Chapter 99: Embroider Maiden’s Growth

Eldest Sister Li’s heart ached even more at the sight. She had lived this half-life of hers, married a good man and enjoyed prosperous days, lost her husband and endured hardship. Along the way, what kind of people hadn’t she seen?

Yet she had never met anyone as kind as Wu Wei and the Embroider Maiden.

They were fellow women, but they could read and write. They treated her tenant family with exceptional kindness—they were truly the best landlords she had ever seen, one of a kind.

In Eldest Sister Li’s eyes, Wu Wei and the Embroider Maiden were a pair of extraordinary women. The Embroider Maiden had endured so much yet still lived with optimism, while Wu Wei? She was the sort with the guts to deal with the dead!

These two lived half-recluse in a small courtyard nestled in the hills, cherishing and supporting each other. They each took on the tasks they excelled at, living as one without a shred of selfishness. To put it indelicately… they were truly like a fairy-tale couple.

“Embroider Maiden,” she said, “I know how you feel about Weiwei, but you’re not made of iron. Running between the market and the county town—even an ordinary man might not hold up under that strain. And with your foot injured? If it leads to some lifelong foot trouble, you’ll be suffering for the rest of your days.”

As Eldest Sister Li spoke, memories of her time with Wu Wei flashed through the Embroider Maiden’s mind. When she had suffered menstrual pains, Weiwei had said much the same thing…

It turned out her life had long been filled with Weiwei.

“How about this?” Eldest Sister Li suggested. “You rest at home, and I’ll go to the Zhang Family for you. I’ll pass along a message. I saw a cart parked in their courtyard—the one Shuisheng uses to pull you around.”

The Embroider Maiden shook her head. “Second Sister is due to give birth soon. At her age with her first child, and her belly bigger than most, that ox cart has to be ready at a moment’s notice to fetch the doctor from Returning Spring Hall. It absolutely can’t be moved. As for this matter… unless it’s a last resort, I don’t want to tell Second Sister and the others. If it upsets her pregnancy, I’d never be able to repay that debt, no matter what.”

Eldest Sister Li sighed again. It was the dead of night—where could they borrow an ox cart? Only four or five households in the village had one, and you usually had to arrange it days in advance. One was a widow, the other newly settled—how could they bring themselves to ask?

Just then, a knock sounded at the door. Eldest Sister Li rose. “I’ll get it.”

“Mm.”

…

“Oh, this is perfect!” Eldest Sister Li’s delighted voice rang out.

Then came another familiar voice: “Where’s Third Sister?” It was Zhang Shuisheng.

The Embroider Maiden’s eyes lit up in an instant. She grabbed a thin quilt from nearby to cover her feet. “Second Brother-in-law!”

But only Eldest Sister Li entered the room, cradling a jar of ointment. Her expression had eased considerably. “That Er Ya—didn’t know to share some; she brought the whole jar. Truly… Embroider Maiden, Shuisheng’s here.”

“Embroider Maiden, I heard the officials took Weiwei away?” Zhang Shuisheng called from the courtyard.

The Embroider Maiden understood. Of course. How could anything happening in Zhang Family Village escape the Zhang Family’s eyes?

“Second Brother-in-law, don’t tell Second Sister. We can’t risk upsetting her pregnancy.”

Zhang Shuisheng’s heart warmed. “Don’t worry. Your Second Sister isn’t that delicate. Besides, nothing in the village escapes her. She actually sent me to check—ran into Er Ya on the way, so I came along.”

Eldest Sister Li set the ointment jar on the kang, then stepped back out to explain to Zhang Shuisheng: “Embroider Maiden left before dawn for the county yamen. She had no thick-soled shoes—the round trip wore them through, and her soles bled. That’s what happened.”

Er Ya brought over two folding stools for Zhang Shuisheng and her mother. Once seated, Eldest Sister Li recounted the events again. Zhang Shuisheng cursed under his breath when she finished. “This is blatant abuse of power!”

Eldest Sister Li paled. “Keep your voice down! Second Niang’s at home with that big belly—you don’t want to stir up trouble.”

Zhang Shuisheng slammed a fist into his knee, fuming. “Tomorrow, I’ll go to the county yamen with Embroider Maiden to see what’s what. Weiwei’s a good girl from a clean family background. After a night in lockup, they owe her an explanation. They wouldn’t dare just toss away another life, would they?”

Zhang Shuisheng wasn’t much for book learning, but he had plenty of worldly experience. From Eldest Sister Li’s account, he sniffed out the fishy business right away. Wu Wei was a woman—”outraging the court” at worst meant a slap on the mouth, not the bastinado like for men. Zhang Kuan clearly meant to kill her! Fortunately, Weiwei was tough. Since Zhang Kuan hadn’t beaten her to death on the spot, there was room to maneuver. The county yamen jail wasn’t his personal woodshed—what right did he have to hold her without cause?

But Zhang Shuisheng held his tongue, not wanting to worry the Embroider Maiden.

He rose and went to the window. “Third Sister, rest easy. Weiwei’s one of us from Zhang Family Village. At first light, I’ll fetch the village head and the elders to set things straight.”

The Embroider Maiden couldn’t hold back any longer. She slipped into her shoes and hobbled out from the east room. Eldest Sister Li hurried to help her onto a stool. The Embroider Maiden said softly to her, “Eldest Sister, it’s late. You and the girls have worked all day—go rest.”

“Alright. Call if you need anything. Er Ya, come on, back to our room with Mother.” Eldest Sister Li took Er Ya back to the west room.

In a low voice, the Embroider Maiden said to Zhang Shuisheng, “Second Brother-in-law, there’s things you don’t know. Zhang Kuan won’t let her go easily. The village head and elders aren’t so simple to enlist. Even if they go out of affection, if Zhang Kuan stonewalls us or says ugly things at the yamen, we’re powerless. If that sours relations with the village head and elders toward the Zhang Family, it would be bad. Your family’s built up respect over generations in the village—you and Uncle Zhang, slaughtering pigs and sheep for folks these ten, twenty years. It’s not easy. Lately, Weiwei and I have already caused you enough trouble. No matter how deep the bond, it can’t be used like this.”

She was already weak, her voice faint, but her words moved him deeply.

Before Zhang Shuisheng could respond, the Embroider Maiden continued. She laid out everything he didn’t know: how Zhang Kuan had ordered his clerk to fake testimony, how Wu Wei had left two copies of the coroner’s handbook with Dongfang Rui to countersue him; all the moves Zhang Kuan had made to cover it up; how Wu Wei had obtained the Bright Mirror command token and answered to Dongfang Rui…

At this point, the Embroider Maiden saw no reason to hide it. If Weiwei were here, she would surely agree.

Zhang Shuisheng was silent for a long time afterward. At last, he sighed. “Your Second Sister and I—no, our whole family always thought Weiwei was no ordinary girl. But to think… she’s with the Bright Mirror Division.”

The Embroider Maiden gave a wry smile. “Zhang Kuan’s wanted her dead for ages, held back only by Lord Dongfang’s authority. I don’t know why he failed this time. Now that the Imperial Court has put Lord Dongfang on the wanted list, Zhang Kuan can use that to pressure her. Even if the village head and elders step in, it’ll be useless. Words are cheap—at the yamen, Zhang Kuan could just claim Weiwei knows Lord Dongfang’s whereabouts. Who dares defy the court? Right now… the priority is keeping Weiwei alive. Locked up is fine, as long as her injuries heal. Once she wakes, she’ll find a way.”

Zhang Shuisheng looked at the Embroider Maiden with admiration in his eyes. “Third Sister, you’ve… changed.” Become remarkable. A woman who could think this far ahead—in all of Zhang Family Village, besides Wu Wei, Zhang Shuisheng had never met another. Today, he had.

“Second Brother-in-law, can you help me borrow an ox cart?”

“Leave it to me.”

Zhang Shuisheng stood. “I’ll bring it to your gate at first light tomorrow. It’s late; I won’t linger—Second Niang’s waiting for news at home.”

“Second Brother-in-law…”

“I know what to say. Don’t worry—I’ll just tell her Weiwei went to the yamen to testify.”

“That’s for the best. Tomorrow, I’ll ask Eldest Sister Li to drive. You stay home and keep Second Sister company.”

Zhang Shuisheng nodded, gave a few quiet instructions, and left.

The Embroider Maiden sat in the courtyard a while longer before hobbling back inside. She stared at the meal Da Ya and Er Ya had helped set out earlier and forced herself to eat some.

…

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, the Embroider Maiden woke. The night before, she had packed what Wu Wei would need: clean clothes, shoes, all bundled inside a quilt into a bedroll.

Zhang Shuisheng drove the ox cart to the gate, handed it over to Eldest Sister Li, and headed back.

Embroider Maiden and Eldest Sister Li’s family finished their breakfast. Eldest Sister Li had prepared plenty of dry rations and pickled vegetables, which she wrapped carefully in sheets of oilcloth. She had also filled two large pots with cooled boiled water, and they loaded it all onto the ox cart together.

Embroider Maiden made a quick trip down to the cellar. From a hidden compartment, she retrieved three gold leaves and tucked them securely into her purse, close against her body. When she emerged, she carried only two fine strips of salted pork—each as wide as a palm and as long as an arm.

She called Da Ya over and placed the strips of salted pork into the girl’s hands. In a gentle voice, she said, “Da Ya, your sister is heading to the county with your mother. It might take a few days, so don’t worry. You and your two little sisters take good care of the house. At night, make sure to bolt both the courtyard gate and the house door. Let all four dogs out to guard the place. The grain is in the jars in the kitchen, and you can pick fresh vegetables from the patch to eat. Here’s some salted pork for you and your sisters to stir-fry. There are also eggs—eat them whenever you want. Don’t hold back.”

Foods like salted pork and cured meat were precious treats, perfect for entertaining guests. Without Embroider Maiden deliberately bringing them out and giving clear instructions, none of the girls would have dreamed of touching them.

It was clear that Embroider Maiden truly cherished the three girls, and her sudden errand to the cellar now made perfect sense.

“Embroider Maiden, we’re ready to go!” Eldest Sister Li called out.

Embroider Maiden firmly pressed the salted pork into Da Ya’s hands and whispered, “Hurry back inside now. If your mother sees this, she’ll only fuss about wasting it again. You must eat it—when Weiwei and I get back, we’ll check to make sure you did.”

Da Ya nodded solemnly. “Don’t worry, Sister Embroider Maiden. I’ll take good care of everything at home.”