Chapter 51: News of Death

Chapter 51 News of a Death

The night deepened, stars twinkling.

In the distance, the rhythmic clatter of watchman's clappers echoed through the streets, signaling the arrival of the hai hour (9-11 PM). The inn attendant, roused from his slumber at the counter, rubbed his face and groggily shuffled to the door. A quick glance confirmed the absence of lingering patrons, so he drew the bolt, securing the inn for the night, then returned to his bed and promptly fell into a deep sleep.

Meanwhile, on the second floor, a window creaked open, revealing a face whose inherent beauty shone through, even adorned with simple hairpins and plain attire.

This was none other than Xin He, the very person Wei Mingjin had been relentlessly seeking, both openly and in secret.

Leaning against the window, Xin He gazed into the boundless night, a thought forming in her mind: Wei Mingjin must have received her "surprise" by now.

With his arrogant disposition, he was likely seething with rage.

The mere thought brought a subtle pleasure to her eyes.

She had spent nearly three years by Wei Mingjin's side. Throughout that time, she had lived in constant apprehension, meticulously feigning fragility and obedience. Yet, despite her efforts, Wei Mingjin remained wary. Whether at the Wei estate or during their journey to the capital, he had, intentionally or not, presented her with opportunities to escape.

But she had not taken the bait. Instead, she had cultivated an image of utter dependence, as if she could not survive without him, thereby gradually eroding Wei Mingjin's suspicions.

Her initial plan had been to flee when Wei Mingjin entered the imperial examination compound.

He would be confined there for nine days; by the time he emerged, she would be long gone.

However, on the night of the Lantern Festival, Xin He abruptly reconsidered.

Wei Mingjin had tested her patience throughout their journey. This time, as he entered the examination compound, he would undoubtedly be on guard against her.

If she attempted to escape then, she would not only fail but also risk exposure. Once exposed, she would never again be able to leave Wei Mingjin's side.

After much deliberation, Xin He finally decided to time her escape for the day Wei Mingjin completed his examinations and exited the compound.

At that moment, Wei Mingjin would be at his most exhausted and least vigilant. Escaping then would significantly increase her chances of success.

Thus, during the nine days Wei Mingjin was in the examination compound, she remained confined to her room.

In the eyes of Feng Mo and Chi Yan, she appeared perfectly docile. But what they failed to realize was that during those nine days, she had meticulously rehearsed her escape plan for this very day, over and over again.

By now, Wei Mingjin's men must surely be in pursuit of the escort agency.

Initially, Xin He had intended to drug Feng Mo and then join the escort team.

As a lone, vulnerable woman, traveling with an escort agency would guarantee her safety on the road. She had already made arrangements with the agency, securing their agreement to take her along.

However, after drugging Feng Mo today, on her way to meet the escort agency, Xin He abruptly changed her mind.

When she had previously paid the deposit to the agency, they had informed her that their departure time and route from the capital were meticulously pre-planned. If she failed to arrive by the agreed-upon time, they would neither wait for her nor refund her deposit.

Xin He had accepted these terms.

After drugging Feng Mo today, had Xin He proceeded to the pre-arranged meeting point, she could have easily joined the escort agency.

Yet, she suddenly altered her course of action.

Wei Mingjin had once imparted a valuable lesson to her:

"Success is achieved through secrecy, failure through disclosure; it is forged in careful thought and deep planning."

Although she had been discreet in paying the deposit to the escort agency, Wei Mingjin, if he chose to investigate, would undoubtedly uncover the truth swiftly.

If she were to travel with the escort agency, she would inevitably be apprehended by Wei Mingjin by tomorrow at the latest.

So, in that decisive moment, Xin He made an immediate choice: she bypassed the escort agency's meeting point. Instead, she purchased a donkey and departed the capital alone.

Just as Xin He was contemplating this, she faintly discerned the sound of hoofbeats echoing from the distant mountains.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she cautiously turned to extinguish the lamp in the room.

Approximately fifteen minutes later, the faint sounds of reins being pulled taut could be heard from downstairs.

Someone inquired, "Steward Feng, there's an inn here. Should we knock and ask?"

Upon hearing the address "Steward Feng," Xin He's heart began to pound furiously.

She had only been gone from the capital for four hours, yet Feng Mo had already tracked her down so swiftly.

Downstairs, Feng Mo cast a glance at the dilapidated, small inn before him and instructed, "Two men, stay here with the portrait and inquire at the inn. The rest, follow me."

At present, their clues indicated Xin He had left with the escort agency. However, to err on the side of caution, Feng Mo had made inquiries at every inn they passed along the way.

After giving his orders, Feng Mo led a portion of his men away at a swift gallop.

The two men left behind began to pound loudly on the inn's door.

"Coming, coming," the inn attendant's groggy voice announced from within.

Soon, the inn's main door creaked open from the inside.

"Guests for the night? Please come—" Before he could finish his sentence, he was abruptly cut off.

The man in front presented a portrait. "Inn attendant, a quick question: among the guests staying here tonight, have you seen this woman?"

The inn attendant, rudely awakened from his deep sleep, was already brimming with resentment. Seeing that these two weren't there to lodge but merely to inquire about someone, he gave the portrait a perfunctory glance.

"Haven't seen her," he declared, then slammed the door shut with a resounding thud.

"Hey, what kind of attitude is that!" One of the men, incensed, wanted to pound on the door and confront the attendant, but his companion restrained him.

"We have a mission to accomplish. There's no need to stoop to his level. Since he hasn't seen her, Miss Xin must still be with the escort agency. Let's not waste any more time; we should hurry and catch up with Steward Feng to report."

Soon, the sound of hoofbeats downstairs gradually faded into the distance.

Hidden behind the window, Xin He finally let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Wei Mingjin's actions were swifter than she had anticipated. From this point forward, she would need to exercise even greater caution.

Xin He dared not light the lamp again. Guided by the moonlight, she fumbled her way back to bed.

Her body was utterly exhausted from the day's events, yet the constant tension in her mind prevented her from getting any restful sleep throughout the night.

At the first hint of dawn the next day, Xin He rose.

The small inn lacked a bronze mirror, so she had to rummage through her travel bag for a dagger.

It was the very one Wei Mingxuan had given her.

When she departed from the Wei residence, Xin He had taken nothing but this dagger for self-defense. The other items in her bag were things she had acquired along her journey.

Xin He unsheathed the dagger and placed it on the table. Using the gleaming blade as a makeshift mirror, she crushed a medicinal herb and began to apply it to her face.

In a short while, the reflection in the pristine blade transformed.

The fair-skinned, delicate-faced woman from before had vanished, replaced by a woman with a sallow complexion.

After completing this transformation, Xin He wrapped two extra layers of clothing around her waist and abdomen, making her figure appear significantly more plump. She then tied a blue floral-patterned headscarf over her hair, completing the disguise of a weary woman in her thirties.

Once ready, Xin He gathered her belongings and descended the stairs.

It was still early, but the inn's main door was already open, and the attendant was diligently wiping down tables.

Noticing Xin He coming down, the attendant asked, "Would you like some breakfast, madam?"

Breakfast at the inn was charged separately.

"Please bring me some griddle cakes for the road. And has my donkey been fed?"

"Yes, yes, it's been fed. Just a moment, madam, I'll fetch your griddle cakes."

The inn attendant turned and hurried back to the kitchen, returning shortly with a bundle of griddle cakes wrapped in oil paper. "The weather isn't hot this time of year, so these griddle cakes should last you a good while. But madam, where are you heading all alone like this, looking so travel-worn?"

Xin He initially didn't wish to engage in much conversation with the attendant, but she feared he might inadvertently reveal something if Feng Mo and his men returned to inquire.

So, she lowered her head, feigning resentment. "My good-for-nothing husband is a scoundrel. Years ago, I defied my parents to elope with him. Now, he's found another woman and actually wants me to be his concubine. I refused, and after a huge fight, he threw me out. I have nowhere else to go but to seek refuge with my parents."

The inn attendant was taken aback by her "tragic" plight. He then secretly gave Xin He two extra griddle cakes, behind the innkeeper's back.

After thanking him, Xin He mounted her donkey and departed at the first glimmer of dawn.

Meanwhile, Feng Mo and his party, traveling day and night without rest, finally caught up with the escort team Xin He had paid in Muyang County.

After a night of rest, both the men and horses of the escort team were refreshed and energetic. As they finished their morning meal at the inn and prepared to set off again, they found their path abruptly blocked by a group of men.

The accompanying escorts immediately drew their swords, positioning themselves protectively around the carriage, ready for action at any moment.

Feng Mo dismounted from his horse and spoke politely, "May I ask if this is the Shunyuan Escort Agency?"

The lead escort stepped forward. "It is. And who might you be?"

"My master's surname is Wei. We have traveled day and night to find someone. Our young lady recently had a disagreement with our master and hired your agency. She left the capital with your team yesterday. Upon learning this, my master immediately ordered his servants to come and bring the young lady back. We kindly request your cooperation, escort leader."

The lead escort, upon hearing this, pondered for a moment before asking, "Are you looking for Lady He?"

"Precisely," Feng Mo nodded immediately.

Since the escort leader knew of Xin He, it stood to reason that Xin He was with their team.

Just as Feng Mo was about to breathe a sigh of relief, he heard the escort leader add, "But Lady He did not travel with our team yesterday."

"She hired your agency! How could she not be with you?" Feng Mo's voice betrayed his sudden anxiety.

The escort explained, "It's true that Lady He hired our agency, and we agreed to meet at the city gate at the Hour of the Goat yesterday. However, when our agency arrived at the city gate at that time, we did not see Lady He. And since we needed to reach our lodging for the night here, we proceeded without her."

Feng Mo felt as though his world had collapsed.

Xin He had hired the escort agency, but she hadn't traveled with them.

Yet, from yesterday evening until now, his entire investigation had been focused solely on following the Shunyuan Escort Agency's trail.

Feng Mo, unwilling to give up, pressed further, but the escort leader adamantly refused to allow them to search the convoy. Finally, as tensions escalated and both sides seemed on the verge of conflict, Feng Mo's group, unable to forcibly search the convoy, had no choice but to yield the path.

After the Shunyuan Escort Agency departed, Feng Mo turned and re-entered the inn where they had stayed the previous night.

The inn attendant initially stammered and refused to speak, but after Feng Mo produced a silver ingot, he immediately spilled every detail about the Shunyuan Escort Agency's stay, including the number of people and horses, and their individual appearances.

According to the attendant's description, Xin He was indeed not among them.

Feng Mo was utterly devastated.

From yesterday afternoon until now, besides relentlessly pursuing the Shunyuan Escort Agency, he had also meticulously checked every inn along the way, yet no one had seen Xin He.

Feng Mo's heart was now filled with despair. He began to gallop back towards the capital, placing all his remaining hope on Chi Yan.

Little did he know, Chi Yan had also toiled through the night, only to find nothing.

In addition to posting bounty notices in the black market, Chi Yan had led a search of every inn in the capital, but still found no trace of Xin He.

Without delay, he immediately reported the matter to Wei Mingjin.

Wei Mingjin sat in his armchair.

Since receiving news of Xin He's departure the previous day, Wei Mingjin had appeared completely unaffected, aside from ordering his men to search for her. He ate his meals as usual and rested when it was time.

But today, as Chi Yan knelt before Wei Mingjin, he noticed faint dark circles beneath Wei Mingjin's eyes.

After a fleeting glance, Chi Yan quickly lowered his head.

Wei Mingjin listened in silence for a moment, then calmly stated, "When Feng Mo returns, have him come see me immediately."

With that, he rose and went to his study.

From childhood, Wei Mingjin had spent more time in his study than in his bedroom.

To him, the study was both a place for making decisions and a place where he could find peace.

But today, neither practicing calligraphy nor reading could quell the overwhelming irritation in Wei Mingjin's heart.

When Feng Mo returned and reported that he had not found Xin He among the Shunyuan Escort Agency's team, Wei Mingjin, who had always presented himself as a gentle scholar, finally revealed his violent side.

He kicked Feng Mo to the ground, his eyes burning with a sinister rage. "If she's not with the Shunyuan Escort Agency, then where is she?"

A vulnerable woman, not traveling with an escort team, was no different from a piece of meat walking into a trap.

Chi Yan, who had always shared both joys and sorrows with Feng Mo, rushed into the study upon hearing the furious outburst.

He saw Feng Mo sprawled on the ground, and Wei Mingjin standing with a long sword in hand, looking like an enraged demon.

"Young Master," Chi Yan fell to his knees before Wei Mingjin, pleading for Feng Mo's forgiveness.

Wei Mingjin's kick had been delivered with full force; Feng Mo felt as if the bones in his shoulder were about to shatter. Yet, in the next instant, he struggled to his feet and knelt before Wei Mingjin, begging for punishment. "This humble servant is incompetent. I have thoroughly searched every inn along the way, but there was no trace of Concubine Xin."

At that moment, Feng Mo was prepared to face death.

Having served Wei Mingjin for many years, they had never witnessed him in such a furious state.

Chi Yan knew that nothing he said would be effective now, so he could only repeatedly kowtow, begging Wei Mingjin to spare Feng Mo's life.

Outside, spring was in full bloom, but inside the study, the atmosphere was chillingly grim. Chi Yan continued to kowtow, pleading with Wei Mingjin again and again.

Soon, the floor tiles before him were stained with mottled blood.

Wei Mingjin, however, felt only annoyance.

He had initially believed that Xin He's escape from his grasp yesterday was merely a stroke of luck. At most, she would be apprehended and brought back within two or three days.

So he had waited with calm composure.

But now, a full night had passed, and Feng Mo reported that he hadn't even found a trace of Xin He. How could this not infuriate Wei Mingjin?

"Young Master, last night I already posted Concubine Xin's portrait on the bounty notice. The bounty hunters in the black market have always been remarkably resourceful. I believe it won't be long before they bring Concubine back," Chi Yan's forehead was bleeding from kowtowing, yet he continued to plead for Feng Mo.

Slowly, Wei Mingjin began to regain his composure.

The capital was not like Qingyuan County. His foundation here was still shallow, and killing Feng Mo now would be akin to severing his own arm.

Moreover, Chi Yan's reasoning was sound—the bounty hunters in the black market were indeed highly capable. Given time, they would surely capture Xin He and bring her back.

With a loud clang—

Wei Mingjin threw the long sword to the ground, his thin lips curling as he spat out a single word in disgust: "Begone!"

Chi Yan felt as if he had been granted a reprieve. He quickly helped Feng Mo up and retreated.

Once outside the study, Feng Mo looked at Chi Yan with deep remorse. "I'm sorry. My incompetence has caused you to plead on my behalf."

"Let's not speak such formal words between brothers," Chi Yan said, carefully supporting him. "Come, let's find a doctor to tend to your injuries first."

Afterward, Wei Mingjin waited several more days in the residence, but there was still no news from the black market.

His initial calm composure gradually gave way to irritability and rage. The servants, seeing Feng Mo and Chi Yan punished one after another, grew even more fearful, treading carefully to avoid provoking Wei Mingjin’s wrath.

At first, Wei Mingjin had thought that Xin He, as a weak woman, would surely leave many clues in her escape. With the black market bounty hunters on the case, she would undoubtedly be captured within three days.

He had even planned how he would punish her.

But three days passed, then another three, day after day, and still no bounty hunter came to claim the reward.

As Wei Mingjin grew increasingly impatient, he even dispatched someone on horseback back to Qingyuan County to find Qiong Hua.

Xin He had long severed ties with her uncle's family. If there was anyone left in this world whom Xin He still cared about, it was Qiong Hua.

Wei Mingjin held onto the hope that Qiong Hua might know something.

But soon, that hope was shattered.

Qiong Hua knew nothing.

Just as Wei Mingjin was about to fly into another rage, Chi Yan rushed in excitedly to report: "Young Master, someone has taken down our bounty notice."

In the black market, someone taking down the notice meant they had completed the task.

That night, Wei Mingjin and his two servants, wearing face coverings, went to the black market.

Chi Yan had already familiarized himself with the rules of the capital’s black market. He led Wei Mingjin directly to the Joyful Tower.

The first two floors of the Joyful Tower were for the flesh trade, while the upper three floors were for conducting business.

Upon entering, a waiter wearing a skull mask inquired about their purpose before handing them a wooden token. "Hang this token at your waist and go to Room Gold No. 2 on the third floor."

The three of them, carrying lanterns, ascended the winding, pitch-dark staircase.

On the third floor, Chi Yan, holding the lantern, found Room Gold No. 2.

Pushing open the door to the elegant room, Wei Mingjin expected to see Xin He. Instead, there was only a man dressed in black robes.

The man glanced at Wei Mingjin, noticed the wooden token at his waist, and pushed a box toward him.

Wei Mingjin opened it. Inside was a twisted silver bracelet.

It was an ordinary bracelet, commonly seen on the wrists of middle-aged women from poor families in Qingyuan County.

Xin He had one just like it.

Since Xin He had been with him, he had never shortchanged her when it came to jewelry. He had provided her with bracelets made of gold, jade, agate, and precious gems.

Xin He alternated her hairpins and accessories, but she never wore any bracelets except this twisted silver one. It never left her wrist.

He had once mocked the bracelet for its ugliness. Xin He had replied, "It may be ugly, but it's the only thing my mother left me."

She treasured this bracelet and never parted with it.

"My two brothers and I saw the bounty notice you posted. We tracked the person you're looking for all the way to Yuchun County, where we finally found her trail.

"But we were a step too late. The boat carrying the person you seek encountered water bandits on the river. Everyone on board was slaughtered. My brothers and I went to great lengths to retrieve this bracelet from one of the female corpses. Her facial features and figure were identical to those in the portrait."

Though his face was covered, Wei Mingjin’s scholarly demeanor was unmistakable. The bounty hunter thought claiming the reward would be straightforward.

To his surprise, as soon as he finished speaking, the previously scholarly man abruptly lifted his eyelids, his gaze as cold and sharp as a blade. "A worthless bracelet from who knows where, and you think you can swindle me out of my reward?"

The bounty hunter instinctively wanted to defend himself, but when his gaze inadvertently fell on Wei Mingjin’s white-knuckled grip on the silver bracelet, he changed his mind.

"Since you don't believe me, please return the bracelet." With that, the bounty hunter reached out to take it back.

After years as a bounty hunter, he had developed a keen eye.

The man before him claimed not to believe, yet he clung tightly to the silver bracelet, refusing to let go.

His demeanor made it clear he was unwilling to accept the news of the bracelet owner’s death.

The bounty hunter had seen many like him.

Wei Mingjin clutched the silver bracelet, locking eyes with the bounty hunter, who showed no intention of backing down.

After a moment of stalemate, Wei Mingjin’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He suddenly stood up, tossed out the words, "Give him the reward. Keep the bounty active," and strode out of the room.

The bounty hunter sneered inwardly, thinking, *Who are you trying to fool? In the end, you still lost.*

In the next instant, Chi Yan threw a pouch of gold at him.

Caught off guard, the bounty hunter staggered back two steps under the weight of the gold. He glared angrily at Chi Yan, about to speak, but Chi Yan had already turned and hurried after Wei Mingjin without a backward glance.

The bounty hunter immediately bent down to count the reward.

Confirming the amount matched what was promised on the bounty notice, he magnanimously let the matter drop.

After leaving the Joyful Tower, Chi Yan followed closely behind Wei Mingjin.

They remained firmly convinced that finding Xin He was only a matter of time.

Upon learning that a bounty hunter had taken the job today, both he and Feng Mo let out a sigh of relief.

No one knew just how difficult life had been for him and Feng Mo, the two personal attendants serving closest to Wei Mingjin, since Xin He had been gone.

They had thought that once Xin He was found, their days of hardship would finally come to an end.

But they never expected that the bounty hunter would deliver news of Xin He’s death.

At that moment, Chi Yan could barely bring himself to look at Wei Mingjin’s expression.

Yet Wei Mingjin refused to believe that Xin He was dead.

Xin He was clever enough to escape from his side—how could she have died so easily?

This must be another one of her tricks.

Wei Mingjin refused to accept it and continued putting up bounty notices in the black market for information on Xin He’s whereabouts, even keeping the bounty the highest on the board.

Several more bounty hunters later took the job. But without exception, they all brought news of Xin He’s death.

Wei Mingjin still refused to believe it and kept increasing the bounty.

But no other bounty hunters took the job after that.

As time passed, aside from the faded bounty notice still posted at the top of the black market’s bounty board, the lingering scent Xin He had left behind in the room faded a little more each day, until it eventually disappeared completely.

One night, Wei Mingjin dreamed of Xin He again.

It was the scene from right before she left.

As she lifted her skirt and walked toward the door, she seemed to sense him watching her. She turned back and gave him a radiant smile.

"Young master, I've prepared a surprise for you. You'll know what it is when you wake up."

Light fell upon Xin He, illuminating her gentle and delicate features.

Suddenly, the scene shifted.

He saw Xin He floating on the water, her emerald-green dress spreading across the surface like a lotus leaf in midsummer. Her face was swollen and pale from being submerged, and her entire body lay still and lifeless.

Wei Mingjin jolted awake.

The room was pitch black, too dark to see his own hand in front of his face. Sitting swallowed by the endless darkness, Wei Mingjin felt a sudden hollow ache in his heart.