu Heng’s arm, still defending the people from North Fusi. “I could tell from their faces. You know, for many martial artists, their movements become instinctive, and they can’t fully control that.”
When a person was nervous, they could control their words and expressions, but they couldn’t control the size of their pupils. Even Lu Heng and the emperor weren’t perfect in this aspect, so it wouldn’t be fair to blame the Imperial Guards for making a mistake.
Lu Heng understood, and this was also one of the reasons he had brought Wang Yanqing with him on such a dangerous mission. He said: “This is an Imperial Guard contact point. I used a code to tell them to meet here. But to keep things discreet, there are still ordinary guests at the inn. Once you leave your room, be cautious.”
Wang Yanqing nodded, then looked at Lu Heng with a bright smile: “But if there are outsiders, aren’t you worried about entering your unmarried sister-in-law’s room in the middle of the night?”
Lu Heng also smiled: “If I want to enjoy your fragrance, how could I care about the opinions of others? I like to go against worldly morals.”
“Alright,” Wang Yanqing said, adjusting her posture to rest comfortably against Lu Heng, then asked, “What’s next?”
“Go to the Zhu residence.” Lu Heng said. “But I suspect there are people watching Zhu Wan’s house. If we just show up at the door, it’ll be like walking into a trap. Not only will we fail to get any answers, but we will also expose our location. Right now, the enemy is in the dark, and we are in the light, so we must act cautiously.”
Wang Yanqing nodded, her delicate brows furrowed as she kept thinking of ways to sneak into the Zhu residence without being noticed: “What if we pretend to be visitors, or perhaps sell goods or vegetables?”
Lu Heng still shook his head: “No. If they’ve been tailing us for a long time, they’ll be familiar with the local peddlers. We’re strangers, and suddenly knocking on Zhu’s door would be too suspicious. We might even force them to silence the family.”
Wang Yanqing couldn’t come up with any other ideas and asked: “Then what should we do?”
Not knowing what else to try, her first instinct was still to seek help from Lu Heng. It was as if, as long as he was around, there would always be a solution to any problem, even if the sky was falling. Lu Heng was pleased by this unspoken trust. He rolled a lock of her hair between his fingers, lightly tracing a finger on her neck: “Little sister, have you forgotten Sun Tzu’s Art of War I taught you about when you were young?”
Again? Wang Yanqing silently rolled her eyes and then embraced him playfully: “I’m too lazy to think, Brother. Help me figure it out.”
Lu Heng felt pleased by her trust and didn’t hesitate to continue explaining: “We can’t get in, so we’ll have them come out.”
Wang Yanqing was momentarily stunned by his words. Lu Heng, still holding her hair, let his hand travel down her neck: “Zhu Wan came from a humble background, and his household is very simple. He has an elderly mother, 62 years old, living in an old house in Huntang Lane. Zhu Wan has been an official for twenty years but never moved houses, so his family still lives there. After his wife passed away, he never remarried. He only has one daughter, Zhu Yuxiu, who is 16 years old and still unmarried. As you know, officials in the Ming Dynasty can hardly make ends meet on their salaries alone, so Zhu Yuxiu didn’t accompany Zhu Wan on his assignments but stayed at the old house with her grandmother. He also has an old servant who’s been with him for many years, moving with him from place to place. After Zhu Wan’s death, it was this old servant who brought his coffin back home.”
If Zhu Wan’s death really was suspicious, this servant would be the most important witness. Wang Yanqing hurriedly asked: “Where is this old servant?”
“Where else would he be?” Lu Heng said. “He’s staying at the old house, continuing to serve the two elderly and frail masters.”
Wang Yanqing asked cautiously: “So, tomorrow we need to find a way to lure out Zhu Wan’s old servant?”
“No.” Lu Heng replied, “Quite the opposite. Our target is Zhu Wan’s daughter — Zhu Yuxiu.”
Wang Yanqing was taken aback for a moment but quickly thought it through. No matter how Zhu Wan died, the old servant would definitely report everything to the matriarch and the young lady once he returned to the residence. So, there was no need to keep a close eye on the old servant, they could just approach the Grandmother Zhu and Zhu Yuxiu. Grandmother Zhu was elderly, and approaching her suddenly might startle her, but the young and healthy, somewhat inexperienced Zhu Yuxiu would be the best candidate.
This target was easier than the matriarch of the Zhu family, but a young unmarried girl was still difficult to approach. Wang Yanqing thought for a moment and said: “If we are looking for Zhu Yuxiu, I should be able to figure out a way to strike up a conversation with her if we meet on the street.”
“Thank you, Qing Qing.” Lu Heng held her hair and swept it against her snowy chest, but quickly realized it was too slow and decided to take matters into his own hands. “So, tomorrow, we must make sure she leaves the house.”
Wang Yanqing had originally wanted to push Lu Heng’s hand away, wondering why he had to be so touchy when they were talking. But then she remembered that she had offended him, so she silently tolerated it. “But we can’t send a message to the Zhu family. How could we make an unmarried woman leave her house on her own? We can’t exactly burn down her house, can we?”
“It wasn’t that bad.” Lu Heng sighed softly, trying to salvage his image, which was precariously slipping in Qing Qing’s mind. “The Imperial Guards aren’t that unethical.”
When Wang Yanqing heard his words, she knew it was settled: “So you have a plan?”
Lu Heng, no longer as confident as before, simply said with an unclear tone: “Behind every coincidence, there are actually several inevitable forces. It’s getting late, we should sleep.”
Wang Yanqing grew even more curious and urged him to explain. Lu Heng refused, so Wang Yanqing wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his lips, saying: “Master Lu, Husband, how?”
Her voice was soft and sweet, lingering with a delicate tone. Lu Heng tried to resist, but Wang Yanqing simply wrapped herself around him, pressing her chest firmly against his, her body subtly moving with each breath: “How? If you tell me, I’ll take the initiative tonight.”
Lu Heng held on for a moment. It wasn’t that his willpower was weak, but the temptation was just too great. He turned his head, cleared his throat, and vaguely said: “They stole Zhu Yuxiu’s coat that she hung out in the yard, so tomorrow, she’ll definitely have to go out to buy clothes.”
Wang Yanqing was stunned for a long time after hearing this. She silently let go of him, half-leaning against the bed, motionless as she stared at Lu Heng.
Lu Heng, feeling guilty, tried to justify himself: “Actually, I didn’t know, it was their own rotten idea…”
In this moment, he didn’t use the word, our, but theirs. Wang Yanqing smiled faintly, without any warmth, and said: “In my opinion, in terms of lack of morals, this behavior is no different from burning down a house.”
Lu Heng didn’t give up on defending himself: “Qing Qing, let me explain…”
“No need to say anymore.” Wang Yanqing pressed against Lu Heng’s chest, coldly, “Master Lu, I’ve been traveling all day, and now I’m tired. Please, do what you need.”
Lu Heng, forced to close the door to his “sister’s” room, was filled with grief and anger. What was this? Suffering a double loss after trying to trick the enemy. Qing Qing said she would take the initiative, but now, she didn’t even want him around.
·
The next day, Lu Heng carefully went to join his sister for a meal. Wang Yanqing glanced at him indifferently, completely ignoring him.
Lu Heng picked up her favorite shrimp dumpling to offer her, but Wang Yanqing didn’t take a single bite. Lu Heng sighed once again. If only he had been a little more resolute yesterday, he wouldn’t be facing this situation now.
This was probably the first deeply reflective moment for Lu Heng. Seeing that Wang Yanqing was almost done eating, he tried to steer the conversation: “Sister, Suzhou’s market is lively, especially the fabrics. All the latest patterns come from here. How about I accompany you to the street to have a look?”
Wang Yanqing was angry, but the case still had to be solved. She shot Lu Heng a fierce glare, but still obediently followed him out.
Lu Heng acted as if nothing was wrong, talking to her casually along the way, asking about her well-being, showing concern in every little detail. Since they were out in public, Wang Yanqing couldn’t openly show her displeasure. For every ten sentences Lu Heng spoke, she had to respond to at least one or two. Lu Heng sensed her gradual softening and grew bolder, even taking her hand, claiming it was because he was worried, they might get separated.
Wang Yanqing subtly tried to shake it off, but couldn’t break free, and didn’t want to make any bigger gestures. She silently cursed him in her heart, thinking to herself. He had time to let his subordinates steal clothes under the watchful eyes of the guards yesterday, but no time to send a message to the Zhu family?
But Wang Yanqing also knew that the difficulty of these two tasks weren’t the same. Stealing clothes only took a moment and didn’t require any logic, lowlifes did such things all the time. However, talking to the Zhu family, even for the most legitimate of reasons, could arouse suspicion from outsiders.
As for throwing notes into the Zhu family’s courtyard, that was even more unthinkable. In any case, Wang Yanqing knew if she were to find a letter asking her to go out, she wouldn’t pay any attention to it.
Zhu Yuxiu was an ordinary person and might not be able to hide the matter. Only when the person involved was completely unaware of the “coincidence” did it seem most natural.
Wang Yanqing understood their reasons, and with Lu Heng’s slyness, he constantly bought her little snacks using his brotherly position. After a few times, she couldn’t bring herself to stay cold and distant anymore. The silent treatment naturally came to an end.
Traitor! Wang Yanqing pinched Lu Heng’s hand hard, and realizing he was off the hook, Lu Heng allowed his wife to vent her frustration. At that moment, Lu Heng seemed to spot something in the crowd. He smiled and turned to Wang Yanqing: “Sister, this street doesn’t have much new to offer. Let’s go check out the other side.”
When Wang Yanqing heard this, she understood right away and said: “Alright.”
Lu Heng led Wang Yanqing around, slowly walking towards a shop. Wang Yanqing took the opportunity to observe the store. It had two shopfronts, with simple decoration, and the counters were piled high with fabrics, looking very affordable. At the moment, there was an old man and a young girl, around sixteen or seventeen, standing at the counter, picking through the items. The old man was hunched over, and they seemed to be master and servant.
Wang Yanqing looked outside the shop and noticed a few people loitering nearby. She immediately understood. This must be Zhu Wan’s daughter, Zhu Yuxiu.
Wang Yanqing suddenly stopped walking and tugged at Lu Heng’s hand: “Brother, I’m hot from walking so long. There’s a place selling ice cream over there, and I want some.”
Lu Heng lowered his gaze to meet Wang Yanqing’s eyes and immediately smiled: “Alright. You wait here, I’ll go buy it for you.”
Wang Yanqing obediently nodded, standing at the door of the shop, curiously glancing around. She stood still, playing the role of the delicate young lady who couldn’t move without her brother.
Lu Heng went to the ice cream stall to choose a flavor, but for some reason, he hadn’t returned for a long time. Wang Yanqing waited, bored out of her mind. As she looked around, she saw Zhu Yuxiu talking to the old servant. The servant seemed to be persuading her about something, and after a moment of hesitation, Zhu Yuxiu shook her head. Wang Yanqing quickly deduced that they were about to leave from reading their expressions. She immediately turned to the guard behind her and said: “Where has my brother gone? Why hasn’t he come back yet?”
Not long after she spoke, Lu Heng returned. He handed the ice cream to Wang Yanqing and said: “There were a lot of people in line at the stall, so I made you wait.”
“It’s alright, as long as you got it,” Wang Yanqing replied impatiently, pulling at Lu Heng’s sleeve, “Brother, let’s go pick out some clothes now.”
Lu Heng indulgently agreed. The two of them turned around and walked along the street. Suddenly, they bumped into a person coming out of a shop. The woman let out a sharp scream, and the ice cream in Wang Yanqing’s hand completely spilled onto the person.
Wang Yanqing immediately apologized: “I’m so sorry, Miss, I didn’t notice someone behind me. This ice cream was just made, and it’s terribly cold. It’s bad for your health if the ice cream melts on your clothes. I’ll buy you a new outfit.”
Zhu Yuxiu couldn’t understand why she was so unlucky. Her father had passed away, and life at home was already difficult. Yesterday, she lost a piece of clothing as well. If it were a small item, it would be fine, but it happened to be one of her remaining outer garments. Zhu Yuxiu had intended to make do, but her grandmother insisted that, as a young lady, she couldn’t go without clean clothes and forced her to go out to buy new ones. The clothes in the store were all too expensive. Zhu Yuxiu didn’t want to waste her grandmother’s pension money, so she planned to return home with the old servant. But after walking just a few steps, she ran into a man and a woman, ruining her only remaining outer garment.
Zhu Yuxiu felt very unlucky, but fortunately, the clothes weren’t too wet, so she could get home quickly. She waved her hand and said it was fine, but the couple insisted on compensating her for a new outfit.
The tall, handsome man with striking features said: “Miss, my sister is soft-hearted and kind. If you catch a cold and fall ill, she will feel guilty. A new outfit is nothing to us. This is our apology, please accept it.”
Wang Yanqing thought to herself, how come Lu Heng was still changing her personality? But since the task target was right in front of her, she couldn’t argue. She could only blink her eyes, letting them shimmer with soft, kind tears, and said: “Yes, Miss, it’s my fault for not paying attention to the road and causing you this trouble. If you go back like this, I couldn’t forgive myself.”
Zhu Yuxiu looked at the excessively good-looking siblings in front of her and believed that they were indeed not lacking in money for a new outfit. Moved by their kindness, she felt too embarrassed to refuse and could only agree, saying: “Alright. I appreciate your help.”
Wang Yanqing found a nearby ready-made clothing store and let Zhu Yuxiu choose the style she liked. Zhu Yuxiu pointed to the cheaper items, and after seeing her choice, Wang Yanqing didn’t say anything. She simply asked the shopkeeper if there was a private room available so that Zhu Yuxiu could change out of her wet clothes.
The store they entered was of moderate size, with a dedicated changing room for female customers. Since the old servant was a man and it wasn’t appropriate for him to go in, Wang Yanqing naturally said: “I’ll accompany the young lady in to change.”
Zhu Yuxiu wanted to decline but was stopped when Wang Yanqing held her hand, saying: “It’s safer to travel together.” Hearing this, Zhu Yuxiu didn’t object further.
The two women went into the changing room. Lu Heng glanced at them for a moment, playing the part of a good brother, then proceeded to pay for their clothes.
He didn’t speak with the old servant, as it would have been suspicious to strike up a conversation with a stranger. Meanwhile, inside the changing room, Wang Yanqing quietly tested the door. After confirming it couldn’t be opened, she suddenly rushed toward Zhu Yuxiu, forcefully covering her mouth.
Zhu Yuxiu was about to change clothes when she was unexpectedly attacked from behind, and she froze in shock. Her eyes widened with fear and regret. Wang Yanqing didn’t have time to explain and immediately said: “Miss Zhu, don’t be afraid. We are from the Imperial Guards in the capital, and we’ve been sent by the emperor to thoroughly investigate the death of Master Zhu in the Jiangnan region.”
Zhu Yuxiu’s eyes widened even further, unable to understand what she was hearing. Wang Yanqing quickly assessed her expression, confirming she held no hostile intent, and continued: “Miss Zhu, I won’t harm you. If you don’t make a sound, I’ll let you go.”
Zhu Yuxiu quickly nodded, and Wang Yanqing slowly released her grip. Zhu Yuxiu didn’t scream or shout. After taking a deep breath and calming herself, she cautiously stared at Wang Yanqing and carefully asked: “Are you really here on the emperor’s orders?”
Wang Yanqing directly took out the Imperial Guard’s order token. It was the North Fusi token that Lu Heng had given to her yesterday, with the name of the garrison engraved on the back, making it impossible to fake. When Zhu Yuxiu saw the words “Shuntian Prefecture” on it, she finally felt at ease.
They were from Beijing, so they could be trusted. If they were here to silence her, they wouldn’t have traveled all the way from the capital.
Once Zhu Yuxiu had calmed down, Wang Yanqing lowered her voice and asked: “Miss Zhu, there might be people trailing you now. We don’t have much time, so I’ll get straight to the point. How did Master Zhu die?”
Hearing her father’s name, Zhu Yuxiu’s eyes filled with tears. She gritted her teeth and said: “My father was forced into a corner and had no choice but to die to clear his name.”
Wang Yanqing immediately asked: “What happened before Master Zhu took his own life?”
Zhu Yuxiu wiped away her tears and recounted the news the old servant brought back. It turned out that after the imperial envoy arrived, Zhu Wan attached great importance to the investigation. He personally accompanied Du Ruzhen to the edict investigation and showed him evidence of the smuggling by the westerners and soldiers who had been injured by their weapons. Zhu Wan believed that his actions were justified. He had killed the westerners, the Japanese, and the ninety-six pirates because they were too rampant, and their heads were necessary to intimidate others who might try to follow their example.
Du Ruzhen had promised to report the truth to the emperor when he returned to the capital. Who would have known that Du Ruzhen secretly accepted money from the peace faction, and upon returning, he turned on Zhu Wan, accusing him of executing people unlawfully.
When Zhu Wan heard that the imperial envoy would come to arrest him and bring him back to the capital, he was filled with grief and indignation. He came from a humble background and despised the flattering ways of the bureaucracy. Due to his bad temper, he hadn’t made any friends since becoming an official. He couldn’t even convince Du Ruzhen, how would he defend himself in the capital, where public opinion would be swayed against him?
With the determination of a scholar, Zhu Wan chose to die rather than live with the unjust accusations. He wrote his own last words and a farewell letter before poisoning himself. He preferred death to bearing the crimes imposed on him by the officialdom.
By the end of the story, Zhu Yuxiu was choking on her words, unable to continue. Wang Yanqing sighed deeply after listening, but there was no time for sadness. They had been inside for too long, and the shopkeeper had already sent someone to check on them. Wang Yanqing called out that they would hurry up and tightened her grip on Zhu Yuxiu’s hand, saying: “Miss Zhu, we don’t have much time, we need to leave. Do you still have your father’s letters, his farewell note, or any other personal items?”
Zhu Yuxiu nodded repeatedly: “Of course, I kept my father’s belongings carefully.”
“Good.” Wang Yanqing said quickly, “You should change into this new outfit first. Afterward, we will visit the Zhu residence under the pretext of helping you with laundry. Once you return home, hurry and organize Master Zhu’s belongings, especially the letters, rosters, and anything that can prove his innocence. We will make sure to present them to the emperor intact. But you must be very careful. There may be people watching your house, and you cannot let them notice anything. You cannot allow Master Zhu’s belongings fall into their hands.”
Zhu Yuxiu was frightened by the gravity of the situation. She nodded slowly, still trying to process Wang Yanqing’s words. The two of them quickly changed clothes, working as fast as they could. Wang Yanqing folded the old clothes, which had been stained by the ice cream, and turned to Zhu Yuxiu, saying: “Control your expression. We’re going out now.”
Zhu Yuxiu took a deep breath, nodded, and signaled that she was ready. Wang Yanqing then quickly unlocked the door and walked out, acting sweet and innocent as she approached her brother.
“Brother, we’re done.”
Lu Heng and the old servant had been waiting in the main hall. When he heard Wang Yanqing’s voice, he turned around, smiling as he caught his sister. As they passed by Zhu Yuxiu, Lu Heng gave her a polite nod, his smile faint.
Zhu Yuxiu recalled what Wang Yanqing said “us” earlier, and a cold sweat broke out on her palms. Unconsciously, she clenched the hem of her skirt.
Wang Yanqing whined in a soft, coy voice to Lu Heng about how the changing room was too shabby and how it took her a long time to get used to it. Lu Heng listened patiently, appearing every bit the good brother. He signaled for a servant to go get the old clothes from the changing room and said: “Miss, I apologize for any inconvenience today. Please accept this outfit as a gift from my sister and me. I will have your old clothes cleaned and personally return them to you.”
If this had happened before, Zhu Yuxiu would have definitely refused. How could she let strangers take her clothes? But now that she knew their identities, she stiffly nodded her head, her face expressionless: “Alright, thank you both.”
Wang Yanqing nestled sweetly next to her brother, but in her heart, she was thinking that Zhu Yuxiu had made a mistake. She shouldn’t have thanked them.
It was just one sentence, but it was something that could easily be noticed.
Afterward, Wang Yanqing and Lu Heng returned to the inn with the clothes. To cover their tracks, they had bought two outfits on the street. Once back at the inn, Lu Heng ordered the clothes to be sent for laundering with urgency, emphasizing that they needed them today.
After the innkeeper left, Wang Yanqing asked: “Why the rush? If we wait for the clothes to dry, it’ll probably be almost evening.”
“Delays could lead to complications.” Lu Heng replied briefly. “The boat is still docked, and we need to leave as soon as possible, preferably tonight.”
Money could make anything happen. After ordering the clothes to be expedited, Lu Heng’s instructions paid off. By the afternoon, the clothes were returned, freshly cleaned and even scented with perfume. Wang Yanqing and Lu Heng pretended to be wealthy young masters and mistresses, accompanied by a few attendants, and made their way to Huntang Lane.
They walked openly to the Zhu family’s door and knocked confidently. When Zhu Yuxiu opened the door and saw them, her eyes widened in surprise.
Clearly, she hadn’t expected them to arrive so quickly.
Wang Yanqing smiled and said: “Miss Zhu, I’m so sorry for getting your clothes dirty today. I had my maid clean them immediately after we got back. I’ve brought them to you now.”
Zhu Yuxiu replied and opened the door further, stepping aside: “Thank you. Please, come in.”
Wang Yanqing lifted her skirt and stepped inside. She casually glanced around. It was a simple Suzhou courtyard with a small house surrounded by a courtyard. A few vegetable patches were planted in the yard. Though modest, it was very tidy. Hearing the commotion, an elderly voice from inside trembled: “Xiu’er, who’s here?”
To avoid alarming her grandmother, Zhu Yuxiu hadn’t told her about today’s earlier events, not even mentioning it to the old servant. She raised her voice and said: “Grandmother, it’s the people I met on the street this afternoon. They’ve come to deliver my clothes.”
Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuxiu’s grandmother quickly came out, repeatedly saying: “How could you let them buy your clothes? You must give them the money back.”
When Wang Yanqing heard this, she quickly declined, saying: “Grandmother Zhu, please don’t be so polite. It was our mistake, and this is what we owe Miss Zhu.”
However, Zhu Yuxiu’s grandmother refused to accept, speaking sternly in her Wu dialect. Wang Yanqing could only half-understand what she was saying, but she thought that Master Zhu’s strong-willed and stubborn nature must have been inherited from his mother. Seizing the opportunity while Wang Yanqing was engaging with Zhu Yuxiu’s grandmother, Lu Heng gave Zhu Yuxiu a subtle look. Zhu Yuxiu understood and said: “Thank you for personally delivering the clothes. You can put them here.”
Lu Heng followed her inside, and his attendants stood at the door, subtly blocking any sight from all sides. Zhu Yuxiu quickly took out a bundle, which contained various letters and poetry collections. Lu Heng sifted through them, his fingers picking out a letter.
He opened it and quickly skimmed through it. It was Zhu Wan’s last note, detailing his experiences as an official, much of which concerned the military governors and the Japanese pirates. At the end, he wrote: “I am poor and sick, have a stubborn temper, and can’t bear to go to court. Even if the emperor does not wish for my death, the people of Fujian and Zhejiang will certainly kill me. I will die on my own terms, without the need for others.”
I am poor and sick, and I am proud and self-willed. I am not good at going to court with others. Even if the emperor does not wish to kill me, the officials in Fujian and Zhejiang will certainly do so. I will die by my own hand, without needing anyone else.
It was clear that Zhu Wan had died out of anger and despair. Lu Heng sighed inwardly and carefully tucked the letter away. His mission in Suzhou was to investigate the cause of Zhu Wan’s death, and with this suicide note, he now had enough evidence to report to the emperor.
The others silently and swiftly hid the remaining documents. Zhu Yuxiu watched everything, not daring to speak. For some reason, whenever she looked at Lu Heng, she instinctively felt fear. Seeing Lu Heng personally tuck away her father’s suicide note, Zhu Yuxiu gathered her courage and asked: “This… Master, will my father’s injustice be made clear?”
Lu Heng turned around and saw Zhu Yuxiu looking at him with a mixture of anticipation and fear. She seemed to be hoping for an answer yet dreading bad news.
Lu Heng’s face remained solemn and cold, and with a barely noticeable nod, he said: “It will.”
Wang Yanqing was still being held by Zhu Yuxiu’s grandmother on the other side. Lu Heng turned and walked towards her. He took two steps, then suddenly stopped, turned slightly, and asked: “I remember someone mentioning that your father compiled a list of officials colluding with the pirates. Do you know where it is?”
Wang Yanqing, having been pulled away by the stubborn old woman, had secretly taken the money and hidden it under an obvious piece of furniture in the Zhu family’s home. Zhu Yuxiu’s grandmother, whose vision wasn’t very good, saw a tall, radiant figure approaching and asked: “Are you two husband and wife?”
Wang Yanqing smiled and said: “No, we are siblings.”
“Siblings, that is good.” Zhu Yuxiu’s grandmother nodded seriously. “With an older brother, you’ll always have someone to support you when you marry. You won’t have to worry about being bullied by your husband’s family.”
Wang Yanqing smiled and thanked her. Lu Heng, standing behind, heard the exchange and felt an indescribable feeling in his heart.
He knew that this was indeed the truth, but as the fake brother and real husband, he felt excluded when he heard it.
Zhu Yuxiu’s grandmother, with her wrinkled, trembling hands, tightly grabbed Wang Yanqing, continuing to ask if she was engaged. Wang Yanqing had no choice but to stick to the pre-arranged story, saying that she was already betrothed, and her fiancé was in Hangzhou. When Zhu Yuxiu’s grandmother heard Hangzhou, she nodded and said: “Hangzhou. People there can be tricky. Don’t trust them too much and be on your guard.”
Zhu Yuxiu’s grandmother continued to give Wang Yanqing advice on how to deal with her husband’s family after marriage. Zhu Yuxiu, feeling extremely embarrassed, quickly stepped forward and pulled her grandmother away: “Grandmother, it’s getting late. They should get leaving now.”
When Zhu Yuxiu’s grandmother heard this, she insisted on inviting them to stay for dinner. Wang Yanqing repeatedly declined and finally managed to extricate herself from the stubborn yet enthusiastic old lady’s grasp. Zhu Yuxiu saw them off at the door. After Lu Heng and Wang Yanqing stepped outside, they turned to bid Zhu Yuxiu farewell.
“Miss Zhu, wait a moment.” Lu Heng said. “It’s getting dark. It may not be safe outside. Please, make sure to close the door and rest with your grandmother.”
Zhu Yuxiu silently nodded at this. After seeing them walk away, she closed the door.
Once they left Zhu’s house, Wang Yanqing quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Lu Heng chuckled and said: “You seem to be quite liked by the elders and children.”
It seems like Wang Yanqing’s beauty and innocent demeanor made everyone worry she would be bullied.
Quite the opposite of Lu Heng.
Wang Yanqing said: “Grandmother Zhu meant well. Master Zhu was the governor-general, commanding the military of four provinces, yet his family still lives in such a humble residence. It’s truly regrettable that such an official passed away so early.”
Lu Heng raised an eyebrow, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he replied: “Qing Qing, are you mocking me?”
“Listen to yourself.” Wang Yanqing said, “I didn’t say anything, and yet you’re the one reading into it.”
They were walking through a narrow alley of a typical Suzhou courtyard, surrounded by white walls and green tiles, resembling an otherworldly couple on a leisurely trip to Jiangnan. The alley was so tight that only the two of them could pass through. As Wang Yanqing turned a corner, she was suddenly pulled back by a force from behind. Lu Heng wrapped his arms around her and turned them both. Just as they did, the sound of cannon fire broke the silence of the night, echoing sharply in the quiet surroundings.
|| Author’s Note:
I am poor and sick, have a stubborn temper, and can’t bear to go to court. Even if the emperor does not wish for my death, the people of Fujian and Zhejiang will certainly kill me. I will die on my own terms, without the need for others.
— “History of the Ming Dynasty, Volume 250, Biography 93”