Chapter 6.4

“Those cruel and unscrupulous hypocrites of the Li Family!” Second Madam Xiao finally recovered enough to rain curses. “This is their own notorious reputation, and they want to drag us down! Obviously, they want to keep it all to themselves!” She refused to believe there was some other motive behind it all. The dowry was enough to tempt a saint, what’s more a Li Family.

“Madam, what do we do now?” the old maid worriedly asked. “Over at the Prefectural Magistrate, the seal has been affixed, the dowry list was also confiscated by them under the pretext that they’d make a copy to preserve it. So, long as that girl from the main branch doesn’t show up, we won’t be able to get our hands on anything!” She was vexed for the sake of her mistress.

Second Madam Xiao, while her trusted aide anxiously awaited instructions, harked back to her own commands regarding that matter. She became so angry she almost spat blood. “—— It’s all you fools on the sidelines egging me on! Quickly send someone after her, ah! Have them properly grab the person and haul her back to me! If not, all that silver will be gone!” Her shrill voice rang in the silent night like a banshee.

After being hurled abuses and called stupid, the old maid was even struck in the head by her mistress. Despite the pain and humiliation, she dared not say a word, swallowing hard all her grievances. If it were not for her mistress’s wicked desire to snatch that dowry from the main branch, why would she approve of her(maid’s) suggestion in that matter? Now she was simply shoving away all the responsibility and making her(maid) the scapegoat!

Although she knew it, the old maid did not dare to even show her anger let alone vent it. She was an old hand, long accustomed to the irrational and abusive masters. If she cried justice here, there would be none to be had. She would only add to her own misery. She had to reconcile with hailing curses in the depths of her heart, wishing to be released sooner so she could go remedy the situation somehow. If not, her days were bound to be bleak.

Alas, who would have known that she had hardly turned around and would find someone standing right at the doorway. She could clearly see the features of the person that sent shivers down her spine. She trembled in place, called our “Master” before dropping to her knees and kowtowing to his feet. Though she hurt from the impact, it was nothing compared to the fear coursing her veins now.

When Second Madam Xiao glimpsed the rage dripping from her husband’s face, she reflexively recalled the words the two had just spoken. A fierce chill that stemmed from her heart, ran to the bottom of her feet and all the way to her head.

——

Without even a moment’s respite, Jian Yin drove the carriage all through the night. It wasn’t until the sun started to peek slightly from behind the darkness, and they had arrived at the city gates, that he brought the coach to a halt.

It wasn’t yet time to open the city gates, but a long line of people had already formed outside. They had all rushed over from various places, awaiting entry into the county city.

Jian Yin, ran a practiced gaze around the vicinity. Upon finding nothing unusual, he reached out and without hesitation, roughly pushed away the round-faced maid who couldn’t resist falling asleep against his body. Then, jumping off the shaft of the carriage, he walked to the window and spoke in a low voice. “Fifth Master, we’re in the county city. The city gates haven’t opened yet, so please be patient and wait.”

Ye Shen’s tightly closed eyes opened in an instant when he heard the voice. His eyes were clear, without any trace of drowsiness. Throughout the journey, he hadn’t slept a wink. As soon as he opened his eyes, his peripheral vision shot towards the corner. When he saw the girl soundly sleeping, he hummed lowly in response.

Jian Yin had spent enough time with his master to glean the exact meaning of his response. So, when he heard his master from the outside, he quickly surmised it was a convenient time to talk. So, taking the opportunity he apprised him of the news he had received last night. “The map was ripped apart. Only a small piece of paper was found from the man’s body yesterday, and we are still unsure of its authenticity.”

They had gone to the village at the behest of none other than the emperor himself in pursuit of something. They had known ahead of the eeriness belying the village and as such rushed to another place first, and then bypassed it to stay overnight to get closer to the target. But unexpectedly, they ran into Xiao Youning and her servant.

“First have someone send them back— ” Ye Shen instructed in an indifferent voice, gaze falling on Xiao Youning’s body again as he said, “Go into the city and find a doctor first.”

Jian Yin was actually shocked. “Fifth Master, you’re injured?!”

Ye Shen leaned against the wall of the car and closed his eyes. “Not me.”

It was the one who he had taken into his carriage with kindness. He was indeed finding trouble for himself.

The author has something to say:

Ye Shen: Indeed looking for trouble for myself.

Later, Ye Shen thought every day about why the little trouble still hadn’t come to find him.