At dawn, Zhang Shuisheng returned to Zhang Family Village, his eyes bloodshot from exhaustion. The village lay right between Taizhou Prefecture and the Embroider Maiden’s home, so the four guards in sturdy outfits dropped him off on their way. In all his years, Zhang Shuisheng had never ridden a horse before, though he’d been perched behind one of the men…
He owed it all to Wu Wei’s good fortune. An ordinary horse cost around thirty taels of silver, but the fine steeds these four rode would set you back seventy or eighty taels at least.
How many families of five or six scraped by their whole lives without affording even a horse—maybe not even an ox!
Zhang Shuisheng slipped into his home. The Zhang family was still asleep, and the courtyard lay quiet.
Most villagers in Zhang Family Village were kin, their family trees intertwining after a few generations back, so it was a safe place. Plenty left their gates unlocked at night.
Zhang Shuisheng pushed open the door. Old Lady Zhang, whose sleep was light, heard the noise and emerged from her room in her robe. Spotting him, she waved him over eagerly. Only when he drew near did she speak. “Back at this hour? What was the rush last night—helping with a funeral?”
Zhang Shuisheng had dashed out in the middle of the night, leaving Old Lady Zhang to mutter with her husband half the evening. With Wu Wei’s current standing, what kind of paying job could she line up for him? Probably just funeral work…
It wasn’t the most auspicious thought, but at her age, Old Lady Zhang had grown more practical. Their third generation was on the way, and there’d be no end of places silver would be needed. Every bit earned counted. Besides, Zhang Shuisheng was a strong young man; the village always called on him for slaughtering pigs or sheep at weddings or funerals. Funerals paid the best, and she’d long grown used to it.
Hearing this, Zhang Shuisheng clutched his waist and chuckled. Thinking she’d nailed it, Old Lady Zhang frowned. “It’s early yet. Don’t go disturbing Second Niang. You might startle her. Let your father sweep the bad luck off you with a broom first—or you’ll frighten the baby.”
“Mom, it’s not like that. I walked all night and rode hard for hours. My bones are about to fall apart. Mind if I lie down in your room first?”
With that, Zhang Shuisheng headed into the west room. By the time he and his mother had finished talking, Old Man Zhang was up. Zhang Shuisheng flopped right onto his father’s spot on the kang.
“Rushing off last night like that—what job was it?” Old Man Zhang asked.
Zhang Shuisheng rested a moment, then sat up against the wall. His eyes were red-rimmed and weary, but he felt wide awake.
He chuckled again. “Dad, Mom’s right. That Wu family girl is a real lucky star. Stick by her, and your days get better. Take the Embroider Maiden—she used to have it rough at home, but look at her now.” As he spoke, he pulled a silver note from his bosom and set it on the kang table.
“What’s this?” Zhang Shuisheng’s mother was illiterate. While father and son knew a few characters, they couldn’t match the Embroider Maiden’s reading these days.
Zhang Shuisheng just grinned foolishly. Old Man Zhang picked up the paper, studied it a good while, then gasped. “A silver note?”
Zhang Shuisheng nodded. “That’s the pay from the job Wu family girl set up. The boss paid in advance.”
Old Man Zhang held the note at arm’s length, squinting to make out the amount. He’d recognized the characters, but couldn’t quite believe it. “How much?”
Zhang Shuisheng held up one finger. “A hundred taels.”
…
“Clang clang clang clang~ Fresh Wu Soap, hot off the press!”
Thanks to the soapberry powder mixed in, the bars came out a pretty milky yellow. Wu Wei picked one up and placed it in the Embroider Maiden’s palm, saying softly, “Use this for washing hands from now on. You can even shampoo with it occasionally. I’ll make special ones for hair soon.”
Gao Ningxue took a bar too. “Looks kinda… ahem, decent enough. But the scent’s lacking. Add more petals for better color and fragrance.”
“Yes, yes, the petals are up to Second Boss. Only you could conjure them this season.”
Gao Ningxue shot Wu Wei a fierce glare. Wu Wei shook her head, looking utterly unrepentant. Gao Ningxue’s temper flared; with a dainty huff, she swung a playful slap.
Having succeeded with the soap, Wu Wei was in high spirits. She darted around, staying just out of reach.
“Stop right there!”
“Nyah nyah nyah?”
That only made Gao Ningxue madder, but Wu Wei was nimble and tireless—she couldn’t catch her.
Their “battleground” shrank to circling the Embroider Maiden. Wu Wei hid behind her, occasionally poking out to tease. Gao Ningxue held back, wary of hitting an innocent, and soon her face flushed with frustration.
“Embroider Maiden, grab her for me!” Gao Ningxue said.
“Embroider Maiden~ Protect me! Block her, block!” Wu Wei cried.
Such carefree chasing and romping among friends was a rare joy for the Embroider Maiden. She smiled, her heart—stifled for days—filling with their lively energy.
“Embroider Maiden~ Catch her for me, and I’ll reward you handsomely!” Gao Ningxue tempted.
The Embroider Maiden just smiled shyly and spread her arms wide, shielding Wu Wei from behind like the mother hen in a game of eagle catches chicks.
“Fine! You two are ganging up on me!”
As soon as the words left her mouth, Wu Wei’s hands—around the Embroider Maiden’s waist—gave a gentle push, spinning her one hundred eighty degrees. Wu Wei then dove into her embrace, hollering, “Oh no~ The Embroider Maiden caught me!”
Before the Embroider Maiden could process it, Wu Wei hugged her tight and shuffled sideways like a crab, exposing her own back to Gao Ningxue. Gao Ningxue landed a few satisfying swats, and Wu Wei laughed. “Second Boss, a deal’s a deal.”
“What?”
“You said if Embroider Maiden helped catch me, you’d reward her big. Where’s the reward?”
“That’s not fair—you cheated!” Gao Ningxue protested.
The Embroider Maiden tugged Wu Wei’s sleeve. “Weiwei, don’t tease Xue’er anymore~”
Wu Wei eyed Gao Ningxue. “Not bad, Second Boss. You’ve learned to crack wise now.” A few days ago, she’d have whipped out her pouch and tossed over gold leaves without hesitation. It was hard to believe this greenhorn was a disciple of The Jade-Faced Divine Strategist…
The Imperial Court, the imperial clan, the vassal princes—there were twists and turns aplenty. Wu Wei wanted no part in it. None of those powers were for small folk like her and the Embroider Maiden to meddle with. Still, she’d done her bit to “train” Gao Ningxue—a fair exchange for their acquaintance.
Truth be told, Wu Wei found Gao Ningxue a decent sort. By the standards of this era’s nobility, she was remarkably down-to-earth and approachable.
Wu Wei had “clashed” with her countless times lately, yet Gao Ningxue never pulled rank as County Princess. Now with four guards lurking nearby, if she truly wanted to nab Wu Wei, neither she nor the Embroider Maiden could stop her.
Letting those last slaps land was just saving face for the princess—lest the guards report back to Old Yan Prince and stir trouble.
With soap in hand, Wu Wei felt their little household’s hygiene had leveled up. She fetched a basin of water and solemnly taught the Embroider Maiden and Gao Ningxue the Seven-Step Washing Method. “Wash before meals and after the privy, got it?”
…
Wu Wei and the Embroider Maiden cut oil paper and wrapped the soap bars neatly for storage. Their belongings were piling up; the little room was getting cramped.
Wu Wei told Gao Ningxue about their plans to head next door to Zhang Family Village, buy land, and build a house. Gao Ningxue promised a housewarming gift.
Days slipped by, and Wu Wei’s mindset shifted with them.
She’d started out terrified of being silenced by the yamen runners. Then came racing the clock, roping in Gao Ningxue as witness, reaching out to Dongfang Rui, sending word to Old Yan Prince—each step a heart-stopper.
All that fear evaporated when Old Yan Prince’s guards quietly took up positions at the Charity Mortuary.
Afterward, a jittery anticipation stirred in her chest.
She hoped the yamen thugs would hurry up and try silencing her. Then the guards could catch them red-handed—ideally framing it as an attempt on the County Princess’s life. With Yan Prince or the Mirror Office’s backing, they could wipe out Qinglu County’s rot.
It wasn’t malice on Wu Wei’s part. She just recalled that suing an official as a commoner meant the nail board. Who knew if this world had that law.
Besides, Dongfang Rui and Gao Ningxue could only shield them temporarily. In the end, Wu Wei and the Embroider Maiden would have to fend for themselves.
Ever since Wu Wei had firmly resolved in her heart to uphold the principles of a forensic doctor and refuse to collude with the Qinglu County Magistrate, she had placed herself squarely in opposition to this black-hearted evil force. There was only one possible outcome.
Either she would uproot the whole rotten network in Qinglu County.
Or she and the Embroider Maiden would die under mysterious circumstances.
Wu Wei was crystal clear and utterly calm on this point. She had to marshal every resource at her disposal and wipe out this force completely!
Ten days flew by. On the surface, everything seemed perfectly calm. Wu Wei chatted and laughed every day with the other two girls. But deep down, she was growing anxious. In the end, she had never laid eyes on the county magistrate himself. If the day came when the whole affair blew up and he threw his subordinates under the bus—shifting all the blame onto his advisor—what would she do then?
…
Wu Wei waited this way and that, counting the days until Dongfang Rui’s arrival. At last, the yamen runners showed up!
It was the same two as before: Zhang Xing and Li Liu. But they weren’t there to silence her. Instead, they addressed Wu Wei in strictly official tones. “Miss Wu, we need you to come with us to the yamen.”
Gao Ningxue and the Embroider Maiden huddled behind the door, eavesdropping. Four guards lurked in the shadows nearby, poised to spring into action.
Wu Wei thought to herself: Are they planning to lure me off somewhere else before striking? Why bother with the hassle?
Steel yourself, she asked, “May I ask what this is regarding?”
Zhang Xing fixed his gaze on Wu Wei, his expression carrying an intriguing ambiguity. “The clerk,” he said. “He’s dead.”
Well f**k