Chapter Seventy-Eight: Golden Ornaments

"What... what does this mean?" one of the salt merchants’ wives asked below.

“Tch, such a small household, probably never seen such dazzling wealth before. I’d wager this lady isn’t much favored at home either. Sister Liu, you could mention it to the chairman—those women trained at Red Mansion are always available. Men, after all... when are they ever not up to something on the side?”

“Sister Furong speaks true. They say a magistrate for three years, and he’ll have a hundred thousand taels of silver as pure as snow. This lady thinks her husband is as incorruptible as Judge Bao, but who knows how much of that silver has already been spent on women…”

After their initial confusion, the wives of the salt merchants reached a consensus: Banxia and Gansui’s household was likely not poor, but Banxia simply wasn’t trusted with the money. The final conclusion: it would be wise to send Gansui some beauties to whisper sweet nothings into his ear.

Banxia only slowed her steps after leaving the courtyard.

“Madam, why did we come out here?” her maid asked.

“Look at my hand…” Banxia extended her hand, which was red and swollen.

“Are you really allergic to gold?” That couldn’t be right; the magistrate had gifted her many sets of gold jewelry before without issue. “Or was there poison on that set?” The more she thought about it, the more possible it seemed.

“Silly girl, why would they poison me? Someone must have used a clove-scented powder on those things inside. I’m allergic to cloves. It was the perfect excuse to avoid all that. Come, let’s wait outside for your master to finish.”

Inside, Gansui was exchanging toasts. Chairman Liu’s face always turned red after a drink, his features aglow with cheer. “How does the wine suit you, sir?”

“It is remarkably mellow, far from ordinary—truly nectar fit for immortals.”

“If you like it so, I’ll have some sent to you later.” Start with small gifts; once accustomed, move on to silver notes and land deeds—Chairman Liu was well-versed in this art.

“Chairman Liu, I shouldn’t refuse your kindness… but… ah, to be honest, there’s a tigress at home who cannot abide my drinking. If she sees any wine, she smashes it without a word. I’m used to her scolding, but such fine wine shouldn’t go to waste.”

“Your lady is truly formidable?” All the women around Liu Youcai were gentle and yielding; he could hardly imagine a wife who would scold her husband so freely.

“Ah, let’s not speak of it… more wine!”

It was Liu Youcai’s first time entertaining Gansui, so he was cautious with gifts, not yet having felt out Gansui’s intentions. Gansui, meanwhile, was skilled in evasion. When it came time to see him out, the shrewd chairman realized, to his vexation, that he’d learned nothing of substance from this visit—only managed to treat him to a meal. Clearly, something was amiss.

“This official doesn’t seem very greedy. Perhaps we should try another approach.” His steward approached, offering a handful of information. According to the wives’ gossip, the magistrate seemed dissatisfied with his own wife.

Liu Youcai thought, Of course he’s dissatisfied—a grown man being scolded every day. “Have the Red Mansion prepare two gentle, talented girls for next time…”

“Yes, sir.”

“And make sure they’re the cultured type. These scholarly types are always talking about ‘red sleeves adding fragrance to the night’…”

“You’re absolutely right.”

“Beauty is a man’s grave; let’s see just how steadfast this magistrate really is.”

Hanshui helped Gansui out to the carriage. A heavy scent of wine wafted out. Banxia pinched her nose in disgust and shrank away. Seeing Gansui board, Xiangyu immediately hopped out to join Hanshui in driving the carriage.

Banxia pulled out a handkerchief to wipe Gansui’s face. “Did you fall into a vat of wine? You reek.”

“Wife, since you dislike it, I’ll make you smell it all the more.” Gansui really seemed drunk, clinging to her like a big dog, pressing close and making a scene.

“Go away, you stink!” Banxia braced herself against him, refusing to let him near. “You dare get this drunk out drinking? Aren’t you afraid of being tricked into spilling secrets?” she muttered.

“If Madam likes, she may try asking and see what she can get out of me.” Unable to get closer, Gansui stopped struggling and lay with his eyes closed on Banxia’s lap.

Banxia’s eyes lit up. “Tell me, where do you hide your private stash of money?”

“A man shouldn’t have secret savings.”

Oh, please. Banxia pouted. She knew he wasn’t really drunk.

“They didn’t give you any gifts today?” Gansui asked.

“They did—a whole set of solid gold peony jewelry… but I didn’t accept it. I told them I was allergic to gold, that even seeing it gave me a headache… They must be completely baffled by now.”

A headache from seeing gold—only she could come up with such nonsense. Utterly foolish, but endearing.

“Is it really alright for us to dine and drink so openly with the salt merchants like this?” Banxia asked.

“If you wish to take, you must first give. Had we started out hostile, they’d have banded together against me. I have to get inside their circle, find the weak links, and break them one by one.” As Gansui spoke, he caught sight of a jade shop nearby. “Stop the carriage!”

“If gold gives you headaches, let’s take a look at jade instead.” Propping his head, his wine-flushed phoenix eyes still held a trace of allure. Banxia was so flustered her cheeks turned scarlet. She stammered, “Let’s not. We already have several sets at home.”

“No harm in looking. If you don’t wear them in the future, they can become heirlooms.”

That, Banxia agreed with—jade never loses its value. Suddenly, a sense of unease crept over her. “Why are you being so attentive all of a sudden? Did you do something you shouldn’t have?”

He hardly thought calling her a tigress counted as a crime. Gansui felt anxious inside, but kept a straight face. “We’re out together for once, and it just happens to be on the way. You suspect your husband for nothing—should be punished for that.”

He pinched her soft cheek lightly.

“It’d better be just that. If you ever have any wicked thoughts, I’ll break your legs!” Banxia said, glancing meaningfully downward. “Your third leg, especially.”

Gansui reflexively snapped his knees together. His wife, when fierce, could indeed be a bit terrifying.

“Wouldn’t dare, wouldn’t dare.”

“I thought not. Let’s go.” The couple descended merrily to select jewelry.

The next morning, Anzi was escorted into the imperial palace.

Led by eunuchs and palace attendants, Anzi rode in a sedan chair through Wuzhi Gate. The bright yellow canopy hung before his eyes as he gazed through the silk threads at the solemn palace. The Kingdom of Liang had stood for decades; its pavilions and towers were no longer new, but had acquired a weight that bordered on suffocating—a majesty of imperial power.

The deeper in they went, the quieter it became, until not even birds could be heard. Steps were light and cautious, the sedan was carried with utmost steadiness, and finally they stopped before the Hall of Purple Radiance.

“Set down the sedan.”

Anzi stepped out, walking into the hall as the splendid morning sun blazed behind him.

Qi Nanxing had been waiting inside for some time, having flown into a rage at court half an hour earlier.

“The Crown Prince has yet to return, and already there have been six assassination attempts… Six! You all boast of the honesty of Liang’s people, a land where nothing is ever stolen—so explain this to me… Speak!”

In an instant, the ministers fell to their knees. “We are incompetent, Your Majesty, please quell your anger.”

“You all think I am mild-tempered and take liberties. You believe that, without evidence, the law cannot touch you, and I have no recourse. Tianji Division—where are you?”

“Present, Your Majesty.” The Tianji Division had only been established in recent years, tasked with major cases and never failing once.

“Investigate this for me. Even if you must dig three feet into the ground, find out the truth. Since all are present, let me make myself clear: I have failed my duty as a father to the Crown Prince for years. Now that he has returned, I will see him protected. Whatever monsters and demons threaten him, I will strike them down without hesitation!”

“Your Majesty is wise.”

“To the palace!”

Returning to the present, Qi Nanxing watched as Anzi walked in, step by step.

“Your son greets Father Emperor—long live Your Majesty!”

“Quick, rise.” Qi Nanxing descended to help him up personally. “You’ve grown… and sturdier too. Was it hard on the road home?”

“It was nothing, Uncle is very capable. He protected me all the way.”

“Oh, I nearly forgot your uncle returned with you. I’ve arranged your residence in the Alder Pavilion; the view is fine, and it’s close to your mother’s old quarters. Even before you were born, she and I had planned for you to live there. Now that you’re back, it eases my heart.”

“I’d like to pay my respects at my mother’s tomb. Where is the imperial mausoleum?”

“Of course, let her see you. She worried about you so before she passed.”

“My uncle misses her terribly as well. May he come with me?”

“Let him accompany you, then.”

“Will you not come, Father?”

“I have no face to see her… I can only wait to beg her forgiveness after my own death. Let’s not speak of sad things. It’s been so long since I’ve seen your uncle—let him come in.”

“Summon General Lin to the hall.”

Lin Tianyu strode in, his tiger-like presence filling the room. With a sweep of his cloak, he knelt. “Your servant Lin Tianyu greets Your Majesty.”

“No need for such formality, brother-in-law. Please rise.”

“Your Majesty, I dare not accept the title.”

“Whatever has passed between us, let it end today. Anzi is home; let’s sit and share a meal together.”

“There is still much to be done at my residence, and the hour is early. I beg Your Majesty’s pardon for not accepting the invitation.”

“After all these years, can we not even sit to a meal together?” Qi Nanxing’s voice betrayed a hint of resentment at being refused again and again.

“We may disagree about the past, but the fact remains: Yun’er is dead. You may place the blame on Consort Wen’s family, but I cannot focus my anger on one alone. Were it not for Yun’er’s bloodline surviving, we would have no reason to ever meet again.” Duan Chensha had once brought Lin Tianyu back from despair, but that did not mean he could forgive Qi Nanxing. In his heart, Qi Nanxing was even more culpable than the Wen family.

“Uncle, let’s go pay our respects to Mother this afternoon. I’ve never been to the imperial tombs,” Anzi interjected to ease the tension. Such quarrels, when witnessed by a child uninvolved in past grudges, felt needlessly cruel. The two adversaries fell silent at once.

“If you truly have business, then I won’t keep you. Leave the palace for now and return to collect Anzi this afternoon.”

“Your servant takes his leave.”