Chapter 101: Thumb Ring
The news that Chu Xin was already dead quickly spread out.
He himself was knocked unconscious, covered with coarse cloth, and carried out of the prison.
Yan Bei had brought people to handle everything. Among the onlooker officials, someone saw a familiar black mole on the back of a hand peeking out from under the coarse cloth, immediately slipped into the crowd, and left while no one was paying attention.
Most of the Chu Family still did not know about this.
Only after Chu Xuan returned and came to the study to report to Chu Ying did the atmosphere in the study show an unusual oppression.
“Saw it with your own eyes?” Chu Ying asked.
Chu Xuan nodded: “Yes, saw it with my own eyes.”
Chu Ying’s throat moved slightly. He waved his hand: “Got it.” Then he looked outside the door: “It’s already past 9 PM. Go see if the second young master has returned.”
Chu Xuan silently walked out and closed the door for him from outside the door.
Chu Ying let out a long breath and leaned back in his chair.
Not long after, the door was pushed open again.
Chu Rui, drenched all over,
“This is a good opportunity. That plan you mentioned can begin now!”
Chu Ying paused for a moment first, then immediately straightened up: “She came out? How long ago?”
“It was just now, not even the time it takes to drink a cup of tea! When I came back, they were just handling Chu Xin’s corpse in the prison. It definitely won’t be long before they leave the yamen!”
Chu Ying stood up, his originally listless body now tensing up, even his hands that usually held a brush now clenched into fists!
“Have you given all the instructions before taking action? Have you told them all what they should do?”
“I’ve told them all!” Chu Rui was still panting even at this point. He turned his head to glance at the night outside: “It’s still raining outside. There are fewer people walking on the street than usual. Even the government officials on patrol duty have been drawn over by the commotion at the Supreme Court!
“This rain has been falling for two days now, and it doesn’t look like it will stop anytime soon. By then, footprints, bloodstains, and such can all be washed away. Right now is indeed the best opportunity!”
Chu Ying walked to the window, looking at the rain under the eaves illuminated by the lights into dense silver threads, and gritted his teeth: “How long will it take you to make your move and lure her to beside the moat?”
Chu Rui thought for a moment: “Although the journey is not far, this woman is very alert, and Yan Bei is still by his side, so it will probably take some effort—a full hour!”
“Good!” Chu Ying said, “Arrange it. On one hand, lure the people over there; on the other hand, send people to stake out beside the moat.
“Leave a few people to contact along the way, and have someone come back to tell me every step of the progress!”
Chu Rui said yes.
“Hold on!” Seeing that he had already stepped over the threshold, Chu Ying called him back again: “Call the third one over too! If there’s a situation, you two discuss and handle it. In short, absolutely no mistakes allowed!
“One hour later, arrive at the agreed place beside the moat, immediately draw her into the trap, don’t hesitate!”
Chu Rui nodded emphatically, turned around, and went out again.
He was a wealthy young man raised on the Sage’s Books since childhood, rushing back and forth all night, his steps already somewhat staggering, yet he still showed no hesitation whatsoever.
Chu Ying suddenly felt a few degrees of sorrow in his heart, as if the cold rain had drenched not only the mud on the ground, but also the glory and decorum accumulated by the Chu Family over several generations.
“Come here!”
He shouted in a deep voice.
The butler outside the door quickly walked in: “Master!”
He quickly penned a few lines, sealed it, and handed it to him: “Have the guards deliver it to the Grand Tutor’s Mansion immediately; it must be presented in person!”
The butler withdrew, both startled and suspicious.
Chu Ying stayed inside the room and paced two circles. Seeing the wind shake the room so the lamplight flickered wildly, he slammed the window shut and sat down in the quiet of the room.
On such a cold and rainy day, which household doesn’t close their doors after nightfall and gather around the stove to drink tea and pass the time.
When Yue Tang and the others were rushing to the Supreme Court, in the Grand Tutor’s Mansion, under the eaves marked by the traces of time, Mu Chang, who had finished dinner with his wife, was also in the warm pavilion with his fifteen-year-old eldest daughter Mu Shuyun, who had arrived at the mansion from Jiangling only in the evening, watching her paint with brush in hand.
Old Madam Mu was picked up half a year ago by her daughter who is married in Jiangling to stay for a short while, and has only just returned.
After a long separation, they reunited, and for the moment, no one felt sleepy.
Beside him, the thirteen-year-old second son Mu Yuan pointed at the two parrots painted by his elder sister and teased, “Mother, look, this bird that Elder Sister painted looks to me just like the ducks swimming in our back lake.”
Yun’er pretended to be angry as she picked up the brush and tapped it on his forehead: “Usually you pick on Elder Sister, but now you dare to provoke me too? Father, Mother, you don’t even say anything to him!”
Madam Mu watched her children playing around like this and laughed first: “Yuan’er deserves a beating. He’s impudent and disrespectful in front of his elder sister, and he even talks nonsense.
“Your elder sister learned painting at six years old, and this painting skill was passed down from the renowned Teacher. Even Teacher praised her as his proudest disciple, yet you say her painting doesn’t resemble it?”
“Oh dear, so it turns out our family has produced a great talented woman! It was this little brother who was blind, I deserve a slap on the mouth!”
Mu Yuan lightly slapped his own mouth twice, then went to his mother’s side and acted spoiled: “Father and Mother favor Elder Sister. At six years old, you found her the world-famous painting master. Why, when this son just wants to follow Academician Liao to learn composing lyrics, does Father always refuse?”
Madam Mu heard this and turned her head to look toward her husband.
Mu Chang sat cross-legged on the couch, smiling faintly as he looked at his children: “Elder Sister was able to study under a famous teacher because she has talent. You cannot, because you yourself have not done well in your articles.”
Mu Yuan acted spoiled with his mother again: “Father is still biased. Clearly, the teacher just praised me the day before yesterday, and said that if I prepare well for two years, I’ll most likely take first place in the next provincial exam.”
Madam Mu laughed and scolded, “How old are you now? Still so shameless, all spoiled rotten. Look at the Chu Family’s sons? Which one of them acts like you?”
“Master!”
When Mu Chang heard the words Chu Family, he had just begun to withdraw his smile when the maidservant under the door entered with a look of alarm: “Master, Advisor Lu from the outer courtyard has sent word to report to Master that something major has happened at the yamen. The Eldest Young Master of the Chu Family has just poisoned himself to death in the Supreme Court Prison!”
The laughter and cheerful voices inside the room stopped instantly.
Madam Mu’s smile froze on her face. Mu Yuan moved away from his mother, and Mu Shuyun, who was painting the parrot, smeared a stroke right over the parrot’s eye.
Mu Chang merely turned his head to glance at the maidservant, then got out of bed, put on his shoes, and stood up.
“Have Advisor Lu wait for me in the study.”
“What happened?” Madam Mu grabbed his arm from behind. “Does this matter concern us?”
Mu Chang turned around and gently patted the back of her hand. “You know the Chu Family has run into major trouble these past couple of days. As the Grand Tutor, I must look into it.”
Madam Mu then relaxed, took out a cloak and draped it over him, and said warmly, “It’s late at night. Put on an extra layer of clothes.”
Mu Chang patted his wife’s hand and nodded. “Yun’er has been through a tiring journey. Send her to rest early.”
Mu Shuyun also came forward. “Father has clearly been exhausted lately. Daughter saw upon returning that he has lost some weight. When Daughter sees the Emperor the other day, she must speak to him about it. He cannot torment his uncle-in-law like this!”
At this, she smiled playfully.
Mu Chang also lifted the corners of his lips. “Go to sleep.”
After saying this, he pulled his cloak tight and walked out.
The brother and sister accompanied Madam Mu to send him to the doorway. Mu Yuan then said, “Mother, isn’t the Du Family and Chu Family incident being handled by Prince Jingyang? Why does Father still have to work so hard?”
Madam Mu chided, “Because our Mu Family and the Emperor are one and the same. No matter how great Prince Jingyang’s power, in terms of closeness, how can it surpass the merit of our Mu Family raising the Son of Heaven for so many years?
“Father should naturally keep a closer eye on matters at the Imperial Court.”
At this, she put one arm around each of them. “Come on, Mother has already fumigated your rooms for you early on. Go rest quickly!”
The inner quarters were warm and peaceful, but once Mu Chang stepped out of the courtyard gate, his footsteps became both swift and heavy.
Advisor Lu Zhao, who had been by his side for more than twenty years, was already waiting in the outer study.
Lu Zhao came forward first. “Following the death of the Chu Family’s Eldest Young Master, a guard from the Chu Family has arrived with a letter, stating it must be personally delivered to the Grand Tutor. The man is now in the outer courtyard.”
Mu Chang stopped under the curtain. “Bring him in.”
Lu Zhao waved his hand, and the man soon entered.
Soaked through, but the letter he carried close to his chest was intact and undamaged.
“By order of my family’s master, this letter is to be delivered to the Grand Tutor!”
Mu Chang took it and looked it over twice. He asked him, “Where is your family’s master now?”
“The master is still in the residence. The Second Master and Third Master have already gone to handle matters as instructed.”
Mu Chang folded the letter and looked out into the rain curtain for a moment before saying, “You go to the outer courtyard and wait a bit first. Have a cup of tea to warm your body.”
The butler under the door stepped forward on his own to lead the guard away.
After the footsteps departed, Lu Zhao stepped forward. “As per the Grand Tutor’s instructions, before evening I had already spoken with the Commander of the Imperial Guards using the Emperor’s imperial decree. Under the name of maintaining order in the imperial city, we can at any time dispatch a hundred guards with the Grand Tutor’s hand order.
“My lord, shall we take action?”
Mu Chang glanced at him, pulled his robe tight, but instead walked slowly to sit down behind the desk, casually picking up the scroll on the table. “Do you think there’s any chance the First Prince is still alive?”
Lu Zhao was silent for a moment. “Back then, so many guards went into the water to track the First Prince’s whereabouts, and there was no result. I privately believe it’s more likely he’s dead than alive.”
Mu Chang turned a page of the book, his gaze falling on the paper, neither agreeing nor objecting.
Until the lamp wick crackled before him, he shifted his gaze. “Have the Chu Family’s guard take word back. Once the men we sent out lure the person out, come inform me immediately. I will dispatch men to provide support at once.”
Lu Zhao acknowledged and withdrew.
Mu Chang withdrew his gaze again and picked up the book on the desk once more.
The sound of the rain masked most of the sound of hoofbeats.
The guard brought Mu Chang’s words back to the Chu Family. Chu Ying then summoned the man Chu Rui had sent back, gave him detailed instructions, and sent him out again.
Finally, he put on wooden clogs, took up a conical hat, and headed toward the front gate.
Halfway there, he turned back for a glance, returned to the main courtyard, pushed open the room door, and walked toward Madam Chu, who was tossing and turning on the bed.
Madam Chu, who still did not know the news of “Chu Xin’s” death, tried to get up, but he pressed her down. “Sleep.”
Madam Chu looked at him in surprise and doubt. “Where are you going?”
“Out to handle some business.” Chu Ying stood up. “You’ve been married into the Chu Family for many years and haven’t had many good nights’ sleep. Tonight I won’t disturb you. Rest well.”
He turned and walked out the door, put on the conical hat, and stepped into the rain curtain.
……
Chu Xin’s side needed handling the aftermath. Yan Bei was not at ease leaving it all to the guards and decided to personally lead the team with Jiang Shao.
After Yue Tang had Wei Zhang spread fake news earlier, she also sent guards to stake out outside the Chu Family and Mu Family respectively. Not knowing if they would get any leads, the two parted at the yamen doorway.
Yue Tang looked back at the twenty or so guards behind her, then gripped her sword in hand and spurred her horse onto the street.
After autumn in the Capital City, there was generally less rain, but this rain was not heavy yet had lasted two or three days, which was quite rare.
At this time, the entire Capital City was shrouded in the night rain, with mist in the distance and lights on the corner towers of houses blurring into patches everywhere.
Even up close, there was very little that could be seen clearly.
Yue Tang tugged on the horse reins and walked two streets, then suddenly reined in the horse and turned around: “Back to the yamen!”
The guard closest to him said: “Could it be the princess has further instructions?”
“The yamen is safer than here! Wait until dawn to go back!”
Yue Tang waved to Wei Zhang. Wei Zhang nodded, then quickly ran a few steps ahead to scout the path.
Chu Ying couldn’t even abandon his own son, so his subsequent methods could not possibly be gentle.
She was already someone who had been ambushed once; since this night road was not absolutely necessary, she had no need to take risks.
A bird flew overhead. The flapping wings made an extremely abrupt sound.
Then Wei Zhang ahead suddenly reined in the horse reins: “Who goes there?!”
Yue Tang’s eyes fixed tightly on the shadowy figure crouching on the ground ahead, and she waved for the guards behind her to advance.
It was an injured man with blood on his body, holding a bundle in his hands. Facing Wei Zhang’s shout and the guards quickly surrounding him, he trembled and curled into a ball hugging the bundle.
Yue Tang sat on horseback, using the tip of her sword to lift his chin. She saw an utterly ordinary face, but his knees and palms were all damaged, already showing bloodstains.
“Quite the actor!” She sneered coldly, then glanced around before sheathing her sword. “Leave two people to tie him up and take him back to the yamen!”
“Madam, spare my life! This commoner, this commoner is a good citizen, a good citizen!…”
“Gag his mouth!”
Yue Tang gave the order without another word and continued forward with her men.
This person had the sneaky appearance of someone setting out on a long journey, and he spoke authentic Bianjing dialect, yet claimed to be a good citizen?
At this crucial moment, for such a person to appear—how could there be no trickery! Moreover, in the dead of night, the birds in the woods had been startled, so there was most likely an ambush in hiding; the safest course was to withdraw quickly.
It didn’t take much time to turn back along the original road; even the official who had escorted Yan Bei out earlier hadn’t had time to leave.
Yue Tang dismounted. “Official Li hasn’t left yet?”
The official under the door took out a sachet: “There was a sudden incident beside the moat. Just now someone came to report the case and brought this over. I was just about to gather troops to go check it out.”
Yue Tang looked at the bloodstain on the sachet upon hearing this: “What is it?”
“A thumb ring.”
Official Li had already taken out the thumb ring. “The person said it was picked up at the scene. This thing is clearly no ordinary item, and over there several people were surrounding one person to kill him—I can’t delay!”
With that, he cupped his fists and was about to immediately lead the more than ten yamen runners already assembled under the steps away.
Yue Tang gazed at the thumb ring and suddenly shouted: “Hold on!”
She looked up with an unusual expression on her face: “I’ll go with you!”
