Slow-setting Fishing Net (2)

As the last month of the lunar year drew to a close, the city of Shangdu still retained a lingering festive atmosphere.

A chilling wind had blown all day, and as evening approached, fine grains of snow began to drift down, landing leisurely on the flagstones and settling into a layer of silver frost.

Outside the mansion of Chen Haizhou, bright red lanterns hung high. Visitors arrived in an endless stream, and the surroundings were filled with joy and celebration.

A dark-green-canopied carriage rested in the shadows at the mouth of an alley. Before it stood a fine steed with a coat as black as pitch, as silent as a stone statue.

This alley was very long, one end leading to the Vermilion Bird Avenue, and the other to the bustling River Square Street. Residential houses within the alley were interspersed in an orderly fashion, with numerous exits and a complex layout. The green-canopied carriage was parked in the middle section, facing the grand gates of the Chen residence from a distance.

Two figures walked along the wall against the wind and snow. One wore a scholar’s long gown, while the other wore rough short garments. Their voices drifted into the carriage on the wind.

"Lord Chen is hosting a banquet today. Make sure every single item of food and utensil in the estate is meticulously counted. Check every vessel used in the banquet, comparing what was reported broken against what was excessively drawn. If anyone dares to squeeze and exploit, guard your heads!" The man in the long gown spoke in a chilling tone, his gaze like a blade.

The other man answered repeatedly, not daring to hesitate for the slightest moment.

Suddenly, the black horse sneezed, shaking the snow from its mane.

This movement caught the attention of the two men. The scholar cast a vigilant glance toward the green-canopied carriage, while his companion reassured him, "It is probably just the carriage of some official invited today, nothing to worry about. Master Yuan, the household still requires you to take charge."

The man in the long gown, addressed as Master Yuan, hesitated for a moment. He looked at several luxurious carriages parked nearby, then glanced a few more times at the green-canopied carriage. With a trace of doubt, he and the servant returned to the Chen estate.

A corner of the curtain on the green-canopied carriage was lifted slightly, then quickly dropped.

Inside the carriage, zhenniang sat close to the door, withdrawing her gaze from the outside and looking toward Xia Yunhe. She saw that her young mistress was pale and thin, leaning sideways against the couch with her dark hair lazily pinned back. Clad in a plain dark brocade robe with a white fox fur draped over her shoulders, her eyes were half-closed and her expression languid, as if a gust of wind could easily blow her away.

Zhenniang’s heart tightened, and she could not help urging softly, "My lord, why not return first? Why suffer the cold here in vain? I cannot bear to see you like this."

Xia Yunhe opened her eyes, coughed softly twice, hugged her hand warmer tighter, and tilted her head to look at zhenniang. Her voice was weak yet resolute, "Let us keep watch a little longer."

Seeing Xia Yunhe close her eyes to sleep once more, zhenniang sighed and attentively looked outside again.

The sky had grown entirely dark. The two lanterns at the entrance of the Chen residence glowed red, swaying in the cold wind. By their faint light, zhenniang saw that the snow was still falling, and it was growing heavier.

The surroundings were desolate and quiet, the chill pressing through clothing and creeping into collars and sleeves. Zhenniang rubbed her hands together and massaged her sore, aching eyes.

There were no pedestrians left on the road, save for a few guards of the Chen estate huddled together, whispering and discussing Chen Haizhou's banquet.

Zhenniang grew somewhat sleepy as well, propping her head up and yawning. In her drowsiness, she heard a commotion.

She lifted the curtain slightly to see a circle of thugs gathered at the entrance of the Chen residence, while a disheveled figure stood at the bottom of the steps.

A man on the steps shouted, "Xue Wang, you dare to harbor designs on Mr. Xu? You truly have grown tired of living!"

The man at the bottom laughed recklessly, spat fiercely onto the ground, and spoke with a thick, alcohol-laden tongue, "Qi Yuan, I—I have done so many dirty jobs for Chen Haizhou, yet I cannot even touch an actor? Pah!"

"Ask for a beating!"

The thugs swarmed forward, pushing, shoving, beating, and kicking. Within moments, the man fell to the ground, clutching his head and wailing. After crying out a couple of times, his noises reduced to mere groans.

The thugs dispersed and returned into the Chen estate, leaving only the one named Xue Wang lying on the ground.

All of this was clearly witnessed from the green-canopied carriage at the mouth of the alley.

Xia Yunhe lifted a narrow gap in the carriage curtain, watching as Xue Wang staggered toward her direction.

When Xue Wang reached the mouth of the alley and found a carriage blocking his way, he spat fiercely and cursed, "What kind of thing are you, daring to block my path!"

Xia Yunhe spoke slowly, her voice slightly hoarse and carrying a trace of majesty, "Xue Wang."

"Who is calling me!"

Xue Wang lifted his eyes and caught sight of an excessively pale face. The bright moonlight set off that face, making it appear even whiter. Xue Wang could not help starting in fright, sobering up by three parts. He narrowed his eyes and looked closely. After a long moment, he let out a breath and said with a thick tongue, "Official... Official Xia?"

Xia Yunhe swept her gaze over him from top to head and intentionally asked with a smile, "I was going to the Ji'an Pharmacy to fetch medicine and happened to pass by here. How is it that you were beaten out of the residence by Lord Chen?"

"Hmph." Xue Wang was still burning with anger. "It's all that Xu Xing's fault. He lied to me, saying Lord Chen was not in. We merely drank a couple of cups of wine together before we were discovered and chased out."

With a bruised and battered face, Xue Wang lacked three parts of his previous boldness. The truth was certainly not as simple as he described, but Xu Xing had indeed successfully stirred up conflict between Xue Wang and Chen.

Xia Yunhe coughed twice and said, "You and Lord Chen usually share a close friendship, yet he punished you over such a trivial matter? That is truly unfair..."

"A mere wretched actor, treated like some precious treasure," Xue Wang spat toward the direction of the Chen residence. "I couldn't care less."

"Alas, the fickle-hearted remain fickle-hearted after all." Xia Yunhe beckoned to Xue Wang. "I have some matters I would like to invite you into the carriage to discuss in detail."

Xue Wang was stunned. As it dawned on him, his heart felt an itch, thinking that the refined and aloof Official Xia actually harbored such preferences! Overjoyed, he lifted the curtain...

Before he knew it, the back of his neck was grabbed by a strong hand, dragging him into the carriage and pressing him firmly against the interior. The strength of this person was so great that he could not break free at all.

Zhenniang freed a hand, picked up a pebble, and struck the black horse. The horse, feeling the pain, shook its head and slowly moved toward the darker recesses, turning into the deep, quiet alleyways.

...

A sharp short dagger was pressed against Xue Wang's throat. Zhenniang controlled his shoulder with one hand, applying slight pressure to render Xue Wang immobile.

"Official... Official Xia!" Xue Wang was so frightened that his drunkenness vanished completely. "Official Xia, we have no grudges or enmity between us. Why are you doing this?"

Xia Yunhe spoke coldly, "Do you know your crime?"

"What crime could this lowly one have?"

Zhenniang’s dagger pressed forward by half an inch as she said in a low voice, "Think clearly before you answer."

Xue Wang trembled as he begged for mercy, "Official... Official Xia, this lowly one was forced by Chen Haizhou. I had no choice; a person must eat to survive."

Xia Yunhe sneered, "Chen Haizhou thrives on cruel prisons, fabricating charges and framing loyal officials. You knew it went against your conscience, yet you still helped him do his dirty work. Have you ever considered how long you can rely on Chen Haizhou?"

Xue Wang glanced at the gleaming dagger in zhenniang's hand, swallowed hard, and said, "This lowly one does not understand what Official Xia means."

"A person should always leave a way out for themselves. You helped Chen Haizhou so much, has he ever remembered your loyalty? Look at how he humiliated you today..." Xia Yunhe smiled slightly and continued, "Besides, no flower blooms for a hundred days. How can you be certain that Chen Haizhou will always come out on top?"

"You know?" Xue Wang was startled, his eyes widening as he stared at Xia Yunhe.

Xia Yunhe was surprised as well, but she quickly lowered her gaze without answering Xue Wang's question. She was certain that Xue Wang must know something.

Zhenniang pressed the blade closer and warned Xue Wang, "Spare us your tricks."

"No, no, you don't know." Xue Wang shook his head, muttering to himself, "He only mentioned it tonight. You shouldn't know."

Xia Yunhe gathered her white fox fur tighter around her and probed, "Is Chen Haizhou planning to falsely accuse someone of treason again?"

"Yes! But also no!" Xue Wang grew somewhat agitated.

"Could he be planning to frame the Prince of Ding for treason?"

Xue Wang said, "Precisely so. Not only is he going to falsely accuse the Prince of Ding, but also Princess Lianjia and the branches of the Wan clan. Moreover, he intends to usurp power—the one who wants to commit treason is him!"

The carriage came to a stop, and the black horse snorted and neighed softly. Zhenniang signaled for quiet, and Xue Wang did not even dare to draw a loud breath.

All around was silence.

Xue Wang glanced at the dagger at his throat and smiled as he tried to push the blade tip away. "This... shouldn't we go outside and take a look?"

The dagger did not retreat in the slightest. Zhenniang whispered, "Do not move." She then gave a soft whistle, and the carriage slowly set off once more.

Xia Yunhe leaned against the carriage wall, her heart beating wildly. This matter was of the utmost importance. She had originally thought Chen Haizhou only intended to frame the Prince of Ding, and she had wanted to borrow the influence of the Wan family, though she feared miscalculation and considered it rather tricky. Who could have expected Chen Haizhou to be so audaciously bold? Whether true or false, she still needed to interrogate him thoroughly. Gathering her thoughts, she coughed lightly, caught her breath, and asked, "Is this true?"

Xue Wang replied, "Naturally true. When I heard this, he had me tied to a pillar and severely beaten. Official Xia, you tell me, what should we do?"

"Hmm? Who is this 'we' with you? I merely happened to run into you today." Xia Yunhe raised her eyebrows slightly, lifting her eyes to look at him. "Such a major matter cannot be concealed. The Emperor might not necessarily listen to you; go find the Prince of Ding and report everything."

"This, this..." Xue Wang stammered, feeling that something was amiss but unable to put his finger on it. "Official Xia, this..."

Ignoring Xue Wang's continued stammering, Xia Yunhe gave a cold order to zhenniang, "Head to the Prince of Ding's mansion."

Zhenniang acknowledged the command and warned Xue Wang, "I am going up front to drive the carriage. If you have the guts, just try moving a single finger of Official Xia's." With that, she produced two walnut-sized iron balls and gently squeezed them, making her meaning abundantly clear.

The carriage gave a slight jolt as a dark figure climbed onto the driver's seat. Immediately after, a clear and mellow male voice drifted into the carriage, "Official Xia, I will drive and send you across."

So it was Wei Sizhao... Xia Yunhe's heart settled somewhat. Wei Sizhao, who usually concealed himself in the shadows, always appeared at critical moments.

Zhenniang naturally recognized the voice of the driver as well. She put away the dagger, though she still firmly kept Xue Wang under control.

The snow had stopped. The streets were cold and desolate, with only the rumbling sound of the carriage wheels clearly audible against the bluestone ground.

Xue Wang huddled in the corner, feeling deeply aggrieved. He had been muddle-headedly tricked by Xu Xing, accidentally overheard Chen Haizhou's plan, and then caught by Chen Haizhou cursing Xu Xing—only to be tied up, severely beaten by Chen Haizhou, and driven out.

How on earth had he ended up inside Xia Yunhe's carriage? Xue Wang stole a glance at Xia Yunhe.

He saw Xia Yunhe half-leaning against the couch, the moonlight spilling through the lattice window onto her brows and eyes.

Her handsome brows were slightly furrowed, her gaze as cold as ice. The heroic spirit between her brows was diminished by three parts due to illness, replaced instead by a hint of melancholy. Her cheeks were naturally stained with the flush of sickness, yet she looked remarkably striking even in her frailty.

He could not help taking another look, growing somewhat infatuated. Suddenly feeling a pain in his shoulder, he turned his head instinctively and was met with a fierce warning in zhenniang's eyes.

Xue Wang shrank his neck, lowered his head, and slapped himself mentally, thinking: I must have lost my mind to trust Xia Yunhe's evil ways!

If he accused Chen Haizhou of treason and Chen Haizhou found out, his little life would be forfeit... On one side was Chen Haizhou, and on the other were the Prince of Ding and the Wan family. He could afford to offend neither... He had to find a way to escape quickly...

"Xue Wang, do you know that treason is a crime punishable by the extermination of one's entire clan?"

Xia Yunhe's words shattered Xue Wang's train of thought.

His expression froze. He opened his mouth, raised his eyes to look at Xia Yunhe, and stammered, "This lowly one knows."

"Treason is a capital offense, and failure to report what one knows is tantamount to complicity, which is also a capital offense." Xia Yunhe hugged her hand warmer, lowered her gaze, and gave a cold reminder. "When we reach the Prince of Ding's mansion, you will tell the Prince of Ding everything you know, word for word, without any concealment."

Xue Wang wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and nodded, not daring to meet Xia Yunhe's gaze any longer. He glanced at zhenniang, whose eyes did not blink, and knew he no longer had a way out.

...

The carriage wheels turned, rumbling forward.

After a long time.

The carriage gradually came to a halt, and Wei Sizhao's voice came from outside.

"Official Xia, we have arrived at the Prince of Ding's mansion."