Chapter 19 He had seen Song Huiyin in many different forms...
Huiyin pinched herself hard to bring herself back to her senses. The flames were extremely low in temperature and emitted a faint fragrance as they burned. Just as she was about to take a closer look, Zhang Fangshi had already poured a bucket of black dog blood over her, extinguishing the green flames. The stench of the black dog blood instantly spread, making her feel like vomiting.
Zhang Fangshi gave the order: "Men, seize her!"
Two men wearing painted masks immediately stepped forward and forced Huiyin to kneel on the ground. Her hands were tied behind her back, making it impossible for her to move. No matter how hard she struggled, she could not break free.
In a flash, she realized what was happening and looked up at Madam Pei, saying, "He's a liar! There's something wrong with these clothes..."
Zhang Fangshi stepped forward, looking down at Huiyin, and struck her on the side of the neck, knocking her unconscious. He then bowed to Madam Pei and said, "Madam, this evil spirit is extremely powerful. I need to take her back to Yinshan to destroy her soul. To prevent her from causing any more trouble, I will now take my leave and depart."
After he finished speaking, he gestured for the two men to pick up Huiyin and carry her away.
Madam Pei intervened, saying, "Wait, alchemist! This woman is my son's concubine. In my opinion, please wait until my son returns so he can make a decision."
Zhang Fangshi turned around, stroking his beard and threateningly said, "Madam, do you know that this evil spirit is most effective against those who have been tainted by the killing intent on the battlefield? If she were to meet General Pei again, I fear there would be bloodshed!"
Madam Pei was startled by his words and instantly lost her composure. She beckoned to her maid and asked, "Where is Aunt Tao? Where is she?"
The maidservant stepped forward trembling and hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, Tao Ao went home to visit her family early this morning."
"What?" Madam Pei couldn't help but take two steps back, then turned to look at He Jiaying. To her surprise, He Jiaying was pale-faced, her eyes fixed on Huiyin's direction, completely lost.
Seeing this, Zhang Fangshi said again, "Madam, you must decide as soon as possible. If this evil spirit awakens, even I may not be able to subdue her!"
He Jiaying was also quite frightened. Today's events were beyond her expectations. They had clearly agreed that expelling her from the manor would be enough, so why did it escalate to the point of wanting to kill her soul? She hurriedly went to find Zhang Ao in the crowd, only to see Zhang Ao winking at her and telling her to quickly persuade Madam Pei.
He Jiaying didn't dare to step forward, shrinking behind Madam Pei and not daring to look at Huiyin lying on the ground. Aunt Zhang cursed under her breath with a look of disappointment, then hid in the crowd and stirred up trouble, "If she's not eliminated, won't we all be affected too?"
The already terrified servants were swayed by her and began to discuss among themselves. When they saw her take the lead in kneeling on the ground and crying and begging, the others followed suit and knelt down, pleading with the queen to make a decision.
The servants' voices grew louder and louder, and Madam Pei completely lost her attention, so she had no choice but to relent: "In that case, you should take her... take this evil spirit away quickly."
Zhang Fangshi was overjoyed and quickly ordered the man to carry Huiyin away. Just then, Huiyin, who was lying on the ground, suddenly let out an extremely eerie laugh, each sound piercing and like a vengeful ghost demanding her life.
As everyone looked over, they saw Huiyin, who had been unconscious, stand up in a strange posture. Her arms and body were twisted, and the dog blood that had been poured on her body had turned her into a deep red. Her hair, which had been disheveled during the previous struggle, was now covering her face with her hair. Her posture was stiff, and she stretched out a pair of blood-stained claws towards Zhang Fangshi.
It does indeed have a somewhat sinister appearance.
Zhang Fangshi swallowed hard, took a step back in fear, and raised his wooden sword to his side, not understanding what was happening before his eyes.
Not to mention the group of women who were stunned by the scene, trembling and huddled together, shouting to Zhang the Taoist priest: "Taoist priest, she...she's awake! Kill her quickly!"
Zhang Fangshi gripped his wooden sword tightly and cautiously stepped forward, lifting Huiyin's hair to investigate. The next moment, Huiyin immediately turned and lunged at him, her eyes bloodshot, letting out a shrill scream.
Zhang Fangshi was instantly terrified and quickly took two steps back, ordering the two men to go forward and check. The two men exchanged a glance, then surrounded Huiyin from the left and right, preparing to pounce on her.
Huiyin raised her head, revealing half of her blood-stained face, and approached Zhang Fangshi step by step. Her blood-red lips parted slightly: "I am the Queen Mother of Kunlun, how dare you offend me!"
Zhang Fangshi suspected he had misheard and asked, "What did you say?"
Huiyin immediately slapped him twice, snatched the peach wood talisman sword while he was off guard, raised the sword and held it against Zhang Fangshi's neck, her eyes flashing with ferocity: "I descended to the mortal realm to undergo tribulation, but you, a mere sorcerer, have falsely accused me of being an evil spirit. What is your punishment!"
Zhang Fangshi instantly understood everything. His face contorted as he shouted at the two men, "Hurry up and take her down!"
In the blink of an eye, a gust of wind swept across the sky, scattering Huiyin's hair and causing her skirt to flutter wildly in the air.
Huiyin suddenly turned her head and stared coldly at the two people. She pointed her sword to the sky, picked up the bell on the bill, and gently rang it three times, first slowly and then quickly, shouting: "Three bluebirds sing, heed my command!"
The spirits on the surrounding banners responded, their bells ringing incessantly, the piercing sound striking the hearts of everyone for a long time.
Her face was completely exposed by the strong wind; one half was stained with blood, making her look incredibly eerie, while the other half was ethereal, like a fairy from the Jade Pool.
"Life without death, boundless blessings!"
In an instant, the once clear sky was suddenly covered by dark clouds, thunder rumbled and roared, and everyone was stunned by the sight. The two men looked panicked and subconsciously took two steps back.
Someone shouted, "It's the Queen Mother of the West! The Queen Mother of the West has descended to earth!"
Her face was filled with fervor as she knelt and crawled on her knees, saying, "I pay my respects to the Queen Mother of the West and beg for your blessings!"
The others were also infected by her, and they knelt down and shouted. Even Madam Pei and He Jiaying couldn't help but kneel down and worship, gathering towards the magnificent Huiyin in the center.
"I pay my respects to the Queen Mother of the West and beg for your blessings!"
Seeing this, Zhang Fangshi immediately realized something was wrong. He had been hunting eagles all day, but now the eagle had pecked his eye. He immediately lay down on the ground and sneaked away when no one was paying attention.
Someone stepped on his hem, rendering him immobile. Zhang Fangshi turned to pull it away, and when he looked up, he saw Huiyin standing in front of him, saying to the crowd, "This person's magical power is weak, and he is spreading heresies! Tie him up, and I will deal with him personally."
He couldn't break free, and no matter how he shouted and explained, it was to no avail. He was tied up and thrown at Huiyin's feet.
Huiyin stared at his pleading face, raised the wooden sword in her hand, and smashed it hard on his head. She then kicked him to the ground, venting her anger.
She was still angry and was about to make another move when she heard a noise behind her that interrupted her.
What are you doing?
A furious shout interrupted everyone. Huiyin turned around and saw Pei Yu standing at the door, his face ashen, watching the farce unfold. The moment she saw him, she instantly relaxed, a dull pain shooting through her neck. Her vision blurred, and she fell backward.
The maidservant kneeling behind her quickly reached out to take her hand, calling out repeatedly, "Queen Mother! Queen Mother!"
Pei Yu's head was buzzing. He had only been away from the manor for a day, and the manor had already put on an epic show for him. Evil spirits? The Queen Mother of the West? Very well!
He looked around; his mother and cousin were stunned with fear, and the other servants also cowered, not daring to raise their heads. The courtyard was in complete chaos. Pei Yu raised his hand and ordered the area to be cleared. The guards behind him quickly cleared everyone out and put them under guard.
He stepped forward and took Huiyin from the fiery-faced maid. Huiyin was deathly pale, half her face stained with blood, emitting the stench of black dog blood. Her clothes were filthy and disheveled, and her head was nestled in Pei Yu's arms. A gruesome purplish-blue hand knife mark on her neck was a shocking sight.
Pei Yu had seen Song Huiyin indifferent, angry, weak, and feigning innocence before, but this was the first time he had seen her so lifeless and disheveled.
He raised his hand to wipe the bloodstains from Huiyin's lips, picked her up by the waist, and turned to walk towards the Linshui Pavilion, while ordering: "I want to know the whole story in a quarter of an hour!"
His response was the sound of a fine iron spear striking the bluestone floor, followed by dozens of loud shouts: "Yes, sir!"
When Huiyin woke up again, it was already noon. The midday sun was extremely bright, and even the curtains could not block out its halo.
Yan Niang knelt beside her, and was overjoyed to see that she had woken up. She quickly went to Huiyin and asked, "Huiyin, you're awake. Is anything bothering you?"
Huiyin gently shook her head. "It's nothing."
She propped herself up and sat up. Yan Niang placed a soft pillow behind her to support her back. Huiyin leaned against the couch, touching the throbbing purple mark on the side of her neck, and asked, "How is the front hall?"
"After General Pei returned, he locked everyone up and interrogated them. It has been found that the sorcerer was a fraud who took money to frame you!" Yan Niang said bitterly. She was really scared to death this morning. If that fraudster had succeeded today, Huiyin would not have survived.
Yan Niang brought up the prepared food and placed a low wooden table on the couch to serve Huiyin her meal. She rambled on, "I've consulted a doctor, and he said you fainted because your blood and qi surged due to fear. I wonder who came up with this vicious trick."
Huiyin took the hot soup and sipped it without saying a word. Yanniang then brought out some ointment and gently applied it to Huiyin's neck, saying with concern, "Luckily you're quick-witted, otherwise you would have suffered so much if that swindler had taken you away."
Huiyin put down the lacquer bowl, took the ointment from Yanniang's hand, and applied it to the bruise on her head to comfort her: "It was my carelessness, Yanniang. Go and send all the clothes in the cupboard to be washed."
Yan Niang was stunned for a moment, then clapped her hands in frustration, "Those clothes really had a problem, I should have burned them all!"
——
In the main hall of the Pei residence, Pei Yu sat in the center, with Zhang Fangshi and two others, bound hand and foot, kneeling below, along with the servant Zhang Ao. On the table were the confessions of the group, which he read through one by one. The room was quiet except for the crisp sound of wooden slips turning.
Zhang Fangshi's body was numb from being bound. He grimaced for a moment and kept begging Pei Yu for mercy: "General Pei, we usually make a living by talking about ghosts and gods. We haven't broken any laws!"
Pei Yu lifted his eyelids and glanced at him, then threw the wooden slip on the table away. "You didn't break the law? You swaggered into my mansion and falsely accused my concubine of being a ghost. According to the law, you should be tattooed on the face and sentenced to five years of hard labor."
He leaned lazily against the lacquered armchair with cloud patterns, raised his hand and ordered, "Come on, drag him away and execute him."
Zhang Fangshi immediately knelt down and begged for mercy, kowtowing repeatedly. "I'm innocent, General! Today's events were all instigated by Zhang Ao in your household!"
Pei Yu waved his hand, "Bring him up!"
Two soldiers dragged Zhang Ao forward. Pei Yu gave Chi Yan a look, then took out his longsword and carefully wiped it. Chi Yan, receiving the order, chopped open the lacquer plate in front of Zhang Ao with a palm strike as a threat: "Speak, who instructed you to slander Lady Song as a ghost?"
Zhang was so frightened that she trembled and waved her arms wildly, crying out, "It wasn't me! I didn't do it!"
Pei Yu clicked his tongue impatiently, threw his longsword, and it stuck in Zhang Ao's face. "I don't have time to listen to your sophistry and arguments. Drag them all away and give them a beating. If you're willing to talk, then drag them back."
Upon hearing this, a cacophony of wails and screams erupted from below. As two soldiers prepared to pin her to the ground and execute her, Zhang Ao raised her head and cried out, "It was Lady He! It was all Lady He's doing! Young General, spare my life!"
Madam Pei and He Jiaying, who were in the right side room, also heard the voice. He Jiaying turned pale and Madam Pei turned to look at her, her eyes filled with disbelief.
She hurriedly knelt on the ground, hugged Madam Pei's legs, and cried out, "Aunt, it's not like that! Please let me explain!"
Before she could explain further, the door to the side room was opened, and Chi Yan stood in the doorway with two soldiers, saying expressionlessly, "Miss He, the young general wants to see you."
"No, I won't go!" He Jiaying backed away, clinging to Madam Pei's legs and refusing to let go. Her face was covered in tears. "I just wanted to get rid of her, I never meant to kill her, Aunt, please believe me!"
Madam Pei looked down at her spoiled niece, feeling utterly disappointed. With a rare cold expression, she pulled He Jiaying aside and led the way to the front hall.
He Jiaying sat there, watching Madam Pei's departing figure, tears streaming down her face. She truly knew she had made a mistake.
Madam Pei strode into the main hall and sat behind Pei Yu without saying a word. Chi Yan followed her, bringing He Jiaying to the main hall as well. He Jiaying knelt beside Zhang Ao, not daring to raise her head.
Pei Yu glanced at Madam Pei, who had no intention of intervening, and tapped his knuckles lightly on the table. "Tell me the truth about what happened today."
He Jiaying raised her hand to wipe away her tears, and with a bitter face, she recounted the whole story. That day, Aunt Zhang came to her and said that a famous Taoist priest had come to the capital. She asked her to persuade Madam Pei to bring this person into the mansion to perform a ritual, so as to take the opportunity to drive Song Huiyin out of the Pei mansion.
According to Zhang Ao, after Song Nu entered the household, Madam Pei gave up the idea of making her her cousin's concubine and wanted to marry her off hastily.
Hearing this, Madam Pei looked at her with exasperation, "Everyone in the manor knows how I treat you. How could I possibly marry you off so easily? Instead of asking me, you believe those outsiders!"
“I was wrong, Aunt. I only told Aunt Zhang that Song Huiyin was a jinx to my cousin and that I should send her to the manor. I never thought of taking her life.” He Jiaying knelt on the ground and cried uncontrollably.
Seeing this, Zhang Ao also kowtowed, "Young General, Lady, this is what the young lady instructed, and this is what I told Zhang the sorcerer," she pointed to Zhang the sorcerer and the others who were paralyzed on the ground, "It was them! They had evil intentions!"
The sorcerer Zhang, realizing the gravity of the situation, quickly retorted, "Nonsense! It was clearly you, old woman, who told me!"
Both sides gave conflicting accounts, and Madam Pei looked at Pei Yu, awaiting his decision. Pei Yu sat up straight, not caring who the mastermind was. He instructed Chi Yan, who was standing beside him, "Hand over the three sorcerers to the Court of Justice, and have Zhang Ao flogged forty times and expelled from the Pei residence."
"As for my cousin, let Mother handle her." Pei Yu didn't even glance at He Jiaying before getting up and leaving.
He Jiaying, who had collapsed to the ground, breathed a sigh of relief. She looked at Madam Pei at the head of the table, prostrated herself before her, and kowtowed repeatedly.
"I was wrong, Auntie. I really know I was wrong, and I'll never do it again!"
Madam Pei asked, "Do you remember what your aunt said to you last time?"
He Jiaying looked up with tears in her eyes and answered, sobbing, "My aunt said... if I offend again... she will send me back to the He family."
Madam Pei sighed, wiped away He Jiaying's tears, and recalled the past, "I always hoped to have a daughter, but unfortunately the Grand Marshal died early and I was unable to fulfill my wish. Your parents died and you lived with your uncle, where you were tormented by them day by day. When you first came to my side, you were skin and bones, with not a single good piece of flesh on your body."
"Back then, I thought I would treat you like my own daughter, I would protect you and not let anyone bully you. Unfortunately, I am not a good mother. I failed to raise you well and spoiled you into the way you are now."
He Jiaying covered her mouth and wept silently, her shoulders and neck trembling uncontrollably. "Auntie is the best auntie. It was my fault for being wicked and jealous. Jiaying admits her mistake. Auntie, please send me away."
She straightened up, took two steps back, and respectfully kowtowed three times to Madam Pei. "Jiaying thanks Aunt for raising her. May Aunt enjoy endless happiness and long-lasting blessings."
——
As dusk approached, a distinguished guest arrived at the Linshui Pavilion. Yan Niang respectfully went out to greet him, "Aunt Tao, you're back."
Tao Ao smiled and handed the lacquer box to Yan Niang, saying, "This is mare's milk wine bestowed by Her Majesty the Empress. Take it and heat it up for Lady Song to try."
She looked up at the second floor where the lamps were lit and asked, "Is Madam Song upstairs?"
Yan Niang nodded, handed the lacquer box to Asang, and led Tao Ao upstairs. As soon as the two entered the room, they saw Huiyin standing in the corridor, admiring the lake view. Her flowing skirt fluttered, and she truly looked like a fairy from the Jade Pool.
Tao Ao recalled the farce that had occurred during the day. Although she had not witnessed it herself, she knew from the servants' accounts how dangerous the scene had been. If it weren't for Song Niangzi's intelligence in coming up with the idea of an eye for an eye, she would probably have been in grave danger.
On her way here, she saw groups of servants kneeling and praying in the direction of the Linshui Pavilion, chanting, "Please, Queen Mother, bestow your blessings."
Fortunately, she usually managed the household very strictly, and with Pei Yu's remaining authority, she prevented today's farce from getting out.
"Madam Song, don't stand there in the wind. You've been frightened today, so be careful not to catch a cold." Huiyin turned around when she heard the voice and said with a smile, "I'm not a porcelain doll, I'm not that fragile."
She approached and curtsied to Tao Ao, who quickly stepped aside, saying she dared not. Huiyin gestured for her to sit down, poured tea, and asked, "Tao Ao, you've come to visit at this time because of what happened during the day, haven't you?"
Tao Ao paused, put down the lacquered ear cup in her hand, shook her head and chuckled: "It can't fool Madam Song's discerning eyes."
Huiyin smiled and said, "Such a big thing happened in your household today, it would be strange if Aunt Tao didn't ask about it."
"Does my lady know that Miss He will be sent away in three days?"
At this moment, Yan Niang brought the warmed mare's milk wine to the table, and Huiyin picked up a lacquered ladle and ladled three bowls, placing them in front of Tao Ao and Yan Niang respectively. Yan Niang then asked, "Send it away? Send it where?"
Tao Ao sighed, "What else could it be but Yongchang County in Yizhou?"
Yan Niang frowned and said irritably, "This Miss He is wicked and has repeatedly framed my wife. It's better to send her away."
Tao Ao smiled but didn't reply, though she kept glancing at Huiyin out of the corner of her eye.
Huiyin took a sip of mare's milk wine and didn't like the taste. She put down the cup and sent Yan Niang away. "Mother Fu, I want to eat sugar balls."
"This servant will go and fetch it right away."
After Yan Niang left, Huiyin turned to look at Tao Ao and asked, "Did you come here today to plead for He Jiaying?"
Tao Ao shook her head, her eyes filled with pity. "I wanted to tell Madam Song a story from the past."
"The Lady was born into the He family of Yongchang County. She had two brothers, the elder being her half-brother and the younger her younger brother. After the Lady married, the head of the He family divided the family property in two, giving it to the two brothers. Later, the Lady's younger brother and his wife died unexpectedly, leaving only Lady He."
"In order to rightfully seize his younger brother's property, He Dalang took in the young He Nulang and raised her. But the couple were like tigers and leopards. After obtaining the property, they not only did not treat their younger brother's orphan well, but also bullied and humiliated her at will, often beating and scolding her and not giving her food."
"Miss He endured three years of hardship until the Madam discovered something amiss and brought her over. When she arrived at the manor, she was already ten years old, unusually thin, and looked no more than seven or eight. She had a mental illness; she wasn't in love with the young general, she just didn't want to leave the Pei manor, so she was determined to stay and become the young general's concubine, which led to her grave mistake."
After speaking, Tao lowered her head and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.
Huiyin had always been serious and unsmiling since the first time she met her, but she never expected that she would have such a sad moment. She handed her a clean handkerchief, and Tao Ao took the handkerchief and smiled shyly.
“She made a mistake and should be punished. No matter how tragic her background is, it is an undeniable fact that she has repeatedly harmed me and tried to kill me. I am not the kind of person who repays evil with kindness, so please go back, Aunt Tao.”
Huiyin got up and went into the inner room, where the scattered curtains concealed her figure.
Tao Ao didn't speak again, bowed to Huiyin, and took her leave. She had watched He Jiaying grow up. The Pei family was busy with affairs, and she was usually unable to get away. By the time she remembered to raise He Jiaying, He Jiaying's temperament had already deteriorated. Madam Pei doted on her children, and as a servant, she couldn't interfere too much.
But having watched her grow up, she couldn't rest easy if her mother didn't come. Tao Ao glanced back at the second floor, shook her head, sighed, and walked away.
Not long after she left, Yan Niang came upstairs with a candy ball and knelt down next to Huiyin, indignantly saying, "He Jiaying has harmed you so badly, and Madam Pei and the young general haven't come to comfort you yet. Tao Ao did come, but she was pleading for He Jiaying."
Huiyin picked up a candy ball and popped it into her mouth. The sweet taste filled her mouth, and her depressed mood gradually improved. She comforted Yanniang, "It's only natural to distinguish between close and distant relatives. If it were me, I wouldn't want anyone but Madam Fu either."
Yan Niang was overjoyed by her coaxing. She picked up the discarded bamboo slips of Huiyin and scraped them, planning to wash and dry them the next day, string them together, and then give them to Huiyin to use.
She busied herself for a while, cleaning up the crumbs on the table. She looked up to find Huiyin and discovered her sitting on a low couch with her knees drawn up to her chest, gazing at the moon.
"What's wrong? Is something on your mind?" Yan Niang asked.
Huiyin shook her head, rested her head on the windowsill, and felt the cold wind blowing away her inner depression.
Yan Niang got up and sat on the low couch, stroking Huiyin's head and asking, "Is it because of He Jiaying? You want to plead for her?"
Huiyin told Yanniang about He Jiaying's background in detail. Tao Ao's words left an uncontrollable ripple in her heart. She kept telling herself that He Jiaying deserved her punishment and that she could no longer indulge her, but there was always a lingering sense of gloom in her heart.
Yan Niang sighed, "Even the most hateful person has a pitiable side."
"If someone makes a mistake, they must be punished. I pity her, but who will pity me? Never mind, let's leave it at that." Huiyin stood up, seemingly speaking to Yanniang, or perhaps admonishing herself.
——
The next morning at breakfast time, Huiyin was eating a bowl of wheat rice, pickled mutton with winter melon, and a cup of freshly squeezed mulberry juice.
Asang and the others had also heard about yesterday's farce. Ever since Huiyin came downstairs, they had been looking her over repeatedly, thinking that she had concealed herself very well.
Huiyin dismissed everyone and ate her meal alone. Yanniang entered the room and whispered in her ear, "The Lady is ill. The Imperial Physician has just been summoned from Zhengyang Courtyard."
Her hand holding the chopsticks paused; she knew she had to visit Madam Pei when she was ill.
Huiyin wiped her hands clean and casually put on a plain-colored straight-hemmed robe. Straight-hemmed robes were much more convenient than curved-hemmed robes, and she preferred to wear them for non-important occasions because they were comfortable and easy to wear.
Huiyin walked straight into Zhengyang Courtyard. Madam Pei's inner room was filled with a bitter medicinal smell. Qiao Ao and two maids were squatting outside the right wing, decocting medicine and muttering instructions on the heat.
Pei Yu stood in the outer room. In front of him was a middle-aged man dressed in a dark red blouse and wearing a Jinxian crown. He had prominent cheekbones and narrow eyes. Huiyin had seen him before; he was the Imperial Physician.
Pei Yu seemed to sense something and looked up at Huiyin. This was the first time the two had met since Huiyin fainted last night. Huiyin pursed her lips and curtsied. She saw Pei Yu nod slightly at her before turning back to continue talking to the Imperial Physician.
Huiyin removed her shoes and entered the inner room. Only two maids were guarding Madam Pei's bedside. She sat on the brocade mat in front of the bed and looked at Madam Pei on the bed.
Madam Pei lay on a long silk pillow, covered with a floral silk quilt. Her lips were pale, her two thin eyebrows were furrowed, her forehead was covered with herbs, and her eyes were closed.
The maidservant beside her explained, "The Queen is suffering from a severe headache, so the imperial physician ordered a medicated plaster to provide some relief."
Huiyin nodded gently and waited to the side. After a while, Pei Yu entered the room and knelt down in front of Madam Pei's bed.
Madam Pei woke up at the sound, her voice weak, "My illness came on suddenly, and I'm afraid I won't be able to attend the purification ritual in five days."
Pei Yu tucked the corner of Madam Pei's clothes in, his voice calm: "Mother, just focus on getting better."
Madam Pei coughed twice, then looked at Huiyin standing to the side and beckoned her to come forward. Huiyin obediently sat down next to Pei Yu, and Madam Pei pulled her close, asking, "Were you frightened yesterday?"
Huiyin nodded hesitantly. Yesterday's events had caught her off guard, and she really hadn't expected He Jiaying to pull this stunt on her.
Madam Pei smiled bitterly: "It's all my fault. I didn't raise the child well, and you've suffered because of it."
“It has nothing to do with you, Madam,” Huiyin said softly.
After taking the medicine, Madam Pei's eyelids drooped and she looked extremely tired. Seeing this, Huiyin and Pei Yu left the main courtyard so that she could rest properly. In the corridor, the two walked side by side, their sleeves brushing together.
“I had that sorcerer thrown into the Court of Justice and, according to the law, tattooed his face and forced him to serve five years of hard labor.”
Huiyin looked at Pei Yu and said, "Thank you, General Pei."
Do you regret it?
Huiyin knew what he meant; he was asking if she regretted the repeated misfortunes that had befallen him. Huiyin shook her head. Pei Yu had something she wanted, and she wasn't afraid of anything, not just some domestic affairs, but even court intrigues.
She countered, "Does General Pei regret it?"
Pei Yu raised an eyebrow. "If you haven't regretted it, why should I, this general, have anything to regret?"
As they walked to the corridor between the front and back courtyards, two figures appeared ahead. Their figures looked familiar; they were Pei Yu's close attendants, Chi Yan and Fang Mu. When they saw Huiyin and Pei Yu walking side by side, their originally serious expressions turned strange.
Fang Mu winked and reached out to tug at Chi Yan's sleeve. Chi Yan, annoyed beyond measure, raised his hands in a fist salute, his gaze brightening slightly when it fell upon Huiyin.
Huiyin was very grateful for Chi Yan's help at the post station, and greeted him with a smile: "Chi Jinwei, how have you been lately?"
Chi smiled and narrowed his eyes: "Thank you for your concern, Madam Song. I have been serving as a Tiger-like General by the Young General's side recently, going in and out of the palace every day, and I have seen a lot."
Fang Mu chimed in with a grin, "That's right, Madam Song, there's a roasted lamb chop shop on South Street that's really good, and they also have berry wine in the West Market..."
Huiyin listened to their murmurs and was about to reply when Pei Yu, who was beside her, strode forward and stood in front of them, blocking Huiyin's view. "Aren't you leaving?"
Pei Yu led the Tiger Warriors; it wasn't a day off, he had returned on leave. He pulled the two away, and Chi Yan and Fang Mu simultaneously shut up and obediently followed behind him.
Huiyin returned to Linshui Pavilion, where Yanniang, along with Asang and Aheng, were preparing her dress for the purification ritual on the Shangsi Festival five days later. This quju (a type of brocade robe) was sent by Tao Ao; it was a rare purplish-blue color with dark patterns embroidered on the collar.
The embroidery and hem of the garment are all edged with gold thread, and it is covered with a plain gauze overlay of the same color. The overall effect is understated luxury, elegant and graceful.
Along with the gifts were plain silk shoes adorned with pearls, jade pendants hanging from the garment, a set of jade hairpins in green jade, and five-colored silk ribbons and dogwood sachets symbolizing warding off evil. Beside them was a bamboo scroll detailing the rituals of the Shangsi Festival purification ceremony.
Huiyi breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing these things. Tao Ao was meticulous and knew that this was Huiyi's first time participating in the purification ritual, so she sent relevant information in advance. With this information, Huiyi felt more at ease.
The Southern Dynasties continued the purification ritual of the previous Zhou Dynasty. On the third day of the third month, the Shangsi Festival, a purification ritual was held in the Shanglin Garden. Unfortunately, it was held in the Shanglin Garden, not in the palace.
Knock knock—
A soft knocking sound interrupted Huiyin's thoughts, and Asang's clear voice came, "My lady, Miss He requests an audience."
Huiyin paused in her act of getting up. He Jiaying?
Yan Niang also put down her work and slowly walked to Huiyin's side. The two looked at each other, and then Yan Niang walked to the courtyard gate and opened it. Sure enough, He Jiaying was standing in the courtyard, without a single maid or servant behind her.
Suspicion arose in her heart, and she suspected that the woman had come to cause trouble again. Her tone was not very respectful, "Miss He, it is getting late. Please go back first."
Unlike her usual glamorous attire, He Jiaying's scars had almost faded, and today she wore only a very ordinary dark-colored blouse, her hair pulled back without any hairpins. Her lips were pale, and her voice was weak, "I've come to apologize."
Yan Niang looked surprised and realized that He Jiaying's expression was genuine. She was torn for a moment, unsure whether to let her in.
"Let her in." Seeing that Huiyin had spoken, she didn't delay any longer and invited He Jiaying into the house.
Once inside, He Jiaying's expression became even more pronounced. Her lips turned down, her eyes were lifeless, and her face was ashen. Her once pretty face became ordinary because of this expression.
She walked up to Huiyin, raised her arms straight and brought them together in front of her chest, then knelt down on the floor with a thud. She leaned forward, touching her forehead to her hands, and said with difficulty, "Song Huiyin, I was wrong in the past. I am about to leave the capital and have come to apologize to you. I hope you will forgive me!"
Huiyin was caught off guard by her sudden kneeling, and seeing her looking as if she were removing her hairpins to beg for forgiveness, she made up her mind. She gestured for Yanniang to step back, and stared at the prostrate figure on the ground without saying a word.
He Jiaying lay prostrate on the ground for a moment, only hearing the sound of Yan Niang's footsteps leaving the house and the door closing, while the person in question remained silent.
She waited a few more moments, but still heard no sound. All the humiliation and grievances in her heart erupted, and she sat up and shouted, "Song Huiyin, I have already apologized to you, what more do you want!"
Tears streamed down her face, obscuring her vision. He Jiaying hastily wiped her face a few times, and when she blinked again, Huiyin was staring at her coldly, her voice mocking, "Does your apology mean I have to accept it? Do you think the things I've done and the people I've hurt can be erased by this apology?"
"If I were you, I would have been so ashamed that I would have hidden in my room and dared not see anyone. I would not have forced others to accept your apology like you have."
He Jiaying stood frozen in place, her back hunched, her lips trembling: "I..."
Enraged, she blurted out, "I thought you were truly virtuous, kind, and generous. You hypocritical woman are no match for Sister Tan! My cousin only has Sister Tan in his heart; don't even dream of replacing her."
This was the second time someone had mentioned Liu Tan in front of Huiyin. At this moment, Huiyin was really curious about who Liu Tan was, that Pei Yu, Pei Yan, and He Jiaying all cared about her so much.
She slowly rose, her movements graceful and elegant. She walked up to He Jiaying, looking down at her with a smirk, and continued sarcastically, "What does Liu Tan have to do with me? But you, you feel wronged. What makes you feel wronged?"
"If it were anyone else, they would have been dead countless times by now. I'm standing here today not because you showed mercy, but because of my own merit. Do you expect me to accept your flimsy apology?"
He Jiaying's face burned with embarrassment. Recalling the danger and horror of that day's ritual, her composure crumbled. She lowered her head in embarrassment, twisting her hands together, and sobbed, "That's not what I meant... I know I've wronged you. I'll do my best to make it up to you however you want."
Before Huiyin could reply, He Jiaying seemed to collapse, kneeling helplessly on the ground and wailing loudly. The sound was not human, but like the mournful roar of a lioness.
She curled up, clutching her clothes tightly with both hands, her cries growing louder and louder.
The sound startled Yan Niang and Asang outside the house. They thought Huiyin and He Jiaying were fighting, so they quickly peeked through the door to take a closer look.
Through the crack in the door, Yan Niang saw He Jiaying rolling on the ground, crying bitterly, with Huiyin standing beside her. She felt uneasy, worried that He Jiaying was deliberately provoking Huiyin to attack, so that she could use the self-inflicted injury as a ruse to stay behind.
"My lady, let's talk this out, don't resort to violence," Yan Niang pleaded urgently.
Huiyin: "..."
Her head was about to explode from He Jiaying's nagging. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Asang and Aheng's hair buns outside the door, and she was furious. She quickly went forward to close the doors and windows, chased away the onlookers, and turned back to glare fiercely at He Jiaying.
"Stop crying!"
He Jiaying fell to the ground, her eyes blurry with tears, looking at Huiyin. The voice she had just cut off started to whimper again, her lips pursed in grievance.
Huiyin was at her wits' end. She stepped forward, grabbed her collar, and threatened, "If you keep howling, I'll hit you."
Huiyin raised her hand high, reminding He Jiaying of the two slaps she had given Zhang Fangshi the day before. The crisp sound still hurt He Jiaying.
He Jiaying silently covered her mouth and shed tears.
Huiyin loosened her collar; despite the cool weather, a thin layer of sweat had already formed on her back. She poured two bowls of tea and gestured for He Jiaying to come and drink.
Huiyin asked, "You said you would make it up to me, is that still true?"
He Jiaying hung her head dejectedly, "Of course it counts, but I'll be leaving the capital soon, so I probably won't be able to help you much."
Huiyin: "You don't need to worry about that. Just remember, from now on, if I tell you to go east, you're not allowed to go west. You have to obey my orders in everything. Are you willing?"
"Isn't that being your servant?" He Jiaying whispered.
Huiyin got up to leave, saying, "Fine, if you don't want to, then forget it."
"Wait!" He Jiaying grabbed Huiyin's sleeve and nodded with difficulty. "I'll agree."
Huiyin pulled back her sleeve. "I need you to help me find someone. Her house is the first one on the left in the alley in the East Market."
"Isn't that Pingzhen's house, the first one on the left in the alley of Dongshi Lane?"
Huiyin paused in her tea-pouring motion. She recognized Ping Zhen, the Imperial Attendant; he was one of the most unique men among the young gentlemen of Chang'an. He was the illegitimate son of the third son of the Ping family, and as a powerful and prestigious family, he wouldn't normally be recognized by the Ping family.
However, Ping Laosan was Empress Dowager Ping's younger brother. He died young, leaving only Ping Zhen as the sole heir of the third branch of the family. The Ping family wanted to acknowledge him back, but Ping Zhen himself was unwilling to return to the Ping family. The Empress Dowager had no choice but to arrange a position for him as a court official and let him go.
She looked up and stared intently at He Jiaying. "Do you know his wife?"
“I know,” He Jiaying wiped away her tears, picked up the teacup on the table and drank it all in one gulp. “His wife is named Xiao Fen’er. She was married before he came to Chang’an. She is beautiful, kind and has a good temperament.”
Huiyin listened quietly, her fingertips stroking the teacup. She thought the woman was just the wife of a minor official, but she didn't expect Su Xin to be so bold as to provoke the Ping family.
However, this is precisely her opportunity.
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