Chapter 79.1 - Recognising One’s Kin (Part I)

The rainy condition was progressively becoming heavier than before.

The common people that resided close to the hillsides had met with difficulties as large mudslides rushed downwards. The Bo Chang reservoir was the capital’s largest reservoir and the farmlands in the capital completely relied on this area to draw water via irrigation for their fields. So with the rising trend of ferocious rainfall upon their lands, the water level became unrestrained in the reservoir. There seemed to be a risk of the reservoir being crushed by the immense volume of rainfall and the potential for a hazardous overflow. Xuan Li had led his subordinates to manage the waters in an attempt to temporarily suppress the momentum of the rising water level.

In the top-scorer’s fu, the young zhuangyuan gentleman was standing by the window, frowning in contemplation as he looked at the rainwater .

Just then, Liu Furen came in holding a bowl of dark brown sugar and ginger soup and placed it on the table. Seeing Liu Min so, she then sighed, “What sort of disaster is this to have harmed so many families in this way.” They had initially been part of the common people and had only recently risen to such a status, therefore, they were extremely sympathetic to the sufferings of the common people. If not for the fact that Liu Min had entered the imperial court to become a government official, perhaps they would be similarly destitute and homeless just like these commoners, in desperate poverty whilst beset by hunger and cold.

Liu Min patted Liu Furen on her shoulder as he consoled her, “Mother, you don’t have to worry, soon all will pass.”

“If it wasn’t for General Zhao who has distributed provisions as disaster relief, who knows how many of the common people would starve to death.” Liu Furen lamented, “General Zhao is a good official; when you are in the imperial court, you should certainly try to get closer to him.”

Liu Min nodded. Thus, the rainfall continuously poured down without the slightest sign of stopping. However, eventually, there would be a day when the wealth of Zhao Guang would also be completely spent. This matter could merely just be a splash of water on the fire that burns one’s eyebrows, a quick fix for a desperate situation in an extreme emergency. It was not a long term plan. As he recalled how Eighth Prince had actively and in a friendly action asked him about his opinions with regards to this flood a few days ago, it seemed that Eighth Prince was planning to exert himself to keep this flood in check. Verily, if this person genuinely harboured thoughts to cherish the people of the land under the heavens then how could such an esteemed individual possibly ruminate over resolving such a precarious situation with him, out of all other possible officials at his disposal, in such a casual manner?

Almost imperceptibly, Liu Min sighed. The waters in the imperial court were not shallow and only those who had placed themselves in its midst could understand that discerning the underlying currents and hearts of those in power was extremely difficult too.

In a steady succession of a dozen or more days, the act of bestowing congee to the common populace never seemed to cease as the capital gradually quietened down. If one could speak of any fresh news, then it would be that the capital’s garrison army caught a group of bandits that pretended to be refugees in the area of the east of the city’s Chong Xin farmstead. The manpower of that day’s capital garrison troops was insufficient and the daren who was on garrison duty had sought out the Capital Magistrate to borrow some men. They had then gone to Chong Xin farmstead which soon after became a ground of a fierce battle. With great difficulty, they had managed to subdue these bandits and had locked them up in the prison, yet in the span of a night, those bandits had all committed suicide to escape punishment.

Whilst the populace in the capital had clapped their hands in applause for such a satisfying resolution to the problem, at the same time, they were similarly concerned. In this manner, if the capital was not too peaceful and secure, then the days ahead would be even more challenging. Contrary to what one might expect, with this situation, the capital city’s garrison army morale was high after extricating themselves from the pressure dealing with a prolonged and stressful situation concerning the captured bandits.

* * *

In Ruan Ju, Jiang Ruan was currently leaning against the divan whilst embroidering. In the past while she was in the rural residence, due to Zhang Lan’s family’s coercion, she had embroidered day and night until she had developed dead calluses on her hands. In this lifetime after being reincarnated, she hated that in her past life; she had died with her body being badly damaged and riddled with scars. In this life, she was not willing to have any of those scars remain on her body. Now that she had returned to the Jiang fu, the embroidery needlework that had once been her livelihood was thrown aside without a care. Yet these days, once the dead calluses on her hands had completely peeled off and her skin had once more become delicate, now one could see that these hands of hers seemed like a young lady’s of an influential family. Only then, did she pick up these things once more.

Lu Zhu entered from outside and surveyed her surroundings to make sure there was not a person in sight around them. Then, she walked close to Jiang Ruan and quietly remarked, “Miss, a person from the General fu has come. They want to see the person who has bestowed congee in their name.”

Jiang Ruan smiled lightly, “Is it truly someone from the General fu?”

“There is an official seal and looking at it, it does not seem like a fake.” Lu Zhu commented, “Miss, how do you plan to reply to them?”

Jiang Ruan then put down the embroidery in her hands as she picked up the celadon teacup at the side. Lightly stroking the rim of the teacup in her hands, she continued, “Then tell them that tomorrow early in the morning, I will personally visit them at their own residence and call on them.”

“Miss?” Lu Zhu was stunned.

Jiang Ruan said, “Go then.”

The Zhao family, since they had already brought up such a request, had likely fixated on the idea of definitely having a meetup face to face. This too was good, the days of Jiang Xin Zhi’s return to the fu were steadily closing in. Just relying on her own strength was truly too difficult and now that she had placed the bargaining chip clearly in front of them, she would carefully see if the Zhao family was willing to give this favour in return.

* * *

Within the capital, once the Zhao family received this news, Zhao Guang’s complexion had become profoundly solemn. A few days ago Zhao Yi had arrested a group of refugees in the Chong Xin farmstead and based on Zhao Yi’s retelling, those people were bodyguards adept in martial arts. He swore that they were absolutely not ordinary refugees. Yet within a night’s span in the imperial prison, all of them had committed suicide to escape punishment. It could be assumed that this was no simple matter. After all, it was unknown who was the mastermind in this whole affair. Yet, Zhao Guang was still able to make a few possible guesses. After listening to hearsay in the capital that Eighth Prince’s fu had recently tightly closed their gates, some had said that a large number of bodyguards had been executed.

The young lady that Zhao Yi had mentioned bumping into, both the Zhao father and son had thought that the person behind it and the one bestowing the congee were definitely one and the same. Based on Xuan Li’s methods of handling things, this person ought to have set themselves against Xuan Li. However, the unknown person in question had also helped the Zhao family several times. Only now, one could not speak too much in fear that what is said can not be unsaid. After all, the other party’s identity was still uncertain and what if it was Xuan Li’s stumbling block for them? They had gotten someone to go to the venue where they had been giving out congee and instructed their subordinate to put forward the request for meeting the person behind this operation face to face to sound them out. Yet, the opposite party had then said they would pay them a visit at their residence tomorrow. This sort of conduct, it truly made one unable to clearly fathom their intentions.

Zhao Yuan Jia asked, “Father, since that person dares to pay a visit to our residence, then they must have done adequate preparation. Shouldn’t we also make our own arrangements?”

“No need,” A spark of contemplation flashed through Zhao Yuan Ping’s astute eyes as he replied, “rather, I think the other party has done so to express that they have no ill-intentions: at least, they will not raise a dispute with us in the General fu.”

“Even if he (they assumed the gender of the mastermind) does not have a conflict of interests with us,” Zhao Yuan Feng seemed wholly unconcerned as he remarked, “we, the people brought up in the General fu, what could we possibly be afraid of? Whether it is a god, or a ghost, we can just ruthlessly beat them up until they become round like a pig. Then, wouldn’t they be honest?”

“Shut up,” Zhao Guang fumed and glared at him, angered by Zhao Yuan Feng’s words, “F*** you, can’t you grow a brain? Lao‘er[1] says, it is true, however, just to safeguard against any tricks that person might pull, let us first have your mother, furen and also those in Yu Long settled well first.”

[1] Lao’er (老二) – second-eldest child in a family. Here it refers to Zhao Yuan Ping, who is Zhao Guang’s second eldest son. This is a more casual and affectionate way of addressing someone in the family, a nickname of sorts.

“Second Brother,” Zhao Yuan Feng nudged the most intelligent amongst them, Zhao Yuan Ping, “what kind of person do you think that person will be?”

“I don’t know.” Zhao Yuan Ping shook his head, “We’ve all seen Father’s colleagues before and it can’t be one of them. Anyways, tomorrow we will know who it is.”

That night, the Zhao family all slept, restless and disturbed. Early in the morning of the second day, Jiang Ruan boarded the carriage to set off. Every few days, Lin Zi Xiang would give her an invitation and Xia Yan maintained a gentle, considerate and warm motherly-like appearance. Therefore, contrary to what one might expect, she would have no reason at all to stop her (Jiang Ruan). Moreover, these few days, she had been busy with Jiang Su Su’s matters. Jiang Quan’s attitude towards her had somewhat softened and so Jiang Su Su was able to avoid going to the private temple. However, as opposed to what they had hoped, Jiang Su Su had not been able to sleep well for a consecutive amount of days for more than half of the past month already. She continued to say that in the middle of the night, there was a ghost who knocked on her doors. Despite inviting several physicians over, her health did not seem to improve either. Thus, Xia Yan was extremely concerned.

Ever since the General fu had gotten the Emperor’s praise and recognition from the act of bestowing congee to the masses, all of their colleagues in the officialdom had seen the changes in the wind and had set their helms. They had acted pragmatically and flexibly whilst trying to take advantage of the situation and momentarily, their front yard had been as busy as a marketplace and was filled with many visitors. Today, however, they had especially returned all invitation cards (with intentions to visit), specifically to await that one person.

Gu lu, gu lu. The wheels of an ashy grey coloured carriage travelled forward and stopped in front of the General fu’s gates.

From inside, a slim young lady dressed as a maidservant hopped down and went straight ahead towards the young manservant that was on gatekeeper duty. After speaking a few words, that young manservant hurriedly left. After a short period of time, Zhao Yi took big strides forward from inside those large gate doors. Behind him, there were several robustly built bodyguards following suit. Upon seeing that maidservant, they were slightly startled. Then, just like forming a boundary, they stared attentively at the carriage that was at the gates.

The maidservant then walked over to the side of the horse carriage and standing on tiptoes, she bent inwards to speak a few words. As the curtains on the carriage were lifted by someone, from the inside, another person dressed as a maidservant hopped down.

Zhao Yi frowned, for this person to come outside, why did they bring two maidservants; why did they conduct themselves like they were a female?

Following closely, a maidservant with a slender figure then supported the person in the horse carriage down. Yet, who but an old lady with a stooped figure appeared with her eyes covered with a black slip of cloth. Seeing this, one would assume that it could be a blind person who needed to be assisted by that tall and slim maidservant as they walked to a side.

Zhao Yi then stared wide-eyed as he found it hard to conceal the shock in his heart. Could it possibly be that the person that they were looking for was this blind old lady? This truly was something that made one feel too astonished. Then, he meticulously took a measure of the old lady. Yet, he was unable to find any unique point, so it was even more puzzling for him. All at once, he was unable to determine anything.

“Young Master?” The gentle voice came from a place ahead of him. It was only then that Zhao Yi realised that while he had been staring at the blind old lady, at some point, another person had alighted from the horse carriage. With a conical bamboo hat placed on them, one could not see their facial features but that voice of hers, it was definitely one of a female. Moreover, it was rather familiar sounding.

He had not expected that the person that would come forward to the General fu would be a female and Zhao Yi was stunned, “Miss, please follow me.”

The four people then followed Zhao Yi as he walked inside the fu. In his heart, Zhao Yi was filled with surprise. Since it was a female, then it was fine to have just two maidservants following her. But why did she have to bring along a blind madam as well?

As he was thinking this, that person suddenly reached up to take off their hat, revealing a familiar face to him.

Zhao Yi gaped as he was tongue-tied, “It’s you!”

“It is.” Jiang Ruan smiled lightly, “Zhao daren, I trust you have been well since we last met.”

In that split-second, Zhao Yi flushed as he looked at that bright and beautiful face of the young girl before him. Upon seeing her visage, he was somewhat fumbling for words as he felt ashamed; after all, the other party was only a young girl that was just merely in her teens. In any case, he himself was close to his twenties, how could he have just reddened upon looking at a young lady like this? He then suddenly thought of something as he replied in shock, “The person who has been giving out congee, that was you?”

“It wasn’t me.” Jiang Ruan responded and seeing Zhao Yi’s expression of heaving a sigh of relief, she then added, “It was a person under my employ.”

“You-you-you-you-you……” Zhao Yi stuttered, “Who on earth are you?”

“Zhao daren, anyways, I have also saved your life once.” Jiang Ruan laughed, “I will not harm you.”

Zhao Yi did not speak; now that the current political situation in the capital was this chaotic, there were many people who were glaring at the Zhao family like a tiger watching its prey, waiting for an opportunity to pounce on them. Who knew if this would be a trap? However, just like his father, Zhao Yi had a similar personality: mild, kindhearted and upright. He knew of the principle where one must repay favours given to them and had decidedly cupped his hands in greeting, “Young Lady’s kindness for saving one’s life, on another day, one will definitely doubly return the favour[2].”

Strangely, he felt a particular sort of familiarity and closeness to Jiang Ruan. His intuition told him that this young lady in front of him would definitely not treat the Zhao family unfavorably. He had many questions. However, as he saw the slight smile of Jiang Ruan’s side profile, he then swallowed them down. These questions of his, once they had reached the hall, Zhao Guang and his uncles[3] would naturally raise them.