Chapter 33

 

Even after Li Zhi returned to the Fufeng Courtyard, Li Jinzhi’s threats still echoed in her mind.

Xunfeng, broom in hand, pretended to be busy sweeping the courtyard. When she saw Li Zhi return, she deliberately turned her head away and haphazardly brushed the ground.

Li Zhi didn’t bother engaging with her. She first went inside to check if the young master was still around. After confirming that Lu Congruan was accompanying his father in the study for a game of Go, she finally had time to sit down and think.

As the daughter of a criminal, Li Zhi’s status was no better than that of a slave. She didn’t even receive a regular monthly stipend and relied entirely on the occasional silver coins her master bestowed as a reward.

To think she could shut Li Jinzhi’s mouth with a few taels of silver was simply unrealistic.

Li Jinzhi’s demands were clear: he wanted her to steal something valuable from the Duhu Mansion.

The mansion certainly housed countless treasures, especially in the quarters of the masters. But stealing from there? She’d be discovered in no time. Li Zhi wasn’t foolish enough to take such a blatant risk.

Still, there were other parts of the estate where valuable items could be found.

For instance, the guest rooms. Li Zhi recalled that some valuable items were kept there as well.

The next morning, Li Zhi made her way into one of the guest rooms.

She glanced around, her gaze settling on a babao shelf against the wall. The shelf held a variety of decorative items: vases with wide bellies, cloisonné incense burners—all beautiful, but not particularly valuable.

Then her eyes landed on a circular box embedded with gemstones.

Li Zhi approached the shelf, picked up the box, and examined it. The round box was adorned with at least twelve dazzling gems—it was clearly worth a fortune.

After a long pause, Li Zhi exited the guest room and began walking toward the main gate of the estate.

From a distance, a shadowy figure emerged. Though her face bore the beauty of a budding flower, her eyes gleamed with cunning and malice.

Once Li Zhi was out of sight, Xunfeng hurried into the guest room.

She glanced around the room and quickly spotted an empty space on the babao shelf. Though the shelf had several gaps to begin with, Xunfeng remembered clearly that this particular spot had held a gold-inlaid gemstone box—a keepsake from the Madam’s dowry.

Joy surged through Xunfeng’s chest, but she knew this was not the time to act rashly. Suppressing her excitement, she calmly returned to her sweeping duties.

“Elder Sister Xunfeng, you seem so happy! Did something good happen?” a passing maid asked, trying to curry favor with Xunfeng.

Xunfeng shot her a glare. “This has nothing to do with you!” she snapped.

The maid scurried away, thoroughly chastised.

For Xunfeng, the wait was unbearable. Time had never felt so agonizingly slow. But at last, she saw Li Zhi finish her duties and leave the estate.

As soon as Li Zhi stepped out, Xunfeng quickly found an excuse to follow her, tailing her quietly from a distance.

If Li Zhi had been sent on an official errand, she would have been provided with a carriage. But today, Li Zhi was traveling on foot, a choice that further convinced Xunfeng that her actions were suspicious.

Xunfeng followed her all the way to the edge of town, where Li Zhi stopped in front of a pawnshop. She watched as Li Zhi hesitated at the entrance for a long time, only to be approached by a middle-aged woman who ushered her into a nearby alley and into a small, tightly sealed building.

Xunfeng recognized the woman immediately. She was notorious for being the go-to person for local hoodlums who needed to fence stolen goods.

Satisfied that she had gathered enough evidence, Xunfeng turned on her heel and hurried back toward the Duhu Mansion.

Initially, she wanted to report this matter directly to Lu Congruan. But after some thought, she worried that he might cover for Li Zhi, which would leave her both enraged and powerless. So she decided to bypass him entirely and go straight to the master of the house, Lu Han.

That day happened to be the day of Xie Lanxu’s follow-up medical consultation. Lu Han was in the Bamboo Courtyard, listening to the physician’s promising report about Xie Lanxu’s improving health. It seemed that soon, the residual poison would be completely eradicated.

Xunfeng ignored Taozi and the other maids who tried to stop her, barging directly into the Bamboo Courtyard.

Lu Han frowned at her impudence and was about to reprimand her, but before he could, Xunfeng blurted out, “Master! A maid from the Fufeng Courtyard—Li Zhi—has stolen and sold off estate valuables!”

Lu Han’s brows furrowed as his gaze instinctively shifted toward Xie Lanxu.

“Master, this servant could hardly believe it myself,” Xunfeng continued, feigning sorrow. “But I followed her all the way and personally witnessed her enter the black market to fence stolen goods. That circular box she took was part of Madam’s dowry! Not only is it invaluable, but it also carries deep sentimental meaning as a token of her affection for her family. Li Zhi knew this, yet she still—alas!”

Lu Han’s expression darkened at the mention of his wife’s cherished dowry. But as he recalled that Li Zhi had been recommended by the imperial grandson, he forced himself to rein in his anger.

The room fell into an uneasy silence until Xie Lanxu, the central figure of the awkward situation, finally spoke in his usual unhurried tone:

“Stealing valuables from one’s master’s household is a serious crime for a commoner. If such behavior is tolerated, it will only breed further misconduct. Taozi, bring my wheelchair.”

“Your Highness, no!” Lu Han exclaimed, startled. “You’ve only just had acupuncture! The physician specifically warned you to rest—”

“Since this young lady is so certain,” Xie Lanxu spoke with an even tone, “why don’t we all go see for ourselves to confirm the truth? Li Zhi is someone I personally recommended to the Duhu Mansion. If she has indeed committed a grave crime, I will personally deliver her to the authorities and humbly apologize to the Commander for my mistake.”

“This…” Lu Han hesitated.

Xie Lanxu turned the wheels of his chair toward the door. Taozi stepped forward to assist, but Xie Lanxu waved her off, moving himself with deliberate calm.

Even though it was the Madam’s dowry at stake, Xie Lanxu’s health clearly took precedence. Lu Han wanted to object further, but Xunfeng, standing nearby, kept fanning the flames, eager for the chance to catch Li Zhi red-handed.

Lu Han, though he only had one wife in the inner chambers, was no stranger to the schemes and petty conflicts of women. While he often turned a blind eye to such disputes, Xunfeng had gone too far this time by trying to embroil him in her manipulative games. It made him thoroughly furious.

If it weren’t for Xie Lanxu’s presence, Lu Han would have kicked this troublemaking maid straight out of the mansion himself.

But now that the imperial grandson had tied his own reputation to Li Zhi’s, Lu Han had no choice but to accompany him on this investigation, even if he was indifferent to the girl’s innocence. It had to be done.

Thus, Lu Han ordered a carriage to be prepared, taking Xie Lanxu and the accusatory Xunfeng with him toward the town.

Not long after they departed, Lu Congruan strolled back into the mansion, lazily astride his horse.

The tall steed bore several rabbits and a white fox tied to its saddle. Lu Congruan had planned to gift the fox fur to Li Zhi as a shawl, but upon arriving at the Fufeng Courtyard, he found that she wasn’t there.

When he asked, he was informed that Xunfeng had accused Li Zhi of stealing the Madam’s dowry, prompting Lu Han and Xie Lanxu to personally rush to the scene.

“What?!” Lu Congruan exclaimed. Dropping the fox and rabbits where they lay, he bolted out the gates to chase after them.

—-

Lu Han’s carriage arrived outside the black market. As several servants helped lift Xie Lanxu from the carriage, Lu Han stood nearby with a stern expression, his hands clasped behind his back. Xunfeng, on the other hand, was nearly vibrating with excitement, unable to conceal the glee in her eyes. She remained oblivious to the cold glare Lu Han cast her way—he had already resolved to expel her from the mansion once this matter was settled.

The gates of the black market were shut tight; though faint murmurs of haggling could occasionally be heard through the cracks.

The people inside had no idea trouble was about to descend upon them.

“Break it down,” Lu Han ordered.

With a single command, several burly servants kicked open the wooden gates. Lu Han’s guards swiftly rushed inside, surrounding everyone in the courtyard.

In unison, they bellowed, “The Commander has arrived!”

Xie Lanxu raised a hand, halting Taozi from trying to assist him. With practiced ease, he maneuvered his wheelchair into the courtyard, moving at a steady pace.

The people within the courtyard froze in shock before dropping to their knees like a wave. Men, women, young and old alike knelt in fear.

Xie Lanxu’s gaze met Li Zhi’s across the courtyard, but neither spoke first.

Li Zhi sat poised on a small embroidered stool, her black hair cascading down her back, making her pale face appear even more delicate, like a carving of snow. Beside her knelt a shifty-looking woman, trembling uncontrollably, a large silver pair of scissors clutched tightly in her hand.

“Clear the courtyard of all unrelated people,” Lu Han commanded.

The guards quickly set to work, dragging everyone else out of the courtyard. In moments, the only people left were Li Zhi and the kneeling woman beside her.

Li Zhi stood gracefully from her stool, her movements unhurried as she bowed to Xie Lanxu and Lu Han.

“Greetings, Your Highness. Greetings, Commander. Might I ask why you have graced this humble place with your presence?” she inquired, her voice calm and respectful, her demeanor devoid of any guilt or nervousness.

“There has been an accusation that you stole something from the Duhu Mansion,” Lu Han stated gravely. “Do you admit to this?”

“I do not,” Li Zhi replied without hesitation.

“The Commander already knows you stole the Madam’s dowry. The evidence and witness are both here, and yet you still dare to deny it?!” Xunfeng barked.

Li Zhi stood straight, her gaze steady as she met Xunfeng’s accusing glare.

“And where is this witness?” she asked.

“The witness is me!” Xunfeng declared. “I personally saw you leave the guest room, and afterward, the gold-inlaid gemstone box was gone! That box was part of the Madam’s dowry—”

“So,” Li Zhi interrupted, her tone even, “you didn’t actually see me steal anything. You merely noticed the box was missing after I left.”

“What difference does it make?! If you didn’t take it, did it fly away on its own?” Xunfeng snapped. “We’ll know the truth with just a little questioning!”

“Indeed,” Li Zhi replied serenely. “A little questioning should make everything clear.”

Her composed and confident demeanor unsettled Lu Han, who began to suspect something was amiss. He turned to the trembling woman kneeling beside Li Zhi and pointed at her.

“You. What was this girl here for? Speak the truth, or I’ll send you to the authorities as well!”

The woman’s nerves broke entirely. She fell to her knees, knocking her forehead against the ground as she pleaded for mercy.

“My lord, my lord! I know nothing about stolen goods! I only saw this young lady wandering near the pawnshop and thought she might be swindled, so I invited her here to sell something instead!”

“My lord, you see?! She’s here to sell stolen property!” Xunfeng crowed, practically jumping with glee.

“No, no, no!” the woman exclaimed in terror, frantically shaking her head. “I only deal in legitimate business, my lord! This young lady came here to sell… her hair! I swear it’s the truth!”

“What nonsense are you spouting?!” Xunfeng shouted, her face twisting in disbelief.

“Lies?! My scissors are right here!” The woman held up her gleaming silver scissors, her voice rising in desperation. “I don’t even know her—why would I lie for her? You, little miss, are being unreasonable!”

“And where is the Madam’s gold-inlaid gemstone box now?!” Xunfeng screamed.

Before Li Zhi could respond, a figure stormed in from outside. With a powerful kick, Lu Congruan sent Xunfeng sprawling to the ground.

“I told Li Zhi to take it to my room!” Lu Congruan growled, his voice full of rage. “You wicked woman! I used to think you were just shallow and petty, but I didn’t expect you to be this vile. Not only do you lack remorse, but you also dare to escalate your lies!”

“Master, you can’t cover for her by twisting the facts!” Xunfeng wailed, struggling to her feet, tears streaming down her face.

“Oh? Is this ‘twisting the facts’?” Lu Congruan reached into his robes and pulled out the very gold-inlaid gemstone box, holding it high for all to see.

Xunfeng stared at the box in stunned silence, her tears halting mid-flow.

“This… how could this be…” Xunfeng sat paralyzed on the ground, staring at Lu Congruan in shock.

Lu Congruan glared at her with righteous anger. “I accidentally broke one of the jade ornaments on the babao shelf yesterday, and it was Li Zhi who suggested moving the gold-inlaid gemstone box to my room. She said it wasn’t appropriate for Mother’s dowry to remain in the guest room. I never expected you, a wretched servant, to use this as an opportunity to create trouble!”

He turned toward Lu Han and bowed deeply. “I am deeply ashamed that my courtyard affairs have disturbed Father. This is my failing and my fault.”

Then, turning to Xie Lanxu, Lu Congruan gave a slight bow of respect. Though he didn’t lower himself as much as he did before his father, the gesture still conveyed acknowledgment.

Xie Lanxu didn’t respond; he merely sat in his wheelchair, his expression calm but inscrutable.

Lu Han’s brow furrowed even deeper as he spoke, his voice cold. “It seems your courtyard truly is in disarray. This maid, Xunfeng—let her pack her belongings and leave today. The Duhu Mansion cannot tolerate a troublemaker like her.”

“Yes, Father,” Lu Congruan answered obediently, his tone unwavering.

Lu Han’s decision made Xunfeng feel as if she had fallen into an icy abyss.

In a place like Mingyue Tower, where else could be better than the Duhu Mansion?

Xunfeng, with her striking beauty, had been handpicked at the age of eleven or twelve to serve beside the Commander’s wife. She had been carefully groomed to one day serve as a companion to the young master, Lu Congruan.

For years, she had lived in the lap of luxury. To be expelled now, forced to live a life of hardship—this was akin to condemning her entire existence.

Suddenly jolted from her shock, Xunfeng lunged forward and wrapped her arms around Lu Congruan’s leg, wailing desperately as she clung to him.

“Young Master, please! Spare me this once! I beg you—I won’t do anything like this again! Please, think of how devoted I’ve been in serving you—please, save me!”

“I’ve already given you a chance. Get off me!” Lu Congruan snapped, his patience fully spent. With a swift kick, he sent her sprawling onto the ground once more.

“Young Master, please—please!”

Tears streamed down Xunfeng’s face as she sobbed pitifully, but it was clear that Lu Congruan’s patience had worn out. He didn’t even care whether her remorse was genuine.

Turning his attention away from the fallen Xunfeng, Lu Han shifted his gaze back to Li Zhi. His tone carried both curiosity and doubt. “But why did you want to sell your hair in the first place?”

“…Because, as a slave, I do not receive a monthly stipend,” Li Zhi explained, lowering her head.

“This is indeed an issue…” Lu Han muttered thoughtfully. After a moment’s pause, he made up his mind. “When we return, I’ll speak with the accounting office. We should arrange for at least some small stipends to be given.”

“Thank you, my lord, for your kindness!” Li Zhi bowed deeply, showing her gratitude. “On behalf of the other slaves in the mansion, I thank you as well.”

Seeing the situation spiral completely out of her control, Xunfeng suddenly cried out in desperation, her voice shrill and panicked.

“My lord! You cannot send me away! I know the truth behind the downfall of the imperial grandson’s family!”

The words fell like a thunderclap.

Lu Han’s face changed instantly, dark with alarm. Xie Lanxu’s once-calm expression hardened as his sharp eyes turned toward the kneeling maid.

Xunfeng pointed a trembling finger at Li Zhi. Her tone was filled with accusation, desperation, and malice.

“It’s her! She’s the one who caused the imperial grandson’s family to fall into ruin! It was her who betrayed her own father, sending a letter to expose his involvement in the Crown Prince’s treasonous plan!”

—–

Contextual Notes:

1. Hair Selling:
   In historical China, selling hair was a common way for impoverished women to earn money. Hair was used to create wigs or hairpieces for wealthy women who favored elaborate hairstyles.

 

Translator’s Note: Oppsss…. What is this letter? Was it really Li Zhi?

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