Chapter 25: Bringing News
Xiao Yi had heard of Bianliang’s prosperity in the Song Dynasty and its all-night night markets, but Kaifeng City was dark and quiet at this moment.
The occasional sound of the watchman’s clapper and the hoofbeats of the Imperial Guard patrolling the streets only heightened the sense of impending danger.
He turned into a small alley and stepped onto Madai Street, his official boots making clear sounds on the hard, compacted earth.
Soon, he encountered the first patrol.
They eyed him from a distance and, instead of questioning him, moved away slightly.
Xiao Yi had intended to ask them, “Why are you hiding from this official? Are you up to something illicit?”
Then he thought better of it, deciding it was unnecessary and could backfire.
After walking a bit further, he met a second group, but this time, he wasn’t so lucky.
“Halt! Who goes there at this hour?!”
Xiao Yi stopped and saw a junior officer approaching with a lantern.
He raised his chin slightly, his voice carrying a subtle, appropriate hint of impatience and reserve, saying, “I am Xiao Yi, a Secretary Province Textual Editor, under urgent orders from my superior to deliver documents.”
“The documents?”
Xiao Yi produced the letter from Li Fang to Guo Wei.
As expected, the junior officer glanced at it, did not open it, and scrutinized him, saying, “Scholar Xiao is quite young.”
“Do you think I’m like you, born to suffer?” Xiao Yi retorted with a phrase someone had once said to him.
The junior officer looked sheepish but remained vigilant, asking, “I was wondering why Scholar Xiao isn’t sending someone else to deliver the letter? Why are you traveling at night without an escort?”
That question hit the mark.
It wasn’t that Xiao Yi or Li Fang had been careless, but rather that they had no trusted escort.
Xiao Yi took out his official document from his robes. He didn’t bother to fully unfold it, revealing a corner with a vermilion seal, and casually said, “This official is in a mood for a stroll. Does it concern you?”
“It’s not that I’m trying to make things difficult for Scholar Xiao, but the city is under strict curfew tonight…”
“Oh?”
Xiao Yi seized the opportunity to interrupt, turning the tables and asking proactively, “I also noticed something was amiss. If my mentor asks later, what should I say happened?”
“Nothing.”
“With so much commotion at night, it must be something big.”
“I told you, nothing!” The junior officer frowned, impatiently stepped aside, and waved him on, “Scholar Xiao, don’t delay. You may go.”
Xiao Yi showed a hint of reluctance, stared at the man for a moment longer, and then departed with a composed, unhurried official gait.
Once out of the patrol’s sight, he quickened his pace.
Finally, beneath the silhouette of the Great Xiangguo Temple, a courtyard house came into view.
The Guo Residence.
The vermilion gate was tightly shut and eerily silent.
Xiao Yi did not knock. Instead, he walked nearly halfway around the wall, found a spot convenient for climbing, and tossed his hook rope (used for hanging cured meat) to easily ascend.
Looking around, he saw it was the east wall of the Guo family’s back garden, and he proceeded towards the main house.
The back garden had some landscaping. In the center, a small open space showed signs of martial arts practice, with wooden stakes and stone locks. However, a child’s outer robe was hanging on a stone lock, likely forgotten after playing. Near the wooden stakes, crooked lines were drawn for a hopscotch game.
Xiao Yi bypassed a wooden frame used for Cuju. Ahead, a swing hung from a corridor beam. On a bench, a basket of needlework and an unfinished sheepskin coat were left carelessly, with roasted chestnuts scattered nearby.
This family was forgetful, but warmer than the Shi Residence.
Feeling a bit lost, he saw a side room lit by a lamp in the distance and headed that way.
As he got closer, he could faintly hear voices.
“Heh heh, you picked a good spot. How will you get around this move? This game is brilliant, isn’t it?”
“Watch this! Open! Haha, that was a bold move. If you dare touch this piece, I’ll capture it.”
“Heaven bless, Earth bless, Open! Five? Five! Bring it back, it’s all mine.”
“Want to play more? I’m out of money.”
“Here, I’ve got it all ready. Third Brother, just sign this IOU.”
“Eight percent monthly interest? You might as well rob me.”
“Sign it, Third Brother, or who will do the kneeling punishment for you? You still have to kneel for another half a month.”
“Sigh, my knees are so sore.”
“You asked for it for being lecherous.”
“It wasn’t lechery! That Khitan female captive said she wanted to see my dagger, so I showed it to her…”
Xiao Yi reached the door and looked inside through a gap in the window.
First, he saw a memorial tablet inscribed with “Position of Grand Tutor, Honored Deceased Duke Guo.” On the ground, a boy was kneeling on one side, playing backgammon with a girl who was kneeling.
Xiao Yi recognized the boy as Guo Xin, the Guo family’s third young master.
The girl had not yet reached her capping ceremony. She wore her hair in pigtails, adorned with small golden floral hairpins. Her outfit was a silk brocade jacket with a light grey squirrel fur collar. Her skin was smooth, and her eyes were lively… judging by her age, clothing, and demeanor, she was likely Guo Wuniang.
She was gathering all the scattered copper coins on the ground towards herself, her eyes bright with joy, shaking her head, but not forgetting to admonish Guo Xin.
“Regardless, Third Brother caused a big problem. That startled horse almost killed us.”
“Bringing that up again.” Guo Xin secretly reached for the copper coins. “Give me some. Let’s play another round. Your savings are useless anyway.”
“Take your hands off. Hmph, I’m saving money to forge a dagger. If you dare marry me off to Shi Erlang, I’ll stab him and become a happy widow… Huh? Who’s there?”
“I’m kneeling!” Guo Xin was startled and quickly resumed his kneeling posture, shouting without turning his head, “I’ve been kneeling the whole time, I haven’t gotten up!”
Guo Wuniang hastily scooped up the backgammon pieces and copper coins with a cloth and ran for the door.
Xiao Yi had only knocked twice. Seeing the two suddenly erupt into action, he quickly used his sword’s scabbard to press on Guo Wuniang’s shoulder, saying, “Wait a moment, I have something important…”
“Go!”
Guo Wuniang ducked her body and was about to flee when she suddenly exclaimed, “Huh?” and turned back.
Her eyes scanned Xiao Yi from head to toe. She was startled and shouted, “There’s a thief!”
With that, she swung her small fists at him.
Xiao Yi lightly dodged and said, “Is that the Guo family’s third young master inside? Please turn around.”
“I know I was wrong. I’m reflecting properly. It was Wuniang who insisted on gambling… Huh? Is that you?!”
“It’s me.”
“Wuniang, stop! Look carefully, he’s your savior.”
“Ah!”
Guo Wuniang’s momentum was too great, and she almost fell to the ground.
Xiao Yi reached out, grabbed her by the back of her collar, and lifted her up.
Guo Wuniang looked somewhat embarrassed, covering her face with her hands and muttering, “Who knew you’d become an official? I didn’t recognize you.”
While the siblings were fooling around, Xiao Yi spoke with utmost seriousness, “I have something important to tell you. Please inform Madam Chai and Guo Erlang.”
Guo Wuniang then curtsied to him and, without a word, turned and ran off.
“You can tell me too.” Guo Xin was still kneeling and said, “It’s just inconvenient for me to stand up. You’ll have to come over and tell me.”
Xiao Yi said, “The Shi Residence has been destroyed and their family wiped out. The Guo family is in grave danger. Third Brother, you must…”
“Ah? Then I can’t make decisions. Wait, I’ll go find Second Brother. Ouch!”
Guo Xin was so startled he stood up, rubbed his numb legs, and staggered away.
A group of guards carrying lanterns hurried over and asked, “Third Brother, was there a thief?”
“It’s a misunderstanding.”
While they were speaking, Guo Xin ran past the courtyard gate.
Xiao Yi was left to confront the guards, enduring their vigilant gazes.
The Guo siblings’ antics had interrupted his tense mood. He calmly considered, realizing he had underestimated the situation.
Would the Guo family believe his account based solely on his word?
Even if they believed him, they might still hold onto a sliver of hope, thinking the Shi family’s troubles wouldn’t extend to the Guo family.
To flee with the entire household in the middle of the night required extreme decisiveness and immense courage.
————————
“Second Brother is here.”
Finally, Guo Xin ran back quickly, with Guo Tong following behind him.
Guo Tong had clearly just gotten out of bed. He was wearing only an inner shirt, with a casual robe thrown over it, his hair slightly disheveled, but his eyes were sharp and clear, betraying no sleepiness.
Xiao Yi strode forward, about to speak.
Guo Wuniang also trotted over and said crisply, “Second Brother, Mother wants you to talk in the Flower Hall.”
“Let’s go.”
Guo Tong grabbed Xiao Yi’s upper arm and they hurried to the Flower Hall.
Upon arrival, Chai Shouyu was already seated at the head of the table.
She appeared calm and composed, dressed in a dark, everyday robe, covered by a brocade cloak. Her hair was styled simply, without any ornaments, yet it was perfectly neat.
“Mother! The Shi family…”
“What’s the rush?”
Chai Shouyu gently chided her son and then turned to Xiao Yi, saying, “Xiao Yi, thank you for bringing the urgent message tonight. Wuniang, serve the tea. No need for servants.”
She didn’t mention Xiao Yi scaling the wall to enter. She glanced at his official robe, seemingly understanding the gravity of the situation more clearly, and instructed the guards to stand outside the door.
Xiao Yi, racing against time, waited until the guards withdrew. He immediately bowed and said, “Madam, Second Young Master, the Emperor has acted against the Grand Tutor. Commander Nie Wenjin of the Imperial Guard’s Right Wing has defected. Kaifeng Mayor Liu Zhu is suspected of betrayal. The Shi Residence has already been raided and confiscated. The next step will likely be to purge those closely associated with the Shi family. The Guo family must not be complacent.”
“Is this true?” Guo Tong asked. “What proof do you have?”
“I just escaped from the blood-soaked, corpse-filled Shi Residence with my own eyes.”
Hearing this, Chai Shouyu’s eyes darkened, like the depths of an ancient well.
Guo Tong pondered for a moment, his face gradually turning pale, his fists clenched.
Xiao Yi was worried that Guo Tong might press him for details about his escape. It wasn’t that he minded the details themselves, but he didn’t want to involve Li Tao before reaching Ye Du.
“If that’s the case, I understand. Thank you!”
Guo Tong clasped his fists, his chest heaving visibly a few times. His eyes gradually became resolute, displaying a sense of responsibility beyond his years.
He strode out, his voice lowered but carrying an irrefutable aura of command, and began giving orders to the guards.
“Deliver orders: All entrances are to have double guards. Archers are to be on the walls. Without my command, no one is to enter or leave. Anyone who attempts to force entry or peek inside shall be killed!”
“Yes!”
“Send two men out of the residence to ascertain the situation and report back as soon as possible. Muffle their horses’ hooves.”
“Yes…”
Hearing this, Xiao Yi’s taut nerves finally relaxed a little.
Regardless of the outcome tonight, the difference between the Guo family and the Shi family was now clearly visible.
