Four Delicate Offenders – CH 006

Chapter 6. The Governor.

If you had a considerable amount of money, you would not keep it where others could easily find it. You would hide it carefully so that if something unexpected happened, it would not be taken from you at your own expense, and you could still take it as you please.

That family was bound to fall into chaos sooner or later, but she did not expect it to happen so quickly.

Yunpan thought Liu Yanqiao would stall for time. She had been observing mourning for her mother, and Yunpan had been staying at the mansion every day, so Liu Yanqiao could not do anything to her. But this time, she went out to attend the Flourishing Flower Banquet, and the earthquake happened to occur, giving Liu Yanqiao a chance to make a big fuss.

Even without the earthquake, there would have been other tricks waiting for her.

Qin-Dan took the wooden box from the official in charge of inspecting the storeroom, settled the storage fee separately, bowed again, and then left the storeroom.

The previous gloom finally dissipated. Qin-Dan presented the wooden box to Yunpan, who was waiting outside, saying with a mixture of joy and sorrow, “Luckily, Young Lady, you thought things through. If you had left all your wealth in the mansion, you would not have gotten a single penny back now.”

With money, one was less anxious and had a backer, allowing for calm reflection on one’s next steps.

Yunpan opened a drawer in the wooden box and looked inside. There was a thick stack of silver notes and certificates, along with deeds to several properties belonging to the County Princess’s ancestors. “We do not have to worry about making a living anymore,” she sighed. “Luckily, I anticipated this; otherwise, we might starve to death.”

But what about next? Qin-Dan said, “Living on the streets is not a solution. It’s getting dark, and if we spend the night out, we will never be able to explain ourselves. Young Lady, let’s report it to the authorities. The prefect can testify for us, and you can prove your innocence.”

Yunpan shook her head. “If we alarm the authorities, and given that we just broke off the engagement, even if we go back, our reputation will not be good. That’s Liu-niang’s plan.”

Qin-Dan knew all too well… “Well, what way can we find a place to live now?” She thought for a moment and said, “Let’s go to the capital, find the Master, and tell him everything. The Master is still Young Lady’s father; he will at least consider your father-daughter relationship.”

Yunpan looked at her and smiled bitterly. “Do you not know your father’s character? He’s sometimes clear-headed and sometimes confused. As long as Liu-niang sheds a few tears in front of him, he will forget everything and even help Liu-niang to humiliate me.”

Thinking about it carefully, it was indeed true, but all paths were blocked. Even with a considerable fortune, it was of no use.

“The Young Lady is a lady confined to her home and cannot establish her own household. Someone must make decisions for her.” Qin-Dan’s eyes reddened with anxiety, and she choked out, “Before she passed away, Madam repeatedly entrusted me with the task of taking good care of Young Lady. She said that as long as the young lady has a good home, she would die content. But now things have come to this, and she cannot return home. I have failed Madam’s entrustment. I have not protected the young lady.”

Yunpan also wanted to cry, but crying wouldn’t solve anything. After a moment’s thought, she said, “Let’s go to the capital.”

Qin-Dan exclaimed, “Oh? My Young Lady, are you still planning to go find your master?”

Yunpan turned down that idea. “I’m going to the capital to find my aunt.”

Yunpan’s aunt and the County Princess were siblings; her aunt was married to the Duke of Shu, Xiang Junjie. Duke of Shu had rendered meritorious service in defending the Emperor, and although he had been unable to fight due to injuries in recent years, he was still highly regarded by the Emperor in the capital. Last year, when her mother passed away, her aunt came to pay her respects in person. At that time, she was extremely reluctant to part with Yunpan, repeatedly telling her, “You are the flesh of your mother’s flesh, like my daughter. If you ever have any trouble in the future, remember that you still have your aunt. Just come to the capital to find me.”

At that time, although Yunpan was grateful, she took it all as a polite remark. After all, everyone had their own way of life, and she wouldn’t really be reduced to relying on her aunt. But now, looking at her disheveled state, it had actually come true. She felt ashamed, but she had no other choice. Even if her aunt didn’t take her in, she could manage on her own in the capital. Too many people in Youzhou knew her background; now, nameless and unknown, who knew what others might think?

Having made up her mind, she decided to do it this way. The most urgent thing was to find a carriage. Looking at the sky, the rain was still falling, and the clouds were thick and oppressive. At this time, even money might not be enough.

Qin-Dan said, “Why don’t we find a place to stay first? The city is in such chaos; even the inns might not be doing business.”

Yunpan disagreed. “Carrying all this stuff on us will cause a lot of trouble if we’re delayed. Let’s go to a carriage shop first. If someone is willing to take the job, we can pay double the hire fee and have them take us to the capital tonight.”

That made sense, but it wasn’t safe for two young girls to travel at night. Yunpan, mustering her courage, decided to try her luck. After all, she was already at her wits’ end; no matter how bad her situation was, she only had one life left.

So they hid in a secluded spot, adjusting their clothes to avoid arousing suspicion. Only when people couldn’t figure out their situation would they dare not act rashly.

Yunpan tore off a piece of silk and wrapped the documents from the box around them, having Qin-Dan tie it to her skirt and waist. Once everything was in order, they emerged from a corner outside the Inspectorate.

Fortunately, the official in charge of the Inspectorate lent them an umbrella; otherwise, their documents would have been soaked and ruined by the rain. Yunpan and Qin-Dan helped each other onto the main road. The Inspectorate was an official treasury, not far from the Youzhou yamen. Normally a heavily guarded place, it was now filled with soldiers and civilians. The entire city had suffered a severe disaster, and these soldiers, originally intended for garrison duty and warfare, had been urgently redeployed for disaster relief and street cleaning.

Two young women, walking through the cold, armored jungle, stood out conspicuously, attracting curious glances from several soldiers and drawing the attention of the guard.

“You…” a helmeted man with a thick beard pointed at them, “Halt!”

Yunpan and Qin-Dan stopped, watching him stride towards them.

Perhaps because the women looked gentle, the gruff guard, upon closer inspection, softened his tone and, pressing his sword to his waist, asked, “Young ladies, what brings you here?”

Qin-Dan glanced at Yunpan, her hand gripping hers tightly beneath her sleeve. Those in the inner quarters had never dealt with such burly soldiers before, and just looking at their faces instilled a sense of fear.

But Qin-Dan still had to protect her master. Without showing any emotion, she shielded Yunpan behind her, curtsied, and said, “Captain, my mistress and I are here to retrieve something from the warehouse.”

The guard turned his gaze back to Yunpan, blinking his small eyes and scrutinizing her for a long time. “It’s almost dark. Your household actually sent your mistress to retrieve something at this hour? Has everyone in your family died?”

This burly warrior’s words were so blunt and sometimes offensive that Yunpan could only bow slightly and reply, “My family suffered a disaster. It’s a last resort; please let us pass, Captain.”

But the guard frowned, realizing something was amiss. Their attire suggested they weren’t from ordinary families, so he asked, “Young Lady, which noble family do you belong to? It’s so late, and there are many refugees in the city. I can assign two soldiers to escort you home.”

It seemed this excuse wouldn’t work. Yunpan thought for a moment; since things had come to this, seeking help from the government was far more reliable than renting a carriage. So, steeling her resolve, she said, “My father is a founding marquis, and my mother is the late County Princess Yuyang. Due to a family tragedy, we’ve come to the military depot to retrieve our belongings. Please, Captain, do us a favor and send someone to escort us to the capital. Once I see my father, I will naturally report back and then properly thank you, Captain.”

This startled the rough-around-the-edges man. His eyes widened in astonishment. “The young lady of the founding marquis’s family…” He glanced back at the yamen behind him. “Personally coming all the way to the military depot… Has the young lady’s family suffered such a severe disaster?”

However, a mere escort was worlds apart from a founding marquis; he dared not make a hasty decision. After a moment’s hesitation, he asked the young lady to wait a moment, then, pressing down on his helmet, quickly ran off into the distance.

Yunpan followed the retreating figure of the guard. A temporary enclosure had been erected in front of the badly collapsed courtyard, where a carriage was parked, surrounded by three concentric rings. It must be a relief official inspecting the disaster situation.

Qin-Dan looked at her expectantly and asked, “Young Lady, will this work?”

Yunpan wasn’t sure either. It depended on the official’s background. If he knew any secrets within the nobility, perhaps he could offer some assistance.

Soon, the guard returned and gestured towards the carriage. “Young Lady, please come with me.”

Yunpan and Qin-Dan had no choice but to follow him, umbrellas in hand, to the carriage.

The rain showed no signs of letting up. As darkness fell, lanterns were lit throughout the enclosure, and horn lanterns hung under the exquisite carriage canopy. The straight-lattice carriage door was wide open, and a curtain was half-drawn inside.

Yunpan peered through the rain into the carriage. Because the curtain was drawn low, she could only see a figure in a red robe and jade belt sitting behind it, knees touching, in the flickering lamplight. His large sleeves, adorned with cloud patterns, concealed the back of his hands, revealing only his silvery-white knuckles. Those knuckles were so slender and delicate that even the inch-wide, red-gold ring on his left index finger appeared exceptionally exquisite.

“Are you the daughter of the Founding Marquis’s family?” the person in the carriage asked, but for some reason, his voice sounded somewhat weak, revealing a gentle tone.

Yunpan acknowledged, curtsied, and said, “I have already pleaded with the head constable. Due to a family crisis, I wish to go to the capital. However, I am traveling with only a maid, and I cannot travel such a long distance by myself. If I could receive assistance from a noble person, I would certainly repay your kindness in the future.”

The person in the carriage fell silent, and after a long while, two low coughs were heard, as if he had fallen ill.

Yunpan had thought that a high-ranking official would be difficult to deal with, but it wasn’t as she had imagined.

The person in the carriage didn’t even press for details but simply said, “Oh, Young Lady, are you going to the capital to seek refuge with your father or to rely on relatives and friends?”

He had a pleasant voice, refined and elegant, like spring water falling into a clear pool, possessing an air of extraordinary refinement. Yunpan had never heard such a voice before. Though she couldn’t see his face, she vaguely pictured him in her mind—probably a refined gentleman, like a young scholar who had just topped the imperial examinations.

The fact that he didn’t insist on escorting her home showed he was somewhat aware of the current state of the Founding Marquis’s household. Yunpan felt helpless; indeed, family scandals were public knowledge, known throughout Youzhou City. The Founding Marquis’s household was disorganized, allowing his concubines to run the household.

Since that was the case, there was no need to hide it. Yunpan said, “I’m going to the capital to visit relatives.”

This answer was probably expected, so there was no surprise in his tone. He only asked which relatives she was visiting, then paused and added, “Tell me so you can send someone to escort you.”

Qin-Dan became happy upon hearing this and quietly tugged at Yunpan’s sleeve.

Yunpan breathed a sigh of relief, tucking her hands behind her back as she replied, “We’re going to stay with my aunt, the Duchess of Shu.”

The person in the carriage didn’t ask any further questions but called out to Zhao, the soldier who accompanied them, “Can the army spare some men to escort them to the capital?”

When the powerful speak, even the busiest man has to make time for it. Captain Zhao straightened his back and replied in a booming voice, “Reporting to the magistrate, I can spare two of my men to escort the young lady to the capital tonight.”

Yunpan, hearing Zhao’s address, realized he was a governor-level official. Under the current system, prefectural governors didn’t necessarily have to go to their posts in person; it was usually a figurehead appointment. Presumably, the earthquake had alarmed the court, which was why they had sent him to Youzhou to handle the disaster.

The man in the carriage tightened his grip on his knees slightly, then raised them, clearing his throat twice. He said, “Choose two reliable ones, and make sure they deliver the person safely to the Duchess of Shu.”

Captain Zhao agreed, turning and respectfully gesturing, “Please, Young Lady.”

Finally relieved, Yunpan thanked him repeatedly, saying, “I will always remember your kindness, sir.”

The man in the carriage raised his hand slightly, saying, “Young Lady, there’s no need for such formalities. I serve in the same court as your father, and I have only done my humble service; it’s hardly a favor. Youzhou is over a hundred li from the capital, so you’ll likely have to spend the night in the carriage. I’ve ordered some provisions prepared. It’s getting late; best set off immediately.”

Yunpan was grateful and, along with Qin-Dan, bowed to him again.

After dealing with them for a while, he seemed tired and reached for the curtain. Because the person leaned forward, the lower half of their face was revealed behind the curtain; the complexion was slightly pale, but the lips and jawline were delicate.

It was like a fleeting glimpse of a beautiful woman, quickly disappearing again behind the entwined brocade curtains.