The sun rose in the east, painting the sky with the first light of dawn. Vendors began their daily routines under the morning glow, and today, Pei Ying awoke unusually early, rousing as soon as the sky brightened.
In this era, funerals consisted of two main rituals: burial and the memorial ceremony. The former involved interring the deceased, while the latter was a feast hosted by the family to honor the departed, inviting relatives and friends to pay their respects.
The day before, with the help of Chen Yuan and a few soldiers from Youzhou, Pei Ying had prepared the bodies of Meng Ducang and Meng's Mother, dressing them and placing them in coffins. Following the usual customs, the burial would take place this morning, and in the afternoon, they would inform loved ones of the memorial feast.
But Pei Ying had no intention of sending out invitations.
She decided against holding the feast and planned to leave with her daughter and Shui Su that very afternoon. As for how to shake off the unwanted followers trailing them, she had already devised a plan.
"Shui Su, come with me," Pei Ying said, unsurprised to find Shui Su already awake.
She led the girl to a small side room and shut the door behind them. "Shui Su, would you be willing to travel with us to Chang'an?"
Shui Su paused briefly but didn’t ask questions. Without hesitation, she nodded. "Madam, wherever you and Young Miss go, this servant will follow."
She had been bought by the Meng family at the age of nine, and over the years, the household had treated her kindly. Now that tragedy had struck, she could never abandon them.
Pei Ying lowered her voice. "Good girl. I need your help with something. After the burial this morning, I’ll find an excuse to send you away. Go to the Xinglong Silk Shop in the market and check if it has a back door. If not, find another silk shop that does—preferably one near a teahouse or eatery."
She had noticed the Xinglong Silk Shop the previous day. Its bustling trade and proximity to food stalls made it the perfect place to distract Chen Yuan and his men.
Shui Su nodded firmly.
Pei Ying continued, "Then, buy a few veils and a piece of charcoal. Wrap them in cloth so no one can see what’s inside. After that, strike a deal with the shopkeeper—tell her you’ll leave the bundle with her for a few hours and return around noon to retrieve it. Offer five coins upfront and another five afterward, totaling ten. It’s an easy profit; she likely won’t refuse."
As she spoke, Pei Ying handed Shui Su a small pouch of money—scraps of silver she had taken from the Meng household. Then she gave her two gold-inlaid jade hairpins, a pair of earrings, and a jade bracelet. "Take these to the pawnshop. Sell them outright for the highest price."
Shui Su was startled. "Madam, didn’t you already prepare funds? Why pawn your jewelry?"
In these times, what woman didn’t cherish her adornments? The thought of her mistress parting with so many pieces left Shui Su uneasy.
"It’s not enough," Pei Ying shook her head. "Yesterday, I overheard that a spice peddler from South Street is heading south to restock his goods. They depart this afternoon. I want to join their caravan under the pretense of visiting relatives down south. But they won’t take us without good reason—money is the only way to persuade them."
She clasped Shui Su’s hands. "Ling'er and I can’t slip away. I’m counting on you."
Shui Su straightened. "Madam, there’s no need for such formalities. The kindness you and the County Magistrate showed me over the years is something I’ll never forget. Rest assured, I’ll handle this matter perfectly."
......
Before leaving in the morning, Pei Ying secretly shared the afternoon’s plan with her daughter. Meng Ling'er’s round eyes widened in surprise, a gasp nearly escaping her lips.
Her mother had just whispered that they wouldn’t host a memorial feast or return to the County Magistrate’s residence. Instead, they would leave that afternoon with Li the Peddler’s southbound caravan.
At first, Ling'er found the idea strange—who skipped the memorial feast after a burial?
But then she remembered something. When she was little, well-dressed men often lingered outside their home, chatting with the gatekeeper about her mother. Her grandmother would scold Pei Ying for "attracting unwanted attention." Only after her father became County Magistrate did those incidents stop—but by then, her mother had already grown reluctant to leave the house.
It must be that Governor of Youzhou who had set his sights on her mother. Why else would they flee in such haste?
Ling'er clenched her teeth, frustrated by her own powerlessness.
"Mother, a tree that won’t bend breaks in the storm. Let’s go," she said, gripping Pei Ying’s hand.
Once the three were aligned, they left the house as usual—or so it seemed to Chen Yuan. He didn’t notice the small bundle Pei Ying had hidden away.
The interrupted packing from the day before had worked in her favor. Valuables like jewelry were tucked into a small pouch, while clothes and daily necessities were left behind.
Sneaking away with a large bundle would draw attention. Portable wealth was all they needed.
The morning was spent on the burial. Midway through, Pei Ying found an excuse to send Shui Su away, and Chen Yuan didn’t suspect a thing.
As the Youzhou soldiers shoveled earth into the grave, Pei Ying felt an indescribable sorrow. Not long after "Madam Pei" had passed, her husband followed. Yet they could not rest together.
Shui Su returned before lunch. After the meal, Pei Ying led them back into the streets.
Once they had walked a stretch, she turned to Chen Yuan. "Captain Chen, Ling'er and I need to buy mourning clothes for the memorial feast at the silk shop ahead. Picking garments may take a while—there’s no need for you to accompany us. Wait at the teahouse across the street. I’ll come find you when we’re done."
Chen Yuan glanced at the bustling silk shop. Most patrons were women, and without familial ties, it would be improper for him and his men to enter. He agreed.
Only after watching Pei Ying and Ling'er step inside did Chen Yuan and the other soldiers settle at a food stall opposite the shop. They chose seats near the entrance, keeping the silk shop in clear view.
Meanwhile, inside...
The three split up immediately. Pei Ying and Ling'er pretended to browse clothing while Shui Su approached the shopkeeper. Recognizing her from earlier, the woman cheerfully handed over the bundle and accepted the remaining five coins.
Shui Su then asked, "Madam, is the back door open today? We’d like to use it."
Having just earned easy money, the shopkeeper was obliging. "Of course! If it’s closed, I’ll open it for you."
After thanking her, Shui Su slipped out the back. Pei Ying and Ling'er lingered briefly before following.
The Xinglong Silk Shop stood at the heart of the market, so the alley behind it wasn’t deserted. A short walk brought them back to the bustling streets.
But Pei Ying wasn’t in a hurry. She retrieved the charcoal from the bundle and lightly sketched lines on their faces, then dusted them with ash. "Now, let’s find Li the Peddler."
Li’s shop was modest, his profits meager—far from enough to afford horses. For this journey, his transport was a pair of donkey-drawn carts.
Aside from Pei Ying’s trio, the caravan included Li and two others. They boarded the carts and set off.
Half an hour later, Chen Yuan frowned as he watched groups of women exit the silk shop—none of them Pei Ying.
The soldier beside him struck up a conversation: "Do ladies always take this long to buy clothes?"
"Don’t know. I ain’t married yet."
"Seems to me plain clothes all look the same, and the embroidery ain’t much different either... Lieutenant?" The soldier stared in surprise as Chen Yuan suddenly stood up.
Without a word, Chen Yuan strode toward the silk shop.
The proprietor of Xinglong Silk Shop saw a tall, imposing man enter—his gaze sharp as lightning, a saber hanging at his waist. Recalling the recent upheavals in Beichuan County, the shopkeeper immediately put on a respectful smile. "Sir, what kind of garments are you looking for? Not to boast, but my shop has the widest selection in all of Beichuan. If nothing catches your eye, we can always make adjustments to suit your taste."
Chen Yuan ignored him. He swiftly scanned the shop—two floors in total—checking every corner except for the occupied fitting rooms. Yet, to his growing unease, after combing through both levels, he found no trace of Pei Ying or her companions.
Two noblewomen and a maid—vanished without a trace.
Chen Yuan turned to the shopkeeper. "Half an hour ago, two ladies wearing veiled hats came in. Do you remember them?"
The shopkeeper hesitated. Most of her customers were women, and many wore veiled hats. How was she supposed to pinpoint which two the officer meant?
Seeing her struggle, Chen Yuan changed his approach. "Did anyone ask if your shop has a back door?"
This time, the shopkeeper nodded. "Yes, a young lady inquired."
Not daring to withhold anything, she spilled the details: "Early this morning, around Chen hour, a lady in green came and asked if we had a back exit. I said yes, and she then asked to leave a small parcel here, paying five coins upfront and promising another five when she returned to collect it at noon. It didn’t seem like a big deal, so I agreed. She came back at noon as promised and even asked if the back door was open today..."
Chen Yuan’s heart skipped a beat.
Chen hour. Noon. A lady in green.
He described Shui Su’s appearance, and as the shopkeeper nodded repeatedly, his stomach sank.
This was trouble.
The County Magistrate’s residence.
Huo Tingshan fixed his gaze on Xiong Mao below. The burly warrior, who had faced countless battlefield wounds without flinching, now paled under the scrutiny, sweat soaking his back.
Xiong Mao inwardly groaned.
Hadn’t he said it before? This mission was a lost cause—there was nothing to uncover. Lady Pei lived a reclusive life, and the Meng household was nearly wiped out. He’d questioned the neighbors and even tracked down two runaway servants, but whether servants or neighbors, their impressions of Lady Pei were identical.
After marrying into the Meng family, Lady Pei had devoted herself to serving her in-laws and raising her child, just like any other virtuous wife. Once her own family moved away for business, she never visited them again.
Reclusive didn’t even begin to cover it.
Setting aside her stunning beauty, she was utterly ordinary among women.
Brilliant strategist? Profound scholar?
Not a shred of evidence.
Oh, right—her embroidery was said to be exceptional. At least she had talent in needlework.
The hall was silent, the air thick with tension. Xiong Mao felt as if a mountain weighed on his shoulders, crushing his breath away. He prayed silently for someone—anyone—to walk in and rescue him from this torment. He’d gladly take twenty lashes right now over this suffocating suspense.
Seated at the head of the room, Huo Tingshan frowned slightly.
Still no leads? How strange.
For a fleeting moment, he wondered—could it truly have been an immortal’s dream?
But the thought vanished as quickly as it came. Lady Pei had secrets, and he would uncover them in time.
Just then, hurried footsteps echoed as Chen Yuan rushed in and dropped to his knees. "General, I’ve failed. I lost sight of Lady Pei—she’s escaped."
Huo Tingshan shot to his feet.
Watching the general’s retreating figure, Xiong Mao gaped.
Had... had the gods answered his prayers?
