Cuiyu ran out of the alley, but Lin Yingying was already nowhere to be seen. She hurriedly grabbed two passersby to ask for directions and finally managed to get a general idea of where the prison was. Without hesitation, she rushed towards it.
She had to bring that fool Lin Yingying back! Writing a satirical poem was a grave offense! Why should she die along with that person? She must persuade Lin Yingying to come back!
Cuiyu squeezed through the crowd and had just reached the bridge when she was stopped.
“Why are you running around recklessly? Do you think you can disturb the princess’s carriage?”
Startled, Cuiyu quickly retreated.
Princess Huarong was used to grandeur in her daily life. Whenever she went out, her guards would clear the way. The crowd that had gathered to see the top scholar being sent to prison quickly moved back, making the already narrow arch bridge even more crowded.
Cuiyu, anxious and worried about Lin Yingying, backed away absentmindedly. A light rain had fallen in the latter half of the night before, leaving the bridge damp. In the crowd, the distracted Cuiyu was accidentally bumped by a half-grown child beside her. She slipped and, with a cry of alarm, fell off the bridge.
In an instant, the sound of a large splash mingled with the gasps of the crowd.
Princess Huarong frowned irritably and lifted the curtain to inquire. Upon learning that someone had fallen into the water, she didn’t think much of it, guessing it was caused by her guards clearing the way. She annoyedly muttered, “Troublesome,” and casually ordered a guard to fish the person out.
The guards of the princess’s residence were all highly skilled. Immediately, someone jumped into the water and pulled Cuiyu out.
Kang Momo, who was beside Princess Huarong, saw that the person pulled out of the water was a young woman. Worried that being soaked might compromise the girl’s reputation, she handed over a robe. Looking down at the still-frightened Cuiyu sitting on the ground, she said, “Go home.”
Then she casually tossed the robe at Cuiyu, as if doing charity.
Cuiyu had regained her composure by now. Not being a girl from a respectable family, she didn’t care much about being wet. She wiped the water off her face and bowed in the direction of Princess Huarong’s carriage, hastily saying, “Sorry to disturb the princess, and thank you, Princess!”
Then she stumbled to her feet, wrapping the robe thrown by Kang Momo around herself as she turned to run. She was in such a hurry that she didn’t even notice she had lost a shoe. She had to stop Lin Yingying from going to the prison!
Kang Momo shook her head and muttered disapprovingly, “So reckless…”
Princess Huarong was already quite impatient due to the delay. Just as she was about to drop the curtain, her gaze inadvertently fell on Cuiyu’s foot, which was missing a shoe. The woman’s delicate and fair foot made the triangular birthmark on her heel very prominent.
Princess Huarong paused and immediately called out, “Kang Momo!”
Kang Momo, thinking the princess was displeased due to the delay and about to lose her temper, hurried over. But Princess Huarong, after a moment of silent contemplation, ordered, “Find out everything about her! Immediately!”
Kang Momo was momentarily stunned. She followed the princess’s gaze, but Cuiyu had already disappeared into the crowd.
Cuiyu was completely unaware of what was happening on Princess Huarong’s side. She ran all the way to the prison, only to see many onlookers heading her way.
It turned out she was still too late. Jiang Yunche had already been detained, and Lin Yingying had resolutely followed him in.
Exhausted, Cuiyu sat down on the ground, looking at the gloomy prison in the distance, feeling lost. Could someone as lowly as her come up with a way to save them? Could she find some noble person to help?
No, there was no way, no noble person.
It was precisely because they were such insignificant people with no options that Lin Yingying had resolutely followed him in, right?
Cuiyu wiped the river water off her head and sat for a while longer. Once she regained her strength, she got up and slowly walked back, returning to pack up her stall.
—
Lin Yingying had a dream.
Although it was a dream, it was something that had truly happened. The dream was so clear, as if she was reliving those days again.
She had escaped from the bandits, stumbling and staggering.
The knife wound on her back burned painfully. Her face was covered in blood—someone else’s blood.
As she listened to the approaching footsteps of the bandits, she felt despair. Just as she hesitated about jumping into the raging river to gamble on a one-in-a-thousand chance of survival, she heard the sound of a cart.
That was a lifeline.
She mustered the last of her strength and ran desperately towards the passing carriage.
“Who goes there!” A guard drew his sword.
She didn’t know where the strength came from, but she tightly grasped the guard’s wrist, spat out the blood in her mouth, and trembled as she pleaded towards the carriage, “Save me, please save me!”
The carriage door was pushed open, and Jiang Yunche’s puzzled and surprised gaze fell upon her.
Lin Yingying stared at him, thinking that this scholarly-looking man might have a kind heart and save her! Then she hesitated, worrying that this frail scholar might get killed by the bandits because of her.
But she didn’t have time to think further as exhaustion and excessive blood loss made her faint.
The scene in her dream shifted.
On New Year’s Eve, she sat alone in the courtyard, staring blankly at the fireworks in the sky. She didn’t expect Jiang Yunche to come over. She carefully tried to please him, then cautiously asked, “Can I go home?”
Jiang Yunche was leisurely writing poetry. Hearing her, he smiled faintly and said, “If I really wanted to keep you here, do you think you could have contacted your sister?”
Lin Yingying took a half step back in surprise. So, he knew she had contacted Cuiyu. She carefully observed Jiang Yunche’s expression but didn’t see any displeasure. She tugged at his sleeve in a sweet, obedient manner and asked, “Aren’t you supposed to be staying up all night at the Marquis’s mansion?”
Jiang Yunche was silent.
After a long time, he finally said, “Yingying, wait a little longer.”
Wait for what? Was he going to leave after waiting a little longer? Probably. Lin Yingying didn’t want to delve too deeply into his words. She stood quietly by his side, watching his beautiful hands write beautiful words. She couldn’t help but ask, “What are you writing?”
“A love poem.”
Lin Yingying bit her lip and whispered, “I don’t understand.”
Jiang Yunche paused his writing, then pulled Lin Yingying into his arms, holding her hand as he finished the poem.
In her dream, Lin Yingying cried.
She was so foolish. Even though he had taught her once, she still found the love poem too difficult. She couldn’t understand it at the time and struggled to recite it, and now she couldn’t remember it at all.
The sound of chains woke Lin Yingying from her dream.
She opened her tear-filled eyes and saw the jailer delivering food, pushing it through the bottom opening. She immediately got up and went over, crouching down to pick up the chopsticks and sift through the food.
—There would be small stones in the food, and she had to pick them out for Jiang Yunche.
While Lin Yingying slept, Jiang Yunche watched her. He saw her cry in her dream and watched her rush over to the food the moment she woke up.
Looking at her slender back, Jiang Yunche asked, “When you were a concubine to Chen Anzhi, you were happy, laughing and singing. You didn’t seem desperate to escape.”
Lin Yingying’s hand holding the chopsticks froze. After a while, she lowered her eyes and continued picking through the food. She said, “I could be a concubine or mistress to any man in this world, but not to you.”
—
Cuiyu eventually went to seek out You Yuji. If she hadn’t been utterly desperate, she wouldn’t have come to ask for You Yuji’s help. She and Lin Yingying had already troubled You Yuji too much. Besides, this time the matter was so serious that even if she went to You Yuji, she didn’t have much hope.
She explained the situation to You Yuji, her face full of worry. “I don’t care whether that young marquis lives or dies! Sister, can you think of a way to get Yingying out?”
Cuiyu was on the verge of tears.
She had no family growing up; Lin Yingying was the closest thing to family she had in this world.
Sniffling, Cuiyu said dejectedly, “If the young marquis dies, even if we save Yingying, will she end up like Chunxing…”
Cuiyu shook her head vigorously. “No matter what, being alive is always better!”
You Yuji took her hand to comfort her. “Don’t worry, I’ll send someone to investigate what crime Marquis Anqing committed.”
Cuiyu nodded repeatedly.
Lady Jing immediately went out to have someone gather information. Cuiyu didn’t leave; she stayed with You Yuji, waiting for news. By evening, Zhuo Wen returned with news. It turned out that Jiang Yunche wasn’t the only one imprisoned for writing satirical poems; many officials were implicated, and there might be more behind it.
You Yuji reassured Cuiyu, “Since this case involves many people, it won’t be resolved quickly. I’ll find a way to look deeper into it.”
Cuiyu nodded, though it was unclear if she fully understood.
In the following days, Cuiyu frequently visited You Yuji for updates. You Yuji was also very concerned and knew that the case was still under investigation, with more officials being imprisoned every day.
Sitting by the window, You Yuji pondered deeply. She inadvertently glanced towards the inner room and then quickly averted her gaze.
—When she returned to the You family, Si Que didn’t come with her.
She hadn’t seen Si Que for several days now.
Liu Momo came over on behalf of Lady You to ask why You Yuji hadn’t come to rest. You Yuji snapped out of her thoughts, realizing the time, and quickly got up to go to her mother’s side—she had been napping next to her mother every afternoon lately.
When she arrived at her mother’s room, her mother was looking at her gently, waiting for her. You Yuji softly called, “Mother,” and smiled as she lay down beside her.
“Have you been feeling unwell lately?” Lady You slowly raised her hand and lightly placed it on You Yuji’s lower abdomen.
You Yuji shook her head and replied softly, “He’s very well-behaved, not causing any trouble.”
Lady You was silent for a while before asking, “And him?”
You Yuji gently replied, “He has things to take care of and can’t leave.”
Lady You simply responded with an “Oh” and asked no further questions.
You Yuji still wore a gentle smile, but a hint of regret filled her heart. She had been eager to share the good news with her mother upon returning, but now she wished she hadn’t, to spare her mother the worry.
In the afternoon, Zhao Sheng and Jiang Chun came to visit You Yuji.
Jiang Chun’s belly was already very large. Despite her usually carefree nature, her movements had become slower. Zhao Sheng’s eyes were almost glued to her, constantly watching her.
You Yuji smiled and placed her palm on Jiang Chun’s belly, feeling the little one inside kick. She laughed in surprise and joyfully said, “He’s like you, a strong little one!”
The couple stayed for a while longer before Zhao Sheng left early to go to the temple to seek a safety amulet. Jiang Chun remained to chat with You Yuji about the past and the future. As night fell, Zhao Sheng hurriedly returned to take Jiang Chun home.
After the couple left, Baohe couldn’t help but ask curiously, “Is the safety amulet for the day of delivery? Anyone could have gone to get it, so why did General Zhao have to go himself and make such a fuss?”
Lady Jing shook her head and explained, “There are rules. The husband must personally request it.”
Listening to their conversation, You Yuji lowered her eyes to look at Baisui, who was lying on her lap, gently stroking the cat’s soft fur with her slender fingers.
After sitting quietly for a while, she put Baisui down and went to the study. She had a maid prepare ink and spread out xuan paper.
You Yuji felt that her pregnancy must be making her more sensitive.
This wasn’t good, not good at all.
She didn’t like this sensitive, overly contemplative, and less magnanimous version of herself.
Rolling up her sleeves, she picked up the brush and began transcribing the Heart Sutra. As she filled the pages densely, her mind gradually found peace.
Baisui lay quietly at the corner of the desk, its bright eyes following the movement of her brush.
“Meow.” Baisui stood up, stretched its back, and yawned widely, its gaze moving past You Yuji as it meowed again.
A clear, crisp sound followed, and You Yuji recognized it as the copper coin Si Que liked to play with between his fingers.
A smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She restrained the urge to turn around, continuing to write until Si Que’s presence drew closer, and he embraced her from behind.