Zhenyu said calmly, "It's also a matter of human nature."
Zhenshu heard Zhenyu's words and realized she was still blaming her, so she smiled in response.
Zhenyu then asked, "Do you still have any contact with Yu Yichen?"
Zhenshu shook her head and said, "I just had a moment of madness, I'm fine now."
Zhenyu sneered: "I don't think so. I heard he even came to our mansion to pay respects at a funeral, and it seems he still has some lingering feelings for you. He's a eunuch, so he's always lacking something, but he managed to seduce you and make you forget the shame a woman should have. He's quite a character. It's just that I haven't seen what he looks like yet, so what is he really like?"
Zhenyu was attracted to handsome men; otherwise, she wouldn't have been so obsessed with marrying Dou Keming. Zhenshu shut her mouth and refused to speak again. Zhenyu knew she was tight-lipped and cursed her inwardly as a pretentious little slut. She couldn't help but ask again, "More handsome than Dou Wu?"
When Zhen Shu recalled Yu Yichen's appearance, a smile couldn't help but appear on her face: "No, he's not like an ordinary man."
Zhenyu said, "I told you. The man you've taken a liking to is probably no ordinary man. It's just a pity that he didn't kill Dou Wu, but instead let him go."
Zhenshu heard her gritted teeth as she spoke and asked, "Wouldn't it be better to release her?"
She would never forget the sight of Dou Wu howling like a dog locked in a room.
Zhenyu snorted and said, "He's been released, but he's crippled and his face is all bruised and battered. The worst part is that he's completely changed. He's listless and has no energy at all. All he does all day is drink. If I try to persuade him, that old hag will pretend to scold me."
The old woman must be Zhang Shi. Her husband is now dead, her title has been revoked, and she is now living under someone else's roof. Her position in the family has also been promoted from mother-in-law to old woman.
Seeing that Zhen Shu remained silent, Zhen Yu leaned closer and whispered, "Tell me the truth, is Yu Yichen really a eunuch? I've heard rumors that he wasn't castrated, and that his manhood is even hooked."
Zhenshu hurriedly said, "How could that be? It's true."
Zhenyu thought to herself: A eunuch who can charm women, he's really something. I just wonder what he's good at, and what it's like.
Zhenyu then asked, "Have you heard any news about Zhenxiu?"
Zhenshu shook her head and said, "No."
She had two spies stationed outside the framing shop to keep watch, so how could she not know that Zhenxiu had never been to the framing shop?
Zhenyu sighed and said, "Although the Dowager Consort can now come out of the mountains, she rarely sees anyone. I heard that she has been begging the Emperor to let her go to Liangzhou to live out her days. If the Emperor really lets the Dowager Consort go, I will be even more helpless in the capital."
How can one control one's own destiny? Zhenyu was genuinely happy when the Dowager Empress returned to public life, but now the Dowager Empress only asks her to investigate the missing silver and doesn't get involved in anything else. So, she gradually has to try to win over Zhenshu again.
Suddenly, Zhenyu seemed to remember something and clapped her hands, saying, "Oh right, Mingluan said that if you come, remember to call her so she can thank you in person. I completely forgot."
As she spoke, she beckoned Ji Chun to go and call Dou Mingluan, but Zhen Shu quickly stopped her, saying, "I don't want to see anyone else, so you don't need to deliberately call her over."
Zhenyu said, "Why do you have to do this? If you hadn't persuaded her to write a letter asking Du Yu to come back, we would probably all have been dragged out of Yingtian Prefecture and exiled by Yu Yichen with a stroke of his pen. The court would probably be ruled by Yu Yichen alone. She wants to thank you to your face, so what if you accept it?"
Zhenshu stood up and said, "You don't need to call her. I need to go to the shop to take care of things."
Zhenyu tried to persuade her to stay, but Zhenshu had already quickly left the house and walked away.
She had just left the courtyard and was walking along the alley when she suddenly heard a silvery laugh coming from ahead. It was Dou Mingluan's voice: "Brother Jinyu, you must go and meet my sister. She is different from other women."
Upon hearing this, Zhen Shu realized that Du Yu was also accompanying them. Startled, she turned around and walked forward. After a few steps, she saw that there was an open door on the other side, so she quickly hid in the porch. She waited quietly for the two people to enter Zhen Yu's courtyard before lifting the hem of her skirt and quickly walking out.
Dou Mingluan pulled Du Yu and the other into Zhenyu's room, calling out from afar, "Song Zhenshu!"
Afraid that her loud voice would wake the children, Zhenyu hurriedly came out and asked, "She just left the courtyard, how come you didn't run into her?"
Dou Mingluan shook her head and said, "No, I didn't see anyone in the alley."
Zhenyu laughed and said, "She has big feet and walks with a brisk pace. I'm afraid she might miss you if she walks too fast."
She let the two of them into the house before asking, "When is the wedding date set?"
Dou Mingluan smiled and looked at Du Yu, who then sat up and leaned back, saying, "It won't be until June that it will be three years since my late wife passed away."
Zhenyu was about to ask another question, but Dou Mingluan quickly winked at her, refusing to let her speak. Zhenyu finally couldn't help but say, "You little fish belly, now you're acting like an adult."
Du Yu shook his head helplessly, smiled, and pointed at Zhenyu, saying, "Only you dare to call me Fish Belly. If it were anyone else, I'd beat them to death."
When Zhenyu saw that he was no longer the mischievous boy he used to be, although his face was not as handsome as Dou Wu's, he was tall and strong, and had a strong masculine spirit. He was far from the wretched appearance of Dou Wu. She couldn't help but feel resentful in her heart: I was blind to have fallen for Dou Wu. This Du Yu is now so much better than him.
Thinking this, she began to hate Yu Yichen again. If Yu Yichen had killed Dou Wu, it would have been fine; with her dowry, she could have remarried as the Dowager Consort's niece and still find a good husband. But Yu Yichen released her, and even then, he made her into a useless rabbit, unable to get any erections, so she couldn't use her, nor could she throw her away.
Zhenshu returned to the mounting shop and saw several apprentices unloading things from a carriage outside the small building from afar. She guessed that Su Shi and Zhenyi had returned. She hadn't seen them for a long time and missed them dearly. She ran over, picked up two large bundles, and carried them upstairs. She saw Su Shi sitting on a chair in the outer room, drinking tea and rubbing her legs, saying, "It's so much more comfortable in the city. It's neither too hot nor too cold upstairs, and there's no dampness. That heated kang bed in the countryside really made me feel like a paralyzed person."
Zhenyi, however, said, "I think the countryside is better. There are fewer people, and it's fun everywhere."
Madam Su glared at her and said, "Now that you're all grown up, it's time to talk about marriage. Stay away from those apprentices. They're just craftsmen who will have to do hard labor to make a living. With your looks and appearance, how can you be wronged by them?"
Zhenyi pouted and said, "You were so eager to find a noble husband for my eldest sister, but now she's stuck in a village, half-destitute and struggling. I'm not listening to you anymore."
Madam Su said, "She's just foolish and unwilling to fight for herself. You're so much smarter than her, how can you debase yourself like that?"
As the two were talking, they saw Zhenshu carrying a bundle upstairs. Madam Su hurriedly said, "Quickly boil some water for me. I'm dizzy from the bumpy ride in the carriage."
Upon hearing this, Zhenshu went downstairs to boil water and brew two cups of tea. She brought them upstairs and handed them to Madam Su and Zhenyi. Madam Su then asked, "The other day, Brother Zhang wrote to say that Zhang Rui had been imprisoned by Yu Yichen. Have you heard about this?"
Zhen Shu said, "I'm here guarding the shop all day, how could I know? Besides, Yu Yichen is just a eunuch, how could he have the power to imprison anyone he wants?"
Madam Su said, "Whether it is or not, he is in charge of the Imperial Palace and is also a general. I heard that he is also in charge of the Capital Region Inspectorate. It would be easy for him to release a person or two. Why don't you go and tell him to release Zhang Rui so that he can return to Liu Family Village to reunite with your eldest sister?"
Zhenshu smiled bitterly and said, "Who am I to say such things to him?"
Madam Su said, "Back then, you suffered a foot injury from your father and were bedridden for two months because you wanted to marry him. For that, he should help you."
Zhen Shu thought to herself that even if Zhang Rui were released, the first place he would go would be a brothel, not Liu Family Village. Besides, she had no further connection with Yu Yichen and deeply resented his involvement in these matters; why would she do such a errand for Su Shi? She immediately waved her hand and said, "Mother, there's no need to mention it again. I don't have that ability. If you want connections, you still need our Aunt Su. She even knows more about the Emperor's sleep-talking last night than anyone else."
After saying this, she turned and went downstairs. Madam Su stood there pondering for a long time, holding her tea, before saying, "That's right. Doesn't Aunt Su know some Prefect Wang? The one who wants to marry Zhenshu, why not discuss it with him? If we can get him to marry Zhenshu and release Zhang Rui, wouldn't that be a win-win situation?"
Seeing Su talking to herself, Zhenyi advised her, "Why do you have to help that Zhang Rui? I think Brother Liu is a very good person. He takes good care of the children and is considerate of you. If it weren't for Zhang Rui, why not let you marry him?"
Madam Su glared and said, "He's an only son, how could he accept being a son-in-law? Zhang Rui did personally promise to be my son-in-law. I've spent so much money on him, if I just back out now, wouldn't all my money be wasted?"
Zhenyi retorted, "If you help him now, you'll just be throwing away even more money."
Su glared at Zhenyi, but continued drawing.
The next morning, Madam Su dared not ask Zhenshu to write a letter for her. Instead, she went to the East Market and found a messenger to deliver a verbal message to the Ding family at Kaibao Temple, instructing Aunt Su to come quickly to the small building behind the mounting shop to see her. Aunt Su was originally a city patrol censor, spending 364 days a year wandering around, so she did not receive the verbal message that day. It was only the next morning that her daughter-in-law suddenly remembered and informed her.
When Granny Su heard her niece's message, she guessed it was related to matchmaking. After eating a few bites and drinking some water to moisten her lips, she picked up a small basket and headed to the East Market. She knocked on the door and went up to the small building in the backyard. Seeing Madam Su sitting there listlessly, she quickly asked, "Niece, is something on your mind?"
Madam Su invited Aunt Su to sit down and had Zhenyi serve tea and fruit before saying, "Aunt Su, you may not know this, but I recently adopted a godson and arranged for him to marry my eldest daughter, Zhenyuan. I wanted him to move in and be my son-in-law to take care of me in my old age. That boy is quite ambitious; he passed the imperial examination last year and became a second-class Jinshi."
Grandma Su slapped her thigh and said, "This is great news! Didn't you say that before?"
☆、94|Chapter 94
When the results were announced that year, Aunt Su was helping people find husbands for others. She had even seen Madam Su, who had a son-in-law who had passed the imperial examination in one hand and another in the other.
Madam Su glanced at her aunt, feeling embarrassed, and said, “He passed the imperial examination, but because he didn’t have the money to pull strings, he only got a sinecure as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy. That position is for compiling local chronicles and historical records, and for researching obscure things. Is that a place for people to live? So he didn’t want to stay there and wanted to find a better position for himself. But in the officialdom these days, you can’t move an inch without money. I don’t have any money, and he’s a poor boy. If we keep delaying like this, it will be too late. A few days ago, he somehow got some money and managed to get in touch with the Minister of Justice and get a real position there. But then he was arrested by the Yingtian Prefecture. They said he was suspected of bringing questions into the examination hall last spring and of plagiarism. Now they want to strip him of his title. What are we going to do?”
Grandma Su listened and nodded. After Madam Su finished speaking, she said, "This plagiarism incident has implicated many people. I heard that the emperor was unwell during last year's imperial examinations, so the examination questions were drafted by the examiners and sealed. Who knew that one of the examiners would leak them? Now, most of his students have been arrested."
Hearing this, Madam Su became even more anxious: "So, is his Jinshi degree really going to be revoked?"
Grandma Su said, "Don't worry, once you arrive in Yingtian Prefecture, there will always be a trial. I know Magistrate Wang there, who might really be able to help you a lot."
Madam Su was overjoyed to hear this, but fearing that her mistress might not be entirely sure of her intentions, she dared not rashly take out any money or agree to anything. Instead, she asked, "Could you ask the prefect to make an exception and let me go to the prison to see him first?"
Grandma Su said, "What's so difficult about that? If I make another trip today, I'm afraid I can take you in by tomorrow morning."
Without even taking a sip of water, she got up, slung her small basket over her shoulder, and prepared to leave. Madam Su quickly stepped forward, took out a string of copper coins, and threw them into her basket, saying, "Take this money, young lady, and use it to buy tea."
Grandma Su threw the string of copper coins into Madam Su's arms and said, "I've been running around doing all this for a few copper coins, so why are you doing this? Just wait for my news."
After saying that, he went downstairs.
Madam Su waited anxiously at home for half a day, fearing that her mistress was just making empty promises to deceive her again. Finally, in the afternoon, her mistress sent someone with a message, saying that she would definitely be able to take her to Yingtian Prefecture to see Zhang Rui the next morning. Madam Su was overjoyed to hear this, and then hurriedly took some copper coins and silver to go out and buy some clean clothes, bedding, and food for Zhang Rui, intending to take him to the prison to see him.
When Zhenshu heard Zhenyi say this when she went upstairs that evening, she found it somewhat amusing and said, "He's going to jail, not visiting relatives. They'll have dry bed boards and firewood prepared for him. If you take these things with you, they'll just throw them out."
Seeing two roast chickens on the table, he broke off a leg and pretended to gnaw on it, saying, "Such good stuff should be given to the apprentices downstairs to satisfy their cravings. Why feed it to that ingrate?"
Su was so angry that she slapped her thigh, but now she and Zhenyi both depended on Zhenshu for their livelihood, so she dared not speak out. She quickly hid the other one in her room.
The next morning, Madam Su changed into a new spring dress, combed her hair neatly with tung oil, and adorned it with several brightly fried gold hairpins. Then she got up and went downstairs to hire a carriage to wait. Before long, Madam Su, with her slender legs and feet, came walking briskly, still carrying the same small basket. She got into the carriage and instructed the driver, "To Yingtian Prefecture."
The horses moved and the carriage moved, and Yingtian Prefecture was not far away. They arrived in no time. Aunt Su led Su Shi out of the carriage and saw that the yamen runners were standing with guns on the gate with two lions lying on it. She helped Su Shi up, who was already trembling with fear, and whispered in her ear, "What's the point of this? They are just errand boys. Come with me quickly."
Seeing the two soldiers on the gate with solemn expressions and their hands clasped together, and seeing the guards every three or five steps inside the government office, Su's legs went weak with fear, and she had her aunt drag her forward. Upon reaching the gate, Su's aunt also cupped her hands and said, "Brother Qi, I've come to see your Prefect Wang. Is he inside?"
Since it's said that Aunt Su is a city patrol censor, it's clear she has a wide circle of friends. It was Aunt Su who acted as matchmaker for Qi Dalang's wife. He was on guard duty at the moment and couldn't chat idly, but he nodded and said, "He's inside. Aunt Su, please come in quickly and go directly to his office to inspect him."
Grandma Su thanked them, and seeing that they had started to argue, she pulled Su Shi into the courtyard.
Because the former prefect was implicated in the case of Marquis Beishun and was dismissed, the current prefect, Wang, in his thirties, now holds sole power in Yingtian Prefecture. His official residence is on the second floor of the last courtyard of the prefectural government office. Next door is the place where Du Yu was imprisoned years ago. Grandma Su went inside and knocked on the door of Prefect Wang's residence. A middle-aged man in a traditional Chinese jacket came out, bowed, and said to Grandma Su, "Greetings, Grandma Su?"
Grandma Su winked at Madam Su before shaking the middle-aged man's hand and saying, "I'm doing well. It's been a long time since I've seen Mr. Wei. Are you still working under Magistrate Wang?"
The man nodded in agreement and hurriedly opened the door to let Madam Su and her aunt in. Madam Su was carrying a food box in her hand, but thinking that it might be impolite to have such a high-ranking official, she carried it on her back and walked slowly inside.
Inside the room was a large table, behind which hung a large plaque bearing the four characters "明镜高悬" (a clear mirror hangs high). A man sat beneath the plaque, with a square forehead, thick eyebrows, a straight nose, and a thick mustache—a truly dignified appearance. Seeing Granny Su enter, he didn't rise, but gestured for her to sit.
Grandma Su helped Madam Su sit down on the two armchairs opposite her, and pointed at Madam Su with a forced smile, saying, "Prefect Wang, this is the mother of the family I told you about. Now, because her godson has gotten into some trouble and is involved in this prison, she especially wants to ask for a meeting."
Actually, if someone commits a crime and goes to jail, it's not difficult for their family to visit them. Yingtian Prefecture has special days for family visits; they can send in a change of clothes, some food, and money so the family can look after them. However, having the prefect come to see a prisoner is different from reporting it themselves. The prefect casually crossed something out on a piece of paper, tore it up, and handed it to Granny Su, saying, "Today isn't a proper day, but since you're here, let's see them."
Grandma Su got up and walked a few steps to the large table. She took the note with both hands, bowed and thanked him, saying, "Thank you very much, Prefect."
Having said that, she turned and sat back down in her armchair, laughing as she looked at Magistrate Wang. Magistrate Wang frowned and thought for a long time before recalling that Madam Su had repeatedly stopped his sedan chair on the street, all to introduce him to a woman from a good family. He turned to look at Madam Su, noting that the woman was around forty years old, and although elderly, she was quite attractive. If she were his daughter, she would likely be quite beautiful as well. He then pointed at Madam Su and asked, "Is Madam Su referring to this lady's daughter?"
Grandma Su nodded hurriedly and said, "That's right. She is my niece. Although she is of average appearance, all four of her daughters are beautiful. The one I want to tell you is the second daughter of this family. She is more beautiful than anyone else. However, my niece is a bit picky and has been choosing for two years. Now that she is a bit older, she has missed her prime."
Prefect Wang sized up Madam Su. He was thirty-eight years old this year, and Madam Su was probably only a few years older than him, still retaining her charm. If one were to think of her daughter, who was in her prime and even more beautiful than her... Thinking of this, his mind was already wandering. He cleared his throat and asked Madam Su, "How old is the second young lady this year?"
Grandma Su didn't know Zhenshu's age this year, so she quickly turned to ask Madam Su. Madam Su then stammered, "She's twenty this year."
Prefect Wang nodded in agreement. At around twenty, a time when girls are mature yet still retain some girlish charm, he felt an increasing itch in his heart, staring intently at Madam Su, trying to spot the image of a beautiful young woman in her. Madam Su, anxious to see Zhang Rui and feeling the official's unwavering gaze, felt extremely uncomfortable and pulled her mistress away.
Grandma Su also noticed that Magistrate Wang's appearance was somewhat strange, and thought to herself that if he kept looking at the young lady, he might end up eyeing his future mother-in-law, which wouldn't be good. So she stood up, bowed, and said, "This old woman will take her leave now. May I go and see my godson?"
Then Magistrate Wang got up and personally saw Madam Su and her aunt out. Once outside, he called Mr. Wei over and whispered in his ear, "Take him there yourself. When you see the prisoner, arrange for him to stay in a better cell."
Mr. Wei nodded and hurried over to invite Madam Su, saying, "Madam, this way please."
The yamen (government office) was a place where people were treated differently depending on their status. If you went in alone with a small bundle, trembling, the yamen runners would glare at you and shout at you, scaring you so much that you dared not stand still. But if you had a receipt from the prefect and his clerk accompanying you, the yamen runners would bow respectfully from afar and hold their spears high as they let you pass.
Su suffered mistreatment from her elder brother and sister-in-law since childhood. After growing up, she married Song Anrong and spent more than ten years in a poor, remote village. Even now, in the capital, living in the East Market, she still mingled among the lowest of the low. A soldier in official uniform could scare her half to death; she had never enjoyed the treatment she received today.
She saw Mr. Wei leading the way from the side, with the soldiers on guard bowing respectfully. She and Aunt Su walked in the middle, exuding an air of smug pride and authority. She couldn't help but sigh inwardly: "They say ten years of hard study lead to success in the imperial examinations. Being an official is truly different from ordinary people; respected outside and commanding respect within the government office."
Su had assumed the prison would be a basement, but instead, she found a tall, dark building that seemed to have sprung up out of nowhere. It was heavily guarded, with small, tall watchtowers around the perimeter, each manned by soldiers armed with spears and guns. Filled with dread and fear, she followed the dark building inside. After walking for a long time, she emerged from another similar dark building. Inside, a staircase led down to the ground floor—this was where Guan Zhangrui was to be held.
After going downstairs, they found themselves in a basement, dimly lit by a few oil lamps. Mr. Wei whispered a few words to the guard inside, then handed him a note from the prefect. Only then did the guard, carrying a bunch of keys, lead Madam Su and her aunt inside with a clanging sound. The place was damp and reeked of a foul stench. Madam Su could barely open her eyes from the stench. After struggling to reach a railing, the guard unlocked it and gestured, "Go in."