Chapter 33: Not Only Alive, But Escaped Too

Chapter 33: Not Only Alive, But Escaped Too

Zheng Ji and his wife replied to Zheng Hongyan's letter, while Zheng Jinxiu also wrote separately to both Zheng Hongyan and Xie Peiyu.

In front of Zheng Jinyu, she handed the two letters to Lady Zheng, asking her to send them together to the border.

As she slipped the letter to Xie Peiyu into Lady Zheng's hands, her face flushed with bashfulness, making her already rosy cheeks even redder.

"Alright, Mother will have someone deliver it for you," Lady Zheng couldn't refuse and struggled to force a smile, which made Zheng Jinyu want to laugh.

Yet, she managed to suppress her urge.

"Thank you, Mother."

Zheng Jinxiu's face was brimming with happiness. Suddenly, she thought of something and hastily took off a sachet hanging from her waist. "Mother, this sachet contains a talisman for safety that I prayed for at a temple. Can I send it along with the letter?"

The smile on Lady Zheng's face was faltering. "This... wouldn't be appropriate, would it? The scouts only deliver battle reports. Entrusting them to send our personal letters is already overstepping our bounds due to your father's sake."

Zheng Jinyu was relieved that Lady Zheng still had her wits about her. Asking the scout, who was responsible for delivering battle reports, to carry a sachet was an absurd idea.

"Is that so? Then forget it." Zheng Jinxiu's face was filled with disappointment.

She had expected Lady Zheng to comfort her, but to her surprise, Lady Zheng merely heaved a sigh of relief and remained silent.

Before the matter was settled, she didn't wish for Zheng Jinxiu to invest too much emotion, lest she end up heartbroken in the future.

To divert Zheng Jinxiu's attention, she deliberately changed the subject and engaged them in another conversation.

"In a few days, your Second Brother and Third Brother will be returning home. This time, they'll only stay for two days. The autumn examinations are drawing near, and after this visit, they won't be able to come back until the examinations conclude."

Madam Zheng summoned Zheng Jinyu to her side and said, "What happened last time was your Third Brother's fault, but he is still your elder brother. Mother wants to take you all to the temple to burn incense and pray for blessings. Later, you can ask for a Wenchang Talisman for them, to help mend the relationship."

"Alright," Zheng Jinyu agreed readily, showing no signs of resentment.

"I will sincerely seek Wenchang Talismans for Second Brother and Third Brother, wishing them success in their scholarly pursuits and high rankings on the golden list."

Seeing this, Madam Zheng felt a mix of relief and heartache.

Her youngest daughter had been wandering and suffering outside for so many years.

It wasn't her fault, yet she was the one her brother disliked.

Despite being wronged, she was still trying hard to fit into this family, overlooking Third Brother's hostility and even going as far as to ask for charms on his behalf.

"Well done, good child. You've been wronged."

Zheng Jinxiu beside her was seething with anger. So skilled in acting, why didn't she just set up a stage and perform a drama?

Damn it, she had stolen all the lines.

Initially, she had intended to ask Second Brother and Third Brother for talismans, wishing them success in their scholarly pursuits.

Upon returning home, she angrily sought counsel from her wet nurse. "I truly can't endure it. She's even more dramatic than the actors on stage. Mother is increasingly favoring her. Nurse, what should I do?"

"Still the same advice, my dear. You're not young anymore, and your days in the Zheng household are numbered. For now, focus on being a proper lady of noble birth and win Prince Chen's heart. Once you become the Princess Consort Chen, no matter how well she acts, she won't be able to surpass you."

Zheng Jinxiu's mood gradually calmed under Zhou's soothing words.

"The letter has already been sent. I trust that once Prince Chen reads my letter to him, even if he doesn't choose me, he certainly won't opt for Zheng Jinyu."

Madam Zhou smiled gently. "That's right. Even if Prince Chen listens to the Imperial Princess and doesn't marry you, as the daughter of the Zheng family, your marriage won't be any less prestigious than marrying a country bumpkin. When women wed, they compare their husbands' statuses."

"Alright, I'll listen to you."

She does have a bit of wit, but alas, she has spent fourteen years as a country girl. There's no way she can surpass me, Zheng Jinxiu.

"By the way," Zheng Jinxiu recalled another matter, "have they found Zhang Dezhi?"

Madam Zhou's expression froze, and she huffed in frustration. "I didn't expect him to run so fast."

With a worried frown, Zheng Jinxiu asked, "So they didn't catch him? What should we do now?"

"It's alright. I've already instructed my son to pay some underworld figures to take care of him."

"Oh dear, why did you let him be discovered only the next day? If you had sent someone to catch him right after you left, how could all this have happened?"

Lady Zhou explained, "Miss, when we first left, he was still under the influence of the knockout drug, sleeping like a dead hog. How could the officials have believed it?"

Zheng Jinxiu huffed in frustration, "That just means those officials are utterly useless, incapable of even catching one person."

Yusheng Courtyard

Chunmei returned with a box of red bean cakes, set down her basket, and reported to Zheng Jinyu, "Second Miss, I've delivered the items to Zhang Dezhi."

"Mm-hmm, you may leave."

"Yes, Miss."

Zheng Jinyu took a piece of the red bean cake, tasted it gently, but found it too sweet and sugary, so she put it back.

She didn't genuinely enjoy the overly sweet red bean cake; she merely sought an excuse for Chunmei to leave the palace.

Though Zhang Dezhi wasn't an admirable man, he possessed some wit.

After his escape, it was discovered that he had limped towards the city gates before dawn that same day. Once the gates opened, he fled the city, leading the officials to investigate along the route toward his hometown.

The deceased was merely a discarded maid from the Zheng family, so the officials went through the motions of searching for two days before dismissing the case as unsolvable.

Unbeknownst to all, Zhang Dezhi had promptly disguised himself as a beggar upon leaving the city and returned, now hiding within its confines.

He was well aware of his frail health, which couldn't withstand the rigors of a long journey; even without being caught, his body wouldn't hold up. Coupled with the betrayal he had suffered, he was unwilling to accept his fate, and thus he had returned.

Someone as significant as Zheng Jinyu naturally deserved assistance; in crucial moments, he could play a vital role.

...

The Great Nation Temple was located right within the capital city, with its construction funded primarily by state finances and donations from high-ranking officials and wealthy patrons.

As such, the temple was divided into two tiers.

The outer section was for common folk to pay their respects, while the inner sanctum was reserved exclusively for high-ranking officials and nobles.

Madam Zheng, accompanied by her two daughters, fell into this latter category. They were thus ushered in by a junior monk to pay their respects within the inner chamber.

Compared to the bustling crowd and billowing incense smoke outside, the inner area was much cleaner and serene.

A senior monk of high standing within the temple personally guided them through the rituals, even engaging Madam Zheng in discussions about Buddhist teachings.

Madam Zheng was deeply sincere, keeping her hands clasped in prayer throughout the entire process. After the monk had spoken a segment, she would bow in reverence.

The 'ascetic monk' also recommended to her various bracelets, scented sachets, jade pendants, and amulets. Under the persuasive tongue of the 'monk', Madam Zheng ended up purchasing a pile of items.

Hmm, wait a minute. Wasn't the creation of such amulets more the forte of Taoism?

Zheng Jinyu's thoughts had already drifted far away, finding the situation rather amusing.

At that moment, Zheng Jinxiu, who was standing beside her, suddenly asked, "Sis, what are you thinking about?"

"I'm praying to the Buddha, sis. You should kneel properly and not speak. Sincerity is key for this to work," Zheng Jinyu replied.

With that, she paid no further attention to her, kneeling neatly on the cushion.

The whispers of the two women also caught the attention of Lady Zheng, who was conversing with the bald monk nearby.

As their gazes shifted over, they witnessed Zheng Jinyu closing her eyes in devout prayer, and Zheng Jinxiu's mocking expression.