Chapter 92: Qi Family

Outside the Zhu family gate, Xu Zaijing looked curiously at his cousin, whose eyes were red-rimmed.

Everyone boarded the carriages and horses.

The Xu family returned to the Hou Fu.

Sun Shi, exhausted from days of labor, soaked her feet and relaxed in bed with her husband.

Sun Shi, eyes closed and drowsy, said:

“After the New Year, our aunt in Yangzhou turns sixty. We must show our respects.”

“You’re right, my lady. I sent someone to the estate your aunt gave Pingmei; the report said it’s truly excellent.”

“Hmm. Dalang must watch over his wife, Erlang must prepare for the imperial exams, and Laosan will go.”

“Hmm. If he goes, I feel at ease.”

The north wind blew dark clouds, stripping the trees bare and bringing white snowflakes.

The bitter wind howled as Qingcao, fighting great inertia, pulled on her clothes from under the quilts.

The weather grew colder still.

Qingcao’s palm, holding the lantern, began to tingle and itch again.

As Xu Zaijing’s personal maid, she had been given a cotton-lined jacket with brocade fabric.

It was very warm.

They said this garment was worth over ten taels of silver even in Bianjing.

More than Qingcao’s original price when she entered the household.

Watching her own breath fog in the air, Qingcao suddenly remembered the boxia gong she’d eaten with her young master at the tavern—the steam rising from the table.

She recalled the scent of roasted meat wafting from the evening market.

“Gululu”

Qingcao swallowed hard, feeling hungry.

Entering the building by the arena,

she switched the stablemaster’s shoes on the water tub and continued watching her young master practice flying axes in the cold wind.

Some personal guards who enjoyed training with their young master, panting heavily, stepped off the field and came to the doorway.

Seeing Qingcao sitting quietly inside, they grinned.

Qingcao was long accustomed to the scars on their faces and routinely offered hot water from the brazier.

“Good girl.”

At that moment, the guard suddenly stopped smiling and frowned toward the side gate of the Xu residence.

“Someone’s riding over.”

said the guard.

The sun rose slowly.

The sky brightened fully.

Xingguo Alley

Qi Duke Mansion

Princess Pingning was having breakfast under the care of her personal maid.

“Heng’er, eat your vegetables.”

the princess said softly.

Qi Heng froze, said nothing, and shoved the vegetables he’d just picked up into his mouth, chewing hard before swallowing.

Qi Duke glanced at the vegetables on his chopsticks, about to pick them up, then retracted his hand and placed them back in his bowl.

At that moment, a lady official from the princess’s household hurried to the hall’s entrance, paused upon seeing the family eating.

Princess Pingning glanced at her husband and son—they’d nearly finished eating—then looked toward the official outside.

The personal maid stepped out, let the woman in.

“Princess, the servant at the front gate just reported seeing two Xu brothers, cloaked and mounted, riding toward the Gu household.”

Princess Pingning said nothing. What was there to remark on? Noble youths passing by her gate? Without sufficient cause, someone would be punished.

“The servant said the two brothers rode fast—you know the Xu family doesn’t whip horses in the marketplace.”

“Fine. Go. Reward half a string of cash.”

“Yes.”

Princess Pingning sneered:

“What’s happened now in my cousin’s household?”

Qi Duke said:

“How long have they been married? The Xu boys rush off to the Gu household like this? It’s excessive. Their girl is already a Gu now.”

Princess Pingning glanced at her husband but said nothing. If her own brother treated her like this, she wouldn’t be so domineering in the Qi Duke Mansion, earning a bad reputation.

Xu Zaijing and his second brother Xu Zaihang entered the front courtyard of the Gu household.

Gu Tingye entered the main hall to accompany them; seeing the Xu brothers’ grim expressions, he felt awkward:

“Second Brother Xu, Fifth Brother, have some tea.”

Xu Zaihang said: “We can’t drink it. Please have Brother Yu come out and speak.”

At that moment, Qingxia, Pingmei’s personal maid, walked over.

Her eyes were red; though not utterly distraught, she looked shaken.

Seeing Xu Zaihang and Xu Zaijing seated in the hall, her eyes filled with grievance:

“Second Brother! Fifth Brother! Lady Bai is holding her ground against the Marquis; she can’t break away yet. Brother Yu and the young lady are there too.”

Xu Zaihang asked:

“Tell us—what happened? I heard the messenger say one of my elder sister’s Zhu sisters is about to be beaten to death by this Ningyuan Marquis household? What exactly happened!”

Qingxia was about to speak when a voice came from outside:

“Dear nephews, please have some tea.”

In walked a middle-aged man slightly younger than Gu Yan Kai.

Qingxia whispered aside: “This is Master Wu of the Gu household, Gu Lun Kai.”

Though Xu Zaijing was in low spirits, Gu Lun Kai was senior; he still rose to his feet. Xu Zaihang glanced, then also stood, turning his head away.

Gu Lun Kai stroked his beard, dismissive:

“Dear nephews, it’s just a servant woman. Why come all this way? Give her family some silver and it’s settled.”

Seeing the Xu brothers refuse to respond, Gu Lun Kai’s face darkened.

“Is this how the Xu family conducts propriety?”

Xu Zaihang opened his mouth to reply, but Xu Zaijing pulled him back.

Then Xu Zaijing pressed him back into his chair.

Xu Zaijing sat down again.

He stared at Gu Lun Kai, eyes curved like crescents, lips lifted in a smile—but his gaze held no warmth, fixed on the man’s throat.

Gu Lun Kai felt uneasy under Xu Zaijing’s stare.

The imperial physician had warned him: if his son were strangled any longer, no medicine could save him—and the culprit was this young Xu Zaijing.

He fell silent, his expression awkward.

“Qingxia, speak.”

“Young master, the young lady’s maid Qingzhi prepares exquisite soups and teas. Someone spread word of it; yesterday afternoon, the young lady of Luomei Courtyard heard and borrowed Qingzhi.”

Xu Zaijing glanced at Gu Tingye, who kept his head down.

Xu Zaihang asked: “Did Zhu’s sister go with her?”

Qingxia said: “Yes. It was your strict order: any maid from the young lady’s courtyard must be accompanied by a Zhu sister. We dared not disobey.”

Gu Lun Kai’s face turned cold:

“Pfft. With a bit of power, you come to the Gu household, the founding house of our dynasty, and act so high and mighty?”

Splash!

Crack!

The teacup beside Xu Zaijing was swept onto the wall, shattering into fragments.

Xu Zaihang stared in shock at his younger brother’s action.

Gu Tingye flinched violently, startled by the teacup flying past him.

“To guard against beasts.”

“You?!!”

“Continue,” Xu Zaijing said.

“Qingzhi was taken to Luomei Courtyard, then led to the side courtyard by the young lady’s maid. Zhu’s sister was barred outside.

We thought it was the inner quarters, nothing serious—but Zhu’s sister heard Qingzhi scream, knocked down three old women from Luomei Courtyard, and entered the side courtyard, saw, saw—”

“Saw the fifth house’s maid binding Qingzhi.”

“Lies! It’s your Xu family’s little whore who broke protocol and insulted Brother’s concubine! You twist the truth into our fault!” Gu Lun Kai shouted.

Xu Zaihang’s breathing grew rapid.

Xu Zaijing’s breathing grew slower and deeper. Qingyun, standing behind her young master, wondered how she could strike before him, to prevent him from killing someone.

Xu Zaihang stood and said: “I heard you were educated—how can you speak such foul language? Explain clearly: what do you mean by ‘Xu family’s little whore’?”

“Snap.”

Xu Zaijing imitated him, sweeping another teacup off the table.

“Screech.”

The ornate armrest of a Gu family chair, thick as an adult’s wrist, had been snapped off.

Everyone in the hall, except Qingyun, was stunned by this act.

“And then?”

“Lady Bai wanted to punish the old woman from Luomei Garden, but Fifth Master rebuked her, saying the Xu family’s maidservant was disrespectful and should be punished instead of Madam Zhu.”

“What of Madam Zhu?”

“She was protected by Lady Bai and the Master. But this morning, an old woman from Luomei Garden was found dead in the outer courtyard. Miss Mei went to the Marquis and wept, and that’s why—”

Xu Zaijing shook his head and said: “Go tell your master—this Madam Zhu is the widow of a military officer who fell in battle with the Western Army.”

Gu Lun Kai sneered: “Hmph. She’s nothing but a lowly woman, the widow of some soldier. Does she really think she’s so precious?”

Xu Zaijing did not get angry; he looked at Gu Lun Kai in disbelief.

He didn’t want to curse even once—not even a single “idiot”—because he felt it would sully the word.

“Since a death has occurred in Luomei Garden, summon the seasoned coroner from Bianjing’s prefectural office to examine the body! I thought this was a minor matter, but now we must bring in the family elders. Qingxia, continue announcing—”

“Yes, Young Master.”

Hearing Xu Zaijing’s words, Gu Lun Kai’s eyes flickered with panic. He opened his mouth to speak, when Lady Bai’s longtime maid, Madam Chang, entered and said:

“Young Master Xu, Lady Bai requests your presence.”

Gu Lun Kai walked ahead of Madam Chang.

Xu Zaijing and his brother followed behind Madam Chang, with Gu Tingye trailing behind them.

Gu Tingye whispered: “Jing-ge, it was my fault—I spoke without thinking.”

Xu Zaijing: “Oh? Thanks for telling me.”

They arrived at the courtyard where Lady Bai resided.

Outside the house lay the body of an old woman, long dead.

Beside it stood a stout Madam Zhu and Qingzhi.

Behind their own elder sister stood three other Madams Zhu.

Xu Zaijing saw a woman in the main hall. Even her thick winter garments could not hide her slender, willow-like frame. Dressed in quiet, elegant winter attire, she held a dark-colored hand warmer, silently weeping, yet holding her neck upright—with an air of forced composure, standing up for justice.

On the other side sat Lady Bai, with her elder sister Pingmei standing behind her, and Gu Tingyu seated beside her.

A crowd bustled in.

Xu Zaihang and Xu Zaijing performed their formal bows and greetings without omission.

Gu Tingyu bowed slightly to Xu Zaijing, full of apology.

“Uncle Gu, I’ve already sent for the coroner from Bianjing’s prefectural office—he’ll arrive shortly,” Xu Zaijing said.

“What? This is a Marquis household matter—why summon a yamen coroner?” Gu Yan Kai frowned and rose abruptly.

“It involves a life—how can we be careless? And Fifth Master Gu has firmly demanded that my sister’s servant pay with her life!”

Xu Zaijing bowed deeply: “Uncle Gu, is it right to have household servants present during such a grave matter?”

As he spoke, Xu Zaijing glanced at Gu Yan Kai’s concubine.

“Young Master, this deceased old woman served me with great devotion. How can I stand idle when her life was taken?” Her voice was clear and melodious.

Xu Zaijing ignored her. Instead, Xu Zaihang spoke to Gu Yan Kai:

“Elder Uncle, though we military nobles don’t follow the rigid formalities of civil officials, may I ask—do your concubines really have the right to speak here?”

“No need for a coroner. Just punish the old woman outside. One life for another—that’s enough to close the matter,” Gu Yan Kai said.

At these words, a flash of fury crossed Lady Bai’s face.

Gu Tingyu soothed his wife Pingmei, then glanced at the concubine across from him—his eyes held an unreadable expression.

Xu Zaijing bowed deeply and said:

“Elder Uncle, the ‘Zhou Criminal Code, Volume Twenty-Eight’ states: ‘Anyone who witnesses abduction, assault, tooth or finger injury, or rape, if not a close relative, has the right to apprehend and deliver the offender to the authorities.’”

“It further states: ‘Those who hear cries for help and do not aid are punished one degree less severely—eighty strokes of the cane.’”

“My elder sister’s maidservant cried out for help. Madam Zhu must have intended to aid her—otherwise, she would have broken the law.”

Gu Yan Kai glanced at Lady Bai, then turned to the woman below. A breeze passed, carrying the scent of incense unique to Lady Da Qin.

It reminded him of the day he first married Lady Da Qin—how she had wept, humiliated by the former Lady Ningyuan. It felt like a lifetime ago.

Now he was the Marquis of Ningyuan—he would never let her suffer again.

“It was your elder brother’s maidservant who provoked her. As mistress of Luomei Garden, she merely disciplined her—no fault there. She only bound her for punishment. Your old woman stormed in and struck her—how outrageous!” Gu Yan Kai said.

Xu Zaijing pressed quickly:

“Elder Uncle—is my elder sister’s maidservant a servant of Luomei Garden?”

Not the author deliberately breaking off—just wrote this much.

Please don’t beat the author.

Ugh, it’s freezing at dawn—I’m crawling into bed.

When I wake up, I’ll check the tips—if we hit 20,000, I’ll add an extra chapter.

Thank you again for your support!

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(End of Chapter)