Chapter 077: Extortion

In a courtyard deep in the alley of Xiejie, Zhou Yinzhi stood up and escorted Jiang Xuening to the door, saying, “Second Miss, if you want to visit You Fangyin, you should wait until later to avoid too many prying eyes.”

Yao Niang followed behind him and also came out to see Jiang Xuening off.

Jiang Xuening said, “Then I’ll come later.”

She walked down the moss-covered steps at the door but stopped and looked back at Yao Niang, smiling, “Thank you for the tea you made for me this time.”

Yao Niang was flattered.

She was just Zhou Yinzhi’s maid and didn’t know why this noblewoman, who had done a great favor for her master, was being so polite to her. She quickly said, “Last time, I didn’t have good tea to serve. My skills are crude, and I’m afraid you didn’t enjoy it. I’m glad you liked it.”

Jiang Xuening then took her leave and returned to her residence.

*

By this time, the news that You Yue and You Fangyin had been detained by the Jinyiwei for questioning had already reached the Qingyuan Earl Mansion.

Everyone thought that You Yue had just gone out to play and would be back later.

Who would have expected that after a long time, she was actually arrested?

The entire mansion was in turmoil. The Madam almost fainted upon hearing the news, but the eldest daughter, You Shuang, remained calm and asked the servant who brought the message, “What did my sister do to get arrested?”

The servant said, “I heard that she got into a fight with the Third Miss at the teahouse, and the Second Miss from the Jiang family was there and reported it. When the Jinyiwei arrived, they took both of them away, saying it was unclear what happened at the teahouse and it would be better to explain at the yamen.”

These words were passed along by others.

In fact, it was You Fangyin who started the fight, but when people heard that both were taken away, they naturally assumed both were involved, and the story changed as it was passed along.

The Madam immediately cursed, “That little troublemaker You Fangyin, nothing good ever comes from being involved with her!”

You Shuang, however, keenly noticed the mention of “Second Miss Jiang.”

She had not been selected to enter the palace as a companion reader and only knew about her sister’s enmity with Jiang Xuening. She didn’t know the details, so although she suspected it had something to do with Jiang Xuening, she couldn’t jump to conclusions.

She said, “My sister has been selected to enter the palace as a companion reader, which is a rare opportunity. This time, she returned home for a break from the palace, and we must not let this matter escalate. Whether my sister is innocent or not, it would be bad if this reached the palace. If we’re not careful, someone might take advantage of this, and my sister’s position as a companion reader could be at risk. Moreover, she is supposed to return to the palace in a day. If she is still detained, it will be even more difficult. We women cannot handle this matter properly and must have Father intervene.”

The Madam immediately said, “Yes, yes, we are a noble family! These Jinyiwei people, taking people as they please, do they not regard us at all? I’ll go see the Earl and have him handle this.”

A group of people hurried to inform the Earl of Qingyuan.

But who would have thought that upon hearing the details, the Earl’s face changed dramatically. He stood up abruptly and asked, “The one who took Yue’er is the newly promoted Qianhu Zhou of the Jinyiwei?!”

Everyone was puzzled.

The Earl of Qingyuan was furious, “Foolish! Foolish! Why provoke the Jinyiwei for no reason? The previous Qianhu Zhou had some dealings with our family, but this newly appointed one, although also called ‘Qianhu Zhou,’ has not responded to my visits. The Jinyiwei are a bunch of ruthless devils who eat people without spitting out the bones. What do I have to fill their stomachs with now? Always causing trouble for me!”

The Madam had already started crying, “But if you don’t save her, what will happen to our Yue’er? I heard that those detained for questioning are kept in the same cells as criminals. Who knows what kind of miserable conditions she’s in…”

The Earl of Qingyuan’s face was grim as he considered the situation.

Recently, there were rumors in the palace about selecting a consort for Prince Linzi.

Yue’er had managed to get selected as a companion reader in the palace thanks to her first-place finish in calligraphy and painting at the Chongyang Banquet. It was a rare opportunity, and if she could secure a good marriage in the future, it would greatly benefit the Earl’s mansion.

But if she had to stay in prison…

A noble young lady was not like the third daughter, born of a concubine, and couldn’t be easily abandoned. If word got out, who would want to marry her in the future?

This was truly a sudden disaster. Although the Earl’s mansion was a noble family, it had been three generations since anyone held real power. In the current court, they were already on the fringes, with only an empty title left. Who knew how much it would cost to settle this matter!

The Earl of Qingyuan grew angrier the more he thought about it.

But there was no other way. He could only grit his teeth and instruct the steward, “Go, check the silver in the inner treasury, and prepare a carriage immediately. I’ll go to the yamen first!”

*

When Jiang Xuening returned to the Jiang residence, the sun was already setting.

As she entered, a maid said to her, “It’s rare for you to come back from the palace. The master and mistress said they would have dinner in the main hall tonight. I was worried you might be late, but it seems you arrived just in time.”

Jiang Xuening paused and said, “I understand.”

Regardless of their internal relations, they were still a family on the surface.

It was only right to come back for a meal.

She went to her room to freshen up a bit, then headed to the main hall.

By this time, lanterns were lit all around the corridors.

Inside, Jiang Boyou and Madam Meng had been sitting for a while.

Jiang Xuehui was sitting next to Madam Meng.

On the table lay a gilded invitation, which Jiang Boyou was looking at with a furrowed brow.

Jiang Xuening entered and greeted him.

Jiang Boyou asked her to rise, looking at her as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

Jiang Xuening noticed this and glanced at the invitation in his hand. The strong, vigorous handwriting on the cover looked familiar—it was Yan Lin’s handwriting.

Jiang Boyou felt she should see it, so he handed the invitation to her, saying, “An invitation from the Yongyi Marquis’s residence, inviting us to attend the heir’s coming-of-age ceremony.”

When Jiang Xuening opened the invitation, her fingers trembled slightly.

This was because every word on the invitation was written by Yan Lin himself. Although there wasn’t a single word mentioning her, and it seemed like just an ordinary invitation, she knew that since the Yongyi Marquis’s residence had sent out invitations, there couldn’t be just one, and it was unlikely that Yan Lin wrote each one personally.

This invitation was special.

Even though he had publicly distanced himself from her, this young man still hoped she could be there to witness his coming-of-age ceremony.

Jiang Xuening slowly closed the invitation.

Jiang Boyou asked, “Will you go?”

Jiang Xuening replied, “Yes.”

Madam Meng, hearing the conversation between father and daughter, couldn’t help but feel a bit worried. She wanted to say that the Yongyi Marquis’s residence had already fallen out of favor with the Emperor, and most of the noble families in the capital would avoid them, so why were they so eager to go?

But seeing Jiang Boyou nodding, she didn’t say anything more.

She said, “Let’s sit down and eat first.”

The cook in the residence was average, and Jiang Xuening was somewhat picky about food, so she never had much appetite and ate little.

Jiang Xuehui, sitting next to her, also didn’t speak.

The family ate the meal in silence, feeling somewhat heavy-hearted.

After the meal, when tea was served, Madam Meng said, “The master makes the decisions in this house, and it’s not my place to speak. But everyone knows that the Yongyi Marquis’s residence has fallen out of favor with the Emperor. Ning’er has received much care from the young marquis in the past, and although the marriage didn’t work out, it is indeed appropriate to attend the coming-of-age ceremony out of courtesy. I don’t oppose this. But Hui’er has no connection with the Marquis’s residence. Recently, when I was having tea with the Duchess of Dingguo and others, I heard that Prince Linzi will soon start selecting a consort. I think Ning’er can go to the ceremony, but Hui’er should not.”

After all, Jiang Xuening’s position as a companion reader in the palace had brought some honor to the family.

Although it was embarrassing for them as adults to face the ladies of the Qingyuan Bo Mansion due to the conflicts between Jiang Xuening and their daughter, Madam Meng didn’t say much about it. She just wanted to keep Hui’er out of it and leave more possibilities for her future marriage.

Jiang Boyou, despite his close relationship with the Yongyi Marquis’s residence, had to consider the overall situation of the family in these difficult times. Therefore, he couldn’t refute Madam Meng’s words.

Jiang Xuening remained silent.

Jiang Boyou said, “That’s fine.”

But unexpectedly, Jiang Xuehui, who had been silent all this time, raised her head and said, “I want to go too.”

Madam Meng widened her eyes, “Hui’er!”

Jiang Xuehui glanced at Jiang Xuening and remained firm, “Father is the head of the family. If he attends the coming-of-age ceremony, it doesn’t matter what we children choose. Moreover, the situation with the Yongyi Marquis’s residence might still have room for improvement. If Father and Sister are going, Mother and I should go too.”

Madam Meng was stunned.

Even Jiang Boyou hadn’t expected this.

Jiang Xuening looked at her steadily, seeing her clear and calm expression. Her words were reasonable and logical. Such a refined young lady, how was she any less than Xiao Shu?

So she slowly smiled.

Madam Meng thought it made sense.

Jiang Boyou sighed, thinking Hui’er was indeed sensible and understanding.

After tea, Jiang Xuening and Jiang Xuehui left the room together. Walking along the corridor, Jiang Xuening stopped and said, “If I were you, I wouldn’t miss such a great opportunity either. After all, everyone in the capital knows that Prince Linzi is close to Yan Lin. He will definitely attend Yan Lin’s coming-of-age ceremony.”

Jiang Xuehui’s expression changed, as if she hadn’t expected her to say this, and she tensed up.

Jiang Xuening remained calm.

She looked down and saw the embroidered handkerchief in Jiang Xuehui’s hand. She gently took it from her fingers, spread it out in her palm, revealing a delicate green orchid and a small red ginger flower embroidered on it. She raised an eyebrow and said, “I hope you will take this handkerchief with you into the palace.”

She returned the handkerchief to Jiang Xuehui.

Jiang Xuehui looked at her, seemingly not understanding what she meant.

Jiang Xuening, not being close to her, didn’t intend for her to understand and wouldn’t explain. She was still thinking about visiting You Fangyin. After returning the handkerchief, she turned and left the residence.

It was late, but she still went out.

No one in the household dared to say anything, as if they were used to it.

Jiang Xuehui stood there, watching her back. She seemed indifferent to others’ opinions, trampling on the rules imposed on women in the inner chambers. For a moment, Jiang Xuehui felt a bit of envy.

But she quickly put it away.

She hadn’t lived Jiang Xuening’s life and naturally didn’t have her temperament. In the end, everyone has their own fate.

*

It was late, and Zhou Yinzhi was still at the yamen, not having returned home.

A subordinate asked him, “Sir, aren’t you going back?”

Zhou Yinzhi replied, “I have things to do. You go ahead.”

The Jinyiwei didn’t dare ask more questions. In groups of three or five, they took off their official robes and went out drinking, leaving Zhou Yinzhi alone.

Jiang Xuening arrived at the yamen at the hour of Xu. She wore a dark cloak with a large hood over a pale yellow long dress, which made her figure look even more slender. When she arrived at the yamen and removed her hood, her fair face was revealed, her features as delicate as a painting.

Zhou Yinzhi glanced at her and then lowered his gaze, saying, “The Earl of Qingyuan came this afternoon to bail out his daughter, but I remember Second Miss said she would rest for two days, so there’s no rush. Releasing her tomorrow won’t be too late.”

He had not been a Qianhu for long, but it was the first time he felt the power in his hands was so useful.

The Earl of Qingyuan had come personally in the afternoon, but he didn’t dare say much.

He handed over a box of silver notes, totaling three thousand taels.

Zhou Yinzhi glanced at him and frowned, saying, “There’s no need for this, Earl. Once the yamen finishes questioning, she can be released, at most in seven or eight days. If your daughter is not involved in causing trouble, there will naturally be no issue.”

The Earl’s eyelids twitched.

He then took out a five-thousand-tael silver note from his left sleeve and placed it on the table.

Zhou Yinzhi frowned even more, “These are just matters among the younger generation. The Jinyiwei will handle it appropriately and won’t involve any serious charges. Please, Earl, go back.”

The Earl almost knelt in fear.

He gritted his teeth, as if it pained him deeply, and took out another five-thousand-tael silver note from his right sleeve.

He almost cried as he spoke, “My daughter has never suffered since she was born. The family has always pampered her. Although she often acts foolishly, she doesn’t harm anyone. She finally got selected to be a companion reader in the palace and is supposed to return soon. Please, Qianhu, show mercy and make an exception.”

Zhou Yinzhi then said, “The Earl’s love for his daughter is touching. In that case, I’ll have her questioned overnight. You can come tomorrow.”

The Earl thanked him profusely and left.

The thirteen thousand taels were naturally left behind.

Whether he cursed Zhou Yinzhi for being ruthless afterward was unknown.

At this moment, Zhou Yinzhi took an envelope from his sleeve and handed it to Jiang Xuening, saying, “The Earl’s residence will send someone to pick up You Yue tomorrow, but they didn’t mention the other concubine-born daughter. I told the Earl that someone still needed to stay for questioning, and since You Fangyin was the one causing trouble, she couldn’t be released yet. The Earl agreed and left.”

Jiang Xuening took the envelope.

Opening it, she found two five-thousand-tael silver notes.

She put the notes back, thinking that even a broken ship still had some nails. Although it wasn’t a huge amount, it was still significant. She knew Zhou Yinzhi well enough to suspect that the Earl had given more, and only ten thousand taels reached her.

She wondered how the Earl looked at that moment and how much You Yue would hate him if she knew.

Jiang Xuening smirked inwardly.

She thought that this money could be used for the Ziliujing salt field project, and she could add a bit more herself if needed.

She said, “It cost a lot to bail out You Yue. The Earl’s residence won’t spend more money for a second time. One is a legitimate daughter, the other a concubine-born daughter. One is a companion reader in the palace, the other unloved by her parents, and no one would care if she died in prison. They want to keep some leverage over you, so they deliberately left You Fangyin with you, making sure you feel justified in taking the money.”

These were common tactics in officialdom.

Zhou Yinzhi listened and nodded.

Jiang Xuening then asked, “How is Fangyin?”

Zhou Yinzhi led her to the back of the yamen where the cells were.

The jailer saw the Qianhu bringing a woman, her entire body wrapped in a cloak, and although he couldn’t see her face clearly, he didn’t dare ask questions. He opened the door and led them inside without a word.

The Jinyiwei often arrested people for the emperor, and those involved were either nobles or officials. Various methods were used to make these people tell the “truth,” so the prison was filled with all kinds of terrifying instruments of torture.

Jiang Xuening had never been to such a place in either of her lives. A glance around left her shocked.

The next moment, she couldn’t help but think of Zhang Zhe.

In her previous life, he had been imprisoned, interrogated by his enemies, and subjected to various tortures. How painful must that have been?

The prison was dark and damp, with no windows, and it was extremely cold in winter. Some cells held people who were mostly asleep.

Some were awake but showed no reaction as people passed by, like walking corpses, their eyes filled with a chilling numbness.

The further they went, the fewer occupied cells there were.

Most were empty. When they reached the innermost cell, Jiang Xuening saw a few bright candlelight patches on the ground outside the cell door. Inside, although it was still a cell, it was clean and tidy: the bed in the corner was neat, with thick bedding; a desk against the wall held writing materials; and a bright candle was on the desk. Someone was bent over the desk, carefully reading a book, her hair simply tied and falling over her shoulder. She had delicate features and a gentle demeanor.

It was You Fangyin.

Jiang Xuening was stunned, standing outside the cell, unsure of what to do.

Zhou Yin, behind her, said nothing.

In the silence, their footsteps were heard, and You Fangyin looked up, seeing Jiang Xuening standing outside. She was overjoyed and quickly got up, opening the unlocked cell door, saying, “Second Miss, why are you here!”

Jiang Xuening: “…”

She glanced at Zhou Yinzhi.

She had to admit, although he had a ruthless heart, there was a reason she favored and relied on him in her previous life.

He did things beautifully.

The cell door was not locked, just closed like an ordinary door.

Zhou Yinzhi, seeing this, retreated to a distance.

Jiang Xuening entered the cell, looking around, still feeling it was too narrow. She said to You Fangyin, “I had a sudden idea and ended up causing you to suffer this imprisonment…”

You Fangyin had never been so happy.

She looked around her comfortable cell and quickly shook her head, saying, “No, no, not at all! Master Zhou arranged everything well. I know Second Miss didn’t want me to go back to the mansion and be punished. It’s my fault for being too impulsive. I’m very happy staying here, very happy.”

Jiang Xuening was taken aback, “Happy?”

You Fangyin nodded vigorously, unable to hide her joy. She wanted to tell Jiang Xuening that this place was much better than the woodshed, with candles for light and account books to study. But when she met Jiang Xuening’s gaze, she felt she shouldn’t let her know.

So she opened her mouth but then closed it again.

Her head drooped, and the joy she had just shown disappeared, replaced by her usual timid demeanor.

Jiang Xuening, seeing her like this, could guess most of what was going on.

Looking at her thin and haggard appearance, Jiang Xuening knew that You Fangyin had not had an easy time in the mansion during her days in the palace.

Her heart ached with sorrow.

She forced a smile, pulled You Fangyin to sit on the clean bed, and said with some warmth in her eyes, “I know you’ve been bullied in the mansion, but I can’t interfere in the Earl’s affairs. I had no choice but to come up with this plan. Fortunately, Qianhu Zhou can take care of you here. At least in this place, you can live a bit more like a human being. In a couple of days, I’ll ask Master Zhou to secretly release you. I have to return to the palace soon, and the Ziliujing salt field and Ren Weizhi’s matters still depend on you. If you can be happy here, I’m naturally glad. But if you’re not, don’t give up on yourself. I rely on you for many things.”

She spoke with a smile, but the sadness in her voice made You Fangyin feel sorrowful too. She quickly assured her, “Don’t worry, Second Miss. Although I’m not very smart, I’ve learned to read the account books these days. I’ve also talked to that Master Ren. My second sister at home wants to get involved too. I remember what you said. Since I can leave this cell to do business, there’s no better place. I’m really happy…”

She spoke in a jumble.

In the end, she wanted to comfort Jiang Xuening but didn’t know how to phrase it.

Who would have thought someone would find living in a cell more comfortable than at home…

Jiang Xuening felt relieved at first but then found it both amusing and pitiful.

She didn’t dare dwell on the topic, fearing she might ask about You Fangyin’s life in the mansion.

So she took the envelope Zhou Yinzhi had given her from her sleeve and handed it to You Fangyin, saying, “Even a dying camel is bigger than a horse. The Ziliujing salt field of the Ren family, no matter how dilapidated, is far beyond what ordinary people can imagine. You need money to handle things, so keep this.”

You Fangyin opened it and was shocked.

She had never seen so much money in her life.

Jiang Xuening knew the money came from the Earl of Qingyuan and felt it should be in You Fangyin’s hands as compensation. But she didn’t tell her this and, thinking of the current predicament, said, “The Earl’s residence doesn’t treat people as people, and with a sister like You Yue who mistreats others, you shouldn’t have to stay there. But I can’t think of a way to get you out for now…”

You Fangyin quickly reassured her, “It’s okay, really. Even if I have to stay here for life, it’s okay.”

Jiang Xuening didn’t smile.

She looked at her and, for the first time, felt this girl was truly pitiable, “The best and most proper way to leave the Count’s residence is to marry a reliable person. That way, no one can say anything. But to protect you, I had to resort to this, making it hard for you to find a good marriage in the future.”

Leaving the Count’s residence, the best way was to marry.

You Fangyin blinked.

She lowered her gaze, looking at the envelope with ten thousand taels of silver notes, and began to think.