Chapter Thirty-Five: The Crimson Veil Palanquin Glides Beneath the Moon

Half an hour later, Bao Xi appeared once more. He entered the room and seated himself on the meditation cushion opposite Xu You, his expression tinged with displeasure. Xu You personally poured him a cup of clear tea and handed it over, saying, “Why does Chief Clerk Bao seem agitated?”

Bao Xi accepted the cup, thanked him, and after a moment’s silence said, “I must apologize, my lord. My efforts have yielded nothing; I failed to reconcile the matter.”

Zhan Ting’s schemes this time were backed by Du Jingzhi. Though he had some scruples about Gu Yun, he was not one to compromise easily. It was within Xu You’s expectations that Bao Xi would encounter resistance in his mediation.

Xu You had already planned that if Bao Xi proved unable to resolve the dispute, and Zhan Ting pressed further, he would simply move to the guesthouse. From any perspective, there was no reason to remain here; otherwise, every meal and drink would have to be taken with utmost caution.

By doing so, he would essentially dig a pit for Zhan Ting, forcing him to offend Gu Yun indirectly. If conflict ever arose from meddling in the Zhan clan’s disputes, the county of Qiantang would surely stand by Xu You. Even if they could not openly oppose Du Jingzhi, covert support would suffice to aid Xu You.

Xu You put on a look of surprise and said, “Zhan Wuqu is quite bold, to ignore even the personal visit of Chief Clerk Bao?”

Bao Xi felt slightly embarrassed and forced a smile. “The Zhan clan is a noble family in Qiantang, wealthy and powerful. It’s not unusual for them to disregard me. Yet Zhan Ting has never been so aggressive before; I truly don’t know why he insists on crossing you, my lord.”

Xu You laughed lightly. “Perhaps Zhan Wuqu simply doesn’t like the look of me. Since things cannot be settled peacefully, I must yield and move to the guesthouse. Surely, in vast Qiantang, there is more than one inn fit for a traveler.”

Bao Xi hastily replied, “There’s no rush. Let me report to Magistrate Ming and wait for his decision before making arrangements.”

Xu You looked hesitant. “Really, it’s nothing serious. There’s no need to trouble Feiqing over this. I’ll just change inns—it’s a trivial matter.”

“It’s not as you say. If word gets out that you suffered grievance in Qiantang County, it’s Magistrate Ming’s reputation that will be harmed.”

Reputation, in these times, is a precious tool; anyone with ambition seeks to bolster it. So when Bao Xi mentioned this, Xu You could not refuse further and said, “Then, I shall await your good news, Chief Clerk Bao.”

Bao Xi cupped his hands in salute and was about to leave when, outside the courtyard gate, a loud crash sounded. He frowned, “What’s happening?”

Xu You said helplessly, “I fear Zhan Wuqu cannot wait even a moment longer. Chief Clerk, let us put this matter to rest—I’ll comply and move to the guesthouse at once.”

Bao Xi snorted coldly, “I’ll go see. Is Zhan Ting truly so audacious?”

His anger was rising; he no longer used honorifics, addressing Zhan Ting by name. He strode over and opened the door. In the courtyard stood a dense crowd of forty or fifty men, blades flashing in their hands, their violent energy overwhelming.

Zhan Ting was at the front. Seeing Bao Xi, he showed no fear and said, “Chief Clerk Bao, forgive my rudeness!”

Anger showed in Bao Xi’s brow as he walked straight up to Zhan Ting. “What are you intending?”

“May I ask, Chief Clerk, is the guesthouse a property of the Zhan clan?”

“It is. What of it?”

“Since it is ours, naturally I decide who stays and who leaves. The county yamen refuses to act for the people, so I shall do so myself. Tonight, no matter who comes, those in this courtyard must get out!”

Bao Xi rebuked him, “Zhan Ting, you must not speak nonsense. Who told you the county yamen does not serve the people?”

“I have eyes and ears, I observe and listen. First, they failed to clarify their papers, then they injured Dou Qi and others. They reported to the authorities, and Zheng the constable took the culprit away. Yet moments later, he swaggered back in. You, as chief clerk of Qiantang County, try to mediate and expect me to apologize? Is there such reason in the world?”

“No, none at all!”

“Qiantang County is partial—Chief Clerk Bao is partial!”

The crowd behind him echoed in unison, their momentum startling. Bao Xi pointed at Zhan Ting, enraged. “Zhan Ting, you bring so many, armed, do you intend rebellion?”

Zhan Ting laughed heartily. “Chief Clerk Bao, you are but County Governor Gu’s hound. You’re far from weaving charges against me. These are all my clan’s retainers—who has ever heard of one’s own men entering one’s own courtyard, and it being called rebellion? Let me tell you, don’t think you can cover the sky with one hand in Qiantang. If you anger me, I’ll submit a petition to the Prefecture, let Magistrate Liu investigate just how much you’ve taken in bribes, committing such acts of perverting truth and turning black into white!”

Xu You, He Ru, and Zuo Wen came out from the house, standing on the steps to watch Bao Xi and Zhan Ting quarreling. Xu You whispered with a smile, “Well, in such a short time, Zhan Wuqu’s eloquence seems to have improved quite a bit…”

He Ru’s sharp eyes were fixed on a dark, thin, short man standing beside Zhan Ting. “It’s not his eloquence that’s improved—the expert has arrived.”

Xu You swept his gaze over. “It seems we’re of one mind. But is he Du Jingzhi’s man, or from the Prefecture?”

“The Prefecture’s target is Guo Mian; they wouldn’t bother with Zhan clan’s affairs—he must be sent by Du Jingzhi, no doubt.”

“That makes sense. Its wings—shall we guess who he is?”

Zuo Wen clicked his tongue. “My lord, isn’t this deliberately making things hard for Lord He? Du Jingzhi has countless strange talents under him—how could we guess?”

He Ru smiled. “It’s not necessarily impossible. The Tianshi Dao’s Yangzhou office, below the Libationer, has two Chief Ministers, five Chief Spirits, and numerous officers of varying ranks. To be sent to Qiantang to assist Zhan Ting, he must at least be of the Spirit rank. Among Yangzhou’s five Chief Spirits, only one matches this man’s small, thin build—it must be Li Yifeng, the Ghost-Catching Spirit.”

Every office of Tianshi Dao has five Chief Spirits: the Spirit of Prayers, the Spirit of Plague Removal, the Spirit of Disaster Relief, the Spirit of Departed Souls, and the Spirit of Ghost-Catching.

Zuo Wen was still half doubtful, but Xu You sighed, “Its wings, your wisdom is beyond mine. This man is indeed Li Yifeng!”

Now it was He Ru’s turn to be surprised. “You recognize him, Seventh Lord?”

Xu You gazed at Li Yifeng from afar. Li’s eyes were cast down, unaware of him, his expression tinged with remembrance and sorrow. “Years ago, I accompanied my late father to Mount Heming, and was treated by Grand Libationer Li Changfeng. Among his attending disciples, one was Li Yifeng. I never expected that after a few years, he’d become Yangzhou office’s Ghost-Catching Spirit.”

He Ru and Zuo Wen knew he was recalling past events in Yixing. They exchanged a glance and remained silent. National and family feuds are engraved with blades in a man’s heart—water cannot wash them away, fire cannot melt them, only death brings respite. No words of comfort can ever suffice; only silent endurance, waiting in hiding for the moment when the plot reveals the dagger, to take heads and destroy clans, writing those blood-soaked words with yet more blood.

Bao Xi was about to lose control of the situation. Xu You gathered his thoughts, his fathomless eyes glimmering with a faint light. “Now that things have reached this point, Zhan Ting has no retreat; from now on, he’s bound tightly to Du Jingzhi. Win or lose, Qiantang County will have no place for him, and we need not remain in the guesthouse any longer.”

He Ru said, “Seventh Lord, have you considered why Zhan Ting is so eager to drive us out?”

“Zhan Ting originally wanted Zheng the constable to lock us in the county jail. When that failed, he sought another path. If I’m not mistaken, once we leave tonight, wherever we stay, Zhan Wuqu is confident he can make us vanish into the night without a trace—Tianshi Dao boasts many experts; relying on Fenghu alone is insufficient to withstand them. Most importantly, once the deed is done, he can distance himself—it won’t have happened at the guesthouse, leaving no evidence…”

“Since you see through it so clearly, why follow their plan?”

“Because their plan has a fatal flaw. Zhan Ting can never imagine that Gu Feiqing will invite me to share the couch for a night’s conversation… Ha! Tonight, is there anywhere in Qiantang safer than the county yamen’s main hall?”

He Ru lifted his head, gazed at the sky, and sighed. “You’ve thought of everything—what use am I, then? Seventh Lord, sometimes, if you pretended to be a bit more foolish, I’d be happier.”

Xu You walked over to Bao Xi, hands clasped behind his back, smiling. “Lord Zhan, isn’t it just asking us to leave? Is it necessary to bring so many men with torches and blades? Take care you don’t frighten the other guests and ruin your business.”

Seeing Xu You, Zhan Ting’s eyes seemed to spit fire. He said grimly, “Thank you, Lord Xu, for choosing this secluded courtyard. Even if someone screams, no one will hear.”

“Oh? So secluded? Doesn’t sound very safe. In that case, kindly step aside—we’d better find another place to stay.”

Li Yifeng, who had neither spoken nor raised his head, suddenly looked up when he heard the words “Lord Xu.” His gaze swept across Xu You’s face, an astonished look flashed, then he lowered his head again, saying nothing.

Zhan Ting glanced at Li Yifeng, saw he made no move, and burst out laughing. “Earlier, you refused a polite escort. Now, things won’t be so simple. Either my men throw you out, or you crawl out yourselves. Choose, Lord Xu.”

Seeing Li Yifeng feigning ignorance, Xu You did not attempt recognition. “Is that so? Lord Zhan, are you truly so ruthless?”

“Hmph!” Zhan Ting sneered. “Who do you think you are, to stand before me and beg for mercy?”

“And what are you? Snow Slave!”

Zhan Ting’s body trembled, as if hearing some terrifying voice. His face twisted in a mix of fear, hatred, confusion, and humiliation; even his teeth began to chatter.

The crowd parted. A bamboo sedan draped with red gauze, carried by eight burly men, slowly entered from outside.

Night fell. The shy moon half-concealed her face, casting a sliver of silver light upon the world. In this vulgar, filthy courtyard, the moonlight struck the red gauze of the sedan.

Crimson doors leaned against dusk, moonlight on the gallery like daylight,
A graceful shadow behind red gauze,
Fragrant sleeves brushing in the dark.