Chapter 44: Jia Cong Returns Home

Hongde Gate in the western district of Shenjing.

The towering city wall stood silhouetted in the dim morning light; when the hour came, several lazy soldiers pushed open the heavy gate together, and many townsfolk who had been waiting outside rushed in—among them a handsome youth dressed in coarse hemp clothing.

Qu Hongxiu had fallen ill after her injury and caught a chill; Jia Cong had spent a night in that wild temple, and early the next morning he hurried to return to the city.

Qu Hongxiu removed the saddle, bridle, and other identifying gear from the horse, then found a farming household outside the city and exchanged two sets of coarse cloth garments, replacing Jia Cong’s bloodstained old robe.

She led the horse, watching from afar as Jia Cong walked toward the gate, seeing him keep turning back to look at her until his figure vanished into the tunnel of the city gate.

Jia Cong gazed at the bustling crowds within Shenjing, a sense of unprecedented ease and elation filling his body and soul; he quickened his pace toward Dongcheng’s Ningrong Street.

…

Early that morning, after being washed and dressed by her maids, Jia Mu drank a bowl of hot rice porridge made from bi geng rice, just as Jia Zheng and Lady Wang came to pay their respects.

While they were speaking, they heard several young maids whispering loudly outside.

Hints of words like “maid” and “jumped into the river” reached Jia Mu’s ears; displeased, she ordered Yuanyang to bring them in for questioning.

Soon Yuanyang led in a young maid named Xiao Qiu, a third-class maid assigned to clean Jia Mu’s courtyard, who, like Xiao Chan in Tan Chun’s quarters, was the granddaughter of Xia Pozi.

Jia Mu trembled with rage: “This wretch has done the most disgraceful thing!”

“These past few days, Third Master Cong has been reported dead, and Elder Master ordered Wang Shanbao’s wife to force Zhi Shao to serve him; Zhi Shao refused, and then jumped into the river.”

Jia Mu asked: “What were you just saying outside about maids and jumping into the river? Who told you to speak such nonsense here?”

Jia Mu sternly demanded: “Why would a healthy girl suddenly jump into the river to end her life? Speak quickly—say even half a lie and I’ll have your skin flayed!”

“You wretch, if you want women, you can buy a thousand or eight hundred of them with silver—why must you fixate on your own son’s maid?”

“Yesterday was Xia Pozi’s birthday; Yuanyang let her go home to celebrate with her grandmother, and she only returned this morning.”

With a sharp “crack,” the jade bowl holding the hot bi geng rice porridge fell to the ground and shattered.

“I went home yesterday to celebrate my grandmother’s birthday, and at night someone told her that Zhi Shao from Third Master Cong’s quarters had jumped into Liuyang River and died last night.”

Jia Mu’s face turned pale with shock; Jia Zheng and Lady Wang also rose from their seats, and Yuanyang and the other maids, shaken by the tragedy, turned ashen with fear.

…

The Jia household had always treated its servants kindly, and Jia Mu was a woman who valued dignity; such incidents rarely occurred within the family.

To desire her is one thing, but your son’s life and death are still unknown—and you insist on provoking trouble by trampling on the fire’s edge, forcing his maid to her death. You have no shame, but I still have this old face to preserve.”

Xiao Qiu shrank her neck, stammering, too terrified to speak.

Yuanyang said: “The old lady is asking you a question—answer quickly. Don’t dare hide even half a word, or I’ll have your grandmother take you home and never let you return.”

Xiao Qiu was barely a child; frightened by Yuanyang’s threat, she dared not conceal anything and spilled everything like beans from a bamboo tube.

If word spreads and people hear of this, what will our Jia family become? You were raised as a nobleman’s son—how could you commit such a disgraceful act?”

Xiao Qiu hurriedly said: “Everyone says it’s because Zhi Shao is so beautiful; Elder Master has long desired her and wanted to take her as a concubine, but he never succeeded.”

In Rongqing Hall, Jia Mu pointed at Jia She and scolded him; Jia Zheng and Lady Wang looked awkward, but dared not leave, for abandoning the old lady alone would only make things worse.

“I know you’ve always thought I favor your brother—but how many decent things have you ever done?”

“You’re an old man with white whiskers; if you won’t do your duty as an official, fine—but you take one concubine after another, and now you’ve stirred up this miserable mess.”

Jia Mu glared at her son, her face filled with bitter disappointment; Jia Zheng showed no reaction, while Lady Wang appeared to be quietly fingering her prayer beads, though a faint trace of revulsion lingered in her eyes.

“This elder brother still holds our ancestral title—and yet he commits such acts, corrupting our family’s reputation. If the younger generation imitates him, what will become of us? My Baoyu must never grow up to be so reckless.”

Jia She flushed red and said: “Cong Er is gone for good; I thought I couldn’t just keep a maid idle.”

“I only meant to assign her some duties—I never expected her to jump into the river. It’s all that wretch’s perverse nature; even her own maids can’t be trusted…”

Before Jia She had finished speaking, an old woman rushed in frantically, crying: “Old Lady! Word from the eastern courtyard—Third Master Cong has returned to the household!”

Everyone in the hall was stunned.

Jia Mu sat dumbfounded.

Jia Zheng first froze, then his face lit up with joy.

Lady Wang gasped, mouth open; this Cong Er had been missing for so many days, everyone thought him dead, and now he suddenly appeared out of nowhere—how could he keep pulling such terrifying stunts?

Jia She’s words choked in his throat; he nearly passed out, thinking: This wretch has an iron fate—kidnapped by bandits for so many days, and yet he still lives.

Then he suddenly recalled: yesterday Zhi Shao jumped into the river, and today this wretch returns—how will this end? His face flushed crimson with shame and fury, like a ripe crab.

Jia Mu hurriedly asked: “They said he was kidnapped—has he returned unharmed?”

The messenger woman replied: “Your Ladyship, Third Master Cong has returned completely intact—not a single injury.”

Jia Mu sighed in relief: “Good. After being lost for days, he’s finally back. Send for him—I must speak with him.”

The woman’s face stiffened: “I was just about to report, Your Ladyship—upon returning, Third Master Cong heard that his maid Zhi Shao had jumped into the river. Without even drinking water, he rushed straight to Liuyang River to search for her.”

Lady Wang spoke then: “That child is foolish. His maid jumped into the river last night—why search for her today? She’ll be long gone.”

Whether intentional or not, Lady Wang’s remark struck with perfect precision.

Jia Mu’s face darkened; she glared at Jia She: “All your doing. See how you’ll clean up this mess.”

…

Xiao Chan in Tan Chun’s quarters was also Xia Pozi’s granddaughter; yesterday she had celebrated her grandmother’s birthday with Xiao Qiu, and thus also learned of Zhi Shao’s suicide.

Tan Chun, upon hearing it, wept bitterly: Third Master Cong was still missing, and now even his personal maid had been driven to death.

Suddenly Shu Shu burst in, panting: “Miss! Third Master Cong has returned! Third Master Cong has returned!”

Tan Chun exclaimed in astonishment and joy: “Truly? Who told you?”

“Everyone in the household is talking about it—he arrived at the eastern courtyard this morning, many saw him, and by now the old lady must have heard too.”

Tan Chun’s face glowed with relief; she clasped her hands and murmured: “Amitabha—thank heavens he’s safe! I’ll go call Second Sister—we’ll go see Third Master Cong together.”

Shu Shu said: “If you go now, Miss, you probably won’t see Third Master.”

“Why not?”

“As soon as he returned, he heard Zhi Shao had jumped into the river—he rushed straight to Liuyang River to search for her.”

Tan Chun’s heart sank; Zhi Shao was surely gone by now—how could he find her? Third Master Cong cared so deeply for her—he’ll harbor even greater resentment toward Elder Master and Lady Wang. How will things ever be bearable?

(End of Chapter)