I smiled slightly and decided to downplay it: "It was just a worthless girl who died."
Upon hearing this, Prince Min's facial muscles twitched strangely: "Oh, what was the cause of death?"
“He was strangled to death,” I said through gritted teeth.
"Who killed her?" Prince Min's hand trembled in panic. I smiled bitterly, "Your Highness, why are you so agitated? She was just a lowly maid. Who killed her is not important. What matters is our Dugu Die'er. As long as she is safe and sound, I would gladly go through fire and water for her!"
I was now certain that Feng'er's death was related to Prince Min; he had already given himself away and should be taking action. Dugu Leng, Shen Ruosu, and I spent half the night at Lengyan Xiaozhu without sleep. Around midnight, I heard the sound of a sharp blade cutting through the air. The blade was indeed fast; I couldn't dodge in time, and it grazed my arm, blood gushing out instantly. The hilt was silver, bearing the plum blossom-shaped mark of Prince Yan's mansion.
A note was stuck in the knife: "At midnight tomorrow, the Seventh Young Mistress shall bring 30,000 taels of gold to the back mountain to exchange for the person. If anyone else follows, Dugu Die'er will be splattered with blood on the spot."
Prince Yan Min left Dugu Manor overnight and stayed at an inn in town. A small force was beginning to expand noticeably in the town. Although Dugu Leng was unwilling to let me risk my life alone, my master agreed, because we didn't know who the enemy was targeting; perhaps it was just me, not Dugu Manor. The deaths of my eldest and second sisters clearly proved that someone was indeed deliberately trying to harm the three Liu sisters.
Feng'er's death is an irreversible fact, but Die'er is still alive. I must fight for her no matter what.
9
A figure clad in pristine white swept through the woods and stopped at the entrance of a dilapidated temple on the back hill. Finding nothing amiss, I had already sent men disguised as woodcutters to search the temple countless times. No ashes, no underground passages, and no signs of human activity. No one had been hiding here.
"You've come..." came the voice of a completely unfamiliar man.
"You specifically requested that I come in person, so I had no choice but to come." I smiled calmly: "May I ask how you are addressed? Why did you take my daughter Die'er hostage? She is just a child. If you want revenge, try to do it openly and honestly."
"They all call me a ghost. You don't need to know who I am, because I don't know who I am either." The voice sounded like that of a middle-aged man with profound inner strength.
"I have already brought the silver notes. Release Die'er and we will certainly not pursue this matter."
The ghost burst into laughter, a grotesque wail like that of a demon. He lit a fire, the flames illuminating his face. I took a step back in terror. How many wounds had this man suffered? His face was covered in crooked scars, he was blind in one eye, missing an ear, an arm, and a leg. Ragged and grotesque, he stood there, laughing coldly: "Liu Ruyan, now your death is near."
"I have no grudge against you..."
"I'll let you die knowing why." Ghost, tired from standing on one leg, sat down cross-legged. "Let me tell you a story. My brother and I were so poor we couldn't even afford wives. We studied martial arts for years, but we weren't even qualified to be bodyguards. My brother was glib, so he became a slave trader, introducing servants to wealthy families. But there wasn't much profit in being a slave trader, so I started being a human trafficker, luring other people's children out to sell. That time, my brother and I got caught; the one we tricked was the future seventh young mistress of Dugu Manor."
"You're the villain who threw Xiaoxiu off the roof?!" I was so shocked that I stumbled backward.
"You still remember?" Gui laughed heartily. "Offending the people of Dugu Manor is equivalent to offending the entire martial arts world. They didn't kill me, but I made myself into this state. If it weren't for my master saving me, I might have died back then. It's all your fault that I became like this, so I'm going to kill you."
I was trembling with anger: "You're the one who killed my two older sisters?"
"good."
Why did you kill Feng'er?
"snort!"
Where is the butterfly?
"In Prince Yan Min's hands!" Ghost General stuck Huo Zhezi into a crack in the ground and drew a short knife hidden in his sleeve. "Didn't expect that, did you? You and Prince Yan Min have both fallen into my trap. I killed you and framed Prince Yan Min. When the Dugu Manor and Prince Yan Min clash and both are severely injured, I can both report back to my master and get my revenge. It's a win-win situation!"
"Who is your master? What grudge does he have against Prince Yan's mansion?"
“A dead man doesn’t need to know that much.” The ghost’s dagger gleamed with a cold, bluish light.
"If you hadn't done those bad things back then, you wouldn't be in this state now. You blame others and harm yourself and others, yet you still don't know how to repent. You are truly shameless!" I snorted coldly and gathered my inner energy: "I may not be able to beat you, but if I want to get away unscathed, you can't do anything to me."
The ghost's chilling laughter rang in my ears again: "When this fire fold burns, that's when the bone-softening powder takes effect. Even though I know your lightness skill is excellent, how can I not be on guard?"
My chest ached from the tightness in my lower abdomen, and I smiled helplessly: "I actually forgot about the bone-softening powder. I never thought that after so many years, I would still die at your hands."
"Now you can go keep your ghost friend company!" A dagger flashed, and a figure emerged even faster from the temple entrance: "I think you should go keep your ghost brother company!"
Prince Yan Min, holding a folding fan, said, "I always keep my appointments early. You're too confident. You arranged to meet the Seventh Young Mistress at midnight and me at 3:30, framing me. Then, Prince Yan's Mansion and Dugu Manor will clash, and we'll be severely weakened without lifting a finger. A brilliant plan, a brilliant plan!"
Ghost was startled: "My plan is absolutely flawless!"
"The plan is flawless, but there will definitely be flaws in its execution." Dugu Leng had already stood behind the ghost without anyone noticing. Despite his high level of martial arts, the ghost was caught off guard. If he were to suddenly strike, the ghost in front of him would probably already be dead.
"You're very clever. First, you kidnapped Princess Zhiyu, the youngest daughter of Prince Yan Min, then left her at Dugu Manor as a cover. The prince, fearing for her safety, secretly recruited soldiers to investigate. A grand banquet at Dugu Manor provided a perfect opportunity. You found a woman who was about to sell her daughter, promising her all the money from the sale and additional silver afterward. The woman complied. Afterward, you killed the woman and took her real daughter, Yaya. Princess Zhiyu is of noble birth; the prince must have already instructed her... if she encounters..." Never reveal your identity to strangers in dangerous situations, lest you invite death. Unexpectedly, Ruyan took a liking to the little princess and even adopted her as her daughter. Upon hearing this, you sensed something was wrong and abducted the little princess from the manor that very night. Prince Yanmin, desperate to save his daughter, had his men kidnap Dugu Die'er instead of the princess, intending to exchange her for her at a later time. However, the little princess's body was later discovered. You were very cautious; you didn't kill the real princess. The one who died was a woman's daughter, a maid. But none of us suspected that the deceased wasn't the little princess herself.
"Ruyan felt sorry for the woman's orphaned child, so she brought her eldest daughter, Xiangcao, into the mansion. Although Xiangcao was young, she was very sensible and careful. She was afraid that her younger sister had been abused and died in the mansion, so she examined the corpse in front of Ruyan. Cuiyi had bathed the little princess. Although the little princess was very thin from hunger, her skin was delicate and smooth, and she had a plum blossom-shaped brand on her left shoulder. The corpse was dark and thin, and there was no mark on its left shoulder."
The ghost said resentfully, "You're right about everything. It seems my mistake was being too cautious."
"Later, I sent people to investigate the real purpose of the prince's visit to the mansion. Unexpectedly, it was because of his lover's disappearance. So, everything really became clear. This little trick has made us all run around in circles. Fortunately, your purpose is too obvious. It is to provoke trouble. Thinking about it this way makes things much clearer."
"Who is your master? Why did you do this?" Prince Yanmin asked. "According to you, the mastermind behind this is someone you obtained."
The ghost sighed, "I've already failed my master by not completing this task. If I can't kill Liu Ruyan this time, I'll never have another chance to kill her in my life."
"You shameless scoundrel!" I sneered. "For so many years, I've wished I could eat your flesh and sleep on your skin!"
The ghost sneered again, "The victor is king, the loser is a bandit. Princess Zhiyu is in that woman's house outside the town. My master forbade me to harm her. Since things have come to this, I have no choice but to atone with my death!" With that, a flash of cold light appeared, and before we could even understand what was happening, blood had already sprayed onto the stone beside the fire pit. This man, who had spent his life committing evil and clinging to life out of hatred, had perhaps found the best release in death.
10
Princess Zhiyu knelt respectfully before me and said, "Mother, your daughter Zhiyu greets you. May you be blessed with good fortune."
I didn't think my face was flushed, so I pulled her up and said, "My dear Yu'er, get up quickly."
Little Butterfly asked curiously, "Why does she have so many names but Butterfly only has one? How did Fairy Aunt become Phoenix's mother? Uncle Yan Min's maids are not as smart as Alan. They always keep their heads down and don't play shuttlecock with me. It's so boring. Luckily, Uncle taught me boxing so I wouldn't be so bored."
This child's words brought joy to everyone. Dugu Han clasped his hands in thanks: "Thank you, Your Highness, for taking care of my daughter."
"I am ashamed."
"Your Highness, what is the background of that ghost's master, and why is he targeting us?"
"That man's apprentice failed this time, so he will definitely come back with a vengeance. If we take extra precautions, we will surely gain something."
Master and Shen Ruosu have already returned. Before leaving, they asked their brother-in-law to go back and buy some paper money to burn at Xiao Xiu's grave. The villain who killed her is dead and can rest in peace. It's a happy ending for such a nightmare that has lasted for so many years, but this is far from the end.
A new conspiracy is brewing.
Everything in Dugu Manor remained as it was before. Those stories were not recorded, and naturally, they were gradually forgotten.
Everything has a cause; cause and effect are cyclical. What kind of tree you plant, what kind of flower you will reap. A fox will always show its tail eventually. Please, be patient.
(VI) On Tea
The West Lake is beautiful in March, with spring rain like wine and willows like smoke.
However, Dugu Leng and I did not travel from Fulong Town to this picturesque Hangzhou for this beautiful scenery.
The Dugu family's cloth shop business in Hangzhou had always been managed by Manager Li. He was a cautious and humble man who had served the master for over twenty years, and everyone who knew him praised his unwavering loyalty. However, just half a month ago, news suddenly arrived that he had died of a sudden illness. The messenger was Manager Li's nephew, Li Kuan, who knelt before Master Dugu, weeping uncontrollably, repeatedly saying that his uncle died with his eyes wide open, surely unable to rest in peace!
Dugu Leng comforted him and gave him some silver to go back to Hangzhou to report the news. Since there was something fishy about Manager Li's death, the authorities must investigate it thoroughly and find a suitable person to take over the cloth shop's business as soon as possible.
We arrived in Hangzhou two weeks later, in March, when the air was filled with the sounds of birdsong, a typical scene in Jiangnan. The people at the cloth shop only knew that the seventh young master of Dugu Manor was coming to settle accounts and find someone to take over the business; they knew nothing about the seventh young mistress accompanying him. Instead of rushing to the cloth shop, we found an inn nearby and settled in.
Pengyuan Inn.
It is a great joy to have friends coming from afar.
The upper room was exquisitely furnished, with a cherry wood bed, Suzhou embroidered curtains, and even the round table and stools were carved with lifelike dragons and phoenixes. On the round table sat a Yixing purple clay teapot. Such a room was certainly worth the money, and the innkeeper must have been a worldly and sophisticated merchant. Just because of these things, I felt a sense of goodwill towards this stranger.
After settling me in, Dugu Leng went to the cloth shop. After dinner, I drank tea in the lobby. Sure enough, the bitter taste of coarse tea lingered on my tongue. Just as I furrowed my brow, a young man in a blue robe came over and bowed, saying, "Our shop has been negligent in its service. How can this coarse tea be worthy of a young lady's palate?"
“Why do you say that, sir? Everyone in the hall is drinking this coarse tea. If you really think that serving coarse tea is disrespectful to guests, then you should replace it with good tea.”
The young man in the blue robe smiled slightly, exuding an indescribable charm: "Miss, you are mistaken. If everyone in this hall knew how to appreciate tea as well as you do, I would certainly not dare to be negligent. However, for those who do not know how to appreciate tea to drink such fine tea is like livestock drinking water, which is a waste of the tea."
Well, what a waste of that tea! Such insightful people are rare indeed. I immediately curtsied and said, "Young master, you truly are a tea connoisseur. I admire you greatly."
"You're too kind, young lady. My name is Lan Chengyu, and I'm the innkeeper of this inn. May I ask your name?"
"My name is Liu Ruyan."
“Spring rain is like wine, willows are like smoke, what a beautiful name.” Lan Chengyu said, “I know many tea farmers in tea gardens. They always kindly save the best tea for me. As the saying goes, life is short and true friends are hard to find. If Miss Liu doesn’t mind, let’s come and enjoy tea together.”
Lan Chengyu had the appearance of a handsome scholar, and was also humble and hospitable, so I couldn't refuse and went. We drank tea until late at night, discussing everything from the principles of tea to Buddhist philosophy and the myriad beings in the world. Our philosophies seemed to be perfectly aligned, and it felt as if my trip to Hangzhou was destined to meet him. He said that life is short, and for the living, death is the end of everything. But death isn't necessarily a bad thing, because only the living can truly mourn the dead, and that is the most painful thing.
2
The next day, I went to the fabric shop. A pinkish-white veil covered half my face, leaving only a pair of meticulously made-up beautiful eyes. But those eyes sparkled, making me stand out even in Hangzhou, a city teeming with beauties. A middle-aged woman approached me and asked, "What kind of clothes would you like to have made, young lady? Our fabric shop has just received a shipment of Yun brocade woven by the best embroiderer in Suzhou. Only our shop in the entire city of Hangzhou has it. With your celestial beauty, only Yun brocade is worthy of you."
This middle-aged woman was Steward Li's wife. Unable to have children, she adopted an orphan named Li Yu. According to the old steward, Uncle Zhong, Li Yu was indeed a promising young man—handsome, hardworking, and well-liked throughout his childhood in the household. He only went to work at the cloth shop in Hangzhou a couple of years ago. Li Kuan was the son of Steward Li's older brother. His parents had died of plague in the countryside over a decade ago, so he grew up with Steward Li. Although a bit clumsy, he was honest and kind, and well-liked. Steward Li was getting old, and the cloth shop business would eventually have to be taken over by one of the two men. He had mentioned this to Old Steward Zhong when he returned home, saying he already had a suitable candidate in mind.
"The brocade was woven by the best embroiderer in Suzhou, so it must be very valuable. Aren't you worried that I, a young lady, can't afford it?"
Aunt Li shook her head confidently: "The Suzhou embroidery that the young lady is wearing is probably not something that ordinary girls can afford. I have been with my husband for decades, so I have a good eye for judging people by their clothes."
"The boss? Is it that Steward Li?"
Aunt Li immediately became alert: "Judging from the girl's accent, she's from out of town. How could she know our husband?"
“I not only know Steward Li, but I also know that the seventh young master of the Dugu family, Dugu Leng, has arrived in Hangzhou. I’ve come to find him.”
I discussed this with Dugu Leng last night. He returned from the cloth shop looking very worried. He said that Manager Li's death was indeed mysterious, and the coroner couldn't find anything unusual, so he could only close the case as a sudden death. Perhaps I should investigate secretly without revealing my identity; maybe the murderer will slip up and give me away. Dugu Leng's conviction that Manager Li was murdered must have its reasons, and he simply hasn't found the killer yet.
Dugu Leng came out from the inner hall, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Miss Liu, even if you followed me all the way to Hangzhou, it would be in vain. I already have a wife, so please forgive my bluntness."
I immediately covered my face and sobbed, "Dugu Leng, how cruel you are! All my feelings for you have been for nothing..."
The commotion drew everyone out of the shop. The tall, burly Li Kuan, the handsome Li Yu, and several helpers all stared wide-eyed at the scene of Dugu Leng being entangled by a lovesick woman. I didn't find it funny, so I acted even more convincingly, pretending to faint. If I fainted, I wouldn't have a reason to leave the cloth shop. But as my body went limp and I fell, Dugu Leng just stood there, dumbfounded. My body suddenly jolted into the air, and out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of a handsome face. But I was already unconscious; opening my eyes would give me away.
Lan Chengyu called out anxiously, "Miss Liu! Wake up, Miss Liu!"
Dugu Leng, unable to contain himself any longer, asked in a slightly anxious voice, "Who are you?"
Li Kuan, who was standing next to him, quickly said, "In response to Seventh Young Master, this is Manager Lan from the nearby Pengyuan Inn. Manager Lan is a friend of my uncle, and he helped me a lot after my uncle passed away."
"This Miss Liu is my honored guest. I will take her back to the inn to see a doctor. Please excuse me, everyone—"
There was a hint of danger in Lan Chengyu's tone. Dugu Leng was about to lash out when Aunt Li stopped him: "This Manager Lan is a very good person. Seventh Young Master, you can rest assured."
I could almost see Lan Chengyu being chopped into pieces and thrown to the dogs in Dugu Leng's heart; thinking about it made me laugh. Of course, I "delicately" fainted, only to "delicately" wake up again a short while later. Li Kuan said that this Manager Lan was a friend of Steward Li, so perhaps he knew more about Manager Li's life.
3
Muxin Tea Garden.
Inside the tea farmer's simple hut was an exquisite tea set. The girl's rough hands deftly poured the tea three times, from the teacup to the teapot, before serving it. The tea, at this moment, was a deep yellow color, fragrant and delicious, with a sweet aftertaste.
"Excellent tea. Thank you for your hospitality, young lady."
“Miss Liu, please don’t be so polite. Manager Lan is a regular customer of mine. He never brings just anyone here. He’s a connoisseur of tea.” After saying this, the girl went to the tea garden to pick the tenderest tea buds. Watching her hands move swiftly and lightly on the tea bushes, Lan Chengyu sighed, “In just a few days, everything has changed. Manager Li and I were close friends despite our age difference. We often came here to enjoy tea and reminisce. I never expected him to leave us like this. But heaven has been kind to me, giving me a soulmate. I wonder if Manager Li, if he has a spirit in heaven, will also meet a connoisseur of tea like I have.”
"Manager Li, how could he have died so suddenly?"
"Perhaps he was overworked. He's getting old, and although he has two capable assistants, they're young and inexperienced. He said his master had treated him with immense kindness and was determined to train a steward to serve his master just like him. A few days ago, Prince Yan's mansion ordered a batch of goods from the cloth shop. The cloth was urgently needed to make clothes for the Empress Dowager's birthday celebration in April. But then the goods ran into trouble; the warehouse storing the cloth caught fire. The compensation was a small matter, but the cloth couldn't be delivered on time. Steward Li, who never drinks, came to my inn that day and drank quite a bit. He said it was his negligence that ruined the cloth shop's reputation, and he didn't know how to explain it to Prince Yan's mansion. I never saw him again after that night. A few days later, when I went to the cloth shop to see him, I learned that he had already passed away."
Lan Chengyu sighed at the impermanence of life, but I felt that there was a hidden mystery within this impermanence. The warehouse caught fire, and the goods ordered by Prince Yan's mansion were destroyed, but Steward Li did not report this to Steward Zhong. I hurriedly bid farewell to Lan Chengyu and rushed to the cloth shop, where Dugu Leng was checking accounts with Aunt Li. Upon seeing me, Li Yu cleverly invited me to the inner room, poured tea, and served me. Dugu Leng politely clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Miss Liu, how have you been these past few days? After traveling around Hangzhou for a few days, you should go back to your hometown. It's always inconvenient for a woman to be out in public all the time."
I snorted and winked at him: "Who said I came to Hangzhou for you? My cousin is Prince Yan Min of the Yan Prince's Mansion, and I'm moving there in the next few days. It's your cloth shop that burned down a batch of goods belonging to the Yan Prince's Mansion. That fabric was meant to be worn in the palace to celebrate the Empress Dowager's birthday, and now the goods can't be delivered. Once my cousin blames you, you can expect to be beheaded!"