Fang shaojian looked suspiciously at Gu Jiu. “Gu guniang… you know medicine?”
Gu Jiu shook her head. “No. But looking at your complexion, and hearing your voice grow weaker with every word, I’d say your body won’t hold up much longer. A person has only one life; once it’s gone, everything else is gone too. Does Fang shaojian truly not want to consider using my wound medicine?”
Not everyone was given a second chance at life.
That was why Gu Jiu treasured her hard-earned rebirth so dearly.
Xie Mao had made it clear he wanted her dead. How could Gu Jiu possibly resign herself to such a fate?
So she had struck first, taking him by surprise and killing him.
Even though killing Xie Mao carried serious consequences, Gu Jiu had no room to care.
Talk of “a life for a life,” or “killing an official equals rebellion”, she cast all that aside. What mattered first was saving her own life.
Gu Jiu fixed her eyes on Fang shaojian.
The problem now was how to deal with the aftermath.
As long as Fang shaojian lived, she had someone to clean things up for her.
And Fang shaojian was exactly the kind of person who could spin this incident into a neat explanation that left her completely untouched.
Therefore, Fang shaojian must survive.
But she couldn’t let him see any trace of her worry about the aftermath.
If Fang shaojian caught hold of that weakness, it would spell nothing good for her.
So she had to extort him – ruthlessly.
The harder she pressed him, the better.
It would be best if Fang shaojian were left full of suspicion and unease. Only with that doubt and fear would he truly take care of the aftermath.
Fang shaojian chuckled and asked, “I have three thousand taels here. Would Gu guniang find that sufficient?”
Gu Jiu arched her brow with a smile. “If Fang shaojian thinks it’s enough, then it is. If you think your life isn’t worth three thousand taels, you can always just give me three hundred.”
“Haha…”
Enduring the pain in his wound, Fang shaojian pulled three thousand taels’ worth of silver notes from his robe and tossed them onto the table.
“Three thousand taels, for my life. Is Gu guniang satisfied?”
Gu Jiu nodded with a smile, then tossed him the medicine and reminded him: “Use it quickly. If you delay, you may not keep your life.”
“Gu guniang may rest easy. I still wish to live a long life. I naturally won’t cheapen it. I owe you a debt of gratitude. I will handle what follows as best I can. If it proves beyond me, I ask your understanding. After all, you are already promised to Gongzi Zhao. Worst case, he can step forward to take care of things for you.”
Gu Jiu gave a cold laugh. “So Fang shaojian intends to burn the bridge after crossing the river? Everything today was because of you. Let’s put aside the rest, but how do you plan to explain Xie Mao’s death?”
“Oh? So even Gu guniang has things she fears.”
“Is Fang guniang not worried someone might deliberately link Xie Mao’s death with the great purge in the palace? At that time, I will be fine. The one in trouble will be you.”
Fang shaojian bared his teeth. “Thank you for the reminder, Gu guniang. Farewell!”
He endured the searing pain, stood, and left the private room.
The killer disguised as a porter watched him.
Fang shaojian said expressionlessly, “Take me to your master.”
The porter silently supported him. As he left, he cast a deliberate glance at Gu Jiu.
Gu Jiu met his gaze calmly.
The porter wanted to kill her, but dared not. Whether she would live or die depended entirely on what unfolded next.
He led Fang shaojian across the rooftops, vanishing swiftly from sight.
Only then did the constables arrive belatedly.
Erzhuang hurried into the rear courtyard, one cheek swollen from a beating by the Eastern Palace guards.
“Er guniang, bad news!” he said urgently. “Gu si shaoye has personally brought constables here. The Xiuyiwei came along too!”
Gu Jiu’s expression remained steady. “Don’t panic. Do you recognise who’s leading the Xiuyiwei?”
“It looks like Xu Xianzhi, the Left Guard commander, came in person. Once they discover the corpse in the cloth shop next door, they’ll quickly trace things back to Jumeizhai. By then, it will be too late to escape.”
Gu Jiu asked, “Can we still leave now?”
Er Zhuang replied, “We can try, maybe slip away in the chaos.”
Gu Jiu said immediately, “Qing Mei, change my clothes.”
She could no longer disguise herself as a man.
To be dressed as a wealthy young gentleman yet walk out of Jumeizhai, nothing could be more suspicious. At this moment, her identity as a woman was far more useful; the male disguise had become a hindrance.
She swiftly changed into women’s clothing, tied up her hair carelessly, and went to the shopfront, ready to leave.
Unfortunately, Jumeizhai had no back door.
At the cloth shop next door, the entrance had already been cleared. Bystanders pushed back behind the cordon.
Constables and Embroidered Guards moved in and out, each wearing a grave expression.
Gu Jiu blended into the onlookers, planning to slip away in the confusion.
But Xu Xianzhi’s sharp eyes caught sight of several young women emerging from Jumeizhai.
He immediately ordered, “Who are those just coming out of the shop next door? Go check them!”
At the mention of Jumeizhai, Gu Yu quickly turned his head.
He instantly recognised Gu Jiu’s back, and even caught a glimpse of Qing Mei’s profile.
His heart gave a jolt. “Xu daren,” he said hastily, “that’s the neighbouring Jumeizhai. I know the place, it sells hairpins and jewellery. The customers are all young ladies and married women. But since this case is serious, it’s best to question them carefully. Leave it to me, Xu daren can be at ease.”
Xu Xianzhi had worked with Gu Yu several times in recent days and had developed a good impression of him. Not only did Gu Yu know how to conduct himself, he also knew how to get things done, and done well.
Xu Xianzhi nodded. “About Jumeizhai, I’ll trouble Brother Gu to look into it carefully. The two shops are right next to each other; perhaps they heard or saw something.”
“Rest assured, Xu daren, I will investigate thoroughly.”
Gu Yu led his men to catch up with Gu Jiu and her attendants. “Er guniang, don’t look back. Keep walking forward, go into the teahouse.”
Hearing his voice, Gu Jiu calmly led her maids into a shabby teahouse by the roadside, slipping into a private room in the back courtyard.
They had just sat down when Gu Yu entered alone.
Gu Jiu quickly instructed, “Qing Mei, you and the others wait in the next room. Keep an eye on the outside. If anything happens, knock on the wall as a warning.”
“We understand, guniang.”
Qing Mei and the rest withdrew, closing the door behind them.
Gu Yu regarded Gu Jiu with a grave expression. “Er meimei, why are you here? Don’t tell me, you were at the scene when the incident happened at the cloth shop?”
Gu Jiu shook her head. “Gu si ge, don’t be anxious. Sit down first and have a cup of tea.”
Gu Yu frowned deeply. “Er meimei, do you know that many people died in that cloth shop? Aside from the shopkeeper and the clerks, the rest were all palace guards of the Crown Prince. This is a major case. If you’re implicated, I won’t even know how to help you.”
Gu Jiu replied calmly, “Don’t worry, Gu si ge, I had nothing to do with it. I know nothing of what happened there.
“At the time, I was in a side room with my maids, working on the accounts. Suddenly, we heard loud banging noises from next door. We had no idea what was happening.
“It was only when Erzhuang reported that we realised a murder had occurred in the cloth shop. Just as we were about to leave, we ran into you rushing over with your men.
“Oh, right, after hearing about the murder, I sent Erzhuang to report it. Did you happen to see the one who made the report?”
When Gu Yu heard that Gu Jiu had sent someone to call the authorities, he finally relaxed.
If she had reported the case herself, then she could not possibly be involved in the killings.
“I did see him,” Gu Yu said. “As soon as I heard it was the cloth shop next to Jumeizhai, I hurried over with my men. On the way, we met Xu daren of the Xiuyiwei, and we came together. Since you had no part in this case, that’s a relief.”
Gu Jiu asked curiously, “Just now, you said the dead were all palace guards of the Crown Prince. Is that true? Why would they be inside the cloth shop?”
Gu Yu frowned. “It may have to do with Fang shaojian’s affairs. Since you are not connected to the case, take Qing Mei and the others and leave at once. As for Jumeizhai, it will likely have to close for a while. Erzhuang will also need to go to the yamen to give testimony.”
Gu Jiu nodded. “I understand. I’ll have to trouble Gu si ge to notify me when Jumeizhai may reopen.”
Gu Yu agreed. As Gu Jiu was about to leave, he reminded her, “I will try my best to conceal the fact that you left the fu without permission. But if it can’t be hidden, I hope you’ll understand. Be prepared for questioning from the elders.”
Gu Jiu smiled. “Thank you, Gu si ge, for covering for me. To think that sneaking out just once, I would run into a murder case like this. I dare not slip out so recklessly again.”
“You’re a young lady, it’s best not to go out alone. It’s too dangerous.”
Gu Jiu nodded. “I’ll listen to Gu si ge.”
She left the teahouse with her four maids, quickly blending into the crowd and slipping out of Shili Alley.
Gu Yu went to report to Xu Xianzhi, assuring him that everything was fine. Xu Xianzhi, suspecting nothing, summoned Erzhuang, the manager of Jumeizhai, for questioning.
Having been coached beforehand, and being naturally clever with an honest-looking face, Erzhuang handled Xu Xianzhi’s interrogation smoothly. He was then taken by the constables to the yamen to give his statement.
At the street corner, Gu Jiu boarded an ox cart and told Li Chuan to drive quickly away from the place of trouble.
The cart wove through the streets and alleys of the capital.
From afar came the thunder of galloping hooves.
Li Chuan shuddered, his voice trembling. “Guniang, the Jinwuwei has been deployed. Looks like they’re heading toward Shili Alley.”
“Don’t panic. Pull over and let them pass.”
Li Chuan obeyed, steering the cart into a side lane, clearing the main road.
Gu Jiu quietly lifted the curtain to peek outside.
The Jinwuwei thundered past on horseback, frightening chickens and scattering dogs; people fled in every direction.
Seeing their fierce, murderous faces, Gu Jiu frowned.
Could it be that the Xiuyiwei had already discovered Xie Mao’s body among the dead in the cloth shop?
But that shouldn’t be possible. His face had been slashed beyond recognition by Fang shaojian, his body covered in wounds, and all his identifying belongings removed. There was no way the Xiuyiwei could confirm his identity so quickly.
Or… was the deployment because of the death of the Crown Prince’s guards?
Gu Jiu did not know that a storm was already brewing in the palace.
Once the Jinwuwei had passed, Li Chuan drove on.
They finally returned to the back alley of the Gu fu. She alighted from the cart and entered by the rear gate.
Inside the Gu fu, the inner courtyards were as tranquil as ever. The turmoil outside never reached within to disturb anyone’s life.
Walking along a quiet garden path, Gu Jiu smoothly returned to Zhilan Yuan.
After changing her clothes, she realised that, without knowing it, she had broken out in a cold sweat.
“Guniang, you should bathe.”
Gu Jiu nodded and silently went into the bath chamber to wash.
She soaked herself in the hot water, but in her mind the scene of killing within that single minute kept flashing before her eyes, along with Xie Mao’s face, dead yet unclosing.
Gu Jiu tried hard to control her thoughts, but the images kept appearing again and again, utterly beyond her control.
She felt miserable, nauseous, as though she would vomit.
Her head spun, and her body slid down into the hot water.
Cough, cough, cough…
Her head slipped beneath the water, and after gulping down several mouthfuls, Gu Jiu choked violently.
She scrambled out of the wooden tub in a hurry.
Hearing the commotion, Qing Mei rushed into the bathhouse. “Guniang, are you all right?”
Gu Jiu wiped her face, shook her head. “I’m fine. You go out first.”
Qing Mei looked at her anxiously. “If guniang is done bathing, please come out soon.”
Gu Jiu said, “I’ll soak a little longer.”
Qing Mei asked again, worried, “Guniang, are you really all right?”
Gu Jiu shook her head and forced a response. “I’m fine.”
But Gu Jiu was nowhere near as strong as she appeared. It was as though all her courage had already been used up at Jumeizhai. Now, submerged in the hot water, her body finally relaxed, and in that release, all the negative feelings came flooding out, torturing her.
The taste of killing was unbearable.
Unsurprisingly, Gu Jiu fell ill.
That very night, she was burning with fever.
Zhang shi took charge and summoned a physician for Gu Jiu.
The doctor felt her pulse, wrote out a prescription, and warned that she must take the medicine as instructed.
Xie shi asked absentmindedly, “Doctor, my er yatou was perfectly fine before. How could she suddenly develop such a fierce fever?”
Stroking his beard, the doctor replied, “Er guniang must have suffered some shock, and then caught a chill, thus falling ill. But her health is well-maintained. As long as she takes the medicine properly, she should recover within a few days.”
The doctor departed.
Xie shi frowned, her face full of puzzlement.
A shock?
Who could possibly have shocked Gu Jiu?
These days, who had provoked her?
Xie shi sent someone to question Gu Yue. After thinking it over, the only one who might have upset Gu Jiu was Gu Yue.
Gu Yue gave a derisive laugh. “I upset her? More like she upset me. Who knows what nonsense got into her?”
Finding no answer there, Xie shi turned sharply on Qing Mei and the other maids.
“How have you been caring for er guniang? She was fine, so why is she suddenly distressed? Speak! Did one of you anger her?”
“Taitai, please be clear. We don’t know what upset er guniang,” Qing Mei said with a bow.
Slap!
Xie shi slammed the table. “Nonsense! You serve her every moment. She suffers some shock, and you claim to know nothing? Then I must ask: how exactly are you attending to her daily? Is your so-called care nothing but empty words?”
Qing Mei hastily said, “Taitai misunderstands. Today, when my guniang was bathing, she refused to let us serve at her side. Perhaps she lingered too long, grew chilled, and so caught cold.”
Xie shi snorted coldly. “So in the end, it was your negligence. If you had truly attended her well, how could she have caught cold? The lot of you have been careless, causing er guniang to fall ill. Someone bring the ruler! Each of them gets five strikes. Beat them soundly.”
Zhang shi did not intervene.
Gu Jiu had suddenly fallen gravely ill. It was only fitting that Qing Mei and the others take some punishment.
At that time, Gu Jiu was burning with fever, unconscious, completely unaware that Xie shi was taking the chance to discipline her attendants. Qing Mei and the others bore the blame in her stead.
A pozi brought the wooden ruler.
Four girls, from Qing Mei to Wang Yi, each would receive five strikes.
The pozi wielding the ruler was one of Xie shi’s confidantes and naturally understood her mistress’s intentions.
She raised the ruler and brought it down without mercy.
At the very first blow, Qing Mei’s tears fell.
After five strokes, her left hand was swollen like a steamed bun, red and shiny.
One by one, the punishment continued. When it was Xiao Cui’s turn, terrified of the pain, she burst into sobs.
Xie shi coldly snorted. “Anyone who dares cry out gets five more strikes.”
At those words, Xiao Cui bit down on her lip, determined not to let another sound escape.
Finally, it was Wang Yi’s turn.
Her skin was thick, her flesh tough. After five strokes, her hand showed not even a trace of swelling or redness.
The pozi was infuriated.
Hmph, you wretched girl, are you mocking me, as though I’ve grown tired and weak?
Wang Yi looked utterly innocent. “Thank you, daniang.”
The pozi was left helpless, she wanted to strike again, but the allotted five strokes had already been delivered. Swallowing her anger, she nearly choked on it.
Zhang shi said, “These four maids have received their lesson. Let the matter end here. Qing Mei, all of you, take good care of er guniang. If anything happens to her, I will not forgive you.”
“Yes, da taitai.”
Zhang shi waved her hand. “You may leave.”
The four girls, as if pardoned from death, bowed deeply and withdrew.
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