Four Seasons Brocade – CH 058

Chapter 58 ☆、

Ah Wu led Tang Yin to the row of houses facing south, and they walked to the cross-shaped lattice window of a room on the left. New paper was pasted on the window, along with round paper-cut magpies playing among plum blossoms.

Tang Yin was much more familiar with it than Ah Wu this time. She moistened the outer layer of white paper with saliva, then moistened the inner layer as well, and poked a small hole through it. She peeked inside, then excitedly looked down at Ah Wu and said, “It’s Mei Changsheng! It really is Mei Changsheng!”

Ah Wu patted her hand, signaling her to be quiet.

Tang Yin quickly covered her mouth.

Unfortunately, it was too late. In the quiet night, the creaking sound of a door opening startled both little girls.

Tang Yin was too frightened to turn around, while Ah Wu saw a person emerge from the doorway. Through the open door behind him, she glimpsed a pair of purplish-black boots embroidered with honeysuckle patterns that the short curtain in the side room could not conceal.

Ah Wu tugged at Tang Yin’s hand and whispered, “Mei Changsheng.”

Tang Yin quickly turned around, and there stood Mei Changsheng.

Ah Wu craned her neck to look at Mei Changsheng. He possessed a refined and scholarly air, his blue robe flowing like bamboo. It was rare to see someone wear a winter padded jacket so elegantly and gracefully. He was handsome, with arched eyebrows and a straight nose. Although he played female roles on stage, he had no feminine features without makeup.

Tang Yin was both nervous and excited, her excitement overwhelming her. She simply stared at Mei Changsheng, mesmerized. Mei Changsheng had a peculiar habit: even when the Kunyu troupe was performing, he would never greet the host. He would usually leave as soon as he stepped off the stage. The more mysterious and aloof he was, the more he attracted the heart of a proud young girl like Tang Yin. She did not see him as just an actor; she only felt he possessed great integrity.

Ah Wu’s thoughts, however, were not on Mei Changsheng.

The Fourth Prince was actually in Mei Changsheng’s room, and he came alone, acting mysteriously. The implications were obvious. Ah Wu quickly grasped the key.

No wonder the Kunyu Troupe was so dominant and Mei Changsheng so renowned for his Kunqu opera. It was unbelievable that they did not have a powerful backer. With Mei Changsheng’s elegant bearing and his ability to stand tall like a plum blossom in the snow and a lotus rising from the mud, he couldn’t live without protection. Given the current trend of philandering with actors in the country, without a powerful backer, he would likely have become someone else’s plaything long ago.

However, in her previous life, no one knew that their backer was the Fourth Prince, the future Emperor Zhengyuan. Even Ah Wu had not considered it, because Emperor Zhengyuan had never shown any particular interest in the Kunyu Troupe.

The Kunyu Troupe had several overt backers, including Princess Fuhui, who concealed their true identities and also fooled Ah Wu.

The Kunyu Troupe and the Fourth Prince had almost no connection. The Fourth Prince did not particularly favor the Kunyu Troupe. If Chu Mao had not arrived late tonight, immediately revealing their relationship to Ah Wu, she might have remained completely unaware for the rest of her life.

The Kunyu Troupe traveled extensively throughout the country, frequenting wealthy and powerful families, cultivating an unfathomable network of connections. Ah Wu wondered if she could think of anyone better than a theatrical troupe to conceal their identity and facilitate connections with influential families and officials across the land.

When did the Kunyu Troupe become famous? Ah Wu tried hard to recall. Even when the future Emperor, who would one day rule the world, was so young, his cunning was already so profound, and his plans so grand. Ah Wu was naturally far inferior to him.

Mei Changsheng had come out to investigate after receiving instructions from inside. He had not expected to find two audacious little girls at the door. He was not surprised; he’d seen such girls before.

“You two little girls should not be here. Go back quickly, or your families will worry.” Mei Changsheng’s voice was gentle, instantly endearing him.

“I, I…” Tang Yin stammered nervously.

Ah Wu stared at Mei Changsheng, her voice sweet and childish, “You are so pretty.”

They were truly two innocent little girls; Mei Changsheng had seen plenty of them.

“Go back quickly, or I will have someone tell your elders,” Mei Changsheng said gently, his words carrying no threat whatsoever.

Tang Yin grabbed Ah Wu’s hand. “Let’s go now.” Then the two little girls ran off.

Out of Jingyuan Garden, Tang Yin exclaimed, “I did not expect to see him so close! He does not sing opera, but his voice is beautiful, is it not?”

Ah Wu thought to herself, “You are such a coward. Did you go through all that trouble and risk to come all this way just to see Mei Changsheng?” She did not say anything else, just grabbed her and ran off. Ah Wu was resentful; she had originally wanted to stubbornly force her way in to see if that person was really Chu Mao.

Ah Wu was about to reply when everything went black. She heard Tang Yin scream, and Ah Wu was knocked unconscious, stuffed into a burlap sack, and slung over the shoulder.

It was truly Ah Wu and Tang Yin’s bad luck. The little girls were too attractive; they were a real menace. Ah Wu had been watched ever since she came out with Third Master Rong. Originally, those people did not dare to make a move, but who knew the two little girls would actually evade the guards? They deserved it. Ah Wu had never expected to encounter the same bad luck twice.

Just before Ah Wu lost consciousness, she saw four anxious old women and maids standing about ten feet in front of her and Tang Yin. She was truly unwilling to accept this fate.

When Ah Wu awoke again, she was on a moored boat. Ah Wu’s hands and feet were bound. Ah Wu opened her eyes and saw Tang Yin; the two had a similar appearance, their mouths stuffed with foul-smelling cloths, the stench making Ah Wu’s eyes water and making her nauseous.

Tang Yin was making “whimpering” sounds through her nose, constantly moving towards Ah Wu, who was tied to the stern of the boat. The two girls kicked at each other’s ropes, managing to loosen them. Fortunately, they were young, and the people were not on guard; they had not tied them too tightly, lest they injure themselves and fetch a lower price. Besides, they were on a boat; they could not escape.

Suddenly, the boat moved. Tang Yin and Ah Wu exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with terror.

Someone jumped aboard. He pulled back the curtain, revealing a burly man in his forties. Even before he got close, a foul stench emanated from him. Seeing Ah Wu and Tang Yin, he chuckled, “Good, you’ve picked up two top-quality sheep this time. Such fine goods, let me have a taste first.”

The man who followed him, bowing as he entered the boat, let out a lewd laugh. “Do not dare; they will not fetch a good price after losing their virginity.”

“Cannot sell them? I will take them. Sheep like these are rare finds. You know I have a thing for them.” The man who spoke was a womanizer.

Ah Wu and Tang Yin were already pale with fright from their words. They both shrank back, Ah Wu unable to think of anyone who could save them now, only regretting her carelessness.

The two men slowly approached. Ah Wu, preferring death to humiliation, loosened the rope binding her feet as she shuffled backward. She did not know where she found the speed, but she sprang up and plunged towards the stern of the boat, diving headfirst into the icy river, splashing water everywhere. Ah Wu sank to the bottom, hoping the commotion would attract attention and save Tang Yin.

Tang Yin saw Ah Wu’s movement but was a step too slow. The rough-faced man grabbed her, and she struggled violently.

Just as the man’s hand touched her clothes, the boat suddenly jolted violently. The man turned around and saw someone had appeared in the cabin. The two henchmen, seeing the newcomer, immediately released Tang Yin and walked towards the person. Before they could get close, they were pulled and pushed out of the cabin.

Tang Yin then recognized the man as the Fourth Prince and began to sob loudly. Chu Mao pulled the gag from her mouth.

Tang Yin, disregarding everything else, cried out, “Quickly, save Ah Xuan! She jumped into the river!”

Chu Mao strode to the stern of the boat and jumped into the river without hesitation. Two guards entered behind, exclaiming, “Your Highness!” They also quickly jumped into the water.

Ah Wu was truly grateful for her jump. After Tang Yin and Ah Wu met Mei Changsheng, Chu Mao did not believe it would be such a coincidence. Last time they were spying at the back gate of the Prince’s mansion, and this time they’d found their way to Jingyuan. Chu Mao could not help but be suspicious.

He ordered his men to follow the two, only to witness them being kidnapped.

Chu Mao’s trip to Jingyuan was a secret matter, and the two guards could not reveal their identities. So one went back to report, while the other kept watch. They only dared to act upon Chu Mao’s orders.

The kidnappers took Ah Wu and Tang Yin to Jinkou, the northernmost point of the canal connecting north and south, considered the largest ferry crossing along the route, with hundreds or even thousands of boats moored there. It was pitch black at night, and even the guards with exceptional eyesight could only determine a general area; they could not pinpoint the exact ship.

Ah Wu’s jump had given them a signal; otherwise, by the time they found Ah Wu and Tang Yin, Tang Yin, even if she was not humiliated, would certainly have suffered some minor mistreatment.

Ah Wu was quickly rescued by Chu Mao. It had not been long since she fell into the water, so it was not too late. However, Ah Wu had already fainted, and as she slowly sank to the bottom, her mind was surprisingly clear. Even more remarkably, she seemed to see someone swimming towards her, or perhaps it was just her imagination.

As soon as Chu Mao boarded the boat, he lifted Ah Wu upside down. Seeing her vomit water and choke, he handed her to Tang Yin and picked up the cloak he had taken off earlier from the stern. “Cover her up,” he said.

The two guards in the water also came ashore. Tang Yin, fearing Ah Wu would fall seriously ill, quickly removed Ah Wu’s wet clothes, wrapped her in the cloak, and rubbed her chest to warm her, crying incessantly, “Ah Xuan, I am sorry, I am so sorry…” Her second brother had long said that her personality would inevitably lead to trouble, but Tang Yin had never believed it. Today, however, it had come true, almost killing Ah Wu and herself.

Outside the boat, all was silent. It was unclear how Chu Mao dealt with the kidnappers. A short while later, Tang Yin saw a hand reach into the cabin, handing over a package.

Tang Yin quickly took it. Inside was a set of girls’ clothes, almost identical to what Ah Wu was wearing. She quickly dressed Ah Wu in them. Although Ah Wu had regained consciousness, she remained disoriented for a long time, her head throbbing and her body trembling.