Love in Red Dust – CH 051

Chapter 51.

Ever since the candid conversation with Seventh Master, a peculiar situation had arisen—Seventh Master and his inner circle had begun to encircle and pursue her, adhering to one principle: she could remain there for everyone to gaze at, but no one was allowed to make advances or secretly cozy up to her. What the Seventh Master called “fairness” meant that in an open and just environment, he was allowed to occasionally act spoiled or throw tantrums, but the Twelfth Master was forbidden from showing her tender affection or sending covert glances.

Of course, there was no written rule about this. Dingyi had discerned the underlying message from his every move. On several occasions when the Twelfth Master came to see her, the two lovers naturally wanted to share intimate words. But just as they were about to speak, they would catch sight of Seventh Master’s gloomy face drifting past from some obscure corner, startling them into silence. If they hesitated and tried again, he would pretend to casually stroll by, loudly singing, “Zhuge Liang waits atop the enemy tower, awaiting your arrival for a heart-to-heart talk,” swaying with each step and glancing back—utterly unbearable.

Twelfth Master was furious. Frowning, he said, “Sha Tong acted on his own, so I punished him by making him kneel in the snow for two hours. Had I known earlier, I would never have let you go. Look at us now—even speaking requires watching his expression. It is suffocating.”

Despite his words, they both understood things had not yet reached the point of open hostility. Dingyi smiled and said, “We still have a long road ahead. Do not dwell on temporary setbacks. And do not blame Sha Tong—a clear-headed person like him is rare. He acted for your good. The Seventh Master cannot watch me all twenty-four hours. There will be free moments, and I can visit you too.”

And so, the two of them carried on their secret exchanges right under Seventh Master’s nose, finding the situation both infuriating and amusing.

Yet Seventh Master remained displeased. The mere sight of Twelfth Master made his hackles rise, and he could not resist needling him at every opportunity. During shared meals, he would stir up trouble over wine. Hongce ignored him, but after eating and drinking his fill, Seventh Master would still provoke him, sucking his teeth and saying, “Yesterday, I strained my muscles, and neither acupuncture nor cupping helped. Then Xiao Shu said, ‘My Lord, let me ease your muscles.’ The moment her hands touched my shoulders—presto! The pain vanished. Turns out, she’s my miracle cure!”

Twelfth Master’s expression darkened, but he was too well-mannered to stoop to his level. Undeterred, Seventh Master kept pressing until Twelfth Master casually retorted, “Seventh Brother, why do you always wake up with a stiff neck? Be careful! There was a man named Shi Tao in the Ministry of Works who once missed his footing while dismounting and landed his neck on a dog bench—he ended up paralyzed. You keep twisting yours, and too many times will not be good. Shi Tao was in his sixties or seventies, so it did not matter much, but you are in your prime. Take care of yourself—you’ve got a long road ahead.”

With that, he left, leaving Seventh Master fuming. That little brat had cursed him in a roundabout way! To turn against his own brother over a woman—had he no shame?

Thus, the two brothers continued to eye each other with mutual disdain, all the way from Changbai Mountain to Ningguta.

The climate of Ningguta was indeed as the records described—in the twelfth month, visibility was near zero. Yet beyond the bitter cold, they discovered a dizzying array of local customs: the glint of spears and armor amid swirling snow and the timeless sorrow woven into the sunset over the long river.

The reality here was not as isolated as one might imagine. Before arriving, one might assume the exiles wore animal hides and the armored soldiers were barbarians who ate raw meat and drank blood, but that was far from the truth. The days of endless wilderness without a single dwelling were long gone. Ningguta was rich in ginseng and sable fur, and from the eighth month onward, it engaged in trade with Hoeryong in Korea, boasting a well-established commercial route. Walking through the streets, one could frequently hear merchants from various regions haggling at the top of their lungs—the bustling atmosphere was no less lively than the capital.

Yet beneath this surface prosperity, turbulent undercurrents swirled, and those sent here on official business were well aware. The court had previously dispatched Lu Yuan from the Ministry of War as the vanguard, but five months had passed since then, and the local officials had surely covered their tracks well. To uncover any clues, marching openly into the military governor’s office would be tantamount to announcing their intentions to the world. They had to split into two groups—one taking the official route and the other conducting covert investigations.

Ningguta encouraged the bannermen to farm and trade, but once they prospered, who among them would willingly toil as laborers? With the allocated fields left untilled, the solution was simple: buy people. Government slaves from the Imperial Manors were driven to the human markets, where a strong laborer might cost only a few taels of silver or strings of coins. They worked harder than livestock yet were worth less than half the price of a mule or horse.

These were unwritten rules, of course. The military governor’s explanation for the sharp decline in the number of Ahha was that the old, weak, and sick had died—on paper, there were no discrepancies. But this time, they were here to dig to the bottom of it. If ten thousand people were said to have died, how could it be proven without evidence? There was only one crude method: exhume the corpses. The Ahha were usually buried in the same place. Even after flesh rotted away, bones remained. A dozen coroners were assigned to examine teeth and bone age—no one would be able to deceive them.

Dingyi followed the group to a desolate plain, gazing at the undulating graves in the distance. Sighing, she murmured, “How many Ahha are buried here? Far from their homeland, all dead in this place.”

“Each has their own fate.” Seventh Master adjusted his rabbit-fur earmuffs. “If they had not committed crimes, would they have ended up like this? In truth, death might be a release. If sold to the Tatars, they’d be forced to bite bridles with their teeth, dragging sleds across the ice. Men tormenting men—they would not stop until you were dead.”

Her heart chilled at the words. She glanced back at Twelfth Master. He stood on the embankment, wearing a red velvet winter cap embroidered with “Ten Thousand Blessings and Longevity,” his sable-lined overcoat neatly cuffed with arrow sleeves. The pale sunlight cast his face in a cold, distant detachment. Raising his riding crop, he pointed into the distance and said icily, “Surround this area. Has Lu Yuan established himself here yet? Tomorrow, summon him and gather men to dig through every grave. Cross-check with the records—let’s see exactly how many are missing. I know there’s a human market in Suifenhe. Who’s to say some Ahha from the manors have not ended up there? We cannot let this slide. The moment we loosen our grip, the truth slips away. Investigate thoroughly. Now that we are here, even if we have to tear the sky open, we will get to the bottom of this.”

The subordinates responded with a resounding “Yes, sir!” Seventh Master sneered at his domineering demeanor, turning his face away in disdain.

Without entering the garrison, they had to find lodging at an ordinary inn. The group wore traveling attire, and since Ningguta was heavily garrisoned, their comings and goings went unnoticed. After enduring the freezing wind and snow on the road, they settled in, seeking hot water and charcoal to warm themselves. Dingyi had developed chilblains from gripping the reins, and the heat made them itch unbearably. After hanging up the birdcage, she slipped outside and found a sheltered corner where the sunlight was strong—perfect for soaking in the warmth. Quietly settling there, she took out the chili peppers she had begged for, intending to rub them on her frostbitten hands.

The door beside them opened, and a hand reached out, pulling her inside in one swift motion. She looked up and asked, “You live here?”

He gave a noncommittal hum, took the chili pepper from her hand, pushed open the window, and tossed it outside. “Who taught you that trick? The skin there is thin—if you scratch it with something that harsh, it will break and fester later.”

She replied lazily, “It itched too much.”

He glanced at her, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips, then took her hand and began massaging it patiently. “We will be staying in Ningguta for a while this time. No more riding—keep warm, and when you have time, move around to improve circulation. It will get better soon.”

She let him fuss over her, watching quietly, warmth blooming in her chest. In the past, when her monthly pains came, she had to grit her teeth and endure the agony. But now, even a minor case of chilblains was tended to with care—it felt like her life was complete.

He pulled her down to sit beside him. The south-facing room allowed light to stream through the window lattice, pooling on a patch of the blue brick floor. With childlike delight, she shifted slightly to place her feet in that patch of light, happy even if she could not feel its warmth. Turning to look at him, she softly called his name. Though he could not hear her, he always seemed to sense it—the moment she spoke, he noticed. She said, “Are you going to Suifenhe? I’ve seen the slave markets—a big wooden platform where people are herded like livestock for buyers to pick through. Surrounding it are thugs built like black towers, ready to beat anyone who causes trouble. I will not feel at ease if you go.”

He chuckled. “I’ve seen plenty of that sort of thing—I know what to expect. Besides, imperial Kings train in Manchu wrestling from childhood. I will not just stand there like a log and take a beating.”

The day he had rescued her, he had taken down more than a dozen of the Seventh Master’s guards—his skills were clearly formidable. But women were born worriers. Even if she was useless in a fight, just being there to watch over him would ease her mind.

“Let me go with you,” she said, gripping his hand. “Seventh Master will not know—just take me along!”

He refused. “Too many eyes around. What if something goes wrong?” He understood her thoughts. They saw each other daily, but Seventh Master loomed between them like an impassable mountain, forcing them to meet in secret. If they could slip away, even for just a day, and be together without restraint, she’d be content. He gazed at her tenderly—was not that what he wanted too? But he feared putting her in harm’s way. “Be good. I will finish my business quickly, and once we are back in the capital, we can be together every day.”

She pursed her lips helplessly. “Can you make it back by tomorrow? The day after is New Year’s Eve—it’s time for the celebrations.”

Her words reminded him: the year was ending. He had been traveling for so long he’d lost track of time. In Great Ying, there was a tradition of reunion dinners at year’s end, a good omen for staying together year after year. He did the math: traveling from Ningguta to Suifenhe and back in such a short time would be a rush, and he still had business to attend to. If he left her behind, would Seventh Master arrange to celebrate the New Year with her? The thought rankled him.

Lately, Seventh Master had been nothing but a nuisance, his shadow everywhere. He acted domineering and shameless, and no one could do anything about it. If things came to blows, it would be ugly—yet he clung to that gentleman’s agreement. How could he pick a fight without cause? It was better to take her along—at least then Seventh Master would not get the upper hand. If he left her here, she might be in even greater danger than if she went to Suifenhe.

He exhaled deeply. “We will leave at the fifth watch tomorrow. Do not tell anyone—no need to let Seventh Master catch wind of it and sneak after us again.”

She was overjoyed and quickly stood up, lowering her voice to say, “Then I will go back and pack right away. Wait for me.”

As she turned to leave, he pulled her back. “Packing might draw attention. It is not a long stay—just two or three days. Bringing silver will be enough.” He looked her over and added, “Check if there are any women’s clothes there. The market by the river is said to be even bigger than Ningguta’s… I want to see you in a dress.”

Dingyi blushed slightly. When she glanced at him again, his eyes darted away, likely feeling just as awkward. She grinned, trying to lighten the mood. “I’ve always dressed like a man. Did you also start doubting yourself like Seventh Master, wondering if you had a thing for men?”

He considered it seriously before nodding. “Our brothers probably share that foolish streak. Back then, I was also thinking about how to explain this to the Emperor Emeritus and the Noble Consort. When I found out the truth, I was so happy I could not sleep all night. It felt like heaven had been kind to me—I could still have descendants after all.”

His words were painfully blunt. Though it was a natural sentiment, it still made her uncomfortable. She quickly changed the subject with a laugh. “I still do not understand where I slipped up. I’ve been blending into the streets for over a decade, living side by side with my Senior Brother, and he never had a clue.”

He coughed lightly. “Your Senior Brother is oblivious… Remember when the Seventh Master’s bird was poisoned, and we went to the bird market? On the way back, I said I wanted to hear your voice, so you pressed my hand against your neck… A normal man would have an Adam’s apple by that age. A smooth neck means either a woman or a eunuch.”

It dawned on her. “Ah, so you were scheming too. Sigh, really… My Senior Brother is just clueless. After all these years, he still thinks I am a man.”

Hongce looked smug, shrugging nonchalantly. “Fate is decided by heaven. If people had known you were a girl earlier, chances are I would not have had a shot.”

They shared a laugh, and the cold morning suddenly did not feel so unbearable. Still, they worried about arousing the Seventh Master’s suspicion if they lingered too long, so after a while, they got up and left. Coincidentally, they ran into the Seventh Master the moment they reached the hallway. Dingyi sighed in relief, thinking, Good thing we left quickly—any later and he’d have come chasing after us. She mustered her energy and greeted him. “Where are you headed, My Lord?”

Seventh Master said, “I was looking for you.” He pulled a hairpin from his sleeve—a gold-inlaid jade buyao¹—and handed it to her for inspection before plucking off her warm hat and fixing it into her bun.

After admiring it from all angles, he nodded approvingly. “My tree is naturally lovely. All dressed up, you are quite the sight! Look at those bright, clear eyes—what woman has such a dignified air?” He studied her again, though the combination of a guard’s uniform and a buyao was rather mismatched. After the trial, he removed it and placed the pin in her hand. “Keep it safe. Use it when you change into women’s clothes. I will find you a fur headpiece to go with it—once this pin is in place, you will look every bit the noble lady.”

She refused, pushing it back. “This servant does not care for jewelry. Thank you for your kindness.”

“So, did Twelfth Master give you any jewelry? No, right? I knew it. He’d rather stay up all night than spend money—what a miser! Not only is he stingy, but he also loves to show off. Did you see how he was flaunting himself today? We are both Imperial Envoys, so who gave him the right to give orders alone without consulting me? Let him show off if he wants—digging up dead people’s bones, no regard for karma! I am a kind-hearted man; once someone’s buried, they should rest in peace. I do not like disturbing them. As for Twelfth Master, he’s really like the God of Tai Sui—no taboos at all…”

After listing all the faults of others, he began to muse happily, “The New Year is coming, and we will all be a year older. The day after tomorrow is New Year’s Eve. I will host a banquet in my quarters, just for you. You must come. When you do, we will have a good talk. Do you want to live in the King’s residence, or would you prefer a separate courtyard? Ah, I’ve been thinking about this for days—I cannot wait until we return to the capital. I have to propose before the Twelfth Master gets the chance. Leaving things hanging like this will not do. You are my bondservant, after all. A servant marrying her master is only natural. Why do we not just hold the wedding here in Ningguta? Is that not a brilliant idea?”

Pleased with himself, he burst into laughter.