Chapter 93: News spreads in the morning fog, and the broken kite string raises suspicions
It was barely dawn, and the alleys of the capital were still shrouded in a pale blue morning mist. Liu Qing pushed a wooden cart loaded with breakfast along the cobblestone road. The axle creaked softly, and the aroma of fried dough sticks mingled with the mist. He wore a half-worn navy blue jacket, and a cloth bag tucked into his waist contained the message Xiao Jian had entrusted him with.
"Good morning, Brother Liu!" Aunt Zhang, who worked at the bun shop at the corner of the alley, lifted the lid of the steamer, her face instantly blurred by the white steam. "Today's sugar cakes are fresh out of the pot. Can you bring two for that girl?"
Liu Qing smiled and replied, "Give me six! Miss Fang likes sweet food, so add two more spoonfuls of osmanthus jam." He swiftly took the sugar cake wrapped in oil paper, and out of the corner of his eye he saw two well-dressed men with wandering eyes standing under the eaves of the teahouse on the corner of the street. Their fingers unconsciously stroked the jade pendants around their waists - that was the style often worn by the guards of the E Mansion.
He quietly pushed the cart into another alley, quickening his pace. Last night, Xiao Jian had specifically instructed Ziwei not to leave the house for the next few days, let alone approach any official venues, as Emin's men were investigating the "girl from Jinan." The morning dew soaked his cloth shoes, the cool touch making him more awake.
At that moment, in the west wing of the Fang Mansion, Ziwei was dressing by the window. Jinsuo had tied her hair in a simple bun. The bronze mirror reflected her plain face, a faint shadow under her eyes—she had spent most of the night gazing at her mother's paintings. "Don't worry, young lady. Brother Liu said there's new information from Manager Zhou. There's always a way." Jinsuo inserted a simple jade hairpin into her hair. "Madam Fang has had bird's nest porridge made. It's said to replenish qi and blood. Drink it while it's hot."
Ziwei looked at the willow catkins drifting outside the window and whispered, "I'm not anxious, it's just... I just feel like Mother has waited a lifetime, and I can't wait any longer." She pulled the half jade pendant from her sleeve. The morning light filtered through the cracks in the jade pendant, casting tiny specks of light on the dressing table. "I wonder if he has the other half of the jade pendant?"
"It must be here!" Xiaoyanzi rushed in with a food box. The hem of her goose-yellow skirt was stained with dew, and the red pompom on the end of her braid danced with her movements. "I just grabbed it from the kitchen. Look—" She opened the food box, revealing steaming bird's nest porridge and freshly baked cakes. "Liu Qing just sent it in. It's still steaming hot!"
Ziwei took the bowl of porridge, and her fingertips touched the warm porcelain wall, and her heart warmed a little. "Ci'er, I always trouble you like this..."
"What's the trouble?" Xiaoyanzi stuffed a piece of candy cake into her mouth, and the sweet fragrance instantly melted on her tongue. "We are sisters! Your business is my business. Besides, my brother said that Manager Zhou has found the old postman who delivered the letter to Aunt Xia, and he will be available this afternoon."
Ziwei suddenly raised her head, her eyes flashing with surprise: "Really? What does the old postman know?"
"They say they know where to send the letter and have even seen the recipient's handwriting!" Xiaoyanzi said excitedly, then suddenly realized something and quickly lowered her voice. "But we have to be careful. My brother said E Min's men are hanging around nearby. Let's go out the back door and take Captain Zheng's carriage."
Xiao Jian pushed open the door, his body lightly sweating from his morning workout, his slate-gray gown open at the collar. "Are you all ready?" He handed Ziwei a large gray cloak. "Put this on, and pull your hood down low so no one recognizes you." He looked at Xiao Yanzi again, his eyes serious. "Remember the route. Chief Zheng will be waiting at the back door of the City God Temple. Don't talk too much when you see anyone. Just ask questions and leave."
Xiaoyanzi nodded vigorously and helped Ziwei put on her cloak, pulling the brim of her hat down low, revealing only her small chin. "Don't worry, brother. Are you still worried about me doing things?" She patted her chest and assured Jinsuo, "Wait at the mansion. If anyone asks, just say we went to the silk shop."
As the three quietly slipped out of the Fang residence's back door, the morning mist had dissipated, and sunlight filtered through the treetops, casting dappled shadows. Zheng Biaotou's carriage was parked beneath the old locust tree at the end of the alley, its black cloth curtains tightly drawn. "Get in," Zheng Biaotou's voice was low, the scar on his face looking even more sharp in the morning light. "The old postman is waiting in the side hall of the City God Temple. I've already had the area cleared."
The carriage wheels rolled over the bluestone pavement, making a rhythmic sound. Ziwei clenched the jade pendant hidden in her sleeve, her palms slightly sweating. Xiaoyanzi held her hand, and the warmth of her fingertips made her feel more at ease. "Don't be nervous," Xiaoyanzi leaned close to her ear, her voice so soft as a whisper, "Just think of it as listening to a story. No matter what you hear, I'm here."
The City God Temple was ablaze with incense, its smoke mingling with the whispers of pilgrims. The three followed Captain Zheng through the main hall and around to a secluded side hall in the back. The hall was dimly lit, with only a few rays of sunlight filtering through the window lattice, illuminating an elderly man with white hair and beard—the old postman.
"Is she Miss Xia's daughter?" The old man raised his cloudy eyes, his gaze lingering on Ziwei's face for a long time. Suddenly, he sighed, "She looks like, so much like your mother when she was young." He pulled something wrapped in oil paper from his arms and unwrapped it, revealing half a sheet of yellowed letter paper. "This was the last letter I sent. The recipient accidentally dropped it. I picked it up and kept it, thinking it might be useful one day."
Ziwei took the letter with trembling hands. There were only a few words on it, written in vigorous and powerful handwriting: "It has been three years since the lotus flowers bloomed and faded. My return date is uncertain, so please don't worry. I have also asked someone to send you a jade ruyi as a token of my gratitude." There was only a blurry word "Hong" at the end of the letter.
“This handwriting…” Ziwei’s fingertips stroked the familiar word “荷” and she suddenly remembered the inscription on the back of her mother’s painting. “It’s different from the handwriting in my mother’s painting, but… it feels indescribably familiar.”
The old man coughed twice, his voice hoarse. "Back then, the address for delivering letters kept changing. Sometimes it was an inn, sometimes it was a government post. The recipient never showed up, only letting the guards receive it. But I remember once seeing a man from afar. He was wearing a bright yellow robe, and he was accompanied by many guards..."
A bright yellow robe? Xiaoyanzi's heart trembled, and she exchanged a glance with Xiao Jian—that was the color of the dragon robe! She quickly asked, "Are you sure it's bright yellow? Are you seeing correctly?"
"No mistake!" The old man nodded affirmatively. "I've been on the post roads all my life, so I can't mistake the official uniforms and ranks. That bright yellow robe is embroidered with dragon patterns. How could an ordinary official dare to wear it?"
Ziwei's face paled instantly, and she stumbled back a step, steadying herself on the pillar behind her. "A bright yellow dragon robe... Could it be... Could it be that the person mother is waiting for is..." She didn't dare to continue, her heart pounding as if it was about to burst out of her chest.
Xiao Jian made a quick decision: "Thank you for telling me, old man. We will remember this favor. Captain Zheng, take me back and make sure I'm well settled." He supported the shaky Ziwei and winked at Xiaoyanzi, "Let's go back to the mansion first."
By the time they left the City God Temple, the sunlight had become blindingly bright. Ziwei leaned against the carriage, gazing blankly at the passing street scene outside the window, clutching the half-slip of letter tightly in her hand. Xiaoyanzi, observing her distraught state, felt anxious and heartbroken, yet she didn't know how to comfort her—some truths she had to slowly accept on her own.
As the carriage passed the corner, Xiaoyanzi suddenly caught sight of two familiar figures—the two E Mansion guards at the alley entrance! They were whispering in the direction of the carriage, their eyes unfriendly. She quickly lowered the curtains and lowered her voice, "Brother, we're being watched!"
A cold glint flashed in Xiao Jian's eyes, and he tightened his grip on the jade pendant at his waist—a signal for help from the Jianghu. "Don't be afraid," he said in a steady voice. "Liu Qing will pick us up once we get out of this street. Let's go through the secret passage." The clamor outside the car window gradually faded away, and the letter in Ziwei's hand trembled slightly in the bumpy ride, as if carrying a shocking secret about to be revealed.
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