The Night Watcher of Great Jing - Chapter 97

The Jiahui Ward affair came to an end amid curling trails of smoke.

In the end, it was Imperial Physician Zhang who dealt with the greatest problem—Prince Rui—by pulling the fleshy tube out of him.

After repeated examinations confirmed that nothing remained in his abdomen that ought not be there, Prince Rui, still bedridden and unable to rise, was sent back to his estate.

Zhao Li had expected him to complain to the emperor.

To her surprise, no news came from the palace.

Only a handful of people even knew that he had been injured.

The fact that he silently swallowed this humiliation only made Zhao Li warier. She reminded Shen Yan several times that he must be careful.

Unlike the worried Zhao Li, Shen Yan knew exactly how much Prince Rui valued his pride.

He would let this affair rot inside his belly before he mentioned it to anyone.

He probably wished every person who knew about it would lose their memory as well.

Shen Yan did not point that out. It was rare to see this usually carefree girl show concern for him of her own accord.

Thanks to Zhao Li’s constitution for attracting trouble, the entire Pacification Office worked like dogs throughout the fourth month.

Even the beheadings and waist-severing executions at the marketplace after autumn had to take numbers and wait their turn.

When the fifth month arrived, Great Jing’s imperial palace—where the Dragon Boat Festival already held exceptional importance—paid even greater attention to the observance after the trouble caused by the moth-woman in Jiahui Ward.

From the first day of the fifth month until the thirteenth, the palace women and inner-court officials changed into python robes with Five Poisons and Mugwort Tiger rank badges. Sweet-flag leaves were hung everywhere, and basins of mugwort set out.

Emperor Longqing even broke with his usual habits as an immortal-cultivating recluse and made a rare public appearance. He wrote peachwood charms and went to plant willow branches before Longevity Hill.

Those things were leisurely amusements, however. Poor commoners still spent every day laboring in the fields.

In the countryside outside the capital, farmers called the period from the full moon of the fourth month to the full moon of the seventh the Busy Months.

A dark-skinned young man named Li Daniu was transplanting rice seedlings in the fields with his father.

He worked bare-chested, his muscles firm and smooth. Although years of labor beneath the sun had tanned him deeply, Li Daniu possessed a handsome face entirely at odds with his rustic name.

He was known throughout the countryside as a fine-looking young man. Whenever he worked in the fields, unmarried girls and young wives often came to watch.

“Daniu, hurry. Finish before sunset. The Green Shoots Festival is about to begin.”

Daniu’s father looked far older than his years. He smiled happily, showing a mouthful of large teeth.

The Green Shoots Festival was held around the Dragon Boat Festival, after the rice seedlings had been transplanted. Farmers gathered beside their fields to drink and hold music contests.

At his father’s words, Li Daniu raised his head and answered. Beads of sweat as large as beans slid down his forehead.

The Green Shoots Festival was also, in practice, a matchmaking gathering that gave young men and women a chance to meet.

Li Daniu knew his father worried about his marriage. He wiped the sweat from his brow with a rueful smile.

His mother had suffered a long illness, and her treatment had emptied the family’s savings before she died. Li Daniu was so poor that all he owned were the ragged clothes on his back. How could he afford to marry?

He did not voice those thoughts for fear of upsetting his father and simply agreed aloud.

As the sun sank westward, he straightened and slowly eased the ache in his lower back.

At that moment, a carriage appeared along the narrow road.

Li Daniu’s father recognized it as belonging to a wealthy household in the village and hurriedly stepped aside.

The carriage had barely passed halfway when the old horse suddenly reared in fright and bolted. No matter how the driver shouted or lashed it, the animal refused to stop.

A woman screamed in terror inside the carriage.

Daniu yanked his feet from the mud and rushed forward.

As the carriage passed him, he seized the reins with both hands.

The frightened horse gradually calmed. The carriage stopped just before it struck a tree.

The only daughter of Master Zhang looked out from inside. When she saw Li Daniu, her face reddened, and she lowered the curtain.

Li Daniu thought nothing more of it.

Yet the very next day, rumors began spreading through the village.

People said that Master Zhang’s daughter had taken a fancy to a mud-legged peasant and was making a fuss about marrying him.

How could Master Zhang agree to anything so absurd?

He locked his daughter inside the house.

When Li Daniu heard, warmth stirred in his chest.

He remembered Miss Zhang’s round face, narrow brows and eyes, and small cherry-like mouth. She could not exactly be called beautiful, but what man could resist the dream of being chosen by a rich young lady?

Several days later, beneath a gloomy sky heavy with rain, the steward of Master Zhang’s household abruptly arrived at their door carrying gifts.

His first words were, “Li family, I’ve come to offer my congratulations.”

Despite speaking of congratulations, the steward showed no happiness whatsoever.

Li Daniu did not notice. His heart lurched as a sudden thought flashed through his mind.

Could it be?

Sure enough, the steward continued, “Master Zhang wishes to take your son as his live-in son-in-law.”

A live-in son-in-law?

Li Daniu’s father immediately shook his head.

“No, no. Daniu is my only son. How could I let him marry into another family?”

Li Daniu said nothing.

His father was right, but at night Li Daniu could not help thinking about Miss Zhang, the Zhang family’s fertile fields, and their great residence.

He had assumed their refusal would end the matter. To his surprise, the Zhang steward returned the next day.

This time, he brought several large chests of valuables.

He was also accompanied by more than a dozen Zhang household guards carrying clubs.

“Money.”

The steward pointed to the chests on his left, then to the servants on his right.

“Or difficult days ahead?”

Faced with both threats and temptation, Li Daniu and his father had no choice but to agree.

Only then did the Zhang steward wave the guards away. His expression changed completely.

“Son-in-law, your wedding robes are here. Why not change and perform the ceremony?”

“What?” Li Daniu had never imagined it would happen so hastily or with so little regard for proper custom.

The steward gave him no chance to respond.

“What are you waiting for? Help the son-in-law change into his wedding clothes.”

Several guards surged forward.

That very night, Li Daniu entered the Zhang residence alone, dressed in new but ill-fitting red wedding robes.

He looked around. Servants hurried through the courtyard, arranging decorations.

White paper characters for double happiness had been pasted on the windows.

White cloth flowers hung everywhere.

Beneath the eaves, two white lanterns swayed gently in the wind.

In this world of white, Li Daniu’s red wedding robes were painfully conspicuous.

On the way there, he had been reluctant on the surface but secretly a little pleased.

Now his heart held nothing but fear.

He took a step back, intending to flee.

The steward and his men blocked his path.

“Son-in-law, please.”

The Zhang residence’s black gate slammed shut behind him.

Everyone in the courtyard wore sackcloth mourning clothes. They stared at Li Daniu without expression.

With his back pressed to the gate, Li Daniu forgot to breathe.

The people in the courtyard watched him for a moment.

Then they all shouted in unison.

“The auspicious hour has arrived—”