Chapter 13
After three more rounds of competition, Xu Biqing stepped down from the field. She freshened up, changed into a light, flowing dress, and returned to her family’s seat carrying a tray of prizes she had won. Among them, a delicately carved ivory ball, layered intricately, caught the eye most prominently.
“Mother!” Xu Biqing’s cheeks were still flushed with excitement as she sat close to Madam Zhang. “Look, I won this finely crafted ivory ball!”
She spoke with a hint of regret, her expression souring slightly. “Prince Jin had put up a white fox fur coat as the grand prize, but I went on too early and was too exhausted to compete for that treasure. Otherwise, I’d have won it back for you!”
Madam Zhang looked at her with tender affection and comforted her gently, “That fox fur coat is quite the striking item; it’s better you didn’t take it. Besides, I prefer this little ball. I’ve only ever heard of such things before, never seen one properly.”
Her words immediately lifted Xu Biqing’s spirits. She eagerly called for someone to bring the prize closer and demonstrated it to her mother.
“Mother, look, it has three layers, each with different patterns, and the two inner layers can even rotate!”
Madam Zhang took the ivory ball in her palm, turning it over with fascination. “Truly a treasure. It must be a prize from Prince Kang.”
Xu Biqing lowered her voice. “Yes, although it’s not as grand as the fox fur coat, it’s still a rare and exquisite piece. I’ve heard there are even larger ones with five or six layers, or more.”
After chatting with Madam Zhang for a while, Xu Biqing suddenly remembered the two elder sisters-in-law sitting nearby. She glanced toward the left and smiled sweetly at Zhuang Ningyuan. “Sister-in-law, would you like to take a look as well?”
Zhuang Ningyuan’s expression was calm. “You already showed it to me just now, so I’ve seen it.”
Xu Biqing smiled and nodded, then turned her gaze back to the ivory ball, showing no intention of speaking to Li Lanxin on her right.
Li Lanxin’s face remained unchanged, her composure cool and indifferent as she had long been accustomed to this.
Madam Zhang glanced at her daughter and said, “Soon, I will take your eldest and second sisters-in-law to the family estate. Tomorrow is your elder brother’s death anniversary. You and Cheng’er will stay behind and accompany your father to the grand hunting competition. But remember, behave yourselves; do not act recklessly or pick fights with other families’ daughters.”
She emphasized the last sentence with particular seriousness.
Xu Biqing felt displeased but, upon meeting her mother’s stern gaze, nodded reluctantly.
After sitting with her daughter a while longer, Madam Zhang rose. If they delayed, they might not reach the family estate before nightfall.
The group left Green Harmony Garden and returned to the carriage they had arrived in.
Only after boarding the carriage did Li Lanxin’s long-held tension finally ease. Feeling the wheels begin to move, she relaxed and leaned against the soft cushion lining the compartment.
Li Mian, who accompanied her, looked worried. “Madam, would you like to rest for a while?”
Having been by Li Lanxin’s side for many years, Li Mian could tell something was wrong despite her mistress’s usual composure.
Since leaving the Hundred Flowers Garden, Li Lanxin had become increasingly uneasy. From initial calmness, her mood had shifted to anxious and fearful, as if she wanted to hide or escape from something.
But Li Lanxin refused to speak of it. Li Mian dared not press further and instead focused carefully on her mistress’s diet and rest.
Perhaps the sudden release of tension had brought on fatigue. Li Lanxin nodded faintly and lay back into the pillow pile. “I’ll close my eyes. Wake me when we’re nearly there.”
Li Mian quickly agreed, taking Li Lanxin’s removed hairpin and placing it in a hidden compartment before stepping out of the carriage to instruct the driver to proceed smoothly and steadily.
As the noisy din faded into the distance, Li Lanxin closed her eyes and drifted into sleep.
...
From the high terrace of Green Harmony Garden, one could see the seats of various nobles and their attendants.
On the field, the final prize—a white fox fur coat from the Jin Prince’s residence—was fiercely contested. The best horseback polo players from every family and mansion had taken the field for the treasure.
For a moment, the flying ball sparkled like a star, the galloping horses thundered like dragons, and the intensity of the match was unprecedented, stirring shouts and cheers that swept across the entire forested garden.
He Cheng watched with excitement. The star player dominating the scene was the son of a former general under their Northwest army camp—effectively one of their Prince’s retainers.
As he watched the action, he glanced sideways toward the adjacent seat, intending to speak, but caught sight of his master’s cold, impassive profile.
Though his lord often masked his emotions, He Cheng could tell there was a shadow of melancholy in his furrowed brows.
His gaze was not fixed on the match but shifted restlessly elsewhere, unlike before.
The matter involving Marquis Wen’an had just concluded; there should be nothing else troubling.
Suddenly, He Cheng felt a tightening in his chest and, almost involuntarily, looked toward the direction from which they had entered the terrace.
His brow twitched sharply.
A seat among the officials’ ladies’ section they had passed earlier was now empty.
The plainly dressed woman who had been there was gone as well.
He Cheng closed his eyes briefly, regretting his own nosiness. Some secrets, hinted at only faintly, were better left undiscovered.
Yet as a trusted aide, he could not simply stand by while his master was disturbed. He had to be prepared in advance.
He quietly slipped down from the viewing platform and beckoned a palace maid from Green Harmony Garden.
In a solemn voice, he asked, “Tell me whose seats are on the left and right sides of this terrace.”
The maid, seeing he was part of the Jin Prince’s household, was extremely respectful but nervous under his questioning.
She hurried to answer, “At the far end is the seat of the Censor-in-Chief Liu’s family, then the Deputy Minister of Justice Xue’s family…”
“Next is the seat of General Zhongshun’s family, Lord Xu’s family, then beyond that…”
The maid listed each seat one by one, unaware that his gaze had fixed sharply on a particular spot she had just named.
He Cheng’s brow tightened.
General Zhongshun—Xu Changyi.
One of the few generals secretly corresponding with Prince Chen.
He vaguely recalled that General Zhongshun’s household had three sons. The eldest and second sons were both married but had passed away, leaving behind two widows.
Then, the woman he had seen must be one of the Xu family widows.
But which one?
He Cheng pondered as he dismissed the palace maid who had painstakingly named all the seats.
He strode quickly toward a secluded part of the garden.
With a soft whistle, the prince’s secret guards appeared.
“You have been stationed in the capital for some time. Tell me again the detailed reports on General Zhongshun’s household. Xu Changyi had three sons; the eldest and second sons are dead but were both married, right?” He Cheng asked sharply.
The guard replied, “Yes. The eldest son, Xu Zhan, married the second legitimate daughter of the Earl of Chengning, Lady Zhuang. They have a posthumous son, ten years old now.”
“And the second son?” He asked urgently.
“The second son, Xu Yu, served in the southwestern armored troops. He was seriously injured in battle and retired to the capital. He did not marry into any noble family but wed a commoner and had no children.”
He Cheng’s eyes lit up. “What is the background of this commoner woman?”
A commoner, matching the plain and modest attire he had observed.
The guard hesitated briefly. “Well… after Xu Yu died, the woman moved out of General Zhongshun’s household. She has no particular backing, so we did not investigate her thoroughly.”
He Cheng was furious, almost ready to kick him. “Go check immediately!”
The guard hastily replied, “Yes, sir!”
“Listen carefully. Once you verify this woman’s background, report directly to me,” He Cheng’s gaze was stern. “Do not spread this around the palace. Absolutely not. Understood?”
The guard shivered and nodded firmly.