Chapter 77 Gaining Freedom
Since the officials who investigated the "hemp paper" case admitted to accepting bribes from the Yuan family, it's certain that Yuan Chenghai has problems.
Emperor Jingping naturally understood this principle.
Yuan Chenghai's parents, wife, and children were all in the southeast. Emperor Jingping quickly arranged for people to go to the southeast to thoroughly investigate Yuan Chenghai's crimes and to escort his relatives to the capital.
As for the Yuan residence, the arrangements for the three concubines were temporarily ignored, but the residence was thoroughly searched to find evidence of Yuan Chenghai's illegal activities.
Nie Sanniang pulled Nie Siniang to kneel before a Dali Temple official: "Your Honor, my sister was forcibly taken from the street by a man surnamed Yuan. After arriving in the capital, living here is like being in prison; not even a sharp object is allowed in her room. Now that man surnamed Yuan is dead, I beg Your Honor to have mercy and let me take my sister away from this den of wolves..."
After Nie San Niang and Nie Si Niang tearfully recounted their story, the official, not daring to make a decision, reported it to his superiors.
The officials in charge of the case questioned the servants of the Yuan residence and confirmed that what Nie San Niang said was true. After some discussion, they released the Nie sisters.
On the day Nie San Niang left with Nie Si Niang, Hui Niang silently followed to the corner gate, watching them leave with eyes full of envy.
That's great, I can still leave and live my own life.
Everyone says that the master is doomed. Once the investigators return from the southeast, women like them will surely be sent to the brothel, where they will face a life of utter darkness.
Hui Niang walked back step by step, her steps weak and unsteady.
She had thought about dying, but when she actually stood on the stool and put her head into the ring, she hesitated.
It turns out that giving up one's life requires so much courage, and she didn't have it.
Just as she was about to enter her own courtyard, Hui Niang heard cries.
Li Niang is causing trouble again.
She glanced in that direction and then went back to her room.
The shadow that had shrouded the Yuan residence was now behind them. Nie Sanniang, holding her sister's hand, walked briskly, her steps quickening.
"Sister, where are we going?"
"Go find a place to stay."
After making inquiries along the way, Nie San Niang successfully rented a house from a broker in charge of rentals.
The house was located in a hutong (alleyway), where Tao Da and his two companions also lived. This was no coincidence; they had chosen this location from the beginning.
Perhaps the house was rented out before she even left the Yuan residence, perhaps she would never be able to take her sister away from the Yuan residence. But everything went according to the best expectations, what incredible luck!
Nie Sanniang stood in the newly rented house, tears streaming down her face.
Nie Si Niang remained calm until that evening when Nie San Niang led her to knock on the neighbor's door and meet Tao Da and the other two.
"Fourth Sister, this is Brother Tao, this is Brother Liu, and this is Chen San."
Nie Si Niang bowed to each of them, looking at her sister with a bewildered expression.
At this moment, Nie San Niang finally said with relief, "Fourth Sister, I was able to rescue you thanks to Brother Tao and the others."
As for the magpie, Nie Sanniang did not mention it.
It wasn't that they didn't trust their sister; it was just that the Magpie Brothers were so mysterious that even the four of them had never seen their true faces. Clearly, they didn't want to reveal their identities, so there was no need to bring it up for the time being.
"Thank you, three elder brothers." Nie Si Niang bowed again.
Tao Da hurriedly said, "Fourth Sister, there's no need for this. We're not just here to save you; Third Sister is the same as us."
They share the same goal. San Niang is not the one receiving help; they are partners who help each other.
Nie San Niang pulled Nie Si Niang to sit down and began to talk about how the righteous men gathered in the southeast to vow to eliminate the traitor Yuan, and how they went to the capital.
When Nie Si Niang heard the last part, she burst into tears.
Nie Sanniang embraced her younger sister: "Yuan the traitor is dead. From now on, there will be good days. Don't cry, sister."
“Yes, we’ll be together from now on, things definitely won’t be bad,” Chen San added, trying to comfort us.
Nie Si Niang lowered her eyes and nodded slightly.
Back in the new home that had been set up during the day, after washing up, Nie Si Niang came to Nie San Niang's side: "Sister, I want to sleep with you tonight."
Nie San Niang was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "Okay."
The two sisters lay together on the bed, covered only by a thin blanket.
The mattress was new, just like the brand new life that was about to begin.
"Sister." Just when Nie San Niang thought Nie Si Niang was asleep, Nie Si Niang suddenly spoke up.
Nie San Niang turned to look at her younger sister.
“Sister—” Nie Si Niang called out again, gathering her courage, “Is Brother Shuang at home? If we stay in the capital and don’t go back, I want to send him a letter. I… miss him.”
Nie San Niang clenched her fists.
Having kept it a secret for so long, she knew she couldn't hide it any longer.
"Sister." Tears welled up in Nie Si Niang's eyes.
Nie Sanniang gritted her teeth: "Lu Shuang... he's gone!"
Having been mentally prepared, Nie Siniang's lips trembled, and tears streamed down her face: "How did Brother Shuang die?"
Seeing her sister's reaction, Nie Sanniang knew she hadn't believed the comforting words, so she had to tell her the truth: "Lu Shuang went to stop the bandit Yuan, asking him to let you go home, but before she could get close, she was hacked to death under the pretext of assassination..."
Nie Si Niang covered her mouth and sobbed.
She knew that Brother Shuang was gone. If Brother Shuang were here, he would come looking for her no matter what.
Nie San Niang held Nie Si Niang tightly, letting her vent her pain.
Perhaps having a premonition of her beloved's death, Nie Si Niang didn't cry for long. She choked out, "Sister, let's go buy paper money for burning tomorrow, lots and lots of it. It's still July, so Brother Shuang will definitely receive it."
"Okay, buy lots and lots." Nie San Niang breathed a slight sigh of relief upon hearing Nie Si Niang's suggestion.
It's good that my sister can still think of these things. Given more time, she'll eventually cheer up.
The next day, the two sisters went to the funeral street and bought many offerings. On their way back, they saw a Mohele (a type of traditional Chinese liquor) stall and Nie Si Niang stopped: "Sister, I want this."
"Fourth Sister, please choose whatever you like."
The Qixi Festival had just passed, and the Mohele (a type of clay doll) on the stall was the leftovers, nothing special. But Nie Si Niang picked out three clay dolls, one male and two female, with great interest.
"Sister, do these two little girls look alike? One is you, and the other is me."
Nie Sanniang looked carefully at the two Mohele figures side by side, just like the ones she and her sister had slept together the night before, and nodded in agreement: "They look alike."
Back at her lodgings, Nie Si Niang suddenly burst into tears.
"Fourth Sister?"
Nie Si Niang hugged Nie San Niang: "Sister, why can't I do anything right? Before I went out, I clearly remembered that Brother Shuang loves to eat persimmons, but I forgot to buy them..."
Nie San Niang hurriedly said, "There are persimmon vendors at the street corner after you leave the alley. I'll go buy some right now."
Just as Nie San Niang was about to walk out the door, Nie Si Niang called out, "Sister."
Nie San Niang turned around.
"Fourth Sister, what's wrong?"
"It's nothing, sister, go and come back soon."
"I'll be back right away."
Nie San Niang went out and quickly walked to the persimmon stall, carefully selecting a basket of persimmons to take home.
Her hometown was too far away, and she had suffered too much. From now on, this would be her and her sister's real home.
Pushing open the door, the bamboo basket fell to the ground, and the bright red persimmons splattered into mud.
"Fourth Sister—" Nie San Niang cried out as she ran toward her sister lying in a pool of blood.
(End of this chapter)
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