Chapter 9: Feng Gao’s Desired Confession
I was stunned.
His words held hidden meaning.
“Do you mean… this case is not going to be reopened?”
He swallowed the last bite of pastry, paced to the window, and opened and propped it up.
The night wind, carrying the scent of rain-soaked earth and fresh grass, rushed in.
I pulled my cloak tighter.
He looked out at the courtyard, smiled, and said, “Elder Sister, do not be anxious. This case will certainly be reopened. If the case is not reopened, how can Eunuch Cao’s crimes be sealed? His Majesty detests being deceived the most. The Eastern Depot is His Majesty’s trusted confidant. A confidant deceiving him is even more unforgivable than a minister deceiving him. Whether one is an imperial envoy or a death row inmate depends entirely on His Majesty’s mood.”
He turned his head, “The question is, how should this case be reopened, and how deeply should we dig? Elder Sister, do you understand what I mean?”
The cold wind brushed my face. I looked at his smile, which held an unfathomable meaning, and gradually understood.
Last time, why was he in Yangzhou?
How much did he participate in the case where the Eastern Depot colluded with Jianghuai officials to frame the Grain Intendant Xun?
He needed a confession.
But the confession had to be clean.
It didn’t matter how many people fell into the river; he had to get ashore.
Not only ashore, but he also needed to earn merit from it.
Top merit.
“Elder Sister, the petition was sent to the Capital via the Cheng Family’s cargo ship. You should know who smuggled it, right?” he looked at me.
I remained silent.
“And that Miss Xun, who wrote the imperial petition, the orphan of Lord Xun, she has been missing for many days. Where exactly did she go? When the case is reopened, will she say things that are unfavorable to me? These… are all worth discussing.”
I said, “Huaishi only wants to help Lord Xun reopen the case. He would never oppose you.”
Feng Gao walked closer to me.
“Elder Sister, why are you so certain? How much do you know about your new husband?”
Prefect Liu arrived with foot-washing water.
Feng Gao took the opportunity to sit down on a chair. In an instant, his face became unfamiliar again. Gloomy, cold. As if he were wearing a mask.
Prefect Liu bent down and removed his shoes and socks.
“Eunuch Feng, is the water hot?” Prefect Liu asked cautiously.
Feng Gao ignored him and only said, “The Cheng Family’s Eldest Master is a spineless coward. Once in prison, he spilled everything he knew. Ten grain ships went onto the Grand Canal, but upon reaching the Capital, they found the ships filled with stones. Where did the official grain go? The Cheng Family’s Eldest Master said he was terrified of the oppressive power of Eunuch Cao and Prefect Liu, and that night, he withdrew all the Canal Troops on the Grand Canal. He, well, he was unaware. At most, he was incompetent and derelict in his duty. It’s not a crime punishable by beheading.”
I turned my head and walked out.
The food box was left on the table.
Feng Gao said, “Elder Sister, rest assured, no matter what happens to the Cheng Family, I will not let you be harmed.”
My departure seemed to burn him.
He called out “Elder Sister—” twice.
I walked out of the Prefectural Office and sighed.
This case was too deep.
Where was Cheng Huaishi now?
Could he come and collude with Feng Gao?
He was so stubborn, not the type to bow his head and compromise.
But if water is too clear, there are no fish; if a person is too discerning, they have no followers. One must always leave a little room for ambiguity to protect oneself.
The night sky was starless.
Only deep and shallow blacks.
Like a pool of ink, it flowed in my heart. I dipped my brush in the ink, but could not write anything coherent.
The horse carriage drove towards the Cheng Residence.
Upon reaching Bright Moon Lake, the carriage stopped.
He Hua said to me, “Second Young Mistress, a young lady has stopped our carriage.”
I lifted the curtain and saw a young lady in a black dress looking at me. She was wearing a white ribbon on her head, indicating she was in mourning. She had an oval face, with no makeup. Her eyes held a sorrowful light, appearing delicate and refined.
My heart stirred: her appearance might be a turning point.
Seeing me, she bowed and said, “Madam Cheng.”
I alighted from the carriage and returned the bow, “Miss Xun.”
She said, “How did Madam Cheng know it was me?”
I said, “Before seeing the person, I heard the name. I have no relatives or friends in this Yangzhou Prefecture. The only one who would come to find me at this time is Miss Xun.”
She walked with me towards the lake.
She said, “Bright Moon Lake is most beautiful when there is a moon. Two-thirds of the world’s moonlight shines solely on Yangzhou. It’s a pity there is no moon tonight. Madam Cheng cannot see the beautiful scenery.”
“There will be many more days. It is good if the moon is in one’s heart.”
I looked at her, “Miss Xun, you probably didn’t come to stroll by the lake, did you? If you have something to say, please speak directly.”
“Madam Cheng, Second Master has already helped me and my father a great deal. Today, I heard the Eastern Depot went to the Cheng Residence. My heart is filled with worry. I truly cannot bear to see the Cheng Residence implicated because of me. I am willing to go to the Eastern Depot and explain things clearly. The petition was written by me, and I secretly smuggled it on the cargo ship. It has nothing to do with Second Master, and nothing to do with the Cheng Family.” As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes.
I thought for a moment and then subtly conveyed Feng Gao’s intentions to her.
The situation was not as bad as she thought.
However, the details of reopening the case needed careful consideration.
Lord Xun was gone, and as his orphan, her testimony was very important.
Feng Gao wanted the “merit” of solving the case and his “innocence” in His Majesty’s eyes.
After hearing my words, she lowered her head for a long time and said, “Although I deeply hate the Eastern Depot and disdain to associate with them, one must bow their head when under another’s roof. My father’s innocence is paramount. I am willing to do as Madam Cheng says. However…”
She paused and said, “I just cannot tell Second Master. He risked his life and worked so hard on this matter. He cannot tolerate any impurities. If he knew that he had to bow to the Eastern Depot to ensure safety, he would absolutely refuse.”
I remained silent.
The horse carriage returned to the Prefectural Office.
I took Miss Xun to see Feng Gao.
Prefect Liu was no longer there.
Feng Gao was lying on a large lounge chair. Seeing me return to see him, he quickly got up and said anxiously, “Elder Sister, are you angry with me?”
I said softly, “Does it matter if I’m angry with you? What’s important is that the matter is resolved smoothly.”
He held the food box I had left behind and said, “No, it’s most important that Elder Sister is not angry with me. If anyone else makes Elder Sister angry, I will kill him.”
His thin lips were tinged with peach.
He said the clearly bloody words so childishly.
It was as if the word “kill” was just a common game to him.
I pointed at Miss Xun and said sternly, “Feng Gao, stop playing around. Miss Xun is here to discuss the details of reopening the case with you.”
He took two steps back, put down the food box, and warily sized up Miss Xun.
Miss Xun bowed to him neither subserviently nor arrogantly.
They negotiated for several hours that night.
It didn’t end until midnight.
Feng Gao indicated the people she identified as those he wanted to implicate.
Feng Gao indicated the people she did not identify as those he did not want to implicate.
In Miss Xun’s confession, Feng Gao became a loyal and pure individual.
The confession was finalized.
As she left the Prefectural Office, Miss Xun’s face held no joy. It was as if, because of Feng Gao, the “innocence” she had long yearned for had a loophole, yet she had no choice.
She said to me, “Second Master is like a clear breeze; there is no one else in the world like him.”
I returned to the residence and did not sleep all night.
I sat at my desk and painted peonies.
Stroke by stroke, intertwined.
The “Grain Intendant Xun” case once again caused a sensation in Yangzhou Prefecture.
Prefect Liu and over a dozen officials were taken to the Capital.
Grain Intendant Xun’s injustice was redressed, and notices were posted throughout the city.
The seal on the Xun Residence was torn open, and Miss Xun was able to return home.
Cheng Cangshi, the Eldest Young Master of the Cheng Residence, was dismissed from his position in the Canal Troops for “dereliction of duty and fear of superiors.” However, he was spared his life and allowed to return to the residence.
And Cheng Huaishi could finally return home openly.
The day he returned, the entire residence was shocked.
The servant boys shouted, “Second Young Master has returned from the dead!”
Everyone in the residence came out of the courtyards. Cheng Huaishi walked towards the Old Madam, knelt on the ground, and kowtowed three times, “Mother.”
The Old Madam pulled him up, touched his hands and face, and after confirming he was indeed alive, she hugged him and wept with great sorrow, “My son, it’s good that you are alive, it’s good that you are alive…”
Everyone was bewildered.
In the East Courtyard, the Eldest Brother, who had lost his official post, was sulking, and his wife smashed a teacup.
Hearing the commotion, Cheng Huaishi, fearing the Old Madam would be upset, said, “From now on, I will study diligently. In next year’s imperial examinations, I will surely achieve fame and restore the Cheng Family’s prestige.”
The Old Madam nodded, fingering her prayer beads, “Good, good. Hua’er’s ambition greatly comforts your mother’s heart.”
Cheng Huaishi helped the Old Madam to the North Courtyard and talked with her for a long time.
He answered everything the Old Madam asked in detail, only omitting the various dangers involved.
After a while, the Old Madam pointed at me and said, “Huaishi, while you were away, your mother arranged a marriage for you. It is Sang Yu from the Zhu Family of Dongchang Prefecture, arranged by your great-grandfather when you were young.”
Cheng Huaishi walked towards me, bowed, and called out, “Madam.”
My heart beat very fast.
My earlobes felt hot.
He was this close to me again.
I smelled the scent of Autumn Wild Tea on him, as if it were another lifetime.
Several of Cheng Huaishi’s fellow scholars heard that he was not dead and came to the residence to find him.
He went to greet them and treated them with courtesy.
I walked out of the manor gate and got into a horse carriage, heading for the ferry terminal.
Today was the day Feng Gao was returning to the Capital.
He stood at the ferry terminal, not boarding the ship, as if waiting for someone.
Seeing me, he smiled, “Elder Sister—”
“I… came to see you off. Thank you for letting my husband go,” I said.
This was the second time I had seen him off at the ferry terminal.
He stood with his hands behind his back in the setting sun.
His jade-like face was bathed in a soft glow.
“Elder Sister, do you still remember Guangyue Tower in Dongchang Prefecture?” he suddenly said.
I smiled, “I remember. It was a prosperous and lively place.”
He shook his head.
After a few pleasantries.
He boarded the ship.
Just as the ship set sail, he said sadly, “Elder Sister, do you really not remember me anymore?”
