Fish Meat – Chapter 194
by Little PandaThe Fourth Year of Zhao Wu
Secrets in the Sleeve (14)
Xiao Xiao was growing lately, eating and sleeping well. If not for leg cramps waking her in early morning, she wouldn’t have noticed Ah Po wasn’t beside her.
“Did she get up early to go to the courtyard?” Zhen Wenjun quickly walked out of the bedroom toward the courtyard. During these critical times, Ah Mu wouldn’t go anywhere without a word – perhaps she couldn’t sleep and got up too early.
“I’ve already looked, but didn’t see Ah Po,” Xiao Xiao said, “And this isn’t the first day it’s happened.”
Zhen Wenjun stopped: “Not the first day? What do you mean?”
Xiao Xiao explained that these days she often woke from leg cramps, and several times when she awoke, Ah Po wasn’t beside her. She’d gone looking several times – sometimes Ah Po was in the courtyard, sometimes she’d gone out to the street. When approached and spoken to, she seemed like a different person, completely not recognizing Xiao Xiao and even trying to hit people. But these symptoms wouldn’t last long before she’d recover, as if waking from sleep, and Xiao Xiao would help her back to her room.
Zhen Wenjun could hardly believe it: “Why didn’t you ever mention this?”
“Ah Mu is so busy every day, leaving early and returning late – I barely see you. Besides, Ah Po said not to let you know.”
Zhen Wenjun had been active in the central government, secretly recruiting strategists with Bu Jie. Her influence was still insufficient – last time, neither she nor Wei Tingxu had secured that famous scholar from Yan, who was reportedly recruited by a marquis in Fan County. All the regional lords had entered a state of tension – if she, someone without power or influence, could sense the unusual atmosphere, how much more so the lords themselves. Everyone was secretly strengthening their forces and competing for talent, and Zhen Wenjun couldn’t waste even a moment of time.
These days she was indeed busy, too busy to supervise Xiao Xiao’s writing and martial arts practice. Moreover, her cold hadn’t fully cleared and she was injured. After persisting through entire days, returning exhausted under the stars and moon, she would bathe and go straight to sleep. Ah Mu knew of her exhaustion, and thinking it was just sleepwalking, told Xiao Xiao not to inform her, not wanting to distract her.
“You say Ah Po would walk out on her own, her personality would change dramatically, and she would try to hit you?”
Xiao Xiao nodded.
“This is not sleepwalking.”
Xiao Xiao froze.
“Wait for me here, don’t run around and absolutely don’t leave the residence!” Zhen Wenjun pointed at the ground before Xiao Xiao’s feet, and Xiao Xiao didn’t dare move. Ah Xi, Bu Jie, and Zhu Maosan had no place to stay in Runing, so they all stayed at the Zhuo Jun Mansion, which was also convenient for their discussions. Ah Yue, Ah Qiao, and several other servants were Li Yanyi’s eyes and ears, and Zhen Wenjun had never counted on them. She woke Bu Jie and the others to help search for Ah Mu.
The early autumn morning in Runing was thick with cold. Zhen Wenjun searched in a large circle but found no trace of Ah Mu. The cold wind made her cough incessantly, and the pain from her back wound became increasingly clear.
“Young Lady!” Bu Jie ran over, panting as he handed over a bamboo slip, “Young Lady, let’s go back, stop searching.”
Zhen Wenjun took the bamboo slip, and after one glance became so angry she nearly ground her teeth to pieces, squeezing the slip until it broke.
Though there was no morning court today, Zhen Wenjun still donned her official robes and came to the gates of the Court of Judicial Review, where Minister Lin Qi had been respectfully waiting for some time.
“General Zhen, forgive the offense.” Lin Qi ordered people to bind her.
Two soldiers stepped forward to put iron shackles on her, but Zhen Wenjun raised her hand and threw a punch, sending one man sprawling with blood streaming from his nose.
Lin Qi shouted: “How dare you act so wildly before the Court of Judicial Review! Bind her!”
“Yes!”
Zhen Wenjun didn’t regard these shrimp soldiers and crab generals [่ฆๅ ต่นๅฐ | xiฤ bฤซng xiรจ jiร ng | meaning: insignificant underlings] at all. Lin Qi couldn’t even see her movements clearly, only seeing her form blur before the soldiers fell with miserable cries.
Lin Qi: “Youโฆ”
Zhen Wenjun said: “Have the Emperor come see me.”
“Heaven-defying audacity! How dare you summon the Emperor at will!” After these words, Lin Qi should have called for people to seize her, but those he could command had already been beaten down, and no one could capture her.
Lin Qi barely dared to meet her eyes, fearing he might be beaten to paste in the next moment.
Just as Lin Qi was caught between advance and retreat, Guang Shaoling arrived with the Zhuiyue Army, a hundred armed soldiers surrounding her.
Zhen Wenjun still paid her no regard. Guang Shaoling stepped forward and said: “General, please wait in the Court’s inner chambers. The Court of Judicial Review is a crucial central government location. If the General wants her family to remain safe, it would be better not to act recklessly – that would be bad for everyone.”
Guang Shaoling’s meaning couldn’t have been clearer, her gaze showing absolute confidence in her control of the situation.
Zhen Wenjun gave a cold laugh, and without any pretense, brought her arms together and raised them toward Guang Shaoling.
“Come,” Guang Shaoling’s gaze never left her for a moment, “Put the shackles on the General.”
Heavy chains bound both Zhen Wenjun’s hands and feet. She dragged the heavy iron shackles as she walked inside, with Lin Qi and Guang Shaoling following behind, the thick wooden doors closing with a thunderous sound.
Within the Court’s chambers, besides the cells for major criminals, there was also a death prison.
The death prison had no windows and no light. For a full twenty-four shichen [48 hours], Zhen Wenjun hadn’t eaten a single grain of rice or drunk a drop of water, bound to a cross-shaped wooden frame.
When Guang Shaoling opened the prison door and entered with a torch, the sudden light pierced the blood-covered Zhen Wenjun’s eyes so she couldn’t open them.
“Where is my Ah Mu?”
Guang Shaoling swung the torch back, and Zhen Wenjun painfully opened her eyes to see that the person standing outside the cell was indeed her Ah Mu.
“Ah Mu!” Zhen Wenjun cried out, her voice echoing in the death prison. Ah Qiong must have heard, but there was no response.
In the torchlight, Ah Qiong stood blankly in place, expressionless, her eyes completely lifeless, like two pitch-black holes. No matter how Zhen Wenjun called or shouted to her, there was no response.
“Don’t waste your effort, General, she can’t hear.” Guang Shaoling secured the torch, and Ah Qiong was led away.
“What does Li Yanyi intend to do?”
“General, this subordinate must remind you to mind your words. You cannot directly speak the Emperor’s name – that would be a crime of great disrespect.” Guang Shaoling walked to the torture rack, “The Court is investigating the matter of the General’s private hoarding of grain and fodder, and wishes to ask the General a few questions.”
“Private hoarding of grain?” Zhen Wenjun didn’t bother concealing anything, “All my fields are in Sudu, and Sudu’s fields are privately owned – how can there be talk of hoarding? Even if I bought all of Sudu, it would be a legitimate transaction. You merely want to threaten me, so why beat around the bush? Or is Li Yanyi a withdrawing turtle, too afraid to see me?”
Guang Shaoling took down a leather whip and with one swing struck heavily at Zhen Wenjun’s ribs. The sound of flesh being lashed was especially clear in the empty cell.
Her clothes were torn, the new wound overlapping with another equally bloody wound. Zhen Wenjun endured the intense pain without a sound. Guang Shaoling lashed the same spot again, whipping until her ribs were a bloody mess.
Though Zhen Wenjun’s whole body trembled, she still made no sound, let alone beg for mercy.
She stared fixedly at Guang Shaoling, as if she could devour her with her gaze alone.
“The General indeed has an iron will, this subordinate knows. Even a hundred more lashes might not shake the General. The General has strong bones, but your Ah Mu is advanced in years – she probably can’t endure as firmly as you, can she?”
“If you want to frame me for treason, you might as well take my life directly – why bother with an interrogation?”
“No, General has misunderstood. This subordinate doesn’t intend to interrogate you. As long as the General cooperates, both the General’s and your Ah Mu’s lives will naturally be safe.”
Guang Shaoling spoke these words close to Zhen Wenjun. After staring at her for a while, Zhen Wenjun raised her eyebrows and laughed loudly: “Is this all Li Yanyi is capable of?”
Guang Shaoling gave a cold laugh and ordered someone to pry open Zhen Wenjun’s fingers: “I hear your Ah Mu is missing three fingers. As her daughter, you wouldn’t want to end up like her, would you?”
Zhen Wenjun glared at her.
“Have Wei Zizhuo come alone to the Court chambers. You can either write a blood letter or cut off one finger to send to her – your choice.”
At Runing’s city gate.
Bu Jie and Zhu Maosan walked toward the city gate with lowered heads, hearing soldiers requiring those leaving the city to show their household registration tokens, only allowing passage after checking each one, and detaining anyone without proper tokens.
Bu Jie and Zhu Maosan hurriedly retreated to hide in an alley, where Xiao Xiao, Ah Xi, and a carriage were waiting for them.
“How is it!” Ah Xi asked.
Bu Jie shook his head: “I fear we can’t get out.” He pointed to the sky and said quietly, “That person has waited so long for an opportunity to threaten the young lady, and if we hadn’t run quickly, the Zhuo Jun Mansion would have already been raided. They won’t let us leave the city.”
“Can’t we disguise ourselves to get out?” Ah Xi asked.
Xiao Xiao became excited: “Yes! Ah Mu taught me the art of disguise! Though I’m not as skilled as Ah Mu, I can still manage to fool them! I can help you all disguise yourselves!”
Zhu Maosan was overjoyed: “Our Xiao Xiao is so clever, to think she even knows disguise techniques!”
Bu Jie restrained the eager Xiao Xiao: “Don’t be hasty. Leaving the city requires household registration tokens, and all our registrations in Runing are under the Bandit-Quelling General. The tokens clearly show the character ‘Zhen’ – we can’t fool the city guards.”
Xiao Xiao and Ah Xi exchanged glances: “Then what should we do?”
Zhu Maosan hissed: “Don’t we still have two hundred brothers? Worst case, we gather them for a life-and-death battle! This old Zhu will definitely protect you all out of the city!”
“Zhu-ge, we can’t be reckless now. The young lady had us leave Runing to protect our lives – we mustn’t fall into enemy hands and distract her at a crucial moment.”
“This won’t work, that won’t work! What do you suggest we do!” Zhu Maosan couldn’t stand such dithering – in his view, no obstacle was a problem, just fight it out, and whoever had the harder fist would be the victor.
Bu Jie was also somewhat troubled. He noticed the Imperial Guard had increased their patrol frequency – if they were discovered, they would likely have no chance to fight back.
“Everyone get in the carriage and we’ll discuss further,” Bu Jie said.
“Where else can we go! If we go back, aren’t we more likely to be caught?” Zhu Maosan refused to get in, pulling at Bu Jie as he questioned.
Bu Jie’s clothes were pulled askew, and he tried helplessly to persuade him again. Zhu Maosan wouldn’t listen, believing Bu Jie was just wasting time.
The two were at an impasse beside the horse when Ah Xi saw the Imperial Guard drawing closer and closer, his heart nearly jumping out – what time was it to be squabbling among themselves!
Xiao Xiao flew into a rage and kicked Zhu Maosan’s bottom. Caught completely off guard, Zhu Maosan stumbled forward several steps, nearly falling.
“Stop arguing with Uncle Wensheng! You pig head!” Xiao Xiao pointed at Zhu Maosan, “Hurry up and get in the carriage! Ah Mu said when she’s not here, we listen to Uncle Wensheng in everything!”
Zhu Maosan wasn’t angry about being kicked like this. He was already fifty and had never married or had children, yet was especially fond of children. From the first time he saw Xiao Xiao, he thought this child was clever and strange, speaking Da Yu’s language with an unorthodox accent, particularly adorable. Usually, Zhu Maosan doted on her greatly, buying her things every day, and would always listen to whatever Xiao Xiao said. Now at Xiao Xiao’s shout, he immediately surrendered, obediently being the first to get into the carriage.
Bu Jie gave Xiao Xiao a thumbs up, and Xiao Xiao giggled.
The four got into the carriage, but hadn’t gone two steps before being stopped by the Imperial Guard.
“Who’s inside!” The Imperial Guard soldier demanded of Bu Jie, who was driving.
“This is a carriage from Wanquan Ward,” Bu Jie answered carefully.
“Get out!” The Imperial Guard ordered, “Open the carriage curtains and get out!”
Bu Jie hesitated for a moment, but didn’t lift the curtain, instead getting down himself.
The Imperial Guard stepped forward and shoved him aside, with more than ten soldiers surrounding the carriage, drawing their weapons and pointing them at it.
By this point, Zhu Maosan and Xiao Xiao inside the carriage had taken up weapons, prepared to fight the Imperial Guard to the death, while Ah Xi trembled in fear at this display of force.
“Those inside the carriage, come out!”
Just as the Imperial Guard’s shout fell, a galloping horse arrived at full speed, the young man on horseback calling out loudly: “Who dares touch people of the Zuo family!”
The Imperial Guard all looked up, and Bu Jie scrambled up from the ground, his eyes lighting up at the sight of the rider!
“The Zuo family?” The Imperial Guard naturally knew that the Zuo family was among the Emperor’s closest noble clans. Though under pressure to capture Zhen’s associates, offending the Zuo family would bring dire consequences. Their tone became more polite, “Might the young master verify his identity?”
The rider tossed the Zuo family’s household registration token to the Imperial Guard. Seeing it was indeed from the Zuo family, a soldier whispered in the commander’s ear: “This is Zuo Kunda, courtesy name Ji Yong, truly of the Zuo family! Commander may have targeted the wrong people.”
The Imperial Guard commander nodded, clasped his hands to Zuo Kunda, said “Pardon the offense,” and withdrew with his troops.
“Thank you, Ji Yong!” Bu Jie expressed endless gratitude. Zuo Kunda smiled slightly, saying somewhat dejectedly:
“Even though I consider you all friends, I am still surnamed Zuo and of the Zuo family. Our paths differ, so I won’t accompany you further. Seeing friends out of the city today is my final act of friendship – if we meet on the battlefield another day, I won’t show mercy!”
Bu Jie, tears in his eyes, clasped his hands in respect, and Zuo Kunda turned his horse and galloped away.
Guang Shaoling walked out of the prison cell, rolling up the blood letter and handing it to a nearby Zhuiyue Army soldier. The soldier took the letter and silently disappeared.
Guang Shaoling took down the torch from the wall and said helplessly: “Lady Ah Xin, Her Majesty has been extremely worried about where you’ve been these days, nearly turning all of Runing city upside down. My lady knows well yet hasn’t shown herselfโฆ”
Ah Xin lowered her eyes: “Are you blaming me?”
“This humble one wouldn’t dare. I merely can’t bear to see Her Majesty suffer from lovesickness. If my lady has time, please go see Her Majesty. She caught a cold that hasn’t improved, with worsening cough and breathing. The Imperial Physicians have examined her and prescribed many medicines without effect – presumably only my lady can cure Her Majesty.”
Ah Xin didn’t follow her words, instead warning her: “She is my younger sister. If you harm her even slightly more, I won’t be polite.”
Guang Shaoling didn’t back down: “This subordinate is following orders. It would be better if my lady didn’t make things difficult for me.”
Ah Xin said no more and left.
Guang Shaoling was furious, rushing up to the ground level to question the Court staff: “How did you let an unauthorized person in?!”
She could have simply cut off Zhen Wenjun’s finger, but at the crucial moment, Ah Xin had stopped her.
Lin Qi said coldly: “She carries the Emperor’s token. Never mind the Court chambers – who would dare stop her even if she wandered through the entire Forbidden Garden? Why does Commander Guang come to bring ill fortune upon this old one?”
Guang Shaoling cast a sidelong glance at Lin Qi and didn’t argue further, quickly untying her horse while gripping her sword.
Seeing that Ah Xin was about to disappear again, she had to catch up quickly.
She neither knew why Ah Xin had been absent for so long, nor was she interested in her thoughts. All Guang Shaoling needed to do was quickly persuade her to return to the Emperor’s side.
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