Dou Akou was startled and instinctively dodged. The tree where she had just been hiding was now covered with a row of dense silver needles.
She slowly walked out, and although it was clearly the two men who had committed the despicable act, she blushed for them: "I, I didn't see it... I didn't see it..."
Her words were incoherent; how could she possibly explain them away?
Xu Liren frowned: "Dou Yacai, I..."
He was no longer a naive young man; ever since he had his first woman at the age of fourteen, he had long since mastered the ways of men and women. Back then in the palace, to deceive Xu Lichi, he deliberately pretended to be a playboy, indulging in pleasure and revelry every night. At that time, when he was dissolute, he had done the most depraved things. Sometimes, when the mood struck him, he would pounce on his concubines and have sex with them on the spot, while other concubines cheered him on. Now, he had only been caught by a little maid; in principle, it was nothing to him.
But seeing the subtle aversion in Dou Akou's eyes, he felt a little heavy-hearted.
He took a step forward and saw Dou Akou leap backward like a rabbit, turn around, and disappear into the woods, escaping.
Ding Zisu looked at him: "What should we do? Should we silence them?"
“No need! She’s the type to keep quiet.” Xu Liren firmly rejected Ding Zisu’s idea, and added, “Keeping her around is still useful to me.”
Dou Akou rushed back to her room, her mind filled with the scene of the two men having sex. The image of two white mounds of flesh swayed back and forth in her mind. Annoyed, she drew her sword and brandished it casually, trying to use the blade to dispel those images.
She had only performed one move when she suddenly remembered that she was performing the Twelve Forms of the Peak-Slaying Technique, which made her feel even more disgusted. With a "thud," she threw down the knife and collapsed onto the bed, not moving an inch.
She missed Fu Jiuxin. The people and things here were not something she could adapt to. She longed to be like when she was a child, when she was wronged or frightened, she would run into her master's arms and wriggle around. His scent always calmed her down.
But since that urgent letter, she had not heard from her husband for a long time.
She tossed and turned in bed, making up her mind that she would return to Ziwei Qingdu tomorrow morning and go home to find her master.
“Go home? Tomorrow is Bai Zhi’s wedding day. Didn’t we agree to go to my house together for the wedding procession, and then go to Xilie Fort?” Tang Xunzhen was very dissatisfied. “Akou, you haven’t been to my house yet. You promised.”
Although Dou Akou felt sorry for Tang Xunzhen, her mind was firm: "I must leave, I... I miss home." She turned to Bai Zhi, "Bai Zhi, I'm sorry, I can't attend your wedding. Um, how about I send the wedding gift later?"
Ding Baizhi was much gentler than Tang Xunzhen: "It's alright, Akou."
Tang Xunzhen knew that Dou Akou was determined to leave, and felt annoyed: "What about Xu Liren? Are you taking him with you?"
Dou Akou was speechless for a long time before saying, "Let him be. It's fine if he stays here. If you don't want to see him, then just... just send him away."
The next day, Tang Yuanzhi's wedding procession entered the Ding family's gate at the auspicious hour. Ding Baizhi, supported by Tang Xunzhen, gracefully boarded the bridal sedan chair, adorned in a phoenix coronet and wedding gown. Dou Akou, hiding in the bustling crowd, saw Ding Zisu and Xu Liren standing side by side, looking like a perfect couple. Taking advantage of everyone's inattention, she quietly left through the back door of the Ding family's house.
The back gate was where Tang Xunzhen had prepared a horse for her. She carried a small bundle on her back, mounted the horse, cracked the whip, and rode away in a cloud of dust.
The Hundred Herbs Classic is four or five days' journey from Ziwei Qing. Dou Akou has always been accompanied by Fu Jiuxin on her travels, with Fu Jiuxin arranging everything from meals to lodgings. Now, traveling alone, she sometimes miscalculates the distance and can't find an inn even when night falls, forcing her to spend the night in the wilderness. Dou Akou has certainly had her share of hardships and exposure to the elements.
On the fourth day, Dou Akou entered the city of Ziwei Qingdu. When she arrived at the city gate, it was already 11:45 PM. Ziwei Qingdu had a curfew, and once 11:45 PM passed, the city gates were closed, and people inside the city could not leave, and people outside the city could not enter. Dou Akou begged the soldiers guarding the city for a long time, but they refused to let her in.
If she had simply bribed him with some silver and said a few kind words, she would have been allowed in. But Dou Akou, unaware of such social customs, could only leave the city gates dejectedly. She found an open space outside the city, lit a fire, and waited listlessly for dawn.
She had slept outdoors before, but back then, her husband took care of everything, from starting the fire to cooking. She especially looked forward to sleeping outdoors, because it meant her husband would roast a delicious wild rabbit or fish for her to eat. She wasn't afraid to sleep at night either; her husband would lay out a layer of clothes on the ground, and she would roll into his arms and sleep peacefully until dawn.
Only now, having to sleep alone in the open, does she realize the hardships of life. She had only learned to start a fire yesterday; a few days ago, she couldn't get the firewood to light no matter what she tried, only watching the embers smolder. Even when she did get a fire, there were no wild rabbits to eat, only dry naan bread.
It turns out that her peaceful little world was all built up by her husband.
Dou Akou munched on her dry rations, imagining her husband at home in the city, perhaps doing accounts by candlelight, or perhaps painting by oil lamp. One was inside the city, the other outside, separated only by a city gate.
Looking at the starry night sky above, Dou Akou made a decision. Tomorrow at dawn, she would return home and tell her husband: "Axin, I've fallen in love with you."
As for what her father would think or what her husband would do, she couldn't care less.
She only wanted her husband to know her feelings; whether he accepted them or not was his business, but whether she said them was her decision.
She dozed off with a feeling akin to a hero going to his death, and when she woke up, it was already broad daylight.
Dou Akou cheered and, facing the rising sun, led her horse towards the city. The city gates were already open, and many merchants who had come to Ziwei Qingdu to do business were queuing up to enter the city, carrying fresh vegetables and fruits. The morning was full of vitality, and she was going to tell her husband her true feelings.
Dou Akou was in a good mood and eager to return home. Soon she saw the plaque at her door.
She ran over excitedly and greeted the two stone lions at the entrance as usual: "A-Gua, A-Jin, I—"
She was stunned. Ah Gua and Ah Jin were completely mangled. One had half its head cut off, and the other had several cracks in its body, its body teetering on the verge of collapse.
A sense of foreboding rose in her heart. She gripped the knife handle tightly and ran through the gate. The inside was a mess. The chests and trunks were overturned and in disarray. The bonsai pine tree in the flower hall was lying on the ground, half of it broken.
"Father! Aunt! Master!" Dou Akou shouted loudly, kicking open every room in the Dou family home as she did so.
She was panicked and confused, and her cries were tinged with sobs. She searched the entire Dou family compound, but there was no one there.
Everyone in the Dou family disappeared without a trace.
The truth is revealed
Dou Akou was on the verge of collapse. She suddenly stopped in her daze and looked around in panic. The Dou family looked like it had been ransacked, and the pavilions and towers were in ruins.
Dou Akou froze for a moment, then rushed towards Fu Jiuxin's room. At that moment, she desperately hoped to push open the door and see her master, as always, raise his head from his desk and ask calmly, "Miss, what's wrong?"
But reality was cruel. Fu Jiuxin's room was empty and looked like it had been ransacked; the bedding and trunks had been turned over. His old paintings were scattered on the floor.
Dou Akou turned around abruptly, intending to go to the Shui family to inquire about the situation. Just as she reached the gate, she saw several men dressed as soldiers peering in: "That escaped fugitive really returned? Did you see him clearly?"
"I saw it clearly. I watched her walk in—hey, isn't that her?"
They rushed toward Dou Akou together, shouting, "Capture her and claim the reward!"
Even if Dou Akou was slow-witted, she could tell that these people had ill intentions. She drew her knife and dodged to the side the moment the first soldier rushed over. She tapped the hilt of her knife on his knee, and the man fell to the ground.
The others were clearly surprised that this little girl was actually quite capable. After underestimating her, they immediately became cautious, and four or five of them surrounded her together.
Dou Akou was enraged and unleashed all her skills, including the Twelve Peak-Slaying Techniques and the Flowing Clouds and Startling Winds. She initially had the upper hand, but a woman's physical strength is no match for a young man's. When she landed, she made an opening and was captured with her hands tied behind her back.
She was both frightened and angry, tears streaming down her face: "What are you doing! Why are you arresting me!"
Where is Ah Xin? Where is Ah Xin?
The others were taken aback. This little girl was so fierce when she was wielding the knife just now, how come she's crying like this now? She's clearly just a child!
The man whose knee she had just hit rubbed his leg, grimaced, and stood up, saying, "Little girl, do you think we're some kind of thugs who prey on the villagers and bully young women? If your Dou family hadn't committed some crime, why would we have arrested you!"
"You committed a crime?" Dou Akou's eyes widened, tears still welling up.
“Yes.” The man pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and unfolded it. It showed a picture of Dou Akou and the words “Wanted” written on it. “The Dou family, imperial merchants, have committed treason and attempted to assassinate His Majesty. They applied poison to the leaves of a potted plant, a gift presented to His Majesty as a congratulatory present. This poison, once dissolved in water, immediately releases invisible toxic fumes. His Majesty greatly admires this potted plant and keeps it in his bedchamber, watering it daily. The toxic fumes have seeped into His Majesty’s body. His Majesty was already in poor health, and inhaling the fumes has only worsened his condition. Now, the Commandant of the Capital Region is hereby ordering the arrest of everyone in the Dou family and their imprisonment to await further punishment—young girl, your family has committed a capital offense. If we don’t arrest you, who will we arrest!”
Dou Akou didn't understand at all. What poisoning, what murder? They were talking and talking, but she couldn't understand a single word they were saying.
She struggled desperately, and one of the soldiers, unable to bear the harassment any longer, chopped her neck with a hand chop, causing her to go limp and faint.
When she woke up, Dou Akou was already in a dark and hopeless prison.
She stirred, and someone nearby immediately exclaimed with delight, "Akou, you're awake!"
The voice sounded familiar; it belonged to the third aunt of the Dou family.
Dou Akou jumped up and saw that it was indeed her third concubine, surrounded by two other concubines. She and the others were all wearing white prison clothes.
"Auntie!" she exclaimed joyfully, feeling the excitement of seeing a relative.
The second concubine, who had been looking worried, couldn't help but laugh when she saw Dou Akou like this, saying, "Akou, only you can still laugh in this situation."
Dou Akou was bewildered: "Auntie, what did they say about poisoning and murder? Why are they arresting us?"
The concubines remained silent. Imperial merchants had always maintained close ties with the palace; their fortunes were intertwined, making them easily drawn into factional struggles. This time, they had simply chosen the wrong side.
Third Aunt sighed and began to recount her story: "Akou, do you remember the eldest prince, Xu Lichi, who brought gifts when you came of age? He was trying to win over our family, and Master tacitly sided with him. But we were completely unaware of the poisoning of the potted plant leaves this time. Logically, Master shouldn't have framed the eldest prince!"
"Yes. This time, Emperor Taizu was poisoned and ordered a thorough investigation. It turned out that the potted plant that the Crown Prince bought from our family to present to the palace was poisoned. Emperor Taizu was furious and ordered the Crown Prince to be deposed, his property confiscated, and imprisoned. But he is, after all, the Emperor's son. At most, he will be demoted to a commoner and exiled to the frontier. We... sigh."
Dou Akou listened attentively and then asked, "What about Father and Axin?"
The concubines exchanged glances: "Master was arrested with us and thrown into the men's prison. As for Jiuxin... we didn't see him during the chaos of war. He must be locked up with Master."
They looked at Dou Akou with pity: "We thought that you might escape this calamity in Qingyong City, but who knew you would come back? It's really fate."
Dou Akou fell silent. She struggled to process the information she had just received, but she couldn't understand why her father would suddenly betray the Crown Prince, or where Axin had gone.
The jailer brought dinner: four bowls of coarse yellow rice and a plate of dry green vegetables. Seeing that no one was around, the third concubine whispered, "Sir, what we agreed on last time..."
The jailer took an oil paper package from his sleeve and tossed it over the bars: "Here you go! Hurry up! Be careful no one sees you!"
The oil paper package contained half a roasted chicken. In the past, the concubines of the Dou family would never have even looked at such food, and might have even thought it was too greasy. But now, this chicken was considered a delicacy by them.
"Akou, here you go." Third Aunt broke off a chicken leg. "The food in this prison is inedible. You're at the age where you're growing, so you can't make do with this. Eat up, or in a few days you won't even be able to eat this anymore."
When they were arrested, all their valuables were searched, including their jewelry and hairpins. The third concubine, being shrewd, kept a few gold rings on her person. While in prison, she used these to bribe the jailer in exchange for a better living environment.
The day before, all of these privately owned pieces of jewelry had been used up.
They all looked at Dou Akou: "Akou, do you have any jewelry on you?"
Dou Akou had practiced martial arts since childhood, so naturally she wouldn't wear any cumbersome jewelry. All ten of her fingers and wrists were bare, and she wore a plain bone hairpin that she had worn since she was a child. The only thing that looked decent was the lone earring on her right ear.
“This can’t be given to anyone else,” Dou Akou said softly, touching the earrings Fu Jiuxin had given her.
The concubines sighed. The earrings were neither gold nor jade, and even if she were willing to exchange them, they wouldn't be worth much money.
The group went to sleep, each burdened with their own worries. Dou Akou, however, huddled on a pile of rotten straw in the corner, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
She had grown up surrounded by luxury for the past fifteen years, and now, with this sudden change and Fu Jiuxin not by her side, it was inevitable that she would be distraught.
Fortunately, she has always been a simple-minded person, and she cheerfully thought that there would always be a way out, so she actually fell asleep.
Life in prison was unpredictable, and Dou Akou would carve a mark on the wall every day. She counted the days and realized that six days had passed.
The jailer brought dinner again, a bowl of limp and shriveled bean sprouts. Dou Akou had learned not to be picky about food and ate it all up, as if it were a chicken leg.
She heard a commotion of footsteps outside the cell. People came into this cell every day, and people were dragged out every day. She just assumed it was another female prisoner being brought in and continued eating her meal.
The footsteps grew closer and closer, finally stopping at the cell door. A pair of gold-threaded suede boots adorned with dragon patterns came to a halt in front of her.
Dou Akou swallowed the last bite of rice in her mouth and looked up.
"Bean sprout, you've lost quite a bit of weight." Xu Liren's eyes held a hint of sarcasm as he crossed his arms and looked down at her.
"Xu Liren?" Several concubines exclaimed in unison.
Dou Akou suddenly noticed something was wrong. Xu Liren was wearing a black imperial robe with golden dragon patterns wrapped around the cuffs and collar. A ferocious five-clawed dragon was baring its fangs and soaring through the clouds on the lapel.
When she was very young, she accompanied Dou Jincai to a banquet in the palace. Through the bustling crowd, she saw Emperor Taizu from afar, and he was wearing the same style and uniform.
Her eyes widened: "Xu Li, you're Xu Li... Qian?"
Xu Liqian looked at her in surprise, not expecting this fool to actually have some brains.
He nodded: "Exactly. The Second Prince Xu Liqian has been frail and sickly since childhood and has lived in the deep palace for a long time. Who would remember someone who won't live past thirty? Don't you think so?"
Nineteen years of regret, a forgotten corner of the palace, where abandoned people struggle to survive.