Chapter 96: Weiwei Gets Taken Away

After Zhang Shuisheng left, the two women in the courtyard stood frozen in place, rooted to the spot as if their feet had sprouted into the ground.

Embroider Maiden and Wu Wei gazed at each other, deep shock and doubt mirrored in their eyes.

Dongfang Rui, a murderer?

Neither Wu Wei nor Embroider Maiden could bring themselves to believe it, yet the arrest warrant had been posted all the way from the Capital to this remote corner of Qinglu County. How could it be fake?

“Weiwei.”

“Embroider Maiden…”

They called out to each other in unison.

“You first,” Wu Wei said.

Embroider Maiden worked her lips, then said with difficulty, “Didn’t you say Lord Dongfang had urgent business and returned to the Capital?”

“Mm. That’s what the letter said.” Wu Wei’s breath hitched as she thought: Could Dongfang Rui’s “urgent business” have been murder?

Wu Wei immediately dismissed the notion. Traveling a thousand miles just to kill someone? It was absurd. Dongfang Rui was absolutely not that kind of person.

“What about you? You’re not in any trouble, are you?” Embroider Maiden pressed.

Wu Wei thought for a moment before replying, “I don’t think so. The crime didn’t happen in Qinglu County, so it shouldn’t drag me in. Besides, I haven’t heard that the Bright Mirror Division has fallen. I’m still their hidden agent. At worst, like Eldest Brother-in-Law said, they’ll send someone to question me—and I know exactly what to say.”

Only then did Embroider Maiden relax a little. “What were you about to say earlier?”

“I want to go to the County Yamen and see that arrest warrant for myself.”

“It’s too late today. I’ll go with you first thing tomorrow morning.”

“Good.”

Embroider Maiden stuffed some clothes into Wu Wei’s arms, her voice full of concern. “Go wash up and cool off. I’ll knead some dough and steam a pot of buns. The road to the county seat is long; we’ll need dry rations. When Eldest Sister Li finishes work later, I’ll ask her to keep an eye on the courtyard.”

Wu Wei nodded and turned toward the woodshed.

Embroider Maiden locked the courtyard gate and addressed the four dogs circling at her feet, wagging their tails. “Guard the gate well.”

With that, she headed to the kitchen to knead dough and steam the buns.

Wu Wei opened the showerhead she had made herself. The water, warmed by half a day under the sun, fell at just the right temperature onto her skin.

She tilted her head back, letting the water pour over her face. Her mind was a tangled mess.

From what Wu Wei knew of Dongfang Rui, the woman must have faced some sudden crisis that forced her hand.

Either the victim had attacked first, leaving Dongfang Rui no choice but to fight back, or the other party had been engaged in something utterly unforgivable, and Dongfang Rui had executed justice on the spot.

If Zhang Shuisheng was telling the truth, then the Imperial Court’s attitude was downright strange.

No matter what, Dongfang Rui was a prominent official with a formidable reputation. To slap her with a “dead or alive” arrest warrant without a trial from the Three Departments or the Emperor’s decree?

Wu Wei couldn’t make sense of it. She finished her bath hastily, stepped out of the woodshed, and heard Embroider Maiden part the kitchen curtain. “Weiwei, any preferences for dinner?”

“Anything’s fine. Make it light—how about I brew some soup?”

“Sounds good! I’ll go pick some vegetables from the garden.”

“I’ll do it. You rest.”

Embroider Maiden shot Wu Wei a playful glare. “Stay in the courtyard and enjoy the breeze. You’ll just get filthy again if you go to the garden right after bathing.”

“Fine.”

Wu Wei didn’t idle, though. She fetched a wooden bucket, went to the courtyard wall, twisted open the faucet she had crafted herself, and filled the reservoir atop the woodshed one bucket at a time.

Thanks to Wu Wei’s tireless efforts, she and Embroider Maiden finally had running water at home. It wasn’t complicated—the courtyard sat low, so Wu Wei had simply buried pipes to channel stream water inside. Of course, it wasn’t available year-round; it stopped in winter when the stream froze.

Embroider Maiden returned from picking vegetables and paused to watch Wu Wei haul water for a moment, but said nothing more.

She knew that whenever something weighed on Wu Wei’s mind, she couldn’t sit still. If she didn’t keep busy, she wouldn’t sleep that night.

By the time Wu Wei had topped off the reservoir, Embroider Maiden had the vegetables stir-fried. She lifted the curtain and called, “Weiwei, come make the soup.”

“Coming!”

Wu Wei hurried down the steps into the main room. On the table sat four light, refreshing dishes Embroider Maiden had prepared: stir-fried leeks with eggs, plain stir-fried cucumber slices, vinegar-glazed potato shreds, and stir-fried eggplant chunks. Wu Wei rolled up her sleeves, shredded a daikon radish, added a few drops of pork fat and some dried shrimp, and soon had a pot of radish soup simmering.

Together, they carried the table into the courtyard. In the distance came the laughter of San Ya and Er Ya from Eldest Sister Li’s house. The two barefoot girls came running. Embroider Maiden smiled and opened the gate for them. They skidded to a halt and called out politely, “Sister Embroider Maiden~.”

“Come in quick. Go wash your hands and feet at the faucet. Dinner’s ready.”

The girls scampered off, chattering excitedly about their time in the fields. Embroider Maiden smiled at their enthusiasm, and even the four dogs bounded after them affectionately, waiting for pets.

Da Ya and Eldest Sister Li followed behind, carrying their farm tools. They greeted Embroider Maiden and Wu Wei upon entering, set the tools by the wall, and went to wash up.

Wu Wei said, “Sister Li, you could leave the tools in the fields. Carrying them back and forth every day must be exhausting, and no one’s going to steal them.”

Eldest Sister Li laughed. “Can’t do that. Our crops were planted late enough as it is—if we lost the tools, it’d be trouble. Besides, these hoes aren’t that heavy.”

Wu Wei just shook her head with a smile, saying nothing.

The six of them gathered around the table. Eldest Sister Li eyed the small steamer of pointy-topped buns. “Embroider Maiden, you two don’t need to be so polite. Always serving white rice and fine grains like this—how will that do? My three girls have bottomless stomachs. Fine food doesn’t fill them up; they’d eat a ton in one sitting!”

Wu Wei smiled. “The kids are growing. They work so hard every day— what’s a few buns? Without you and the girls toiling from dawn till dusk, our fields wouldn’t be heading to ear so quickly. Dig in; we’re all family.”

Embroider Maiden nodded in agreement and handed each girl two buns. “Eat up. You too, Sister Li.”

…

Wu Wei forced down half a bun and a bowl of soup before she could eat no more. In this sweltering heat, she sweated just sitting still—what appetite could she have after days of it?

Eldest Sister Li shook her head at the sight. “Weiwei, your appetite’s been like a kitten’s lately. How can you get by on so little? Are you sick?”

Wu Wei gave an awkward smile. Embroider Maiden explained, “The heat’s gotten to her these past few days. It’ll pass soon.” She turned tenderly to Wu Wei. “If you really can’t eat more, don’t force it. I’ll make you cold sesame noodles if you’re hungry later.”

Eldest Sister Li tapped her chopsticks together, her gaze flicking between Wu Wei and Embroider Maiden a few times. She fell silent.

…

Wu Wei set down her chopsticks and dragged her folding stool away from the table. She fanned herself with a palm-leaf fan. Though the sun had dipped westward, it brought Wu Wei little relief—just a shift from scorching heat to muggy oppression.

Suddenly, the four dogs that had been lounging under the table in hopes of scraps leaped to their feet. Doggy’s ears twitched first, and it let out a bark. The other three quickly joined in a frenzy of howling.

The four dogs rushed as one to the gate, snarling toward the outside. Everyone halted mid-bite and turned toward the courtyard entrance.

The dogs were clever creatures. They recognized familiar footsteps and family scents. No matter how late Eldest Sister Li’s family arrived, the dogs never barked at them.

This reaction meant strangers.

Embroider Maiden looked at Wu Wei; Wu Wei looked back at Embroider Maiden. Before they could react further, a heavy knock sounded at the gate, laced with the clang of metal.

Remembering her promise to Embroider Maiden, Eldest Sister Li set down her chopsticks and called out loudly, “Who is it?”

A man’s voice replied, “Is this Wu Wei’s home?”

“Looking for Weiwei?” Eldest Sister Li murmured to Embroider Maiden.

“It’s me. One moment.” Wu Wei rose and approached the gate. She pulled it open and saw the visitors. Everyone in the courtyard jumped to their feet. The four dogs clustered behind Wu Wei, barking furiously at the newcomers.

The dogs had been carefully trained by Wu Wei; they would never attack without a command from her or Embroider Maiden.

Amid the chorus of barks, Embroider Maiden made out the man’s words: “Who is Wu Wei? Come with us to the County Yamen. We have questions.”

Two strangers stood at the threshold, clad in yamen runner uniforms, sabers in hand. The earlier knock had come from a saber hilt striking the gate.

Embroider Maiden hurried to Wu Wei’s side, half-shielding her. “It’s late today. Can we come on our own tomorrow morning?”

The runner showed no patience. “Are you Wu Wei? Enough talk—do we have to drag you?”

Wu Wei pulled Embroider Maiden behind her and addressed the two runners. “I’ll go with you. The county magistrate only wants me, right?”

“You’re Wu Wei?”

“I am.”

“Then let’s go!”

Wu Wei handed the palm-leaf fan to Embroider Maiden. Gazing at her slightly reddened eyes and the deep worry filling them, she simply smiled silently and said in a gentle voice, “It’s nothing. Once they’ve questioned me, I’ll come right back. Stay home and don’t wander off—I didn’t bring the key.”

Embroider Maiden’s lips trembled as she forced out the single word, “Okay.”

Seeing this, the four dogs let out a series of low growls and crouched into positions ready to lunge. Wu Wei barked a sharp command: “Back!” The four dogs whimpered, glancing first at Embroider Maiden and then at the bailiffs—who stood as imposing as door gods—before anxiously pacing in circles on the spot.

“Back!” Wu Wei roared again. Only then did the dogs tuck their tails between their legs and retreat. With that, Wu Wei turned and stepped out the door, escorted down the mountain sandwiched between the two bailiffs.

Unable to stop herself, Embroider Maiden chased after them and called out, “Weiwei! Gentlemen officers, may I ask how long this will take? When will she be back?”

“Embroider Maiden, go back inside. Please,” Wu Wei replied, turning her head. Deep concern filled her eyes, though her tone remained soft and coaxing.

One of the bailiffs said coldly, “Is this any of your business, woman?”

“. . . Officer, let’s get going,” Wu Wei said. Hearing him speak to Embroider Maiden like that left a sour taste in her heart, but there was nothing she could do.

Embroider Maiden watched until Wu Wei—flanked protectively by the two bailiffs—vanished into the woods. Eldest Sister Li and the three girls, who had followed her out, had long since lost sight of the bailiffs too. Only then did Eldest Sister Li dare approach.

Seeing the pallor on Embroider Maiden’s face, Eldest Sister Li steadied her and said, “Come back inside, Embroider Maiden. Let’s go back inside, all right?”

Embroider Maiden let Eldest Sister Li help her back into the house in silence. Meanwhile, Da Ya led her two younger sisters as they cleared the bowls and chopsticks from the courtyard.

“Embroider Maiden, what happened? Why did the constables take Weiwei away?!”