Chapter 711: Reforge! [Thank You! Again, Thank You! 39k Chapters Owed]

Hearing Xu Zaijing's words, Pingmei nodded with a smile.

Xu Zaijing said: "Sister, why did Yu Dagu's personal maid suddenly play ghostly tricks to frighten people?"

Pingmei frowned and said: "According to the maid's own account, she was coerced by someone. Tingyi didn't press for details."

Xu Zaijing thought for a moment and guessed: "Probably someone close to her is being held hostage."

Everyone in the hall nodded in agreement.

Xu Zaijing continued, curiously asking: "Sister, do you think it was Yanran's stepmother behind this?"

Pingmei looked at Xu Zaijing and sneered: "Hmph! Little Five, Yanran is a young lady still in seclusion; most of her time is spent deep within the inner courtyards. The background of her personal maid isn't something easily uncovered!"

Xu Zaijing understood: "Sister, you came home just to tell me this?"

Pingmei nodded: "Yes! So our family won't be left in the dark. Also, your nephew keeps begging to see his foal—I couldn't refuse him."

The dragon-horse's offspring had only been born four months ago and was still too young to leave its mother; it was still being raised at the Xu household.

"After lunch, I'll take Xingge to see the foal—let them bond." Xu Zaijing smiled.

With children around, the afternoon's bustle went without saying.

The next day,

Xu Zaijing finished his training and had breakfast.

As he stepped out of the Xu household gate,

he saw a young man in the attire of the Imperial City Office standing there.

Recognizing him as the former Kaifeng Prefecture constable Li, whom he'd met a few times, Xu Zaijing smiled and bowed: "I didn't expect it was you that Gao Brother meant."

"Greetings, Fifth Young Master."

Constable Li bowed deeply.

Xu Zaijing returned the bow: "You came early—thank you for your trouble."

Constable Li quickly bowed again: "You're too kind, Fifth Young Master."

"Hmm. Let's walk and talk. Have you uncovered the truth?"

Constable Li quickened his pace to match Xu Zaijing's slower step: "Yes, I have."

Listening to Constable Li, Xu Zaijing learned that Yu Yanran's maid was from Kaifeng Prefecture, two years older than Yanran, with her family living just outside the city.

The maid had a childhood friend and sweetheart, also working within the city.

Though they had not formally pledged their lives to each other, both families were aware of their bond.

After Yanran's marriage, the maid would be freed to marry and would likely return to serve Yanran as a senior attendant.

But somehow, the maid's sweetheart had been targeted by local ruffians, framed into owing a hundred taels of silver, with threats to chop off his hands or feet if he didn't pay.

"Later, the ruffian leader claimed a powerful insider was behind them—someone with a grudge against Gu Er—and promised to erase the debt if they frightened Yu Dagu into illness."

Xu Zaijing, riding his horse, nodded lightly: "If the maid and her sweetheart were so close, how could she confess so readily after just one fright from Yu Dagu?"

Constable Li glanced at Xu Zaijing: "The maid said she knew you were Gu Er's friend and were investigating this matter."

"She also knew you never hold back in the capital—she feared that if things continued, you'd punish her family severely."

Xu Zaijing pulled his horse to a stop, puzzled: "Why would I ever punish them?"

Constable Li's expression held admiration and flattery: "Fifth Young Master, you're absorbed in your studies—you don't realize how feared your name is among the scum of the city."

For years, Xu Zaijing had either beaten up Bai Gao envoys or fought with sons of princes, dukes, and marquises—and always won.

That alone might have been enough, but Xu Zaijing had also repeatedly achieved miraculous feats on the battlefield!

Most recently, he rode alone, dragging the corpse of a notorious criminal through the streets, then turned the Northern Liao embassy upside down.

Despite such reckless behavior, Xu Zaijing remained unharmed and continued his studies without interruption.

Every commoner in Bianjing knew Xu Zaijing was a demon, a malevolent star—never to be trifled with.

Not to mention the maids and servants in the households who knew every rumor.

"Have you found those ruffians?" Xu Zaijing asked.

"Returned, Fifth Young Master: the night you and Gu Er went to the Yu household, they vanished without a trace." Constable Li replied.

Xu Zaijing nodded and extended his hand toward Qingyun.

Qingyun understood and handed him a silk pouch.

Xu Zaijing offered the pouch to Constable Li: "Thanks for your thorough investigation—this is for drinks."

"Uh—"

"If you don't take it, I'll be angry," Xu Zaijing laughed.

Constable Li bowed deeply, took the pouch, and said: "You're too generous, Fifth Young Master—thank you for your kindness."

Xu Zaijing smiled: "I'm off."

"Fifth Young Master, take care."

Constable Li had uncovered the truth so quickly

because Li Mubai had once been Kaifeng's constable and had his master's connections;

second, because he now served in the Imperial City Office;

third, because he had spent his own silver and called in favors to dig deep.

Watching the retreating carriage and horsemen of Xu Zaijing, Constable Li felt the weight of the pouch in his hand and thought: "Fifth Young Master of the Xu household is still as generous as ever!"

On the way to the Sheng household,

Qingyun, seeing Xu Zaijing's self-deprecating expression, asked: "Master, what's wrong?"

Xu Zaijing smiled: "I thought Yu Dagu needed me and Gu Er's help to escape this mess—but it turns out—"

Qingyun nodded vigorously: "You're right, Master! I never thought Yu Dagu, so gentle and frail, had such courage."

Xu Zaijing smiled.

The sun rose and set,

another three or four days passed,

and it was late April,

and the variety of fruits on the streets had greatly increased.

With the Dragon Boat Festival coming early next month,

peddlers' shoulder poles now carried colorful silk threads for weaving the hundred-thread amulets.

That day,

at the second hour of the afternoon, the sun blazed fiercely.

Walking straight east along the street before the eastern gate of the imperial palace, without leaving the inner city, one reached the old Cao Gate Street near Huihefang.

Because many noble ladies and court ladies often came here to stroll, the street's sides were lined with elegant tea houses, flower shops, and silk merchants.

Last autumn, a pastry shop specializing in "Mifu Su Naiflower" opened on Old Cao Gate Street—its business was wildly popular, nearly earning gold by the bushel, drawing intense envy.

But the shop's proprietor wielded astonishing power—no one dared touch it.

As a result, several other shops sprang up nearby, selling pastries and drinks.

The Mifu Su Naiflower shop's business was booming,

yet as long as they didn't interfere with its operations,

the shop's manager turned a blind eye to vendors selling other goods nearby.

At this moment,

"Fine calamus threads! Ginger threads! Apricot and plum threads! Come take a look!"

Beneath a blue bamboo umbrella, a woman carried a large bamboo basket, calling out.

Four well-dressed girls carrying food boxes approached upon hearing her call.

Seeing their attire, the woman's smile brightened; she lifted the thin cloth covering her basket: "Misses, take a look!"

The girls leaned in; one pinched a small strand of fruit thread, tasted it, and nodded with a smile: "Sweet! Madam, did you soak these threads in sugar syrup?"

"Sharp-eyed miss! You can tell!"

"We'll take some—let our mistress taste them."

"Yes!"

After paying copper coins, the girls bought a few other items and headed toward a tea house.

Because so many noble ladies and court ladies came to Old Cao Gate Street, any food vendor here had been thoroughly vetted for cleanliness and hygiene.

The four girls, one hand holding their food boxes, the other lifting their skirts, climbed the stairs to the second floor of the tea house.

In view,

sheer curtains hung along the street-facing side, fluttering gently with the breeze.

Inside the room,

on lacquered tables of fine craftsmanship, freshly made Mifu Su Naiflower emitted a fragrant aroma.

On a chair beside them, Yu Dagu Yanran, her complexion flushed and clearly recovered, sat holding a round fan.

She was surrounded by Gu Tingyi, Chai Zhengzheng, and other noble ladies of the capital.

Seeing this scene, the four maids did not disturb them; they quietly moved to the side.

Among the noble ladies upstairs, the others were fine, but Chai Zhengzheng had genuinely been frightened.

Imagining the eerie environment of midnight, Chai Zhengzheng asked sincerely: "Yanran, you were terrified those days—how did you have the courage to leave your room alone at night?"

Rong Feiyan, beside her, looked at Yu Yanran with admiration: If she had experienced unexplained noises and shadows, she would never have dared to step out alone in pitch darkness.

"Yanran, you're so brave! When you saw that shadow, you didn't run—you ran toward it!" Rong Feiyan shook her head in awe.

Other noble ladies and court ladies on the second floor also watched Yanran and echoed: "Yes! Yanran, you're incredible! If it were me, my legs would've turned to jelly!"

Among those speaking, some had not only admiration in their eyes, but also curiosity and a desire to learn.

Overcoming fear of the night! They wanted to learn too!

Yu Anyan, under the gaze of so many, flushed with embarrassment and waved her hands repeatedly.

"Actually, I'm not nearly as skilled as you all say!"

"I just felt that if I didn't find out what it truly was, and kept imagining things, I'd surely scare myself sick—or even to death!"

Yu Anyan pressed her lips together and frowned. "Better to see clearly what it is—even if I die, I'll die knowing the truth."

"When I first saw the shadow, I was terrified! My hands shook, my legs went weak, and I thought my heart would leap right out of my chest!"

"Mm-hmm!"

Hearing this, those around her nodded in unison, all eyes fixed on Yu Anyan.

"Anyan, what happened next? How did you become so brave?" Zhang Jia's Fifth Lady asked quickly.

Yu Anyan looked at them all, pressed her lips, then said: "I—I just trembled, and pulled this hairpin out of my sleeve."

"A hairpin?" Rong Feiyan asked, puzzled.

Yu Anyan nodded vigorously.

Hearing this, Gu Tingyi, standing beside the daughter of the Marquis of Shoushan, glanced sharply, a flicker of unreadable expression crossing his face.

If he guessed right, that hairpin was the Nine-Turn Filigree Gold Hairpin he'd heard about from Lady Xu Hou!

"This one."

Saying this, Yu Anyan drew a hairpin from her bun.

To Chai Zhengzheng, Gu Tingyi, and the others, the hairpin was finely crafted, with exceptional weight and material.

"At the time, I was still terrified—but when I saw this hairpin, my heart instantly calmed," Yu Anyan said.

"Anyan-jie, what is this?" someone beside her asked curiously.

"It's a legacy from my mother!" she began, but then, as if remembering something, her nose grew sharp with sorrow.

Seeing her expression, Chai Zhengzheng and Rong Feiyan immediately reached out and gently patted Yu Anyan's back.

Yu Anyan took a deep breath, quickly steadied herself, and stared at the hairpin in her hand. "It was specially reforged from my mother's own jewelry—she'd worn them for years—before she passed."

"And my name was deliberately engraved on it!"

"When I held it, I thought: no matter what demon or spirit lurked, my mother would protect me!" Yu Anyan said, her gaze resolute.

"Suddenly, strength came to me—I gripped this hairpin and ran out as hard as I could."

Another day,

precisely at the hour of Si (10 a. m.),

in the Imperial Palace of the Great Zhou,

within the Inner Court palaces,

nearby, the bright, clear laughter of a young girl echoed intermittently.

The Empress sat in the central chair at the head of the room, gazing out at the blue sky where white clouds drifted, and said with melancholy: "I'd heard the Wu family's account and thought it was merely that Lady Yu was bold and sharp-witted, seeing through the plot."

"I never imagined there were so many twists! How pitiful is a parent's heart! Surely Lady Fan watches over her from beyond."

Sitting below the Empress, Princess Pingning held a round fan before her face with one hand and lightly wiped her tear-stained corner with the other.

Seeing the Empress's gaze, Princess Pingning smiled, eyes slightly red. "Mother, I've lost my composure."

The Empress slowly shook her head. "It's fine. Pingning—you're thinking of the late Lady of Xiangyang Marquis?"

Princess Pingning wiped her tears again and nodded. "Yes, Mother. Before she passed, my birth mother specifically left me her favorite Lotus Jade Crown."

She shook her head softly. "But I can no longer recall her face."

The Empress sighed. "You were too young then—you couldn't remember."

Looking at Madame Chai, the Empress continued: "By the way, this hairpin has other hidden stories—few know them. Only the women of the Liang, Xu, and Gu families have heard bits."

The Empress softly recounted the old tale of how Xu Zaijing and Zhu Qinghu had reclaimed the hairpin in Xiangzhou years ago.

Madame Chai blinked, deeply moved. "Heavens! Did Master Jing really do something so noble?"

Princess Pingning's eyes lit with sudden understanding. "When I heard the late Lord Yu and his wife took Lady Yu in to raise, I wondered why they didn't raise her under her stepmother's care."

Madame Chai looked at the Empress and Princess Pingning. "If that hairpin—so meaningful—had been lost back then, I can't imagine how heartbroken young Yu would have been."

The Empress nodded, glancing toward her young daughter, blindfolded and playing with her ladies-in-waiting nearby.

Then, softly, she said: "Send for someone."

Before noon,

within the palace,

an imperial edict from the Empress praising the eldest daughter of the Yu household for her courage against evil was issued.

Along with it came the Empress's gifts.

Jiying Alley,

the Sheng household,

in Jian'an Studio,

Wei Shuyi, busy weaving a hundred-knot cord at her embroidery frame, looked up.

"Little Lady, the Lady Yu who was praised by the Empress is very close to Sixth Sister!"

"I've met Lady Yu a few times at Grandmother's!"

Watching Sheng Changzhi, her face alight with excitement, Wei Shuyi smiled and nodded. "Good. I know—you've met Lady Yu."

Then she turned back to her weaving.

Sheng Changzhi walked over to Wei Shuyi, gazing at the colorful threads on the frame. "Little Lady, why are you weaving so many hundred-knot cords?"

"Xu? Is this for Grandmother?"

Wei Shuyi smiled gently. "This one—yes."

(End of Chapter)