A long-lost acquaintance visited Ying Xiaoman's mutton shop this morning.
Yan Erlang came alone, walking from the street. He stood at a distance on the roadside, looking up to examine the newly changed sign above the meat shop.
The original handwritten sign on red paper by the young lady had been replaced with a plaque written by Yan Seventh Young Master. Five bold characters reading "Ying Family Mutton Shop" now hung prominently at the top of the storefront.
After surveying it for a while, Yan Erlang stepped closer to speak.
"You're about to become the wife of a minor official, why are you still running a meat shop in public?"
"None of your business," Ying Xiaoman replied without looking up. "If you're buying meat, get in line. If not, go wait somewhere else."
Though immediately rebuffed, Yan Erlang found a familiar closeness in her response. He couldn't help but smile and obediently got in line to buy meat.
When it was his turn, he said, "Five pounds of minced meat, finely chopped. So you've settled things so quickly? I remember your relationship with the Seventh Young Master used to be on-again, off-again. Those times you snuck into the Yan family home, looking for that item... did he give it to you?"
Ying Xiaoman wondered confusedly, what item? Wasn't it about revenge?
She pondered for a moment before suddenly realizing. Yan Erlang must have misunderstood the situation from beginning to end.
But his misunderstanding was none of her concern.
She took a piece of tenderloin from the hook and began finely mincing it. "There was never any item. Don't make things up."
Yan Erlang chuckled, taking out an ivory fan from his sleeve and fanning himself with a swoosh.
The August weather was cool, making the fan unseasonable. The breeze it created sent chills through his body.
The young lady and the Seventh Young Master were now close, and she was denying past accounts to his face now that they were engaged.
He looked up again to examine the shop's new plaque.
Upon closer inspection, he saw it was a high-quality black plaque with gold lettering. Yan Seventh Young Master's calligraphy gleamed in the sunlight.
"Fine," Yan Erlang nodded. "So from start to finish, you two were flirting, on and off. Where does that leave me in the middle?"
The rhythmic chopping continued as Ying Xiaoman replied without looking up, "Who asked you to put yourself in the middle? You forced your way in. I'd rather you stay far away."
A surge of pent-up anger rose three zhang high in Yan Erlang's heart, but he forced it back down.
"Xiaoman, speak honestly. I, Yan Erlang, have rarely cared so much about a young lady. In July, I entered the palace to seek an audience with the Empress Dowager and mentioned you to her. That's why she issued a decree for you to have an audience. Yes, from beginning to end, I was the one with unrequited feelings for you, Ying Xiaoman. I thoughtfully arranged things for you without expecting thanks. But can you really not see my sincere intentions at all? Are you completely unmoved?"
Ying Xiaoman's chopping gradually slowed.
The Empress Dowager's decree for an audience, the palace sending two ladies-in-waiting to teach her etiquette for half a month, exhausting her from morning to night, not to mention disrupting half a month of business...
So it was all Yan Erlang's doing!
"One palace dinner cost me half a month. And you want me to thank you?" Ying Xiaoman angrily threw her knife onto the chopping board. "Keep dreaming!"
Yan Erlang: "..."
Yan Erlang took a deep breath, holding back his anger as he explained, "Listen. My good intentions for you were interrupted by villains. Originally, I wanted to take the opportunity of your palace audience to personally ask the Empress Dowager - she likes little white rabbits... no, she likes pure and lovable girls like you. You did win her favor, didn't you? If I had been there, I could have persuaded her with a few words to accept you as her goddaughter..."
Ying Xiaoman took another piece of lean meat and continued chopping steadily: "Why would I want to be the Empress Dowager's goddaughter? We're just common folk, we dare not claim kinship with her."
Of course, Yan Erlang had his own plans. If the Ying family became the Empress Dowager's adopted relatives, they would no longer be common folk but imperial relatives. The Yan family was also of imperial relatives' background, so this marriage would have been halfway settled.
Now that it hadn't worked out, he didn't mention it, only presenting a sincere attitude.
"Trying every means to connect you with the Empress Dowager, do you think I meant to harm you? Of course it was for your own good, for your family's benefit. All my sincere feelings for you, planning so much on your behalf, Xiaoman, can't you see it at all? Are you really so cold-hearted?"
Ying Xiaoman remained unmoved. Many people had cared for her since she was young. So many had come to her door wanting to take her as a wife or concubine that they had nearly worn out the threshold. Did that mean she had to respond to all of them?
The chopping stopped, and she neatly wrapped the minced meat in oiled paper and handed it over. "Three pounds of minced meat. That'll be 360 wen."
Yan Erlang refused to take it. "I asked for five pounds of minced meat. Keep chopping finely for a while, and say a few more words. You still haven't answered me."
"There's no more. Business is good, only three pounds left, and I've given it all to you." Ying Xiaoman pushed the oiled paper package over and held out her pale palm. "Pay up."
Yan Erlang: "..."
He felt he had poured his heart out, but still received no response.
Holding the oiled paper package, he stood by the road, watching Ying Xiaoman clean up her stall, close the shop, and walk through the bustling street towards the Ministry of Justice office across the way. Her slender figure disappeared behind the office door.
Yan Erlang's expression was inscrutable as he waved his folded fan a few times before snapping it shut.
He reached up to touch the new Tianwu Imperial Army Commander's token hanging at his waist.
In the duty room of the Ministry of Justice, lamps burned day and night.
Although the Yuqing Tower spy case had been resolved, the clues it revealed pointed to an old case from many years ago.
The sensational case of weapons smuggling from the national armory during Prime Minister Yan's tenure seemed to have left some fish that slipped through the net. Even after more than twenty years, there were still intricate remnants of connections to the Yuqing Tower spy den.
The eyes of the Ministry of Justice investigators were bloodshot from exhaustion. Hundreds of pounds of old documents were taken out and examined roll by roll.
They were reinvestigating the Sheng family from thirty years ago.
"Young Lord Yan!"
On one of the deep nights of continuous document review, a clerk with bloodshot eyes brought over a yellowed deed.
"The rented house in River Otter Alley where the secret passage was found has changed hands three times over the years. But thirty years ago—it was a property owned by the Sheng family!"
Yan Rongshi carefully examined the historical property deeds obtained from Shuntian Prefecture under the lamplight. The deeds clearly recorded the backgrounds of the successive owners.
Transferred twelve years ago. The buyer's surname was Yan.
Transferred eighteen years ago. The buyer's surname was Chen.
The deed from twenty-six years ago was rather special. It stated that this was a confiscated mansion sold by the government. The buyer purchased it from the government.
Going further back.
On a brittle, yellowed old deed from thirty-seven years ago, the buyer's name was clearly recorded:
"Sheng Fugui."
So, these two rented houses in River Otter Alley, before being divided in two, were once a separate courtyard bought by the Sheng family, once-famous merchants in the capital thirty-seven years ago.
Until the Sheng family was implicated in the weapons smuggling case from years ago, their property was confiscated and they were exiled. This house was seized by the government and subsequently passed through three owners.
On the long table before Yan Rongshi lay four transfer deeds spanning thirty-seven years. In a flash of insight, he thought of a question previously overlooked by everyone.
"The deaf and blind old servant who lived in the old house in River Otter Alley for many years... which owner's servant was he actually?"
Not only the clerks but even the Deputy Minister of Justice were stunned.
The Deputy Minister immediately stood up: "This official will go interrogate the old servant at once!"
But Yan Rongshi stopped him: "Don't alarm the old servant."
His gaze fell on the long table. The lamplight shone on the yellowed, aged deeds, the words "Sheng Fugui" from long ago blurred in the light and shadow.
"Go to River Otter Alley and inquire with the old neighbors."
News came back quickly.
"The old servant is both deaf and blind and can't speak. After the most recent owner, the Yan family, moved back to their old home in Jiangnan a few years ago, this old servant moved in. Some nosy neighbors tried asking him a few questions before, gesticulating in a useless attempt at communication, and the old servant shouted in a loud voice, 'The master left me to watch the house!' After observing for a while and seeing that the old servant was honest and diligent in his daily sweeping, no one asked any more questions."
As for which "master" the old servant meant, no one paid attention to that detail.
After listening carefully, Yan Rongshi still instructed the Deputy Minister:
"Don't alarm the old servant."
On Yan Rongshi's desk sat two tangerines and a lump of iron.
People were coming and going in the government office, and he didn't particularly try to hide anything. When officials pointed at the iron lump and asked, he vaguely replied, "Evidence."
Some astute officials remarked, "It looks a bit like an iron key for a large door..."
Yan Rongshi would then smile and say, "Indeed it does. I'm currently investigating it."
Within a few days, officials who frequented the Ministry of Justice had all heard that Young Lord Yan had an important piece of evidence that he valued greatly, carrying it with him wherever he went and studying it from time to time.
When Eleventh Young Master came to the Ministry of Justice, he also examined the iron lump briefly.
"The edges have all melted. Have you had an artisan make an exact replica?"
"Yes."
In front of the many curious onlooking officials in the office, Yan Rongshi pulled open a small drawer beside the long table and took out a heavy iron key.
"I engaged the best craftsmen from the Ministry of Works to try various methods to restore it. Based on the possible restorations, they made three replica keys. One of them should be able to open the big lock."
He handed the three iron keys to Eleventh Young Master, sighing with regret: "It's just a pity that although we've found the key, we don't know where the corresponding copper lock is, or what it's locking away."
Eleventh Young Master examined them carefully: "Such heavy keys, they're likely for a warehouse."
"They do indeed look like warehouse keys," Yan Rongshi agreed.
Eleventh Young Master had been investigating at the Ministry of War these past few days to the point of obsession. Holding the three iron keys and thinking of the stolen weapons, he blurted out without thinking: "An entire warehouse of weapons disappeared from the Ministry of War! Your key..."
Yan Rongshi cut him off before he could finish, glancing at the surrounding officials who had all perked up their ears.
"There's no proof. The case of stolen weapons is serious and concerns national security. We can't investigate based on rumors and speculation."
His admonition was reasonable, and the topic was dropped there.
But quite a few people present had heard Eleventh Young Master's half-sentence, and rumors still spread through unofficial channels.
Two or three days later.
After the morning court session ended, Yan Rongshi stayed behind as usual. The chief judges from the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Punishment, and Censorate had an audience with the Emperor to report in detail on the recent progress of the major case of stolen weapons.
Yan Rongshi's report from the Ministry of Justice showed little progress compared to a few days ago.
After listening at the imperial throne, the Emperor suddenly asked: "I've heard that recently, Lord Yan obtained an important piece of evidence, seemingly a key to open some warehouse. It's extremely crucial, and you carry it with you day and night? Why didn't Lord Yan mention this?"
Since the Emperor asked directly, Yan Rongshi naturally produced it on the spot.
The half-melted iron lump was thus displayed before the imperial presence.
Yan Rongshi glossed over Ying Xiaoman, only mentioning Zhuang Jiu in his speech.
There used to be a large merchant household in the capital that sold rose water. They ordered their trusted servant Zhuang Jiu to deliver fifty taels of silver to Yuqing Tower. Fang Xiang, the manager of Yuqing Tower, had been doing business in the capital for many years but never saw Zhuang Jiu arrive.
Just as Fang Xiang confessed to this old matter, an old fifty-tael silver ingot appeared in the capital, used by a tenant as rent payment. When the landlord melted the silver, an iron key unexpectedly melted out from inside. He obtained it by chance and kept it with him.
"As I was recording the testimony about the fifty taels of silver, a fifty-tael old silver ingot appeared before me. It was such a coincidence, almost as if there was some hidden meaning from fate."
"Iron inside silver is rare, and it looked like a warehouse key. So I kept it with me, examining it often. My thoughts were actually the same as many others - what if... the large batch of stolen iron weapons were hidden in some unknown warehouse. What if the iron key hidden in the silver ingot was the key to open that warehouse?"
Yan Rongshi spoke humbly: "But I also knew that my idea had no leads and was just wishful thinking. Hiding iron or copper inside silver ingots is actually a common practice of many wandering magicians. Pinning hopes on an iron key would be like searching for a needle in the sea, so I dared not report it to Your Majesty."
The Emperor understood and turned to speak to Prime Minister Zheng standing beside the throne.
"So it was an iron key that melted out of an old silver ingot used by commoners as rent payment. It really has no connection to the case of weapons stolen from the Ministry of War. No wonder Lord Yan wouldn't mention it."
Prime Minister Zheng stroked his beard and smiled: "Young Lord Yan is cautious and astute, truly a pillar of the state."
The Emperor pointed at Yan Rongshi and remarked with feeling: "When his grandfather, Minister Yan, was still alive, he brought young Yan to the palace for a New Year's Eve banquet. Yan was only eight years old then, right? Minister Yan praised him in public as 'my family's qilin child'. I was present and remember it clearly! More than ten years have passed in the blink of an eye..."
The topic drifted into casual conversation from there.
The several high officials present took turns holding and examining the melted iron key, chatting and joking as they imagined possibilities. Finally, Prime Minister Zheng played with it for a moment before returning it to Yan Rongshi.
"Keep it safe, Young Lord Yan," Prime Minister Zheng said with a subtle smile. "Even if it's like searching for a needle in the sea, it's not completely impossible. Perhaps the many iron weapons stolen from the Ministry of War are right now quietly sitting in some warehouse somewhere in the world, just waiting for Young Lord Yan's key to open it and bring them back into the light of day."
Yan Rongshi also smiled faintly as he took back the iron lump and tucked it into his sleeve, saying lightly:
"Prime Minister Zheng jests."
That evening, Yan Rongshi brought a freshly steamed lamb dish from the Ministry of Justice's kitchen to Ying's small courtyard, intending to say a few words and leave.
Elder Han had already come to propose marriage, and the two families had begun discussing the engagement. In well-to-do families in the capital, it was customary for the young couple to avoid meeting during this time.
The Ying family certainly didn't care about such rules, and Yan Rongshi couldn't bear to not see Ying Xiaoman for half a year.
But there were many noble families in the capital, and they would inevitably socialize during festivals and holidays. If they were too casual before the wedding, Xiaoman might have to hear gossip after marrying into the Yan family.
This was his plan when he came. But just as he handed the steamed lamb to Zhi through the door without even speaking, Ying Xiaoman pulled him into the small courtyard.
"Give me back the swaddling cloth," Ying Xiaoman said unhappily.
"I told you before, I only have my adoptive parents in the Ying family. Why did you take it upon yourself to investigate my birth parents?"
Regarding the swaddling cloth, Yan Rongshi had a different opinion.
He patiently explained: "It happened so long ago, we probably won't find out much. But we still need to investigate. Even if we only uncover a tiny clue, even if we find out but don't acknowledge them, we should still know what we can."
Ying Xiaoman asked in confusion: "If we're not planning to acknowledge them anyway, why investigate?"
Yan Rongshi held her fingertips, cold from the chilly wind, and kissed them gently. "Do you remember your mother's lingering concerns about the Zhang family from the neighboring village claiming kinship?"
Ying Xiaoman remembered clearly how her adoptive mother had cried miserably that night in Seven Scholars Lane.
"Your mother was troubled because she didn't know if the Zhang family's words were true or false, so the old lady kept worrying about it."
"The fact that you're the Ying family's adopted daughter is known to quite a few people. Last time it was the Zhang family from the neighboring village claiming kinship, what if next time it's the Li family or the Wang family? If you know clues about your birth parents, you can easily discern truth from falsehood and save your mother from unnecessary turmoil."
It made sense. Ying Xiaoman pondered this, and the topic of the swaddling cloth was dropped.
She held Yan Rongshi's hand and led him on a winding path through the small courtyard, weaving between the trunks and boxes.
"Look at all these trunks and boxes you sent over."
The Ying family had spent two days tidying up, with her adoptive mother organizing nervously. They had managed to find some trunks containing silk and gold and silver items that weren't easily damaged and stacked them in two layers. The valuable and fragile boxes were placed against the wall.
The crowded small courtyard finally had half its space cleared, enough for Zhi to run around.
Ying Xiaoman pointed at the packed courtyard: "Before sending them over, did you consider how small the courtyard is and that there'd be no room to walk?"
Yan Rongshi looked innocent. "For engagement gifts in the capital, this is the standard grand gesture - many trunks and boxes. Sixty-four carriers is nothing special."
"Really?" Ying Xiaoman was half skeptical.
"...Speaking of which, the trunks and boxes are difficult to transport," Yan Rongshi quickly changed the subject. "I previously bought two small houses in the west of the city, both empty now. When you have time, discuss with your mother if you want to send the trunks and boxes there to store for now."
This was what Ying Xiaoman and her adoptive mother had been thinking. They agreed on the spot, thus solving the problem of the courtyard full of trunks and boxes.
Yan Rongshi spoke up: "The main reason I came tonight was to discuss something with you all—"
Her adoptive mother came over carrying a large steaming bowl of milky white lamb soup, set it on the stone table, and warmly invited him:
"Seventh Young Master is here? Sit down and eat first, we can talk while eating."
The plan to just speak through the door and leave to maintain propriety clearly wouldn't work at the Ying household.
Tonight it was again the three adults and one child seated around the stone table, fishing out large bones from the hot lamb soup, paired with steamed lamb and a few small dishes, eating and drinking while talking.
Ying Xiaoman brought up Yan Erlang.
"He was only quiet for a few days? The man has been released again." She was very annoyed with Yan Erlang now.
"He comes straight to my butcher shop every time. Always asking me to cut three to five jin of minced meat, but he never takes it home to eat. Once, I was pushing my cart out back and saw with my own eyes that he threw the oiled paper package of minced meat on the roadside just a few steps away. Bah!"
She and her adoptive mother spat in anger together. They despised wasteful young masters who squandered good meat the most!
"Did Yan Erlang come looking for you again?" Yan Rongshi scooped some of the milky white lamb soup from his bowl.
"He recently overthrew his half-brother from the same father and regained his Imperial Guard Commander's badge. It's a double celebration for him, riding high on success. No wonder he came looking for you."
"Before he sought you out, did he already know about the engagement between our two families?"
Ying Xiaoman thought for a moment: "He knew early on. The first thing he asked about was you and me."
Yan Rongshi calmly continued drinking his soup.
After finishing half a bowl, he put down his spoon and said, "It's good that he knows. Xiaoman, he's been restored to his original position and even promoted a level. He's now the Chief Commander of the Imperial Guard, leading about a thousand men from the Tianwu and Longwu Imperial Guards. He's in charge of security and patrols in the capital."
"So what?" Ying Xiaoman said grumpily while drinking her soup. "Does that mean I can't beat him up in the alley anymore?"
"That's not a problem. You can still beat him up when you get the chance. What I mean is—"
Reaching the crucial point, Yan Rongshi pondered for a while before speaking.
"You'll be leaving the capital soon. Since Yan Erlang now holds the position of Imperial Guard Commander in charge of capital security and patrols, we can make use of him."
Ying Xiaoman: ?
Her adoptive mother also chimed in, puzzled: "We agreed to return to our hometown at the end of August. It's only August 20th now, still ten days away. We're still slowly preparing our luggage and packages. Seventh Young Master, don't rush on your end. Take your time with your case, don't tire yourself out."
Yan Rongshi gently thanked the elder for her concern and care.
Then he changed the subject: "But I came here specifically tonight to talk about this. The Ying family needs to leave the capital earlier."
"Don't wait until the end of August. The sooner you set out, the better."
Plop! A piece of lamb slipped from Ying Xiaoman's spoon. She quickly fished it out of the soup.
"Why do we need to leave early? We agreed..."
Yan Rongshi looked at her calmly.
The more important the matter, the more slowly it should be explained.
"We've found a breakthrough in the case of stolen weapons from the Ministry of War. The capital is starting to become unsafe."
"The Ying family is involved in this. The longer you stay, the more dangerous it becomes."
"If possible, please set out in the next day or two."
Ying Xiaoman: "..."
The situation was developing too quickly. Instead of asking questions immediately, she lowered her head and took a sip of soup.
Her adoptive mother's voice began to tremble: "How did our family get involved in this again? What does the case of stolen weapons from the Ministry of War have to do with us Yings?"
Yan Rongshi took out an iron nugget from his sleeve and placed it on the stone table.
Ying Xiaoman blurted out: "...The iron nugget from my father's silver ingot?"
"Exactly," Yan Rongshi put the iron nugget back in his sleeve. "I used it as bait, and it seems the big fish has taken the hook. This item is risky, so I'll keep it with me for now. But I'm worried about you all."
"The Ying family should leave the capital as soon as possible. Sui Miao will lead a team of skilled men to escort you. If Yan Erlang insists on following you, let him."
"Who cares about Yan Erlang," Ying Xiaoman had finally processed everything in her mind and her clear voice carried three parts anger and seven parts worry:
"What about you? If the capital is not safe, aren't you coming with us?"
"I can't leave," At this critical moment, Yan Rongshi's attitude was extremely calm and collected. He even made a small joke:
"Once things are settled here in the capital, I'll catch up with you on horseback. Don't worry, when we pay respects in the twelfth lunar month, this iron nugget will still be placed on my adoptive father's grave."
Although his words were comforting, the severity of the situation had been clearly explained.
Ying Xiaoman exchanged a glance with her mother, patting the hand of her visibly flustered adoptive mother reassuringly.
She decisively decided: "We'll pack our trunks tonight. Tomorrow we'll prepare the luggage, and the day after tomorrow, August 22nd, we'll set out early in the morning."