Chapter 23: Mother is Not Coming Back

Upon returning to the residence in the North City, Lan Qin immediately prepared the meals as Yuetang had instructed and handed them to the hurriedly returned Xiao Huo.

Subsequently, the news of Lady Liu's death was brought back to the residence by the traveling messengers from Hualin.

After washing away the blood from her body, Yuetang sat writing a memorial for A-Li.

Xiao Huo, who had been keeping a close watch on the Zhang family, returned at this moment.

"The Du family just quietly released He Hui and summoned Zhang Shaode to their manor, arranging for him to preside over a religious service at Feiyun Temple tonight on behalf of the He family to offer incense.

"A quarter of an hour ago, Zhang Shaode set off with his entire family."

Yuetang paused her brush. "Did He Hui go with them?"

"He Hui has not shown his face at all."

Yuetang gazed at the darkening sky outside the window. "They bailed He Hui out to perform the service for the He family, yet He Hui refuses to appear, sending Zhang Shaode instead. The Du family is likely using He Hui to achieve some ulterior motive.

"It might even be a 'killing two birds with one stone' scheme.

"But that works out fine; it saves me some trouble.

"I thought it would take a full day and night, but now one night will suffice."

She hung her brush back on the rack. "We are going to Feiyun Temple.

"Bring all those tools you usually use for climbing walls—the sieves, the ropes, and everything else."

Huo Yun followed her. "The Du family fell into the trap so easily; could it be a trap within a trap?"

Yuetang did not stop walking as she stepped over the threshold. "Of course it's possible.

"However, they are mistaken as well. A mere Zhang Shaode is not qualified enough to try and manipulate me."

...

As twilight descended, a procession of several carriages departed from the Zhang manor, heading toward Feiyun Temple in the north of the city.

In the leading carriage, Zhang Shaode and his wife both wore solemn expressions.

At dusk, they were still feeling anxious that sending their daughter-in-law out of the city so suddenly might arouse the Du family's suspicion, when a follower of the Marquis of Guangling arrived to invite Zhang Shaode to the manor.

It carried the heavy scent of a "Hongmen Banquet."

Before leaving, Zhang Shaode had even hidden a weapon in his sleeve, prepared to fight back if things turned sour.

To his surprise, the Marquis of Guangling merely summoned him for dinner. The meal was held in a small garden; the wine was fine, the food was fine, and the servants attending them were fine.

Throughout the half-hour, the Marquis of Guangling never once mentioned the matter of him sending his daughter-in-law out of the city.

He merely spent some time scolding He Jianzhong, expressing his frustration at a subordinate's failure, and then lamented the loss of a loyal follower.

Finally, he spoke of the religious service he had donated at Feiyun Temple to chant sutras for the deceased of the He family and pray for the living.

"The current turmoil is growing too large, and it is no longer appropriate for me to appear in person, lest I attract unwanted attention.

"If leverage falls into their hands, neither you nor I will have a good end.

"Therefore, I ask you to go in my stead and handle it with all your heart, to honor my friendship with Jianzhong. What do you say?"

With such perfect logic and sentiment, how could Zhang Shaode refuse?

To refuse would be to show disrespect, to rebel, and to disobey.

For a disobedient subordinate, the Marquis's manor had many reasons to suppress or eliminate him.

Thus, even knowing there might be a trap, Zhang Shaode had no choice but to jump into the pit.

After receiving the task and returning home, he arranged for his entire family to head to Feiyun Temple.

The only members of the Zhang family currently in the manor were Zhang Shaode and his wife, Zhang Shaode's second daughter, and two concubines.

Madam Zhang's fingernails dug into her palms until they bled. After taking an unknown number of deep breaths, she looked at Zhang Shaode. "There is definitely a conspiracy. Why didn't you bring more people? Sixteen is nowhere near enough!"

Zhang Shaode stared grimly ahead. "If Heaven wants me dead, I will die even if I bring one hundred and sixty men."

Madam Zhang cried out in shock, "Are we really going to jump into a trap even though we know it's a trap?"

"What is there to fear?" Zhang Shaode glanced at her. "On the surface, there are sixteen people, but I have also arranged for several others to hide in the shadows.

"I want to see exactly how the Du family intends to deal with me, and just how much confidence they have in driving me to my death.

"I have served in the military for many years; I am not someone to be easily manipulated. If they behave themselves today, fine. If not, what does it matter if I throw everything on the line?"

At this point, he abruptly pulled a bright copper medallion from his waist—it was the Imperial City Commander's token found beneath He Jianzhong's corpse.

Madam Zhang's hands trembled, and she let out a long sigh, turning her face toward the carriage window.

As the Zhang family entered the temple, several figures silently leaped down from the treetops outside the walls and quickly vanished into the crowd.

A-Li had just recovered from his illness. Yan Bei had fed him lunch and let him take a nap.

As the sun began to set, the little fellow woke up first. He sat cross-legged on the bed, playing with Yan Bei's loose hair. Once he grew tired of the hair, he began poking at Yan Bei's ears and picking at his nose.

Yan Bei simply got up. He fed him and then took him to the open pavilion to play in the sand to aid digestion.

A-Li held up a chrysanthemum and poked it against Yan Bei's face.

"Father (King), flower, give to Mother."

Yan Bei took the flower. "Where is Mother?"

"A-Wang has a mother, Ruyi has a mother, Mimi has a mother, A-Li wants a mother too."

A-Wang and Ruyi were the children of the Prince's guards. Mimi was a cat.

Yan Bei turned to look at the wet nurse beside them.

The wet nurse approached in a panic. "Your Highness, please forgive me. This servant would never dare to teach the young Prince such words."

Yan Bei withdrew his gaze. "Gao An."

Gao An arrived just then, and the wet nurse hurriedly carried A-Li away.

"Was it you who taught him?"

Gao An glanced at A-Li, who was still picking flowers, and sighed inwardly. "How would your subordinate dare? It is simply that the young Prince is growing aware of the world and desires a mother's love. It is human nature."

Yan Bei snorted.

Turning to A-Li, he said, "Mother isn't coming back. Later, we will burn some paper for her, and she will surely be very happy."

A-Li looked on with a face of pure innocence.

Yan Bei rubbed the flower between his fingers and turned to ask, "What is the matter?"

Gao An said urgently, "The Marquis of Guangling summoned Zhang Shaode to preside over the He family's religious service at Feiyun Temple on behalf of the Du family.

"However, there is an ambush at Feiyun Temple.

"After Zhang Shaode entered the temple, over a dozen men in black were found lurking around the premises.

"Furthermore, He Hui used the cover of night to slip out of the Marquis's manor. He returned to the He residence, and shortly after, another group of men arrived at the He residence in three separate routes to rendezvous with him.

"I know they rendezvoused because shortly after, they split into several groups and headed toward Feiyun Temple.

"He Hui was at the rear and only put on his mask after leaving the gates. He is clearly the leader."

Yan Bei's hand, which was crushing the flower, stopped.

He tilted his head to look at Gao An.

After a long moment, he pulled his head back and stared fixedly at the surface of the lake. "The Du family is targeting Zhang Shaode?"

Gao An nodded. "It is quite obvious."

Yan Bei walked a few steps, then looked back at A-Li. "Someone, come."

Two wet nurses approached.

"Take the young Prince to feed the ducks."

The wet nurses coaxed A-Li away.

Yan Bei scattered the remains of the chrysanthemum and looked at Gao An. "Let's go."